Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 53

When Taehyun cautiously opened the bathroom door, there was no bathtub or even a shower stall, and the sink looked like it was on the verge of falling apart, revealing a pitiful bathroom. Several tiles on the ceiling had fallen off, exposing bare cement, and the grout was so worn away that it was questionable whether it had ever existed, with black mold and grime filling the gaps. There was no need to point out that the toilet and sink were a faded jade green.

“…”

Taehyun quickly glanced at Sejin, who was rummaging through something in the kitchen. If this was the first house Sejin saw after coming to Korea, wouldn’t he think all Koreans lived like this? Of course, even such poor conditions were still a place where people lived, and there was nothing inherently wrong with that. But still, this wasn’t the average Korean household. For someone who was Korean by nationality but had lived abroad their whole life, this must seem like a rather desolate sight.

“…”

Whether Taehyun was shocked or not, Sejin, in the kitchen, was staring intently at his phone over a single-burner gas stove where a frying pan was sizzling. Then, seemingly stuck on something, he tilted his head for a while before stepping outside with his phone. What’s that about? Taehyun, forgetting his original purpose of washing his hands, was startled when he heard a phone conversation from the hallway connected to the bathroom window.

“Did you see the message I sent? Yeah… I don’t know how long this needs to simmer. Can I just chop it up and throw it in?”

Sejin was quietly asking someone about a recipe over the phone.

“I don’t know. The flavor seems a bit weak… Should I just season it with salt?”

Then he ended the call.

“…Okay.”

Who was he talking to? Soon, the sound of Sejin opening the front door and coming back inside echoed. Taehyun quickly turned on the faucet and scrubbed his hands with soap, the cheap, 500-won scented soap’s fragrance filling the bathroom. Glancing toward the shower, he noticed that the shampoo and body wash brands under it were all bargain-basement lines.

‘He looks like some delicate French prince…’

Were those provided with the house too? Or did he actually go to a nearby store and buy them himself? The tacky yellow linoleum vibe was almost absurd. As Taehyun stepped out of the bathroom, barely managing to keep a straight face, he noticed the flooring in the living area wasn’t the garish golden linoleum, but it was still a similar brown wood-patterned material.

‘Not much different…’

After washing his hands, Taehyun, still feeling uneasy, started to get up to see if there was anything he could help with, but Sejin sat him back down.

“Sit there. It’s almost done.”

Then he went back to the stove, fussing with the frying pan for a while. The smell… there was butter and something like cream soup, not bad at all. What was he making? Taehyun’s back itched with curiosity, but mindful of Sejin’s watchful eyes, he obediently sat on the floor. The room was sparsely furnished with just a simple bag, fencing gear, and a few pieces of clothing—nothing more. Even if Sejin had to move out today, it’d probably take him 30 minutes to pack. Since he hadn’t lived here long, it might be expected, but the barren, lifeless atmosphere left a lingering sense of loneliness.

How much time had passed? After finishing training and showering at the center, Taehyun was starting to nod off in his seat when Sejin turned off the stove.

“It’s done.”

With a clatter, Sejin placed a dish on the overly traditional low table—a stir-fry of finely chopped chicken in a creamy, reduced sauce.

“Wow, you know how to make this kind of stuff?”

Taehyun, genuinely impressed, let out an exclamation, and Sejin, slightly embarrassed, nodded with reddened ear tips.

“The ingredients are different from what I used at home… I’m not sure about the taste.”

Then he set down sliced baguette and portioned butter on the table. If Taehyun hadn’t seen the process, he’d have a hard time believing this was Sejin’s handiwork—it was a surprisingly decent spread. Everything about this place screamed rustic, yet the French writing on the butter’s packaging, curling in elegant script, made Sejin stand out as the only foreign element.

Unfazed by the contrast, Sejin sat across from Taehyun, picking up a piece of baguette. He scooped a spoonful of chicken and sauce from the frying pan in the center and placed it on the bread.

“You eat it like this. You can spread the butter on the bread.”

“Got it.”

Taehyun carefully picked up a spoon and followed Sejin’s example, placing a few pieces of meat on the bread. Feeling Sejin’s intense stare, he shoved the bread and sauce into his mouth. As he chewed, the rich, savory, slightly salty flavor filled his mouth exquisitely.

“Del… delicious.”

Taehyun almost exclaimed with his mouth full but quickly swallowed and spoke again. It wasn’t just flattery—it was genuinely good. The restaurant food he’d bought for Sejin last time was tasty, but this was delicious in its own way.

“What? Do you usually cook at home?”

That fridge didn’t look big enough to support frequent cooking. When Taehyun asked curiously, Sejin shook his head.

“No, I usually eat out. There’s a fast-food place nearby, so…”

“Oh, I see.”

Fair enough—there weren’t many better places for eating out. Taehyun nodded. Near the center, every major fast-food chain in Korea was represented: ○deria, ○Donald’s, ○ster King, ○ger King. The locals who came to the center for recreational exercise called this area a battleground of temptation. And it wasn’t just fast food—there were ○gdrop, ○bway, ○cha, ○tarbucks, ○ssum, you name it. People signed up for the gym to lose weight but ended up eating so much on their way to and fro that they joked about becoming “healthy pigs.” Whether those places suited Sejin’s taste or not, this neighborhood was undeniably optimized for dining out.

“Then why today?”

Taehyun refocused on Sejin, asking before popping another piece of bread topped with meat into his mouth. Sejin, still looking shy, averted his gaze and answered.

“My mom said… if someone helps you, you should know how to be grateful.”

His nervous attempt to hide his embarrassment was so typical of a boy his age that Taehyun couldn’t help but find it adorable and want to tease him.

“So you actually realized I helped you? I thought you found me annoying.”

“…”

Sejin couldn’t respond right away. What, this guy? Taehyun almost burst out laughing from disbelief. Luckily, Sejin spoke up before he could.

“Well, to that extent…”

Was he embarrassed that his feelings were so transparent? But if he was that obvious, it’d be weirder not to notice. Or did he think Taehyun was some clueless guy who kept bothering him despite being disliked? The absurdity made Taehyun unable to hold back his laughter this time.

“Alright, I’m just glad it seems like I didn’t do anything completely useless to you. Good to know you get it.”

At that moment, Sejin lowered his head. Was he crying? Taehyun looked down in surprise, but he wasn’t crying—his face was just bright red with embarrassment. It was so cute that Taehyun grinned widely. Sejin, with no social finesse, young and immature, battered by life but still trying so hard to express gratitude—his effort was just so endearing.

It was the kind of expression a man in his forties might use, but Taehyun couldn’t help it. His heart ached, and the only word that came to mind was “endearing.” Without thinking, Taehyun reached out and ruffled Sejin’s hair. Sejin looked up, startled, but Taehyun didn’t stop. As the fine, delicate hair tangled and tousled under his fingers, Sejin’s face flushed like it might burst.

“Ha, dude, your face is gonna explode. What’s got you so embarrassed?”

Only when Taehyun burst into laughter did Sejin’s patience finally reach its limit.