Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: It Tasted Pink! (4)
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[Me: So, it really is a bug, right?]
[Dal-nim: Yep. Looks like there was a slight error in the talent setup. It wasn't designed to work this way. If non-food items triggered it and got others to follow suit, that has to be a bug effect.]
[Me: Can't do anything about what's already happened, though?]
[Dal-nim: Nope. We can't alter the past either.]
[Me: Alright, then fix the problematic part.]
[Dal-nim: On it right now. Sorry for planting that bad memory...]
[Me: Nah, it's not all bad. Kinda fun in its own way. And the reactions from others were better than expected.]
It had been quite the special experience.
We'd exchanged messages with Dal-nim in a flash.
It was obvious that this whole mishap stemmed from Yoon-seul's talent.
A few passersby saw her munching on cherry blossom petals and started picking up the falling ones to pop into their mouths. It wouldn't harm their health, but anyone could tell this wasn't normal.
Grown adults acting so innocently childish.
What was fascinating, though, was the crowd psychology.
"Once a couple people start, it just snowballs."
I'd seen something like that on a TV show before.
The Rule of Three. When three or more people do the same thing, others tend to follow.
Not many had seen Yoon-seul eating the petals firsthand. Seokchon Lake was packed with people, which naturally diluted the attention on her.
But those few who did catch it started nibbling on the falling petals or the cleaner ones already on the ground.
And then others joined in.
- What's going on? Why are people putting those in their mouths?
- No idea... Is it some kind of festival?
- Should we try one?
- Yeah, it's not gonna kill us. They even float 'em in tea over in Japan.
In an instant, crowds at Seokchon Lake were all chomping on cherry blossoms left and right.
It started with Yoon-seul's ability, but after that, it was pure mob mentality groupthink.
Latecomers arriving at the lake either joined in or whipped out their phones to film videos.
People snapping selfies with petals in their mouths.
Folks glancing around before sneaking bites and chewing furtively.
Kids stuffing petals into their parents' mouths.
A salaryman plopping one into his colleague's coffee.
At first, as things escalated, I panicked about what to do.
But I calmed down quick.
Because the petal-munchers,
the onlookers watching them,
even those hesitating to try,
they all looked swept up in innocent joy.
- Hey! How can you blindly follow idiots putting that in their mouths?
- So what if it's a bit silly? Everyone's doing it—might as well join in once in a while. When else you gonna chew fallen cherry blossoms at our age?
- Well, yeah...
- We're not here to work anyway. Just killing time, having fun.
- Ugh... fine, whatever.
It was an astonishing sight.
Faces of folks strolling Seokchon Lake earlier hadn't been all that bright.
Suits here and there, lots of people from nearby offices out on a lunch break pretext.
Monday blues, after all.
They couldn't fully relax on their walks. Work—the battlefield—awaited after.
But swept up in the vibe, petals in mouths, fully aware they looked foolish,
the moment they tasted that pink hue, they seemed purely exhilarated.
"Good thing."
All around, it was a good thing.
Yoon-seul's spur-of-the-moment act had gifted those people a joyful moment. Good.
Their Mondays—the most exhausting commute day of the week—were getting overlaid with a special memory for lunch. Good.
"Our Yoon-seul made everyone happy, huh?"
"Yoon-seul-i did?"
She probably had no clue.
**
It didn't take long for the incident to fizzle out as a mere fun blip. Those who'd laughed and enjoyed couldn't linger—they had places to be.
But clear smiles lingered on their faces as they left.
Yoon-seul and I circled the lake once more before heading out. Spotted a nearby outdoor playground; made a mental note to come back sometime.
Store business meant it'd be ages from now, though.
"You know, having a little sis means way more places to hit up."
"Places to go with Oppa are endless, and we still got meals to eat too."
"I've got some good spots lined up, so just trust and follow."
"First time out with just Oppa and me."
"Huh, you're right."
Jamsil and Seokchon Lake area are foodie heavens.
Might think local shops got crushed by department store food courts, but surprisingly, alleyway gems abound.
And today's pick was a bit special.
"Here we are. Let's head in."
The building screamed 20th-century build—worn and shabby.
Gray walls stained dark with grime.
Restaurant was on the second floor.
Stairs loomed taller than Yoon-seul's knee height from the ground—tough for her solo.
Scooped her up under the arms, and she pouted.
"Yoon-seul-i can do it..."
"You'll get hurt if you trip."
Up on the second floor, the menu board grabbed attention more than the sign.
[Today's Menu: Jjaguri]
"Jja-gu-ri?"
Cozy, booze-scented comfort food. Not here to drink, obviously.
More intriguing was the "Today's Menu" bit over the dish itself.
Pushed open the door.
Ding-a-ling—
Familiar bell chime rang out.
Dim vibe, crimson lighting.
Tablecloths dark like chalkboards.
Chairs with a vaguely antique wood vibe.
Early dinner hour, so just us two inside.
"Wow, a real retro Western joint."
I'm not from the generation that grew up on these. Folks a decade older than me might claim familiarity.
Still, around five or six, these places dotted around. Mostly slinging Western-style pork cutlets. Stirred childhood memories.
- Two?
"Yes, two, ma'am."
- Sit wherever.
"Yep!"
A hunched granny greeted us in a flat tone. Nothing like my Grandma's vibe.
Dim lights accentuated her wrinkles, but she fit this place perfectly as the owner.
"Oppa, that granny looks super scary."
"Shh."
Yoon-seul whispered her take in my ear.
Glance over, yeah, intimidating aura.
But folks who seem aloof on the outside often have warm hearts.
A bit later, she brought pre-meal soup in two bowls on a round plastic tray.
- Daughter?
"No, little sister."
- Hm.
She initiated but stayed terse.
Yoon-seul froze stiff at the owner's presence.
Set the soups neatly before us, then headed back to the kitchen with one line.
- Cute little girl you got there.
Yoon-seul's brows twitched at that.
Once the owner vanished into the kitchen fully:
"Not 'little girl'... it's Yoon-seul-i."
The wandering five-year-old couldn't voice complaints outright. Yoon-seul grumpily snatched a spoon and slurped some soup.
Hot hot—
Steaming soup gulped down straight? Predictable burn. I'd scorched my tongue on pre-meal soup as a kid too.
These spots usually served soup before Western pork cutlets, and this place followed suit.
"Yoon-seul, tongue okay?"
"Hot... but tasty."
She blew on the rest and ate fine, so I tried a spoonful.
"Onion... and potato?"
Solid, straightforward soup.
Onion aroma blended nicely with potato starch for just-right texture.
Tiny pepper sprinkle on top gave it kick.
- How'd you know onion and potato?
"Tasted it when I ate."
- You cook some?
"Haha, yeah."
- Not bad for a young'un.
As we scraped the bowls, out came the jjaguri.
Pretty quick—burner included.
Table-boiled style. Reminded me of old knight diners' daily specials.
Low pot crammed with ingredients in merry chaos.
Nearly done pork and potatoes.
Chunked tofu.
Onions, green onions, green chilies combo.
"Solid, classic setup."
- Got a kid, so toned down the chilies from usual.
"Thanks. Was a bit worried."
Little sis piped up.
"Yoon-seul-i can handle spicy."
- Baby never tried real heat?
"Uu..."
Coming from an elder, it sounded brutal.
- Holler when it's done. No other customers anyway.
She'd boil it right here till ready.
Lucky us.
Came here less for the food, more to chat with the owner.
"This place has been around over 30 years, right?"
- What, like it's one of two spots like that?
"Still, holding one spot for 30 years—that's no small feat."
- Hmph, whatever. Just doing it to eat and live.
"Doesn't feel that way when every ingredient screams care."
- What nonsense?
"The green onions, tofu cuts—all uniform size and shape. Even the pork for jjaguri has all the membranes trimmed. Most places don't fuss that much with boiling meat. This is food made with love."
- Where'd you pick that up?
Lucky this wasn't some 30-year hole-in-the-wall by fluke.
Neighborhood commerce is cutthroat.
Huge department store looms, alleys packed with eateries.
Owner's cooking had to be top-notch, baseline.
But the real surprise wasn't just that.
"Saw online you change the menu daily?"
- No biggie. Just rotate what I do best.
"And the place still runs?"
- Didn't you say it's been 30 years?"
"Oh, right."
The jjaguri before us now was, as posted, "Today's Menu." Tomorrow, something else.
That's why we came.
The secret to 30 years with a daily menu swap. Nail that, and it'd supercharge our restaurant.
Maximize Yoon-seul's talent, no doubt.
"Owner, mind sharing how you run the place?"