Chapter 163

God of Cooking – Chapter 163: Proclamation (1)

Ella’s eyes were full of betrayal . Jo Minjoon, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation from the side let out an awkward laugh while looking at Ella . Ella turned red as if she was about to cry, and after trying hard not to cry, just silently started to hug Lisa . As if saying ‘I can’t do anything about this child,’ Lisa smiled brightly as she pinched Ella’s cheek .

“Don’t worry . That mister is a different fairy, Tinkerbell is someone else . ”
“……Really?”
“Yes . Really . ”

A mother is truly different with her child . The expression she had been showing them was completely different than the one she showed Ella . They thought she was a stiff and difficult person, but her expression as she consoled Ella was gentle and warm .

The atmosphere between the two of them lessened the tension in the room . Rachel whispered in a quiet voice .

“Jack . At least you still have a family to make you feel warm inside . ”
“It’s the last treasure I have left . ”
“Should we start our conversation?”

Jack did not answer . Rachel accepted that as his silent approval and slowly started to head towards Lisa . Lisa slowly started to speak .

“I can predict what you are going to say to me . ”
“……I assume I will say exactly what you are thinking . But first, I want to start with an apology . Could you accept my apology?”
“You have no reason to apologize to me . The person you treated cruelly was my father, not me . Of course, it would be a lie to say there is no hatred in my mind about you; what kind of daughter could look kindly towards someone who was cruel to her father?”

It was a calm and composed voice, however, the emotions that needed to come out were all present . Rachel lowered her gaze as if she had nothing to say, and ended up making eye contact with Ella . Ella stared at Rachel with a confused expression before starting to smile . Ella’s smile comforted Rachel and even gave her a bit of courage, along with some shamelessness .

Rachel started to speak .

“Yes, I’m sure you cannot look kindly . Then I guess it’ll be difficult for you to listen to my proposal that I’m about to share with you kindly either . ”
“Yes . I don’t want to work in your kitchen . However, that is not because of my personal feelings, Rachel . How could I trust you? You’ve already given up on a kitchen once . I am a mother . I don’t want to pour any of my time to someone who may disappear at any point . ”

Each and every one of Lisa’s words could not be refuted . Standing in front of Rachel who could not respond, Lisa looked towards Jo Minjoon .

“Earlier, you talked about sincerity . My father was sincere just like you . How can you be confident that she won’t throw you away just like she did to my father?”
“……I trust my teacher . ”
“I’m sure you do . You haven’t been hurt yet . However, I’m not sure . I have a hard time believing . ”

Lisa wasn’t just speaking based on her emotions . She was just talking about the past and present . This was the reason Rachel could not say anything about it . How could she, when she had already betrayed them once .

That is why, from the beginning, there could only be one person to convince Lisa . Jack started to speak . The man who had been waiting for ten years started to speak .

“Lisa . Once… . . how about you give her one chance?”
“……Dad . Do you know what you are saying right now? It’s been ten years . You want to trust someone after one day when they have been betraying that trust for ten years?”
“I’m not saying I will trust her . It’s just giving her a chance . A chance to clean her regret away . For Rachel, as well as for myself . ”

For myself . Even Lisa could not help but get weak at those words . Jack let out a sigh .

“Of course, if you say no, there’s nothing to be done . It’s just that I am getting greedy as a father . It’s not that I’m expecting you to fulfill the dream that I could not achieve . I know you are running this store very well . However, I hope that you could live more peacefully and more abundantly . And if Rachel, this terrible person, does not run away with her tail between her legs again……this will end up being a great opportunity for you . ”
“It’ll be a great opportunity for all of us, Lisa . We ate some of the bread you had out there . You are as talented as your father . ”

Lisa bit her lower lip as she looked down at Ella . She started to rub Ella’s chin as she started to speak .

“I cannot close this store . The customers will be disappointed, but more importantly, the thing that is most important to me is having a stable life . ”
“……Yes . Of course . I understand . ”

Rachel nodded her head with a disappointed expression . At that point, Lisa was hesitating before she continued .

“At dawn, I need to bake bread . Once it becomes breakfast time, it should become easier to handle . If it is only lunch and dinner, I should be able to go there . You won’t be open in the morning right?”

Rachel started to smile with a face that looked like it was about to cry .

“Of course not . ”

€

Anderson left with the car to take Amelia to the restaurant, leaving Rachel and Jo Minjoon at the bread store . Rachel looked like she still had a lot to talk about, but Jo Minjoon could not easily leave . The reason was simple .

“Our Ella is really drawn to Mr . fairy . ”

Jack smiled gently as he looked at Ella . Ella started to smile widely while nodding her head . It was like any other good grandfather-granddaughter relationship . If there was one issue, it would be where Ella was sitting . She was not sitting on a chair . She was sitting on someone’s legs . It wasn’t Lisa’s legs nor Jack’s legs but Jo Minjoon’s legs .

Maybe her childish mind really believed Jo Minjoon to be a fairy, but Ella did not seem to think about leaving Jo Minjoon’s side . At the same time, she didn’t seem to have the courage to talk to him and just sat there playing with the large lemon pound cake in her hands . (TL: Poor Amelia could have eaten that pound cake . )

‘……To be okay sitting on his legs but yet having a hard time striking up a conversation . ’

Children’s minds were always complicated in weird places . Ella tore off a bit of the pound cake and put it in front of Jo Minjoon’s mouth . Jo Minjoon smiled on reflex and looked at Ella .
“Are you giving it to me to eat?”

Ella nodded her head and waved the cake in her hand . Jo Minjoon received that cake like a baby bird and started to eat it . Ella laughed shyly before turning her head and looking at Lisa . Jo Minjoon swallowed the cake before asking .

“Is Ella usually this shy?”
“It’s normal for her to be shy . You are the fairy-nim of legends . ”
“Ella . Do I seem like a fairy?”
“……Yes!”

Ella twisted her body before vigorously nodding her head . Her hair fluttering around tickled his arm . That was the beginning . Ella started to slowly ask questions . What does Peter Pan look like? Have you met Cinderella? Where is the mirror that tells you who the prettiest person in the world is? Every time she asked a question, Jo Minjoon had to become a fairy tale author and come up with a story .

Rachel looked at the two of them before whispering to Jack .

“I envy you . You have such a wonderful family . ”
“Seems like you plan on treating that young man like a family member . ”

Rachel calmly looked at Jo Minjoon after listening to Jack’s words . Family . It was a word she had not spoken in a long time . Rachel calmly answered .

“I’m thankful . He’s someone who can achieve my dream, no, our dream . ”
“I thought that there were no dreams that someone else could achieve for you, but now it is difficult to say that since in some aspect, Lisa is fulfilling my dream . ”
“Isn’t that the life of old folks like us? Putting our hopes in the next generation . ”

Jack had a disgruntled expression and tried to speak, but could not retort .

Ella and Jo Minjoon’s discussion had at some point moved to Santa Claus . Jo Minjoon asked Ella .

“So Ella, are you confident that you’ll be receiving a present this Christmas?”
“Yes . Uh, ah……but, uh……does Santa Claus really not give you a present if you cry?”
“Hmm . If you throw a tantrum and cry, you’ll be a bad girl, so he won’t give you a present . However, if you cry for a different reason, wouldn’t it be okay? Like if you were to cry because you got hurt, for example . ”
“Uh……last time, our neighbor Matilda was showing off that she went on a trip with her dad . I cried because I wanted to see my dad . Am I a bad girl?”

Jo Minjoon looked towards Lisa, whose face had become stoic . Jo Minjoon consoled Ella with a gentle voice .

“You are not a bad girl . So don’t worry . Santa Claus will definitely give you a present . ”
“Really?”
“Of course . That’s why you need to listen to your mommy and be a good girl . ”
“If I do that, can Santa Claus bring daddy here?”

Ella blinked her large, teary eyes as she asked . To have to mix in some lies in front of those innocent eyes, it hurt Jo Minjoon’s heart . Jo Minjoon removed the crumbs on Ella’s cheek as he answered .

“I’m not so sure about about . But instead, this mister can be Ella’s uncle . ”
“What is an uncle?”
“Umm……just think of it as a mister who you are close to . The type of mister who gives Ella whatever she asks for and listens to Ella’s worries . ”
“……Ella . Stop bothering the mister and come over here . Mommy will warm up some milk for you . ”
“Okay . ”

Ella followed Lisa into the house . Jack let out a sigh before clenching his fist . ”

“I don’t know what kind of punk her dad is, but the day he ends up in my hands will be the day he dies . ”

€

The conversation continued for a little longer before Anderson returned and picked them up . Rachel seemed to have a lot to think about as she did not say anything, and Jo Minjoon was the same way . Ella was pure and cute, but it was because she was that way that he was feeling sad .

‘Was Kaya……similar?’

Kaya had grown up in a similar situation to Ella . Realistically, she grew up in a worse situation . Ella’s family did not have any financial issues, while Kaya had to help her mom at the market and interact with rough adults while taking care of her sick younger sister .

Maybe that was why his heart was hurting so much looking at Ella . Kaya must have had some similar pains during her childhood . Jo Minjoon looked at his smartphone . The messages he sent to Kaya a few days ago still had not been read .

‘Will Kaya end up meeting her dad again?’

He did not know . Whether it didn’t happen, or it did happen but there were no articles about it, or maybe he just did not see any information about it . At least in his memory, there was nothing relating to Kaya’s dad . Jo Minjoon had an expression on his face as if he was trying to solve a difficult math problem and leaned his head on the headrest . Anderson peeked at him before speaking .

“Hey Tinkerbell . ”
“What . ”
“Why do you have such a dark expression . You said it went well . ”
“It did go well . We ended up with a pâtissier . ”
“Then why?”
“It’s just so sad . Ella’s situation . Lisa’s as well . It even made me feel bitter for them . It also made me think of Kaya . ”

Anderson nodded his head as if he understood . Jo Minjoon turned his gaze outside the window . Coincidentally, a married couple who were taking a walk while pushing a stroller caught his eyes . Looking at them, Jo Minjoon started to mutter in a quiet voice .

“If I had a cute daughter like Ella, I would definitely not leave her . ”
“Seems like you really liked that little girl . ”
“Rather than liking her……she just keeps remaining on my mind . ”
“Don’t think too much about other people’s situations . Do you know how many single parent families are in California? Actually, just in Venice? If you worry about everything, it’ll just make your life difficult . ”
“They are not just strangers anymore . They are part of our kitchen family . ”
“I got nothing to say when you put it that way . ”

With that, the noise of the engine was the only thing that could be heard once again . The first person to start talking again over that noise was Rachel .

“Our family will continue to grow . Minjoon . Anderson . As demi chefs, you must take good care of the new people we bring in . Of course, you also have to listen well to the sous chefs we will hire as well . ”
“We will keep that in mind . ”
“Soon……”

Rachel, who was about to say something else, closed her mouth . The car soon arrived in front of Rose Island . This also meant that they were visible once more to the crowd gathered in front of the restaurant .
Their eyes were shining brightly across the dark tinted windows . Anderson lifted a pair of thick sunglasses that might belong to a secret service agent and asked .

“Do you need a pair?”
“No . I guess it’s about time we give them the scoop they’ve been waiting for . ”

Once she finished speaking, Rachel opened her car door . As Jo Minjoon and Anderson abruptly started to follow after her, Rachel started to slowly head towards the crowd . Flashes started to go off, and a multitude of questions, as well as fanfare and the sound of clapping started to spread around them .

“Everyone . ”

All the noise quieted down once Rachel started to speak . Jo Minjoon and Anderson who were watching her were in awe . Maybe it was because she was used to this type of situation . Even though she was in front of a lot of people, Rachel’s voice was strong and did not shake . It was loud enough to reach every person’s ear .

“I’m sure each of you may have a different reason for being here . Some of you just came to see the main store of Rose Island with your own eyes, and some of you want to be a part of my kitchen . And I’m sure some of you are here to get an interview with me . ”
“When will Rose Island reopen?”
“Please take me as a chef! I will work hard even as a station chef!”
“Right now, I will be sharing two confirmed facts with all of you . First . ”

Rachel stopped breathing for a second and looked behind her . She was looking at Rose Island . The faintness in her eyes turned into fiery passion in a split second . A booming voice started to come out .

“I plan on reopening Rose Island’s main store . The date is set for November 20th, and it will not be changing . Second . To get the best chefs in our kitchen, there will be a public audition . The available positions are demi chef, and prep cook, as well as apprentice . The audition will be on August 20th, exactly 3 months before the opening date . This public audition will be harsher than any other auditions . For that, the judges for the audition will include……”

Rachel slightly turned her head . The moment her eyes were about to reach Jo Minjoon, she started to speak loudly again .

“My disciples, Minjoon and Anderson . ”

< Proclamation (1) > End