Chapter 8
There was no need to hear any polite compliments about the taste.
It wasn’t in Jeok I-geon’s nature to say such things, and the empty bowl, devoid of even a single drop of broth, spoke volumes about his satisfaction.
“Well then, I will take my leave.”
Although Cheon Gang had advised me to keep my words to a minimum in front of Jeok I-geon, my half-day of experience suggested he occasionally preferred explanations.
Even though I was still nervous, I decided to say only what was necessary moving forward.
After all, I didn’t want to get killed for failing to respond.
Huh?
Why isn’t this moving?
Having given my farewell, it was time to clear the tray.
Yet, no matter how much I tried, the tray wouldn’t budge.
Considering the noodles and ice water were all gone, it should’ve been lighter than before. But it felt as if it were a boulder glued to the ground.
“…Second Young Master?”
The reason wasn’t hard to identify.
Sure enough, Jeok I-geon was pressing down on the tray.
With a single finger.
He wasn’t even applying much force, merely resting his finger on it, and yet the tray seemed immovable, as though it had fused with the ground.
Caught off guard, I awkwardly looked at Jeok I-geon while holding the tray’s sides.
And, of course, there he was, staring at me with his terrifying eyes again.
If you want something, just say it already!
Why don’t you ever speak?
What’s the point of having a mouth?
Despite the barrage of curses swirling in my head, I forced myself to think quickly.
What could Jeok I-geon possibly want from me at this moment?
Could it be… that?
Jeok I-geon was nineteen years old.
In modern terms, a high school senior.
Wouldn’t a single bowl of noodles be too little for a young man that age?
It’s the time of life when boys can eat multiple servings of ramen and still be hungry.
Not to mention, Jeok I-geon engaged in intense physical activity.
While I didn’t know any athletes personally, I’d heard they had massive appetites.
“Um… Would you like me to bring more noodles?”
Jeok I-geon neither nodded nor answered.
He simply lifted his finger.
A silent order to bring more.
‘Unbelievable.’
The ladies at Jamigwan would be overjoyed.
Balancing the tray, I rushed out. Judging by Jeok I-geon’s expression, delaying even slightly seemed like it would invite trouble.
Thankfully, there was plenty of chicken kalguksu prepared, and I returned to the pavilion without much delay.
Jeok I-geon resumed his noodle-slurping immediately.
Anticipating this, I had brought nearly twice the amount from before, and he polished off every bite in no time, leaving not a single drop of broth behind.
Even as he ate with such vigor, he somehow maintained an innate elegance, with not a single drop spilling anywhere.
When he finally placed his chopsticks down after the second serving, Jeok I-geon looked genuinely content.
It might be a good idea to prepare different types of noodles for lunch going forward.
At least he wouldn’t cling to the tray again.
To my relief, this time, the tray lifted effortlessly.
I was genuinely overjoyed to escape Jeok I-geon’s presence and quickly descended from the pavilion.
Though dinner and the late-night meal still loomed ahead, successfully completing lunch gave me a moment of peace.
The farther away from him, the better.
For the sake of my mental stability, I needed this brief reprieve.
“Looks like the Young Master had quite an appetite today.”
A thick-trunked zelkova tree stood near the training grounds.
From under its shade, Cheon Gang, who had been observing Jeok I-geon, approached me with a faint smile.
Oh, my favorite character is smiling at me.
In the morning, he seemed disappointed, but now he seemed to approve of my progress.
“He must’ve been very hungry. How about you, Cheon Gang? Aren’t you hungry?”
Since I had something to share, I placed the tray on the ground and asked.
“I didn’t see you eat anything during breakfast or lunch. Aren’t you feeling hungry?”
“There’s no need to concern yourself with my meals. You are the Second Young Master’s maid; you only need to take care of him.”
“Yes, that’s true. But people need to eat to work. How can anyone work on an empty stomach? Especially someone like you, a bodyguard, Cheon Gang. You need to take care of yourself even more.”
“I’m fine, really…”
“Here, take this. I got it from my friend at Jamigwan. It’s for you.”
I offered him the rice ball So-ok had given me.
She had always packed these for me to eat at the laundry yard, and they were absolutely delicious.
Despite her clumsy demeanor, she was incredibly skilled at cooking.
“These are really good. Just one will fill you right up.”
“I really can’t. Your friend gave it to you, and I can’t take what’s meant for you.”
“I never said I was giving you all of it.”
“…What?”
“I have another one.”
To prove it, I pulled out the remaining rice ball from my sleeve.
Honestly, just one rice ball was enough to feel full.
“Actually, your advice this morning helped me a lot. I’m offering this as a token of gratitude, so please don’t reject it. It’ll embarrass me if you do.”
Surely, he would accept now, right?
Would anyone understand the joy of wanting to feed their favorite character something delicious?
“Alright, I’ll take it. Thank you.”
Yes!
My earnest plea finally convinced Cheon Gang.
He accepted the bundle of rice balls with a smile and immediately took a big bite right there.
Wait, he’s eating it here?
I thought he’d eat it quietly indoors, but it seemed I had misunderstood Cheon Gang.
He was much more easygoing than I had imagined.
“It wasn’t just talk.”
After swallowing the bite, Cheon Gang’s expression had changed.
“This is the best rice ball I’ve ever had.”
“Right? My friend’s cooking skills are no joke.”
Before I knew it, the rice ball had completely disappeared from his hand.
Despite finishing it, there was a clear sense of regret in his eyes.
Yes! Mission accomplished: feeding my favorite character!
I never imagined I’d feel the joy of offering tribute here of all places.
“I’ll get you another one next time.”
“Then I’ll owe you a favor.”
Cheon Gang usually avoided imposing on others, but the rice ball must have been exceptionally good.
See? Food really is the best way to win someone over.
“Well, Cheon Gang, I’ll be off now. I’ll see you again this evening!”
I still had to sweep and tidy the inside of Geonyeong Pavilion again.
According to the guidebook Lady Gwak gave me, Jeok I-geon’s compulsive cleanliness required that the space be cleaned twice a day without fail.
He truly was high maintenance.
I picked up the tray I had set down earlier and trudged toward the exit of the training grounds.
It was then, out of curiosity, that I turned back to see what Jeok I-geon was doing.
“…!”
I nearly dropped the tray.
What?
Why is he glaring at me like that again?
I wasn’t sure how long he had been watching, but Jeok I-geon was staring at me with piercing eyes that felt like lasers.
The intensity was so menacing that, even from a distance, I felt as though my throat had been slit.
The fact that my heart hadn’t stopped was a miracle, and I felt as though my entire body had broken out in goosebumps.
I barely managed to hold on to my composure.
Had I done something wrong again?
Though Jeok I-geon often glared as if he wanted to kill someone, there was usually a reason behind it.
But no matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong this time.
He devoured two bowls of kalguksu earlier, so why was he acting like this now?
Jeok I-geon was clearly not someone I could ever let my guard down around.
Just when I thought things had relaxed a little, I realized how foolish and complacent I had been.
Of course, Jeok I-geon wouldn’t mellow out so easily.
For the sake of my survival, I would need to remain on edge at all times.
This realization hit me hard as I hastily fled the training grounds.
The brief, beautiful moment I had shared with Cheon Gang was already a distant memory.
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