TUW | CHAPTER 09

Chapter 09

Why Do You Want to Escape?

Lee Yeon reached out to Do-hyun again.

[Shall we just eat at home?]

Budae-jjigae wasn’t exactly a “simple” dish, but she couldn’t think of another excuse to invite him over.

[Sure.]

As expected, his reply was short and simple.

She wondered what time he’d be arriving.

Ever since she had moved into Dohyun’s house, she’d never once worried about meals.

Thanks to the housekeeper who came every other day, there was always food prepared; she just scooped some into a bowl and carried it upstairs to eat.

But maybe because of the rumours she’d overheard today about Dohyun’s mother’s death, she suddenly felt like she should cook something he actually liked.

[I’ll be there around 8.]

It was almost uncanny, like he’d read her mind.

Just as she was wondering what time he’d show up, he told her.

With little time to spare, she quickly placed an order through a same-day delivery app before heading home.

As soon as she arrived, she dropped her things off upstairs and hurried back down to the first floor.

“Now, where’s the apron…?”

She looked around, then spotted one sitting on top of the water purifier.

“…Wow, this is adorable.”

It was a bright yellow apron with a cartoon bear drawn on it, clutching a honey jar and running gleefully across a wide meadow.

Was it happy because of the honey, or because it was running free in the field?

She admired the design for a moment, then her phone buzzed.

A message: the groceries had arrived at the door.

“Alright… It’s been a while, but let’s see what I’ve got.”

Lee Yeon pulled the bags inside and began unpacking the ingredients one by one.

Chopped cabbage, minced garlic, onions, and, of course, the most important piles of Spam.

Add a packet of beef-bone broth, and that was it!

Beep beep—

She was stirring the pot with a ladle, focused entirely on her cooking, when the sound of the front door opening startled her.

Do-hyun.

Earlier than expected.

“You’re here already?”

He stopped in his tracks, as though caught off guard.

Lee Yeon stood in the entryway, blinking up at him, wearing that cheerful yellow apron and clutching a ladle in her hand.

His gaze flicked from the bear on her apron to the ladle and finally to her face.

Then he spoke.

“…You tied your hair up.”

Normally, she wore her bob loose, or rather, her wig.

This was the first time he’d seen her with her hair tied back.

“Yes.

It just gets in the way while cooking…”

She could feel his eyes lingering along her jawline.

Was it strange that she’d tied her hair?

Really that strange?

Lee Yeon nervously fingered the little ponytail at the back of her head.

She’d rushed into the kitchen the moment she got home, frantic to prepare dinner before Do-hyun arrived, and hadn’t even stopped to notice she’d tied it up.

“It looks awkward, doesn’t it?

I was planning to take it down once I finished cooking.”

She squinted slightly, lifting the corners of her lips in a shy, self-conscious smile.

“It looks better tied.”

What?

Her head snapped up, cheeks flushing.

Her heart gave a small, startled thump.

She must have misheard him.

She had to have.

Maybe it was the bear on her apron, maybe it had fed him honey somehow, because there was no way those sweet words had come from Dohyun’s mouth.

“Your face is smaller than I thought.

Might even be smaller than my hand.”

He suddenly raised his palm right in front of her face.

His brows arched playfully as he compared.

“…Bigger than my hand, after all.”

He flashed a mischievous grin before brushing past her and stepping inside.

Lee Yeon just blinked, dumbfounded, as warmth rushed into her cheeks.

That piercing look he’d given her the moment he arrived, the unexpectedly sweet comment, the hand thrust so close to her face, and that teasing, killer smile what on earth had happened outside to put him in such a good mood?

“What is this…”

All it took was a few words from him, and her chest was buzzing with an unsteady tremor.

She squeezed her eyes shut, shook her head hard, and even tapped her cheek with her palm.

Get it together, Yoo Lee Yeon!

Snap out of it!

Surely he hadn’t meant anything by it.

Surely it was nothing more than a thoughtless gesture.

“Oh, right.”

Just as he was about to head to his room, Do-hyun turned back.

“Put this in the fridge for me.”

Dangling from his wrist was a shopping bag.

“What’s this?”

“Bought some beef.

Thought we could grill it over the brazier tonight.”

It seemed Do-hyun had also given dinner some thought after Lee Yeon invited him he hadn’t come home empty-handed.

“Then we’ve got to grill it right away!”

At the mention of beef, Lee Yeon’s eyes sparkled.

Do-hyun looked at her like she was ridiculous, then let out a short laugh.

“Didn’t you say you already made dinner?”

“I’m eating the beef too.”

She waved her hands quickly, as if his words could never dissuade her.

“We can just have it with the budae-jjigae.

They’ll pair perfectly!

You can’t just let expensive department store beef sit in the fridge.

Fifteen minutes and it’ll be ready.

Why don’t you wash up in the meantime?”

She clutched the shopping bag to her chest like she’d never let it go.

Her determination to eat that beef was unshakable.

Noticing her resolve, Do-hyun didn’t bother to argue further.

“Fine.

I’ll wash up.

Do what you want with the beef.”

He left her with exactly the words she wanted to hear before disappearing into his room.

Lee Yeon returned to her cooking, humming under her breath.

The budae-jjigae she’d just sampled was nothing short of perfect.

Forget the ones sold outside hers could put them all to shame!

She pulled side dishes from the fridge, arranged them neatly on plates, scooped steaming rice into bowls, and set them on the dining table.

“…Why isn’t he coming out yet?”

The feeling was strange, like a wife waiting for her husband who refused to leave his study.

Knock, knock.

“Vice President, dinner’s ready.

I think my stomach’s about to glue itself to my back.”

The door opened at her call.

This time, Do-hyun was carrying a different shopping bag.

He handed it straight to her without explanation.

“What’s this?”

“Wine.”

Inside the tall bag, wrapped with a ribbon, was a single bottle of red.

“I thought you liked it.”

Ah… but budae-jjigae calls for soju.

He must have remembered her happily sipping wine at a restaurant, saying how good it was.

“It’s true, I can’t resist wine… but for budae-jjigae, it has to be soju.”

With a sharp thunk, she set a green bottle of soju down on the table.

“Did we even have soju in the house?”

Do-hyun looked genuinely puzzled.

He was more of a whiskey man, and the sudden appearance of soju threw him off.

“I picked it up at the convenience store on the way here.”

Even the drinks had been perfectly prepared.

Before long, Do-hyun pulled out a miniature brazier from somewhere.

“Secretary Lee, you don’t know how to grill meat.”

He stood, pulled the platter of beef from in front of her, and grabbed the tongs like it was a foregone conclusion he’d be handling the grill.

“…How did you know?”

“You just look like you can’t.

Those tiny hands of yours can’t even hold tongs properly.”

With the brazier glowing and wine glasses set on the table, the spread looked almost restaurant-worthy.

A little candlelight would’ve completed the picture.

“Try the budae-jjigae before it gets cold.

Just… don’t faint from how good it is.”

“If it’s not good, I won’t eat it.”

“Have a taste before you decide.”

At her confident challenge, Do-hyun scooped up a spoonful and tasted it.

“…Not bad.”

But even as he dismissed it, his spoon never stopped moving.

“That’s it?

Come on it’s amazing, isn’t it?”

Her eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together, looking up at him like a puppy begging to be praised.

Do-hyun studied her for a long moment before finally speaking.

“You’ve got talent.

In cooking.”

The praise made Lee Yeon break into a bright, unrestrained smile.

“Of course!

My family ran a Chinese restaurant.”

“And what does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s in my DNA!

Now, cheers?”

They clinked their glasses, and the soju went down smooth the perfect match for budae-jjigae.

While one hand kept scooping stew, the other worked the grill.

Once the beef was perfectly done, Do-hyun placed a few slices onto her plate.

Lee Yeon immediately picked them up and popped them into her mouth, her lips curving into a wide smile.

“This is so good.”

God, it was hot.

She fanned herself with one hand, unsure if the heat came from the alcohol or the little brazier between them.

Either way, the flush had climbed all the way to her crown, and her cheeks glowed like ripe peaches.

Silently, Do-hyun set the tongs down and rose to adjust the air conditioner.

“Ah… that’s better.”

Maybe it was the brazier or maybe the soju but the buzz was hitting her faster than usual.

A quick glance at the table revealed why.

They were already on their third bottle.

“I’ve been wondering about something for a while.”

As he refilled their glasses, Do-hyun finally spoke.

“Yes?

Go ahead, ask away.”

Flushed with drink, Lee Yeon answered with a soft, tipsy smile.

“Why do you always wear clothes that don’t fit you?”

He meant the slightly loose outfits she always chose.

“What’s wrong with a blouse and slacks?

I just like being comfortable.”

Her chin dropped onto her hand as she muttered, sounding weary of the criticism.

“Why did someone say something to you about it?”

Catching something in her tone, Do-hyun asked carefully.

After all, most secretaries wore fitted skirts.

Someone had probably made a remark.

“Of course.

The head of marketing had a word with me at first, and even the chief secretary said my clothes looked too big… But honestly, I don’t think they’re that big.

They’re not skin-tight, sure, but it’s not like I wear clothes so oversized that I can’t do my job.”

Not to mention Kang, the assistant manager, who never missed a chance to nitpick.

“But I guess everyone’s used to it by now.

They don’t say much anymore.”

She tilted back her glass, finishing the last drops in one go, then set it down on the table with a sharp clack.

The gesture alone betrayed how far the alcohol had gotten to her.

“Mm… the reason I dress like this is… well, to avoid men’s eyes, I guess.”

“Eyes?”

“Yeah.

You know the kind those s

ticky, lingering stares full of unwanted attention.”

Do-hyun said nothing, only watched her steadily.

From the look in his eyes, Lee Yeon could practically read the thought written there: complete disbelief.

Her brows furrowed.

Wait was that a glare?

Is he seriously thinking, ‘Why would you need to worry about men’s stares?’

“Why do you want to escape from them?”