Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Exclusive Interview
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"That's it!"
Park Sang-won was the first to shout.
"This is perfect! Uh, I'll whip up a statement based on this right away! If we mention we're seriously considering legal action, they definitely won't act rashly..."
"No."
I cut Park Sang-won off mid-sentence.
"That won't work. With public opinion framing this as 'big corporation vs. small business owner,' announcing a lawsuit could backfire and stir up even more backlash."
We know The Song is just a small outfit with only four people, but outsiders have no clue.
"What if we reveal we're a business with five or fewer employees? That might at least shift perceptions to a dispute between small businesses."
I shook my head at No Se-hee's suggestion.
"Even then, it doesn't change the fact that we're the bigger player. Our franchise brand is on a rapid growth spurt—no need to undermine that by painting ourselves as small fry."
Franchises thrive on the proven flavors backed by big corp R&D, right?
At this point, with our brands popping up everywhere, admitting we're a small business would erode that appeal.
It'd damage the brand's credibility outright.
"So what do we do...?"
"Don't worry. I've got a plan."
I picked up my phone.
"Hold off on the statement for now. And, uh... let's wait."
"Yes?"
"Until this controversy blows up even more and grabs maximum attention."
That's when
I'd deliver the ultimate plot twist for maximum catharsis.
"Hey, you see this?"
Shim Chae-yoon glanced at the phone screen her friend was shoving in her face. Familiar layout, familiar text.
"Yeah. I saw it."
"It's blowing up lately, right? It was even on the 9 a.m. news this morning. My parents saw it and cussed them out. Said they have no business ethics."
"Yeah?"
Shim Chae-yoon replied in a somewhat listless tone.
"You used to go there all the time, didn't you?"
"...A ton."
"Man, the food's great and all, but now it feels kinda awkward walking in, like people are judging you."
Shim Chae-yoon nodded silently. Ever since that exposé post or whatever, going into Bingwa made her feel like eyes were boring into her.
'Maybe I'm just paranoid.'
Fewer customers than before, sure, but it wasn't deserted.
Just not the madhouse it used to be. For any other shop, it'd be booming.
"I thought it was a cool idea, but plagiarism? That's harsh."
"You think it's real?"
"Huh?"
Her mumbled words apparently didn't reach her friend. Shim Chae-yoon snapped her head up and repeated clearly.
"Nah. Can't judge based on one side's story alone. Bingwa hasn't even issued a statement yet."
"...Dude, you tight with the owner there?"
"N-not the owner! Why, you remember that part-timer who served us the first time we went?"
"Oh yeah. I do."
"He gives me extras sometimes when we chat."
"Dude. A part-timer being nice has what to do with this?"
Her friend muttered in disbelief. Fair point, of course. Still, Shim Chae-yoon felt oddly pained seeing Bingwa caught in this mess.
Were the two shops' bingsu really that similar?
'From what I saw, the ice particle size was totally different. Theirs was just coarsely chopped regular ice, not milk ice.'
Some might call it a minor difference. But Shim Chae-yoon believed those little details built the flavor gap.
In that sense, Bingwa's snowflake bingsu and the accuser café's were completely different desserts.
'But if I said that, I'd get flamed for taking the plagiarist's side...'
She'd already tested the waters with a comment on a news article and got downvoted to oblivion, leaving her gun-shy.
'So frustrating!'
She clenched her fist, steadying her inner turmoil.
"Whoa? Dude. Jackpot."
Her friend poked her shoulder.
"Check this out!"
"Huh?"
"Fresh interview just dropped."
"Interview...?"
Whose?
Shim Chae-yoon peered at her friend's phone in confusion. The article loaded, and right at the top was a photo of... a familiar face?
"Wh-wh-what?!"
Shim Chae-yoon jumped up, phone in hand.
Her outburst drew stares, so she sat back down, face burning red.
*Ahem.*
Once she'd calmed, she turned to her friend.
"Th-that's the part-timer, right?!"
"Yep, yep. No mistaking that face."
"But why's he doing an interview?"
Sure, the plagiarism scandal was hot, but he was just a Bingwa part-timer. Some insider scoop from a worker's POV?
Her question answered as she scrolled.
Rising Young Entrepreneur Song Woo-yeon of The Song: "Misunderstandings and Doubts... It's Tough, But I Have to Endure It."
"CE-CE-CEO?!"
Shim Chae-yoon forgot her earlier embarrassment and repeated the blunder.
This time, the stares stung more.
"Oops."
She bowed apologetically to those around, then plopped back down, beet red.
"Dude, it's my phone. Give it back. I can't read with you yanking it around!"
"Sorry, sorry. Let's just look together."
Even the moment to pull out her own phone and search felt like a waste.
"Wow, so he's the CEO? Insane. I had no idea..."
"You went there all the time. How'd you miss it?"
"I thought he was just a part-timer. His shifts were kinda irregular, though."
Figured he covered gaps when others weren't around. Now it all clicked.
As the boss, he just worked when he felt like it!
"What a twist. Isn't he super young?"
"Dunno his exact age, but... he looked about our age."
"Right? Thought he was a college kid."
"No way. We're still in school, and here's this guy already CEO and boss..."
Unreal. Zero sense of reality.
That guy greeting her with a big smile was Bingwa's owner?
"I-I didn't mess up anything, did I?"
"Mess up what? You scarfed three bingsu every visit. Bet the owner grinned ear-to-ear each time."
"He did."
Shim Chae-yoon nodded in agreement. Whether that was why or not, Song Woo-yeon always welcomed her warmly.
Come to think of it, a part-timer wouldn't comp that generously.
"Anyway, let's finish reading."
She huddled with her friend and scrolled through the interview.
A bit further down, the meat of it began.
But the first line snagged her.
"Wait, what's this [The Song]? Not Bingwa, but The Song?"
"Right?"
Nothing rang a bell. The Song, The Song...?
"Ah!"
Shim Chae-yoon let out a short gasp.
"That's it!"
"That's what?"
"Stop teasing! You know my go-to gukbap spot."
"[Hapjae Gukbap]? What about it?"
"Remember the sign had [The Song] on it?"
"Huh? Did it? Never looked closely."
"It did!"
Shim Chae-yoon declared confidently.
"I'm sure. [Hapjae Gukbap], the café across the street, even [Happiness Snacks]—all have similar signs."
"Oh. Yeah."
"That's why I thought it was weird. They all have The Song company logo."
Her friend went "Ooh," impressed, like *when did you notice that?*
"Wait. So they're all under The Song? Bingwa too?"
On second thought, it wasn't just an "ooh" moment.
"So that means they're all..."
"His."
Shim Chae-yoon said it gravely, holding the interview photo on screen.
"Whoa. Nuts. He's loaded."
Her friend gaped in awe.
Shim Chae-yoon agreed. How could someone their age live such different lives?
"You said you're buddies with the owner. Hook me up."
"We're not *that* close. Just a regular face."
Feeling awkward, she scrolled on. The article now covered Song Woo-yeon's achievements.
Starting from a rundown gukbap joint, all the struggles.
On the brink of failure, he took equity and dove into management, birthing [Hapjae Gukbap], franchising the brand.
His friend wanted in, so first branch; connections led to [Happiness Snacks] nearby...
Each bit showed how hard he'd climbed.
"Seriously impressive..."
Her friend sighed in admiration.
"How does he even think like that? If my part-time gukbap spot was tanking, I'd bail at lunch."
"Same."
"Guess big shots have a different mindset."
Shim Chae-yoon nodded.
Scrolling on, it skimmed his poor, tough childhood and basement days.
Finally, the hot topic.
"Yes. I am. Came back from a business trip to chaos at the office. Thought something big happened, then read the post and got the picture."
*Gulp.*
Shim Chae-yoon swallowed. Tension prickled. Song Woo-yeon's voice echoed in her ears.
She could almost imagine him sitting right there.
"First off, I want to say this."
In her mind's eye, Song Woo-yeon met her gaze. Soft smile, confident tone.