Under the London Night
"Here, cover your eyes with this."
"Yep."
Seong-muk took the blindfold.
And tied it tightly around his eyes.
"Oh...."
Suddenly, the aromas of various dishes wafted into his nose.
He didn't know what they were yet, but he was certain they would taste amazing.
"There are four dishes in total. You just have to guess which one Olivia made."
"Got it."
"Olivia will feed you all of them. We'll start with number one, so open wide."
Seong-muk opened his mouth just a bit.
Something slipped right in.
"...This is ratatouille."
"Oh, you do have some discernment."
Gordon Ramsay had thought there was a good chance the foreigner Seong-muk wouldn't recognize this simple French home-style dish, but he looked pleased that he did.
'Ratatouille is a great dish for gauging a chef's style.'
It clearly revealed the chef's preferences through the vegetables used, the spices, the degree of cooking, and more. Soon, dishes were fed into Seong-muk's mouth one after another.
"Now, the last one."
Seong-muk had eaten the fourth ratatouille before he knew it.
An exclamation point popped up above his head.
"This one...!"
His tongue was telling him.
This was definitely the Olivia's cooking he always ate.
"......."
"......"
The father and daughter read the expression on the blindfolded Seong-muk's face.
Gordon smirked slyly, while Olivia's face filled with worry.
'Is it really impossible...?'
Olivia clutched her sleeve tightly.
The story flashes back a little earlier.
Thud, thud, thud—
Vegetables sliced with the precision of a master jeweler crafting gems, all uniform in size.
Sizzle!
Eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and more went into separate pans, each retaining their vibrant colors. Each vegetable was cooked individually to preserve its perfect texture, then combined and simmered gently at the end.
Olivia's finished ratatouille burst with diverse colors, as if capturing the sunlight of Provence itself.
"Whew."
She let out a breath and wiped her sweat after completing the dish. So absorbed in her work, she hadn't noticed someone right behind her.
"Ho, excellent."
"...Ah!"
Olivia jumped in surprise.
Turning around, she saw Gordon Ramsay craning his neck to watch her cooking.
"...Weren't you cooking too, Dad?"
"I already finished. Mind if I try some?"
"Of course, go ahead."
Gordon took a fork and tasted a bite of Olivia's ratatouille. He smiled warmly.
"You've improved a lot. Excellent work."
"...No, I still have a long way to go."
Olivia blushed at the rare praise from her father. Still smiling, he pointed to the back.
"Try mine over there too."
"Ah, sure."
Olivia nodded and headed where he pointed. She froze in shock.
'...It's identical?'
He had started cooking without seeing her ingredients or process at all. Yet the two dishes looked exactly the same.
She hurriedly grabbed a fork and tasted it. Cold sweat trickled down.
'It's... the same....'
It was nearly perfect synchronization, as if he knew her inside out. Goosebumps rose all over her body. Olivia was struck anew by just how incredible her birth father was as a chef.
'Whew, with Seong-muk's palate, he'll figure out the others somehow. The problem is that Dad's tastes exactly like mine....'
Olivia simulated the scenario.
That would make it about 50-50 odds, so she figured she had a decent chance.
But her father, Gordon Ramsay, was unpredictable as a rugby ball.
Something utterly unexpected unfolded.
"Mm, delicious. Perfect for dessert."
"...!?"
Gordon picked up the dish she made and started devouring it all right there. Olivia couldn't comprehend.
"Dad, why...?"
"A straight choice is too easy."
"Huh?"
"If he truly understands your cooking, he'll know even if yours isn't there."
".........!!"
Olivia was stunned.
She grabbed his sleeve.
"Dad, that's not fair...!"
"Aren't you curious too? How well he knows your cooking."
"...Well."
"If he still gets it right, it must be fate."
Olivia was at a loss for words.
She'd been upset at first about the unfairness, but she found herself gradually convinced by his words.
And so, the four ratatouilles were placed before Seong-muk. None of them was Olivia's. Clutching her sleeve tightly, she thought.
'If Seong-muk gets this right, then I...'
She might fall for him completely, beyond saving. But this was no easy feat. Tense, she fed him each dish one by one.
The final fourth dish.
Gordon's perfect copy of Olivia's style. As it entered Seong-muk's mouth, his expression changed.
"This one...!"
Anyone could see the certainty on his face.
Despair colored hers.
'Is it really impossible...?'
This would trap Seong-muk in England as promised.
Of course, being with him was welcome, but she didn't want it at the cost of clipping his wings when he belonged in the top league.
"Hm...?"
But Seong-muk's expression shifted again.
He murmured lowly.
"Something's off, hmm...."
"...!"
Had he sensed the discrepancy?
Seong-muk removed the blindfold and spoke with full confidence.
"It's not here. Olivia's dish isn't among them."
"............!!"
Gordon was aghast.
He hadn't expected him to get it right.
"S-Seong-muk...!"
Her face overflowed with emotion.
The depth of it was so great that—
"Gah, Olivia...!?"
She suddenly threw herself at him.
Still seated, the heavy yet soft sensation against his face made Seong-muk flush.
"...How did you know?"
Gordon still looked baffled. Seong-muk answered matter-of-factly.
"I just felt it."
"You just felt it? You couldn't tell by taste alone."
"Well, yeah, the taste was identical...."
"...?"
"But it lacked that warmth I always feel from her cooking. You know, that special something."
"Ha, hahaha...."
Gordon laughed incredulously.
He threw up both arms in surrender.
"I lose. I won't interfere in you young folks' romance anymore. Do as you like."
"...Thank you. Then we're off!"
"Seong-muk...!?"
Grabbing Olivia's wrist, Seong-muk bolted from the mansion. Clearly, he wanted no more of this awkward spot.
"......Good grief."
Gordon sat alone in the empty dining hall.
Gazing out the window, he murmured quietly.
"What a shame. I was serious about it...."
His grand plan to put Olivia's future son on the England national team had gone up in smoke, and he seemed genuinely regretful.
"...Seong-muk, you can let go now."
"Ah, sorry."
Seong-muk released her wrist with an apology.
They'd walked quite a distance from the mansion by now.
Olivia pointed to the right side of the road.
"If we go down there, there's a nice walkway along the Thames. Want to stroll a bit?"
"Hm, sure."
Seong-muk nodded.
Whatever it was, now was the time to talk with her, he felt.
Following her lead down the stairs, he saw the Thames flowing grandly beside the path, just as she said. They began walking slowly along it.
"Today was pretty eventful. I might crash as soon as I get back to the hotel."
"Yeah. You handled the game perfectly, then dealt with my dad's whims at dinner.... You should've rested. Sorry."
"It's fine. When else would I get to taste his cooking? And it was kinda fun anyway."
"Mm, glad to hear that...."
Olivia sighed in relief.
She asked what had been nagging at her.
"By the way, how did you guess it?"
"Huh? I already told you."
"That was really it?"
"Yeah, that's all."
"Ugh, really...?"
She pouted her lips.
She'd thought there must be some hidden reason.
Of course, Seong-muk did have a secret weapon he couldn't mention, but it hadn't decided this test.
'I just felt it. Didn't even need the status window.'
It was something hard to explain in words.
Even as his head screamed that it matched Olivia's cooking perfectly, his heart didn't stir much.
He was sure he'd have reached the same conclusion without the status window. As they walked, he turned his head and caught an incredible sight.
"Oh...!"
"Ah, Tower Bridge!"
The landmark representing London alongside Big Ben.
The lit-up Tower Bridge shone, illuminating the dark night.
Seong-muk, who had never been to England even in his previous life, stared blankly at the beauty. And above all, what captivated his gaze was—
"........."
Olivia, her light brown straight hair flowing against the backdrop of Tower Bridge. As she brushed it behind her ear, Seong-muk couldn't look away.
"You're beautiful. Really."
"Right? Tower Bridge has been England's pride since ancient times...."
"No, I meant you."
"......!?!"
Her face flushed bright red.
Her body trembled, then she let out a shaky breath.
"S-Saying that so suddenly...."
"Ah."
Seong-muk realized the situation.
He'd just voiced his honest thoughts, but it might hit her differently.
"Ahem, you must hear 'beautiful' a lot. Used to it?"
"Not from you, Seong-muk...."
The mood turned intimate in an instant.
Olivia's face burned.
She couldn't meet his eyes.
Fidgeting with her fingers, she finally looked up and whispered.
"...Thank you for recognizing it. My cooking."
"Ah, yeah."
She'd forgotten to express her gratitude earlier.
Now she conveyed her sincere thanks.
And then, one step, two steps.
Olivia approached Seong-muk.
Her heels lifted off the ground.
"............!!!!"
A soft touch met his lips.
Seong-muk's eyes flew wide.
The brief kiss ended, and she stepped back.
"Olivia, this..."
"I like you, Seong-muk."
"Very much."
".........!"
Seong-muk's heart raced.
Of course, he knew she liked him.
But kissing her directly and hearing it from her lips was a whole different impact.
".........Whew."
Yet his mind grew complicated at the same time.
In this most emotional moment, practical barriers made him hesitate.
"Olivia, I—"
"...Shh."
"...!"
As if to say no more words were needed, Olivia pressed her index finger to his lips.
"...I kinda know. You're not in a position to relax right now."
"........."
"I get that your heart's complicated because of the other girls. I'm not asking for a decision now. Just... for tonight."
She paused, gazing up at him with moist eyes. Her gaze drifted to his lips.
"Follow your heart right now, Seong-muk. I'll do the same."
"........."
With that, Olivia approached again. Her hand on his chest, her heels slowly lifted from the ground.
'What my heart wants right now...'
If he thought practically, he should push her away. But what did he truly want now?
'What I want right now is, after all...'
Seong-muk quietly closed his eyes.
Their lips met again.
The moment they touched, he pulled her into a strong embrace.
".........!"
His firm body enveloped her.
Olivia's eyes widened in surprise, then closed again.
"......"
"......"
London's night over the Thames, lights dancing on the water.
Against the glowing Tower Bridge, the two's lips met repeatedly.
No matter who might see,
Right here, right now, it was their world alone.