Chapter 548: Unexpected Twist (28)
Chapter 548: Unexpected Twist (28)
Rachel had no intention of apologising or comforting June—she knew such words would only deepen June’s misery. As her teacher, she did not want to upset or sadden her with hollow consolation. Rachel had to tell her the truth.
“What do you want to be? You said you wanted to be head of Rose Island, right? That’s my position. Look at me, June. Do you think I enjoy this title or that I’m comfortably settled? No. I struggle desperately to survive with it.”
June was speechless, unable to reply. Yet her anger remained. She was upset but couldn’t find words strong enough to respond. As Rachel said, she had struggled all her life. Even at the top of Rose Island, it brought no stability.
“I know how hard you’ve lived, speeding through life.” Rachel continued. “You have spent all your time chasing your dream, believing all problems would vanish once you reached it. But let me tell you: you can’t get what you want.”
“Do you know what I want?” June asked softly.
Rachel watched quietly, unwilling to answer then.
June spoke slowly, “When I arrived at Rose Island, I admired you—not Daniel. Your life dazzled me because you sacrificed your soul to avoid being buried beneath the light shining from the chef you loved. So I decided to live like you. If you could do it, so could I. I believed that and vowed to live like you. Soon, I came to love Rose Island.”
The chefs listened breathlessly, watching the clash of emotions and ideals between these two giants.
June went on, “This beautiful restaurant you created, this beautiful Rose Island... I wanted to run it. I wanted the whole world to know it, to make it bigger, more beautiful, and make it mine as it grew.”
“That is your excessive greed,” Rachel said. “The head of Rose Island must represent others, not satisfy selfish desires.”
“Why can’t I be greedy?” June shouted, hysterically. “I am not a pilgrim seeking enlightenment here! I came running to claim the top spot, to own this restaurant. How can I accept your decision that I can’t hold this position long?”
Her shout sent chills down many spines. Though she didn’t air her despair and resentment at them, her cold gaze overwhelmed even the camera crews, who sensed her defiance more than admired it.
Rachel spoke quietly, “I’ll say it again. As head of Rose Island, you must remain vigilant. The taller the tree, the easier to break. Fail to stay alert, and you fall. You have too many fantasies about this role. Happiness doesn’t come from it.”
“Do you think I live for happiness? I live for ambition and greed. If I sought happiness, I wouldn’t have kicked out that idiot in the first place!”
She pointed at Dave, who looked embarrassed by the unexpected gesture. She didn’t even glance his way.
Rachel replied tiredly, “Let’s discuss ambition. You shouldn’t fear this four-year review. If you can’t bear it, you should give up the position now. The role carries both responsibility and honour. You must embrace the vetting process.”
“Then I can never truly be owner of Rose Island, yes?” June asked, frustrated.
Rachel said, “Was I your owner? Or Rose Island’s? No. I’ve never owned Rose Island, and neither will you. Driving a car doesn’t make you its owner. June, all chefs here are Rose Island’s owners. That’s my position, and it won’t change.”
June said nothing. A sudden headache overwhelmed her. She couldn’t quite grasp why she felt so distressed or how to respond.
Rachel read her thoughts.
“You’re not despairing because you can’t be king of Rose Island. You don’t want to be king or president—you want your ultimate dream. June, my dear student, I must tell you: you have a distorted dream.”
Jun’s heart skipped. It was as if Rachel denied her life itself. She couldn’t respond.
Rachel pressed on, “Even without the four-year term restriction, you couldn’t hold this position indefinitely. You won’t satisfy your greed, and your status won’t earn you acclaim. You must keep striving. You won’t rest—just as I haven’t.”
Rachel bit her lips.
June looked blank. Why did this strike deeper than anything else? Was it because she thought she'd stop chasing ambition once she reached Rose Island’s head? Could she end a life lived fiercely every day as if seven lifetimes?
Did I really have such vague hopes? she wondered, unable to think clearly.
Rachel turned from her, addressing everyone.
“I believe many of you feel as June does. I understand. Everyone wants to stand atop others. When they rise, they think their troubles vanish, as I once did.”
Rachel paused, unsure where to go. She feigned confidence, needing to guide her students, old and young, who looked up to her.
“But soon you’ll learn that standing above others means little. You’ve been competing for a position that means little. Yet you also sought something important: to choose your leader. To select someone to guide us.”
“That pride as chefs—that the selection depends on cuisine, not politics—is ours alone.”
If Rachel judged only political skill, June would win hands-down. No one in Rose Island was more politically adept.
But the chefs did not want an entrepreneur to rule. They wanted a chef. Someone who could cook better than them.
“Don’t seek happiness through success. Success is just success. Many say I’ve lived successfully, but I’ve spent more time in sadness and doubt than joy.”
Only Rachel could say this. As head of America’s top restaurant, her words carried weight.
“So don’t mourn your failure. Don’t be sad you can’t stand above others. Your unhappiness comes not from failing or your rank—but from seeking unhappiness itself.”
Rachel raised a hand, pointing at June.
“Look at her. Even having won, she looks sadder than anyone, right?”
“Really?” someone asked, incredulously.
They clearly didn’t understand.
But it was plain.
“The winner is June.”
Rachel pronounced the unexpected result with casual ease—like mentioning a dinner menu.
Winning, losing, leading, or failing—it seemed all trivial to her.
“June, you will lead us now. You will set our course. So smile, because you are our leader.”
They hadn’t chosen her to give an easy life or a comforting badge. Customers are cruel; they leave restaurants that don’t serve delicious food.
Now it was June’s charge to serve them well—just like any chef.
There was no time to complain. Whether she complained or not, diners arrive on schedule. She had to be ready.
She became their chief not through burning greed—but because she was a chef.