episode_0279

The Next Day. Late at Night.

The external source filming for ‘Star Summit,’ a show that borrows restaurants to get foreigner reactions to food, had wrapped up.

Perhaps because of that? The smell of cooking food no longer filled the restaurant. Only the hustle and bustle of the staff moving around, clearing up equipment, remained.

“So, we have to return the restaurant to its original state?”

“Of course. We borrowed it in the first place.”

“We also used our own tableware and kitchen equipment, right? We have to retrieve everything. Move quickly!”

“Almost done!”

Although they had a very demanding schedule today, their expressions were surprisingly bright. Truthfully, they hadn’t expected to finish filming in just one day, but they did.

The biggest contributor to this was, of course, Sua.

The ‘Star Summit’ participants even said:

“Still, thanks to Sua-ssi, we finished in one day.”

“Haa, even just serving all day was this tiring. How does Sua-ssi manage to cook everything?”

“…What’s scary is that she’s still not tired.”

But that last comment was a misunderstanding!

Why? Because Sua was completely exhausted right now!

‘I’m tired… I’m really tired… I can’t do this anymore…’

She forced herself to move and complete the schedule, but being tired is still being tired. It felt like she was going to die…

‘How many servings did I cook today? Ugh, I can’t even count.’

Sua had previous experience working in a kitchen, but this was much harder than back then.

Why? Because Sua was so bad at her job back then that they didn’t ask her to do much! But now she’s good at cooking!

Anyway! More importantly!

‘…But more than my body being tired, I’m going crazy because something else keeps bothering me. Maybe because of that worry, I didn’t even realize how tired I was while cooking.’

There was a worry that was messing with Sua’s head more than her physical exhaustion. That was the worry about Yang Harin.

‘What should I do about this?’

She couldn’t sleep all night because she was worried, and now she couldn’t sleep because she was still worried. In other words, Sua-zombie.

─Let’s find a way together.

─First, don’t have bad thoughts.

After hearing Harin’s words, Sua had said that. Meaning, from now on, she had to worry about Yang Harin’s condition and find a clue to solve the problem.

‘But what should I do? If I try to nurture Yeon Cheon-gyeong, the quality of the work seems to drop, and if I try to raise the quality of the work, Yang Harin seems to be erased from the Yeon Cheon-gyeong codex…’

Yang Harin’s name being erased from the Yeon Cheon-gyeong codex? Frankly, it didn’t sound good. There was a precedent, and maybe it meant she would die.

While Sua was lost in thought.

“Alright, everyone!”

The playful Kang Hyun-sung PD, wearing his snapback backwards, clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.

“I’m very happy with today’s filming. I’m glad it ended in one day too. The talks were substantial, so I don’t think we have anything to worry about. I think the broadcast will turn out well?”

Everyone’s expression brightened at the hopeful words, and Congo panelist Kwesi opened his mouth.

“Honestly, Sua-ssi carried us! Completely amazing!”

The other panelists nodded in agreement.

“That’s true.”

“Even if she made a few mistakes in the hall, she caught them all in the kitchen.”

“And even the taste was highly praised, right?”

Kang Hyun-sung PD nodded at the reaction.

“…I was surprised by that too. I was embarrassed because Chef Lee Geum-hu became unnecessary. He requested a complete edit, but we have a contract with him, so I don’t think that will be possible.”

Sua thought to herself that it was good.

He looked down on people like that, and now that he realized his mistake, he’s asking for a complete edit? No way, no way.

He deserves to be taught a lesson! He deserves to be punished!

Kang Hyun-sung PD continued.

“Anyway, we’ll end the first special shoot here. Everyone worked hard. We’ll finalize the details of the next schedule and announce it as soon as possible.”

After that, the cast members began to leave the set with refreshed expressions, and Sua also moved her sleepy body.

She was about to go to the van when.

“Ah, Sua-ssi! Just a moment!”

Kang Hyun-sung PD suddenly called out to Sua.

Sua thought.

What is it? Did I drop my wallet or something?

No, I don’t have a wallet.

So the words that Kang Hyun-sung PD said were really unexpected.

“Sua-ssi, do you have any thoughts about meal kits?”

“Meal kits?”

“Yes. This is totally jumping the gun, but if a cooking-related show does well, pushing for meal kits is the standard. Of course…”

“Of course?”

“It’s not about making meal kits out of existing dishes, you need to have Sua-ssi’s own unique menu, right?”

“Uuum, unique menu.”

Sua understood what he meant. Galbitang, pasta. These famous dishes already have tons of meal kits.

If Sua wants to survive in that meal kit market, she needs a dish that utilizes Sua’s name value while also highlighting a unique flavor that didn’t exist before.

Sua thought for a moment, but.

She decided to answer honestly.

“Well, I don’t really have anything that comes to mind…?”

She was being sincere. Creativity? Sua doesn’t have any of that!

But Kang Hyun-sung PD just smiled.

“Hey, it’s not like I’m saying we should do it right away. It’s not even about making meal kits for sure. I’m just saying, if there’s a chance to do it later, we can try it.”

“Okay. That much is fine, I guess.”

. . . . .

‘Kkeueoooeeooo.’

Afterward, Sua screamed as she got into the van.

“Sua.”

Unfortunately, Sua couldn’t be free and comfortable even after getting into the van. Because Kim Yi-seo called out to her.

The CEO, with two large hairpins attached to her bangs, pushed her face close to Sua. She seemed slightly excited.

‘…Why is she like this?’

Sua couldn’t help but think that.

Kim Yi-seo? Isn’t she always a calm CEO?

Kim Yi-seo said.

“Sua, you know Director Lee Chang-wan, right?”

“Director Lee Chang-wan.”

“I knew you’d recognize him right away. That’s right. Director Lee Chang-wan.”

“…”

No? I was just muttering to myself because I didn’t know.

Director Lee Chang-wan? Who’s that? Sua had never heard that name before. In the first place, she wasn’t that interested in other people’s names.

Fortunately, Kim Yi-seo explained it for her.

“He’s a master director who is aiming for the Venice Film Festival, not just Korea, right? But this Director Lee Chang-wan is showing a lot of interest in Sua.”

“A lot of interest?”

“Yes. He’s even going to come see Sua in person.”

Unlike Kim Yi-seo, who was showing a rare, surprised expression, Sua didn’t really think much about it.

Why would she?

Because she doesn’t know, she has nothing to fear. She doesn’t know how great the Venice Film Festival is. What’s that?

Did Kim Yi-seo notice Sua’s subtle expression?

Kim Yi-seo swallowed hard.

“…You’re really not surprised at all? I almost spat my heart out when I heard this news.”

“I’m glad you’re still alive.”

“Of course. I’m glad too. Anyway, it seems like there will be a meeting with Director Lee Chang-wan soon, so Sua should keep that in mind.”

“Okay.”

Sua said that and reminded Yoo Han-sua. Her brain is already small. She can’t remember such difficult information one by one!

Kim Yi-seo patted Sua’s shoulder.

“If Sua gets into Director Lee Chang-wan’s work… it’ll be a really big hit.”

◈◈◈◈◈

Meanwhile.

The OST for ‘Alien Game,’ which was released a while ago, was still maintaining high scores. Sua’s own song, ‘Enchant Again.’

【 Mutube Music Charts 】

【 Weekly Popular Songs 】

1. [ Enchant Again ─ Lee Sua ] 2. [ whistle plash ─ plumpa ] 3. [ Overcoming Sleepiness ─ Kkoma ]

In fact, it wasn’t just at a high level, it could be considered the top. It was towering in first place, right?

Moreover, this is just the Mutube music chart, and it’s maintaining similar scores on other platforms as well.

Sua’s popularity, Alien Game’s popularity.

Perhaps both are too excellent.

In the meantime, Mystic postponed the reveal of ‘Sumiho’s’ identity. After various meetings, they came to the conclusion that it would be better to do a few more Sumiho broadcasts before revealing it.

With this truth buried, both Sumiho and Sua achieved great success. Sumiho’s Mutube cover songs continued to increase in views, and Sua’s OST.

“This is Ahn Mi-hyun from ‘4 O’Clock Date.’ The song I’m going to play today is a song that everyone knows these days, right? It’s ‘Enchant Again,’ sung by Sua-ssi.”

It even reached the point where it was played on the radio.

Where else would it be played besides the radio? Game streamers played it all the time, it was played in bars, and you would hear it once in a while while walking down the street…

…It was truly a resounding success.

◈◈◈◈◈

The next morning.

Eventually, things went wrong.

[ Former Clive Member Yang Harin, Controversy Over Prostitution Entertainment? ]

It was an article plastered on the first page of a portal site.