Ch.128Do you really think things will proceed that easily in this world?

Ilyang Foods.

Starting with Ilyang Ramen, Korea’s first instant noodle, this company was responsible for popularizing ramen throughout Korea.

And recently, Ilyang Foods has released an ambitious new product.

“Introducing Buldak Spicy Noodles! It’s our finest product, ready to go beyond Korea and hunt globally across the world!”

“I know, I know. Everyone here knows that. Is there anyone who came to this marketing meeting without knowing that?”

“Haha, I just wanted to lighten the mood since everyone seems so tense.”

“Come on, how many times are you going to make the same joke? We need something real now.”

Buldak Spicy Noodles’ popularity in the domestic market is already well-established.

It has built a solid fan base,

And the company is actively researching various flavors to match consumer preferences.

But Ilyang wasn’t satisfied with just that.

Just as they pioneered ramen in Korea,

They had ambitions to introduce Buldak Spicy Noodles to the world.

That’s why they’ve held multiple executive meetings with this goal in mind.

Under the leadership of Marketing Team Leader Jo Geonwoo, who had rapidly climbed the corporate ladder in his mid-30s,

They had repeated meetings without reaching any meaningful conclusion.

The executives were getting impatient and wanted to implement something—anything.

And this was exactly the moment Jo Geonwoo had been waiting for.

‘Now they’ll finally be ready to listen.’

All the previous meetings had been bait.

To open the ears of the indifferent, conservative executives,

He needed to hold several meaningless meetings first.

After all that groundwork,

Jo Geonwoo habitually smoothed back his slicked-back hair and began speaking.

“Of course, I understand. So… I’m thinking we should try product placement in foreign dramas first.”

“PPL? You mean indirect advertising?”

“Yes, since it’s an unfamiliar food product, there will be considerable resistance. That’s why we need PPL.”

“Have you decided which programs?”

“Yes, if you look at the screen, first is Japan’s The Noble Gourmet, and second is America’s Diners in Dive.”

“Ohhh….”

Both were programs with solid recognition overseas.

As shows that introduce various foods,

It was clear that Buldak Spicy Noodles could be featured very naturally.

“If we succeed, we can recover all the marketing costs we’ve wasted until now.”

“How many people have said that and then left the marketing director position… haha.”

“Hahahaha!”

Why could someone in their mid-30s become a marketing director at a major corporation?

It was partly due to competence, but also because it was such a precarious position.

‘Product development is the pillar, marketing is the interior decoration.’

While you can’t change the pillars, you can tear out the interior.

That was marketing’s position at Ilyang.

Swoosh!

Jo Geonwoo laughed confidently and smoothed his slicked-back hair again.

“That’s not all. I think we should also establish an advertising model.”

“An advertising model? Who?”

“Since Buldak Spicy Noodles is… a product favored by young people!”

“And?”

“I think Kim Donghu should do it!”

“Kim Donghu!”

The executives’ eyes widened at the mention of Kim Donghu.

The average age of Ilyang Foods executives was early 50s.

It would be perfectly understandable if they didn’t know Kim Donghu at that age.

But the reason they knew him was because:

“My daughter! My daughter! My daughter who said she’d marry her daddy is now completely infatuated with Kim Donghu!”

“That guy with the handsome face! Won some Golden Bell! Plays piano! Because of that… Hmm? Well… Kim Donghu might be good?”

“He’s a good actor too, haha. My daughter is his fan… I wonder if she’d call me the best dad if I got his autograph.”

“My husband was really upset too, but wouldn’t Donghu make a perfect son-in-law?”

Kim Donghu was someone no parent with a daughter could ignore.

The perfect son of a perfect mother’s perfect friend,

The nation’s prince,

The next generation’s ideal husband material,

He had many titles, but

Among Kim Donghu’s nicknames, the most definitive one was:

‘Daughter Thief!’

No wonder their eyes opened wide at the mention of his name.

It was enough to drive away their boredom and drowsiness completely.

“So in conclusion, we’ll place Buldak Spicy Noodles in foreign PPL and use Kim Donghu as our model.”

Jo Geonwoo neatly summarized the current situation in one sentence.

“…Do you think things will progress that smoothly?”

The executives rested their chins on their hands and stared at the screen.

“Do you think it will be that easy?”

“I’ll do my best! To make a compelling case!”

“Ha! Compelling, you say!”

“Consider this your first and last chance.”

With those words, the meeting ended.

As the executives filed out,

Marketing Team Leader Jo Geonwoo smoothed his slicked-back hair with a grim expression.

‘Starting today, I’ll do 108 bows every day.’

This happened one month before the airing of <The Noble Gourmet Special Guest: Kim Donghu Episode>.

++++++

Sizzzzzzzzle.

Why do people think of pancakes when it rains?

The reason had already been scientifically proven.

‘Was it because the sound of rain is similar to the sound of frying pancakes?’

It was a destined combination where the melodies of nature and food harmonized naturally.

That was the relationship between rain and pancakes.

‘The scene looks absolutely perfect.’

Was that why?

Choi Seokho felt resentful toward the sky, even though he knew how smoothly the filming was progressing.

‘If it started raining right now, it would be game over.’

Although Kurata Toro, the protagonist of <The Noble Gourmet>, couldn’t drink alcohol,

Rain would still add significant value to the scene.

‘I can’t believe he can actually make everything on that menu.’

All the items on the menu were available,

And all the listed drinks were prepared.

The menu only contained items that Kim Donghu could actually make.

A full restaurant menu, no less.

‘Seriously, Donghu, aren’t you too perfect?’

Choi Seokho was once again amazed by Kim Donghu’s versatility.

He seemed far beyond just being good at cooking.

After all,

Whoosh!

‘If he were just good, he couldn’t do that flashy one-handed flip.’

It felt like watching a famous chef on TV.

And now,

“Kimchi pancake is ready!”

“Oh, thank you.”

“And I apologize to the customers… but I haven’t eaten yet, would it be alright if I joined you for a meal?”

Kim Donghu’s meal begins.

“Ah… yes, that’s fine.”

Toro delivered his scripted line.

“Oh, please feel free to order anything else you’d like. Really, don’t worry about it!”

“Of course! Minjun! One steamed egg custard! And kimchi pancake too!”

“Yes! Order received!”

The filming continued to flow smoothly.

And at that moment,

Pitter-patter.

As if by magic, it started to rain.

‘S-sun shower!’

Aitake Ura’s eyes widened.

It was unexpected rain.

Normally, this would be terrible for filming.

They’d need to cover the equipment, and the color tone would change.

But,

‘Eating Korean kimchi pancakes while it’s raining?’

This situation was different.

The scene was perfect.

And amazingly, the rain was falling at just the right intensity.

Just enough to create the atmosphere without disrupting the shoot.

‘Right, it’s August, so rain is expected!’

Aitake Ura suppressed his twitching lips.

Not yet,

The filming wasn’t over yet.

‘Here comes the highlight.’

Thud!

With Aitake Ura’s anticipation building, Kim Donghu,

or rather Kim Minjun, brought out an entire rice cooker.

‘W-what! Is he going to eat all that?’

Matsusage Yukata, no,

Kurata Toro was genuinely surprised.

‘I knew he was a big eater, but…’

Could he really eat that much?

That thought was quickly interrupted by even more surprising scenes.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

A pot of spicy stir-fried pork,

Three pork cutlets,

Five kimchi pancakes,

Plus seven rolls of kimbap.

A quantity that only a sumo wrestler might consume suddenly appeared all at once.

‘This is truly… no ordinary restaurant!’

And then Kim Minjun’s eating show began.

Objectively speaking, he didn’t seem to be eating particularly fast.

But,

‘It goes down so smoothly.’

He could eat so much without seeming gluttonous at all.

There wasn’t even a hint of greed.

Should I say he ate as if it were the most natural thing?

‘Somehow watching him eat so well makes me feel like I could eat more too.’

Perhaps that’s why.

The kimchi pancake, which honestly seemed a bit too large, went down easily.

‘I might end up overindulging today.’

The rice just keeps disappearing.

How is this possible!

Munch munch munch.

Kim Minjun continued putting food in his mouth while

Toro was nearly finished with his meal.

The camera captured this scene for a while until,

“Thank you for the meal.”

Kurata Toro finished eating first.

“Check, please.”

“Yes!”

After neatly settling the bill,

As he was about to leave the restaurant,

Pitter-patter.

The rain gradually stopped at the perfect timing.

‘I felt like I was at… truly at my unexpected second home.’

With Toro’s satisfied nod,

“Cut!”

Aitake Ura gave the OK sign.

He had no intention of reshooting, nor could he.

‘The rain won’t be there anymore.’

It was timing that could only be described as heaven-sent.

‘I want to edit this and air it as soon as possible.’

Even at the earliest, it would be next month due to scheduling issues.

‘This is going to be a huge hit when it airs on TV.’

Nevertheless, Aitake Ura couldn’t contain his excitement.

++++++

Vacations tend to fly by in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps that’s why?

“Time flies.”

I shrugged while looking at the calendar.

It seemed like just yesterday that we filmed <The Noble Gourmet>.

But when I came to my senses,

“Is it airing today?”

It was already the broadcast day.