Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Advertisement (3)
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The two hesitated for a moment over the three desserts. There were no fewer than three varieties, and they looked so beautiful that it was hard to bring themselves to touch them.
"What should we start with?"
"Go with the Caprese on the right first, then the cheese canapés, and finish with the sando."
"Alright then. Dig in."
The red of the tomatoes, the green of the Shine Muscats, the white of the cheese, and the purple of the sauce. Visually, it could easily pass for a salad from some fancy restaurant.
For Cha Minjong, who spent his days on the farm and was used only to delivery food, it all felt incredibly unfamiliar.
Cha Minjong first picked up a familiar Shine Muscat and ate it carefully.
Crunch.
The sweetness of the Shine Muscat enveloped his tongue first. Then came the salty savoriness of the mozzarella cheese. Fruit and cheese might not seem like a natural pair at first, but the combination worked surprisingly well.
Especially the balsamic sauce drizzled on top—its tangy sourness cut right through the richness of the cheese.
"Wow. This doesn't taste like the Shine Muscats I usually eat."
"You could eat it that way, but having them all together like this is the best."
Kim Haneul placed a halved tomato, a Shine Muscat, and a basil leaf on his spoon.
Cha Minjong, thinking it was for him, leaned in to take a bite, but when the spoon headed toward Lee Juyeon instead, he smacked his lips in disappointment.
"How is it?"
"Delicious. The basil gives it a fresh aroma, and the balance of sweet and salty is perfect. You know I don't really like salads. But this one? I could eat it nonstop."
Kim Haneul's lips curved into a smile at Lee Juyeon's reaction.
Truth be told, he'd started with the Caprese for a reason: the main dish they'd just eaten was egg fried rice loaded with oil.
He'd seasoned it perfectly to mask the greasiness, but their tongues were already slick with cooking oil.
So, the fresh, tangy salad served to refresh their palates.
Next up were the cheese canapés.
"Let me try this one too."
Cha Minjong carefully picked up a cracker.
The cream cheese, Shine Muscats, honey, and nuts on top looked amazing. The yellows, whites, and greens created a perfect color palette, while the nuts and honey added appealing textures for visual impact.
Just looking at it made his mouth water in anticipation.
He was starting to appreciate the power of plating.
Crisp.
The cracker shattered, and cool cream cheese hit his tongue. The cheese's flavor mingled with the honey's sweetness. As he chewed, the Shine Muscat's juices burst forth, and the nuts crunching between his molars added a nutty savoriness.
Even with just a few chews, a whirlwind of flavors emerged.
"The salad was good, but this is the real star. And it took less than five minutes to make? No way this flavor comes together that fast. Maybe I haven't had enough desserts to know... but I'd eat this at home all the time."
Cha Minjong no longer felt any resistance toward the desserts Kim Haneul had made.
Since the egg fried rice, Caprese, and cheese canapés had all hit the spot for him, he boldly popped the final dessert—the Shine Muscat sando—into his mouth.
Fluffy.
"No way, the texture is this good?"
"You can talk while eating."
"Oh, right."
Cha Minjong chewed eagerly. There wasn't much to chew, really. With fresh whipped cream as the base, the texture was as soft as biting into a cloud.
Every now and then, a hidden Shine Muscat crunched satisfyingly, and the subtle vanilla aroma from the cream wafted up.
Gulp.
"What did you do to this whipped cream? It's way better than regular stuff."
"It's just whatever was firm in the fridge. But the lingering notes from the canapé make it taste even better."
In truth, the sando had the simplest flavor of all.
Soft texture and sweetness. Subtle vanilla aroma aside, that was it.
If he'd served the sando alone, it wouldn't have gotten this dramatic a reaction.
'Mission accomplished.'
The Caprese cuts the greasiness from the fried rice. The leftover balsamic tang from the Caprese tames the canapé's richness, its sweet-salty crunch boosting the flavors, and the sando's soft texture provides the perfect finish.
Eating desserts one after another could get cloying, so Kim Haneul had orchestrated the tasting order for perfect harmony.
Before the room's warm heat could melt the whipped cream, Kim Haneul tended to Lee Juyeon.
"Ahh."
Lee Juyeon, focused on filming, opened her mouth wide and accepted the bite. She looked just like a baby bird being fed.
"Mmm! You're good at desserts too?"
"Of course. I'm good at everything. Want me to make them more often?"
"Yeah."
Lee Juyeon nodded, her eyes wide.
Kim Haneul made a mental note: Lee Juyeon loved desserts. She liked sweets but had never once asked him to make any.
He'd assumed she wasn't into them, but here she was loving it.
He'd analyzed her favorite snacks to nail the flavors and built the dessert recipes around what she enjoyed.
"Um, Haneul? Could I have a little more of that canapé?"
"Here you go. Have some more."
Before Kim Haneul could respond, Lee Juyeon pushed a few canapés from her plate toward Cha Minjong. It was a kind gesture, but Kim Haneul didn't like it one bit.
Cha Minjong, munching away thoughtlessly, caught Kim Haneul's glare and froze.
"Uh... did I do something wrong?"
"No way. I just like seeing you enjoy it."
"With that look on your face?"
"Yeah. My face gets like this when I'm tired."
There was a minor hiccup, but the shoot wrapped up smoothly.
Subscribers to the Sky and Kite YouTube channel all shared one common thought.
-When's the next ad dropping?
A week before Lunar New Year's, a new video went up.
It was a hefty 30 minutes long.
Right at the start: [This video is sponsored by Oju Foods. We've aimed for objectivity, but personal opinions may be included—please understand.]
The exact same disclaimer as the Stam ad.
Subscribers dove right in.
In the early part of the video, Kim Haneul unleashed his knowledge, scrutinizing every inch of the farm. Viewers found a fresh kind of fun in that.
Sky and Kite had always been a cooking channel focused purely on food. Seeing Kim Haneul grill the farmer like a hygiene inspector while Cha Minjong grew increasingly flustered was hilarious.
Around the halfway mark, the video hit its second turning point.
The familiar kitchen appeared.
Kim Haneul hoped subscribers would try his recipes at home. That's why he explained even tricky dishes simply and streamlined the steps.
As a result, the recipes looked approachable to viewers, and many gave them a shot.
The Sky and Kite community filled up with proof shots of disastrous failures.
But these Shine Muscat desserts? They were genuinely easy.
No fire involved, and the knife was only for fruit.
Just mix and go.
Success proofs flooded in that day.
Disappointed home cooks griping about sweetness, loyal fans, drooling newcomers, folks pondering Lunar New Year gifts— all sorts watched, then hit the link in the comments to buy Shine Muscats.
Sky and Kite's affiliate earnings climbed fast.