“Ughhh…”
I couldn’t help but make a sad face as I looked in the mirror. My tooth was wobbling again. Maybe because it was a baby tooth, it was really loose. Every time I thought it was about to fall out, it seemed to protest, as if telling me not to forget it.
I gently grabbed it with my hand and wiggled it around. But the pain made me stop. Should I ask Haru for help again like last time…? Pulling it out by hand seemed too difficult and painful, so asking someone else was much easier.
But since Haru had done something to me last time, I decided to approach Bora instead. It definitely wasn’t because she slammed the door shut when I was counting “one, two, three” to pull it out. I’m not the type to hold grudges.
I rushed to the office. I showed Bora my violently wobbly tooth. As soon as Bora saw it, she jumped up from her seat. She hugged me and headed to the lab. It seemed like she knew a way to pull it out without pain.
So, I went to the lab while being carried by Bora. It seemed like she had already called people, as many were gathered there. I lay down on the surgical table and looked around. There were scary-looking surgical tools everywhere. Then, someone came and pulled out my wobbly tooth. It was a skilled job.
“Sniff…”
There was no painless way to pull it out. I held my swollen cheek and made a crying face. Since they pulled it out without anesthesia, the pain didn’t go away. Bora was holding me and comforting me, but it didn’t help at all. Well, maybe a little?
This time, the tooth I pulled out also had a tiny sprout on it. I planted it in a fancy pot with a beautiful pattern. I wondered what kind of plant would grow. If it grew the same cherry tomatoes, it wouldn’t be very interesting.
————————————————————–
“This… what is this?”
Kim Sehee, after passing through tight security, could see a new plant from Hana.
Inside the room with a glass ceiling, there was a huge tree that looked like it had grown for decades. It was so big that it couldn’t fit in a pot. Kim Sehee couldn’t help but be shocked when she saw the coffee tree, laden with fruits.
‘Wait, this coffee tree grew in just two weeks?’
Normally, plants grow slowly, taking months or even years to grow, right? But the plants that grew from Hana’s teeth had an abnormal growth rate. And the fruits were at least 2-3 times more abundant than other plants.
Unlike the cherry tomatoes from last time, the new coffee tree was transplanted to a different area. Since the area around the research institute was already filled with cherry tomatoes, they couldn’t move them, but the coffee tree was still the only one, so transplanting it didn’t cost much.
This coffee tree, like the cherry tomatoes, needed to be near others for the baby coffee trees to grow properly. If they fell too far, the plants would grow but wouldn’t bear fruit.
So, this time, the coffee tree wasn’t kept at the research institute but was planted in a quiet, plant-friendly area owned by Starlight Food. Of course, Hana wanted to keep it in the room, but after seeing how big it grew, even she agreed to grow it in a sunny spot. It was a bit too big to keep in the room.
And farming cherry tomatoes and coffee trees in the same area would be a huge waste of space.
“This is the coffee bean that the boss dreams of making the best coffee with.”
An employee from Starlight Food explained to Kim Sehee. The most important ingredient in making coffee was the coffee bean. But finding good beans was a distant dream. Decent, high-quality beans were already monopolized by famous brands.
“These… the color and shape are so pretty?”
Kim Sehee said as she looked at the box filled with coffee beans. It seemed like only high-quality beans were collected. At a glance, the beans were beautifully shaped. And the aroma of the beans already filled the room. Even without roasting, the scent was this strong—imagine how intense it would be after roasting.
“Is there a place where defective beans are collected?”
If they had collected this many top-grade beans, there must be a lot of defective beans that were discarded.
Even from the same plant, the beans could be divided into top-grade and low-grade quality. But the employee smiled and replied to Kim Sehee.
“There are no defective beans from this coffee tree.”
“Wow…”
Kim Sehee couldn’t help but be shocked by the unbelievable news. A coffee tree that bears even more fruit and is of the highest quality? This was truly something extraordinary.
“Can I try a sample?”
The building was perfectly set up like a coffee shop, making it possible to brew on the spot.
“Of course, Boss.”
A barista emerged from the warehouse and immediately started roasting the beans from the box. Kim Sehee watched with interest as the beans were roasted and turned into coffee. The building, already filled with a strong coffee aroma, now had a scent so intense it felt like it could clear a blocked nose.
She was already getting excited about how good the coffee would turn out.
“Here’s your Americano.”
It was safe to say it was the best-selling beverage in Korea. Affordable and cost-effective, it sold well to people of all ages and genders.
Kim Sehee examined the Americano that had just been served. She herself enjoyed Americanos, so her expectations were high.
“The color and aroma are amazing. The barista’s skills seem top-notch.”
“You flatter me.”
The Americano, made by adding water to espresso, had a color that Kim Sehee found appealing. The rich brown hue seemed to beckon her to drink it quickly, exuding a delightful aroma.
Kim Sehee picked up the elegant cup and slowly sipped the Americano.
The warm coffee smoothly slid down her throat. Kim Sehee’s eyes widened, and she shivered slightly. She had prepared herself for any taste, but this was far more delicious than she had anticipated.
Kim Sehee set the coffee cup down on the table and asked, “Have you tried this coffee yourself, barista?”
The barista smiled softly and replied, “Yes, Boss. I doubt you’ll find a coffee more delicious than this anywhere in the world.”
The barista spoke with such confidence that Kim Sehee couldn’t argue. Having tasted the Americano herself, she knew its flavor and aroma would be a hit in the market.
Of course, it was a positive direction. The factory being built with billions could be solely dedicated to producing this coffee beverage without any issues. While domestic sales had limits, with this level of taste, it was bound to sell like hotcakes overseas.
With the right production foundation, money could be raked in by the bucketful.
However, Kim Sehee had a way to further upgrade the coffee’s aroma and flavor. She pulled out a case from her pocket. Opening the lid, inside were dozens of green hairs.
Kim Sehee picked up one of the hairs and casually dropped it into another freshly brewed Americano by the barista. It was something that would shock any restaurant owner—putting hair in food?
But the hair dissolved into the coffee as naturally as sugar. The aroma and color became even more intense. Kim Sehee offered the Americano to the barista.
“I’ve already had one, so I’m fine.”
“Really? I just added a special seasoning. You’d be missing out if you don’t try it.”
The barista, who hadn’t seen Kim Sehee add the hair, picked up the cup containing the Americano.
The barista then noticed something different. The aroma, already excellent, now seemed to be on a whole new level. Only then did the barista understand that Kim Sehee had added something extraordinary to the coffee.
“Hmm…”
After taking a sip, the barista momentarily stopped breathing. The taste of the coffee, enhanced by a single hair, was heavenly. It was so incredible that even the most famous branded Luwak coffee could be treated like instant coffee in comparison.
