Chapter 170: Overlapping Shadows (1)
Chapter 170: Overlapping Shadows (1)
“Ooh…”
Ella cupped her cheeks with a complicated expression. Watching her, Janet asked confidently, “Well? Mine tastes better, right?”
“…I like Uncle Minjoon’s better.”
“That’s fine. What you like is up to you. But what about the taste?”
Ella twisted her lips and said nothing. It irritated her, but Janet’s jelly really was much tastier than the one Jo Minjoon had made for her. Her sulky expression said everything, and Jo Minjoon shrugged.
“Ella, if something tastes good, it’s proper manners to say so.”
“Uncle’s jelly tastes good too.”
Apparently unwilling to admit that Jo Minjoon had lost even if it killed her, Ella’s eyes began to well up with frustrated tears. Could there possibly be a more devoted fan?
Janet asked stiffly, “Did I just become the villain?”
“Not exactly a villain. More like an evil witch who bullies the fairy.”
“…I’ve been called a witch quite a few times.”
Jo Minjoon had only been half-joking, but Janet’s reply was unexpectedly serious. A faint chill ran through him as he looked at her. Had she said she was Taiwanese-Japanese? At first, because her features did not look particularly different from a Korean person’s, he had felt an odd sense of familiarity with her. But the more he got to know Janet, the more difficult she became to understand.
Still, judging from the way she treats Ella, she doesn’t seem like a bad person.
Of course, someone’s character could not be judged solely by how they treated children. Even so, the expression Janet occasionally showed Ella was full of affection, almost as though she were looking at her own child. Jo Minjoon found it difficult to believe that someone capable of showing that much warmth to another person’s child could have a truly bad nature, even if she was still prickly with everyone else.
Anderson was equally prickly, so he made little effort to talk to Janet. The prep cooks were busy getting acquainted with one another, and the bakers were doing the same. As for the apprentice, there was hardly any need to mention him. Naturally, an apprentice would find it difficult to casually strike up a conversation with demi-chefs.
There was a common stereotype that Western workplaces had flatter relationships with little emphasis on hierarchy. Depending on the company, that could certainly be true, but restaurants were different. The reason was inherent to the profession itself. Once customers began pouring in, the kitchen grew busier and inevitably more chaotic. To maintain precision under those conditions, a firm chain of command was essential.
…I suppose there isn’t much reason for the demi-chefs to become close.
They would be assigned to different sections anyway, so their work would not overlap that often. But that was only from the perspective of kitchen efficiency. Unless something unusual happened, they would still be colleagues working together for years. If merely seeing one another felt awkward, that would eventually become exhausting.
With that in mind, Javier suddenly called out, “Try this! It’s a quiche Miss Lisa made. It’s the best quiche I’ve ever eaten!”
(Translator’s Note: Quiche — A savoury open tart consisting of pastry filled with a baked egg-and-cream custard, often with cheese, vegetables, or meat. The best-known version, quiche Lorraine, is associated with Lorraine in north-eastern France and historically developed from the regional culinary traditions of an area long influenced by both French and German culture.)
Javier was remarkably easy-going. A positive aura seemed to radiate from his entire body, and his personality genuinely matched that impression. Standing behind him, Lisa looked slightly embarrassed.
“Please don’t praise it that much.”
“I’m not exaggerating. I’m only telling the truth.”
“Even the truth can become excessive praise. My bread is only at that level.”
“…I suppose there wasn’t much point in me praising it, then.”
Lisa laughed mischievously at Javier’s answer, and Jo Minjoon was genuinely surprised. In some ways, Lisa resembled Janet. She was quiet too, though in a different way, and it was rare to see such a bright smile on her face.
“Ah, Minjoon. What are you doing? Here, have some.”
“You praised it enough to raise my expectations, then you give me a piece this tiny?”
Jo Minjoon sounded disappointed. There was only a finger-sized slice of pie on his plate. The crust was crisp and flaky, with melted cheese and dried tomatoes baked into the filling. Quiche was a savoury French tart commonly eaten as a meal.
Javier smiled brightly. “We’re chefs. We’re supposed to understand the beauty of a dish from a single bite.”
He had a point. Jo Minjoon put the piece into his mouth and chewed slowly. Perhaps because it was a pastry, there was a considerable amount of butter. Sweet richness spread across his tongue, followed by the strong oily flavour of the cheese.
Jo Minjoon thought quietly about where the cheese was from. He searched his memory for the name, then checked the system and confirmed that his guess was correct. His expression brightened.
“It’s Gruyère. The rich, oily flavour gives it away.”
“You really do get everything right.”
“Gruyère has a strong flavour. Ella, you must be happy. Does your mummy make you bread like this every day?”
“Yes. But I like jelly more than bread.”
Lisa gave Ella a stern look. Ella immediately turned her head away as though she had felt that gaze physically, and Janet smiled warmly at the sight. Of course, the warmth vanished the instant she happened to make eye contact with Jo Minjoon.
“Janet, you really like children, don’t you?”
“…What kind of person doesn’t like children?”
“There are plenty. Some people complain that children are noisy and annoying.”
“Uh, but I’m quiet. And I don’t annoy people.”
“Yes. That’s because Ella is a good girl.”
Jo Minjoon smiled gently at Ella, who looked as though she had been unfairly accused. Ella immediately brightened.
“But Uncle, what are you going to cook? Auntie Janet said she’s doing ah… app… what was it again?”
“Appetisers?”
“Oh, right! Auntie said that’ll be her job. What about you, Uncle?”
“I’m still thinking about it.”
“I wish Uncle would make jelly.”
Janet, who had been listening, suddenly laughed. She tried to suppress it, but when everyone turned to look at her, she apparently became embarrassed and covered her mouth before turning away.
Lisa approached her. “You really do like my daughter.”
“…You have a wonderful daughter. I’m envious.”
Janet’s words sounded sincere, but there was also an unexpected weight behind them. Lisa, however, was still Lisa. Rather than becoming flustered, she answered with equal gravity.
“She’s my greatest pride and joy.”
“You two, I know you’re getting closer, but doesn’t this suddenly feel like a documentary?”
“I didn’t give anyone life advice.”
“Not every documentary is about life advice. Then instead of a documentary… hmm, what would fit?”
“In a kitchen, it’s usually either comedy or drama.”
Jo Minjoon answered jokingly, and Javier smiled.
“Drama sounds good. Comedy would probably be exhausting.”
“So what do you want to cook, Javier?”
“I feel a little bad saying this to Janet… but I want appetisers too.”
“So the two of you overlap. Were appetisers always this popular?”
“That’s good for us.”
A dry voice came from behind them. It was Anderson.
Jo Minjoon looked at him. “I thought you were interested in appetisers too. Where are you planning to go?”
“Pasta.”
“…Hmm.”
Jo Minjoon folded his arms and rested a fist beneath his chin. It was called the pasta section, but in practice it would handle grains in general, including risotto. It was also one of the sections Jo Minjoon himself was interested in.
Every restaurant divided its stations differently. Chinese restaurants often divided work according to noodles, wok, and knife work, while Western restaurants tended to vary depending on the size and style of the kitchen. Sections could be divided by ingredient—fish, meat, grains—or by equipment, such as pans, ovens, and pots.
Rachel had told them Rose Island would have five sections. The main section would handle meat, fish, steaks, and other principal dishes. The appetiser section would be responsible for soups, mousses, carpaccio, ceviche, and similar preparations. Another section would specialise in pasta, risotto, and other grain-based dishes. Desserts and oven work—including bread, cakes, puddings, and related dishes—would fall under Lisa as the pâtissier, while the final section would be molecular gastronomy.
(Translator’s Note: Carpaccio — A preparation traditionally consisting of extremely thin slices of raw beef dressed with sauce or seasoning; seafood and vegetable versions later became common. It was created at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, around 1950 by Giuseppe Cipriani and named after Renaissance painter Vittore Carpaccio, whose paintings were noted for their vivid red and white tones.
(Translator’s Note: Ceviche — A dish of raw fish or seafood cured in acidic citrus juice and seasoned with ingredients such as chilli, onion, salt, and herbs. Ceviche has especially strong historical and cultural associations with Peru and the Pacific coast of Latin America, although its precise origin and the development of its modern citrus-based form remain debated.)
Rachel had retired before molecular gastronomy became established in restaurants. Jo Minjoon wondered how much she actually knew about it, yet Rachel had sounded completely confident, almost as though she already had someone or something in mind.
One thing was certain: Jo Minjoon had no intention of choosing molecular gastronomy. He was interested in it, certainly, but interest was not the same thing as knowledge. If he took charge of that section, he would essentially be starting as a beginner, and he had no confidence that he could properly fulfil the responsibilities of a demi-chef there.
If he considered the advantages of his system, the appetiser section would probably suit him best. Appetisers often required exceptional precision in balancing ingredients, and the system would immediately tell him through a dish’s score when something had gone wrong. But the sections Jo Minjoon personally wanted were either pasta, which Anderson also wanted, or mains.
Most appetisers demanded patience and persistence more than moment-to-moment reactions. Jo Minjoon preferred dishes where he had to fight against time—pasta or steak, where the chef needed to remain alert and focused every second. That suited his temperament better.
After contemplating it for a while, Jo Minjoon sighed.
“…But what’s the point in discussing it like this? The method for deciding the sections hasn’t even been determined.”
“That’s exactly why we should talk about it,” Javier replied. “We should at least say what we want and think about it. Otherwise, it’ll feel like we’re being paid to sit around doing nothing.”
Jo Minjoon shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I’m still unpaid.”
“Psh. Why is that a problem? Rachel gave you a card to use, and she’s even covering your housing.”
“I’m still worried about it either way. But there is one thing I’m certain of.” Jo Minjoon’s voice became firm. “I am not doing molecular gastronomy.”
“Four thousand nine hundred and ninety-six… four thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight… four thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine…”
Jo Minjoon stared at his phone for a moment, then refreshed the page. A broad smile immediately appeared on his face.
“Five thousand!”
“…You did that deliberately so I’d hear you, didn’t you?”
They were at Rachel’s house, more specifically in Jo Minjoon’s room. Anderson glared at him with an irritated expression.
Jo Minjoon laughed. “Jealous?”
“…Not really.”
Jo Minjoon had been counting the number of followers on his Starbook account. Compared with Anderson, who had created his account much earlier and had only recently reached four thousand followers, Jo Minjoon’s numbers were rising considerably faster.
Anderson grumbled. “It’s because I hardly post anything.”
“I don’t think that’s true. You seem to post at least once a day. Things like daily cooking tips.”
“…Shut up. I’m going to sleep.”
“Hey, don’t just lie down on someone else’s bed without permission.”
“I’ll buy it. This bed. How much?”
“Isaac said the mattress alone cost four thousand dollars.”
Anderson immediately sat upright and stared at the bed. He pressed down on the mattress with one hand and made a curious expression.
“This costs as much as my salary?”
“To be precise, it costs five hundred dollars more than your salary.”
“…You’re not even getting paid.”
“I was a little disappointed about that at first, but this isn’t bad either. I get to sleep on a mattress more expensive than a certain someone’s salary.”
“I want to move in here too.”
“I think that’ll be difficult until you defeat your parents.”
“Even if I get past them, I don’t know whether Teacher Rachel would let me. I’m jealous. She practically treats you like a son. How does it feel?”
Jo Minjoon did not answer, but it was not because he was ignoring Anderson. A notification had appeared on his smartphone, and the moment he saw it, his entire body froze.
Anderson noticed immediately. “What? Did something happen?”
“…Uh, um. Hey, is today the twenty-fifth?”
“No. The twenty-third. Why?”
“Look.”
Jo Minjoon held out his phone. There was a photograph on the screen: an airline ticket with LAX listed as the destination and August 25 as the arrival date.
Anderson looked puzzled. “What about it?”
Instead of answering, Jo Minjoon tapped the top of the screen. The message attached to the photograph appeared, and Anderson let out a sigh as his expression suddenly became tense.
[Kaya: The woman who really needs to diet will be there soon.]