episode_0241

Sizzle~

Thick pork belly sizzled and roasted on the hot grill.

The white smoke rising continuously irritated their eyes.

And of course, the savory smell that spread with it.

…Gulp-!!

No one opened their mouths.

Their nerves were on edge for a single piece of meat slowly cooking.

Slurp~

A few barely managed to hold back their drool.

Our communal table was lined with various side dishes.

Homemade side dishes from Grandma, guaranteed to capture everyone’s taste buds.

But no one touched them.

“Slurp- slurp-”

“Chew, chew.”

“Sip… hah… Siiip~”

‘Those guys….’

Dong-woo, Incheol, and the newly joined Hyunwoo.

The three youngest ones only licked their innocent chopsticks.

Exaggerating a bit, they looked like perverts with bloodshot eyes.

It was simply astonishing that gazes directed at meat could be so perverse.

He understood their craving for the meat.

But wasn’t there a limit?

‘…If this were an ordinary restaurant…’

They looked as if they might have been kicked out for causing disgust to other customers.

The other family members were at least a bit less intense.

Still, their gazes were equally fixated on the meat.

Even Miri’s eyes sparkled brightly as she swallowed her saliva.

Unlike the youngest trio, she was a tiny child, so it was just cute.

Flip! Chop- Sizzle~

“Ugh….”

“Haha~ It’s really hard to hold back.”

“Pffft~”

When Grandma flipped the meat, everyone chuckled at Choi Daepyo’s immediate lament.

Taking everyone’s joyful expressions as a side dish, I quietly tilted my soju glass.

The reason for setting up a meat grill first thing in the morning was simple.

“The meat needs to be grilled first.”

It was Grandma’s opinion that they should grill the fresh meat since it had been a long time.

There wasn’t a single dissenting vote.

In response, Choi Daepyo brought out the large grill and portable stove he had prepared and stored, partly as a hobby and partly as a precaution.

Turning the indoor ventilation to maximum was a bonus.

Thanks to that, we were happily enduring a delightful torture, not torture, since morning.

Even while this was happening, the meat turned golden brown.

Snip- snip- snip-

Chop- chop- chop-

Grandma began roughly cutting the meat into bite-sized pieces with scissors.

Finally, plates piled high with hot meat started appearing.

“Eat it while it’s hot.”

“We will eat well-!!”

Chopsticks moved simultaneously with a hearty greeting.

Having waited and endured with difficulty, no one was reserved.

The plates piled high with meat were emptied in an instant.

“…It’s delicious….”

“Was pork belly always this good?”

“Grandma! The meat is melting!”

Each person expressed their honest impressions, diligently chewing the meat.

By the looks of it, they might devour all the raw meat today.

“Seonghan, thanks to you, my mouth is having a feast. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Come on~ have a drink~ take your glass~ receive it~”

Grandpa seemed to be in high spirits with a rare piece of meat and a glass of soju.

After politely receiving a glass while chewing meat, everyone started filling their own glasses.

“Shouldn’t we have a toast?”

At Grandpa’s urging, I subtly glanced at my Hyung.

“You do it this time.”

I snorted at his resolute refusal with a mischievous expression.

“Hmm… then…”

As I shyly raised my glass slightly, everyone else raised theirs.

“There’s plenty of meat, so eat until you’re full.”

“Hehehe~”

“Good!”

“The toast is for our stomachs, which will suffer today.”

“Pwahahaha!!”

“To our stomachs!”

“To our stomachs-!!”

Gulp-

“Ah~ Hah~”

“The alcohol is sweet!”

“The meat’s getting cold! Eat! Eat!”

Everyone except Miri and the pregnant Lawrence ate and drank combatively.

Lawrence and Heize watched their family members toast and seemed very entertained.

Poke-

“…….”

Heize, whose eyes briefly met mine, lowered her head.

She looked as if she was about to bury her face halfway into her plate.

Seeing her bright red ears peeking through her blonde hair, I couldn’t help but click my tongue.

‘Is she a kindergartener….’

Her Western mindset, unreserved in expression, was on the same level as a chick-class student.

Seeing her innocence, like a teenage girl, made me want to tease her.

“Heize.”

“…….”

“Heize?”

“…The meat is delicious.”

She made no attempt to meet my gaze and feigned ignorance.

At her childish demeanor, I quietly sighed inwardly.

‘It’s not like she’s overtly showing it….’

Anyone could see it was like advertising, ‘Something happened between us!’

Sure enough.

Jihyeok Hyung and Dong-woo were chewing their meat while glaring at me.

They shot me a sly look through half-closed eyes.

“Seriously…”

I gave a wry chuckle, took a piece of well-cooked meat, and was about to refill my glass—

Grab-

Shia sat right beside me and snatched the soju bottle.

“Oppa. Thank you for the meat. I’ll pour you a drink.”

“Huh? Oh.”

Shia, who had been diligently helping Grandma, tilted the soju bottle.

Her posture clearly showed she hadn’t done it before.

The tip of the bottle was slightly trembling…

“…It’s overflowing. It’s overflowing.”

Whether on purpose or due to lack of control.

Skillfully, she filled it precariously full, to the point where surface tension formed.

As soon as Shia filled my glass, she abruptly pushed the bottle towards me.

“Please give me a drink too.”

“…Okay.”

Somehow, an unreserved feeling emanated from Shia.

Pour-

“Oppa. Cheers~”

“…….”

Something… she was unreserved.

It felt like she had become someone else for a moment…

Clink~ Gulp!

She closed her eyes tightly, tilted her head back, and even downed it in one shot.

“Aah~”

“…Drink slowly.”

Shia, who shuddered from the soju, soon dipped a piece of meat into the sesame oil dip.

“Say ‘Ah~’.”

“……Hey.”

I was flustered for a moment.

She wasn’t eating it herself but brought it to my mouth.

She even cupped her hand underneath, in case oil dripped…

“Come on. Ah~”

“…….”

“Young man.”

As I hesitated, Grandma, who was flipping meat, called out softly.

And from her calm gaze, which met mine, I felt a silent pressure.

Nom~ Chew, chew-

“……Thank you.”

At my small thanks, Shia just smiled brightly, sucking the oil from her fingers.

“…Is it okay for an actress to act like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“No… that, um…”

“It would absolutely not be okay anywhere else.”

The answer came from Choi Daepyo, who was quietly draining his glass.

“Sorry…”

“It’s fine here, and even more so with Seonghan-ssi, so there’s nothing to worry about. Just accept it comfortably.”

“…….”

Choi Daepyo, grinning widely, raised his empty glass.

“Hyuk. Pour me a drink. The meat and alcohol stick wonderfully to my mouth.”

“Right? I don’t know why the alcohol tastes so sweet today.”

“Indeed. This is truly… Haha~ it’s great~”

“Oh my! Choi Daepyo~ Let’s drink together.”

“Anytime~”

“…….”

The middle-aged man who boasted of his gentlemanly conduct, acting sly, was just an old man.

An actress pouring alcohol for an outside man in front of her agency CEO, and it’s okay?

‘……’

I looked at Shia, who was beautifully wrapping a vegetable wrap and offering it to me.

“Eat a lot.”

Her eyes were a little puffy, but she still met my gaze, her eye corners curving gently.

I opened my mouth wide and swallowed the large vegetable wrap in one bite.

For a moment, Shia’s fingertips lightly brushed past my lower lip.

Lick-

“…….”

…It was dizzying for a moment.

It was dizzying as her tongue licked the tip of the finger that had touched my lips.

And then she casually picked up a piece of meat and ate it.

‘…Why is she acting like this?’

The usually gentle young lady was doing things she didn’t normally do.

She even kept emptying glasses and leading the exchange back and forth.

Just when I wondered if she was okay, Grandma set down a plate full of meat.

Hehehe~

Her expression, watching with a warm smile, was truly…

Then she gently patted Shia’s shoulder and quietly withdrew.

What could Grandma’s gesture possibly mean?

“It won’t taste good if it gets cold, so eat quickly.”

Somehow, the vegetable wrap that Shia was making for me was getting bigger and bigger.

As she unhesitantly tried to shove it into my mouth again and again, I waved my hand.

“I’ll, I’ll eat it. You eat too.”

“Here.”

“No, I’ll ea…”

“Come on~”

Nom- Chew, chew~

“It’s delicious, right?”

“…It is delicious….”

“Hehe~”

Shia laughed, but I couldn’t.

Everyone, who had been engrossed in the meat, was looking at me.

With keen, sparkling gazes.

Even Lawrence, who had been quietly eating only meat, had gleaming eyes.

The moment I pretended not to notice the burdensome gazes and emptied my glass.

“Wait.”

“?”

“I’ll give you one too. Take it.”

The quiet Heize appeared, holding a beer bottle and a glass.

Her face had returned to its original color—

Pop-!

I was surprised to see her skillfully open the bottle cap with a spoon.

“Where did you learn that…”

“Here. Take it.”

“…….”

Heize, as if words were unnecessary, extended a glass and unreservedly poured beer.

Heize poured it precariously close to overflowing with foam, then…

“Give me one too.”

“…….”

At her confident demand, I filled her glass, feeling bewildered.

Immediately, she clinked her glass against mine.

“Cheers to us.”

Clink-

“…….”

“Bottoms up.”

“…Hah.”

I chuckled at her unrestrained actions and emptied my beer, and then she pushed meat towards me.

Three thick pieces of meat, deeply dipped in sesame oil.

“Here.”

“No, wait. I’ll ea…”

Slap-

“Open. Ah!”

She slapped away my hand, which was reaching for chopsticks instead, and forced the meat on me.

She was clearly smiling, but her eyes weren’t, giving off that kind of feeling.

For now, I’ll play along—

“Say ‘Ah~’.”

“…….”

For now, I obediently took the mouthful of meat.

Chew, chew, chew-

It seemed like she had just learned what Shia was doing…

“Oppa. Have another drink.”

Gurgle-

“One. Bottoms up.”

Splash-

“Here.”

“Here.”

The two women simultaneously extended glasses, one full of beer and the other brimming with soju.

With their hands outstretched, Shia and Heize’s gazes met.

Smile-

“Oppa!”

“One!”

“…….”

It was just when I was about to be dumbfounded by the sudden situation.

“Young man.”

Grandma called out in a gentle voice.

Grandpa, who was eating meat beside Grandma, needlessly flinched.

“It is a rule that you should not refuse a woman’s courage.”

“…….”

“Gulp~”

Grandma stopped grilling meat and gestured, urging him.

“Quickly.”

Grandma’s gentle gaze, warmly urging.

Shia’s moist gaze, softly urging.

Even Heize’s blazing, hot gaze.

Under the not-quite-pressure pressure from the three women, I swallowed dryly.

“…….”

It seems today will not be easy.

***

‘…Interesting.’

Choi Daepyo enjoyed watching Seonghan being pressured by the two women.

Thinking back to their intense first meeting, his current appearance didn’t match.

Living together, he had felt Seonghan gradually open up.

But he hadn’t expected such a soft side.

Choi Daepyo found Seonghan’s unusual side quite refreshing.

Seonghan, who possessed a powerful strength that might make him a super-human, was still a man.

And there were young, beautiful women here.

If he had wanted to, he could have had any woman anytime.

‘Should I say it’s fortunate that he’s a gentleman?’

Fortunately, there were no unfortunate incidents.

While Seonghan had practically dragged him around by the collar in the beginning, Seonghan had never forced anything or coerced him.

He neither forced labor or danger, nor did he covet women.

‘I even suspected Hyuk might be impotent.’

It would make Seonghan jump if he heard it, but it remained a secret.

Anyway, because he was proper regarding women, there were no problems whatsoever.

Thanks to him, Shia, who suffered from severe androphobia, was able to overcome it herself and interact normally with men.

Furthermore, she had reached the point where she could approach men herself.

Just like now.

“Oppa!”

“One!”

His bewildered expression at the two glasses offered simultaneously was refreshing.

A situation typically seen in a romantic comedy was unfolding now.

Choi Daepyo found it hard to suppress his laughter.

“Hyung-nim.”

“Ah. Thanks.”

Watching Jihyeok fill his glass, Choi Daepyo subtly asked.

“What do you think?”

“Huh? Ah. Hehehe~”

Jihyeok, understanding immediately, smirked.

“He’s not impotent, after all.”

“Hey, you. Hehehe.”

“He does it when he needs to, too.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Well… there was a reason.”

Recalling what happened before the meal, Jihyeok felt inwardly sorry.

To Seonghan, and to Shia, whom he supported but couldn’t tell.

Choi Daepyo didn’t press on that point and moved past it.

“His manners are impeccable, which is good… but Shia must be struggling with him like that.”

“He probably has never dated before, so….”

“He’s trying, but somehow it’s a bit…”

“…Childish, right?”

Choi Daepyo also nodded at Jihyeok’s blunt assessment.

“Heize-yang also seems like she’s never had a relationship.”

“No, I think that’s right. That’s how it looks to me too.”

“Hyung-nim feels that way too?”

Choi Daepyo slowly emptied his clear, clinking soju glass.

“…It feels like I’m watching two teenage girls.”

“Me too. That’s why it’s frustrating, but…”

“They’re fresh, aren’t they?”

“They are fresh.”

Jihyeok also emptied his glass and then filled two glasses.

“…I should have made them film a melodrama….”

Jihyeok strongly agreed with Choi Daepyo’s quiet lament as he watched the three of them.

“It won’t be easy for Shia.”

“Heize-yang is also a rare and stunning beauty. I’d want to scout her for our company.”

“Especially since such a beauty even risked her life to follow him.”

“Hmm… it’s difficult.”

The two men, contrary to their words, watched the situation with great interest.

“I’ve never envied anyone, but that’s a bit enviable.”

“You, was a harem your type?”

“No. It’s not like that.”

Jihyeok, watching Seonghan with an entertained expression as if watching a movie, chuckled softly.

“It’s just a bit enviable to be genuinely cherished and loved by beautiful women.”

“Well… isn’t that what every man wishes for?”

“Hyung-nim too?”

“Hey, kid. I’m still full of vigor, you know?”

“Heh~”

The two, who had laughed it off with a slight bitter smile, soon focused on the situation.

“Oh!”

“Wow… he’s just going to let that slide?”

Seeing Seonghan’s reaction to the two women’s cute and clumsy advances, the two men burst into hearty laughter.

“…I hope everything works out well. Truly.”

“Hmm. Isn’t it possible?”

“Huh??”

Jihyeok thought he had misheard, but Choi Daepyo continued casually.

“The situation is like this, isn’t it? For population growth, polygamy might have to be revived, you know?”

“Hyung-nim, that’s… no, wait. Hmm….”

“Hey. Think later and look at that. Shia is gritting her teeth right now.”

At Choi Daepyo’s remark, Jihyeok narrowed his eyes.

“Oh. You’re right. I haven’t seen her act like that in a long time, have I?”

“Look at Heize-yang too.”

“Wow… she’s smiling, but she’s not smiling.”

“Right? Her eyes are fixed. Shia doesn’t seem to realize she’s doing that herself, does she?”

“Hyung-nim, this is really…”

Choi Daepyo and Jihyeok drew deep, mischievous smiles.

“It’s fun. Hehe~”

“It’s fun. Hehehe~”

Clink-

The two coolly emptied their soju glasses.

There were times when it was a bit boring with nothing to enjoy.

They had kept themselves busy, suppressing and comforting their boredom, but…

“Drink!”

“Eat this!”

“Ah, stop it!”

Pwahahaha-

The bickering trio brought great joy to everyone.

Everyone momentarily forgot the painful reality with warm meat, a drink, and hearty laughter.

And they enjoyed the present moment of being alive.