Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 204

204

– You don’t want to? What are you talking about?

“I’m so dumbfounded, I can’t even speak.”

– So, what’s the reason for your being dumbfounded?

“Well…….”

PD [Production Director] Jo Min-sik’s voice grew louder as Yoon Se-young struggled to speak.

– What is it? Can’t you talk?

“Well… he says he doesn’t want to because he feels sorry for the customers.”

– What does that even mean?

“Apparently, if we film, he won’t be able to operate properly for several hours, and customers who come during that time won’t be able to eat properly.”

– That’s obvious.

Jo Min-sik was dumbfounded.

Filming would take at least four to five hours, and possibly longer depending on the situation.

Moreover, for the sake of the broadcast, they would have to bring in somewhat skilled actors, though not professionals, disguised as customers.

Therefore, normal business operations would be impossible during that time.

But to refuse filming for that reason… it didn’t make any sense.

Then Yoon Se-young continued.

“I can’t understand it either.”

– So, this friend of yours is saying he can’t do it because he can’t do business during the filming?

“But it’s not just about not being able to do business.”

– What? Are you saying money isn’t the goal and there’s something else?

“Yes, that’s right. He says he can’t allow even one person to go without a meal because of the filming.”

– So, people come first?

“That’s about it.”

Ha…!

Jo Min-sik could only chuckle in disbelief.

No matter how he thought about it, it was something he couldn’t understand logically.

Even if they filmed, it would be over in half a day. Of course, that time could be extended depending on the situation. But to say he couldn’t film because people who came during that time wouldn’t be able to eat properly… it didn’t make any sense.

No matter how he thought about it, this was not right.

Jo Min-sik said,

– Is there something wrong with that friend of yours?

“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”

– How else would he refuse to film a broadcast for such a reason? Do you know how scary the advertising effect of a broadcast is?

“I’ve talked to him enough about that.”

– But he still refused?

“Yes, that’s right. And his answer was another masterpiece.”

– What did he say?

“He said he’s going to compete with taste.”

– What… taste?

Jo Min-sik was dumbfounded. This didn’t make sense.

Taste….

It’s just ramen anyway. How can you make a difference with taste in ramen?

Jo Min-sik was getting angry.

Then Yoon Se-young continued.

“Director, but the taste is no joke.”- Really?

“I tried it earlier, and it was the first time in my life I’ve had ramen like that. It’s called hangover ramen with bean sprouts, and the taste was really superb.”

– Is it that good?

“Yes, Director, you’ll know when you try it later, but it was the best in my opinion. Writer Kim said it was delicious too.”

Jo Min-sik tilted his head.

Honestly, he didn’t have high expectations for ramen from the start. No matter how good it tasted, he was stuck on the idea that ramen was just ramen.

But according to Yoon Se-young’s words, that wasn’t the case. Yoon Se-young’s taste evaluation was almost accurate. Since the program itself was a food tour, he had no choice but to acknowledge his taste evaluation.

Jo Min-sik asked again.

– You’re sure about the taste?

“You know it well, Director, I don’t have such cheap taste.”

– I acknowledge Jo PD’s [Production Director’s] sense of taste. So, what are you going to do?

“I can’t back down like this, so I’m going to go again after business hours. I wanted to talk more earlier, but there were too many customers.”

– By the way, were there many customers?

“We waited an hour to eat. Anyway, that young friend is not ordinary. In my opinion, it’s good enough to be selected as a 맛집 [matjib – famous/delicious restaurant]. Besides, this friend’s looks are no joke. He’ll probably look good on screen. I’ll do my best to get him casted.”

– Okay. Since Jo PD is so greedy, take care of it. And be careful driving on the way up at night…….

“Yes, then I’ll see you when I get up there.”

Click.

Kim Si-hyun looked at Yoon Se-young and asked after he hung up the phone.

“What did the director say?”

“He told me to take care of it.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go again after business hours. I have to go and persuade him again.”

“This is the first time this has happened. But is it worth it?”

“Writer, you tried the ramen earlier, right? I think it’s worth it. And I like that young boss too.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d think he was cocky…….”

Kim Si-hyun tilted her head.

This is the first time this has happened. Usually, they’re desperate to get on TV. So much so that they even make unreasonable requests through acquaintances around them.

But in this case, the opposite happened, and the absurd situation of refusing to film even though they said they would film occurred.

Yoon Se-young said.

“Do you remember what that young friend said at first?”

“What are you talking about?”

“He said he works with pride.”

“Ah, I remember. I was a little dumbfounded when I first heard that. I wondered if he was even selling pride to make ramen.”

“I feel the same way. But after eating the ramen, that feeling disappeared. Rather, I think I know why that young friend said that. And on the other hand, I was even envious.”

Kim Si-hyun glanced at Yoon Se-young. She asked the reason.

Then Yoon Se-young continued.

“I couldn’t live so confidently when I was in school. I just went to school quietly, as if I was there or not.”

“You don’t look like that now.”

“I changed a lot after I went to the army.”

“Ah, really? Maybe that’s why you’re more concerned about that young friend?”

“Rather than being concerned, I liked his confident appearance. And I was also surprised by his consideration for the customers. Actually, when he said he couldn’t film at first, I was just dumbfounded, but as time passed, I thought I wanted to help him because he was such a friend.”

Kim Si-hyun nodded and continued.

“Actually, I feel the same way, especially the last thing he said about competing with taste was really touching. I didn’t think it was just an act because he was young.”

“Anyway, he’s definitely not an ordinary guy. I’ve traveled all over the country for broadcasting and met all kinds of people, but this is the first time I’ve been so shocked.”

“So, you’re not giving up until the end.”

“As I said before, I think I fell for his confidence. And most importantly, I liked that he had a passion for food.”

“That’s right. And finally, his face is good too. If possible, it’s good to be handsome, right? Don’t you think so?”

“Haha, that’s right. I just found out today that our Si-hyun writer likes that style. Anyway, let’s go somewhere and rest until business hours are over.”

The two laughed and walked towards Rose Cafe.

That evening.

Shin Myung-soon, who had finished cleaning the kitchen, looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Boss, don’t you regret it?”

“Are you talking about the broadcasting station people during the day?”

“Yes, I think it would be very helpful to the store if you broadcast it.”

“Of course, it would be helpful. But if we film for that broadcast, at least 150 people will have to go back without eating ramen. I don’t want to do that because I feel sorry for those customers.”

“I don’t understand that. Why are you saying you can’t receive customers?”

Shin Myung-soon looked at Hyun-sung with a curious expression.

Then Hyun-sung said.

“It’s almost all directed [scripted].”

“Directed?”

“Yes, our customers are only a small part, and the majority of customers are people brought in by the broadcasting station for filming.”

“What does that mean? Aren’t you just filming our customers eating?”

“No. To put it simply, you can think of it as filming a drama. You can think of it as people who have been specially trained in acting coming to film.”

Shin Myung-soon still tilted her head with an incomprehensible expression.

Then Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“Besides, a lot of staff come. There will probably be several cameras. So, normal business operations are impossible.”

“But it’s a broadcast…….”

“I have no regrets. By the way, didn’t you say you had to go somewhere today?”

“Oh, look at my mind. This is not the time for me to be doing this……”

As Shin Myung-soon said goodbye and disappeared, Kim Ji-sook approached and asked.

“Did those people leave completely?”

“The broadcasting station people?”

“Yes, I’m still sad no matter how I think about it. This kind of opportunity doesn’t come easily.”

“That problem is over now, so stop talking about it, and by the way, how are you doing these days, 아저씨 [Ahjussi – term for older men], as the weather gets colder?”

“But I think I’m okay these days because of the nutritional supplements I got last time. It’s all thanks to the boss.”

Kim Ji-sook bowed to Hyun-sung.

Then Hyun-sung waved his hand and said.

“Why is that because of me? Those 아저씨 [Ahjussi] helped me. By the way, do those 아저씨 [Ahjussi] still contact you these days?”

“I talked to them on the phone yesterday too.”

“Don’t they say they need more sauce again?”

“After buying it for 30,000 won last time, they grumbled that it was too expensive, but they don’t talk about the sauce these days. And by the way, is the sauce you gave me last time fake?”

“Why, what did they say?”

“They said it seems different from the sauce you gave me first.”

Hyun-sung smiled and continued.

“Of course, I can’t give you the real one. I mixed something else in.”

“Hehe……, you did a good job. Those bad people should be punished like that.”

“If they contact you again, just tell me. I’ll give you a different taste this time.”

“Hoho, I know. But I think the boss is enjoying it.”

“Of course, I’m happy to sell fake sauce and get nutritional supplements for 아저씨 [Ahjussi]. Where else can you find this kind of business? Isn’t that right? Haha…….”

Hyun-sung laughed, and Kim Ji-sook followed suit, then bowed her head and left the store after a while.

At that time, Kim Il-soo came out of the inner room and asked.

“What’s so fun?”

“Ah, I was talking about the 아저씨 [Ahjussi] at Sangmi Restaurant below. By the way, are you studying steadily these days?”

“Of course. I don’t sleep until 2 a.m. even when I go home.”

“You look like you’ve lost some weight…….”

“You told me to lose weight first if I wanted to become a chef. So, I don’t eat anything after 8 p.m. these days. Then I really started to lose weight little by little.”

Kim Il-soo was definitely different from before. In particular, gaining confidence in the midterm exam was important.

“Good job. If you keep doing this, you’ll definitely reach the dream you want to achieve.”

“Will that really happen?”

“Of course. Just keep doing what you’re doing now.”

“Okay, I’m going to trust you and go, so just guide me well. And by the way, you know it’s been a month the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Finally, the day Il-soo receives his first salary is coming.”

“Ah, I’m nervous. My first salary…….”

Kim Il-soo closed his eyes and smiled.

A smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he looked at him.

Hyun-sung was left alone after Kim Il-soo also returned home.

It was when Hyun-sung was about to get up from his seat.

Ding-dong.