Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: You Have to Eat It All, Right?
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A few hamburgers and that guy’s guaranteed.
I crossed my arms and smiled.
“Delicious?”
“So delicious.”
“Good. That’s a relief. Jaeyoon, you didn’t forget what I said earlier, right?”
He nodded blankly.
“You have to eat it all, right?”
“Yeah! I’ll eat it all!”
“No matter what, ‘all’ of it?”
Jaeyoon hurriedly chewed and swallowed his hamburger. I leisurely returned to the counter, my apron fluttering. Lee Seungjun, who was grilling patties, whispered softly.
“There are already 40 patties ready right now.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not planning to give all of these to Jaeyoon, are you? We made extra for the staff and us, didn’t we?”
“Killing two birds with one stone. Even Jaeyoon couldn’t eat ten of these, right? Each one’s a full adult serving.”
It’d be a shame if we closed early from running out of ingredients. Better feed him up while we can.
Was it surging camaraderie? Seungjun’s eyes shook endlessly. Ignoring it, I started preparing demi-glace sauce in the frying pan just then. The camera was filming Minje.
“Oh, this is delicious.”
The filming staff replied.
“Minje, you have to explain how it’s delicious.”
“Ah, I’m not good at this stuff. Um, first off, it’s tender.”
Minje cut into the hamburger with fork and knife. Maybe because he was in a suit, it looked just like a scene from a fancy movie restaurant.
“The tenderness seems to come from the avocado.”
Minje carefully brought a piece of avocado to his mouth.
“And it’s sweet. Not too sweet, though. Just the right sweetness. I’m surprised.”
“Wow, hyung! That’s different from mine.”
“Feels like these are personalized.”
The guests looked at me. I grinned and said.
“I know the members’ tastes well.”
Minje diligently sliced the bun with his knife.
“You know my taste too?”
“Of course.”
“That’s why you put avocado just for me. But we’ve never tried this together.”
“Well, half of it was a guess. You like soft and sweet stuff, hyung. Though not overly sweet.”
The fox cub looked at me suddenly while eating. What? It’s right, isn’t it?
“You really do.”
“Minje hyung prefers the subtle sweetness of vegetables over fruit. Likes strong flavors too. You like namul, right?”
“Uh……”
Well, ultimately, it was an old man’s taste. But saying it like that would sour things.
“You like stuff that takes effort to eat.”
Minje covered his mouth and laughed again. The camera eagerly captured the scene. Well, that’ll give them some heartwarming footage. I busied my hands again.
“You, this is too good. The lettuce! The tomato! How is it this good?”
I glanced up at Jaeyoon. He’d already finished the cheese and started on a new hamburger.
‘Impressive.’
He ate fast but chewed properly. And even with a kid’s palate, he accepted other things well.
‘He’s eating quite a bit of veggies.’
Jaeyoon mumbled while chewing.
“This sauce is killer. Uh, hey. Dowon. No, Dowon-ssi. What is this?”
“Not for sale. I made it.”
It paired perfectly with veggies and cheese. Know-how from a restaurant that’d be packed in about five years.
‘Well, the head chef spilled it while crying after tumbling down the stairs.’
But it was the shop’s secret. I beamed at the camera.
“The recipe’s a secret!”
“Could you share a little?”
“No. You can taste it today instead.”
I cut a hamburger into four pieces and offered it. The staff mumbled while holding the camera.
“Ah, I shouldn’t eat this……”
But his mouth was honest. He quickly swallowed and held out his other hand.
“I’ll take it.”
Seungjun gave him the remaining pieces. Most useful guy all around. I surveyed the restaurant. Ten should be enough for Jaeyoon.
‘Time to speed it up then.’
This time, I started plating three at once. Different flavors each, but same goal.
‘Let’s see your stomach burst, Jaeyoon.’
As I served the plates, I whispered to the bear cub.
“Espresso for Minje hyung, one cup.”
“Huh? Okay.”
He quickly brewed a capsule coffee and took it over. Short-mouthed Minje had finished a plate and was blinking sleepily.
‘That punk’s drowsy.’
When Seungjun brought the espresso, he smiled right away.
“Huh? How’d you know I needed this?”
“Dowon said to bring it.”
“I see.”
Minje waved at me working the counter.
“Thanks!”
“No problem.”
“Feels like Dowon knows me better than anyone.”
I nearly flung the tongs. I barely held back my grimace.
“We’ve known each other forever.”
“Right. Yeah.”
Minje sipped it down nicely. But Jaeyoon next to him was still chowing down.
“Jaeyoon, not full yet?”
“No way. I could eat twenty of these.”
Damn. Guess I’ll have to whip up twenty perfect hamburgers.
‘Wonder if he’ll really eat them all.’
The fox cub crossed his legs, watching the monkey. Expression neutral, but I knew. That was a look of fascination.
‘Whatever, not my business.’
I brought three plates to Jaeyoon. Seungjun, sensibly, placed a cola with ice on the table.
“Thanks! Dowon-ssi! I’ll call you hyung from today!”
Weren’t you the one saying maknaes should run errands just minutes ago?
I grinned. Really gonna call me that?
“I’ll accept it. Eat up.”
Jaeyoon gulped the cola and bit into a hamburger.
“Th-this one’s double patty!”
“Pairs great with cheddar.”
“Hot! But delicious!”
Damn. Still room in that gut, huh.
I stepped out so the guests could eat comfortably. Seungjun whispered beside me.
“The drinks are zero calories.”
“Does that matter right now?”
Jaeyoon bit wildly and exclaimed in awe. Amazing how he ate without making a mess.
‘A guy with proper table manners probably got nagged at home.’
Hadn’t thought of it, but seems he grew up in a harmonious family.
“If Leader hyung sees this footage, he’ll faint.”
“Nah, he’ll get dragged off by the trainer first?”
“Like a last supper. Diet food only from now on?”
“Probably.”
I tilted my head.
‘Cheat doesn’t allow unauthorized food anyway?’
I definitely set it that way?
‘N-no way.’
I glanced at the monkey. Just imagining it, but I couldn’t shake the thought.
‘That guy might actually pull it off?’
Whatever I thought, Jaeyoon kept eating, critiquing each one like a gourmet.
“Uh, Dowon. Won’t Jaeyoon’s stomach explode?”
“Minje hyung! Don’t stop me! Dowon-ssi! I can eat more!”
“He says he can.”
I set up three more plates. Two in front of Jaeyoon, one a bit farther.
“Not all mine?”
What a guy. Still eyeing others after all that.
I turned and called out.
“Seungjun. You eat too.”
He nodded and sat. Minje smiled and poured him water.
“Seungjun, here.”
“Hyung, thanks.”
“No biggie.”
Seungjun took a huge bite right away. I tilted the sauce pan. Should’ve fed the bear cub sooner.
‘Watching good food is pure torture when you’re hungry.’
Starved, he chewed vigorously. Then a staffer said.
“Uh, Seungjun-ssi. Give us your impressions.”
“Huh? Right.”
Seungjun mumbled awkwardly.
“The demi-glace sauce is excellent. Smooth but good saltiness. Pepper scent keeps it from being greasy. And above all, caramelized onions.”
The bear cub bowed his head slightly.
“Dowon must know I like this.”
I snickered. The guy who’d pick onions from sausage veggie stir-fry. Though Jaeyoon ate just the sausage, of course.
“Seungjun-ssi likes caramelized onions.”
“Didn’t used to. But the slightly burnt oily parts and pepper scent are good.”
Minje watched, then said softly.
“Seungjun, eat slowly.”
“But Dowon’s working alone.”
Oops.
I called out immediately.
“I’m fine alone!”
Seungjun shook his head. Minje stood right up.
“Then I’ll cover while you eat.”
“Ah……”
“Eat slowly.”
What’s this? Fox cub being nice out of character.
Absurd, but not bad. They’ll look super close on camera.
Flipping patties, Minje approached.
“Anything to help with?”
“Nope. I can handle it solo. Seungjun worries too much.”
“I see.”
Then, a staffer said.
“Dowon-ssi, gonna hit the bathroom.”
“Sure. Camera?”
“I’ll turn it off and leave it here.”
Huh.
‘Don’t they usually leave it fixed?’
Odd one. Minje eyed the left-behind camera and said.
“Dowon. Got a favor.”
“What?”
“Jaeyoon looks like he’ll die like that.”
Damn.
I knew what Minje would say. I craned my neck to look at Jaeyoon. He was still eating tirelessly.
“Looking at Jaeyoon now, reminds me of that bloated frog.”
“That bad?”
“Scary level now. If bingeing can kill, it’s him right now.”
I nodded.
“Yeah, got it. I’ll stop.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. Wanted to mess with him, but didn’t expect this much.”
Thought he’d whine after three. Not devour everything given.
“So that was the plan.”
“One last one. Gotta give this though.”
“Thanks. For listening.”
Well, I was planning to stop anyway judging by the situation.
‘Keep going and we’d call an ambulance for real.’
I shook my head, flipping the final patty. My masterpiece packed with Thai chilies from earlier.
“Zenith’d be in trouble with only four members.”
Minje covered his mouth laughing.
“True.”
“And over something like this.”
“Pfft, yeah.”
Minje clutched his stomach laughing beside me. Damn. Wasn’t meant to make the fox cub laugh.
I plated the final dish.
“Really delicious today.”
“Custom-made, after all. Time to pack Hajin hyung’s and Executive Director Joo’s.”
“They have some too?”
“Company card from the start. Made plenty.”
“I see.”
Minje slicked back his hair and whispered.
“Feels embarrassing calling you hyung.”
“Why?”
“I’m not great at reading the room.”
Like you’d notice. The guy who charged ahead and wrecked his group.
“Well, current hyung reads the room decently. Covering for Seungjun now.”
“R-really?”
“If you’re that bad, start now.”
Minje snickered.
I lowered the burner, picked up the plate, and went to Jaeyoon.
“This is the last one.”
“No! Why last!”
“You overate!”
“No! I can eat more!”
Crazy.
‘Wow. This guy’s something else.’
Stomach should be full by now?
Minje came over, backing me.
“Dowon’s right. You ate too much.”
“Minje hyung! Don’t stop me!”
Jaeyoon wailed while eating the hamburger.
“If this is last, I can’t see a burger for three years!”
What’s that now.
I glanced at Minje. The fox cub nodded slightly.
“Executive Director Joo allowed it. Stuff yourself just for today.”
Damn.
I slid the plate with grilled pineapple and spicy hamburger to him. Last supper, monkey.