BCGWR Chapter 22 Part 2

Since he was so resolute, Han Ji-su, who had quietly rested in bed instead of offering more help, spoke to Toto, who was glaring at the bubbling stew.

“Toto.”

“Squeak?”

“Why are you so grumpy? What don’t you like?”

“Squeak! Squeak, squeak!”

At Han Ji-su’s question, Toto, as if waiting for it, picked up a piece of carrot and cried. He shook the carrot as if saying, ‘Look at this, listen to me,’ then stared at Jung Ha-jin with sharp, triangular eyes.

“Hmm? Our Toto eats carrots well~ Why, what’s the problem? Don’t disturb, come to Daddy.”

Toto, who had flung the carrot piece away, climbed down Jung Ha-jin’s body. Then he scampered over, climbed up Han Ji-su’s pant leg, hung onto his chest, and began to cry and rub against him pitifully.

“Squeak! Squeeeeak!”

“Oh dear, Toto didn’t like it? Is that so~? It’s okay. Daddy will eat all of Toto’s carrots too.”

Hearing Han Ji-su say he would eat it instead, Toto cried even more pitifully, as if that wasn’t it.

Seeing Toto’s truly wronged expression, Han Ji-su burst into a chuckle.

In truth, Han Ji-su knew why Toto, who usually ate vegetables without fuss, was trying to get rid of the carrot. Carrots were not Toto’s disliked food, but Han Ji-su’s.

The reason he didn’t explicitly say so was that he didn’t want Jung Ha-jin, who was in charge of preparing the meal, to worry, but he also felt sorry that Toto was the only one in such a wronged situation, so he stroked his fur and kissed the top of his head.

Toto, having received Han Ji-su’s kiss, cried “Squeak…” as if his mood had slightly improved, but maintained a haughty expression.

While Han Ji-su was comforting and coaxing the sulking Toto, Jung Ha-jin efficiently prepared the meal.

The bubbling stew seemed almost complete, as he turned off the heat and moved the pot. He then took out the steamed eggs from another pot, and saying this was the last dish, began stir-frying bulgogi in a pan.

Han Ji-su, checking each dish he was cooking, leaned his head, endlessly stroking Toto.

‘This is strange……’

Aside from the fact that carrots were included, the soybean paste stew with plenty of brisket and zucchini, the steamed eggs with finely chopped green onions, pollack roe, and minced carrots, and the bulgogi with lots of broth were all dishes Han Ji-su liked.

One might ask what was so strange, as these were dishes most Koreans generally liked, but what was important was the combination of these menu items.

Bulgogi with lots of broth. Brisket and zucchini soybean paste stew. Pollack roe steamed eggs. The days these three dishes simultaneously appeared on the table were always the days the Loveis members showcased their specialty dishes to comfort their gloomy youngest member.

‘Jung Jin hyung made pollack roe steamed eggs, Ji-oh hyung made brisket soybean paste stew, and……’

The bulgogi with lots of broth was leader Kang Jae-yoon’s specialty.

The moment he recalled that fact, his memories blurred, and the last member, Shin Hee-won, came to mind almost forcefully.

“……”

Fortunately, this time the loss of this memory wasn’t sad. Rather, remembering Shin Hee-won, who couldn’t cook, made him feel better.

Unlike the other hyungs, he didn’t participate in cooking out of a sole desire not to waste ingredients. Instead, he would buy Han Ji-su his favorite family-sized ice cream.

Han Ji-su, who often experienced slumps and was in the position of the gloomy youngest whenever he hit a wall in singing or dancing, would be dragged to the ice cream chain store at the entrance of their dorm complex on such days.

He was upset and embarrassed, wanting to pull the covers over his head, but when he was dragged out and saw the colorful ice creams arranged by flavor, he would feel a little better.