Chapter Text
The Way to a Man’s Heart is Through His Stomach
(Painter of the Night fanfic)
Gejang 게장
Gejang is a variety of jeotgal, salted fermented seafood in Korean cuisine,
which is made by marinating fresh raw crabs either in ganjang or in a soy sauce.
Chapter 1
Seungho isn’t fond of watching videos or wasting his time using the Internet.
It was an accident when he stumbled on this odd video on his younger brother Seungwon’s laptop when he was staying over at Seungho’s apartment during the weekend.
Seungho tilting his head in confusion and fascination as he watched a 20 minute Youtube video of a gorgeous young man eating on camera. It was even odder since the eyes aren’t shown on video only the plump peachy-pink pouty lips eating a platter of seafood - various shrimps, crabs, seashells, octopus and spicy noodle looks oh so delectable on the plate and looks even more appetizing when the young man on the video starts eating the dishes with so much enthusiasm and vigor. The young man’s lips chew on the food creating sticky, soft mouth sounds and the slurping of the noodles was the only sound in the video.
ASMR Mukbang was the title of the video, Seungho raised his eyebrows as he clicks on the next video from the same YouTuber called NKyummy Eats!
A few hours later Seungho was sucked on a psychedelic trip to Mukbang videos - from seafood to fried chicken, to Samgyeopsal, traditional Korean food, various Asian and Western cuisines. But not a single video from this channel shows the young man’s full face - only half of his face is shown on camera.
It made Seungho curious even more about how someone is able to eat a platter of food and still looks enthusiastic in every new video, ‘How can he eat so much without gaining weight?’ Seungho thoughts as he unconsciously touches on his rock solid abs. He watched mukbang videos for the entire afternoon, then feeling shell shocked and now placed into a permanent state of confusion. The front door beeps open as his younger brother enters the living room,
“Seungho-hyung, I brought us some seafood- what the hell are you doing with my laptop?” Seungwon exclaimed as he rushes towards his older brother, eyes in a mixture of furry and embarrassment.
“I was just watching some videos.”
Seungho replies as he slowly closes the laptop and placed it on the table, Seungwon flushed and splutters out “W-Well, if you’re watching my porn stash then I’m sorry to break it for you but I prefer straight vanilla porn.” The younger Yoon brother proudly exclaims.
Seungho stood up and gave his younger brother the most disappointed ‘ why the fuck are we related’ look
“First of all, why the fuck would I need porn when I can literally fuck any man I want,” Seungho pauses for a dramatic effect his golden eyes still judging his younger brother. Then continues “The word straight and vanilla porn almost gave me a heart attack - I’d rather die than have sex with a woman in missionary. You got no taste, you are a shame to our ancestors.”
Seungwon sputter out profanities as followed his older brother towards the kitchen “Hyung! How dare you call me that, after I brought you food-“
Seungho snatches the plastic bag and interrupted “Using my own damn money, I wasn’t watching porn you dumbass.” Seungwon leaned on the counter and asked
“Then, what are you watching on my laptop?”
Seungho looked at his brother blankly then he decided to ignore the question and grab his chopsticks and licked his lips - this dish called Gejang is similar to what NKyummy Eats! on his last video. Crabs marinated with soy sauce and rice on the side - Seungho is ravenous, the only thing that popped into his mind is how fascinating NKyummy Eats! during his mukbangs.
Seungwon presses on “Don’t ignore me, answer my question hyung!”
As the older brother, Seungho sometimes needs to tolerate how stubborn and constantly nosy his little shit of a brother. Seungho waves him off and replied nonchalantly
“Nothing, if you will keep on pestering me then I’ll eat your share.”
Seungwon quickly scampers on the seat and grabbed his chopsticks, digging in the meal. He’ll let his older brother slide for a while, Seungwon is certain he’ll find out soon.
It was terrifying how quickly Seungho got addicted to NKyummy Eats! Mukbang videos.
It was supposed to be something out of curiosity but now he created his first account online and the only thing he’s subscribed to is this mukbang channel. He comments on the posts even likes the videos, never skipping an advertisement in the middle of the video because Seungho knows that is one of the ways YouTubers gain profit from their videos.
Seungho comments on every new upload, he even has an alarm to be notified when NKyummy Eats! posts a new video, Seungho even went as far as donating money to support his favorite mukbang channel.
“Nope, I’m not creepy.”
Seungho assures himself “I’m just a fan of his content.”
He nods as he stood on a crowded train, with his earphones plugged in and his phone in his right hand. What video is he watching? Obviously, NKyummy Eats! Latest mukbang of cheesy barbecue pork ribs. Seungho typically uses his Friday night planning to drink in the bar after work but now, he looks forward every Friday night to a new upload from NKyummy Eats!
The train was so jammed pack, bodies are squeezed in as men and women wearing suits crowded in the train. An older man accidentally bumped on Seungho’s shoulder causing him to move forward, the small body in front of him stumbled forward almost tripping when quickly Seungo catches him before the smaller man falls face flat down the train floor. Seungho looked away from his video and stared at the young man who clutched onto Seungho like a koala, the only thing he saw was the beet red ears of the younger man. Then the man turns around and gave him a thankful look and whispers
“T-Thank you so much for saving me!”
And holy fucking shit, it was as if time paused when Seungho got a full glimpse of the younger man’s face. Seungho thoughts, God really took his time in making this beauty.
The young man still steadied by Seungho’s muscular forearms was a new level of beautiful - all words synonymous with that is how Seungho will describe the gorgeous stranger on the train. Shiny black hair with a long fringed framing prettily on stunning soft golden eyes and long curled doll-like lashes. Pale porcelain skin and a healthy flush on his cheeks, and those peachy-pink, bow-shaped, and deliciously plump and pouty lips that looks awfully familiar.
Mental images of those delectable pouty lips of the gorgeous stranger wrapped around Seungho’s cock - he’s not a pervert but fuck this stranger is really making him feel like one.
‘Holy shit, will you marry me?’ Seungho thoughts to himself.
The young man jaw slacked and had a very confused expression, his shining golden eyes widen in almost a comical fashion and splutters out
“E-Excuse me, sir?”
Seungho raised his eyebrow, thoroughly confused
“Huh? Did I say something?”
The angelic-looking man slowly moves away a mixture of confusion and a hint of fear on his face. The passengers surrounding them looked at Seungho as if he’s a lunatic with judgment and amusement clearly shown in their eyes. The older man next to him tapped on Seungho’s shoulder grinning widely then said
“You literally asked him to marry you.”
Seungho never felt this embarrassed in his whole life. Seungho closes his eyes - he rarely gets embarrassed, Seungho is known to be a cool, composed, and intellectual financial manager of their company.
Now, he officially sunk an all-time low for being known as the lunatic who proposed to a stranger on a crowded train.
“Fuck.”
He whispers and looks up, the gorgeous boy he saved disappeared from his sight. ‘ Why the fuck did I screw that up?’ Seungho mentally groans as the train stops at the station, tucking his phone inside his bag. If he will find that gorgeous boy again, he is certain he will not let him go.