Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: The Prodigy Revealed
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Pushing open the door revealed a massive kitchen. There were enormous ovens and pots, not to mention rows upon rows of all sorts of machinery and tools lined up neatly.
"Wow. The equipment's grown even more since last time?"
As I let out an exclamation, Jo Yi-ruk nodded and began his briefing.
"Yes. As you instructed, the new menu development team spared no effort."
Of course.
In the end, the essence of the food business was selling food. If the quality wasn't guaranteed, no genius could save you from going bust.
As I nodded along, Jo Yi-ruk started explaining each item in turn.
It had all the latest gear, plus the rare tools I'd requested. His thoroughness deserved praise.
In one corner sat the snowflake bingsu machine that Owner Moon Yoo-han and I had collaborated on. This place would handle new menu development for too, so it made sense.
"Oh, you got in touch with Owner Moon Yoo-han as well?"
I'd mentioned it early on while planning this space.
"He's the guy who turns the ideas in my head into reality. You can tell just from the snowflake bingsu machine. I'll have plenty more to ask of him going forward."
If possible, it'd be best to pull a talent like that fully over to our side. Jo Yi-ruk replied as if he'd been waiting for it.
"Yes. I proposed he serve as a kitchen equipment design consultant. He has a lot of regular customers at his current shop and a strong attachment to it, so he said transferring fully to [The Song] wouldn't work."
Fair enough. That old man loved listening to customers' chit-chat. Even before my regression, whenever I chattered on about food ideas, he'd whip up the perfect equipment on the spot.
I couldn't take that joy away from him.
"The production will be on our end anyway. As long as he helps with design, it's fine. That's all settled, right?"
"Yes. He promised to prioritize our work."
"Good."
That was all that mattered. Seeing things progress so smoothly put my mind at ease.
Gazing at the fancy kitchen, I felt like a kid browsing a toy store. As I meticulously checked every nook and cranny, Jo Yi-ruk, who'd been following silently behind, spoke up first.
"Um, President."
"Yeah?"
"Isn't it about time you let me in on it?"
Ah. I knew exactly what Jo Yi-ruk meant.
"You said you'd pre-selected someone for the new menu development team. That person will oversee the test store's menu."
"That's right."
"But the test store opens in a month, and you still haven't told me who it is. Do I have to keep waiting?"
It wasn't angry, but he did seem a bit impatient.
Makes sense. He's always trusted and followed my decisions, so he'd held his tongue until now. Anyone else would've bristled at the very idea of a "pre-selected" hire.
"You heard Team Leader No's concerns too."
"Haha. Must be all that office politics trauma from his old job. He really recoiled at the term 'pre-selected.'"
"It's usually a bad vibe. Not a great connotation."
"Right, since it often means shoehorning in relatives or unproven cronies."
I got what No Se-hee was worried about.
But few people were as distant from office politics as that kid, so he could drop the concern.
"Anyway, as you know, I don't have convenient relatives or connections like that. No need to worry."
"So where'd you dig up this pre-selected hire?"
"Curious?"
I grinned, and Jo Yi-ruk nodded solemnly.
"Don't sweat it so much. I was planning to introduce you today anyway."
"Today...?"
"Yeah. I told them to come here. Figured since this is where they'll work, I should show them around."
They should be arriving any minute.
Jo Yi-ruk's shocked expression hadn't faded when—
Knock knock.
Someone rapped on the door.
"Ah, right on time."
I strode over and stood by the door.
At last, the veil was lifting on the pre-selected head of the new menu development team.
Gulp.
I could see Jo Yi-ruk swallow nervously without thinking.
Screeech.
I slowly opened the door.
And there, on the other side...
"......?"
Was a boy with a puzzled look.
Yeah, "boy" fit better than "young man." In other words, he looked way too young to be some company's "pre-selected" hire.
He'd suit a school uniform better than a suit.
"Jae-ha."
"Ah. President!"
Baek Jae-ha glanced at Jo Yi-ruk with a flustered face, then lit up when he saw me by the door.
I've been feeding him well lately—he finally looks like a high schooler. When I first brought him in, he could've passed for a middle schooler.
Had he grown taller already?
Maybe because he straightened up from his usual hunch. The height that once seemed shorter than mine now matched up in that short time.
'Well, yeah. I covered his one-room deposit as a "signing bonus," gave him a card to eat whatever he wants.'
He needed to catch up on all those lost growth years. Pre-regression Baek Jae-ha had a slim build but wasn't short.
He had that model-like vibe, so probably wouldn't end up super tall this time either.
"Introduce yourself. This is Team Leader Jo Yi-ruk, who works with me."
Their eyes met in midair. Baek Jae-ha's held a flicker of wary fear; Jo Yi-ruk looked like he was wrestling with how to process this twist.
In the meantime, I quickly handled the intros.
"Go on, Team Leader Jo. This is Baek Jae-ha, the one I said I'd introduce today."
"...Pleased to meet you."
Jo Yi-ruk quickly composed himself and bowed. Baek Jae-ha, still dazed, bowed back.
"And this is where you'll be working from now on, Jae-ha. More staff will join later, but for the time being, use whatever you want."
"Wow......!"
Baek Jae-ha's eyes sparkled as he looked around.
"Most of it's commercial-grade equipment, so you'll probably see a lot you don't know. If you're unsure, call me or ask the on-site manager. Lots of dangerous stuff, so be careful."
"Yeah, yeah. Can I look around?"
"With your eyes only."
"Okay!"
Baek Jae-ha dashed off. He looked just like a puppy chasing a ball—I couldn't help but chuckle.
"President."
Oops. Jo Yi-ruk was still there.
Turning, I saw him staring at me with a complicated expression.
"Surprised?"
"...I'd be lying if I said no."
"That's why I said hold off on hiring for the new menu team. Bringing in staff now would just cause confusion."
But once Baek Jae-ha settled in, adding one or two assistants would smooth out the awkwardness.
He didn't take well to anyone but me yet, so we needed time to build his social skills anyway.
"That said... we have a lot to discuss. But first, I have to ask this."
Jo Yi-ruk pressed his brow and spoke.
"Minors need parental consent to work. His parents agreed?"
"......Hahaha!"
I burst out laughing before I knew it.
"Ah, sorry. Not mocking you. I figured you'd think that."
Hearing it for real just nailed my prediction perfectly—made it even funnier.
"He's an adult, so no worries there."
"Pardon?"
"Haha. He doesn't look it, does he? Special circumstances."
"......"
"That doesn't mean I hired him out of personal sentiment, though."
I flashed a grin.
"Don't worry. You know I have an eye for talent. A diamond lying in the gutter—you think I'd leave it there?"
"You're saying that kid's the diamond?"
"Exactly."
I was certain.
"His talent is the real deal."
My job was just to polish this rough gem and show it off to the world.
Jo Yi-ruk stood silently beside me. Was he doubting me inwardly? I figured he might speak up this time.
Dragging in a total greenhorn with zero experience to lead the new menu team? It looked sketchy to anyone.
Yet Jo Yi-ruk never once started a sentence with "but."
"Just hire one experienced head chef. Someone who can grasp what he wants to cook and make it real. Bonus if they're skilled with commercial equipment."
"Yes. I'll find someone."
He just nodded along to my request, no complaints or raised brows. That unwavering trust in me shone through again.
Bzzz-!
Then my phone vibrated.
[Kang Yoo-ha Reporter]
Huh. What's his deal?
I tilted my head but answered anyway.
"Hold up a sec—I'll take this call. Don't want to leave the kid alone."
"I'll keep an eye on him. Go ahead."
"Be right back."
I stepped out and picked up.
"Hello?"
Jo Yi-ruk barely suppressed a deep sigh.
'The President's decisions have never been wrong once.'
But this move was a real head-scratcher. Suddenly appointing some unknown kid—out of nowhere—to a key department?
He had no idea how to take it. His head throbbed.
'For now, as he said, scout an experienced head chef first...'
He was mentally mapping out next steps when—
Tap.
A pair of unfamiliar sneakers caught the edge of his vision. Glancing up, Baek Jae-ha had somehow crept closer.
But...
The vibe was totally different.
'What? When he's with President Song, he acts like a clueless little kid who knows nothing.'
That made his age even harder to pin down.
'But now...'
Jo Yi-ruk narrowed his eyes.
'He looks just like a little rascal.'
Baek Jae-ha broke the odd silence between them first.
"Mister. You don't like me, do you."