Chapter 569: Earnestly and Instinctively (6)
Chapter 569: Earnestly and Instinctively (6)
Normally, Ken might have simply nodded and told her she could do it, just to preserve her childlike innocence and dreams. But he didn’t have the nerve to be so bold. Right now, he was an adult, just like Minjoon, but compared to Minjoon, his cooking skills fell far behind.
In fact, Ken had never considered comparing himself to Minjoon before, but when Merlyn asked that question, he suddenly looked back on his past with regret. He wanted to grow into an adult who could answer her confidently.
But what did he look like now?
Merlyn said, “I want to be like Chef Minjoon.” She clenched her fists and gazed at Minjoon with eyes full of shining determination. The participants must already have been exhausted just by following Minjoon’s instructions, yet he was taking care of each of them. He was still cooking with them on the Island.
Was it a matter of fitness, willpower, or both? Merlyn agonised over whether to get off her chair for a long time, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it easily. She wanted to follow him, but whenever she got close, he walked so fast she dared not try to catch up.
Ken watched Merlyn and smiled quietly. Greed was often portrayed as vulgar in literature and films, but that was mistaken. Greed was as beautiful as the passion of the person who harboured it.
“What on earth did you do to the participants?” Kaya demanded.
“What are you talking about? I just cooked with them,” Minjoon replied.
“Look at their eyes! They’re full of love and respect for you!”
Kaya grunted, clearly unimpressed by what he’d done to them.
Minjoon pinched her cheek and asked, “What are you complaining about? That I won their hearts? Or that they like me?”
Though his questions were basically the same, they held subtle differences depending on the source of jealousy.
Instead of answering, Kaya quickly turned her head to the participants.
“Hey, you should have shown them your cooking skills in moderation. I can’t believe they’re falling for you after only one session cooking together.”
“Well, I still have a long way to go.”
“Are you pretending to be humble again?”
“No, I mean I’m still lacking by my own standards. Of course, I’m the best by everyone else’s.”
He chuckled at her, and she stared at him as if she thought he was ridiculous. Then she turned to Joseph.
“Joseph, say something to this arrogant junior chef!”
“Well, I have nothing to say because he’s right.”
“Gosh, you’re too generous,” she muttered, as if conceding defeat.
Minjoon considered telling her that if anyone deserved the title of arrogant, it was her, not him, but he held back. He didn’t want to disturb her mood right now.
It looks like she’s upset because I came here first.
When he first boarded the plane to Los Angeles, Kaya had protested several times. She complained about why he had to leave first instead of waiting for her, saying she’d be so bored sitting alone on the plane. That was why she was nagging him now—because he’d ignored her request and left ahead.
“Are you upset?” he whispered into her ear.
“You want to get kicked out? Don’t treat me like a child,” Kaya replied sharply. The way she looked at him was almost childish herself. He paused, wondering how he could propose to such a childish girl in a mature manner.
“By the way, this season’s cooking mission must be pretty fun,” Joseph said.
Minjoon nodded immediately. In truth, this cooking mission was attracting more attention for the participants’ relationships with one another than for the culinary challenges themselves.
“Well, even as a participant, I think teamwork is always the most fun. But at the same time, I found it most stressful cooking as part of a team.”
“You know, if you form a team, it’s natural that you have as many disadvantages as advantages. So, when things don’t go your way, you tend to blame others.”
“I’m afraid some might drop out during the competition,” Minjoon said with concern. The losers he worried about weren’t those who’d quit midway, but those who might not manage to form a team at all.
“Why would anyone drop out?” Kaya asked in confusion.
Minjoon saw from her expression that she hadn’t fully grasped the core of this mission. So, he kindly reminded her.
“Let me tell you this: the biggest part of your mission this time is to form a team. The minimum number per team is three. You can choose to have as many members as you want, but the most important thing is that you must prepare dishes for each team member. In other words, if your team has three members, you prepare a three-course meal; if five, a five-course meal. Does anyone not understand?”
As Minjoon explained the evaluation rules, the participants looked around with sharp, excited eyes.
Michael asked, “Then, if the courses are good, all team members advance to the next round?”
“Yeah, but that means if even one member makes a mistake, the whole team fails.”
The participants glanced anxiously at those around them, aware that a single error could eliminate their entire team.
Of course, those still here were fine chefs, but their skill levels varied widely.
Man, I don’t like this kind of grouping.
People began consulting each other about teams. Unexpectedly, Gwen was popular. She had few friends due to her gloomy personality, but everyone recognised her competence as a chef.
She looked a little puzzled by all the attention. Several participants approached her, hoping she’d join their teams. She was forced to think hard about whom she wanted to partner with and whom to reject.
On the other hand, one participant was being avoided.
“I’m sorry, but I think we’ll just do it with three,” came the refusal.
“Can’t you add one more? I’ll do my best, I promise.”
“No, I’m really sorry.”
That participant was none other than Merlyn. The little girl was unwelcome by every team she had approached. Watching her be rejected repeatedly, Minjoon frowned, disliking their attitude.
Kaya muttered, “Man, this mission really sucks! I wonder if Martin’s trying to send some philosophical message with this. Crazy bastard!”
Though Kaya’s language was rough, she also felt sorry for Merlyn. At the same time, she understood their feelings. Merlyn surviving this far proved she was competent, but they worried about her young age and lack of experience.
Some, like Michael, were here to make good memories, but others had bet everything on the competition. They didn’t want to jeopardise their mission out of sympathy.
The more desperately Merlyn tried to engage others, the more she was pushed away.
At that moment, someone stepped forward.
“Won’t you team up with me?”
“Huh? With me?”
“Yeah. You and me. Then let’s add one more.”
It was Peter who first reached out to her. Given Kaya’s fixed opinion of Peter, she couldn’t help but be surprised.
But Minjoon approved of Peter’s decision. Peter stood to gain the most from having Merlyn on his team since what mattered most for him was repairing his tarnished reputation. Americans liked people who were kind to children.
Of course, Minjoon wasn’t sure if Peter had that in mind when he approached Merlyn, but his judgment was sound. The key was whether he could find another member to form a three-person team, and that problem was quickly solved when Gwen came up.
“Can I join you too?”
“Sure, why not?” Peter nodded calmly.
Peter, Merlyn, and Gwen—three who lacked the most but shone the brightest—had joined hands.