The two’s bickering stopped when they heard voices echoing from the hall.
“It’s not time to open yet. Who are you?”
Eunyul tilted her head and walked out of the kitchen. Lim Bong-sun, who was left alone, placed the eggs one by one into the pot.
“That foolish bastard. “All you have to do is eat well and live well, but you keep trying to involve me.”
Not only did he not make me feel lonely during his lonely life, but he also treated me like he was my real grandchild.
“The store hasn’t opened yet… … . uh? “Young man.”
As Eun-yul greeted her with a wide smile, Han Cheol-seung raised his hand and greeted her.
“How have you been?”
“yes. “Except for the fact that I was wondering how the old man, who used to come three times a week, was doing because he didn’t come.”
“He too… … .”
Han Cheol-seung laughed as if he couldn’t stop Eun-yul’s sly greeting.
“But you know it’s not time yet, so what are you doing so early?”
“I called the boss before coming. I don’t think I’ll have time if it’s late… … .”
I wasn’t sure what kind of time was not allowed, but anyway, I received permission from the grandmother, so Eunyul guided me to a nearby seat.
“Please sit here.”
“okay.”
“Is anyone else coming?”
“It will come soon. “There he comes.”
Eunyul’s eyes widened as she placed lukewarm water in front of Han Cheolseung and checked the incoming guests.
He was Kang Ha-jun’s maternal grandfather. He had only seen it once, but the impression was so seared in his memory that he recognized it immediately.
And that seems to have been the same for Lee Hyun-seung, who had just entered the store.
“I see you again like this.”
“… … hello.”
Eunyul bowed in greeting and unconsciously swept down her apron. In an unexpected meeting, I showed myself working here.
I wasn’t embarrassed to work at a hangover soup restaurant. She was, but when she later revealed that she was dating Kang Ha-jun, she became nervous because she thought he would disapprove.
“If I’m uncomfortable, I’ll leave right away.”
“yes? no. It’s not uncomfortable. just… … .”
Eunyul waved his hand widely and trailed off. I thought that the person who would be uncomfortable would be Lee Hyun-seung rather than himself, but instead he smiled. It was the kind smile he gave me when I first saw him.
“Then just sit here for a moment and then get up.”
“yes. Sit.”
When Eunyul moved aside for him to sit, Hyunseung Lee sat down without hesitation.
“The food here is very good.”
“is it so? “I’m looking forward to it.”
“In particular, the taste of hangover soup is better than before. “When I asked the owner what had changed, he said that they now use the broth that Eunyul had boiled.”
At Han Cheol-seung’s explanation, Lee Hyun-seung’s eyes naturally turned to Eun-yul. Eunyul smiled awkwardly at those eyes that seemed to have something strange in them.
“Well, after working at a restaurant for a long time… … .”
He even muttered words that Lee Hyun-seung didn’t ask.
“Hajun said it suits your taste, but if there’s anything strange, please tell me.”
It’s not like you can change the taste of hangover soup just by talking about it, but Eunyul spoke cautiously out of concern.
“I don’t even need to taste it since it fits Hajun’s mouth.”
As if reading her mind, Lee Hyun-seung comforted Eun-yul.
“But every time I see Hajun, his face gets better and better. Well, there’s nothing better than eating delicious food with someone you like.”
Eun-yul’s face lit up when she was brought in because Kang Ha-jun’s complexion was improving.
“I think it’s okay to make it delicious and feed it to them.”
I couldn’t be more proud when I saw Kang Ha-jun eat all the meals I prepared for him for breakfast and dinner and only leave empty dishes.
Normally, I would have understood and reacted amazingly to the ‘person I like’, but this time, I changed my mind. It was okay for other people, but it was a little embarrassing in front of Kang Ha-jun’s maternal grandfather.
“okay. “I’m glad you’re eating well.”
Fortunately, Lee Hyun-seung accepted Eun-yul’s suggestion.
Seeing his smile, Eunyul secretly sighed. Deep down, I thought he might say I wasn’t good enough, but he didn’t show any signs of that.
Rather, he made eye contact as if he was glad to see us here again, and Eunyul was able to put her mind at ease.
Then, something else caught my eye.
“How long have you two known each other?”
The person who brought Kang Ha-jun to this restaurant was Han Cheol-seung. Then, it means that Han Cheol-seung and Lee Hyun-seung also know each other… … Since when did that start?
“why? “Is it strange that we know each other?”
“Did my question sound like that?”
Eunyul widened her eyes as if she had no idea, but that only gave more weight to Han Cheolseung’s words.
“Stop standing there and go get some side dishes.”
Then, he quickly ran to the kitchen after being scolded by Lim Bong-soon, but he quickly turned around as if he remembered something to say.
“I will cook delicious food for you. wait a minute.”
Eunyul’s bright voice rang out, as she was disappointed that she couldn’t say hello to Lee Hyunseung properly.
“It’s noisy… … .”
When Lim Bong-sun mumbled and turned around, Eun-yul quickly hid in the kitchen.
“hello. My name is Hyunseung Lee. “I will become Kang Ha-jun’s maternal grandfather.”
When Eun-yul was out of sight, Lee Hyun-seung said hello to Lim Bong-soon.
“Why do you come to a restaurant and give such a grand greeting? “Just sit down.”
Lim Bong-soon grumbled and roughly accepted Lee Hyun-seung’s greeting. Han Cheol-seung, who was watching this, chuckled as if it was amusing.
“The boss here is embarrassed to be unfamiliar.”
“Sickness. What nonsense… … .”
“that’s right. “Her grandmother expresses shame by swearing.”
Im Bong-soon’s eyes sharpened as Eun-yul spoke, who was serving side dishes on a tray. She looked like she would throw a bunch of curses even if Lee Hyun-seung was around right now, so she picked up her ladle and then quietly put it down.
“You go and serve the rice and finish what you were making.”
“That’s what I plan to do.”
Eunyul put down the side dishes she had filled on her tray and made eye contact with Lee Hyunseung again. Eunyul couldn’t help but laugh as the soft gaze she had when looking at Kang Ha-jun reached me.
“Eat slowly. “There are a lot of side dishes I haven’t made yet.”
The seaweed stems were prepared, and now the delicacy vegetables had to be stir-fried. And I think it will be quite cold if I grill the fish I bought this morning… … .
“This is a restaurant. “Pay in moderation.”
As if reading my thoughts, Lim Bong-soon gave me advice disguised as a warning and I decided not to touch the fish.
* * *
Eunyul wiped the table with a dishcloth and glanced to the side. She then glanced back at her again as she put the dry dishes into the bin. My hands were finding and doing the task they were used to, but my eyes kept looking somewhere else. It turned out that he was watching Lee Hyun-seung, who was engrossed in his meal in silence.
“How is it?”
“It’s really delicious. “I take care of every single thing.”
“I thought you would like it.”
Seeing that Han Cheol-seung was satisfied, even Eun-yul, who had been pretending not to pay attention to the people around them, relaxed. It was true that since it suited Kang Ha-jun’s taste, it would also suit me. Lee Hyun-seung did not just say that it was delicious, but diligently moved the dishes.
Eunyul, who had found some leisure time, walked leisurely and drank water from the purifier. He had a very refreshing drink and his face was very wide open.
And Lim Bong-soon, who saw him flying to another table to take an order, said with a shocked expression on his face.
“You were running around like a mean mutt… … .”
I was even more shocked because I thought I knew why my mood was so stable. As Lim Bong-soon clicked her tongue and placed her calculator, Han Cheol-seung spoke to Lee Hyun-seung.
“How is it. “I see you were satisfied with your meal, but do you like anything else?”
“This is the restaurant where that kid settled down.”
Lee Hyun-seung looked around the restaurant again, remembering the story of Eun-yul that Han Cheol-seung had told him. The store was small and simple, and didn’t look sturdy.
But strangely enough, it felt cozier and more stable than anywhere else. The feelings I felt after seeing Eunyul were exactly reflected in this restaurant.
“I like it.”
I liked everything about this restaurant and even Eunyul walking around there.
After a delicious meal that day, Lee Hyun-seung asked Eun-yul to meet again and left the restaurant.
* * *
“Is it here?”
Eunyul looked at the paper and raised her head. Before coming, I searched for a map on the Internet and checked it several times, but when I actually came, I was hesitant.
“This is a house?”
Since it was a residential area nearby, it could only be called a house, but to Eunyul’s eyes, the house in front of her looked like a large castle. So no matter how many times he saw it, he couldn’t believe it.
“Maybe you should have just said let’s meet somewhere else?”
Still, I said I would come because I was meeting an adult, but now I am slightly regretting it.
“dad?”
Eunyul opened her eyes at the sound of Haneul’s voice coming from below. Haneul, who was looking around while holding my hand tightly, asked.
“Are we here in the wrong place?”
“hmm… … “I think it came well, but it also seems like it didn’t.”
“why?”
In response to Haneul’s question, Eunyul looked at the house that looked like a castle again. Not only was the wall very high, but the house was also quite high, and the higher you went, the sharper it became.
“Did you come to the address written here?”
Eunyul said, showing the paper to Haeul. It was a piece of paper I found at the spot where Kang Ha-jun came the other day and ate ramen. I looked at the half-folded paper and business card casually and then roughly threw it to one side… … .
〈I was supposed to meet up with my grandfather. Is the time okay?〉
〈I don’t think I can go now, but I’ll call you next time.〉
