Chapter 262 - Swallow, frog, maybe butterfly (4)

Filming Alex who promised to come back later with all the necessary contracts, the cameraman asked Min-joon, “Are you really not going to receive the money?”

“Do you think I was not serious?”

“Heavens!”

The cameraman shook his head as if he was shocked. Although Min-joon mentioned people’s perception of cuisine, the most fundamental reason he decided not to receive the model fee was his pure affection for cooking. He only focused on making delicious dishes for the general public, regardless of money.

‘Is it possible for a chef to stay indifferent to money no matter how much he loves cooking alone?’ The cameraman thought to himself.

He tightened his hand holding the camera at the moment.

***

“Did I hear you wrong? Alex, what did he say?”

“Min-joon said he would not receive the model fee. Instead, he set out several conditions…”

Alex handed out a notebook on his conversation with Min-joon.

His boss, Jefferson, made a weird expression while reading it.

“What the hell is this volunteer contract?”

“I was rather embarrassed, too. My impression was he really wanted to be faithful to his job as a chef rather than making money with this contract.”

“Hmmm..”

Jefferson touched his beard, groaning a bit. Alex silently looked at his boss, who was as handsome as a picture. With brown hair and beard, he was obviously moved after reading down the contract, given that his deep eyes were twinkling like those of a movie star overcast with mixed feelings.

“He’s an interesting guy. Min-joon is trying to use us now as a waiter who brings his own dishes to the world.”

“That makes sense, boss.”

“But I feel good about him using us like this. No one is as attractive as someone like him with a clear guideline on his goal. As a coworker or as a friend I would like to make him my man. Or should I say I want to be his man?”

“Do you mean that you want to keep this contractual relationship as long as possible?”

Instead of replying, Jefferson fell silent again. Alex wasn’t embarrassed because it was quite common for him to keep silent all of a sudden. He didn’t like to talk unless he sorted out his complicated thoughts first. But it didn’t mean that his communication skills were smooth.

“Hey, Alex, what do you think money is?”

When he asked such a question all of a sudden, Alex responded calmly, “If I can borrow your quote, not mine, you have said all the time that money is a promise between me and my partner.”

“Well, if I can paraphrase it more precisely, money helps make a quick appointment possible. But Min-joon didn’t receive the money from us.”

“My impression is he wasn’t much interested in making money with this recipe. He seemed to care more about his good images as a result of this contract.”

“He’s smart. He is patient and has a long-term vision. Alex, don’t you think the names of chefs will have a lot of influence in the food industry in the future?”

“According to the analysis of our marketing department, chefs will become more and more influential, not the opposite way. Above all, more and more chefs are appearing on TV cuisine shows these days. Besides, more and more people are interested in cooking.”

“Then, what do you think about Min-joon? What kind of chef will he be in the future?”

Jefferson’s question was too broad. But Alex didn’t feel his question was difficult. Why did he feel so? Was it because he already knew what kind of chef Min-joon could be?

Alex replied shortly afterward, “I think people in the world of cuisine will be paying attention to him. They are already paying attention to him. First, he made his first fame with his perfect palate. Then he got the attention of gourmets by entering the Rose Island head office as one of Chef Rachel Rose’s staff. And right now, Cho Reggiano has proved everywhere how great his cooking skills are.”

“I know. There is a reason why he has got the most attention in the cuisine circles right now. You have to get on the elevator when you’re on the first floor. It’s hard to climb the stairs to take the elevator that has already reached the top. In that sense, I want to press the button at the right moment…” Jefferson blurred.

He looked into the air for a moment as if he were thinking about something. He then asked while looking at Alex, “Did you notice that he really didn’t want money?”

“It seemed like he was focusing on the purity of cooking, rather than staying away from money. Would it make sense to you if he felt like an artist who hated to sell his work for money?”

“Then, it would be very hard for us to pay the model fee. Hmm… How about his living condition? Is he affluent?”

“Oh, one thing comes to my mind as you mention it.”

What is it?”

Alex shrugged and said, “He had no car.”

***

“So, did you sign the contract?”

“I haven’t signed it yet. They need to accept my terms first.”

“Why didn’t you receive the model fee?”

Havier asked as if he was more disappointed.

But Janet opened her mouth instead of Min-joon, “I think he must have thought a lot before deciding. Why should you feel regret about it? It’s not you but Min-joon who has received the offer.”

“Oh, don’t take seriously what I said. If you think about it, modeling is just about nothing, compared with your name recognition and the wide popularity of your dish all over the country.”

While saying so, Havier sighed bitterly.

Janet responded cynically, “Hey, don’t talk nonsense anymore. Just develop your recipe. Given that Michelin Guide Inspectors have not come up here yet, I think there’s still a chance they can leave a comment on my recipe.”

“Who knows, they are probably already here, but nobody has announced it?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think they are here yet. That makes me more nervous.”

When Janet said that, Havier let down his shoulders and stood in front of the cooking table again. Janet sneaked up to Min-joon’s side and leaned her shoulders against the wall next to him.

“Hey, Min-joon.”

“Why?”

“I know you don’t like it if I say it like this, but…”

“What are you trying to say? Don’t make me nervous.”

“Don’t be anxious because I’m going to praise you. I think your decision was great! In some respects, it looks foolish, but at the same time, it was really cool. I envied you.”

Min-joon opened his eyes wide at her remarks, for she was not the type of woman who revealed her honest feelings like this. Glaring at the pumpkin nervously, she opened her mouth again.

“Because of my pride, I didn’t want to praise you, but I thought your decision was really cool, and I admitted it, but it’s harder for me to pretend I didn’t admit it. So, don’t think of any idle thoughts. Don’t ever think this guy likes me. Got it?”

“No, never. Don’t worry.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that.”

She stared at Min-joon more sharply than usual. She then returned to her place in the kitchen. It seemed she was very much embarrassed when she did so. Min-joon smiled at her then grabbed the knife. He was so absent-minded for the past few weeks, but it didn’t stop him from thinking about cooking.

He was about to try out his new recipe when a waitress approached him and said cautiously, “Chef Min-joon, wait a minute….”

“Oh, what’s going on?”

“A guest is waiting for you in the hall right now.”

“Right now?”

“Yes, he is not our regular, but he was your customer.”

“My customer?”

With a perplexed expression, Min-joon went to the hall. At that moment, he could understand what the waitress said. Alex was waving at him brightly but at the same time, nervously.

Standing beside him was a handsome man looking like a movie star, who was looking at him with a smile.

“Hello, Min-joon!”

“Hello, Alex.”

“This is Mr. Jefferson. He is the president of our company.”

“Good to see you, Jefferson.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

Min-joon shook hands with him and smiled lightly. He felt it hard to read Jefferson’s mind perhaps because his eyes were deep.

Min-joon asked in a soft voice, “What business has brought you here? I doubt you came here for the contract.”

“Will you believe me if I said I came here as your fan?”

“Well, I think I can if you have come along to watch the contract as my fan.”

“Haha, that’s the right answer. To be more precise, I’d like to amend the contract a little bit. Oh, if you think I’m rude enough to come to your workplace for this contract, I can wait and come back later.”

Min-joon was also amazed at that. He didn’t think that the president of a company was considerate enough to treat him politely like this.

Min-joon made a much softer smile then said, “It’s okay. It’s not business hours now. But it’s kind of awkward for us to talk about the contract in the hall. Shall we move?

“Oh, that sounds good. Where shall we go?”

“We can’t go far from here. How about inside the car?”

When Min-joon suggested, a meaningful smile was on Jefferson’s mouth.

He nodded gladly and said, “Yes. I just drove a large van anyway. That’s great.”

Having said that, Jefferson showed him into a spacious medium-sized van that could carry 9 to 10 people. Min-joon made an interesting expression, looking at the plastic here and there in the car.

“It looks like you’ve purchased a new car.’

“Yes, it’s right out of the factory. Alex, could you give me the contract?”

“Yes, here you are.”

“Read it, please.”

Min-joon carefully read the contract that Jefferson gave him. All the terms and conditions of the contract that Min-joon set forth were included. However, there was one addition to the contract. Min-joon opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

“Hummm… <Lasco Bakery supports all the living conveniences that the contractor needs.> What does this mean?”

“That’s literally what it says. If you allow me, we plan to support all of your needs in your daily life in the future. Oh, you don’t have to worry about any increase in the price of Cho Reggiano. We’re going to support you separately. Of course, our support is not necessarily related to your living conditions. Unless it’s too extravagant, we want to support you in every way.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to score brownie points from you.”

Jefferson was too humbled to be called the president of a company. Noticing his embarrassment, Jefferson said with a smile, “It’s too harsh for a businessman to ignore stocks that will obviously hit the maximum prices. I hope you can treat us as your friend. This is my gift to you. Will you accept it? Oh, if you can use our service now…”

Jefferson took out the car key from the driver’s seat. While the brand logo engraved on the car key was sparkling brilliantly, Jefferson said in a friendly voice, “I’d like to give you this car key as a gift.”