Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Certification and Alley Stardom
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Slurp.
The savory flavor of the pork jowl deepened the broth. I could tell right away that Lee Hyo-soon had taken my feedback to heart.
Crunch crunch.
Taking a bite with some meat and kimchi on top confirmed it even more.
"..."
Lee Hyo-soon watched me silently with pleading eyes. She didn't need to say anything—the sparkling clean kitchen, the meticulously refined taste of the food, it all showed her sincerity.
I smiled and said,
"It's delicious."
"Haa."
Lee Hyo-soon let out a small sigh. She must have been incredibly tense.
"The kitchen's spotless, and the recipe's solid. Maybe bump up the meat portion a bit for even higher customer satisfaction, but even as is, it's plenty cost-effective for a meal."
"I'll add more meat."
Telling her to use more ingredients meant lowering her margins. She had every reason to push back, but she accepted without a word.
"That'd be perfect."
Her changed attitude brought a fresh wave of emotion.
I pulled out the item I'd prepared from my pocket.
"You more than qualify."
It was a framed certificate handwritten by me: Song Woo-yeon Certified Delicious Spot.
"Ah...!"
Lee Hyo-soon took the frame with trembling hands. She seemed to read my handwritten note over and over.
"Wishing you always good health, and that you continue to grace this place with your steadfast presence,
From Song Woo-yeon" It was my hope that this side of her wouldn't change. She seemed to sense it too. As she gazed at the frame with moved eyes, I approached and continued.
"You've worked hard all this time."
"!"
"The real grind starts now. You've felt it after just a few days, right?"
"Yes."
Lee Hyo-soon bowed her head deeply. Maintaining this level of hygiene wasn't easy. After a long day of business, doing closing cleans everywhere with an exhausted body—it'd make anyone want to quit and run. It'd only get worse after the broadcast. With crowds nonstop, how draining would that be? If she could, she'd probably collapse on the kitchen floor for a nap right then. And yet, closing cleans? Prep for the next day? 'Takes some serious mental fortitude to push through.' That's why those who endure and hold their ground are amazing. Living that seemingly ordinary daily routine without fail, every single day—it's harder than it looks.
"I've seen a lot of people say they'll change. Some sincere, some not. Most don't last three years."
A bitter reality.
"So, Owner. Think of me as keeping watch. When you're tempted to skip it, you might think, 'Nah, Song Woo-yeon's too scary,' and get up anyway."
Lee Hyo-soon looked at me like she was seeing something unfamiliar. As if she hadn't expected this much encouragement. But how could I treat lightly any owner fighting in this industry? They're all staking their livelihoods. I smiled at the camera.
"Viewers, if you think this owner's changed, tip me off anytime."
I made a phone shape with my hand and shook it.
"If I hear she's slipped, I'll take that frame back. Got it?"
"Yes. I'll keep it in mind."
Finally, I bid Lee Hyo-soon farewell one last time.
"You've worked hard. Best of luck going forward."
Tears welled in her eyes as she replied.
"Thank you."
That one phrase carried such depth—it moved everyone listening. Lee Hyo-soon gripped my hand tightly and bowed.
"Thank you so much..."
Plop plop. Tears fell, making soft sounds. For some reason, I was at a loss for words, standing there like that for a while. Even after filming wrapped, the sensation of her hand lingered.
"Hey? Isn't that Song Woo-yeon?"
A passerby's casual remark hit my ears. I pulled my cap down lower.
'Maybe wear a mask next time.' But cap and mask? I wasn't some celebrity with a complex. I'd only worn the cap to avoid standing out too much. Now I might need fake glasses too.
"Just looks like him."
"Nah, it's him."
"There's that place around here. Song Woo-yeon's Alley."
"Oh yeah. The franchise strip. No way, really him?"
"Wanna go ask?"
Sorry, I can hear everything. 'This is way more embarrassing than I thought.' I'd assumed celebrities were confident everywhere. Listening to them debate if it was me or not, I agonized over how to respond. Should I say, Yep, Song Woo-yeon here and play along? Offer a signature—too much? Ignore and walk—rude? Luckily, things resolved before I spiraled.
"Hey, Woo-yeon~!"
Far off, Kim Jong-chun spotted me and waved wildly. His excitement made him loud, but in this still-crowded alley, it was a blunder.
"It's Song Woo-yeon~!"
"Song Woo-yeon? Where?"
"Who?"
Anywhere else, maybe not. But in the famous "Song Woo-yeon's Alley," packed with [The Song] franchises. Few come here without knowing the name, so everyone buzzed, scanning around. 'What now.' Fiddling with my cap brim in worry, one from the earlier debating group sidled up.
"Um... Song Woo-yeon, right?"
Hard to deny at this point. I lifted my cap slightly and greeted.
"Haha. Hi."
Joy sparkled in their eyes.
"Whoa! Awesome. I'm a huge fan!"
"Sign please!"
"I love [Alley Secrets]~."
"No way, real Song Woo-yeon? Where, where?"
"Wow, first celebrity sighting."
Was I officially a celebrity now? [Alley Secrets] ratings were soaring—they saw me as a TV personality.
"Where should I sign?"
"Uh, no paper or pen."
"Then photo! Group pic!"
"Sure, of course."
I pulled out my phone; they struck poses. Click!
"Whoa, thanks!"
"You look even better in person~."
"Thank you."
I bowed, about to part amicably, when one paused and asked.
"Wait, how... do we get the photo?"
"Huh?"
I blinked blankly. Their eyes went to my phone.
"Oh."
I'd taken it on my phone. Hiding my embarrassment, I said, "Wanna retake? Haha."
I'd done fan service before? Signed tons of approvals, sure. They burst out laughing at my awkwardness, then insisted it was an honor and snapped another.
"Thanks~."
Thought that was it for real.
"Um, photo with me too?"
"Signature for me! Got paper and pen!"
"Me too!"
Suddenly, a crowd swarmed. Felt like everyone nearby piled in. Indifferent folks at first got curious from the commotion, spotted me, and lined up. The vicious cycle repeated. '...No escaping for a while.' Quick decision: I quietly accepted. Breaking through physically impossible—best to handle fast.
"Yeah, sure. Line up one by one, please."
I said with a big smile.
[Anyone catch this ep of Alley Secrets?]
Song Woo-yeon in total shock lololol
→Total banger reserved
→Saw the mosaiced pork belly joint's new menu? Color was insane
→Fr real epic lololol
[Isn't this just Song Woo-yeon Abuse TV?]
Save Song Woo-yeon [Song Woo-yeon impromptu fan meet in his alley today]
For real lol
→What is he, an idol?
→Randomly picks soup slurpers for fan meets? lol [Song Woo-yeon fan meet is legit (proof)]
(Pic of long line)
(Song Woo-yeon posing with fans from afar)
Swear it's real
→Wtf lololol what is this
→→Someone yells it's him and everyone rushes for pics
→→→For real?? That level of fame?
→→→→Alley hype + young crowd that day probs
→This is actually happening lololol
→Get a sig there, frame it as "Song Woo-yeon Certified," does that get me on the list?
→→Wasn't that the broadcast list revealed ages ago?
→→→But that spicy chicken stew spot's legit tho
Posts were already up.
No surprise with that chaos. I tossed my phone down and said,
"Mister. Be more careful next time, yeah?"
"Hahaha... Sorry, sorry."
Kim Jong-chun scratched his neck.
"You're so busy these days~. Got excited to greet you. Didn't know you were that popular."
He was swamped with business, so fair enough. Still, one word from him caused all that trouble—made my blood boil thinking about it.
"I really committed a mortal sin. Right?"
"It's fine. No need to go that far. Wasn't on purpose."
I swallowed a sigh and faced Kim Jong-chun.
Light chat to ease the mood, but we weren't here for bonding.
Clink.
I set down my glass and said,
"You had something to say, representing the franchise owners."