There is no one in this world who turns down something delicious.
All the more so if they are Korean, for whom food is important.
‘If Kang Chaheon had done it, the effect would have been even better.’
For now, the public favor toward the real body has only just barely crawled up off the floor.
In some respects, it might even be in the negative.
For example…
‘There will be people who think I am being carried.’
Through Gwiro and a CF, he did show that he has at least the minimum qualifications.
At the very least, no one will be saying his acting is trash or that he lacks skill.
But Rowoon also knew well that this alone was not enough.
Especially when someone who had been floundering at zero name recognition suddenly snatches up major activities like this.
‘Well. It cannot be helped. It is in the process of changing now.’
A journey of ten ri1 begins with a single step.
You cannot be full on the first spoonful.
What was fortunate, at least, was that Koreans’ generosity about food brought leniency to the customers.
[Karma score has decreased by 1.]
[Karma score has decreased by 1.]
The system messages popping up as if to tell him to hang in there also became a great source of strength.
More than anything, they were undeniable proof that he was doing well.
“There was some confusion in the kitchen, so this is on the house as an apology. These are handmade potato chips made with the local specialty, red potatoes.”
“Thank you for understanding that your order was delayed.”
“There are plenty more potato chips, so if you just tell us comfortably, we will bring them right away.”
Rowoon did not forget, and carefully went around each table, apologizing as he handed out the fries.
After delivering fries to the last table and turning around,
“…? Why?”
Kim Bonggeun, who should have been moving around in a frantic bustle, had his eyes half-lidded as he looked this way.
“You went and used your finishing move.”
“Pardon?”
When Rowoon tilted his head in bewilderment, Kim Bonggeun shook his head.
“Being that unaware is a plus factor too.”
“Sorry…?”
“Well, you are not brazen enough to use it knowingly. You do not look it, but the way you act is really…”
“…Hyung, are you okay?”
His mental state had been wobbly since earlier.
Did he really fly off to Andromeda?
Compared to what Rowoon worried about, Kim Bonggeun was in a much better state than just a few minutes ago.
“Of course. Our youngest is struggling that hard to buy time for this hyung, so I have to hold tight to my mind.”
“Step by step, hyung. We bought some time, so you can go slowly.”
“Right, right. Rowoon, you really did something big for us. If it were not for you, we might really have closed up here today.”
“Was it that bad? I only bought a short breather.”
That breather was important.
They needed a timing to untangle the tangled workflow.
It was Rowoon who made a not-okay situation okay.
Kim Bonggeun did not take that lightly.
“Anyway, I have my head back on straight now, so do not worry. In two minutes, two bowls of banquet noodles will be done, and in five minutes, the fried rice will be done too.”
“Yes. Oh, right. Can I use one burner? If it is short, I will use it later.”
“No. The one that would not light earlier probably just got a little water on it for a moment. But why do you need the flame?”
“Just in case, I want to prepare.”
“Prepare?”
“The steamed potatoes were good, right?”
“They were really good. The balance of sweet and salty was straight-up art. But why bring that up all of a sudden?”
“I am going to make those now.”
As Rowoon scraped and peeled the potatoes, Kim Bonggeun made an expression like he had caught on.
“So hyung, it is okay even if you make another mistake. I will buy the time. You can just cook with an easy mind.”
Even familiar work gets tangled when you are flustered.
To begin with, Kim Bonggeun was not the type to make lots of mistakes.
If he was just given room to be calm again, every problem would be solved.
“Rowoon…”
Kim Bonggeun sniffled.
“What you just said kind of sounded like a proposal…”
“…Pardon?”
How, exactly…?
“Ah, seriously. This kid has no self-awareness, no self-awareness. He is a genius at lifting people up and dropping them down.”
It was hard to understand, but in any case, it was clear that Kim Bonggeun had stabilized.
Even if there were small mistakes here and there, the frantic scrambling decreased noticeably.
While the potatoes were turning fluffy-soft in the wok, Rowoon decided to make more fries while he was at it.
“Oh my, what is this?”
“Please eat these while you wait.”
“They are French fries?”
“They are fries made with the local specialty red potatoes. Please try them.”
“You are giving us even something like this.”
“Thank you for waiting so long.”
Fresh from the fryer and still hot, he brought the fries this time to the people lined up long in front of the bungeoppang machine.
This time too, the response was very good.
Chaheon’s fans were an exception, since the waiting process itself was enjoyable for them.
But the change in expression was especially striking among ordinary customers who were not fans of Kang Chaheon.
Because the notification that the karma score was decreasing popped up again and again.
And then.
“Good work!”
With the last customer’s departure, the first day’s business safely came to an end.
“Ughhh… I seriously thought I was going to die. Director. Today’s episode… can it go on air?”
The moment the wrap signal fell, Kim Bonggeun not only plopped down on the floor, he sprawled out and asked the PD.
“Of course. The three of you were absolutely amazing today!”
“We almost ruined the business, so of course you are having fun, PD-nim.”
Kang Chaheon, oddly worn down, muttered crookedly.
“Mr. Kang Chaheon. You are not glaring at me right now, are you?”
“If you have a conscience, should you really be smiling like that right now, PD-nim?”
Hmm.
Not oddly. It looks like he is plainly being crooked.
“Ahem, ahem. We also discussed it. At this rate, it seemed like you would collapse on the second day of business. No matter how vicious we are, this is a healing variety show, not a hell training camp!”
“So you do know…”
“We can hear you, Mr. Kang Chaheon.”
Ahem.
Producer Han cleared her throat again.
“Of course, the customers got a full dose of healing and left. The reviews and star ratings are also excellent.”
“…There is even something like that?”
Chaheon muttered that they really do everything.
“Out of 32 tables and a total of 72 customers who came by, a whopping 99 percent left five stars!”
Waaah.
A cheer came from the production side.
It was funny because it was oddly lacking in energy.
“If you were to pick today’s MVP, who would you pick?”
“Filming is over and we are dying, and you are making us do an interview time. Is that not too much…”
At Kang Chaheon’s quiet mutter, Producer Han flinched.
She must have thought even she was being too much.
Even if Rowoon was clueless, it was clear that this was not a scale you threw at three total novices.
Even so, Producer Han held firm.
“Ahem. If we pick today’s MVP?”
“I will pick Rowoon. If it were not for Rowoon, the kitchen would not have run today.”
“Oh. One vote for Lee Rowoon. Mr. Kang Chaheon?”
“In a democratic society, should you not guarantee the right to a secret ballot?”
“If you want, I can set up a polling booth.”
“Ha… That would just make me more tired, so I will just say it. I will also cast my vote for Lee Rowoon.”
“Oh, why is that?”
“If he were not here, the restaurant would already be ruined.”
For someone like Kang Chaheon who is usually merciless to Rowoon, it was such a generous evaluation it was almost shocking.
‘Was he that grateful for the help earlier?’
Chaheon’s role was floor service and bungeoppang.
And since he was handling the floor, the register was also Chaheon’s responsibility.
The problem was that as bungeoppang production started to lag, overload hit the floor too.
There were multiple laughable incidents where customers could not pay and leave.
Unable to watch any longer, Rowoon handed out service to the customers waiting.
As a bonus, he also quietly stood at the register and covered it.
‘Good thing I watched over the shoulder ahead of time.’
“Mr. Lee Rowoon, who has been chosen unanimously, how do you feel?”
Producer Han playfully held out a spoon like a microphone.
“May I make one suggestion?”
“Huh? Right now?”
“We are too short-staffed. Even if Mr. Kang Chaheon handles guiding the floor and taking orders, I would like you to add staff for serving and for the register.”
“Ah… we were thinking about that too…”
“They are people who came by lottery. How much they must have been looking forward to it. It is not that they came only to eat. I want everyone who came here to go back with only good memories. Honestly, the fun part would be satisfied just by looking at Mr. Kang Chaheon’s face, so I want you to attach more people.”
“…No, why am I suddenly involved again?”
Chaheon muttered, but Rowoon did not even listen.
What matters now is tomorrow.
‘Today, we somehow managed to get through it with improvisation… but we cannot let mistakes keep piling up.’
To finish safely from tomorrow through the last day, they need a fundamental solution, not a temporary improvement like today.
“W… we really were thinking about it, Mr. Rowoon. We are not that demonic, you know?”
“Okay. Then I will take it that you will add staff. First, one assistant in the kitchen, someone to handle the register, and someone to serve. I would like it like that.”
“That would be too…”
“Would it be a big problem if we were not suffering enough?”
“No, that is not it!”
“Then it is settled. Thank you, PD-nim. Let us hang in there together to the end.”
Fortunately, Producer Han was not someone you could not reason with.
She is a producer who teases the cast and pushes them into difficult situations to pull out exciting moments, and who creates stories you cannot see on other programs, but—
In front of Rowoon, whose eyes were shining as he sincerely said they should do their best together, she could not bring herself to refuse.
Later, Producer Han recalled,
“If I had said no there, it would have felt like I became human trash, you know?”
She expressed that she could not help it.
The dynamic that would later be called “Lee Rowoon taking down Producer Han” was just now sprouting its seed.
“PD-nim. Are you really adding staff? Earlier you said you discussed it and were not going to add people.”
“No… Hey. If I say no here, it will feel like I become a traitor.”
Producer Han muttered emptily, as if her soul had left her somewhere.
Rowoon, not hearing that, bowed and thanked the staff who had worked hard today just like him.
Without even knowing that Kim Bonggeun and Kang Chaheon were looking at him from behind as if they were seeing something strange.
Day 2 of business.
“Comfortable, huh.”
The urgently deployed staff were assigned to each area.
Thanks to that, business proceeded very smoothly.
Compared to day 1, which had practically been the opening of hell’s gate, it was heaven.
But,
“PD-nim. You are alive, right?”
Unlike yesterday, one person’s condition was uniquely bad.
It was Producer Han.
“…Mr. Rowoon. I did not think you were that kind of person, but you are really ruthless…”
Producer Han looked utterly haggard, and it was the butterfly effect that began with the suggestion Rowoon made.
- “Ri” in Korean measurement is 리 (li), a traditional distance unit from China, roughly 392.72 meters (about 0.4 km or 0.244 miles) ↩︎
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