Alpha Culinary Love

Jiyeon stepped out of the restaurant, the cool evening air hitting her face as she locked the door behind her. She had one mission tonight: find the perfect gift for Yura to celebrate their six months together. Easier said than done when you're shopping for a ridiculously rich, cold-as-ice CEO who probably already owns every designer item known to humankind.

"Where the hell do I even start?" she muttered to herself, pulling out her phone. As if on cue, the Culinary System pinged in her mind.

[Need help with this too, Jiyeon? Maybe a

gift-buying system

is next on the list?]

"Oh, shut it," Jiyeon hissed under her breath, glancing around to make sure no one overheard her. Talking to an invisible system was already weird enough, and getting sassed by one was even worse. "I don't need your help buying a gift. I've got this."

[Sure, because picking out a gift for an Omega CEO who can buy an island if she feels like it is a walk in the park.]

"Why do you sound so smug?" Jiyeon snapped, rubbing her temple. "I can figure this out. Jewelry, flowers, whatever. It's just a gift. Not rocket science."

The system was mercifully quiet as Jiyeon made her way to the high-end shopping district. She passed by boutique after boutique, all gleaming with expensive items that screamed

money,

but none of them felt right. Yura wasn't exactly the type to gush over some cliché piece of jewelry, and honestly, Jiyeon didn't want to buy something that looked like she put zero thought into it.

Stopping in front of a luxury watch store, she squinted at the display window. The watches sparkled under the light, each one more extravagant than the next. One of them even had diamonds embedded into the face.

"Nah, she'd probably wear this to a board meeting just to show off and then forget about it the next day," Jiyeon muttered. "Yura's subtle, not flashy."

As Jiyeon continued walking, her phone buzzed. It was Yura.

"Hey," Jiyeon answered, her voice instantly softening.

"Where are you?" Yura asked, her voice as smooth and cool as ever. "I just got home, and I was wondering if you were going to join me for dinner. I ordered sushi."

Jiyeon hesitated, glancing at a jewelry store across the street. "I'm out… running an errand. I'll be home soon."

Yura paused for a moment. "An errand? It's late."

"Yeah, I'm… getting something for the restaurant," Jiyeon lied. She could feel Yura raising an eyebrow through the phone.

"For the restaurant? After you just worked all day?" Yura's voice was skeptical, and Jiyeon could practically hear the smirk forming. "You're not lying to me, are you?"

Jiyeon winced. She hated lying, but she couldn't exactly spoil the surprise. "No, of course not. I'll be home soon. Don't eat all the sushi before I get there, okay?"

Yura chuckled softly. "I'll save you some. Don't take too long."

The call ended, and Jiyeon let out a deep breath. Now the pressure was really on. She had to find something special before Yura started to wonder what was going on.

She ducked into a nearby store that specialized in handmade, artisan gifts. The air inside smelled of lavender and freshly carved wood, a stark contrast to the sterile luxury of the other stores. Jiyeon wandered around, her fingers brushing over the shelves of candles, art pieces, and intricately crafted home goods. Nothing was jumping out at her, though.

"Damn it," she muttered. "Why is this so hard? I just want to find something that says, 'Hey, I love you, but also, I know you can buy yourself a small country if you wanted to.'"

She was about to give up when a glimmer of silver caught her eye. Tucked away in the corner was a set of matching custom cufflinks and earrings. The design was simple but elegant, with a tiny engraved inscription on the back that said,

Our time together is precious

in delicate script. It wasn't flashy, but it had meaning.

Jiyeon's heart skipped a beat. "This could work…"

She picked up the cufflinks and examined them closely. Yura didn't wear a lot of jewelry, but she was always in suits. The cufflinks would be subtle enough for her daily wear, but the personal touch of the inscription made it feel intimate.

"Alright," Jiyeon said to herself, nodding decisively. "This is it. Let's just hope she doesn't throw me out for buying something sappy."

As Jiyeon headed to the register, she heard the system chiming in again.

[Look at you, all thoughtful and romantic. If only Yura knew how much effort this took.]

"Oh, please," Jiyeon muttered. "You act like I'm incapable of being sweet."

[Well, your version of sweet is calling her a 'cold-hearted CEO' every other day, but sure.]

Jiyeon bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. The system was annoying, but it wasn't wrong. She had a tendency to tease Yura, especially with all the

CEO ice queen

jokes, but at the end of the day, she knew how much she cared about her.

After paying for the cufflinks, Jiyeon stepped back out onto the street. The city lights twinkled overhead, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had the perfect gift, and now all she had to do was survive the next few hours without spilling the beans to Yura. Easier said than done.

As she made her way back to her car, her phone buzzed again. Another message from Yura.

Yura

:

Don't forget the wine on your way home.

"Of course," Jiyeon mumbled, shaking her head with a grin. "Even when I'm out here trying to be romantic, she's still making sure I don't mess up dinner."

With one last glance at the city lights, Jiyeon hopped into her car and headed home, the box of cufflinks resting safely in her bag.

Later that evening, when Jiyeon finally walked through the door of their mansion, she was greeted by the warm, savory smell of sushi. Yura was sitting at the dining table, a glass of wine in her hand and a raised eyebrow on her face.

"You took longer than expected," Yura said casually, though there was a teasing glint in her eye.

Jiyeon smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry. Got a little sidetracked."

Yura's gaze lingered on Jiyeon for a moment longer before she smiled softly. "You found something, didn't you?"

Jiyeon's heart skipped a beat. Damn it, Yura was too perceptive. "Maybe," she said, trying to play it cool. "But you'll have to wait to find out."

Yura's lips curved into a smirk. "You know I don't like surprises."

"Well, tough luck," Jiyeon shot back with a grin. "You'll just have to wait until tomorrow."

Yura leaned back in her chair, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Tomorrow, huh? I suppose I can be patient... for now."

As they sat down to enjoy the sushi, Jiyeon felt a sense of satisfaction settle over her. She had managed to pull off the perfect surprise, and for once, she was pretty sure she hadn't completely messed it up. All she had to do now was survive until tomorrow without Yura figuring it out easier said than done with her sharp-eyed, CEO wife.