Chapter 79

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 79

Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - Episode 1 Airing Day!

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1.

Yurim snapped her wrist while holding the square pan and chopsticks. The softly cooking egg on the pan folded neatly, gradually taking shape.

"Oh..."

Lee Seohwa, sitting next to me, let out a soft exclamation.

Just like Yurim since yesterday, she had started following me around everywhere. I was puzzled by the sudden change, but since it wasn't a burden, I let it be.

"Now you put the egg here. This is the key point...!"

She cracked an egg right in the center of the half-finished rolled omelet. Like covering it with a blanket, she wrapped the yolk and rolled it up.

"Keep brushing oil on the bottom and roll it slowly... and it's done!"

The perfectly square rolled omelet landed lightly on the plate. White steam rose, and its glossy surface made my mouth water just looking at it.

"Give it a try...!"

At Yurim's urging, I picked up my chopsticks. I was curious about what role the yolk inside would play.

Smooth—

As I sliced the rolled omelet with the chopsticks, the rich yolk slowly flowed out from inside. Like a smooth golden sauce.

"This looks seriously delicious!"

"R-Really?"

Lee Seohwa, sitting beside me, exclaimed in admiration. Yurim's eyes widened, and soon her lips twitched into a smile.

"How do you eat this?"

"Dip the egg into the yolk that flows out from the middle...!"

"So it acts as a sauce. It seems similar to what Yerin made?"

Yurim nodded vigorously at Lee Seohwa's question.

"Yes. I got the idea from unnie's omelet...!"

"Is that so? Then let me give it a taste. How delicious can a rolled omelet be that satisfied Chef Kang Taeyeon?"

"D-Don't put pressure on me...!"

I sliced the rolled omelet with chopsticks and dipped it in the yolk sauce before putting it in my mouth.

The thick, nutty flavor of the yolk. Over the soft egg taste came subtle saltiness and sweetness.

"Mm."

The more I chewed, the more umami built up. It was hard to believe this was a rolled omelet, with so many layers of flavor.

The texture was incredibly soft and springy. It wasn't stacked in multiple layers for nothing.

"H-How is it?"

"Delicious."

"Really!?"

Yurim beamed at my praise. Lee Seohwa next to her nodded too.

"It's the best rolled omelet I've ever had in my life! Not just the taste, but this fluffy egg texture is amazing?"

She glanced lightly at Yurim and continued.

"No wonder Chef Kang Taeyeon praised you. You deserve it."

"But how did you think of doing a rolled omelet? I figured Chef Kang Taeyeon's warning would make you not even consider it."

Suddenly, I wondered why she chose this.

"Unnie chose an omelet out of all the egg dishes. Why?"

"Because it's what I'm best at."

"I... thought the same."

Yurim stared blankly at the rolled omelet in front of her and said.

"I haven't studied abroad like others, or learned cooking professionally. All my knowledge comes from videos or bits I've picked up here and there."

"Then when Chef Kang Taeyeon warned you at the start, it must have felt like the world went dark?"

Yurim nodded at Lee Seohwa's question.

"Yes. I was agonizing over what to do, and then unnie started making her omelet. Watching that, I realized, 'Ah, I don't need to make something special.'"

She looked up, met my eyes, and smiled brightly.

"So I ended up making the rolled omelet and passed. It's all thanks to Yerin unnie. Thank you so much, unnie."

"I just made an omelet. I didn't intend that."

"Even so, unnie gave me courage."

Hearing such embarrassing words made my face heat up.

'I never expected to hear something like this...'

Still, it made me happy. These were words heroes heard. But I had to say what needed saying.

"You don't need to thank me too much. The courage in that moment and deciding on the rolled omelet were all your own choices."

I lightly patted Yurim's head.

"So praise yourself more than me for making that choice. Got it?"

"...Yes!"

She smiled brightly and answered. I looked at Yurim fondly. This experience would help her grow more.

"...Sorry to ruin the heartwarming mood, but the broadcast is about to start."

Lee Seohwa poked my side and joined the conversation.

"Then let's finish eating quickly."

We each grabbed chopsticks and devoured the rolled omelet in no time.

"I can do the dishes!"

"No need. I have some shame. Besides, the one who ate it should do them."

After cleaning up spotless, we headed to the hallway.

"Just occurred to me— what did you do with the failed rolled omelets? I think I saw you nibbling on them a bit back then."

Lee Seohwa asked on the way to the hall. I was curious too.

"Oh, that? I got permission from the PD and took them all. I'm eating them little by little at mealtimes."

"For real? You took all that and are eating it? That's a lot."

"S-Still, I have to eat it...! It'd be such a waste to throw it away...!"

"True, but you're amazing..."

"N-No, how precious is each piece of food! Throwing it away is unthinkable...!"

Yurim clenched her fists. Her eyes burned with determination to eat every bit.

"If it's too much, tell me. I'll help eat it."

"Me too!"

"You clean up your own shit...! Eating eggs isn't hard, so I'll take responsibility...!"

At those words, Lee Seohwa and I exchanged glances. That was too harsh for a girl's mouth.

"That's why we're saying it because it's not hard."

I signaled Lee Seohwa with my eyes, and she got it, nodding lightly.

"Right. If it were hard, we wouldn't say this. So don't feel burdened— tell us when you need help. Okay?"

"...Yees."

Yurim glanced around reluctantly before answering. From her attitude, she wouldn't ask for help.

'Still, if I keep saying it, she'll come to us eventually.'

Patience was key with this. Love and time mattered most in healing the wounded.

"You're all here...!"

As we entered the hall, a large TV caught my eye. Various chairs and sofas were around it, contestants lounging comfortably, waiting for the broadcast.

"Where should we go?"

"Over there."

We sat on a wide sofa. Yurim hugged the cat plush on it tightly.

"When does it start?"

"It's 9:01 PM now, so soon?"

The two stared at the screen. Ads for food products played on TV.

"Ooh, it's starting...!"

Exclamations rose among contestants as the Grand Chef logo appeared.

"I-I'm nervous. Curious what people think of me, but also scared..."

"Everyone probably feels that way. Except Yerin next to you."

With Lee Seohwa's words, both turned to me. I shrugged. I truly didn't care.

The broadcast opened with the judges. Short intros and a brief on Grand Chef followed.

Then quick shots of contestants, including Yurim and Lee Seohwa.

"Unnie, you just appeared...!"

"Didn't you appear a bit ago too?"

"Y-Yeah, unnie's hair is so red it stands out...! But why didn't Yerin unnie appear?"

"Yeah?"

Ding-

I pulled out my phone at the notification. The message on screen:

[Noona: Broadcast started, why aren't you on???]

It was from my sister. Like the two beside me, puzzled I wasn't showing.

[Me: It's me, how would I know? Ask the production team, why ask me?]

[Noona: Hmm, weird. PD must have some agenda?]

[Noona: Oh, more than that, check the community reactions!]

My sister suddenly started sharing her screen with me.

There was the usual community, but different from what I normally saw.

[Me: Grand Chef Korea Gallery already exists???]

[Noona: Yeah, it popped up when they announced prelims?]

[Me: But it's Grand Chef Korea gallery, why is half the posts about me ffs]

[Noona: Dunno lol]

"Haa..."

"Unnie. Something wrong?"

Yurim looked at me worriedly at my sudden sigh.

"Nothing. Don't worry."

"If something hard or tough happens, tell me...! Not sure what I can do, but I'll help however I can...!"

"......Thanks."

I patted her head lightly and glanced at the TV.

Chef Kang Taeyeon was speaking on stage. Cameras occasionally showed overall contestant shots or faces, but notably skipped me.

'Feels like they're deliberately avoiding angles with me.'

Ding-

Sister sent more community reactions.

The gallery vibe was hostile. Half speculating who I was, half cursing those people.

Fortunately, as the show progressed, people got immersed, and speculation about me decreased.

'Phew, one worry down.'

I sighed and leaned back. I didn't mind hate, but no need for needless trouble.

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

'More than that, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what is PD Jung Inseon thinking?'

She mentioned possible malicious editing, but I hadn't appeared even as episode 1 neared end.

'Am I not in this first episode?'

I was half-resigned when.

"Uh, unnie...! You're on...!"

At Yurim's urgent words, I looked back at the TV. I was grilling steak on screen.

'Weird.'

My face still felt unfamiliar. So the me on screen felt like someone else.

"Wow. Unnie, you're so pretty and cool..."

Yurim's frank praise made my face burn. Hearing it so openly felt more embarrassing. It was awkward anyway.

On screen, I focused silently on cooking. Production captured it as is, no fancy edits.

"Wow."

"...Looks really delicious."

Exclamations burst from contestants as the food finished.

With lighting and angles, it looked more appetizing than real life. Incomparably.

I loaded the finished dish on the cart and walked toward the Grand Chef logo door. As I crossed the threshold and met Chef Kang Taeyeon's eyes.

"Ah!"

"They cut it here!?"

Screen switched to quick shots of other contestants. Episode 1 ended.

Amid flashing scenes, a close-up of Chef Moon Taeo bowing to me.

"Huh?"

I stared expressionlessly, then Chef Han Seojin covered her gaping mouth in shock.

『See you next time~』

The familiar sign-off ended the broadcast. The hall fell into shock and chill. Eyes everywhere.

Yurim and Lee Seohwa beside me gaped in disbelief at me.

'Fuck.'

They edited it fucking perfectly.