Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: A Lesson in Manliness
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"Hmmm..."
A groan slipped past my lips before I could stop it.
'I'll treat you this time!'
I'd declared it so boldly, but now I was deep in thought.
What kind of meat costs over 200,000 gold per serving!
Staring at the menu, I couldn't help but think it. Every pork dish made me gasp, and the beef? I couldn't even look.
Lately, they've been feeding pigs green tea or something, but did they raise these on gold dust...?
I was scanning the menu with those thoughts in mind when Haon Park's voice came from across the table. I was busy calculating whether sets were cheaper or singles.
"Uh, um... Noeul?"
"...Ah, yeah! Is there anything you want to eat...?"
He couldn't possibly know what was going through my head, but I worried I looked too stingy. My shoulders twitched involuntarily as I replied.
"Isn't this place kinda pricey? Wanna go somewhere else?"
His words made my face heat up. From the way he said it, he'd probably peeked into my mind without permission again.
"No! The prices here are f... fine! You already bought me so much..."
His subtle question had me shaking my head vigorously. I'd run through a million simulations in my head before we even left.
...Though the prices were higher than expected.
But I'd received so much already—it was a small price to pay. Plus, now that we were here, nodding along like 'Sure, let's go' would make me look bad.
"Sh-should we get pork belly? What do you think, oppa?"
"......"
I asked brightly on purpose, and Haon just nodded silently. His face was red as an apple.
...Is it that hot?
The heat from the coals was intense, but that much? Maybe he just wasn't great with heat.
But sweating like that...
It looked kinda pitiful, so I reached out and fanned him gently. It probably didn't help much, but better than nothing.
This makes me look so considerate, right?
It was an instinctive move, but taking charge of the mood felt totally manly, and it lifted my spirits.
The guy in question recoiled in shock, leaning back.
"Wh-what? Why all of a sudden?"
"...No, you looked hot..."
I'd meant it as a caring gesture, but if he reacted like that, I might get a little hurt.
"Hah, I'm not hot at all?"
His words didn't match his sweaty reaction—it was suspicious. I gave him a knowing look, and he waved his hands, denying it.
"...For real!"
"Really? You're sweating though..."
"Th-this is... uh... you surprised me, that's all."
"Hmm?"
Haon's eyes trembled. He kept darting his gaze away when I looked at him... Ah, could it be?
"How's that? Totally manly, right?"
"...Uh, y-yeah?"
You felt it too!
He looked visibly flustered as I said it confidently. His expression gave it all away—he was so easy to read.
"I might not say it confidently, but I used to be a guy, so I know this much!"
"......"
Someday it'd come in handy—I'd searched it up online back in the day.
What was the title again...?
How to Become a Strong Alpha Male or something? Anyway...
I might be younger than Haon, but his reaction proved that article wasn't total crap. It gave me confidence.
I'd only ever received back then, but not this moment.
"Looks like I can teach you a thing or two about being a man?"
"...Cough, cough!"
Time to show I wasn't just the one getting help.
"Want me to tell you more?"
"......"
Haon nodded, his face beet red.
I'll show you what a 'real man' is!
* * *
Was it the heat from the charcoal, or the person in front of him? Haon Park felt his face burning up.
"You do it like this... Ah, hot hot!"
Clumsily wielding the tongs like scissors, then popping his fingers in his mouth...
"...Here."
"...Thanks."
Taking the damp towel he offered and smiling shyly with a bob of the head...
He'd be offended if he heard, but...
Not a single thing seemed manly.
He couldn't guess what part screamed 'manly' or why he'd suddenly boasted about teaching him.
"They say you gotta take care of her first."
"......"
Watching the meat land on his plate, Haon decided to enjoy this a bit more.
"How's that? I grilled it great, right?"
"...Y-yeah."
Haon didn't have much to do. Just nod with an 'I get it!' expression,
"...Manly."
or toss in lines like that now and then, and Noeul Lee would grin happily.
"Oppa, want more of something else?"
The way she called him 'oppa' already disqualified him as a man, but Haon didn't point it out.
Hearing it in her sweet voice felt oddly good, and the envious stares from nearby tables had him buzzing.
No idea how the nickname changed, but...
Good is good, right? Haon clamped his mouth shut and nodded.
"Back when I'd come eat meat with my family, I'd always have some."
Noeul suddenly said that while eyeing the cold noodles in front of her.
"I didn't eat much meat, but I always made sure to have a bit. Can't eat any more now though—I'm stuffed."
She grinned, and Haon felt a tickle in his chest.
Heart failure?
Viewers called it that in cases like this. Had he caught some awful disease after becoming a man? It happened now and then.
Noeul's somewhat wistful expression as she stared at her noodles tugged at him, so Haon scooped a small portion onto her plate.
It was barely a chopstickful, but her eyes sparkled. And her face lit up so brightly—it made him happy.
"...Wow. That was manly. You're learning well?"
"......"
Haon wiped his damp hands on his knee.
Heart failure, huh.
Time for a checkup.
As he thought that, eyeing the neatly arranged meat on the grill, an idea struck.
A greedy thought flitted through his mind, but he wanted to indulge it anyway.
"Hey, Noeul...?"
Might just be impulsive excitement. Still...
"In movies, they wrap ssam and feed each other. Doesn't that seem manly?"
"...Pardon?"
"Showing consideration like that—isn't it manly? Like pulling out a chair or something..."
He'd thrown it out casually, half-doubting, but she looked even more puzzled.
Her face full of question marks as she tilted her head.
"Th-that's normal?"
"...Of course! Taking the lead, being considerate—that's what makes a man! Right?"
"Hmm..."
"Just thinking about it... wow, so manly?"
Haon felt himself sinking deeper with every word. Her head tilts made his heart pound.
But backing out with 'Just kidding!' now felt too far gone. So he got a bit shameless.
"All guys do that."
"......"
Expression control was key.
Haon sealed his lips on purpose. Serious face. Sad thoughts in his head.
Sure enough, Noeul peeked at him, straightened up, and declared proudly.
"Hah, th-that much I know!"
"...Right?"
"...Of course!"
With that confident voice, chopsticks plucked meat from the grill.
"It's not hard—I can do it too..."
She mumbled as she placed it on lettuce, wrapping it diligently.
Haon stifled a grin, watching her small head and hair bob in front of him.
His smartphone buzzed in his pocket now and then, but it was probably nothing important.
"...Here!"
Compared to her beaming confidence as she offered the ssam, anyway.
"Ah, just eat it?"
"...Asking that isn't manly."
Yes, yes, teacher—got it.
Haon swallowed the retort, opening his mouth quietly. The bite—small as her hand—went in.
"...How is it?"
Grinning as she asked, she left him no other response. He just nodded repeatedly.
"Delicious."
No matter how he racked his brain, that's all that came. He couldn't pinpoint it, but something felt deeply satisfied.
The elation wasn't bad at all, so Haon just kept beaming.
"...Really? I put in eight cloves of garlic though..."
Across from him, Noeul furrowed her brow like something bothered her, but it didn't matter.
Haon knew it for sure, even if he couldn't prove it.
Today, Noeul was way cuter than he'd ever imagined.