Chapter 207. Restaurant
After the meeting ended, the members dispersed.
"Dong-ha, you said you don't have any schedules, right?"
"Yes. What about you, hyung?"
At Dong-ha's question, Yeon-woo thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"I'm free too. Our agency's actors need to gather again in the meeting room later this evening anyway. Want to go down to the first floor and grab some food with Teacher Cheol-min?"
"Oh, should we? But why do we need to meet again?"
"We have our own content thing going on."
Tonight, episodes 1 and 2 of the in-house variety content 'New Star Family' will be released simultaneously on New Star Entertainment's YouTube channel.
Although the members participated in filming, they haven't seen the edited version yet, so they planned to gather in the agency's meeting room to watch it together.
"New Star Entertainment seems fun."
"Really? Don't you get along with the members?"
At Yeon-woo's question, Dong-ha quickly waved his hands as he answered.
"No, no, of course I get along with the members. It's just that usually at actors' agencies, even artists from the same company don't really know each other. At my previous agency, we had both actors and singers, but they never interacted."
"That's how it usually is."
This was possible because the actors who had joined New Star Entertainment so far had gathered through connections centered around Yeon-woo.
Of course, it also helped that each actor had a gentle personality and got along well with others.
"Let's go down and eat first. I'll go get Teacher Cheol-min. Where's the manager who came with you?"
"Probably went down to the underground parking lot."
"Contact them and tell them to come to the first floor. Let's eat together."
"Yes."
While Dong-ha called the manager who had gone down to the basement, Yeon-woo went to get Cheol-min.
"Teacher, have you been to the restaurant on the first floor? Director Yoon said it was delicious."
"Ah, yes, I have. It's pretty good."
"Would you like to have lunch with Dong-ha and his manager? You haven't eaten yet, right?"
"I couldn't eat because I was in a hurry to get here. Sure, let's have a meal together, it's been a while."
===
**
===
Han Jun-joon, who opened a restaurant on the first floor of the Mokhwa Building, had recently found a new zest for life.
After returning from studying culinary arts in France, Han Jun-joon had worked at restaurants for several years, saved money, and opened his own restaurant near Yeonnam-dong, but it went completely bankrupt before long.
What good was confidence in his cooking when there weren't any customers coming in to begin with?
Being good at cooking alone and successfully running a restaurant were matters of entirely different dimensions.
Then, attracted by the lower-than-market rent and the entertainment agency upstairs that suggested it would be good for quiet business, he relocated here. Though the neighborhood had been quiet when he signed the contract, the foot traffic increased exponentially day by day even while he was doing the interior work.
Han Jun-joon, who didn't understand why at the time, had asked the people lined up outside, and they all gave him the same answer.
"This is the bakery that Ryu Yeon-woo said was delicious."
Come to think of it, he remembered the real estate agent mentioning during the contract signing that the agency upstairs was an actors' agency.
'That was Ryu Yeon-woo's agency? Wow... I really hope he visits our restaurant just once.'
Actually, Han Jun-joon only knew Ryu Yeon-woo's name and face, having never seen any of his works.
Being so busy with kitchen work that he only knew about cooking, he hadn't just missed Yeon-woo's works - he'd lived completely detached from video content.
'Still, he's our upstairs neighbor, maybe I should watch some after work.'
Though he wasn't really a neighbor but rather the building owner of his restaurant, curiosity suddenly struck and he began binge-watching.
Starting with "Master Plan," then "Sketch," and until 4 AM last night, he watched every episode of "White Blood" with bleary eyes.
"Yaaaawn. Maybe I overdid it..."
Seeing Han Jun-joon yawn, his younger brother slapped him on the back.
Since his brother's business had been doing well lately, he had quit his previous job to help run the restaurant.
"Bro, you were watching something all night. Was it porn?"
"What nonsense. I was watching a drama. 'White Blood.'"
"That's a meme, you know. The 'what nonsense' part."
At his brother's words, Han Jun-joon shook his head and pushed his brother's forehead with his finger.
"It's not a meme, I said that because you were talking nonsense. Quickly go out and clear the tables."
"Yes, sir! This humble one takes his leave."
After his brother went outside, Han Jun-joon slapped both his cheeks with a clap and picked up the frying pan again.
Just then, his brother came running back into the kitchen breathlessly.
"B-bro!"
"Hey, I told you not to run in the kitchen, it kicks up dust, you little..."
"No! He's here! He's here outside!"
"Who's here?"
His brother's eyes were wide as he pointed toward the dining area.
"Ryu Yeon-woo is here!"
"What nonsense. Trying to fool me again? You lied last time too."
"No, it's really true this time!"
Han Jun-joon stared at his brother's face for a moment, and seeming to sense his sincerity, put down the frying pan and peeked outside from the kitchen entrance.
He could see the part-timer taking orders at a table where Akhenaton, Dipangdal, and Jung Do-jin from "White Blood" - which he'd stayed up watching last night - were sitting.
"No way!"
He quickly adjusted his hygiene cap and chef's uniform properly, then led his trembling legs out to the dining area.
"H-hello. I'm Han Jun-joon, the owner and chef of this restaurant."
Yeon-woo smiled and greeted him.
"Hello. I've heard so many good things about this restaurant from our staff that my ears were ringing, so I came down to check it out myself."
"Oh! It's an honor! I'll prepare your meal with the utmost care."
While greeting them, he looked outside the restaurant and could see silhouettes of people gathering behind the glass windows.
Han Jun-joon hurried back to the kitchen while trying to calm his racing heart.
He had been envying the bakery next door for more than just a day or two.
True, thanks to the bakery, the increased foot traffic had revitalized the surrounding commercial district, and his business had improved lately from the spillover effects.
No, to be precise, it wasn't thanks to the bakery but rather due to the influence of that one young actor sitting at the table.
'This is the chance of a lifetime. I need to pour my soul into making this meal.'
Meanwhile, Yeon-woo, sitting at the table, hadn't just come down to the first-floor restaurant merely to grab a casual meal.
Revitalizing the surrounding commercial district was part of his strategy.
While the increasing value of the Mokhwa Building, of which Yeon-woo was the actual owner, was a secondary benefit of the area's revival, the important point was that the growing foot traffic would make it easier to hide in plain sight among the public.
Continuous surveillance and espionage require maintaining a steady position to be effective.
However, as more ordinary people pass through the area, not only does this become more difficult, but psychologically, people are less likely to suspect a secret organization's hideout in a thriving commercial district.
In reality, they had already established the hideout and were using Yeon-woo's influence to transform it into a developed commercial district.
'And the shops that have moved into Mokhwa Building need to do well so the owners won't change.'
The chef who had just greeted them would never dream that Yeon-woo knew about him, but the personal information of all the shop owners and employees in this building had already been thoroughly investigated by agents and reported to Yeon-woo through Han Hae-woon.
'That man's name was Han Jun-joon. He studied cooking in France...'
Yeon-woo nodded as he recalled the personal information of those working at this restaurant.
Since they had been thoroughly vetted and confirmed clean, it was best if they stayed on without changes.
After all, who would give up a location with low rent and good business?
===
**
===
Han Jun-joon's food, made with his whole heart and soul, was indeed delicious.
Dong-ha, having eaten his fill, greeted them as he walked toward the parked van.
"Hyung, the restaurant is really good. I'd like to come here with the other members sometime."
"Well, from now on it'll be hard to get in unless you're willing to wait in a long line."
Jung Cheol-min and Dong-ha nodded at Yeon-woo's words.
After finishing their meal, they could easily understand why - there was already a crowd of people gathered like a swarm outside the restaurant, and they were only able to return to the building's parking garage after spending quite some time giving autographs and taking photos.
"Mr. Cheol-min, Yeon-woo hyung, I'll be going now."
"Alright, take care. We'll see you at the meeting before the CF shoot."
"Yes!"
After the car carrying Dong-ha left the parking lot, Yeon-woo and Jung Cheol-min went back up to the third floor.
Seated at a table, Jung Cheol-min took a sip of his drink and said,
"It would be nice to have a company cafeteria like that restaurant on the first floor."
"A company cafeteria?"
Jung Cheol-min, seemingly remembering that Yeon-woo effectively owned half the agency's shares, waved his hand dismissively.
"Hey, I was just thinking out loud."
But Yeon-woo stroked his chin while looking across from the café.
Since the building was quite spacious, one side of the third floor was being used as a café, while the opposite side had been partitioned off and left unused due to security concerns about leasing it out.
"Hmm, that might work well?"
"Hey now, I was just saying. The facilities are already good enough without a cafeteria."
Yeon-woo shook his head at Jung Cheol-min's protest.
"Our actors can come in whenever they want, but it's different for other employees. I hear the biggest concern for office workers is 'what should I eat for lunch?'"
Setting up a company cafeteria in the unused space on the third floor could also be a solution to the security vulnerabilities that arise when employees go in and out of the building during lunch hours.
Yeon-woo got up from his seat and approached his business partner who owned the other 50 percent.
"Director."
"Hmm? Yeon-woo."
CEO Kim Joo-seong said while looking at the menu board as he was brewing coffee.
He seemed to think Yeon-woo had come to order another drink.
"What can I make for you? The usual iced americano?"
"No. Please make us a company cafeteria."
"...Pardon?"
Though CEO Kim Joo-seong tilted his head in confusion at the unexpected request, he soon nodded after Yeon-woo explained the situation.
"Actually, I've noticed entertainment company employees often come down to the café to eat delivered food during lunch hours. We have more than enough capital, and I believe we should provide this level of employee welfare. Sounds good. I'll take care of it."
"Thank you, Director."
CEO Kim Joo-seong wasn't just the café director, but the actual co-owner who shared equal ownership of the company with Yeon-woo.
Director Yoon Mi-yeon and CEO Jung Hyuk still frequently came to seek his advice and report, so he had a thorough understanding of the company.
"Isn't it about time we head up? We need to do the monitoring."
"Yes, you're right. Would you like to come up with us, Director?"
Kim Joo-seong smiled and shook his head at Yeon-woo's question.
"If I go up, who will make the coffee? I'll watch on my smartphone here like the other subscribers."
Just then, Jung Cheol-min, having finished his drink, came over to return his cup and tray, placing his hand on Yeon-woo's shoulder.
"Yeon-woo, let's head up. Thank you for the drink, Director."
Yeon-woo nodded and went up to the fourth floor with Jung Cheol-min.
When they entered the main conference room, several staff members and actors had already arrived.
That's when Yeon-woo spotted Lim Jae-wook.
He was a manager who had originally quit after being harassed by Jeon Ki-hoon, Baek Sol's lackey, and had bounced between jobs before Yeon-woo scouted him.
"Manager Lim. Have you been adjusting well to company life?"
"Ah, sir."
As Yeon-woo approached, Lim Jae-wook immediately bowed at a 90-degree angle.
Yeon-woo hurriedly grabbed Lim Jae-wook's shoulders to raise him up.
"Come on, why so formal? We're family here."
"I'll be grateful to you for life, Mr. Ryu."
Most people tend to forget the warmth of gratitude once their lives improve after receiving help, but there are some who remain loyal for life to those who reached out when they were at their lowest.
And Lim Jae-wook was the latter.
Yeon-woo immediately recognized that look in his eyes.
In field operations, you encounter people like this.
People willing to take a bullet for you.
"It was nothing for me. Don't feel too burdened. Just work hard here at New Star from now on."
Lim Jae-wook nodded deeply at Yeon-woo's words.
"I understand."
Just then, CEO Jung drew everyone's attention.
"Alright, let's begin. Our first original content."
"The first original content is my interview!"
"Ah, right, that's true."
Everyone smiled as CEO Jung looked flustered at Han Byul's sulky voice.
And with that, the first episode of "New Star Family" was released on YouTube.