God-Given Business Genius - Chapter 198

Slurp.

The savory taste of fat added depth to the broth. As soon as I tasted it, I could tell that Lee Hyo-soon had taken my feedback well.

Chew, chew.

Taking a bite with meat and kimchi on top, I was even more certain.

"......."

Lee Hyo-soon was silently looking at me with desperate eyes. Without words, the sparkling kitchen and the taste of the carefully refined food showed Lee Hyo-soon's sincerity.

I smiled and said,

"It's delicious."

"Haa."

Lee Hyo-soon let out a small sigh. She must have been very nervous.

"The kitchen is clean, and the recipe is good. If you increase the meat portion a bit more, customer satisfaction would be higher. But even at this level, it's a sufficiently cost-effective meal."

"I'll increase the amount of meat."

Asking to add more ingredients is like telling them to lower the profit margin. She could have objected, but Lee Hyo-soon followed without complaint.

"That would be great."

The changed attitude made me feel somewhat sentimental.

I took out something I had prepared from my chest.

"You're fully qualified."

It was a frame with "Song Woo-yeon Certified Delicious Restaurant" written in my own handwriting.

"Ah...!"

Lee Hyo-soon received the frame with trembling hands. She seemed to read the handwritten message several times.

「Wishing you good health always, and hoping you'll continue to brighten this place with your consistent presence,

Song Woo-yeon」

It was a phrase containing my wish that this state wouldn't change. Lee Hyo-soon seemed to feel that too.

While she was looking down at the frame with eyes full of emotion, I approached Lee Hyo-soon and continued speaking.

"You've worked hard all this time."

"!"

"And it'll be even harder from now on. You've felt it these past few days, right?"

"Yes."

Lee Hyo-soon said with her head bowed deeply. Maintaining this level of hygiene is truly not an easy task.

When you're tired from running the business and still have to do a thorough closing clean-up, you might feel like quitting and running away at any moment.

It'll be even more so after this place appears on the broadcast. How exhausting will it be when people flood in non-stop?

If possible, you'd want to lie down on the kitchen floor right now and take a nap.

And in the midst of that, closing clean-up? Preparing ingredients for the next day?

'It's hard to endure without considerable mental strength.'

That's why those who overcome this hardship and maintain their position are amazing.

Because maintaining that seemingly effortless daily routine every single day without fail is harder than you might think.

"You know, I've seen many people who said they would change. Some were sincere, some were lying. Often, they don't even last 3 years."

It was a bitter reality.

"So, Owner. Think of me as watching over you. Then, even when you think 'Should I not do it?', you might get up thinking 'Oh, I can't because Song Woo-yeon is scary.'"

Lee Hyo-soon had a face as if seeing something unfamiliar. As if she didn't expect to be encouraged to this extent.

But how could I treat each owner struggling in this industry carelessly? They're all here with their livelihoods at stake.

I smiled at the camera and said,

"Viewers, if you think this owner has changed, feel free to report to me anytime."

I made a phone shape with my hand and waved it.

"If I hear that you've changed, I'll take this frame back. Understand?"

"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."

And truly finally, I greeted Lee Hyo-soon once more.

"You've worked hard. May your business prosper in the future."

Lee Hyo-soon replied with tears in her eyes.

"Thank you."

That single phrase held such depth. It had the power to move even the listener.

Lee Hyo-soon held my hand tightly and bowed her head.

"Thank you so much......"

Plop. Tears fell, making a small noise. Somehow, I was at a loss for words, and had to stand there for a while.

Even as the filming ended, the sensation of Lee Hyo-soon's tight grip seemed to linger on my hand for a long time.

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"Oh? Isn't that Song Woo-yeon?"

The casually dropped words of a passerby caught my ear. I pulled my hat down further.

'Should I wear a mask next time too?'

But a hat and a mask? I'm not some celebrity with a complex. It felt too conspicuous, so I just wore a hat, but now I might have to wear glasses without lenses next time.

"Isn't it just someone who looks like her?"

"I think it is her."

"You know, that place is around here. Song Woo-yeon's alley."

"Ah~ Right. The street with all the franchises. Whoa, is it really Song Woo-yeon?"

"Should we go and ask?"

I'm sorry, but I can hear everything.

'This is more embarrassing than I thought.'

I thought celebrities were always confident and dignified everywhere. As I listened to people debating whether I was Song Woo-yeon or not, I was unsure how to respond.

Should I acknowledge it, saying yes, I am Song Woo-yeon? Should I offer to sign autographs? Is that too much? Should I just ignore it and pretend not to know? That might seem rude.

Fortunately, before my worries could deepen, the situation came to a resolution.

"Oh, Woo-yeon~!"

From far away, I could see Kim Jong-chun waving his hand after spotting me. He must have raised his voice out of excitement, but in this alley where people were still around, it was quite a blunder.

"It is Song Woo-yeon~!"

"Did someone say Song Woo-yeon? Where?"

"Who?"

Anywhere else might be different, but in a place famous as 'Song Woo-yeon Alley' lined with The Song franchises.

Not many people would come here without knowing the name Song Woo-yeon, so everyone started looking around, murmuring.

'What should I do.'

As I was fiddling with my hat brim, pondering, one of the people who had been arguing whether I was Song Woo-yeon or not approached me discreetly and spoke.

"Excuse me... You are Song Woo-yeon, right?"

It would be funny to deny it when asked so directly. I lifted my hat slightly and greeted them.

"Haha. Hello."

Then, a flash of delight sparkled in the eyes of the person I was facing.

"Wow! Amazing. I'm a huge fan!"

"Please sign an autograph!"

"I'm enjoying <Alley Secrets>~"

"What? Is it really Song Woo-yeon? Where, where?"

"Wow. This is my first time seeing a celebrity."

Am I now considered a celebrity? I heard the ratings for <Alley Secrets> have been rising steadily. It seems I've been fully recognized as a broadcaster.

"Where would you like me to sign?"

"Oh, uh. I don't have paper or a pen."

"Then a photo! Please take a photo with us!"

"Sure. Of course."

As I held up my phone, the group struck various poses.

Click!

"Wow. Thank you!"

"You're much prettier in person~"

"No, thank you."

Just as I was about to bow and part ways amicably, one of the group members hesitated and asked me:

"Oh? But how will you give us the photo...?"

"Pardon?"

I asked back, confused. Following their gaze, I realized it was directed at my phone.

"Ah."

Oh my. I had taken the photo with my own phone.

Trying to hide my embarrassment, I said,

"Shall we take it again? Haha."

I should have had experience with fan service before. I've signed plenty of approval documents, but...

Seeing my clumsy behavior, the group laughed out loud once, and then, saying it was an honor, they took another photo.

"Thank you~"

Just when I thought it was truly over this time.

"Excuse me, could I take a photo with you too?"

"I want an autograph! I have paper and a pen!"

"Me too!"

Before I knew it, a crowd had gathered around me. It felt like everyone in the vicinity had come together.

Even people who weren't interested at first became curious because of the commotion, then they discovered me and lined up.

This vicious cycle was repeating.

'...Looks like I won't be able to get out of here for a while.'

After making a quick judgment, I quietly resigned myself. Since it was physically impossible to push through these people, the best course of action seemed to be to get it over with as quickly as possible.

"Yes, of course. Please line up and come one by one."

I said with a bright smile.

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[Did anyone watch the latest episode of GMBP?]

Song12yeon was utterly shocked lol

→This is bound to be fun

→Did you see the new menu item at the blurred army base stew place? The color was insane

→For real, it's totally over the top lol

[Isn't this just a Song Woo-yeon abuse show?]

Save Song Woo-yeon

[There was an impromptu SWY fan meeting at SWY Alley today]

For real lol

→What is she, an idol? Having fan meetings

→Are they randomly selecting people who came to eat soup rice for a fan meeting? lol

[The SWY fan meeting is real (proof included)]

(Photo of people lined up)

(Song Woo-yeon taking photos with people in the distance)

I'm telling you it's real

→Huh lol lol what's this

→→Someone just shouted "It's Song Woo-yeon!" and people rushed over asking for photos

→→→Really?? Is SWY's recognition that high?

→→→→It's probably partly due to the SWY Alley effect and there being a lot of young people there at that time?

→This is actually real lol

→If I get an autograph there and frame it saying "Song Woo-yeon Certified Delicious Restaurant", will I get on the tasty restaurant list too?

→→That was revealed to be a broadcast list a while ago

→→→But they say the dakbokkeumtang place is legit

Posts have already gone up.

I guess it's stranger if they didn't, given the commotion. I put down my phone with a thud and said,

"Ahjussi. Please be more careful in the future, okay?"

"Hahaha....... Sorry, sorry."

Kim Jong-chun said, scratching the back of his neck.

"You're so busy~ I was just trying to say hello because I was glad to see you. I didn't know you were this popular."

He might have a point, given how busy he must be with the business. Still, thinking about the trouble I went through because of Kim Jong-chun's one word made me shudder.

"I really committed a mortal sin. Huh?"

"It's fine. You don't need to go that far. It's not like you did it on purpose."

I swallowed a sigh and faced Kim Jong-chun.

Although I brought up some light conversation to ease the mood, we didn't meet today for socializing.

Thud.

I put down my glass and said,

"You said you had something to say on behalf of the franchisees."