God of Cooking

Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Four people, four dreams (2)

As soon as he saw Chloe’s eyes, Cho Min Joon thought of one thing. His eyes squinted. ‘No way.’ The way she looked at him would have made any guy suspicious, but Cho Min Joon did his best to deny it. Chloe was warm and friendly to everyone. If he misunderstood that, it would make him look disgraceful.

Kaya opened her mouth.

“So where would you set up your restaurants?”

“Who knows? That depends on the situation.”

“You’ll do it inside America though, right?”

“Probably. Unless I hit it big and set up locations all over the world like Joseph or Rachel… There’s no reason to go to a different country. Oh, maybe it’s different for Min Joon?”

Chloe glanced at Cho Min Joon and asked. Cho Min Joon shrugged. Seeing how casual she was with him now, he figured that the emotion he felt earlier was just a misunderstanding.

“I’ll probably go to Korea.”

“Come to America. Immigrate here.”

“… Why are you so obsessed with immigration these days? You keep saying that.”

In response, Kaya glared at Cho Min Joon. Instead of answering, she stuffed her face with a sandwich. Chloe had an idea why Kaya was acting that way and smiled. She spoke in a calm voice, “Kaya’s always worried about you going back to Korea.”

“What? Why?”

“Because they’re technically still at war, so Kaya thinks it’s dangerous there.”

In response, Cho Min Joon sighed. He knew everything looked different from the inside and outside, but he didn’t know she would be so worried. Kaya spoke with a serious look on her face, “Get a job at an American restaurant. If you just stick it out with a job for a few years, you can get a PR.”

“… Kaya. Thank you for worrying about me, but it’s not what you think. Not a single person in Korea is worried about a war.”

“I’m worried.”

Silence fell. Kaya only realized after she said it just how caring she sounded, but she didn’t take it back. It was true that she was worried. Anderson mumbled, “What are you his wife?”

“Shut up. I’ll kill you.”

“Watch your mouth.”

Kaya lifted her fork and threatened Anderson with it, but he didn’t stop. Kaya glared at Anderson and then smirked and shrugged. Anderson knitted his brows, but Kaya wasn’t looking at Anderson anymore. She was acting calm as if he wasn’t worth her time.

“Anyway, think about it, Min Joon. Whether Korea will be at war or not, you’re much more popular in America. Like you said earlier, you want to become a successful chef. Then America is best.”

“I know… But shouldn’t I worry about that after Grand Chef is over?”

“Why worry about the results? I’m going to win anyway.”

In response to Kaya’s remark, Anderson showed a spark in his eyes.

“I can’t agree to that. You think you can beat me?”

“Have you gotten 9 points before?”

In response, Anderson’s face stiffened up. Kaya smirked and continued, “Well, I have. At the On the Lake restaurant, and Min Joon told me Chloe got a 9 at the buffet, but you haven’t.”

“… You guys were just lucky, and points aren’t everything, you know.”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you’ve gotten a 9 before. Stop acting all tough and be quiet.”

Anderson’s lips trembled. He immediately got up.

“I’m going to wait in the car.”

“Hold it in, Anderson. Kaya’s still a kid. Be more understanding.”

“I hate children.”

Cho Min Joon tried to calm him down, but Anderson left anyway. Kaya stuck out her lip and grumped.

“Children don’t like you either.”

***

“Be more gentle.”

“Stop being a baby.”

Kaya’s hands reached for the gauze on Cho Min Joon’s neck. She looked more nervous than usual. Her careful hands pulled on the gauze, causing for his skin to stretch. Kaya sighed.

“Looks like the inflammation went down.”

“It’s been a week.”

Cho Min Joon answered with a frown. He felt his neck trembling because of the open air. Kaya carefully put her hand on his shoulder. Her soft hand was trembling as well.

“That hurt, didn’t it?”

“Don’t feel sorry.”

“I’m not sorry. I’m just worried.”

“Don’t worry either. It’s all in the past. It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

“Do you think it’ll leave a scar?”

Cho Min Joon was unable to answer that question. The doctor said it was almost impossible to not get a scar. He tried to smile and said, “It’s not so bad for a guy to have a few scars here and there.”

“… Sorry.”

“I thought you said you weren’t sorry.”

He felt weird whenever Kaya acted vulnerable. She had always looked strong and perfect, so every time she acted like a little girl, he felt as though she was opening up to him.

“But have you thought about it?”

“… Are you talking about immigration again?”

“You said you’d think about it.”

“It’s only been a few days. I need more time than that.”

“My little sister likes you.”

That was a random thing to say. He looked at Kaya in confusion. Kaya shrugged and said, “My mom likes you too. She thinks you’re nice.”

“… Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”

“What’s your family like? Did they say anything about me?”

“I’m not sure. They ask about you sometimes, but they’re not big talkers. But… they did ask about you. They asked if we’re really dating.”

“What did you say?”

Kaya opened her eyes wide and stared at him. Cho Min Joon laughed.

“What do you think? I just told them the truth.”

“Well, what’s the truth?”

Cho Min Joon raised his eyebrow. Kaya glared back and fumbled her hands.

“I’m just asking. I’m curious.”

“I said you’re a close friend. You won’t yell at me for calling you a friend, right?”

“… No, not anymore.”

Kaya answered in a quiet voice. She smacked her lips before she continued, “Did they say anything about Chloe?”

“I’m not sure. The show never really showed us together. It was always us two that were strangely put together.”

“What’s so strange about it?”

Cho Min Joon got up from his seat. Kaya hurriedly tried to get up from her crossed legs and wobbled as a result. Cho Min Joon grabbed Kaya by the arm.

“Be more careful. Look at Chloe. She’s so feminine.”

“How dare you compare us like that? Then you should be more manly. Get more muscles.”

“I’m working on it. I’m working out now.”

“You won’t go once a week.”

“… That’s because of my burn. Stop nagging me. It’s not like I’m that skinny.”

“You’re not muscular either.”

Cho Min Joon closed his mouth shut. As soon as he entered the gym, Anderson stared at him In a weird way.

“Did you guys fight?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because it looks like it.”

Cho Min Joon shrugged in response. Chloe wiped off the sweat from her forehead and drank some water.

“The four of us won’t be together for long. Let’s try to get along.”

“You’re making me sad.”

“Hehe, sorry.”

Chloe grinned widely. Anderson opened his mouth.

“The next mission will probably be in teams, right?”

“Probably.”

“Come to think of it, Martin said something insulting last time.”

“What?”

Kaya answered.

“That there’s going to be an event that exceeds our expectations, but he said not to be nervous.”

***

A plane was flying over Michigan Lake toward Chicago. Flying on a private jet sounded romantic to average people. Traveling, international CEO, just the fact that they were in the sky made anyone feel jealous.

But at this moment, Rachel Rose didn’t feel any of that romance, and the reason could be sensed with her eyes, nose, and ears. It was because of the old person in front of her. The Caucasian man in front of her who had greyish blonde hair and a long beard was stuffing his mouth with food. A private jet. He was eating in a way that didn’t suit the classy image of those words. Rachel sighed.

“Sergei, be more respectful to the chef who made that food. You still haven’t changed.”

“Ugh, stop acting refined. You were just like me when we were younger. Do you want to be more refined as you get older? I can’t do that or it makes me gag, and it’s not that delicious to have that kind of manners anyway.”

A rough voice with a Russian accent spoke in English. Rachel hesitated for a moment before taking a bite of a biscuit. It was foolish to fill her stomach with what kind of dishes she would soon face, but seeing Sergei eat made her hungry. As she got older, she was less sensitive to hunger, but people who eat a lot must have been contagious. She slowly chewed on her biscuit while saying.

“What’s wrong with the food? This is great for plane food. And sure, it’s embarrassing to change as we get older, but it’s even more embarrassing to stay a rebel when we’re too old for that.”

“Ha, Beethoven and Bach were both rebels. That’s how it is for real artists.”

“Well, Beethoven and Bach were never old like you.”

Sergei didn’t answer and took a big bite of his salad. Not with his fork, but his chopsticks. When Rachel stared at his chopsticks, he smirked and said, “Chopsticks are best for eating lots at a time. Forks are too sharp.”

“How on earth did you become a chef?”

“What do you think? I got here because I like food.”

Rachel watched him eat a crazy amount of salad in one bite with a frown. That man was the CEO of a famous restaurant chain that was at a similar level of Rose Island. Young chefs looked up to Sergei despite his messy appearance… But Rachel didn’t understand.

“So what’s gotten into you? You were always stuck at home after that Daniel died.”

“… You still don’t know how to talk with a filter.”

“It’s true. Daniel was the perfect chef… But it was stupid of you to get depression just because he died.”

He was telling the truth, so she wasn’t even mad. Rachel spoke in a tired voice, “There’s someone I’m interested in. Lower that pinky. If you keep acting lowly, I might just lose it.”

“Hehe… I kind of want to see the great Rachel Rose lose her temper though.”

“Your wife keeps calling me because you keep acting like that.”

“What?”

“What we talk about is confidential, so shut that smelly mouth of yours and listen. Did you see the show?”

“I don’t have time for TV. Oh, are you talking about that guy? That guy with the perfect palate.”

Rachel nodded. Sergei nodded in response.

“I see why you’re interested. How’s his talent?”

“I don’t know yet. We’ll find out today.”

“He’d better brace himself. There’s nothing harder than satisfying this old lady’s taste.”

“He’ll do well.”

“How are you so sure?”

Rachel’s eyes turned flat.

“Because if he doesn’t, I’ll help him to become as great as I need him to be.”