Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Relay Cooking Race (1)
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The filming location for the Relay Cooking Race was the studio of the internet broadcasting company Jjijik. Since it was a fairly large-scale project, there were plenty of people on set.
"Wow... This is my first time seeing such a big set."
Sister wandered around the inside of the set, her eyes sparkling.
There were various lights hanging from the ceiling, and just the Jjijik cameras alone numbered seven. Add in the personal cameras, and it would easily surpass twenty.
Compared to terrestrial broadcast sets, it was nothing much, but given that this was primarily an internet-focused show, it was a big production.
"Can I really tag along? No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem like a place for an editor."
Sister said uncertainly.
On one side, a YouTuber with a million subscribers was putting on a mic and prepping for the shoot. On the other, a broadcaster known for large-scale live streams was doing the same. Everyone else was top-tier talent.
I grabbed Sister's shrinking shoulders and massaged them, loosening the tense muscles.
"What's wrong with you, Sister? You're handling manager duties, editing, and even PD work. Chin up."
Sister was my battery. Seeing her lifted my spirits, and being with her gave me energy. But when she slumped like this, it dragged me down too.
While we chatted, someone who looked like program staff approached.
"Kim Haneul?"
"Yes."
"You need to get mic'd and do basic makeup. Follow me."
I pulled Sister's hat down low one more time and gave her a light hug.
"Keep the hat and mask on."
"Got it."
"If any weirdos bug you, say something. Be right back."
"Okay. Fighting."
In my past life, Sister had drawn all sorts of creeps. She'd shut them down cold every time, but it stressed her out badly.
I handed her the rest of the chocolate in my hand and followed the staff. Once seated in the makeup room, another person approached with a brush.
"How should I do this one's makeup? Haneul, right? Sharp features, great skin—just basic foundation."
"Yes."
"Man, you're insanely handsome. I've done plenty of male cam streamers, but you're on another level."
"Yes."
"Got a girlfriend too. Lucky. Your girlfriend..."
"Yes."
"Maybe later we could talk makeup or this industry..."
Just as it was getting annoying, makeup wrapped up. They shoved a phone at me, but I ignored it and bounced. That's when I spotted Park Su-han yapping with Sister in the corner.
"..."
I stomped over to him.
"That's why with the cake... Oh, Haneul. Wow. Look how well he takes makeup."
"Did you memorize everything I told you?"
"Yes. All of it."
While prepping for the Relay Cooking Race, I'd drilled manuals into Park Su-han for each ingredient. He'd memorized the traits, cooking methods, and key precautions to the letter.
Just recite and follow exactly—that was the plan.
I'd hit him with random quizzes now and then; wrong answers meant an extra hour of lecture.
What to quiz him on this time...
"Recite it all from the top."
"Huh? All that?"
"Not much. Four ingredients, three methods each. Twelve total. Go."
Park Su-han squeezed his eyes shut and started reciting from the beginning. He flubbed a few midway but self-corrected. In the end, perfect.
"Th-this good enough?"
"More than enough. If it feels iffy, just stick to what you've memorized."
"Yup. Got it."
Moments later, shooting began. The official channel's main camera lit up, and sub-cams for each team went live on the internet.
Everything being shot now was straight live broadcast. No room for screw-ups—it was featured on Jjijik's main banner.
Each team shared their thoughts. The interview kicked off for the team right ahead of us, [We're Going to Finals].
The guy being interviewed, Oh Jun-seo, was the one bounced from Yori King's quarters.
Making it that far in a showdown of Korea's top chefs was no joke, but he wasn't in my memories.
Wonder what dish he'll pull off.
Curiosity stirred in me as a fellow chef.
Our team breezed through our interview, and then it was time for the theme draw.
"I'll snag something easy."
"Looking forward to it."
Park Su-han pulled a paper from the box. His face lit up when he unfolded it. He dashed over, holding it out.
[Fish and Rice]
"Nice pick. Grilling fish is trickier than meat, but nail the practice and you're golden."
"So, how we doing it? Rip open retort rice right away, grill the fish? Salt and pepper how?"
"Su-han, just grill it decently. Once it's going, we'll check and pivot to another dish. You know retort rice, right?"
"Ha, what do you take me for? Seven years living solo? I could do retort rice blindfolded."
During our strategy huddle, I rattled off precautions for grilling fish. We even ran a simulation, pretending there was a frying pan in mid-air.
Prep was flawless.
"Yes."
Park Su-han headed to the main stage at the host's cue. From here on, no Kim Haneul help. It was all him.
"Fish grilling—practiced tons at home."
Taming the fishy smell was key, so just control the temp right. Muttering to stick to practice, he took his spot.
Sink, cooking tools, and ingredients laid out.
Setup varied by theme.
"Fish, frying pan, oil, spatula—all here, but no rice. Guess that's later. What's this?"
Park Su-han cocked his head at the unfamiliar tool.
It was a filthy heavy, massive pot. The lid had a button.
He grabbed a passing staffer.
"Hey, staff? What's this?"
"Pressure cooker. Your theme's fish and rice. You cook it yourself."
"What? Not retort rice and electric cooker?!"
He begged clarification multiple times, but the staff was firm. Glancing around, every other team had retort rice—no raw rice.
"No way... we're screwed."
Park Su-han had never once cooked rice in a pressure cooker. No clue on rice-to-water ratio or timing. From YouTube, something about venting steam later... Total mystery.
"Rice first? Host! Gimme one more hint!"
Ding!
The bell rang, and chaos erupted. Even the frozen-stiff Park Su-han sprang into action. He slicked oil into the frying pan.
While it heated, he dumped water and rice into the pressure cooker.
"What ratio?"
He snuck a glance at Kim Haneul. But no hints allowed.
A main cam was locked on Haneul, primed for the lols.
"Gotta solo this. Alright... this much."
Water and rice in, lid sealed. Button locked tight, fire on.
Another snag.
Electric cookers handle temp auto. Pressure cookers? Manual fire duty.
"High flame? Medium? Burn on medium? Low? Can't peek midway—what now?"
His hand froze. Buffering like a crashed site.
Lit and killed the flame a few times before settling on low. Better than scorching the rice outright.
Kim Haneul, watching, winced and shut his eyes.
Pressure cookers need high start, then low for fluffy grains...
Oblivious, Park Su-han zeroed in on the fish.
Scales off, guts out. Medium heat to sear the outside slow, basting oil on top. Flip when ready.
But the pressure cooker fallout hit hard.
"Damn! What—how?!"
"Host? Hint! Hint please!"
The host's urgent tone shattered Park Su-han's cool.
Flame on, burnt stench creeps in; off, undercooked.
Simple fix: scrape the char. But with his brain fried, no dice.
"First... rice... gotta be done by now."
He slapped his cheeks beet red. Grabbed the pressure cooker's lid, simmering low.
"Yup."
Per host, fiddled the weight. Should've whooshed steam. Silence.
His vow to nail the rice? Shattered by the mush inside.
Total paste.
Rice flop. Fish flop.
Desperate salvage: fresh fish.
But time crunching down. Tension-shaky hands, blank mind. Everything went south—second fish ended up a knife-shredded rag.
Un-grillable.
In the end, Park Su-han botched both the grilled fish and rice as time expired.
The host called it out like prime entertainment, while cams ruthlessly captured Park Su-han forehead-planted in despair on the counter and Kim Haneul with eyes squeezed shut.