God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 130

Screech!

Due to Lee In-cheol's sudden brake, I nearly lurched forward.

Whoa, that startled me.

I clutched my stiff neck and looked at Lee In-cheol reproachfully.

"Please drive safely."

Fortunately, it was a red light so we had to stop anyway, and there were no cars behind us. But shouldn't you apply the brakes more gradually?

At my words, Lee In-cheol said "Oh" and apologized.

"B-but what did you just say? Did I hear wrong?"

Lee In-cheol picked his ear and asked again.

"I think I heard something about a jungle or whatever? Good grief, how strange. The jungle, of all places. You're not Tarzan, you know?"

"That's right, the jungle."

"...What do you mean 'that's right'?"

"I'm telling you I'm going to the jungle. I'm leaving the country in two days."

"......."

Lee In-cheol pondered for a moment. He seemed to be trying to interpret what he had just heard.

Understandably so. The jungle, out of nowhere.

"...Uh, backpacking? I can understand such youthful impulses at your young age, but if you want to travel, wouldn't it be better to go somewhere safer than the jungle?"

"It's not something like backpacking."

I've already been to most places worth traveling to. Do you know how much legwork I've done to taste foods from all over the world! ...Of course, that's all moot after my regression.

Anyway. With a company to run, I had no intention of taking risks for travel.

"I received an offer to appear on a show. You know 'Survival Law of the Jungle', right?"

"Ah~ Of course I do. The one with that comedian Kim Byung-man?"

"Yes, yes. That's right."

<Survival Law of the Jungle>

It's a famous entertainment program that has maintained popularity for several years. The main content involves cast members actually going to jungles or remote areas around the world and surviving through hardships.

They sometimes visit indigenous tribes to learn about their culture, or hunt in various ways to find their daily sustenance.

It's truly a real variety show.

The viewership ratings were high in proportion to the hardships, and I received an offer to participate in this season.

"Wow. You've become a real celebrity, Song Woo-yeon."

"Not at all. I guess they're having trouble finding cast members because the filming is so tough? They must have reached out to me as a last resort."

I think they contacted me because I've been gaining quite a bit of popularity on <Cold Cooking> and <Master Chef>.

I was a bit hesitant since it's not a cooking show, but I can still cook in the jungle.

'In the end, the more I appear on screen, the more naturally <The Song> gets promoted.'

As long as I keep maintaining and reminding people of my 'cooking' concept, that should be the case. It might be too much to appear on programs completely unrelated to cooking, but I thought this level should be fine.

It's a show where you have to move busily to solve the three basic necessities of life, so meals play an important role.

As for sleeping arrangements, Kim Byung-man is quite good at quickly setting those up. The constant challenge is having enough food for all those people for three meals a day.

"But what about your arm?!"

"Well. I've talked with the production team. It's two days before departure, so I can't back out now. Besides, there will be medical staff with us, so we agreed that I'd return immediately if the situation worsens."

"What?! Quit right now! How can you go with that arm!"

"It'll be fine if I just disinfect it properly. There's medical staff on standby at all times, you know?"

"You need to talk sense! Do you know how tough it is there?"

That's... true. There might be quite a few tasks that strain the arm.

"It doesn't hinder my movement. I just need to be careful not to reopen the wound and keep taking antibiotics."

"Huh."

Lee In-cheol pressed his lips together. He seemed to have noticed that I had already made up my mind.

I'm quite stubborn, and once I've decided to go through with something like this, I rarely change my mind.

Lee In-cheol, having worked with me for a long time, should know my personality well.

'But it's a good opportunity. It would be a shame to miss it just because my arm is a bit uncomfortable, right?'

In my opinion, it was within an acceptable range to proceed. As long as I don't have to enter any dirty rivers or such.

If I thought I might ruin the filming because of me, I would have refused first. After thorough discussion with the production team, we concluded that I could film if I'm careful not to overexert myself, so we're proceeding as planned.

"Sigh, do as you please. But you tell the others yourself! That Da-on kid was really worried about you."

"You're still in touch with Da-on?"

Jung Da-on initially worked part-time at Lee In-cheol's Hapjae Soup, but she's been at Happy Snack for a long time now.

At my question, Lee In-cheol grinned and replied.

"The kid's so considerate. Unlike someone else."

Strange. Why do I feel like I've been insulted out of nowhere?

"Not just Da-on, I often check in with Yu-sol too. She runs <Song Cafe> next to Kim Jong-chun's place. I see her face every time I buy coffee coming and going."

"With our Manager Yu too?"

"She's older than you. You should call her Sol-unnie."

"Manager Yu said she prefers to be called Manager Yu."

"You just can't lose an argument, can you?"

A moment of silence passed, and we both burst out laughing at the same time. After our laughter finally subsided, Lee In-cheol muttered softly.

"...Who would believe that until last year, you were just a part-timer working at our soup restaurant. Even I can't believe it."

Well, it's more so for Lee In-cheol. Most other people met me after I founded <The Song>. Lee In-cheol is the only one who was my employer.

It must be surprising to see how the company I founded has grown so much, and now I'm making appearances on TV.

"Why? Do you miss it? I should drop by Hapjae Soup main branch for a day of part-time work sometime. To get back to my roots."

"No need, you rascal. The other kids would be uncomfortable and I couldn't use you. Everyone has their place that suits them."

Lee In-cheol said this while staring straight ahead.

"Being a soup restaurant owner suits me perfectly. When I see my wife working hard beside me, I don't even dare think about it."

"Haha. Looks like CEO Choi Yeo-hae is very busy."

"And Song Woo-yeon, you too."

"Me?"

I'm not that busy.

"A part-timer should just do exactly what they're told, why did you have to make a fuss about improving sales? Huh? Even now, there are several servers who clap their hands in joy when there's no work."

"Haha......."

That's normal. Part-timers just work their designated hours and receive appropriate compensation, that's all.

You can't expect, nor should you expect, a sense of ownership.

On the other hand, the reason I saw potential in Hapjae Soup was because I had memories from before my regression.

"Lately, I sometimes think that everyone has their predetermined capacity. Sigh, I'm a fairly successful soup restaurant owner, but. With real CEOs around, well. I can't even brag!"

Though he says this, I can't help but smile, knowing it's a subtle compliment and comfort directed at me.

"Be careful when you go. Don't get hurt."

"I will."

"The jungle, of all places. Really......."

Watching Lee In-cheol sigh repeatedly, I laughed out loud once more.

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Rattle rattle.

As I entered the airport pulling my carrier, several cameras followed me. I bowed politely to the cameras.

"Hello~"

The broadcast screen will probably pause for a moment here, with a brief cut explaining about me. I wonder if they'll focus on editing clips from <Cold Cooking> or <Master Chef>.

As I pulled my carrier to where the production staff was guiding me, I saw a few people who had arrived earlier.

"Oh? Oh oh?"

One of them spotted me and widened their eyes. I bowed once more.

"Hello. I'm Song Woo-yeon."

And thinking there might be some who don't know me, I quickly finished my self-introduction.

"I'm a culinary researcher and entrepreneur."

As soon as I finished speaking, a female actress whom I think I've seen a few times in dramas immediately responded.

"I know you!"

"Oh, you do?"

"Yes! I love your snow flower bingsu!"

"Ah~"

So she likes Bingwa. The female actress, who introduced herself as Oh Jun-hee, kept greeting me with sparkling eyes, saying she really enjoyed the new menu item that came out recently.

Responding to her, I quickly glanced around.

Among the faces I recognized, there was Chief Kim Byung-man. Besides him, there was one male entertainer, one male idol, Oh Jun-hee who greeted me, and myself, making a total of 5 people.

'Just right.'

If there were any more, it would have been difficult to procure ingredients.

"Wow~ With Chef here, we'll eat a lot of delicious food this time, right?"

"Good, good! We don't have to worry about food!"

Expectant gazes came from all around. I just smiled humbly and said this:

"Hahaha. I'll do my best."

It was right at that moment.

The sixth member, whose arrival we didn't expect, showed up.

"Oh? That person is...!"

Oh Jun-hee clapped her hands and smiled brightly. Even from a distance, a tall figure stood out, protruding a head above everyone else.

I couldn't help but widen my eyes too. After all, the face was too familiar.

I wanted to ask, 'Why are you here?'

The man who walked over steadily put his carrier down beside him and bowed.

"Nice to meet you."

The man's gaze passed over each person and stopped when it reached me last.

"...I'm An Derek."

Chef An Derek!

At his appearance, everyone let out exclamations of "Wow~"

"It's the rival combination from <Cold Cooking>!"

"Wow. We have two chefs. We're going to eat so well, aren't we?"

"Amazing~!"

While everyone's eyes were sparkling, I alone lightly clutched my forehead. It seemed that An Derek and I were being treated as a sort of set in variety shows.

Ugh. As we just exchanged glances without saying anything, An Derek quickly turned his head away.

At that moment, one of the production staff shouted:

"Now that everyone's here, we're departing~ Let's board the plane!"

"Okay~"

Finally, we're off to the jungle!

I boarded the plane with various expectations.

Until then, I had no idea what was about to unfold.