Alpha Culinary Love

The morning after her grand pumpkin-carving victory, Jiyeon strutted into the kitchen like she'd just won a Michelin star, not a glittery pumpkin contest. Kang shot her a look that practically screamed, "don't even start." But that only made her grin wider.

"Ah, there he is!" Jiyeon sang, tossing her bag on the counter. "The true star of the kitchen. And by 'star,' I mean the grumpiest chef to ever grace the culinary arts."

Kang rolled his eyes, barely pausing in his chopping. "Please, your glitter-infested pumpkin would've been laughed off any real stage."

"Oh, Kang," she sighed dramatically, leaning on the counter and watching him like he was a rare species. "Always so precise, so serious. It's a wonder you haven't combusted from the sheer force of your intensity."

Kang shot her a sidelong glance, eyes sharp as his knife. "And it's a wonder you haven't exploded from that chaotic mess you call 'creativity.'"

Yura walked in mid-banter, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Really? Still talking about pumpkins?"

"I'm just trying to teach him to live a little," Jiyeon said, throwing her hands up. "Kang here could use some sparkle in his life."

"Keep your sparkle," Kang muttered, lining up his ingredients with laser focus. "Some of us prefer a kitchen where food isn't treated like art supplies."

Yura bit back a laugh. "It's too early for this." She poured herself a coffee and sat down to watch the show.

"You know what?" Jiyeon said, snapping her fingers as an idea lit up her face. "Since you're so set on perfect order, why don't we put your precious precision to the test?"

Kang stopped chopping, his expression wary. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

Jiyeon smirked, the gears in her mind visibly turning. "A little cooking challenge. You can plan every tiny detail, I'll embrace the chaos, and we'll see who wins."

Kang looked at her, skepticism etched deep into his brow. "Isn't that what we do every day?"

"Not quite," she said, raising a finger. "This time, we'll have themes, a time limit, and absolutely no prep allowed. You get thrown in the deep end. And we'll let Yura judge, because she's clearly the sanest one here."

Yura nearly choked on her coffee. "The sanest one? In this circus?"

Jiyeon shrugged. "Relatively speaking."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Kang crossed his arms, eyeing Jiyeon. "Fine. But when you lose, don't complain that I didn't warn you."

"Loser buys dinner," she challenged, her eyes flashing.

He nodded, his jaw set in determination. "Deal."

Jiyeon's grin turned into a full-on smirk. "Prepare to be dethroned, Chef Kang. Now, for the theme…" She glanced around, fingers drumming against her chin. "How about…a fusion of traditional Korean and Italian cuisine?"

Kang raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "You want to combine kimchi with pasta?" Read the latest on empire

"Oh, come on," Jiyeon said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not that obvious. I'm thinking complex flavors, daring textures—something that pushes boundaries." She shot him a look. "Think you can handle that?"

Yura sipped her coffee, watching the tension build like a spectator at a boxing match. "I'm just here for the food, honestly. But this is already more entertaining than my board meetings."

Kang's expression didn't change, his focus now trained on the pantry shelves. "Give me fifteen minutes, and I'll have something that'll make your 'boundaries' look like a kid's sandbox."

"Fifteen minutes?" Jiyeon shot back, crossing her arms. "Are you speed-running this or actually cooking?"

He shrugged. "Real skill doesn't need all day. But if you'd rather take an hour, I can wait."

Jiyeon's competitive streak flared. "Oh, it's on."

As the timer started, Jiyeon moved like a whirlwind, pulling out ingredients with the chaotic elegance of someone who thrived under pressure. She grabbed gochujang, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and a mix of fresh herbs, her mind buzzing with ideas. If she could nail the balance of flavors, she could create something unexpected.

Meanwhile, Kang was a study in contrast. He selected his ingredients with a calm precision that bordered on obsession. He opted for a creamy cheese sauce, some pancetta, and an array of vegetables Jiyeon couldn't even name in her haste. His kitchen station was pristine, while Jiyeon's was already a mess of open jars, scattered spices, and half-chopped herbs.

Yura leaned back, enjoying the view. "This is like watching two storms collide. I love it."

"Your confidence is admirable," Kang commented, not looking up as he diced an onion with meticulous precision. "But you're doing more assembling than cooking."

"Oh, says the man who thinks a sprinkle of salt qualifies as 'flavor innovation,'" Jiyeon shot back, stirring her sauce with a flourish.

Kang smirked, slicing pancetta with a deftness that could only come from years of practice. "Simple flavors, properly balanced, create depth. Not that you'd know, Ms. 'Let's add more spice.'"

"Spice is what makes life interesting, Kang," Jiyeon retorted, tossing chopped green onions into her pan. "But you wouldn't understand that, Mr. 'Seasoning is for amateurs.'"

Yura watched, bemused. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you two were trying to murder each other with cooking."

Jiyeon was deep into her dish when a particularly stubborn piece of garlic refused to mince properly. She swore under her breath, almost loud enough for Kang to hear.

"Need help, Jiyeon?" Kang asked, his tone oozing faux innocence.

"Only if you're offering to stand back and admire real cooking," she retorted.

Ignoring him, she tossed her gochujang mixture with some pasta, adding a splash of soy sauce and honey for depth. The smell was intoxicating—sweet, savory, and just spicy enough to catch Yura's attention.

"What's that?" Yura asked, sniffing the air.

"Just a little magic," Jiyeon replied with a smirk, adding a sprinkle of sesame seeds and green onions for garnish.

Across the counter, Kang was finishing up his creation. His dish looked like it belonged in a fine dining restaurant—pasta swirled elegantly on the plate, with precisely layered cheese, pancetta, and delicate shavings of Parmesan. It was almost annoying how perfect it looked.

Jiyeon rolled her eyes. "Oh, sure. Make it look pretty, because presentation is all that matters, right?"

"Presentation and taste," he replied, placing his plate on the counter with a smug smile. "Not that you'd know anything about the former."

Yura couldn't hide her amusement as she took a seat in front of the two plates. "Alright, culinary geniuses. Let's see who actually knows their way around a kitchen."

Jiyeon watched Yura sample Kang's dish first. Yura's eyes closed as she took the first bite, savoring it with a soft, approving hum. "Alright, Kang. This is…actually amazing. It's rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced."

Jiyeon tried not to bristle as Yura moved on to her plate. Yura took a bite, her face shifting from surprise to genuine delight as the layers of flavor hit. "Oh. Wow. Jiyeon, this is…spicy, savory, with just the right amount of sweetness. It's like comfort food but with a kick."

Kang's smirk faltered as Yura took another bite of Jiyeon's dish.

"Well?" Jiyeon asked, grinning at Kang. "Guess she has a favorite after all."

Yura looked between them, her eyes mischievous. "I don't know if I can pick a winner. This was…actually too close to call."

Kang frowned, clearly unsatisfied with a draw, while Jiyeon just laughed. "Oh, come on, Kang. Not everything needs a winner. Sometimes it's about the journey."

"That's just what people say when they lose," he muttered.

"Oh, don't be such a sore loser," Jiyeon teased, patting him on the shoulder. "Maybe next time you can try some spice. It might make things…interesting."

Kang scowled, but there was a hint of a smile hiding beneath. "Next time, you're going down, Jiyeon."

Yura raised her coffee in a mock toast. "To the next battle in the kitchen. May it be just as entertaining."

Jiyeon chuckled, raising an imaginary glass in response to Yura's toast. "Oh, Kang, you'd better bring more than your A-game next time. I can do this all day."

Kang's scowl deepened, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Lucky for you, Jiyeon, because you clearly need the practice."

Yura stifled a laugh, stirring her coffee with a sly grin. "You two are like children fighting over toys. It's adorable, really."

"Adorable?" Kang arched a brow, feigning offense. "I'll have you know I'm an esteemed chef, not some… amateur."

"Esteemed? Please," Jiyeon shot back, grabbing a napkin to wipe a stray splash of sauce from her plate. "All that 'esteem' and you're still getting schooled by me. Face it, Kang: I'm just better."

He scoffed, crossing his arms. "In your dreams. I was merely… holding back. Didn't want to hurt your feelings."

"Oh, of course," Jiyeon said with an exaggerated nod, rolling her eyes. "How very noble of you. The 'mercy chef' over here."

Yura clapped her hands once, breaking up the banter. "Alright, you two culinary warriors, call a truce. It's been a long night, and I'd like to keep my sanity intact."

Kang finally relented with a half-smile, shaking his head. "Fine. But only because I'm feeling generous."

Jiyeon smirked, leaning back. "Just admit it, Kang. You'd miss our little battles."

"Not in a million years," he retorted, though his slight grin betrayed him.