Chapter 50: A Purehearted Palate

Despite being known for his excellent composure, Tae-ha crumbled in the face of the searing spiciness that made his nose tingle.

As the saying goes, sneezes and poverty cannot be hidden—spicy chicken feet should be added to that list.

Jisoo, wearing plastic gloves, playfully molded rice balls while glancing at Tae-ha, who looked slightly defeated. It wasn’t so much schadenfreude as it was joy at watching him endure the bubbling spicy chicken feet and clear clam soup.

“Are you feeling hot?”

“No.”

“Your face is red. You’re sweating too...”

Jisoo eyed the stiff napkins skeptically before pulling a handkerchief from her bag and handing it to him. Finally, her reward for enduring this restaurant seemed worth it.

Tae-ha pressed the handkerchief, imbued with Jisoo’s scent, against his nose and mouth, sneezing repeatedly. He had always been disinterested in food, especially spice, and had never even tried anything like this.

He couldn’t fathom why anyone would pay money for something that only stimulated pain receptors. The grotesque shape of the chicken feet, with barely any meat attached—why, and how?

Breathing in Jisoo’s lingering scent finally calmed his turbulent stomach. Jisoo, donning fresh gloves, diligently shaped bite-sized rice balls onto Tae-ha’s plate.

“If you can’t handle spicy food, you should’ve said so. Clearly, you were raised delicately.”

Though the comment irked him, it wasn’t entirely wrong, so Tae-ha silently watched as Jisoo scanned the menu.

“Hmm, they have a mild option for kids. Should I order that for you? Or maybe rinse it with water?”

Jisoo spoke gently, treating him like a child. Tae-ha’s eyes narrowed dangerously behind the handkerchief.

Had she teased him too much? Glancing at his sharp expression, Jisoo dipped a rice ball into the red broth and popped it into her mouth.

“Ah, delicious.”

“Not spicy?”

“It’s pleasantly spicy—I love it. It’s addictive; it keeps coming back to me.”

Just like Han Jisoo, he thought. Perhaps that explained the irrational behavior of people who bought this dish.

With chopsticks in both hands, Jisoo picked up a chicken foot, letting the spicy sauce drip down as she held it like a cat’s paw, her eyes half-closed.

“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you. Try it. Heheh.”

“Is teasing me really that fun?”

To avoid surrendering here, Tae-ha would have to grab the chicken foot like a broken tree branch from the last typhoon and chew it down to the bone. But if he let go of the handkerchief even for a moment, an embarrassing sneeze would erupt.

“It’s not about fun—it’s just a little entertaining. Heheh, I didn’t know you hated and couldn’t handle spice this much.”

“Not that I can’t eat it—I just choose not to. It’s not my taste.”

“That’s the same thing.”

Jisoo slurped some cool clam soup into her burning mouth and murmured contentedly.

Perhaps it was knowing that the flawless Tae-ha had weaknesses—and discovering this small one—that made her feel closer to him. Normally, she wouldn’t dare tease him like this, but tonight felt different.

Tae-ha watched her lips move adorably as she chewed on the chicken foot. Somehow, even when she ate such things, she remained endearing. Surely one of them was abnormal.

After devouring the meat, Jisoo spat out the tiny bones, leaving behind only remnants. Her quirky eating habits were oddly charming to watch. For some reason, Tae-ha felt he’d be returning to this noisy, rundown place often—just like that humble restaurant where they first shared a meal.

“Eat the rice balls and clam soup.”

“Aren’t you the one who ordered all this?”

“I’ll eat it spicy and sip the clam soup. That’s enough for me.”

Sipping and slurping despite her own spice-induced discomfort, Jisoo grinned mischievously while devouring the two-person serving of spicy chicken feet.

Feeling the need to save face, Tae-ha scooped out tender clam meat with his chopsticks.

“Oh, your chopstick skills are impressive. Though I somehow expected someone else did this for you.”

Tae-ha brought the clam meat to Jisoo’s lips. Smiling bashfully, she looked up at him.

“Sorry, I was being too cheeky, wasn’t I?”

“That kind of cheekiness is always welcome. What are you waiting for? Open up.”

Though she had been the one teasing him moments ago, she now felt ensnared by his hands again.

“This is the next step after eating spicy food, right? Hurry.”

Hesitant, Jisoo parted her lips slightly and ate the clam meat Tae-ha had prepared. As she chewed its chewy texture, he offered her a spoonful of soup.

“I’ll drink it.”

“Even if I told you to drink it, you wouldn’t be able to. Han Jisoo has to finish it all—including me later.”

His words carried a sultry undertone. As Jisoo looked up, she noticed subtle gazes from around the room—all directed at the overly conspicuous man feeding his companion broth.

Knowing Tae-ha wouldn’t back down, Jisoo reluctantly took his hand and sipped the clear broth. The warm liquid soothed her tongue and throat, numbed by the spice.

“You have favorite dishes but aren’t drinking, Alcohol Goddess? Are you passing up alcohol?”

“Fine, I’ll drink one bottle of soju.”

Tae-ha nodded readily, ordering the drink. Despite knowing Jisoo’s plans rarely went as intended, he feigned ignorance, anticipating the night ahead.

“Let’s go for round two!”

As green bottles lined up like friends, Jisoo’s voice grew louder than any drunken patron in the restaurant. Watching her laugh so cheerfully was delightful—but the problem was that others might share his feelings.

Annoyed, Tae-ha imagined laying her down on the table, biting and sucking every inch of her sweet-smelling skin. His body ached to delve into her heated core, absorbing every gasp and moan to quench his suppressed desires.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like you’re going to eat me alive! You always look at me like this!”

Drunk and uninhibited, Jisoo exaggeratedly widened her eyelids with her fingers.

“Even drunk, your insight is impressive. Han Jisoo, sit properly.”

The half-unbuttoned blouse that had bothered him since earlier caught his cold gaze. Following his line of sight, Jisoo glanced down. “Oh, this? No big deal,” she shrugged nonchalantly.

Blocking curious eyes with one hand shielding her face, she turned toward Tae-ha and boldly unbuttoned her blouse down to her chest.

As she attempted to pull down her lace bra, Tae-ha grabbed her wrist.

“If you exhaust what little patience I have left, how will you handle me tonight?”

Captivated by Tae-ha, Jisoo guided his hand downward.

“I know you won’t hurt me.”

His firm fingertips brushed against her soft skin, but he pulled away forcefully, fearing he might take her right there.

“Why so generous tonight? Is this thanks for sharing the spicy chicken feet?”

Tears welled up in her clear eyes. When she cried so beautifully, Tae-ha’s mind flooded with her sorrow.

“Hold me. Make me forget everything. Make me stop hating myself and regretting today.”

Jisoo rested her weary head on Tae-ha’s shoulder.

As the officetel door opened, their entwined bodies spilled inside. Pulling her waist tightly, Jisoo wrapped her arms around Tae-ha’s neck. Their lips met deeply, tongues intertwining urgently. Her legs wobbled, knees buckling under the intensity, until Tae-ha lifted her effortlessly.

Her flailing legs wrapped around his waist. Whether from the heat of their kiss or the thrill of excitement, Jisoo radiated warmth. Wherever their bodies touched, heat surged.

Tae-ha smirked as he withdrew his tongue from their deep kiss.

“Still spicy.”

Jisoo, half-lidded with sultry pleasure, murmured, “Wait a moment. Let me wash up first.”

“Someone once said that eating deliciously makes you addicted, constantly craving more.”

Tae-ha removed her shoes and tossed them by the entrance. Walking toward the bedroom, he kissed her neck and shoulders.

“I’m addicted to you.”

Every step they took left behind a trail of Jisoo’s discarded clothes, like coordinates marking their path.

On the bed, as they kissed, Jisoo loosened Tae-ha’s tie. She tugged open his neatly buttoned shirt, sending buttons scattering across the floor. Tae-ha reached for a rolling button, but Jisoo pulled him closer instead.

“Do buttons even matter right now?”

Tae-ha bit his lower lip, releasing it slowly with a playful whisper.

“We’re in bed now... Can I lie?”

Whatever cute act she planned next, Tae-ha smiled and nodded willingly.

“I’m very, very drunk. You can think of this as drunken rambling.”

“Go ahead.”

Jisoo shifted, straddling Tae-ha’s thighs.

“I... I like you.”

Her serious expression shifted to one of regret as soon as the words left her mouth. Tae-ha, looking as though he might cry, smiled softly.

“Because I bought you spicy chicken feet?”

“Yes.”

Tae-ha tilted her chin and kissed her. Though the lingering taste was still spicy, thinking of it as something from Jisoo made it sweet.

Should he open a chicken feet shop? Then he could kiss her radiant smile every day.