Chapter 159
Chapter 159: The reason they are hungry (3) God of Cooking
Name：God of Cooking
Of course, there was no chance of Anderson understanding the reason behind Jo Minjoon saying congratulations. Looking at Anderson’s confused face in front of him, Jo Minjoon was actually surprised. He really meant it when he said congratulations. Although there was a feeling of envy, it was not to the level of being called jealousy.
Why was this the case? It’s probably not because his friendship with Anderson was getting closer. Even when Kaya reached level 8, Jo Minjoon was jealous of her.
‘I wonder if I have changed.’
It wasn’t that the strings of tension had loosened. The excitement was still there. However, unlike before, a feeling of helplessness never came over him.
Maybe this had something to do with the fact that he was not so focused on the score of a dish anymore. Rather than being pushed around by the score, he was now treating it as more of a guide. The impact of that change was not small at all.
Morning. As the staff watched on, the six members sat together happily around the table. Maybe it was because it was their last meal in Japan and the last meal of the journey, but nobody could easily lift their utensils. They were all feeling a sense of loss. Emily spoke up in a somewhat complicated voice.
“When I work, there have been many times i had to go eat on my own. It’s been a long time since I ate like this with other people. Thank you, everyone.”
“Food is always better when you are eating together. Especially when you are eating Eastern food.”
Jo Minjoon smiled lightly as he spoke. They started to eat. Sera burst into admiration every time she put her chopsticks into her mouth. She started to speak in a quiet voice.
“It’s amazing. Even though it’s home-style cooking, it still feels very elegant.”
“At some point, the perception of home-style cooking changed to be considered cheap and lacking, but that’s not the case. For example, I still can’t forget the taste of the galbi-jjim I ate at my grandparents’ house at New Year’s day when I was younger.”
When he thought about it, that was one of the tastiest home-style meals he had ever eaten, and it was Korean food. As Jo Minjoon was reminiscing about the taste in his mind, Anderson stared at him with an unfamiliar gaze. Jo Minjoon was not like this in the past. Maybe it was because of his mom’s bad cooking, but Jo Minjoon did not have much affection or faith in home-style cooking. He had always shown a focus and respect for fancy dishes.
“…….I get a weird feeling everytime I get on a plane.”
“Me too.”
Sera, who was sitting next to him, opened her mouth. Maybe she had something to discuss with him; she pushed Anderson aside as he tried to sit next to Minjoon and took the seat for herself. The plane slowly began to lift its head towards the sky. The ticklish feeling of your organs being pulled was pleasant but unfamiliar.
“It must be nice for you Sera. The life of an epicurean must be like this all the time right?”
“Why? Are you envious?”
“Definitely. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I want to be an epicurean.”
“I heard Emily tried to make you into an epicurean.”
“She did. I turned her down. I enjoy cooking more than eating.”
Even if the whole world changed, it was one belief that would not change. The airplane slowly started to stabilize itself in the air. Jo Minjoon looked outside the windows at the cotton-like clouds that filled the sky. Sera looked at his face before slowly opening her lips.
“Thank you.”
“……Have I done anything that deserves a thanks from you, Sera?”
“Yes, yes you did. You gave me a stimulus.”
Jo Minjoon silently looked at Sera’s face. ‘The world’s sexiest epicurean.’ A title fitting a third-rate magazine. However, what Jo Minjoon saw wasn’t the allure of her sexy lips, but the determination flowing through her eyes. It was an expression only those people who have made an important decision could show. It was clearly visible on her face.”
“Your relationship with Anderson. The passion for cooking. Your natural talent and unwavering spirit. All of those came as big shocks to me. It made me look back at how I came into this field in the first place.”
“……Sera, how did you end up becoming an epicurean?”
Normally, wouldn’t you expect someone to say ‘because I liked food?’ However, the answer Sera gave was definitely not normal.
“It was because of Emily.”
“……What?”
“I looked up to Emily ever since I was young. She was an unni I liked. Well, to be specific, she was an unni I looked up to and respected. She’s cool. Emily. Ever since I was young, I wanted to be like her……and once Emily became an epicurean, I decided I needed to be one too.”
It was such an unexpected answer that Jo Minjoon was speechless. Whether she was short in thought, childish, or if not that, the maybe just pure, he couldn’t tell. Sera laughed, as if his thoughts were visible on his face.
“I know. It was a very thoughtless decision. That’s why I still have such childish concerns.”
“……The trigger is definitely unique. However, Sera, I don’t think it is a childish concern. It’s a concern that everybody has. No matter how sure you are about your path, motivation alone is not enough for you to be confident that you picked the right path. Plus, Sera, regardless of your motivation……you still worked hard.”
“How do you know? For epicureans, rather than feeling the taste of a dish, it’s more about how well you can express your feelings. It’s also focused on your looks or personality to see if you have what it takes to be a star. There are many people who claim that I made it as an epicurean only because of my looks. Minjoon, have you never thought that?”
“Never.”
He was not just saying it to be respectful. If he did, it would be difficult to look directly into her eyes as he answered. That’s why Sera could not help but wonder. She couldn’t understand the faith Jo Minjoon had about her abilities. (TL: He just has a magic tool that lets him know you’ve worked very hard Sera!)
However, she did not ask for the reason. Regardless of the reason, it felt nice to be trusted. Sera smiled brightly as she opened her mouth.
“It feels nice hearing you say that. Also, there’s no reason to have such a look of concern on your face. I will not be shaken anymore. Rather, I am just greedy. Just like how you and Anderson have accepted each other, and everybody else has also accepted the two of you as rivals, one day, I will also get there.”
Sera turned her head. At the end of her gaze was Emily, who was chatting with Anderson. Jo Minjoon smiled and started to speak.
“If you have a desire not to lose, you’re already rivals.”
€
LAX. Los Angeles Airport. Jo Minjoon slowly took a step forward.
‘Once again…… USA.’
His chest was tickling. On this foreign land, thinking about how he would be cooking for strange foreigners…..just thinking about the future already filled him with sorrows and happiness, and he felt like the fruits of his labor were already in his hands.
“I guess this is goodbye.”
“Hmm. I’m sure we will see each other again someday.”
Jeremy answered in a distinctly casual but subtly disappointed voice. Of course they didn’t have many reasons to see each other again. They were all busy people, and unless they were participating together on a show like this, to even coincidentally run into each other, the US…….no, the world was too big.
“Everybody, thank you for everything. The next time we meet, I will make you even tastier dishes.”
“I’m looking forward to it. And I’m thankful as well. When Minjoon opens a restaurant in the future, I will make sure to visit.”
“Maybe you’ll end up having your wedding at my restaurant, Emily.”
“Oh, please, stop teasing me like that.”
Emily’s face turned red. In the midst of everyone giggling, Martin slowly walked over. He put a smile on his face.
“Everyone, thank you for following along without causing any issues. Well, not that we didn’t have ANY issues at all…”
Martin’s eyes quickly headed towards Jo Minjoon. Jo Minjoon turned his head away with a guilty look on his face. Martin started to laugh as he spoke.
“Anderson. Minjoon. I’ve already spent over half a year with the two of you. I hope this relationship can remain beautiful in the future.”
“There’s no reason it can’t remain like this.”
Jo Minjoon suddenly felt a strange sensation. Martin was just the program’s PD, however, it felt like Martin was a benefactor who gave him a great opportunity. Maybe it was because he was responsible for Grand Chef, the program that changed his life. Jo Minjoon put forth his hand.
“Thank you for everything, Martin.”
Martin stared at Minjoon’s hand before slowly shaking it and smiling so widely that he had wrinkles on his face.
The conversation continued a little longer, but as with all things, it could not continue forever. The broadcast was over, and the traveling was done. It would be nice if the path in front of them was wide enough for them to all walk together, however, a person’s path was full of many forks in the road.
Rachel opened her mouth.
“Let’s go.”
Neither Anderson nor Jo Minjoon asked where they were going. For now, they were just following after Rachel’s footsteps. Her path. They were sailing with her as her sailors.
End