They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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105. Interview (4)

Everyone’s heads turned toward the door.

“Oh my.”
“The chef.”
“You actually came? I thought you said you couldn’t make it today.”

My expression darkened instantly.

“Cha Seop…?”

The words tumbled from my lips before I could stop them. Hae-tae tilted his head forward with equal curiosity.

“That guy showed up, meow.”

The glass door at the entrance swung open, and a chill swept through the gap. Two figures stepped inside side by side.

Jung Song-i entered first, impeccably dressed in a black suit. Her gait commanded attention—the measured, confident stride of a model.

Following behind her was Cha Beom-seok. He arrived in a crisp shirt and dark jacket, every detail meticulously arranged….

“Please welcome our judges for today: Judge Jung Song-i and Judge Cha Beom-seok.”

As Yun Ga-rin finished her introduction, applause erupted belatedly.

“Hello. I’m Jung Song-i.”

Jung Song-i bowed her head, her expression utterly composed.

“Hello~ I’m Chef Cha Beom-seok.”

In contrast, Cha Seop raised his hand in a casual greeting. His gaze naturally drifted toward me.

His eyes sparkled with mischief, as if he’d seen everything that had transpired outside.

‘Ah….’

I let out a short sigh internally.

‘I suddenly want to go home.’

Very, very much.

“The reason Jung Song-i and Chef Cha Beom-seok came today is to offer encouragement and support!”

Encouragement and support?

‘Cha Seop?’

Soft laughter rippled through the room. I could see the shoulders that had been tense gradually relax. Only I remained gripped by tension.

“The Spring Festival is a competition, yes, but what’s more important is that it’s a place to showcase the Local Community’s story and the heart of the food.”

I nodded lightly, moving my fingers casually. But Yun Ga-rin’s words carried weight. They were directed at someone.

“Ah! The judges’ evaluations aren’t what matters most. I’d love for you to cook lightly, joyfully, and with fun.”
“But tell us what factors influence the evaluation!”

The Grilled Pork Belly Owner laughed and fired back. Cha Seop, who enjoyed that, lifted the corners of his mouth and answered skillfully.

“I look at what remains after eating rather than flashy dishes. Whether someone wants to eat it again, what impression it leaves. Things like that. And I’ll also learn a thing or two from you shop owners.”

As Cha Seop stepped aside, it became Jung Song-i’s turn.

“I think I’ll focus on the repeat rate. Whether people who came on the first day come back to eat again on the second day.”

‘Repeat rate?’

So she’s looking at the power of food to bring people back. That’s tough. People don’t usually return for a second helping after tasting something once, do they?

Jung Song-i glanced at Cha Seop.

“Since Chef Cha Beom-seok focuses on the cooking itself, I wanted to share my criteria in advance.”

Cha Seop nodded briefly and let out a short laugh.

“That’s a solid standard. Though I’m not sure if the criteria Jung Song-i mentioned will suit everyone equally.”
“Who knows? That’s precisely why Chef Cha Beom-seok is here.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Yun Ga-rin naturally stepped forward. The shop owners and judges were about to greet each other one by one, shaking hands in turn.

That was when it happened.

“By the way.”

Seo Jin-hyeok’s voice cut through the quiet, slipping into the gap.

“How did Chef Cha Beom-seok end up becoming a judge here?”

…Ha. I raised my eyebrows and fixed my gaze on Seo Jin-hyeok. The tactic was so transparent it was almost amusing.

“How did I end up here?”
“Yes. You’re not someone who should be here, are you?”

Despite appearances, Seo Jin-hyeok and Lim Yun-jeong were disciples of Cha Seop, just like me.

Cha Seop didn’t answer, instead fixing Seo Jin-hyeok with a sharp gaze, just as I had.

“Does that question have any relevance to this occasion?”
“Very much so.”

Seo Jin-hyeok didn’t back down.

“Very much so?”
“Yes.”
“Then explain yourself.”

Cha Seop made a light gesture, as if inviting him to speak first.

“There’s talk that you got in through the recommendation of Ji-gu, the owner of Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”

Cha Seop readily acknowledged it. It seemed he’d been hoping to shake Cha Seop’s resolve.

‘Surely that wouldn’t be enough to sway someone like him….’

Seo Jin-hyeok received no rebuttal, as if his response hadn’t been what he’d anticipated. The other shop owners showed no particular objection either.

“Then! We shouldn’t judge Ji-gu’s cooking at all. The Spring Festival can’t have any impropriety, right?”

Seo Jin-hyeok pressed his argument. But truthfully, he wanted to ask: how was that improper?

‘It’ll come out eventually anyway….’

Better to bring it out now and expose it. If word got out later, it would reflect worse on Cha Seop than on me.

“I find that rather disappointing.”

Cha Seop continued in an unflustered tone.

“If you think that way, then Seo Jin-hyeok and Lim Yun-jeong’s cooking shouldn’t be judged either. They’re my disciples too. How can you exclude them and only judge him?”

Seo Jin-hyeok’s lips pressed shut. So Cha Seop had come only to judge me…. I turned my head and sighed.

“…That’s…”

A rather long silence stretched out. Someone might have cleared their throat to smooth things over, but Jung Song-i was observing our dynamic with keen interest.

“Does that answer your question?”
“…Yes.”

Cha Seop didn’t press further. The conclusion was already drawn. He shifted his gaze to Yun Ga-rin.

“This Spring Festival’s judging will proceed by uniform standards. I’m staking my entire career as a chef on it. Please don’t worry.”
“Worry? I’m not.”

Hae-tae spoke softly from my arms.

“It’s over, meow.”

…At least they withdrew quietly. Any further commotion would have been their loss anyway.

‘…They’re eager to leave.’

I exchanged a brief word with the Advertising Company employee, then watched the retreating figures of Lim Yun-jeong and Seo Jin-hyeok. It seemed they’d decided there was no need to film the surroundings any further.

“Excuse me.”
“Yes?”

As I turned slightly, the owners of That Couple’s Side Dish Shop called out to me.

“Hello there.”
“I wanted to greet you earlier, but the situation didn’t allow for it. I’m finally getting the chance to speak with you now.”

With that, his wife extended her business card to me.

“Did the side dishes you purchased from our shop last time suit your palate?”
“Yes, they were delicious.”

Her expression brightened considerably.

“Thank goodness… I wasn’t sure how to approach you after you left so suddenly last time.”
“Not at all. I felt the same way.”

Her husband chuckled softly beside her.

“We look forward to working with you during the festival.”
“As do we.”

I naturally concluded the conversation by producing my own business card from my pocket and handing it over. The atmosphere seemed to be winding down, so I picked up my padding jacket. Hae-tae leaped up onto my shoulder before scrambling to perch atop my head.

‘Time to head home.’

“Where are you going?”

At that very moment, Jung Song-i and Cha Seop both grabbed hold of me.

“I was planning to head home.”

I quickly displayed signs of exhaustion—home was calling, and there was nowhere better to be.

“There’s something we need to discuss regarding that food….”

Jung Song-i was about to open her mouth and continue the conversation.

“Wait a moment!”

Lee Hae-ra slowly parted through the crowd and approached, camera in hand, smiling. She brushed a strand of hair from my face and looked at me.

“I wanted to take some footage for Ji-gu’s interview video. Let me just get one shot here.”

One shot? I simply blinked at the camera.

“I just captured you looking natural.”
“Is… that so?”

I deliberately didn’t act too familiar. There were company employees present, and appearing close might cause problems.

Lee Hae-ra tilted the camera lens slightly upward, adjusting the focus. Then she looked at me and smiled lightly.

“There, I got a quick shot. But.”
“…?”
“I’d like to film outside as well. Would you come with me?”

This was a signal.

“Ah, Song-i, Chef.”

I turned my head and spoke to Jung Song-i and Cha Seop.

“I need to go for the advertising interview. I’ll see you at the Spring Festival. That’s all.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I put on my padding and winked at Lee Hae-ra to head outside.

Now!

“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

I bowed politely and raised my hand in greeting to Yun Ga-rin as well. Staying longer would only make the conversation drag on. Today had been enough.

“It feels like I spent several days there.”

Perhaps all these incidents crashing down on me like a storm were making me exhausted. I spread my arms wide and breathed in the crisp outside air.

“Was my choice appropriate?”
“Of course!”

I gave Lee Hae-ra a thumbs up and declared her the best.

“You’re my hero!”
“Oh, hero is too much….”

Lee Hae-ra waved her hand dismissively, looking embarrassed.

“A true hero, meow.”
“The real deal!”

In this moment, anyone who helped me get home was nothing short of a hero.

***

Jung Song-i and Cha Beom-seok, who had been watching the spot where Ji-gu had left, exchanged glances.

“Looks like he got rejected, doesn’t it?”

Cha Beom-seok spoke first.

“…Hmm.”

Jung Song-i tilted her head with a slight smile.

“It seems more like he ran away than got rejected.”
“That’s true.”

Cha Beom-seok’s gaze shifted to the informational pamphlet left on the chair. The pamphlet he’d abandoned bore the name “Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop.” He picked it up.

“Is Ji-gu really your disciple?”
“He was a disciple I cherished.”
“Past tense.”
“Well, in my heart, he’s still my disciple.”

Jung Song-i spoke without lifting her gaze from the guidebook.

“Be careful.”
“….”
“If you ruin this Spring Festival because of your disciples’ fighting, you’ll face the same consequences I will.”

Jung Song-i warned quietly.

“That’s why I’ll judge more fairly. Don’t worry about that.”
“That fairness isn’t always safe, though.”
“I understand.”

Cha Beom-seok swept his gaze across the empty seats where his disciples had been.

“But why are you taking responsibility, Jung Song-i?”

Jung Song-i rubbed her cheek with her palm.

“In a way, it’s no different from me bringing them here, is it?”
“Did Seo Jin-hyeok contact you?”
“I saw him on a variety show once and made the suggestion. I had no idea there were such deep circumstances involved.”
“It always seems simple when you only look at the surface.”

Cha Beom-seok rolled up the guidebook and gripped it in his hand. He had planned to pass it along.

“So I really hope this Spring Festival ends with everyone smiling.”

Cha Beom-seok nodded, as if savoring her words.

“Me too.”

He was about to suggest they grab dinner together.

“Ga-rin.”

Jung Song-i called out the name affectionately.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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