Enjoying Life With Do As You Please System

Yerin and Val stood by the counter, both of them staring at me with genuine awe.

There was no magical aura, no reality warping, and no cosmic pressure surrounding me, just a guy in a simple shirt effortlessly managing three pans at once, flipping steaks with practiced precision and tossing wild mushrooms in cream with a flick of his wrist.

"Whoa..." Yerin murmured, her dark eyes sparkling as she watched me work. "He... he actually looks insanely cool right now."

"Young Master Seth’s movement economy in the kitchen is ninety-eight percent efficient," Val added softly, her eyes tracking every smooth movement of my hands with quiet admiration. "It is... impressive."

Within forty-five minutes, the kitchen was filled with an aroma so rich, savory, and intoxicating that it could have brought tears to a gourmet food critic’s eyes.

I carefully plated each dish on white porcelain plates, arranging slices of medium-rare Wagyu beside the creamy truffle mushrooms, drizzling the glossy citrus reduction over the crispy-skinned salmon, and finishing the roasted potatoes with fresh herbs.

"And... done," I announced, setting down my tongs and wiping my hands on a towel with a satisfied smile.

Yerin leaned over the counter, taking a deep breath of the rising aroma, her mouth practically watering behind her mask. "Seth... this smells better than anything I’ve eaten at Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris!"

"Give it a try," I said, picking up a small piece of the seared Wagyu on a fork and holding it out toward her.

Yerin didn’t hesitate. She opened her soft, pink mouth, and let me feed her the bite of steak.

The moment her teeth sank through the seared crust, her eyes widened in complete, almost spiritual shock. The richly marbled Wagyu melted on her tongue like butter, while the garlic, thyme, and browned butter bloomed across her palate.

"MMMMMMMMMM!" Yerin let out an ecstatic, muffled hum, grabbing my arm and shaking it wildly with a look of pure bliss on her flushed face. "SETH! THIS IS ILLEGAL! HOW IS IT THIS GOOD!?"

I laughed, turning a second fork toward Val, offering a piece of the citrus-glazed salmon to her. "Your turn, Val."

Val blinked in surprise, looking at the fork, then up at me. "Young Master, I am on duty—"

"Take the bite, Val," I insisted with a warm smile. "Chef’s orders?"

Val hesitated for a tiny second before stepping closer, opening her lips, and taking the bite off the fork. As she chewed, her stoic, rigid posture subtly softened, her eyes dilating slightly as a faint, incredibly rare hum of satisfaction escaped her throat.

"The texture, temperature, and flavor balance... are extraordinary, Seth," Val admitted quietly, looking at me with a rare, sweet softness in her eyes. "You are truly a master."

"Told you!" I grinned, wiping down the edge of the final plate. "Now, help me carry these upstairs. It’s time to feed Mom and Dad."

Carrying the massive platters out of the kitchen, Yerin, Val, and I walked into the grand dining room.

The long mahogany table was already set with pristine silverware and crystal glasses. Just as we were placing the steaming dishes down, the heavy double doors swung open. Dad stepped inside, loosening his dark silk tie with his suit jacket draped over one arm.

He looked slightly worn out from whatever security and corporate reports had kept him busy all afternoon, but the moment he spotted the spread on the table, a warm, genuine smile broke across his face.

"Timing really is everything," Dad said, his deep voice relaxing as he walked toward the table. "Your mother called my office fifteen minutes ago and told me my son was personally preparing dinner tonight. There was no way I was going to let paperwork keep me from this."

"Thanks, Dad," I grinned, carefully setting down the platter of seared Wagyu beef. "Hope you brought a big appetite."

Yerin set down the roasted potatoes, while Val stepped back, finishing up the final alignment of the serving spoons with her usual surgical precision. Once everything was set, Val gave a crisp, formal bow to my parents and turned to quietly head toward her usual guard post near the entrance of the dining hall.

"Hey, Val," I called out, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned around, her posture immediately snapping back to attention. "Yes, Young Master Seth?"

"Where are you going?" I asked, pulling out a chair right beside mine. "Sit down. Eat with us. You’re family too, you know."

For a solid five seconds, it was as if Val’s internal operating system had completely crashed. Her stoic expression froze mid-breath. She blinked once... twice... three times, staring at the empty chair as though it were some incomprehensible artifact.

"I... am on active security duty, Seth," Val stammered softly, a rare hitch creeping into her usually steady voice. "It is not appropriate for security personnel to dine at the main table."

"Nonsense, Valerie!" Mom’s voice chimed in warmly as she walked into the room, stepping up to Val’s side and gently resting a hand on her shoulder. "You’ve been protecting this family for years. Seth is right, you’re family too. Now sit down before the food gets cold!"

Hearing Mom endorse my offer, Val’s shoulders subtly shuddered. She quickly lowered her head, looking straight down at the polished floor to hide the sudden, intense flush spreading across her cheeks and the faint shimmer of emotion in her eyes.

"I.. understand," Val whispered softly, her usual crisp voice carrying a slight, sweet tremble. "Thank you, Lady Alice. Thank you, Seth."

She quietly pulled out the chair and sat down, keeping her gaze lowered for a few moments to compose herself before finally looking up. A quiet, immensely grateful softness lingered in her eyes.

I smiled at her, picking up a serving spoon to put a piece of the seared Wagyu onto Mom’s plate first.

*SLAP.*

Mom playfully swatted the back of my hand away, giving me a stern, pouting look. "Seth! Stop that!"

I blinked, holding my hand back. "What did I do?"

"This is a family dinner, not a formal catering event!" Mom declared huffily, taking the serving spoon out of my hand and placing it back in the bowl. "You already spent hours minutes sweating over a hot stove to cook for us! Everyone can serve themselves whatever they like!"

I let out a quiet, dry laugh, holding up my hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, fair enough."