Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 91

091. Three Meals a Day, Definitely! (2)

2022.01.30.

“Ugh. I’m already sad that filming is going to end so soon.” “We had Korean beef sirloin steak today, I wonder what we’ll have tomorrow?” “I bet it’ll be something even more amazing than today’s.” “Two votes.” “If we all agree, doesn’t that mean the bet is off?”
The meals on set were extravagant, to say the least. Anyone would think we’d hired a catering service, which wasn’t far from the truth. The lavish meals, quite unlike those typically found on film sets, began not long after the first day of shooting. -Yeonwoo doesn’t take good care of himself when he is focusing on something, I’m worried. That’s what Kwon Seong-hyeon muttered, as if it would be a disaster if Yeonwoo missed a single meal. Yeonwoo, the person in question, was simply bewildered. -I eat well, though? -You barely manage to force it down. And you have such a small stomach. Something about that sounded strange, but it wasn’t wrong. People often forget to eat when they’re focused on something. Besides, Kwon Seong-hyeon kept pushing health tonics and such at every meal, to the point where Yeonwoo was thoroughly fed up. Meals themselves became a chore.
Because, -Yeonwoo, all you have to do is obediently eat what I tell you to. What’s the problem? -I’ve already eaten plenty. -Not at all. Your stomach isn’t even close to being full. Just one more spoonful.
Kwon Seong-hyeon would say that, stubbornly holding a spoonful to Yeonwoo’s lips, not just once or twice.
‘Anyone would think I’m spoiled…’ A top actor, whom countless people would love to even catch a glimpse of, personally catering to my meals. Of course, it wasn’t as elegant and refined as one might imagine.
‘To think I’d feel like a picky eater even at my age…’ Envious people? I’d gladly switch places with them.
-If you don’t eat this, I won’t give you the script. -I’ve already memorized it. -So, that’s how it’s going to be? -Isn’t it mean of you, Kwon Seong-hyeon, to hold the script hostage? It doesn’t matter since I’ve already memorized it. -Why are you refusing when you only need to eat a little more? -How is that a little? It’s practically a handful. Do you have any conscience?
Indeed, on the spoon Kwon Seong-hyeon was offering, a large, plump abalone lay nestled.
What was it called… Whole Abalone Ginseng Black-boned Chicken Seafood Soup… something like that, but the name was hazy. How could he call placing that hefty abalone on a spoon ‘one spoonful’?!
-W, what are you two doing?! Fortunately, or perhaps not, the squabble between Yeonwoo and Kwon Seong-hyeon over eating and being fed was interrupted by someone barging in.
-Seong-hyeon, how could you do that to Yeonwoo…? Huh?
-What? Kwon Seong-hyeon turned around coldly, still holding the abalone on the spoon. Manager Lee Gyu-han, who received that gaze, started hiccuping.
-Hyung [older brother/male friend], do you also think I’m going too far? -U, uh, hic? Hic!
-Once we start filming, he’ll definitely neglect his meals and lose more weight! There won’t be anyone around to take care of him, so what’s wrong with me making sure he eats?
-Hic! No, hic! It’s not that, hic!
Yeonwoo saw his chance and stealthily moved behind Lee Gyu-han, subtly turning his head. He didn’t know why the usually docile Lee Gyu-han had suddenly burst in, but this was an opportunity.
‘It’s time to say goodbye to all those seafood, root vegetables, and precious medicinal herbs…’
-Director Ji said he likes how skinny Yeonwoo is. -T, that’s right, hic…? -If the director, who should be taking care of the actor, is acting like that, who will take care of Yeonwoo? It’s not like he’s only doing that movie. He seemed to be talking to Lee Gyu-han, but his gaze was fixed on Yeonwoo.
-No, still, Seong-hyeon. Hic. Forcing him to eat isn’t always the, hic, answer. Hic! Even medicine can be poison if you take too much, hic, right? It might actually be bad for Yeonwoo. Rather, it’s better to eat regularly and consistently, hic, usually. I saw on a cable channel that doctors say there’s no better tonic than regular three meals a day…
Lee Gyu-han dissuaded Kwon Seong-hyeon in a rambling tone. And it seemed to be quite persuasive, as Kwon Seong-hyeon lowered the spoon. Just as Yeonwoo was sighing in relief at seeing the abalone return to the bowl, Kwon Seong-hyeon spoke.
-Hyung, I think you’re right. -R, really? Things that are good for the body promote our metabolism, but that all happens as the liver and kidneys detoxify, which negatively affects liver and kidney function…
-Three meals a day consistently…
-…I don’t think you are listening to me, Seong-hyeon.
Yeonwoo keenly sensed that if he made even the slightest mistake here, the health tonic war would start again. So, Yeonwoo quickly proposed a treaty.
-I’ll make sure to eat three meals a day properly. -…Really? -But Kwon Seong-hyeon’s diet is too much, so let’s agree on something normal. -A normal diet… Does that mean you won’t skip any meals? -That’s… I’ll try my best. -Oh my, Seong-hyeon. Schedules can get messed up, so he might miss a meal or so… -Hyung, I think it’s best if you step aside for a moment. -U, uh… Hic…!
Lee Gyu-han started hiccuping again at Kwon Seong-hyeon’s kind but firm words, but no one paid attention to it.
-If I hear that Yeonwoo is skipping meals…
-That won’t happen. -Good. I’ll trust you. Yeonwoo has never lied before. But. As someone said, you have to hear the end of what someone says.
-But just in case, can I still take care of you a little? He looked like everything would be over if I said no.
-Yes… It felt like just yesterday that I reluctantly answered…
Was that when it started? The next day, a lavish food truck arrived like clockwork at mealtime.
-Oh my gosh. What is all this…? -Yeonwoo’s agency sent it? -Wow. The menu is insane.
The staff marveled at the quality and variety, which was comparable to a buffet from a luxury hotel rather than a food truck. Watching them, Yeonwoo was certain. That’s not the agency. That’s 100% Kwon Seong-hyeon. Moreover, that extravagant food truck visited the set almost every day.
‘How little have I been eating?’ It was more than unspoken pressure; it was actual pressure!
Yeonwoo felt a bit wronged. ‘It’s not that I eat little, it’s that the menu was crazy.’ Honestly, it’s not like I didn’t eat at all! It’s just that Kwon Seong-hyeon was too much, serving what looked like 2.5 servings for others as one meal. And with such high-calorie bombs, how could anyone eat all that?
Moreover, health tonics tend to be greasy. Imagine eating that greasy food every meal.
‘Even a healthy person wouldn’t be able to eat it without getting sick of it. Definitely.’ Yeonwoo felt like the children in Hansel and Gretel. While eating a pure chicken baeksuk [Korean ginseng chicken soup] made with only wild ginseng, he seriously thought, ‘If they tell me to show my finger, should I show them this chicken leg bone…’
Of course, he immediately came to his senses, thinking, ‘What crazy thoughts are these?’
[But our actor isn’t wrong. How many celebrities have gone downhill because they didn’t take care of themselves?]
According to Kwon Seong-hyeon, taking care of one’s body was a basic requirement for an actor. The industry is like a place where your body is your asset, so you need to take care of it from the time you are healthy. Dongja-ryeong, who had been watching all of this, sided with Kwon Seong-hyeon.
[Didn’t you see? There are comparison photos of you now and in the past circulating as memes. What kind of world is this! Unlike before, nowadays everything is preserved in 4K video! Considering that your current appearance will be talked about for the next 20 years, you should bow a hundred times to our actor!]
Whose side are you on…? Yeonwoo had a moment of doubt.
‘Well, he’s sending it for my benefit, so I should be grateful.’ Honestly, there’s no one who dislikes eating delicious food. Yeonwoo was just horrified by the excessive diet, but he didn’t fundamentally hate eating. And what about the effort, not just the money? That was truly something to be grateful for. The lavish food truck that came almost every day. And on top of that, the snacks that came occasionally in case he was hungry.
-I almost died trying to negotiate with Seong-hyeon, who wanted to send it three times a day, to settle for just once… Lee Gyu-han muttered with a tired face, but anyway, the person who gives you food is a good person. The problem wasn’t just that.
-…What is this? Woo Do-gyeom, who was an investor and unnecessarily visited the set, happened to come during dinner time.
-Oh, investor-nim [term of respect]. You came at the right time. If you haven’t eaten yet, would you like to join us for dinner…? Yeonwoo’s agency sent a luxury hotel buffet. It may look like this, but the taste is very high-end. The staff, who were in high spirits in front of the delicious food, also played a part in inviting him.
-You said Yeonwoo-goon’s [polite suffix] agency sent it? -Yes. They’re very generous, so our production staff is enjoying luxury every day. -Every day…? Yeonwoo thought. If only he had been a little more careful and stopped the staff from speaking. If only he had watched Woo Do-gyeom’s reaction to the meaningful question a little more carefully!
‘…Would anything have changed?’ When you think about it, it was already a predetermined ending. In other words, “Who cares where it’s from? As long as it’s delicious!” “The bet has no meaning, but I can’t argue with the truth.” “I never thought I’d be so excited for tomorrow…” Everyone except Yeonwoo became happy. At some point, everyone was looking forward to mealtime in harmony. ‘Ah. Should I exclude Kwon Seong-hyeon and Woo Do-gyeom?’ I don’t know how much money they have, but they send a food truck to the set every day for almost a month. Well, neither Woo Do-gyeom nor Kwon Seong-hyeon are people who would struggle with money. One is a second-generation chaebol [family-owned conglomerate], and the other is someone who directly sits in the chaebol position.
Brrr! The phone in his pocket vibrated. It was a message from Kwon Seong-hyeon.
>Yeonwoo. Have you eaten?
>You didn’t skip it, did you^^?
That smiling ‘^^’ mark… It’s just an emoticon, but sometimes it makes me feel a chill.

>Can you send me a picture?
<(Picture) [But just in case, can I still take care of you a little?] Old memories vaguely come to mind. The problem was that I didn't know what that 'taking care' meant back then. -Seong-hyeon wants you to send another proof shot? -Yes... -Sigh. I knew he was tough, but he was so soft only towards Yeonwoo... Lee Gyu-han says with a wistful look. -Does he calm down a bit if you send it? -Fortunately, yes. Brrr. The phone vibrated once more. >Good job.
>Is there anything you want to eat tomorrow^^?
-Something I want to eat…
A certain furry beast said.
[If you come at four o’clock, I shall begin to be happy at three.] It’s definitely not the same situation, but Yeonwoo somehow thought of that furry beast. Whenever he received a text asking if there was anything he wanted to eat… What should I say?
‘I guess it’s just my feeling that Pavlov’s dog comes to mind.’ As always, the conflict was short.

>Ribs? Should I send LA ribs [thinly sliced Korean-style ribs]?

>Ah. I’ll send braised short ribs.
>Was the steak not good today?

>Ah. Yeonwoo prefers Korean food?
>Okay^^.