By Zephyria “Seeing it so fully equipped, it seems like Senior also likes alcohol.”
“I enjoy it, but I’m not an enthusiast. This room… when we moved in, there was too much space, so we were wondering how to decorate it. Joo-ho also needed a space where he could drink comfortably without worrying about people.”
“That makes sense.”
So, he built a bar inside his house just to drink comfortably at home. The scale is different.
While adding ice to the glass to chill it and stirring with a bar spoon, he glanced at Director Bang sitting at the table.
“Do friends come over to drink sometimes?”
“It looks like a place where many people can drink together.”
“Ah… Joo-ho sometimes drinks here with his juniors or colleagues for second or third rounds, but very rarely.”
So, did Ji-in hyung also come here? When I met Ji-in hyung, it seemed like he met people one-on-one rather than in groups.
He poured out the melted ice water and then measured and poured all the pre-prepared liquors, sweet and sour mix, and orange liqueur into the glass, continuing the conversation.
“The Han River night view must be amazing at night. Bringing someone here would make it easy to charm them.”
As he opened the drawer refrigerator to get the cola for the final touch, Director Bang said with a smile,
“Joo-ho doesn’t need to bring anyone here to charm them.”
“…”
Song Hyun-soo stopped, his hand halfway to opening the refrigerator door, and slowly took out the cola.
The formidable Yoon Joo-ho. Of course, if he wanted to, he could charm anyone. Yes, indeed. I agree. But why did my mood suddenly sink? Am I jealous because I haven’t had a proper relationship in years and Jung-ho ignores me, while Yoon Joo-ho can charm anyone so easily?
After pouring the cola, he had to stir well under the ice to mix it properly. The drink spilled over the side of the glass. Why was I doing this? It was a mistake I rarely made. He wiped the surface of the glass with a towel and focused on finishing.
He garnished it with a lemon slice and lemon thyme herb, then placed the cocktail on a coaster on the bar counter. A drink was quickly completed.
“Here is your Long Island Iced Tea, as ordered.”
Director Bang stood up and approached immediately.
“Just the visual alone makes it look like a cocktail from a real bar!”
“It looks plausible because the glass is nice.”
Director Bang took a few photos of the cocktail with his phone and carefully brought the glass to his lips, being careful not to spill it. After taking a sip, his large, double-lidded eyes widened even further.
“Oh, Hyun-soo, this is really good!”
“Is it palatable?”
“You put so many different liquors in it, I thought it would be strong. But not at all?”
“I reduced the amount of liquor by about half compared to the standard Long Island recipe.”
“It’s even better than just cola. Like cola for adults.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
He enjoyed seeing customers react like this, which is why he got into making cocktails. He would ask a lukewarm customer what they didn’t like about a cocktail made with the standard recipe, and then present a modified, new recipe tailored specifically for that customer. Nine out of ten times, they would react like Director Bang. He loved that. In those moments, he felt like a useful human being.
“It should go well with Chinese food too.”
“Right, it probably will!”
Just then, the delivery arrived.
I don’t know which Chinese restaurant it was, but as Director Bang said, it was express delivery. The piping hot food was placed on the table about 20 minutes after ordering.
I thought I wasn’t very hungry, but even before opening the plastic packaging, the smell was incredibly appetizing. The glossy Jjajangmyeon and the crispy, savory tangsuyuk looked delicious even before eating.
“Wow, Director, this place is really good. Beef tangsuyuk, this is my first time trying it, it’s a whole new world!”
“Right? This place is good, isn’t it? Eat a lot.”
“Wow… The Jjajangmyeon is amazing too! The minced beef in the Jjajangmyeon is so savory!”
“It makes me happy to see you eat so well, even though I didn’t cook it.”
“Is Senior Joo-ho not like that?”
Scooping up a generous amount of Jjajangmyeon with his chopsticks, Song Hyun-soo glanced at Director Bang and asked.
“Joo-ho has only eaten the best things since he was young, so he doesn’t react much to anything he eats.”
“…”
“He’s also a picky eater.”
It was hard to imagine Yoon Joo-ho eating whatever was given to him. To be indifferent to such delicious food felt like kicking a golden chamber pot out of sheer luxury, in Song Hyun-soo’s ears.
As if the ramen he ate around 11 o’clock had never happened, Song Hyun-soo devoured the Jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk.
“Director, what’s the name of this Chinese restaurant? Can you tell me?”
“It’s very famous in this area. It’s called Daeheunggak. Their Jjamppong is also amazing.”
“Wow, that’s a real shame. If it were in my neighborhood, I’d order Jjamppong the next day after drinking.”
As he pushed a piece of onion dipped in chunjang into his mouth, his phone rang. Glancing at the phone screen on the table, Song Hyun-soo chewed the onion vigorously.
GYJHSB
It was Yoon Joo-ho. His first call. He quickly swallowed his food and answered the call.
“…Hello?”
[Are you crazy??As soon as I put the phone to my ear, Yoon Joo-ho’s nervous voice cut me off. Perhaps because he had just woken up, his voice, which was more hoarse than usual, was sexy. Gulp, gulp. Even though there was no food left in my mouth, I had to swallow dryly once.
“What?”
[Do you know what time it is? Where are you?]
“I’m at Senior’s house right now. I came on time, but who was the one sleeping?”
Even though I hadn’t hung up the phone, there was no further sound. What the heck? I put my phone down and was shoving jajangmyeon into my mouth when the door suddenly burst open. With my face still buried in the bowl, Song Hyun-soo only rolled his eyes towards the doorway. Yoon Joo-ho stood there, clutching his phone in one hand, huffing and puffing.
“Iaiii aeuuuu. Aeuuuu aeuuuu.”
Song Hyun-soo uttered alien gibberish, and Yoon Joo-ho scowled.
“What are you saying? Chew and talk.”
Song Hyun-soo swallowed the jajangmyeon filling his mouth after only three or four chews and then exclaimed urgently, pointing at Director Bang across from him.
“Director Bang told you not to wake me! Don’t get mad at me.”
Yoon Joo-ho’s sharp gaze turned towards Director Bang. However, Director Bang remained relaxed.
“It’s obvious you wouldn’t have slept last night. How could I wake you when you were finally asleep?”
Unable to say anything to someone who claimed they couldn’t wake him, Yoon Joo-ho grumbled to himself, running his hand through his hair carelessly. Song Hyun-soo, sensing the mood, slowly put down his chopsticks.
“Shall we stop eating and start practicing?”
“Finish your meal and come over slowly.”
Look at him, talking through gritted teeth.
But Song Hyun-soo was no longer bothered by Yoon Joo-ho’s tantrums.
He picked up his chopsticks again, grabbed a piece of sweet and sour pork, and held it up towards Yoon Joo-ho.
“Want some? It’s delicious, fried in clean oil.”
“Eat plenty.”
“Joo-ho, don’t you want a cocktail? Hyun-soo made it for me, it’s totally my style. Ask him to make you one too.”
This time, instead of refusing outright, Yoon Joo-ho glanced at the glass in Director Bang’s hand for a moment. But the outcome was still a petulant remark.
“Drinking in the middle of the day?”
“Didn’t you say one or two drinks are medicine?”
“Are you two in perfect sync or what?”
Yoon Joo-ho, with a displeased expression, disappeared down the hallway. Far from being intimidated or showing displeasure at his harsh words and actions, Song Hyun-soo even let out a small laugh before diving back into his jajangmyeon.
“He’s probably jealous because you and Hyun-soo seem to be having fun.”
“No way.”
“Don’t be too hurt. Joo-ho’s words are rough, but his heart isn’t. It just takes a while to realize that…”
“Yes, I know. If Senior was really angry, he would have put down his chopsticks and run away immediately, right?”
“Exactly! That’s Yoon Joo-ho’s way of speaking. Hyun-soo, you’re adapting to Joo-ho quickly.”
Dipping a piece of sweet and sour pork into the sauce, Song Hyun-soo smiled silently. That’s just how tsunderes are.