It wasn’t a proper dish.
Jo Minjoon thought like that. Even if a lot of skill was used in it, it was something that should never have been in a plate. A dish that was filled with the chef’s resentment, even if it’s score was high it wasn’t worth anything.
Alan said determined. It wasn’t only directed to Kaya, but to the whole team. Anderson was holding the dish with a clear angry face. Kaya bit her lips and went towards her dish.
And then ate her salmon. At that sight, nobody could tell her something and just looked at her. Kaya, after chewing it, gulped it. Then opened her mouth. She seemed calm, but her voice was trembling.
The meaning it held was just that. She took her plate and turned back. The sight of her biting her lips, to Jo Minjoon somehow seemed that she was trying not to shed tears.
However Kaya didn’t have any rights to cry. Jo Minjoon thought. When a chef prioritizes her emotions and pride instead of the customer, you couldn’t describe what was put on the dish with any words.
The basics of course cooking was in the harmony. The appetizer had the role to show up the main dish and to appetize one’s mouth. However, Kaya’s selfishness didn’t simply end at appetizing. Because it was her selfishness that made her cook the salmon tataki. It wasn’t a course cooking dish, but an absolutely individual dish.
But that was not having consideration toward the customer. Even if she knew it or not, it wasn’t something to just let it pass.
The judges started to evaluate the dishes as if nothing had happened. After showing an expressionless face, they went up back to the stage. But the evaluation didn’t start right now. Only after the six teams that couldn’t show off their dishes showed theirs, Alan opened his mouth.
As the three of them came up, only then did Alan open his mouth. It was an expressionless and hard face as always.
Chloe and Minjoon almost simultaneously opened their mouths. And Marco glanced sideways and opened his mouth late. “Tha, thank you.” Joseph, who was looking at Marco, opened his mouth.
Marco replied while sniffing. Jo Minjoon glanced a little and saw that Marco’s eyes were teary. He was a tender child unlike his hog like appearance. Jo Minjoon lifted his hand and patted Marco’s back.
Emily smiled and opened her mouth.
They should have already expected that they had passed with what they were being told, but as soon as Alan finished what he was saying, Chloe let a happy scream and held Marco and Jo Minjoon. Of course, to wrap Marco’s big body, her arms were not enough. In the end, Marco and Jo Minjoon had to receive her putting their arms around their shoulders while jumping.
Jo Minjoon smiled awkwardly. He knew that it was an attitude to have after passing, but to be this cheerful. As he didn’t jump and was only smiling, Chloe’s face reddened and shook off her apron.
However, that cheerful time didn’t last long. Because next, was Kaya’s evaluation. Alan said coldly. It was a voice that his rage could clearly be felt.
Nobody replied. Joseph let out a sigh and said.
Kaya replied hesitatingly. She seemed just like a child being lectured by a teacher. Emily opened her mouth. Her attitude was sharp and harsh unlike usual.
The one who opened his mouth was Anderson. Emily frowned as she looked at him. Anderson continued speaking.
The one who replied wasn’t Emily, but Alan. Anderson was elevating his tone while speaking, but forcefully repressed that and replied.
Alan replied shortly. He stared with his cold eyes. Alan went close to Anderson’s nose, and spoke with a scary voice that would anytime bite his face.
After saying all that, Alan caught his breath. It was as if Anderson was repressed by Alan’s overwhelming momentum, that he couldn’t speak anything in reply. Alan slowly opened his mouth. It was a voice that got smaller as if he was whispering.
Anderson couldn’t reply. Even when he was first talking to Kaya and making the team, his confidence was overflowing. He did fight for the seat of the main dish, but he wondered if just because of that they would be in this kind of situation.
Was that his mistake? Anderson couldn’t know the answer to that. His mind was yelling that it was not a mistake. He wanted to think that Alan’s words were only that much. But the only thing Anderson could do was to keep his mouth shut. It wasn’t because he was convinced. It was because even if he prolonged the talk, the judges wouldn’t change their minds.
The judging continued. 9 teams. Of those, the teams that survived were only 6. That meant that of the 3 teams, 9 people were going to be disqualified. Jo Minjoon just looked from the 2nd floor. From the disqualified people that were gathered, Joseph was opening his mouth.
The disqualified people didn’t reply. Some seemed like they would cry any moment. And some were sniffing. However Joseph didn’t hesitate. A chef put a mess in a plate. That was something that was inconceivable to a chef.
At Joseph’s words, the participants moved from here to there and soon, started to partner up with the people next to them. Some teamed up with their original team, and those two had to awkwardly hold hands. But the disqualified people were 9 in total. So naturally, one had to be left out.
Nobody reached their hands to her. Because they had already seen her character in the course cooking. They wouldn’t want to team up with someone that might bring trouble. On top of that, Kaya’s skills weren’t ordinary. If they were to team up with her, their dishes would rather lose light.
Kaya looked at her surroundings looking nervous. And forced herself to sound confident and looked at Joseph.
At those words, Kaya looked up to the 2nd floor. However, the passing candidates all evaded making eye contact. Even if they weren’t going to get disqualified, they couldn’t bear to be standing in that kind of place. Kaya, that was looking at the participants, stopped her sight at one place. Kaya, who was looking a long while at that face, said with her voice trembling.
Jo Minjoon’s face became rock hard.
Translator’s note: Regular chapter! Sorry to dissapoint you guys, but Chloe is making it through. But what about Kaya? Keep reading 😉 Thanks for reading and for your support!
So here is decision that can show morality of the MC. Will he help her to survive because he is a good guy, or will he ignore her plea so she fail and he will have better chances to win with one possible winner disqualified at this point?
You dont even need to guess. I bet 1 penny that he will help her because… duh… Its a plot!
And MC isnt coldhearted cunning character.
There is also the fact that the MC legit wants to prove his cooking to others and to himself. He came all the way here to beat Kaya.
He can’t take the easy way out.
Kaya is acting like any 18 year old girls.
Anderson is acting like an adult that won’t give his candy to a kid.
Or maybe i’m just bias.
I’m thinking more along the lines that Anderson is acting like a spoiled brat that’s always got his way and that Kaya just simply doesn’t want to lose. Bad team combo.
Actually, this could be an awesome stripper pants idea. Walk onto stage then literally break outta the pants and start dancing!
This story is really good, kind of didn’t expect to like a novel about a cooking show! A+ Translators, thanks for sharing this with us.
Minjoon’s “Face” became hard as rock, hmm?