episode_0142

“Kang Hwi.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“I think I need some cooking lessons.”

Chaewon’s request was not out of the blue.

It had been 100 days since their relationship began, and yesterday, they had spent a quiet night to celebrate their 100 days together.

Coming back like a cute couple, they chatted away about their day, and surprisingly, nothing eventful had happened, making it all the more adorable.

Kang Hwi, with a pleased expression, brushed Chaewon’s hair and asked, “Cooking lessons… What made you think of that?”

“I think I’m terrible at cooking…”

What could have happened?

Was it the reason for the shocked expression and slumped shoulders?

Chaewon, who usually came back with a bright smile, talking about how fun her day with Siwoo was and what made her happy, was not herself.

“Don’t be too down, tell me what happened.”

Chaewon started to speak, lips pursed, as if mumbling, “It’s our 100th day. I wanted to cook for Siwoo… So I went to the mart.”

“Yes. What were you planning to cook?”

“Siwoo really likes spicy pork. So I wanted to make that for him.”

“Oh. Really? So, you went to the mart.”

“I bought the pork for spicy pork. Came home, prepared it according to the recipe, and started cooking. But then Siwoo suddenly asked me to play classical music for him to listen to? Kang Hwi, do you know classical music?”

“I do. Famous ones or ones that Miss often played?”

“Yeah. It was Chopin’s Waltz Op.64 No.2. Do you know it?”

“Yes. You played it a few times.”

“You might have heard it too. It’s a really good piece. It felt like I became a noble lady at a ball without realizing it… But I got so lost in the music that I didn’t even realize the meat was burning… Am I really that stupid? I should have been stirring while cooking. But I was just lost in the music…”

It was a rapid turn of events that could have been on a high school rap show.

After hearing the whole story, Kang Hwi couldn’t help but laugh.

“Did Siwoo do nothing while watching you?”

“He helped me with a few things before that.”

“But he let the meat burn…”

“He thought I was trying to make it spicy.”

Although there was a part of him that wanted to tease her, Kang Hwi held back.

He didn’t want to drive another nail into Chaewon’s already downtrodden heart.

“Spicy and burnt flavors are different….”

Having been raised under the care of a maid since she was young, Chaewon had rarely been involved in household chores.

Unlike household chores that could be easily learned without professional teaching, cooking was a realm of the unknown for her.

She didn’t know how spicy and burnt flavors differed or how to create a burnt flavor at home.

So, where should she start telling the story?

That Siwoo also couldn’t distinguish between spicy and burnt flavors?

Should she reassure her first?

“It’s difficult to create a burnt flavor with a home stove. Even the one at Siwoo’s house… It’s not a gas stove, it’s an electric induction stove, right?”

“… Is that so?”

“It’s difficult to create a burnt flavor with an induction stove.”

“Really? Aren’t they all the same?”

“No, they’re different.”

“… Isn’t creating a burnt flavor just about burning it? Whether it’s induction or gas, isn’t that the same?”

Kang Hwi looked at Chaewon without saying a word.

It was to make her realize on her own.

After receiving a long, contemplative gaze for a while, Chaewon seemed to have an epiphany and asked Kang Hwi, “Are burnt and spicy flavors different?”

“Yes.”

“… Really?”

“Yes.”

Deep in thought, Chaewon picked up her phone that was next to her.

Tock, tock, tock. Her thumb, which had been moving quickly, stopped.

“Really.”

The fire ignites when the ingredients are roasted at high temperatures, when they come into direct contact with the fire and char, or when they are smoked in oil vapor.

However, the stronger the degree of charring caused by direct contact with the fire, the food turns black. At this point, the unpleasant bitter taste is none other than the taste of char.

Chaewon, who had gained enlightenment, scratched her head.

“Some restaurants promote themselves as having a ‘fire taste,’ but when you actually try their food, it’s overly bitter. That’s not a fire taste, it’s a charred taste.”

“I think I know what you mean.”

“Just realized it, Miss Chaewon, you’ve become a better cook than an ordinary person. Congratulations!”

Perhaps the sudden praise caught her off guard, as Chaewon blushed and put her phone down.

It seemed like her pride had been somewhat restored.

“So… can you teach me how to cook fire-flavored pork?”

“Of course. But…”

“But?”

Although Chaewon had enough wealth to live without a drop of water on her hands, she was willing to dive into the arduous task of cooking for her boyfriend.

The key was how she would acquire expertise in the subject of cooking.

Since fire flavor cannot be easily achieved with ordinary household cooking utensils, a wok and a strong heat source were essential.

However, such tools were more suitable for experienced chefs who were familiar with them. It might not be suitable for cooking novices like Chaewon.

“Fire flavor is like a premium course. If you want to easily achieve a fire flavor at home, it’s best to use specialized products. Otherwise, you can use leeks or other methods.”

“Is that so…?”

“How would you like to proceed? It’s okay to take shortcuts, but there’s also a proper way to learn step by step.”

Chaewon, who seemed to have realized something, brightened her eyes.

Eager to learn something, she appeared like a cute disciple clinging to her master for guidance.

“Your mother won’t say anything, right?”

“Of course not. Madam also enjoys cooking. She’s been too busy to do it lately.”

“I see.”

“Since your talent has also been passed down from your mother, you’ll surely become good at it quickly once you learn properly.”

“I see!!”

“However, be careful with fire and hot ingredients. Make sure to be fully prepared before you start. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Okay!”

Min Chaewon, a student of Kang Hwi’s cooking class, suddenly filled with hope.

Kang Hwi suggested they continue the conversation in the kitchen and have breakfast first.

“Are you ready for breakfast already?”

“I am.”

“I must have woken up too late….”

“It’s okay.”

“I’ll wake up earlier tomorrow. I want to go on a field trip.”

She was a diligent lady who would have breakfast and immediately take her dog for a walk as soon as she woke up. Starting tomorrow, she planned to wake up even earlier.

All for the sake of her beloved boyfriend.

They were truly an adorable couple. I wonder how much more they will be lovey-dovey once they get married.

“Since you’re so enthusiastic, you’ll surely improve quickly.”

Chaewon’s growth rate was astonishing.

She had inherited her mother’s cooking genes, but just by following the recipe from start to finish, she had already mastered half of it.

She followed it perfectly, boiling for exactly the right amount of time and cooking at the right temperature.

Of course, she made some mistakes along the way, but she quickly made those adjustments and turned the data into her own. She showed a professional-like demeanor in no time, to the point where one might question if she was really a beginner in cooking.

Even the chopping, which took up a considerable portion of cooking, was of a high standard, perhaps influenced by Aclert’s teachings.

Even inviting a Japanese chef to observe the preparation of sashimi, Chae-won was able to handle the sashimi knife naturally the next day.

As she quickly sliced the fish, the kitchen maids watched anxiously, fearing she might cut herself. However, it was a new maid who watched in awe at Chae-won’s skillful knife work and almost cut her own hand.

And so, in mid-September.

As the cool weather finally began to rescue Korea from the scorching heat.

Chae-won was able to support Si-woo the day before the concours preliminaries with a special lunchbox she made.

*

The autumn breeze wafted along the Han River.

Si-woo couldn’t help but admire the contents laid out in the four-tiered lunchbox one by one.

“Did you make all of this?”

“Yeah. Impressive, right?”

1st floor. Warm and fluffy rice topped with seasoned seaweed and sesame seeds.

2nd floor. Well-roasted kimchi and homemade pickled radish. A salad of chicken breast with tomatoes, two boiled quail eggs, and potato and macaroni salad.

3rd floor. Rolled omelette, pork neck, beef tenderloin. Shrimp tempura, octopus sashimi, grilled abalone, crab meat, grilled mackerel, and tuna sashimi.

The 4th tier was shaped like a cute rabbit, and the fruit roll made of bananas and kiwis exuded a sweet and tangy aroma.

After staring at each tier for a while, Si-woo took out his phone.

“Can I take a picture of this?”

“Of course!”

Si-woo happily took pictures like a child, making sure his face was visible in each one.

“I have to show off.”

“To whom?”

“To Song Seong-hyuk. And maybe Yoon Ji-chang if I get the chance.”

It seemed like the three of them were getting along quite well these days.

Even though we were all students under the same professor, I wasn’t particularly close to either Song Seong-hyuk or Yoon Ji-chang.

I had become slightly closer to Yoon Ji-chang due to his sister, but Song Seong-hyuk was always like a distant star to me.

“We’ve been talking more often lately because of the Aclert shoot….”

He didn’t say it to me, but he must have felt a sense of crisis.

Since Song Seong-hyuk had seen Min Chae-won more than Jung Si-woo, he might have been annoyed if he started talking about me for no reason.

But he didn’t say anything even when he saw the couple ring on my finger. I wonder if he’ll react when I boast about the lunchbox I made.

What’s there to be anxious about when I’m already in a relationship?

I placed my chin on Si-woo’s shoulder, looking intently at his face as he fiddled with his phone.

Si-woo, I’m already yours.

Don’t you realize it yet?