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The Chef x The Movie Emperor
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The Majestic Bonghwang Estates and Luxury Resort -Terra Anka PXD2422 -The Capital of The GDSNE
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Nix's P.O.V.:
"That should be everything I can think of for now. I'm sure you're exhausted and eager to relax and decompress, so are you ready to head upstairs and see your accommodations?" she asked.
Her tone remained professional, but there was an unmistakable warmth beneath it.
Feeling exhausted and completely drained of all my social spoons, I nodded and answered with a soft hum. Today had already been a lot, and that was just everything related to the show and filming. I had been holding up fairly well until the last two hours of the tour around the resort and all—well, most—of what it had to offer.
I did not have the heart to tell Nuna NingNing that I would rather not waste my time checking out the resort. It was not as though I would ever be here long enough to enjoy any of it. My focus would be on the competition, my revenge, and raising both my own popularity and that of my family. Not to mention teaching Mr. Film Emperor Choi Yongbok how to cook.
I sighed deeply, squeezing the bridge of my nose as I tried to relieve the pressure building from stress and tension.
Things really would be so much easier if he already knew how to cook...
Too bad Choi Yongbok was not Draco. At least then I would not have to worry about his capabilities in the kitchen.
'If he really were Draco, maybe... just maybe...'
Nope.
'Don't you dare go there, Nix.'
Choi Yongbok was not Draco, no matter what that knot in my chest insisted. That feeling was nothing more than wishful longing, not reality. No one would ever be able to replace Draco, and it was my own fault for only now realizing just how much he had meant to me.
To me.
Choi Yongbok only made me feel this way because he was...
My thoughts were cut off yet again as Bai Yu Ning pointed out one thing after another while we rode the glass elevator higher and higher.
"That floor is where most of the contestant chefs are staying," she explained, gesturing toward a section of the resort below us. "Five floors above that, in the west wing, is where the production team and staff will be lodging."
That caught me by surprise. If that was where the contestant chefs were staying, then why was I not on that floor? The question immediately sprang to mind, but I decided not to dwell on it. There was no point stressing over something that was probably a simple explanation.
Instead, I turned to Bai Yu Ning. If anyone would know the reason, it would be her. Strictly speaking, out of all those I met with earlier today.
I thought about it for a second or two before recalling exactly what she was referring to.
The private room clause.
I had assumed there simply had not been any single rooms available on the same floor as the other contestants. It seemed like the most logical explanation.
Honestly, I did not mind being separated from everyone else as long as I got my own room. In fact, I preferred it that way. The last thing I wanted was to inflict my sleep-talking, restless nights, or occasional nightmares on an unsuspecting roommate.
"Ah, right. I remember now," I said with a small nod. "I figured they just didn't have any single rooms available on the contestants' floor."
'Speaking of which, how exactly was someone supposed to explain that they had CPTSD from being imprisoned for thousands upon thousands of years? That every day had been filled with torture, and that they could not forget a single moment of it. That every memory remained crystal clear, only to come back and haunt them in their dreams.''
The answer? You couldn't.
At least, not without people thinking you were completely insane.
Which was exactly why a private room was for the best.'
"Yeah, I remember them mentioning it. No complaints here, though. I'm very grateful to have a private room," I said meekly, glancing over at her.
Despite her efforts to hide it, I could see the fatigue lingering at the corners of her eyes as she continuously scanned our surroundings. The sight tugged at my heartstrings and filled me with a strange sense of unease.
It was odd, to say the least.
We had only met this morning, yet I already felt as though I had known Nuna NingNing for years. Stranger still, I felt safe and comfortable in her presence, much like I did around the Beyols.
Then again, perhaps that was because I had a feeling she was going to end up becoming family. At least, if the sparks flying between her and Hyung this morning had been any indication.
The elevator came to a smooth stop, and upon stepping out, I followed Bai Yu Ning down the east corridor. Almost immediately, I noticed how few rooms there were on this floor. So far, I had only counted four room numbers.
We walked all the way to the end of the hallway, where two separate elevators waited side by side.
To my surprise, Bai Yu Ning pulled out a special access card and used it to summon the elevator on the right—the one marked with a crescent moon above the doors.
I could not help but arch my eyebrow as I looked straight at her silently asking her what was going on. She let out a slightly nervous laugh as she pointed to a room door on the same wall as the elevator she summoned. "
"See that door closest to this elevator?" Bai Yu Ning pointed toward a room a short distance away. "That's my room. You're welcome to stop by anytime, but don't forget that I'm your P.A., so please don't hesitate to call me if you need anything. It's both my job and my pleasure to assist you, Phoenix-ssi."
"Are you rooming alone too?" I asked, already fairly certain the answer was yes.
What I really wanted to know was why in the world my room was on a floor that required access to an elite elevator.
Not that I was complaining.
I was just... confused.
I supposed it could be worse. It could have been one of those ridiculously bougie private elevators that opened directly into the suite itself. The kind of thing only the ultra-rich could afford.
There was no way that would happen, though. I absolutely could not afford something like that in this life.
Well, not yet.
But I fully intended to be able to in the future.
Just as that reassuring thought settled into my mind, Nuna NingNing proceeded to completely rock my world.
To the point that I felt a little dizzy.
Because she oh-so-helpfully informed me that this was, in fact, the private and exclusive elevator that led directly to my suite.
...Scratch that thought.
'This isn't a room anymore. It's a bloody cosmos.'
Never in all my many lives had I lived in—or even temporarily stayed in—anything this vast or extravagant.
Hell, my suite didn't even have a room number.
It has a name.
I repeat...
A fucking name!
At that point, I was beginning to suspect that I had somehow wandered into the wrong part of the resort and no one had noticed.
How the fuck do they expect me to pay for all this?
The question echoed through my mind as I stared at the elevator doors.
Because there was absolutely no way I could afford a suite fancy enough to have its own private elevator.
Not unless someone had secretly mistaken me for a billionaire.
Bai Yu Ning must have noticed that I was spiraling deeper and deeper into my own vortex of stress, anxiety, and exhaustion because she chose that exact moment to explain that the suite was completely free of charge.
Not only that, but she admitted that even she did not know why my upgrade was so spectacular. All she knew was that it was real, it had been approved, and I would not be paying a single cent for it.
That should have reassured me.
Instead, it somehow made me even more suspicious.
"Wait, you're serious?" I blurted out.
There was no way.
Absolutely no way.
Then a thought struck me.
"Ha! Wait, I've got it!" I pointed at her as if I had just solved some grand mystery. "This must be one of those one-night-only promotional things, right? Like a trial stay or a publicity stunt before they move me to a normal room tomorrow?"
I held my breath as I waited for her answer, almost afraid to hear it.
Because if she said no, then I was going to have even more questions than I already did.
Bai Yu Ning stopped walking and turned to face me. Squaring her shoulders, she looked me straight in the eye and spoke with deliberate clarity, as though she wanted to ensure there was absolutely no possibility of misunderstanding her words.
"No, it is not just for a single night. This arrangement is for the entire duration of filming TC&TC. Not only has the suite been fully comped, but so have all amenities, including fine dining, spa treatments, and every other service the resort has to offer. You also have a personal valet and a hover ship on standby whenever you wish to use them."
She paused for a moment before adding, "This is an upgrade and privilege allocated specifically to you, and only you. In other words, it would be best if you kept this as quiet as possible."
I stared at her.
Then I stared some more.
Then I wondered if I had finally succumbed to exhaustion-induced hallucinations.
Unfortunately, the suite remained stubbornly real.
Bai Yu Ning continued the tour, leading me through the massive suite known as Dal Eum-Yang. That certainly explained the abundance of deep blues and darker shades throughout the space, along with the countless moon and star motifs woven into the décor.
What I did not understand was the designer's apparent obsession with phoenixes, dragons, and eum-yang symbols.
They were everywhere.
At this point, I was beginning to suspect they were following me.
I snorted and gently shook my head, trying to banish the ridiculous thought before it could take root.
This is all far too extravagant.
Seriously, why?
Why not only comp a suite like this, but also cover every amenity and luxury service that even the highest-paying guests would normally have to pay for?
'Is this bribery?
Do they feel guilty about my financial situation?
Are they worried I'll embarrass them because I'm poor?'
The questions came one after another, threatening to drag me back into the spiral I'd only just escaped.
'No, Nix.
Letting your anxiety get the better of you won't help.
Give them the benefit of the doubt.
Not everyone is a bad person.
Not everyone is out to get you.'
I repeated the mantra over and over until the knot in my chest loosened and my thoughts finally settled.
The worst thing I could do right now was panic.
No, what was far more important was figuring out how in the world I was supposed to keep all of this a secret.
I was painfully aware that something like this could paint a target on my back. Worse, it could destroy my reputation before I even had the chance to defend myself.
And, if I was being honest, I was fairly certain I knew who was responsible for all of this.
The problem was that I wasn't supposed to know their real identity.
Which meant I had no reasonable way to confront them.
No way to explain why I suspected them.
And absolutely no way to ask them what in the nine realms they thought they were doing.
"This is going to be a headache," I mumbled under my breath.
"What was that? I didn't quite catch it." Bai Yu Ning asked, a hint of concern appearing in her eyes. "Are you feeling alright? Or are you unhappy with the accommodations?"
"I'm just tired, that's all." I rubbed the back of my neck and glanced around the suite. "The place is great, but it's... a bit much. What exactly am I supposed to do with a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath suite that comes with a kitchen, living and dining area, den, deck, game room, office, media room, private gym, and both an indoor and outdoor pool? I mean, seriously..."
I hesitated.
"I didn't even do anything to deserve this."
The last words slipped out quieter than I intended. A knot had formed in my throat, making it difficult to swallow, let alone speak.
Bai Yu Ning's expression softened immediately.
"You really are alright with the accommodations?"
The caution in her voice caught me off guard.
Cute.
I nearly chuckled.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looking as though she was already mentally compiling a list of things she could change. The room, the furnishings, the services—anything to make me more comfortable.
She must have picked up on my unease.
"The suite is amazing," I reassured her. "More than amazing, honestly."
I looked around the room once more before returning my gaze to her.
"It just feels... unreal. Like some kind of fever dream. But as long as I don't have to pay for any of it, it's more than enough."
A horrifying thought struck me.
"I'll just have to make sure not to break anything or accidentally use something that comes with hidden fees. Those extra charges are brutal. Best to stay away from the mini bar and anything in the stocked kitchen."
I paused.
"Actually, what's the deal with that? The stocked kitchen, I mean."
I had heard of hotels providing full kitchens before. Usually they came with the basics—cookware, utensils, and dining ware.
Food was another matter entirely.
At most, some places might provide nutrient packs or complimentary snacks.
Yet this kitchen looked as though someone had emptied an upscale grocery store into it.
Not just ingredients, either.
High-quality ingredients.
'What kind of resort does that‽'
"Oh, you don't have to worry about any of that," Bai Yu Ning said with a reassuring smile. "Everything has been fully comped, so there are no additional charges for you to worry about."
I opened my mouth.
She wasn't finished.
"In fact, this suite also comes with a V.V.I.P. pass for the entire resort. There are designated tables permanently reserved for this suite at every fine dining restaurant on the property, so make sure you take advantage of that while you're here."
...
I closed my mouth.
Then opened it again.
Then closed it.
Because at this point I was rapidly running out of ways to process information.
Bai Yu Ning scratched the back of her head, an anxious and absent-minded habit of hers. In the process, she accidentally disturbed a stubborn cowlick that had previously been behaving itself.
"I get to use the pass too, but since I'm working, I promise to remain professional at all times." She gave an awkward laugh before continuing. "I'm honestly not sure why you were given this suite, but if I had to guess, maybe there was some sort of lottery among the contestants. I recommend just letting it go and enjoying the perks."
She smiled so brightly that her eyes curved into crescents.
The excitement radiating from her was impossible to miss, and I simply didn't have the heart to crush it with my own doubts and suspicions.
"It's okay, Sister NingNing," I said.
Without thinking, I reached up and smoothed down the rebellious little hair antenna swaying atop her head.
The cowlick immediately sprang back up as though it had a will of its own.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
The stubborn strand bobbed with every subtle shift of her weight as she rocked from one foot to the other. At this point, I wasn't entirely convinced she even realized she was doing it.
"You don't have to stay in work mode all the time," I continued. "I'd never expect anyone to work every waking hour of the day. Consider the rest of the evening yours. Feel free to explore the resort, enjoy some of the amenities, or head back to your suite and relax."
I paused before adding with a hint of playfulness in my exhausted voice.
"As for me, I fully intend to spend the rest of the night shamelessly following my own advice."
To sell the joke, I even threw in a wink.
"If that's the case, then I wish you a relaxing and comfortable evening." Bai Yu Ning straightened immediately. "Make sure you get a good night's rest. Filming begins early tomorrow morning. And please don't hesitate to call or message me if you need anything at all. It's my job, so there's no reason to feel guilty about asking for help."
She ended her statement with a stern look.
It was the kind of expression only an older sibling could perfect—equal parts warning, concern, and affection.
In other words, she fully expected me to listen.
Once I nodded my agreement, she seemed satisfied.
After exchanging goodnights, she gave a polite bow before taking her leave. Her footsteps echoed softly against the polished wooden floors, growing quieter and quieter until they eventually faded into the distance.
The suite felt noticeably larger once she was gone.
And considerably quieter.
Turning away, I headed toward the master bedroom hidden within this so-called suite—a place that felt less like resort accommodations and more like a private villa masquerading as a hotel room.
At the moment, all I wanted was a long soak in a hot bath.
Maybe then I could finally untangle the mess of thoughts crowding my head.
'Perhaps then I'll be able to figure out what the hell is going on...
And what exactly happened in that conference room earlier...'