"Yeah, I was just working on some plans for the new branch," I replied, pulling her into a hug. "How was your day?"
"Busy, but productive," she said, leaning into me. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," I said, kissing the top of her head. "How about we head to bed? We've both had a long day."
"Sounds perfect," she agreed, and we headed upstairs together.
As we settled into bed, I felt a deep sense of contentment. My estrus was over, the restaurant was thriving, and the new branch was on track. And best of all, I had Yura by my side, supporting me every step of the way.
[Sweet dreams, Jiyeon,] the system's voice whispered in my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
"Goodnight," I murmured, feeling completely at peace.
The morning sun filtered through the curtains as I woke up, feeling the warmth of Yura beside me. For a moment, I just lay there, savoring the quiet and the peacefulness of the early hour. The memory of last night's conversation with the system lingered in my mind, a reminder of the challenges ahead. But I felt ready, more determined than ever to see the new branch of *Flavors of Seoul* come to life.
Carefully, I slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake Yura, who was still sound asleep. After getting ready, I headed downstairs to prepare a quick breakfast. My mind was already buzzing with the plans for the day. Today, I'd be taking the staff to visit the site of the new branch. It was going to be an exciting day, filled with possibilities.
Once I had everything set up, I left a note for Yura, letting her know I'd be at the new location with the team and that I'd see her later in the evening. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement as I grabbed my keys and headed out.
When I arrived at the restaurant, the staff was already gathered, chatting animatedly among themselves. Chef Kang spotted me first and waved me over with a wide grin.
"Morning, boss! You look ready to conquer the world today," he said, his voice full of energy.
I laughed, feeling the excitement ripple through the group. "I feel ready. Are you guys as excited as I am?"
There was a chorus of enthusiastic nods and murmurs of agreement. It was clear that the whole team was just as eager as I was to see the new place.
"Great!" I said, clapping my hands together. "Let's get going, then. We've got a lot to do today, and I want you all to see the space where we'll be bringing the new branch to life."
We piled into a couple of cars and made our way to the site. The drive was filled with lively conversation, with everyone speculating about what the new branch would be like. I could feel the anticipation growing, and it only fueled my determination to make this place something truly special.
When we arrived, I parked the car and turned to look at the building in front of us. It was a spacious, empty venue with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The potential was undeniable, and I could already picture how it would look once it was transformed into *Flavors of Seoul*.
"Here we are," I said, my voice filled with pride as I gestured toward the building. "Welcome to the future home of our new branch!"
The staff gathered around me, their eyes wide with awe as they took in the space. Even in its bare state, the place had an energy that was palpable. We all stood there for a moment, just soaking it in.
"This place is huge!" one of the servers, Minji, exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement.
"It's going to be amazing once we're done with it," Chef Kang added, his mind clearly already running through potential kitchen setups.
I led the way inside, and we began the tour. I pointed out where the kitchen would be, explaining how we'd arrange everything to ensure efficiency and flow. We walked through the space where the dining area would be, with its high ceilings and potential for unique lighting and decor.
"There's so much we can do with this place," I said, turning to face the group. "But I want it to still feel like home. Like our main restaurant, but with its own unique vibe. I'm thinking we can incorporate a mix of modern and traditional Korean elements, something that really speaks to our roots while also appealing to a broader audience."
Chef Kang nodded thoughtfully. "I can already picture the open kitchen here, where customers can watch the food being prepared. It'll add an extra element of interaction, something that will really draw people in."
Minji chimed in, "And we could have a feature wall with a mural—maybe something that tells a story, like a piece of Korean history or mythology. It would be a great conversation starter."
I smiled, impressed by how quickly everyone was getting into the spirit of things. "Exactly! That's the kind of creativity we need. This place is going to be a reflection of all of us, of everything that *Flavors of Seoul* stands for."
We spent the next hour exploring every nook and cranny of the space, discussing ideas and bouncing off each other's energy. The excitement was contagious, and by the time we were done, it felt like we had already started to breathe life into the new branch.
After the tour, we gathered outside, the sun shining down on us as we took a moment to reflect on what we'd seen.
"I know this is going to be a lot of work," I said, addressing the group. "But I have no doubt that we're up to the challenge. We've done amazing things with the original restaurant, and I know we can do the same here. This is just the beginning."
The team cheered, their enthusiasm making me feel even more confident about the path ahead.
"Now, onto the next order of business," I continued. "We need to start thinking about recruitment. This place is going to need a lot of hands to run smoothly, and we've got to find the right people to join our team."
"That's going to be fun," Chef Kang said with a grin. "Nothing like a good round of interviews to really get to know someone."
I chuckled, knowing that he was half-joking but also appreciating his enthusiasm. "We'll start by putting out some ads, then hold interviews here over the next few weeks. I'm looking for people who are not just skilled, but also passionate about what we do. This place is going to be a reflection of all of us, so we need the right people on board."
"Should we get started on the ads right away?" Minji asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Absolutely," I replied. "The sooner we get the word out, the better. Let's make it clear that we're looking for team players who are excited about being a part of something new and special."
We spent the next few hours drafting up the job postings, making sure they reflected the kind of people we wanted to attract. The ads highlighted the unique nature of *Flavors of Seoul*, emphasizing the blend of tradition and innovation that we prided ourselves on.
Once the ads were ready, we sent them out through various channels—online job boards, social media, and even a few local newspapers. The response was almost immediate. Within a day, we started receiving applications from people all over the city, eager to be a part of our new venture.
A few days later, the interview process began. We held the interviews at the new site, setting up a makeshift office in one of the back rooms. It was an exciting, if somewhat chaotic, time as we met with a wide range of candidates—some with years of experience in the culinary world, others who were just starting out but had a passion that was hard to ignore.
The first day of interviews was particularly memorable. As we sat down with the first candidate, a young chef who had just moved to the city, Chef Kang couldn't resist throwing in a bit of humor to break the ice.
"So," he said, leaning forward with a mock-serious expression, "tell us your deepest, darkest cooking secret. What's that one dish you've always wanted to try but have been too afraid to attempt?"
The chef blinked, clearly caught off guard, before breaking into a grin. "Honestly? I've always wanted to perfect my kimchi jjigae, but I've never quite nailed the balance of flavors."
I laughed, appreciating the honesty. "Well, if you're up for the challenge, you've come to the right place. We take our kimchi very seriously here."
The rest of the interview went smoothly, and by the end of the day, we had met with a dozen potential new team members. Some of them showed real promise, and I could already start to see the new branch taking shape in my mind.
As we wrapped up for the day, I gathered the team together to discuss the interviews. It was clear that we had a lot of talent to choose from, and the thought of bringing new people into our family was both exciting and a little nerve-wracking.
"I think we've got some real contenders," I said, leaning against one of the makeshift desks. "But we need to be careful about who we choose. This place is going to be a reflection of all of us, so we need to make sure we're bringing in people who share our vision."
"I agree," Chef Kang said, nodding. "We need people who are not just skilled, but also passionate about what we're doing here. People who will see this as more than just a job."
"And people who can handle your jokes," Minji added with a playful smirk.
"Exactly," I said with a laugh. "So let's take our time and make sure we're choosing the right people. We've got 24 days left, and we're going to make every single one of them count."
As we finished up, I felt a sense of satisfaction wash over me. The day had been productive, and it felt like we were really starting to make progress. There was still a lot to do, but I knew we were on the right track.
On the drive back to the manor, I found myself reflecting on how far we'd come. From the initial idea of opening a new branch to now, standing on the brink of making it a reality, it felt like everything was finally coming together.
When I arrived home, Yura was already there, waiting for me in the living room. She greeted me with a warm smile, and I felt my heart swell with affection.
"How was your day?" she asked as I joined her on the couch.
"Busy, but productive," I replied, leaning in to give her a kiss. "We toured the new site, and I think the team is really excited about what's coming next. We've also started the recruitment process, so things are moving quickly."
"That sounds great," Yura said, her voice filled with encouragement. "I'm so proud of you, Jiyeon. You're really making this happen."
"I couldn't do it without you," I said softly, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me.
We spent the rest of the evening talking about our plans for the future, sharing our hopes and dreams for what Flavors of Seoul could become.