Chapter 259
Chapter 259
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 259
Chapter Title: Overcoming Injury: Alleyway Secrets' Touching True Story
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-Overcoming Injury and Rising Again... The Moving True Story from Alleyway Secrets
-Unwavering Will Fulfills Sushi Master's Dream
-Won't Give Up Despite Hand Injury... Tear-Jerking Challenge, Waves of Emotion
-"I'll Wait Until the End"... The Hidden Supporter of This Touching Tale
-Song Woo-yeon's Words, 'I'll Trust and Wait,' Move Netizens
-Faith That Saved a Man... Heartwarming Inspiration Spreads
→Even among young folks these days, there are guys with this kind of loyalty. Refreshing to see.
→What a great person!
→For the country to stand tall, these young people need to succeed. Drive out the corrupt forces without embarrassing the youth.
→Where's this sushi place?~~ Wanna check it out. Rooting for you~~
[Is This Traffic Accident Story Real?]
From the dashcam footage, it's a freaking truck.
Miracle he's even alive?
→All those fake story chanters vanished lol. Cockroaches scattering the second the dashcam dropped.
→They just gotta hate, so it's fake lol.
[Thought It Was Just Emotional Manipulation]
When I saw him leaving the hospital, I realized I was wrong.
Who could've guessed it was a real accident that wrecked his hand?
→I thought it was bait too lololol why is this real?
→Doesn't this make sense? Feels like a scripted sob story for clicks lol
→All staged.
[Seriously Impressive]
If it were me, I'd have despaired after hurting my hand and quit like "Guess I'm not cut out for it."
Sticking with it to the end? That's a truly cool attitude.
Gotta learn from it.
→Jobless losers who never clocked in acting like Lu Bu online: "Why? I could've done that too" bullshit lol craving a smackdown.
→Fr real, it's cool af.
→Maybe 'cause it's edited like a movie, but it hit extra hard emotionally.
[???: Sushi shop in 2 weeks lololol No responsibility in business lololol]
(Broadcast screenshot)
???: (wiping tears) All the haters need to be executed.
→Flip-flopping hard lololol
→These guys have no middle ground.
→Just swept up in the hate flood.
[Even After Broadcast, Song Woo-yeon Personally Checks In—That's Impactful]
Way better than these barking mutts lol
→Duh, you think the CEO's a punk?
→Basement-dwelling broke haters VS Perfect-Life CEO of The Song, Song Woo-yeon
→→Obviously the broke losers win? Lolol
→Gotta admit, respect now.
[Thought Song Woo-yeon Was Just a Broadcast-Made Money Grub, Selfish Jerk]
This sushi episode changed my mind a lot.
You can see the guy's genuine.
→Practicing non-stop for a month is tough, but overseeing it that whole time? Not easy either. Especially for busy Song Woo-yeon.
→Even after broadcast, keeps in touch, maintains private friendship, steady support—not something anyone can do easily.
→Fr lol
[Thought It Was for Show, But Surprisingly Sincere]
(Song Woo-yeon broadcast screenshot)
Upvote if you agree.
→Agreed.
→Respect.
[Who Could Have Beef with God Woo-yeon?]
Just light.
→Praise King God Yeon
→King God Light
→We don't even call him Song Woo-yeon anymore lololol
[This Episode Reminded Me of My First Job Mentor]
Sprained my ankle playing soccer back then, in a cast for a while.
Boss ripped into me for not taking care of my body lol
It hurt, felt so wronged.
→Sin of not having King God Light as your boss.
→Shoulda joined The Song.
[Breaking] Sushi Shop Opens]
(Lit-up sushi shop photo)
Live nearby.
Went to check just in case today, and it's open lol
Cracked the door, owner was inside. Told him I came after the broadcast, asked when business starts. Said soon.
Asked around casually: Combo sushi sets for lunch and dinner mainly, mackerel sushi sold separately.
Even got permission to sell mackerel sushi to picky eaters lol
→Info post, upvote.
→Whoa, gonna be packed. Owner know about the internet buzz?
→→Yeah, seems like it. Said he'll work hard not to disappoint.
→Body all good now?
→→Asked that too—says it's much better. Steady left-hand rehab, but daily life ok now. Delicate stuff like gripping sushi still tough. Bragged about practicing hard with right hand lol
→No Song Woo-yeon?
→→Nah. Handwritten plaque from Alleyway Secrets shops up though.
[Went to Sushi Shop Myself]
Saw the proof post, live nearby so checked it out—owner was there.
Asked some stuff netizens were curious about in comments.
1. Business start: Within a week. Expecting crowds, so introducing number ticket system like Song Woo-yeon suggested.
2. Suing haters: Not thinking about it. Doesn't check communities much anyway. But it'd be nice if they chill for his son's sake, who gets hurt seeing it.
3. On Song Woo-yeon: Incredibly grateful benefactor. Once-in-a-lifetime chance, nothing but thanks.
That's what I asked, said I'd visit once open, and left.
→Should sue haters and party with settlements, man.
→→Right? Even this post getting salty downvotes.
This is the vibe online. I nodded as I turned off my phone screen.
'Looks like they really flipped public opinion just like I asked.'
Reactions were mostly favorable to Yi Hyung-bae. Some self-staging controversy lingered, but it wasn't the mainstream.
Way better than right after last week's episode aired.
With all the attention, customers would line up once it opened.
For a cheap value sushi spot, turnover rate is key—and in that sense, Yi Hyung-bae hit the jackpot.
'Old controversies buried too. Killing two birds with one stone, huh.'
Talk of my injury was buried under other news, barely mentioned now.
No wasted image burn, plus cosplaying the virtuous adult via human docu-touching tale. Couldn't ask for better PR.
'New brand stabilizing, delivery demand steadily rising.'
Broadcast smash hit, daily sales climbing—made my lips curve into a satisfied smile automatically.
Planned to work busy as usual, dinner with Jae-ha. This was the happy daily life I'd dreamed of.
Yeah. That was the plan.
...Until Jo Yi-ruk burst into the rep office.
Knock knock, click!
Door opened before I could answer.
"CEO."
"What's up? Team Leader Jo."
"Think you need to check this."
Jo Yi-ruk strode over, dropped a document. Read the top line first.
"Rent Increase Notice...?"
What the hell? I straightened up and read through.
Simple content.
"...Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap's lease expires next month."
"Yes."
"And they're demanding a 300% hike from current rent?"
"Yes."
"Huh."
Absurd amount drew a hollow laugh.
This place, now cozy as 'Song Woo-yeon Street.'
Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap, Happiness Snacks, Bingwa, Song Teahouse, Song Kitchen—our flagship and direct stores scattered around. Unified interiors turned it into a photo spot.
And the landlord demands 300% rent hike.
"Customer traffic up, commercial area grown in two years," I muttered low. Even so, no way shops accept this nonsense.
Current prices factored in rent fully. If rent jumps like this, prices have to rise too.
'But customers don't care about excuses.'
No matter how you explain rent or ingredient costs, if it feels pricier intuitively, foot traffic drops.
No 'understanding' or 'leniency' in that natural law.
'Accept this rent, prices go up, competitiveness tanks.'
Plus, just raised prices after franchisee talks. Can't hike again now.
"If we accept, rent as % of sales?"
"...About 23%."
No go.
Ideal rent ratio to sales: 10-15%. High foot traffic or max-turnover biz, maybe 20% tops.
Over 20%? Dead.
'No way push loss-making ops no matter how much volume.'
True dilemma.
Raise prices: customer backlash. Keep 'em: franchisees bleed out.
"What do we do, CEO?"
Jo Yi-ruk looked troubled too.
"...Prep to relocate? Month left—better scout new spots now."
In this pinch, that's the play.
Wrap shops, hasty goodbyes to customers. Move to saner rent areas.
In a word,
'Gentrification.'
Rent spikes force small biz out of the area.
Common in Seoul hot spots.
'So damn tiring.'
Faced it hundreds, thousands of times pre-regression.
Fast growth meant gentrification hit faster than expected.
"Hoo..."
Long exhale, stood up.
"CEO?"
"Out for a bit."
"Where to?"
Jo Yi-ruk stared, confused. Like, major issue pending, where?
I grinned.
"Gonna fix this."