Chapter 29 : You’re Mine.
“Let’s dig in!”
The family gathered around the table and eagerly started their meal. The spread of dishes laid out before them filled the air with tempting aromas and were a feast for the eyes.
The glossy, tender braised ribs.
The thick, savory slices of stir-fried pork.
The crispy-edged kimchi pancakes.
“This is it!”
“Nothing beats a home-cooked meal.”
“Slow down, everyone, or you’ll end up with a stomachache.”
Despite Ha-neul’s warning, no one slowed down. Bada, feeling curious, carefully picked up her chopsticks.
‘Just smile and enjoy!’
Seeing how excited Ha-neul’s family was, and knowing she wasn’t usually picky, Bada still felt a bit anxious.
There was always a chance the food might not suit her taste. If that happened, she’d have to power through it with a smile, pretending it was delicious.
‘Let’s start with the stir-fried pork.’
She decided to begin with something safe. As long as the meat wasn’t burnt, it was a hard dish to mess up.
“…!?”
The moment she tasted the pork, Bada’s eyes widened in surprise. The rich, savory flavor filled her mouth, and it was absolutely delicious.
She instinctively chewed the meat, savoring the contrast between the crispy exterior and the juicy interior that spread throughout her body.
The seasoning was perfect—just the right mix of spice and sweetness that lingered on her tongue.
‘Is this really stir-fried pork!?’
The taste was so amazing, it was almost shocking.
Even the nanny, who was an excellent cook with numerous culinary certificates, would have a hard time competing with this dish.
*Gulp.*
Bada swallowed, almost like she was under a spell, and quickly reached for the braised ribs.
‘…This can’t be real.’
The taste was so familiar.
It reminded her of the ribs she had once enjoyed at the Shilla Hotel. It was as if the same recipe had been used.
‘No, this is even better.’
This was more than just a home-cooked meal. Bada only snapped out of her daze after finishing two servings.
Huh!
When she looked up, she noticed Ha-neul’s family watching her with pleased expressions.
“Did the food taste good to you?”
Ha-neul’s mother asked with a warm smile. Remembering how she had devoured the food, Bada blushed slightly and replied.
“It’s the best meal I’ve ever had. I’d hire the chef on the spot. Not that I’m suggesting hiring you, Mother…”
“Oh, I know what you mean.”
Bada stammered in embarrassment. The food was truly that incredible. Even now, with her stomach full, just thinking about it made her mouth water.
“Is that right, Ha-neul?”
“Huh?”
Hearing Ha-neul’s name suddenly called, Bada looked around in confusion. The rest of the family had mischievous smiles on their faces.
“Come on, everyone, stop teasing Bada. You’re making her nervous.”
“Oh? And yet you were so eager to hear what she thought that you’ve been quiet this whole time.”
“Well, I mean…”
Ha-neul scratched his cheek, looking a bit embarrassed.
Seeing Bada still puzzled, Ha-neul sighed softly and explained.
“I made it.”
“What?”
“I made all of these dishes.”
Ha-neul pointed to the dishes on the table as he spoke. It was only then that Bada realized what was happening, and she quickly covered her mouth in disbelief.
“…No way.”
Had Ha-neul really made all these amazing dishes? It seemed impossible. Even if someone had told her a five-star hotel chef had prepared the meal, she would have been skeptical.
‘Did Ha-neul really cook all this?’
Why? How? How was this even possible?
Questions flooded her mind, but none of them had answers. She looked at Ha-neul with a mix of confusion and awe, and he responded with a slightly embarrassed smile.
“The main character of my first paid work was a ‘star chef.’ So, I actually visited ‘Chef Park’ and learned a lot from him.”
“Chef Park…?”
“It’s probably who you’re thinking of. The YouTuber with five million subscribers. He sometimes consults for restaurants on TV.”
Chef Park was a household name in Korea, known by almost everyone. He was a top-tier culinary researcher, respected throughout the industry.
But how on earth had Ha-neul connected with someone like that? Bada found her answer from Gureum.
“This guy was a total gaming addict back in the day. After he quit his job, he spent all his time playing games. He was some kind of top-ranked player, wasn’t he?”
“I was the raid leader of the only group in Korea with a ‘First Kill’ record for a new raid.”
“…Alright, good for you.”
“Yup.”
Despite Gureum’s sarcasm, Ha-neul nodded with a proud smile, clearly pleased with himself.
“Anyway, in that weird guild…”
“It was called ‘Lord of the Basement.’”
“Whatever! Apparently, Chef Park was a member of that guild too. But when Ha-neul announced he was quitting the game to focus on real life, Chef Park offered him a job at his restaurant.”
“He was a great guy.”
It turned out that Chef Park initially wanted to make Ha-neul the restaurant manager, but after teaching him a few things, he realized Ha-neul was a natural in the kitchen and offered him a chef position instead.
Bada was stunned, left speechless by the story. Why on earth did Ha-neul write web novels? This was surely a waste of his talent.
“Do you know what’s crazy, though? This guy turned down the offer! Can you believe it? They offered him a whole building, and he just said no!”
“Gureum.”
“Mom, isn’t it ridiculous? If Ha-neul had taken that chef position, he’d be rolling in money right now…”
“Shhh—”
Gureum pouted as she fell silent under her mother’s stern gaze. Seizing the moment, Bada asked the question that had been on her mind.
“So, why did you turn it down?”
“I didn’t think I could juggle both being a web novel writer and a chef.”
It was a very Ha-neul-like reason.
There wasn’t a hint of hesitation or regret in his answer. Bada, along with the rest of the family, couldn’t help but shake their heads.
“I’m not that good, anyway. It’s not something worth bragging about.”
No, you absolutely should brag about this!
Bada barely managed to swallow the words rising in her throat. As she calmed her excitement, she realized this was very good news for her.
‘If I live with Ha-neul, I could eat like this every day, couldn’t I?’
The value of Ha-neul, which had once seemed like an unlisted stock, was skyrocketing in Bada’s eyes. She couldn’t stop a small smile from forming at the thought.
Could such a person even exist in this world? It felt like discovering a legendary Pokémon.
‘…Ha-neul, you’re mine.’
Remember that.
You’re mine.
* * *
After the meal, Ha-neul and his family sat around comfortably, chatting together. Seeing the contented expressions on everyone’s faces made him feel even happier.
“Thanks to you, son, we’ve been spoiled today.”
“From now on, you need to do better.”
“That’s enough. Just live happily.”
“It’s my happiness to see Mom smile.”
Mom let out a small laugh at these words, her expression showing a hint of disbelief.
“Typical of an author, always with the smooth talk.”
“Right? They’re really good with words.”
Bada, who had been quietly listening, decided to join the conversation. It seemed like this wasn’t just an act.
Glancing over, Bada noticed she had turned her back to Ha-neul and started chatting with Mom instead.
“I’m sorry. My son takes after his father and can be a bit oblivious. I imagine it’s quite frustrating.”
“Since he’s such a wonderful person, I’ll put up with it.”
“…Unnie, I have to say, you seem way too smitten. What exactly do you find so great about him?”
It seemed like. Ha-neul’s mom was genuinely curious, as she didn’t stop his sister this time. Instead, she looked at Bada with an expectant gaze.
‘I need to step in here.’
Bada would have to be careful. If she gave vague answers, his mom and sister’s persistent nature could lead to trouble.
“Why ask about that…?”
“Everything is great.”
“Hmm?”
Everyone turned to look at Bada in surprise. Even his dad, who usually kept a serious demeanor, perked up his ears.
While her brain was momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events, Bada continued with a playful smile.
“First of all, he’s good-looking.”
At this, Bada’s parents subtly lifted their smiles, while his sister, though frowning, nodded reluctantly.
It was probably because without makeup, Ha-neul looked just like Bada. Denying that would be like spitting in her own face.
“Also, he’s fun to be around.”
That made sense.
From what Bada had shared, his life had mostly been a routine of school and home, and as an adult, it was just a shift from school to the lab.
She had even been controlled by her brother in terms of nightlife and clubbing. Even if she didn’t show it, she must have been very considerate of her family.
But now, with trips to amusement parks and joining group outings, her life had become much more dramatic than before.
“Above all, he’s kind.”
“Unnie, I really don’t think that’s true.”
“Why?”
“Have you ever heard of ‘Hanam Blood Sea’?”
Kim Gureum, with a mischievous grin, looked at Bada. It was clear she was about to say something unnecessary. Just as Bada was about to stop her.
“Oh, I know about that.”
“What?”
“I heard that Gureum was bullied by a senior at school and Ha-neul stepped in to help…”
“Wowww-!”
Kim Gureum gasped, covering Bada’s mouth. She then glared at Ha-neul with a terrifying look. It was clear she was asking, ‘Did you really have to mention that?’
Ha-neul merely shrugged. He had never talked about his school days openly, so it was surprising to see how much they knew.
‘How much do they really know?’
While he was aware they had looked into his past, it was startling that they knew details about how Gureum had been pulled from a troublemaker circle.
‘…Is this a warning?’
Was this a subtle pressure to not lie since they knew everything about his past?
At that moment, Ha-neul felt a chill as he saw Bada, which reminded him of the “Princess” from the novel.
“How’s your son?”
“Sorry?”
“Aren’t you going to respond to the new daughter-in-law?”
The unexpected question caught him off guard.
All eyes turned to him.
With everyone now full and no longer interested in the food, it seemed they were more focused on how to tease him and Bada.
‘As expected.’
From the beginning of arranging the meeting between Bada and his parents, he had prepared a list of expected questions and answers. Simple questions like these were no problem.
Having practiced his responses and visualizations, he answered confidently.
“She’s gorgeous.”
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Just as he had planned.
When the person in question answered so directly, it was the asker who ended up flustered.
His practice with his responses and eye contact had been spot on. Now he just needed to deliver the final touch.
“Bada-ssi is very considerate.”
It wasn’t just flattery.
Bada loved expensive coffee and fancy meals but always chose cheaper places like snack bars when he was buying.
Plus, the way Bada respected his work and treated his family showed she was genuinely thoughtful.
“Children like her too.”
At the orphanage, Bada seemed to have the most fun, with the kids all clustering around her.
Even though it should have been tiring, she never complained and played with the kids. The director mentioned she’d even come by on her own days off to play with Yena.
“She works hard too.”
During the MT, the separation of dorms allowed for conversations among the men. He heard various things about Bada from the lab members.
He found out Bada had never taken personal leave, even on the day they went to the department store for a date.
– Actually, we were all a bit concerned.
– Right. Bada always had a bit of a wall up. She never shared personal stuff.
– When she got focused on something, she’d stay in the lab all day, buried in her work. It was hard to even start a conversation with her.
She was friendly with everyone but never opened up to anyone, regardless of gender.
– But recently, something has changed. It’s like she’s come alive. Not in a strange way, but she seems more vibrant.
– I’m not the only one who noticed.
– It started after meeting Ha-neul.
– Exactly, the timing fits perfectly!
Most of the conversation revolved around this.
He heard other random things, but nothing negative. Everyone seemed to see her as a close younger sister.
‘…Though they say anyone who showed romantic interest in Bada has left the lab?’
It was a sort of urban legend within the lab, and knowing the truth made it hard to laugh off completely.
Well, considering that,
Bada was dedicated to her work, and when her field of expertise came up, her enthusiastic explanations were quite charming.
“Everything about her adds up. It’s hard to pick just one thing. To me, she’s perfect in every way.”
He had shared everything he had prepared.
While he added a few unplanned things, it wasn’t a bad thing. After all, the best lies are hidden within the truth.
But his family, who were supposed to react, just stared at him with their mouths open. As he briefly wondered if he had made a mistake, Kim Gureum spoke up first.
“Wow, that’s some embarrassing stuff.”
Clearing her throat, his parents turned their heads, and Kim Gureum shook her head in disbelief.
And then,
Bada’s face turned bright red with anger. Seeing her expression, Ha-neul thought to himself.
‘…Did I go too far?’
Everyone has a great plan.
Until they actually put it into action.
