Chapter 101
Chapter 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Best Food
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly 2 hours and 57 minutes later.
The man who received the email from Lou Wilson flashed an intrigued smile.
Lee Dae-hyuk. South Korean.
The youngest son of Daehan Group Chairman Lee Myung-guk.
Twenty-seven years old.
An asset holder who had snapped up $100 million worth of Apple stock.
“Interesting.”
The man lounged on the sofa, genuinely fascinated.
A big-money player had suddenly flown in from South Korea, hunting for Steven Gibson’s biological mother.
The reason?
‘Just making friends? Or…’
He racked his brain, but nothing clicked.
Still, his gut instinct was screaming.
This guy was a ‘sprout.’
A sprout that could bring variables. Or danger.
‘Should I stomp it out?’
On the other hand, curiosity bubbled up.
“……”
The man sank into thought.
What if the guy proved useful?
They needed manpower in Asia anyway.
Especially to handle the traitor in Korea.
‘Better to watch for now.’
Truth be told, as long as Lee Dae-hyuk didn’t get in the way of their mission, he was fine letting him slide.
Click!!!
The man closed the email window and rose to his feet.
Time to clock in at his second job.
Step, step, step!!!
His pace quickened as he strode out of the office.
***
Minor stomachaches and headaches had tormented Steven Gibson for ages.
No clue when they’d started.
But Steven Gibson knew the truth.
These little pains were divine retribution.
He gave his all to speak out, imagined with every ounce of effort, desperately innovated and churned out creation after creation.
Mysteries no single human brain or body could produce flowed from his hands.
Countless ‘innovations.’
It felt like labor pains for a woman in childbirth.
No—every time he birthed something into the world, chunks of his guts and living flesh seemed to rip away.
That was the price of his successes: a shortening lifespan, pains piling up.
Even an iron-willed man like Steven Gibson was only human when it came to agony.
Had he been some fragile nobody, it might’ve been a mercy.
Ordinary meds and surgery would’ve done the trick.
Instead, Steven Gibson shunned Western scalpels and pills for something new.
Oriental medicine—a path to ease the pain and remake him into something better.
At every twinge, he’d meditate, get moxibustion, take acupuncture.
Miraculously, the torment that shackled him started to lift.
At least in this modest little Korean clinic tucked in a Silicon Valley corner.
“Ugh…”
Steven Gibson groaned softly, shirt off.
Each needle piercing his torso chased away the pain, lightened his body.
The moxa smoke and heat filtering through his nose restored his vigor.
Feeling? No—real energy flooding every inch of him.
Steven Gibson cracked his eyes and gazed at the man working the needles: Yi Chen-rian.
“The pain vanishes from my whole body. You truly are a miracle worker.”
“It’s not about skill. Just giving it my all.”
Yi Chen-rian smiled faintly as he placed the needles and moxa on Steven Gibson’s frame.
Yi Chen-rian.
Branch chief of the ‘secret organization.’ Lou Wilson’s backer.
“You’ve got bigger things ahead for the world. Keep yourself healthy first.”
“Right. More. Much bigger things.”
Oblivious to how he was dying bit by bit, the man could only mouth empty promises.
***
Silicon Valley had its luxury boutiques.
Chanel, Gucci—brands any Korean would know. Lee Dae-hyuk, Yoon Tae-ho, and Kim Sung-hee hustled through them.
All for tonight: Investor’s Night.
The world’s elite would converge.
No bowing to them meant armoring up in the finest labels head to toe.
‘Gold-threaded or what? Insanely pricey.’
Lee Dae-hyuk, still wired like a regular guy, grumbled to himself.
Other stuff aside, outfits where shirt, belt, tie, and shoes topped 100 million won each? Absurd.
With that cash, he’d rather buy stock. But he reined in the urge this time.
Investor’s Night would swarm with global titans.
Sure, he was broke next to them. But clothing? No way he’d yield.
‘Gotta impress Steven Gibson.’
The man would show for sure.
No full presentation maybe, but some new-product tease for certain.
A handshake, chitchat—possible.
Last thing: looking like a scrub next to the big shots.
‘Yeah. These aren’t clothes. Weapons.’
He was geared up now.
A 5-million-won tie pin and 3-million-won pocket square sealed the deal(?).
Lee Dae-hyuk paused, pondering.
‘…This’ll do.’
Tempted to pile on pricier gear, head to toe.
But risk of nouveau riche vibes. This struck the perfect balance.
Look at Microsoft’s Bill Gates or Steven Gibson—no bling.
‘Their legacies are the real luxury.’
Same for Yu Jae-man.
Dude pulled every eye in a t-shirt and jeans.
One day, that’d be him.
A giant overwhelming crowds with sheer presence, not labels.
But.
“Uh… Y-Young Master.”
Unlike him, one soul could never scale those heights.
“Th-this… c-can I even w-wear it? No, take it?”
Out on the street, shopping done.
Yoon Tae-ho—decked in the exact same brands as Lee Dae-hyuk—shook like a leaf.
“…Nervous?”
“…Terror, more like. Never draped anything this fancy.”
“Down-to-earth? Chicken?”
“…Down-to-earth works.”
Yoon Tae-ho parried the jab, eyes sparkling anew.
“R-Really mine?”
“No take-backs. Wear it forever.”
Yoon Tae-ho’s lips twitched at Lee Dae-hyuk’s words.
“Keh. Ahem… Heh. Sorry.”
He smoothed the runaway grin and bowed.
Laughing outright in front of Lee Dae-hyuk? Mortifying.
Lee Dae-hyuk watched, stone-faced.
‘Money scares people, huh.’
Power of cash reaffirmed.
Still, nice feeling too.
Gifting his dearest this “modest”(?) haul.
Kim Sung-hee, meanwhile, clutched one lone handbag. Low-key.
“That all? At least some clothes…”
She waved off Lee Dae-hyuk’s nudge.
“Way more than enough. Seriously.”
Petty-bourgeois Kim Sung-hee politely turned down the lavish handout.
Investor’s Night: Silicon Valley shindig—no, global corps and top shareholders for new-product unveils, not partying.
Leaks inevitable, but “security” meant investor-plus-one-companion only.
Lee Dae-hyuk’s plus-one: Yoon Tae-ho.
So no free luxury rags for Kim Sung-hee.
“No need to feel bad… Fine. Pay me back your way later.”
Every dime spent so far? From the 5 billion won Lee Dae-hwan fronted.
Blow it all? No regrets.
Her no didn’t irk him either.
Smart distance, no overkill gratitude.
‘Solid worker. No drama.’
Daehan Foundation scholarships? No strings like “work for us.”
Pure philanthropy.
But Lee Dae-hyuk eyed her for his own outfit.
Not Daehan Group. His company.
‘Pitch after U.S. wraps.’
Months left? Who knew.
No point pushing now.
Path set(?), he pressed on.
“Shopping’s done. Grub time.”
Yoon Tae-ho eyed Kim Sung-hee.
Seoul lifers like him and Lee Dae-hyuk? Clueless on Silicon Valley eats.
Lee Dae-hyuk shot her puppy-dog eyes too.
Post-breakfast, “weapon” run—now starving.
“H-Hungry bad, huh.”
Their stares weighed heavy.
Fresh off Korea life, tastes wouldn’t mesh.
‘Wrong spot? I’m toast.’
“Hmm…”
Quick think—her eyes lit up.
Silicon Valley’s top eats hit her.
“Let’s roll. Taking you to the best Best Food joint!!”
Gulp!
She picked up the pace.
***
“Not Best Food. Fast food, right?”
Lee Dae-hyuk griped. Kim Sung-hee pointed at the sign.
“Check it, boss. Store’s ‘Best Food.’ Didn’t lie.”
“……”
“……”
Her brass left them speechless.
Felt the heat?
Sassy glare.
“Eat first. Then trash it.”
Snipe landed—waiter dropped handmade burgers, colas, fries. Three sets.
Thud!!!
Waiter vanished. Lee Dae-hyuk snatched a burger.
“Let’s test the hype.”
“Beyond hype.”
Confidence peaked as he chomped.
And.
Munch, munch!!!
Pillowy bun.
Sweet-tangy, umami-packed, juice-bursting patty.
Crisp veggies hugging it.
Secret sauces dancing wild.
Perfect harmony.
“Tasty.”
Kim Sung-hee scowled at the curt verdict.
“That’s it?”
He grinned mischievously at her pout.
“Best burger of my life.”
Burst out laughing mid-sentence.
Hilarious, really.
Dropped 100 mil—200 with Yoon—on swank, lunch? Burgers.
Mingling with Valley wage slaves.
‘Peaceful.’
War tonight.
Assets, biz sharks everywhere. Money battles ahead.
Then—ruckus outside.
“Huh?”
Lee Dae-hyuk turned. Jaw-drop.
His second mark, guards in tow, stormed Best Food.
Iron Steel star Robert Downey Jr. And director Jonathan Favreau.
Boss, Become a Chaebol