RACA 56

Even though he only appeared briefly, his skill at handling the frying pan was so impressive that for a while, people debated whether Pyo Jaebeom actually knew how to cook or not.

‘I knew he’d be good at it.’

Eunsol naturally sided with the latter opinion. Seeing with his own eyes that he hadn’t been wrong was quite thrilling.

“Your meal is ready. Please check it!”

While I was blankly watching him, Pyo Jaebeom announced.

“I’ll take care of dinner!”

Feeling a pang of guilt for just sitting there, Eunsol quickly got up from his seat.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”

This time, Pyo Jaebeom didn’t stop him. Eunsol picked up the ladle, lifted the lid, stirred gently, then scooped portions into separate bowls for himself and Pyo Jaebeom.

He turned to look for a tray nearby, only to find the table already filled with food in the meantime. He couldn’t help but gasp in surprise.

“Ah… Did you just make all this?”

“I only made the main dish. The rest was already prepared, so I just brought it over.”

Even so, to set this much out in such a short time, it really made him think he’s good at everything.

“Please sit over here.”

Eunsol quickly approached the spot he indicated. Just as he was about to sit down, a pitiful cry came from below.

Meow. Meow.

The sound seemed more drawn out than usual, drawing Eunsol’s attention in that direction.

“Jongjong, what’s wrong? Want some food too?”

Jongjong was just as startled, but Eunsol, feeling guilty for not noticing sooner, tried to get up. Jaebeom stopped him.

“I’ll get it, so just stay there.”

Even as he spoke, Pyo Jaebeom placed chopsticks in front of Eunsol and even poured him water before heading to the kitchen to fetch the cat food.

Left alone, Eunsol couldn’t take his eyes off him until he completely disappeared from view. Then he turned his gaze to the food he had prepared for him.

“This looks really delicious…”

The rice was tasty enough, thanks to Bulgom’s excellent cooking. But for some reason, Eunsol found the food right in front of his now even more appetizing.

Probably because it was a meal made just for him by someone he cared about.

‘This kind of thing isn’t good for the heart.’

Even as he denied it, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

Eunsol scraped clean every grain of rice and every drop of soup. He gently stroked his belly and leaned back against the chair’s backrest.

“That was delicious.”

“Did the meal suit your taste?”

“Yes, it was truly delicious. I heard you hold certifications in Korean, Chinese, Western, and Japanese cuisine, your culinary skills are truly exceptional.”

Eunsol’s sparkling eyes as he offered the compliment drew a smile from Pyo Jaebeom. It was clear something had changed inside him; even his smile felt different now.

But despite the gentle smile, Pyo Jaebeom thought it was ridiculous. In fact, his laughter bordered on a snort. How on earth did he even know he had a chef’s license?

‘Did he say he was a fan?’

He figured someone like that must know quite a bit more about him. He genuinely wondered just how much he knew.

“I’ll do the dishes.”

Having been treated to a meal by the great actor, Eunsol felt obligated to do something in return and was just about to lift his butt off the chair.

“It’s fine. I’ll do it, so just stay put.”

Before he could move, Pyo Jaebeom gathered the dishes in front of Eunsol and carried them to the sink.

Eunsol blinked at the empty table before him, then stared at Pyo Jaebeom’s handsome back as he washed the dishes.

‘It’s just a photo shoot, a photo shoot.’

It might be a cliché, but he couldn’t think of any other words to describe that sight. Plus, the fact that someone he’d always watched from afar was standing right there, just a couple steps away, felt unreal.

‘You said you liked me, right?’

Like a fluorescent light bulb turning on in his head, that question suddenly popped into his mind.

“Ah!”

Eunsol gasped, then quickly covered his mouth. Fortunately, Pyo Jaebeom seemed unaware of his situation, likely distracted by the sound of water.

‘When did this start?’

Since when? Why on earth did he ask that? While relieved that Pyo Jaebeom had regained his memory, Eunsol struggled to find his bearings in this situation, unsure how he should handle it.

Only now did he realize how complacent he had been.

‘I never imagined he’d ask such a question.’

Honestly, that’s exactly how he felt. He asked something like that the moment his memory returned. If it had been a basic question – like how I ended up possessing the gangster, or why I couldn’t remember anything – Eunsol wouldn’t have been so flustered.

Even Pyo Jaebeom apologized, saying he’d been too hasty.

‘It sounds like he’s saying he’ll definitely listen to it later?’

Why was he curious about when Eunsol started liking him? He let out a silent scream and rubbed his face.

“Eunsol-ssi, are you tired?”

“No.”

Having finished the dishes, Pyo Jaebeom, still wearing his apron, turned to look at him. Even the floral apron suited him well, if that was a problem, then it was a problem.

‘It looks like he’s on some cooking variety show.’

Eunsol, who had been spouting nonsense as naturally as breathing, quietly lowered the hand that had been rubbing his face and fidgeted with his fingers.

Why does he stare so intently?

‘It’s embarrassing.’

No, actually, it’s a bit burdensome. Plus, he have no idea what he’ll say next.

“I already had coffee earlier, so that’s out. And since you’re pregnant, alcohol is out too. What should we do? It feels like a waste to just talk here. How about we take a walk to help with digestion and talk?”

He’d suggested they each take time to think, but had he already sorted through his thoughts? Eunsol hesitated to ask, then quietly nodded.

Refusing when Pyo Jaebeom offered first was something a fan absolutely couldn’t do.

“Alright. Then I’ll leave.”

And so, Eunsol found himself being led out of the house by him before he knew it. Though there was a bit of humidity, the air was still pleasantly cool, so his mood wasn’t too bad.

“How much do you remember, Eunsol-ssi?”

Quite some time had passed since they began their slow walk along the path. Eunsol, who had been glancing around occasionally while conscious of his presence beside him, answered Jaebeom’s question without hesitation.

“From the moment I knelt down and faced the actor in this apartment. I think that’s probably when it happened.”

Eunsol deliberately referred to Pyo Jaebeom as an actor, not the CEO.

“Hmm… I see. Then how did you know I was in the same situation?”

“By your name.”

“Name?”

Watching Pyo Jaebeom tilt his head as if to say, “What’s the problem with that?” Eunsol recalled the situation where he had spoken with him.

“Yes. You asked me if I was Lee Eunsol?”

“I did. But why?”

“So I asked what’s your name was. You told me your real name, so I understood.”

“Well, that’s…”

Pyo Jaebeom, who had been staring at Eunsol as if asking what he meant, frowned. Then he touched his left temple.

“Actor?”

He looked as if he were suffering from a migraine, so Eunsol called out to him with concern.

“Ah, I’m sorry. Do you know what the protagonist’s original name was, Eunsol?”

This time, Eunsol was flustered.

“Tae Jinha. Don’t you remember?”

Judging by Pyo Jaebeom’s expression, he clearly had no idea. By this point, Eunsol was also confused.

“You haven’t heard about it?”

“No. Not at all. That was the original protagonist’s name?”

When Eunsol nodded, Pyo Jaebeom lowered his eyes again, seemingly lost in thought. His expression, lost in melancholy, was identical to a scene from a drama he had filmed.

In that previous drama, his role was a sociopath who struggled to understand emotions, but he was a gentlemanly and well-mannered character thanks to his upbringing. He gained a beloved omega, and his convincing portrayal of agonizing over whether someone emotionless like him could truly love someone earned him immense popularity.

“Lee Eunsol remembers everything… Why couldn’t I remember?”

Pyo Jaebeom’s gaze, as if he had finally sorted through his thoughts, was a mix of confusion and doubt.

“I agree. How much do you know?”

“Well, I knows I’m Pyo Jaebeom. I was an actor and that I was filming a drama. I remember everything that happened before the drama shoot.”

“So you believe all of this happened to you?”

Pyo Jaebeom nodded, then frowned as if something occurred to him.

“Come to think of it, that was also there.”

“What was it?”

“You asked how I adopted Jongjong here, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

Eunsol, who had used the cat to make him realize his true identity, immediately confirmed it.

“I asked Kwak Sang-ah, one of my subordinates, if he had any information. But he said he didn’t know anything specific.”

“So you don’t know how you brought Jongjong here?”

“No. But I heard something crucial instead.”

Pyo Jaebeom squinted his eyes again as he recalled that moment. Perhaps because of his slightly raised jawline, his face looked more sharp than usual.

Moreover, the faint glow of the streetlight felt like a spotlight focused solely on him. It was truly the mark of an actor who excelled at capturing attention.