The next day, Jiyeon found herself uncharacteristically exhausted from the culinary assault she'd endured the night before. She was nursing a cup of coffee in her kitchen at the manor, glaring at the clock as if it were to blame for how early it felt. Just as she was drifting off into her thoughts, Yura stormed in, looking a bit too energized for Jiyeon's liking.
"We need to talk about last night," Yura began, hands on her hips. "More specifically, about the fact that Kang's idea of 'a little spice' is on par with… I don't know, a flamethrower?"
"Honestly, I think he'd be thrilled with that comparison," Jiyeon replied, suppressing a yawn. "It's probably his life goal to invent the world's first weaponized meal."
Yura snorted, sitting across from her. "Well, my taste buds are officially in hiding. But it got me thinking—Kang's chaos is almost… entertaining. Almost."
"Careful," Jiyeon warned with a smirk. "That's how he ropes you in. You laugh once, next thing you know you're taste-testing whatever madness he's whipped up in the name of 'adventure.'"
Before Yura could respond, the doorbell chimed, followed by the loud shuffling of Kang himself barreling into the kitchen. He had a smug grin and was carrying a basket filled with… who knew what.
"Good morning, my loyal subjects," Kang declared, ignoring the twin glares from Yura and Jiyeon. "I come bearing gifts."
"Gifts?" Jiyeon eyed the basket with suspicion. "Last time you brought gifts, I spent three hours figuring out how to get the 'natural essence of ghost pepper' out of my cooking pots."
"Oh, ye of little faith," Kang tutted, placing the basket down. "This is a peace offering. I figured, since you two had such delicate reactions to my culinary masterpiece, I'd dial it back today. Something… milder."
Yura crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Define 'milder.' And remember, anything above 'moderately spicy' and you're banned from the kitchen for life."
Kang gave a faux-offended gasp. "The lack of trust in this room! I assure you, today's dish will be completely… well, almost completely edible."
Jiyeon squinted. "You're not exactly filling us with confidence here, Kang."
He began unloading the basket, each item stranger than the last. Various bottles of sauces, most of which looked suspiciously like they could cause spontaneous combustion, a bag of what appeared to be suspiciously spiky herbs, and finally, a jar labeled "Essence of Surprise."
Yura raised an eyebrow. "Essence of Surprise?"
Kang grinned wider. "Yes. It's a… flavor enhancer."
"Flavor enhancer?" Jiyeon deadpanned. "Kang, this better not be another one of your 'experiments' that sends us running to the ER."
Kang chuckled, waving off their concerns. "Relax! This is a work of art, a culinary journey! It'll tickle your taste buds."
"Oh, I'm sure it'll do more than tickle," Yura muttered, glancing nervously at the growing pile of ingredients.
Kang set to work, tossing in ingredients with the same level of chaotic enthusiasm as the night before. But this time, Jiyeon and Yura were braced for impact, observing him like two wary animals watching a hunter.
"So, what exactly are we supposed to do with this 'Essence of Surprise'?" Jiyeon asked, watching Kang pour a bright green liquid into the pot with all the elegance of a child dumping food coloring into pancake batter.
"Simple," Kang said, stirring the pot with flourish. "You take a tiny bit, just a drop, and it's supposed to 'enhance' whatever you're tasting. Adds a new layer of experience."
"Or an entire layer of misery," Yura muttered under her breath.
Kang, entirely oblivious to Yura's apprehension, tossed in a few more unidentifiable herbs with a gleeful flourish. The kitchen began to fill with a pungent aroma that was half-intriguing, half-painfully eye-watering.
"Now," Kang said, beaming like he'd just cracked the code of the universe, "who's ready for a taste of true culinary enlightenment?"
"Enlightenment?" Jiyeon echoed with a raised brow, watching the bubbling concoction. "Kang, that soup looks like it belongs in a medieval apothecary, not in my kitchen."
"Hey, you both need to broaden your horizons," Kang argued. "Sometimes you have to push the boundaries a little to experience something unforgettable."
Yura's lips twitched, trying not to laugh. "I'm pretty sure my stomach lining will remember this forever."
Undeterred, Kang ladled a small spoonful of the ominous green liquid and held it out to Jiyeon, a devilish grin on his face. "Come on, boss, just one sip. I promise, you'll see the world differently."
Jiyeon crossed her arms, looking down at the spoon as if it were a live grenade. "Funny, I actually enjoy seeing the world the way it is—without suffering. And if I remember correctly, I pay you to cook things people actually want to eat, not whatever that is."
"Oh, ye of little faith," Kang scoffed, thrusting the spoon forward again. "Besides, you're the one always talking about the 'culinary spirit of adventure.'"
Jiyeon sighed, cursing her own words. She took the spoon, giving Yura a wary glance before putting it to her lips and taking a cautious sip.
The taste hit her like a punch. It was… indescribable. A bizarre combination of tangy, bitter, sweet, and something that tasted suspiciously like licorice. Her face contorted, the flavors waging a violent war on her taste buds.
"Well?" Kang leaned in, eyebrows raised with anticipation.
Jiyeon struggled to swallow, finally choking down the strange concoction. "Kang… I don't know what's worse—that you made this, or that you thought anyone would want to eat it voluntarily."
Yura laughed so hard she nearly fell off her chair. "I warned you! But no, you just had to prove a point."
Kang, looking only slightly deflated, grabbed another spoon. "Alright, Yura. If you're so high and mighty, let's see how you handle it."
Yura's laughter faded as she eyed the spoon in horror. "Oh no. I'm not the one with a 'culinary spirit of adventure,' thank you very much."
But Kang's grin turned wicked. "Well, then, think of it as a bonding experience. Jiyeon's already tried it—don't you want to be supportive?"
Jiyeon smirked. "He has a point, you know."
Yura rolled her eyes dramatically before snatching the spoon and taking a quick sip. Her expression was priceless—a mixture of horror, confusion, and the purest regret.
"Okay," she gasped, coughing. "That… that tasted like betrayal in liquid form."
Kang burst into laughter. "Ah, the flavor of true friendship!"
Yura clutched her stomach, still grimacing from the aftertaste. "Friendship? Kang, if this is what friendship tastes like, I'm breaking up with everyone I know."
Kang held his chest, mock-offended. "You two have no appreciation for the artistry behind it. Do you know how long it took me to get that balance of flavors? Hours."
Jiyeon snorted. "If you spent hours on that, I'm genuinely concerned about the culinary trajectory of my restaurant. That soup tastes like something brewed in a witch's cauldron. What were you even aiming for, Kang?"
Kang shrugged, wiping down the counter with an exaggeratedly casual expression. "Oh, you know, I was going for something avant-garde. A little bitterness for edge, sweetness for surprise, and that earthy undertone… that's what makes it mysterious."
"Mysterious?" Yura raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the counter and crossing her arms. "More like hazardous."
Jiyeon smirked, nudging Kang with her elbow. "Listen, maybe tone down the 'mystery' factor before the next health inspection. I'm not risking a food poisoning scandal because you wanted to play mad scientist."
"Fine, fine!" Kang huffed, throwing his hands up in a dramatic surrender. "Clearly, my genius isn't appreciated here."
"Oh, it's appreciated," Jiyeon said, smirking, "just not… ingested."
Yura gave Kang a playful shove, her usual cold demeanor softened by amusement. "You're lucky Jiyeon even lets you try out these experiments. I'd fire you just for the attempted poisoning."
Kang grinned. "And that's why Jiyeon's the better boss. She gets it. It's all about pushing limits."
"Pushing limits?" Jiyeon crossed her arms, raising a brow. "You're pushing my patience, that's for sure. Why don't we stick to dishes that don't have the risk of making our customers see their lives flash before their eyes?"
Kang leaned against the counter, looking playfully defeated. "Alright, alright. Message received, Captain." He turned to Yura with a smirk. "You know, for all your complaints, you're both still standing here talking to me, so maybe that soup wasn't as bad as you're claiming."
Yura's eyes narrowed, lips twitching as she fought back a smile. "That soup was a declaration of war, Kang. If Jiyeon hadn't forced me to taste it, I'd have launched it out the window by now."
Kang grinned, clearly entertained. "You're just lucky my culinary genius graces your palates. Imagine what you'd be missing out on if I wasn't here."
Jiyeon raised a hand, cutting him off. "Imagine what my blood pressure would be like without your 'genius'."
Yura snickered, giving Kang a triumphant look. "See, even Jiyeon agrees. You're a walking heart attack."
"Alright, roast the chef day, I see how it is." Kang rolled his eyes, though the smile lingering on his face gave away his amusement.
Jiyeon chuckled, shaking her head. "Roast the chef day? Kang, if you hadn't tried to serve us a culinary horror film, maybe we'd go easy on you."
"Oh, but where's the fun in that?" Kang shot back, grabbing his chopping knife and resuming his work with exaggerated grace. "Besides, one of these days, I'll create a masterpiece that'll blow your minds."
Yura smirked, folding her arms. "When that day comes, I'll make sure Jiyeon has you knighted in the Culinary Hall of Fame."
"Oh please, don't encourage him," Jiyeon muttered, glancing over to Yura with a raised brow. "One more 'masterpiece' and we'll need a medical team on standby."
Kang shrugged, unaffected by the teasing. "Mark my words, ladies. One day, you'll look back and say, 'We were so lucky to witness the genius of Chef Kang firsthand.'"
Jiyeon laughed, giving him a gentle pat on the shoulder. "When that day comes, I'll be the first to congratulate you. Until then, how about something a little less… avant-garde? We have a full house tomorrow, and I'd prefer our guests leave with their taste buds intact."
Kang held his hands up in mock surrender. "Fine, fine! I'll keep it tame. No more mysterious potions, I promise."
Yura snickered. "Glad to hear it. My stomach thanks you."
Jiyeon, still chuckling, started to clean up the remnants of Kang's "culinary experiment." She looked at Yura, eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "I think after surviving that, we deserve a drink. Something strong enough to erase the memory."
"Make it a double," Yura replied with a wry smile.
Kang, overhearing them, feigned betrayal. "Leaving me out of the celebration? After all the hard work I put in?"
Jiyeon patted him on the back. "Oh, trust me, you've celebrated enough today, Kang. We're the ones who need recovery."
With a final chuckle, Jiyeon and Yura headed out, leaving Kang to ponder his next "masterpiece" — one they both hoped would be a bit easier on the senses next time.