Chapter 41

* * *

I glanced around the suddenly solemn classroom before finding an empty seat and sitting down.

‘Strange. Every time I walk in, the room gets quiet.’

Just then Han Taepyeong casually walked over and tapped my shoulder in greeting.

“Hey, hi. Did you have a good weekend?”

“Yeah. How about you, hyung?”

“These days my head’s killing me. Enjoy your first year while you can. There’s a time when you can actually have fun.”

I nodded vigorously in agreement.

Back then, after finishing military service, I had vague expectations that real college life would finally begin.

Going abroad to meet new friends.

Experiencing new cultures.

Traveling to nearby countries whenever I had time.

A carefree life.

But the moment I entered Le Cordon Red, my pride and competitive spirit took over.

Free time became nothing but a dream.

Of course it was my own choice.

But thinking about it now, a bit of regret surfaced.

If I had relaxed a little more back then and traveled around, tasting many foods and talking with many people…

Still, there was no point drowning in regret.

Right now I had been given a precious opportunity no one else could experience.

From now on, I could simply live differently than before.

While I was lost in thought, Han Taepyeong chuckled quietly and whispered.

“Oh right. You got a nickname.”

“A nickname?”

“I heard someone calling you March First.”

March First?

Out of all possible nicknames, why that one?

I tilted my head and laughed in disbelief.

“What? It’s not like I’m some independence activist.”

“A freshman attending third year classes who’s ridiculously handsome. Shortened to March First.”

“That’s way too much of a compliment.”

Han Taepyeong rested his chin on his hand and asked in a meaningful tone.

“But do you have a girlfriend?”

I smiled awkwardly.

I was just wondering how I should answer when suddenly.

Clack.

The classroom door opened and a heavy voice echoed.

“Everyone quiet.”

The moment Professor Baek Seungjin appeared, tension filled the room.

Students who had been laughing and chatting straightened their backs.

All eyes turned toward the front.

Baek Seungjin walked to the podium with the same intimidating presence as always.

He slowly raised a remote and turned on the screen.

A lavish Korean table setting appeared on the screen.

Students began murmuring in confusion.

“What’s that?”

“Didn’t we see that in a previous class?”

“I have a bad feeling about this…”

Ignoring their reactions, Baek Seungjin slowly spoke.

“Today’s group practice topic is a full table setting. What do you think the essence of a full table setting is?”

The sudden question made students glance at each other.

One student cautiously raised a hand.

“Isn’t it about harmoniously arranging different dishes?”

Baek Seungjin nodded with satisfaction.

“Correct. But that’s not all.”

He placed his hand on the podium and continued.

“A full table setting isn’t only about the harmony of food. Harmony with people is just as important.”

Students nodded and listened carefully.

“For example, when preparing a table, you must consider who the meal is for. If it’s a meal with family, it should contain warmth and sincerity. If it’s for guests, it should reflect courtesy and consideration.”

Gradually the students’ expressions began to change.

Some started writing notes.

Others rested their chins on their hands in thought.

“Additionally, ingredients should vary depending on the season. Regional styles of table setting are also important.”

Baek Seungjin pointed at the screen with a smile.

Photos appeared one after another.

Royal cuisine.

Fusion style.

Home style.

“A full table setting isn’t simply arranging food. It’s a cultural expression that contains the era, the place, and the relationships between people.”

Baek Seungjin continued his calm explanation.

“This assignment will be done in teams of two. Choose one among royal cuisine, fusion cuisine, or home style and complete a full table setting. Don’t just arrange food. Think about the meaning and harmony behind the table.”

Groans spread across the classroom.

“Wow not just Korean food but a full table setting?”

“Why do the assignments keep getting harder?”

“We’re doomed.”

But I felt differently.

Honestly, this assignment sounded quite interesting.

Since we had just started learning traditional Korean cuisine, I expected another class focused on classical techniques.

But now fusion and home style were included as options.

The framework of the assignment was simple.

However, with more choices available, understanding and interpretation became more important.

Royal cuisine required strict techniques and etiquette reflecting the royal court.

Fusion cuisine had no strict boundaries.

While maintaining the structure of Korean cuisine, it could boldly incorporate techniques and ingredients from Western, Japanese, or Chinese cooking.

Home style was the most familiar yet the most difficult.

It required creating a heartfelt table using simple ingredients and modest side dishes.

Baek Seungjin quietly observed the students before adding another condition.

“However, you cannot form teams with the same partner as the previous group assignment.”

In group practice, the difficulty often depended heavily on your partner.

Partner luck alone could determine half the result.

At that moment Baek Seungjin opened the attendance book.

“The team leaders will be students who stood out in the previous group assignment. I’ll call them one by one.”

He scanned the list and began reading names.

“Yoo Jongwon, Yoo Hyeji, Na Seyoung, Han Taepyeong…”

As names were called, students widened their eyes and looked at those chosen as leaders.

Baek Seungjin gestured toward Han Taepyeong.

“Team leaders may now choose one partner. Han Taepyeong will go first.”

The moment his name was called, attention gathered on him.

“Please pick me.”

“I’m curious who he’ll choose.”

“This assignment looks hard. I hope Taepyeong carries the team.”

All eyes focused on him.

Han Taepyeong swallowed and quietly spoke.

“The teammate I choose is…”

* * *

Han Taepyeong felt slightly disappointed by the rule forbidding the same teams as before.

In fact, there was someone he wanted to work with this time.

Kang Chan.

The hand movements and sense he had shown during the gujeolpan practice.

Han Taepyeong wanted to know whether that had been a coincidence or real skill.

He also wanted to judge whether Kang Chan was someone worth bringing to the exchange gathering.

But now there was an unexpected variable.

‘Who should I team up with?’

As he turned his head, he noticed Kim Minseok, another returning student.

Kim Minseok was pointing at himself desperately, silently pleading to be chosen.

Since it didn’t matter who he teamed up with as long as it wasn’t Kang Chan, Han Taepyeong quickly decided.

“The teammate I choose is Kim Minseok.”

Kim Minseok’s face immediately lit up.

He stood and walked over with a grin.

“Good choice. You won’t regret it, Taepyeong.”

Disappointed voices rose throughout the classroom.

Still, Kim Minseok wasn’t lacking in skill, so the pairing was understandable.

Han Taepyeong nodded briefly.

“Yeah. Let’s do our best.”

Then he glanced at Kang Chan again.

Kang Chan was staring ahead with the same calm expression.

Unfortunately they ended up in different teams.

But it wasn’t necessary to be in the same group to observe someone’s ability.

A true talent would stand out anywhere.

Of course that belief about Kang Chan was only Han Taepyeong’s personal thought.

“Alright everyone. Hurry and choose your teammates. We don’t have much time.”

Students hurried to form teams.

But no matter how much time passed, Kang Chan’s name wasn’t called even once.

Team leaders who still needed partners only glanced at each other awkwardly.

Then someone quietly raised a hand.

“I’ll team up with Kang Chan.”

All eyes turned toward the student who spoke.

Na Seyoung was standing there.

The classroom buzzed instantly.

Whispers spread everywhere.

“Really? Na Seyoung chose Kang Chan?”

“Why would she pick a freshman?”

“Maybe she felt sorry for him.”

“Seyoung is kind as expected.”

“That’s surprising…”

Most students hadn’t expected the usually quiet girl to choose Kang Chan first.

Han Taepyeong watched her with interest.

He didn’t know her well since he had only recently returned to school.

But she was a junior who had joined the Korean cuisine club last year.

According to other club members, she had started cooking late.

Her skills weren’t extraordinary yet, but she had talent and unmatched diligence.

Thus the final team was formed.

Han Taepyeong stared at the two of them.

An unexpected combination.

But perhaps that very combination would create the most interesting variable in this assignment.

With his arms crossed, he thought quietly.

‘Now I’m curious what kind of dish they’ll show.’

* * *

Na Seyoung was a transfer student.

Maybe that was why.

Seeing the freshman being left out during team selection bothered her.

Just a year ago, she had been in the same position.

‘They’re not bad people… but group assignments are different.’

In the culinary department, practical scores were everything.

Team composition directly affected grades.

Skill mattered, but the synergy from working with someone familiar was also important.

From that perspective, both she as a recent transfer and Kang Chan as the only freshman.

It was natural they would be overlooked by team leaders.

That was all.

That was the simple reason Na Seyoung chose Kang Chan.

“Are you okay with this?”

Kang Chan blinked awkwardly.

Na Seyoung shrugged.

“I’m not incredibly skilled, but if you’re okay with it, want to team up?”

“I’ll work hard, sunbae.”

She chose him partly out of sympathy.

But that didn’t mean she planned to sacrifice her grade.

“We just need the right strategy.”

Before she started cooking, Na Seyoung had been an athlete since childhood.

Even back then there were always opponents she couldn’t easily beat.

Whenever that happened, she analyzed recordings of her opponents and built strategies to overcome them.

She could have left that work to her coach.

But she believed there was value in doing it herself.

Cooking was the same.

When she first started, she simply repeated the same things again and again.

But all those repetitions eventually built something solid.

A group practice with a freshman.

Others might say she chose a difficult path.

But Na Seyoung didn’t see it that way.

Thinking back to when she teamed up with Han Taepyeong previously, Kang Chan hadn’t seemed like a major weakness during practice.

He was inexperienced.

But his sincere effort was enough.

With good strategy and hard work, there was always a way.

Na Seyoung quietly extended her hand.

“Let’s do our best.”

At that moment Baek Seungjin raised a hand and instantly quieted the noisy classroom.

“Since the teams are set, each group will now choose a theme. I’ll give you a short time to discuss.”

Murmurs spread across the classroom.

Na Seyoung looked at the hand she had just shaken with Kang Chan.

A small smile appeared on her lips.