Chapter 100
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - You've Got Coins, Right?
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1.
"...Unnie Yerin caused a scene?"
Having safely wrapped up the lunch rush, Yurim was eating inside the food truck when she suddenly looked up from her phone and spoke.
"Yerin did? What on earth happened?"
"She told a customer who came to the food truck to buzz off. Now the community's blowing up about it."
"Hmm..."
Lee Seohwa, who had been slowly chewing her kimbap, paused in thought for a moment before speaking calmly.
"It's nothing major."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Yerin's not the type to snap at someone for no reason. There must've been a good cause. So no need to worry."
"But the community right now... she's getting flamed hard... Stuff like her face alone makes her look rude, or I knew she was always like that... But she's not like that at all!"
Seohwa chuckled softly as Yurim pouted.
"Does Yerin strike you as someone who cares about that stuff? Even if the whole world trashed her, she wouldn't get a single scratch."
"Still... it bugs me, what can I do?"
"Let it be. Everything works itself out eventually. Karma's a thing, right? And if it gets really bad, Yerin will handle it herself."
"You mean you?"
"Yeah. Yerin's never been one to let that slide. So let's just watch for now."
"...Okay."
Yurim nodded, and Seohwa smiled gently, stroking her hair.
"Besides, we don't even have the luxury to worry about her right now."
"...What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Look at our truck's sales. We're on track to get eliminated at this rate!"
"R-Really!?"
It was actually a lie. She didn't know the other teams' numbers, but their lunch sales alone were overwhelming.
"Yeah. So put other teams out of your mind for a sec and focus on our survival. Got it?"
"...Okay."
Yurim started munching her kimbap with a sulky expression. A twinge of guilt stirred in Seohwa's heart as she watched.
But sometimes, white lies were necessary.
'It could really get dicey.'
She thought while taking a bite of her kimbap. She was curious what would happen next.
2.
A stark kitchen. Having used up all ingredients during lunch service, we couldn't even start dinner prep and were solely focused on restocking.
I was making seasoning for mock foie gras. My hand paused mid-lime slice. Chaeyun had been eyeing me the whole time.
Her gaze was getting annoying. I set the lime down and turned.
"Spit it out if you have something to say."
At my words, Chaeyun startled, glanced at me, then quickly pretended to focus on the butter in front of her.
"W-What?"
"You've been staring. Don't you have something to say?"
"N-No, I don't?"
"Really? Then no more answers from me, no matter what you ask. Last chance."
At my threat, Chaeyun bit her lip, sighed, and stopped her hands. She looked up quietly, meeting my eyes straight on.
"This... might be rude. Feel free to ignore if it offends."
"Go ahead."
"Are you... really 'Carrier'?"
I resumed squeezing lime juice without a word, answering casually.
"Yeah."
Was it too straightforward? Her face went blank. She snapped out of it and spoke again.
"......Huh?"
"Yeah?"
"Ye...?"
"Yeah?"
The weird exchange repeated a few times. Finally, Chaeyun yanked off her gloves and clutched her face. After staring blankly into space, her focus returned.
"So... you're saying you're really that Carrier? The Virtual YouTuber who first nailed real taste in VR, collabed with Chef Kang Taeyeon?"
"Yeah."
I shrugged lightly, like it was no big deal.
"You can just say it like that? Virtual YouTubers are supposed to be hush-hush, right? Isn't it a big secret?"
"No rule against it. I figured coming on Grand Chef Korea might out me anyway. Weirder if folks don't notice on TV."
"...Fair point. But you say it so casually, my brain froze."
She squeezed her eyes shut and slowly sank to the floor.
"...Feeling dizzy all of a sudden."
"Maybe fatigue. Wanna rest?"
"Yeah..."
Chaeyun wobbled up and plopped into a nearby chair. I kept prepping ingredients silently while she recovered.
"Um... you okay?"
"About what?"
"That thing earlier today..."
"Not really fazed. I figured something like that might happen eventually. Didn't expect it, though."
I said flatly. I truly wasn't bothered.
"...Sorry."
"For what?"
"I should've checked on you first, but I got too curious and was rude. Really sorry..."
"Happens."
I'd probably ask the same in her shoes. Humans are like that.
"So... how'd you end up on Grand Chef Korea?"
"PD Jung Inseon and Chef Kang Taeyeon invited me. Thought about it long and hard, then joined."
"You hesitated? So you weren't planning to?"
"Yeah. Been crazy busy lately. Wanted a break to recharge..."
"But?"
"Saw the community. Lots of talk about how I can't cook."
"You? Ridiculous. You perfectly recreated your master's dish that time with Chef Kang Taeyeon."
Chaeyun frowned.
"Guess it wasn't enough for them."
"Got annoyed, but also curious. Where do I stand now? That sealed it."
"...Wild."
"Your turn?"
"......Me?"
She pointed at herself, surprised.
"Yeah. I shared mine. Your go."
"...Like that?"
"Only if you want. Everyone has secrets."
Chaeyun bit her lip, pondered, then spoke slowly.
"Okay. I'll tell you. Nothing special, though."
She trailed off, took a sip from her water cup, set it down, and began.
"I'm... the youngest daughter of Seolwon Foods."
Seolwon Foods. A top Korean food conglomerate, top 10 in the corporate rankings.
"...Not shocked?"
Chaeyun sounded a bit disappointed. Not the reaction she expected.
"Not really. Knew you were chaebol."
"How?"
"Your every move screams it. In this day and age, over-the-top politeness and poise means serious family backing."
"Figured it from my behavior? Sharp eyes."
"Eh."
I shrugged. Fighting info-less monsters honed observation.
"So?"
"Big age gap with my siblings, too late to jump into management. Dad and Mom said follow my passion..."
She paused, gaze dropping, murmuring.
"But... not sure if this is the right path."
"No conviction?"
"Yeah."
I chuckled unwittingly. She looked up sharply.
"My dilemma... funny?"
"Nah. Jealous."
"...Jealous of me?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Chaeyun tilted her head. I gazed into space slowly.
"Grew up without parents. Just me and sis in the orphanage, then one-room hellhole, leaning on each other."
That old place still vivid.
"Sis skipped college for factory work. Sexual harassment, abuse, body-breaking cash. I juggled jobs and studies for tuition."
Miss scholarship, game over. Loans a pipe dream, no room for greed.
"No time for 'is this right?' Luxury thinking."
I sighed, continuing.
"Pure survival. Now streaming's good, options open... but recalling that? Dizzying."
"...And?"
Chaeyun asked softly.
"What're you saying? My worries are 'first-world problems'?"
Her voice trembled.
"...Not wrong. But not what I meant."
Regretted dredging past. Went off-track.
"Just... keep agonizing, keep challenging."
"...Challenging?"
"Yeah. Back then, no room for doubts or tries. No choices, always cornered."
I smiled bitterly.
"No retry coins for me. Never had any. But you? Loaded."
"......"
"Family, fallback, time. Agonize, fail plenty. No other way. So."
I reached out, patted her head lightly.
"Hang in there."
She bit her lip hard, head down.
"...Can I really find my answer?"
"Who knows? We all chase our own truths. Some stick to wrongs knowingly. Others lose the path seeking right."
I shrugged.
"That's life, right?"
"...That's life."
She nodded quietly, rose, headed to the counter.
"Then, prep for tomorrow's service first. Handle what's in front, yeah?"
"Smart."
"Sis. I'll beat you and win Grand Chef Korea. That's my goal now. No regrets."
I chuckled.
"This scene... feels familiar."
"Sis, seriously! I'm being dead serious!"
Chaeyun flushed, yelling. I laughed softly.
"But Chaeyun. Probably impossible."
"Why?"
I looked up firmly.
"'Cause I've staked my life here too."
So I won't lose either.