God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 207

"Wow~!"

Choi Jun-hyuk looked around with sparkling eyes. His heart involuntarily fluttered at the sight of the kitchen filled with various facilities.

I understood. I would have felt the same.

"This is the kitchen used by <The Song>'s new menu development team, and this is our Team Leader Baek Jae-ha."

"Pleased to meet you."

Choi Jun-hyuk bowed deeply to Baek Jae-ha. He had no hesitation in showing respect to Baek Jae-ha, who looked visibly younger than himself.

"Likewise."

Baek Jae-ha responded with a more mature attitude than usual.

"I heard that CEO highly praised your skills. I look forward to learning from you."

"You're too kind."

While Baek Jae-ha and Choi Jun-hyuk were exchanging courtesies, I approached Choi Min-hyuk, who was looking around with his mouth agape.

"You must be tired from the long journey."

"Huh? No. We're the ones who should be grateful. Our kitchen was small and Hyung was struggling, but you even lent us the company facilities."

Choi Min-hyuk said, scratching the back of his neck.

'Didn't they say Choi Jun-hyuk couldn't get his license after returning from America because he was too busy?'

It seemed Choi Min-hyuk had come along today because they had a lot of luggage and public transportation would have taken too long.

"It's good to try various techniques when developing a new menu."

Besides, on weekends, hardly anyone uses this place except Baek Jae-ha. Borrowing it for a while wasn't an issue.

"Since it's a signature menu, it would be meaningful to participate directly in recipe development. It's our company's facility anyway, so you don't need to worry too much... Why? What's wrong?"

"Ah, no. It's nothing."

Choi Min-hyuk muttered with a strange expression.

"I just realized... you've really become a CEO."

"What? Don't be silly."

"I knew it, but seeing this kitchen that's all yours, and seeing your employee, it feels surreal."

Well, it's understandable. I'm used to it now so I don't think much of it, but it's not common to achieve such success at this age.

I patted Choi Min-hyuk's shoulder, pretending to be affectionate.

"Just wait. Soon, your Hyung will be able to have a kitchen like this too if he wants."

"Huh?"

"I guarantee. After the broadcast ends, he'll be able to build a building from selling handmade burgers."

Choi Min-hyuk's eyes widened at my words. He seemed not to have imagined such a future.

It must be hard to believe that they could build a building with handmade burgers when they're currently struggling to pay rent due to lack of customers.

But the handmade burger I tasted was certainly worth that much.

Glancing towards Baek Jae-ha and Choi Jun-hyuk, I saw they were already chattering away about cooking.

"Dry aging, it enhances the flavor and texture of the meat significantly."

"Wow. Where do you grill patties made like that? On a grill? Or charcoal?"

"Ah, charcoal is a bit difficult in the store, I've experimented with most of the grills available on the market..."

If left alone, it seemed Choi Jun-hyuk's patty class was about to begin.

Clap!

I clapped my hands to draw attention.

"Well then, shall we have a meeting about the signature menu?"

All eyes turned to me. Choi Jun-hyuk swallowed hard with a face that said 'the moment has come'. Baek Jae-ha, the experienced one, raised his hand and asked first.

"Should we start with brainstorming?"

"No."

"?"

Baek Jae-ha tilted his head. Usually, we would verbalize various ideas and then select the good ones to actually make, so it was understandable that he was puzzled.

But this time, I had my own thoughts.

"I have a recipe in mind for the signature menu."

"Already?"

"Wait and see. Seeing is believing, after all."

You'll understand when you taste it. I said, taking out the prepared meat from the refrigerator.

"I've thought about the basic recipe, but we need to refine the details."

"What kind of menu do you have in mind?"

I smiled in response to Choi Jun-hyuk's question.

"The 10,000 Calorie Burger."

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

The unique savory aroma of meat spread. As I smelled it, I could feel my stomach growling in response.

'Come to think of it, I didn't eat lunch properly.'

Choi Jun-hyuk had been so anxious about being late. Choi Min-hyuk also had to wake up early to drive.

Until now, I was too tense to feel hungry. It seems the tension was finally easing.

'I felt a bit intimidated at first.'

Choi Min-hyuk looked around once more. Looking at the dazzling machines, he couldn't even guess what they were for.

'I dropped out of school and am clinging to Hyung's store, but Woo-yeon...'

No. Let's not think like this.

Choi Min-hyuk quickly caught his mood that was about to sink into gloom. Nothing would change anyway. There was no need to torment himself unnecessarily.

'Besides, if Hyung's store does well, isn't that good for me too?'

Maybe he could open a franchise branch like Song Woo-yeon did. If that happened, Choi Min-hyuk might be able to secure a manager position.

It was then.

"You said you're CEO's classmate, right?"

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice addressed Choi Min-hyuk.

Turning his head, he saw a man with a nametag that read 'Team Leader Baek Jae-ha' staring at him.

He looked as young as Song Woo-yeon, but already held the position of 'Team Leader'. That alone was extraordinary.

Moreover, he looked more like a band vocalist or an idol trainee than a company employee.

"Ah, yes. We were middle school classmates."

Choi Min-hyuk tried to answer nonchalantly. Baek Jae-ha moved his chair closer, seemingly intrigued.

"Really? Wow. Then you're practically CEO's guest."

He approached with a bright smile. Just as Choi Min-hyuk thought he was getting too close,

"I'm curious. It's hard to imagine that CEO had a childhood too."

"Woo-yeon? She does have that kind of vibe."

He understood immediately.

It's understandable. The current Song Woo-yeon looks like she could have been born saying, "Mother, are you well?" without seeming strange.

She exudes an excessive maturity that doesn't match her age. Even Choi Min-hyuk sometimes wondered if the young Song Woo-yeon he saw was just a dream.

"Actually, she wasn't much different in middle school. She had a different atmosphere from her peers, you could say."

"Is that so?"

"She rarely got flustered."

Choi Min-hyuk recalled his past memories. Song Woo-yeon always maintained an attitude of observing the other kids from a step back.

Some people who found this behavior unsettling would play mean tricks on her, but Choi Min-hyuk had never seen Song Woo-yeon shaken by it.

'...Except for that one time.'

But Choi Min-hyuk swallowed the rest of his words. It wasn't something to bring up here, at least.

Just as Baek Jae-ha was about to speak with a suspicious look, Song Woo-yeon intervened.

"What's this? You two are already getting along without me?"

"Haha. We just hit it off well."

Baek Jae-ha lied nonchalantly. Despite having just been prying into Song Woo-yeon's school days, his act of innocence was impeccable.

"Let's save the small talk for later. Because this food only has meaning if everyone focuses."

Alright. Are we finally going to see it?

'She said it was a 10,000 Calorie Handmade Burger, right?'

To be honest, I didn't have high expectations.

That's because even the name sounded quite off-putting!

'Even though burgers have an image of junk food, naming it 10,000 Calories from the start makes people hesitant.'

Of course, it would probably taste good.

After all, calories are the fighting power of taste.

But tasty is tasty, and something you're reluctant to try is unavoidable.

However, since Choi Jun-hyuk himself wasn't saying anything, it wasn't Choi Min-hyuk's place to speak up.

"Alright, everyone please close your eyes."

At Song Woo-yeon's urging, everyone closed their eyes.

And three, two, one...

"Ta-da~!"

As soon as they opened their eyes, everyone's jaws dropped at the shocking visual before them.

"Gasp!"

"Wow."

"Wh-what is this."

Choi Min-hyuk couldn't help but mutter in surprise.

This, this is a handmade burger? It looked so different from anything he had known before.

"This..."

Choi Min-hyuk swallowed hard before blurting out.

"This is too big!"

The handmade burger was, without exaggeration, almost as big as Song Woo-yeon's torso. Its overwhelming size made their jaws drop involuntarily.

Moreover, who knows how many patties were in there. It looked like several handmade burgers combined into one.

There's no way this could be eaten by hand!

"You call this a handmade burger?"

Choi Min-hyuk hesitated. It felt like his common sense was being completely destroyed. He couldn't help but glance at Choi Jun-hyuk's face reflexively.

Knowing how seriously Choi Jun-hyuk took handmade burgers, he was worried that his brother might be upset.

"Hmm."

But Choi Jun-hyuk stared at the 10,000 Calorie handmade burger with a very serious face, then opened his mouth.

"Indeed. This level is worthy of being called a 'signature' item."

Song Woo-yeon smiled brightly. She seemed pleased that Choi Jun-hyuk had accurately grasped her intention.

"Once you see it, you can't forget it, right? With your skills, Chef, the taste will be more than satisfactory. The problem is that the commercial area isn't suitable for handmade burgers."

Choi Jun-hyuk had painfully realized this point as well.

"Moreover, it's not an easily accessible location, is it? There's no nearby downtown or attractions either."

"That's right."

"There's only one way left."

Song Woo-yeon pointed at the tower-like handmade burger and said,

"The handmade burger itself needs to become the attraction."

"......"

"Imagine people driving an hour just for this one menu item."

Song Woo-yeon looked confident. As if she was certain that this outrageous size of handmade burger would definitely sell in the market.

"The 10,000 Calorie Handmade Burger, it needs to be this big for people to take interest. Don't you think?"

In other words, it was a menu item designed to grab attention.