TKFT 20

Chapter 20

“Is your wrist hurting? The hands that have made people so happy with such wonderful food—how did this happen…? It makes my heart ache.”
Yugeon’s eyes grew moist as he looked at the grandmother.

Uh, oh? The grandmother, startled by having her hand held by a man she didn’t know, felt flustered.
But she didn’t dislike that a handsome young man was worrying about her.
Rather, she found herself mesmerized by Yugeon standing so close.

‘I thought he looked tall and flashy for someone who doesn’t quite fit this neighborhood… but up close, he’s even more handsome than Old Choi—no, much more.’

“What did the hospital say about this precious wrist—worth more than gold? Did they do their best to treat you?”

“Ah, oh? Well… they just said it’s because I’m old…”

“Old? That doctor actually said something so outrageous? You look about the same age as my older sister—how could they say such a thing?!”

Yugeon trembled with anger as if he could barely contain himself.

Huh? Older sister?

‘I thought I’d grown old just making tteokbokki all my life… but I’m not done yet. Hoho.’

Feeling pleased, the grandmother smiled warmly, her cheeks turning pink.

“That hospital doctor sounds like a quack. If you don’t mind, I know a very skilled doctor…”

Having spent a lifetime charming Soonyoung, Yugeon’s persuasive words and handsome face worked perfectly on grandmothers. He gently coaxed her into visiting the S Hospital he supported.

Not only her wrist but also her recently creaking knees were examined and treated using the latest technology without delay.

“Oh dear… is it really okay for me to receive such kindness from someone I just met?”

On the drive back home, the grandmother spoke with both gratitude and guilt in her voice.

“It’s nothing. I’m just glad I could help.”

Yugeon smiled softly.

“Oh my, you even paid for the treatment and are giving me a ride home… I’m the grateful one. Earlier, you said you came to buy tteokbokki for your wife, right? Wait here. I’ll make some at home for you to take.”

Recognizing his sincere effort, she responded differently than before.

But Yugeon, who always turned crises into opportunities and thought a step ahead, firmly shook his head.

“No. I feel ashamed for asking without knowing your wrist was hurting. Still… I can’t stop thinking about my wife waiting at home without being able to eat. She really loves the tteokbokki you make.”

He murmured while staring into the air with a faint, bittersweet smile.

The expression was so full of affection that even the grandmother watching him felt moved.

Is his wife seriously ill or something? Oh dear… how pitiful…

“Still, after everything you’ve done for me, that much is fine.”

“No. I feel terrible making things hard for you. But if you truly insist… may I ask for something else?”

“Something else?”

“Yes.”

Yugeon nodded solemnly.

“Would you be willing to sell me your tteokbokki recipe?”

There was a chance Jian might lose her appetite again in the future.
Rather than coming back each time to ask the grandmother—whose wrist was already hurting—to cook, he decided it would be more convenient to obtain the recipe.

“Of course, I’m not asking you to give something so precious for free. Would… this amount be acceptable?”

Yugeon took out a blank check from his wallet and filled in the amount on the spot.

300 million won.

The grandmother gasped after counting the zeros.

She tried to refuse, saying it was far too much money,
but Yugeon firmly placed the check in her hand and legitimately obtained the recipe.

He had now become the unofficial successor to a tteokbokki master with 30 years of tradition—and could make Jian’s favorite tteokbokki anytime.

“What, it’s that delicious? Well, I happen to be quite good at cooking. I make great tteokbokki too.”

Hiding the backstory, Yugeon acted nonchalant as he sat across from Jian.

He wondered if she would be touched if he said, “I bought this recipe for 300 million won for you.”
But unlike last time—when he at least had her birthday as an excuse—doing something like this just because she hadn’t been eating might only burden her.

If Jian, who already liked someone else, felt pressured, she might build a wall between them before he even had the chance to get closer.

So instead of drenching her like a waterfall,
he would let her be gently soaked like in a light drizzle.

Strategic by nature, Yugeon planned to gradually raise the level of his flirting according to the stage of their relationship.

“Anyway, I’m glad it suits your taste, Ms. Eun Jian. I made too much—eat with me.”

Jian, who had been looking at him with something close to admiration, glanced down at the tteokbokki and swallowed.

She just swallowed her saliva, right? You want more, don’t you? I saw that. Go on—eat.

Yugeon silently urged her.

“Ah…”

Yes, say ah!

“Ah… no! I already ate dinner. I’m fine.”

Jian squeezed her eyes shut and quickly turned her head away.

She had firmly made up her mind.

Because she liked Yugeon more than even her favorite tteokbokki.

At that moment, it felt as if Yugeon’s world collapsed.

This can’t be…

If even his ultimate move didn’t work, this was serious trouble.

“Ha, Ms. Eun Jian… this won’t do. Stand up. We’re going to the hospital right now.”

Yugeon spoke with a grave expression.

“What? The hospital?”

“Yes. How many days has it been? You haven’t eaten properly! I heard you love this place’s tteokbokki, so I even got the recipe from the owner and made it—but if you won’t eat even this…!”

In his frustration, Yugeon blurted out the secret he had planned to hide.

“Wait… then this really is that tteokbokki?”

“Yes! Your father-in-law said you’d jump out of bed for this tteokbokki…”

Worried, he had even called Pilbeom to ask.

He hadn’t meant to reveal all this. What am I doing, making her uncomfortable like this?

But instead of feeling burdened, Jian felt her nose sting.

He was worried because I haven’t been eating…

Even if it was because of their contract, the fact that he went this far to help her eat made emotion surge like waves.

“No, that’s not the point right now. If you won’t even eat this, something must really be wrong with your health. We’re going to the hospital—now.”

Yugeon stood up abruptly and gestured for Jian to stand as well.

He truly looked ready to take her there.

I should just be honest with him, Jian thought.
Then he’ll understand why I’ve been like this.

“Actually…”

“Yes. Tell me honestly. What hurts? How bad is it?”

Jian shook her head.

“Actually…”

What could be so serious that she was hesitating like this?

Yugeon began to feel nervous—what if something was really wrong?

He watched her lips anxiously.

“I… gained weight. About 3.5 kilograms.”

What?

Yugeon frowned.

“You gained weight? So what? What’s the problem?”

That’s good news!

“If I gain weight… people around us might think it’s strange. There are rumors that you like very slim women, so if your wife gains weight after marriage, people might start talking about relationship problems or something…”

In truth, she just wanted to become the kind of woman who perfectly matched Yugeon’s preferences.
It was an excuse she made up on the spot—but the more she thought about it, the more reasonable it sounded.

If she, who had taken the seat beside Cha Yugeon, gained weight, people in political and business circles might find it odd.

Yugeon felt as if he had just been struck hard on the back of the head.