Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Huh, This Actually Works
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President Park led the two women into the broadcasting studio.
It was a building he had rented to provide a comfortable streaming setup for affiliated streamers who couldn't broadcast from home. For this collab, he had even equipped it with cooking gear.
As Daram stood at the front door and opened it, the sound of rapid pattering feet echoed from afar.
"Mongchi!"
Woof!
Mongchi, whom they had dropped off here ahead of the collab, came rushing over and jumped into Daram's arms.
Excited to see its owner, Mongchi wagged its tail furiously and bounced around.
Then its eyes met Hyo-jeong's as she entered late.
Mongchi stared blankly, while Hyo-jeong gazed intently.
A fierce staring contest unfolded between them.
Woof!
"Grr-woof!"
Woof!!
"Grr-woof!!"
Squeak.
Mongchi's tail drooped limply.
Seeing this, Hyo-jeong declared triumphantly.
"I win."
Stepping inside, Hyo-jeong let out an impressed gasp at the clean interior.
"Wow, it's bigger than I thought."
The spacious kitchen, countertops, and shiny modern appliances gleamed.
One wall held neatly arranged cooking utensils, and the fridge was stocked with basic ingredients.
"Right? I even considered streaming full-time from here... Ah, Mongchi!"
Mongchi, seizing the moment, darted between Hyo-jeong's legs.
"What does this mean? Want to give it another go?"
Pant pant.
Tongue lolling out, it circled Hyo-jeong playfully.
The earlier stare-down forgotten, it showered her with affection.
Hyo-jeong crouched down and stroked its chin.
Pleased by the touch, Mongchi rolled onto the floor, wriggling its head.
She poked its belly with a smirk.
"That's right. This is eye level between you and me. Got it, Mongchi?"
Woof!
"You rascal. Kinda cute."
"Daram sis, is this guy a boy?"
"Yeah, he's a boy, but neutered."
Thud.
Was that sound effect imaginary?
Hyo-jeong's eyes filled with shared suffering as she patted Mongchi comfortingly.
"I see. You've lost yours too..."
Leaving behind the deep hug with Mongchi, they began unpacking their ingredients.
Hyo-jeong, before starting prep, washed her hands and tied on an apron. The white apron hugged her slim waist, creating an oddly alluring vibe.
Some viewers gasped in admiration.
Sensing the vibe, she narrowed her eyes and asked Daram near the camera.
"They're bashing me again, right?"
"Huh? No, no. Everyone's saying the apron suits you perfectly—pure praise."
"Really? Not spouting nonsense about femininity again?"
Hyo-jeong soon began prepping veggies with practiced ease.
Each chop hit the board in steady rhythm, the crisp sound pleasant to hear.
Her cat-like grip on the veggies was perfect too.
Cooking Hyo-jeong evoked a skilled housewife.
Park In-ho filmed not as company president, but as a pro broadcaster.
He captured close-ups of Hyo-jeong cooking, occasional veggie zooms, with natural variety angles like a variety show.
When things slowed, he'd cut to Daram playing with Mongchi.
Thanks to his efforts, viewers stayed engaged without boredom.
Two hours into streaming: 2,146 concurrent viewers.
Astonishingly, surpassing both Hyo-jeong's and Daram's averages.
President Park suddenly thought: Why not film them eating together?
Prep extra portions, stage a cozy meal scene.
They agreed readily.
An hour later, dishes neared completion.
Plates piled up: spicy chicken stew, fish cakes, stir-fried mushrooms, seasoned chives.
The neat spread evoked a traditional Korean restaurant table.
Appetizing colors, balanced nutrition—Daram and viewers alike marveled.
"Eh, there are plenty of male chefs these days~"
Hyo-jeong quipped coolly, wiping her hands and removing the apron.
Her eyes met President Park's, and she whispered conspiratorially.
"I prepped some for the cameraman too."
Flashing a bright smile.
President Park felt his heart race, failing his age.
Chat exploded with envy.
With all dishes done, the table resembled a full-course hanjeongsik.
As Daram set chopsticks, licking her lips, she noticed the fried egg atop her rice bowl.
"Huh? Why no egg on Jeong's rice?"
"Oh, don't mind it. Just a habit from making it for my little sis."
She scratched her head sheepishly and sat casually.
But viewers reacted differently.
Amazed by her overwhelming femininity.
Considering her usual antics, this was a massive gap moe.
It was always like this.
Viewers knew her only as the rowdy one bickering in streams, so this devoted side felt refreshingly new.
The 'tough guy' talker flipped to 'wise wife' in an instant.
Seamlessly natural.
A tremendous twist charm.
Just a fried egg on rice, but that small act felt profoundly sincere.
This was real.
Every man has fantasized it once: returning exhausted from work to a loving pretty wife.
Her dutifully preparing a table of favorites amid daily grind.
The male dream unfolding right here.
(Incidentally, President Park, filming the same scene, also covered his mouth in shock.)
Later, yielding chicken legs from the stew, placing the last fish cake on Daram's rice.
Her insane wife skills left viewers in awe.
Daram's constant "delicious" praises merely highlighted Hyo-jeong's support skills.
The stream wrapped as Hyo-jeong's one-woman show.
After filming, as Hyo-jeong approached with thanks, President Park said gravely.
"Hyo-jeong, I have something important to say."
From watching behind the camera, she always exceeded expectations.
Once just a desirable talent, now irreplaceable.
He wanted to work with her.
Pouring honest feelings, he proposed.
"Amuse Entertainment officially wants to recruit you."
Hyo-jeong's face showed clear surprise as she asked back.
"Me?"
As if utterly unexpected.
President Park grew puzzled.
"We sent a DM via the platform before—did you not see it?"
"Ah."
She nodded slightly, something recalled.
Apparently hadn't checked.
'At least not rejected before.'
Regaining confidence, he continued.
"Join us, and we'll support you fully. Any requests, we'll review positively."
Sudden scout offer left Hyo-jeong visibly conflicted.
Eyes darting as if calculating, tilting head, then frowning sharply.
"Ah... Sorry, but on second thought, it won't work."
Clear refusal; President Park fell silent.
No intent to push.
Regrettable, but maybe not meant to be.
He thought they meshed well; she didn't.
Still curious.
Why refuse? Any backstory?
"May I ask the reason?"
Perhaps solvable by them.
Reading his earnestness?
Hyo-jeong hesitated, then spoke slowly.
"Well, truth is... I have no way to prove my identity."
Adding explanation.
"Ugh... Hard to explain, but sounds weird—I only have male ID now."
Unexpected answer widened President Park's eyes.
"So, was male, became female, so no docs for Hyo-jeong?"
"In short, yeah..."
Felt like a head smack.
Yet deeply impressed.
'Bravo.'
Her dedication to gimmick separated fiction from reality better than anyone he'd met.
TS Hyo-jeong was utterly sincere in her bit.
*
'Damn, should I have said that?'
President Park stared blankly into space with an inscrutable expression.
His lips twitched upward, seeming pleased...
No way.
Rejected for absurd reason; he'd think she mocked him.
Regret surged: better to say unavoidable circumstances.
Mind tangled, his voice rang again.
"Just need to sort identity?"
"Uh, for now, yeah?"
"Then: contract via email. Review, email needs to that contact. If good, e-sign as 'yourself.' Counts as male contract."
"Huh? That works?"
"It does."
"No issues later?"
"None."
"Gender mismatch...?"
"Fine if it's you."
President Park thumbs-upped.
What? This works.
Why?
"...That's what happened."
Back home, recounting to Ye-eun.
Especially agency possible; she jumped.
"That possible? Don't they need ID verification?"
"Exactly."
"How'd you fix it?"
"No clue."
"Huh?"
"Seriously don't know."
Only recalled: his pleased smile.
How it proceeded? Total mystery.
That evening, reviewed emailed contract with Ye-eun meticulously.
Experienced in contracts, she scoured for poison pills.
Conditions surprisingly good; noted needed changes.
Soon, revised version arrived with all requests met.
Final sign as 'Han Jeong-ho' ended it.
Ye-eun stared blankly at inbox, muttering.
"Why the heck does this work?"
She didn't get it either.