Chapter 622: A Flower on the Cliff (10)
Chapter 622: A Flower on the Cliff (10)
Maybe it was just her sweet delusion, but Gwen felt as if it were about to become reality at this very moment. An unexpected wave of confidence filled her, strange and uplifting. Since her life had been so consumed by misfortune, never once really shining, she was convinced that—at least for now—it could finally sparkle. Ironically, it was her own sense of inferiority that had given rise to this confidence. Only then did Gwen realise that everything depended on one’s mindset.
She glanced quickly at Peter. He remained calm, his expression inscrutable. She felt somewhat confused. He had just confessed his love to her, yet she wasn’t particularly moved. It made sense—she hadn’t thought about romance or love in a long time. When her life was consumed by addiction, purity had long since vanished. Now, her goal was to repair everything that had been broken in her life, piece by piece. Perhaps, someday, a man might be part of that healing, but any relationship she had would inevitably be dry and tedious.
Maybe she would have accepted Peter’s confession if her circumstances were different, if she hadn’t been forced into competition with him, or if she didn’t have to focus on the Grand Chef. It wasn’t because she liked him. It was because she wanted someone who could love her purely, like a boy—someone she could lean on without reservations. Maybe she no longer remembered how he truly felt about her. But sometimes, she could smile at him genuinely, from the depths of her heart, without a trace of pretense.
Of course, what he wanted was more than that.
I will beat him.
Her victories at the Grand Chef so far hadn’t been real challenges. The real contest was happening now. Her aim in this competition wasn’t merely to succeed in the cooking missions, but to outshine every other participant and claim the trophy. Even if she achieved that, she knew it would feel meaningless regardless of how long she survived the mission.
Kaya could read her thoughts just by looking at her. She understood how desperately Gwen wanted to win—and what that would mean for her.
So Kaya spoke out with a firmer, more resolute voice than ever before. “I’ve voted for Peter.”
Gwen’s face went blank.
Kaya’s declaration registered for a moment before Gwen’s mind tried to deny it outright, unwilling to accept what Kaya had said. But Kaya continued, refusing to let her evade reality.
“The other judges and the invited chefs all said the same. Peter’s cooking was fresh, but he isn’t quite ready yet. They said your dish wasn’t fresh, but you’re ready—ready enough. Well, if by ready they mean you’re prepared to open an ordinary restaurant, then yes, they’re right. But if you ask me whether you’re ready to open the best restaurant, I don’t think either you or Peter are ready yet.”
The other chefs nodded in agreement. What Kaya said was true.
Though they considered Gwen a prepared chef, it was only because she was ready to open a decent restaurant, not a top-tier one. Perhaps she could run a good neighbourhood restaurant, but nothing like Lotus Bridge. Of course, she hadn’t expected to. Kaya was right: neither Gwen nor Peter were prepared to open a perfect restaurant yet.
Gwen’s face turned pale. She wished desperately that everything Kaya was saying was a nightmare. It hurt to accept the harsh truth so bluntly delivered by someone she admired.
Ignoring Gwen’s reaction, Kaya pressed on. “Peter, you’ve found your path, even if it’s not perfect yet. I don’t think the Grand Chef competition has ever sought a perfect chef. What they want is the most captivating participant. When I won the Grand Chef, I didn’t think I was perfect—and I still don’t. So whether you’re perfect now or not doesn’t matter.”
Kaya didn’t want to say it openly in front of Gwen, but she believed her vote for Peter would ultimately help Gwen. Even if Gwen won the Grand Chef with her awkward skills and culinary vision, Kaya feared she’d lose her way, drown in invitations and fame. Gwen was competent but lacked charisma. Kaya and Minjoon believed they could make her alluring enough. In fact, Gwen had already applied for a chef position at Lotus Bridge.
It would only add sting to the wound if Kaya mentioned this now. Gwen had every right to be angry and upset. Saying she made her choice for Gwen’s sake would be a lie.
So Kaya turned her attention back to Peter. “Peter, you’re a charming chef.”
This was no empty flattery. Kaya was sincere. She wouldn’t have praised the old Peter, but it was clear how much he had changed. Knowing how hard transformation was, she had no choice but to acknowledge his effort.
“I want to see you become a Grand Chef and develop your own cuisine. I will be cheering for you. This season’s Grand Chef belongs to you.”
A silence settled over the venue. Then Minjoon was the first to applaud. After five claps from him, the other chefs followed, their applause swelling. Peter stared at their clapping hands in disbelief.
They’re clapping for me… he thought blankly. Yes, they’re clapping for me.
These were not ordinary chefs—they were great figures in the culinary world recognising and congratulating him. The once most hated chef was now being smiled upon by the world.
At that moment, Peter finally allowed himself to believe it. Despite all the positive feedback he had received this season, he’d never been able to fully trust it until now.
People no longer hated him. They loved him.
He looked up at the ceiling. He didn’t want to cry, but tears streamed down his cheeks.
Whether the ending was good or bad, there was always an emptiness when everything was done. Even young men who only thought about leaving the military felt hollow when finally boarding the bus home after discharge.
Gwen was no different. She had hoped everything would turn out her way, only to discover they hadn’t.
She sat in the garden, her face paler than before. The sunlight was warm, but she couldn’t bear to stay in it. She feared that the coldness in her heart would freeze her the moment she stepped out of the sunlight and into the dark shade. She felt cold.
“Gwen.”
She looked up. Minjoon and Kaya stood before her.
She smiled faintly. “Are you here to comfort me?”
“No.” Minjoon answered bluntly. “You don’t need comfort. Second place in this contest isn’t that bad.”
“But I lost.”
“Then let me ask you—was losing to someone bad?”
“Well, it’s worse than winning,” Gwen answered wearily.
He didn’t try to argue the point further. In truth, no amount of clumsy wordplay could lift her spirits. Perhaps she would have been better off comforted, as she had suggested.
She’ll be dead in a month.
Back then, she lost to Michael. This time, Peter. Minjoon and Kaya were now her judges. Could any of this keep her from ending her life?
“So, what are you going to do?” Kaya asked, her voice dry.
Her bluntness caught Minjoon off guard—it wasn’t very considerate of Gwen’s feelings. But he knew Kaya was worried in her own way. She didn’t want to see Gwen look miserable, like a puppy soaked in rain.
With that thought, Kaya had no choice but to be harsh.
“Are you going to sit here like this all day?”
“I just want to rest for a while…”
“It’s fine to rest. I understand how you feel. But promise me one thing first.”
“What promise?”
“Join Lotus Bridge,” Kaya said quietly.
Gwen stared blankly at her, then asked in a hollow voice, “Don’t you need to interview me again or something?”
“Think of the whole Grand Chef contest as a long interview. Frankly, none of the applicants we’re interviewing this afternoon are better than you.”
“I suppose so…” Gwen replied.