Alpha Culinary Love

### Chapter 118: Unexpected Obstacles

The morning began with a sense of cautious optimism. The team had found its rhythm, and progress on the new branch was moving at a steady pace. For the first time in days, I felt a sliver of hope that we might just meet the looming deadline. But in the back of my mind, I knew better than to let my guard down. The project was too important, and I had learned the hard way that things could go wrong when you least expected it.

As I arrived at the site, the sun barely cresting the horizon, I was greeted by the familiar sounds of construction—hammers striking metal, the low hum of machinery, and the murmur of workers coordinating their efforts. I took a deep breath, letting the noise ground me. This was where I needed to be, hands-on and in control.

Yura had already been here earlier, overseeing the latest shipment of materials and making sure everything was running smoothly. Her presence had a way of keeping everyone on their toes; no one dared to slack off when she was around. I appreciated that about her, the way she could command respect with just a glance.

I walked through the site, checking in with different teams, offering a word of encouragement here and a suggestion there. It felt good to be in the thick of it, to see our vision slowly taking shape. But as I made my way to the office we had set up on-site, my phone buzzed with a notification.

It was from one of our suppliers. The message was short, to the point, and absolutely infuriating:

**"Delay in delivery. Estimated arrival: 10 days late."**

I stared at the screen, willing the words to change. We couldn't afford a delay—especially not one this significant. I felt a rush of anger boiling up inside me, followed quickly by a wave of panic. We had planned everything down to the last detail; a delay like this could throw the entire project off course.

I immediately dialed the supplier's number, pacing the small office as the phone rang. My mind raced with possible solutions, but each one seemed more implausible than the last. When the call finally connected, I was met with a calm, almost bored voice on the other end.

"Jiyeon," the supplier greeted me, oblivious to the urgency in my tone. "What can I do for you?"

"What do you mean, 'What can you do for me'?" I snapped, the words coming out sharper than I intended. "I just received a notice that our delivery is going to be delayed by ten days. That's unacceptable. We have a strict timeline, and you're throwing everything off."

There was a pause, and I could almost hear the shrug in his voice when he responded. "I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do about it. There's been an issue with our manufacturer—something out of our control. We're doing our best to expedite it, but that's the earliest we can get it to you."

I felt the frustration building, my grip tightening on the phone. "That's not good enough. I need you to find a way to get that delivery on time, or I'll find someone else who can."

The supplier's tone shifted slightly, becoming more defensive. "Jiyeon, we've been working together for years. You know I wouldn't delay this if there was any other option. But right now, our hands are tied."

"Untie them," I demanded, my voice low and cold. "I don't care what you have to do, just make it happen. If you can't, consider this our last project together."

The supplier sighed, clearly sensing that I wasn't going to back down. "I'll see what I can do," he said finally. "But I can't make any promises."

"Make it work," I said, before hanging up the phone.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the blank screen as the reality of the situation sank in. This was a disaster. We were already cutting it close with the deadline, and now this? I took a deep breath, trying to quell the rising tide of panic. There had to be a way to fix this. There always was.

But as I walked out of the office, I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, heavier than before. The familiar ping of the system chimed in my ear, and I knew what was coming before the message even appeared.

**[17 days remaining. Tick-tock, Jiyeon. You can't afford to slip up now.]**

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to curse out loud. The system's reminders were becoming more frequent, more insistent, and it was only adding to the pressure. But I couldn't afford to let it get to me. Not now.

I made my way back to the main site, trying to clear my head. As I walked, I could see the team hard at work, each member focused on their task. They had no idea about the delay yet, and I wasn't about to let them find out until I had a plan in place.

But as the hours passed, it became clear that the news of the delay had spread. Whispers circulated among the workers, their usual camaraderie tinged with worry. I could see the doubt starting to creep into their expressions, the uncertainty that came with the knowledge that we were running out of time.

By midday, the tension was palpable. The usual banter between the teams had died down, replaced by a strained silence. I knew I had to address the situation before it spiraled out of control.

I called an impromptu meeting, gathering everyone in the central area of the site. The sun beat down on us, the heat oppressive as we stood in a tight circle. I could see the worry in their eyes, the unspoken questions hanging in the air.

"Alright, listen up," I began, trying to project confidence even as my mind raced for solutions. "I know some of you have heard about the delay in our supplies. Yes, it's true. But I want you to know that we're working on it. We're going to find a way to stay on track, no matter what."

There were murmurs of uncertainty, but no one spoke up. I could feel the doubt lingering, and it frustrated me. This was not the time for hesitation.

"We've come too far to let this set us back," I continued, my voice firm. "We're a team, and we're going to get through this together. I need each and every one of you to give your best, now more than ever. We can't afford to slow down."

I paused, letting my words sink in. "I know it's not going to be easy," I added, softening my tone. "But we've faced challenges before, and we've overcome them. This is no different."

I saw a few nods of agreement, but the tension was still thick in the air. They needed more than just words—they needed a plan.

"Here's what we're going to do," I said, shifting into problem-solving mode. "We're going to reassign tasks. We'll focus on everything we can get done without the delayed supplies. We'll keep moving forward, so that when the supplies do arrive, we're ready to hit the ground running."

I started delegating, assigning new tasks to each team. I could see the gears turning in their minds, the tension slowly easing as they began to see a way forward. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was something. And right now, something was better than nothing.

As the team dispersed to get back to work, I felt a small sense of relief. But it was short-lived. The system pinged again, its voice dripping with condescension.

**[That's a temporary fix, Jiyeon. You need a real solution if you're going to make it in time.]**

I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore the nagging voice in my head. The system was right, of course. This was just a band-aid, a way to keep the project moving while we figured out how to deal with the delay. But what choice did I have?

The day dragged on, each hour stretching longer than the last. The heat was relentless, and I could see the strain it was putting on everyone. Tempers were flaring, mistakes were being made, and I was running out of ways to keep the team motivated.

By late afternoon, I could feel my own patience wearing thin. Every small setback felt like a monumental disaster, every delay like a personal failure. The pressure was mounting, and I knew it was only a matter of time before something gave.

As I walked through the site, checking on the progress, I overheard a heated argument between two of the workers. They were standing near one of the half-finished walls, their voices raised in frustration.

"I told you we needed more mortar over here!" one of them shouted, his face flushed with anger. "Now we're going to have to redo the whole thing!"

The other worker shot back, his expression equally furious. "Well, maybe if you'd actually been paying attention, we wouldn't be in this mess! I can't do everything myself, you know!"

I stepped in before things could escalate further. "What's going on here?" I demanded, my tone brokering no argument.

Both men turned to me, their anger quickly giving way to guilt. "Sorry, Jiyeon," one of them mumbled. "We're just… it's been a long day."

"I understand," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "But we can't afford to be fighting among ourselves right now. We need to work together if we're going to get this done."

They nodded, the tension between them easing slightly. But I could

see the exhaustion in their eyes, the frustration simmering just below the surface. This delay was affecting all of us, and if I didn't find a way to fix it soon, things were only going to get worse.

As the day drew to a close, I found myself back in the on-site office, staring at the project plans spread out before me. The delay had thrown everything off, and I was struggling to find a way to get us back on track. Every solution I came up with seemed to have its own set of problems, and the clock was ticking down faster than I could keep up.

The system's voice echoed in my mind, its relentless reminders a constant source of stress.

**[17 days remaining, Jiyeon. You're running out of time.]**

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment. I could feel the exhaustion settling in, the weight of the day pressing down on me. But I couldn't let it get to me. Not now. There was too much at stake.

As I opened my eyes, I caught sight of Yura standing in the doorway. She must have finished her work and come to check on me. I hadn't even heard her come in.

"Rough day?" she asked, her voice soft, a stark contrast to the tension that filled the room.

"You have no idea," I replied, managing a tired smile. "But we'll get through it. We always do."

Yura walked over to me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I know you will," she said, her voice filled with quiet confidence. "But you don't have to do it alone. Let me help."