Chapter 105: Amidst the Spice, There is Some Sweetness Too!

"Thank you for waiting. Your spicy chili noodles are here!" The waiter announced as he served the steaming-hot bowls on the table before them. 

"You sure you can handle this? I don't want you to end up at the hospital and make my poor Soo Min suffer on her day off." Noah smirked as he separated his chopsticks. 

"Worry about yourself. I lived in Italy for two years. There, we're used to eating pepperoncini as a snack. They're 20,000 on the Scoville scale. This... is nothing." Ryan nonchalantly spoke, separating Soo Min's chopsticks and his. 

"I've had bird's eye chili from Thailand. That's 100,000 Scoville." Noah spoke, bemused, pointing his chopstick at Ryan. 

"I've had Red Savina habaneros in Mexico. They're 300,000 Scoville." Ryan challenged. 

"Ever heard of ghost peppers from India? 800,000 Scoville." Noah countered.

"800,000? Well, aren't you capable Mr. I-can-handle-spicy-food," Ryan spoke through gritted teeth. 

Soo Min grabbed the extra hot chili sauce and dumped it into the bowls of both men, who finally broke from their death-stare contest as they looked at what she was doing. "Well, it is clear that the two of you can handle some spice so just wanted to make sure this was not too bland for your taste. There we go, dig in!" Soo Min smiled triumphantly.

Both Ryan and Noah looked down at their bowls, which seemed to be more like a hot sauce soup than noodles. Gulping, they reach for the noodles with their chopsticks and hesitantly bring them closer to their mouth. 

One bite and both men's faces turn pink. 

"Mmm. This hits the spot." Soo Min relishes the food before digging in for more.

Ryan glances at her while loosening the tie around his neck. Noah blows out a puff of air.

"Why aren't you guys eating? Do you need more hot sauce?" Soo Min reaches for the bottle before Ryan and Noah grab her hand.

"NO!" They both yell in unison, making Soo Min chuckle. 

Ryan pours some water into his glass, but Noah grabs his glass and chugs all the content down, earning him 'I will kill you' glares from the former. 

"What? Feeling thirsty, Ryan?" Noah taunts, wiggling his eyebrows.

Just as Ryan is about to retort, a glass of water is set before him. He looks up toward the source of the hand around the glass, as two brown orbs sparkle before him. Soo Min smiles before nudging him to take it. He smiles and picks up the glass. 

"Tch." Noah rolls his eyes before going back to his noodles. 

.....

Outside the restaurant.

After paying the bill, Soo Min walked out the doors toward the two men sulking on the bench, beside the five opened milk cartons. 

"You two look like hell from all that showing off." Soo Min places a hand on her hip. 

Noah tosses his sixth milk carton to the side and springs up into a standing position before retorting, "What do you mean? I'm ready for round two right now!" 

Ryan looks up at him with defeated eyes. 

"Are you stupid? This is not the time for that." Soo Min scolds, crossing her arms. Walking over towards Ryan, she carefully wraps her arms around him in a supportive manner and helps him stand. "Come on. Let's go home." 

"And you, get home safe. Call me if you need anything." She informed Noah, pointedly. 

Ryan smiles bashfully as he lets his fiance assist him towards the car.