Chapter 89:
President Jang Jaehyun: <Space Train> is getting great reactions.
President Jang Jaehyun: You've worked hard, Yooil.
Yooil replied to the text from President Jang while getting into the car.
Thank you.
But President, I've heard that there are quite a few scripts coming in for Director Jang. Could I review some scripts this week?
Despite seeing the message, President Jang Jaehyun remained silent for a while.
I want to start on the next project.'
Yooil was eager to be involved in as many diverse works as possible, as soon as possible. At least for the next two years, he felt he needed to work like an ant.
It wasnt just because of the achievement rate that floated before his eyes.
He simply did not want to take a break from acting.
I want to do more and do it better.'
Thats a good attitude, Yooil.
'
Yooil got out of the car when Min Woojin announced they had reached their destination.
He went down to the filming set on NBS's basement floor 1. The staff guided Yooil to the waiting room marked with a green door and a paper.
[<Todays Table> Cast Waiting Room]
This is interesting.'
The set of O'Sikdang' resembled a cozy restaurant. The kitchen counter was arranged in a ' shape, and behind it was a large display shelf filled with numerous ingredients.
As the shooting began, the hosts and panelists started with a lively opening greeting.
"Your dining table! Leave it to us~!"
"Today's Table is on us!"
Park Heejin, one of the main hosts and mentors, was sitting with Lee Kanghoon and Gu Haeyoung, who had been actively participating in the entertainment industry for a long time, on either side of him.
Among the panelists, there were some familiar faces. It was Jung Juha, whom Yooil had met during the promotion of Singin' High' on the show <Roll it Fun!>. She gave Yooil a slight smile when their eyes met.
"And now, let's introduce today's guest chef!"
With that introduction, Han Yooil walked in front of the camera.
"Hello, I'm Han Yooil."
Welcomed warmly, Yooil took his seat and engaged in light conversation with the panelists, as scripted. After the casual opening, the main guest, a civilian participant of the day, made their appearance.
All the civilian participants in O'Sikdang' wore giant, cute masks with only their mouths exposed. The mask was also a trademark of O'Sikdang'.
Today's participant wore a mask with a raccoon face drawn on it.
"So, what dish would you like us to make for you today?"
At Lee Kanghoon's question, the participant hesitated before speaking.
"Well, back in college, when I was a freshman there was this senior I liked."
"Oh my!"
Jung Juha covered her mouth with both hands as if she had been waiting to react.
"I just love stories like this"
"It's already so sweet, so sweet~"
Everyone added a comment, smiling contentedly.
"Back then, the senior made a very unique cream pasta for me."
Listening to the story, Park Heejin's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"How was it unique?"
"From what I remember it had doenjang in it."
Hearing that, Park Heejin tilted her head in wonder.
"Doenjang cream pasta isn't that difficult to make, is it?"
"I thought so too, so I tried making it several times at home but no matter how many times I made it, it just didn't taste the same. It was creamy but had this smoother taste."
"Did you ask for the recipe?"
"No, we weren't that close"
A wave of disappointment passed over the panelists' faces.
Doenjang, cream, and pasta. Beyond those three ingredients, there was nothing more they could discern.
Pasta is considered a relatively easy dish to make, almost next to ramen in simplicity. Even Yooil, who wasn't confident in cooking, could handle it without much trouble.
Of course, depending on the ingredients used, the flavor could vary slightly.
Listening to the conversation between the participant and the panelists, Yooil straightened up in his seat when Park Heejin stood up, signaling the end of the opening segment of O'Sikdang.'
"Let's start!"
With that shout, a 30-minute timer appeared on the large LED screen behind the set.
Lee Kanghoon quickly ushered Yooil and Jung Juha to the cooking counter.
That's right.
O'Sikdang' was a timed cooking variety show.
"Stock! Chicken stock!"
"Maybe sprinkle a bit more olive oil?"
"Slice more onions!"
The kitchen counters of both teams were like battlefields, filled with urgent shouts.
"Hey where did all the sliced mushrooms go?!"
"Here they are."
"Oh, thank you, Yooil."
Beep-beep-beep-
An 8-minute timer went off, and Jung Juha, who was sauting onions, shouted.
"Pasta! The pasta, please"
Han Yooil, even before the sentence was completed, naturally drained the pasta and evenly drizzled it with olive oil.
Yooil continued to bustle around the kitchen, diligently performing his role as an assistant. His professionalism was quite impressive.
Wow.'
The PD of O'Sikdang' watched him with interest.
He's doing better than expected.'
Actors or idols of his age group usually took time to adapt. Even those known for being flawless often panicked or made mistakes in such settings.
Lee Kanghoon took the opportunity to throw a question at him.
"Wow~ Yooil is killing it~! Have you worked in a restaurant before?"
"Well, not for long but I did help out for a bit."
"Really?"
Lee Kanghoon's warm face spread with surprise.
"A friend of mine used to run a restaurant, and I filled in a few times."
"Wow you look like a young master."
"Such a surprising charm, a real surprise!"
Both Lee Kanghoon and Jung Juha continued their banter without even looking at each other, a common occurrence in the time-pressed O'Sikdang.'
"Alright, 10 minutes left! Please rise."
Park Heejin's voice was heard, and the participant slowly stood up.
In O'Sikdang', 10 minutes before the deadline, the civilian participant would taste the dish and give a preliminary evaluation.
The cast member first approached Han Yooil's team and took a spoonful of sauce from a small bowl to taste.
Jung Juha and Lee Kanghoon watched the storyteller's face with trembling anticipation.
"Does it taste the same as before, or is it different?"
After pondering for a moment with a tilt of his head, the storyteller opened his mouth.
"Uh it's different."
Upon hearing this, Jung Juha and Lee Kanghoon, who had been diligently making the sauce, were disheartened.
"It seemed a bit smoother before."
""
That was when Han Yooil made his move.
After a moment of solitary contemplation, he whispered something to Lee Kanghoon and Jung Juha. Hearing the whisper, they looked at each other with their eyes slightly widened.
"Can that really work?"
"Let's just try it! We've got nothing to lose!"
Encouraged by Lee Kanghoon's brisk response, Yooil smiled pleasantly.
"!"
The producer, witnessing the scene, sensed something.
Perhaps Han Yooil could bring even more buzz than anticipated.
* * *
A few days later.
Lee Hyejin was holding her phone in bed.
Despite the sleepless nights due to the team project villains she met after the new semester began, she was happy. At this particular moment, she could confidently say she was happy.
She was watching a clip of Osikdak' featuring Han Yooil.
Of course, she had already watched the full version.
11:32 Han Yooil here looks almost like an undercover part-timer
I don't even know how many times I've watched him taking noodles out
Seriously, why is he so good? LOL
Lee Hyejin scrolled through the newly added comments while watching Yooil, wearing an apron and bustling about.
After the scene where the whispers of Han Yooil's fans turned into screams of envy, it showed Han Yooil adding something to the sauce.
It was soy milk.
It was odd enough to add soy milk to an almost finished pasta, particularly to a doenjang cream pasta, but what was most surprising was the comment of the cast member who tasted the pasta, covering their mouth and exclaiming:
Uh this is it!
!
Upon hearing this, the opposing team was dejected, while Han Yooil's team quickly embraced each other with brightened faces.
Usually, Osikdak' ends with Park Heejin salvaging the cooking failures and introducing new recipes. The act of saving failed dishes was also part of the fun.
But this time was different. It ended without the need for Park Heejin's intervention.
How can he cook so well'
As she mused, Lee Hyejin moved on to a clip she had watched several times. It was the last interview clip of Han Yooil and the production team.
[How did you think of adding soy milk?]
The sauce needed to be smoother. Heavy cream is too thick, and milk can be too rich, but soy milk is nutty and smooth.
[How do you know so much?]
Yooil scratched his head.
Actually, my aunt likes soy milk pasta. I don't make it often, but I do cook it for her sometimes.
[!]
Soon, you will be able to see the movie I starred in, Jinhee', in theaters. I ask for your interest, and I hope everyone watching this program stays healthy.
It was a perfect wrap-up.
Around that time, as Han Yooil was actively promoting and nurturing his anticipation for his next project, the premiere date for Jinhee' approached.
* * *
On the premiere day of Jinhee'.
Critic Lee Byungsoo had been seated since five minutes before the movie started. He took a sip of water and slowly leaned back.
Director Won Heesu.'
When she released her first feature film 20 years ago, Lee Byungsoo had written a review. Back then, he was younger and more impulsive, gaining attention gradually through his cynical and sharp criticism.
The most accurate and piercing review.
He had resolved to deliver such a review.
There were many movies with decent production values, but good movies were rare, even more so in Korea.
To him, steeped in disappointment over Korean cinema, Won Heesu's first feature film, Turning Twenty Again', was a shock.
Because the movie was good.
That day, Lee Byungsoo had given Turning Twenty Again' a rating of 8 stars.
However, the subsequent films of Won Heesu hadn't met his expectations.
Certainly, they captured the mainstream audience and gained a core fan base.
But they lacked the freshness and sharpness of the first movie.'
So, now Lee Byungsoo was expecting.
It was an expectation ready to be disappointed.
Not only the director Won Heesu, but also the actor Han Yooil contributed to such sentiment. A young actor who had shown impressive performance in Yoo Jaeho's The Last Diner'.
He seems to be a good actor.'
Han Yooil was still a rookie, a green young actor, and Lee Byungsoo was a cautious and old critic.
Lee Byungsoo tapped the armrest of the cinema seat with his fingers, pondering.
There are plenty of actors whose careers only have a glamorous start.'
At that moment, the staff checked the audience's entrance and closed the doors of the theater.
Then, the ears were tickled by the fast melody of the violin, the soft and subtly powerful cello, and the heavy bass of the contrabass.
It was the beginning of the opening sequence of Jinhee'.
A smooth start.'
He watched the scene of Jinhee cleaning the house with indifferent eyes, accompanied by rhythmic music.
However, as the story gradually progressed, Lee Byungsoo found himself having to change his mind.
Is this the Jinhee' I know?'
Certainly, the content and the characters were familiar. But strangely, it felt unfamiliar.
And that unfamiliarity reached its peak when Kiwoon made his appearance.
Ms. Jinhee.
Do you know me?
Yes. For quite a long time.
!'
Lee Byungsoo's eyes widened as he sat cross-legged, tilting his head.
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