Alpha Culinary Love

As she pulled back, her eyes scanned my face and neck. Her expression shifted from one of pure delight to mild concern and then to a knowing smirk. "Jiyeon, dear, are those... hickeys?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and giving Yura a playful glance.

My face instantly heated up, and I instinctively brought a hand to my neck, where Yura's marks were still visible despite my best efforts to cover them with concealer. I glanced at Yura, who was now biting her lip to keep from laughing.

"Uh, no, Min-Seo," I stammered, trying to muster up some semblance of dignity. "I... uh, I think I got bitten by some bugs."

"Bugs?" Min-Seo's smirk widened, and she gave Yura a knowing look. "Those must be some very passionate bugs."

Yura couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yes, very passionate bugs, Mother," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Min-Seo looked back at me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, Jiyeon, you should be more careful around those bugs. They seem to have a particular fondness for you."

I was sure my face was as red as a tomato at this point. "I'll keep that in mind, Min-Seo," I managed to say, feeling utterly mortified.

Min-Seo laughed and patted my shoulder affectionately. "Oh, don't be so embarrassed, dear. Young love is a beautiful thing. Just be glad that your father-in-law, Min-Jun, hasn't noticed yet. He'd have a field day with this."

I glanced at Min-Jun, who was now walking toward us with a curious look on his face. "What would I have a field day with?" he asked, his eyes darting between Min-Seo, Yura, and me.

"Oh, nothing, dear," Min-Seo said quickly, shooting me a wink. "Just some girl talk."

Min-Jun raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced but not willing to press the issue. "Alright then," he said, turning his attention to me. "Good to see you, Jiyeon. It seems you've had quite the day."

"Yes, it was quite eventful," I replied, still trying to calm my racing heart.

Yura, seeing my discomfort, stepped in to change the subject. "Dad, did you see the new garden lights we installed? They look amazing."

Min-Jun's eyes lit up. "Oh, I haven't seen them yet. Let's go take a look."

With that, he led us all outside to the garden, giving me a much-needed reprieve from the embarrassing conversation. As we walked through the beautifully lit garden, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Yura's quick thinking.

After a few minutes of admiring the lights and chatting about mundane topics, Min-Seo turned to me again. "Jiyeon, why don't you go freshen up before dinner? You must be exhausted from your long day."

I nodded, grateful for the opportunity to escape and collect myself. "Thank you, Min-Seo. I'll be down shortly."

As I made my way upstairs, I could hear Yura and her parents continuing their conversation, their voices fading into the background. Once I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a long sigh of relief.

I took a few moments to collect myself before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of the situation. Min-Seo's playful teasing and Yura's laughter had turned what could have been a mortifying experience into something almost endearing.

After changing into more comfortable clothes, I headed back downstairs to join Yura and her parents for dinner. The dining room was filled with the delicious aroma of home-cooked food, and the table was set beautifully. Min-Seo had outdone herself, as usual, preparing a feast that made my mouth water just at the sight of it.

Dinner was a delightful affair. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and stories. Min-Jun regaled us with tales from his latest business trip, while Min-Seo shared amusing anecdotes from her garden club. Yura and I chimed in with our own stories, the comfortable banter making me feel truly at home.

As we were finishing up dessert, Min-Seo suddenly turned to Yura with a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, Yura, tell us about these 'bugs' that seem to have taken such a liking to Jiyeon."

Yura nearly choked on her tea, and I could feel my face heating up again. "Oh, um, you know, just regular bugs," Yura said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Regular bugs, huh?" Min-Jun chimed in, clearly enjoying the turn the conversation had taken. "Must be some special breed."

Yura shot me a helpless look, and I couldn't help but laugh at her predicament. "Yes, very special," I said, deciding to play along. "They seem to only come out when Yura is around."

Min-Seo and Min-Jun both burst into laughter, their eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, you two certainly know how to keep things interesting," Min-Seo said, wiping a tear from her eye.

As the laughter died down, Min-Jun raised his glass in a toast. "To young love and the passionate bugs that come with it."

We all raised our glasses, clinking them together with smiles and laughter. The moment felt perfect, a blend of embarrassment, humor, and genuine affection that made me feel incredibly lucky to be part of this family.

After dinner, as we sat in the living room enjoying dessert and tea, Min-Seo brought up a recent trip they had taken. "You should have seen the gardens in Kyoto, Jiyeon. They were absolutely breathtaking," she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"I'd love to see them someday," I replied, genuinely interested. "Maybe we could all go together?"

Min-Jun nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. We could plan a trip for next spring."

Yura squeezed my hand under the table, her eyes filled with love and excitement. "I'd love that. It would be amazing to travel together."

The evening continued in. By the time we retired for the night, I felt a deep sense of contentment. The love I shared with Yura, and the acceptance and warmth from her family, made me feel incredibly fortunate.

As Yura and I prepared for bed, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close. "Today was perfect," she whispered, her breath warm against my skin.

"It really was," I agreed, snuggling into her embrace. "I'm so happy, Yura. I wouldn't trade this for anything."

She kissed the top of my head, her arms tightening around me. "Neither would I, Jiyeon. Neither would I."

With that, we settled into bed, the comfort of each other's presence lulling us into a peaceful sleep.