206: Chapter 204 I want to eat roasted lamb skewers

But the Kim family clearly didn't intend to let him off the hook.

Kim Jiyong leaned in and whispered, "That... Zhiyu, is andrology really..."

"Oppa!" Kim Taeyeon finally exploded, "That's enough from you guys!!"

Her voice was both embarrassed and annoyed, her cheeks as red as ripe tomatoes.

Looking at her like this, Jiang Zhiyu suddenly laughed for some reason.

The laughter was light, carrying a sense of helpless indulgence and a hint of imperceptible joy.

Kim Taeyeon glared at him, only to find that the way he looked when he laughed... was damn good-looking.

Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, falling on his profile and outlining a soft silhouette. Those amber eyes were filled with laughter, like melting honey—warm and sweet.

Kim Taeyeon's heart skipped a beat.

She quickly looked away, pretending to organize the ingredients on the table, but her fingertips trembled slightly.

In the kitchen, the water in the pot began to boil, and steam curled upwards. The aroma of the ingredients gradually spread, mixed with the faint, clear bitterness of medicinal herbs.

Lee Tima leaned close to Jiang Zhiyu and whispered, "Oppa, did I just provide another assist?"

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at her without saying a word, simply picking up a freshly fried meatball and stuffing it into her mouth.

"Mmm!" Lee Tima huffed from the heat, but her eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter.

Outside the window, the sun set, and the horizon glowed with an orange-red sunset. In the courtyard of the Hanok, birds returning to their nests chirped on the branches.

This evening, in this Jeonju kitchen, some previously clear boundaries seemed to be quietly blurring.

Meanwhile, as Jiang Zhiyu skillfully stir-fried the dishes in the pan, he silently calculated in his heart: after finishing the meal later, he must properly "educate" Lee Tima.

If he didn't deal with this kid, she'd probably be getting out of hand soon.

The preparations before dinner proceeded in a subtle yet lively atmosphere. The culinary skills and medical knowledge Jiang Zhiyu displayed left the Kim family in awe, while Lee Tima's occasional "shocking remarks" caused frequent moments of embarrassment and laughter.

When all the dishes were finally laid out on the dining table, the five members of the Kim family plus Jiang Zhiyu and Lee Tima—seven people in total—sat around the low table, creating a strange sense of completeness.

"Come, Jiang Zhiyu, try this." Mother Kim enthusiastically served Jiang Zhiyu a piece of tenderly braised beef short rib. "This is a Jeonju specialty style; pear juice is added to remove the gaminess and add sweetness."

"Thank you, Auntie." Jiang Zhiyu accepted it with both hands holding his bowl, his movements elegant and natural, appearing completely like someone from a well-bred background.

Father Kim looked at him, his eyes full of appreciation. "Jiang Zhiyu, what did your family... do before? Looking at your etiquette, you don't seem like a child from an ordinary family."

This question went deeper than the previous ones.

Jiang Zhiyu put down his chopsticks, sat up straight, and replied in a calm tone, "My ancestors were from a scholarly family in China, and my great-grandfather's generation moved to the United States. My parents passed away early, but I lived with an elder since I was young. He was very strict with me; he taught me all my etiquette and upbringing."

He didn't say that the "elder" was the master who taught him medicine and cooking, nor did he reveal more details, but these words were enough to explain his unique temperament.

Kim Jiyong asked curiously, "Then how did you enter the entertainment industry? Given the family background you mentioned, you should have had many choices, right?"

"Because I like music," Jiang Zhiyu's answer was simple and sincere. "To me, music is a way of expression and healing. When I was working at SM, although there were other opportunities, I still felt that making music made me the happiest."

When he said this, there was a light in his eyes. That pure glow for something one loves is easily infectious.

Xia Yan rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Jiang Zhiyu. "Zhiyu Oppa is so handsome and talented; many people must have pursued you when you were at SM, right?"

This question caused the atmosphere at the dinner table to change abruptly.

Kim Taeyeon's movement of picking up food paused. Father Kim and Mother Kim exchanged a glance. Kim Jiyong waited with great interest to hear the answer.

Jiang Zhiyu smiled, a smile that was gentle but carried a clear sense of distance. "When I was at SM, I mainly focused on work and didn't pay much attention to those things. Besides, the company has regulations; producers and artists must maintain a professional distance."

This answer was appropriate and watertight. It neither denied it nor admitted it, and it even used company regulations as a shield.

Kim Taeyeon quietly breathed a sigh of relief, but for some reason, she felt a bit... unsettled?