Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Surprise Assistant
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"Haha. Surprised? I'm your assistant!"
There was no way I could spit in Do-kyeong's brightly smiling face. For now, I responded with a big grin.
"Wow~! What is this? So you're the 'acquaintance' the PD mentioned?"
Come to think of it, I remembered Do-kyeong mentioning something about broadcasting last time we talked.
- Hey, can I contact you again later? I have something to ask.
- Something to ask?
- Yeah. One of the recent filming offers I got...
The call cut off abruptly back then, so I didn't hear the details. Was that filming offer this very show?
As I made a puzzled face, Do-kyeong spoke up first.
"I got the offer to appear even before the program format changed. I figured hearing about the content and getting your advice would help. I just never imagined you'd end up appearing yourself."
"Ah-ha."
"I asked them not to tell you I was coming on because I wanted to surprise you. Looks like the surprise worked?"
"Yeah. Totally."
Just thinking about how his fandom would tear me apart online was already giving me a headache.
Of course, knowing Do-kyeong was appearing wouldn't have changed the outcome. There was no reason to turn down a massive hit program.
Still, I could've prepared myself mentally at least.
I was inwardly grumbling at PD Kim Hee-seong for no reason when someone approached and spoke up.
"Oh my. Are you two already close?"
I turned to see a refined beauty standing there.
They called this kind of award the free pass for first impressions. Her smiling face was bright and wrinkle-free.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Im Hye-eun. I'll be the MC joining you two for [Alley Secrets] filming."
"Ah~."
Do-kyeong let out a short exclamation.
Right, they said it was a trio. It seemed Im Hye-eun was filling the last spot as MC.
We'd only exchanged a few words, but her pronunciation was crisp and clear. Her diction was the kind that lodged right in your ear.
She didn't say it, but she clearly had announcer experience.
'Anno uncers going freelance has been popular lately.'
I cautiously guessed Im Hye-eun had followed a similar path.
'The original [Alley Secrets] format wasn't like this. The cast has changed a lot.'
With the format overhaul, the lineup had shifted dramatically too.
"Hello. I'm Song Woo-yeon."
I greeted her first, and Do-kyeong hurriedly bowed beside me.
"I'm Do-kyeong from !"
"Haha. You're both so famous, of course I know you~. Looking forward to working together. even took first on a music show recently. I always listen to your songs on my commute."
"Gasp. Thank you!"
Im Hye-eun kept the conversation going by hyping us up just the right amount.
"I'm looking forward to Chef Song Woo-yeon's performance too... Oh, right. You don't like being called chef, do you?"
I nodded awkwardly.
"Then I'll call you President from now on. How's that?"
"President?"
"Yes. A lot of shop owners will appear going forward, so calling everyone 'President' or 'Owner' might get confusing. You're also the company CEO, so 'President' fits better, don't you think?"
In my past life, it was a familiar title. As the company grew, I heard 'President' more often than 'Owner.'
It seemed that time had come.
"Call me whatever's comfortable. It's not that I hate being called chef—I'm just worried viewers might misunderstand."
"Then it's settled: President Song Woo-yeon."
Sorting out titles first gave off pro host vibes. It was minor, but we'd be addressing each other a lot on air.
Better to nail it down early to avoid hurt feelings.
Im Hye-eun tilted her head slightly toward Do-kyeong and asked,
"How about 'Do-kyeong' for you?"
"Yes, yes. Just Do-kyeong is fine too."
"Then Do-kyeong it is."
She'd asked us both, so now it was our turn. Do-kyeong looked a bit dazed, clearly not used to this 'business' side of things.
In the end, I stepped in to finalize the titles once more.
"Im Hye-eun, then? Or MC Im Hye-eun?"
"Either works for me. MC Im Hye-eun sounds too formal, so Im Hye-eun it is?"
"Yes. Sounds good."
"Yep!"
Just as I thought we'd wrapped up introductions, Im Hye-eun gave a sly smile and glanced between me and Do-kyeong.
"I heard you two are the same age. But your vibes are totally different."
"Haha. Really?"
It couldn't be helped.
Our apparent ages matched, but our inner contents were worlds apart. Side by side, the difference was obvious. People who didn't know my secret would just see me as an old soul.
"I bet we'll get some fun chemistry on air~! The chemistry between Anderic Chef and President Song Woo-yeon was such a hot topic on [Fridge Raid], right? Century's rivals!"
Yeah, that happened. They edited it so provocatively.
"Let's create same-age chemistry on [Alley Secrets] that tops even that!"
Im Hye-eun spoke with enthusiasm, and Do-kyeong, caught up in it, nodded with sparkling eyes.
"Sounds good. Fighting!"
What was good about it? Getting paired like that might really get me mobbed by his fans.
But I couldn't show it in front of those two cheering.
With a bitter swallow, I joined in.
"Fighting...!"
The filming location was a somewhat out-of-the-way spot in Seoul, down an alley that was a good ten-minute walk from Seull Station.
Since it was an unknown show and most locals shied away from cameras, securing spots had taken longer than expected, I'd heard.
After much hassle, three shops clustered cozily in this 'Seulldong Alley' had accepted the offer.
Before starting, PD Kim Hee-seong gave a quick rundown.
"We told them filming would begin this month, but not the exact date. So they won't be expecting us today. That way we get natural reactions and see their usual selves."
I nodded. Pre-notice often led to contrived scenes.
Like suddenly obsessing over hygiene only for cameras or serving higher-quality food than usual.
"First, go in and greet them as President Song Woo-yeon. The owners will just hand over the menu and head to the control room. Then you'll eat and evaluate while they watch via camera from there."
No awkwardness of harsh critiques to their face. If something was off, they could critique freely.
"After that, point out areas for improvement. You're the expert here, so just do your thing comfortably."
"Got it."
"Im Hye-eun, make the owners feel at ease when they arrive. Do-kyeong, great reactions on the side."
"Yep!"
"Sure~."
PD Kim Hee-seong smiled and shouted,
"Filming starts now~!"
It had finally begun.
I grabbed my personal cam and headed out, trailed by a couple of shooting directors filming me.
We were en route to the first shop for [Alley Secrets]: [Mom-and-Son Budae Stew].
Not the official name—just a nickname since mom and son ran it together.
Even walking from the control room, I scanned the surroundings carefully.
"What are you looking at so closely?"
One of the camera directors asked.
"Checking out the alley's business district is important too."
"Business district?"
The camera guy sounded a bit puzzled.
It was an alley lined with old brick apartments. No real commercial vibe.
Mostly faded signs for a convenience store, hardware shop, and hair salon.
"Low foot traffic means relying purely on regulars."
"Ah~."
"Places like this really need to be delicious to draw people in."
"Busy streets would be better for business, right?"
"That's the norm, but not always."
I added briefly,
"Prime spots mean high key money and rent. High sales don't guarantee much profit for the owner."
"Right."
"And bigger operations take bigger hits when business dips."
That's why I always recommended small one-person shops. Even our company's franchise brands started small.
"Self-employed folks hit slumps sometimes. Economy tanks or whatever. High rent and fixed costs kill endurance."
The pressure to hit steady high profits every month leads to fidgeting.
Rushed decisions follow. Hiking prices to cut losses can tank sales irreversibly.
Scanning as I walked, an old shop soon came into view.
[Uijeongbu Budae Stew House]
Seulldong and Uijeongbu were pretty far apart.
'Mom-and-son run, so maybe mom's from Uijeongbu?'
Plausible. I'd ask later. For now, I flung open the door.
"Hello~."
Stepping in with a greeting, the first thing I saw was the empty shop hall.
Next up was...
"Welcom~."
A son mangling "Welcome" halfway.
Eyes glued to his phone. Sitting in a corner fiddling with it, he tossed a half-hearted greeting, then looked up late.
"Take any se... Gasp!"
He glanced between me and the cameramen, horror slowly spreading across his face.
Wow.
In shorts and slippers, no less.
'Customer service: zero out of ten for starters.'