novellhall 38. Doesn't anyone cook for you?
38. Doesn't anyone cook for you?
Bae Joo-hyun was very troubled at the moment, agonizing over what to wear for the meeting. She had been arranging her outfit alone in her dorm room for almost an hour.
In front of the slightly worn full-length mirror in the dormitory, on the bed were clothes she had just tried on and then taken off.
Her gaze lingered on herself in the mirror, finally settling on a long, cherry blossom pink down jacket, the zipper undone, layered over a matching pink crewneck sweatshirt, paired with black casual pants and white sneakers. Her long, black hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders. She wore only the lightest makeup: a thin layer of primer, drawn her eyebrows, filled in her inner eyeliner with light brown, and finally applied a touch of pink lip gloss.
The key point is that she was 21 years old at the time.
It was a kind of beauty with a velvety feel. Her skin was the delicate fullness unique to youth, still retaining a touch of baby fat, which would create a cute curve under her eyes when she smiled. Her eyes were large and clear, with inner eyeliner only making the pupils appear darker and brighter, giving her a focused and clean look. Her nose was small and straight, and her lips, after being lightly painted, had a healthy pinkish hue.
Like a breath of white air in winter, clear, pure, and fleeting—it is the essence of youth itself, captivating even without makeup, at the prime of life.
Bae Joo-hyun looked at herself in the mirror a few more times. What kind of expression would Lee Kyung-sung have when he saw her like this?
The smile on her face held a hint of anticipation.
Fortunately, her roommate wasn't in the dorm, otherwise, seeing her suddenly dressed up so carefully, anyone would probably have guessed why.
At 7:27 PM, Bae Joo-hyun went to the supermarket near her dorm. While scrolling through her phone, looking at the newly released official information from CJ Group, she subtly pursed her lips.
The content is really poorly done; the layout is messy, and it doesn't even include his favorite foods, colors, hobbies, or anything like that.
She looked at the same few photos she'd seen countless times, her gaze sweeping over the sections listing names, ages, and education levels. The word "education" stung her eyes.
She pursed her lips. She only had a high school diploma, and the company's debut project seemed far off.
But Li Jingcheng has already become a national heartthrob, and he's about to join a film crew; he'll only become more and more dazzling in the future.
But recalling the tone of his voice when he spoke to her on the phone earlier... Bae Joo-hyun's heart softened slightly, and she quickened her pace, intending to show off her culinary skills tonight.
Although she didn't know what he liked to eat, she still put a lot of meat in her shopping cart: Korean beef tenderloin, pork belly, and a box of rice cakes. After hesitating for a moment, she also got fish cakes, quail eggs, and some cabbage to make kimchi, as she still needed to control her weight.
Worried that Li Jingcheng might not have suitable seasonings at home, I picked out some that I thought were quite good.
Looking at the amount on the screen as she checked out, Bae Joo-hyun took a deep breath. She'd have to be careful with her money this month, but she didn't dwell on it too much and quickly left with two large bags of groceries.
She suddenly froze when she stood at the supermarket entrance—
She had no idea where Li Jingcheng lived.
Reluctantly placing the shopping bags at her feet, she found the contact person and dialed the number.
"I...I don't know where you live..." Bae Joo-hyun's voice was soft.
"Because I was planning to pick you up."
"Send me your address, I'll come pick you up," Li Jingcheng said with a smile.
"No, no, you're so popular right now, lots of reporters are following you, it's too dangerous..." Bae Joo-hyun said softly, refusing.
"If I'm all bundled up, no one will recognize me," he interrupted her, his voice laced with laughter yet carrying an undeniable authority. "Why would I let my little cook carry the groceries and take a taxi here herself?"
"Listen to me, send me the address right now."
After saying that, the phone was hung up.
Bae Joo-hyun held her phone, stunned for a few seconds. She wasn't angry; instead, she felt her ears getting slightly hot. Why did he always talk like that—both domineering and making people's hearts soften?
She bit her lip lightly, but still sent the location.
Li Jingcheng was indeed bundled up tightly: a black mask, a baseball cap pulled low, and a pair of non-prescription glasses. He had driven here; the journey was actually quite short, but there was some traffic at this hour, and it took him eighteen minutes to get here.
From afar, I could see Bae Joo-hyun standing quietly by the roadside, carrying two large shopping bags. Her small figure looked particularly slender in the night.
He quickly got out of the car, smiling as he walked over, naturally taking the bag from her hand. In the dim light of the streetlamp, his gaze lingered on her face for a moment longer.
Although he had seen her countless times in photos and videos in his previous life, he still couldn't help but look at her a few more times when this truly divine face was right in front of him.
Yesterday, I saw Bae Joo-hyun with a natural, clean look, but tonight, she looked like a meticulously made-up porcelain doll. Her eyebrows were sharply defined, making her eyes even more captivating and alluring. The corners of her eyes were slightly upturned, with a shimmering red hue. Her lips had a natural pinkish-nude color, full and moist, like a ripe peach, making her beauty strikingly aggressive.
Seemingly noticing the undisguised amazement and dazed look in his eyes, Bae Joo-hyun's slightly nervous lips curled up slightly, her smile revealing a hint of smugness and coquettishness. She had finally received the expected surprise after dressing up for him.
She waved her hand gently in front of him, her voice softer than usual, her eyes full of smugness, "What are you standing there for? Get in the car."
Good guy,
Li Jingcheng didn't feel embarrassed at all. He opened the trunk and put all the bags he was carrying inside.
Bae Joo-hyun sat in the passenger seat. She didn't know much about cars, but the spacious layout and understated quality of the interior made her think that this car must be expensive.
She was stunned when she actually stepped into Li Jingcheng's house.
The house was much larger than she had imagined, a detached courtyard villa with a simple yet grand exterior and a modern, understatedly luxurious interior. The layout was spacious and airy, with ample ceiling height and a bright, airy feel. Floor-to-ceiling windows opened directly into the courtyard, revealing lush greenery outside.
"These were left by my family," Li Jingcheng explained as he put the things down, noticing her unease. "I haven't started earning money myself yet; they're all money my parents worked hard to save."
Lee Kyung-sung turned to look at her, his tone softening, "Don't worry, you'll definitely be in the next debut project. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, I'm here for you."
Bae Joo-hyun nodded slightly, her gaze towards him somewhat strange, and cautiously asked, "Are your aunt and uncle there?"
"He's gone." Memories of his past life surfaced in Li Jingcheng's mind, his voice softening as he gently shook his head.
Bae Joo-hyun stood there, seemingly sensing something. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, "I'm sorry... I..."
"Okay, okay."
Li Jingcheng carried the groceries she bought in one hand and put his other hand on her shoulder, leading her into the kitchen. He said half-jokingly, "From now on, this is your territory, so don't be shy."
Bae Joo-hyun's face flushed, she rolled her eyes dramatically, and retorted softly, "Why do you expect me to cook for you every day? Do you really think of me as your little cook?"
Lee Kyung-sung smiled and helped her put away her pink down jacket. Then he leaned against the kitchen door and watched her take out the Korean beef and pork belly from the bag, and a slight thought crossed his mind.
He knew, of course, how strict the weight requirements were for trainees; this meat was clearly bought specifically for him.
The company hasn't made any money from them yet, and the trainees' subsidies are pitifully small, which Li Jingcheng is naturally aware of.
I invited her over tonight with the intention of getting her to spend some money, so that I'd have a reason to invite her over for dinner later.
He'll be joining a new production soon, and we won't have many more opportunities to meet like this. If I offer her money directly then, she definitely won't accept it, knowing her personality.
He thought, "Then let's say it's the cost of groceries for our meal together."
Bae Joo-hyun stood in front of the kitchen counter, took a deep breath, composed herself, and began to skillfully prepare the ingredients. The light fell on her slender neck and focused profile, making her features appear soft and clean. Her eyes were lowered, her expression focused and quiet, and she exuded a peaceful and gentle aura.
Lee Kyung-sung leaned against the door, watching Bae Joo-hyun's focused profile as she looked down. The light slid over her shoulders, outlining her soft hair and quiet silhouette. There was a faint, rhythmic sound in the air, like the rhythmic sound of chopping vegetables, soft yet real.
He was somewhat dazed, as if he had imagined this scene countless times in his mind.
In his previous life, he ordered takeout almost every meal. Returning to his quiet rented apartment late at night after work, staring at the greasy takeout containers, he often thought—if only he could marry a wife who could cook. She didn't have to be beautiful, but she'd be willing to learn one or two signature dishes for him, so his home would feel warm and inviting, and someone would be waiting for him to come home for dinner.
The thought was faint, hidden beneath the weariness and compromise of daily life, until even I thought I had forgotten it.
But now, standing here, watching Bae Joo-hyun preparing ingredients under the lamplight, those dormant longings suddenly surged up, so clear they brought tears to my eyes.
It seems that what he pursues is never the extravagant delicacies touted by online food bloggers, nor the exquisitely plated dishes posted on social media from restaurants across the country. It's simply an evening like this, a figure like this, a touch of warmth, life, and the warmth of home.
Bae Joo-hyun seemed to sense something, and just then she looked up. Their eyes met, and she paused for a moment, then smiled at him, her eyes and brows shining.
Li Jingcheng's heart skipped a beat, and without thinking, he walked over.
"Let me help you." His voice was a little lower than usual, and he thought it was natural and handsome enough as he reached out and took the vegetables from her hand.
Bae Joo-hyun looked at his expression, as if he were handing it over to her, and couldn't help but laugh, her eyes sparkling. But the smile only lasted about ten seconds.
"Ugh!!" She frowned and leaned closer, her tone revealing undisguised disgust. "That's not how you wash cabbage! You've ruined the leaves!"
"Isn't this how everyone washes their clothes?" Li Jingcheng asked with some doubt, but he stopped washing them on his own.
"Pab!" Bae Joo-hyun laughed, gently swatting his hand away. "You're quite stubborn."
She could actually tell what he meant, but she didn't point it out. She just smiled and pointed to the other side of the sink, "Then go wash the dishes, okay?"
"Then leave it to me." Li Jingcheng agreed readily this time and turned to get the bowl.
Bae Joo-hyun took the cabbage back and gently rinsed it, her voice casual.
"By the way, when you were studying in the US... did you eat takeout every day? You didn't even know how to wash vegetables."
She paused, her tone casual, as if asking offhand, but her gaze involuntarily fell on his face.
"Doesn't anyone cook for you?"