After Yura left, I began to reflect on my day, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having successfully completed my first task as the new chef of the house. Quickly, the servants arrived to clear the table, and then they went to do the dishes, which was convenient for me as it meant I only had to focus on cooking.
I made my way back to my room, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. It had been a stressful morning, but I was glad that I had been able to fulfill my duties as Yura's wife and the new chef of the house.
As I settled into bed, I couldn't help but think about the conversation I had had with the system earlier. The idea of going through a Sensitivity Period was daunting, but I knew that I would have to learn to control my pheromones if I wanted to fit in in this world, especially now that I was married to an omega.
[Host, your favorability with Yura has increased by +3. Keep up the good work.]
I couldn't help but smile at the notification. It seemed that my efforts were starting to pay off, and maybe, just maybe, Yura was starting to warm up to me.
Then, I remembered that the system had rewarded me with a restaurant. I decided that I would visit it today.
I left my room and the mansion, and within a few minutes, I hailed a taxi. Following the instructions given by the system, I arrived at the restaurant, "Flavors of Seoul," in just 20 minutes.
The restaurant was located in the heart of the city and specialized in authentic Korean cuisine with a modern twist. As I stepped inside, I was greeted by the warm aroma of spices and the sound of sizzling pans.
The restaurant was cozy and inviting, with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background. I was immediately greeted by the staff, who welcomed me with warm smiles. Surprisingly, there were no customers at the moment, which surprised me.
"Welcome to 'Flavors of Seoul'," the hostess said, her voice cheerful. "How may I assist you today?"
"I'm the new owner of this restaurant," I replied, feeling a sense of pride swell within me.
The hostess's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly recovered, her smile widening.
"Ah, so you must be Lee Jiyeon. I didn't expect you to be so young," she exclaimed. After all, she was right, I was only 22.
"We're so excited to have you as part of our team. Please, follow me, and I'll show you around."
As she led me through the restaurant, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This was my restaurant, and I was determined to make it a success.
The tour ended in the kitchen, where the head chef greeted me warmly.
The head chef, a middle-aged man named Chef Kang, welcomed me with a warm smile as we entered the kitchen. The tantalizing aroma of spices and cooking food enveloped us, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as I looked around at the bustling kitchen.
"Welcome, Lee Jiyeon," Chef Kang said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "We're thrilled to have you here."
"Thank you, Chef Kang. I'm excited to be here," I replied, returning his smile.
Chef Kang proceeded to give me a tour of the kitchen, introducing me to the various staff members and explaining how everything operated. As we walked, I couldn't help but marvel at the efficiency and skill of the kitchen staff. It was clear that they were all experts in their craft, and I felt a surge of pride knowing that this talented team was now mine to lead.
Once the tour was over, I noticed that all the people working here were beta, which suited me just fine.
"Thank you, Chef Kang. I appreciate you taking the time to explain all of this to me," I said, grateful for his guidance.
Chef Kang smiled warmly.
"Of course, Lee Jiyeon. We're all here to support you," he said.
As I left the kitchen, I couldn't help but feel a sense of determination wash over me.
Once outside the kitchen, I decided to take a moment to explore the rest of the restaurant. The dining area was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and cozy booths. The walls were adorned with traditional Korean artwork, adding to the restaurant's charm. As I took in the ambiance, I realized that time had flown by, and it was almost lunchtime.
Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by a notification from the system.
[New quest available: Prepare lunch for Yura and deliver it to her office. Rewards: +5 favorability with Yura, a new recipe]
I entered the kitchen with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to tackle the task of preparing lunch for Yura. As I surveyed the ingredients available, I decided to make one of my favorite dishes, Bulgogi Bibimbap, a traditional Korean rice bowl topped with marinated beef, assorted vegetables, and a fried egg.
I quickly got to work, slicing the beef thinly and marinating it in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and pepper. While the beef marinated, I prepared the vegetables, slicing carrots, cucumbers, and mushrooms into thin strips, and blanching bean sprouts and spinach.
Next, I cooked the marinated beef in a hot pan until it was caramelized and fragrant. Then, I fried eggs sunny-side-up until the edges were crispy but the yolk remained runny.
Finally, it was time to assemble the bibimbap. I started by placing a generous serving of steamed rice in the center of a large bowl. Then, I arranged the cooked beef and vegetables in neat piles around the rice, creating a colorful and appetizing display.
I topped the bibimbap with the fried egg and garnished it with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for added flavor and visual appeal. As a final touch, I drizzled some spicy gochujang sauce over the top, adding a kick of heat to the dish.
With the bibimbap ready, I carefully packed it into a portable container, thanking the kitchen staff for their help before heading out.
I waved goodbye to the kitchen staff, promising them that we would start business seriously from tomorrow.
As I stepped out of the restaurant, I called for a taxi. With the help of the system, I arrived in front of Yura's office building in no time.
Yura's company, "Omega Dynamics," was a sleek and modern skyscraper that stood out among the surrounding buildings. The exterior was made of reflective glass, and the company logo was prominently displayed above the entrance.
Entering the building, I was greeted by a spacious lobby decorated in neutral tones. The reception area was manned by a friendly receptionist who greeted me with a smile.
"Good afternoon, how can I help you?" she asked politely.
"I'm here to deliver lunch to Yura. I'm her wife," I replied confidently.
The receptionist's smile faltered for a moment before she burst into laughter.
"Nice try, but I've heard that one before. You're just another person trying to seduce Yura," she said, shaking her head.
Before I could respond, a few people from the office began to gather around us, curious about the commotion.
"She's lying! Don't believe her. Yura doesn't have a wife," one of them exclaimed.
Soon, I found myself surrounded by a group of people, mostly omegas, urging me to forget about Yura and pay attention to them instead. Some of them even started to grab at me, their intentions clear.
Caught off guard by the sudden attention, I tried to remain calm, but it was clear that the situation was escalating quickly.
Yura descended from her office to see what all the commotion was about. As the CEO of the company, she was known for being strict and no-nonsense. When she saw me surrounded by all the omegas, her expression darkened with anger.
"What is going on here?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the noise.
Everyone fell silent, and the receptionist's smile faltered as she realized who had arrived.
"Madam Yura, this woman claims to be your wife and brought you lunch," the receptionist explained nervously.
Yura's gaze narrowed as she turned her attention to me, her eyes cold and calculating. She walked directly towards me, then took my hand, causing the other omegas to release me. Her hand was surprisingly cold, which surprised me.
"This woman is indeed my wife," she stated firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
The omegas looked at each other in surprise, clearly taken aback by Yura's declaration. Some of them muttered among themselves, but they all shared the same expression—they were terrified.
"Now, all of you are fired" she said firmly.
They tried to reason with Yura, but it was useless. Yura then walked away with me, her hand still holding mine, and we entered an elevator. At that moment, I thought I heard the receptionist and some of the omegas crying.