Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Live Cooking Broadcast
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Time flew by, and before I knew it, Monday—the day I was supposed to meet Shin Dong-hyun—had arrived.
The weather had turned quite chilly.
After dropping Yu-na off at kindergarten, I used the remaining time to jog along the walking path near our house, loosening up my stiff body.
"Hoo..."
Now my body finally felt a bit lighter.
I sat on a bench for a moment and wiped the sweat dripping down with the towel draped around my neck.
Going to the gym consistently had become a habit, and it felt like my body was craving exercise.
They told me not to overdo it, so this much should be fine.
I closed my eyes tightly, savoring the leisurely time, when my phone in my pocket rang noisily, oblivious to the moment.
Viiiing!
It was a call from Shin Dong-hyun.
What? Has that much time already passed?
It was already 11 a.m.
I hurriedly answered the phone.
-Hey, you didn't forget about our meeting, right?
"Of course not. I'm out at the park for a bit. My body was stiff this morning, so I went for a run."
-Got it. I'm almost at your place, so let's meet up and talk.
Click! The call ended.
I let out a quiet sigh and looked up at the blue sky.
'This is gonna be a tiring day...'
***
I hurried home and focused on cleaning. Seeing the floor gleaming, I nodded in satisfaction.
'Good, this is perfect.'
Ding-dong!
Right on cue, the doorbell rang.
Checking the intercom, I saw Shin Dong-hyun, looking quite manly now, waving cheerfully.
"...No peddlers."
-Hey! Who're you calling a peddler? Open the damn door!
I let out a chuckle.
Shin Dong-hyun overreacted to my teasing, which made it fun to mess with him.
'His reaction's the same as at the housewarming.'
Suppressing a laugh, I opened the front door. Shin Dong-hyun stormed in, his dress shirt slung over one arm, huffing.
He dropped the bag on his back onto the floor and furrowed his brow.
"Do I look like a peddler to you?"
"It was a joke. Why so serious?"
"Whatever. Can I get some water?"
He was sweating, so I shrugged and pointed to the side of the fridge.
"Water purifier's over there."
"Man, what's with this high-rise? Elevators all under maintenance at the same time? I thought I was gonna die climbing up."
"Didn't happen when I came up."
He gulped down the water, flapped his sleeveless shirt, and came out of the kitchen.
His shoulders were broader than before, and his arm muscles were prominent. Shin Dong-hyun's body had clearly changed, visible even to my eyes.
"...Been working out? You look different from before."
The corner of Shin Dong-hyun's mouth curved up.
"Yeah? How's it look? Pretty good, right?"
He flexed his thicker arms proudly, and I burst out laughing.
"That's muscle? It's baby fat. Baby fat."
If it were that bear-like guy, maybe, but in front of this dude?
My confidence surged, shoulders squaring up.
I could tell at a glance that my body was better than his.
I mimicked the pose he struck and flexed my own arm.
"See this? This is muscle. Rookie."
"......"
"Now that you've worked out, you won't lose to Grandpa in stamina, right?"
"......"
Dong-hyun's eyebrows twitched.
Better cut the teasing here.
I lightly patted Shin Dong-hyun's back to change the subject.
"Hey, what do you want for food? Order delivery? Or should I make something?"
"Oh! Hold up."
He flashed a meaningful smile and draped his arm over my shoulder.
"Hey, I just got a great idea."
"...Why the creepy grin? What's up?"
"We said we'd do a talk segment in Part 1, right? Change of plans: live stream of Lee Jun-seo cooking! What do you think? Sounds good?"
"Hmm... Not bad. How many subscribers you got? Not less than before, I hope?"
Shin Dong-hyun bristled at my words.
"What kinda question is that? I may not have as many as you, but I've got plenty. Your agency set up a personal channel for you. So why aren't you streaming?"
Oh, right, that.
I'd been so busy, it slipped my mind.
I averted Dong-hyun's gaze.
***
Dong-hyun unpacked his gear from the bag and finished setting up for the broadcast.
'The equipment's pretty pro-level?'
A collapsible tripod with a small phone mounted, plus a spare phone to check comments one by one.
"Broadcast setup's done."
"So we start right away?"
"You just cook and answer my questions. Part 1's talk time."
Fair enough.
I double-checked the neatly prepped ingredients and nodded slightly.
Today's dish: grilled chicken breast ribs, what I'd been eating during workouts.
Simple to make, good to eat.
"Start now?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
The live stream began.
Shin Dong-hyun stood awkwardly next to me and waved at the camera.
"Hello, everyone. Special guest today only: actor Lee Jun-seo. He's a close friend of mine too."
"Hello. This is actor Lee Jun-seo."
I waved like Shin Dong-hyun, and comments started flooding in. Viewers were climbing fast too.
'Not a bad start?'
After the bright greeting, Shin Dong-hyun read the scrolling comments.
"Yes, that's right. Today, my friend actor Lee Jun-seo will cook for us personally. And..."
An endlessly long explanation.
It was so boring, I yawned involuntarily.
Cut it short...
"No! This is my stream!"
What to do with this guy getting carried away by viewers... I nudged his side with my elbow to signal him to wrap it up.
"Oh! Was I rambling?"
"...Yeah. Can't you see the viewers? 300 just left."
"Th-then... shall we start?"
I nodded, picked up the knife, and scored the chicken breast in a honeycomb pattern.
Next, the all-important marinade.
"Whoa! Nimble hands."
"I make it often at home."
"Why the honeycomb cuts?"
"So the marinade soaks in better."
It was such a simple dish that my hands didn't stop even as I answered.
I quickly whipped up the marinade, added the scored chicken breast, and let out a deep breath.
Now, just marinate for 30 minutes.
Salad can go on when it's time to grill.
"...What? Already done?"
"Told you it's simple. Marinate 30 minutes, then grill."
"Uh, then..."
Didn't expect it to end this fast, huh?
His fumbling, glancing at me—it was hilarious.
'Guess I gotta help him out.'
I washed my hands clean and cleared my throat.
"Ahem! How about a Q&A to fill the time?"
"Oh! Perfect. Then..."
Dong-hyun glanced at the endlessly scrolling chat, grinned, and tossed a question my way.
"The drama airing soon—think it'll hit number one in ratings?"
"No clue."
Gotta brush off sensitive questions like that to avoid weird rumors later.
Saying it'll definitely top the charts would come off as arrogant.
"Next question... Pfft. Lots of Yu-na questions. Can you answer this one?"
I shrugged.
"Obviously at kindergarten."
"Next one..."
Answering these pointless questions, 30 minutes flew by.
Time to resume cooking.
I took out the marinated chicken breast and placed them one by one on the oiled frying pan.
Sizzle.
The appetite-stimulating aroma wafted gently, making my mouth water.
"Wow... the smell is killer."
While the chicken grilled, I whipped up the salad with quick hands.
Now, just plate the golden-brown chicken, and done.
"Whew... all finished."
"Wow, looks mouthwatering just to see. I'll dig in first."
As Shin Dong-hyun reached for the food, I checked the nonstop scrolling comments.
-Cooking guy... so cool.
-Should I learn to cook too?
-Oppa!! You're so cool!
-My lunch is samgyeopsal.
-I'm in culinary school, and his knife skills are like our prof's. What was college for...
-Chicken breast can look tasty. News to me.
-Just one bite!! Gimme some!
-Yu-na doesn't just eat chicken breast, right? She's growing...
-Pig!! You eating alone? Tell us how it tastes!
I flinched at one comment midway.
Hope there's no misunderstanding.
"Ahem! I don't give Yu-na the food I eat. Don't get the wrong idea. If I gave her chicken breast and boiled eggs... she'd sulk for days."
-lololololol I'd love to see that.
-Me too!!
-Allowed just today. Give Yu-na chicken and boiled eggs later.
-lololo I can picture it.
The chat flooded with lol's.
Everyone curious about sulky Yu-na, even suggesting I give her chicken and eggs later.
"Whew, that hit the spot. So good."
Before I knew it, Shin Dong-hyun had polished off my dish, patting his belly.
He ate all that by himself?
Didn't leave any for me?
I checked the plate just in case—spotless, not a scrap left.
I stared blankly at the empty dish and sighed softly.
Whatever, can't be helped.
I'll end the live and eat whatever.
"Sigh... you're a total pig. Tastes better alone?"
"Kh-hm! It was good."
***
Part 1 of the live stream finally wrapped up.
It ran longer than expected, so I filled up on bread. I glared at Shin Dong-hyun, who was rolling on the floor laughing right beside me.
What to do with this guy rewatching his own drama.
"Ahaha! Hey, know what I was feeling back then? Never even dated, and here I am giving love advice. Total self-loathing."
"...Yeah?"
I turned my gaze to the TV.
The drama's final episode was airing soon.
'She Is My Rainbow.'
Shin Dong-hyun played the friend who helps the male lead, a guy who's never dated.
Did this one do well in ratings too?
I secretly searched on my phone without him noticing: 14.6%.
A bit below my high school series, but still.
Impressive achievement.
So... Dong-hyun might snag a Best New Actor award this time.
'TW Network.'
Too bad it's a different network, so no awards show together...
"Hey, that's me now. Kinda awkward, right? Don't you think?"
"...It's just not right for you."
Shin Dong-hyun's face suddenly hardened, his eyes gleaming with burning ambition to learn.
"What? What do you mean?"
If you're curious...
It's a simple yet profound answer—he'll figure it out.
I shrugged and replied.
"Mix blue paint with red paint—is it red?"
"I should use red paint, but I'm blue... mixing makes it wrong?"
Oh, this guy's sharp. I nodded. I phrased it all profound, but he got it spot on.
"Exactly. You nailed it."
"So that's it... If I'm blue, what color are you?"
"I'm white. Blends into any role without awkwardness."
I looked up smugly, and his face crumpled.
Yep, fun to tease him.