Cherry Cake Chapter 13.1 - Extra

Oh, I need to water them!

Eyelids that had been trembling in shallow sleep snapped open. Seo Soohyun let out a groan and blinked. Perhaps because of the crying a few hours earlier, tears still lingered, keeping his eyes from feeling dry. His irises, adjusted to the darkness, merely relied on the faint dawn light seeping in to sharpen his night vision.

Even while slowly gauging the outlines of objects, only one thing filled Soohyun’s field of vision. Staring at the blue light pouring over a broad shoulder line, Soohyun roughly estimated the time. Thankfully, it was still dawn.

“Why.”

Though only his eyes had opened—no movement of the body or voice—the man, as if sensing a ghost, put strength into his arm and spoke. His voice, husky as if still drunk with sleep, made Fuzz-face’s hair stand on end. Perhaps because Soohyun’s body was still sensitive from the feverish state, it seemed to react keenly to every little thing the man did.

“Director. I want to get up.”

Due to Gi Taeyeon deliberately pressing down on him, the already heavy weight felt even more oppressive. Yet, instead of pushing him away, Soohyun only said what needed to be said. He liked a heavy comfort, like sleeping under a thick cotton quilt in the dead of winter, so the weight embracing him as if to smother felt oddly pleasant.

“Get up to do what.”

“I need to water the kids…”

“Did you give birth to kids without even the sower knowing?”

The weight pressing down on his entire body seemed to ease slightly, and then a large hand slipped under the thin pajamas, groping his stomach. Only then did Seo Soohyun understand what the man meant.

“Not that…”

A yawn escaped, cutting off his words.

“The kids I planted outside.”

Soohyun barely continued, locking eyes with Gi Taeyeon, whose whites were faintly visible as he propped himself up. When a hand suddenly grabbed both cheeks, his lips puffed out like a goldfish.

“Just go back to sleep. Your eyes are full of drowsiness.”

“I’m sleepy, sure, but you’re supposed to get up when you’re sleepy.”

In truth, Seo Soohyun wasn’t one for sleeping in. Whether it was a habit of waking at the same time as his grandmother or his biological clock being set to early dawn, he didn’t know, but once his eyes opened, he’d gulp down the water placed by the bedside, change clothes, and head outside right away. If he were at the countryside home instead of Seoul, he’d already be out watering by now.

Yet, the reason he wasn’t moving and just blinking lazily was his languid body. His eyelids felt as heavy as his back, which seemed glued to the bed.

If it happened once in a while, that’d be one thing, but days spent tangled with Gi Taeyeon always left his entire body lethargic, so lately, he’d even realized that getting up when sleepy was the way to avoid missing time.

“They won’t die if you skip watering now.”

The man bit his plump, fish-like lips hard and then flopped down, covering Soohyun entirely as if collapsing. Under a weight far heavier than a cotton quilt, Seo Soohyun let out a pained groan but still wriggled to burrow deeper into Gi Taeyeon’s embrace.

He knew well that tending to the fields required starting the day diligently, but it was hard to resist the overwhelming sleepiness pouring in. The faint pheromones lingering around seemed to draw the sandman closer.

I shouldn’t keep being lazy like this…

“I’ll wake you up, so don’t think useless thoughts and just sleep.”

“You too, Director…”

Another yawn slipped out. Seo Soohyun mumbled a reply, heedless of whether the silently laughing man wiped away the tears pooling at the corners of his eyes or not.

“Goodnight.”

Gi Taeyeon seemed to say something in response, but Soohyun’s body, sinking deeply into sleep, couldn’t make it out.

In his dream, dehydrated deodeok and bellflowers withered pitifully. It was a deeply upsetting dream.

🍑

“Uh…”

Waking from sleep, Soohyun groggily sat up. Even though he felt like he’d slept plenty, a wide yawn escaped. Unable to open his eyes fully and just patting his back, a horrific scene suddenly flashed through his mind. Startled by the dream’s contents, Soohyun’s eyes shot open as if doused with cold water. Without time to think of the consequences, he scrambled out of bed.

“Oh!”

No sooner had he realized his legs lacked strength than his body tilted precariously.

“Putting on a show first thing in the morning?”

Had it not been for the man grabbing his arm and lifting him entirely, he’d have fallen with quite a thud.

Pressing a hand to his pounding heart, Soohyun looked down at Gi Taeyeon. Being held in his arms made his view noticeably higher.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

The question slipped out, and Gi Taeyeon narrowed his eyes thinly. It wasn’t meant as resentment, but the image of shriveled deodeok and bellflowers must have made his tone unintentionally reproachful.

“I’m not saying anything against you, Director. In my dream, the bellflowers and deodeok dried up and died. I must’ve had that dream because I slept instead of watering.”

“You were freaking out over that?”

“Yeah. The kids growing in the field are tougher than you’d think—they won’t die just from missing a few waterings—but it was my first time having a dream like that, so I got startled. All I could think was that I needed to water them quick, so I tried to get up and almost fell.”

Even without going outside, he could tell it wasn’t dawn but broad daylight. Seo Soohyun finally calmed down. His insistence on watering at dawn was mostly due to the season just entering early summer, not because early watering was especially beneficial for plants.

“It does feel a lot hotter in Seoul than where I used to live. That’s why I planned to water at dawn… The elders in my village always said not to work under the blazing sun in summer. My grandpa only went to the fields at dawn or evening during summer, too. They say heatstroke is really dangerous.”

Back then, news of people passing away from heatstroke wasn’t hard to come by. Isn’t it just a matter of resting when you feel off while working? Soohyun had thought lightly of it until he got scolded by his grandfather for tending the fields under the scorching sun. He’d never been so scolded for losing consciousness in a moment of carelessness.

“Heatstroke?”

Gi Taeyeon raised an eyebrow in question. It wasn’t that he didn’t know the term, but it seemed unfamiliar, as if it had no relevance to him.

“Yeah. Since there aren’t many farmers in Seoul, you probably don’t hear about people collapsing from heatstroke much.”

“Living and living… If you get sick trying to grow those things, I’ll plow them all up.”

At the unexpected threat, Soohyun’s large eyes widened roundly.

“I’m super careful in summer and winter. That’s why I tried to get up at dawn today. And no one gets sick just from tending a small garden…”

Besides the garden behind the house, Gi Taeyeon had bought a field nearby, so Soohyun was farming as a hobby. But no matter how much he loved tending the fields, he was extra cautious in summer. Starting dawn watering even in early summer was part of that.

“You sure know how to talk back.”

While chatting with Gi Taeyeon, they’d somehow ended up in the kitchen. Seo Soohyun was startled to see a neatly set table.

“Did you prepare this alone, Director?”

“What, want me to make you toast?”

“No. I’ll eat rice.”

As Gi Taeyeon set him down, Soohyun scurried to his seat. Toast made by his lover was satisfying, but rice was definitely better. Regardless of counting the simple dishes Gi Taeyeon made as meals, Soohyun firmly believed mornings called for rice.

“You even heated the soup? I thought you’d find this kind of thing annoying.”

Gi Taeyeon never said it was annoying, but since even reheating seemed like a hassle, Soohyun had assumed he’d been ordering lunchboxes.

“Gotta feed my guy. You’d whine about being hungry if you woke up.”

“I’ve never whined…”

Seo Soohyun chuckled and lightly protested toward the man sitting across.

“Let’s eat well.”

“Yes, eat a lot.”

The man, who’d done nothing but set the table, shamelessly accepted the thanks. But instead of glaring, Soohyun scooped a spoonful of the steaming blowfish soup and took a sip. The spicy broth with kimchi was surprisingly good.

“Director, does it suit your taste?”

“Fucking delicious. Did you prepare this too?”

“Yeah.”

Feeling oddly proud, Soohyun nodded. Since blowfish dishes required a license, he’d practiced preparing it several times, but this was his first time cooking it like this. He’d worried it’d be clumsy since it was the first dish he learned after getting the license, but as expected, cooking was all about instinct and skill.

“You must be good with a knife by now.”

Gi Taeyeon tugged the corner of his mouth into a slant and tossed out the comment. It wasn’t just about handling sashimi.

“I still can’t stab a person.”

When Gi Taeyeon first offered him a job, Soohyun had said he wasn’t confident in hitting people, assuming it was gangster-related. Recalling that, he replied quickly, and Gi Taeyeon burst into laughter.

“Why not? You seem talented, taking after your lover.”

As expected, it was teasing.

But Soohyun didn’t get riled up and simply admitted it. Honestly, even he thought he had a bit of talent.

“Actually, I thought the same. My teacher said it’s rare for someone to get a license this fast. I didn’t work at a sashimi restaurant or have experience in this, so they didn’t expect me to pass in one go.”

Even setting aside the license’s low pass rate, an expert’s evaluation confirmed his talent.

Lately, Seo Soohyun was attending a cooking school. Sure, there were only a few people learning together, and the place felt more like a home than a typical academy, but he was still learning various dishes from a professional.

He was decent at most dishes, but learning about foods he hadn’t even known existed was incredibly fun. The more he learned about Korean cuisine, the more infinite it felt, bringing joy in discovery. Getting the blowfish license was also thanks to his teacher’s recommendation.

“How long are you going there?”

Gi Taeyeon asked casually. Soohyun, who’d been chewing diligently, turned serious for a moment.

“Is the tuition expensive?”

Gi Taeyeon twitched his brows as if to say, “What are you talking about?” But caught in sudden worry, Soohyun voiced his immediate concern.

“I overheard the manager saying it’s a really expensive place. But you’re rich, Director. Oh, you weren’t asking about tuition? Then why?”

“Because I’m fucking bored without my guy around.”

Indeed, lately, Soohyun had spent a lot of time practicing blowfish preparation, reducing his time with Gi Taeyeon. But now that he’d gotten the license, that was a thing of the past.

“I’m not busy anymore. I don’t plan on getting another license.”

“Good if you’re not busy. Who’s gonna keep me company if my guy doesn’t?”

If anything, isn’t the Director the busy one…? Soohyun thought curiously but kept chattering.

“I got the blowfish license because I wanted to make it for you. There are plenty of restaurants that serve blowfish, but there’s a difference between what I can do and what I can’t. I know you’re not crazy about blowfish, but I’d feel bad if I couldn’t make it for you…”

It wasn’t something he did reluctantly, and since he loved puttering around with food, nothing was more upsetting than not being able to cook for someone. Especially since Gi Taeyeon wasn’t just anyone—he was his one and only lover.

Learning new dishes was fun, but at its core was the desire to cook for Gi Taeyeon.

“I’ll keep eating gratefully, Boss.”

“Yeah. I’ll keep making stuff for you.”

Even at Gi Taeyeon’s teasing tone, Soohyun grinned and swung his legs under the table. It was a peaceful breakfast, no different from usual.

🍑

“Oh, right.”

After brushing his teeth and washing his face, Soohyun was wiping his face with a soft towel when he looked up. Gi Taeyeon had just returned from putting dishes in the dishwasher. Whether because someone else usually cleaned up or because he only ate lunchboxes at home, he used to leave right after meals without tidying up, and Soohyun had nagged him about it. Now, he handled it skillfully.

“I’m going to the academy today.”

The man, still holding the towel, wiped Soohyun’s face and furrowed his brow slightly.

“When.”

The touch was far from gentle, but feeling good, Seo Soohyun pulled his lips into a wide smile.

“I have a class at ten.”

“You’ll need to leave early.”

“You go to work first, Director. I can drive myself. I wasn’t asking for a ride. I just mentioned it because you don’t like me leaving without saying.”

It was the usual morning routine of sharing schedules.

Gi Taeyeon had his own tasks, and Seo Soohyun had his, so unexpected plans rarely popped up. But just as eating breakfast together became natural, sharing the day’s plans had also become second nature.

Gi Taeyeon tapped Soohyun’s cheek as if telling him to put on some skincare. Soohyun shuffled over. Pouring Gi Taeyeon’s toner onto his palm and roughly rubbing it on his face, he slathered on lotion just as carelessly and turned to the person beside him.

“What time are you leaving?”

Knowing he sometimes went to work at dawn, Soohyun was aware he wasn’t idle. But lately, since they’d been spending more time together at home, hearing he had to leave early made Soohyun ask about the time.

“After washing up. Probably won’t have time until the afternoon. Eat lunch with friends.”

“Depends on how things go. I have stuff to do after the academy. I’m fine eating alone, so don’t worry.”

Eating with Gi Taeyeon was better than eating alone, but he wasn’t a kid—eating on his own wasn’t hard. Plus, after the academy, his lunchbox would be full, so there was no chance of eating haphazardly just because he was alone. Lately, he didn’t even feel lonely when by himself.

“Since it’s an academy day, I don’t even need to think about what to eat. Don’t you skip lunch just because I’m not around, Director. Your colleagues seem like they’d eat well, but who knows what happens when you’re out on site… Farming relies on meal strength, and whether it’s physical or mental work, everything depends on meal strength, they say.”

Squeezing toothpaste for brushing, Gi Taeyeon quirked a lip as if finding the talk amusing.

“Playing the supportive partner?”

His tone was half-mocking, half-fond.

“It’s not about support—it’s because I’m worried about your health. And going to the academy isn’t for your sake—I’m learning because I want to. Besides, saying a guy cooking a bit is ‘support’ is a stereotype. I don’t know what it was like when you were in school, but when I was, we were taught not to use terms like that. They’re discriminatory.”

The word “support” wasn’t inherently bad, but he had to point out his lover’s word choice.

“I’ve always thought this, but plenty of people just love cooking. Calling it ‘support’ when a guy with a partner cooks at home feels weird. It’s not like I’m forced to do it. I know it’s just how you talk, Director, so I don’t mind, but don’t say that in front of others. These days, people will talk behind your back for using discriminatory language.”

Soohyun rattled off things he’d learned in middle school.

Maybe because it was a rural school, his elementary and middle schools had many young, new teachers. Thanks to that, despite living in a conservative village, he learned about stereotypes and the proper language to break them.

Even the elderly villagers were careful with their words around Soohyun. They knew Soohyun’s background, but more than that, his grandfather’s fiery temper played a role.

Growing up without much inferiority was thanks to such an environment.

“You nag so fluently too? Who else would I talk about ‘support’ with besides you, Fuzz-face?”

Laughing heartily, unlike someone being nagged, Gi Taeyeon grabbed Soohyun’s cheeks and pressed with his fingers. He didn’t care at all that the lotion slathered on got on his hands.

“Sowwy.”

Even as Soohyun mumbled, Gi Taeyeon only let go when it was time to brush his teeth.

Seo Soohyun quietly watched the man brushing. I haven’t even done anything supportive… he thought.

To begin with, Soohyun didn’t do household chores. Even living between the Seoul apartment and the house with the garden, that was the case. If anything counted as chores, it was cooking, but that was closer to something he enjoyed.

These days, I don’t even get paid, so it’s hard to call it labor.

And since starting to date Gi Taeyeon, he stopped getting a salary. It was Soohyun who asked to tear up the contract.

“I don’t want to take money from you anymore, Director.”

Gi Taeyeon frowned as if hearing something out of the blue.

“What money.”

“The money you gave me every time I cooked.”

Since he rarely had reason to check his bank account, it took a while to notice the salaries piling up.

“You’re not my employer anymore—you’re my lover. Getting a salary from my lover feels weird. Plus, with the land payment and your promise to make it grow, I don’t need living expenses, so I don’t want to take it anymore.”

“Do what you want. Keep using the card. Want some allowance, my guy?”

“I was gonna say I’d keep using the card anyway.”

Seo Soohyun replied shamelessly. Cooking was purely for fun, but since they’d eat together, taking the card seemed fine.

Since then, he hadn’t received a salary.

If he wanted to eat something, he’d make it, and if it was too much hassle or tricky to cook at home, they’d eat out. Delivery food, eight times out of ten, tasted unhealthy, so they rarely ordered it.

Thanks to that, Soohyun was encountering tons of foods he hadn’t known existed. Starting at the academy came from a desire to make things with his own hands.

“What’re you staring at?”

Finished brushing, Gi Taeyeon met his eyes through the mirror and asked. Soohyun spoke with a serious face.

“I’m wondering why you used the word ‘support.’”

“Having a young lover at home is support itself, Boss.”

Turning slowly, Gi Taeyeon spoke in a teasing tone, smirking. His voice was like an old man leeching off a kid’s energy.

“You sound like a pervert.”

“I am a pervert. Didn’t know?”

A hand crept silently, groping Soohyun’s waist. Remembering he had to leave early, Soohyun stepped back slightly. Seeming to have no intent to push further, Gi Taeyeon grinned and turned back to wash his face.

Watching his twitching muscles, Soohyun suddenly thought he was living like a total slacker. Sure, he tended the garden diligently, but it was smaller now, and without the supermarket job, his days were lazier than before.

With no plans to take the high school equivalency exam or go to college, he wasn’t studying either, so aside from the garden, he was practically carefree.

Well, some people live like this.

But Soohyun didn’t think much of it. He was living leisurely now, but if he found something he truly wanted to do someday, it wouldn’t be too late to start.

And the person who’d told him that was standing right in front of him.

It’s strange.

Just a year ago, he’d never dreamed he’d live in Seoul. He hadn’t imagined days of interacting with people beyond the village elders.

Of course, he’d have been happy staying there too. Seo Soohyun was someone satisfied with his life.

Waking early to tend the fields, sitting at the supermarket waiting for customers, visiting elders’ homes to snack and listen to stories—it was all good.

To some, it might seem boring, but to him, it was a serene, peaceful life.

Yet lately, Soohyun was starting to understand why the village grandpas told him to go to Seoul. Even if his lifestyle hadn’t changed much, he felt his world gradually expanding.

It was a world he’d never have known without Gi Taeyeon.

Not a world I had to know…

The countryside had its life, and the city had its own. While he was sure he’d have been happy staying in the village, experiencing a widening world was a rare thing.

And Soohyun would keep living this life. With the man before him.

“What’re you gonna do when I leave?”

Done washing, Gi Taeyeon wiped his face and came closer.

“Hm, see you off, roll around in bed, then head out.”

“Seo Soohyun, rolling around? Sure.”

“I’m really gonna roll around before leaving.”

“Not gonna check if I watered properly?”

“…I’ll do that before I go.”

Hesitating briefly, Gi Taeyeon, setting down the toner bottle, furrowed his brow slightly.

“No fucking trust in your lover.”

“I trust you, Director! I’m just taking a quick look before I leave.”

With their difference in experience, a little check was necessary.

Gi Taeyeon pressed Soohyun’s cheek with a look that said, “Yeah, right.” Smelling the same toner on him, Seo Soohyun giggled.

🍑

Maybe eel rice bowl for dinner tonight?

Looking down at the neatly arranged eel atop yellow egg strips and green scallions, Soohyun closed the lunchbox lid, shaking his head slightly. His back was already sore—no way. The thought that eel was good for men and eating it with the Director crossed his mind briefly, but he realized they were already more than fine without such stamina food. To be exact, things were already overflowing.

I’ll think about stamina food in a few years. Four, five years? …Ten?

Even ten years from now, he honestly doubted Gi Taeyeon would need stamina food. At thirty in ten years, Soohyun would still be spry, with no need for such things either.

Still, I should probably exercise. To keep up with the Director’s stamina.

Even without much experience, he couldn’t miss that sex with Gi Taeyeon was a bit beyond ordinary. The frequency, the duration—it wasn’t normal by any means.

With no friends his age around—and even if there were, he doubted any guy was dating a much older dominant man like him—there was no one to compare with, so it wasn’t a fact gained by measuring against others. It was a sudden realization one day.

Either way, it was clear his lover didn’t need stamina food. Especially not for virility.

I’ll eat what I made for lunch today.

The teacher always taught portions for two, but since it was based on people with small appetites, it always felt like one serving to Soohyun. The eel rice bowl he’d just made was the same, so it’d be perfect for lunch.

“Soohyun-ssi, good work today.”

“You too, teacher. It’s my first time preparing eel.”

“Really? You did well for a first try. Since pre-prepared eel is common these days, I thought about using that, but I got unprocessed ones just for you.”

No wonder he’d been asked to come an hour early.

Soohyun thought of the others learning with pre-prepared eel. There wasn’t much need to learn eel preparation. Unless visiting a fish market, seeing unprocessed eel was rarer these days.

Still, learning from scratch was fun, and the teacher seemed to know that and took extra care.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, today’s class was fun too. I’ve cooked fish before, but I was curious about eel since I haven’t handled it much.”

“No big deal. I enjoy it because of people like you, Soohyun-ssi. When a student’s eager, it makes teaching exciting. Brings back old memories.”

The teacher smiled brightly and passed by.

Soohyun started getting ready to head home. Since the early-rising man had watered the garden, he wasn’t rushing over worries about the bellflowers and deodeok drying up. Rather, he had things to do at home.

“Soohyun-ah, did you drive?”

A woman who’d finished cleaning up approached warmly. Seo Soohyun kept packing but glanced at her. The middle-aged woman’s age was hard to guess from her appearance.

“Yeah.”

“Gi didn’t drop you off?”

She furrowed her brow slightly, as if hearing something displeasing.

“He had to go to work early today, so I drove myself.”

“No matter how busy, how can he let his lover drive?”

“I’m a good driver.”

“That’s not the point. When you’re living with someone so young, that’s the least you do.”

The woman made a sharp face, almost badmouthing Gi Taeyeon. Knowing it came from a grandmotherly concern rather than malice, Soohyun let it slide. With the Director’s rough past, such reactions were inevitable.

Seo Soohyun’s chance to learn from a renowned chef, whose classes were hard to book even with money, was largely thanks to the woman he was talking to. Meeting her and learning she knew Gi Taeyeon was pure coincidence.

“The one on the right tastes better.”

It was during a stroll to shop at a department store. He’d only recently learned the food hall sold curated, fresh ingredients.

Sure, it was pricey, but the quality matched, and with Gi Taeyeon’s card, Soohyun was piling up things he wanted when he noticed a woman deliberating over apples. He usually didn’t pay much attention to others, but she seemed around the age his father would’ve been, catching his eye.

“Oh, this one?”

“Yeah. They’re both tasty, but you looked unsure, so I chimed in.”

It wasn’t some reject, and with apples over ten thousand won each, the sweetness was guaranteed. He wouldn’t have butted in if she hadn’t seemed so serious.

“How do you know so well? You look so young.”

“I used to farm in the countryside. Not apples, but I picked up a lot from listening around.”

That started a long chat with the woman. They even ran into each other at checkout and moved to a café, talking until Gi Taeyeon called. Despite having little in common, Soohyun’s experience chatting with village elders kept the conversation flowing.

Learning Soohyun loved cooking, she introduced him to her teacher. She didn’t cook much at home but took classes for fun when bored.

“Heading straight home?”

She gestured at the lunchbox, asking. Since they sometimes grabbed tea together, it wasn’t an odd question.

“I was thinking we could get something tasty if you had time.”

“Hm…”

Uncharacteristically, Seo Soohyun hesitated. If Gi Taeyeon wasn’t busy, he’d have gone straight to his company, but today wasn’t like that, so spending time with her wasn’t a bad idea. Still, he was slightly concerned about plans for the afternoon.

“I have some things to do. But I should have a couple of hours.”

“Busy, our Soohyun. It’s good to be busy at your age, though. Wanna ride with me?”

“That’d be a hassle for you since I’d have to come back. I’ll follow in my car.”

“Alright, then. Buckle up and follow slowly, okay?”

“Okay.”

Her tone was like talking to a little kid.

Seo Soohyun grabbed the lunchbox and followed her out. Looks like he’d eat the eel rice bowl for dinner instead.

“Doesn’t Director Gi ever talk about business?”

It was while sipping on sujonggwa, served as the final course after a hearty traditional Korean meal. The woman, who had been savoring her tea with an elegant posture, subtly broached the topic. Soohyun, nibbling on the pine nuts floating in the sweet drink and finding it delicious, shook his head without giving it much thought.

“He talks about all sorts of things, but since it’s stuff I don’t really understand, I just let it slide.”

The stories Gi Taeyeon told were interesting. Talking with him, no matter the subject, was always enjoyable. But when it came to business matters, there were too many parts that were hard to grasp. It was all unfamiliar jargon.

“Even if you let it slide, you should still pick up what matters. This latest deal went smoothly in part thanks to you, Soohyun.”

“Thanks to me?”

What does the Director’s business have to do with me? Seo Soohyun only blinked.

“You’ve got a lot of people who adore you. That’s made things easier for Director Gi.”

The phrase “people who adore you” naturally brought to mind the woman in front of him and the others he occasionally met at the cooking academy. Most of the people learning from the teacher were middle-aged or older, and they all treated him like a son or grandson.

Now that I think about it, the teacher called someone ‘CEO.’

To Soohyun, they just felt like kind elders, so he hadn’t thought much beyond that. But as the grandpas used to say, they might all be people holding significant positions. Come to think of it, those who could afford to take up cooking as a hobby probably weren’t ordinary folks.

“So make sure you take advantage of every opportunity you can. Got it?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, I’m already taking full advantage.”

In truth, it wasn’t so much Soohyun taking advantage as it was Gi Taeyeon handing him opportunities, but Seo Soohyun played along with a charming grin, saying what the woman wanted to hear. Since Gi Taeyeon was his lover, it was enough for him to be good to Soohyun alone.

“Good. You’re doing well.”

The woman smiled, her expression one of approval.

But that lasted only a moment. As if she’d never looked pleased, she let out a sigh with a disapproving face.

“How did a bright guy like our Soohyun end up as lovers with such a shady character?”

“My brightness is exactly why I snatched the Director right up.”

“Look at this guy, taking his lover’s side.”

Despite the woman’s subtle glare, Seo Soohyun grinned. Since he was the one who confessed his feelings first, saying he’d “snatched” him wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Soohyun, I’m asking just in case.”

Pausing briefly, the woman continued in a reluctant tone, as if hesitant to even bring it up.

“Are you planning to marry Director Gi?”

“Marriage?”

Soohyun’s eyes widened. It wasn’t something he’d ever really considered.

“Yeah, marriage.”

“I haven’t thought about it yet…”

Their current relationship was already satisfying enough, so he hadn’t had the chance to think about it.

Soohyun believed that love didn’t need to be confined to the form of marriage to be complete. If marriage was the ultimate expression of love, then his father wouldn’t have strayed while married to his mother.

Besides, not thinking about marriage didn’t mean he ever considered parting ways with Gi Taeyeon. Like the promise they made while planting flowering trees together, his future would naturally include him.

“I don’t know if I should call this a relief or wonder what that sly fox is scheming.”

The woman muttered to herself cryptically before meeting his eyes.

“If marriage comes up, make sure to tell me too, okay?”

It didn’t seem like she was asking to be invited to a wedding, so Soohyun just blinked again.

“Contracts are so important. I’ll look them over for you.”

Why would marriage need a contract? Puzzled but seeing her resolute expression, Soohyun nodded obediently. It seemed best to just agree for now.

“Gosh, so sweet. Really, I never imagined that guy would end up with a young man like this.”

He found out later, but the woman had known Gi Taeyeon for a while. According to the Director, they were connected through business.

At first…

When Soohyun first mentioned his lover to her, she didn’t show any particular disapproval. She’d frowned upon hearing his age but seemed to think it rude to comment further. However, ever since spotting Gi Taeyeon when he came to pick Soohyun up, her reaction had been consistently critical.

“Why?”

“It just feels like she doesn’t approve of me being with the Director.”

“Well, isn’t that obvious?”

She’d said it was downright irritating to see a guy who hadn’t lived cleanly paired with a young, handsome man.

In the face of her blunt words, Seo Soohyun didn’t defend his lover but simply nodded quietly.

It wasn’t exactly wrong, he thought. Besides, dealing with others’ opinions was something the Director should handle.

🍑

“All done.”

Soohyun stretched long and hard. He hadn’t been working in the fields, but focusing so intently must have taken effort, because his shoulders and sides felt refreshed as his arms reached skyward. An unexpected lunch appointment had delayed things slightly, but compared to hanging out with Gi Taeyeon, it was a short commitment, so he’d finished his planned tasks a bit earlier than usual.

It’s not that hot today. Should I go check on the fields? As he pondered, his phone rang.

Incoming Call

Lover

Slide to Answer

Is he done with work? Seo Soohyun answered immediately.

“Director, you finished work?”

“Finished work.”

“When are you coming?”

“Probably about thirty minutes, depending on traffic. What’re you up to?”

Gi Taeyeon calling at random times like this had long become familiar. Soohyun stood up slowly, replying.

“I was editing a video.”

A deflating chuckle came through the phone.

“What’re you uploading this time?”

“Stuff I learned from the teacher. Last time, the grandpas asked me to post it because they were curious.”

Exiting the room with the computer, Soohyun walked down the hallway to the living room. He flopped onto the sofa, where summer sunlight poured in through uncurtained windows. Since it wasn’t full summer yet, the breeze slipping through the slightly open door felt cool. These days, they were staying at a standalone house instead of an apartment.

“What’d you learn today?”

“Eel rice bowl.”

His head instinctively turned toward the kitchen. Even though he knew the kitchen wasn’t visible from this angle, it was an unconscious move.

“Eel rice bowl?”

This time, a cackle came through.

“Boosting your lover’s stamina for what?”

“You don’t get to eat it, Director. It’s just for me.”

His voice broke mid-sentence in his haste, but Soohyun pressed on, undeterred.

“Your mouth’s the only mouth here?”

“Anyway, not for you, Director. I’ll make it for you later.”

“Later?”

A playful scoff mixed into the teasing tone.

“Maybe twenty years from now, you might need it.”

“Don’t get cheeky.”

For a moment, he worried he’d misspoken, but there was no taking back words already said. Soohyun pretended not to hear and subtly changed the subject.

“Did work go well?”

“Eh, good enough.”

As long as he wasn’t hurt, that was good enough.

“So, you’re driving yourself?”

“Why, should I tell Jihwan to drive?”

Click.

A faint sound of a door closing followed. It seemed he’d just gotten into the car.

If someone else drove, they could talk the whole way, which Soohyun slightly regretted—Gi Taeyeon thought nothing of talking while driving, but to Seo Soohyun, it was far too dangerous to allow—but him driving meant he’d get home faster, so it wasn’t bad either.

Soohyun prepared to end the call.

“No, just come safely.”

“I’ll be there quick, so don’t go scampering off somewhere. Stay home.”

“I’m not going out anymore today. That’s why I showered as soon as I got back.”

“Oh, you showered? Wait for me with your pants off.”

At the seamless segue into harassment, Soohyun hung up without responding. He shouldn’t have mentioned the eel.

He shoved the phone aside and picked up the tablet on the sofa. Finding lying face-down uncomfortable, he rolled over, resting the back of his head on the armrest. Settling in, Soohyun turned on the tablet to check the video he’d just uploaded.

“It went up fine. Good.”

The YouTube channel, started just over two months ago, was pretty fun. Encouraged by the cooking teacher and partly to humor his lover, he began it casually, but as he went, it brought a different kind of joy from making things or tending the fields.

After checking the newly uploaded video, Soohyun scrolled slowly, then clicked on one with unusually high views.

“Still getting comments, huh.”

He’d put effort into it, but the thumbnail was criticized for lacking vibe, yet comments kept pouring in.

Boiling Spicy Pork Kimchi Stew Deliciously

Bokshil’s Kitchen | 202K Subscribers

Comments

@user—kd4vr8od5s

I saw the hands and couldn’t believe it, but it’s really a baby,,,, even the voice is babyish,,,

@loolllooll

Is there a separate editor? Do the grandparents edit it? What’s with this old-school vibe lol

@luv_summerrr

The kitchen interior looks expensive~~ The menu choices and cooking feel so homey, it makes me smile ^^ Curious what Bokshil does for a living haha. Gonna make pork kimchi stew for dinner tonight

@user—chayen

7:03 7:03 7:03

He now knew exactly what the blue-highlighted numbers meant. His eyes had briefly appeared when he fixed a fallen phone, and someone had timestamped it in the comments.

In truth, “Bokshil’s Kitchen” was a channel with barely any views. As a hobby account where he just uploaded videos and left them, it lacked elements to gain exposure.

Even when views stayed in the double digits, Soohyun wasn’t disappointed. Editing was minimal, but adding subtitles was fun, and since most views came from him and Gi Taeyeon, it felt like their little secret, which was enjoyable.

When people from Seowoo Construction accidentally found his channel and views hit triple digits, he felt embarrassed, but since the grandpas liked it, he kept uploading sporadically.

Then one video blew up. Stews took ten minutes to make, so he uploaded them without much editing, and among them, the kimchi stew video caught the algorithm.

And that video showed Seo Soohyun’s face. For about two seconds, his wide eyes, the mole on his cheek, and his sharp nose were exposed while he adjusted the phone.

Forgetting about it after uploading, Soohyun only checked YouTube after a call from Jihwan. The comment section, usually just kind words from the grandpas, was exploding.

@user—td4cbvv7qf

Is he with some company? Making a bland thumbnail to bait views and then showing his face?

@jieunsuS2

Watched from the start, and the hands definitely look young lol How old are you?

@user—sx0fq8kq1y

All anyone talks about is his face lol Even with just eyes showing, I get it, but why do I only notice the ring lol so jealous ㅠㅠ

While reading, Soohyun glanced at the ring on his left ring finger. He always washed his hands thoroughly before cooking, naturally taking off the ring, but that time, he’d knocked over the phone while wearing it, so his hand appeared.

Guess it’s a really expensive ring.

It wasn’t like the chunky gold rings the grandpas wore for special occasions, but he could at least recognize a diamond.

Soohyun stared at the moderately ornate ring. The moment it slid onto his finger came to mind. Aside from flower rings his father made when he was a kid, it was the first ring he’d ever worn.

Ha, hng, ngh…

When Gi Taeyeon rubbed his fingers, reached for something, or when a cool sensation wrapped around his finger, Soohyun was too busy moaning. With his lower body completely pierced, every move the man made drew ragged breaths.

“Seo Soohyun.”

“Ah!”

“When an adult gives you a gift, hah, you say thank you.”

Struggling to focus as his fingers were nibbled, Soohyun caught a glint on his ring finger, nearly swallowed by those long, parted lips.

Hng…

Even to his clueless eyes, it looked pretty, so he just blinked dazedly. Gi Taeyeon pressed his nails with his canines and chuckled.

Did he say thank you then? He remembered wanting to kiss, sticking out his tongue, but everything after was a blur. One thing was certain: when he finally lifted his swollen eyelids, the ring sparkled beautifully in the sunlight.

“Pretty.”

The ring was always pretty. Rubbing it gently with his thumb, the finely crafted gem brushed softly against his fingertip.

His gaze, lingering on the ring, returned to the tablet. Perhaps because the ring came up, the comments below had little to do with kimchi stew.

@user—no9ew9lc8q

Found the ring talk and checked, but the kitchen interior alone must’ve cost a fortune. That sink’s super famous too ㄷㄷ Really curious what this guy does

@yammmyami

The tableware shows high taste~~ That high-end stuff is hard to get, but I’m thrilled since we have the same! Where’d you buy yours, Bokshil? I got mine in New York haha

@user—zrilc2xs4t

Anyone else find it hilarious how the interior and thumbnail don’t match at all lol The interior screams aesthetic vlog, but the food’s straight out of a rural grandpa’s table lol

@HB231211

Bokshil whipping up food so fast~~~ Prep is spot-on, cooking is spot-on, looks so delicious!! Bokshil’s stew means two bowls of rice, no sweat~^^ Seems like there’s no dish you can’t make~~! So impressive! Enjoyed today’s video too~~~ Stay cool in the summer~ Love you ♡♥♡♥

@user—km9us5vebf

Bokshil’s thumbnails are cute too! Keep uploading! Your Korean food hits my taste perfectly,,,♥

There were plenty of thumbnail comments too. Seo Soohyun scrolled up to check it again.

Is it that bad?

The main dish was prominently featured, the text was clear and readable, and it conveyed info intuitively. So why were there so many comments about the thumbnail?

Sometimes he’d search YouTube for unfamiliar dishes seen on TV, not knowing the recipes. He’d made it similar to those helpful videos, yet he couldn’t understand why thumbnail comments kept coming.

The grandpas said it was nicely done…

The “vibe” comments were the same. Why does cooking need vibe?

Still, he had no intention of changing the thumbnails. It was cool that subscribers had spiked, but YouTube was just a hobby.

Soohyun hit the back button. About to turn off the tablet, another video caught his eye.

If the kimchi stew video had ridden the algorithm, spiking subscribers, the one with the most comments was one of his few Western food videos.

@user—xl1dw3ip9n

OMG OMG OMG!! 6:54 6:54 6:54 6:54 6:54 6:54 6:54

Should he watch it again? Soohyun tapped the blue timestamp.

“What’re you doing?”

A familiar voice cut into the screen showing the table, hands, and a bit of his stomach. Seo Soohyun set down a jar, noticing his slightly tilted body, and recalled that day. He must’ve moved to look at the Director.

“When’d you get here? It’s stuck, so I was thinking about using rubber gloves.”

“Baby knows how to do that too?”

The teasing tone was obvious to anyone.

“I’m usually really good at opening these. I’m strong… But when it doesn’t work, you gotta try other ways, so I was thinking what to do. I’ve heard a lot that stubbornness only hurts you.”

“For someone like that, you were struggling a lot.”

“You were watching earlier? Then why didn’t you help instead of just staring?”

“’Cause you struggling is fucking cute.”

A hand suddenly entered the frame, taking the jar. With a loud pop, the lid came off, and the opened jar landed back on the table. It was store-bought pickles, since he hadn’t tried making them yet.

“I should try making pickles tonight. I looked up the recipe earlier, and it seems quick.”

“Do whatever you want, baby. What’s that?”

“Oh, I was filming a video.”

“Wanna film something else?”

Only a sleazy laugh was recorded, thankfully not the part where he groped Soohyun’s butt.

@cherryyy___

Is that your lover?

The top question was the only comment Soohyun had replied to.

@BokSil

Yes

Perhaps because of the reply, tons of other comments followed.

@zzzxxxkk

Lover??? OMG crazy…

He was still puzzled why this video got so many comments. Since he rarely checked after uploading, Soohyun browsed the comments for the first time in a while.

@user—cq7vj4dc4k

Bokshil, are you an omega?

@———yyuyy

Why so many comments asking if he’s an omega?? So many rude people;; Don’t they get basic education?

@user—eu9ax8wz4s

Please do a couple vlog ㅠㅠ Room tour too… Just seeing the kitchen makes me curious about the house!! Also, any plans for a Q&A????

@user—ub9tj2cne78

Your lover doesn’t seem your age? That voice is super sexy,,, sounds at least 30s

@user—cn6zs2yh8w

Didn’t know people actually call their lover ‘baby’ IRL lol Thought it’d be cringey, but it kinda works,, obviously, ‘cause Bokshil’s a baby,,,

@Dannyy_

What’s with the hand size difference? >//< You two must look so good together ♥

@user—dv5vv1wy0x

The kitchen and tableware already screamed wealth, but the watch… the ring makes sense now lol

How do people know about the Director’s watch? Thinking it was odd that others knew details even he didn’t, Soohyun scrolled slowly.

There were many foreign comments, but he wasn’t curious enough to hit translate, so he skimmed only the Korean ones.

Right now, only nice comments stood out, but he recalled this video had a lot of hate too. His brief “Yes” to the lover question seemed to spark people’s imaginations.

Comments about being sponsored, omegas living off their looks and bodies, or leeching off alphas were pretty harsh.

But Soohyun didn’t care one bit about the hate. It was obvious they were words people wouldn’t dare say to his face, hiding behind anonymity. Besides, contrary to their assumptions, he and Gi Taeyeon became lovers through a perfectly normal process, so there was no need to mind.

That’s why he only learned much later that Gi Taeyeon had taken action when the nasty comments disappeared cleanly.

“The Director was upset, so we handled it on our end.”

He found out while chatting with a lawyer he occasionally talked to at the company. Apparently, they’d deliberately hired a big law firm, not Seowoo Construction, to send out lawsuits under their name. Word was, it was a firm that’d defend bad guys for money without hesitation, often criticized but with a high win rate due to skilled lawyers.

Hearing this, Soohyun marched into Gi Taeyeon’s office to ask about it.

“Director, I heard you sued over bad comments. Is that true?”

The man, smoking on the office sofa, beckoned him with a tilt of his chin. Soohyun shuffled over and sat on his thigh, and Gi Taeyeon rubbed his stomach, grinning.

“Like your lover’s support?”

Was “support” the right word for this? Still, it felt nice.

“Now that I think about it, you did say I was supporting you before… If I make money this time, I’ll treat you to something tasty.”

He only learned later that YouTube could generate income.

Not needing money, Soohyun had considered letting it be, but after some thought, he applied for monetization. It wasn’t for savings—just the desire to buy his lover something nice with his own earnings.

While rolling around on the sofa after setting down the tablet, he heard the door open. Soohyun scrambled down.

“Director!”