The kitchen was buzzing with anticipation as they prepared to welcome the mentor of their mentor.

Hae-som, wiping down a counter she had already cleaned more than ten times, pondered alone.

It was a done deal that Ji-won had invited Chef Jean, so she must have gone to the airport to meet him.

It seemed unnecessary for Jae-geon to go and help… Did he not know about Ji-won’s schemes?

If so, Jae-geon would have to meet Ji-won and go with her, and they would come to Not together with Chef Jean.

The picture of the three of them entering together made her stomach churn as if she had eaten something bad, and her head spun. The symptoms were worse than when she hadn’t slept for three days straight.

Her hand, which had been clutching her restless heart, was suddenly held.

“What’s wrong with you?”

A familiar touch, a gentle voice. Yet, she sensed an unfamiliar scent from him. Tears welled up for no reason, and Hae-som had to lower her head.

The uncomfortable glances from all sides were not few. From accusations of openly dating, to exclamations of “Song Hae-som is so persistent, I thought they broke up last time,” a mix of admiration and mockery.

It was harder than usual to endure them all today. That’s why she wished Jae-geon would just let her go.

“Are you feeling sick?”

But this person didn’t. The more she tried to push him away, the closer he pulled her, determined to see what was bothering her.

“Were you in pain?”

The aftereffects of their rough encounter were still burning, but that wasn’t what was causing her emotions to fluctuate. Even Hae-som herself couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason.

She felt uneasy when the chef was away for external work, it was difficult to bear the glares of her seniors, and more honestly, she didn’t like Jae-geon being with Ji-won.

Hiding the parts she couldn’t confess, she shook her head resolutely.

“If you’re not feeling well, go home early. I’ll pay you for the day.”

Are they going to do something again to send me away? Not to N Hotel room 2808, are they?

Could the one he had in mind not be Ji-won? Even hate, in some situations, is a form of affection.

Her voice trembled with childish jealousy. Her eyes, fixed on Jae-geon, turned red.

“I’m fine.”

“Suit yourself, then.”

He then turned his head with a troubled expression and shifted his attention to the startled Jun-won. Having known each other for many years, the two entered the office, communicating through glances.

For some reason, the atmosphere felt ominous. The already heavy air sank uncontrollably.

---

Jun-won yanked off his tie.

“How could those two come together?”

“Maybe they caught each other’s eye. Or maybe they slept together.”

Jun-won shouted at the cynical reply.

“Are you serious right now?!”

“How was I supposed to know?”

“How many times have you fallen for Cha Ji-won’s schemes? From trespassing to business interference! She even tried to intimidate us with a naive college student, and even your mentor! Don’t you feel angry at all?”

There was no trace of anger in his movements as he took off his suit and changed into his chef’s uniform. Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Jun-won’s rage reached its peak.

“Jung Jae-geon!”

From top to bottom. Jae-geon, who was buttoning his chef’s uniform, turned around with a cold expression.

“If you don’t want to hold your brother’s memorial service today, shut your mouth. I’m barely holding back the urge to snap your neck.”

The fierce anger subsided for a moment at the glimpse of his true feelings, but Jun-won’s questions continued.

“How did she get him to agree?”

“Ask him yourself.”

“Where did you meet?”

“The airport.”

“Why didn’t you take him straight to the hotel? Why come here?”

“We have to provide service. Do you want to handle the chef’s table?”

“Hey!”

Jae-geon casually snatched the notebook from Jun-won and quickly scanned the meeting outline for the day.

“Special guest for 6 people. Shouldn’t that be revised to 2? The kitchen and the dining hall are on combat alert.”

Jun-won, truly bewildered by Jae-geon’s leisurely thoughts, touched his feverish forehead.

“So. Are we just going to leave it like this? Cha Ji-won is clearly blacklist number one.”

“It’s probably related to Savorin. They’ll send a formal cooperation document later.”

Due to the incident that had overturned the restaurant once, Ji-won’s access to Not was strictly limited. Entry was only permitted during the tasting sessions each season or when unavoidable circumstances like today arose.

Moreover, even if she was out of her mind, she wouldn’t likely cause a bizarre incident at a gathering honoring a world-renowned master. In any case, wouldn’t they need Chef Jean for Savorin?

“What about Bambi? What about Hae-som?”

His steps towards the kitchen for a quality check before service were immediately halted. A chill ran through Jun-won’s voice.

“You know better than anyone, Jung Jae-geon, that you two are not on good terms.”

It was an accusatory tone. Jae-geon twitched his lips.

“Let’s say it was a fling with Cha Ji-won. Then what is Hae-som? One day she’s sweet, acting like she wants to devour you, and the next she’s cold and sharp. Are you playing with her? Huh?”

His fists clenched tightly, barely holding back the urge to punch him. His half-dazed eyes turned towards Jun-won without a haze.

“Hiiik,” Jun-won flinched, but didn’t back down, adding.

“You’re all over the place, but Hae-som isn’t!”

“Stop beating around the bush.”

“Hae-som liked you from the start! You terrible bastard!”

What did Song Hae-som…?

The strength in his grasp loosened with almost comical ease. His in dazed eyes wandered aimlessly.

That couldn’t be… Song Hae-som, who had immediately suggested being sex partners citing insomnia, couldn’t be like that. What could she possibly see to misunderstand so much?

Jun-won, recognizing the hook-like curve of his eyes, kindly added.

“There are feelings that aren’t obvious to the person involved. Like unrequited love, pure love.”

He stared until the back of his head hurt, blushed when their eyes met by chance, was eager to be noticed, and practiced late into the night to avoid disappointment.

Jun-won pressed, asking why she did all that.

“Considering her age and reactions, it’s obvious it’s her first love. At her age, instead of starting properly, she acts like this and then like that. Are you the one who’s a wandering youth? If it were Hae-som, maybe!”

“…….”

“Why do you interfere with coffee when you’re being so damn annoying, and why do you even prepare meals? Jung Jae-geon, be consistent. Either be a psycho head chef or a diligent wife. Huh?”

Jae-geon lightly pushed Jun-won’s shoulders, who was growling in annoyed, and left the office with a strange shift in his mood.

Perhaps it was because he had only met overly direct women. He couldn’t be sure of anything regarding Hae-som’s ambiguous reactions.

‘Hae-som liked you from the start! You terrible bastard!’

Indeed, from their first meeting, her attitude was unusual. She had argued hard, saying she wasn’t a spy for Cha Ji-won, but the moment their eyes met, she became like a meek lamb and shed tears.

When she saw him at Hunam-sa, she had been flustered and fled, but then suddenly changed her stance and asked him to be her sex partner.

…Was it a smokescreen?

Was she ashamed to confess her feelings? Because of Cha Ji-won? Because of the gap between head chef and intern?

But to assert that felt wrong, her evasive behavior bothered him.

His head throbbed with the questions that wouldn’t go away. As if to cleanse his mind, which felt as smoky as if he had smoked, Jae-geon’s gaze went in search of Hae-som.

Hae-som had volunteered to prepare garnishes, an task she hadn’t been assigned, and was at the chef’s table. The reason? From that spot, she had the best view of Chef Jean and Ji-won’s table.

Was it respect for Chef Jean, or jealousy towards Cha Ji-won?

Her effort to peek through the narrow passage, hunched like a shrimp, was pitiful.

Crackle. Startled as if by a seizure at the sound of a ticket printing, Hae-som was quickly steadied by Jae-geon, who caught her wobbling body. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Jae-geon gave the order.

“This is the first order of the day. Table 2, Table 16. Total 5 courses.”

“Yes, Chef!”

As expected, Hae-som, who missed the timing to chime in, pushed Jae-geon away with a flushed face. Then, she scurried like a small animal to Park Hwi and hid behind him.

Jae-geon’s voice, giving the next order, held a clearer trace of laughter.

“Chef Jean’s order. Table 10, total 2 courses.”