As Jiyeon and Yura strolled up the path to the manor, Jiyeon noticed something odd in the distance. A shadow was moving near the front door a familiar, dramatic silhouette.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Jiyeon muttered, squinting. "Is that… Kang?"
Sure enough, Chef Kang was leaning against the doorframe with an air of theatrical impatience, arms crossed like a disappointed parent.
Yura let out a long sigh. "Why is he here? It's almost midnight. Does he have no other life?"
Jiyeon raised an eyebrow. "I'm starting to think he lives at the restaurant or just waits outside my house like some culinary cryptid."
As they got closer, Kang stepped into the light, his face twisted in exaggerated disapproval. "Well, well, look who decided to show up. Out on the town like a couple of carefree rebels while I'm here holding down the fort."
Jiyeon rolled her eyes. "What fort, Kang? It's not like the restaurant's going to fall apart because I took one night off."
Kang scoffed. "One night? Do you know how many 'one nights' you've had this month alone? Meanwhile, I'm over there trying to keep things from turning into a blueberry-infested disaster."
"Oh, not the blueberry incident again," Yura chimed in, smirking. "You're never going to live that one down."
Kang pointed a dramatic finger at Jiyeon. "I tried to bring innovation. She's stifling my artistic spirit!"
Jiyeon snorted. "Your 'artistic spirit' belongs in the dessert section. Far, far away from my savory dishes."
Kang sighed deeply, ignoring her jab. "You know, Jiyeon, while you were off gallivanting, I took the liberty of trying out a few new recipes."
Yura raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this should be good."
Kang's face lit up with an ominous grin. "I call it 'Kimchi Sundae.' It's got a rich base of gochujang, a hint of fermented tang, and a lovely scoop of vanilla ice cream to cut the spice. Revolutionary, wouldn't you say?"
Jiyeon gaped, horrified. "Please tell me you're joking."
"Dead serious," Kang replied, looking deeply proud. "I left a sample for you in the fridge."
Yura stifled a laugh. "I'm just picturing the chaos of the kitchen right now, with Kang trying to ice cream kimchi."
Kang nodded, completely ignoring the sarcasm. "Exactly! Chaos is just another word for inspiration."
Jiyeon pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "This is what I get for giving him too much freedom."
Kang looked genuinely affronted. "You know, Jiyeon, you could use a bit of culinary daring yourself. Your dishes are amazing, yes, but when's the last time you took a real risk? Experimented?"
Yura crossed her arms, watching with an amused expression as Jiyeon and Kang squared off. "Careful, Jiyeon. He's calling you boring."
Jiyeon glared at Kang. "The day I put kimchi in a sundae is the day you can officially call me boring. I'm doing just fine without traumatizing my customers, thank you."
Kang huffed. "Fine, be conventional. But one day, you'll see the light. And when that day comes, I'll be waiting—with a spoon and a tub of my kimchi ice cream."
"Oh, I'll pass," Jiyeon said dryly, heading toward the door. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going inside, away from whatever monstrosities you've concocted."
"Don't think this conversation is over!" Kang called after her. "I have a whole menu planned with fermented twists on desserts. You'll be begging me to give you the recipes."
Jiyeon waved him off, muttering to Yura, "If I ever beg for his 'recipes,' call an intervention."
Yura laughed, grabbing Jiyeon's hand. "Noted. But honestly, I think you secretly enjoy his wild ideas."
Jiyeon glanced back at Kang, who was now gesturing animatedly to himself about his latest "culinary breakthrough," and sighed. "Maybe a tiny part of me. But only because it makes me look sane by comparison."
Inside the manor, Jiyeon finally slipped out of her heels with a grateful sigh. Yura followed close behind, settling onto the plush couch in the living room and watching Jiyeon with a look of amusement. The banter with Kang had, as usual, left them both entertained, if not slightly exasperated.
"What is it with Kang and his obsession with combining everything under the sun with kimchi?" Yura mused, stretching luxuriously on the couch. "Next thing you know, he'll be pitching kimchi-infused cocktails."
Jiyeon groaned. "Please don't give him ideas. Last time I let him go rogue, he somehow managed to make a 'kimchi tiramisu.' It was horrific, and he acted like it was a stroke of genius."
Yura chuckled, reaching for a glass of water on the coffee table. "Part of me feels like you should just let him go wild and see what he creates. Maybe he'll finally get it out of his system."
Jiyeon arched an eyebrow, pulling off her jacket and tossing it on a nearby chair. "I'd have to call an emergency team to undo the damage. You saw the blueberry fiasco firsthand. Kang's idea of a 'culinary revolution' is mixing ingredients that should never be introduced to each other."
"True, but you have to admit, it's entertaining," Yura replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And watching him argue with you in the kitchen is practically its own form of dinner theater."
"Oh, so now I'm just a source of amusement for you?" Jiyeon crossed her arms, feigning indignation.
Yura smirked. "You have to admit, you two make quite the pair. You're the level-headed chef with a plan, and he's the mad scientist tossing kimchi into whatever pot he can find. I'm honestly not sure which one of you would survive without the other."
Jiyeon rolled her eyes, though a reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "You know, if it weren't for me, he'd be serving seaweed-infused chocolate mousse or something equally terrifying. Sometimes I feel like my whole life is just damage control."
Yura laughed, setting her glass down and curling up on the couch. "Maybe that's part of why you're so good at what you do. You balance him out."
"Or he drives me crazy," Jiyeon countered, settling beside Yura on the couch. "But enough about Kang. I'm exhausted."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, Jiyeon leaning into Yura's warmth. After the hectic events of the night, the quiet felt luxurious. Yura absentmindedly began running her fingers through Jiyeon's hair, and Jiyeon let out a small sigh of contentment.
"Tonight was fun," Yura murmured after a few minutes, her voice soft. "Even with Kang's unexpected interruption."
Jiyeon snorted. "You mean, especially because of it. He's like a chaotic garnish on an otherwise peaceful evening."
Yura laughed, tilting her head to look at Jiyeon. "You love it. Admit it."
Jiyeon gave her a sideways glance, half-smiling. "I love having a break from him more. Not every dinner has to turn into an impromptu episode of 'Iron Chef: Kimchi Disaster Edition.'"
They both laughed, and Yura gave Jiyeon a playful nudge. "Well, I think it's a nice balance to see you so ruffled once in a while. Usually, you're so composed and in control."
"Except when it comes to Kang," Jiyeon muttered, rubbing her temples. "Sometimes I wonder how I got into this. I could've chosen a nice, calm pastry chef, but no, I ended up with a kitchen full of… chaos."
Yura chuckled, looking thoughtful. "Maybe that's what you need. Someone to keep you on your toes."
Jiyeon shook her head, exasperation fading into affection. "He certainly does that."
The clock chimed softly in the background, signaling it was late. But Jiyeon found herself in no rush to move from the couch, nestled against Yura. Despite the whirlwind that her life often was—between Kang's culinary chaos and running her restaurants—moments like these made it all worth it. Sitting here with Yura, enjoying the quiet after a night of laughter, she felt an unexpected sense of contentment.
Yura must have sensed it too, because she gave Jiyeon's hand a gentle squeeze. "Hey, let's take a day off soon. Just the two of us. No Kang, no restaurant drama. Somewhere peaceful."
Jiyeon looked at her, surprised. "You? Taking a day off? You're practically married to your work."
Yura shrugged, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Well, maybe I want to be around you more. Is that so strange?"
Jiyeon's heart warmed at the admission, and she gave Yura's hand a reassuring squeeze. "It's not strange. It's… actually really nice. I'd like that."
For a moment, they just sat there, hand in hand. Jiyeon could almost picture it—a day away from the noise and chaos, just her and Yura. A rare escape from the constant demands of their lives.
But, naturally, the peaceful moment was interrupted by a sudden, insistent buzzing from Jiyeon's phone. She groaned, reaching for it, and rolled her eyes when she saw the caller ID.
"Kang," she muttered, exasperated.
Yura laughed, leaning her head on Jiyeon's shoulder. "What did I say? He probably has some 'groundbreaking' idea to pitch to you at 2 a.m."
Jiyeon silenced the call and shook her head. "He can wait until morning. Whatever he has to say, it can't be good."
"Unless it's about his new 'kimchi smoothie' concept," Yura teased.
"Don't even joke," Jiyeon replied, laughing despite herself. "The day he tries that is the day I officially resign from culinary life."
Yura smiled, her eyes warm. "But you'd miss it, wouldn't you?"
Jiyeon thought about that, the exasperation melting away. As much as Kang drove her to the brink, there was something about his chaotic energy that made her days anything but boring. And, of course, there was Yura, who made it all worthwhile.
"Maybe a little," she admitted. "But only because it makes coming home to you feel even better."
Yura's smile softened, and she leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Jiyeon's lips. "Good answer."
Jiyeon sighed contentedly, resting her head on Yura's shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, savoring the quiet. Kang might be an endless source of chaos, but in this moment, Jiyeon knew she wouldn't change a thing.