Five Star Michelin | Lee Taeyong x reader

Howdy there, partner

VOGUE TOP CHEF INTERVIEW; Y/N L/N

I: Hello! We have Y/n L/n with us today, someone fairly new to the celebrity side to this business!! Tell me, how did you manage?

You: Thank you! I was eased into it, with the help of friends

I: Ah yes, lovely friends you have there! Let's begin shall we?"

You: Yes lets

I: So, your first Michelin star! That's exciting, how did it feel?"

You: Utter joy honestly, I swear I cried every time someone brought it up

I: Understandable, so, anything particularly, spicy going on in your love life? Maybe, Lee Taemin and you?

You: *laughs* No! It's nothing like that, we're just friends, in fact he was one of the people who eased me into the world of fame! Sadly my love life remains to be quite bland

I: Ah, understandable. Now, Your restaurant is Weishen, is it not?

You: Yes it is! I'm immensely proud of how far it's come in such a short while.

I: Congratulations! I hear rumours of you aiming for another star? Apparently you have been cooking up some new recipes

You: I have! And I am trying to do everything I can for Weishen, but it's not all me, it's the chefs under me as well, who work extremely hard.

I: One does not make it without a little bit of help, after all. Now, tell us, what is your speciality?"

You: Italian cuisine! I do best in that aspect, and it's my element.

I: You'll have to cook something for me sometime. What dish is your special one?

You: Oh yes, that would be Ravioli.

The Neo Culture Centre was a magical place. It looked like the most magical place at night, with its lights and the grand stage, especially on the night of the awards, but it was magical during the day too. However, it was a different kind of magic, like seeing something for the first time all over again, in a different light.

In this case, quite literally.

You walked into the area, wandering around and taking in the place. You had been here just once before, and had arrived early on purpose so you could explore everything, and not just familiarize yourself with the kitchen.

The gardens was another thing The NCC was famous for. Huge gorgeous gardens that decorated the area around the actual closed area, where the events took place.

You sat on one of the benches, pulling your knees to your chest as just breathing.

You loved your job, your life. You really did, but it was exhausting having to smile all the time when surrounded by people. Maybe that's why you didn't like being around Taeyong. He made it too real, and he could somehow see right through you.

You sighed. For some reason he had been on your mind, like a broken cassette. You couldn't get his stare of your head, neither could you get his infuriating smirk out. He had struck a chord with his words and decided to haunt your thoughts as a constant reminder.

You didn't appreciate it.

"Early bird", someone said, causing you to turn around, only to be met with Lisa Manoban. She had messaged you several times over the week, and the two of you hit off pretty well. You smiled, "Hey you"

"Why are you so early?", she asked, taking a seat next to you, "Grouping starts in about half an hour"

"I could ask you the same thing", you smiled, "Why are you so early"

"The gardens", she said, "I like the white roses that bloom here in the back", he cocked her head, and you followed her gaze to a bush of pretty white roses. "What's it like cooking for the Alastair awards? I think you did it last year too", you changed the topic. She nodded.

"It's prestigious, amazing! Working for Kun is a dream, except he's a bloody nightmare in the kitchen"

"Oh no", you tried not to laugh at her comical expression, "What happened?"

"Nothing happened per se, he's just a little intense in the kitchen. Pray you're not paired with him, it may be too much for your first time", she warned, half joking.

"Yeah yeah", you looked away from her, and back at the roses in the distance. A comfortable silence fell over the two of you as you sat there, idle in your own thoughts.

"Were we having a party I wasn't told about?", another voice joined the lot, turning out to be Seulgi, smiling, "Come on, Kun has already arrived"

The three of you made your way into the actual stadium, the center where everything took place. It was different, the seats were empty, the place looking even bigger than it already did. The air conditioning was off, and the right in the middle on the stage stood a group of people. Kun noticed your group, calling you over, "I've assigned most of them partners, some have even gone to their stations", he explained.

"Basically, this year we're divided the seating, so a specific section's refreshments and food will be overlooked by two chefs, and so on", he looked over at a piece of paper in his hand, "Lisa, with me again, Y/n you're at station number seven in the kitchens. You'll have to come up with a menu for your section of the area with your partner, Seulgi", he turned to the other chef, "Can you show her where her station is since she's new?"

"Yeah, sure, come on", Seaulgi led you backstage, and down a few hallways, past where the performers would sit, to an enormous kitchen. You looked around, your eyes widening like a kid in a candy store.

"Oh my god", you breathed out, eliciting a chuckle from your friend, "There's station seven", she pointed to a counter at the end.

You made your way to the back, still walking around in wonder, taking everything in. It was so interesting to see the place where the work went down in. You reached your station, placing a hand on the metal counter and smiling softly.

The smile faded off your face when you saw the chef in front of you, his red hair in all its messy glory, standing there looking at you in equal bewilderment. He wore jeans and a T-shirt with a jacket over top.

"Please tell me this isn't your station"

"Do you like liars?"
"You have got to be kidding me", you wailed, "Of all of the chef's I end up with you?"

"Apparently so", he smiled coyly, leaning against the counter, "Looks like we're going to be working together"

"Oh joy!", you exclaimed sarcastically, "Just what I envisioned, having to spend hours on end planning menus with you"

"You're interesting", he observed, "I'm not going to bite you, you know"

"I'm grateful", you sneered, walking over towards him, "How are we doing this?"

"Ah right, you're the newbie", he teased, earning a glare from you, "Relax, geez, Alright", he pulled out a piece of paper and a board that it had been pinned to. "We'll be covering about 2000 people, so we'll have to make those many appetizers along with the main courses", he turned the page, "We'll have to create an entire menu, stuff that everyone will like you know?"

"Yeah", you hummed in agreement, taking the page from him, eyes scanning over it. "It's not just one dish, so we'll have to choose something we can prep for"

Taeyong looked at your focused expression. You intrigued him, puzzled him almost. You seemed pretty open, yet closed off, like you had built a wall up against people to portray a character you wanted to.

"Yeah, we will", he said, "And thankfully, I'm here to double check if there's enough salt"

"I will take that salt and shove it up your-"