Reborn with the wealth system

Chapter 9: A Chef No One Saw Coming

The kitchen fell silent.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on Ethan.

Only the sound of his knife echoed through the room.

Slice.

Slice.

Slice.

His movements were smooth and effortless, as if he had spent his entire life in a professional kitchen.

The chefs exchanged confused looks.

A moment ago, they had doubted him.

Now, they couldn’t even take their eyes off him.

Barnes folded his arms, trying to hide the uneasiness growing inside him.

“It’s just knife skills,” he said with a scoff.

“Anyone can learn a few tricks.”

None of the chefs answered him.

One of the senior chefs, a man named Oliver, quietly shook his head.

“No.”

“Those aren’t tricks.”

Barnes frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Oliver kept watching Ethan.

“I’ve been cooking for twenty-eight years.”

“I’ve worked in five-star hotels.”

“I’ve competed against chefs from all over the country.”

“I’ve only seen knife control like this once.”

Barnes looked surprised.

“Where?”

“On television.”

“During an international cooking competition.”

Barnes laughed.

“You’re exaggerating.”

Oliver didn’t respond.

His attention remained on Ethan.

…

Ethan gently cleaned the fresh shrimp before placing them on a tray.

Next came the scallops.

Then the mussels.

Every ingredient was handled with care.

Nothing was rushed.

Nothing was wasted.

He checked the freshness of every piece before deciding which ones to use.

The chefs watched quietly.

One young cook whispered,

“He’s choosing ingredients the same way our former head chef used to.”

Another nodded.

“No…”

“He’s even more careful.”

Barnes rolled his eyes.

“So what?”

“Good ingredients don’t mean good food.”

Ethan heard him but didn’t respond.

Instead, he reached for a small pot.

He added butter.

The butter slowly melted.

A rich smell filled the kitchen.

Then came chopped onions.

Garlic.

A little olive oil.

The sizzling sound made several chefs smile without realizing it.

Oliver’s eyes widened.

“He isn’t rushing.”

“He’s building the flavor.”

Another chef nodded.

“Most people throw everything into the pan.”

“He’s taking his time.”

The smell became even stronger.

Even the waiters standing outside the kitchen door began looking inside.

One of them whispered,

“That smells amazing.”

A waitress laughed softly.

“I’m getting hungry.”

Barnes looked annoyed.

“It’s only garlic.”

“Anyone can make garlic smell good.”

Ethan calmly poured in Arborio rice.

He stirred it gently.

Every grain became coated with butter.

Then he added white stock a little at a time.

Not too much.

Not too little.

The rice slowly absorbed the liquid.

Oliver couldn’t help smiling.

“Perfect.”

“What?”

“He isn’t boiling the rice.”

“He’s feeding it.”

Barnes frowned.

“What difference does that make?”

Oliver looked at him.

“If you pour everything in at once…”

“The rice loses its texture.”

“But adding stock little by little keeps it creamy while the center stays firm.”

Barnes stayed quiet.

He didn’t know enough about cooking to argue.

…

Meanwhile…

Outside in the dining hall…

Mr. Harrison checked his watch.

Manager Lewis stood nearby with a nervous expression.

“I’m sorry for making you wait again.”

Mr. Harrison looked toward the kitchen.

“I’ve already waited over an hour.”

“Another few minutes won’t matter.”

He paused before asking,

“Tell me honestly.”

“Can your new owner really cook?”

Manager Lewis hesitated.

“I…”

“I’ve never seen him cook before today.”

Mr. Harrison smiled faintly.

“Interesting.”

“I’ve been in business for forty years.”

“I’ve learned one thing.”

Manager Lewis listened carefully.

“People who stay calm under pressure usually have something special.”

“I hope your new owner is one of them.”

…

Back in the kitchen…

Ethan added the seafood.

The shrimp curled perfectly.

The scallops turned golden.

The mussels slowly opened.

Steam rose into the air.

The smell spread through the restaurant.

Customers began looking around.

One woman called over a waiter.

“What is that smell?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“I’m not sure.”

“It smells wonderful.”

Several other customers nodded.

Even people walking past the restaurant slowed down.

The aroma drifted outside the entrance.

A couple stopped walking.

“Should we eat here?”

“I wasn’t planning to…”

“But whatever they’re cooking smells incredible.”

Inside, the dining room slowly became busier.

Manager Lewis noticed it immediately.

He smiled for the first time that afternoon.

…

Barnes wasn’t smiling anymore.

He watched Ethan carefully.

Something didn’t feel right.

This wasn’t luck.

This wasn’t someone pretending to know how to cook.

Every movement showed confidence.

Every decision made sense.

For the first time, Barnes wondered if he had underestimated him.

Impossible…

He quickly pushed the thought away.

“No.”

“Cooking isn’t only about smell.”

“The taste is what matters.”

…

Ethan picked up a small spoon.

He tasted the risotto.

Then he added a pinch of sea salt.

A little black pepper.

Fresh parmesan.

Finally…

A small piece of butter.

He gently stirred everything together.

The creamy texture became smooth and glossy.

Oliver couldn’t help clapping once.

“Beautiful.”

Everyone looked at him.

He smiled awkwardly.

“Sorry.”

“I’ve just never seen risotto made this well.”

One of the younger chefs whispered,

“It looks like art.”

Ethan placed the risotto neatly onto a white plate.

He arranged the shrimp and scallops with care.

He added the mussels around the edge.

Finally…

He placed a small green herb on top.

Simple.

Elegant.

Perfect.

The entire kitchen became silent.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

They simply stared at the finished dish.

Barnes walked closer.

He looked down at the plate.

Even he had to admit…

It looked flawless.

Still, he refused to accept defeat.

“It looks nice.”

“But looks don’t matter.”

“The customer has to like it.”

Ethan smiled calmly.

“Then let’s find out.”

He picked up the plate himself.

“I’ll serve him.”

Manager Lewis quickly opened the kitchen door.

Every employee stepped aside as Ethan walked through the restaurant carrying the dish.

Customers turned to watch him.

Some quietly admired the food.

Others wondered why such a young man was personally serving a table.

Mr. Harrison looked up as Ethan approached.

Without saying a word, Ethan gently placed the plate in front of him.

A rich aroma immediately filled the air around the table.

Mr. Harrison looked down at the dish.

His eyes slowly widened.

He had eaten seafood risotto in famous restaurants around the world.

Italy.

France.

Singapore.

Dubai.

Yet…

This plate looked every bit as good as those prepared by world-class chefs.

He picked up his spoon.

The restaurant became completely silent.

Every employee held their breath.

Barnes folded his arms.

His heart beat faster than he wanted to admit.

Everything depended on this single bite.

Mr. Harrison scooped up a small spoonful.

He slowly placed it into his mouth.

The moment he tasted it…

His eyes suddenly opened wide.