Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Reviving Dead Oil
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-What??
-It's turned to charcoal
-lololololololololololololololol
-WTF no way, it just turned pitch black the moment we went in
-Why is it doing that???
-Oing?
The chat flooded with confusion, and I felt cold sweat trickling down my back. I'd been feeling uneasy ever since the outdoor broadcast setup.
I hadn't noticed amid everything, but now I saw pale smoke rising from the oil.
"Ah....... This is why cooking outdoors without proper heat control is so tough. The oil's burnt."
-Is oil supposed to burn like that?
-It looks fine
-It's not even bubbling, and that's burnt?
"In most home kitchens, the temperature doesn't usually climb high enough to burn the oil, so a lot of people don't know about it. Cooking oil burns too, of course. It's not like it lasts forever."
-No way, I didn't know;;
-Oil burns too?
-How do you tell?? It looks the same
"You have to assume it's burnt when smoke like this starts rising. It doesn't leave black scorch marks; it turns into smoke and goes up, right? Different oils burn at slightly different temperatures....... Ayu, I once tried cooking with it and look what happened."
I glared at the camera resentfully for no reason. If we'd filmed in the studio, this wouldn't have happened!
-Do you have to throw out the oil and start over?
-Broadcast time's gonna overrun T_T
-Waste of oil
-Where do you even throw that away??
The chat was full of complaints.
'Throw out the oil and reboil? Not enough time. Push through? The temp's too high and it'll all burn.'
A true dilemma.
"Hoo."
No choice.
I let out a deep sigh and continued.
"Everyone. In a normal home, just toss the oil and use fresh stuff. Got it? Don't try this just because I am. I'm only doing it because of time constraints, okay?"
I emphasized it repeatedly, and the chat started filling with '???', 'What are you gonna do' messages.
"I'm going to show you how to revive dead oil! Exclusive for this time only. Watch closely~?"
I first pulled out the remaining dough lumps. I'd planned to make handmade noodles with the leftovers, but no dice.
"Okay, break up dough like this and prepare it. Oil splatters a lot, so absolutely do not try this at home?"
I gestured to the camera director filming beside me.
"Step back. You'll get hurt."
At my warning, the camera director scurried backward. I slipped on rubber gloves to protect both arms, then stood before the still-spewing acrid smoke oil.
Splash!
Tossing in the dough lumps made thick clouds of smoke billow up.
"Cough! Ack!"
I heard the camera director who'd been filming me cough harshly.
"Further back! Way further!"
"Yes, yep!"
At my shout, the camera director retreated even more. The oil sizzled viciously as it charred the dough in seconds.
-????
-What the heck are you doing
-Cant see anything through the smoke
-What's going on right now?
-Is everything okay?? Thought it caught fire...
"I'm lowering the oil temperature!" No worries~. Director, don't come closer yet. Putting in more. This time a big lump!"
Last time small pieces, now a big handful.
Plop!
Oil splashed everywhere. I barely dodged back. Phew.
As the smoke cleared a bit, I fanned it away with my hand and approached. I fished out the blackened dough bits with a strainer.
The oil seemed a tad more stable than before. But still not frying temp.
"Last step: adding water. This one's seriously dangerous if you mess up. Absolutely do not try it!"
Putting the wrong thing in burning oil can make flames shoot up. I know safe methods from experience and am trying it outdoors, but regular folks at home could get bad burns.
I warned repeatedly and uncapped a water bottle.
Glug glug!
-?!?!
-Pouring water into oil lololol
-No way does that work?
-※Do not imitate unless professional※
-Saving oil? Looks more like killing it;;
At first, pouring water made the oil splatter wildly, but soon it started calming down.
When the temp seemed right, I stopped and checked the oil.
Good. This should do it.
"Yes. Looks like the oil CPR worked. Let me test with some prepped tempura."
-Did it really work, chef??
-No clue what's different from before 1
-Living to see oil CPR
-Oil water pour show lololol
Sizzle!
Dropping in battered sweet potato and zucchini first made a delicious frying sound.
When they turned golden brown, I pulled them out—looked mouthwateringly perfect to anyone.
"Ta-da. Success, right?"
-It actually worked
-He revived it
-Wow
-How??
-Incredible
Phew. Nearly ruined the broadcast. Word must've spread to other streams about my oil stunt, because viewers had actually increased.
I smiled brightly and said,
"Alright, shall we continue?"
The path to victory was smooth sailing.
Riiip...
Raindrops pattered down. The sound against the window drew my gaze unconsciously.
"President."
"Oh, Team Leader Jo."
"What's got you so distracted?"
"Ah......"
Caught, I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
"It's the heavy rain."
"It's the rainy season."
"Yeah, that too."
I gazed at the downpour with mixed feelings. This storm was set to last ten days straight.
As someone who knew the future, how could I not feel uneasy?
"Should I give the report later? It was about the new hires."
"Send it in writing; I'll check it. Newbies are mostly your training anyway, Team Leader Jo. Once the staff's up to speed, your load lightens too."
"Yes. Thanks to you, I'm even leaving on time now."
"Hahaha...."
Felt like a sleazy boss pricking my conscience. But I was compensating with incentives for their hard work, so cut me some slack.
Brushing the report aside entirely, Jo Yi-ruk grinned playfully and brought up chit-chat.
"When did you learn to revive dead oil?"
"......You watch Mastel too?"
"It was fun. Good ratings too."
Ugh. Even Jo Yi-ruk watched that.
Even if it's the president's show, how does he find time amid the busyness?
Unlike polished formats, it was raw and unfiltered, making me embarrassed.
He probably saw me bickering with viewers over sugar portions too?
Suddenly mortified, I hid my burning face and mumbled,
"Experience. Just experience."
"Your days must be twice as long as everyone else's, President. Where do all those experiences even come from?"
From regression, I couldn't say.
Jo Yi-ruk naturally shifted his gaze outside. The rain showed no sign of stopping.
His eyes on the rain seemed unusually somber.
Even sensing my stare, Jo Yi-ruk kept watching the window wordlessly. His profile hinted at deep contemplation.
Some worry on his mind?
Tilting my head curiously, Jo Yi-ruk spoke first.
"Saw on the news: the monsoon front isn't clearing anytime soon. Heavy rain through next week means serious crop damage."
"......"
"That's why I urgently called Jihyang Township. Heard something interesting."
"......What?"
His tone felt off, so I eyed him closely.
"They said Jihyang Township isn't counted as a flood-affected area this time."
"......"
"Quite the coincidence."
He emphasized 'coincidence'. Not my imagination.
I chuckled dryly.
"Wordplay on my name? Didn't peg you for childish, Team Leader Jo."
"No, the opposite."
Jo Yi-ruk dashed my attempt to brush it off. He turned to face me directly.
"I want to confirm it's no coincidence."
"......"
"Because Song Woo-yeon doesn't rely on coincidence. Right?"
Unsure how to reply, I clamped my mouth shut. What was his angle?
I couldn't fathom why Jo Yi-ruk was suddenly like this. Reviewing our past talks, nothing stood out.
What had made him so urgent?
No internal reasons I knew of. So it had to be external......
Something clicked.
"You always act like you know everything. Not like you were really god-touched or anything. The source doesn't matter anyway."
Jo Yi-ruk looked thirsty for answers. Desperate to confirm something.
"Team Leader Jo."
I called softly.
"Who contacted you?"
"......"
"OJ? Ot Tokki? Or...... Hyunmu?"
Naming 'Hyunmu' made Jo Yi-ruk flinch. Bingo.
"Headhunting's no taboo in the industry, job changes are personal freedom.... But snagging key talent like this ain't ethical. Hyunmu's something else, huh?"
I smiled at Jo Yi-ruk. He seemed shocked I'd seen through it.
"So. What'd you say?"
That was the key.
What Jo Yi-ruk answered.
Whichever way, they'd offer better pay, conditions than here.
Was Jo Yi-ruk loyal enough to me to turn down sweet talk?
"......I......"
Jo Yi-ruk slowly opened his mouth.