Cheat day

The reason why rice is good

After a long discussion with the viewers, they finally reduced the monthly living expenses to 2.1 million won.

Since I reduced the food expenses from 1 million won to 600,000 won, it was possible, but it felt like I was sacrificing myself.

However, the feeling of sadness was only temporary.

Today is cheat day.

It was also the day when we could legally eat a regular meal and greet Ju Ji-seung, Cha Ji-chan, and Baek Woo-jin, so I made a reservation at a famous Chinese restaurant.

I deliberated countless times before deciding on a course that costs 78,000 won per person.

If it’s 312,000 won for four people, it’s hard to accept as a single meal, but since it was a place to express gratitude, I decided to be generous.

The rapid growth of the side dish store was largely due to the contributions of three people.

I was the one who seized the opportunity.

Building recognition by consistently appearing on famous channels and then having that recognition spread through word of mouth, creating a positive feedback loop, would have been difficult without their help.

300,000 won is a lot of money, but compared to the gratitude I feel towards them, it’s woefully insufficient.

I arrived at D Restaurant in Seoul Station and was waiting when Joo Ji-seung, who lives in Bucheon, opened the door and came in.

Woke up and welcomed.

“How did you get here first?”

“Really?” The subway must be fast.

As soon as they exchanged greetings, Cha Ji-chan, who lives in Mapo, opened the door and walked in.

Cha Ji-chan greeted me with a nod and then immediately exchanged greetings with Ju Ji-seung.

“Hyung, are you really not thinking?” Let’s participate in the tournament together this year.

“Heh.” “Why do you keep doing that?”

“Because your body is precious.” If you’ve been working out that much, you should give a competition a try.

Sigh. Don’t even mention it. I can’t take off my clothes in front of others. How could you do that in such an embarrassing way?

Come to think of it, showing off an oiled body in just underwear in front of others is not something an ordinary person can do.

“Sit down and talk.” Hyung too.

Cha Ji-chan sat next to me, and Ju Ji-seung took a seat across from us.

“Side dishes, have you seen Jiseung’s body?”

“Why would I look at Jiseung’s body?”

Wow. The real thigh muscle workout is no joke. This guy’s thighs are a real work of art, you know?

“Ugh.”

Even though I don’t want to participate in the competition, it seems like compliments make me feel good.

Joo Ji-seung, feeling embarrassed, let out his characteristic chuckle.

“How much exercise has Jiseung done?”

“I started because of diabetes too.” “It’s been about 7 or 8 years, right?”

“You’ve been at it for a long time.”

“Among people who exercise, it’s not unusual.”

I’ve only been doing it for 5 weeks, and I’m already exhausted, but seeing people who have been doing it for years is just amazing.

“How’s your routine these days?”

Cha Ji-chan asked.

“I can’t do it well these days.” I’m splitting it into two parts and taking a day off in between.

“Sounds good?” The 2-split routine is originally meant to be done while taking breaks.

“How do you do it?”

“I do a 4-split routine because I’m training for Defi.”

“More from there?”

“These days, there are so many people with great bodies.” If you want to compete, you have to do at least this much.

What does 2-split mean, what does 4-split mean, and what does defi mean? I can’t understand any of it.

I was sitting there blankly, and Cha Ji-chan explained it to me.

“If you split it into four parts, you can divide it into chest, shoulders, back, and lower body.” One day the chest, one day the shoulder like this.”

“Yeah.”

“But if you do a 3-split routine, you’ll end up working on two areas in one day.” Then, it’s hard to gather enough strength, so we do it in four parts. You can focus on each area, so it’s good for increasing muscle definition.

“Yeah.”

If I said I didn’t understand, I would explain until I did, so I pretended to understand roughly.

I don’t want to hear about exercise on a day like today.

“Everyone’s already here.”

Baek Woo-jin, who lives in Dongdaemun, came in.

“Did you come?”

Baek Woo-jin greeted Ju Ji-seung and Cha Ji-chan warmly and then sat next to Ju Ji-seung.

“Everyone is waiting, and you’re the last one to show up?”

Cha Ji-chan played a prank.

“Exactly.” Hyung will be a bit late.

“Ji-seung hyung was the first to arrive.”

“Was I too oblivious?” You should come slowly.

Jujiseung cleverly played along with the joke, and thanks to that, I laughed.

“But aren’t you overdoing it, bro?” It’s expensive here.

Baek Woo-jin asked.

“Super expensive.” If I buy it here today, I’ll have to starve for a month.

“That’s right.” Chan-young’s monthly living expenses are 2.1 million won, right? Isn’t it dangerous?

How do you know, bro?

“I’ve been keeping up with your broadcasts.” I see you every day.

“Hyung…….”

I knew you sometimes left messages, so I knew you were watching, but I didn’t expect you to watch every day.

It’s touching because it’s not easy to watch other channels while streaming your own.

“Hey, there’s no one here who earns less than you.” “Stop being stubborn and just buy your own food.”

Cha Ji-chan spoke firmly, trying to reduce my burden.

“I know.” Still, I’ll live today. It’s because I’m grateful.

“Are you okay?”

Jujiseung asked.

“Then.” Eat as much as you want. “Today, I’m really going to treat you.”

“Sss.” Since I’ve already turned it down once, I feel like I’ve saved face, so I’ll eat well.

Once again, everyone laughed together.

That’s right.

No matter how tough it gets, isn’t it a joy in life to gather with like-minded people and share a meal?

“I looked it up, and the jjajangmyeon here is unique.”

“I saw it too.” It was something about truffles.

As Baek Woo-jin was gathering the menu, Cha Ji-chan chimed in.

Here it is. Truffle steak black noodle. They say this is delicious. Bro, can I eat this?

“Oh, no.” I’ve already done everything.

I never thought they would place an additional order.

“Let’s do it.” You’re curious about the 23,000 won jajangmyeon, aren’t you? How’s your brother?

Me too. These days, there’s no food that doesn’t have truffle in it, but I haven’t tried jjajangmyeon.

“I guess I have to do it.” Chan-young, are you okay?

Cha Ji-chan smiled slightly.

I don’t know why Chajichan has been so annoying lately, even when I’m learning sports.

“Then just one.”

“Hey, how many mouths do you have? Just order one.” Make 4.

“I ordered the course.” I’m full.

“I eat a lot.”

“Me too.”

“Me too.”

Cha Ji-chan, Baek Woo-jin, and Joo Ji-seung spoke in turn.

I was at a loss for words and just sat there when the waiter came in and served the appetizer.

“We’ll add four Truffle Steak Black Noodles.”

Before I could even stop him, Baek Woo-jin quickly added another order.

“Wait a moment.” Please leave one out.

“Hey, just eat it.”

Cha Ji-chan said.

“Jajangmyeon prices are going up a lot.” No.

“Just exercise.”

“Do you think I walked all the way home from Yeouido because I was fooled by that again?”

Cha Ji-chan and Joo Ji-seung burst into laughter.

It seems like you enjoy seeing me struggle.

“Just three bowls, please.”

A sigh escaped me, but when I saw the appetizer in front of me, that feeling melted away like snow.

From the left, there is jellyfish salad, abalone, and boiled pork, and the staff explained that I should eat them in order, starting with the salad.

The cold dish was refreshing but ordinary, and the abalone was unbelievably tender.

When the unique texture of abalone becomes extremely tender, it can be this comforting.

“It’s delicious.”

“Abalone is really good.”

Baek Woo-jin and Cha Ji-chan were impressed.

Joo Ji-seung was curious about how to eat it, so he watched and saw that it was being eaten deliciously.

“Why?”

“I’ve been curious about this for a while, but do chefs analyze everything while eating out?”

“There are times like that.” But I can eat just about anything.

Joo Ji-seung smiled slightly.

“Isn’t it because you’re a chef that you’re more particular?”

It seems that Baek Woo-jin is also curious about the same thing as me.

“That’s right.” “Isn’t it a bit more sophisticated when you cook?”

“Not at all.” Everything someone else makes is delicious. The most delicious food in the world is the food someone else makes for you.

I thought someone who specializes in cooking would be picky, but it seems that’s not the case.

“Hey, side dish.” “Hey, why do you never say a word on my stream but do so well when you’re with Woojin?”

Cha Ji-chan asked. It was something that PD Ahn Sang-kyu also slightly mentioned.

A person should have a conscience. “Let me have the strength to speak before saying such things.”

“That’s true.”

This person could just say they enjoyed the debate, but they go out of their way to say it like this.

I’ve gotten used to it over time, so I know what they want to say and just let it go, but there used to be a lot of misunderstandings.

“White rice debate?”

Jujiseung asked.

It was funny when Chanyong was talking nonsense, right? It’s also funny to see Woojin get all flustered after losing the debate.

Cha Ji-chan exaggeratedly trembled, and Baek Woo-jin shouted angrily.

“When have I ever been scared?”

It was exactly the same as how Cha Ji-chan imitated it, so everyone laughed together.

“Seriously, that guy is too much.” At first, I said we should do it seriously, right? But as soon as you open your mouth, it’s all nonsense.

“It doesn’t seem like a complete stretch.” If someone who received investment from Kakao criticizes Kakao like that, it’s against business ethics.

Cha Ji-chan smirked and teased Baek Woo-jin.

“I think so too.”

Even Ju Ji-seung joined in, and Baek Woo-jin, feeling wronged, fidgeted.

“But seriously, the reaction was pretty good.” Both of them surpassed a million, right?

Cha Ji-chan spoke without a trace of a smile.

Certainly, the view counts for ‘Mul Naengmyeon vs Bibim Naengmyeon’ and ‘Chocolate vs Candy’ were unusually high.

“Chan-young seems to be well-suited for that kind of thing.” “Framing and inciting.”

When I widened my eyes in surprise, Baek Woo-jin quickly responded.

“Even you can see it, right?” “Seriously, the side dishes are really dirty, you know?”

“Hey, I’m just joking.”

“Because of you, even my channel subscribers are teasing me.” “Are you really abusing the elderly?!”

Baek Woo-jin having a seizure is so funny.

Cha Ji-chan and Ju Ji-seung also laughed heartily, but it would have been a big problem if they hadn’t booked a room.

“Excuse me.”

The employee brought in the following food.

Lobster Sanra Soup.

The employee explained that the fishy taste disappears if you mix the foam well.

As I mixed it well and took a spoonful, all four of us, including me, widened our eyes in surprise.

As the warm soup touched my tongue, all the taste buds awakened.

The taste is perfectly full without a single gap, and the umami that makes your mind clear is exquisite.

After swallowing it, it settles your stomach comfortably, so it’s not burdensome at all, despite its appearance.

“It’s really delicious!”

“I’d like to learn this a bit.”

Baek Woo-jin and Joo Ji-seung kept exclaiming in admiration.

“This place is nice.” Well found.

“Right?”

Cha Ji-chan gives a thumbs up and keeps slurping the soup.

“That’s right.” How did it go with meeting Hongdangmu last time?

Joo Ji-seung asked how the conversation with Hongdangmu Entertainment went.

Are you signing a contract with Hong Dangmu?

Baek Woo-jin asked in surprise, and Cha Ji-chan also turned his head, showing interest.

“Not yet.” “Don’t sign the contract over there for now.”

“Huh?”

“They said since the channel is going to grow anyway, we should wait until it reaches the point where I can get better contract terms.”

All three of us blinked for a moment, then went back to eating our soup.

It really was so good we couldn’t stop.

“That’s interesting. Normally, it’s us saying something like that,” Baek Woojin commented.

“They said there’s no point in tricking creators because, once YouTubers start sharing information, people will find out, and if I end up feeling cheated and don’t renew the contract, it’s a bigger loss for them.”

When I relayed what Muk Eun-ji’s deputy had said, all three of them were impressed.

“Not bad. If it’s Hongdangmu, I know a bit about them too. Who’s the contact?”
“Deputy Muk Eun-ji.”
“Oh.”

Cha Ji-chan, Joo Ji-seung, and Baek Woojin all reacted as if they knew Muk Eun-ji.

“You know her?”

“I’ve heard of her. She’s strict, stubborn, and works by the book. Does a good job, though.”

That was pretty much the same first impression I had of her, even though I’d only met her once.

“She’s hard to get close to, but no one says she gives off a bad vibe. She takes good care of channels and is really good at her job.”

“What more could you ask for?”
“Exactly. This industry has way too many sleazy types. People act all buddy-buddy and like they’ll do everything for you, but then they stab you in the back.”
“Ugh. Chanyong, don’t you have someone in your stream with the nickname Muk Eun-ji?”

He really must watch my streams a lot.

Joo Ji-seung had figured out that Muk Eun-ji from the chat was the same as Deputy Muk Eun-ji.

“How did you know? I was curious and asked her, and it turns out that’s who she is. That’s why I trust her, and I’ll probably end up signing with Hongdangmu.”

Hongdangmu isn’t a small company, and if I can work with someone who already knows my content well, it seems like a solid choice.

“What a coincidence.”

“Is it really just a coincidence, though? If she was a viewer, she probably kept an eye on you to some extent. Don’t you think?” Cha Ji-chan said.

“Yeah, I thought the same. I was so happy to meet a viewer in real life. So, I offered a handshake, but she refused, saying she wasn’t a fan.”

“Pfft! Hahahaha! Why would you offer a handshake?”

“Bro, you got a celebrity complex or something?”

“It was just a joke! The mood was so stiff, I was trying to lighten things up.”

“If you start acting like a celebrity already, it’s going to get exhausting.”

“I’m telling you, it was just a joke!”