There he was —Mr. Han Tae-Suk, the current partner-owner of the hotel.At first glance, he looked like a simple, straight-laced businessman, but behind that exterior lay a dark side the world had never seen.
This was the first time he had seen Ji-Ho, and the way he looked at him — from head to toe, observing every detail — made it clear that something calculated and cunning was brewing in his mind.
A sly smile briefly flickered on Mr. Han's face, but he quickly masked it with a calm expression as he said:
"Please, sit down."
He gestured toward the chairs in front of him.Then, in a direct and sharp tone, Mr. Han continued:
"I won't waste your time. Tonight, two of my most important guests are coming to dine at the hotel.""Mr. Joon Hyunk and Mr. Min Jae — you know the names?"
Ji-Ho nodded nervously, silently thinking to himself —"I hear their names in the news all the time…"These were billionaires of South Korea, and the hotel's primary investors.
Mr. Han went on:
"Tonight's dinner will be with me. And this time, I want to serve them something… unforgettable. Something they'll remember for life.""That's why I've called the two of you here. After observing your work, I believe you're the perfect fit for this task."
"No excuses. No mistakes. Only excellence."
"You — Chef Do-Hyun, and you, Ji-Ho — are responsible for tonight's special dinner."
His tone was strict, but underneath it lay a strange sense of trust.
"I want a fusion — modern and traditional. The presentation should be elegant. The taste... unforgettable.You two are the spine of this kitchen — prove it tonight."
For Ji-Ho, who until yesterday had only been "the vegetable guy"…Now, right before his eyes stood a chance that could change his entire life.
He lowered his head slightly and said quietly:
"I'll do my best to give a hundred percent."
Do-Hyun stood up as well, confidently:
"Yes, sir. Tonight's dinner… will reflect the pride of this hotel and the result of our hard work."
With that, both of them exited the office.
As soon as they entered the kitchen, both were in a serious mood.Do-Hyun (to Ji-Ho):"Today, we're not just simple cooks… we're artists. The traditional flavors you bring with your hands are on the stage tonight. Understand?"
Ji-Ho (smiling lightly):"Understood, Chef. No mistakes today."
And at that moment…For the first time, a hope ignited in Ji-Ho's heart.He thought,"Maybe… the simple recipes I learned in my village can also find a place in a luxury kitchen.""Maybe… my presence here isn't useless."
That night —A boy, whom the city had never even spoken to respectfully,had dreamed of impressing the biggest names in the city with his hard work and taste.
And as they say…"It takes time, but hard work never goes to waste.""Today's work, tomorrow's respect. Today's tears, tomorrow's applause."
The whole kitchen staff was left speechless —They had all thought Ji-Ho would be fired today,but instead, he was given the huge responsibility of making dinner for the city's biggest billionaires.If his dishes pleased them, from a lowly assistant, he could become a chief with a high position.
Everyone was very jealous of this, especially Chief Park Jae-Min, who couldn't tolerate it at all.So he planned to ruin Ji-Ho's big opportunity.
He was standing right next to Ji-Ho, busy working, with a pan heating some oil nearby. Ji-Ho and Do-Hyun were also busy with their tasks.
Chief Park Jae-Min deliberately slid the pan with hot oil toward Ji-Ho, aiming to spill it on him.
But just before the oil could fall on Ji-Ho, he moved away to grab something, and the entire hot oil spilled on Chief Do-Hyun's hand instead.
The head chef's hand was badly burned, and the whole kitchen watched in shock.
Chief Do-Hyun shouted at Chief Park Jae-Min,"What are you doing? Don't you know how to do your job properly?"
Startled by the shout, Chief Park Jae-Min quickly apologized, giving an excuse:"There was too much oil in the pan, that's why it accidentally spilled."
"Forgive me..."He had apologized, but deep down he thought,"What can Ji-Ho possibly do alone now? If his Head Chef is injured, he'll definitely lose this chance tonight. Let him cook… once his food is served to the guests, the owner will surely fire him."With a dangerous smile and his wicked intentions buried in his mind, Chef Park Jae-Min quietly returned to his work, pretending like nothing happened.
Ji-Ho, on the other hand, quickly caught the Head Chef's hand and carefully led him to the side. He gently ran cold water over the burn and began applying ice to ease the pain.The Head Chef silently observed Ji-Ho — this boy no longer had the innocent smile he once did, but something about his sincerity still remained.Despite all the harshness Ji-Ho had received, here he was… gently treating the man who never showed him kindness.
The Head Chef's heart wavered for a moment."How many times was I rude to him… and yet he's doing all this for me."
Ji-Ho, gently applying the ice, asked softly,"Is it feeling better now? Is it burning too much?"The Head Chef replied,"Right now, more than my hand, I'm worried about tonight's dinner. I know that man — he did this on purpose, so we'd lose this opportunity. But we're not going to let that happen."
Ji-Ho nodded and went to grab the emergency first aid box. He applied burn cream carefully on the Chef's hand to soothe the pain. After a moment of silence, Ji-Ho hesitantly spoke,"Chef… can I say something?""Go ahead.""I've been cooking since I was a kid. Please trust me. I know how to cook — traditional, modern, everything. Just guide me... I'll handle the rest."
The Head Chef had no other option now. He looked at Ji-Ho and asked,"Are you sure? Do you believe you can handle this?""Yes. I truly believe I can do this. Just keep guiding me."
The Head Chef nodded."Alright, then let's begin quickly. It's already evening and we don't have much time left."
They both returned to their stations — but this time, they worked slightly away from the rest of the staff. The Head Chef knew very well that no matter how many years someone had been working in that kitchen, no one truly had each other's back. He didn't want any more 'accidents' to happen.
As they worked quietly together, the Head Chef gave instructions and Ji-Ho followed them swiftly. Within just two hours, the two of them had completed an entire luxury dinner course — blending modern elegance with traditional soul.
Samgyetang Foam Bite – a molecular twist on the traditional ginseng chicken soup.
Hanwoo Bulgogi Mille-Feuille – layers of premium marinated beef and vegetables.
Kimchi Jus-glazed Scallops – pan-seared scallops with a fermented chili glaze.
Doenjang Risotto – creamy Italian-style rice infused with soybean paste.
Gochugaru Crusted Lamb Cutlets – fusion of Korean spice and western plating.
Hwachae Sorbet Sphere – traditional Korean fruit punch served in a modern frozen form.
All these dishes — made entirely by Ji-Ho's hands — were not just food. They were art.
By nighttime, the food was ready, and the dinner table was being set. Each dish glowed with its own elegance and depth.The entire kitchen staff stood in stunned silence. The boy they used to mock had just created a menu that none of them had ever dreamed of pulling off.
The Head Chef was genuinely impressed — and silently proud.Those who once teased Ji-Ho… felt ashamed. Without even trying to understand him, they had judged someone who turned out to be truly gifted.
Ji-Ho now stood next to the Head Chef, as the dinner table — glowing with carefully plated excellence — was being prepared for the VIPs.