Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Back to Basics
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I took off my firmly pulled-down hat and ran a hand through my hair. I could clearly feel Kim Jong-chun hanging on my every move, his nerves on edge.
"Where'd the broth come from?"
"Ah, I got some from In-cheol's place."
"President Lee In-cheol?"
"Yeah. I called him over for some counseling while I was consulting."
I could guess without being told. Given Lee In-cheol's personality, he'd given Kim Jong-chun a real earful.
"You've worked so hard for so long. How full-bellied must an old man's gripes sound."
Sure enough, Kim Jong-chun looked terribly sheepish as he continued.
"It snapped me right out of it. I'd completely forgotten my original mindset. Back then, even making one bowl of gukbap, all I worried about was whether the customers would enjoy it."
"...."
"If a customer left some behind, I'd agonize alone that night. What didn't they like? Was it too salty? Or maybe they're just light eaters?"
"...."
"If a regular who showed up once a week didn't come at their usual time, I'd fret nonstop—had they gotten sick of it?"
Kim Jong-chun gave a wry chuckle.
"At some point, I stopped caring about any of that."
I could sort of understand Kim Jong-chun's side.
Before my regression, I'd worked tirelessly to empathize with these franchise owners. Why people change every time, why they're not made of iron and end up wearing out.
After it repeated so much, I started wondering if there was some structural flaw.
No matter how I mulled it over, my conclusion always boiled down to the same thing.
"Business is a battle with yourself. Even more so once you're on track."
That was why I held Seo Beom-jun in such high regard. Records don't lie—if you stay honest and diligent even beyond prying eyes, they reward you.
But how many people could pull that off?
It was practically like a monk's daily asceticism. If just anyone could do it, we'd all be enlightened by now.
Not that it excused Kim Jong-chun. I got it on an intellectual level, that's all.
I dragged over a nearby chair and sat down.
"Make me a bowl?"
"Huh?"
"Gukbap."
Bone broth and meat broth were bubbling away. Right now, he could whip up a perfect blended broth.
"Make it yourself... just like the very first time, when you got my permission to open the shop."
The moment I finished, Kim Jong-chun's eyes went wide and his mouth fell open a bit.
"Ah...!"
Soon his eyes grew misty as he forced the corners of his mouth up into a beaming smile.
"Yeah!"
Watching his bustling back brought a fresh wave of emotion.
"Honestly, I hadn't been expecting this."
For owners who'd ignored warning after warning, getting back to basics was rare—one in hundreds, maybe thousands.
I'd already mentally prepared to say goodbye to Kim Jong-chun. Take the shares and bow out, or have us buy him out. Something like that.
Thud.
"One bowl of Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap, coming up~."
I eyed the ttukbaegi he set down with a grin. Steam rose in curls, and the well-blended broth gave off a mouthwatering aroma.
"I'll dig in."
I scooped up a spoonful of broth and slipped it into my mouth.
Slurp.
"...H-how is it?"
I stared straight at Kim Jong-chun, who was gauging my reaction. Reading something into the look, he mumbled on awkwardly.
"It's been ages since I made it myself. But once I got going, my body just... remembered, you know? Though for you, Woo-yeon, it might hit different..."
He rambled for a good while before finally squeezing his eyes shut and blurting it out.
"Sh-should I remake it?!"
Pfft.
I couldn't hold it in and let out a chuckle.
"Hahaha. Remake what? I can't eat two bowls, you know?"
I scooped up another big spoonful and savored it. A familiar flavor that never got old filled my mouth.
"It's delicious."
"...!"
"You must've absorbed something from President Lee In-cheol's Spartan training—it hasn't left you. For something made after so long, the seasoning's spot-on. Seriously good."
I flashed a smile, and Kim Jong-chun sagged against the wall like all the tension had drained out of him, sliding down to the floor.
"Haaaa. I'm aliiiiiive."
"You were that nervous?"
"Insanely!"
He fanned himself with his hand as he went on.
"You really know how to toy with a grown man, huh? My heart was gummy-rubber tight. If I keel over from a heart attack, you're calling the ambulance, right?"
"You're joking."
"Half serious."
No need to get that worked up.
Slurp.
I kept spooning up gukbap, muttering to myself inwardly.
*Delicious.*
"Ughhh. My legs are jelly. Can't get up."
"Try standing. I can't exactly haul you up myself."
"Right—you'd topple over too."
Bracing against the wall, he barely got back on his feet. His legs were visibly trembling.
He shuffled step by step to the chair across from me and plopped down.
"Phew. Finally feel alive."
I stared at his face for a moment before burying my head back in the gukbap and continuing.
"I don't fully trust it yet."
"Huh?"
"Because it's hard to change for the better, but so easy to slide into bad habits."
An unchanging truth since time immemorial.
Miracle mornings are tough, but zoning out to YouTube till dawn? Piece of cake.
"I'm dead serious. I get that my track record means I can't expect your trust..."
He pulled a sad face, so I quickly cleared the misunderstanding.
"Not saying I doubt your resolve or sincerity right now."
"Then?"
"Sure, it's genuine now. But human willpower's like grains of sand. One wave and it's gone."
I gazed at my reflection in the ttukbaegi as I went on.
"On that beach battered by endless waves, how many can keep their resolve steady—not just for three days, but ongoing?"
"...."
"It's not about doubting you. It's just that it's damn tough for most people."
Some had clung to my hand, pleading through tears. Swearing they'd change for real, right there in front of their ailing mother.
But that lasted a moment.
Resolve fades. Willpower crumbles.
*Recalled something unpleasant.*
Not something I cared to dwell on. Lost in thought with my mouth clamped shut, I heard the scrape of a chair from across the table.
"?"
What was that? Had I pissed him off?
Makes sense. He'd finally psyched himself up to do better, and here I was dumping cold water on it.
My bad.
I'd gotten lost in old memories and come off rude. Just as I lifted my head to apologize—
My eyes met Kim Jong-chun's wide, smiling face.
"Psh. Is that all?"
His gaze didn't waver one bit.
"Of course you're suspicious. I blew your trust once. Doubt me all you want. Test me as much as you like."
I was speechless.
"I'll prove it over and over."
"...."
"I won't screw up like that again. I was an idiot... really."
His eyes sank deep into memory for a moment, then he shook it off and shot me a sparkling look.
Ah. *That* look.
"Give me one more shot, Woo-yeon?"
Eyes shining bright.
Full of passion and drive. I'd missed that glint.
"I should be the one begging."
I found myself beaming back.
"Please make an exception for me."
We clasped hands and shook firmly. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📱 Incoming Message Ding!
- Uncle Kim Jong-chun: Woo-yeon! Dawn shift proof pic for today~. Have a great day, fighting~~^^!! [Photo: Kim Jong-chun in chef whites, beaming ear to ear] Pfft.
I swallowed the laugh threatening to burst out.
These proof pics had been coming nonstop for weeks now, without fail, straight to my phone every single day.
It vividly captured that rock-solid resolve of "just watch, I won't change"—his effort was so admirable, it warmed me right up.
"What're you staring at like that?"
"!"
I jolted and looked up. Andrik was peering at me from the side.
"Ah, just a nice message. Rewatching it."
"...I see."
Andrik replied flatly. No clue what was going through his head.
"Recording's about to start. You seem pretty comfy with TV now."
"Haha, not really. Neongteol feels like my backyard these days, but heading out anywhere still gets my nerves going."
"You held your own on Yoo Han Challenge, though."
He saw that too? Unexpected. As I blinked in surprise, Andrik added like an excuse.
"Chef Bong made me watch."
"Ah, got it."
Didn't even ask. What's his deal?
I cocked my head, then tossed out a topic to break the awkward silence.
"Chef Andrik, you got experience with this? Mentoring on a cooking competition show?"
"None."
"You don't seem nervous at all. Just thinking about teaching others my cooking makes me shaky."
They probably tapped me and Andrik specifically because we handle the variety-show antics on Neongteol.
I'm not even a proper chef.
The PD threw a fit about wanting us together no matter what, so I showed up. But I still wondered if I belonged here.
"Of course, we're not official mentors—just quick guest spots."
Small mercies.
"Still, it was worth showing up for."
I flipped through the provided script, musing to myself.
Tucked in the corner was the logo for "Master Chef Showdown 2."
We'll go with "Master Chef Showdown 2" as the title. But now, with Song Woo-yeon along for the ride.