Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Food Court (2)
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Beep beep.
"Sigh. What a hassle."
I turned off the alarm that blared earlier than usual. I tapped the screen to check the time. 10:20 a.m. We were the type who edited late into the night and slept in the next day, usually not waking up until 11.
But today was the day I was helping out Park Su-han, so I got up earlier than normal.
I glanced over. Sister was still fast asleep. Her slightly open mouth and soft breathing made her look adorable.
I gently peeled the strand of hair from the corner of her mouth and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"I'll be back."
I grabbed my jacket and headed out. There was an unfamiliar car parked in front of the house. The license plate matched the one Park Su-han had given me, so I knocked on the window.
He'd come to pick me up since Sister was still sleeping.
"You look tired. You okay?"
"Just a little worn out. No need to worry about it."
"I was worried I might've called you too early. Haha. Want a ride back later too?"
"Nah. Sister's picking me up on the way back, so I'll just wander around the area and head home."
Spending the whole day like this felt like a waste, so now that I was out, I figured I'd make it a date as well.
Park Su-han claimed he knew the neighborhood inside out and rattled off recommendations for great eats and date spots.
I jotted it all down diligently, mapping out a date itinerary.
"Anyway, let's get down to business. What's the exact format for the content?"
"Oh, guess I didn't explain. Our food court spot is near the sculpture festival. We were gonna go solo at first, but then subscribers would just show up, eat, and leave. So we coordinated with the festival organizers at the district office."
"Makes sense. Standalone might lose traction."
"We're doing it food truck style. Goal is max sales volume, and restaurants slow turnover. Me, Junhyeok, and Suil hyung will all run trucks, selling for five days straight."
That was when a question hit me.
I'd assumed "food court" meant the three of them working one spot. Different menus, so if one messed up, the others could cover. That's why I figured an inexperienced Park Su-han roped in Kim Suil.
But separate trucks? Park handling orders solo?
I resolved to drill him hard—no room for screw-ups.
"By yourself? That's a heavy load for one person."
"With my manager. Size is about half a bus—plenty of room."
"Menus?"
"Simple toast and hot chocolate for me. Junhyeok's burgers. Suil hyung's jjajang and menbosha."
"Menbosha and jjajang?"
I wasn't sold on Suil's menu picks.
Neither dish was tough. Prep ahead, just cook to order. Fine for a regular restaurant.
But a million-sub YouTuber? Crowds would swarm. Fumbling under pressure? Disaster waiting.
"Told him stick to one item, but he wouldn't budge. Suil hyung's stubborn about that stuff. He'll manage."
* * *
Inside the cooking studio, Jin Junhyeok and Kim Suil were already there. Fragrant aromas swirled—must've been practicing.
Park Su-han grabbed the camera right away.
"I invited a pro chef guest. Viewers will know him. Introduce yourself."
Park aimed the lens at me. I'd heard about "making-of" footage in the car, so I rolled with it naturally.
"Hey everyone. Kim Haneul here, going by Chihuahua Throne on Suhan's channel."
"Oh? Finally owning the Chihuahua Throne title?"
"Hate to admit it, but subscribers started calling me that, so... yeah."
My vibe shifted around Sister versus others, and feedback vids caught it—fans dubbed me Chihuahua.
Park's cheeky grin irked me. I flashed my wristwatch.
"Got all the time in the world?"
"Whoops, right. Let's cook."
Park hustled out ingredients. Sliced bread, mayo, mozzarella, sugar, butter—the classics for toast.
He snuck a glance at me, then made it his usual way.
Made a mayo sauce, fried egg and bread, topped with salad.
Plenty to nitpick process-wise, but I held my tongue till it was done.
"All set."
Park handed over the finished toast.
Crunch.
Crispy bread, balanced sauce cutting the bacon's grease. Damn good for a non-cook like Park. Effort showed.
"How is it?"
"Tasty. How long you practice?"
"Seriously at it for a week. Love toast, so I make it often anyway."
Taste was solid. Tweaks could elevate it big time.
Speed was the issue.
I showed him my phone. Timer from when he started cooking.
7 minutes 20 seconds. Ingredients prepped, just grill bacon, cheese-egg, bread? Way too slow.
"Event day's gonna draw crowds."
Festival-goers plus Park fans? Dozens at least, hundreds maybe. Serve 'em toast? Gotta clock under five minutes.
"Five minutes? Grilling alone takes that."
"Max out the griddle. Grill bread, eggs, bacon on one side—next batch on the other."
His rental truck had a griddle. Toast needs lots of grilling—beats pans or woks.
Fast toast joints divvy the griddle into zones, multitask. Exploit every inch, slash time.
"Eggs? Skip loose—buy square molds online. Bacon? Direct heat zones."
More talk might confuse him. Demo time.
"Finally showing the master touch!"
Park seized the moment, camera on me. Planned this, the sneak.
I chuckled at his filming obsession and fired up the griddle.
Toast's more mainstream in the West than Korea. Bread culture over rice.
I'd whipped up all sorts for breakfast—no formal study, but confident.
Butter first, then eggs and four bread slices at once. Demo overload.
Two eggs, bacon searing on the hottest spot. While it cooked, whipped sauce with planned mix.
"Sauce is toast's soul. Mayo-ketchup's fine, but variety's better."
Mixed mayo, sweet corn, mozz, sugar, parsley. Cheese later works, but slows you.
Speed was key here.
Taste dips? Cheap price covers. Slow? Customers bail.
Ingredients done—stacked 'em. Shredded cabbage, heavy sauce drizzle.
"Cheese won't melt like that."
"Close the wrapper, press—melts quick. Outdoors cold? Test mornings. Reheat on griddle if needed."
Park chomped a huge bite. Chews later, nonstop raves.
"Whoa. Just sauce tweak and it's this good? Sweet, corn crunch, salad bite—killer."
"Mind if I try?"
Jin Junhyeok eyed the leftover toast. Park claimed it, but I shoved it over with napkin.
"Hey, Haneul, that's mine..."
"Making more. Chew what's in your mouth. Hustle."
Shut Park up, reloaded the griddle. Plenty big—zone it right, cook for three or four easy.
"Su-han? Gonna eat all day?"
"Oh yeah. Junhyeok, don't hog. That's mine."
"Save the best for yourself? Uh, Haneul? One more okay?"
"Think so? That's for me, he made it..."
"Sure. Go for it."
Ignored Park's betrayed pout, stepped aside.
"Prep your ingredients."
Park dove in. Slow knife work shredding cabbage, measuring sauce. All set, grilled.
Clumsy at first, but my pointers smoothed him out.
His toast went straight to Jin Junhyeok's mouth.
"Junhyeok. Taste?"
"Better than before. Crispy bread. Still miles from Haneul's."
"Don't compare to Haneul. Worth 4,000 won?"
"4k? Yeah, solid buy. I'd get it."
"Taste's there. Now speed."
Park slumped toward a chair for a breather, face falling as he stood. No mercy—I pushed for peak pace.
Park grilled toast after toast, repeat grind.
"Haneul? Little help?"
"You're burgers, right Junhyeok?"
"Yeah. Store patties into chicken and bulgogi burgers."
"Give it a go."
Spotted flaws in his ingredients and method. About to advise—Kim Suil jumped in. Attention hog again. I backed off.
Guy's a chef too. He'll handle.
"Haneul. Break time?"
"Fine. But next meetup? Grill two at once. Got it?"
"Yessir!"
Park saluted playfully. That's how I coached him straight to eve-of-event level: five toasts simultaneous.
He caught plenty of my sharp tongue, but seemed pleased with the results.