They Told Me to Build Good Karma by Selling Side Dishes - Chapter 76

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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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76. Them (4)

I clicked my tongue and clenched my fists tightly. Cha Beom-seok gave a subtle shake of his head, making sure only I could see his disapproval of my fists.

‘Right, there are people watching.’

“Ha, a side dish container?”
“What? It’s not wrong, is it?”
“Can you take back those words? Can you or can’t you?”
“Yeah, I can take them back.”

Seo Jin-hyeok laughed as if it were ridiculous. Lim Yun-jeong pinched his waist to tell him to stop.

“Why, Yun-jeong?”
“I told you not to say things like that.”

Lim Yun-jeong scolded Seo Jin-hyeok with obvious displeasure.

“Right. A YouTuber who makes side dishes probably shouldn’t be saying that kind of thing.”

Only then did Seo Jin-hyeok seem to realize what he’d said. But my mouth was faster than his.

“But your skills aren’t at that level, are they?”

Chef Cha Beom-seok, listening beside us, let out a laugh. Seo Jin-hyeok’s face turned red as he clenched his teeth.

“You still talk well, huh? Your mouth really is like a dog’s, isn’t it?”
“Thanks for the compliment.”

Seo Jin-hyeok clicked his tongue.

“So you came here to throw away the side dish container?”
“Why? Why are you curious about that? It’s none of your business whether someone throws away a side dish container or not. It’s something I’ll handle myself. Or.”

I curved my lips into a smile.

“You wish I hadn’t come?”
“Why would I!”
“Just wondering. Why are you so surprised? Even thieves get tired of their own tricks.”

A few people around us chuckled at that. Lim Yun-jeong stepped forward and opened her mouth.

“Ji-gu. Is that why you came here? To stir up trouble for us?”
“What if it is?”

Lim Yun-jeong’s eyes wavered subtly. I didn’t miss that.

“I came to verify something.”
“…Verify what?”
“Should I say it myself? I can say it here. Lately… other chefs’ recipes besides mine…”

Seo Jin-hyeok spoke as if bursting with anger.

“Go on!”
“Go on?”
“Say it!”

I smiled brightly and spoke.

“I was curious why a YouTuber called 1 Million Simple Recipe Chef came as a participant to the Local Spring Festival?”
“…!”
“Oh, and there’s more. If that YouTuber spread nasty rumors about me and came here because of it?”

After speaking so honestly, my heart felt lighter.

“There really are such terrible people out there.”

Chef Cha Beom-seok chimed in with my sentiment.

“Exactly.”

I popped a shrimp bruschetta into my mouth. The crispy baguette crumbled, releasing a savory wheat aroma. Then came the tender, chewy shrimp kissed by torch flame, its rich oceanic essence lingering delicately on my palate.

“Hmm? This is delicious, isn’t it?”
“It is? I made that.”
“What? Why did you make this?”
“I’ve always been waiting for someone to come.”
“I see.”

The two in front of me treated me like I was invisible as they savored the food.

“Oh, and I forgot to mention something.”

I brushed the baguette crumbs from the corner of my mouth and continued.

“Go up. Keep climbing.”
“…!”

That was all he’d been waiting for.

“I’m fine because I’ve already tasted the bottom beforehand.”

Those who touch the bottom and never rise again don’t know how noble that ascent truly is.

“Imagine the fall as you climb. Striiiiive!”

I brushed off Seo Jin-hyeok’s shoulder as I spoke.

“It’s not just me waiting. Everyone will be waiting for you.”

I’d seen the Simple Cooking Chef’s videos rack up 500,000 and 700,000 views each time they were posted.

Some called those numbers talent, others called them luck. Neither was entirely wrong.

‘I have both talent and luck.’

But looking at those numbers, I thought something different.

‘It’s the measure of anxiety.’

The higher the view count climbs, the greater the height from which one can fall.

‘She understands what I meant.’

Seo Jin-hyeok’s face hardened. The easy smile vanished, and only the muscles along his jaw twitched faintly.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

Lim Yun-jeong opened her mouth.

“…Thank you, Ji-gu.”
“Well, I’ll give you a proper gift later instead.”

I took the invitation card I’d been about to give to the chef and claimed it for myself.

“Consider the invitation card my gift.”

Only then did the two of them fall silent. Lim Yun-jeong turned around and gestured to a staff member.

“Could you bring my coat?”

Lim Yun-jeong’s tone was stiff and curt—unlike her usual self. The staff member hurried to fetch her coat.

“…Thank you, Ji-gu. For congratulating me on my marriage.”

The words came out reluctantly.

“Don’t mention it. That’s the least former colleagues can do for each other.”

Seo Jin-hyeok said nothing and took Lim Yun-jeong’s hand, leading her away. His pace betrayed an undercurrent of urgency.

“She really hasn’t changed. Or has she gotten even sharper?”

A faintly satisfied smile played at the corners of Cha Beom-seok’s lips.

“She was only holding back because Grandmother was around.”
“…So Grandmother was her restraint.”

Always exercise patience.
Those were Grandmother’s words.

She’d always said that’s just how human relationships work, and if I’d just be patient, the world would be easier. She was right.

But.

“Now that Grandmother Hyang-suk is gone, why should I hold back?”
“Fair point.”
“Yes. If it weren’t for the Side Dish Shop, I would’ve bitten and clawed at those people.”

I lifted the fist I’d been clenching tightly upward.

“This fist would’ve flown, you know?”

I meant it completely.

“Wow….”

Chef Cha Beom-seok rubbed his neck with his hand.

“You don’t do that to Seok.”
“Still, I feel like I might bite you someday too?”
“Why. Want to bite me now?”
“That’s a bit much. It’d leave a mark on this handsome face~.”

…It seemed like it was time to head home. I was starting to hear nonsense.

“Seok.”
“What?”

I popped a shrimp bruschetta into my mouth and chewed.

“The judges will be coming, right?”
“Yeah. I have to go. Even if I don’t have time, I have to go.”
“I’ll contact someone I know and let them know.”
“Do that for me.”

Chef Cha Beom-seok raised his hand one last time and pressed it firmly on my head.

“Ah, Seok! I’m getting up there in age now.”
“Well done.”

I glanced up at the chef.

“What is it?”
“That you won’t run away.”

Instead of answering, I chewed and swallowed the crispy edge of the bruschetta.

“There’s nowhere to run to anyway.”
“Because of the Side Dish Shop?”

I shook my head.

“Because I have things to protect now.”
“Right. When a person finds their place, they endure.”

The chef studied me for a long moment, then lowered his hand. The surrounding noise resumed its chaos.

“Ji-gu.”
“Yes?”
“What you made.”

I stared at the chef, uncertain what he meant.

“At the Spring Festival, present it properly.”
“Yes.”

I answered honestly.

“Good. Very good.”

As I accepted my coat from the staff member, I spoke to the chef.

“Oh, if you stop by the Side Dish Shop sometime, would you come and make a few things for us? We have quite the food lover at home, and I think they’d really enjoy something you’ve prepared.”
“Ha. Are you hiring me as a cook?”
“Yes. What else would your talents be for?”

I laughed briefly. The chef pointed at me with his finger and laughed shortly.

“Yes. I should go. It’s my disciple’s shop, after all.”
“I’ll head over.”
“Good, come by again next time. You’re welcome to visit now.”

I forced my slack lips back into place.

“Thank you so much.”

I walked toward the door, grasped the handle, and opened the Restaurant’s entrance. The cold night air seeped deep into my lungs.

The Street glittered with streetlights, and passersby moved about in warm clothing.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled warm breath to warm my hands and looked up at the sky. Before long, white flakes began to fall.

‘Snow.’

Watching the silent snow drift down, I buttoned my coat and walked forward slowly.

***

The taxi door opened and I received my card.

“Take care.”

I stepped out of the taxi and made my way toward the sign for Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop. I passed through the familiar Alley, my footsteps echoing on the asphalt beneath the long stretch of streetlight.

My heels clicked sharply in the Alley. Sights that went unnoticed during the day revealed themselves now in the night.

‘Hyang-suk’s Side Dish Shop.’

The sign’s light was off, but I steadied my breath and pulled out my key. The moment I stepped into the darkened shop, I strode quickly toward the Back Door.

And then.

“You’re here?”

I saw Hae-tae perched on the wall, tail swishing.

“I’m home.”

Hae-tae came down and sniffed the air with a soft whine.

“Did you drink?”
“Yeah. Does it smell that strong?”
“It smells a lot!”

Hae-tae circled my ankle once and raised his tail. He seemed displeased with the scent I’d brought back from the Restaurant.

“Was it rowdy today?”
“Hm? What makes you think that?”

I pulled a towel from my coat and wiped the snow from Hae-tae’s body.

“You look quite relieved.”
“…Rather.”

I paused, towel in hand, and reflected on the evening.

“It was good.”

Hae-tae tilted his head curiously.

“You enjoyed it that much?”
“Yeah.”

I smiled warmly at Hae-tae’s nearly dry body, then wrapped my arms around him and carried him toward the Kitchen. I kept the lights to a minimum.

I hung my coat on a chair and washed my hands. Water cascaded over the back of my hands, and with it, the thoughts from the Restaurant seemed to wash away.

“How was your day, Hae-tae?”
“I waited for you.”
“Did you eat the food I left for you?”
“I didn’t eat it.”

I took water from the Refrigerator and drank, then stopped.

“Why didn’t you eat?”
“…I just didn’t feel like it, meow.”
“Because I wasn’t here?”

Hae-tae’s head whipped around at my words.

“You ate just fine before.”
“…That was then, meow!”
“Is that so?”

I continued stroking Hae-tae’s head, pouring apology into every touch.

“I’m sorry.”
“Hmph, meow.”

After about thirty minutes of persistent petting, Hae-tae finally relented, pushing my wrist away with a front paw as if to say it was enough.

“How was it, meow?”
“It was good. I got to see my old mentor, and well, killed two birds with one stone.”

I retrieved the biscuits I’d made yesterday and presented them before Hae-tae.

“What do you mean by that, meow?”
“I ran into the thieves who stole my recipes.”

Hae-tae tilted his head while popping a biscuit into his mouth.

“Why would thieves show up, meow?”
“Who knows.”

They must have had their own purpose, just like I had mine.

“You don’t know?”
“I know, but they don’t seem willing to tell me, meow?”

Sharp as always. I popped the biscuit crumb from Hae-tae’s mouth into my own as I spoke.

“Hae-tae, things are going to get busy soon.”
“Is that a good thing, meow?”
“Could be good? Could be not, meow?”

I need to ask about how the Spring Festival is organized while running the Side Dish Shop…

“You’ll be busy, meow.”
“Right?”

And I have to do prep work too.

“Should we head to bed now?”
“Meow.”

I turned off the lights one by one. The moment I switched off the last light in the Kitchen, I scooped Hae-tae into my arms.

“Let’s go.”

After turning off the Kitchen light, I climbed the Back Door stairs to the Second Floor.

“Tonight, let’s sleep together.”

I’d spread a blanket on the sofa, washed up, and changed into fresh clothes. Hae-tae had already curled into a tight ball on the blanket.

“Coming in?”
“Meow.”

Tonight, strangely, being alone felt less unfamiliar. I left the photo frame on the table and gazed at it once more.

“Grandmother Hyang-suk.”

I pulled the blanket closer as I spoke.

“I’m back.”

There was so much to report today. About meeting Chef Cha Beom-seok and those thieves. But tonight, my lips wouldn’t move.

Hae-tae yawned widely from above my head.

“Sleep well, Hae-tae.”
“You too, Hae-tae.”

I pulled the blanket a little higher. Naturally turning my body, I gazed up at the ceiling before closing my eyes.

‘Tomorrow….’

My thoughts stopped there. Hae-tae’s weight shifted slightly lower onto my head. Steady breathing brushed against my ear.

‘No.’

Too many thoughts weren’t good. I quietly drew Hae-tae closer and sank into deep sleep.

***

I opened my eyes. My head felt refreshed. It seemed like sleeping deeply without a care for so long had done me good.

‘Ugh….’

I’d given my right arm to Hae-tae, and the sensation hadn’t returned. I let out a short groan and opened my eyes.

“…Hae-tae?”

Warm body heat radiated from within my embrace. Something else stirred near the inside of my elbow.

I opened my eyes fully. As my blurred vision sharpened, I saw two cats in my arms….

‘Two cats?’

“What?”

Even a cat sleeping in the exact same posture—using my arm as a pillow—was leaning back-to-back with Hae-tae.

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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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