Kang Yujun, who did not even pretend to listen, shamelessly kicked off his shoes and headed to the kitchen.
“But why haven’t you been answering my calls? Don’t tell me you turned off your phone.”
“…It died.”
Lee Kanghyun made a pathetic excuse. Even he thought it was incredibly undignified, but if he honestly said he had simply turned it off, Kang Yujun would probably make an even bigger scene.
Fortunately, Kang Yujun did not seem suspicious.
“Charge it. You were too lazy to charge it, weren’t you? Since you’re awake, at least wash your face. I’ll make food.”
“I’m not eating! Get out!”
“I’m making soybean paste stew. With Korean beef.”
The movement under the blanket stopped. A moment later, messy hair poked out through the gap in the blanket.
Lee Kanghyun slowly threw off the blanket and got up. His pride was wounded, but Korean beef soybean paste stew was innocent.
Besides, even if he stayed in bed and held out, it did not look like that bastard was going to leave.
“Our Kanghyun. Looks like you do want to eat.”
“Shut up.”
Ignoring him, Kang Yujun hummed as he unpacked the grocery bags.
A short while later, Lee Kanghyun came out after washing up with a complicated expression and could not believe what he was seeing.
In front of the cramped sink stood a man as big as a mountain.
Because of his size, the already tiny sink looked like a toy. To make matters worse, he was wearing a tiny pink polka-dot apron that did not match his build at all.
Lee Kanghyun blinked several times before rubbing his eyes furiously.
It’s a dream. This is a nightmare. I’ve been tormented by Kang Yujun so much that I’m hallucinating. When I open my eyes, he’ll be gone.
Lee Kanghyun pinched his cheek as hard as he could.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you sitting down?”
Damn it. It hurt like hell. This was not a dream.
“You… what the hell is that apron?”
“This? Cute, right? I bought it on the way here. For you.”
“Throw it away. Right now.”
Lee Kanghyun’s face filled with contempt. Had that bastard finally lost his mind completely? He bought a pink polka-dot apron and expected him to wear it?
“I told you I bought it for you to wear. You always sit around at home looking so gloomy, so I thought you should dress a little brighter.”
“Are you insane? Why would I wear that?”
“Why? I think it would suit you. Because it’s cute.”
Lee Kanghyun was undeniably handsome, but he was very far from being cute. Because of his sharp features, he knew full well that people often thought he looked rude and unapproachable. That was why he suspected Kang Yujun was mocking him.
“I’m never wearing it. Keep messing with me and I’ll throw you out.”
“Then I’ll wear it myself. What a waste.”
Kang Yujun casually went back to stirring the stew.
A 188-centimeter adult man, a current S-rank Hunter, had a tiny lace apron hanging across his chest. The ribbon tied behind his back looked like it could snap apart at any moment.
I think my eyes are going to rot.
Lee Kanghyun rubbed his dry face in agony.
Bubble, bubble.
Along with the sound of the soybean paste stew boiling, a savory aroma spread throughout the apartment.
Kang Yujun turned around and smiled.
“Sit down. It’s done.”
He placed the pot on a trivet on the desk—no, on the desk because there was no dining table. Then he set down steaming instant rice and neatly arranged side dishes.
For the first time, actual home-cooked food appeared in the corner of Lee Kanghyun’s apartment, where he had been surviving on convenience-store meals and delivery food.
Lee Kanghyun pulled out a chair and sat down as if possessed.
“Eat. Seriously, aren’t I incredibly kind? I even cook for you.”
Kang Yujun said this while handing him a spoon. Lee Kanghyun did not answer and scooped up some broth.
“……!”
It was delicious. Annoyingly delicious.
“How is it? It’s good, right?”
Kang Yujun asked while resting his chin on his hand. Lee Kanghyun pretended not to care, scooped up a large amount of rice, and put it in his mouth.
“It’s edible.”
“Your eyes got bigger.”
“It’s because it’s hot.”
With a quiet chuckle, Kang Yujun scooped up a generous amount of meat and placed it on Lee Kanghyun’s bowl.
“Eat plenty. Look at you. You’re so skinny you’re practically just bones. Is this really an S-rank?”
“Weren’t you the one who told me to lose weight because I was heavy?”
“You remembered that? You really are petty.”
Lee Kanghyun raised his middle finger with his left hand, but his right hand never stopped moving the spoon. It had been a long time since he had eaten a proper meal.
After a storm of eating, Lee Kanghyun finished his bowl clean and slumped back in his chair.
Full stomach, warm back. Inside my own home. This must be heaven. Now if only Kang Yujun would disappear, it would be perfect.
“Wash the dishes. I cooked, after all.”
“……”
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“You cooked this meal without asking. I never told you to make it.”
Kang Yujun shook his head in disbelief at the shamelessness. In the end, he grumbled but still put on rubber gloves and stood in front of the sink.
Lee Kanghyun lay on the bed with the satisfied expression of a well-fed cat and watched Kang Yujun start washing dishes, feeling suspicious.
Why is that bastard suddenly pretending to be nice? He cooked for me, and now he’s even washing dishes?
Something felt ominous. There was no way Kang Yujun would treat him well for no reason.
It was ominous, but… worrying about it now would not change anything. Lee Kanghyun simply chose to sleep. Spending that time sleeping a little more was more productive than being anxious.
The dishes were finished quickly. Kang Yujun removed the rubber gloves and turned around with a hollow laugh. Lee Kanghyun was already dozing off in that short amount of time.
Kang Yujun was genuinely fascinated by him. Did he have some kind of ability to fall asleep the moment his head touched something?
He grabbed Lee Kanghyun’s shoulder and shook him.
“Lee Kanghyun. Wake up. I have something to talk to you about.”
Frowning, Lee Kanghyun waved his hand around without opening his eyes.
“What? If you’re going to tell me to go to a gate again, I’m seriously throwing you out.”
“No. We’re going to a gate next week. Today is about something else.”
Kang Yujun rummaged through his bag, pulled out a sheet of paper, and held it in front of Lee Kanghyun’s eyes. When Lee Kanghyun still did not open them, he forcibly grabbed the skin above his eyes and lifted his eyelids.
“Ah, fuck. What are you doing?”
“I told you to speak nicely. More importantly, hurry up and look at this.”
Lee Kanghyun slapped away Kang Yujun’s hand and narrowed his eyes as he read the paper. It was a real estate purchase contract.
“What is this?”
“Let’s move. This place is too small. The security is terrible too. I found a place already. Let’s go there.”
What was he talking about? Move? Who? Me?
“Are you insane? Why would I live with you?”
“Not together. In the same building. I’ll take the upper floor, and you take the lower floor. Or we can switch.”
“No. Absolutely not. I’m living here for the rest of my life!”
Lee Kanghyun shouted while crumpling the contract. Kang Yujun calmly smiled, unfolded the wrinkled paper, and held it out again.
“I bought this building.”
At the sudden statement, Lee Kanghyun blinked.
What the hell was he saying?
“I’m your landlord now. So listen to me. Pack your things. We’re moving today.”
“My lease runs until next year. No matter how much of a landlord you are, you can’t just kick me out. That’s illegal.”
“Yeah. Then report me. Make sure you sue me too. Good luck, our Kanghyun!”
Kang Yujun smiled as he said it. He knew better than anyone that Lee Kanghyun would never bother doing something that troublesome.
Lee Kanghyun was left speechless, staring blankly. Then, unable to understand any of this, he suddenly asked:
“Hey.”
“Why? Did you decide to pack?”
“No. Are you drowning in money? Are you my parent? Or what, do you run a charity? Why are you just buying me a house?”
A building in the middle of Seoul with good security could not possibly be cheap. What possible reason did he have for casually spending that kind of money?
“Just tell me why. Why are you going this far for someone who’s basically a stranger?”
At Lee Kanghyun’s suspicious glare, Kang Yujun let out a quiet laugh. He shrugged as if it were nothing.
“If an S-rank Hunter who is a national asset dies alone in a place like this, that would be a loss. You need to eat well and sleep well in a comfortable environment so you can keep clearing gates with me for a long time and make money.”
It was obvious that was not the real reason.
The excuse was too half-hearted. However, Kang Yujun clearly had no intention of telling the truth, so Lee Kanghyun gave up on pressing further. It was annoying.
The sudden possibility of moving made his head ache.
This is still a dream. It’s definitely a nightmare. Please wake up. Please.
Lee Kanghyun begged silently.
But Kang Yujun was still standing there in the pink apron, wearing the most evil smile in the world. Lee Kanghyun buried his face into his palm with a hopeless expression.
There was nowhere to run. He had been completely surrounded.
But he could not just be dragged away without a fight. Desperate enough to grab even a straw, Lee Kanghyun squeezed out his final excuse.
“Moving… right now? I haven’t even packed.”
“What belongings do you even have? A few sets of clothes are all you own. Throw away the furniture and buy new ones. I’ll buy them for you.”
Kang Yujun then began sorting through the room, picking up whatever he could see. He unfolded the boxes lying around and tossed in anything that looked even slightly useful. Everything else went straight into garbage bags.
“These cup noodles are past their expiration date. Throw them out. These socks have holes. Throw them out too.”
“Hey! Those are my favorite socks. Don’t throw them away.”
“Your favorite thing has holes in it?”
Even after hearing Lee Kanghyun’s protest, Kang Yujun shoved the socks into the garbage bag without hesitation. Lee Kanghyun stared at his precious junk being thrown away with the expression of someone who had lost his country.
Right. My blanket.
Lee Kanghyun suddenly snapped back to reality. He moved instantly, placed his pillow and cushion in the middle of the blanket, rolled everything up, and hugged the whole bundle.
He could not possibly put his precious blanket into some dusty box.
Lee Kanghyun’s room was empty in ten minutes. All that remained was Lee Kanghyun standing there blankly, two boxes filled with miscellaneous items, old furniture, and the blanket he was holding.
“Come on. Let’s go. To your new home.”
Kang Yujun pushed Lee Kanghyun’s back.
“I’m not going… I’m living here….”
“I’m vacating the place. There’s nothing left here now.”
“I’ll sleep on the floor….”
Lee Kanghyun held onto the doorframe and resisted, but Kang Yujun easily lifted him up and carried him in a princess carry. It was humiliating, but Lee Kanghyun was too exhausted to even struggle.
In the end, he was carried by Kang Yujun and loaded into the car.
The entire drive, he considered simply jumping out.
It did not matter. Even if he jumped from a moving car and rolled around, he would not even get a scratch.
But if he ran away, where would he go?
Even if he returned to his comfortable studio apartment, Kang Yujun would obviously come and drag him back again.
He had nowhere to go.
While he was thinking, they arrived at their destination.
The car stopped at a luxury apartment in the center of Seoul. The underground parking lot alone was impressive. It was hard to find domestic cars; almost everything was foreign luxury vehicles.
Before getting out of the car, Lee Kanghyun glared at the offending object hanging around Kang Yujun’s neck.
The pink polka-dot apron.
Tug.
He reached out and tore off the apron strap.
“Hey! What are you doing! My apron!”
“You were actually planning to get out wearing this?”
“What’s wrong with it? It’s cute.”
Lee Kanghyun genuinely wondered if something was wrong with Kang Yujun’s eyes.
Ignoring him, Lee Kanghyun got out of the car and walked straight toward the elevator.
If he was destined to enter that place anyway, there was no point dragging his feet here. It was better to just get inside the new home quickly.
“Hey, Lee Kanghyun. Wait for me!”
Kang Yujun chased after him. His grumbling voice followed behind him like a tail.
“You’re seriously impatient. You don’t even know where you’re going.”
So annoying…
Lee Kanghyun wanted to cover his ears.