Chapter 3: Restaurant: Flavors of Seoul
When I left the room to prepare dinner, Yura was nowhere to be found. She must have been in her own room. I made my way to the kitchen, ready to start cooking, and passed several servants along the way. They all greeted me respectfully, but when I entered the kitchen, I found that there was already a chef there.
The kitchen was bustling with activity, and the chef, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, was busy giving orders to the kitchen staff. As I approached, he turned to look at me, his expression unreadable.
"Who are you?" he asked, his tone sharp and commanding.
"I'm Lee Jiyeon, I'm Yura's wife," I replied, feeling slightly intimidated by his imposing presence.
The chef's expression softened slightly at my response, but he still regarded me with a hint of suspicion.
"I see," he said, his tone more neutral now. "What are you doing here?"
"I... I was going to prepare dinner," I replied, feeling suddenly uncertain.
The chef raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
"And who gave you permission to use my kitchen?" he asked, his voice sharp.
I faltered, unsure of how to respond. Before I could answer, Yura appeared in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
"What's going on here?" she asked, her voice cool and composed.
The chef turned to face her, his expression immediately turning fearful.
"Madam, this woman claims to be your wife and says she wants to cook dinner," he explained.
Yura regarded me for a moment, her expression unreadable.
"Is that true?" she asked, her tone neutral.
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
"Yes, I thought I would cook dinner for us tonight," I replied, trying to sound confident.
Yura studied me for a moment longer before nodding.
"Very well. You may use the kitchen. And you, chef, you're fired. Leave immediately," she said, her tone dismissive.
The chef's eyes widened in shock, and he looked between Yura and me, clearly taken aback by her sudden decision.
"Madam, please, I've been working here for years," he pleaded, his voice trembling.
Yura's expression remained cold and unyielding.
"I don't care. You disobeyed a direct order. Leave now," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
With a defeated sigh, the chef nodded and turned to leave the kitchen. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as I watched him go, but I knew that I couldn't let his presence stand in the way of my new role as Yura's wife.
As soon as the chef was gone, Yura turned to me, her expression inscrutable.
"You may proceed," she said, gesturing towards the kitchen.
I nodded, feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement as I began to gather the ingredients for dinner. I was determined to impress Yura with my cooking skills.
The first dish I decided to prepare was a traditional Korean bulgogi. I marinated thin slices of beef in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger, letting the flavors meld together as I moved on to the next dish.
For the side dishes, I decided to make some classic banchan. I prepared spicy cucumber salad, sesame spinach, and kimchi, careful to balance the flavors and textures to complement the bulgogi.
As I worked, I couldn't help but steal glances at Yura, who was watching me intently. Her icy exterior was still in place, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
I focused on the task at hand, determined to show Yura that I was capable of more than she thought. With each dish I prepared, I poured my heart and soul into it, hoping that it would be enough to earn her approval.
Finally, after what felt like hours, dinner was ready. I laid out the dishes on the table, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me as I took in the spread before me.
Yura approached the table, her eyes flicking over the dishes with interest.
"It looks... adequate," she said, her tone neutral.
I felt a pang of disappointment at her lukewarm response, but I pushed it aside, determined to remain positive.
"Please, have a seat. I hope you enjoy it," I said, gesturing towards the table.
Yura nodded and took her seat, and I followed suit, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for her verdict.
Yura picked up her chopsticks and took a small bite of the bulgogi, her expression unreadable as she chewed thoughtfully. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for her response.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.
"It's... not bad," she said, her tone slightly less neutral than before.
A wave of relief washed over me, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you, I'm glad you like it," I replied, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice.
Yura nodded and continued to eat in silence. As the meal went on, I found myself relaxing, enjoying the simple pleasure of sharing a meal with someone, even if that someone was still largely a stranger to me.
By the time we finished eating, I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me. I had managed to impress Yura with my cooking, at least to some extent, and for now, that was enough.
As we cleared the table, Yura turned to me, her expression slightly less cold than before.
"Thank you for dinner, Lee Jiyeon. It was... acceptable," she said, her tone softening ever so slightly.
"And since you seem to be skilled in the kitchen, you can be the new chef of the house," she added, her tone still cold.
I simply nodded, unsure of how to respond.
"Also, don't disturb me at night. If you have a problem, talk to the house servants. If I need you, I'll let you know," she said coldly before leaving, leaving me alone.
At that moment, I received a notification from the system.
As Yura left the room, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was relieved that dinner had gone well and that I had managed to impress her with my cooking. On the other hand, her cold demeanor left me feeling unsettled.
I turned my attention to the notification from the system, eager to see what rewards awaited me for completing the mission.
[Congratulations, host. You have successfully completed the mission: Cook dinner for your wife. As a reward, you have been granted ownership of a restaurant and received +5 favorability with Yura.]
A sense of excitement welled up inside me as I read the notification. Owning a restaurant had always been a dream of mine, and now it was finally coming true.
I couldn't wait to see what kind of restaurant it was and what opportunities it would bring.
[Restaurant: "Flavors of Seoul" - A cozy, traditional Korean restaurant located in the heart of the city. Specializes in authentic Korean cuisine with a modern twist.]
I couldn't believe it. Not only had I impressed Yura with my cooking, but I now had my own restaurant to run.
As I basked in the excitement of my new venture, another notification from the system appeared before me.
[Host, your favorability with Yura has increased by +5. Keep up the good work.]
I couldn't help but smile. Despite her cold exterior, it seemed that Yura was starting to warm up to me, if only slightly.
With a newfound sense of determination, I made my way to my room, eager to start planning for the future.
As I settled into bed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the system. Despite the challenges I had faced since arriving in this new world, it had always been there to guide me and support me.
With a sense of excitement and anticipation for what the future held, I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the possibilities that lay ahead.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone