chapter 3

“Sir!”

“Officer, are you eating now?”

“I’m a bit late in my job today. But it’s not right to skip meals.”

Min Ji-hye smiles and sits down at the table for two. She is an official who works in the Yongsan-GU office and has been visiting regularly since the start of the store. Beside her stood a young woman whom I had never seen before.

“Yeon-Bora came in place of Yeon-her because she is on maternity leave. Now that I’m working in this town, I brought her here to become a fan.”

Ji-hye answered the unasked question and turned to Bora.

“Bora, you must try this shrimp fried rice!”

“Hey, you said you’d buy me something delicious. Is it fried rice?”

Bora laughed, booed, and looked at her with a bit of suspicion.

“Sir, did you see that? My face is on the line. You have to make it delicious!”

“I’ll do as usual.”

“Then, as always, delicious!”

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Leaving Ji-Hye behind, Han-Gil entered the kitchen and took out the ingredients.

Bam Bam Bam!

When I put the ingredients on the cutting board and began to cut, my mind calmed down.

Knock, knock!

Beat the eggs and place the cooked rice and thawed shrimp on the breakfast counter.

Looking at the ingredients listed neatly, the corners of my mouth naturally rose. This year marks my ninth year of culinary experience.

But I’m still excited at this moment.

I feel like a conductor of the orchestra.

With one’s hands, these materials can make perfect harmony or discord.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

When I put a handful of shrimps in a heated wok, I heard a pleasant sound.

Cheers!

In another stroke, egg, water was added and a fluffy scramble was made.

Shhhhhhh!

Place the onion back in a greased wok, mixing all the ingredients. Fried rice is a simple dish, but it tastes different depending on who makes it.

“Try it.”

“Where are you?”

First of all, take a shrimp and bite it in your mouth, and it splits and has a unique taste.

The rich smell burst out. A smile came naturally. After swallowing in a hurry, this time the only rice filled with spoons and chopsticks.

“Huh!”

A fiery taste that stimulates instinct.

The rice was coated with the taste of fire. Every time I chewed, the grain of rice danced in my mouth, and it didn’t pop like a normal egg, but it was fluffy. It was fun to chew since its bouncy.

“I told you, didn’t I?”

Bora realized before she knew it, she was closing her eyes. When I opened my eyes, I smiled to Ji-Hye mischievously.

“You keep saying the same thing, you’re so chatty.”

“I’m not usually like this…”

“It’s best to eat deliciously. You have to be a good fan to cheer me up.”

Ji-hye smiled quietly and emptied the bowl like she was not losing.

I also took pride when I saw it.

The highest compliment for a cook is to empty the plates.

“Oh, I should have taken a picture…”

“We’ll be back, so we can film it then.”

“What a hidden restaurant. Why was this so commonly referred to as a restaurant that only acquaintances know?”

“It’s a really hidden restaurant. Why, what’s so commonly called, a restaurant that only acquaintances know?”

“Boss, you need to be in business for a really long time.”

The two women went out after complimenting Han-Gil to embarrassment.

And as she got closer to the district office, Bora looked at Ji-hi and asked.

“Shall we go to Han’s kitchen tomorrow? I’m curious about the rest of the menu!”

“How can a salary woman eat out every day? I usually go to the cafeteria.”

“Oh, that’s true, too. What about next week?”

“But if it’s been a while since you’ve been out, shouldn’t you go someplace else? In Itaewon there are so many good restaurants!”

“Is everything as well as Han’s kitchen?”

“Well, Hans Kitchen is a place where you can actually enjoy familiar dishes. We’re up to Itaewon, so let’s try something unique!”

#

Shoot! Shoot!

After 4pm, heavy rain fell as if a hole had been drilled into the sky.

There aren’t a lot of customers in this weather. Han-Gil sat on a chair in the kitchen, he pulled out his smartphone and used the Best Gourmet app.

It’s on. The only hobby in the world.

It was a cooking game that opened restaurants in various regions.

Sizzling! Boiling! Clap!

A dish of appetizing graphics with a lively sound has been completed.

[+9]

[+13]

As the finished dish was served, a number rose above the guests’ heads. The guests never stop.

It didn’t, so the spell went on.

It’s a simple game, but it’s addictive, so I lost track of time once I started.

Brang! Barabang!

Suddenly, fireworks exploded with loud music.

[You’ve cleared all stages]

Clear one stage and the stage open after it is locked.

But there wasn’t a locked stage any more.

Looking into the screen, Han-Gil suddenly felt discouraged. Conquered the whole world of gastronomy. New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Las Vegas…

The problem is that it’s inside a smart phone.

“It’s a lie that you’re not greedy.”

That’s when Han Gil became honest with himself. There is no such thing as a selfless man.

Of course, Han-Gil had greed.

You succeed in the alley, you go out onto the main street, you go out into the world someday.

I wanted to go. He wanted to be recognized for his cooking.

“Do I really have to promote my blog?’

If I broke the installment savings, I could somehow get the money. Its money saved for rent, but if you think of it as an investment…I need a trustworthy publicist.

“Is cooking, money after all?”

My mouth tasted bitter.

I’ve spent a lot of money from the start, setting up a store in a good neck, hiring 300 bloggers, and then…

‘If we promote it, will it be a success?’

Is he naive to think that he can go out with his skills and effort?

‘Let’s call it a day.’

I thought I should buy a few bottles of soju on my way home. I needed a drink today.

Han-Gil hurried to finish and left the restaurant to put a shutter down.

At the last moment I looked at the store.

Kwagwagwang!

As the roar erupted, a stinging sensation struck the whole body.

No pain, but no matter how hard I blinked, my sight was blurred.

‘Did I… get struck by lightning?’

I lost all my strength.

I don’t even know what day it is.

In front of my eyes, a translucent window appeared like a hologram.

[Logging in to Best Gourmet]

[The conditions for the Hidden Stage have been met.]