The chefs eyes were fixed on Kayas face. Kaya looked at them wondering if there was a problem.

Why are you looking at me like that?

You say such a shameful thing with a calm face.

There are more shameful things than that. This isnt a problem.

Okay. I like your fighting spirit, and I like your cooking.

New York spoke while pointing at the Langoustine. Kaya smirked.

I told you. The chef I look up to the most made that.

But is that possible? He was disqualified before you. That means hes a lesser chef than you How can you look up to him?

In response, Kayas eyes turned sharp.

The reason why pupils look up to their mentors isnt always because theyre better. Min Joon has many skills that I dont have, but the reason why he was disqualified before me was because he was unlucky because hes a foreigner.

I sympathize with what you said about pupils and mentors. There are mentors that you cant look up to no matter how talented they are, and those who you can look up to even if their skills are lacking. For me

California glanced at New York. New York wasnt looking over at her, but she could sense that he was minding her.

My mentor is just so-so.

Hey! Im the one who raised you to this level when you had no experience!

I had experience. Id been doing dishes for my mother for 10 years.

Is that why you broke so many plates? I shouldnt have even paid you like I did!

Thats because the plates were slippery

California took a bite of her puree and expressed how unfair it was. New York knitted his brows.

Kaya quietly left the table. She felt good today. Although she should have been the most nervous today, she felt peaceful inside.

On the other hand, Anderson didnt feel that way. It wasnt because he was lacking. He was directing the kitchen with an objective view, and all his dishes were flawless, but his face didnt look relaxed. However, it was understandable. This was a determining day of his life. He couldnt feel comfortable even if he wanted to.

Anderson minded the chefs as he directed the kitchen. He didnt miss their expressions or a single sigh that came out of their mouths. He didnt know if the sigh was good or bad But every time they did, Andersons heart sank.

Dont think about the competition. Just worry about the customers, Anderson. Focus.

But hope and anxiousness lingered in his head. His heart pounded so hard, and he didnt know he wanted to win so badly. Just the thought of losing made him feel suffocated as if it already happened.

Ironically, the person who made Anderson calm down was Kaya. She was no longer her temperamental self, and she even served the chefs with a smile, and that made Anderson mad.

That despicable b*tch.

He mumbled to himself, but he knew. He knew that he had to have that attitude as well. He knew that in this situation, he was the lesser contestant.

Anderson bit down on his lip. He couldnt fall back. He didnt want to fall behind anyone. That didnt mean he wanted to be the best. After all, there was no such thing in the cooking world, but he didnt want to be that person who fell behind. He had watched his superiors in his parents kitchen make countless failed dishes. He didnt want to be them.

Anderson put a piece of grilled halibut on top of his angel hair pasta. The halibut had been flambed in white wine. It contained the deep flavors of the stomach meat, and it was grilled with rosemary and olive oil.

As for the garnish, he added roasted peach, onions, and fresh buds. Anderson calmly placed the plates on the table. He explained with a straight face, I put lime on the peel of the halibut, and the portion is stomach meat. After cooking the angel hair in rosemary, I cooked it in olive oil. Itll remind you of Hong Kong vinegar noodles.

Youre Amelias son after all. Seeing how you hop back and forth between nationalities. I feel like eating this dish will get rid of my need to travel.

If you only mention Amelia, Fabio would be disappointed. The way you didnt use brown sauce and brought the flavors of fruits and vegetables alive is just like Fabio, but why arent your parents here today? Oh, is it to be fair? Or because they own a restaurant? Or did they get their seats taken by Natalia over there?

Im not here as a Russos son. Im here as Anderson. Please dont speak of my parents here.

Youre cold as always. Youre just like Amelia. No, Amelias even colder. In that case, maybe youre more like Fabio

Anderson left with an effort to not frown, but no matter which table he went to, everyone looked for Amelia and Fabio. He was sick of it. He only came on this show out of fear that the man named Anderson would never exist, but once he got here, all people talked about was his parents.

Ill win this thing.

That would change everything. That would make him a great chef, not just the son of great chefs. That was all Anderson ever wanted. The honor of being the Grand Chef and the 300,000 dollars were just added benefits. The biggest homework of his life was to get away from his parents.

But he might have not been as desperate as Kaya. He might have not stood a chance against a girl who lived in poverty all her life and never got to enjoy a regular life.

But he still had a reason, too. He didnt want to lose. He didnt think his skills were lacking. He was also confident he could lead other people. After all, he had watched all his life. He also trusted the skills of his colleagues. There was some difference, but they were all in the top 10. They werent all that different from him. That was what he thought and believed.

Time passed. Four hours passed.

The meal was over.

***

Waiting room. Anderson sat down on the sofa while loosening his tie. His voice sounded tired.

Good work, everyone.

Good work to you, too. Cheer up. Im sure youll win.

Anderson smiled. He didnt know the results, but he felt good inside. He knew he gave it his all.

Kaya leaned back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. The light was as bright as always, but it seemed especially sparkly today. She felt dizzy. Perhaps, she did way too much in a short period of time. Kaya put a biscuit in her mouth. Kaya turned her head blankly with the biscuit still in her mouth.

You need it. Eat.

Aioeueoaoeiiei.

Eat before you speak.

Chloe snickered and pushed the biscuit into her mouth. Kaya ate the biscuit and spoke, Ahh

It was more like a groan than speaking, but she was so tired that she couldnt even form words.

Kaya kept her mouth open and didnt do anything. She really didnt do anything. She didnt turn her eyes, blink, or even breathe. She stayed like that for seconds. After about 30 seconds, Kaya breathed in heavily.

Are you okay?

No. Im glad today is the last day.

What are you going to do after the competition?

Im not sure. Ill probably spend the 300,000 dollars to pay off my moms debt and then maybe move? But its hard to get even a small room with 300,000 dollars in New York.

Then you should go somewhere else. How about Georgia?

I dont know. Will my mom want to leave New York. Shes sick and tired of it, but thats her home.

But

Anderson cut her off. He looked at Kaya with a dumbfounded face

What makes you think youre going to win?

What do you mean?

Youre talking as if youre going to get that 300,000 dollars.

Who knows? Maybe youll win, but be like, But the true winner is Kaya Reuters. Id like her to have the prize money instead.'

Theres better chance Allan and Emily will fall in love and get married.

Kaya didnt answer. She had lost all her energy imitating Anderson. It was a while later when Kaya finally spoke again, Why am I so tired when I didnt even cook?

Im like that, too. Its normal.

Anderson answered in a chic voice. Hugo opened his mouth.

I saw a chefs interview once. He said people thought head chefs had it easy because they didnt hold pans or knives, but he said managing a kitchen is much more tiring because they have to consider the time, movements, and everything else I felt the same way when I was a team leader. So no wonder youre tired.

You all did a good job. You looked good out there.

Cho Min Joon spoke with a smile. He meant it. The two of them shined as they chased after their dreams, and being able to stand by their side made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. Of course, he was a little jealous because he was a step behind. But he believed he could catch up. No, he was determined to catch up.

If that was the case, he had no reason to feel miserable. It was a blessing to have friends with big dreams. Even if he couldnt catch up, he would have a dream to chase for his whole life.

Im dying to know what the chefs are talking about.

Theyre probably praising me.

Probably. But theyre probably praising me more.

Anderson and Kaya glared at each other despite their fatigue. Cho Min Joon smiled bitterly. In the end, they were never going to be on friendly terms. It was possible that they would be like Rachel and Sergei forever. At that moment, the staff called.

The two finalists, please go to the kitchen.

Okay.

Anderson answered heavily and got up. Kaya was more tired than nervous about the results. Cho Min Joon looked at Kaya.

Youll win.

I know.

For a moment, Kayas voice sounded heavy, but that was just for a moment. Kaya soon got up. She then walked over. As soon as her beige shoes were about to step on the next tile, Cho Min Joon put his foot forward.

But there was no point in trying to step forward when he was still sitting. If he didnt get up, he wasnt going to step on the next tile. But right now, it wasnt time for Chloe or him to stand up. Right now, it was Anderson and Kayas turn. Only they could walk forward. But of course, one of them would walk further than the other

I should get up, too.

Cho Min Joon clenched his fists. At that moment, Chloe pressed her hands on his. Cho Min Joon slowly turned his head. He wondered if he should pull out his hand, but he couldnt after seeing Chloes smile.

She was simply holding his hand out of consideration. She was friendly. Her holding his hand was just an act of kindness, so he couldnt refuse it. He couldnt. Chloe opened her mouth.

This isnt the end.

Those words made his frustration go away. Cho Min Joon smiled. Chloes hands shook, and Cho Min Joon answered, Yeah. This is just the beginning.