“…What the hell is this crazy hyung even saying?”
For a split second, I thought my inner thoughts had slipped out loud. But thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case—because Jung Hwangyu was staring at Jung Hwangseo with a thoroughly disgusted expression.
Jung Hwangseo just shrugged like it was no big deal. Judging by that, it must’ve been a joke.
Yeah. Of course it was….
“You’re all exhausted today…. Go to your rooms and rest early.”
“Yees~”
“Got it.”
At Jung Hwanhui’s mediation, Jung Hwangseo answered playfully and Jung Hwangyu agreed as well. Just like that, everyone dispersed to their own rooms. Thankfully, it seemed their interest in me had faded too.
Letting out a sigh of relief, I naturally returned to my room.
‘Haa…. That was exhausting.’
It really had been a brutal day.
I spread out my blanket and collapsed onto the bed.
* * *
‘…Morning already?’
I’d only closed my eyes and opened them again, and the sun was already up.
I sat up blankly.
‘What time is it?’
Checking the time, it was already close to noon.
Wide awake all at once, I hurried outside. I should’ve prepared breakfast ahead of time—what a mistake.
I’d expected everyone to already be up and about, but unlike usual, the house was quiet.
I looked around.
The lights were off, and there was no sign of anyone. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who’d overslept.
Well, that made sense. After everything that happened yesterday….
Reassured by the quiet house, I turned on the lights and opened the refrigerator.
It was the first time all four brothers were together—what should I prepare?
As I gauged the ingredients inside, planning a combined breakfast–lunch, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
“Are you preparing a meal?”
The cold, rigid voice belonged to Jung Hwanhui.
After confirming who it was, I quickly lowered my head and spoke in a subdued voice.
“…Yes.”
“There’s no need today. Let’s eat out for a change.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Yes! Perfect.
Cheering internally, I closed the refrigerator door. It seemed everyone was starting to wake up, because one by one, they began coming downstairs behind Jung Hwanhui.
“What, no food today?”
Jung Hwangyu staggered down first. And perhaps because Jung Hwanhui was home, Jung Hwangyeong, who normally would’ve stayed holed up in his room, also shuffled out.
Still half-asleep, Jung Hwangyeong alternated his gaze between Jung Hwanhui and Jung Hwangyu on the sofa. His eyes were swollen from all the crying yesterday.
The sight was both cute and pitiful, making me click my tongue internally. Jung Hwangyu must’ve noticed Jung Hwangyeong too, because he spoke up casually.
“You up, squirt?”
But Jung Hwangyeong ignored Jung Hwangyu and walked past Jung Hwanhui. Wondering what he was doing, I watched him—only to see him stop right in front of me, where I was standing awkwardly.
“…Hi.”
“Ah, yes. Young master. Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah. I slept well.”
Jung Hwangyeong spoke to me first….
The same Jung Hwangyeong who had ignored everything I said up until now!
Without realizing it, the corners of my mouth twitched upward. It felt like all of yesterday’s hardship had been rewarded.
“Huh. That kid….”
“…Little one.”
“Yeah. Eldest hyung.”
At Jung Hwanhui’s call, Jung Hwangyeong finally trotted over and sat beside him.
“Let’s go out and eat today. We’ll have something good, and if there’s anything you want to buy, tell me. I’ll buy you everything.”
Even cold, rigid Jung Hwanhui was a kind and gentle brother when it came to Jung Hwangyeong. His tone was uncharacteristically soft.
At the mention of going out, Jung Hwangyeong seemed delighted, nodding enthusiastically at Jung Hwanhui’s words.
“I’ve been busy and couldn’t come home much. You must’ve been lonely. I’m sorry. Today, let’s do whatever you want.”
“No. Why would you be sorry? You were working…. I’m fine!”
“What~? We’re eating out today?”
Just then, a voice interrupted the peaceful sibling exchange. Turning my head, I saw Jung Hwangseo coming down the stairs, still groggy, yawning.
“…Looks like everyone’s up. We should head out soon.”
Watching him, Jung Hwanhui stood up.
“What? Already? I’m not ready yet.”
“Just grab a hat and come out. Jung Hwangseo, you’re coming too, so get ready. And Mr. Park Gyumin.”
“…Yes?”
“Come with us.”
“Me too?”
…Why me?
I’m just the housekeeper.
I’d be much more comfortable staying home alone.
“Come with us. Okay?”
In the middle of that, Jung Hwangyeong suddenly walked up to me and tugged lightly on the floral apron I was wearing.
‘Ugh—he’s so, so cute!’
I’d already thought he was adorable even before he started talking, but now that he could speak, he was cute to the point of being irresistible.
Is it even fair to be this cute while asking someone to come along?
In the end, I could only nod, as if enchanted.
* * *
“Wow, look over there….”
“Aren’t they celebrities?”
“All of them…. Wow…. Look at the kid too. He’s so cute.”
They’re staring. They’re staring hard.
Each of them stood out even on their own. Put them all together, and there was no way they wouldn’t draw attention.
Under countless gazes, Jung Hwanhui brought us to the largest restaurant downtown.
He seemed to come here often. Sitting down naturally, he began ordering dishes that looked outrageously expensive without hesitation.
‘…This is uncomfortable as hell.’
I’d followed along somehow, but it was an unbearably awkward seat. Thankfully, the brothers—together for the first time in a while—were busy talking among themselves about things they’d missed, so they weren’t paying me much attention.
Soon, dishes began arriving one by one. I’d just eat and leave, I thought.
I looked over the food.
Every dish looked exceptional—probably because they were all expensive. I immediately speared a piece of meat with my fork and took a bite.
I couldn’t help but be impressed.
‘…Wow. This is seriously good.’
No wonder it was a high-end restaurant—the food melted in my mouth. Melted.
While eating diligently and half-listening to their conversation, an interesting topic caught my ear.
“Get another housekeeper?”
“Yeah. The house is big, the work’s a lot, you need to watch the youngest, and there’s plenty else going on. Wouldn’t it be better to hire one more? Mr. Park Gyumin could focus on the youngest, and we get someone else to handle the household work.”
“But the housekeeper’s food is so good! I can’t eat anyone else’s cooking!”
The topic was whether to hire another housekeeper.
Jung Hwanhui was suggesting adding one more, while Jung Hwangyu opposed it. Jung Hwangyeong and Jung Hwangseo just listened with interest, not really chiming in.
I stayed quiet and listened too.
Could this be…. that?
Then, the two who’d been talking turned their gaze toward me.
“What do you think, Mr. Park Gyumin? Isn’t it hard to work alone? If you need it, we can add more staff anytime.”
“…But you still have to cook! I can’t eat anything but your food now!”
Jung Hwangyu freaked out. As he made such a fuss, Jung Hwangseo rested his chin on his hand, looking at me with curiosity.
“…How good is it, anyway? Now I’m curious.”
“I like the food the housekeeper hyung makes too. But I also like being taken care of.”
Even in the chaotic situation, Jung Hwangyeong quietly added his opinion.
“Enough. Mr. Park Gyumin, what do you want to do?”
“…I.”
I felt it then—this was the starting point of the original story.
I didn’t know if it originally began exactly like this, but either way, having another housekeeper enter the household was part of the original plot. Maybe because I’d played such a big role in the kidnapping incident, things had shifted to a situation where my opinion was being respected.
Would the original story change depending on my answer here?
Of course, my answer was already decided.
“I think…. having one more person wouldn’t be bad.”
Yeah. The heroine had to come. That’s how the story would move forward.
No sooner had I finished speaking than Jung Hwanhui nodded, clearly respecting my opinion.
“Then we’ll do that. I’ll find someone as soon as possible.”
“…But you still have to cook!”
At Jung Hwangyu’s insistence, clinging to the food until the very end, I nodded reluctantly.
It seemed I’d been cooking a little too well this whole time.
I’d better tone it down next time. That annoying guy.
But still….
‘I’ll be seeing her soon.’
The original heroine.
The pure, delicate beauty omega Park Hana—her entrance into the story was drawing closer.