Chapter 99

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 99

Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - "Beat it."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

1.

"One Cuban sandwich, please!"

A horde of office workers on their way to work rushed in.

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

Hurried footsteps, cards and bills thrust out in a frenzy. Urgent voices. Everyone's faces screamed they were racing against time.

"Uh, um..."

Chaeyun's eyes widened at the sudden influx of customers. She looked utterly flustered.

Picture it: people swarming in out of nowhere, yelling for sandwiches and waving cards or cash. It was pure chaos.

"I mean, um..."

How many people in the world have dealt with something like this? I had experience, though.

Of course, back then it was zombies crowding around, trying to bite people instead of sandwiches, but close enough, right?

"Chaeyun. Snap out of it."

I clapped my hands right in front of her face. Her dazed expression sharpened as her focus returned, and finally, she looked straight at me.

"...Unnie?"

"We gotta start selling. You gonna send away all these hungry people? Can't even hand out one sandwich?"

"We have to!"

She clenched her fists and shouted with vigor. I slapped her back hard enough to make a sound.

"Good. Then move! You grill the bread first. I'll handle orders and meat."

"Yes!"

I whipped around and shifted my gaze to the customers.

Dozens of office workers stared at us with anxious faces. Some were already grimacing in irritation or even walking away.

When a crowd like this piles up, first thing is to organize the line. Things could turn into a disaster otherwise.

"You know it'll only take longer if you're all tangled up, right? Everyone, line up in order!"

I infused a hint of magic into my voice. I didn't shout, but the moment I finished, people started forming a neat line instantly.

"Whoa."

It was like someone had directed them. Order emerged out of nowhere. I hadn't expected this much effect and was a bit surprised myself.

"Excuse me. Ready to order?"

The man at the front stared at me blankly. I waved my hand lightly in front of his eyes. Only then did he snap to and speak.

"One Cuban sandwich, please."

"Yes, one Cuban sandwich. We'll have it ready right away. Please step aside and wait."

I handed him a pre-prepared number ticket. He hesitated for a second before taking it and moving to the side.

"Chaeyun, bread ready?"

"Yes!"

"Good. Spread Dijon mustard first and pass it over. Don't forget the pickles and cheese, got it?"

"Got it!"

I got right to work, scooping heaps of mojo pork and ham onto the grill.

Sizzle―

The sound erupted from the oiled hot plate. With this much quantity, I felt like a teppanyaki chef.

"Next customer!"

I took orders nonstop and churned out sandwiches at top speed. Everyone was busy heading to work, so few bothered chatting.

"Wow, this is seriously good..."

"It's insane..."

I overheard snippets of praise as they walked away, like eavesdropping on the wind.

It might look cold at a glance, but seeing everyone doing their jobs made it feel perfectly normal.

"Enjoy!"

Even in the rush, we never skimped on smiles or politeness. We removed our sanitary gloves for handing tickets or taking payment.

'It's the little things that count.'

Plus, cameras were filming us. Not just the broadcast crew—some customers had their smartphones out too.

Eyes were everywhere. No room for slip-ups.

'One mistake these days and you're done for.'

The bustling crowd finally thinned out after an hour, leaving quiet in its wake.

"You okay?"

Chaeyun in the passenger seat was completely zoned out. Sweat-matted hair clung to her face, and her clothes were splattered with sauce stains everywhere.

"...No. Honestly, I'm beat."

She let out a deep sigh and rubbed her temples. First time dealing with this, so no wonder she was exhausted.

"You holding up, unnie?"

"Me? Still fresh as ever."

Mentally a bit drained, but my body was fine. Way better than Chaeyun, at least.

"...You're amazing."

"Anyway, Chaeyun. We gotta swing by the dorm and grab the prepped ingredients. Lunch rush next."

"Ah..."

"Gonna need more mojitos too. Almost sold out this morning. Zero cola needs a top-up."

The second I finished, Chaeyun squeezed her eyes shut. She cupped her face and shook her head.

"I wondered why you prepped so much meat yesterday... Everything had a reason. Did you expect it'd sell this well?"

"Kinda?"

Truth be told, not quite to this extent. I'd overprepared just in case, but not anticipating it'd fly off like this.

"Still, good sales are a good thing, right?"

"...Yeah. But why can't I smile about it?"

"We got a breather now. Let's hit a cafe for some coffee."

"Sounds perfect. I need a caffeine IV drip!"

I chuckled at her outburst and drove to a drive-thru cafe. Honestly, we were in no shape to go inside.

"Here."

I stuck a straw in the Americano and handed it over. Chaeyun took it wordlessly and started slurping away.

"Slow down. You'll get brain freeze."

Then she wolfed down the macarons too. Total vacuum mode. First time seeing her eat like a beast.

'Even rich girls have limits.'

I sipped my coffee while checking the community boards. Curious about the reactions.

'Reactions are solid.'

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

The gallery sentiment was positive on the sandwiches.

'Guess teaming with Chaeyun's a surprise.'

I'd felt the same. Never dreamed we'd pair up.

"Hmm."

While skimming posts, one caught my eye. Someone planning to come straight to me and ask if I'm 'Carrier'.

'Fun.'

Might've been caught off guard if I hadn't seen it. But knowing ahead changes everything.

"Unnie, whatcha looking at?"

"Nothing."

I shook my head lightly at her question and pocketed my phone. Restarted the car and eased onto the road.

"Tired? Sleep in the passenger seat. I'll wake you when we get to the dorm."

"Wouldn't wanna impose, but I'll nap a bit. Tried to tough it out, but I'm wiped..."

"I'm fine, so sleep. Passing out from forcing it would be more trouble."

"Okay. Then..."

Chaeyun covered her face with her cap and reclined the seat carefully. She looked seconds from passing out.

I gripped the wheel quietly, staring at the road, lost in thought.

'...What should I do?'

*

Compared to breakfast, lunch was hell.

"One Cuban sandwich here!"

"Yerin unnie! Please, just look over here once―!!!"

We'd started breakfast quietly without much promo. By lunch, SNS buzz about the food truck spread like wildfire.

Photos, reviews, locations—everything posted in a chain. People flocked instantly.

And our spot? Yeouido. Seoul's office worker central. Lunch rush crowds were inevitable.

Plus fans coming specifically to see us mixed in. Total mayhem.

"Grand Chef Korea's been so fun!"

"Thanks!"

Every little comment while ordering or picking up fueled us surprisingly.

Felt different from streaming. More rewarding, if anything.

"Chaeyun. Stock left?"

"Still some, but at this rate, we'll sell out soon!"

"...Should've prepped more."

I sighed and kept my hands moving. The crowd kept coming; I was cranking out sandwiches like a machine.

"Ready to order?"

I'd just handed off the last one and addressed the next person.

"Um, got a question... Can I ask!?"

A guy in glasses shoved a mic in my face outta nowhere. I scowled and shot back curtly.

"Can't you see people waiting behind? No interviews or questions right now. Not ordering? Step aside."

But then he yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Communities are buzzing that Kang Yerin's the Virtual YouTuber 'Carrier'! Your thoughts!?"

"........."

The rowdy surroundings went dead silent the instant he finished, like someone hit pause. Not a peep.

Felt like time stopped.

Every eye locked on me. Sandwich eaters, line standers—even Chaeyun beside me—watching my face, gauging.

"Tch, silence means admission, they say! So you admit you're Carrier!?"

I sighed deeply at the excited guy's question. Brushed back the hair falling over my forehead and thought.

'Busy as hell already...'

The community post seemed fun earlier. But showing up now, during peak? Irritation boiled over.

I slowly raised my head. Glared at the guy and opened my mouth.

"Hey."

"Yes, yes!"

I silently pointed to the side. Then spat out one word.

"Beat it."