Chapter 600: Two Sides of the Same Coin (3)
Chapter 600: Two Sides of the Same Coin (3)
Minjoon couldn’t blame Hugo for throwing away his dish to preserve his pride. Rather, he admired a courage none others in the competition had shown. There was no need to rebuke or comfort Hugo—he needed praise, though even that might not ease Hugo’s feelings.
Exchanging polite words, Minjoon felt like a puppet, unable to tell Hugo what truly lay in his heart—especially in front of the cameras.
That day, Hugo and Jacqueline were eliminated from the finals. Jacqueline left immediately, while Hugo was set to depart the next day. Kaya and Minjoon postponed their flight to spend some time with Hugo.
Yet, they found no words of comfort. As sources of his frustration, any attempt to console might only deepen it.
So they spent the day in silence.
As evening fell, Hugo finally spoke.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“A little.”
“Want some paella?”
Minjoon and Kaya’s eyes widened, then they nodded silently. Hugo led them into the kitchen and quietly began cooking. He soaked rice, chopped ingredients. They didn’t help, nor did he ask. Their help was simply to watch—to support by presence alone.
Hugo finely chopped beef, chicken, mussels, squid, and shrimp, each marinated with different spices. He heated the pan and flambéed each with tequila. Soon, he presented the plates.
Paella Mixta with distinct flavours of beef, chicken, mussels, squid, and shrimp
Freshness: 94%
Origin: (Hidden due to multiple ingredients)
Quality: High
Cooking Score: 9/10
This is his peak.
His usual average was 7, so this dish showed his full skill.
Yet he failed to display this on the Grand Chef stage—the ideal proving ground.
Minjoon scooped a spoonful, avoiding specific ingredients, and tasted it.
“Delicious, Hugo.”
He could have elaborated: the freshness from chewy rice grains, broth deeply infused in chicken’s plain taste, meaty notes of beef blending with tasty mussels, and the harmony of diverse seasonings. But he didn’t.
“It’s delicious,” Kaya said simply.
What Hugo truly sought was not praise for the dish, but acknowledgement as a chef who could craft delicious food.
Minjoon spoke slowly, “You were cool earlier.”
No need to specify ‘earlier.’ Hugo had lost today but hadn't hidden his weaknesses—instead exposing them. That openness was rare and made him shine brightest when he seemed most miserable.
Hugo smiled gratefully. He instinctively felt their brief words were the best support after deep reflection.
Of course, such support didn’t immediately lift him; he remained bitter. Yet he understood he couldn’t fix everything overnight. Especially today, disappointment and frustration lingered. But he was sincerely thankful.
“Shall we have a drink?” Kaya asked gently.
Feigning a grin, Hugo replied, “Drink over paella?”
“Why not? Everything tastes better with paella.”
“Sure,” Hugo nodded, surrendering.
Gradually, drinks loosened their spirits. Their heavy hearts settled; excitement subsided into sobriety. They simply checked each other’s moods.
Watching Hugo quietly, Minjoon felt mixed emotions. He wanted to approach him.
Hugo was a proven chef with a cheerful personality who’d integrate well anywhere. If he needed a chef unlikely to clash with picky Kaya, Hugo was ideal.
But he hesitated to suggest it. Considering Hugo’s future, perhaps it was best to remain his shadow. Minjoon had no intention of using anyone merely for his benefit.
He wanted his name to shine brightest without modifier or assistance. Everyone, chefs included, should thrill at the thought of Minjoon. His kitchen would be paradise for every chef—not just because of salary or treatment.
He remembered joining Rachel’s Rose Island, confident he’d become one of the best chefs in the world’s top kitchen. Though far from perfect then, he envied no one. He knew why: working under Chef Rachel, he felt constant growth—not just in skill but understanding the world’s best chef’s methods. With that knowledge, he could build a better career and craft better dishes.
That was why education mattered. Genius alone didn’t make a genius. It wasn’t just economics, where wealth begets wealth and poverty breeds poverty. A child from a poor family often learns to abandon dreams; a child from wealth learns the patience to realise theirs.
The difference was whether you bowed in shame or had the courage to break the pointing finger.
In that, Minjoon learned much from June and Rachel—to break the fingers pointed at him.
Now, people politely hid their fingers as he walked by.
He wanted to take Hugo to such a place where nobody dared point fingers.
But Hugo wouldn’t respond. Even if he could shatter every accusing finger, he wouldn’t touch his own.
Lost in thought, Hugo suddenly said, “Man, it’s hard for me to keep up with you guys.”
Perhaps that was the best way he could express himself and preserve pride.
Minjoon felt embarrassed, unsure how to respond without hurting him or seeming arrogant.
Kaya interjected, “Yeah, I get it. It’s hard for us too.”
Unexpected, but Minjoon sensed Hugo wouldn’t be offended. Kaya didn’t care if Hugo’s feelings were hurt—she didn’t want to manage his narrow-mindedness.
That was why her words suited the moment: she wasn’t worried, so she wasn’t hurt.
Hugo asked, “When will my heart feel light then?”
While Minjoon, Kaya, and Hugo shared friendship over drinks, others enjoyed themselves in Los Angeles: Chloe, Anderson, and Janet.
Hugging Janet’s baby daughter, Catherine, Chloe murmured, staring at her, “How can you be so pretty?”
“Because her parents are,” Janet replied.
“Catherine, will you live with this aunt forever? Look! You’re nodding now, right?”
“Shut up, you kidnapper!”
Though joking, Anderson looked tense.
Hugging Catherine, Chloe glanced awkwardly at him.
“Did you hear Hugo was eliminated?”
“Yeah, got the text.”
“Isn’t he a spoiler?”
“Well, if Hugo’s downtown, he’s already a walking spoiler.”
“You bet,” Chloe nodded, kissing Catherine’s forehead again.