Become My Son-in-Law!
Right after the game ended, Seong-muk didn't head back to the dorm.
He'd received an unexpected invitation.
...Who would've thought Gordon Ramsay would invite me.
He was sitting in the back seat of a Rolls-Royce.
With Olivia, no less.
"Are you sure you're okay? You must be exhausted right after the game..."
"I'm fine. Since we're already in England, it feels right to meet your parents at least once."
"I-I see..."
She meant the parents of a friend she'd been indebted to, but for some reason, Olivia stuttered and averted her gaze.
Visiting a family at the pinnacle of the culinary world has me curious about what kind of food they'll serve.
When else would he get a chance to step into the Ramsay estate?
As he gazed out the window with that thought, a massive compound came into view.
"Ah, that's our house."
A palace or what!?
On a plot spanning thousands of pyeong, stood a house clearly built with premium materials. He couldn't even guess how much money had gone into it—he swallowed hard. Olivia's place back home had seemed huge, but now it felt like a tiny studio apartment.
Soon, a white-haired middle-aged man who looked like the head butler approached and bowed deeply.
"Miss, you've arrived."
"Oliver, it's been a while."
"...Everyone missed you dearly, Miss."
"I missed you all too. I'm sorry for leaving without a word."
"You're at the age to chase your dreams and venture out. No need to apologize."
It seemed this was her first visit home even after arriving in the country.
Following her lead into the mansion, an even more opulent interior welcomed him.
The two of them proceeded inside under the butler's guidance.
Olivia glanced at him and whispered,
"...My father will probably ask what you think about my situation."
A while back, she'd agonized over her father's proposal to return to England. This visit was part of deciding on that.
"Olivia, what do you want to do?"
"...I want to stay in Korea."
She said it while slightly looking away.
She'd clearly wrestled with it for a long time. He figured he'd help however he could.
Screeech!
The door to the dining hall swung open.
At the head of the long table sat a stern middle-aged man.
"You're here. Come sit beside me."
Gordon Ramsay.
Known as "Mr. Ramsay," his gaze was fiercely intense. But Seong-muk had no intention of backing down in a battle of wills, so he approached with a straight posture, pulled out a chair, and sat.
"It's an honor to be invited, Mr. Ramsay."
"Good, think of it that way. You're the first guest from outside Europe to be invited to this estate."
"........."
Gordon took the casual WWE-style remark at face value.
Truly no easy character.
As Seong-muk cleared his throat to change the subject, servants filed in from outside with plates, setting them down one by one.
"Hope it suits your taste. Eat comfortably."
"Then, I'll dig in."
Seong-muk bowed his head slightly, then picked up his knife and fork.
He carefully sliced into the steak in front of him and took a bite.
"Mm...!!"
A burst of flavor filled his mouth.
Incredible.
The ingredients danced on his tongue.
It rivaled the Michelin three-star meals he'd barely managed to reserve in his past life. He couldn't hold back his admiration.
"Did you make this yourself, Mr. Ramsay?"
"No, do you think I'd be cooking in my own home? It's the work of the household chefs."
"Promising chefs apply to join the Ramsay family cooks just to hear Father's occasional advice."
He'd have believed Gordon made it himself, but it was the underlings? How insanely skilled were they?
Whoever made it, it was immensely satisfying.
Gordon set down his fork as if remembering something and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
"You called, sir."
The head butler appeared at the snap.
Gordon issued the order naturally.
"The usual."
"Glenfiddich 50-year, right away."
The butler bowed.
Limited-edition liquor worth millions was apparently his daily drink.
He turned to them and asked,
"Miss, and the guest seem to need drinks too. What would you like?"
"A non-alcoholic cocktail for me, please."
Damn, I want that Glenfiddich 50-year too...
"Ginger ale for me."
"Understood."
He wished he could share the premium whiskey Gordon ordered, but as a minor with a game ahead, he settled for ginger ale.
"Ahh, that's the stuff."
Gordon downed his whiskey in a gulp.
Pity about missing the fine liquor, but Seong-muk finished his meal quite satisfied and wiped his mouth.
"That was delicious. My first meal this good."
"Glad to hear it. Now that you're full, shall we get to the point?"
Gordon wiped his mouth with a napkin.
With sharp eyes, he began.
"I watched your game. Quite impressive."
"Thank you. Glad you thought so."
"That's why I have a proposal."
"What kind?"
"How about living in England?"
"...!"
"My daughter relies on you a lot. To the socially awkward Olivia, you're incredibly important. Accept this, and you'll never worry about money again. What do you say?"
"..."
The sudden proposal left him speechless.
He'd expected something unexpected, but not this.
"Sorry, Mr. Ramsay. I can't accept."
"Why? You can play baseball in England too. With your skills, you'd rule like a king."
"I want to compete at the highest level, always aiming higher. That's my answer."
"Hm..."
Gordon stroked his chin, looking somewhat disappointed.
"If that's your will, nothing to be done. Olivia stays in England, you chase dreams in Korea—separately."
"No, I want Olivia to stay in Korea too."
Gordon frowned at that.
Glare fixed on him, he asked,
"Contradictory, isn't it? You stay in Korea to compete at the top, but Olivia must leave Europe's premier stage for culinary backwater Korea? You don't see the inconsistency?"
"One question."
"Ask."
"Mr. Ramsay, what's most important for a chef?"
"........."
Gordon fell silent briefly.
The answer was obvious.
"Taste. A chef speaks through taste absolutely."
"Then you know—Olivia's skills skyrocketed after coming to Korea."
"...!"
No chef of his caliber could miss it.
He'd probably sensed it from the broadcast footage alone.
Olivia's tremendous growth.
"If taste—the core for a chef—can be honed properly, does it have to be in Europe?"
"...Hm."
"And above all, she's happy now."
"Happy...?"
"Yes, far more than suffering under the Ramsay name's pressure in Europe."
Olivia nodded at his words.
He continued,
"Now she shops freely, hangs out with friends at cafes, takes casual broadcast gigs. Things unimaginable in England."
"Hoo..."
"I want her to keep being happy, from here on out."
"Seong-muk..."
She looked touched; Gordon stroked his chin at the words. Staring straight into his eyes, he asked,
"So you're saying you can make Olivia happy?"
"...?"
Was that the summary?
A bit off, but denying it here wouldn't fly. He nodded.
"Yes, exactly."
"Know what I hate most?"
"Uh...?"
What twist was this?
Managing his expression, he finally asked,
"Not sure."
"Big-mouths with no substance. Need to test if your feelings for Olivia are real."
"Test...?"
"You'll be blindfolded and taste various dishes."
"Blindfolded, various foods...?"
This was straight out of a chef variety show.
Stealing his daughter's TV format?
Gordon continued explaining.
"Find the one Olivia made. Simple, right?"
"...!"
"But I'll have the estate chefs copy her style with all they've got. Won't be easy."
"........."
Insanely difficult just from the sound of it.
He posed the natural question to Gordon.
"What if I succeed?"
"Anything you want. I promise no interference in her choices."
"And if I fail?"
"Simple—you stay in England."
"As expected...!"
"...Hm, no. Same as my first offer lacks thrill. Let's add real penalty flavor."
Gordon took a paper from somewhere.
Scribbling on it—looked like a contract.
Grinning, he handed it over.
"If you and Olivia have a son someday, he'll play for the England national team."
"...!!"
"D-Dad! What is that!?"
Unimaginable contract terms.
He and Olivia were stunned.
But Gordon seemed dead serious.
...If he has to keep her nearby anyway, better to marry her off, he thinks.
He figured awakening her "cooking for someone" played a role. From a career perspective, it might be the most rational for him.
"Agree? Sign, and you take the test."
"Seong-muk..."
Olivia's face flushed deep red.
The premise of their marriage was absurd, and it could mortgage his future.
She looked down and shook her head.
As if he had no choice but to refuse.
But he met Gordon's eyes boldly and declared,
"I'll take the test."
"Seong-muk...!"
Olivia jumped in shock.
She hadn't expected him to accept so readily.
"Seong-muk, distinguishing top chefs' deliberate imitations is nearly impossible without perfect taste...!"
"Yeah, I'm definitely not a supertaster."
"Exactly, relying on luck is too...!"
Before Olivia finished, he placed a hand on her shoulder and patted gently to calm her.
"Don't worry. I've eaten a truckload of your cooking. No way I won't recognize it."
"But..."
"If I fail, no choice—you'll just have to bear my son."
"...!!"
Olivia's most shocked reaction yet—she backed away, face beet red to the limit.
"S-Seong-muk, I, uh, I'll head to the kitchen first..."
Steam practically rose from her head as she malfunctioned like a broken robot.
That look was pretty cute too.
Anyway, no way I'll lose.
He didn't trust his tongue alone.
Sure, he was a foodie among normals, but against star chefs trying to fool him? No chance.
But he had something they didn't.
A weapon perfect for this!
Activated before your eyes.
His ever-reliable cheat sheet appeared.
Confident of victory, he grinned.