Chapter 132
Dessert... wanna have some?
Even Yoo Seol-ah was sitting right there next to those two. It was bold as hell to pick something that steamy and send it to the group chat. Was it bravery... or just poking at her reverse scale by mentioning her height? Strictly speaking, her height wasn't much different from a tall elementary schooler, but everything else about her screamed adult.
"You two flirting again?"
"...We weren't flirting!"
The two of them just tilted their heads at Yoo Seol-ah curling up her tail in embarrassment. Good thing they had no clue about the photo. They didn't even ask what we'd been up to. Probably because they'd seen us bickering and making up a million times already.
"But I think unnie's height is perfect."
"R-really?"
"Me too. It's cute, right? Once you're too tall, you can't pull off that cute vibe even if you try."
I shot them a suspicious look at first, wondering if tall people were just messing with her. But they seemed genuine, so Yoo Seol-ah grudgingly nodded. Baek Sia and Lee Seo-yeon were both in the upper 160s, so they wouldn't get the short person's perspective.
"Then give me 3cm of yours. I'd still be over 160 without it."
"No way. The 150s suit you perfectly."
"...There's no such thing!"
Yoo Seol-ah's voice was thick with indignation. But honestly, I didn't want her any taller either. She was the perfect height to tease, and with her small face, her proportions were killer anyway. Wait, though—3cm wouldn't even get her to 160.
"Why 3cm, anyway? Shouldn't it be 3.1? You've never hit 157."
"Urk... Hey! I can hit 157 when I'm in top condition!"
"Has it ever happened?"
"...N-next time it will! And they say you measure taller in the morning, but I always do it in the afternoon..."
She must've researched this hardcore. I lost control of my expression listening to her passionate defense.
"Damn it!"
She grabbed a pillow from behind and swung it at me. But with Baek Sia right there, there was no mana behind it. A floating pillow would look too suspicious. I caught the limp projectile and plopped it on my lap.
Mm, so fluffy. The bedding Lee Seo-yeon had set up ahead of time. I'd seen the exact same blankets and pillows at her place last time—definitely some high-end brand, not Korean.
As I savored the pillow's softness with my arm propped up, I spotted Yoo Seol-ah biting her lip and fuming.
"Ha..."
"Unnie, be a good girl and hold it in."
"...Sia, you're holding back a laugh too, aren't you?"
"......Nope."
Baek Sia was obviously stifling a grin. Yoo Seol-ah finally pulled out another pillow.
"Kyaa!"
A gleeful scream rang out, followed by Baek Sia tumbling backward after taking a pillow to the head. Those two had gotten close fast. True to form, Yoo Seol-ah—who melted for girls—gave more of a pat than a hit. Baek Sia ended up sprawled on the bed, marveling at the pillow's texture.
Having struck both siblings, Yoo Seol-ah casually pulled the blanket over herself like a cape. I loved fluffy stuff too, but so did she.
"You'll fall asleep like that."
"Lying under the blanket does make me sleepy... Should I nap?"
Her drowsy voice had this subtly sexy edge. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought so.
"...Don't forget we're right here."
"N-no, that's not what I meant...! It was just to myself!"
Now she was flushing and startling like a deer. Hard to believe this was the same girl who'd sent that photo earlier. With everyone clutching something soft, a rolling-around vibe settled in, leading to a stretch of silence.
"...When's your thing with Doyun oppa?"
"Tonight? Just meeting up quick."
"Yeah? What about you, Sia? Don't you have academy?"
"Mine's at 8 too, so I've got time."
"Cool. Then let's all grab dinner."
It was about that time, and Yoo Seol-ah—who never skipped meals—wouldn't sit still. Baek Sia beamed with anticipation.
"Does unnie cook well? Or do you have a chef at home?"
"...We're not that rich... Anyway, no chef."
Lee Seo-yeon started explaining her family before catching herself with a vague dodge. She didn't mention knowing tons of chefs, of course.
"Seo-yeon cooks great. Her major's basically that."
"Not that great... Just a little."
Modest as ever, but her tastes were far from normal. Food & Nutrition wasn't just cooking, but hearing she taste-tested products before launch said it all.
Baek Sia lit up and pitched an idea. "How about we each make something? Teams of two."
"Then I'd team with Baek Sion."
"Yeah. You two are the pros."
I'd never really seen Lee Seo-yeon cook properly, so I was curious. Yoo Seol-ah piped up from under her blanket.
"Fine, me and Baek Sion."
"Okay, then me and Seo-yeon unnie."
"Baek Sion, we can win, right?"
"...Why's it suddenly a showdown?"
Her competitive fire was flaring up even here. It needed to be a fair fight for a contest, and while I was decent, Lee Seo-yeon was on another level.
"Losers do a penalty~"
Baek Sia's beaming push sealed the cooking duel.
"What penalty?"
"We'll think of one. Food first."
The other team dove into strategy. Ours was way more chill.
"Whatcha wanna make?"
"Mm... Nothing too long. Simple and tasty?"
"Omurice?"
"Love omurice."
No tension because we probably wouldn't win anyway, and penalties weren't serious. Yoo Seol-ah seemed unfazed too.
"Mart's in the complex—let's go."
"Sure."
Lee Seo-yeon, who knew the area best, led us to the big supermarket inside.
"It's super stocked. Even a butcher... Shop separately."
Contest rules, so we split into teams. Omurice was simple, but ingredients and skill mattered a ton.
"Chicken or pork?"
"...Chicken."
Chicken for the fried rice it was, plus veggies, eggs, and basics. We checked out and headed back. The others were waiting.
"Chop steak for us."
"Ooh, love chops. Tastier than plain steak, imo."
After washing up post-checkout, we jumped into cooking. The L-shaped counter fit both dishes fine.
"You guys take that side?"
"Yeah." Yoo Seol-ah rolled up her sleeves confidently.
"...Leave the knife work to me."
She'd gained confidence since I taught her. Lee Seo-yeon was giving Baek Sia tasks too, so I handed prep to Yoo Seol-ah.
The kitchen was already filling with delicious aromas. No real stakes, but a contest was a contest—might as well try. I started with a basic omelet but switched to a split-style one. Whisking air layers so the outside cooked fast but inside stayed runny was tricky, but I'd nailed the feel after practice.
"Whoa... That's not easy."
"Really? No idea."
Lee Seo-yeon peeked over mid-cook, impressed. Yoo Seol-ah watched close but didn't get it—looked like a regular omelet till the knife cut.
"Dish the rice first."
"Got it."
Topped the garlic chicken fried rice with omelets. Their chops looked done too. At the table: four omurices and chops. I sliced Yoo Seol-ah's omelet open. Semi-liquid egg flowed out perfectly.
"...Insane. You can do this?"
"Learned from a recipe once."
Tricky at first, but great practice food—especially feeding Baek Sia. Lee Seo-yeon sliced hers smoothly and sauced it. Watching her taste it, I tensed up.
"...You could open a restaurant. Baek Sion, you cook great..."
She never trashed food, but this felt sincere. Relief—I'd put effort in.
"What, 'cause Seol-ah unnie's here? Tastes better than usual."
"What kinda talk is that..."
Baek Sia devoured hers happily. Satisfied, I speared some chops. Savoring the first bite, I froze—went in for seconds without a word.
After swallowing, I looked at Yoo Seol-ah. "...We lost."
"Huh?"
"Try it."
She hadn't cared about winning, questioning back. I pointed at the chops. This wasn't home-cooking level. Shabu-shabu last time didn't show skill, but this full involvement did.
Yoo Seol-ah took a bite, then another. Confirmed.
"...So what's the penalty?"
Ours wasn't bad—my best yet, even. But she kept eating steadily, ready to accept defeat meekly. The winners grinned.
"Feed each other~"
"....."
Lee Seo-yeon declared it without hesitation. Yoo Seol-ah, mid-chop, dropped her chopsticks and facepalmed. But they were firm. I held a chop piece to her mouth. She rolled her eyes, then squeezed them shut and parted her lips slowly.
"Ahh..."
Chop in, she whipped her head away and chewed furiously. Lee Seo-yeon, pleased as punch, took an omurice bite.
"Tasty?"
"...Yeah."
Super tasty, so she answered straight despite the blush. But that wasn't Lee Seo-yeon's angle.
"'Cause Baek Sion fed you?"
"Koff!"
Yoo Seol-ah chugged water and shot her a betrayed glare. But she never flat-out denied it—not my imagination.
"We'll come back for a proper housewarming!"
"Yeah, visit lots."
Dishes done spotless, Lee Seo-yeon and Baek Sia headed out for schedules. Four to two felt suddenly quiet. Yoo Seol-ah lounged on the sofa, stuffed.
I recalled her plate. "Leaving veggies means no height growth."
"...I didn't?"
"Saw you skip the egg too. Kiddo."
"Urk..."
She knew it, ducking her head but grumbling.
"...Always calling me a kid. Pisses me off..."
Her face puffed in annoyance. She stewed silently for a bit, then lifted her head like she'd decided something.
"Dessert... wanna have some?"
"Whatcha craving? Delivery?"
I reached for my phone, but she shook her head. Couldn't make dessert now. But her eyes shifted, voice sticky.
"...Not that. Other dessert."
Her tone turned sultry. Still pouty-faced, but same vibe as before. Maybe her real reverse scale was "kiddo," not height. One word, and she ramped up the seduction—peak competitive Yoo Seol-ah.
Her hand slid onto my thigh, stroking subtly.
"...Cancel 'kiddo' already."
"......"
Ridiculous. Acting all adult with naughty moves... But the devil in me had mashed "cancel" a dozen times.