Chapter 25: The Taste that Silences Doubt

1.

Elena sat in her chair, watching Carrier closely.

The open kitchen gave her a clear view of every ingredient being prepped.

‘The chat’s reacting well.’

『Live Viewers: 10,374』

Viewers had surpassed ten thousand.

That was well above average.

Despite the stream’s smooth sailing, Elena wasn’t thrilled.

She hadn’t expected this kind of setup.

When the collab was proposed, she was told she’d just enjoy delicious food.

So why had it turned into a chaotic taste-test roulette?

‘It’s still within acceptable limits.’

The capsaicin’s heat was brief—VR allowed pain to be reset quickly.

So far, it was fine. She could understand.

She’d pulled stunts without prior consent for stream hype herself.

But the cooking starting now had to be serious. If it didn’t satisfy her…

‘I’m never doing collabs again.’

She wouldn’t badmouth or bury anyone—just keep her distance. That was fair, right?

As a major streamer, her agreeing to this collab was a huge opportunity.

Carrier had helped her stream, true, but this collab was already enough repayment.

‘Whether they rise from here… depends on Carrier’s cooking.’

Elena leaned back, crossing her legs. Carrier had boasted confidently, so she’d judge harshly.

– What’s the first dish gonna be???

– No clue since we don’t know her cooking skills

– She’s hyping it so much, no idea what’s coming lol

– It’s not gonna be instant ramen or something, right???

Elena skimmed the chat before glancing at the kitchen.

Carrier was bustling, prepping food.

“Noir-nim.”

“Yes! What’s up?”

Noir, sitting across, answered energetically when Carrier called.

She didn’t used to be this lively.

“What’s Carrier-nim cooking first?”

Elena tossed the question to address viewers’ curiosity, noting how much Noir had changed in months.

“No idea!”

Noir’s blunt reply left Elena stunned.

“…No idea?”

“Nope! No clue!”

Her bold tone left Elena speechless, but she pressed on.

“You’re not helping with the cooking?”

“Nah, I’m totally clueless about cooking…”

“So you have no idea what’s coming either?”

“Exactly! Makes it more exciting! Hayul’s an amazing cook!”

Noir’s beaming smile lifted Elena’s mood. It was like sunshine.

“Can’t wait.”

“Yup!”

As they chatted, Carrier emerged from the kitchen, setting down plates that looked… intriguing.

Thinly sliced pork lay neatly on white plates, topped with a yellowish sauce.

Below, red onions, bell peppers, and various vegetables were artfully arranged.

‘Pretty.’

The dish looked like a work of art, and Elena let out a small gasp.

– Oh

– That’s gorgeous???

– Look at that plating ㄷㄷ

– Like something from a fancy restaurant

Viewers seemed just as impressed. They hadn’t expected this.

“Yuzu-dressed pork salad. I made it light and refreshing to whet your appetite.”

“How should we eat it?”

“Try the pork alone first, then with the vegetables for a harmonious flavor.”

“Sounds like something from a fine-dining restaurant. Ever worked at one?”

“About a year at a similar place.”

Elena nodded. As expected.

“Enjoy.”

Carrier bowed slightly and returned to the kitchen.

Elena watched her go, then quietly picked up her chopsticks.

‘It looks good, but taste is what matters.’

A dish could look great but taste bad—some prioritize visuals over flavor.

‘Let’s taste and judge.’

“I’ll dig in.”

She picked up a piece of pork and popped it in her mouth.

The yuzu’s tangy, subtle sweetness and fresh aroma made her smile.

Chew chew—

The thinly sliced, cooked pork was shockingly tender.

Each chew released savory juices, teasing her taste buds.

Gulp—

So tender, it slid down her throat effortlessly.

“Wow…”

Elena covered her mouth, awestruck. It was absurdly delicious. Her sour mood vanished.

– How’s it taste?

– Look at their faces…

– Must be crazy good?

– Looks so tasty…

Across the table, Noir was eating with wide eyes.

Their gazes met, and they shared a small laugh.

“This is seriously delicious! Softest pork I’ve ever had!”

Elena nodded at Noir’s words, feeling the same.

‘It’s already this good. What about with the vegetables?’

She grabbed a piece of pork with some vegetables and took a bite.

Crunch crunch—

A light, crisp sound filled her mouth.

The bell peppers added the texture she’d missed.

The vegetables’ slight bitterness and subtle sweetness blended with the yuzu’s tang.

A refined taste—calculated, layered, like building flavors step by step.

“I could eat this salad every day. The pork and yuzu sauce pair so well with the veggies…”

“Totally!”

💸 [Nickname: Anonymous] donated

🪙 30,000G!

💬 Stop hogging the food and describe the taste ㅡㅡ

Their chatter prompted a viewer donation.

“Sorry, it’s so good I forgot we’re streaming. The taste is…”

Elena described exactly what she felt.

“Carrier-nim said it’s to whet the appetite, and it nailed it. I’m starving now.”

– Sounds crazy good…

– That good?

– Sounds like fine-dining level?

– Looks basic tho;

– For real lol

– Fanboy alert?

“It looks simple, but the taste is no joke. What’d you think, Noir-nim?”

“It’s my first time eating something like this, and it’s so good. Top five dishes I’ve ever had?”

“Definitely a life-changing dish.”

Elena grinned, savoring each bite, pained as the salad dwindled.

‘If the salad’s this good, what’s next?’

As they ate, a sweet soy aroma wafted over.

“What’s that smell…”

Both turned to the kitchen. The familiar scent hinted at the dish.

– What’s the smell like?

– Show the cooking process, ffs

– So curious

– Not showing the process intentional or just clueless?

– Probably clueless lol

Gulp—

The salad was long gone.

The soft soy and rich meat aroma overshadowed its memory.

All they wanted now was the next dish.

“Here it is!”

After a wait, Carrier appeared with a large plate. Set on the table, it revealed…

Glossy beef ribs stacked thickly, with carrots and potatoes submerged in a rich, dark sauce—dense and heavy.

– Whoa, damn lol

– Look at that shine, wtf wtf wtf

– Looks so good

– That sauce is thic lol

“Galbi-jjim!”

As Elena guessed, it was braised short ribs—but different from usual.

“No bones?”

“Yeah, thought it’d be easier to eat. I deboned them on purpose.”

“Still, galbi-jjim’s charm is gnawing on the bones. Kind of a shame.”

“Oh, one sec.”

Carrier excused herself and returned to the kitchen, soon coming back with a bowl of steaming rice.

Snow-white, glossy rice, each grain plump and perfect—clearly well-cooked.

‘With galbi-jjim…!’

Gulp—

Just imagining it made her salivate. She couldn’t wait anymore.

“Enjoy.”

No explanation this time, but that was fine.

Her body already knew how to savor this familiar dish.

“I’ll dig in!”

Elena grabbed a hefty piece of meat, placed it on the rice, and scooped a big spoonful into her mouth.

“……!”

The moment she chewed, she froze.