Chapter 56

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 56

Chapter Title: Checkmate

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1.

Chef Kang Taeyeon picked up the spoon. He slowly moved his hand to scoop up some risotto.

"I'll give it a try."

I nodded slowly. My sister, standing beside me, clasped her hands tightly together and bit her lip hard. Her feet kept tapping the ground.

Viewership had now surpassed 100,000. We were being judged in front of countless people.

"Sis. Calm down. It'll be fine."

"Okay."

I gripped my sister's hand tightly. Just then, Chef Kang Taeyeon put the risotto in his mouth. A faint change appeared on his expressionless face.

"Hm..."

His eyes widened slightly. His eyebrows lifted a bit, and his jaw twitched ever so subtly.

His lips moved again as he slowly savored the risotto. He was tasting it carefully, his movements extremely slow.

His pupils shook faintly. One corner of his mouth lifted slightly. His breathing grew a touch longer.

His lips pursed a little. He covered his mouth with his hand and touched his chin. His shoulders twitched faintly.

Gulp—

The risotto went down his throat. We all held our breath, waiting for his words.

"Hmmm..."

He tilted his head slightly. He let out a long breath, deep in thought.

One of the big spenders couldn't hold back and sent a super chat. He tapped the table a few times with his fingers before opening his mouth.

"Let me try a bit more."

Chef Kang Taeyeon picked up the spoon again. His eyes narrowed slightly. His gaze drifted into the distance as he carefully put the risotto in his mouth.

Chew chew—

His chewing was noticeably slower than usual. His lips moved subtly, as if analyzing the flavor.

Chef Kang Taeyeon's eyes sparkled. It was a reaction so clear no other description would suffice.

His eyebrows lifted slightly upward before softly coming down. The corners of his mouth slowly rose, and his shoulders shook faintly. Even while chewing the risotto, he nodded his head ever so subtly.

"How is it?"

The moment it went down his throat, I couldn't hold back any longer and asked.

"Just one more time for the final taste."

"...Sure."

He scooped it up quickly and put it in his mouth. His chewing slowed just a bit.

"Whew..."

His eyes moved slowly left and right, then he took a long breath in and slowly exhaled. The corners of his eyes grew slightly moist as he set down the utensils.

"After tasting it three times, I'm certain."

"And?"

"It's almost exactly the same as the risotto my mentor made back then."

"Whoa! Hayul! You did it! You really did it!!!"

My sister jumped up and down in place right next to me. She screamed and shook my shoulders, and a smile spread across my face too.

The chat exploded with messages at breakneck speed. With over 100,000 viewers, it was now impossible to even read.

The chat turned into a battlefield in an instant. I extended the time I could respond to chats even further.

A viewer couldn't hold back and fired off a question. They wanted a clearer verdict.

"To explain why I said it's almost the same, I need to describe the emotions I felt just now."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Please do."

For this broadcast to end without controversy, Chef Kang Taeyeon needed to explain well.

"When I first tasted the risotto, I thought the flavor was a bit different."

"But the more I chewed, the more it transformed into the flavor I remembered. So I was a bit unsure."

Public opinion flipped in an instant at his words. I chuckled and said,

"That's why you wanted to try it again."

"Yes."

Chef Kang Taeyeon nodded firmly.

"So, how was it?"

"The second taste made it even clearer. Similar to what my mentor made back then. And the final one..."

He pressed his lips together and lowered his head slightly. His shoulders relaxed as he leaned back comfortably.

"I was certain. This has the exact same flavor as what my mentor made."

A gentle smile appeared on Chef Kang Taeyeon's lips.

"Does that mean Hayul really recreated the exact dish your mentor made?"

"Yes. Exactly."

My sister looked at me with a shocked expression.

Super chats poured in one after another. Every single one was an absurd amount.

How much wealth do you need to donate sums like that so casually?

"Whoo, thank you so much for the donations! Hayul, what are you doing? Say thanks too!"

"Thank you for the donations."

I bowed my head as my sister said. Chef Kang Taeyeon bowed in thanks beside us too.

"Miss Hayul. In virtual reality, can you eat as much as you want?"

"Yes, you can."

"Then, is it okay if I eat all the risotto you made today?"

I nodded readily at his request.

"Sure. Ah, but could you set aside one bowl for my sister?"

"That's fine."

"No! I-I'm fine without any!"

My sister waved her hands frantically, but a smile spread across her lips. She really wanted to eat it deep down.

"Thinking about it now, the portion you gave me was quite generous for risotto. Does that mean you were that confident?"

I just gave a sly smile.

"Who knows."

"I see."

Chef Kang Taeyeon set aside one bowl separately and resumed eating. He savored it slowly, bit by bit, quietly.

In the meantime, we chatted with viewers and talked about this and that.

"Whoa. Hayul, this is so good... I can't even describe it, it's just... so delicious..."

My sister, who had tasted the risotto, spoke in a melting voice.

After the two finished eating.

"Did you enjoy the meal?"

"Yes. It was delicious. Thank you."

"No problem."

Chef Kang Taeyeon hesitated for a moment before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠carefully speaking up.

"By any chance... could I get the recipe for this risotto? I'd be happy to pay, of course."

"Can't you just follow along from watching my stream for the recipe?"

"I want to make the exact same dish perfectly. And if possible, I'd like to serve it at my restaurant once."

"...Really?"

"Yes. Several customers have said they want to try it. I promised that if I ever recreated it, I'd sell it then. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠want to keep that promise."

"Then I'll give it to you for free after the stream ends."

"Even so..."

I shook my head firmly.

"It's fine. Besides, costs like that have already been covered by the people supporting you, Chef Kang Taeyeon."

The donations so far had easily surpassed 100 million G. There were no copyrights on recipes anyway—this was more than enough.

"...I understand. Thank you so much."

"Well then, our third guest invitation has wrapped up successfully. How was it today, Chef?"

"It was wonderful. To be honest, I didn't have high expectations. I'd asked so many chefs, but none succeeded."

He smiled faintly at me.

"But you pulled it off, Miss Hayul. Thank you so much."

Chef Kang Taeyeon bowed politely.

"That's it for today's stream, then. Thanks for watching, and see you next time!"

I bowed my head, and with that, the broadcast ended.

"Miss Hayul. Any thoughts on working at my restaurant?"

"Gasp!"

As soon as the end screen appeared, Chef Kang Taeyeon asked me. My sister jumped in surprise beside me. She covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes darting around.

"I'm plenty satisfied with my current life. Sorry, but I don't think so."

"...I see. If you ever change your mind, please contact me then."

"Sure."

"Today was truly great. I have so many questions, but you won't answer them, will you."

"Trade secret."

I gave a meaningful smile.

"Understood. Thank you again. If we had more time, I'd treat you to a meal... Please visit my restaurant sometime."

"Got it."

"Then, I'll be off."

Chef Kang Taeyeon vanished before my eyes. He'd logged out.

"Hayul, why'd you turn him down! Do you know how great an opportunity that was?"

"I do. I know. But the place I need to be is by your side, Sis. Right?"

Working at a Michelin restaurant would take up almost all my time. I didn't want that.

"Hayul!"

"Yeah, yeah."

My sister hugged me, her voice choked up. I patted her back.

'Well, that's settled for now...'

It wasn't easy, but I pulled it off. Now I could live peacefully from here on.

2.

"Good work."

As I exited the capsule, two women stood waiting. PD Jung In-sun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and writer Seo Na-hyun.

"No, thank you."

Chef Kang Taeyeon replied lightly, and PD Jung In-sun stepped forward.

"I'd say this more than meets the conditions you set, Chef. What do you think?"

"I acknowledge it. Now I understand why you were so confident, PD Jung In-sun. I never expected to be so completely outmaneuvered."

He let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.

"Here's the contract."

"I'll have my lawyer review it and send the signed copy right away."

"Understood."

"Then, I'll head out first since I'm busy."

Chef Kang Taeyeon stood and headed for the door. As he grabbed the handle to open it, he glanced back through the crack.

"Will Miss Hayul be on Grand Chef too?"

"Who knows. For now, she says she has no intention of participating."

"That's a shame."

"What do you think, Chef? Would Hayul be helpful for our program?"

He tapped the doorframe with his finger for a moment before speaking.

"Hard to say. But one thing's for sure—if Miss Hayul participates, competition won't mean anything anymore."

"What do you mean by that?"

"She's already on par with any Michelin chef without a doubt."

"As expected..."

PD Jung In-sun nodded as if convinced.

"And my prediction is that Miss Hayul will end up on Grand Chef anyway."

"Why's that?"

"No one has a stronger sense of pride than a chef."

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"You'll see."

With that, Chef Kang Taeyeon opened the door and left. After he was gone, the cheers of the two women echoed in the room for a while.