KFPCA 14

Chapter 14

Today’s lunch menu mainly featured curry chicken, steak, black lentil curry, and dumplings.

“Black lentils are good for vegetarians, and the dumplings don’t taste anything like dumplings at all, so I usually eat the grilled chicken and steak more. But there’s no grilled chicken today.”

“Then I’ll have the steak.”

“Okay, I’ll have the steak too.”

The two quickly picked their meals, went to the corresponding counter, Kim Seung-hyun swiped her card, and they soon had their lunch.

The steak was the main dish, served with broccoli, roasted potatoes, rice, pickled cucumbers to cut the richness, and today’s dessert—sesame paste chocolate chunk cookies.

Kwon Ji-yong took a bite of the steak—Kim Seung-hyun’s favorite—and nodded. “It’s really not bad. No wonder you could eat this for four years.”

Kim Seung-hyun, eating her steak, also nodded. “But this is actually my first time eating at the cafeteria since the semester started. I really was tired of it. But after going without it for a while, it does taste pretty good again.”

“What about eating it for another five years?”

“That absolutely won’t work.” Kim Seung-hyun rejected the idea without hesitation. “No matter how good something is, you can’t eat it for nine years straight. I still miss my parents’ home cooking more.”

“So because you can’t have that, you started cooking for yourself?”

“Ne!” Kim Seung-hyun nodded vigorously, sharing her newly discovered skill. “I found out that Chinese cooking is actually really convenient.”

“Back home, watching my mom cook, I thought Chinese food was so complicated—stir-frying, deep-frying, sautéing, so many steps. But this time I discovered that I can make two dishes with just one rice cooker.”

“Just one rice cooker?”

“Yep.” Kim Seung-hyun shook her head smugly, eager to try. “I’ll show you tonight when we get back.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll be waiting.”

After finishing lunch and stepping out of the cafeteria, the warm sun shone down on them, and both of them felt a little drowsy.

The mild temperature and warm sunshine—it really was the perfect weather for staying home and sleeping.

Kim Seung-hyun looked at the books still in Kwon Ji-yong’s arms. “Heavy? You’ve been carrying them all along.”

“Not heavy.”

Kwon Ji-yong was only holding two books, but they were quite large. Kim Seung-hyun felt they were too heavy for her bag and would strain her shoulders, so she was used to carrying them by hand.

“Then let’s go to the nearby supermarket to get some things.” Kim Seung-hyun calculated for Kwon Ji-yong. “Today’s the 9th, and I have a break starting on the 14th—five more days. The nearest large supermarket is about a 20-minute drive, and the bus would take even longer, so it’s not realistic to go on a weekday. There’s an Elm City Market nearby—it’s like an organic food store that sells ingredients. Let’s buy some simple ingredients first, and we can worry about the rest once my break starts.”

“Sure.”

Kwon Ji-yong had no objections. He didn’t see this trip as a vacation. Besides getting away to clear his head, he wanted more to see how his friend lived in a foreign country.

So, rather than the famous tourist attractions, Kwon Ji-yong was more interested in the places Kim Seung-hyun frequented and the places she wanted to go with him.

**Author’s Note:**
*None*

**Chapter 10**

Elm City Market was near the school—just a five-minute walk, and they were at the supermarket.

Even though it was just a small grocery store within walking distance of Yale, it had a surprisingly wide selection—organic produce, natural meats and seafood, and fresh bread.

Kim Seung-hyun grabbed a shopping cart, put her shoulder bag in it, and motioned for Kwon Ji-yong to put the books in too.

“Are you sure we should just put them in there?” Kwon Ji-yong asked repeatedly. “What if water spills on them? Or they get stained?”

“If they get wet, let them dry. If they get stained, wipe it off.” Kim Seung-hyun said matter-of-factly.

Kwon Ji-yong tilted his head in confusion. “I thought you guys would be very careful with books.”

“I do love them—including these books—but there’s no need to be so tense. They’re not that fragile. If they get wet or dirty, as long as it doesn’t affect usability, it’s fine. Every book, including ancient texts, derives part of its charm not just from the content it holds, but also from the marks left by each of its owners over time—that’s time’s gift to humanity.” Kim Seung-hyun said, “It’s like your songwriting notebook—it’s precious, but would you hesitate to underline or make notes in it? As long as it doesn’t affect usability, would you be upset if it got wet or stained?”

Kwon Ji-yong tilted his head and thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No.”

“Exactly. Same here.” Kim Seung-hyun spread her hands. “Of course, fragile ancient books and old block prints are exceptions—if those get damaged, you might never find another copy.”

Kwon Ji-yong looked at his friend and felt like she was glowing.

Kim Seung-hyun had always been carefree. She didn’t obsess over unnecessary things.

It’s not that loving books is wrong—it’s that she doesn’t let her love of books become an emotional burden.

She understood the purpose and value of each thing and treated them accordingly.

Ancient texts should be treasured, so she wouldn’t give them a chance to be endangered. Books that are still in print should be used—she wouldn’t mistreat them, but she also wouldn’t handle them with such care that it became a burden.

Books were like that, and so was everything else.

The shopping cart, now holding her bag and the books, was pushed back to Kwon Ji-yong by the radiant Kim Seung-hyun. Kwon Ji-yong naturally took over the cart, following beside her as she listed off the menu for him.

“Steamed egg custard, braised chicken thighs with winter melon, clay pot rice, sweet and sour pork ribs, pan-fried pork collar, spicy stir-fried rice cakes, salt-baked chicken, malatang (spicy hot pot), fermented black bean spare ribs, steamed meat patty—these are all the dishes I know how to make so far. Take a look and see what you want. I usually just grab something casual at the cafeteria for lunch and cook dinner at night.”

Kwon Ji-yong listened to the dish names. “It does seem like mostly Chinese food, and it feels like your family eats Chinese food quite often.”

“Because it’s delicious.” Kim Seung-hyun said matter-of-factly. “My grandmother mostly cooks Chinese food, so my mom is better at Chinese cooking. My dad handles the Korean dishes. I eat both. I do like Korean food too, but I haven’t mastered the skill of cooking without using the stove yet.”

“Then I want to try everything.” Kwon Ji-yong made his request.

“Sure.” Kim Seung-hyun agreed to all of it. “The electric steaming lunch box can make two dishes and rice, and the rice cooker can make one more dish. Whatever you want to eat, no problem—noona’s got you covered.”

Watching Kim Seung-hyun puff out her chest and boast, Kwon Ji-yong gritted his teeth and wrapped his arm firmly around her neck. “What ‘noona, noona’—you’re the dongsaeng! I’m the oppa!”

Kim Seung-hyun clawed at Kwon Ji-yong’s arm, undeterred. “Power makes the rules—right now, you’re the dongsaeng!”

“Ya! Kim Seung-hyun, you’re really getting out of hand!”

Bickering and playfully shoving each other, they finished picking out their groceries. At checkout, Kwon Ji-yong pulled out his card, but Kim Seung-hyun stopped him. “What are you doing? I’m the noona—I’m paying!”

“…” Kwon Ji-yong looked at Kim Seung-hyun speechlessly. “Ya, Kim Seung-hyun, are you really getting addicted to being the noona?”

“How could I get addicted? I’ve only been doing it for a little while!” Kim Seung-hyun patted Kwon Ji-yong’s shoulder. “We agreed—noona’s supporting you with her scholarship, so for this month, all your expenses are on me.”

She didn’t forget to add, “But no luxury goods—noona’s money comes from studying hard, and it doesn’t support luxury spending for now.”

“…Ne~” Although he was speechless, Kwon Ji-yong nodded.

After checking out, Kwon Dongsaeng dutifully picked up the big bag of groceries and, carrying the books, walked back to the apartment with Kim Seung-hyun.

After all that back-and-forth, by the time they got back to the apartment and put everything away, it was barely past one o’clock.

Kim Seung-hyun: “You haven’t woken up this early in a while, have you? Change into something comfortable and take a nap—I’ll come get you later.”

“What about you?” Kwon Ji-yong nodded and asked.

“I’ll rest a bit too. The weather’s too nice today.” Kim Seung-hyun couldn’t resist reaching out and ruffling Kwon Ji-yong’s soft black hair. “Wow, Kwon Ji-yong, you really look like a dongsaeng right now—so cute~”

Not bothered by having his head touched, Kwon Ji-yong squished Kim Seung-hyun’s face between both hands. “Wow, Kim Seung-hyun, you look so cute like this too—Kim Dongsaeng, Kim Dongsaeng!”

Neither would back down. After locking eyes for just a second, they let go simultaneously, both muttering, “I’m not going to argue with you.”

Then they turned away from each other and headed in opposite directions.

Where Kim Seung-hyun couldn’t see, Kwon Ji-yong quickly stepped into his room, hid behind the door, and yelled at her retreating back, “Kim Seung-hyun, you’re the dongsaeng—I’m the oppa!”

Then he quickly shut the door, blocking out Kim Seung-hyun’s voice and sight.

“…” Wanting to fight back but unable to do so against a closed door, Kim Seung-hyun swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Kwon Ji-yong pressed his ear against the door, heard the study door close across the hall, and satisfied, changed into his pajamas and slipped into bed.

Aigoo—he had to admit, Kim Seung-hyun’s bed was so soft and snug, wrapping around him completely.

“Ding!”

Kwon Ji-yong tapped his phone and saw a message from Kim Seung-hyun.

[shanshan: Kwon Dongsaeng, Kwon Dongsaeng—so childish, completely dongsaeng behavior, so cute imnida!]

Three “dongsaengs” in one message, ending with “so cute imnida.” Kwon Ji-yong couldn’t help but laugh.

Aigoo~ she really doesn’t know how to give up, wuli Sparkle!

[Cake-pounding Boy: [nyah nyah]]

[shanshan: [choking you] Stop replying! Go to sleep! I’ll wake you in an hour—if you don’t get up, I’ll splash cold water on you!]

Even if it was an unfair tactic, Kim Seung-hyun, convinced she’d won, put down her phone and happily settled in for her nap.

Kwon Ji-yong, equally convinced he’d successfully gotten under his opponent’s skin, put down his phone with satisfaction and enjoyed his rare afternoon nap.

Perhaps because she’d spent so many years in school with a fixed schedule, Kim Seung-hyun was a person with a strong sense of order. When she said one hour, exactly one hour later she was standing outside Kwon Ji-yong’s door.