Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Baek Jae-ha's Challenge
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Joey Rook doubted his own ears for a moment. Just until a moment ago, he'd had the kind of innocent face that could star in an angel's home ad, but the instant Song Woo-yeon stepped out, he flipped completely.
"What? You don't like me, do you, mister?"
It was the kind of thing that left him speechless and nose-blind. As Joey Rook stood there dumbfounded, Baek Jae-ha strode forward boldly.
"Makes sense. Out of nowhere, some kid like me gets scouted as 'talent,' and I even get handed a facility this incredible."
"......"
"Looks like it was the boss's call on his own. Right?"
Joey Rook slowly nodded.
"I could tell right away when we met that you weren't thrilled about me."
Baek Jae-ha perched lightly on the edge of a nearby table as he spoke.
"I'm pretty quick on the uptake."
That beaming smile didn't look childish at all. Joey Rook scrapped his entire previous assessment of Baek Jae-ha.
Young, guileless, clueless?
Just a fabricated image on Baek Jae-ha's part. This was probably closer to the real deal.
Blunt to the point of abrasiveness, a touch cynical and chill.
A kid's face hiding a fully grown mind—like some adult trapped in a child's body.
"Doesn't matter. I'm used to that kind of treatment, and no way in hell do I want to crawl back to where I came from."
Baek Jae-ha spat the words like they tasted bitter, then let out a short laugh.
"My life's been nothing but flops up to now. No real choices, just watching helplessly as shit happened. And then this was the first stroke of luck to show up."
Baek Jae-ha's gaze went hazy, like he was reliving it. Pitch-black darkness, eyes snapping open at the sound of rustling.
That unfamiliar face glimpsed through the crack in the tiny warehouse.
A face that looked icy when blank softened the moment it spotted him—and Baek Jae-ha knew on instinct.
*Ah, this guy's my savior.*
And that gut feeling hadn't been wrong. Proof: here he was, out of that dim, filthy storage room and standing in a pristine, luxurious kitchen.
In Baek Jae-ha's book, this was a once-in-a-lifetime shot. No way it'd come around twice.
"So. Whatever you try to pull, mister, I'm never—*ever*—letting go of this one ray of light that's come my way."
Call it a declaration of war.
The kid clearly figured Joey Rook disliked him enough to start some sabotage.
Not your average mindset.
Deep-seated hostility, clannishness, distrust of people baked right in.
*'Body that hasn't fully filled out, barely legal, no proper guardian in sight—had a feeling from the start when he mentioned the circumstances.'*
Baek Jae-ha here had clearly grown up in some rough environment. Explained the prickly defenses, always on guard.
*'Anyone not on my side is the enemy, huh.'*
Normal folks would've shrunk back or tried harder to impress if they sensed hostility. But no—this guy jumps straight to battle, whining he had nowhere else to go, so just back off. From Joey Rook's view, it was beyond exasperating.
*'How the hell did we end up with this one.'*
But the blame game was brief. No way was he questioning Song Woo-yeon's judgment.
Joey Rook let out a deep sigh, then tugged loose his knotted necktie.
"Hey. Delinquent teen."
"......"
"Oh, right—you're an adult now? Whatever."
His eyebrows twitched at the label. But Joey Rook wasn't thrilled about "mister" either.
"You're under some delusion here. ...My personal feelings aside, I'm not planning to challenge your hiring."
"?"
"Wondering why?"
"......Yeah, kinda."
Joey Rook had zero interest in a real tussle with this brat. Cocky mouth, sure—but he was young. Bound to happen.
So it fell to the adult to set him straight.
"Fine. Truth? If anyone but him had dragged you in, I'd have asked if they'd lost their minds. Expectations are sky-high for this team—we can't risk handing reins to some unproven nobody."
Company'd even spun up a test outlet, hooked 'em up with cutting-edge gear. Big money sunk in.
And The Song? Food service was its core. If the new-menu dev team bombed, the whole future went murky. Critical department.
"But there's one reason I'm swallowing every rational doubt and pushback."
"......"
"Because you're President Song Woo-yeon's pick."
Baek Jae-ha stared blankly, no clue what that meant.
"......Wh-what? Sure, I know President Song's incredible. Been digging online while I've been around, tracked down every broadcast he's been on."
Plenty of folks on the street recognized and approached Song Woo-yeon. Impossible not to notice.
"Guy runs a company like this—must be loaded. Handed over that one-room deposit like it was pocket change...."
"Not just 'cause he's a successful CEO or my boss. Eh, you'll figure it out living here."
Joey Rook had no patience for a long lecture. Few months working alongside Song Woo-yeon, it'd sink in. Why waste breath?
"Bottom line: I trust President Song Woo-yeon's decisions completely. Which means I trust you too, Baek Jae-ha."
Not a shred of doubt on his earnest face.
Only then did Baek Jae-ha start buying what Joey Rook was selling.
*'...Doesn't like me, but trusts me anyway. For real?'*
Weird to imagine, but the guy didn't seem like a liar.
"......"
"Again: not trusting *you*. Trusting *his* call."
"Got it."
No jumping to wild hopes.
Still, something felt off to Baek Jae-ha. Second adult ever to tell him "I trust you." First, obviously: Song Woo-yeon.
The words tickled funny. He found himself pursing his lips.
*'Brat. Kid's a kid, through and through.'*
His softening heart showed plain on his face.
Right then, as the tension eased—
*Clunk.*
"Ah, were you guys mid-convo?"
Song Woo-yeon wrapped his call and strolled back in. Baek Jae-ha bolted right over.
Puppy spotting its owner, tail wagging like mad.
"President! Love this place. When can I start using it?"
"Today if you want. Anytime—your call."
"Waa...!"
No trace of that earlier cynicism in his thrilled face. Absurd sight had Joey Rook huffing a laugh.
*'...Hold up. Hope I don't come off that way to people.'*
Sudden twinge of worry widened his eyes—then Song Woo-yeon turned to him.
"What'd you two chat about?"
"......"
Joey Rook flicked a glance at Baek Jae-ha. Song's eyes off him for a sec, and there's the kid, icy glare locked on.
*'Spill, and you're toast.'* Or something.
Even if he did, would Song buy it with the puppy act in full swing?
*'No point picking a fight with a kid like that.'*
Joey Rook kept cool, pivoting smoothly.
"Nothing major. Oh, looked like reporter Kang Yu-ha called earlier—what'd she want?"
"Oh, interview pitch. Special feature on hot startup CEOs. We've got history, easy ask, so I greenlit."
"I'll sync schedules and update you."
"Thanks."
Song Woo-yeon appeared to have blanked on their exchange entirely.
"Anyway, Jae-ha. Jumping in here already? Fine by me, but ingredients aren't stocked yet. And cooking's not your forte, so scouting a head chef'll take time...."
Talk swung back to Baek Jae-ha.
"No rush. Cooking? I can learn hands-on."
"Good attitude. Got something specific in mind?"
"Yeah. Something I wanna make."
Baek Jae-ha grinned wide.
"!"
"Already?"
A fresh idea this quick?
Song Woo-yeon and Joey Rook gawked; Baek Jae-ha squirmed like it embarrassed him a tad.
Joey Rook'd bet the farm it was all calculated.
Playing the bashful, innocent boy to a T, he ventured carefully:
"Nothing fancy. Just something I've always wanted to try."
What now?
Joey Rook cocked his head.
Wasn't doubting Song Woo-yeon, but "idea bank" chops? Had to see it live.
First project spark hung on this.
Ears perked for every word.
*'This'll give me the read.'*
On whether Song Woo-yeon nailed it again.
*[That kid's the real deal.]*
The confident echo rang in his head.
Oblivious to Joey Rook's piercing stare, Baek Jae-ha spoke slow.
"Always bugged me why they don't sell this stuff outside. Tastes great plain...."
The hell?
Before Joey Rook could prod, Baek Jae-ha pressed on.
"Churros or bead ice cream, y'know."
Ah!
Joey Rook's eyes bugged out.
"You only get 'em at amusement parks. Pricey as hell there. But what if you could grab 'em on the street?"
Baek Jae-ha flashed a grin.
"I'd buy."