NLFSD Chapter 101

Chapter 101 – Extra Story 1: Bitter Sweet Days

What do I do? Really, what should I do?

After sending Seo Taecheon off to work and finishing breakfast, Jiwoon paced restlessly around the living room sofa. Ten o’clock… eleven o’clock… hours passed, but his mind remained scrambled, no clear solution forming.

This was an entirely new dilemma, one he had never faced before, requiring a creative answer.

Our wedding anniversary is coming up… What in the world should I give him?

Since it was their first marriage, it was — unsurprisingly — their first anniversary too. The day wasn’t the wedding itself, but the date when, thanks to the government officer’s clerical mistake, their marriage had been legally registered. At the time, they weren’t even dating, but by mutual agreement that accidental registration date had become their official anniversary.

And now, without realizing, our first year has come around.

“I can’t keep sitting here. I need to really think.”

Jumping up from the sofa, back aching from lying so long, Jiwoon began circling the wide living room, waiting for inspiration.

Technically, it was a “fake” anniversary. That day had only been a bureaucrat’s mistake. But Jiwoon considered it a fateful accident. Were it not for that mishap, he and Taecheon would never have entangled, never fought about divorce, never fallen desperately in love.

That made it precious. He wanted to prepare the perfect anniversary, not only as gratitude for the love Taecheon had showered him with, but as repayment: from the moment they met and a handkerchief was lent, through cohabitation, accidental marriage, and at last a true wedding — Taecheon had given constantly, sheltering him like a home, shading him like a canopy, warming him in loneliness.

Being with him was never just about money or material comfort. Emotionally, Taecheon had always held Jiwoon up. Every time Jiwoon wanted to run away, afraid of closeness, Taecheon built a steady wall of arms around him. Even when Jiwoon, full of misunderstandings, had run off pregnant to hide in Madam Choi’s house — Taecheon had scoured the world to find him.

Though once a cynic who scorned marriage, Taecheon had imprisoned Jiwoon in a sweet abyss of devotion, pouring unreserved affection without fearing it wouldn’t be returned. To Jiwoon, that courage made him strong — outwardly cold, inwardly fiery, steadfast.

Sometimes Jiwoon wondered if the love he received was more than he deserved. But in the end his thoughts always circled back to: He must love me because I’m worth it, and he would smile.

Just as he thought Taecheon was the most dazzling man in the world, he believed in Taecheon’s eyes he was the most beautiful Omega. Thinking that always made him happy.

But still — he had never given a special gift. He wanted to, desperately.

“…It has to be truly amazing.”

Heading into the small study, Jiwoon flipped open his laptop and began typing stray ideas into a notepad file.

<1. Cooking>

The first thought: a heartfelt meal.

The problem? Jiwoon was notoriously terrible at cooking. Raised by grandparents, he had once tried to help in the kitchen, but his results were so disastrous that they firmly banned him from entering. Then he grew up juggling classes and part‑time jobs, surviving off convenience-store kimbap, sandwiches, sweet canned coffee… Cooking never had a chance to improve.

He could brew a decent Americano now that they had a home machine, but real cooking? Disaster.

Still — so what? If it’s me, he’ll prefer my handmade meal rather than some fancy restaurant.

Brimming with confidence without foundation, Jiwoon believed a little effort could deliver a respectable spread.

But… what menu?

Taecheon wasn’t picky. At restaurants and at home, he often ate oil pasta — simply in olive oil, or vongole clams sautéed in garlic.

Jiwoon searched recipes online. The results scared him.

“…These steps are complicated.”

Every recipe emphasized knife skills for prep, precise timing for pasta boiling. “Simple flavor” was actually demanding perfection. Vongole complicated things further: purging sand from clams, scrubbing shells clean, eliminating any fishy smell, cutting heat off at the right second.

But I can’t retreat. If it’s his favorite, I won’t give up.

After some research, Jiwoon peeked into his favorite grocery site — a specialty delivery service promising fresh food within hours, beloved during his frequent cravings.

Searching meal kit, he spotted one for vongole pasta. Pre‑cleaned ingredients, detailed recipe cards — “perfect taste even for beginners.” Hope burst in his chest.

Yes. Buying this meal kit still counts as my cooking. I’ll cook in our kitchen, serve it on our plates. It’ll be my dish.

The product had a [LOW STOCK] banner. Panicked, Jiwoon threw it into his cart and paid.

Now, might as well serve other dishes too. But what, to complement pasta? He scrolled through Korean, Chinese, Western choices.

What does he love most…what did we often eat on dates?

Steak. Right. He always ordered beef dishes.

Rummaging further, Jiwoon found steak kits — meat with seasoning and vegetables. But unsuitable: surprise dinners don’t allow perfect timing for searing. He needed something forgiving, something simmered.

Then, Homemade Beef Stew.

Light flashed. Taecheon once returned from a Hungary business trip raving about stew he had every day. He had even dragged Jiwoon to a Hungarian restaurant in Seoul, with paprika, potatoes, tomato base. This kit had them all.

“This is it.”

He quickly added it, then browsed the beef section. No budget limits today. He sorted by price high‑to‑low and bought the priciest cut. A whole pound? Too much? Nevermind. They’d share.

Relief washed him. Plans were forming.

“For the anniversary table, should I buy new plates too? Or fork and knife? …No, better to get a fresh table spread and vase of flowers. All in black, since he loves black.”

Even if it came out unattractive, Jiwoon decided, it didn’t matter. If Seo Taecheon smiles, then that is enough.

Footnotes:

1. Meal kit culture (밀키트): In modern Korea, fresh-prepped meal kits are popular for quick home cooking; here symbolic of Jiwoon’s attempt at sincerity despite poor skills. 
2. Vongole Pasta: Italian clam pasta, deceptively “simple” dish that requires experience with timing for flavor balance. 
3. Hungarian Beef Stew: Reference to Seo Taecheon’s global work trips; common K‑novel motif showing worldly taste and Jiwoon’s desire to match it.