Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Cooking Style (2)

Two days after Anderson obtained the name, Ahn Deok Sam, it was announced that a mission was taking place.

“Meet in the kitchen by 5 o’clock tonight.”

Kaya looked at the staff member leaving after his announcement and mumbled in a sad voice, “I guess one of us is dying tonight.”

“Don’t say dying. It sounds horrible.”

“Okay. One of us is getting disqualified.”

“… That doesn’t sound so good either.”

“Then what should I say?”

“Just don’t say anything. It’s not good to think about.”

“You’re so weak. Confront reality. Don’t run away from it.”

In response, Cho Min Joon stared at Kaya’s face. Kaya showed her teeth and smirked. Her smile looked very mischievous.

“I’m pretending to be you. How was it?”

“I can see why people get annoyed at me.”

“Good. Success.”

Cho Min Joon glared at Kaya and then reached out his hand.

“How can you be so mean to me when today could be our last day together?”

“… Are we never going to see each other after?”

“No, but it’ll be our last time here.”

“I know we’ll see each other again. I believe it. That’s why I can say these things to you.”

“… If you believe that, say some nice things, too.”

Instead of answering, Kaya smiled. It was expected that she would become more nervous as the competition went on, but she seemed to become happier and happier over time. This could be proof that regardless of the competition, Kaya was growing.

“If I survive today, I’ll say something nice.”

“What if Anderson survives?”

“Then I’ll diss you out, both you and him.”

“… I guess Anderson will get cussed out whether he makes it or not.”

“He deserves it.”

Kaya tilted her head back. The small dimples in her cheeks when she smiled were adorable. If a magic lamp appeared in front of him, he wanted to ask to touch Kaya’s dimples. Kaya’s lips turned downward. Her dimples disappeared as well. When he groaned of disappointment, she tilted her head in confusion.

“Why? Is something on my face?”

“Yeah. Your dimples.”

“Do I have dimples?”

“Small ones. They’re not deep either.”

Kaya turned on her camera on her phone and looked into it. She then smiled. She finally saw her dimples, causing her to nod with satisfaction.

“Even my dimples are pretty.”

“… You didn’t even know you had them until just now.”

Time passed as they chatted about this and that. 4:47. Kaya looked at the clock without a word. She acted so confidently earlier. Cho Min Joon grinned and asked, “Are you nervous?”

“… No.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“I’m just… anxious. I don’t know if I’ll make it.”

Kaya sat while hugging her knees. Cho Min Joon looked at her and said,

“I have one favorite soccer player, one favorite violinist, and one favorite singer. That’s how I am. I do it on purpose. As you know, my personality is a little weird, and I also have one favorite chef. Kaya Reuters.”

“… Why? I’m not even famous.”

“Because I know what kind of person you’ll become.”

Kaya looked into Cho Min Joon’s eyes without a word. It didn’t sound like something he said just to cheer her up. Cho Min Joon sounded like someone who knew the future. To be more exact, Kaya’s future. If not, he couldn’t have been so certain about her. After all, she didn’t even feel that way about herself.”

“…can I trust you on that?”

“Yeah. I know it’s weird to say this as your competitor, but… you’re someone I want to catch up to. You’re a chef I want to stand alongside with. I respect you.”

What he was saying was quite bold for his calm voice. Kaya’s ears turned red, and she turned her head.

“… You sound like such a player.”

“You know it’s not like that.”

“Not really. Forget it. We have 3 minutes left.”

Kaya got up from her seat. Cho Min Joon felt a little sad. If one of them were to be disqualified, this would be their last conversation together in peace, but it was too early to think about that.

When they got out to the halls, Anderson was already there. He thought he was sensitive to the mission coming up, but there were pillow marks on his face Kaya laughed and asked, “I thought you were emotionally preparing yourself, but you were sleeping?”

“… We should recharge before every mission. If I stayed with you, I would’ve gotten tired before it even started.”

“You’re treating me like a beagle.”

“Because you are.”

Kaya glared at Anderson and then turned her head and said, “I hope you spill salt on your dish.”

“I hope you spill pepper on yours.”

“… You guys are so immature.”

Cho Min Joon sighed. She acted mature at times and then quickly turned back into this. He coughed and said, “Let’s not fight right now. I know one of us will end up going home, but let’s make sure we complete this mission without any regrets.”

“… Okay.”

Anderson didn’t answer. Cho Min Joon tapped Anderson on the back and laughed.

“Let’s go, Deok Sam.”

***

As soon as they finished their pre-interviews and entered the kitchen, they were hit with a cold atmosphere. Cho Min Joon glanced over to the side. Behind the three judges was a screen that prevented them from knowing what was behind it. Was there a pig or cow behind it? But he couldn’t hear any noise.

Once Kaya, Anderson, and Cho Min Joon stood next to each other, Joseph opened his mouth.

“We’re down to the final 3. Congratulations. You’re only a step away from the win.”

“Before we reveal the mission, I’m going to give you a riddle. A customer you want to see the most, but one that is the most bothersome to cook for, and the most difficult to face. Anderson, who do you think it is?”

“I’m not sure. A little kid?”

“A little kid… That makes sense. But no. Min Joon, what about you?”

“Hm… Maybe an elder? Elders are the pickiest with food.”

“But they’re not the ones you want to see the most. Okay. Kaya, what do you think?”

Kaya didn’t answer right away. She was the type of person who would continue to dwell on it if she couldn’t solve a riddle. Kaya only answered in an unconfident voice once the judges nudged her, “Family…?”

The judges all smiled without an answer. At that moment, Emily dropped the screen. At that moment, Kaya gasped. Her eyes turned red and teary, and she covered her grimacing face, but she kept her eyes open so that she could see. What she saw in front of her was her family.

And it wasn’t just Kaya. Cho Min Joon also looked ahead with trembling eyes. It was his mother, Lee Hye Sun and his sister, Cho Ah Ra. She seemed to have dressed up extra nice for TV, but her face was filled with all sorts of emotions. Happiness, regret, frustration, pride… It was hard to make all of them out.

In Anderson’s case, he was calm. He looked like he was thinking, ‘Oh, they’re here.’ The same went for his parents. His father looked gentle, but Anderson’s mother looked just as cold as him. Joseph looked at them and then shouted in a cheerful voice, “Okay, give your family a hug!”

Cho Min Joon hugged Lee Hye Sun and Cho Ah Ra. Truthfully told, they only hugged each other once a month or so… But this time, their hug was sincere. Cho Min Joon spoke in a choked-up voice, “How did you come here?”

“We got a call a few weeks ago. They asked if we could make a surprise visit if you made it to the semi-finals… I didn’t think you could do it, but here you are. Good job.”

“It was hard trying to keep it from you. Anyway, it’s good to see you. Ugh, why are you acting like that? You’re giving me the chills. Stop crying.”

Cho Min Joon swallowed his tears. Before he turned back time, he knew just how hard his family had it because he tried to become a chef, so hearing compliments coming out of their mouths was meaningful to him.

“Is father… at work?”

“Yeah. He wanted to come, but he was too busy.”

“I see.”

Cho Min Joon pinched Cho Ah Ra in the cheeks. He tried not to make it hurt, but Cho Ah Ra grimaced.

“Ugh, stop it. Don’t treat me like a kid on TV.”

“You’re still a kid though.”

“Forget it.”

Cho Min Joon turned to the side with a smile on his face. Kaya was hugging her family with tears in her eyes. One person stood out to him in particular. She had the same blonde hair as Kaya. The muscles in her face looked a little unnatural, and so did her two legs. She had the look of what could be seen in paralyzed patients. It was Gemma Reuters.

“See, Mom? I told you.”

In response to Cho Ah Ra’s voice, Cho Min Joon turned his head back. Cho Ah Ra was glaring at him as if she thought she knew everything.

“You kept denying it… but look. It’s so obvious. Are you sure you’re not dating?”

“Min Joon. I’m not against having a foreign daughter-in-law… But are you sure?”

“… It doesn’t matter. It’s not like that. How many times do I have to tell you?”

“But it’s so obvious that it’s more than that. Stop denying it.”

“Forget it. This is a cooking show. Let’s act normal. They can hear us.”

The heavens must have caught on to Cho Min Joon’s feelings because that was when the judges got their attention. The three of them had to return to their cooking stations. Joseph opened his mouth.

“There’s no customer more picky than family. They’re also the most bothersome. As soon as they get home after a tiring shift at the restaurant, your family often want you to cook for them, too. And most chefs don’t succumb to it… because it’s too mentally draining.”

“At the same time, it’s not easy accommodating for all of their tastebuds. Compared to a restaurant, the fridge at home also lacks various ingreidents, but your family is used to your cooking, and that makes them pickier about your dishes. That means you’ll slowly not want to cook for them again.”

They made it sound like this was from their experience. Cho Min Joon showed an awkward smile to their almost angry voices. From one side, Anderson’s parents nodded and exchanged glances.

Emily opened her mouth.

“The point is, there’s one theme in today’s mission. A fancy meal for your family. It must be a daily dish while giving off a high-quality feel. I’m sure you know how difficult this is. It doesn’t matter which method you use. You can make an Asian meal, a Western course, or something completely different. It’s up to you.”

“Also.”

Allan added, “What you have to pay attention to in this mission is your family’s satisifaction. Of course, the final decision will be up to us, but don’t forget to mind them as well. Even if it’s a simple dish, you must pour all of your skills and creativity into it. We’ll give you 2 hours, and you have 30 minutes to come up with a recipe. You may begin.”

Cho Min Joon looked at his family without a word. His heart was pounding. This was the first time he showed his family how he cooked. In that case…

He had to show them. Just how far he had come. Where he was now.

What kind of chef he was.