Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 091
Chapter Title: Three Meals a Day, Absolutely! (2)
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“Ugh. It’s already such a shame that filming seems like it’ll wrap up too quickly.”
“Today we had Hanwoo top-grade steak, so what’ll come tomorrow?”
“I bet on something even more amazing than today’s.”
“Make it two votes.”
“If we all vote the same, doesn’t that invalidate the bet?”
For a meal on set, the spread was ridiculously lavish. It looked like they’d called in a catering buffet.
And that wasn’t far off from the truth.
The extravagant feasts that didn’t fit a typical shoot had started not long after filming began.
-Yeonwoo-ssi, I’m worried because when you focus, you skip meals.
It all kicked off when Kwon Seonghyeon muttered that, acting like Yeonwoo missing even one meal would be a disaster.
The person in question, Yeonwoo, was just baffled.
-I eat just fine, though?
-You barely eat what I shove in front of you, and your stomach’s so small.
Something about that sounded off.
But it wasn’t wrong.
People sometimes forget to eat when they’re deep in concentration.
On top of that, Kwon Seonghyeon kept bringing “health-boosting” foods every meal, to the point where Yeonwoo ended up dreading it by the end.
Meals had become pure torment.
The reason?
-Yeonwoo-ssi.
-All you have to do is quietly eat what I tell you to. What’s the problem?
-I’ve already eaten plenty.
-Not at all. Your stomach’s not even full yet. Just one more spoonful.
Kwon Seonghyeon would stubbornly bring the spoon to his mouth like that—not just once or twice.
‘Anyone would think I’m spoiled rotten...’
A top actor whom countless people begged just for a glimpse was personally feeding him.
Of course, it wasn’t as elegant or refined as it sounded.
‘Who knew at my age I’d feel like a picky kid throwing a tantrum over food...’
Jealous? If anyone was, he’d gladly switch places.
-I won’t give you the script unless you finish this.
-I’ve already memorized it all.
-Playing hardball, huh?
-Kwon Seonghyeon-ssi, taking the script hostage is pretty low, don’t you think?
Not that it mattered since he had it memorized anyway.
-Why refuse when it’s just a little more?
-How is that a little? It’s a whole handful.
-Have you no conscience?
Sure enough, on the spoon Kwon Seonghyeon held out was a plump, whole abalone delicately placed.
What was it called again...? Ginseng sea bream abalone chicken soup or something... His memory was fuzzy.
Calling that hefty abalone on a spoon “one spoonful” was absurd!
-W-What are you two doing right now?!
Thankfully—or so he thought—their eat-or-be-eaten standoff ended thanks to an unexpected intruder.
-Seonghyeon, even for you, how could you do that to Yeonwoo-ssi... Huh?
Kwon Seonghyeon turned coldly, spoon with abalone still poised.
Manager Lee Gyu-han, hit by that glare, started hiccuping.
-Hyung, you think I’m going too far too?
-U-Uh? Hic, yeah? Hic!
-Now that filming starts, he’ll definitely neglect meals and get even skinnier!
-No one around to look after him, so what’s wrong with me making sure he eats?
-Hic! N-No, hic!
-That’s not it, hic!
Yeonwoo seized the moment, slipping behind Lee Gyu-han and subtly turning his head.
He had no idea why the usually mild-mannered manager had barged in angrily, but this was his chance.
‘Time to say goodbye to all these seafood, roots, and precious herbs...’
-Director Ji said he likes how skinny Yeonwoo-ssi looks, right?
-H-Hic, yeah...?
-If even the director who’s supposed to care for his actors says that, who else will look after Yeonwoo-ssi?
-And it’s not just this one film.
Lee Gyu-han seemed to be addressing Kwon Seonghyeon, but his eyes were fixed squarely on Yeonwoo.
-Still, Seonghyeon. Hic.
-Forcing it down isn’t the answer, hic, no.
-Too much tonic can be poison, hic, right?
-It might even be bad for Yeonwoo-ssi.
-Instead, hic, eating regular, balanced meals consistently is better.
-I saw it on some cable TV show where doctors said nothing beats three square meals a day...
Lee Gyu-han rambled on, persuading Kwon Seonghyeon.
And it worked—Kwon Seonghyeon lowered his spoon.
As Yeonwoo sighed in relief watching the abalone return to the bowl, Kwon Seonghyeon spoke.
-Hyung’s right.
-R-Right?
-These health foods boost metabolism, but that puts strain on the liver and kidneys to detoxify, raising those levels...
-Three square meals consistently...
-...You’re not listening to me at all, are you, Seonghyeon?
Yeonwoo caught on quick.
One slip here, and the tonic wars would resume.
So he quickly proposed a truce.
-I’ll make sure to eat three balanced meals a day.
-...For real?
-But Kwon Seonghyeon-ssi’s menu is overkill, so let’s agree on normal ones.
-Normal menu, huh...
-So no skipping any meals?
-Well... I’ll try.
-Ugh, Seonghyeon. Schedules can mess up, and you might miss one...
-Hyung, maybe step out for a bit.
-U-Uh... Hic...!
Lee Gyu-han resumed his hiccups at Kwon Seonghyeon’s gentle but firm words, but no one paid it any mind.
-If I hear even a whisper that Yeonwoo-ssi skipped a meal...
-That won’t happen.
-Good. I trust you.
-Yeonwoo-ssi’s never lied to me before.
But.
As the saying goes: listen to Korean to the end.
-Just in case, it’s okay if I check up on you, right?
Saying no would blow the whole truce.
-Yes...
It felt like just yesterday he’d reluctantly agreed.
That’s when it started.
The next day, right on cue at mealtime, a lavish meal truck arrived like clockwork.
-Good lord. What’s all this...?
-It’s from Yeonwoo-ssi’s agency, apparently?
-Whoa. The menu’s insane.
The staff marveled at the quality and variety, like they’d transplanted a high-end hotel buffet wholesale.
Watching it, Yeonwoo was certain.
That wasn’t his agency.
That was one hundred percent Kwon Seonghyeon.
And that dazzling meal truck visited the set almost daily.
‘How much do they think I wasn’t eating?’
It was more than silent pressure—it was outright pressure!
Yeonwoo felt a bit wronged.
‘It’s not that I eat little; the portions were insane.’
He hadn’t exactly been skimping!
Kwon Seonghyeon had just gone overboard.
Calling what looked like 2.5 servings for a normal person “one meal.”
A massive calorie bomb at that—how was anyone supposed to finish it?
Plus, most tonics are greasy.
Imagine eating that oily stuff every meal.
‘Even a healthy person would get sick of it and couldn’t eat. Definitely.’
Yeonwoo felt like Hansel and Gretel in the fairy tale.
While seriously eating pristine chicken braised with wild ginseng-raised poultry, he even thought,
‘If they told me to stick out my finger, would I have to offer this chicken leg bone...?’
Of course, he snapped out of it with, ‘What kind of crazy thought is that?’
[But our actor’s not entirely wrong. How many celebs have crashed from poor management?]
According to Kwon Seonghyeon, body management was an actor’s basic duty.
In an industry where your body is your asset, you had to maintain it consistently while healthy.
The Child Spirit, watching it all, sided with Kwon Seonghyeon.
[Didn’t you see? Those before-and-after pics circulating as memes. What era is this!
Unlike the old days, everything’s preserved in 4K now!
Think about your image being replayed 20 years from now—you should kowtow to our actor a hundred times over!]
Whose side are you on...?
Yeonwoo had a moment of doubt.
‘Well, he’s sending it for my sake, so I should be grateful.’
Honestly, who hates good food?
Yeonwoo had been overwhelmed by the excess, but he wasn’t the type to hate eating.
Beyond the money, the sincerity was something else.
It really was touching.
The lavish meal trucks coming every other day.
Even snacks in between in case he got hungry.
-Seonghyeon wanted to send them three times a day, but I fought tooth and nail to compromise at once... nearly died...
Lee Gyu-han’s weary mutter came to mind, but anyone providing food was a good person.
The problem didn’t end there.
-...What’s this?
Investor Woo Do-gyeom happened to drop by the set unnecessarily during dinner time—that was the issue.
-Oh, investor-nim. Perfect timing. If you haven’t eaten, join us...
-Yeonwoo-ssi’s agency sent a high-end hotel buffet.
-It looks fancy, but the taste is top-notch.
The staff, mellowed by the delicious spread, had urged him.
-Yeonwoo’s agency sent it?
-Yes. They’re so generous; our crew’s been living large every day.
-Every day...?
Yeonwoo thought.
If only he’d paid more attention to the staff’s words then.
If only he’d noticed Woo Do-gyeom’s probing response!
‘...Probably wouldn’t have changed anything.’
In hindsight, it was inevitable.
“Where it’s from doesn’t matter. If it’s tasty, that’s what counts!”
“That kills the bet’s fun. But can’t argue.”
“Never thought tomorrow coming would feel this exciting...”
Everyone except Yeonwoo ended up happy.
At some point, the whole crew eagerly awaited mealtimes like one big family. A happy ending.
‘Oh. Maybe exclude Kwon Seonghyeon-ssi and Woo Do-gyeom-ssi too.’
Moneybags sending meal trucks daily to a month-long shoot.
Neither would suffer financially, though.
One was chaebol second-gen, the other had claimed the chaebol throne himself.
Bzzz!
His pocket buzzed—phone vibrating.
Message from Kwon Seonghyeon.
>Yeonwoo-ssi. Eaten?
>No skipping, right^^?
That smiling ‘^^’...
Just an emoticon, but why did it sometimes send chills?
[Yes, I ate.]
Send a pic?
[(Photo)]
[Just in case, it’s okay if I check up on you, right?]
Old memories faintly resurfaced.
The problem was he hadn’t known what that “checking” entailed back then.
“Seonghyeon wants a proof pic again?”
“Yes...”
“Sigh. I knew he was tenacious, but I thought he’d go easy on you, Yeonwoo-ssi...”
Lee Gyu-han gazed wistfully.
“At least he calms down if you send it?”
“Fortunately.”
Bzzz.
Phone vibrated again.
>Good job.
>Anything you want tomorrow^^?
“Want tomorrow...”
Some furry beast once said.
[If you come at four, I’ll start missing you from three.]
Not exactly the same, but Yeonwoo thought of that furry beast.
Every time he got a “what do you want?” message...
‘Feels a bit like Pavlov’s dog. Must be my imagination.’
As always, his hesitation was brief.
[I want galbi.]
Galbi?
LA ribs?
[No. Steamed is better.]
Ah. Got it—braised galbi.
>The steak today wasn’t good?
[It was tasty, but...]
Ah. You prefer Korean food, right Yeonwoo-ssi?
>Got it^^.