Chapter 77: Hidden Tension at the Dinner Table

“…You, maybe….”

“Hyung! Why aren’t you coming?”

“……!”

At that moment, unable to wait any longer, Hyun-jin came out of the dining room and called Hyun-woo.

The moment he saw Seung-hyuk standing in front of Hyun-woo, he froze in place.

“…….”

“…….”

The two stared at each other in silence for a moment.

A little flustered, Hyun-woo turned toward Hyun-jin and answered.

“Ah, right. Let’s eat.”

It seemed he would have to ask about L&S later.

Hyun-woo headed back to the dining room.

“You bought all of this?”

“Yeah!”

Hyun-woo widened his eyes at the food spread across the table.

A colorful assortment of dishes filled the table.

From salad, to steak, to pasta.

It was far too much food for one person, so Hyun-woo stared at it with an unsure expression.

“I don’t think we can finish all of this….”

“If there’s leftover, we can eat it again tomorrow.”

“Hmm….”

It seemed that Hyun-jin was excited because his exams were finally over.

Who would’ve expected him to buy this much food.

Maybe Hyun-woo should have gotten a cake to celebrate.

But since Seung-hyuk’s exams weren’t over yet, getting a cake felt a bit awkward.

Also, it was already late, so eating quickly and cleaning up seemed like the better idea.

Sitting down, Hyun-woo smiled gently.

“Thanks for the food.”

“Yeah! Enjoy!”

“…….”

Naturally, Hyun-jin sat right in front of him again.

It seemed he planned to watch him eat.

Hyun-woo smiled awkwardly as he picked up his fork.

“The pasta was good. Try that first.”

“Yeah?”

He reached for the pasta.

Even though it was slightly soft from sitting too long, it still tasted fine.

Taking a bite of the slightly spicy cream pasta, Hyun-woo’s eyes widened.

“Oh, this is really good?”

“Right??”

“……!”

Where on earth did he even find a place like this?

Hyun-woo was genuinely surprised.

He didn’t think Hyun-jin would know this kind of restaurant.

“Um….”

Just then, Seung-hyuk entered the dining room, now changed into different clothes.

Didn’t he already say he ate?

Hyun-woo blinked and asked him.

“I thought you ate already?”

“I did.”

“……?”

After that short reply, Seung-hyuk sat next to Hyun-jin.

Suddenly, the memory of when they watched him eat porridge came to mind.

Like they were supervising him.

The pasta that tasted amazing moments ago now felt like chewing sand.

“You’re both not eating, so why—”

“We didn’t want you to get bored.”

“Just eat. Don’t worry about us.”

“Hmm….”

How is he supposed to eat with both of them staring so openly?

He wanted to complain, but since their intentions were good, it was hard to scold them.

Forcing a smile, Hyun-woo took another bite—

“Hyung, have some steak too. Should I cut it for you?”

“Eat some salad, too. You should eat balanced meals.”

“…….”

So they came here just to nag him.

They really should have just let him eat peacefully by himself.

He grumbled internally, but… he didn’t dislike it.

He could see very clearly that they were genuinely worried about him.

‘Do I really look like I don’t eat properly…?’

Sure, he skipped some meals when work got busy.

But it wasn’t like he starved himself.

Recently, they’d even been giving him health drinks.

It was obvious someone had been telling them about his work life.

Was this Hyun-seok’s doing?

That guy had nagged him plenty too—telling him to cut back on coffee and watch his stomach.

Maybe he said something to Hyun-jin too.

The thought was a little funny.

To think they were all fussing over him because of that.

Cute, honestly.

Hyun-woo chuckled and took a bite of the steak that Hyun-jin cut and the salad that Seung-hyuk served.

“It’s good.”

“Right? It’s good, right?”

“Yeah.”

And seeing Hyun-jin happy like that was unexpectedly healing.

Hyun-woo continued eating while the two watched closely.

“Drink some water while you eat.”

“Oh… thanks.”

“…….”

Even Seung-hyuk quietly took care of him too.

He appreciated it…

But looking at him made the L&S situation crawl back into his mind.

He wanted to ask so badly.

“Do you… have something you want to ask me?”

“Huh?”

After the meal nearly ended, the quick-witted Seung-hyuk asked first.

Hyun-woo blinked, caught off guard.

His gaze instinctively shifted toward Hyun-jin.

It was not a topic to discuss in front of him.

But talking alone in a room with just Seung-hyuk would also make Hyun-jin uncomfortable.

“I’m fine. You two can go talk in your room.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah. But come back soon, okay? I’ll cut fruit while I wait.”

“Oh… okay.”

Hyun-jin smiled brightly.

He really seemed okay with it.

Hyun-woo nodded and turned to Seung-hyuk without hesitation.

“Come to my room for a minute.”

“Yes.”

“…….”

Before following, Seung-hyuk glanced at Hyun-jin sitting at the table.

He was clearly concerned, too.

They would have to make the talk quick.

Inside the room, facing each other—

“You know about the L&S headquarters system shutdown today, right?”

“Yes. I saw the news.”

“…Did you….”

“…….”

“Was it you?”

Hyun-woo asked directly.

Seung-hyuk’s expression was unreadable.

Hyun-woo waited anxiously.

“And if I did?”

“Why would you do something like that?!”

“Cha Kwon-oh crossed the line first.”

“……!”

There was ice in Seung-hyuk’s voice.

He clearly held deep hostility toward Cha Kwon-oh.

It made sense.

Things between them had gotten far uglier than in the original timeline.

But because they used to get along in the original story, the shift felt uncomfortable.

“Even so, you shouldn’t have done something like that. What if you got caught?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t.”

“Ha….”

Hyun-woo let out a short sigh.

Right.

The protagonist of the novel could do anything he wanted.

But still.

He worried.

If something happened to Seung-hyuk, then Hyun-jin’s happy ending would collapse.

He couldn’t allow that.

“You can’t do it again. Got it?”

“…….”

“I said, do you understand?”

At Hyun-woo’s serious tone, Seung-hyuk slowly spoke.

“Are you worried about me?”

“…What?”

“You’re worried something might happen to me. Right?”

“No, I—”

Well… technically, yes.

But the nuance was different.

The person he was really worried about was Hyun-jin.

But Seung-hyuk looked strangely happy.

Like he didn’t expect Hyun-woo to care at all.

Had he really lived like a lone wolf so long he was starved for care?

Hyun-woo awkwardly nodded.

“Of course I’d worry. You’re Hyun-jin’s friend.”

“…….”

A friend—who would one day become far more important.

But that wasn’t relevant right now.

“……?”

Suddenly, an unpleasant aura leaked from Seung-hyuk.

Hyun-woo instinctively leaned back.

It was rare for Seung-hyuk to show irritation so openly.

“…What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

He turned his head away sharply, clearly upset.

What did he say wrong?

Was “friend” the wrong word…?

Maybe he should’ve said something implying they were closer.

So they weren’t doing well with each other recently—his earlier impression was just wrong.

Hyun-woo smiled gently, reassured.

“Don’t be impatient. Graduation isn’t far away.”

“…What is that supposed to mean?”

“Well… just hang in there.”

“……?”

Hyun-woo patted his shoulder lightly.

Seung-hyuk looked even more confused.

Tomorrow was vacation starting.

And according to the original story—something big would happen soon between them.

One major event.

“Oh…”

He had forgotten something huge.

“Why?”

“His birthday!”

“…What?”

“Hyun-jin’s birthday!”

“……?”

Hyun-jin’s birthday was just around the corner.

And in the original novel, it was a major event for all the love interests.

But this time—there would be no chaos.

Because Hyun-woo had already chased away all the extra love rivals.

Now, the only one close to Hyun-jin was Seung-hyuk.

So this time—Hyun-jin’s birthday event…

Would belong to Seung-hyuk alone.

Hyun-woo smiled proudly at the thought.