Back at the restaurant, Jiyeon pushed open the kitchen door, fully prepared to execute what could only be described as her "masterpiece in chaos"—the infamous burnt caral and truffle soup she'd teased Yura about. She wasn't serious, of course, but there was sothing hilarious about the idea of serving the refined Yura sothing deliberately horrible.
Kang eyed her suspiciously the mont she stepped in. "You've got that look on your face, boss. The 'I'm up to no good' look. Should I be scared?"
Jiyeon grinned. "Scared? Absolutely. You might want to run." She reached for a pan and a bundle of ingredients that could make even the bravest chef reconsider their choices.
"Burnt caral and truffle soup. It's an experint," she explained, not that she owed him an explanation.
Kang choked back a laugh. "You an a punishnt. Because I'd rather chew on nails."
"Oh, co on, where's your sense of adventure? Besides, we've got a reputation to maintain. What if one day so eccentric billionaire walks in and demands the most ridiculous thing we can make?"
"Then I'll tell them to eat their shoe," Kang replied dryly, arms crossed, already ntally distancing himself from the impending disaster.
Jiyeon tossed a handful of herbs into the boiling pot just for the drama of it. "Yura's convinced I'm a culinary genius. This is for her."
Kang rolled his eyes. "Yeah? Well, remind her geniuses sotis co with, let's say, questionable taste."
As she stirred the "soup," Yura's scent drifted into her mind, that strawberry-sweet, calming aroma. Sohow, even the thought of her made the kitchen feel a little warr. The kitchen banter continued, playful and a bit ruthless, with Kang providing a running comntary on Jiyeon's so-called "genius."
"So, are you going to serve that monstrosity with a side of disaster? Maybe a 'burnt toast brûlée' or 'charcoal salad'?"
"Ha-ha. Maybe I should dedicate it to you, Kang. 'Burnt caral and truffle soup à la Kang' has a nice ring to it."
Just then, Yura strode in. Her eyebrows shot up at the sight of the simring pot, and she took one sniff before fixing Jiyeon with a look.
"Is that… burnt caral? Please tell this is a joke."
Jiyeon shot her a sheepish smile, glancing sideways at Kang, who looked far too amused by Yura's reaction. "Genius has its quirks," she said, feigning innocence.
Yura crossed her arms. "And I thought the worst thing I'd taste this week would be Kang's tea."
"Hey!" Kang protested, only half-offended.
"Trust , this has… an exquisite flavor profile," Jiyeon said, trying to keep a straight face.
Yura gave Jiyeon a pointed look, one that held an entire silent conversation: You're insane if you think I'm tasting that. But Jiyeon just gave her an overly innocent grin and ladled a spoonful of the burnt caral "soup" into a small bowl, setting it down in front of her wife with a flourish.
"Oh, co on, Yura. Where's that adventurous spirit you're always going on about?" Jiyeon teased, winking at Kang, who was holding back laughter with great difficulty.
Yura glared at the concoction as if it might bite her, nostrils flaring slightly at the overwhelming burnt caral scent wafting up. "This is your idea of a 'romantic gesture'?" she muttered, peeking at Jiyeon through narrowed eyes.
"Think of it as a test of love," Jiyeon replied, barely able to keep a straight face. "If you really care about , you'll give it a try. Just a little taste!"
Kang, who was failing spectacularly at hiding his amusent, took a step closer. "Or I could do the honors," he offered, reaching for the spoon with a grin that said he was only half-joking.
Yura lifted her hand and waved him off. "Oh, no. If anyone's getting tortured here, it's going to be ." With a dramatic sigh that could have rivaled any soap opera, she leaned forward, spoon in hand, and took the tiniest sip imaginable. Her face contorted instantly, eyes wide as she set the spoon down with a grimace.
"Well?" Jiyeon asked, her tone all faux sweetness.
"Did you… Did you burn the caral on purpose?" Yura asked, blinking rapidly as though she could force the taste out of her mory.
Jiyeon chuckled, shaking her head. "Of course not. I'd never do that." She shot a look at Kang, who was still hovering, half-smiling like he'd just witnessed sothing truly special.
"Oh, you absolutely would," Kang interjected, hands on his hips. "You've done worse. Rember that garlic and espresso experint?"
"Hey, that was a culinary masterpiece," Jiyeon protested, though she didn't sound particularly convinced herself.
"Masterpiece in what?" Yura demanded. "Causing nausea?"
With an exasperated laugh, Jiyeon tossed her hands up. "You two have no appreciation for my genius. I'm clearly surrounded by culinary amateurs."
Yura shot Jiyeon an unimpressed look. "I think we're just sane."
Still chuckling, Jiyeon scooped up the bowl and made a show of pouring the contents down the sink. "Fine, fine. I'll save my brilliance for another ti. Perhaps you're just not ready for it yet."
"Or perhaps my taste buds aren't prepared to be incinerated," Yura said dryly, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips. She softened as she watched Jiyeon rinse out the bowl, so of her usual warmth and affection shining through the façade.
Kang, never one to miss an opportunity to needle Jiyeon, took a step closer, grinning. "Guess this ans you're banned from making dessert for the next week, chef?"
"Guess that ans you'll be pulling double shifts to make up for my absence in the dessert departnt," Jiyeon retorted, rolling her eyes.
They continued the playful banter as they cleaned up the kitchen, with Kang and Yura occasionally shooting each other knowing looks, a silent agreent between them. There was an underlying fondness in the insults they hurled at Jiyeon, a shared understanding that only close friends and loved ones could pull off with such grace.
Finally, as the kitchen was tidied, Jiyeon threw her hands up. "Alright, fine. I'll admit, the burnt caral soup might've been a little much."
"A little?" Yura said, eyebrows raised.
"Okay, okay, a lot. But you're the one who keeps encouraging to experint," Jiyeon said with a smirk, slipping her arm around Yura's waist.
Yura sighed, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, but maybe keep the 'experints' confined to things that won't make the kitchen sll like a chemistry lab disaster."
"Noted," Jiyeon said with a wink. She leaned closer, catching a faint whiff of Yura's strawberry-scented oga pheromones that always seed to calm her in an instant. It was her perfect balance, her center, even in the chaos of her own creation.
Kang cleared his throat loudly. "If you two are about to get all lovey-dovey on , I'm out of here." He started edging toward the door, hands up in mock surrender.
Read exclusive chapters at empire
"Oh, co on, Kang. Don't you want to be part of the love fest?" Jiyeon teased.
"Hard pass," he muttered, but he was grinning as he slipped out, leaving them alone in the quiet of the now spotless kitchen.
Jiyeon turned to Yura, her expression softening. "Sorry for the burnt caral. It was… well, it was dumb."
Yura reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair from Jiyeon's face. "You think I love you any less because of a burnt soup? You're more ridiculous than I thought."
They shared a laugh, and for a mont, the world outside the kitchen faded away.
Jiyeon looked down, slightly bashful, a rare expression for her. "Guess I was just trying to do sothing special, you know? Been so busy lately… Thought I'd make a grand gesture."
Yura softened at that, a hint of a smile breaking through her usual cool expression. "Grand gesture? Jiyeon, if I needed grand gestures, I'd be dating an actor." She paused, her hand reaching to gently squeeze Jiyeon's. "Honestly? I'd rather have you here, sane and un-burnt-caral-obsessed."
Jiyeon let out a laugh, and Yura felt her own smile widen. "Good, because I'm all out of culinary magic for tonight. But I'll save it for next ti," Jiyeon teased, looking up with that glint in her eyes that always spelled trouble – or brilliance, depending on the day.
"Next ti, maybe keep it to, oh, things that don't co with hazard warnings," Yura replied, mock-serious, as she leaned in close. "Or else I'll be the one banned from your restaurant."
"You'd never," Jiyeon said, half-smiling as she leaned closer, noses nearly touching. "Who else is going to keep you fed with food worth eating?"
Yura raised an eyebrow, but her eyes softened. "True. But try that burnt soup again, and I might just be ordering takeout from Kang."
They laughed, and as they held each other in the kitchen, the night wrapped them in a quiet warmth, all the chaos of earlier forgotten. It was in these simple, laugh-filled monts that Jiyeon knew—burnt caral or not—this was the life she wanted, and Yura was the one she'd keep creating it with, one ssy, unpredictable day at a ti.
Reviews
All reviews (0)