God of Cooking

Because of Rachel's failure to pick June as her successor, there were some chefs who believed they had a chance, too. However, Min-joon's appearance made the situation unfold in a completely different way from what they thought, for Min-joon, not June or Dave, could be her successor.

What would have happened if Rachel really had decided to choose Min-joon as her successor? Or what did Rachel expect from him? Recalling the question she had forgotten for a long time, June looked back at Min-joon for a moment.

'... I don't have to think about it now.'

Now, she needed to calm the other chefs down who might be thrilled about their chances of being Rahcel's successor. They must be excited in vain hopes, she thought. Come to think of it, she had no choice but to don a mischievous smile on her face.

"Why don't you show who is the real star of Rose Island?"

"Me?"

Grinning at him, she looked at him.

Min-joon laughed awkwardly at that.

"Aren't you?"

"It's me who is the real star."

"Aren't you too tough to be the star? Originally, the star should be a little more gentle and kind like me."

"I've never seen a guy gentle and good even when he keeps saying that."

"But you've just found the guy in me!" Min-joon said mischievously.

June shook her head with a sigh.

"Then, don't show it to me! Show it to them! Show them who is most loved by Rachel. Show them who makes the dish fitting Rose Island the most, and who is Rose Island's real star!"

"Who is the real star?"

"Well, it's a woman who's a tough and selfish woman who only cares about herself," she said, grinning. "She's the model character of the 21st century."

***

"How is June doing these days? Is she still living like a starring character in the movie?"

When the head chefs from Rose Island's branches gathered, Deborah muttered.

Daisy replied, "Well, a starring character suits her constitution. Of course, I don't know what genre she prefers."

"Well, it was romance," Deborah said, glancing at Dave, who was silent all along.

Overheating their chatting, Dave, who pretended not to show any interest, scratched his temple with an embarrassed expression.

"Hey, are you guys here to make fun of me?"

"How are you getting along with June these days?"

"We're done. You don't have to ask me about it anymore."

"Well, I know you guys are not dating any other person, right? Don't you want to date again?"

"It looks like you want me to date her again."

"I know. You know what? Except when she was dating you in the past, I had never seen that grumpy girl wearing a teen's face. I want to see her face like that again. It was pretty nice to see you smiling all the time, too," said Daisy, grinning at him.

Other chefs nodded as if they agreed with her. Certainly, June, who looked like a runaway locomotive, only concentrating on work like a robot, was as gentle as an electrical train running through a flower field on a country road while Dave was on board.

As a matter of fact, it was nothing unusual for them to talk about Dave's affair with June as their friends, for the former lovers had no more closeness or warmth to each other.

Deborah muttered in a low voice, "How cruel fate is! Former lovers have become the biggest rivals of each other today!"

"What the heck are you talking about?"

"Don't pretend to be innocent! You already know why Chef Rachel has brought all of us head chefs here, right?"

Dave hardened his face at her words. It wasn't just Dave. There was a bit of tension in the faces of all the chefs gathered here.

Daisy then picked up where Deborah stopped.

"The last time when she called us, she announced that the main branch of Rose Island would be reopened. That's an important event, so she called us. Then why did she call us this time? I think she has a good reason this time. Well, in my mind, she has got only one reason."

"When it comes to the question of her successor, it's not just June or Min-joon alone. We all have a chance, right?"

"And it's you and June who have seized the chance best, right?"

When she demanded like that, several chefs pouted. As a matter of fact, it seemed that they also deserved Rachel's consideration of them as her successor candidate. But they couldn't because they realized deep down that they could not be a match for Dave and June.

It wasn't because they lagged behind the two. It was because Dave and June had overwhelming skills. Some of them received Michelin three stars, while others built a reputation in their own areas that no one could ignore. But even they couldn't think they were as competent as the two once they enjoyed a course meal at the two's restaurants.

Their cooking was perfect. Whether it was thanks to their efforts or talent, it was too evident that the two's dishes stood out, compared with other chefs'.

"I'm not jealous of you, but I admit that you guys' dishes are clearly ahead of us. If I'm Rachel, it's pretty hard for me to think of any other candidate than the two of you."

"Hey, stop it. Who knows? Rachel might choose me as her successor unexpectedly."

"Oh, yes, you can."

Eric, who was trying to promote himself subtly, made a sullen expression when Dasie showed a skeptical reaction.

At that point, Deborah suddenly opened her mouth.

"Who knows? Rachel might pick Min-joon as her successor."

"He's only a sous chef…"

Daisy turned to Deborah as if she went too far.

But Deborah replied, "Even if he is only a sous chef, he is really a dark horse. Well, I think I would have a chance if Rachel picks her successor 10 years later than now, but if she wants to pick one right now, I don't think he has any chance."

"Do you really think so?"

Deborah looked at Daisy with a puzzled expression. Did she know something that others didn't know? With everybody including Deborah turned to Daisy, Dave opened his mouth in a quiet voice.

"Well, he might have a better chance because he is Min-joon."

"Dave, do you even think so? How dare you say that in my presence? Let's take a look at this matter with a sound judgment. I know that Min-joon is a great chef and has excellent quality. But he doesn't have any qualifications as Rachel's successor for now. Of course, he is famous and has his own connections under June's wing. He may have qualifications for her successor, but we can't admit his qualifications yet. He's like a fruit that has not yet ripened."

"You know what? The position of a successor isn't filled only when you are fully qualified. No matter how long it will take, it's filled when the right candidate appears."

"Hey, do you really want to promote Min-joon when everybody is supporting Dave and June as Rachel's successor? Or maybe…"

At that moment, Dave became anxious to refute by saying 'I don't want to avoid the situation where I have to compete with June,' but he could not because as an old-fashioned man, he was weak-hearted. So much so that he looked pitiable.

Daisy changed the topic with a deep sigh.

"By the way, why aren't the two coming here? Do they know that they are the main topic of our conversation?"

***

'Is this my face?'

Looking at himself as reflected in the window, Min-joon made a strange expression for a moment. It was one unfamiliar to him. It wasn't just because he was back in the past. By the time he got used to it after returning to the past, he grew older again. Little by little, he was getting closer to 30.

'Do I look the same when I turn 30?'

Himself in his 20s when he was incompetent and himself when he turned 30 achieving everything step by step. At that point, how much was the same, and how much difference would there be?

When he thought about it, something came to his mind all of a sudden, which was an illusion of himself that was easily forgotten.

He looked blankly at the window as if it was a mirror.

At last, June called him as if she could not stand it.

"Are you nervous? Why are you so absent-minded?

"Oh, it's nothing. I was thinking about how I would grow old later."

"You will grow old beautifully," she responded without hesitation for a moment.

So much so that he was surprised by her so quick reply.

She smiled, looking at him.

"Just like a wonderful person grows old nicely, a good person grows old nicely, too. In fact, what they think about their future is not very different from what they think about the way they are today. Just like they get by today, they will do the same tomorrow."

"Are you now praising me, Chef June?"

"Yeah, you're my sous chef. How better of a life can you dream of right now?"

"Well, I don't think other chefs are on the same page as you. Oops, we're late!"

"Being late is another evidence that you have a successful life. As you know, the real star is supposed to be late, right?"

"Gosh, it seems like you think as you please these days," said Min-joon, grinning at her as if he could not stop her. Was it evidence that he got close to her? He liked the way she cracked a joke with such stiff expressions. Actually, he liked this kind of chatting with her.

But he had to think twice 30 minutes later when they went to the main restaurant of Rose Island.

'Man, why are they so focused on us like this?'

He realized that all of the head chefs gathered there turned their eyes at him and June.

Come to think of it, it was natural because she was the most promising candidate as Rachel's successor, and he was Rachel's favorite chef among all others despite him joining Rachel's staff very late. Maybe it was not just because he was Rachel's favorite. In terms of the people's recognition, Min-joon was the most famous among them.