The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 47

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 47. No, I’m Not Buying! I’m Not!
The festival had ended, but the fervor showed no signs of cooling.
If anything, it burned even hotter.
‘Excellent.’
Whether word had spread from the night market or if it had simply gone viral by mouth—
The store was packed with customers day after day.
“Owner! Those skewers I had at the night market last time—you don’t sell them here?”
“Ah, I was just helping out then. But when did you see that?”
“How could I miss it when you were putting on that fire show!”
“Ha. You got quite the show, didn’t you.”
“But you’re not planning to add skewers to the menu?”
“Not yet. I need to make a living alongside my partners.”
“Aw, that’s a shame. Those were really delicious.”
“Instead, the chicken we’ve freshly prepared today is absolutely incredible. Please try some.”
The store was in absolute chaos with customers who hadn’t forgotten to return.
Well past the lunch rush, the line showed no signs of diminishing.
The factory canteen was nothing short of a battlefield.
“Table 3, two ramens and two kimbap!”
“Table 7, black pepper konjac ramen going out!”
Jin-woo was dashing around the dining area, drenched in sweat. Haran had also stepped in to help with serving and was equally frazzled.
‘If I hadn’t thought to call Jin-woo’s friends, we would’ve been in serious trouble.’
I was no different in the kitchen.
I continuously worked the wok and boiled noodles without pause.
The work was grueling, but not unpleasant.
System Messages kept flooding in after all.
[Dish Complete!]
[Customer satisfaction increases.]
The sound of slurping filled the entire store.
That sound was music to my ears.
Among the faces, some were familiar.
Lee Hyeon-seung, the YouTuber who’d eaten my life-changing ramen, was hunched in a corner with his camera, enthusiastically devouring noodles.
He seemed focused on the meal itself rather than filming.
‘Does that guy never get tired of it?’
He hadn’t missed a single day during the festival either.
He’s been stamping his attendance card every single day.
‘Well, if someone gets addicted to my cooking, there’s no cure for it.’
Even amid the chaos, the way he ate so noticeably showed he had real talent for mukbang content.
He said he competed on quality rather than quantity.
But from what I could see, that wasn’t quite right.
‘Hyeon-seung should probably go for quantity instead.’
For some reason, it feels like I’m wasting my talent.
‘Well, it’s their choice, I suppose.’
I was caught up in those relentlessly busy days.
Before I knew it, 3 PM!
I was processing the last order before break time.
“Um, Owner?”
Someone approached the bar and spoke to me.
I turned my head thinking it was a customer, but something about their appearance was different.
First of all, their eyes were different.
Not the eyes of someone who came to eat.
They wore an employee ID badge prominently around their neck, and held a diary and business card wallet in their hands.
A refined jacket and hair slicked back with wax came into view.
I sensed it instinctively.
‘This person isn’t from this world. What is it this time?’
For some reason, I had a premonition that something bothersome was about to happen.
“We’ve stopped taking lunch orders at 3 PM.”
“Oh, I’m not here for that.”
…That kind of thing?
* * *
“Hello. I’m Park Min-soo, Assistant Director of the KBN Entertainment Department.”
The man offered his business card.
A confident smile. Park Min-soo.
He was full of certainty.
South Korea’s top entertainment PD, PD Ga, had selected him.
‘Casting? Child’s play.’
Self-employed business owners starving for broadcast exposure.
They bow deeply just from a business card.
And this wasn’t just any broadcast.
PD Ga’s new project.
There’s no way to refuse. No, one shouldn’t refuse.
“You seem busy, so I’ll keep this brief. Owner, congratulations.”
“Congratulations?”
“This time, so… wait, I really shouldn’t say this?”
“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”
No, wait. You have to hear the whole thing in Korean.
‘Wait. Once I hear it, things will be different.’
It’ll flip 180 degrees. I’ll just wait until then.
Anticipating that, Park Min-soo spoke smoothly.
“Our broadcasting station’s representative PD is launching a new reality variety show. We’d like to invite you to participate.”
His voice carried an air of self-importance.
He expected his counterpart to be so moved that they’d be at a loss for words.
Hadn’t he mentioned being the head PD?
If he was the head PD of KBN, there was no need to specifically mention PD Ga separately.
‘He only told me not to say it directly, but I can drop hints, right?’
Just revealing this much would immediately change their attitude.
“You understand this is a real golden opportunity, right? Once the new program airs, ratings are guaranteed. Just appearing on it and you’ll become a nationwide celebrity chef in no time.”
He continued while gauging the reaction.
By now, there should be some response coming.
“Appearance fee? Top-tier treatment in the industry. Store promotion? Goes without saying. One broadcast appearance and the waiting list will wrap around the globe.”
It was a flawless proposal by any measure.
Money, fame, publicity. A lifeline offering everything at once.
At this point, most people would grab at his pant legs begging to appear.
He was already wearing a victor’s smile as he opened his diary.
“Let’s look at the filming schedule. You’re available starting next week, right? The store would need to close for a few days, but that loss would be completely covered by the appearance fee….”
“Not interested.”
“Pardon?”
His hand stopped.
‘Did I mishear?’
He lifted his head.
The man in the kitchen.
He wasn’t even looking at Min-soo, just boiling noodles.
“Did I mishear you?”
“I said I’m not interested in broadcasting.”
“No, wait. Owner. You haven’t even heard all the conditions yet? It’s a broadcast program, you know? It can’t possibly fail….”
“Whether it fails or succeeds has nothing to do with me. Can’t you see I’m busy running this business?”
Sizzle!
Vegetables tumbled into the scorching hot wok.
Flames shot up with a loud roar.
Park Min-soo flinched and stepped back.
‘This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.’
Usually they’d be clinging to him by now. What’s this?
“At least let’s have a meeting. The PD would like to meet you in person. If you could just spare some time….”
“As you can see, I don’t have time. What time does a self-employed person living hand-to-mouth have?”
“But I’m saying the appearance fee is generous? Even if you close the store and come, you won’t lose money….”
He was being clingy.
The man placed the finished noodles into a bowl and waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away flies.
“No, I’m not going. Not going! Whether it’s the head PD or whatever, I’m not going!”
His sharp voice echoed through the store.
The eyes of the customers eating turned toward them.
Park Min-soo’s face turned red as a beet.
To turn away someone from the prestigious KBN Broadcasting Station—it was a scenario I’d never imagined.
Truly unthinkable.
“Y-you’ll really regret this, you know….”
“No regrets. Jin-woo! Table seven’s ramen is up!”
“Yes, sir!”
The man turned his back as if I wasn’t worth another word.
Park Min-soo stood there with a dazed expression.
Unable to bear the weight of the customers’ stares pouring down on him, he fled the store.
* * *
After the commotion subsided, a break in service arrived.
“Thank you for the meal!”
“Have a good day!”
Once everyone had paid their respects and left, only one customer remained in the store.
Lee Hyeon-seung, slurping the last of his broth in the corner.
He chuckled softly and sauntered over to the register.
“Wow, boss, this is insane.”
“What is.”
“Was that real just now? He had a KBN badge on him.”
“Yeah. Turned out he was from the broadcasting station.”
“If he said he was a lead PD, wouldn’t that be PD Ga’s person?”
“PD Ga? I think I’ve heard the name. Too much hassle.”
I wiped down the table indifferently with a cloth.
Hyeon-seung clicked his tongue.
“Look at you. But that’s seriously a golden opportunity. If it’s really PD Ga, he’s basically the president of entertainment. If you went on his show, you’d be buying a building in no time, boss.”
“I can buy a building with my own money. Money earned by others tastes bland.”
“There you go, boss.”
Hyeon-seung gave me a thumbs up.
Then he glanced around once before lowering his voice to speak in hushed tones.
“But boss, you should be careful, you know?”
“About what?”
“From what I know, those broadcasting station types are more persistent than you’d think.”
Persistent? They’d have nothing on a monster that’s caught the scent of blood.
But Hyeon-seung’s face was serious.
“Especially that PD Ga—once he sets his sights on something, he’s famous for being relentless.”
“That so?”
“He probably got his pride hurt today, so he’ll definitely come back. That guy’s ego reaches the heavens.”
“If he wants to come, let him. I’ll sprinkle some salt on him.”
“Guess his pride is on the line, huh.”
“Let him come. I’ll be ready with salt.”
At my words, Hyeon-seung burst out laughing.
He lingered at the register even after finishing the transaction, leaning against the counter.
His eyes sparkled with interest.
There was something scheming in that gaze.
“But Owner…”
“What now? Why aren’t you leaving?”
“Come on, Owner. That customer over there hasn’t even gone to drink their coffee yet.”
“There was a time I would’ve listened to such talk. But if someone’s slow to pull out their wallet, they’re no customer of mine.”
“Geez… you’re too much. Here’s my card.”
Hyeon-seung pretended to look offended as he handed over his card.
With the beep of the payment going through, he leaned forward.
“You said you didn’t like broadcasting, right? Because it’s a hassle.”
“That’s right.”
“Then how about this?”
“What is it?”
“Instead of those broadcasting station people, would you like to do something fun with me?”
“Hmm…”
An unexpected proposal.
I stopped mopping and looked at Hyeon-seung.
A YouTuber and a chef.
It was bound to be something predictable.
A collaboration, a guest appearance—something like that.
“A YouTube appearance? That’s a hassle too.”
“No, no, not something so obvious.”
“Then what?”
“Just hear me out first.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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