Chapter 72
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Warm Meat
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1.
"Is Ye-rin familiar with Yurim from before?"
PD Jeong In-seon, sitting right in front of me, asked with a gentle smile. Massive cameras and lights were trained on me.
"You mean that child I held in my arms?"
"Yes."
"No. I met her for the first time today."
"Then what was that behavior you showed earlier? Was there a special reason for it?"
"She looked lonely. That's all."
She flashed a bright smile at me. Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes held a deeper meaning. They seemed to expect something from me.
"You can say more if you'd like."
"No. That's all I wanted to say. I don't want to talk more."
"Really?"
"Yes. In the end, it's the present that gives meaning to the past. So I'll just keep moving forward."
I took a sip of the water in front of me and continued.
"Above all, I don't want attention for things that have already passed. They aren't served on a plate, after all."
"But they can still have an influence. Just like how people are drawn to someone who overcame hardship, the judges and viewers will feel the same."
"That's exactly what I don't want."
PD Jeong In-seon looked at me with evident interest. She smiled and opened her mouth.
"The qualifying round's theme was to make the best dish of your life. As such, many people shared their stories."
I just nodded. It was also a way of saying I didn't want to talk more.
"If you say nothing here, Ye-rin, you might be at a disadvantage. When dishes are on the same level, people give points to the one they like more. That's human nature."
PD Jeong In-seon fixed me with a sharp gaze.
"Still, are you sure you're okay with that?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
Our eyes met for a while. Then PD Jeong In-seon sighed and shook her head.
"Alright. If that's your stance, I won't ask more. That wraps up the interview. Good work."
"Thank you."
I bowed lightly and stood from the chair. I grabbed the door handle and hesitated for a moment.
'Should I say it or not?'
This scene probably wouldn't air anyway, so I spoke up.
"You said that if the levels are similar, you'd choose the dish from the more likable person."
"Yes. I did."
A puzzled voice from behind.
"Then there's even less reason for me to share my story. Our levels won't be similar."
With that, I left the interview room. In the hallway, I saw a girl's face. Seol Yurim, was it?
"Hello...!"
She was looking at me with sparkling eyes. She must have heard what I said.
"...Yeah. Hi."
My face started heating up. It felt like hot water was flowing from my forehead down to my cheeks and ear tips.
"...Be careful with interviews. You never know what'll make it to air. Anyway."
I poured out everything I wanted to say to her and walked down the hallway. I could feel her gaze on my back and wanted to run, but I pretended to be nonchalant.
'I shouldn't have said that last part...'
My mouth had run away with me for real.
2.
I stared blankly at the glowing red charcoal. The fine ash fluttering in the air, the shimmering heat.
'Brings back old memories...'
After battles ended, I'd always sit by the campfire like this, gazing vacantly at the flames. It strangely calmed my mind every time, bringing peace.
"...Hayul. When are you putting the meat on?"
And every time, my party members would inevitably urge me on from the side.
I looked up, and suddenly the hero's face floated before my eyes. A blink, and it was my sister's face in her place.
"Putting it on now."
I picked up the meat that had just come out with tongs and placed it on the grill.
Sizzle-
Milky white fat seeping into the red marbling. It formed patterns like those carved from marble.
The red flesh and fat flowing along the grain—it was like beholding a work of art.
"Looks so delicious... So this is what 90,000 won per 200g beef looks like..."
"Yeah."
Sis gazed at the meat on the grill with an entranced expression.
"But is it really okay for us to come to a place like this? It seems too expensive..."
"It's fine. I had some money saved up already, and the sponsorships came in huge. Plus, Baek Hwayeon recommended this place."
"Baek Hwayeon... The one who donated the most during that collab stream with Chef Kang Taeyeon?"
"Yeah. She's been watching my streams ever since."
Of course, she'd only shown up once more, but she was still interested in my streams, right?
"But what are you doing, Sis?"
"Just a sec..."
Sis suddenly pulled out her phone and started searching for something. Meanwhile, I quietly flipped the meat.
'Nice sear...'
Clear grill marks on the browned surface. It was beautiful even raw, but meat truly shines when it meets fire.
"Got it!"
"What?"
"Baek Hwayeon! The only daughter of Seolwon Foods! I thought I'd heard the name before, and sure enough, it pops right up!"
Sis said that and shoved her screen toward me. It showed a stylish woman striking a pose with a bag.
"Oh yeah? Her donations were on another level from the start. Makes sense she's a chaebol daughter."
I nodded and cut the meat with scissors. Normally the server would grill it, but I preferred doing it myself, so I declined.
"But someone like that keeps watching your streams?"
"Yeah."
"Why on earth?"
"Beats me. She said she'd like me to cook for her in person sometime, but it didn't feel like pressure."
Creases formed on Sis's forehead. Her lips twisted slightly, and she rubbed her chin.
"Well, there must be a reason! So, can I eat now?"
"Yeah. Start by dipping just a bit in salt. That's the best way to taste the meat's true flavor."
"Got it!"
Sis picked up a piece of beef. She stared at it in rapture before popping it into her mouth.
Chew chew-
Her eyes widened. Her mouth corners lifted, and she cradled her cheek as she melted away.
"This is seriously good... 'Melts in your mouth' is made for times like this... Worth every penny!"
"Right? Eat up."
I placed the fully cooked beef on Sis's side plate.
"You're not eating?"
"I'll eat while grilling. You go first, Sis. Maybe 'cause I cooked earlier, but I'm not that hungry."
"Okay? Then I won't hold back!"
That was the start of Sis's rampage. She'd hesitated over the price at first, but once unleashed, she swept through like a storm.
'Anyone'd think I starve her usually...'
I swear I made her a hearty breakfast, but how does she eat all that?
"But why'd you suddenly pick such an expensive beef place?"
"While cooking today... Old memories popped up. Wanted to come once."
"What'd you make to bring that on?"
"Steak au Poivre."
Sis furrowed her brow.
"What's that, you weeb?"
"Simply put, beef coated in pepper and grilled. Then poured with a cognac and cream sauce."
"What was the theme to make something like that?"
Sis cocked her head while wrapping a lettuce wrap and eating it. She ate heartily even mid-conversation.
"No fixed theme. Just make the most delicious thing you've ever eaten in life."
"And that steak poo-poo? came from that?"
"...Steak au Poivre."
I said as I placed new meat on the grill.
"So why'd you make that? You've never eaten or even heard of it, right? Something from that other world?"
"No. On my 16th birthday, you splurged and took me to that all-you-can-eat beef place. The meat I dipped in pepper there—it just came to mind."
At those words, Sis clamped her mouth shut. Her eyes shook; it was an unexpected answer.
"That was really the best thing you've ever eaten in your life? For real? I felt so bad I couldn't buy you something pricier..."
"That's why I did it, right? Though I modified it a lot."
But I couldn't just serve plain grilled meat, could I?
"Then... Coming here today is because of that too?"
"Yeah. You remember?"
"...How could I forget. When we get rich later, no more all-you-can-eat—we'll go to places with way pricier, smaller portions. We promised."
Sis's lips trembled slightly. She bit her teeth to hide it and bowed her head, but anyone could see she was on the verge of tears.
"Touched?"
"...Yeah. I am. You little punk. Got a problem?"
"Nope? Anyway, this is all grilled. Try it. This'll be even better."
I wrapped a neat lettuce pack and held it out to Sis. The moment she took it, tears streamed down her face.
"Dang it, I'm crying 'cause it's tasty... Not because of you..."
Watching Sis eat meat while crying, I burst out laughing.
"Don't laugh!"
"How can I not!"
I looked back at the grill. The meat was still sizzling away, and Sis was sniffling as she chewed.
That all-you-can-eat beef joint from my sixteenth birthday. Everything was different from back then.
'It's warm.'
I held my hand over the charcoal for no reason. The warmth wasn't just from the fire.
"Stop laughing and eat!"
Sis carefully fed me a wrapped pack. I took it without a word.
This taste... I'll probably never forget it.
Of course, I had no idea what was happening on the community forums right then.