Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Provocation (1)
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I must have read that wrong.
I thought for a second my eyes were playing tricks on me. I rubbed them and checked again.
There was no way in hell a working restaurant chef would challenge someone to a one-on-one just because he lost on a variety show.
Plus, anyone who watched the broadcast knew the editor and I were dating. Picking a fight with a regular person whose face hadn't even been shown? That was straight-up insane.
The shoot was a blast. Viewers watching the live stream kept asking if Kim Haneul is really better at cooking than me and why I lost. The reason I lost? The judges preferred fish over beef. Not a fair evaluation. So, Haneul, how about a fair one-on-one cook-off? If you refuse, no hard feelings.
P.S.: Editor, tone down the theatrics when filming. It's uncomfortable to watch.
Oh Jun-seo was a total lunatic.
My face heated up, and my heart started pounding.
A chef could feel hurt losing on a variety show. Cooking is their pride.
As a chef myself, I would've laughed it off if it was just a cooking challenge.
But the moment he dragged my sister into it, everything changed.
She's not on TV, not a chef flaunting skills. She's just someone close to me.
And this guy picks on a civilian because he lost once on a show? The nerve?
I trembled with rage.
My grip tightened on the phone. Fury boiled inside me.
This was the angriest I'd been in both my past and current lives. The last time was when ingredients I'd bought at auction for an important guest rotted the same day.
With a customer, you apologize and move on. But the shock and hurt to my sister? Irreversible.
If anything, I was even angrier now.
How do I crush this bastard?
The first idea that popped up was a channel ban.
[Loser quits the cooking scene forever.]
The ultimate punishment for someone who'd devoted their life to cooking. Time, effort, the joy of it—all more precious than gold.
He's hyped up right now, underestimating me. Even if the pressure's too much, he won't back down.
Why?
His pride's on the line—he openly challenged me online. Backing out now would be like a pro boxer dodging an amateur.
How do I provoke him best?
Dozens of tactics came to mind instantly.
In my past life, chasing Michelin stars, I handled not just cooking but promotion and all operations. Provoking people was second nature.
I was deep in thought when my sister suddenly took my hand.
"You okay? You hurt somewhere?"
"Huh? No."
"Your face says otherwise."
Glancing in the rearview mirror, I looked downright menacing. No warm smile for her—just cold blankness. Veins bulging on my forehead, a faint killer instinct in my eyes.
Enough to alarm her.
"What's going on? Why so serious?"
She asked worriedly.
I hesitated on how to respond.
Telling the truth will stress her out. Wondering if her reactions were over-the-top, if he really hated them.
She'd fret endlessly.
But hiding it was pointless—Starlight was blowing up with it.
Hell, pretending it didn't happen would be ridiculous.
She's no kid. A tough woman surviving in a strange land.
I paused, then spilled.
"Just saw a targeted post on Starlight about us."
"Targeted? Who?"
"Oh Jun-seo. Said the judging was unfair, challenged me to a cook-off."
She was driving, couldn't check Starlight. I read it aloud.
"Ha... what a psycho. The judges admitted your food was tastier—why's he flipping out?"
"You okay?"
"Nope. Who is he to trash you? Lose fair and square. He's a pro chef, older than us—pathetic."
"Not that."
"Oh, the last line? I've dealt with worse at part-time gigs."
She snorted, shrugging it off. Seemed genuinely unbothered—more pissed at him dissing my skills.
I couldn't help but chuckle. I'd been babying her too much since regressing.
"I'm accepting, and adding a penalty."
"What penalty?"
I wanted him to quit cooking forever. But that'd scare her—she'd worry I'd lose.
To her, I'm just a college kid back in school. My Michelin past doesn't count.
Tough call. Crush him hard, but nothing that'd freak her out if I somehow lost.
Then it hit me.
"Loser changes their intro for a year: 'I'm [Name], worse cook than the winner.'"
A guy crazy enough for public provocation.
How'd he react introducing himself as "Oh Jun-seo, worse than Kim Haneul"?
In media, business cards, to customers—every intro, for a year.
And that's not all.
I didn't tell her, but I'd shatter his mentality from prep to finish.
"Isn't that too much? If it's about that last line, I'm fine."
"Sister, if someone collabing with you trashed me— you'd let it slide?"
"Hell no. I'd half-kill 'em."
"See? Same here. Trust me— you saw today."
"Fine, if you're that sure. We'll brainstorm the announcement at home."
Losing would hurt channel ops for a while. Even as a civilian, haters exist. Backlash, provocations galore.
Still, she trusted me.
We discussed the Starlight post and broadcast format.
A collab video recently uploaded to Jjijik was making waves.
It was a cooking show co-produced by Jjijik and YouTube: Relay Cooking Race.
Big YouTubers and streamers drew huge initial buzz.
Consensus leaned one way.
Proven chef vs. amateur YouTuber. Gap was obvious.
Not much trash-talk on other contestants. They all cooked regularly.
Hype drew a crowd on broadcast day.
Even with personal cams, tons flocked to main.
Viewers dove in as it kicked off.
Unlike plain skill shows, streamers botching food and chefs saving it? Fun twist.
Two personal streams blew up.
Oh Jun-seo, win favorite, moved efficiently—no wasted motion.
Second: Kim Haneul.
Kim Haneul saved Park Su-han's doomed dish into Chinese restaurant course visuals.
Dark horses always spark interest. Their views exploded, rivalry set.
Result: Kim Haneul wins.
Unexpected, but fair—no bandwagon rage.
His performance slayed.
Broadcast ended. Or so we thought.
Till Oh Jun-seo's blatant Starlight shot at Kim Haneul.
His Yori King boost grew followers—posts spread fast.
Even non-watchers heard via Starlight.
Internet reignited.
Most expected Kim Haneul to refuse. Obvious disadvantage.
No glory, no gain—just risk.
But his reply?