Chloes parents were landscape architects.

Her father always said that since people lived in houses, it had to establish harmony with nature. Chloe didnt understand this when she was little, but she always thought her father looked cool. Why else would Chloe have picked the boring career of landscape architecture as her dream?

But that dream didnt last long. Just like the harmony of her family, which she thought would last forever.

Chloes parents might have created harmony between houses and nature, but the husband and wife didnt pay enough attention to their harmony. As a result, her parents got a divorce before Chloe even graduated from elementary school. The child custody went to the mother, Diana Chung, which was why Chloe Klook turned into Chloe Chung.

Diana was always busy, but after getting a divorce, she came home from home extra late. She didnt want Chloe to live an abnormal life just because she was raised by a single mother, so she let her do everything she wanted including martial arts, horseback riding, karate, and swimming. Perhaps that was what Diana wanted more. She might have wanted to assure herself that her child was living a normal life.

But in the end, Diana was unable to do the most important thing for her. Chloe never knew the meaning of a homecooked meal. Diana was a skilled cook and often cooked for Chloe on weekends, but it was difficult for her to do that on weekdays.

That was also how Chloe became such a good cook. Chloe wanted to eat a lot of different things aside from just pizza or hamburgers. At times, she used the internet or her mothers recipes to get better and better at cooking.

She never dreamt of becoming a chef. She still wasnt sure if that was what she really wanted, but she liked to cook, so she casually applied for the competition, and right now

Its heavy.

Chloe looked up at the ceiling from her bed and mumbled to herself. Many different faces flashed through Chloes mind. Kaya, Cho Min Joon, Hugo etc.

The common point in all of them was their passion and love for cooking. Of course, Chloe also loved to cook, but if one asked her if she could put everything on the line for it, she wouldnt have been able to answer.

She couldnt fall asleep. Chloe put on her sweats and left her room. Walking outside at night was weird and dangerous. Who knew what kind of crazy was wandering out on the streets? So Chloe didnt go outside and simply walked around within the Grand Chef House.

Its still scary.

The air was cold, and it was too boring by herself. That was why when she saw a man on the bench next to the path, Chloes face beamed.

Min Joon! Why arent you asleep yet?

Huh? What are you doing here? Its late.

I could ask you the same question.

Cho Min Joon smirked. Chloes eyes immediately went over to Cho Min Joons phone. There were many words written on his bright screen, but Chloe couldnt read Korean.

What are you looking at?

The comments.

I cant read those because it makes me sad.

Same.

Then why are you looking at them?

Because if someones cursing me out, I want to know what theyre saying.

Cho Min Joon shrugged. Chloe sighed.

Then why did you say that to Kaya? You said she was wasting her time and energy. You sounded like a teacher scolding a student.

Because Kayas young. Its probably hard for her to handle.

And youre old?

Cho Min Joon answered Chloes question with a smile. Chloe sat next to Cho Min Joon and opened her mouth.

I dont think Ive grown up yet. Im too young.

Why do you say that? Are you getting sentimental because its nighttime?

Just because.

Chloe smiled. Cho Min Joon looked at Chloe and asked, Are you worried about something?

No.

Then why are you out here late at night? Its almost midnight.

Youre out, too.

Well, Im worried about something.

Cho Min Joon pointed at his phone screen. Chloe grabbed her head to surrender and answered, Okay, fine. Im sorry I dont have anything to worry about.

Whats wrong?

Cho Min Joon asked again in a serious voice. Chloe bit down on her lip and hugged her knees. She was cold.

It just seems like everyone else is working so hard While Im not.

Youre working hard, too. Whats the problem?

Im not so passionate about cooking that I would cross the sea for it. Cooking is my favorite thing to do And Im liking it more and more over time, but I wouldnt do something that risky. Im not sure if Im willing to put my life on the line for cooking.

Then what else would you do?

I want to be a detective. Im a Holmes fan.

Oh yeah, didnt you say you were in law school?

Cho Min Joon looked at Chloe with surprise. She clenched both of her fists. It was possible that she was just cold. Cho Min Joon considered giving her his coat, but he decided not to. They didnt have that kind of relationship. Cho Min Joon smirked and said, It must be tiring to have many talents. You have many paths to choose from.

Whats the use in having a lot of paths? Its all about how far you walk along one.

Youve walked far enough so far. No need to feel restless.

Chloe shook her head.

Thats not what Im worried about. Im wondering if I should keep walking.

I like your cooking.

He spoke in a calm yet charming voice. Cho Min Joon continued, I think your personality is conveyed in your cooking. Not too much, friendly, and considerate. I dont taste anything bad-natured.

Just because I dont do anything bad doesnt mean I dont think it. Youd be shocked to find out what Im actually thinking.

You can do whatever you want in your head. As long as you dont actually do it. The Chloe I know is nice, a little timid, but also strong and knows how to find strengths in everyone.

Hey. Youre making me shy.

Yeah, how do you think I feel? If this was recorded for TV, I would have kicked my blanket to sleep. Ugh, so corny.

Cho Min Joon wriggled his fingers. Chloe squinted her eyes and glared at Cho Min Joon. Her short hair blew in the wind.

Youre distracting me from my worries. I havent even resolved it yet.

Words never solve worries anyway. You just have to try it out to find out. If youre hesitant about that

Cho Min Joon put his phone in his pocket and got up. He then pointed toward the path and smiled.

Ill at least walk with you.

Oh Hyun Joon: Its cool to see a Korean on a foreign TV show. Hes a total Korean, not an overseas Korean.

Asdf: Why is it so cool? Its pretty common. Superior Koreans who go abroad!

Lee Geon Eun: @asdf Superior Koreans, my ass. Hes just a failure who went abroad because he couldnt succeed in Korea.

Kim Bo: But why is he flirting with a white girl? If she was blonde too, I wouldve been jealous.

Crow: she could just dye her hair. Tsk, tsk.

Kim Bo: @crow Then does that mean you become black just by tanning?

Shin Se Yeon: Im hungry after watching that show. Grand Chef is fun. I wish they had one in Korea, too.

Hello: Your profile photo is pretty. Are you?

JK KOO: Rather than arrogant dishes like those, its better to just order chicken.

Nope Man: Nope.

JK KOO: @nopeman Why are you opposing my opinion?

Nope Man: @JK KOO Nope.

Waldo: I spotted a filthy weed! Help!

Kim Young Chan: I hope he wins, too. A foreigner better not get all the honor and prize money.

Lee Joo Hee: But if he wins this thing, wouldnt he just stay there? Hed have no reason to come back to Korea if he got famous there.

Kim Young Chan: @LeeJooHee who knows? Maybe hell miss home, but then again, hed probably be better off in America.

Nope Man: @KimYoungCHan Nope.

Kimchi Pepper Man: I hope Kaya and Cho Min Joon start dating.

Cho Min Joon looked away from his phone. The responses from Koreans were better than he expected, and most people were talking about other people, not him. He was slightly sad that people didnt focus on him as much, but it was for the best. There were more bad sides to being famous.

Are they Korean?

Kaya glanced over and asked in a quiet voice. Cho Min Joon nodded. Kaya carefully asked, Are they talking about me, too?

Not really.

That was a lie. Most of them were talking about her and Cho Min Joon, but he felt embarrassed telling her that. Kaya looked relieved. Cho Min Joon smiled bitterly and asked, Are you that worried?

Who likes to be cussed out?

Then be a little nicer on TV then youll get rid of half of your anti-fans.

Forget it. Thats not me.

Theres nothing I can say to that.

Cho Min Joon turned off his phone and lifted his head. All the contestants were gathered in the kitchen, but they werent gathered to eat together. A mission was about to begin soon.

The missions werent evenly spaced out. At times, it happened every 2 days, and at other times, every 7 days. They had to go according to the judges schedules, and the wait pained the contestants.

That was why the contestants were relieved this time. Hugo asked Cho Min Joon with a nervous look on his face, What do you think the mission will be?

Im not sure. There are so many possibilities. Itll probably be a single dish this time, and theyll probably make us use a specific ingredient.

I want to try something like Texas BBQ.

You have to watch the fire for 24 hours. Are you sure you want to do that?

Thats true.

Hugo easily agreed and shrugged. At that moment, the doors at the end of the kitchen opened. The contestants gulped as they watched, but something was off. Something was different from before. It was the number of judges entering. To be more exact, Joseph and Allan werent there. Emily was the only one coming in.

Emily coughed once she got on stage. The contestants looked at each other curiously, and Emily smiled brightly.

Hello, everyone. Its been a long time, but it doesnt feel that way.

Emily smiled at every single contestant. When she met eyes with Cho Min Joon, Emily smiled even brighter, but Cho Min Joon avoided her gaze. After she asked him to become a food critic, it became awkward between Cho Min Joon and Emily. He felt uncomfortable, but then again, they were never close enough to not be awkward, to begin with.

Today, you must choose between Allan and Joseph, and just so you know, this wont be a team mission. So please pick carefully, but theres no need to worry about wholl give you an easier time. After all, its not a team mission.

Cho Min Joon got an idea of what the mission was about as soon as he heard that. He guessed that there was a dish that Allan and Joseph liked to cook, and depending on who they chose, they would cook just that. He also remembered there being a mission like that.

Youll find out the details later. If you pick Allan, please go to the garden, and if you pick Joseph, stay where you are. You have 1 minute.

They heard a bell in their heads. The contestants began thinking without saying a word. Whats this mission about? Who should I choose?

And then a minute passed. Emily announced, Take your picks!

Cho Min Joon took his first step.