Alpha Culinary Love

As Jiyeon and Yura curled up on the couch, the soft hum of the movie playing in the background, Jiyeon's eyes grew heavy. It had been a long day, but in a good way cooking, laughing, and enjoying the quiet moments with her wife.

Just as she was about to drift off, a familiar, irritating voice rang in her head.

[

Ding!

Oh, look who finally remembers I exist. Missed me, darling?

]

Jiyeon's eyes snapped open. "You've got to be kidding me," she muttered under her breath, careful not to wake Yura, who was peacefully resting beside her.

[

Finally decided to crawl out of your cooking-induced coma, huh? Thought you'd forgotten me after opening all those fancy restaurants. You know, I do exist for a reason!

]

"Ugh, I didn't forget you," Jiyeon whispered, trying not to roll her eyes too hard. She couldn't believe she was getting sass from her own system. "I just—"

[

Just what? Too busy searing scallops to check in? Too important to chat with the magical entity that's responsible for, I don't know,

all your success

?

]

"Can we not do this right now?" Jiyeon grumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yura's right here."

[

Oh, boo-hoo, the big scary Omega might hear you talking to yourself? Don't worry, genius, she can't hear me. You know the rules: no one but you gets to bask in my glorious presence. Now shut up and listen, we've got work to do.

]

Jiyeon rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. "What is it this time?"

[

Oh, don't act so put out. You've been slacking off for weeks! It's time for your next mission, my dear Alpha chef.

]

"Slacking off? I've been running two restaurants, you idiot," Jiyeon shot back, careful to keep her voice low. "I barely have time to breathe."

[

Cry me a river. You wanted to be the best, didn't you? Then stop whining and listen up. Here's your new mission: You're going to host a pop-up dinner for some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the city. And you'll do it in three days.

]

Jiyeon nearly choked. "Three days?! You want me to pull off a dinner for a bunch of rich jerks in three days? You've lost your damn mind."

[

Oh, sweet summer child, I lost my mind centuries ago. But guess what? You've got no choice. Unless you want to explain to Yura why you're suddenly failing at life.

]

Jiyeon clenched her jaw. The last thing she needed was another impossible mission on top of everything else. But, of course, the Culinary System never cared about things like

common sense

.

[

Look, you've got this, okay? You've done crazier things. Just think of it as another challenge. You love challenges, don't you? And if you pull this off, the rewards will be… let's just say,

chef's kiss

.

]

"Yeah, if I don't drop dead from exhaustion first," Jiyeon muttered. "What's the catch?"

[

No catch. Just, you know, don't screw it up. Failure's not an option. You know how this works by now. Tick-tock, Alpha. Three days. Oh, and I want the best truffle dessert you've ever made. Something that'll make them cry. Got it?

]

Jiyeon let out a slow breath, her mind already racing with ideas, despite her annoyance. "Fine. But if I die trying to pull this off, I'm coming back to haunt you."

[

Ha! You'll have to get in line, sweetheart.

]

Jiyeon glanced at Yura, who shifted slightly in her sleep but remained blissfully unaware of the brewing culinary chaos. She sighed. "You really suck, you know that?"

[

And yet, you still can't live without me. Now get moving, Chef!

]

With a final eye roll, Jiyeon closed her eyes, mentally preparing herself for what was about to be the longest, most stressful three days of her life.

Jiyeon sighed deeply, glaring at the ceiling as the soft glow of the chandelier flickered above her. The room was warm and cozy, the perfect setting for a peaceful evening but of course, peace was never something the Culinary System allowed her to enjoy for long.

She glared internally, wishing she could punch the damn thing right in its smug, invisible face.

[

Oh, are we pouting now? Adorable. Really. But save the dramatics for your cooking show.

]

Jiyeon groaned softly, glancing over at Yura, who was still peacefully asleep on the couch, her head resting on Jiyeon's shoulder. "You couldn't wait, like, I don't know, until tomorrow?" she muttered under her breath. "You always pick the worst moments."

[

The worst moments? Please. You're lounging on a couch. It's not like I interrupted you solving world hunger, Chef.

]

Jiyeon carefully shifted, trying not to wake Yura as she slid off the couch. She needed space to deal with this well, whatever

this

was.

She tiptoed into the kitchen, the soft hum of the refrigerator filling the otherwise silent room. As soon as she was sure Yura wouldn't overhear her, she shot a death glare into the empty air in front of her.

"I

just

got the new branch up and running, I haven't slept properly in three days, and now you want me to host a pop-up dinner in three days? For

rich people

? You are out of your goddamn mind, System. I should be shoving you into a deep fryer."

[

Such hostility! You wound me.

] The System's voice dripped with mock hurt. [

But I suppose that's what happens when someone's been neglecting their duties.

]

Jiyeon threw her hands up, exasperated. "Neglecting?! I run two restaurants! I can't

neglect

anything because my life is a constant hell of stress and scallops!"

[

Oh, boo-hoo, poor little Alpha Chef with too many successful businesses. My heart bleeds for you.

]

She clenched her teeth. "You know, for something that's supposed to help me, you sure sound like a passive-aggressive gremlin."

[

Gremlin? Oh, please. I'm a

genius

. But nice try. Now, back to the point. Pop-up dinner. Three days. Here's the deal: You're going to pull out all the stops, impress these rich snobs, and solidify your name in the upper echelons of the culinary world. It's a win-win!

]

"Win-win for

who

? Because it sounds like I'm the one getting screwed here." Jiyeon crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "Do I get any help with this, or are you just gonna bark orders at me from your magical void?"

[

Oh, don't worry, you'll have

me

guiding you every step of the way. What more could you ask for?

]

Jiyeon rubbed her temples, feeling the familiar tension headache creeping in. "Yeah, because listening to you is so relaxing. You're like an AI version of a Monday morning hangover."

[

Harsh words from someone who's gonna need my help when she's up to her elbows in truffle foam and caviar. But I'll let it slide, because I'm magnanimous like that.

]

Jiyeon's mind was already spinning. She had three days to pull off an event that would normally take weeks to plan. Ingredients, staff, equipment, location where was she even supposed to start?

"I can't believe this," she muttered, pacing the kitchen. "How am I supposed to organize a pop-up dinner for a bunch of rich idiots in

three days

? Do you have any idea how much prep that takes? Do

you

know what it's like to deal with people who expect their food to sing and dance on the plate?!"

[

Sing and dance? That's a new one. But, yes, I do know, actually. Remember, I'm the one who's been making you a culinary superstar. I have higher standards than those clowns. And trust me, you'll survive.

]