My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 20

It was somewhat unexpected that the man who mercilessly dominated opposing players on the Ice Rink like a tank would feel shy about a mere nickname like “Dancing King.”
‘Surely he’s heard far worse than that, hasn’t he?’
The team’s ace, the tank on ice.
I had heard my male teammates throw around grandiose titles so cringe-worthy I couldn’t bring myself to repeat them aloud, yet they did so freely among themselves.
I had witnessed it myself countless times already.
And yet he was embarrassed over just “Dancing King”?
“You’re the Dancing King, alright.”
As I drove the point home, Aemerus’s blush crept all the way up to his neck.
“I didn’t know you introduced me to your brother.”
“Introduced…”
Did showing my brother the video of us dancing together count as an introduction?
I shrugged as I pondered this.
“Robin and I share almost everything.”
Otherwise, Robin would be completely isolated from the world.
It was part of my effort to coax my brother out of his shell—a turtle hiding inside its carapace.
“Anyway, Robin. Say hello to the Dancing King. We’re having dinner together today.”
“Hi.”
Since it wasn’t a complete first meeting, Robin relaxed his guard and greeted Aemerus.
Aemerus received his greeting warmly.
“Hey. I’m Jessie’s friend. You know Jessie, right?”
Robin’s face lit up at the mention of Jessie’s name.
“How close are you with Jessie? I’m closest to Jessie…”
“Probably second closest to you.”
That wasn’t exactly wrong. I nodded to myself.
There was something slightly awkward about calling Jessie and Aemerus intimate friends.
“Enjoy your meal.”
My father placed pork belly on the heated grill and told us to ask if we needed anything else before heading off to attend to other tables.
“Your parents seem quite busy. I hope I’m not imposing.”
At Aemerus’s words, I laughed and shook my head.
“This is actually one of our quieter nights. We got seated without waiting, after all.”
“I see.”
“But we can’t advertise this as the Restaurant where Blake Williams dined. We’re already packed as it is.”
“Are you not planning to expand?”
“Not for now. It’s uncertain whether we’ll stay in the United States long-term.”
As I said this, I glanced quietly at Robin.
If my brother ultimately couldn’t adapt to the United States, we might have to return to Korea, so expanding wasn’t feasible.
Understanding her gaze, Aemerus held his tongue.
Once the meat had cooked through somewhat, I picked up the scissors and tongs.
“I’ll do it.”
Aemerus tried to take the tongs from me, but I refused to yield.
“You’re a guest.”
“I’m a man.”
Aemerus didn’t back down easily either.
Barbecue was traditionally considered a man’s domain in the United States. But.
‘Not a chance.’
I was far more confident when it came to grilling meat.
After all, I had earned the approval of my father, who was a chef.
“This is probably your first time with Korean-style barbecue, right?”
At my counterargument, Aemerus reluctantly raised the white flag.
Yet, unable to sit comfortably while merely watching me grill the meat, I found his restlessness amusing and had to suppress a quiet laugh.
“Relax. When I eat with Jessie, I grill the meat too.”
“What?”
Aemerus’s brow furrowed.
My attempt to reassure him seemed to have backfired.
“That guy couldn’t even step up to grill it himself, and just sat there eating what was given to him?”
“It couldn’t be helped. Jessie really has no talent for grilling meat.”
Despite my protest, Aemerus still looked displeased.
“I’m different. Next time, I’ll grill the meat.”
“Suit yourself.”
I chuckled and placed the perfectly cooked meat in front of Aemerus and Robin respectively.
As I continuously laid fresh meat on the grill without pause, Aemerus asked.
“What about yours?”
“Oh, I’ll eat too. I’ll be hungry after the competition, so eat up quickly. It won’t taste good if it gets cold.”
“….”
“Robin, wrap up a piece of meat for your sister who’s working so hard grilling.”
Accustomed to being looked after by me, Robin nodded after spearing a piece of meat with his fork.
“Wrap?”
Even young Robin knew what that was. At Aemerus’s question, I answered.
“It’s like a mini burrito you eat in one bite.”
“I’ll teach you. Watch carefully.”
Robin didn’t miss the chance to show off his knowledge.
With Aemerus watching, Robin picked up a clean lettuce leaf with his washed hands and placed a piece of meat on top.
Then he scooped a small amount of sauce with my spoon and rolled the lettuce into a neat bundle.
“Lili, say ah.”
“Ah.”
I opened my mouth and accepted the finished wrap with a soft bite.
“Tasty, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
Robin, having skillfully extracted the compliment, gazed at Aemerus with a triumphant expression.
“It’s simple to make.”
“Yeah. Besides the sauce, you can add whatever you want to eat.”
After hearing Harry’s explanation, Aemerus picked up his chopsticks with a solemn expression.
‘Looking at his face, you’d think he was competing in some culinary championship.’
The more I watched him, the funnier this guy became.
‘Should I call him Chef King this time? Or King Chef?’
While Harry was contemplating how best to tease Aemerus, he finally completed a wrap after much deliberation.
“Harry.”
“Yeah?”
The wrap Aemerus had made came not to his own mouth, but to Harry’s.
“Ah, hey.”
“No….”
When Robin offered me something, I accepted it without hesitation since he was my real brother, but you’re different….
Harry looked at Aemerus with an embarrassed expression, but he didn’t back down.
As if he would wait like that indefinitely until she ate it.
Feeling self-conscious about anyone watching, Harry reluctantly opened her mouth and accepted the wrap.
“How is it?”
Aemerus asked before Harry had even finished chewing the wrap.
Whether you’d call his expression of barely concealed anticipation funny or cute.
“It’s delicious.”
“Should I make more?”
At Aemerus’s visibly joyful face, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“I’m fine, so you eat first. Don’t forget—the person who competed in the match today wasn’t me, it was you.”
“Still….”
Robin, who had been quietly eating meat, alternated his gaze between Harry and Aemerus.
This atmosphere felt somehow familiar.
The moment Robin’s eyes narrowed, Harry’s Father suddenly appeared carrying a stone bowl of steamed egg.
“Eating well, are you? Oh, this friend even wraps his food with chopsticks.”
Only after hearing her father’s words did Harry belatedly realize it.
Aemerus’s chopstick technique was so natural that I hadn’t felt any sense of incongruity.
“Where did you learn to use chopsticks? Who taught you?”
“I taught myself by watching videos.”
“Haha, this guy is impressive.”
Harry’s Father’s gaze toward Aemerus changed.
His favorable impression visibly increased.
Harry’s Father smiled with even greater satisfaction and gave Aemerus’s back a friendly pat.
“Would you like some more meat?”
“This is plenty already.”
“Come on, come on. Don’t be shy. Eat as much as you like.”
Harry shook her head as she watched the two of them banter back and forth.
“Stop that and come eat with Mom and me.”
“Hmm, sure. It’s been a while since Lili’s friend visited.”
While my father surveyed the customers inside the restaurant, I made sure Aemerus was taken care of.
“Try the steamed egg too. Be careful—it’s hot.”
At my suggestion, Aemerus carefully took a bite of the steamed egg.
I found it delightful watching his face light up at the pudding-like softness of the texture.
Shortly after, my parents joined our table.
My mother also couldn’t help but marvel at Aemerus’s skillful chopstick technique.
“You taught yourself? That’s impressive.”
“It’s nothing special.”
His humble demeanor had clearly won my mother’s heart.
You could tell by how she doted on Aemerus more than Robin during the meal.
As if to repay their kindness, Aemerus continued the conversation with courtesy.
“You two are truly remarkable. Managing such large restaurants can’t be easy, yet you’re running two of them.”
“It’s not easy, that’s for sure. But we push through because of our Lili and Robin.”
“How long have you been cooking?”
“It’s been quite a while. I worked as a chef in Korea before Lili was even born.”
My father opened up like a guest on a talk show, readily sharing how he’d once been a chef at a five-star hotel in Korea.
“This isn’t the place for this. We should have a drink together sometime and have a real heart-to-heart conversation.”
“Once I’m old enough to drink, I’ll treat you.”
“That’s right. Until then, don’t fight with our Lili and get along well.”
“Yes, sir.”
The atmosphere between my parents and Aemerus was so warm that Robin and I could have slipped away unnoticed.
‘It seems like they both like Aemerus more than Jessie.’
Jessie’s visits had become less frequent lately.
The fact that he’d stood me up at the last homecoming probably played a part in that.
But they say even tigers come when you call their name.
The person I’d been thinking about just walked through the restaurant door.
It was Jessie.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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