SMW 53

Left alone, I turned my gaze toward the kitchen and saw a heap of food I had taken out of the freezer. I had taken out every kind of jeon, so there were quite a few varieties. How was I supposed to fry all this by myself? Should I just put them back? No, I’d already said I would, and if I didn’t, Choi Seol might think it was strange.

Wait, did he already catch on that I’m trying to make him jealous? Or maybe he just hates the sight of me setting a table to feed my senior.

As I tried to think positively, a glimmer of hope appeared. If I acted a bit more affectionate toward the senior, his reaction might become more pronounced.

“Whatever, let’s just do it.”

When else in my life would I get to see my first love get jealous of another man because of me? This might be the one and only golden opportunity to witness such a sight. I rolled up my sleeves and began frying the jeon in earnest.

It was the so-called ‘First Love Jealousy Induction Operation.’

“Yeo-reum, what is all this?”

What do you mean what? It’s a prop for my operation.

“Since you’re here, I wanted to treat you to something. It’s not much, but please eat plenty.”

I gave a slight smile and a service comment, conscious of Choi Seol. unauthorized copyThe senior paused for a moment, visit our siteand then his eyes curved softly.

“Thank you. I’m touched.”

“It’s nothing.”

Of course he’s touched. The senior is probably the only person in the world receiving such a feast from an ex-boyfriend he broke up with ages ago. The one serving it is equally unique. I can’t believe I’m doing all this just to see my first love get jealous.

“You should come and eat too.”

I pretended to invite Choi Seol, who had just walked in, while scanning his expression, but there didn’t seem to be any major change yet. Looking languid as if he had just showered, Choi Seol sat down next to the table and, perplexingly, opened a book.

“What’s with that book?”

“This?”

Instead of explaining, Choi Seol showed me the cover. A little wizard was drawn on it. Shit, I almost let a curse slip.

“Hahaha, you actually brought that. Didn’t you say that book was boring?”

“Someone said it was really good, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

His tone was utterly indifferent, so why did it sound sarcastic?

“Still, isn’t reading while eating a bit much? You might spill something if you’re not careful.”

What on earth is he planning? It’s one thing to ignore a meal someone worked hard to prepare, but that book was something I had kept carefully wrapped in plastic, worrying it might get stained, scratched, or faded. Of course, it had been shoved into dustbins several times recently because of Choi Seol, but it was originally something I treated as precious. To bring that near a dining table… For the record, there was kimchi right in front of Choi Seol. I was seriously contemplating whether I should move it elsewhere when Choi Seol pushed his rice bowl forward and spoke.

“I’m not eating.”

“What? Why?”

“Just because.”

He could have at least made an excuse, like his stomach feeling off. To reject a meal someone struggled to prepare while smelling of oil for no reason…

Wait a minute. Is he actually acting out of jealousy?

It wasn’t entirely impossible. If not, he wouldn’t have sat by the table and randomly opened a book—especially that book—while intending not to eat.

Thinking that suddenly made me feel a bit better.

“He says so. Shall we just eat by ourselves then?”

I gave the senior another service smile and picked up my chopsticks.

“I’ll enjoy the meal. But is your friend really okay with not eating?”

“I’m fine.”

“I bet you’re hungry, though.”

The senior glanced at me as if seeking my agreement. Since he said he wouldn’t eat, I had no intention of forcing him. Above all, considering the operation, I couldn’t let my heart soften here.

And yet, the reason I hesitated was that neither Choi Seol nor I had eaten anything since morning. Did he eat something on his own without me knowing? If not, he must be quite hungry right now.

No matter how I thought about it, I felt worried. After all, we eat to live. I felt I should coax the stubborn kid into eating at least a few spoonfuls.

“Right, eat at least a little. My grandmother gave these ribs specifically for you to eat, so you should have at least one bite out of politeness, so you can give her your thoughts later.”

I picked up the largest piece of rib. I should debone it for him. If he tried to eat it by hand and dropped it on the book, it would be a disaster. I should cut the meat into bite-sized pieces. But would it be too hot?

“Here. Put this on your rice and eat it all. Chew slowly.”

Using the scissors I had prepared, I cut the rib into small pieces and placed them on Choi Seol’s rice bowl. Looking at the ribs piled high on the white rice, I felt an unconscious sense of pride and looked up, only to find Choi Seol’s expression looking strange. I felt the senior’s gaze as well, but I didn’t care about him. I asked Choi Seol.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing. I’ll eat well.”

Choi Seol put the book on the floor and picked up his utensils. Seeing him eat the ribs on top of the rice just as I told him made me feel warm inside. I pushed the plate of jeon toward Choi Seol.

“Try this too. You like sanjeok. I thought they were all gone, but there were some left. Eat slowly. If you feel like you’re choking, drink some dongchimi broth. You said it was too salty last time, so I added more water.”

Jealousy is something you do while eating. Seeing him chew and swallow everything I offered, I felt proud that he was being so obedient even in this situation.

Now, shall I eat too? I finally get to eat the ribs. Just as I excitedly lifted my chopsticks, I locked eyes with the senior.

Ah, right. I have to keep the jealousy induction operation going steadily. I gave a smile to the senior, who had a blank look for some unknown reason.

“Please eat a lot too, senior.”

“U-uh, yeah.”

“Would you like the scissors? The ribs shouldn’t be tough, but use them if it’s uncomfortable to tear them by hand.”

Tsk, I wanted to use them.

In my heart, I wanted to tell him his teeth were strong enough to just chew through, [unauthorized copy]but [unauthorized copy]remembering the jealousy operation, I steadfastly offered the scissors.

However, despite my rare sincerity, the senior waved his hand.

“No, I’ll just eat.”

“Alright. Then I’ll use them.”

Seriously, the ex-boyfriend from ages ago was no help. Having suffered a blow to the progress of my jealousy operation, I took the scissors back. Glancing at Choi Seol, he was still eating well, focusing on the jeon and ribs I had pushed toward him.

I should eat too. Thinking that I’d come up with a new jealousy tactic after filling my stomach, I picked up a rib, placed it on my rice bowl, and solemnly held the scissors.

“Give them to me. I’ll cut it for you.”

Choi Seol took the scissors from my hand. Then, he gripped the rib on my bowl with tongs, cut it into small pieces, and piled them high on my rice, just as I had done for him.

“Eat. Chew slowly.”

“Uh. Thanks.”

The brat actually knows how to return a favor. Or maybe the jealousy operation is working? It seemed my hard work had paid off. I brought the meat and rice Choi Seol had served me to my mouth.

The ribs that melted in my mouth were, as expected, delicious. As I chewed contentedly, I felt a gaze [Read on Read BL Novels]from across the table. Why is that senior making [Read on Read BL Novels]people uncomfortable instead of eating? Moreover, his expression was so stiff, as if he had chewed on something bitter, that it almost ruined my appetite.

Normally, I would have ignored it, but given the situation, I smiled once more. In the meantime, Choi Seol placed another piece of meat on my spoon.

It seemed the jealousy induction operation was a success.

Choi Seol only reopened his book after eating the ribs I had deboned and the jeon. The problem was that for nearly five minutes, the page didn’t turn. If I remembered correctly, the text on the first page was only about ten lines at most. Does reading that take so long? I could have read it and turned the page in a few seconds. Besides, it wasn’t the kind of content that required such a serious expression.

Becoming serious myself, I forgot to finish my meal and stared intently at him, until I heard the senior’s voice.

“Yeo-reum.”

“Yes.”

“I enjoyed the meal.”

“Yes.”

“…….”

Or is he unable to read a single line because he’s so preoccupied with this side of the table?

Come to think of it, I used to be like that too. Back then, just [Read on Read BL Novels]hearing Choi Seol’s name would pull all my attention [Read on Read BL Novels]in that direction, and I’d open a book but barely look at it. Honestly, the book back then was nothing more than a camouflage prop.

The jealousy induction operation is surprisingly easy.

“Yeo-reum.”

Ah, he’s really annoying.

It was hard to concentrate because the senior kept talking to me. I felt I had to respond properly at least once just to get him to be quiet.

“Are you finished with your meal?”

“…….”

Why is there no answer? I looked at the senior’s rice bowl. Considering the amount I had served, it hadn’t even decreased by a quarter. He barely seemed to have touched the side dishes in front of him. I hadn’t expected much anyway, so there was nothing to be disappointed about, but I had served him very small portions with consideration, and he couldn’t even finish that? Even Choi Seol, who said he wouldn’t eat, cleared his bowl.

“If you’re done, you can leave first.”

I thought it would be fine to end the jealousy operation here. Even if I did more, knowing Choi Seol’s personality, I didn’t think anything more would come out of it than reading a book at a dining table, and above all, I didn’t want to be any more affectionate toward my ex-boyfriend. Now, I just had to maintain politeness until he left.

“The room I mentioned earlier. I’ve laid out the bedding there, so if you’re tired, you can go first…”

“Yeo-reum. When are you planning to go apply for your return to school?”

I immediately shut my mouth. At the same time, I heard the sound of a page turning. I wanted to look immediately to see if he had finally made progress, but I endured it. Now was not the time. I picked up a rib with my chopsticks and replied, pretending to be nonchalant.

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m saying you should go apply with me when I head back up.”

The rib slipped through my chopsticks and plopped onto the rice. Before I could hide my fluster, I put on a troubled expression.

“It’s a bit sudden to just go.”

“Why? It’s the countryside here, so the way back up will be complicated. It’ll be convenient and nice if you go in my car.”

“We have a car too.”

“You had a car?”

“No, not me, but…”

I trailed off and looked at Choi Seol. Fortunately, he seemed to understand that it was about him, and his gaze shifted from the book to me.

“You have a car. A really [visit our site]expensive and fancy foreign car. Wasn’t it unauthorized copyall unauthorized copyfixed after you sent it for repairs?”

I raised my voice slightly on purpose so the senior could hear. Choi Seol nodded obediently.

“It’s all fixed.”

It’s fixed. I breathed a sigh of relief.

But wait a minute.

“When did the repairs finish?”

“About a few weeks ago. Not long after I went up to Seoul and came back down. The police told me.”

“Then why didn’t I know?”