Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Online Backlash
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"Whoa... People's reactions are scary."
Bong Kang-min stuck out his tongue as he spoke. Across from him, Jeong Ha-neul—who had just downed a shot of gaoliang liquor—asked back.
"Really? That bad?"
"Don't even get me started. They're flooding my Facebook with dislikes and carrying on."
Bong Kang-min swiped his phone screen around to show them.
It was a post that didn't mention Song Wooyeom at all. Yet the comments were entirely about Song Wooyeom.
"With all the major articles dropping, it's hitting hard. Plus, everyone knows—people watch broadcasts with bloodshot eyes, dying to find even the tiniest flaw to latch onto."
"That's true, but still."
Jeong Ha-neul had felt it a few times himself. There had been minor controversies sparked by broadcast content before.
"Especially Wooyeom. He's prime bait for them to sink their teeth into."
Young age, no parents, high school grad who struck it big early with killer business sense.
Plenty of reasons for people to resent him. Of course, that very unconventional path was what made Song Wooyeom so special and appealing.
No one else could mimic those fresh, bouncy ideas of his.
"Oof, it's not just me—everyone around me has their comment sections in chaos."
Bong Kang-min had been checking the accounts of people publicly known to be friends with Song Wooyeom.
"This guy—the mukbang YouTuber who's tight with Wooyeom, right? Why vent at some random spot? Geez."
He snorted in disbelief, but his fingers kept busy scrolling.
"Whoa! Chef An. Chef An's account is blowing up too?"
"......?"
An Derrick, who had been silent beside them, tilted his head.
"He has a Facebook account?"
"Yeah, he does. Last post was three years ago. People are nuts. They're digging up three-year-old posts to drop comments."
When Bong Kang-min showed him the screen, An Derrick finally remembered and let out a short "Ah."
The content was much the same.
Scoldings for associating with Song Wooyeom, sneers like "birds of a feather" implying shady character.
Most comments weren't worth responding to. And none of them were active accounts anyway.
Jeong Ha-neul, watching the whole thing, spoke in a worried tone.
"I'm concerned about Wooyeom. You think he's okay?"
"Tell me about it."
Bong Kang-min grumbled as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Sigh. I saw the articles too—just word games. What? Shorter lifespan than other brands? Most are new brands; of course they are!"
He slammed his fist down, venting his frustration, but it clearly wasn't resonating with the public.
Bong Kang-min trembled with rage as he snatched up his phone.
"That's it! Maybe I should post that our Song Chef isn't like that!"
Jeong Ha-neul held him back.
"Sigh. Chef Bong, calm down. You think Wooyeom wants that?"
"I know, but! I'm so pissed I can't stand it! Even though it's not aimed at me, I feel so indignant...!"
Bong Kang-min's voice rose, then he let out a deep sigh. His tone softened as he continued.
"I don't get how Wooyeom stays so calm."
"Right? Even our Bong Chef, who devoured enough broadcast food to feed an army, is struggling like this."
"Don't remind me. This blew up right before the last shoot."
Bong Kang-min muttered as he traced the rim of his glass with a fingertip.
"Staff, director—they all said no rush, we could reschedule. But he pushed through with the shoot anyway."
Jeong Ha-neul picked up the thread to wrap it up.
"And nailed it perfectly, just like always."
"That's what's impressive."
It was genuine admiration.
"Not many pro broadcasters could pull that off. Even in front of the camera. How many people can perfectly hide their true feelings?"
Especially under public criticism. Most would get down or turn passive in the spotlight.
But Song Wooyeom showed no sign of it.
He led the talk with perfect timing hits and pulls, unveiled new ideas, even tossed in light laughs.
If anything, the other chefs were distracted, glancing at him.
Proof of how flawlessly he'd wrapped the recording.
That was what Bong Kang-min was marveling at.
"How does he do it?"
The natural question slipped in.
Song Wooyeom was human too—public backlash should shake anyone. How did someone so young build that ironclad mentality?
It was baffling.
"That time he came to my place end-of-year, remember? He told us what happened."
"Yeah. Handled a crazy customer perfectly, showed off his cooking skills too. Even cheered up the moping staff as a bonus."
"That alone made me think, 'This kid's unreal. How's he handling stuff like that at his age?'"
But seeing him unshaken by this incident too, it felt beyond mere maturity.
Bong Kang-min's expression turned serious as he lowered his voice.
"This is just my hunch. You know how they say 'old soul'? Looks young, but acts like an old-timer."
Jeong Ha-neul and An Derrick leaned in.
"No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem like stuff a kid his age could pull off."
"So? Wooyeom's fooling us about his age? Or did he eat some pill like in that movie that shrinks you?"
"Hey! Quit joking and listen! Here's what I think..."
Gulp.
The room went so quiet they could hear someone swallowing. Bong Kang-min glanced around warily before continuing.
"What if Wooyeom... is a spy sent from North Korea?"
"......"
"......"
As the mood chilled instantly, Bong Kang-min protested.
"No, come on! At that age, with those skills! That composure! You think that's civilian level? He's a spy!"
"......Sigh. I feel dumb for taking you seriously. Chef An, ignore him."
"Yes."
As Jeong Ha-neul and An Derrick turned away, Bong Kang-min thumped his chest.
"Am I the weird one?! Isn't it reasonable to suspect? Spy hotline—no area code, 111! Or 113?"
"Both are correct."
They were bantering nonsense when—
Bzzzzt.
Bong Kang-min's phone vibrated. The name on the screen was none other than
[Song Wooyeom Chef (Cool Bald/The Song)]
Song Wooyeom.
"Speak of the devil."
"Right? But saved pretty formally."
"Gotta do it this way or I'll forget later~."
Classic Bong Kang-min—top social butterfly among chefs.
"Gotta hear his voice. Maybe he seemed fine during recording 'cause it hadn't sunk in~. If he sounds half-dead, I gotta cheer him up."
"Yeah, pick up already. He's gonna hang up."
At Jeong Ha-neul's urging, Bong Kang-min nodded.
Click.
The call connected, and Bong Kang-min jumped in with exaggerated cheer.
"Hello? Oh~, Wooyeom. I'm here with Chef Jeong and Chef An. What's up?"
-Ah, you're all together?
"You know it. Hanging out picking at dried squid is our daily routine. Would be perfect with our Song Chef too. Dang. Too bad, too bad."
-Haha. Yeah. Gotta drop by soon. Work's been crazy, but once it's sorted, I'll make time.
"SURE, sure. Can't help it if work's busy~."
After some casual check-ins, Bong Kang-min probed gently.
"But what's the occasion? Calling first amid all that hustle."
-Nothing major... You saw Facebook, right?
Song Wooyeom had been monitoring too, it seemed.
"Yeah, yeah. The comments? It's fine~. People swarm for hate posts like clockwork—nothing new."
-Sorry you're dealing with it because of me. Chef Jeong has no personal account, Chef An's basically a ghost. But you're active, Chef Bong.
So that's why he'd singled him out. Not his fault, yet here he was caring for those around him—Bong Kang-min felt grateful.
"Why apologize? You didn't order the hate. I'm totally unfazed, so don't worry about it!"
-I felt bad so I wanted to call. Thanks for saying that.
"Worry about yourself more. How you holding up? Sleep okay? Gotta take care of yourself now more than ever. Eating well?"
His warm uncle-like advice drew a small laugh from the other end.
-Thanks for worrying. But I'm really fine. Sleeping great, eating well.
"Come on, Wooyeom. No need to front with Chef Bong. He was just saying you're probably a spy."
-Pardon? A spy?
"Hey, why bring up nonsense! It was a joke~."
"Half-serious, though?"
As Bong Kang-min and Jeong Ha-neul bickered, the phone ended up in front of An Derrick.
An Derrick picked it up and spoke.
"You sure you're really okay? You always say you are. Even when you're not."
-Hahaha. Can't exactly show you my heart. Tricky.
Song Wooyeom paused, then whispered.
-It's getting announced to the press soon, but I'll give you a heads-up.
"What? What?"
-The power-trip scandal—you know most of it's exaggerated.
"Ugh, yeah! We know you're not like that. Problem is, will the public?"
Bong Kang-min ranted, and Jeong Ha-neul nodded.
-Right? So I commissioned a reliable source.
"Huh? Commissioned?"
"Reliable source?"
What was this about? As they all tilted their heads, Song Wooyeom continued.
-The Fair Trade Commission.