Taeyang decided to spend his weekend alone in his new home. With the sunny weather and calm atmosphere, he felt it was the perfect time to try to enjoy a relaxing life without the pressure of work.
That morning, he decided to cook breakfast. Taeyang, who usually just orders food or eats out, now had to face a kitchen that he hardly ever uses. He took out eggs, bread, and a few other ingredients from the fridge.
However, problems arose when he tried to fry the eggs. The oil in the pan was too hot, making the egg he cracked instantly "explode" a little, splashing oil everywhere. Taeyang jumped back while shouting, "Aish! Is this war?"
Not wanting to give up, he tried again, this time with a smaller flame. But as he flipped the egg with a spatula, it slid out of the pan and fell to the floor. Taeyang stared at the egg with a flat expression. "This is why I never cook," he muttered with a sigh.
After a long struggle, he finally managed to make a simple breakfast: a half-cooked egg with slightly burnt toast. Although it looked unappealing, Taeyang ate it with satisfaction while sitting on the terrace, enjoying the morning air. "At least it's the result of my own hard work," he said with a faint smile.
In the afternoon, Taeyang decided to clean up his backyard. He brought his garden tools and started to cut the grass that had gotten a little long. However, he misdirected the mower, which ended up hitting a large flower pot nearby. The pot shattered, and the soil scattered.
"I'm really not talented at this," he said as he scratched his head, trying to clean up the mess he had made. As he swept up the broken pot, he accidentally nudged a nearby water faucet, sending water spraying all over his body. Within seconds, Taeyang was soaking wet.
"This is even more tiring than chasing criminals," he complained as he closed the faucet and chuckled at the sight of himself getting wet like he'd just gotten out of a pool.
Later that evening, after a day filled with ridiculous events, Taeyang finally settled down on the couch with a cup of hot coffee. He turned on the television, but instead of watching, he fell asleep from exhaustion. Despite the chaos, Taeyang felt that the day was one of the most enjoyable and different weekends ever.
The next morning, Taeyang woke up on the sofa with a stiff neck. He rubbed his face while looking around the living room. "Why do I always fall asleep here? There's a bed," he muttered hoarsely.
Yawning, she walked to the kitchen to make coffee. However, once in the kitchen, she remembered yesterday's mess while trying to cook. The floor still felt a little slippery from the oil that hadn't been completely washed off. "Ah, I need to be more disciplined about this," he said as he picked up a mop.
Once the kitchen was clean, Taeyang decided to go out for a jog around his compound. The fresh morning air and soft sunlight made him feel calm. However, in the middle of jogging, he saw Jiwon walking towards his house carrying a large bag.
"Hey, are you here early? Did I forget something?" asked Taeyang as he approached.
Jiwon looked at him with a mischievous smile. "I heard from the greengrocer nearby that you messed up in the kitchen yesterday. So, I came to make sure you were still alive."
Taeyang chuckled, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Yeah, it was a bit... messy. But I'm fine."
Without waiting for an invitation, Jiwon entered Taeyang's house and went straight to the kitchen. She checked the fridge and the kitchen, then chuckled. "I know you're not the neat type, but this is too much. Did you eat another burnt egg today?" she quipped.
"At least I tried," Taeyang replied as he sat at the dining table.
Jiwon took out the ingredients from her bag and started cooking. She made a simple breakfast of kimchi fried rice with a perfect sunny-side up egg. When the food was ready, Jiwon placed it on the table in the style of a professional chef. "Well, try this. Maybe this will change your life."
Taeyang tasted the fried rice and immediately nodded in satisfaction. "This is delicious. Much better than anything I've made."
"I bet even a kid can cook better than you," Jiwon replied with a laugh.
After breakfast, they sat in the living room drinking coffee. Taeyang raised an eyebrow while looking at Jiwon. "Why do you always show up at the right time? Do you have a radar to keep tabs on the chaos of my life?"
Jiwon laughed and patted his shoulder. "Not a radar. I just felt you needed help. Otherwise, who's going to make sure you don't burn the house down?"
Taeyang shook his head with a smile. "Thank you, Jiwon. Maybe my life would be more messy without you."
The day passed lightly, filled with laughter and small jokes between them. Taeyang felt that even though he planned to spend the weekend alone, Jiwon's presence made it that much more meaningful.
After a few days of living alone in his new home, Taeyang started to feel overwhelmed. Cleaning the large house, cooking, and taking care of the garden really drained his energy, especially with his detective work schedule. He started thinking about finding a housekeeper.
One morning, while sipping coffee, Taeyang opened his laptop and started searching for maid services. He decided to call one of the agencies that seemed to have good reviews. After a short conversation, the agency said that they had a few candidates and would send them for an interview to Taeyang's house.
The next day, several housemaid candidates came to Taeyang's house for an interview. Taeyang, who was not used to this kind of situation, felt awkward while talking to them.
The first candidate was a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Song. She seemed friendly and experienced. When she saw the size of Taeyang's house, Mrs. Song frowned. "This house is really big. You live alone? Isn't it too lonely?" she asked in a doubtful tone.
Taeyang smiled politely. "I do prefer quiet. But that's also why I need help keeping the house clean."
Mrs. Song nodded, but as Taeyang began to explain the details of the job, her face turned doubtful. "It seems like too much work for me. I don't think I can manage it alone. I'm sorry, sir." She eventually declined the offer.
The second candidate was a young man named Junwoo. With a neat appearance and clothes more suitable for a model, Junwoo looked confident. "You won't be disappointed with me, sir. I care a lot about cleanliness and can keep this house tidy. Oh, I'm also very good at gardening. You'll love the garden I take care of," he said enthusiastically.
However, when Taeyang asked about cooking skills, Junwoo looked confused. "Cooking? Hm, I only know how to make salads and maybe boiled eggs. But that's enough, right?"
Taeyang tried to hold back his laughter. Politely, he replied, "Thank you, Junwoo. I'll take you into consideration." But in his heart, he knew Junwoo wasn't the right candidate.
The third candidate was a young woman named Sora. She entered confidently and immediately noticed every corner of Taeyang's house. "This house is amazing," she said, glancing at the living room decorations. "You need someone who can really take good care of this place."
Taeyang felt a little relieved at her optimistic attitude. He began to explain the tasks that needed to be done, from cleaning to cooking.
However, when Taeyang asked if Sora had any experience managing a big house, she replied in a cheerful tone, "Oh, of course! Although, yeah... I've never managed a house this big before. But I'm sure I can do it. Everyone learns from experience, right?"
Taeyang sighed inwardly. Sora sounded overconfident, and he was worried that she wouldn't be able to handle the hard work. "Thank you, Sora. I'll take you into consideration," he replied politely.
After all the interviews were over, Taeyang sat back in the living room, massaging his temples. None of the candidates really fit. He looked at his mansion, which seemed to be getting quieter and quieter.
"I thought this would be easier," he muttered to himself. "Maybe I should look for other options."
Taeyang finally decided to hold off on finding a maid and try to take care of the house himself for a while. Although it wasn't easy, he felt it was better that way than hiring someone who wasn't a good fit.
"It looks like this weekend I'll have to learn to cook and clean the house more seriously," he said with a sigh, ready to face new challenges in his quiet mansion.
That night, after finishing unpacking his things, Taeyang sat in the living room with a cup of tea in his hand. Thoughts of the candidates' interviews this afternoon made him uneasy. There was no one suitable to fill the position of maid in his big house.
He took a deep breath and finally decided to call Jiwon. She felt like she needed someone to talk to, and Jiwon was the only person who knew her well enough these days. Quickly, he grabbed his cell phone and sent a text message.
Taeyang: "Are you busy? If not, can we meet for a while?"
His message was instantly replied to.
Jiwon: "Sure, where?"
They agreed to meet at a small cafe not far from Taeyang's house. Jiwon arrived first, already waiting with a cup of coffee. When Taeyang walked in, Jiwon waved and smiled.
"You look tired," Jiwon said as Taeyang sat down in front of her. "What happened?"
Taeyang sighed as he rubbed his face. "I tried to find a housekeeper today. A few people came in for interviews, but... none of them were suitable. The house is too big for me to take care of by myself."
Jiwon chuckled softly. "I guess that's to be expected. You're too picky, Taeyang."
"It's not about being picky," Taeyang replied with a faint smile. "It's just that I need someone I can really rely on. The house is too big and too lonely."
Hearing that, Jiwon suddenly put on a serious face. She leaned back in her chair and looked at Taeyang intently. "The economic crisis is bad right now. Many people have lost their jobs. Even I'm having trouble finding extra income."
Taeyang raised an eyebrow, slightly confused by Jiwon's direction. "Then?"
"How about I become your housekeeper?" Jiwon said in a half-joking tone, but there was clearly seriousness behind her words.
Taeyang was surprised. "What? Are you serious?"
"Why not?" Jiwon replied casually. "I need some extra work, and you need someone to take care of your house. Besides, we already know each other. You don't have to bother looking for a stranger you can't necessarily trust."
Taeyang paused for a moment, thinking about the offer. He knew Jiwon wasn't one to play around with her words. On one hand, the offer sounded tempting because he really needed help. However, on the other hand, she found it strange that a friend like Jiwon would be her housekeeper.
"I'm not sure it's a good idea," Taeyang finally said. "I don't want our relationship to get awkward because of this."
Jiwon chuckled. "Taeyang, you're too serious. Think of it as a temporary job. I won't be living there all the time, just coming to help take care of your house. You pay me, and I do my job. Simple, right?"
Taeyang was silent again, but this time there was a small smile on his face. "You really never change, huh. Always have a way to surprise me."
"So, how was it?" asked Jiwon as she offered her hand, as if making a business deal.
Taeyang finally chuckled and shook Jiwon's hand. "Alright, let's try it. But remember, I don't want you to push yourself too hard."
Jiwon smiled widely. "You won't regret it. Starting tomorrow, I'm officially your housekeeper!" she said in a joking tone.
That night, they returned to their respective homes feeling lighter. Taeyang was relieved to have finally found a solution to his problem, while Jiwon was happy to be able to help out and earn some extra income. The days ahead at Taeyang's house will definitely get more interesting with Jiwon's presence.