Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Our Idol (3)
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‘Well, they’ll cover it somehow.’
If not, they could slap on a bandage. No, they’d probably edit it in post. Then even my great physique would just look funny.
Whatever, that wasn’t my problem.
Hush turned to the camera.
“I wanted to show the Hush Hush fans Dolsoe’s charm! Sorry!”
He smiled brightly like an idol, but unfortunately, sweat had smeared his yellow Hush eyeliner.
‘Even like that, kind fans might like it.’
Whatever, that wasn’t my problem either.
“We’ll definitely win the next event! No matter what it takes! We won’t hold back on methods or means!”
They gathered and stuck out their arms.
“Hush! Hush! Fighting!”
Couldn’t watch.
I smiled awkwardly. The MC came back over to us.
“Hush says they won’t hold back on methods or means. What about Zenith?”
Yoo Hajin answered reluctantly.
“Ah, it’d be nice if they did hold back.”
Hajin hyung, how could you be so honest?
I quickly followed up on the leader’s words.
“We’ll... block their methods and means well?”
I glanced at Hush like it was scary. The MC smirked at me.
‘Veteran MC, he caught on.’
I was appealing to the viewers that I was scared.
I quietly met the MC’s eyes. The sharp guy blinked as if he got it perfectly.
You bastards at the broadcasting station. Hush is one thing, but you’re the real problem.
‘Those guys are definitely up to something.’
What was the next matchup? Right, cooking.
‘Oh no.’
Cooking required fire by necessity.
‘No, knives are a problem first.’
Hush looked at us, chattering and laughing among themselves.
Conclusion reached.
‘If someone’s getting hurt, it has to be me.’
I smiled brightly.
In this situation, if something happened, two roles would stand out.
‘Victim and perpetrator.’
I grinned at the members.
‘The pitiful victim role only suits me, so I’ll take it.’
A plan formed neatly in my head.
Then, the director yelled.
“Cut! Part 1 end! Break time! We start again in 20 minutes!”
Stylist and manager approached. I sat on the set and stretched my back.
Kang Minje said.
“You okay?”
“Probably some muscle pain, but I’m fine now.”
“Can you cook?”
I rotated my wrist.
“Yeah, this is nothing.”
Working part-time at a restaurant, there were way more painful, tiring, tough situations.
‘Wrists were worse back then.’
Thinking of that made now feel like heaven.
‘Hush are easier than crazy customers.’
Plus, I felt the staff’s gazes.
‘Favorable toward us, dislike them.’
Meals were served ready. I just had to pick up chopsticks and eat.
Then the manager came over.
“Those guys are tough. Won’t listen.”
“Did you talk to Hush’s manager?”
“The newbie didn’t know anything. But the kids aren’t under control.”
Ah.
“So something’s gonna blow up.”
“Hush’s manager said the same. You guys watch out. This show feels scary. Bad vibes.”
I rested my chin.
“Well, since it’s gonna blow...”
I glanced at Hush. They were still chattering about us.
“Better if it explodes big here. It’ll make headlines.”
“Hey, man. Getting hurt and in scandals isn’t good.”
“Not scandal, what if it’s a heartwarming story?”
The manager’s cow-like eyes blinked.
“What’re you on about, you ambitious punk.”
“I’ll spread some heartwarming tales. Diligent, upright, steady ones.”
That’s how I become the pitiful victim.
“Aren’t they all the same?”
I smiled sweetly. The manager was about to say more when break time ended and camera setup resumed.
“Shh, cameras rolling.”
“They won’t use break footage, right?”
“They might. This show would.”
Camera light came on. Stylist fixed my clothes and stepped back.
‘Come to think of it, today’s outfit is white?’
Stains show easily.
Staff brought tables and portable burners.
‘Pretty basic.’
Not a cooking competition, so that’s fitting.
Writers brought aprons and hats.
‘Trying to make it look like real cooking.’
I quietly looked around at members.
“Anyone who can cook...? Nope.”
Hajin hyung hung his head.
“I’m on dish duty.”
My head nodded automatically.
‘He’s good at that.’
Super clean and shiny.
“Minje hyung only knows microwave, Jaeyoon you?”
“I can’t even do microwave.”
Right. That’s your brag, punk.
I quietly grabbed Lee Seungjun’s arm.
“You’re up.”
“Yeah. I’ll do it.”
Lee Seungjun, long solo living, could handle basics.
‘Basics meaning ramen, though.’
Anything that can slice bread is fine.
“Just the basics.”
“Got it.”
The polar bear guy put on the same apron as me. Muscles made it kinda funny.
‘But don’t say it.’
He’s surprisingly delicate.
“Stand by. To positions!”
Staff went down. Soon director yelled.
“Action!”
MC immediately shouted.
“Our Idols! Part 2 starts! This event is cooking!”
Woo!
I gave a soulless reaction with a happy smile.
“Menu decided by production. No internet searches!”
Ah, then tricky ones coming.
‘If it’s some unheard-of dish, tough.’
Tangpyeongchae would stump me. Nothing that complex, right?
“Once apron on, can’t leave spot. Fridge ingredients brought by non-cooking members.”
I looked at Yoo Hajin, Kang Minje, Ki Jaeyoon.
‘They’ll fetch right?’
Not idiots. Jaeyoon questionable, but others fine.
“Menu is pork cutlet!”
Ah.
‘Easy one.’
Good. Made countless at restaurant job.
“Start, fetch ingredients. Rea~dy, go!”
“Hajin hyung, pork loin, quick! Jaeyoon, breadcrumbs and eggs. Minje hyung, herbs, salt, pepper for marinade!”
Three moved fast.
“With those three, can make it at least.”
“Minimalist, huh.”
Camera on me.
“Hm. Side too? Seungjun, can you chop veggies?”
“Yeah.”
“Veggie knife here. Shred some cabbage.”
This looks friendly enough.
Up front, MC said.
“Zenith maknae again?”
“Ended up that way.”
Then Yoo Hajin and Ki Jaeyoon ran back.
‘Jaeyoon this guy...’
Told breadcrumbs, brought bread, cheese, potato chips.
‘At least eggs.’
Sigh escaped.
“Breadcrumbs?”
“Ah! Right, breadcrumbs!”
As Ki Jaeyoon turned to run, Hush swept all breadcrumbs.
Hush grinned slyly.
“Breadcrumbs gone!”
Ah, playing dirty?
I quickly found tools. Grater there, good.
“Seungjun. Remove crusts, grate bread?”
“Huh? Got it.”
“Hajin hyung brought good. Ah, salad stuff? Miso types if there.”
Gotta see first.
Yoo Hajin set loin, ran back to fridge.
Then, Kang Minje brought spices and two oil bottles.
‘Damn.’
Listens well, ideal.
“Oil needed?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Minje hyung.”
“No prob. Get more stuff.”
“Please.”
Sensemaking. That’s why he composes.
Ki Jaeyoon said.
“Me, what?”
“You...”
I smiled bitterly.
“Just get whatever you wanna eat and eat it.”
Standing still helps more.
“B-but everyone’s busy!”
Ki Jaeyoon whined, Yoo Hajin—who’d returned—dragged him off. Nice play, leader.
While talking, I pulled out loin. Pounded properly, bam bam.
Bang bang sounds drew Hush looks.
MC asked.
“Oh, Zenith pounding meat. Reason?”
“Loin good as is, but no marinate time. Better thin.”
Problem though.
‘How many to make?’
More better?
I pounded like mad. Side glance, Lee Seungjun grating bread like mad.
‘Reliable.’
Helpers different.
Lee Seungjun, half bread grated, said.
“I’ll pound meat.”
“Ah, please.”
Bang-bang-
Lee Seungjun struck down. Power different.
‘Leave to grizzly, I handle flow.’
I boiled oil first. Eyed Jaeyoon’s cheese, chips.
‘Chips for mashed potatoes.’
Mug with chips, water, microwave.
‘Herbs too.’
Prep smooth. Took one loin, sliced, cheese on top. Covered another loin.
Camera director signaled MC. MC hurried over.
“Oh, unique method!”
Sprinkled salt pepper, smiled brightly.
“Cheese pork cutlet seems good.”
Sides need fresh salty balance.
Then, Hush took all tonkatsu sauce, provoked.
“We took all sauce!”
Ah, again.
Quietly checked pans. Three portable gas stoves.
Fried flour in oil quick. Brown, added seasonings, stirred. Water last, instant sauce.
Watching Ki Jaeyoon asked.
“What’s this?”
“Sauce.”
Taste mild but okay.
Focused back on cutlets. Double-layered on medium flame.
Sizzle-
Fry noise always loud. Tong flipping, to finished Lee Seungjun.
“Take out when done.”
“Yeah!”
Prepped sides quick. Hajin hyung brought good salad stuff.
‘Yuzu syrup.’
Washed veg, tore. Sprouts pretty on big plate.
Lee Seungjun flipping cutlet.
“This good?”
“Yeah.”
MC approached.
“Wow, this Zenith cooks well. Pro level!”
Sold it before.
“Sauce unique.”
“Poor man’s demiglace.”
Proper needs much, but decent flavor hack.
“Wow, Dowon right? How’d you make all this?”
Aimed camera, said.
“Chaos. Who knew no sauce!”
Punks don’t know symbiosis.
Worked frantically. More cutlets, sides. Finished spicy miso soup.
Lee Seungjun put last cutlet in pan.
“Done.”
“Yeah. Good job.”
“Disaster without you.”
Front, Ki Jaeyoon eating snacks.
‘He’s the landmine.’
That’s on camera.
Sure enough, MC scolded Jaeyoon for snacking. Jaeyoon hungry excuse, Yoo Hajin clicked tongue beside.
Then.
One Hush passed front for ingredients. Felt ominous. I saw clearly.
‘Is that sane?’
Body moved auto. Pushed Lee Seungjun back.
‘Pour water in fry pot?’
Oil splashed wildly. Blocked with back.
‘Damn.’
Back burned hot.