The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 53

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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 53. An Unexpected Turn of Events! (1)
“…Who did you say?”
Jang On-gyu had no choice but to ask again.
“PD Ga from KBN, sir.”
The answer he heard was identical.
Jang On-gyu’s eyes gleamed.
PD Ga. A titan of South Korea’s entertainment industry.
And the very person he had personally recruited for this festival.
He had come without warning? This suddenly?
‘They say he’s eccentric, and indeed he’s unpredictable.’
But Jang On-gyu’s mental calculator spun rapidly.
Why had he come? There could be only one answer.
‘Is it because of the new program?’
He had received reports that PD Ga had been filming throughout the New City District during the festival period.
The site of that lavish festival he had poured money into creating.
The landscape of the Main Street he had carefully crafted.
It was time to edit those and broadcast them.
YouTube? A million views?
One prime-time variety show on public broadcast would settle everything.
This was a different weight class entirely.
“Ha!”
A smile naturally spread across Jang On-gyu’s lips.
‘The timing is absolutely perfect. Lady luck is finally smiling on me.’
While that fool was fiddling around on YouTube, real broadcasting would explode.
When that happened, people’s attention would turn back to the glittering Main Street of the New City District.
A factory canteen would surely fade from memory.
‘Heaven truly favors me. Look at this. I was born with different fortune.’
Jang On-gyu straightened his appearance.
He smoothed out his creased expression and donned the mask of composure once more.
“Let him in. We can’t keep such an honored guest standing at the door.”
“Understood, sir.”
Park Secretary withdrew, and shortly after, the door opened.
A man in a bucket hat sauntered in casually.
It was PD Ga.
“My goodness, who do we have here? PD Ga, sir.”
Jang On-gyu rose from his seat to welcome him warmly.
He was certain.
This meeting would be the herbicide that would uproot that irritating weed completely.
* * *
At Jang On-gyu’s warm greeting, PD Ga broke into a broad smile.
“It’s been a while. Would you care for some tea?”
“I’d love to. How could I refuse tea offered by Representative Jang?”
PD Ga collapsed onto the sofa and removed his hat.
Jang On-gyu had his secretary bring out premium loose-leaf tea.
The fragrant aroma of tea filled the office.
Since both had something they wanted, the atmosphere was warm and cordial.
“How was the festival? Did you get good footage?”
“What can I say? It was a massive hit. You set up the stage so well, Representative Jang.”
“Ha ha. You’re too kind. The broadcast should get quite a reaction.”
Jang On-gyu smiled with satisfaction.
‘Now comes the main topic.’
Coordinating broadcast schedules, and his own stores that would be featured as highlights.
There could even be a new program in the works.
‘That would be wonderful.’
This was the renowned PD Ga’s program, after all.
Even a brief appearance on his show brought enormous benefits.
That’s why I’m giving him such a warm welcome.
“So, Representative, would it be alright if I asked you for one favor?”
There it was. The favor.
Jang On-gyu answered with a broad smile.
“Of course. I should provide full support for PD Ga.”
“You’re quite generous. Actually, it’s about that factory canteen owner.”
Jang On-gyu’s hand froze as he reached for his teacup.
Factory canteen? Kim Seon-woo?
‘Why is that name coming up here?’
Jang On-gyu’s thoughts came to a halt.
Unaware of his reaction, PD Ga continued.
“Could you connect me with that owner?”
“…Are you talking about Kim Seon-woo?”
“Is that his name, Kim Seon-woo? I went there and tried everything to convince him, but he wouldn’t budge. But I noticed he’s on the same street as your store, so I thought you two might be close neighbors.”
PD Ga drove his point home with a friendly smile.
“If you speak to him, it might be different. You’re a senior in this business too. Could you help me out? I really need to recruit that man.”
Jang On-gyu felt the thread of reason snap inside his mind.
A broadcast? Promotion for my store? That wasn’t it.
This man hadn’t come for my broadcast at all—he’d come to use me as a broker to recruit that bastard.
“If you can just bring Seon-woo, I’ll make sure to give your place some attention too.”
“Ha ha. So it’s mutual benefit.”
“Exactly! Mutual benefit! Isn’t that what you always talk about, Representative?”
“Indeed.”
His insides churned.
My esophagus burned as if I’d swallowed boiling water.
But Jang On-gyu managed to maintain his composure until the end.
“Seonwoo does have a bit of a temperamental side, doesn’t he?”
“Right? I knew you’d understand.”
“Of course I do. Let me give it my best shot.”
“That’s our CEO!”
“…We’re neighbors on the same street, after all. I should help.”
The corners of his mouth trembled slightly, but he forced them upward into a smile.
“CEO Jang. I’ve had great faith in you. Please take good care of this.”
PD Ga chuckled and drained the rest of his tea. Slurp. Refreshingly.
Jang On-gyu couldn’t bring himself to drink his tea even as he watched.
Because his own face reflected in the cup was completely contorted.
* * *
Moments later, PD Ga stepped into the elevator after leaving Jang On-gyu’s office.
[First floor!]
[Doors closing.]
The moment the doors shut, he pressed his hat back down on his head.
“PD, did it work out?”
Park Min-soo, the assistant director who had been watching for cues from beside him, asked.
From his perspective, the atmosphere had seemed good.
Jang On-gyu had readily agreed to help, hadn’t he?
‘Finally we’re going to succeed in recruiting him? Of course—he’s a business genius!’
But what came out of PD Ga’s mouth was unexpected.
“It fell through.”
“What? It fell through? But the atmosphere was good just now. He said he’d help.”
“How can you call yourself a director when you’re this oblivious?”
PD Ga clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Didn’t you see his eyes? The moment Kim Seon-woo’s name came up, his eyebrows twitched.”
“Oh… I didn’t notice.”
“Good grief. You’re hopeless!”
PD Ga, looking at the assistant director with pity, was more cunning than he appeared.
Even his reputation as an eccentric in the broadcasting world was merely a mask he’d created to work more freely.
In reality, he was quite meticulous and perceptive.
He hadn’t missed even the briefest slip of the CEO’s composure.
“Same street? Neighborly relations? That’s all it is.”
“Then it’s not that way?”
“Right. The two of them don’t get along. In fact, it’s terrible.”
“Just an eyebrow twitch? Isn’t that too flimsy to be evidence?”
“Tsk tsk. That’s exactly why you’re still an assistant director. If you don’t believe me, call it intuition.”
“Intuition…!”
“You know I have a knack for reading people, right?”
“…Yes, I do.”
“Then trust me.”
PD Ga’s instincts had never been wrong.
That forced smile on Jang On-gyu’s face just moments ago—it wasn’t the expression of someone offering help.
It was the expression of someone barely restraining the urge to disappear from my sight.
“But even if your instincts are right, PD, wouldn’t a man called a business genius be too petty for that? Either way, appearing together would benefit him, so wouldn’t he at least try?”
“Just wait and see. Whether he calls or not.”
“Really?”
“I’m betting my wrist on it.”
“What would I do with your wrist, PD? I have so much to learn—please don’t risk your wrist!”
“Ha. You brat. Then I’ll bet your debut instead.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. If he calls, you debut. Your instincts beat mine. But he absolutely won’t. I’d be grateful if he just doesn’t interfere.”
“No… He will call!”
PD Ga chuckled and leaned against the elevator wall.
‘This is turning out to be entertaining.’
It felt like a clash between a massive merchant and a small business owner with bad blood between them.
‘And here I am, a broadcasting station guy, caught in the middle?’
This is more entertaining than any variety show.
The project had failed, sure.
But the smile on PD Ga’s face showed no signs of fading.
* * *
PD Ga’s prediction proved accurate.
One day passed, then two, and still not a single call from Jang On-gyu.
If anything, rumors only circulated about subtle interference from the New City District directed at the Factory Canteen.
“…Does that mean I failed my debut?”
“That’s right.”
“Sigh. I thought it would go smoothly, but I guess that’s just who I am.”
“Still, you’ll debut eventually.”
“What?”
“I’m starting to see you developing an instinct for this.”
“Really? If you just give me the chance…”
“Don’t overdo it. Anyway, we’ve opened up this path. We have.”
PD Ga had now confirmed that there was nothing to be done about Jang On-gyu.
‘See? My instincts were right.’
PD Ga giggled, and Park Min-soo clicked his tongue.
* * *
At that moment. The Factory Canteen.
I was frantically processing the relentless lunch orders, finally catching my breath.
‘A break’s coming up soon anyway.’
With so many customers, keeping up was no trivial matter.
That’s when it happened.
“Owner! You have a call!”
Jin-woo waved his phone from the counter.
“I’m dying here—who is it?”
I was about to tell him to hang up if it was PD Ga, but Jin-woo’s lip movements told a different story.
‘Ha-yun noona!’
‘Im Ha-yun?’
‘Yes. Im Ha-yun!’
His silent mouthing conveyed the message perfectly.
The Eating Broadcast Empress calling—what was this about?
I stepped out of the kitchen and took the call.
“Hello?”
-Owner, you must be busy, right?
“Yes, I am.”
-There are actually people who answer that honestly?
“That’s just how I am. Anyway, please keep it brief.”
-Um… could I ask you for a favor?
The great Im Ha-yun asking for a favor.
Her voice lacked its usual strength.
Gone was the confidence I’d seen before; her tone was completely deflated.
“A favor?”
-Yes. Please… help me.
“Help you? With what? Is there something I could possibly help you with?”
-Yes. Please… save me.
Save her? That sounded completely absurd.
‘Is she joking because she’s broadcasting?’
Though that didn’t seem like her style.
Yet her voice was far too desperate to be a joke.
Something had definitely gone wrong.
“What is it?”

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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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