Chapter 641: As You Stack Up The Legos (4)
Chapter 641: As You Stack Up The Legos (4)
Janet stole a quick glance at Anderson. Since she had been Minjoon’s classmate under Rachel, she was fairly conscious of him. But Anderson was different—despite being the same classmate and a close friend of Minjoon’s, their closeness was incomparable to Janet’s bond with Minjoon.
Anderson was happy about Minjoon’s success, yet he couldn’t be happy all the time. Surely it would feel different if he himself had achieved such success, but they were essentially competitors striving on the same ground.
Looking at Janet for a moment, Anderson reflected. No husband wanted to appear small before his wife, yet he didn’t want to display false pride either. So he thought carefully before speaking.
“Minjoon is my friend, but he’s a great guy.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that?”
“But when I was with him, I’d get upset sometimes. Especially when he told me ‘You can do it,’ while I was struggling.”
In a way, their relationship was like that of a genius and an ordinary man. The funny part was that over time Anderson realised Minjoon wasn’t just naturally gifted—he’d put in as much effort as his talent earned him.
That made Anderson stop getting angry. He stopped throwing tantrums and envying Minjoon unnecessarily. Now, he could say proudly,
“I don’t think about lagging behind him anymore. I just wish I could run alongside him.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No, it’s different.”
“Well, I see.”
She held his hand. Though she was often grumpy with him, deep down she was grateful. She knew how hard it was for him to like her and decide to marry her. He had given her so much comfort and happiness, and she wanted to repay him little by little.
“Anderson, you’re cooler than him in my eyes.”
“Of course!”
“So don’t try to compete with him.”
Once, he might have rebuked her, but now he seemed to understand. She had freed herself from the desire to compete with Minjoon—not meaning she completely gave up.
“Sure, I’ll focus on cooking from now on.”
“And…”
She started to say more, but Catherine began crying faintly outside their room. She quickly kissed Anderson’s cheek, smiling.
“Don’t worry. I think she just woke up. Let me put her back to sleep.”
“Well, it’s my turn…”
“Don’t cling to our schedule. As you said...” She shrugged. “Catherine will probably miss Mom more than Dad.”
Minjoon had often thought of his time at Rose Island as practice—a kind of preparation before opening his own restaurant.
Yet Lotus Bridge was subtly different from that idea. Most notably, Lotus Bridge was itself a restaurant for his cooking practice. Naturally, doing anything repeatedly makes it feel like practice, but after working daily as head chef, he gained a broader perspective.
The difference between head chef and sous chef roles—including responsibility and weight—changed his viewpoint.
Consequently, he had to constantly hone his cooking. Surprisingly, his skills advanced quickly.
When he opened Lotus Bridge, he vaguely thought he would master sensuous cooking first—the most elusive cooking level 9 condition.
As head chef, he reviewed recipes from Irregular Lab where Kaya worked, monitored junior chefs’ creations, and advised them, which broadened his views.
His swift progress was in cooking skills, but he realised he’d misunderstood something.
Though head chef, he rarely cooked himself, except for extra main dishes on customer requests. Mostly, he handled plating.
In doing so, he began to secretly consider how plating affected taste—something he hadn‘t noticed before. The amount of sauce, for example, depended on plating style.
Upon realising this, he became obsessed with plating—not mere decoration but an integral part of cooking. His sensitivity to flavour and balance sharpened.
Thanks to this, his cooking skills improved much faster.
If he continued progressing, he felt he could reach cooking level 9 within years.
I’ll achieve cooking level 9 soon.
Every day he filled with hope. When he thought about matching Chef Rachel after passing the apprentice phase, suffering as a junior chef in Korea, he already savoured the satisfaction ahead. Day by day, he dreamed of climbing to Rachel’s status.
One day, when he looked casually at Kaya, he realised how much she had changed.
It wasn’t her hairstyle, skin, or clothes—not any visible feature.
It was her cooking level.
She had finally reached cooking level 9, something he had taken for granted as natural from the start.
At that moment, he looked at Kaya—not sure if he saw her or her cooking level on the system window beside her.
Suddenly, a dazzling light blinded him—not just happiness at her achievement. The light was so bright he couldn’t look directly.
But amidst that radiance, only Kaya’s true form was clear, undistorted.
Yet, he felt strange. She seemed fake.
The Kaya he’d observed until now wasn’t the same as the one before him.
What have I been watching until now?
Suddenly, Kaya felt unfamiliar. He thought he had overcome his inferiority complex around her, but realised it still lingered subconsciously—it never escaped.
His own inferiority complex remained. Clenching his fist, he grew frustrated.
He had long believed she was near cooking level 9, since that level required kitchen leadership, cooking, and sensuous cooking. She lacked only kitchen leadership. In cooking and sensuous cooking, she had surpassed level 8 long ago.
But knowing this and seeing it confirmed before his eyes was entirely different.
He had hoped to reach level 9 before her—it didn’t seem impossible, as both reached level 8 at the same time. Besides, he’d spent more time cooking after the Grand Chef competition.
Yet, she was far ahead in cooking skill.
Man, I feel like crap.
Should he be proud of her growth as her husband?
Or resentful as her competitor?
He didn’t know.
All he could do was watch her, embarrassed and lost.
Kaya noticed him, lost in thought while talking with chefs. She waved and approached.
She looked up at him, then glanced behind.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look well. Don’t tell me you have a fever...”
Placing her hand on his forehead, she frowned, whispering. But he only watched silently.
If Kaya were in my shoes, what would she think?
He felt she’d make the right choice. Though sometimes confused, she usually chose wisely.