Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Why Did You Come to Our House? (3)
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Song Joo-hyun finally understood after hearing Dal-nim's words.
Earlier, while cooking pork kimchi steamed rolls for Song Ji-ah and Kwon Su-young,
he had taken advantage of the spare time to sneak a peek at Onui Tycoon. It was displayed like this there.
[Path of Cooking (LV. 3) - Proficiency 80%]
[Proficiency reaches 100% to level up to the next stage.]
'I've been cooking every day, so it's no wonder the proficiency went up. But what do I get when the level increases?'
He couldn't help but wonder.
And now, Dal-nim's explanation had just resolved his curiosity.
[Dal-nim: Oh? I just checked, and you've gained another Excellent Customer today. Congratulations!]
[Song Joo-hyun: Yeah, luckily they seemed to like our restaurant's food.]
[Dal-nim: They must have fallen for your touch.]
[Song Joo-hyun: Su-young-i seems like it, but I don't know about the other regular customers.]
[Dal-nim: Things are looking good. At this rate, you'll definitely reach Fame Level 2 in no time!]
[Song Joo-hyun: Fame Level?]
[Dal-nim: You don't know? I haven't explained properly yet since the time didn't seem right.
But if you keep drawing in customers like this, it might be better to tell you now.]
[Song Joo-hyun: What is it?]
[Dal-nim: Hm, simply put, Fame is the total satisfaction level of individual customers.]
[Song Joo-hyun: So the more Excellent Customers and regulars we get, the higher the Fame goes.]
[Dal-nim: Exactly. As that value rises and Fame levels up, more customers will come in. To the point where the floating population in the nearby commercial area increases a bit thanks to this shop.
Explosive profits! Shop expansion! It's not a dream.]
[Song Joo-hyun: Yeah... I'll think about that slowly.]
He figured Dal-nim had answered all his questions.
As if on cue, Dal-nim spread his arms wide and started dynamic stretching. He stretched his swollen pectorals to the side, continuously stimulating them.
They say this helps with both muscle growth and recovery.
Just as he thought the messages had stopped and turned back toward the workout equipment, the chat pinged again.
He still had two more sets on the bench press to go.
"What now..."
He peeked at the message and shrugged in surprise.
[Song Joo-hyun: Yoon-seul said you guys are super fit?]
[Dal-nim: Hm...]
[Song Joo-hyun: Not denying it?]
[Dal-nim: Ahem, we never neglect our training. My sibling and I.]
[Song Joo-hyun: Why do you guys work out so hard?]
[Dal-nim: Well, we have to swing from clotheslines, don't we? It consumes so much stamina.]
[Song Joo-hyun: Yeah, got it.]
Song Joo-hyun didn't feel like asking more.
He quickly logged out of the Tycoon app.
It all clicked in his mind.
The siblings were concept-obsessed weirdos.
"They might've even beaten a tiger in a fight? Nah, probably not."
Amused and exasperated, Song Joo-hyun's gaze turned to his little sister. She was sitting quietly on the bus without getting fidgety.
Looking over, she was folding her fingers one by one, counting numbers. Her expression was serious.
"Yoon-seul, what number are you at now?"
"942... 943..."
If a five-year-old could count this high, she'd be a genius.
He thought that, but remembering why Jang Yoon-seul was counting so diligently made it a bittersweet situation.
She had been triggered by the phone wallpaper that popped up just moments ago. Her chocolate-smeared face was captured perfectly.
"Hmm... Maybe I should change the wallpaper soon."
Muttering to himself, he still found his sister's diligent counting adorable. Song Joo-hyun decided to leave it be for a while.
**
"It's a total contrast to last night's dinner rush."
Unlike yesterday, when he had test-prepared pork kimchi steamed rolls, tonight's dinner was slow.
Lunch had been normal.
But as evening hit, the area felt unusually quiet.
"Some days are just like this."
Yoon-seul had been napping since break time, still out cold.
She sometimes napped during that slot, but now it was seven in the evening.
She was sleeping so deeply it was almost worrying.
If she hadn't been mumbling 'Uuuu... so fuwwy...'
he might have ditched the shop and rushed her to the hospital.
He poked her sleeping face playfully and was about to fiddle with his smartphone when familiar faces entered the shop.
- Oh! Boss! We're here.
- Long time no see.
It had been a few weeks, but their strong first impression made them instantly recognizable.
"Ah! The couple from opening day."
- Correct!
The wife was still outgoing, the husband more reserved. They looked young enough to mistake for college sweethearts.
They sat right away, and the wife struck up a conversation first.
- Boss, how's business today?
"Ah... Fewer customers than usual. Especially tonight. Lunch was fine, though."
- Aww, that's why we came, you know?
"What do you mean...?"
- Honey, don't startle him like that.
- Why not? It's useful info. A little heads-up is fine! Right, Boss?
"Info? Is today some special occasion? Like a national 'eat at home' day?"
The wife burst into a hearty laugh at his words.
She reminded him of a bandit.
- What kind of joke is that? No such thing exists.
He had been serious.
- There's a marathon in the next neighborhood. Probably why some locals are missing.
"Ah... marathon."
That made sense.
He vaguely remembered seeing an ad from some media company about a marathon when he went to buy the gas burner yesterday.
Lunch customers were mostly office workers nearby, so numbers held steady.
But dinner drew locals or people venturing out to eat, who might head to the event instead.
"Celebrities are participating, right? I think I saw a banner. Idols too?"
- Yep! People flock to see them.
"It's about time the marathon ends. Guess they're eating there before heading home."
- Probably. It's a busy area with lots of eateries.
Nothing you could do about that.
Just chalk it up to bad luck.
- But we'll eat plenty! I'm starving.
- The stuff last time was good. Same again, honey?
- No, let's try something different today.
Her suggestion of something different sounded like an opportunity.
"How about testing a new menu item?"
- Hm... Last time was memorable, so yeah. What's the dish?
"Soy sauce meat noodles."
- Ground meat?
"Ground meat, yes."
- How's the flavor?
"Sweet and salty. Topped with some young greens for health."
- Insane. Honey, the boss sold me. Soy sauce noodles it is.
- Me too... I was craving something light. Can we get two bowls, Boss?
"Right away."
In the kitchen, she was still snoring softly.
He had tucked the sleeping sister into a corner by pushing two chairs together in the cramped space.
Just then, a voice called from the dining area.
- Boss, where's your sister?
"Sleeping in the kitchen now."
- Aha... Hehe, sounds cute just hearing it.
The wife was great at warming up to people.
He heated the pan on the burner and poured in the ground meat.
The sesame oil, sugar, and soy sauce coating the meat mixed beautifully over the flame.
"Ground meat cooks fast, so you can sear it with sesame oil."
Sesame oil has a low smoke point, so it's usually added last for aroma.
But when stir-frying ground meat, it doubles the nutty scent.
Of course, watch it doesn't burn.
Sizzle—
Even on low heat, smoke rose gently as the meat cooked.
- Whoa! Smells amazing already. No way!
- Honey... calm down? Drool's coming.
The sesame oil aroma wafted out from the open kitchen, drawing immediate reactions.
A bit chaotic, but he stayed focused on cooking.
He boiled thin noodles in hot water and prepped the mixing sauce simultaneously.
Sugar and oligo syrup thickened the soy sauce. It needed to be sticky to coat well and intensify the flavor.
Minced garlic and pepper powder for kick, plus a dash more sesame oil.
"The aroma is already rich."
He rinsed the noodles thoroughly to remove excess starch, then mixed with the sauce and browned ground beef.
Looked delicious already.
"But it looks a bit plain on the plate."
He piled on prepped young greens prettily.
The coiled noodles already resembled a fine sandcastle; the leaves on top made it pop visually.
"Adds texture and cuts the oiliness."
Two bowls done in a flash.
Yesterday's menu took longer with more steps, so today was simple.
Simple didn't mean bland.
He carried the trays out, and the couple welcomed him with light applause.
No other customers, so their reactions felt like from friends or family—warming his heart.
- Wow, look at that presentation.
- Honey, quick, take a pic.
The husband politely clasped his hands on his lap, waiting patiently for the wife to snap photos.
Was this what marriage was?
Noticing and accommodating each other in the little things.
"I've thought it before, but you two get along so well."
- Us? Of course!
The wife grinned slyly and poked her husband's shoulder.
He hadn't minded, but the husband, perhaps catching his glance, cleared his throat and stood.
- Ah, honey, I forgot your water. Boss, mind if I get a glass?
"Get a hundred if you want."
Asking permission just to fetch water.
Compared to the wife, the husband seemed shy.
That's when it happened.
A little one toddled out from the kitchen, looking half-asleep.
"Uuuung... Yoon-seuw-i hungy."
She leaned her small body fully against someone.
But it wasn't him.
- Ah...
She had leaned on the husband's thigh, who was getting water.
His jeans matched Song Joo-hyun's color, confusing her.
Yoon-seul noticed the leg felt different from usual and finally looked up.
Their eyes met, awkward air hanging between them.
A shadow fell over her face, her expression turning grave.
"Heh... I got confused!"