Yes, but it's also a matter of how much effort or difficulty the dish requires, as well as how good it tastes. Everyone wouldn't have cared if the ML made the MC chicken congee (known for being lightly seasoned), but the fact that he had a chef make it is what matters. Not only did this guy have someone else make the dish, but he also failed to instruct them on how to make it well (this guy even failed to play into nostalgia and make the dish that MC's grandma used to cook). In terms of effort, he put in the LEAST amount, which is insane since it equates to a sentence to the chef
Wait. How do you know what went in it or how it's made?!?
And also, you're comparing something that's been made by Yi-Hyun's MOM. And they've been friends since FOREVER.
Like, while they were hanging out, did YeJun cook that chicken the SAME way as how his grandma had made it for himself?!? Cuz how ELSE would Ian have known what kind of chicken it was!?? They knew each other for less than a year at school....
Bruh, time isn't a factor here, it's consideration. The ML is and has always been an a**hole so of course the only thing he noticed was chicken and not the small details. If he even half what cared he would have asked questions about the MC or showed interest in him during their time together. And honestly, Idc, if that's what he wanted from the relationship fine. This last chapter, however, is a joke since it's just an attempt to force chemistry between 2 characters without any chemistry at all. The author is trying to play the 'see he's always been secretly watching you' card (and maybe a good person!) and it's just lazy writing. In my opinion, a shamelessly terrible/blatant red flag is better than when they try to sell and pretend a red flag is a green one or suddenly (and poorly) change things up because they realize everyone hates the ML.
As for the chicken, there's a certain level of inferring/reading between the scenes that's done in literature. Knowing the ML and his family background you can easily piece together they have various staff who serve them, this would include a chef. Pair that with the sister saying the chicken was 'requested' for the main course means the ML gave some level of instruction to the chef to prepare the meal for the MC. Then looking at the drawings you can see a lack of colour in the piece of chicken given to the MC (roasted chicken tends to be slightly golden/brown and any seasoning would have given some sort of speck in colour including pepper). So while you are right to say there's no concrete evidence this chicken is bland asf, there's also no concrete evidence stating the chicken is NOT bland asf
I have a feeling that it has something to do with pheromones. But if he does know how to cook, it makes the reader wonder why THAT wasn't the badum badum moment. The ML personally making the MC's favourite food or learning to make his favourite food would have had more emotional impact than him half-heartedly instructing a chef to prepare a super common/sub par meal.
I wasn't inferring the chicken wasn't bland. It didn't look appetizing at all. That's why I lol's at your comment. I just meant that since it's a family gathering and they went to the (family) home that chefs are a given so for the chicken to be so tasteless (from the coloring)....who knows. It wouldn't be possible for him to go and cook at their kitchen. They were just guests. Ofc, if DoYoon had never had to wait hands and feet or cook for himself then he's prob not good.
But what threw me off is the phrase where YeJun said (to himself) that he couldn't eat anything that wasn't made by DoYoon. So that means DoYoon DOES know how to cook the (chicken)/food like how YJ likes it?!?
Let me tell you something funny. My parents aren't good cooks.
My mom worked a lot. And following recipes is hard. But with the advent of YouT*be and retirement, she's gotten a lot better. Like being able to see it being made does help. And she had more time after retirement. But she doesn't know how to season food very well. Sometimes it would be very salty. And sometimes very bland (under salted). Or overly seasoned or undersea seasoned. She just doesn't have the knack for it. So it requires a lot of time and dedication. I don't think, without practice and dedication, he wouldn't spontaneously get good. I'm sure he didn't plan all that time to get married and thought about cooking for him. But if the inner thought bubble was correct then DY did indeed knows how to cook for YJ. Just not when others make that dish?
Please, my man is selling his pride for some unseasoned chicken breast