Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The World's Strongest Medal Flex
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Kim Ji-hoon, who had to head to work early in the morning, slowly opened his eyes in the guest room bed.
And he was startled.
He had definitely fallen asleep alone last night, yet something warm and soft was nestled in his arms.
Carefully pulling down the blanket, he found Lily curled up inside.
Meeting his eyes, she grinned and said,
"You're awake?"
Ji-hoon asked in bewilderment,
"Lily? How'd you get here? Weren't you sleeping with Mom?"
"Yeah! I woke up early because I wanted to see my husband off. Hehe."
She was so adorable that Ji-hoon couldn't hold back his laughter.
He playfully patted Lily's butt, which he hadn't held all night.
After savoring his wife's warm body heat for a moment, Ji-hoon reluctantly got up.
"I'll go wash up."
As Ji-hoon headed into the bathroom, Lily quietly made her way to the kitchen.
She opened the fridge, took something out, and carefully poured it into a glass.
Moments later, as Ji-hoon came out freshly washed, Lily came running over with the glass.
"Honey! Drink this!"
Ji-hoon looked at the black drink she handed him and asked,
"What's this?"
"Hehe. Mom taught me that when the head of the household goes to work, his wife has to take care of him!"
It was the frost bean milk Ji-hoon had made for Lily.
Ji-hoon couldn't help but chuckle.
Lily, who had gotten totally hooked on playing the role of a wife, was just too cute.
"Ahh~ Delicious. Thanks, Lily."
Thinking of her effort, he downed the milk in one gulp.
Lily took the empty glass.
"Yeah! Get ready quick!"
She hurried back to the kitchen to help her husband prepare for work.
The pre-dawn commute was always quiet.
It must be a feeling every family head experiences daily.
This rewarding moment of heading out to work to provide for his wife and kids.
Even early in the morning, a single word of encouragement from his wife—"Take care"—made strength surge from nowhere, lightening his steps.
That's what being the head of the household meant.
Ahem.
Feeling super smug about it.
After a shy kiss at the front door and seeing him off, his morale shot through the roof.
'Alright. Let's hustle hard today too~'
I pick up Dong-hyun every morning on my way.
Click.
Opening the door to Dong-hyun's house—my old place—I saw him drying his hair.
"Hey~ The family head has arrived!"
My morning greeting earned me a look like I was crazy.
Heh heh. Yeah, like you punks get the weight of being the head of the house.
"Talking nonsense first thing in the morning? Looks like another rough day ahead. Parents still asleep?"
"Yeah. They're going sightseeing with Lily starting today?"
"Man, jealous. I wanna go sightseeing too."
Heh heh, Chun-sik. That's not for the likes of you.
"We'll go when things loosen up. Deliveries coming today, right?"
"Yeah. By the way, you're really putting that up at the entrance?"
Dong-hyun looked uneasy.
"Of course. Gotta pull in the aggro properly."
"Dude! We're already turning away customers—no seats! Are you insane?"
I'd decided to print a huge photo of me receiving the medal with President Vance and stick it up in the shop.
Heh heh.
Medal recipients get the right to enter the White House anytime and meet the president.
No monetary perks, but it's prime flex material.
I'm the world's strongest medal flexer.
"Dude, gotta capitalize while business is booming and we can. Once those investment offers roll in, we'll plaster branches too."
Dong-hyun just shook his head.
"Crazy bastard... Just a total lunatic..."
"Let's go. Ugh, tons to inspect—super busy."
"Yeah, let's roll."
Soon, dressed in comfy work clothes, Dong-hyun and I headed to the shop.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Mornings weren't busy just for us.
After sending off the delivery bosses, seeing the piled-up ingredients felt reassuring.
We'd brought in a week's worth at once.
The mountain of boxes in the prep kitchen corner reminded me of army days.
Thankfully, the kitchen had automated machines for easy prep.
Like the veggie slicer for bulk cutting.
Times sure have gotten convenient.
How could anyone chop all this by hand?
The machine whirred, and as I dumped in onions, sliced ones piled up in the stainless vat at the outlet.
'Click' is always right.
Well, some artisans say hand-chopping gives better texture.
I'm not that armed with craftsman spirit.
A place for affordable, no-guilt meals.
That was my goal.
"Have some coffee first."
Dong-hyun brewed me a cup.
"Ooh~ Thanks~"
Slurp.
The warm caffeine hitting my stomach cleared my head.
"Dong-hyun."
"Yeah?"
"How long you planning to work?"
"Hmm... Few years, I guess. Save up big here, then back to Korea, buy a house or something."
Right.
Wage gaps make it several times faster than Korea.
"......Stick around long-term, yeah?"
"Creepy much?"
His disgusted face was hilarious.
"Dude, snag a pretty girl and settle here—why not?"
Honestly, if Dong-hyun went back to Korea, I'd have no one reliable.
To keep him long-term, best to get him a girlfriend.
"Dunno... All work, no play—how'm I supposed to meet one, you psycho?"
Fair point.
Shop-home, shop-home routine—girls don't appear by magic.
"Hit up some volunteer gigs, hook one. Who knows? Might find a fan."
"Ahem... That'd be nice."
He wasn't totally against it.
'Wanna play matchmaker.'
If only Lily had friends, but sadly no, so matchmaking was tricky.
This guy's solid gold, though.
Not the cheating type.
"Oh? Aunties are here."
Time passed, and employees arrived.
"Good morning~"
Dong-hyun and I greeted them warmly.
"Ingredients came in, huh?"
An auntie glanced at the boxes.
"Yes. But Auntie, menu's changing a bit today."
"Huh? No heads-up."
She looked puzzled.
What's the best value Korean dish?
Soup, hands down.
Unless loaded with pricey stuff, but most Korean soups aren't.
"Seaweed soup today. See the dried seaweed over there?"
Yep.
Planning to serve that school lunch-famous seaweed soup for a while.
Simple reason.
Word of mouth exploded.
Rumors of healthy 'sea vegetable' seaweed spread through Berkeley.
Truth is, few countries eat seaweed besides Korea and Japan.
Especially the US. 'Seaweed (sea grass)' sounds unappetizing from the name.
But for me, seaweed that expands massively in water was a godsend leftover generator.
"Seaweed soup? Sounds good."
Auntie nodded.
"Beef? Or seafood?"
"What're you saying? Auntie, seaweed soup's roots are beef."
Beef's cheap in the US.
So load it up.
Especially soup cuts.
"Hoho, Boss Kim knows his stuff. Beef's the classic."
Some hate seafood fishiness, but beef seaweed soup has universal appeal.
"Yes. Prep the seaweed soup then. We'll finish sorting."
"Got it~ Good work~"
Aunties got to their stations.
"Come on~ Try it! Grab a taste~"
Regulars eyed the new seaweed soup curiously, so I teased.
Salty, hearty seaweed soup.
Might not suit all tastes.
They might think, 'Why eat sea grass?'
But get this?
37% of US adults are obese.
From burgers, pizza—greasy, flour-based staples. Inevitable.
That's where I got my idea.
Korean food benefits.
Fiber-rich, phytochemical-packed, fermented like kimchi/miso—prevents adult diseases, aids obesity, gut health, immunity.
I printed cute signs on every table: effects of eating Korean food.
Menus explain benefits per dish.
'Health marketing.'
Koreans do it too, right?
If it's 'good for you,' appetite surges, wanna eat more.
Like samgyetang on dog days.
Especially if 'great for men'—guys go nuts.
Americans know obesity's bad.
Parents especially want healthy food for kids.
Thanks to Babsang and school lunch event.
Customers asking for Korean recipes spiked.
'Korean = healthy + tasty.'
That's my goal.
Korean food in US? Plenty: gukbap, BBQ, chicken.
But Koreans run on rice power, yeah?
Berkeley's no major hub.
Need NYC core for real fame.
But who cares?
I'm a walking billboard.
School quest rewards this sweet.
"Good work, everyone~"
Dropped off the departing staff and Dong-hyun—who was locking up—in my car, then headed home.
"I'm back... Huh?"
Entering, I saw Lily in a pretty hanbok of soft colors.
Ah.
Mom's gift must've been the hanbok.
Seeing me, Lily clasped hands at her belly, bowing shyly.
"Seobangnim~"
Ah.
Heart-melter, this.
Where'd she learn that?
Turning, Mom and Dad chuckled in the living room, watching us.
What the—!
Couldn't hide my grin, gave Lily a light hug.
Aah, fatigue cure right here.
"Hehe. Asked Mom how to call husband in Korea!"
Cheered me off to work, welcomes me like this—bliss.
"Hehe, call me too, honey!"
"Huh?"
Ah.
Sageuk playtime.
Straightening up, I cleared my throat, went stern.
"My lady."
"Kyahahaha~ My lady~ My lady~ Mom! Hear that? He called me my lady! Hehehe!"
What's so funny?
Her bubbly charm plus elegance—irresistible Lily.
Said I'd wash up, showered, plopped on sofa.
"No issues today?"
Asked parents.
"Issues? Hohoho, there were."
"Huh? What?"
"Well, you see..."
Mom gave a meaningful smile.