NLFSD Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Before he could even gather his wits, Lee Jiwoon was seated at a glossy, polished dining table. Atop the large table was a lotus-shaped candle, and silver spoons engraved with traditional patterns were set in place.

“Is your hand okay?”

When Jiwoon asked, Seo Taecheon lifted a spoon with his left hand. It had recovered enough that he could use utensils without much difficulty.

“We’ll begin with appetizers and rice porridge.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

Wearing a sanitary cap and an apron, the chef placed the dishes before Jiwoon, Seo Taecheon, and Chairman Seo.

Wait. This house has a live-in chef?

Overwhelmed by the opulence he had never experienced before, Jiwoon quietly ate the black sesame porridge. It had a remarkably rich and deep flavor.

“…!”

It’s seriously delicious. What do I do?

The cold appetizer served as a starter was also divine, and Jiwoon quickly cleaned out the bowl. With a flushed face, he eagerly awaited the next course, devouring each dish as it came with great gusto.

From beef pancakes to seasoned cockles to short rib soup—everything served was something Jiwoon loved. It was as if someone had studied his tastes and crafted the entire menu just for him.

“Seems like it suits your palate.”

“It’s incredibly deli—ah… Yes! It’s delicious.”

“You eat with such delight—it’s nice to see.”

Chairman Seo looked at Jiwoon with apparent satisfaction.

“…Um… Chairman, may I have another bowl of rice?”

Having already finished his first bowl, Jiwoon asked. Seo Taecheon smiled subtly from an angle Jiwoon couldn’t see.

“You may have not just one, but two or three more bowls if you wish.”

“Really? Thank you.”

Soon, the chef brought out lotus-leaf-wrapped rice for Jiwoon. Eyes wide with wonder, he began eating the fragrant, glutinous rice with enthusiasm.

“Lotus rice goes best with grilled short rib patties.”

Seo Taecheon placed a perfectly portioned piece of rib patty on Jiwoon’s spoon. Jiwoon was so surprised he let out a soft gasp and held his breath.

Did he just put food on my spoon? So sweetly?

“Go ahead, eat.”

In contrast to Jiwoon’s flustered state, Seo Taecheon remained utterly calm. Jiwoon, unsure how to react, swallowed the rib patty while thinking of the Chairman sitting across from him.

What is this man’s deal? We’re supposed to divorce in four and a half months, and he’s talking about children, putting food on my spoon… I can’t make sense of him.

Jiwoon glanced sideways at the executive director, but Seo Taecheon’s face remained unreadable. He simply placed a piece of braised lotus root onto Jiwoon’s spoon.

At this rate, I’m going to get indigestion. Why is he doing this?

The magical, melancholic meal finally came to an end. After finishing his plum tea, Jiwoon, now full, followed Chairman Seo and Seo Taecheon out into the garden.

“I’d like to show you my cherished garden.”

“Thank you very much, Chairman.”

Even when they’d entered the house earlier, the garden had looked expansive, but seeing it up close now, its scale was beyond imagination. Following Chairman Seo’s lead, they eventually reached a dense pine forest.

Is it really okay for a private residence to have its own forest? Just how vast is this property?

Surrounded by the phytoncide-rich aroma that rivaled a botanical garden, Jiwoon could only marvel. Being enveloped in a thick forest was incredibly refreshing.

Ah, I’m getting a proper forest bath now.

Just as Jiwoon had finally begun to relax and enjoy the moment, a sudden remark from Chairman Seo shattered the mood.

“By the way, Taecheon. When do you plan to hold the ceremony?”

Cough.

It felt as if the rice Jiwoon had digested earlier was now sitting heavily in his chest.

“I let it slide when you went ahead with the registration first—since you’ve always been eccentric—but I’m curious why you haven’t held a proper wedding yet.”

Sweating nervously, Jiwoon stared off into space with bleary eyes. Seo Taecheon responded in his stead.

“I’ve been extremely busy with multiple overlapping projects lately. Once the urgent matters are taken care of, I plan to proceed with it.”

Jiwoon couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

What the hell? He’s saying they’ll hold a ceremony if he has the time? Like he’d marry me this weekend if he weren’t so busy? And it’s okay to marry me? Weren’t we supposed to be splitting up in just over four months?

“I see… Then let’s talk for a bit.”

Chairman Seo gestured to Seo Taecheon with his hands behind his back. Catching on, Jiwoon stepped aside and pretended to examine a pine tree.

But the distance wasn’t far enough to block the conversation, so Jiwoon caught snippets of their exchange: your mother, does she know, should we invite her to the ceremony… That was the general gist.

Oh… the Chairman’s expression looks so wistful. Is there some story between him and the Madam?

For a moment, Jiwoon grew curious about the story between Chairman Seo and Lady Choi Younghee. But he quickly reminded himself he was nothing more than an outsider—not family—and shouldn’t indulge such curiosity.

I’ll just go admire the pond. Jiwoon stepped onto the arched bridge and gazed down at the large pond. There were a surprising number of koi swimming in it.

“Wow… That koi is thicker and longer than my calf.”

As Jiwoon admired the koi gliding through the water, Seo Taecheon appeared beside him and asked dryly,

“You’re not thinking of catching that koi and turning it into spicy stew, are you?”

“Excuse me—I don’t always think about food, you know? I was just admiring it because it’s pretty.”

Jiwoon crossed the bridge and crouched at the edge of the pond to get a closer look at the sleek, swimming koi.

“Wow. This one is so big and beautiful.”

The moment he reached out with a finger, one of the koi, mistaking the approaching hand for a predator’s attack, suddenly leapt.

“Oh no!”

Before he could pull away, Jiwoon’s index finger was bitten.

“Ow!”

“Are you okay?”

Seo Taecheon rushed over and checked Jiwoon’s finger.

“There’s no bleeding, right?”

“No blood, but it feels like getting nipped by human teeth… Ugh, it left bite marks.”

It was somewhere between a tickle and a sting. Being bitten by a koi fish felt bizarre, and Jiwoon grimaced.

“This won’t do. Let’s go home and get it treated.”

“Treatment?”

“We need to disinfect it and put a bandage on. And if any symptoms show up, we’ll go straight to the hospital.”

Seo Taecheon said, holding Jiwoon’s index finger with concern. Jiwoon held his breath—the sensation was oddly ticklish, and he wasn’t sure whether it was from the koi bite or from Taecheon’s touch.

“Then, we’ll take our leave now.”

“Take care on your way.”

“Thank you so much for the wonderful meal, Chairman. I appreciate the invitation.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. You should come by often.”

Come again?

Jiwoon wondered if he’d really have any reason to return here, but the memory of the incredible meal flashed in his mind, and before he knew it, he found himself agreeing.

“Then, we’ll be going for real!”

“We’ll be off.”

The two rode home in the chauffeured car. The driver said they could continue using it for the time being and that he would be in touch once the new vehicle was ready.

The moment Jiwoon stepped through the front door, he turned and glared at Seo Taecheon.

“What was all that about, Director? That talk earlier?”

“What talk?”

“I mean the part about children and weddings—why did you bring that up?”

Regardless of how his view of Taecheon may have shifted lately, Jiwoon couldn’t overlook the absurdity of what had been said.

He still hadn’t fully admitted to falling in love. He was in the middle of self-brainwashing: I don’t like this man. He’s attractive, yes, but we’re strangers. So the urge to call it out was even stronger.

“Wouldn’t the Chairman naturally assume we’re going to have a proper wedding and children?”

“It’s a believable assumption, yes.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

“If it upset you, I apologize. But given the situation, it was the best possible response.”

Thinking about it now, Seo Taecheon did have a point. From the moment he said “my Omega,” the story had already taken a turn.

If they tried to walk it back—saying, actually, we’re just married on paper and will go our separate ways in a few months—Chairman Seo would feel betrayed.

“Well… true. But it really caught me off guard.”

“Sorry for surprising you.”

Seo Taecheon looked down at Jiwoon and apologized in a low voice. In that fleeting moment, his striking features hit Jiwoon hard, and he involuntarily swallowed.

“Ah, I—I wasn’t fishing for an apology or anything…”

“As an apology, allow me to serve you some tea.”

“Tea?”

“My father gave us some oolong tea and snacks earlier. Let’s share them together.”

Oolong tea? Snacks? It’s bound to be delicious.

“Sure.”

Jiwoon’s mood brightened instantly, unaware he was already being swept along by Seo Taecheon.

While Taecheon began boiling water for the tea, Jiwoon opened the luxurious box of traditional Korean sweets wrapped in cloth. Inside were rice puffs, nut clusters, traditional pressed cookies, and other beautifully crafted confections he didn’t even know the names of.

“It’s been a while since I brewed tea, so I might be a little clumsy.”

Soon, a full tea set was arranged on the living room table. With trays, a teapot, a strainer, all lined up in order, Seo Taecheon’s precise movements as he steeped the tea were like a scene from a film.

He actually looks pretty cool. That focused expression is kind of charming.

“Try it.”

A small, glimmering cup of tea was placed in front of Jiwoon.

“Thank you.”

He took a sip—warm and refreshing, with a crisp clarity.

“Wow! This is delicious.”

“The next cup will taste even better. The flavor changes slightly with each steeping.”

“Wow… you’re really talented. You even know tea ceremony?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just glad to have someone to share it with. It was no fun making it alone every day.”

At Taecheon’s words, Jiwoon felt his heart stir ever so slightly.

From the mouth of an Alpha who had always lived as a staunch bachelor came the words: “I’m glad to have someone to share it with.”

…Could it be that he, too, is beginning to change, just like I am?