079. Bustling Seoul Outdoor Stream
079. Bustling Seoul Outdoor Stream
The moment I left the bustling streets of downtown and stepped into an alleyway.
A red sign glowing in the dazzling sunlight seized my gaze.
‘That was an eye-catching place.’
It was nothing remarkable, really.
Just an ordinary Chinese restaurant sign.
I aimed the camera at the Chinese restaurant and asked my viewers.
"Hey guys. Should we go there?"
【Reformed Guburi】─A Chinese place isn't bad.
【Plum Tree】─Go go.
【Yoho】─A place I haven't seen before. Is it new?
【Min-ji】─Looks like it's a newly opened restaurant.
【Hottie Licker】─Did the chat-ban losers already get unmuted? Five minutes went by way too fast. Lick.
【Dick Lover】─Go if you want.
【Bubblegum Collector】─Wakyapya! Jjajangmyeon sounds tasty!
【Gyejipsa】─Jjajangmyeon sounds tasty!
Nobody seemed to object.
Not that it would have mattered either way.
I had planned to ignore them and go into that restaurant regardless.
I had only asked as a formality.
"Alright then, since you all want to, I'll go to that restaurant."
【Reformed Guburi】─We never said we wanted to.
【Hottie Licker】─Pretending to be generous... Lick.
【Se-hun Defense Force】─You were gonna go there even if we objected anyway.
【Qkrnfl892】─Lol, a true Se-hun expert.
I carefully pushed open the restaurant door.
A ding-a-ling bell chimed.
The woman working the wok in the open kitchen noticed me and greeted me in an energetic voice.
"Irasshaimase!"
"...Ah, yes. Hello."
My mind went completely blank for just a moment.
I couldn't help but be flustered.
I had never imagined a Chinese restaurant would greet its customers in Japanese.
‘What a uniquely themed place.’
I checked the chat window; the viewers' reactions were much the same as mine.
Everyone was spamming question marks as if they found it absurd.
【Yoho】─?
【Min-ji】─What's thish?
【Hottie Licker】─What the shit?
【Qkrnfl892】─Why is a Chinese place using Japanese? Lolol
【Se-hun Defense Force】─Lololol Irasshaimase! What the hell is this.
【Plum Tree】─What kind of hybrid is that.
【Reverse-Rape Maniac】─What does irasshaimase mean? Requesting Drift-emon to inform me.
【Drift AI】─I will say it. I say that 'irasshaimase' means 'welcome.'
【Reverse-Rape Maniac】─Thanks. Heh.
【Bubblegum Collector】─Wakyapya! Drift search engine performance is great!
【Gyejipsa】─Dogshit search engine performance is great!
After pulling my eyes away from the chat.
I decided to get filming permission from a staff member first.
"Um... Would it be okay to film while I eat? I'll film quietly so I don't disturb the other customers."
"Filming? Are you a Neotuber?"
"No. Just a personal broadcast."
"Ahh. Personal broadcast! Yes! Filming is fine! You can film as much as you like!"
The woman wearing a paper hat on her head readily gave permission to film.
She was probably the head chef and owner.
"You can sit wherever you like! Oh, and the menu is on the table!"
"Thank you."
I chose a seat at the table connected to the open kitchen.
I pulled out a chair and sat down, secured the camera, and murmured quietly.
"It's nice that there aren't many people here."
【Min-ji】─Yeah, for real. Business must not be doing well.
【Dick Lover】─It's because the interior is ugly.
【Reformed Guburi】─Gye Bastard-hun. There's barely anyone here, so why are you whispering?
"If the owner heard what I just said, she could get hurt."
【Reformed Guburi】─Pretending to be nice. No no.
【Yoho】─What do you mean pretending to be nice. The streamer is always kind. Tsk.
"Yoho, I'm not nice, so don't be a blind fan. And Guburi. This isn't about being nice or not—isn't this just basic human decency?"
【Reformed Guburi】─Pretending to be decent. No no.
【Hottie Licker】─Pretending to be moral. No no.
"You guys are fucking ridiculous, seriously..."
I decided to ignore the chat for a moment.
I had to pick from the menu and order first after all.
Just as I opened the menu and was looking through it.
Ding-a-ling-!
A bell sounded from the entrance.
People who appeared to be customers came inside, chatting amongst themselves.
"It's here."
"Are you sure about this place?"
"I saw him go in for sure."
"Irasshaimase!"
And starting with those two.
Other customers began to file in one after another right behind them.
Ding-a-ling-!
"This is the place?"
"Yeah. I saw him go into this restaurant earlier."
"Oh. It really is? He's sitting over there."
"See."
"Irasshaimase!"
Ding-a-ling-!
"Ah. I just feel like having Chinese food today for some reason."
"Cut the crap. You followed a handsome guy here."
"I-Irasshaimase!"
Ding-a-ling-!
"He definitely went into this Chinese place."
"Hey. Isn't that the guy over there?"
"Oh. Yeah, that's him."
"Irasshai..."
As if the quiet emptiness had never existed.
Before I knew it, the restaurant was packed full of people with no seats left.
‘What the? Was this a popular restaurant all along?’
Had it simply been empty because I came at an early hour?
Harboring that question, I looked over at the owner.
The owner was staring wide-eyed with her mouth slightly agape, looking around at the customers.
She clearly looked extremely flustered.
She had even stopped shouting irasshaimase by now.
‘Judging by her reaction, it must normally be a quiet restaurant after all.’
I had no idea why so many people suddenly swarmed in, but something else was more important right now.
"Owner. I'd like to order."
I had to hurry and place my order.
Before my turn got pushed to the back of the line.
"Y-yes! I'll take your order!"
"One Jjajang ramen, please."
"Kashikomarimashita!"
When I ordered, the owner answered in Japanese.
It seemed to roughly mean she understood.
Having safely completed my order as the very first person, I checked my phone to see the viewers' reactions.
【Se-hun Defense Force】─Why is everyone suddenly swarming in? Lolol
【Yoho】─Couldn't they be flocking here to see the streamer?
【Hottie Licker】─Yoho. Tone it down.
【Plum Tree】─Keeps going overboard.
【Min-ji】─Seriously. Tsk tsk.
A few viewers were wondering about the reason for the swarm.
The majority of the viewers' attention was focused elsewhere.
【Qkrnfl892】─But why ramen? Wasn't that place a Chinese restaurant?
【Reverse-Rape Maniac】─If it's ramen and not ramyeon, isn't that Japanese?
【Reformed Guburi】─Ramen is also Chinese cuisine. Japanese-style Chinese cuisine, to be precise.
【Bubblegum Collector】─Wakyapya! It's my first time seeing a Chinese place sell ramen!
【Gyejipsa】─First time seeing it!
【Dick Lover】─Never even heard of the name Jjajang ramen either. Not even jjajang-ramyeon.
【BigGirl】─It must be fusion cuisine.
【Min-ji】─We should've caught on the moment they used Japanese for the greeting.
Why was a Chinese restaurant selling ramen.
That was what most of the viewers were puzzled about.
‘...Well, whatever they sell, as long as it tastes good that was all that mattered.’
To be honest, I found it odd too.
Since it was my first time seeing a Chinese place sell ramen.
But not enough to really question it.
If the restaurant owner wanted to sell it, she could sell it.
Just because it's a Chinese restaurant doesn't mean there's some law dictating the menu, after all.
【Qkrnfl892】─Is this Jjajang ramen thing actually any good?
【Dick Lover】─Feels like it'd be bad.
【Min-ji】─It probably isn't bad though? It is the main menu after all.
【Yoho】─Jjajang ramen is the main? Min-ji you son of a bitch, how do you know that?
【Min-ji】─All the other customers are only ordering Jjajang ramen right now. But why the parental insult?
【Yoho】─It was a typo.
Just as Min-ji said.
The main menu here did indeed seem to be Jjajang ramen.
Because people were all ordering nothing but Jjajang ramen.
"Looks like the Jjajang ramen here is good."
"Yeah? Then let's just order that. Two Jjajang ramen, please!"
"Kashikomarimashita!"
"Hey hey. Let's eat the same thing as that guy."
"I was already planning to. Two Jjajang ramen here, please!"
"Kashikomarimashita!"
"Five Jjajang ramen! All large portions!"
"Ka, Kakomarimashitta!"
The orders poured in endlessly.
Watching the flustered owner floundering, this must indeed have been the first time so many people crowded in.
‘She was struggling working all alone without a single employee.’
It had to be tough.
Yet the owner showed absolutely no sign of strain as she worked the wok diligently.
With a face overflowing with joy.
Well, I supposed that was the normal reaction.
No restaurant owner would be unhappy about getting lots of customers.
Anyway.
Seeing the owner so happy about doing good business made me feel oddly pleased as well.
*
*
*
Jjajang ramen turned out to be.
A dish of Miso ramen topped with a special jjajang sauce.
【Reformed Guburi】─Slow the fuck down, you bastard!
【Min-ji】─No way... One-minute clear, what the heck...
【Se-hun Defense Force】─Thought it was a vacuum cleaner.
And if I dared to rate the taste.
It suited my palate so perfectly that I could give it a 9 out of 10.
【Hottie Licker】─What's Se-hun doing with his eyes closed? Lick.
【Yoho】─Looks like he's evaluating the taste.
【Reformed Guburi】─Putting on airs.
Which was to say.
It was so delicious it would be no exaggeration to call it food cooked by a top-tier chef.
【Reformed Guburi】─Open your eyes! Fuck.
【BigGirl】─Se-hun seems to be acting strange?
【Plum Tree】─Looks like he was moved by the taste.
Nor could it be dismissed as just my subjective opinion.
The other customers as well.
After one bite, they lost all restraint and started wolfing down the Jjajang ramen like mad.
"What is this? It's insanely good?"
"Right? Honestly, I thought it'd be bad..."
"It doesn't look like much, but the taste is outstanding."
"The jjajang sauce is seriously delicious. Did they develop the recipe themselves?"
"The jjajang is great, but the broth is also deep and rich—no joke."
"How does this combination even work? Amazing."
Without a single exception, everyone was showering the Jjajang ramen with rapturous praise.
In other words, the conclusion was singular.
Jjajang ramen was objectively delicious.
The reason the restaurant had been empty was surely just that word of mouth hadn't yet gotten around.
【Qkrnfl892】─So is it good or is it bad?
【Min-ji】─All the other customers seem to be saying it's good?
【Dick Lover】─Yeah, they're singing its praises as delicious.
【Reformed Guburi】─You can hear that?
【Yoho】─You have good ears.
【Qkrnfl892】─I'm asking for Se-hun's opinion right now.
"If you're curious, come here and try it yourself."
【Qkrnfl892】─? What kind of asshole acts like this?
【Se-hun Defense Force】─Lolol, the guy doing a mukbang won't even give a taste review and tells the viewers to come eat it themselves.
【Reformed Guburi】─Have you only been watching Gye Bastard-hun for a day or two. Hah.
【Plum Tree】─Last time he at least said it was good.
【BigGirl】─Couldn't he be keeping quiet because it's bad?
【Dick Lover】─Looking at his expression, it doesn't seem bad.
Anyway, since I'd finished my meal, I decided it was about time to grab the camera and get up.
Continuing to hog the seat would be a nuisance.
So after moving to the counter right next to the open kitchen.
"Owner. I'd like to pay..."
I paused while reaching to pull out my card to pay.
‘...She was totally absorbed in her wok. She seemed busy, so I'd just not call her.’
She might cook at a top-chef level.
But the owner was still inexperienced at running a business.
I put my card back and took out a 50,000-won bill, placing it on the counter.
I could at least offer this much consideration.
Since I'd eaten a good meal that perfectly suited my palate for the first time in a while.
"I'm leaving the cash here. Keep the change, and starting tomorrow, please hire some staff."
"Yes, huh? Pay? Huh? Sir! Just a moment!"
Leaving the owner behind, frantically calling after me.
"Ah, what. He's already leaving."
"Should we just go too?"
"No... Looking at how the people already eating are reacting, this really does seem like a great place. Let's at least try it since we're here."
Leaving behind the customers who seemed disappointed for some reason as well.
Without stopping for a single step, I walked out of the restaurant without any lingering attachment.
***
Partly to digest.
I was wandering aimlessly through the city with no particular destination in mind.
【Reformed Guburi】─Gye Bastard-hun. Let's do that. That, that!
【Hottie Licker】─What's 'that.' Lick.
【Qkrnfl892】─Let's do that. Whine whine.
【Gyejipsa】─Whine whine!
【Yoho】─?
【Reformed Guburi】─I mean the punch machine over there. Let's see Gye Bastard-hun's punching power.
Guburi abruptly suggested we do the punch machine.
"Punch machine? We're not kids, why would I do that?"
【Reformed Guburi】─Lol, just doing it for fun. Just do it once.
【Min-ji】─No no, don't do it. A guy will hurt his wrist.
【Dick Lover】─What kinda bullshit is that. Why would Se-hun hurt his wrist? The machine would be the one getting hurt.
【Plum Tree】─Min-ji. Did you already forget Se-hun fighting earlier? Unlike average guys, Se-hun is crazy strong.
【Drift AI】─I will say it. I say that Gye Se-hun is even stronger than women.
【Hottie Licker】─Lol, let's prove it right now, go go. Lick.
【Bubblegum Collector】─Wakyapya. Hasn't he already proven it plenty!
【Gyejipsa】─Wakyapya! Seoksang one-combo!
【Reformed Guburi】─That's why I'm saying let's confirm how strong he is with a number. Fuck.
【Reformed Guburi】─Gye Bastard-hun. Don't tell me you're chickening out because you're afraid your score will come out low?
【Reformed Guburi】─If you're scared, don't do it. Hah.
【Reformed Guburi】─Well, even if you do it, you'll probably get like 300 points. It's obvious anyway, so just don't do it. Haha.
I hadn't planned on doing it originally.
But my mind changed because Guburi kept scratching at my pride.
"Guburi, you wanna die? 300 points my ass. If I do it, I'll blow right past the high score."
【Reformed Guburi】─The high score is 950, how the hell are you gonna blow past that. Lol.
【Min-ji】─Se-hun defending his pride is kinda cute. Heh.
【Yoho】─Min-ji, your way of speaking is kinda disgusting.
【Min-ji】─?
【Hottie Licker】─Lol, Se-hun. No matter what, you're not breaking 950. Stop fronting. Lick.
"...These bastards really don't believe a word I say."
In the end, I decided to do the arcade punch machine.
"I'll show you, so watch closely."
After mounting the camera at a suitable spot.
I loosened up my wrist and arm lightly and approached the punch machine.
Then I immediately inserted the money.
Whirr-
A round punch bag made of stitched leather slowly descended.
I fixed my eyes on the punch bag, settled into my stance, and threw my fist at it with all my strength.
Baaang-!
And then the punch bag burst like a balloon.