Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: A Warm Dorm Welcome
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"But is it okay to let an outsider like me into the trainee dorm?"
I asked once we entered the city limits of Seoul.
What if it wasn't allowed and forcing my way in caused problems later? That would be a real hassle.
Gwak Sang-hyeon smiled at my question and turned the wheel according to the phone navigation's directions as he replied.
"In principle, we should avoid outsiders coming and going. But Yo-han called, and the president gave direct permission, so don't worry too much. Just relax for the time being."
The president personally?
Seo Moon-gyeol explained in a flat tone after reading my expression.
"Yo-han hyung is the president's nephew."
The more I learned about that guy, the less I liked him.
"You don't have to thank me."
"Good. I won't."
"You're so shameless."
"What do you want me to do?"
This proved that the only thing Ban Yo-han lacked was basic human decency.
"So, there will be other people there when we arrive?"
"Yeah. Two other trainees from our group. They're really nice guys, so you should get along fine. I told them you were coming."
The car smoothly turned into a residential neighborhood. From here, it seemed like familiar territory, as Gwak Sang-hyeon turned off the phone navigation.
"We're here. You must be tired—go on up and rest."
"Aren't you coming up with us, Sang-hyeon hyung?"
"I've got work. Oh, feel free to use the company practice room if you want. It's not huge, but not many people use it, so it should be fine."
With that, Gwak Sang-hyeon dropped us and our luggage off in front of the apartment and quickly drove away from the complex.
"This is it."
A moment later, we rode the elevator up, opened the door, and stepped inside. Immediately, a mouthwatering aroma hit us, making my salivary glands kick into overdrive. I was suddenly ravenous.
"I'm hungry."
"Me too."
At that moment, a male trainee with a light cast on one leg came out toward the entrance, holding a spatula in hand.
I could tell his name was Kang Ji-woo from the marker floating above his head.
"You're here?"
Kang Ji-woo spotted me standing behind Seo Moon-gyeol and Ban Yo-han, flashed a bright smile, and approached.
"Ah, come on in."
"Hello."
"I heard about you. You probably haven't even had lunch. You must be starving. I made food, so just drop your stuff anywhere, wash your hands, and come sit."
Wow, what a genuinely good person.
We'd known each other for less than a minute, and all I knew was his name, but they say people who feed you well are good people.
"Gyeon Seong-ha! I know you're up, so come out and help set the table!"
As we took turns washing up in the single bathroom and emerging, Gyeon Seong-ha came out from the innermost room, messy-haired and holding his phone in one hand.
"Gyeol hyung's here?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you greet me?"
"...Hello, Yo-han hyung."
Gyeon Seong-ha was a tall, cool handsome guy with healthy-toned skin, bold facial lines giving an aloof impression, sharp eyes, and thick eyebrows.
But when greeting his close friend Seo Moon-gyeol, his eye corners drooped slightly, his sharp gaze softened into round, puppy-like eyes...
To put it rudely on a first meeting, he looked like a dog.
This agency might be small, but their trainee visuals are solid.
Then Ban Yo-han asked.
"Aren't you guys practicing today? Why are you here?"
Kang Ji-woo called back from the kitchen.
"Day off today. Greetings later—Seong-ha, bring out the table before the food gets cold. You guys hurry and wash up."
"We did."
"Oh, really? Then come help serve the food. Guest, just sit on the sofa."
"No, I'll help too!"
It'd be awkward to just sit while everyone else worked.
Kang Ji-woo blinked in surprise at my eager response, then nodded readily.
"Alright then. Can you help set the utensils?"
"Sure!"
I pulled out spoons and chopsticks for five from the utensil drawer and placed them on the large table Gyeon Seong-ha had set. I was shocked once by the sheer volume of food everyone brought out, and twice by how appetizing it all looked.
Even at a glance: beef hotpot, japchae, meatball soup, veggie tempura, and more not listed. The table was groaning under the weight.
Is it someone's birthday? Why so much food? And can trainees even eat this much?
A moment later, all five of us sat around the table.
Unable to hold back my curiosity, I asked Kang Ji-woo, who was sitting with his casted leg stretched out to the side.
"Did you make all this yourself?"
"Haha, yeah. Dig in."
"Insane."
"And your leg's not even fully healed."
Kang Ji-woo laughed good-naturedly at Seo Moon-gyeol's comment. What a great smile—no, he's an NPC.
"The kids worked hard today, so I showed off my skills for once. Normally, I don't make this much because of diet control. The cast comes off soon anyway, so no worries."
"It's gonna be delicious. He has a Korean cuisine certification."
Ban Yo-han chimed in.
"Ji-woo hyung, the food's getting cold."
Gyeon Seong-ha turned on the small TV in the living room with the remote, flipped channels, and said curtly.
"A toast to welcome Gyeol, who worked hard, Ra-on, and Ban Yo-han!"
Kang Ji-woo said that and lifted what looked like a glass from Daiso.
A toast? Here? Now?
Gyeon Seong-ha had a 'here we go again' look, Seo Moon-gyeol went along without much thought, and Ban Yo-han grudgingly raised his water cup.
I got swept up in the mood and lifted mine too.
"Why am I just Ban Yo-han?"
"To Yo-han. Happy now?"
"Yeah."
I could probably poke him in the side and call him the master of taking hits now.
Clink. The five glasses touched with a sharp sound.
This makes me want alcohol. Why am I only eighteen?
Pondering what to eat first, I eyed the beef hotpot in the center when a info window suddenly popped up.
No food had ever triggered an info window before? And so far, only those damn quest item chairs had shown item info.
I slowly scanned the table.
Excluding side dishes like store-bought kimchi, most of the food had special effects. Is he an artisan?
Kang Ji-woo noticed me staring and asked.
"Ra-on, not eating? Doesn't suit your taste?"
"Everything looks so delicious I was just deciding where to start. It all looks amazing."
"Thanks. Eat up."
"I'll dig in."
I scooped a generous ladle of the beef hotpot I'd eyed first and popped it in my mouth.
"!"
The moment I chewed the hotpot, a thrilling current shot through me.
Legendary cooking king BGM played as our galaxy unfolded before my eyes. A space trip via one delicious dish—truly cost-effective cosmic travel.
When in life would I taste beef hotpot this good again?
"The cabbage adds sweetness and a refreshing broth with umami to boot. The mushrooms are chewy, glass noodles springy, thinly sliced beef melts softly. Perfect in taste and nutrition."
Having eaten good food after so long, I wiped a tear of emotion from the corner of my eye with my fingertip.
"Please forgive my lack of culinary knowledge, expression, and vocabulary, leaving me unable to properly describe this masterpiece."
After a brief silence, Ban Yo-han, lips trembling as he barely swallowed his mouthful, said.
"No... you described it plenty well."
"He looks so happy."
"...Did you guys starve out there, hyungs?"
Ignoring the others, Kang Ji-woo proudly piled hotpot onto my side plate with a pleased face.
"Love seeing you enjoy it. Eat lots."
For a while, we ate in silence, inhaling the food.
How could anyone hold back with food this good?
Kim Jun-woo always nagged me for eating too little, but that was because dorm food sucked.
I can eat a lot of good stuff too.
Finally, after devouring the mountain of food, this popped up.
The era of Dae Jang Geum is over. Now it's Kang Jang Geum.
We roughly cleared the table to the kitchen, and while eating the fresh, sweet strawberries Kang Ji-woo brought out, I finally asked what had been bugging me.
"But why'd you get the Korean cuisine certification? For fun?"
Kang Ji-woo, who had been watching me eat with a pleased smile, answered with a bright laugh.
"My family's got a Korean restaurant. I dreamed of being a chef when I was little. Learned from my parents, and even after switching to idol dreams, I kept it as a hobby."
His hobby cooking is pro-level.
Like it's the webnovel title.
"When he suddenly said he wanted to be an idol, his parents opposed it for real—not empty words—for three years."
Kang Ji-woo smiled wryly at Ban Yo-han's addition.
"They still oppose it."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Barely got permission by promising to inherit the place after retiring."
"Mind if I ask why you want to be an idol? Not that there's anything wrong, but you cook too well."
"Haha, thanks. Wanna see that?"
Kang Ji-woo nodded toward the TV, which was replaying a music competition variety show.
Someone was singing a ballad from behind the screen, silhouette only.
No fancy techniques, just a clean voice—sounded like a young male singer.
His mid-range emotional delivery was outstanding, and backed by rich volume, the high notes soared stably. His volume was so good, even falsetto didn't sound thin.
Even hearing from midway, it tugged at my heartstrings.
The panelists shown occasionally had teary eyes or were dabbing them.
"What do you think?"
"He's way too good."
Kang Ji-woo grinned happily at my words.
"Keep watching."
Just then, the host finished asking him to show himself, and a man walked out from behind the screen, singing.
It was Kang Ji-woo, face slick with sweat, smiling brightly.
The TV host shouted excitedly.
I asked, stunned.
"You debuted?"
"Almost, but no."
Kang Ji-woo turned back to the TV. The host and TV Kang Ji-woo were talking.
Trainee? Just from the singing, he has debut-level skill ten times over. Nothing left to polish.
Reading my expression, Kang Ji-woo smiled bitterly and explained.
"Before joining Seed, I was in a debut lineup elsewhere, but got cut at the last minute when the group concept changed."
Kang Ji-woo fell silent, and the TV host continued inside.