LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 10
Chapter 10: The First Day of the Holiday (2)
—–CROW—–
The cooking was nearing its end.
The clams were cooked to perfection, their juices flowing, and the kitchen was filled with a fragrant aroma.
The beauty of vongole is that it’s bursting with umami without any artificial seasonings.
So, I simply seasoned it with salt and pepper, added the minced garlic and al dente pasta, and mixed it all together.
Now, adding the pasta water to thicken the sauce would create the perfect pasta, where the sauce and noodles become one.
The umami of the clams, the saltiness of the salt, the aroma of wine and pepper, and the richness of the pasta.
This was already a great dish.
But my favorite part was yet to come.
The freshness.
The quality of the dish depended on how this freshness was achieved…
I had a good idea.
*I’ll use basil leaves today.*
Thanks to the warm spring weather, the basil plant on the veranda had sprouted palm-sized leaves.
The first basil of the year would be perfect for adding that fresh touch.
I turned to go to the veranda, and my eyes met Park Da-Hye’s.
I told her it wouldn’t take long.
She could have sat down and waited; what’s the rush?
But her slightly parted lips and the expectant nod she gave me spoke volumes.
Come to think of it, I told her to let me know if she could help with anything.
Then…
That expression might not be the anticipation of delicious food, but a different kind of anticipation.
The anticipation of being helpful.
When I first learned to cook, I also listened intently, hoping for a chance to assist.
It’s a hundred times happier to be praised for doing a small chore than to be treated as useless.
Her eager gaze was so endearing that I wanted to fulfill her expectations.
Alright, let’s give her a quest.
“Da-Hye, kitchen assistant.”
“Yes, chef!”
“Would you go out to the veranda and pick some basil leaves?”
“Huh? Basil?”
“It’s a special quest. Find the plant with round, plump leaves. It has a faint lemon scent, so you should be able to find it easily. Pick ten leaves and bring them to me.”
“Whoa. Okay!”
Her slightly parted lips curved into a wide smile.
Look at her excitedly running off.
She started sniffing around the plants, searching for the quest item.
**
The spring breeze, carrying the scent of cherry blossoms, flowed in through the veranda door that Park Da-Hye had opened.
Along with the warm sunlight.
And bathed in that sunlight, she was squatting, immersed in the greenery of the flowerbed.
*A beauty sitting in the forest.*
It reminded me of the Rosanne illustration Park Da-Hye had drawn.
Watching her like this made the corners of my mouth lift involuntarily.
For the record, my apartment doesn’t usually have this kind of atmosphere.
Just white walls and minimalist furniture.
A dreary bachelor pad devoid of any human warmth, a place just for sleeping.
Yet, today, this humble apartment felt strangely lively.
There was only one reason.
That girl, who jumped at every little thing I did.
Her expression, full of anticipation for another task.
She had added something to this place.
Just one more person, and it had become a completely different home.
Forgetting all about the cooking, I was lost in the picturesque scene she created.
“Sung-Hyeon, is this it?”
Park Da-Hye returned, her hands cupped together.
Basil leaves peeked out from her palms.
If this were a real game, it would be something like [Basil Leaves Grown by Kwon Sung-Hyeon x10].
“Oh, you found them quickly.”
“I found them right away because you said the leaves were plump. Did I do well?”
“You’re a fine adventurer indeed. Now sit and partake in this dish.”
“What’s my reward?”
“Huh?”
“You said it was a quest, right? I completed it, so you have to give me a reward. Come on, chef.”
I just gave her a quest as a playful banter since she’s a gamer, but I didn’t think of that.
Should I give her a coin or something?
While I was spacing out, Park Da-Hye’s head tilted closer.
Why is she leaning in?
Don’t tell me… is the reward what I think it is?
“Ah… Da-Hye, kitchen assistant. You did a great job.”
I patted her head twice, and she finally gave me a thumbs-up.
If that’s all the reward is, it’ll be known as a crappy quest, and no one will do it.
But Park Da-Hye’s expression was 200% satisfied.
Strange girl.
“But what are you going to do with these leaves?”
“What else? Eat them.”
“Huh? You eat those?”
“I’m growing all the plants out there to eat them.”
“Really? Even that bush-like thing?”
“Yeah. That’s rosemary. It adds a nice aroma to steaks.”
“Wow. Kwon Sung-Hyeon does so many interesting things.”
There are many interesting things indeed.
“It’s hard to buy vegetables when you live alone. They always go bad before I can finish them. So, it’s easier to just grow them myself.”
“Ah, I see… I’ve never bought vegetables before.”
“You’re young now, but if you keep eating only lunchboxes, you’ll be in trouble later.”
“Really… I wish I knew how to cook.”
“You’ll learn eventually, whether you like it or not, if you want to survive.”
I finely chopped the quest items Da-Hye brought and sprinkled them over the pasta.
The fresh basil scent mingled with the aroma of clam broth.
Yes, this is it. This is what you call cooking.
I plated it nicely and placed it on the table.
Cooking complete.
Park Da-Hye, receiving the plate, clapped her hands as if she’d just witnessed a legendary match.
“Wow… you can actually make something like this at home… I thought you’d just make fried rice or something.”
“The difficulty level is similar to fried rice.”
“But you’re growing your own plants and using clams… it feels like a much more impressive dish. And you set it on fire earlier! That was so cool.”
“Stop with the compliments and eat, I’m getting embarrassed.”
“Heehee, okay, I’ll enjoy it, Sung-Hyeon.”
She clumsily twirled the pasta around her fork and took a bite.
She chewed happily.
And then…
Yes, that’s it.
Mmm~!
The reaction exploded.
Yesterday, captivated by that reaction, I thought about taking her around and letting her try all sorts of food.
That wish came true so quickly.
Witnessing that reaction right here in my apartment.
I don’t usually ask this kind of question, but for some reason, I kept wanting to ask Park Da-Hye.
“Is it good?”
“I think I’m dying… It’s so delicious, Sung-Hyeon. Is pasta always like this, or are you just a good cook? I thought pasta was just bland and dry.”
That’s just regular spaghetti.
Hearing her say that made my heart ache.
She was probably talking about the spaghetti they serve at school or in convenience store lunchboxes.
Park Da-Hye probably never had proper pasta from an Italian restaurant.
Not just that.
Even dishes that were commonplace for others were probably luxuries she couldn’t afford.
“It’s especially delicious today.”
“Right? It must be extra delicious because it’s a special dish. Heehee, I wish I could eat like this for the rest of my life.”
But let’s put aside the pity.
I won’t show how much it bothers me.
At least today will be a happy day.
The happiness I shared with her yesterday has luckily continued until now.
So, I’ll smile too.
As much as she smiles.
**
The plate was almost empty.
She had finished the pasta long ago, and since she looked like she wanted more, I gave her some bread, which she used to mop up the remaining sauce.
I’m proud of her for eating so well.
I patted her head again, and she gave me another thumbs-up.
Her face was redder this time.
Well, Park Da-Hye’s sense of embarrassment is quite different from mine, so I don’t pay attention to it anymore.
“Thank you for the meal! Chef!”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“Really? I should have enjoyed it even more… but… Sung-Hyeon.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s… past noon now.”
“Yeah, so?”
“So… what are we going to do now?”
Her eyes sparkling, her head tilted at a 45-degree angle.
That look of anticipation again.
She was so cute that I couldn’t hide my smile.
Her legs fidgeting, her eyes glancing at the clock.
She’s been so obvious.
Her goal: games.
“I plan to play games until I collapse from exhaustion. Would you care to join me?”
“Gladly…! I will follow wherever you lead, my warrior.”
Park Da-Hye delivered the line in a buttery voice and giggled.
It was one of Rosanne’s lines; she’s surprisingly good at voice acting.
Gamer KimPokDaughter hasn’t played games for over 24 hours, so she’s probably starting to experience withdrawal symptoms.
I fed her; now it’s time to give her what she really wants.
I saw her gaming setup in her residence room.
A palm-sized laptop for paperwork and a freebie mini mouse.
It was barely a setup, yet Park Da-Hye somehow used it for gaming.
It’s time to show her what a real gaming environment looks like.
Brace yourself, Park Da-Hye.
* * *
—–CROW—–
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