Chapter 99: Mirror Recipe (1)

99 Chapter 99: Mirror Recipe 1&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt; The judges tasted the dishes. Cho Min Joon felt as though he was the most nervous he had ever felt. He couldn't help it. He was going against Kaya and Anderson. They normally would have been 1st and 2nd place on the show.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;And what made him the most discouraged was their scores. 8 points, 9 points, 7 points. Their average was the same, but he didn't know whether the judges would prefer consistency or that one outstanding dish, but of course, 8 points was not just an average score…&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;After tasting the dishes, the judges returned to their seats to discuss. Joseph spoke first, "This is difficult."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;That was how they all felt. When it came to cooking, even with big differences, it was up to opinion, and it was hard to determine what tasted good and what didn't. Unless they could see the scores… Rachel opened her mouth.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"In terms of structure, I prefer the red team. The refreshing trout seviche, the savory anchovy cream that gets rid of the greasiness, and the almond pudding on top. On the other hand, the blue team's structure was lacking. They started with crab bisque, and the main was beef stroganoff with fried risotto, and the dessert is éclair with cream… There's no time to rest."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"The problem is that it's too intense."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Sergei spoke in a rough voice. He looked at the plates with a disappointed look on his face and continued, "I couldn't even sense that sourness was lacking. Aside from the dessert, everything was salty, but my tastebuds didn't mind it. Of course, that's probably because we didn't eat much of it, but even if I had a few more spoonfuls, it wouldn't have made a difference."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"The beef stroganoff and fried risotto went very well together. If they hadn't fried the risotto, it would have tasted too soggy, so that really saved them. That was actually my favorite dish."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Same here. Oh, and it's not just because I'm Russian. I never liked beef stroganoff to begin with, but I liked that one."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;A good chef was able to make even one's least favorite dish delicious, and that was how Kaya and Anderson proved that they were true chefs. Allan thought for a moment before opening his mouth.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"But if you think about the dessert, it was disappointing. The cream inside the éclair was fine, but it didn't taste moist enough."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"That's not all. The flavor was great, but I'm not so sure if the fried risotto and beef stroganoff were appropriate main dishes."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"I'm not sure. The question of what's appropriate to be a main dish depends on the chef. I don't think we should penalize them for that."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Despite Allan's response, Emily still looked conflicted. Joseph spoke in a calm voice, "If we can't decide, we'll just leave it up to voting. We've made the contestants wait long enough."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;The judges approached the contestants. Joseph spoke, "We will now make our votes. Emily will begin. Emily, who do you choose?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"I think of a course meal as a story. It's best if there's a development. The blue team's dishes were great… But I don't think it was dynamic. All three of them were strong. It wasn't bad since it's just a three-course meal, but it didn't have a good balance overall. So red team. Theirs were refreshing, savory, sweet, and clean. It had everything."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Chloe's lips shook. Her facial muscles were tense, and her eyes glanced around like crazy. She was the one who told him not to be nervous, but she was shaking. Cho Min Joon glanced at Kaya and Anderson. They showed straight faces.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Allan opened his mouth.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"I vote for blue team. Emily talked about structure, but I think their dishes were outstanding enough to cancel that out. I loved the main. The beef stroganoff was equivalent to two dishes, but it didn't lack in any way. Red team stuck to the basics, but it wasn't interesting. They just tasted like typical dishes from a restaurant nearby, so I pick the blue team."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"I don't agree with Allan. It's hard to stick to the basics and make something delicious because it comes with many restrictions, and those restrictions have been enforced for hundreds of years for the satisfaction of customers. Of course, the blue team managed to go beyond the guidelines and make something spectacular… But I have to go with the red team this time."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Cho Min Joon clenched his fists. They had 2 votes. All that was left was for either Sergei or Rachel to vote for them. They could win. As soon as he thought that, Sergei spoke in a flat voice, "Blue team."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;And he didn't say anything else. Rachel knitted her brows and asked, "Is that it?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"It was good."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;That was all he had to say. Rachel sighed. She wondered when he would fix that personality of his.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Then I guess I'm the only one left. Come to think of it, my vote will determine the winner."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Rachel smiled. Cho Min Joon, Chloe, Kaya and Anderson stared at Rachel's lips.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"As for me…"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;***&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Ugh!"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Someone was hugging the toilet in the washroom and throwing up. It was Chloe. She threw up and then went to the sink to wash up, but someone else was there.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"… Are you sick?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"I must've been really nervous."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;In response to Kaya's worried face, Chloe tried to smile. As soon as she finished washing her face, Kaya handed her a towel.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Thanks."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"… I like you."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;She spoke in a serious voice, and it took a lot of courage for her to say it. That was also why her face and eyes were pointed toward the ground.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Chloe smiled.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"I like you, too."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"… I don't know who to cheer for."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Kaya sounded sad. She sighed. She stood at the sink. She noticed that her pants were wet and looked at her butt with a frown. Chloe smirked and thought of what just happened.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Rachel voted for the blue team. She thought Rachel would favor them since they used her favorite ingredients, but that wasn't the case.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;'Food should both shock and touch people, and I think blue team did a better job at that.'&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;They had nothing to say to that. Chloe mumbled to herself, "Was I not good enough? If you had been with Min Joon, you guys would've won."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"… Don't say that."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Sorry. I'm just sad, that's all. I knew this would happen eventually, but…"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Kaya hesitated before giving Chloe a hug. She then patted her back with her awkward hand.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"This competition isn't everything in our lives. Don't be so nervous. I'll always cheer you on, and you'll succeed. You have a great personality unlike me."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Why are you bringing yourself down all of a sudden?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Chloe sobbed. She was either sad about Kaya's low self-worth or just felt sad. She didn't know either. Kaya bit down on her lip and said, "Then stop bringing yourself down, and stop struggling so much. I…"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Kaya licked her lips. She didn't want to see her friend in pain. She wanted to say that, but it wouldn't come out of her mouth. Chloe slowly backed away from Kaya. Either because she just threw up or because of another reason. Her eyes filled with tears.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"I'll try."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Okay."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Thanks for worrying about me. I was worried you didn't think of me as a friend like I did."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Kaya didn't answer. Chloe wiped her tears with a towel and looked in the mirror. Her face was ruined and her hair was messy. Kaya noticed that and asked, "Do you want to cry some more? Should I wait for you outside?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"No, I shouldn't cry. Let's go. We should get ready for the disqualification mission."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;'Disqualification mission.' It always sounded horrifying, but especially so today.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Anderson and Cho Min Joon were chatting in the hall. Chloe smiled and approached them.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"What are you talking about?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"What do you think? The disqualification mission."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Anderson answered in a lukewarm voice. Kaya knitted her brows.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Why do you always sound like such an asshole?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Look who's talking. Am I supposed to talk like a character in a tragic film or something?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Kaya and Anderson glared at each other. Chloe coughed and said, "Guys, I need to talk to Min Joon for a second… Can you excuse us?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"About what?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"She wants us to leave. Stop acting slow and come with me."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"… See you later."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Kaya glared at Anderson and then walked off. Once they left, Cho Min Joon looked at Chloe with a confused look on his face.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"What is it?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"… I'm sorry."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"No need to apologize. Why are you sorry? I should be the one to be sorry. I was the one who made all the decisions, but they weren't good enough. I'm sorry."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Chloe bit down on her lip and dropped her head. All he could see was the top of her head. Since she was mixed, her skin was not completely pale and had a bit of an olive tone to it. As soon as Cho Min Joon looked away, Chloe opened her mouth.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"You don't hate me, right?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Why would I hate you?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"What if I beat you in the disqualification mission and..."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Chloe."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;Cho Min Joon cut Chloe off. Chloe looked back at him with anxious eyes. He sighed for a moment and then opened his mouth.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"I'm not that childish. If I get disqualified, that means I'm not good enough. That wouldn't be your fault, so don't think about it that way. Are you going to resent me if I win?"&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Never."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Well, same here."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"… You're right."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;She nodded and smiled, but Chloe's face still looked dark with sadness. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but he decided not to in fear that Chloe might break down.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;But Chloe's face changed almost instantly. In no time, her face looked soft and caring again. That was Chloe's face. The one he knew.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Let's go in. We have another mission to do."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"… I wonder if we're straining ourselves."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Of course, we are. Missions are always hard, and today's no different. We can't both win… But we can both smile. Let's try to do that."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;It was more normal to cry after losing. That was what he thought, but Cho Min Joon didn't point that out.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"Okay. Let's do that."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;As soon as they entered the kitchen, only two cooking stations were set up, and they faced each other.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;'That's evil.'&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;He also saw a small box placed on top of the cooking station. Perhaps, it contained ingredients. Joseph opened his mouth.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"One of you will have to leave the Grand House today. For one of you, this will be your last mission, so we've thought long and hard about what an appropriate mission would be."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;"That's when we realized that you should be the ones making that decision, not us. Please open the box."&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;In response to Allan's remark, Cho Min Joon and Chloe both opened their boxes. They looked shocked. There were no ingredients in the box.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;p&#gt;It was a mirror.&#lt;/p&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;