Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Schedule Shake-Up and Sunrise Plans
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I glanced at the calendar.
December 30th.
The year was almost over. And yet [Alleyway Secrets] was going to air this year? Was that even possible?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Kim Hee-sung continued.
-You know that variety show star who's been in hot water over the gambling scandal, right?
"Ah. Yeah, I do."
-They were supposed to be the main host for a show that was all set to air. But the gambling scandal blew up, and everything got put on indefinite hold.
Who would've thought there was a story like that behind it.
-We need to start airing a new program tomorrow, and we're the only team that's already finished shooting and editing ahead of time.
"So we swooped in and snagged that slot, huh."
-Exactly.
Kim Hee-sung beamed as he shouted.
-Every Thursday at 9:30 PM! Prime golden time!
I wasn't exactly an expert, but even I knew the 8-to-10 PM window was prime time.
Thursday wasn't a bad day either.
No wonder Kim Hee-sung had jumped at the chance to accept.
-With some flexibility in the shooting schedule, we figured we could air earlier than planned. That's why I called to give you the heads-up.
"Thanks for looking out for us like this. Grabbing such a great slot is a huge relief."
Talk about good luck.
I had no idea if something like this had happened in my previous life. Either way, for an up-and-comer like Kim Hee-sung to land a prime slot was a massive opportunity.
-With all the year-end specials crowding the lineup, I'm a bit worried about how it'll perform. But we can monitor ratings once we're settled in. Anyway, great news, right? Haha.
"It's all thanks to the PD who's put in such diligent prep work. You do so much—appreciate it."
-Aw, come on. Chef Song always gives us killer footage. Makes my job a breeze.
He'd gotten pretty smooth with the flattery lately.
-So, here's the thing. With the year-end crunch and all the final tweaks for the upcoming episodes, I was hoping we could adjust the shooting schedule a bit. That okay?
We were supposed to shoot tomorrow. No surprise he'd called personally on short notice.
"No issue on my end, but what about the owners we've been consulting for? Like Im Hye-eun or Do-kyung."
-I checked with everyone, and they're all good. Let's wrap up the year clean and pick back up next year. Sound good?
Couldn't argue with that.
"Sure, let's do it."
-Thanks for understanding! Enjoy the holidays, and see you at the next shoot!
Click.
Once the call with Kim Hee-sung ended, I tapped my phone screen thoughtfully for a moment.
'Schedule's wide open for a while now.'
Amid the bustling year-end buzz everywhere else, I was left in unusual quiet.
Carol music still drifted in from outside.
Last New Year's Eve, I'd spent it at Bong Kang-min's restaurant. What to do this time around? Thoughts like that started swirling.
'Sudden free time. No clue what to do with it.'
It felt like slamming the brakes on my always-hectic routine.
I'd planned to crash early tonight and head to the shoot first thing tomorrow morning.
Oh, right.
I snatched up my phone in a hurry.
Riiing...
After a few rings, a familiar voice answered.
-Hello?
"Jae-ha. Good time to talk?"
-Yeah, all good. What's up?
"Shooting got postponed suddenly. Figured I should let you know."
We'd planned for Baek Jae-ha to join me at tomorrow's shoot, where I'd pass on the new menu concepts directly to the owners.
Couldn't cover every spot myself. The idea was for me to share recipes initially, then move on while he followed up.
With shoots keeping me insanely busy—like I needed to clone myself—that's why I'd roped him in. Who knew it'd turn out like this.
-Oh, got it?
Clink, clink.
I could hear dishes bumping over the phone. Come to think of it, his voice had that echoey quality...
Just to be sure, I asked.
"...You in the kitchen right now?"
-Yeah. With the shoot tomorrow, I was doing a final recipe check.
"Sigh..."
Of all the timing.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Baek Jae-ha's uncharacteristic diligence was stabbing at my conscience. Geniuses could slack off a bit, right? Why was he still at it this late?
"Feel terrible about this."
-It's fine. Not like you planned it. Han Hae-ssi, Han Byeol-ssi—you guys can head out now.
"...Those two are there too?"
-Yeah. I said I'd double-check recipes, so they insisted on helping.
I couldn't even lift my head. I was starting to resent Kim Hee-sung a little.
-Gasp, why? Something wrong?
-CEO~ We met last time—remember us?
-Don't grab the phone. I'm on a call.
A raucous clamor erupted. Han Hae and Han Byeol's voices tangled in the noisy chaos.
"Sorry, Jae-ha. And to Han Hae-ssi and Han Byeol-ssi too."
Their willingness to help out in every way was touching—and guilt-inducing. My words kept trailing off apologetically.
-Shooting's canceled?
-What can ya do~
-We're staying on our own, so no biggie!
-See? Told you.
I wasn't okay with it at all.
"Want anything? Or should I throw in some overtime pay?"
-I'm really fine.
-Me too! Thrilled to develop new menus however we want.
-Right, CEO? This guy's mumbling "The Song is the best" even in his sleep.
-Hey!
Looks like Han Hae and Han Byeol had been getting along great. Makes sense—few companies gave as much autonomy as ours without micromanaging.
For genius types like them, providing a playground to unleash their talents was key. That's why I'd made the environment extra relaxed on purpose.
"I'm just sorry, that's all. Hit me with whatever you need."
The line went quiet for a sec. Sounded like they were whispering among themselves.
Then Baek Jae-ha spoke up.
-Well, if you insist... there is something I've been wanting.
"Name it. Overseas business trip? Long vacation to recharge?"
-No, nothing like that. More like... I'd love to see the sunrise.
"Huh?"
I reflexively blurted it out. Totally out of left field.
"Sunrise?"
-Yeah. We said we'd go together, remember?
There was a subtle pout in his tone. I frantically rummaged through my memories and dredged up the fragment.
-Jae-ha, how about we catch the sunrise just us at year-end?
-Sunrise...!
-What? Include me too!
That lively conversation from back then flashed by. Right—we'd talked about it.
I'd gotten sidetracked with work and forgotten. But Baek Jae-ha had been looking forward to it.
"Of course I remember!"
One wrong word here, and he'd sulk big time—I could feel it. I thought I'd nailed the quick save, but he sounded skeptical.
-Really?
"Y-Yeah, totally. The three of us—me, you, and Da-on—watching the sunrise this New Year's."
-Right? But with no word till now, I thought you'd forgotten.
"Haha. Hahaha. No way."
A sharp edge in the air made cold sweat trickle down my back.
-Then let's go see it. That'll do.
No real schedule left till year-end anyway. Sounded good to me.
-What? You two... dating or something?!
-Team Leader's the real power behind the throne after all!
-Why's it veering that way?
-But you're spending New Year's together!
-It's three people, not two.
Han Hae and Han Byeol went wild. Baek Jae-ha brushed them off with practiced annoyance—not his first rodeo.
Guess seeing each other daily had bonded the trio naturally.
-Anyway. Tomorrow then? That's what I'll plan for.
"Huh? Tomorrow?"
-No time like the present.
Fair point. Best to fill the gap from the canceled shoot.
-Tomorrow it is. I'll call Da-on hyung.
And just like that, our impromptu sunrise squad was formed.
[Real-Time MBS Flip-Out LOLOL]
That hyped-up tentpole show they prepped? Totally tanked cuz of the drug scandal.
No clue when it'll air now—promo was all done, straight-up screwed lololol
→Wasn't it set for the day after tomorrow? Wtf?
→Probably slot some filler show in. No idea what tho
→End of year chaos lololol must be losing their minds, all those specials locked in;; scrambling for scraps?
→Friend works at MBS—says some PD Mo's variety show killed in internal reviews, so they're slotting that.
→→Wait fr?
→→→Believing this? No proof, total bs lol
→→→→Believe it or not lol. That Song Chef certified eats list going around? Been rumors those were from that show's shoots.
[Song Chef Finally Back After Hiatus?]
Dropped everything after the power-trip drama.
→FTC cleared him, no reason to lay low anymore.
→Hiatus? Mastel ended season, Cold Hair bombed ratings—so he bailed lol.
[MBS Official Drop]
(Official account promo pic)
Song Woo-yeon's Alleyway Secrets promo just went up.