Chapter 110: Chef Bai
Upon reaching the second floor of the JK Haven Harbor Restaurant, the first thing that caught Chen Zhe’s eye was the marble flooring. Its polished surface reflected the gentle glow of the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
Pale blue checkered accents adorned the walls, while splendid European-style tables and chairs were arranged in neat rows. An exquisite, elegant, pure-white bar stood to one side, and an open kitchen faced the dining area. The entire kitchen had been decorated in a grand and refined European style.
“Oh? This floor finally feels like a proper restaurant. It has such an elegant European atmosphere. Old Bai, you did a great job decorating this floor!”
After taking a brief look around the second floor, Chen Zhe gave it high praise. The decor really was excellent, whether in terms of style or the arrangement of the furnishings.
“Heh heh heh. Of course, this isn’t the floor I’m most satisfied with. My favorite is the top floor—the third floor. That’s the one I like best.”
Hearing Chen Zhe’s praise, the handsome man happily rubbed his nose and chuckled several times. Chen Zhe rarely praised other people, after all.
(I’ll be working until eleven tonight and won’t have a chance to ask for leave, so I’m leaving this placeholder first. I’m still writing.)
“Once you find out the exact date you’ll be joining the production, remember to let me know. That way, I can tell Unnie and the others. They’re still waiting for the news!”
Jung Soo-jung’s eyes wandered as she avoided meeting Chen Zhe’s gaze, speaking in a way that clearly contradicted what she really felt.
“Yes, I’ll definitely let you know first, Soo-jung!”
Seeing her feigned indifference, Chen Zhe did not expose her. He merely smiled and nodded, promising that he would notify her as soon as he learned the date he was due to join the production.
Just as the two finished speaking, the waiters began bringing out the dishes. They abandoned any thought of continuing their conversation and focused on the food instead. After such a strenuous morning, both of them were genuinely hungry.
——— Time Break ———
After lunch, Chen Zhe and Jung Soo-jung were driven back to LOEN by Lim Soo-ho. As a way of resting after the meal, they took a leisurely walk around the rooftop of LOEN for a while before returning to the recording studio.
“How was your break? Do you feel confident about getting the recording right this time?”
After examining Chen Zhe and Jung Soo-jung, whose states were noticeably better than they had been that morning, Bae Soo-yong understood that they must have cleared things up between them. Their interactions were no longer awkward, but had instead become natural and relaxed. Satisfied, he nodded and asked with a smile.
“Yes, we’re confident, Teacher Bae,” Chen Zhe and Jung Soo-jung replied simultaneously, their voices brimming with confidence.
The main reason they had failed to record the song properly earlier that morning had been the awkward incident between them. Now that they had talked it through, their relationship had improved considerably, so naturally they felt far more confident than before.
“Excellent. That’s the spirit. Keep yourselves in this state, and let’s start recording!”
Hearing their perfectly synchronized reply, Bae Soo-yong was even more pleased. He smiled and applauded, growing increasingly satisfied with their performance.
After Chen Zhe and Jung Soo-jung reviewed the lyrics for a while, cleared their throats, and warmed up their voices, the recording began once again. This time, everything went extremely smoothly. Both sections of the song passed Bae Soo-yong’s standards on the second take, and they completed the Korean duet version of “Melody.”
“Excellent. The two of you did a wonderful job this time!”
After Chen Zhe and Jung Soo-jung emerged from the recording booth and removed their headphones, Bae Soo-yong spun his chair around to face them and applauded with a smile, offering them generous praise.
“Yes, and thank you for your hard work as well, Teacher Bae!”
Both of them felt slightly embarrassed by his praise and hurriedly bowed in response.
“Very well. You can go and rest or do whatever you like for now. Just try not to disturb me—I need to do my best to finish processing the song.”
After chatting with Chen Zhe and Jung Soo-jung for a few more moments, Bae Soo-yong told them they were free to leave while he got back to work.
However, remembering the awkward incident caused by the two of them fooling around that morning, he added a special reminder. He seemed quite worried that they might cause another commotion and interfere with his work.
“Yes, Teacher Bae. Then we’ll be going!”
Hearing his words, Chen Zhe and Jung Soo-jung immediately understood what he was referring to. Both became somewhat embarrassed, and after bowing to him, they left the recording studio.
Since it was still early, the two decided to remain at LOEN for a while longer. Under Chen Zhe’s guidance, they made their way to the employee lounge on the second floor of the LOEN building.