“What are you doing? Eat before it gets cold.”

“......”

When I hesitated, he scooped up a spoonful of porridge with a disposable spoon, blew on it gently, and brought it to my lips.

“Say ‘ah.’”

“No, I’ll eat it myself.”

“It’s already cold. Ah—.”

That’s not the issue here...

As I faltered, a faint smile curled at the corner of Joo Seunghyuk’s lips.

“What’s wrong? Afraid I put something in it?”

Unlike the smile on his mouth, the look in his eyes was icy. I flinched, startled by how accurately he hit the mark, and quickly shook my head.

“Of course not. I just feel really bad. I’ll eat it myself.”

“No. I’ll feed you.”

“No, really—”

“Open your mouth.”

His voice was low and cold, pressing down on me. It wasn’t a request—it was a command.

So I did as he said and opened my mouth. There might be sleeping pills or poison in it, but I could die for disobeying his command before anything else.

The porridge, now just the right temperature, entered my mouth. It was rich and savory—abalone porridge.

No strange smell, no bitterness. Just plain porridge?

“How is it?”

“It’s good. Where did you get it?”

“From ‘Sushitei,’ near the back gate.”

Sushitei was the most famous sushi place nearby. Expensive, but the taste matched the price.

“They sell porridge there?”

“It’s not on the menu, but they’ll make it if you ask.”

“I see.”

You can order dishes that aren’t even on the menu...?

It was something I had never dared try in either my past life or this one.

In any case, the fact that he told me the restaurant name... maybe he really didn’t spike it?

I felt a little more at ease.

“Ah—.”

Joo Seunghyuk once again brought the spoon toward my mouth.

“It’s fine. I’ll eat the rest myself.”

“Just this one more.”

“...Okay.”

In the end, I opened my mouth again.

“Seunghyuk-ah, aren’t you going to eat?”

“Just watching you eat makes me full.”

“Don’t be silly.”

There was another disposable spoon in the paper bag. I took it out and placed it in front of him.

“Let’s eat ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) together.”

“I’m okay.”

“There’s too much for me to finish alone.”

Joo Seunghyuk stared at the spoon. It was a simple gesture with pure intent, but his reaction brought the unease rushing back.

This bastard... did he really drug it?

“Hyung...”

Just as that anxiety began to rise, he spoke again.

“Yeah?”

“I want you to feed me.”

“What?”

“I’d like it if you fed me.”

The tips of Joo Seunghyuk’s ears flushed red. Was he... embarrassed? No way. There’s no way a yandere type like him would get shy.

“Alright.”

I nodded and scooped some porridge, bringing it to his mouth.

Two guys in their twenties feeding each other porridge... what the hell are we doing?

“How is it?”

“Tastes even better when you feed me.”

He smiled sweetly.

Seeing him eat so well put me at ease—maybe he really didn’t put anything in it. With that fear gone, I finally got a good look at Joo Seunghyuk’s face.

It was the first time since I’d rejected his exclusive contract seven years ago that I’d seen him this close.

Well, last night we were probably even closer—but I didn’t remember a single thing.

As a child, he was a delicate, pretty boy, almost like he was made of glass.

I’d thought he’d outgrown that softness, turned sharp and cold with age—but now, with this gentle smile, I could still see traces of the boy he once was.

While I continued feeding him, Seunghyuk suddenly grabbed my hand.

“What—what is it?”

Startled, I asked, and he answered in a soft voice.

“You should eat too.”

“Okay. I will.”

“I’ll feed you.”

“No! I can eat on my own!”

I quickly shoved the porridge into my mouth before he could do it for me.

“Ah!”

And realized—too late—that I’d made a mistake. In my panic, I’d just eaten the spoonful I had scooped for him.

“Sorry, that was your spoon...”

I looked down at the spoon in my hand and mumbled in dismay.

“An indirect kiss?”

Joo Seunghyuk beamed. At least he didn’t seem angry.

“What do we do...”

I didn’t cook in the dorm, so I didn’t own any utensils or dishes. There were a few wooden chopsticks that came with cup noodles, but they wouldn’t work for porridge.

There was no sink in the room, and I couldn’t wash the spoon in the bathroom either. He’d hate that. That might literally be the day I die.

While I stood there in a full-blown panic, Seunghyuk took the spoon from my hand and ate with it like it was nothing.

“Hey!”

“What are you so surprised about?”

“My mouth touched that.”

“That’s why I like it.”

“But still—”

“You were sucking on me all night. What’s a little saliva now?”

“......”

My face flushed bright red.

It wasn’t wrong—but did he have to say it so bluntly...?

“Come on. Eat. It’s getting cold.”

“Okay...”

If I hesitated again, he might seriously feed me every last bite. I hurriedly took another spoonful.

After the meal, Joo Seunghyuk pulled out a pharmacy bag and took out a few over-the-counter medicines.

“This is a painkiller, but they said it’s best not to take it unless you really need it. Only take one if it gets too bad.”

“It’s okay. I’ll try to endure it.”

It wasn’t painful enough to need medication.

“And this is ointment.”

“Ointment?”

“For there.”

His eyes lowered toward my pants. The moment I realized what he meant, he continued.

“Take them off. I’ll apply it.”

“What?”

“Take them off.”

“N-No!”

“Why do you keep saying no? Hyung, do you know how many times you’ve said no today?”

His large hand swept down from my neck, slowly threading through my hair.

“If you keep rejecting me, I think I’ll get hurt.”

“S-Sorry...”

A chill ran down my spine, and I instinctively lowered my head.

“You say sorry a lot, too. If you’re sorry, maybe don’t do things you’ll have to apologize for.”

His voice was soft, but a cold undercurrent seeped through every word.

“Do I look that easy to you, Lee Yeonsu?”

“No...”

“There you go again. Why does every sentence start with ‘no,’ ‘sorry,’ or ‘don’t want to’? Is that all you have to say to me?”

“......”

What had I done to upset this obsessive man?

Terrified, I hung my head lower. Then I felt his fingers tighten and tug at my hair.

It wasn’t painful—but it was more than enough to threaten.

“You really have nothing to say?”

“......”

“Fine. Whatever. Just take them off.”

“......”

That same eerie mana from before seeped through his hand, wrapping around my head and neck.

Tears spilled from my eyes under the weight of that fear.

“Hyung, are you crying?”

I tightly shut my lips and shook my head.

“You are. Why are you crying? What’s the reason?”

His voice was calm—not loud or scolding—but it still felt like a threat.

Of course I couldn’t say it was because I was terrified of him.

So I blurted out a different excuse in desperation.

“I-I’m embarrassed...”

I barely swallowed the “yo” that almost slipped out.

“What’s embarrassing?”

“Being told to... take off my clothes...”

“I said it’s for treatment. And we’ve already seen everything. What’s there to be embarrassed about?”

“......”

You may have seen it—but I don’t remember anything!

I clenched my lips shut. Seunghyuk reached out and gently wiped the tears from my cheek with his finger.

“If you hate it that much, why don’t you just say no instead of crying?”

“You told me not to say no...”

Even in my fear, I couldn’t help the pouty protest that slipped out.

Then, out of nowhere, Seunghyuk burst into laughter.

“Haha. You’re right. My bad.”

Yes, it is your bad!

I wanted to agree so badly, but I held my tongue.

“Our Yeonsu is such a shy little thing.”

Still chuckling, he suddenly pulled me into a hug.

“So cute.”

Cute? Me? Did he just call me that?

Before I could make sense of it, something brushed my lips. By the time I realized it was Seunghyuk’s mouth, I flinched back in shock.

But he grabbed the back of my neck before I could move.

“Open.”

The soft command couldn’t be disobeyed. I opened my mouth, and his tongue slid inside.

It was overwhelming—but biting down would probably get me killed.

While I tensed up and tried not to close my mouth, Seunghyuk’s tongue explored my mouth slowly, thoroughly, as if savoring it.

What do I do? What should I do? How the hell do you kiss someone?!

I was spiraling into full panic.

More than the fact that we were kissing, it was the fear of offending Seunghyuk that consumed me.

Terrified of moving wrong, I kept my body rigid and folded my hands over my chest. I didn’t even dare breathe.

Eventually, his lips pulled away.

“Breathe.”

“Huuuh...”

The moment Seunghyuk gave permission, I let out the breath I’d been holding.

“Why are you so bad at this?”

Of course. The scolding came.

“Sorry...”

“Was that your first kiss?”

“Yeah.”

“Liar. We kissed last night. Why are you such a liar, Lee Yeonsu?”

“I’m sorry.”

Afraid he’d get angry again if I said I didn’t remember, I trembled nervously. But then Seunghyuk suddenly hugged me.

“I’m not scolding you. So don’t apologize.”

He kissed my cheek lightly. A teasing smile played on his lips.

I stared blankly at the well-shaped curve of his mouth.

Was this really Joo Seunghyuk? He looked more like a playful college student than an obsessive lunatic.

But then he stared straight into my eyes and spoke.

“Who’d believe that the great Lee Yeonsu is this much of a loser?”

And in that instant, a flicker of madness twisted in his jet-black gaze—the true face of a textbook obsessive lover, like something drawn in ink.