Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: A Fishy Recipe
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“Yes, this is Min-jun from JD Enter.”
-I felt bad about how our call ended earlier.
“Oh, it's quite alright. An ice cream launch is meaningless if it misses the season, after all.”
I pretended not to know it was King Patty.
-Ahem. I’m talking about King Patty, not the ice cream.
“Ah, my apologies. You made it sound like the negotiations had completely fallen through, so I didn't give it another thought.”
-Tsk. That’s why I called back. I just felt really bad about how we left things.
“Ah.”
I typed on my keyboard without another word.
*Clack, clack, clack. Clatter, clatter, clatter.*
-…So, we’ve decided to be a bit more considerate of Answer’s situation. We'll raise it by 10 million won, so let's just wrap this up amicably. You have to think about Answer's image, don't you?
Even with an extra 10 million, it was still a lowball offer, but he was posturing as if he were doing us a massive favor.
“I’m sorry, I’m suddenly swamped with work. But what should I do? That contract has already been negotiated with Break Burger, and all that's left is to sign and stamp.”
-What? What are you talking about? You were negotiating with me this morning, and now you’re telling me you were playing both sides? That's not how you do business.
He sounded extremely flustered and agitated.
“I don’t understand. Didn’t you clearly state this morning that there would be no further negotiations?”
-W-when did I say that? I told you to think about it and get back to me.
“In any case, Break Burger’s terms were better, so we decided to sign with them.”
-How could you do this!? And after you took our PPL money, too!
Anyone listening would think he was the victim here, even though they were the ones abusing their power.
“I believe I mentioned this morning that you negotiated that with the production team, not us. If you were going to be this disappointed, you shouldn't have tried to lowball our rates in the first place.”
-What lowballing! We've already spent hundreds of millions on the show placement and the CF!
Time to hit him with the facts.
“It seems you’re seeing a return more than ten times what you’ve spent, no? Your search index jumped by more than twenty times after the broadcast.”
-…
“You gave us no room to negotiate, so we simply found another path. Even if you were to offer better terms than Break Burger now, please understand that we're in a position where we can't break their trust.”
-Ha, haha. Is this how you people do business?
*Beep.*
A deflated sneer came from his end, and then the call disconnected.
Isa-nim, who had been watching from the side with a curious smile, spoke up.
“That was satisfying, but didn't you hit them a little too hard? They could be a future advertiser.”
“In this business, aren't advertisers all about brand recognition? Besides, based on our meeting earlier, I concluded that building a relationship with Break Burger would not only be more beneficial long-term but also minimize our risks.”
“…Risks?”
As brilliant as Isa-nim was, it was natural that she wouldn't grasp this part.
“The decision-makers on both sides were executive-level managers.”
Isa-nim crossed her arms and looked at me, a sign that she was now fully focused on what I was saying.
“The person from King Patty might think his actions are merely strategic, but his attitude of ‘We’re offering, why aren’t you taking it?’ showed that he’s never respected his counterparts, regardless of the client-vendor power dynamic. In contrast, I could feel that the decision-maker at Break Burger was so invested that they were involved in the new product's development, going beyond just understanding the recipe. They even explained it to me in detail.”
“So they see you as a partner instead of a subordinate?”
Isa-nim said, her face brightening.
“Yes. That was definitely the case.”
“And a company with that kind of common sense would be thorough with quality and image management, which in turn minimizes the risk, is that your calculation?”
“Yes. There are cases where models get hurt by foodborne illnesses or production management issues, right?”
“That's true. It's a real headache when that stuff blows up.”
As Isa-nim wore a pleased expression, Team Leader Lee, who was sitting a few meters away, hurried over.
“Isa-nim! Please let me change my seat.”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I think I could learn a lot by sitting next to Producer Min-jun.”
Team Leader Lee, who had apparently been eavesdropping on our conversation, had a serious look on his face. Isa-nim, smiling, seemed to be at a loss for words.
***
Seul-bi appeared on a food show featuring two regular hosts, a man and a woman, and one guest. The program was called ‘Foodie in Love.’
“I wonder what kind of unique and lovingly prepared recipe awaits us today.”
“I heard a little rumor. It's a bungeoppang spot, Han Sool-lae.”
“Ooh. I absolutely love bungeoppang. I once ate seven in one sitting. Oh dear, I got so caught up in talking about food that I missed the introduction cue. Today’s guest, please come on out!”
At Han Sool-lae's introduction, Seul-bi spun into the frame, flawlessly executing a series of turns from her song's choreography. Han Sool-lae, who was lightly grazed by Seul-bi’s long hair, drew laughter with a comical expression.
The stunning form, a perfect blend of a ballerina's grace and a street dancer's power, immediately drew gasps of admiration after the laughter died down.
“Wow!”
“That was so cool!”
The two MCs exclaimed in genuine awe. Seul-bi stopped her turn perfectly in the center of the frame, and the way she bowed like a Western showman, with one foot and the opposite hand back, was as smooth as flowing water.
“Hello! This is Answer's foodie! Seul-bi is here!”
“Wow! You’re amazing!”
“As expected of Dancing Queen Seul-bi! How did you make that look so seamless? I didn’t see you practice?”
The MC, Han Sool-lae, said with sincere admiration, and the broadcast station’s message board was flooded with positive comments about Seul-bi.
-Oh, that transition from the turn to the British-style bow was so smooth.
-The class of a dance competition winner, for sure.
-I haven't been this impressed by dancing since American God Idol.
“Hahaha! Actually, I practiced a few times when you weren't looking, unni.”
“Ahh. Seul-bi, you know how to play the game.”
“Haha.”
The cast and crew laughed, clearly entertained.
“Seul-bi, you’ve been getting a lot of attention for your mukbangs lately. I thought your songs were great, but when I saw that one clip, I screamed.”
“Ah, the pig’s head?”
“Yes! Oh my gosh, I was so shocked. You were just slicing off the head with a knife, like, *swoosh*, ugh.”
At the two MCs' playful words, the smiles on Seul-bi's and the crew's faces were broadcast for all to see.
-That pig's head live stream was legendary lol
-I never imagined popular idols, not some has-beens, would do a pig's head mukbang lol
“But the weird thing is, while I was watching that gruesome scene, the cheek meat you carved off looked so delicious. I saw that and immediately hailed a taxi to Sillim.”
“Haha! So, how was it?”
When Seul-bi naturally ad-libbed a line not in the script, a few crew members nodded with smiling faces.
“I dipped the grilled cheek meat lightly in ssamjang, and the juices just exploded in my mouth! To all the customers who were at the Sillim cheek meat restaurant that day, I apologize. I drank too much.”
“Puhahahaha!”
Han Sool-lae’s sudden confession heated up the atmosphere right from the start.
“Well! All this talking is making me hungry. Our first stop today is said to have a special kind of bungeoppang. Shall we go?”
Seul-bi and the two hosts approached a bungeoppang shop with a long line snaking from its front.
“Wow. 3,000 won for one isn't cheap, but it’s so popular. I’m excited.”
Seul-bi’s eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity.
-Wait, 3,000 won for a single bungeoppang?
-This smells like one of those forced Instagram-famous spots...
“Haha! Seul-bi’s eyes just lit up. You must really love to eat.”
“Yes! It's not just a concept… Our Isa-nim has scolded me a lot for it…”
Seul-bi replied to Han Sool-lae's comment with a playful expression.
“Ah. So Lee Sun scolds people too?”
“Yes! Our Isa-nim is super scary!”
As Seul-bi brightly responded to Han Sool-lae, who was three years older than Lee Sun, a few crew members let out suppressed laughs.
“Alright, we’re in line now. How long is the wait from here? What? An hour? Phew, that’s nothing. Excuse me, person in front. Hello, can I ask you something?”
Han Sool-lae, as if accustomed to this, asked a few questions to the person in front of her. Seul-bi, curious about the bungeoppang’s features, stepped out of line and moved toward the front.
“Oh! It’s Seul-bi.”
Having gained a decent amount of recognition, Seul-bi was now starting to be called by her own name rather than just as a member of Answer.
“Yes, I’m Seul-bi from Answer. Thank you.”
“Can I get a picture with you?”
“Oh! Yes!”
Without hesitation, Seul-bi cozied up to the fans, creating a friendly atmosphere as if they were besties.
“Peace!”
“Ahh, I love you so much!”
Seul-bi’s approachable demeanor was so charming it could turn even an anti-fan into a supporter, and people were genuinely delighted.
-Seul-bi looks a little intimidating, but I guess she's not like that in person.
-I'm so jealous. A picture like that is practically a family heirloom.
Seul-bi took the phone of every person who asked for a picture and took selfies with them, racking up a ton of brownie points.
“For everyone who took a picture, please, please post it on your Instagram. Thank you for all your support!”
“She’s so nice!”
“You’re so pretty!”
Seeing Seul-bi’s positive attitude, the production crew members murmured among themselves, giving her high praise.
After finishing her fan service, Seul-bi arrived in front of the shop owner who was frying the bungeoppang. The pre-baked bungeoppang were coated again in a sticky batter and plunged into a vat of oil.
*Sizzle!*
*Sizzzzzle!*
Each time a pastry went in, a grand, appetite-whetting sound echoed out.
“That looks so good!”
Seul-bi said, her voice filled with anticipation for a new flavor.
“Of course it’s delicious. It takes a full 48 hours of prep time to make just one of these!”
“For-forty-eight hours?”
It was clear the pastry must have a unique preparation method and taste, but at the mention of 48 hours, Seul-bi struggled to keep a bitter smile from showing.
-48 hours, he says lolololol
-That's a bit of a stretch.
-Seul-bi's expression froze for a sec lol
-'The secret to our flavor is 48 hours of aging.' Tsk, tsk.
-Is it even possible to take 48 hours when they sell that many? Is that place run like a factory? It doesn't even look that big.
Returning to the line, the two MCs spoke to Seul-bi.
“Seul-bi, you’re so kind. It’s no wonder people love you.”
“Even people who act like you when they're rookies change once they get popular. You're really so nice.”
“Pfft!”
At the MCs’ praise, Seul-bi let out a hearty laugh and answered boisterously.
“It's not that I'm nice, isn't it just what you're supposed to do!”
“You’re going to be a big star, Seul-bi.”
“Not at all. My group members are even nicer than me. You’ll see when you meet them.”
While they chatted, the line shortened, and soon it was their turn to taste the bungeoppang.
A bungeoppang covered in soboro crumble was placed in Seul-bi’s hand.
“Alright! I’m finally going to try the famous soboro bungeoppang.”
Seul-bi took a bite of the pastry, her eyes full of anticipation.
*Crunch. Crackle.*
The dense yet crispy fried soboro crumbled finely between her teeth, and a look of satisfaction slowly spread across Seul-bi’s face.
But the chewy yet unpleasant aftertaste that followed, along with the red bean paste that just mushed together with the body without any distinct texture, left Seul-bi deeply disappointed.
It was clearly made from ordinary, store-bought batter and red bean paste.
“Wow. This is so delicious!”
“The one and only soboro bungeoppang in the country truly lives up to its name, doesn't it?”
The two MCs expressed their opinions and waited for Seul-bi’s. But Seul-bi, wearing a forced smile that looked half-dead inside, opened her mouth.
“Ah, the soboro is so crispy and delicious. I never imagined it would be in a bungeoppang.”
-lol if you listen closely, she's not saying the bungeoppang is good, just the soboro.
-Lmao, you're right.
-fr lol
The scene changed, now showing the shop during its break time. The hosts appeared on screen with the owner.
“I heard there’s a special recipe for such a delicious bungeoppang. Would you mind showing us a little? The bread was so chewy and really tasty.”
At Han Sool-lae's question, the owner answered magnanimously.
“Hahaha! The recipe? Sure, I'll reveal it. To be honest, making this requires so much care and time that even if I taught you, not everyone could do it. Come on, let’s go see.”
Seul-bi entered the kitchen workshop with a different kind of anticipation than when she first arrived.
“The batter was so chewy, there must be a special recipe, right?”
“I’ll show you. The secret to the batter is this.”
Following Han Sool-lae’s script, the owner brought out a uniquely designed sack and a heaping pile of scallops.
“We mix high-quality French flour with scallops.”
“Oh my! I never would have imagined.”
The owner began to hack at the scallops with a large cleaver, slicing and mincing them. He seemed to be struggling, grunting for a while as if it wasn't going as planned, which made Seul-bi force a bitter smile.
Anyone with even a basic knowledge of cooking would know how utterly absurd this situation was.
To Seul-bi's eyes, this was a mess, no different from a clumsy strongman show.