Aster had just finished brushing his teeth when his phone vibrated on the sink.
He glanced at the screen.
#ChefAster
#MinsterCouple
#TunaSeducedMe
He blinked. "...Tuna what?"
Scrolling through the trending feed was like falling into a rabbit hole of chaos. Clips from the variety show had already gone viral. Screenshots of his calm, cool blindfold guesses. Fan edits of his teamwork with Minji. The way they smiled at each other. One user even made a video of their kitchen sequence, overlaying a romantic drama OST and soft blush filters.
"The way she handed him the sesame oil 😭😭 MINSTER NATION RISE."
"Aster could cook me a full course meal and I'd say thank you even if it's poisoned."
"Minji giggled like a schoolgirl. They're dating. I've decided."
He sighed. Dramatically.
Across the room, Adrian's deep voice cut through the silence.
"So..."
Aster looked up, just in time to see Adrian walking into the bedroom in sweatpants and a tank top, towel still drying his hair, one hand holding his phone. "Should I be worried about this 'Minster' agenda?"
Aster rolled his eyes. "They're just fans having fun."
Adrian squinted at the screen. "'Tuna seduced me' doesn't sound like fun. It sounds like an emotional crisis."
Aster snorted.
Adrian stepped closer, arms folding. "She giggled at you a lot."
"She giggles at everything. Even the toast popping."
Adrian gave him a look. Aster sighed and stepped forward, poking Adrian's chest. "What? Are you jealous?"
Adrian leaned in, voice dropping. "A little."
Aster raised a brow.
"So how do you plan to make it up to me?" Adrian purred.
"I didn't even—"
"Will you cook me a romantic candlelit tuna dinner while wearing nothing but an apron?"
"No."
"Wash my hair naked?"
"No."
"Let me tie your hands while I—"
"Adrian," Aster hissed, face heating.
That only made the older man smirk. "You owe me something, sweetheart."
Aster crossed his arms. "You're insane."
Adrian leaned down and kissed his jaw. "Say yes and I'll stop sulking."
"I already know you won't."
"True," Adrian said, grinning. "But you'll enjoy it anyway."
Aster groaned. "Fine. Just—one of your demands. Pick."
Adrian's eyes sparkled like a man handed a VIP menu. "You sure?"
Aster gave him a half-hearted glare.
Just then—
"Brother!!"
A small blur slammed into Aster's legs, giggling wildly. Finn, in his dinosaur pajamas, had come running out of his room.
"Why are you red!?" Finn asked, looking up with sparkly eyes.
Adrian coughed, trying to hold in a laugh. Aster turned bright red. "I'm not—red! I'm just hot!" he even fanned himself with his hands for effects
Finn turned to Adrian. "Uncle make Brother red?"
Adrian patted the boy's head. "I'm very talented like that."
Finn giggled and plopped himself between them on the bed, wiggling like a little worm. "Hug time!!"
Before either adult could say anything, Finn stretched his arms wide like a starfish and demanded attention.
Aster groaned, half-laughing. "You're so spoiled."
"Cuz I'm a baby," Finn sang, snuggling in.
"Yeah, yeah, you're a baby," Adrian chuckled, lying beside them.
They pulled Finn into the middle of a cuddle sandwich, tickling his sides as he squealed and kicked.
"Brother!!" Finn wheezed. "Stooop! Uncle too!! Heehee!"
"You called me red," Aster said, poking his belly.
"You exposed me," Adrian added, winking.
Their playful chaos filled the room with warmth. Pillows were tossed. Giggles echoed. And for a moment, all the viral hashtags, teasing edits, and crazy schedules faded behind the soft comfort of laughter and love.
This—Aster realized as he lay there, arms full of squirmy toddler and smug CEO—was the most dangerous thing of all.
This is making him hope for forever.