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[Web Sent]
Mr. Shin Yoon-seong, a deposit of 255,000 KRW has been made to account 1726331 by Ryu Jung-min.
Korea Bank
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Finally, I’ve managed to get Ryu Jung-min to return the money I lent him.
He said he’d send it right away when he got back to the guild, but it’s only arriving now, a day later. And right as the sun is about to set.
I wouldn’t expect this from the boss of a major guild, would you?
…
In just one day, I ended up spending roughly 250,000 won. That’s a lot.
I only intended to buy a student ID, but somehow, I ended up getting entangled with Ryu Jung-min. Between meals and drinks, it all ended up coming out of my pocket.
Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone treat other people’s money like their own.
Still, now that I’ve gotten my money back, it’s a story of the past.
—Hey, the Hawaiian pizza even praised by Arna Kristin Dotir! If you don’t order now, you’ll have to come back tomorrow!
Anyway.
Right now, I’m at the food area to grab dinner. I considered the student cafeteria, but since this is a festival, I thought I’d try some food from here instead.
—Two large Hawaiian pizzas, got it!
The most popular food truck here is definitely Moon Shin-chung’s pizza place.
Thanks to Arna eating a Hawaiian pizza last time, people have been flocking here.
The effect of celebrity endorsements truly is incredible. If it weren’t for Arna, who would willingly spend their own money on that kind of pizza?
At this rate, Moon Shin-chung might very well secure the top-grossing spot.
“Hmm, let me see…”
Still, Hawaiian pizza is just Hawaiian pizza. I passed by Moon Shin-chung’s truck and decided to look for something else.
There’s no way I can fill my stomach with food that lacks any taste.
—How about some kebabs? We have beef, lamb, and mackerel!
—Grab a hotdog on your way out?
—Freshly sliced kalguksu noodles!
Everyone was working hard to attract customers. After all, this was a competition where the winner would take home a decent prize—a large sum of money, if I recall correctly.
“Hmm?”
While browsing the trucks and wondering what to eat, I spotted a familiar face in the distance. It was Choi Soo-eun.
I never expected to see Choi Soo-eun outside the hospital, let alone running her own food truck. I guess stranger things happen.
The store wasn’t there yesterday, yet here she was. I headed directly over to her.
“Is business going alright? You handling things okay?”
“Huh…?”
Choi Soo-eun stopped what she was doing and stared at me, her eyes wide.
And then I added a comment.
“If a customer has arrived, why are you just standing there like a statue? When someone comes in, you should greet them immediately.”
“Ah, sorry…”
Choi Soo-eun put down the knife she was holding and bowed her head.
“Welcome… please.”
It was an incredibly awkward greeting. Even from that one phrase alone, I could tell Choi Soo-eun lacked any talent for business. She probably knows it herself.
“Hmm, surprising. I didn’t expect to find you selling food.”
I was curious. Why was she dressed so out of character and running a food truck when she clearly preferred being in the hospital? I wanted to ask her why.
“Well…”
Choi Soo-eun glanced away from me and whispered in a voice barely audible.
“Just… because I wanted to…”
Clearly a lie. She couldn’t fool me. There has to be some hidden reason.
“I see.”
But I decided not to inquire further. It was just a casual question anyway. It’s her life—if Choi Soo-eun wants to run a food truck or not, that’s her decision.
It’s none of my business.
“Anyway, it’s pretty quiet around here. Have any customers come by?”
I looked around.
It’s the peak dinner hour right now, yet I couldn’t spot a single person near this area.
It was a sharp contrast to the bustling other shops.
“Actually… I haven’t sold a single thing today.”
“Seriously? Not even one?”
“Yeah…”
I was shocked. Not a single item sold by this hour? What on earth is going on?
I know her cooking skills better than anyone. Her abilities are top-notch; her dishes are good enough to open a restaurant anywhere. If anything, her culinary skills are the best in this food truck lineup.
Completely different from Moon Shin-chung who makes Hawaiian pizzas.
So…
If this place has no customers, it’s not because the food is bad.
I stepped back a few paces to figure out the issue.
“Hmm.”
First, the truck’s exterior was plain. Since it’s provided by the school, it didn’t differ much from the others. Hard to find any problems there.
Next, the menu. This store only had one option: a set with rice balls stuffed with fish roe and butter-grilled abalone and shrimp.
A combination that couldn’t possibly taste bad.
“…”
Then what could it be? The exterior of the store seems fine, and the menu is decent enough.
Why is there no one here?
—Arna-approved Hawaiian pizza! Come on, don’t miss out!
Perhaps it’s a publicity issue. That could be it. Generally, great restaurants only get recognized after data accumulates over a long period.
In events like this, word of mouth trumps taste.
What Choi Soo-eun needs right now is marketing.
“Looks like I have no choice but to step in.”
I rolled up my sleeves enthusiastically.
Choi Soo-eun blinked in surprise and asked.
“Wait, what are you about to do?”
“I’ll make your shop the best in the area.”
“Why…?”
Choi Soo-eun’s question about why I had to bother, or even why she needed my help.
The reason is simple.
“Because I cannot let some pizza-guy take the number one spot.”
I pointed toward Moon Shin-chung’s shop far away.
Can you believe this? The best-selling food around here being Hawaiian pizza? Something is definitely wrong. No matter how much the current trend leans toward reinterpretations of Western foods, there’s still a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
That guy is practically the food version of blood magic. To keep him from causing further chaos in this world, action must be taken.
“Is that all…?”
Meanwhile, Choi Soo-eun wrinkled her lips, looking somewhat dissatisfied with my answer. It was hard to tell, but she seemed to have been expecting something else.
Anyway.
“We’ve already prepared so much of the ingredients. It would be a shame to close shop now, wouldn’t it?”
“That’s true… but what do you plan to do?”
“No need to worry, I’ve got it all figured out.”
I pulled my smartphone from my pocket.
“Oh, and by the way.”
But before we proceed.
Prior to starting the marketing work in earnest, there’s one thing I need to tell Choi Soo-eun.
“80-20.”
“Huh, what…?”
“Revenue split. Of course, I need my share, don’t I?”
Even if it’s Choi Soo-eun, there will be no exceptions.
Nothing in this world is free.
*
“Aha, I see. Enjoying fruits when feeling peckish at night, eh?”
After the main showcase, Arna was still in the holding room, conducting an interview with one of the journalists.
“What types of fruits do you enjoy eating?”
“Hmm, usually oranges or bananas.”
The journalist was from the entertainment section, which explained the bizarre line of questions that had been flying at her since the start.
What brands of clothing does she wear, what cosmetics she uses, what snacks does she like? Questions that had nothing to do with the showcase that just happened.
Personally, it was an uncomfortable journalist type, as it felt like my private life was being probed.
“Thank you, Arna. You’ve revealed some of your new sides to us.”
“Ah, yes….”
“Alright, one final question.”
Finally, we’re reaching the end. I’ve been waiting for this moment. Though I didn’t say anything, my stomach’s been growling since forever.
The interview is now trivial. Quickly finish it off, and I’d head straight for the food. The food trucks I missed yesterday sound just right now. There must be a ton of delicious foods waiting.
“What kind of ideal partner does Arna dream of?”
“Umm…?”
Immersed in imagining some mouthwatering food for a moment, Arna froze in surprise over the unexpected question.
What… did I just hear?
“An ideal type, surely Arna must have one in mind?”
“…”
It was a difficult question. An ideal type? Never thought about it.
“Arna?”
“Hmm… well, I don’t exactly have a clear ideal type….”
“Gasp, really?”
“However… There are types of people I’d definitely avoid…”
At this, the journalist’s eyes lit up.
“Really? What kind of person?”
One thing was absolutely clear, even if nothing else was. Arna knows precisely what the worst kind of man is—especially since an example was right here at this Sa-guan Military Academy.
“Firstly, anyone who is rude is out of the question. People who speak harshly, tease others, and scratch at their feelings… Ah! And using weird nicknames should also stop immediately!”
“…”
“And the behavior goes hand in hand! Every time I meet him, it’s all weird pranks, and it’s so annoying! There must be limits to how much one can irritate people! Is it enough to just have good looks? Men are not just about their faces, ya know? That point should be understood! Huff!”
As if there had been a lot bottled up inside, Arna let out a flood of words without restraint. This was the most detailed and sincere response she’d ever given in any interview.
“Umm, I see… Got it….”
The journalist broke into a cold sweat repeatedly. This was the most aggressive side of Arna they had seen so far. On the one hand, it was quite intimidating.
The journalist hurriedly packed up the equipment.
“Alright, that concludes the interview as planned…! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule! Let me leave now…!”
Without looking back, the journalist quickly fled the holding room.
Arna was alone again.
“Phew….”
Somehow, the lecture room feels less hectic than this. Festivals aren’t entirely fun after all.
The schedule was packed. A simple fan meeting and photo session in the morning, showcase in the afternoon. And this was not the end. After the showcase, there’s always a wrap-up interview like now.
And this has to be repeated for a whole week. It’s already the second day, and I’m already feeling drained.
The only consolation is that the last day doesn’t have the showcases. Instead, there’s a different event prepared.
A National Challenge. Word came that they were inviting students from the American academy to participate in the evaluation match here…
Buzz!—”What the—”
At that moment, Arna’s phone buzzed with a message.
She quickly checked it.
[Milk tank monster, get over to the food truck right now! Just giving you 10 minutes – PM 08:33]
It was Shin Yoon-seong. Arna immediately frowned.
Who does he think he is, ordering her around like that? Plus, setting a time limit. Totally unnecessary to even care.
Just as she was about to put down the phone…
“Hang on, what…?”
Arna carefully re-examined the message. This time paying even closer attention to the details.
“To the food trucks…?”
It’s 8 PM. Although it’s a bit late, it’s still technically dinner time. Plus, most food trucks around here operate late into the night.
It’s a prime dining time.
“Could it be…?”
Could this be a date invitation? Shin Yoon-seong is asking her out for an evening rendezvous.
No doubt, this is a date proposal!
“First, shower…! Start with the shower!”
The showcase just ended. She’s sweat-covered in this state. Not going on a date like this!
“Ugh, what a disaster! Need to shower, do makeup, change clothes…!”
Seems like she forgot about the contents of the interview she just had.
Arna was moving around more energetically than ever before to meet the world’s most unappealing man right now.
