Chapter 27: A Taste of Safety

“You are officially registered.”

Yaehyun registered his fingerprint on Ijeong’s apartment server and stepped out of the management office.

‘Of course the card key is necessary, but if you want to use the resident facilities, it’s much better to register your fingerprint too.’

‘Is it really necessary to go that far…’

Though he thought the security measures were a bit excessive, Ijeong’s stubborn insistence had forced him to register his fingerprint almost entirely against his will. Yaehyun sighed lightly, adjusting his collar as he looked around the lavish, sprawling apartment complex.

It definitely lives up to its reputation as the most expensive apartment complex in Seoul.

Keeping that thought to himself, Yaehyun walked toward the designated building.

Beep—

[ ♡: You home? 7:01 PM ]

When his phone buzzed, Yaehyun checked Ijeong’s message and quickly tapped the keyboard.

[ Yeah. Are you going to be late tonight? 7:02 PM ]

[ ♡: No. I’ll be there soon. Let’s have dinner together. 7:02 PM ]

Yaehyun felt a sharp chill run down his spine at Ijeong’s prompt reply. Wait, dinner? With slightly trembling hands, he typed back.

[ Are we eating out somewhere? 7:03 PM ]

[ ♡: No. There are plenty of ingredients in the fridge. I don’t really like ordering takeout. 7:04 PM ]

That meant if he stayed entirely passive, he would be subjected to that sour, questionable doenjang jjigae all over again. A cold sweat broke out on Yaehyun’s forehead.

[ Is there anything specific you want to eat? 7:05 PM ]

I’d rather just cook myself. Yaehyun, who absolutely refused to let that dish near his taste buds again, sent a hasty follow-up text.

Honestly, whether it was the actor’s specific taste buds or his cooking standards that were warped, that doenjang jjigae was a strange anomaly where the actual flavor and visual appearance didn’t match at all. It wasn’t exactly lethal, but just the thought of swallowing it again made his appetite fade entirely.

[ ♡: I’m not picky about food at all. ^^ 7:10 PM ]

The reply flashed across the screen just as Yaehyun arrived at Ijeong’s front door.

Then I should check the inventory in the fridge first and figure out a menu. Yaehyun opened the door using the premium keycard Ijeong had given him and stepped inside.

“I still have to unpack all of this…”

The heavy luggage transported by the van Ijeong’s agency had sent was scattered haphazardly across the entrance foyer. He hadn’t planned on bringing much, but because it was the dead of winter, the coats were bulky, making the pile look far more daunting than it actually was.

He could handle the unpacking later, but dinner couldn’t wait. Yaehyun deliberately ignored the wall of luggage filling the entrance and headed straight for the kitchen.

When he pulled open the massive refrigerator, it was surprisingly well-stocked with a wide variety of fresh ingredients. Since Ijeong claimed he wasn’t picky, what should he actually prepare? Yaehyun scanned the shelves intently, lost in thought.

“Hmm. Nothing specific stands out…”

The most familiar, foolproof dish was always doenjang jjigae, but they had already eaten that last time, and given Ijeong’s bizarre execution of it, his culinary history was highly suspicious. No other complex menu came to mind.

“But the rolled omelet he made tasted completely normal.”

So maybe egg-based dishes were the safest bet. Yaehyun stared at the cartons of eggs filling one side of the shelf. A safe, predictable choice is best. Operating under that logic, Yaehyun began pulling out a few basic ingredients.

After wrapping up the day’s shoot, Ijeong headed straight home. If he went back now, Yaehyun would be waiting inside. For some strange reason, that singular thought made him feel a subtle wave of happiness.

“You look unusually pleased with yourself. What’s going on?” Noticing the shift in his demeanor, Jooseok glanced at Ijeong through the rearview mirror.

“Well, it’s not that big of a deal.”

“By the way, I’m genuinely worried about Yaehyun. I had no idea that stalker would cross the line into targeting civilians…” Jooseok kept his eyes on the road, his expression clouded with concern. “You were the same. The lunatic kept claiming he would back off if you found a real lover, but he clearly knew the relationship was just a media play.”

“That was the case.”

But Ijeong had never believed the stalker’s claims anyway. He understood the true intention behind that message. That single scrawled statement was simply a display of power—a sign that the intruder knew absolutely everything about Ijeong’s private arrangements. Kissing Yaehyun in front of the cameras had been born out of a reckless, desperate mindset, but he had never taken the stalker’s conditions seriously.

“What’s the point of trying to rationalize the inner workings of a crazy person’s mind?”

“Still, I’m anxious. Sigh. But at least we have a solid lead this time, so the agency can actually investigate.”

Fortunately, Yaehyun had looked directly at the face of the suspected stalker. And since they now possessed an active email address and phone number, it would be immensely helpful for tracking the perpetrator down.

“Looking at how meticulously he operated before, he probably didn’t use his own legal email or phone number, but it’s a massive stroke of luck that we can even catch a tail like this.”

“He must have been so incredibly angry about the relationship that he didn’t think to hide his tracks properly.”

The stalker revealing a blatant weakness was the perfect opportunity Ijeong had been waiting for. Ideally, within these three contract months, the stranger would get more agitated, more impatient, and commit a cascade of sloppy mistakes. Leaning back into the leather seat, Ijeong let his eyes drift closed.

“So make sure you treat Yaehyun better from now on. Think about how terrified he must have been.”

“Of course I’ll treat him well. You have no idea how helpful he is to my current situation.” Ijeong grinned. It was a flawless, dazzling smile that could effortlessly captivate a stadium, but Jooseok didn’t find it comforting at all.

“Don’t look at him like he’s just a tool.”

“What did I even do?”

Jooseok glared at Ijeong through the mirror and let out a heavy sigh. He had managed Ijeong since the boy entered the entertainment industry at the age of twenty, but contrary to his pristine public image, Ijeong harbored a deeply cynical side.

When he recalled the twenty-year-old Ijeong casually stating that you should never trust people easily, and that trusting someone without holding a distinct weakness over them was absolute stupidity, Jooseok could only shake his head. Fortunately or unfortunately, Ijeong was excellent at public relations and acting, so he had navigated his career without a single major scandal. But Jooseok always carried a lingering anxiety that one day that sharp, cold personality would cause a massive disaster.

“We’re here. Get out.”

The van smoothly pulled into the secure underground parking lot of Ijeong’s apartment complex and came to a halt. Jooseok turned around sharply in his seat before unlocking the doors. “One day, you’re going to seriously regret treating people this way.”

“I know my own life best, so don’t worry entirely too much, hyung.” Brushing off the warning with practiced ease, Ijeong stepped out of the vehicle and offered a casual wave. “See you tomorrow morning.”

“Tch.” Talking to him only makes my mouth hurt. Operating under that thought, Jooseok let out a quiet sigh and drove out of the structure.

When he opened his front door, Yaehyun would be waiting inside. Would the boy be sitting rigidly on the sofa, unsure of how to behave in an unfamiliar space? Or would he be frantically unpacking his boxes? Anticipating the scene, Ijeong stepped into the private elevator.

Beep, beep, beep, beep—

The moment he entered the security passcode and opened the door, a rich, savory aroma immediately struck Ijeong’s nose.

Ah. So when he asked what I wanted to eat earlier, it was because he was planning to cook dinner.

And here I was planning to handle all the housework myself just to look accommodating. Keeping that thought to himself, Ijeong walked toward the kitchen.

“You’re here?”

Yaehyun, firmly tied into the apron that had previously hung on the kitchen wall purely as decoration, turned around to face him while holding a frying pan. “Oh, I probably should have asked for permission before using your kitchen.”

“We’re living together now, why would you need to ask about every little detail? It’s completely fine,” Ijeong said, nodding naturally. “Since it’s your very first day staying at my place, I actually wanted to cook something for you.”

“…No, it’s fine. I was getting bored sitting alone in the house anyway. And I genuinely enjoy cooking.” Not having the courage to admit that he simply wanted to avoid a second round of the actor’s experimental soup, Yaehyun quickly avoided Ijeong’s gaze.

“What are you making?”

“Um. Just omurice?”

Of all the egg dishes he could reliably execute, Yaehyun had settled on the one that was the least divisive, and this was the first that came to mind.

“It smells incredible.”

“It’s literally just the smell of fried eggs.” Yaehyun slightly turned his head away as Ijeong suddenly stepped close behind his shoulder. Why did the man have to make that specific, open expression when he was already annoyingly handsome?

With wide, bright eyes, Ijeong murmured right next to him, “I’m really looking forward to it.”

“I didn’t know your specific preferences, so I just went with something safe… I hope it suits your taste.”

“Of course it will be delicious since you made it, hyung,” Ijeong said with a distinct smile in his eyes. Stepping back out of Yaehyun’s immediate space, he pulled open the refrigerator. “Is there anything else you need for the table?”

“Um… just the ketchup and a bottle of water would be great. I’m almost finished here.”

Yaehyun flipped the egg blanket one last time as he spoke. With a perfectly gentle face, Ijeong set about preparing the table exactly as instructed.

“Eating a home-cooked meal that someone else prepared… it’s been an incredibly long time since I’ve experienced this,” Ijeong remarked quietly as he aligned the spoons on the placemats.

“You look like the type of person who exclusively eats food prepared by private chefs or high-end catering. That’s actually surprising.” Yaehyun laughed, tossing out a light joke to ease the remaining tension.

Ijeong let out a genuine chuckle, replying smoothly, “Right? I honestly thought I would live my entire life exactly like that.”

“It’s done.”

Having successfully draped the egg over the rice perfectly, Yaehyun looked down at the plate with a highly proud expression. He carefully carried the dish over to the dining table.

“Your house makes even basic frying pans look ridiculously expensive. Each of these plates probably costs like a hundred thousand won, doesn’t it?” Yaehyun muttered, carefully setting the porcelain down as if it were glass.

That’s actually an understatement. But if he revealed the true price, would Yaehyun be too terrified to even touch the silverware? Ijeong placed a glass of cold water in front of Yaehyun’s seat and smiled. “Don’t worry about any of that. It’s just a standard house.”

With everything in place, the first meal celebrating their strange, dangerous cohabitation was officially set.

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