TL | Chapter 38 | Overprotective

Just as Iden had mentioned, around five in the evening, Min arrived with the groceries. The amount he’d bought was staggering—behind Min, a line of security guards followed, each carrying paper boxes filled with every kind of food ingredient imaginable. When they spread out the boxes across the living room floor, Seowon couldn’t help but sigh. It looked like they had enough supplies to last not just a few days but an entire month without stepping outside.

There was no need for Seowon to wonder where to put it all. When he moved to organize the items, Iden stopped him and instructed the guards to put everything away in the refrigerator and pantry themselves.

After the guards left, Min and Iden seemed to retreat to the study for work-related discussions. Meanwhile, Seowon opened the fridge and stifled another sigh. It was packed full—beverages, fruits, vegetables, various cuts of meat. There was enough food to survive even a war, and that seemed to mean Iden was intent on keeping him inside for quite some time.

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Seowon could understand Iden’s intentions. The person who had hired the hitman hadn’t been identified yet, which meant they could easily hire another one. Iden himself was also avoiding going out, aware of the risk.

If it were only about the threat of a hitman, Seowon might have even asked Iden to stay in as well. But his frustration wasn’t just because he couldn’t go outside. Iden didn’t let him do anything at all while he stayed at the house. With the excuse that he was a patient, Seowon could hardly do anything on his own—eating, sleeping, and bathroom breaks were basically all he was allowed.

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Even when Seowon tried to use the exercise facilities in the basement, Iden had shot him down with a stern look. He’d told him to behave, asking how he could even think of doing anything physical with a cracked rib. Light exercises, even walking on the treadmill, were out of the question.

But that wasn’t all—Iden wouldn’t let him cook or clean either. He wanted Seowon to just rest and do nothing, which was driving him crazy. He didn’t feel that injured, and being treated like a helpless patient was suffocating him.

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And Iden did everything himself. Apparently unwilling to let strangers into the house, he cooked and cleaned, doing all the housework alone. Watching him, Seowon felt a strange sense of discomfort. Iden’s brother, the “Iden hyung” he knew, had always been capable of handling household tasks. Even if it had been him in this situation, he would have been just as overprotective, taking care of everything himself.

But this was Iden—not “Iden hyung” but Iden de Luciano, the mafia boss. When Seowon had first come to this house, this was the same man who hadn’t even known to use oil for frying eggs. Someone who had been so accustomed to being taken care of by others was now looking up recipes online, cooking, running the vacuum, and doing laundry.

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It wasn’t the same as receiving help from Iden hyung. This time, lying around while someone else did everything made Seowon feel uneasy.

Was it because it wasn’t Iden hyung? No, that wasn’t it. Even if it were Iden hyung, Seowon would feel guilty and try to do something.

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The difference was that Iden hyung would have noticed his discomfort and compromised, letting him help with small tasks. But Iden wasn’t like that. He had only one approach, believing that as a patient, Seowon had to be completely obedient, and his “care” was so over-the-top that it ended up feeling uncomfortable.

After a deep sigh, Seowon pulled out some pork and vegetables from the refrigerator. It was almost dinner time, so he figured he’d make a quick stir-fried rice dish, one of the few things he knew how to cook. It had taken him a long time to learn this dish, with many failed attempts, and it was “Iden” who had been patient enough to teach him.

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Seowon rinsed some carrots, onions, and potatoes, setting them aside, then took the pork out to cut it into small pieces. He was just about to start when he felt someone’s presence behind him. Turning around, he saw Iden standing at the kitchen entrance.

“Did Director Ryu leave?”

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Iden gave a barely perceptible nod in response.

“You should’ve asked him to stay for dinner.”

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It was dinnertime anyway, and it wouldn’t have made much difference to make food for two or three. Yet, for some reason, Iden frowned. He took a few strides toward Seowon, grabbed the knife from his hand, and placed it on the counter.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to say this is dangerous.”

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It was absurd to think he’d consider a kitchen knife dangerous. After all, he’d faced enemies wielding much worse weapons in his line of work.

“Even if it’s not dangerous, there are things you still shouldn’t do.”

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That comment was ridiculous. If anyone overheard, they’d think making stir-fried rice was as risky as defusing a bomb.

“I have a cracked rib, not a broken hand,” Seowon countered, but Iden wasn’t fazed.

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“Same difference.”

Iden gently nudged him aside, checking the ingredients Seowon had set out, and picked up the knife, beginning to chop them. How had he gotten so skilled at chopping in just a few days? Now, Iden’s cooking skills were clearly better than Seowon’s.

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Life was truly unfair. Why was it that natural talent couldn’t be overcome? He’d been trained as the mafia heir, skilled in everything from management to combat. Did he really need to be a good cook too? Ordinary people didn’t stand a chance.

“What’s with that face?”

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Iden glanced over his shoulder, noticing Seowon’s expression. Seowon shook his head. If he explained, Iden would probably laugh.

“You’re not letting me do anything. I feel like I’m becoming useless.”

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“You never could cook, though. What’s so new about that?” Iden replied casually, and Seowon couldn’t argue. He pursed his lips, and Iden chuckled at the sight.

“Anyway, I’m not that helpless. You can see that.”

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When he told Iden not to treat him like a patient, Iden stepped closer. Reflexively, Seowon shifted back, only for Iden to close the distance again.

“What are you… Urgh!”

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Iden reached out, pressing a spot on his back where his rib was fractured, sending a sharp pain up his spine. Iden had deliberately hit the exact injured spot. Glaring at him, Seowon saw Iden’s eyes glint with amusement.

“You don’t like the food I make?”

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Iden asked, a playful smile on his face. Seowon had no comeback. In truth, Iden’s cooking was better than his.

“Fine, but it’s not just cooking. You won’t let me do anything.”

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“Once your bones have healed completely. When you can take a hit without flinching, then you can do whatever you want.”

Iden’s answer left no room for negotiation, so Seowon had no choice but to drop it.

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“You should be grateful. You’re the only one in this world who can boss me around like this.”

Iden ruffled Seowon’s hair playfully before returning to the counter.

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“Let me help with at least some of it.”

Seowon’s rib didn’t hurt as long as he didn’t touch it, so outwardly, he seemed fine. But simply sitting around and watching Iden do everything felt wrong.

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“You just want to be near me, huh?”

What was he even talking about now?

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“If you can’t bear to be apart, I’ll understand.”

Seowon gave him an exasperated look, sighed, and shook his head. Talking to him any longer would be pointless. Whatever he said, Iden seemed determined to keep him from doing anything.

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Eventually, he gave up and sat at the dining table, waiting. Soon, Iden finished making the stir-fried rice and placed a neatly arranged plate in front of him.

“Eat up, then get ready.”

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“Ready for what?”

“Our date.”

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Seowon blinked, surprised. Then, a beat later, he remembered Iden’s mention of the aquarium earlier.

“We’re really going?”

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“You’re the one who wanted to go on a date.”

“It wasn’t about the date… Ugh.”

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It wasn’t that he wanted a date. He just wanted fresh air, to be outside, or more accurately, he just wanted to move around. But Iden had conveniently ignored all of that, latching onto the idea of a “date.”

“Now that you mention it, we really never did have a normal date, did we? Not like everyone else.”

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Iden took a bite of his stir-fried rice, speaking casually. That remark made Seowon pause and look at him. He understood immediately what Iden meant by not having a “normal” date.

Because he carried the name “Luciano.” What kind of relationship had Ha Seowon and Iden been able to have?

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A bittersweet feeling welled up in his chest. Both Ha Seowon and Iden seemed somewhat pitiable. Iden and his older brother had been able to date normally, to laugh and joke without any worry.

But Iden? Maybe he’d never had that kind of experience.

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Realizing this, he couldn’t just brush off Iden’s talk of going on a date.