No need to be nervous, but dont be too relaxed either. Since many people are focused on us, all we have to do is change their perception.

In response to Rafael, Cho Min Joon nodded. It was simple. They were at a point where they didnt need promotion but verification instead. At this point, there was no point in doing any more promotions.

The semi-finalist of Grand Chef, Anderson. The perfect palate, Cho Min Joon. The originator of molecular food trucks, Rafael Yoon. On top of that, the legend, Rachel Rose. There werent many restaurants in America that had so many famous people in one kitchen.

What Rachel wanted was to break the thought, They cant be that great. And winning a competition was good enough proof.

The rules of the competition were simple. 4 people per group. 30 minutes to cook. When the demi chefs heard the news from Rachel, they looked iffy. To be more exact, until she said this, The four of you will compete in the competition.

What?

Cho Min Joon was surprised, too. His jaw dropped and stared at Rachel. Havier spoke in a shocked voice, But thats not how its done. Regardless of demi chefs and sous chefs, I thought the elite went out to compete.

Some places do that. Its a given if they dont have that many chefs. But thats not the case for us. Me and Rafael are faster with our eyes and lips than our hands. So you guys should be the ones to cook. So you have to represent our restaurant because customers will end up eating the dishes you make.

He understood what she was saying. Cho Min Joon was in awe. He figured that kind of attitude was what made Rose Island rise to the top. But the other demi chefs didnt look so convinced. Cho Min Joon slowly opened his mouth.

Did you send out demi chefs in the past, too?

Yes. Also

Rachal continued, Theyve never lost even once.

***

Luckily, Rachel didnt leave the recipes up to them. It was to be expected. Rachel said the demi chefs had to compete because they were the ones cooking in the kitchen.

While the demi chefs cooked in the kitchen, it was up to Rachel to come up with recipes. So it was right for her to do so for the competition as well.

There were only 2 weeks until the competition. For that reason, Rachel was more strict than usual. If anything went off course, Rachel scolded harshly.

Let go. If you put that on the frying pan, itll be nothing but trash.

Imagine if the hall was filled with customers right now. Then youd make them wait 20 extra minutes!

People are going to say Rose Island is a dead corpse in the past.

Was it because it had actually begun? She was so strict that it was hard to remember her soft side.

What they had to make was a 4-course mealappetizer, pasta, main, and dessert. And Cho Min Joon was in charge of dessert. He was also the team leader. The reason why he ended up becoming the team leader was simple.

Youre the best at molecular cooking, so you must be the team leader.

It wasnt a friendly explanation, but it made sense. It wasnt just Cho Min Joons dessert that was going to use molecular cooking. All dishes aside from Andersons pasta, or more like gnocchi, was also going to be influenced by molecular cooking.

What he learned while working under Rachel was that her ability to lead a kitchen was chillingly perfect. Her ability to lead was even more respectable than her cooking talent.

Although 4 chefs were cooking at the same time, if one person made a mistake, Rachel immediately knew. If the ingredients were mixed wrong, Rachel immediately knew how it was wrong.

Shes no different from my system.

What Cho Min Joon was the happiest with about his system was that he could immediately catch a mistake. After all, realizing what was missing after completion was harder than knowing in the middle of cooking.

And through cooking scores, Cho Min Joon was able to know the best path. That was the advantage that no other chef could have. Or so he thought.

But as soon as he became Rachels pupil, Cho Min Joon changed his mind. Rachel was the perfect mentor. When he needed it the most, she gave him the right lessons.

As long as they had her for a mentor, they would grow just as fast as Cho Min Joon would with his system. But Cho Min Joon didnt feel restless because what he wanted wasnt to be the only one in the hall. He wanted to run together with those he loved. Cho Min Joon was happier being the best together than alone.

Of course

This is tiring.

Just because he liked it didnt mean it wasnt tiring. Havier sat on a chair like a tired dog. Ella, who just returned from kindergarten, took out her childrens vitamin tablets. She spoke in a joking tone, Are you tired? This will make you feel better.

Does that cure everything?

Yeah. Mom said this makes it all go away, and Ellas kiss makes it better, too.

Will you kiss me?

Janet threw her glove at Haviers face. It was so loud that it sounded like an actual slap. Janet spoke in a cold voice, Should I report you?

Im just kidding! Am I not allowed to have humor? You should watch some comedy shows from time to time. Youre so uptight.

You should watch more documentaries then.

The way they bickered didnt seem unfamiliar. Anderson stared at Cho Min Joon. Cho Min Joon raised his chin as if he was asking what he was looking at. Anderson opened his mouth.

Dont they look just like you and Kaya?

I can hear you. Shut up.

Kaya used to say that to me, too.

In response, Janet glared at Anderson. Of course, Anderson wasnt the type to back down either. In the end, Cho Min Joon stepped up.

Stop it. Were a team. We need to work together.

Whats the point? We just have to make our own dishes.

Janet, do you really think so?

Cho Min Joon stared at Janet. He was looking at her in pity, not anger. And that was even harder to endure. If he looked like he hated her, she wouldve fought back, but the way he looked at her with kindness made her feel like the bad one.

Not that Im a good person.

And Cho Min Joon was a good chef and a good person. He was a genius who was born with talent and luck that made him into a demi chef at Rose Island at just 21 years old. Since that was Cho Min Joon, Janet always saw him as a competition.

But Cho Min Joon saw Janet as a colleague. In that sense, Janet felt like she lost to him. And the same went for right now. Janet sighed.

I take that back.

Okay. Thanks.

Cho Min Joon flashed a smile. Janet sighed inside her head. She thought of Cho Min Joons girlfriend, Kaya. She still remembered how soft she looked only in front of Cho Min Joon. But she also understood. Cho Min Joon wasnt just someone with a good personality. He had the right attitude, and he never treated anyone as lesser.

The atmosphere was light. Cho Min Joon poked Ella on the nose as he opened his mouth.

Anyway, isnt molecular cooking more fun and mysterious the more you do it?

Youre starting to rationalize. But then again, if you dont do that, being in charge of molecular cooking would get too tiring.

Shut up, Anderson. Im not brainwashing myself. I really think so. Its fun. I love that I can make liquids into powder. And being able to make pasta with things other than flour is seriously Rafael said this to me, that I wouldnt regret taking over the molecular cooking section. And Im starting to agree.

See? Youre rationalizing.

Anderson spoke with a shrug. Cho Min Joon glared at Anderson before looking down at Ella and opening his mouth.

Ella, whose cooking do you like the best?

Yours

See? This is what molecular cooking can do.

The other three looked down with dejected faces in response. Janet opened her mouth with dissatisfaction.

Thats not fair. Ella would probably say anything you make is good.

Then ask her. Ella, do you like anything I make?

Hm I still hate broccoli.

See? She hates broccoli.

Thats different.

Janet was speechless, but Cho Min Joon didnt care. He opened his mouth as if he was now a god.

The power of science is impressive. It destroys the common perception of cooking. I feel like Ive become an innovator.

I agree with that But I feel anxious, too. If molecular cooking becomes more widespread later on, traditional cooking could be shaken. Will I be able to catch up with that as I grow older?

Look at Rachel. Shes older, but shes just as good at molecular cooking as Rafael or any other sous chef. You can do anything if you try.

Are you trying to compare me to Rachel?

Havier asked with a bitter face. Cho Min Joon groaned and rolled his eyes.

Am I expecting too much from you?

After I learned her recipe and know-how, it finally hit me. She has something that isnt from just experience alone.

Im sure shell teach whatever that is to us. So dont worry.

Cho Min Joon spoke calmly. No one realized it at first, but Cho Min Joon was starting to sound like the team leader for the competition. But he still wouldve said those things even if he wasnt.

Cho Min Joon wasnt the type to lead people into a revolution, but he had the tendency to hug those around him and comfort them. Even during the Grand Chef, all the people who werent sure of Cho Min Joon at first became his friends. His ability to be objective yet warm was his talent beyond the system he had.

All we can do right now is express Rachels recipe to the best of our ability. We have to prove what kind of chef she is. And as we keep introducing her to people

He laughed. It was a warm laugh.

Then maybe our hands will become more like Rachels.

In response, the three of them nodded. They werent smiling, but they felt warmth in their hearts. Meanwhile, Ella mumbled to herself as if she didnt understand, Rachels hands are wrinkly though