Chapter 145

As Kang Jin worried about potential repercussions, Hwang Minsung spoke up.

“I’ve met many people before, but I’ve never encountered anyone like her. It felt…like being in front of the chairman of some large corporation.”

“Really?”

“Yes. She’s definitely not ordinary. Even her attire suggests as much.”

In this day and age, it was unusual to see a woman wearing traditional hanbok. While some women wore hanboks at historical sites or folk villages, spotting someone dressed like that in Nonhyeon, Gangnam, was rare.

Hwang Minsung curiously observed Kim Sohee when Kang Jin changed the subject.

“So what would you like to eat?”

He wanted to avoid mentioning Sohee’s age again, lest she became upset.

Hwang Minsung turned away from Kim Sohee and replied to Kang Jin’s question. “Just give me the ramen I usually order.”

“I thought you liked chow mein?”

Hwang Minsung looked at Kang Jin with surprise.

“How did…?” Hwang Minsung paused and smiled. “Did President Jo tell you about it?”

“President Jo left 50,000 won here, requesting that we serve you chow mein if you came by.”

Hwang Minsung chuckled. “He remembered that too.” He then glanced at Kang Jin. “The first time I ate here with President Jo, he ordered chow mein for me and kimbap for himself.”

“After you left, Mr. Hwang, President Jo ordered kimbap,” Kang Jin added.

Hwang Minsung laughed warmly. “I’ll have one bowl of chow mein and some kimbap, please.”

“It seems like you’ve had some drinks already. Would you also like ramen?”

“I can’t eat that much.”

“You don’t have to finish it all.”

Hwang Minsung shook his head at Kang Jin’s suggestion.

“They say if you leave food uneaten, you’ll have to consume it all in hell.”

Kang Jin looked curiously at him upon hearing ‘hell’.

“Do you believe in hell?”

“Not necessarily believing, but my mother often told me this when I was young. If I left any food behind, I’d have to eat it all in hell.”

“Indeed. Regardless of other beliefs, wasting food should be punished.”

“You heard that story too, Mr. Kang?”

“I haven’t specifically heard about having to eat it in hell, but adults do mention similar consequences.”

With that, Kang Jin continued, “Alright then, I’ll prepare chow mein and kimbap for you.”

After taking the order, Kang Jin checked the time as he entered the kitchen.

It’s 12:45… I need to send off the Virgin Ghosts by 12:59.

If Hwang Minsung witnessed any ghostly presence after their contract expired, it could cause problems. With this thought, Kang Jin took out some noodles and started boiling water. He then prepared kimbap, chow mein, and ramen.

Although ramen wasn’t ordered, he decided to cook it since alcohol often makes people crave broth. By using half a pack of ramen and slightly reducing portions for other dishes, it would still be manageable for one adult to consume without feeling overwhelmed.

‘If there’s any leftover, I can eat it myself.’

Kang Jin was also starting to feel hungry. Suddenly, his thoughts drifted back to the dining area, reminded of the saying about not leaving food behind or having to eat it all in hell.

With that thought, Kang Jin pondered for a moment before nodding.

From tomorrow on, I’ll have to reduce their portions slightly.

Ghosts typically didn’t leave any food behind. Since they could only eat during designated times at One Meal Restaurant, they understood the value of each meal. Consequently, they usually finished everything unless interrupted like today, leading to leftovers. And according to superstition, one might be compelled to consume those leftovers in hell.

Most people would dismiss this belief casually, but knowing about ghosts and entities from the afterlife, Kang Jin couldn’t easily ignore it.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Kang Jin turned back towards the kitchen and began preparing more food.

Kang Jin quickly prepared the dishes: spicy jjolmyeon (glass noodle), ramen, and kimbap (rice rolls). In less than five minutes, he finished cooking everything and glanced at the pot containing several eggs boiling inside.

A boiled egg is essential for the perfect bowl of jjolmyeon. However, only five minutes had passed, so it wasn’t time to remove them yet. Consequently, Kang Jin carried out the other dishes alone.

‘If I don’t serve the best dish possible,

what would Sung Yongsoo say?’

Sung Yongsoo might criticize him if the jjolmyeon lacked a boiled egg on top. He could argue that Kang Jin hadn’t served the complete dish to the honored guest. However, since the noodles would become mushy while waiting for the eggs, Kang Jin decided to bring them out first.

I need to calculate my timing better from now on.

Kang Jin muttered this thought as she brought Hwang Minsung his food.

Hwang Minsung’s face lit up upon seeing the ramen.

“You made ramen too?”

“I couldn’t help but think it needed some broth. However, I reduced the portion size accordingly so you can enjoy it without feeling overly full. If you do get full, please leave some behind. Even if I eat all of it, Mr. Hwang, there will be plenty more food for you in hell.”

Kang Jin chuckled at her own joke, and Hwang Minsung couldn’t help but smile.

“Well then, let’s share this meal together.”

“I don’t usually dine with guests.”

“But when I first arrived, I saw you sharing a table with other patrons…”

Hwang Minsung chuckled at her remark.

That’s because the other guests are ghosts.

“And how could I serve you food that I’ve already eaten from?”

“Just dig in for now. Ramen loses its taste if it sits too long.”

“Actually, I prefer ramen slightly soggy.” As Hwang Minsung glanced between the ramen and chow mein noodles, he asked, “By the way, aren’t you adding boiled eggs to the chow mein?”

“They’re boiling right now. Oh! And do you like your eggs half-boiled with chow mein?”

“I do enjoy half-boiled eggs.”

“Then please continue eating while I attend to them.” Kang Jin entered the kitchen as she spoke. While they conversed, enough time had passed for the eggs to be perfectly half-boiled by now.

Kang Jin carefully peeled fourteen eggs and placed them in three bowls. He had boiled extra for the virgin ghosts since he was already making some anyway.

He carried the bowls over to where they were seated.

“Here are your half-boiled eggs.” Kang Jin set down a bowl with two eggs in front of Kim Sohee. “The yolks are just barely cooked, so they should be soft and savory.”

“Thank you,” said Kim Sohee as Kang Jin bowed his head toward her before placing another bowl in front of Lee Hye-sun.

“They taste great with kimchi on top.”

“Oh, thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

With that, Kang Jin handed two eggs to Hwang Minsung.

“Here’s your egg.” Hwang Minsung was already eating his ramen with chopsticks when he placed an egg on top of Kang Jin’s noodles.

“Please share,” said Hwang Minsung.

Kang Jin nodded. “Sure thing.”

It felt awkward to sit down with a customer like this, but she understood that it would be uncomfortable for him if she ate what he’d been served. Besides, she was hungry…

When Kang Jin brought over a small bowl, Hwang Minsung transferred some of his chow mein into it and then suddenly asked, pointing at the kimbap:

“So there’s only kimchi inside these rolls?”

“Yes, didn’t you have them before with President Jo?” replied Kang Jin.

Hwang Minsung looked at the kimchi kimbap again.

“Oh! That explains it.”

Hwang Minsung understood President Jo’s circumstances and gazed fondly at the kimchi kimbap.

“So it wasn’t kimchi kimbap back then?”

“I requested just plain rice rolls with kimchi from a regular street vendor, as they don’t typically make kimchi kimbap there.”

“At our restaurant, we cater to our customers’ preferences. We accommodate even small requests like adding specific ingredients.”

As Hwang Minsung nodded, he took a bite of the kimchi kimbap.

Crisp! Crisp!

Despite being fully fermented, the kimchi still had a satisfying crunch. The blend of tanginess, richness, and sweetness brought a smile to his face.

“It’s delicious.”

“I do have some culinary skills.”

Seeing Kang Jin’s grin, Hwang Minsung smiled in return.

“That’s why I love this place.”

He picked up another piece of kimchi kimbap and continued speaking.

Hwang Minsung remarked, “It seems like President Jo enjoyed it.”

“He certainly did,” replied Kang Jin, nodding in agreement.

“Memories can be savored…”

With that, Hwang Minsung picked up his chopsticks.

“Let’s dig in first. Just looking at this food makes my stomach grumble.”

Following Hwang Minsung’s lead, Kang Jin also grabbed his chopsticks and started eating some chow mein from the plate before him.

As they ate, Kang Jin glanced at the time. At precisely 12:59 PM, he approached Kim Sohee.

“Miss Kim.”

Kim Sohee put down her shot glass of soju, briefly looked at Hwang Minsung, and nodded understandingly.

“I see.”

Realizing why Kang Jin had come, Kim Sohee stood up, prompting the other Virgin Ghosts to follow suit.

“Thank you for the meal,” replied Kim Sohee as she bowed to Kang Jin and greeted the other Virgin Ghosts.

Kang Jin opened the door, allowing them to exit.

Shhhf… Shhhf…

As soon as they stepped outside, their human disguises faded away, revealing their true ghostly forms. Kang Jin followed closely behind, witnessing their terrifying transformations.

While they appeared cute and pretty when disguised as humans, their ghostly appearances were horrifying. In fact, female ghosts could be scarier than male ones.

“Miss Kang.” Kim Sohee, now in her ghost form, lowered her sword and looked at Kang Jin.

Kang Jin noticed Kim Sohee silently watching Hwang Minsung and asked her:

“By any chance, do you know how that honored guest managed to enter this shop?”

“He’s an honored guest indeed.”

“Well, yes, but usually humans can’t come inside when there are so many ghosts… Yet he just walked right in.”

When Hwang Minsung entered the store teeming with ghosts, only Kim Sohee didn’t react much. Kang Jin wondered if she knew why.

Kim Sohee glanced at the shop after his question.

“He is a sinner,” she replied cryptically.

Kang Jin looked puzzled at her response.

“A sinner?”

“Please treat him well. He’s pitiful and helpless.”

“Well, I’ll certainly do my best for our customer, but…why call him a sinner?”

Kang Jin didn’t think Kim Sohee was referring to someone who had committed a crime. After all, he couldn’t imagine ghosts being allowed entry if they bore any guilt on their souls.

“That is none of your concern.” With that, Kim Sohee turned and walked away, leaving Kang Jin puzzled as she watched her go.

“A sinner?” It wasn’t the answer Kang Jin expected. She hesitated briefly before entering the store, glancing back at Kim Sohee one last time.

‘Did he commit some sin in his previous life or after death?’

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Kang Jin shook her head and stepped inside.

Inside the restaurant, Hwang Minsung was eating his meal.

Is he considered sinful despite being so neat and tidy?

His clothes, watch, and shoes were undeniably stylish by anyone’s standards. Yet, could such a person truly be a sinner?

“You escort your guests out too?” asked Hwang Minsung with a smile as Kang Jin approached him.

“She’s a regular here.”

“But she really looks young for her age.” As Hwang Minsung spoke about Kim Sohee, Kang Jin chuckled before suddenly giving him another look.

But…if he’s indeed a sinner, why did I feel compelled to treat him kindly?

Moreover, the system had described him as “pitiful” and “unfortunate.” There seemed no reason to extend kindness or sympathy towards a supposed sinner.