Chapter 129
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 129
Chapter Title Tasting Booth Training
Ji Yooncheol always acted and spoke at his own pace.
Even he crumbled pathetically under the passionate guidance of the teacher in charge of the tasting booth.
You cant just shout loudly either. I assume you all know this since youre singers, but you need to project your voice without straining your throat, right?
Yes!
Yeah! Lets try it one more time?
Yu Minha recited the bulgogi promo lines perfectly, like a fish in water.
He usually spoke at a rapid clip anyway, and as the main rapper, that punchy lyric delivery translated perfectly here.
But on the flip side, Ji Yooncheol was getting even more timid in his panic.
Naturally, he pinged on the teachers radar and ended up with oneonone coaching.
Hey, friend, mind if I ask your name?
...JJi Yooncheol.
Yooncheol, buddy, if this were the real deal, no one would hear you over the ambient noise. Hmm, if projecting is tough... how about practicing short lines instead of long ones?
It was probably because this whole situation was so unfamiliar that Ji Yooncheols confidence had tanked.
The teacher didnt mind at all and kept hunting for the best approach.
Instead of the long promo script, she taught him short lines that people passing by the bulgogi station could catch.
Were doing bulgogi oneplusone deals.
Ah, still a bit weak on power. Just a tad more!
Yes...
Even here, he struggled.
I quickly read the room and changed the subject.
Are the parts for the tasting booth divided up by any chance?
Oh, yeah! Most tasting booths are solo ops from what Ive seen, but weve got three people, so I was wondering how to handle that.
With three people, role division is a must!
Thankfully, Yu Minha jumped on my question, freeing us from the oneplusone curse.
Following the teachers instructions, the equipment for the meat station was set up on the table.
As you might guess, grilling it right so customers can taste it properly is key. Normally, I handle promo, grilling, and packaging solo, but with three of you, assigning one role each would make it a breeze.
Any tips for grilling meat?
Hmm, since its marinatednot rawyou gotta watch it doesnt burn. And keep slicing it up. Not too big, just bitesized? Also, since youre not used to grilling nonstop, rotate with the packaging and customer greeting person.
In other words, everyone might end up grilling at some point.
So we each stood at our griddles, tongs and scissors in hand, listening intently to the teacher.
No rushing the meat on right away. Wait till the griddles hot enoughabout 1 to 1.5 minutes. Then lay it on. Beefs usually best flipped once. Wait till juices bead on the surface, flip, then when they bead on that side toothats prime eating time. Leave it too long, and the marinade sticks it to the griddle or the juices all leak out.
Only way was handson practice to ingrain it.
Still, from my Han Jihyuk days, Id grilled solo plenty, so I had some confidence.
Id even handled the barbecue for the camp content, divvying it out to the team. Figured Id at least nail half of it.
But soon, one member flunked spectacularly.
Ah, thatll burn it all. Way too late on the flip.
Timing it roughly is crazy hard.
Yu Minha had zero talent for grilling, it seemed.
But his face wasnt glum at all.
Ooh, you two nailed it!
Thanks.
...Thanks.
So, you two alternate packaging and grilling. And our energetic friend here handles promoperfect fit!
Sweet!
Yu Minha snagged the promo role hed wanted from the start.
Seemed like hed aimed for it, so his grilling skills nearing zero didnt faze him.
Alright, now packaging time. Gotta cut neatly here for pretty presentation.
Ji Yooncheol shone with his delicate touch, earning praise.
Silent scissor work, clean crosssections.
Final first rotation set.
Minha on promo, Yooncheol on packaging, me grilling tasting portions.
Sounds good!
...Ill do my best.
Ji Yooncheol still looked uneasy.
Probably because packaging meant chatting naturally with customers.
I clapped a hand on his shoulder to reassure him.
Its fine. Youre scared now cause you havent tried it yet, but it gets easier the more you do. And we can swap midway, so speak up if its rough. Ill cover you.
...Thanks, hyung.
And our first tasting booth lesson wrapped.
On the ride back to the dorm, Yu Minha buzzed with excitement, tossing out ideas.
How far can we go with promo, Karis hyung?
No clue. From what Minha said earlier, teams our size at tasting booths are super rare, right?
Rare? More like nonexistent.
No precedents means even less idea.
Why not be the first and set the exampleour way?
Yu Minhas eyes sparkled with mischief.
Were idols at heart. Pull eyes with song or dancethought of that!
Song and dance, huh.
Yeah! Like, whip up a quick promo jingle and sing it!
The jingle idea made Ji Yooncheol next to me flinch.
...Grill while singing?
Thought itd work for content, but... hmm, yeah, tricky now that I think.
Yu Minha pondered quietly for other ideas.
Then should I prep some performance as promo guy?
Eyecatching would boost sales, sure, but big marts arent just oursgotta play it by ear.
Ah, yeah, makes sense now! Ugh, wanted to have fun with it. Sales matter, but gotta entertain fans too.
No sooner had Yu Minha finished than a system window popped up.
Linked Quest Achieve 50 Sales at the Tasting Booth has been generated.
Rewards Skill Points 15, Passive Skill EXP Gain Ticket Medium x1, System Damage Repair 1
Next quest chain.
Like the debut cafe event, the system repair was minuscule.
Not idoldefining feats, so no big gains like beforeId figured.
But even 1 was bloodprecious to me.
No missing it.
We punched through evening traffic and barely made it back.
Opening the door, the earlier movie theater crew greeted us.
Yo. Made it?
Siyoon. Whats with the look?
Dont ask. Imagine popping popcorn all shift.
At least you had it better.
Chae Eungyu, chugging water, sprawled on the sofa laughing at Kang Siyoons welcome.
Hyeongbin had it worst. Training with the cleaning team.
Oh yeah, wheres Hyeongbin hyung?
Over there. Zoning out at the table.
Kitchen side Song Hyeongbin sat blankfaced, burned out white.
Heo Yubin, pasting salve on his shoulder, beamed at us.
How was tasting booth?
Eh, fine. Hyeongbin hyung?
Oh, movie theater cleaning training wrecked him today. Patching him up.
Seriously... This is why I said its brutal...
Song Hyeongbin croaked to us, halfdead.
First time seeing him this wreckedkinda fresh.
Guys. Had to say this today.
Whats up, hyung?
Never diss Korean parttimers again. Theyre legends.
Movie theater gig hit harder than expected.
As we recharged, manager hyung came in with next schedule.
Off to record!
Debut album tracking would drag on.
Gotta craft toptier for Celeb ears.
Bit early, but diving in steady now.
Down to the studio title track composer and engineer greeted us.
Full version dropped recentlyhows lyric memorization?
Practiced steadyover half down pat.
That confidence is gold. Shooting crunch too, and half memorized? Impressive. Pumped.
Debut title record faint tension rippled through members.
Who kicks off matters big here.
Intro first. Karis, set?
Yes.
I entered calm, donned headset, micd up.
Outside crew clapped cheers.
Karis looks good!
Our center!
Hyungs cool!
Onetake it!
Easing their nerves by hyping me.
Then repaying that supports only right.
Confident face, nailed intro clean.
I See The Light, bright light in your eyes. One by one, focus locking in.
Great vibe now. Clean, almost spokensing. One more.
Thanks.
Idol Training Sim missions? Logged tons.
Studio entry? Breeze.
But debut track? Whole different beast.
Covering others vs. tailormade for you? Worlds apart.
Nailed harmonies too, then out.
Killed it!
First up, couldve tensednailed.
Praise poured next, Song Hyeongbin fistpumped up.
Gonna snag praise too. Pumped.
Overforce voice and youll pitch out, hyung.
Pitch out? Fansll eat it up later.
Hey, Hyeongbin hyung! Varietys my turfdont poach.
Hoggings worse, Siyoon?
Warm vibes, first tracks rolled.
This bliss now.
Debut stage? What rushll hit?