Cheat day

Takers, Matchers, Givers (1)

After Jujiseung’s sharp remark, Lee Chan-seok was left speechless.

He must have had things to say, but the pressure of being stared at by over a hundred people seemed to weigh on him.

Ultimately, the situation had become irreversible since last week.

Trust between the participants and Lee Chan-seok had already been shattered, making it difficult to proceed with the recording in this state.

However, pausing the shoot would lead to the food being judged cooling down.

Producer Choi Young-moon decided to continue filming, resulting in the storyteller winning the fifth round.

Sadaemun took second place, Choi Eun-sam third, and Jujiseung, who was almost guaranteed overall victory, ended up in seventh place.

1st Place: Jujiseung (+36 points)

2nd Place: Sadaemun (+31 points)

3rd Place: Storyteller (+26 points)

4th Place: Choi Eun-sam (19 points)

5th Place: Yook Hye-rin (+18 points)

6th Place: Lee Sang-ho (+16 points)

7th Place: Oh Sang-gil (+15 points)

8th Place: Park Seong-chil (+12 points)

9th Place: Kim Han-yeol (+11 points)

10th Place: Jo Il-sang (+2 points), Kim Du-il (+2 points)

12th Place: Shim Dong-pal (-1 point)

This confirmed Jujiseung’s strong position for victory.

Even if he scores zero in the last round, he would have a total of 32 points.

Thus, Choi Eun-sam in fourth place could not claim the overall win even if he won the sixth round.

Yook Hye-rin, Lee Sang-ho, Oh Sang-gil, Park Seong-chil, Kim Han-yeol, Jo Il-sang, Kim Du-il, and Shim Dong-pal, who had lower scores than Choi Eun-sam, would have to prepare for the sixth round to achieve a satisfying conclusion.

The competition for the win had narrowed down to Jujiseung, Sadaemun, and the storyteller.

“I really can’t do this anymore!”

Shim Dong-pal’s shout echoed through the waiting room corridor.

“Dong-pal, calm down.”

“Calm down? What kind of judges treat us like this! It’s one thing to not show respect, but to completely disregard us! Does being Baek Seung-ho’s disciple give him the right to act this way?”

Dong-pal’s complaint wasn’t just his personal issue.

“Because I can’t work with Lee Chan-seok anymore, you can either call me next week or him, choose!”

“It’s been over a month since we’ve been filming, how can we do that?”

“After putting up with it for a month, isn’t that enough?”

Choi Eun-sam was also getting frustrated.

The volume of their voices was loud, but if you looked around, the writers were all gathered around each participant, trying to calm them down.

I was concerned about Jujiseung and tried to approach him, but he shook his head.

We had agreed to be cautious inside the broadcast station, given the positions of participants and judges.

“It’s really chaotic.”

Haim approached.

“Right.”

“I have to go for my next schedule. What about you?”

“I need to grab lunch.”

“Hmm?”

“Yeah?”

“Uh, I mean, yes.”

He seemed to have something he wanted to say, but seeing him hold back, it looked like he recognized how serious the situation was.

I thought about how the last five weeks could go to waste if things didn’t go well.

“Chan-yong.”

Writer Song No-eul came up to me.

“The producer wants to gather the judges and participants for a discussion. Do you have time?”

“If I don’t have it, I’ll make it. Can you prepare something like lunch boxes?”

“What?”

Song No-eul and Haim stared at me in surprise.

“Oh, I see. It wouldn’t be in the production budget. I’m sorry. Please disregard that.”

Since this was a sudden request, it wouldn’t be included in the production budget.

If I kept asking for lunch, Producer Choi Young-moon would have to use his own money, which would make things awkward.

It could easily come off as me overstepping my bounds.

***

Shortly after, we gathered in an impromptu meeting room.

On the left were the participants, on the right the judges, and in front stood Producer Choi Young-moon, flanked by the writers and hosts Woo Wang-seon and Joo Wang-taek.

Producer Choi Young-moon sighed several times, indicating that he was also feeling overwhelmed.

“First, let’s address the issues. Is there anyone among the participants who wants to express their dissatisfaction?”

Before Producer Choi finished speaking, multiple voices erupted at once.

“Okay, okay. Let’s have one person speak at a time. Yes, starting with Park Seong-chil.”

“I think everyone here, except one person, knows what the problem is. It’s because of Lee Chan-seok.”

“Yes, in what way?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? Producer, he’s brought cheap ingredients since Round 1. The menu is subpar. There’s no way a person who’s not a chef could make something like that today. Who does he think he is to look down on us?”

Lee Chan-seok shot a glare at Park Seong-chil and said, “Seems like you have a lot to say, considering you just sprinkled some capsaicin.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Alright, alright. Let’s calm down, both of you. Yes, Sadaemun.”

“As Jujiseung said during the recording, Lee Chan-seok doesn’t know how to communicate. He has no consideration for others. Who would feel good about that?”

“I’m just stating facts. Sadaemun’s feelings aren’t important.”

Sadaemun’s eyes widened at Lee Chan-seok’s comment.

Lee Chan-seok looked around and said, “Is there anything wrong with what I said? Bringing grilled mackerel to a competition to decide the top chef in Korean cuisine? Soaking angel hair? Bringing processed meats and sauces made by someone else? Should I just sit back and do nothing as a judge?”

“Oh, that jerk.”

I was shocked when Jujiseung suddenly stood up, and I quickly grabbed him.

It was worrying that Jujiseung, who hardly ever got angry, was using such harsh words—was he really going to do something reckless?

“Look at me.”

“Hyung, please!”

“Let go.”

“Hyung, please!”

“Fine, let go.”

Though I had exercised a bit, I couldn’t hold back Jujiseung, who had years of training behind him.

Before he could escalate, I desperately turned him to make eye contact.

He looked at me and sighed. When I raised my eyebrows in a silent question of whether he was okay, he nodded.

It seemed he had regained his composure.

Jujiseung took out his smartphone and manipulated it, then stepped forward to show a video to Producer Choi Young-moon.

Producer Choi examined the video, then looked up and addressed Lee Chan-seok.

“I just verified it, and the red bean sauce was indeed made by Jujiseung. Lee Chan-seok, please be careful with your words.”

Lee Chan-seok scoffed.

I had no idea where his confidence was coming from.

“Videos can be manipulated however you want. Isn’t that what YouTubers do all the time?”

Jujiseung’s eyes were about to pop out of his head.

“Can we stop this?”

Judge Park Jeong-ah intervened.

“I don’t know what’s gotten tangled up here, but don’t you think your words make those around you uncomfortable?”

From my perspective, he seemed like a psychopath.

“If you’re just going to look around and say nice things while being mindful of others, why are you a judge?”

“What did you say?”

“Lee Chan-seok.”

Judge Ham Seok-ho spoke up.

“Your attitude suggests that you believe you’re right.”

“I don’t just think it, I know it. I don’t understand why you’re treating me like this. Oh, is it because I’m speaking the truth that Jujiseung should win?”

The faces of everyone in the meeting froze.

“Shut your mouth.”

I stepped forward.

“Every participant has done their best, and the production team is risking their careers by going ahead with this. The judges are also approaching their evaluations with a sense of duty and responsibility. Who do you think you are to say something like that?”

“Because of you.”

Lee Chan-seok replied confidently.

“Isn’t that right? Every judgment starts with Ban Chan-yong. Isn’t that true?”

Lee Chan-seok turned to Oh Mi-kyung and Ham Seok-ho as he asked.

“When Ban Chan-yong speaks, Haim chimes in. One person’s judgment shapes the overall atmosphere, and no one else dares to speak differently. Am I the only one who thinks this situation is weird?”

He’s making absurd claims.

There have been times when I rated something highly that Oh Mi-kyung and Ham Seok-ho harshly criticized, and vice versa.

In general, my tastes align more closely with Park Jung-ah’s, while Oh Mi-kyung and Ham Seok-ho prefer subtle or unique flavors.

“So today, when it was Joo Ji-seung’s turn, I spoke up first. Then everyone started commenting on my statement. So I’m asking.”

Lee Chan-seok looked at me again.

“Did I disturb Chan-yong’s mood or interfere with his plans and cause problems?”

“What are you talking about right now?”

“Win a commercial for the grand prize. Judge first. The production team will handle it. Doesn’t everyone, including the participants, only say good things to Chan-yong?”

I couldn’t understand what this crazy guy was saying at all.

“If that’s the case, just say it. Why make a fool out of serious people with the excuse of highlighting Korean cuisine?”

Lee Chan-seok turned his head toward PD Choi Young-moon.

“Excuse me?”

“What was last week’s broadcast? Is it fun to make a fool out of people?”

Now I think I understand how things are going.

After the fourth round aired, Lee Chan-seok became recognized as a spiteful character rather than a sharp-tongued one.

Many people were annoyed by his continuous dismissive attitude toward the participants.

As the individual stories of the participants were introduced, complaints began to surface.

In a popular variety show with ratings exceeding 13%, viewers flooded in with criticism and condemnation of Lee Chan-seok.

It must have been overwhelming for an individual to handle.

Believing he was right, Lee Chan-seok must have been troubled by the audience’s reaction, and his defense mechanism likely solidified his belief that he was correct and everyone else was wrong.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to cope.

It seems this thought developed into a delusion that the producers of “Korean Cuisine Enthusiasts” and I were colluding to torment Lee Chan-seok himself.

“Lee Chan-seok.”

When I called him, he glared at me with eyes full of animosity, yet trembling.

He was scared.

“I know you won’t believe me no matter what I say, but I can assure you of one thing: I’m not a cruel person who can torment anyone. I don’t have that capability.”

“……”

“And this show is produced by Odugi. Do you think such a large corporation would create a show just to torment someone?”

“It may not have started that way, but it could definitely become that way. Don’t you think? Ban Chan-yong has disliked me from the start.”

“No, I said I supported you when I watched ‘Paldo Jinmi.’ In fact, when I first met you, I thought you were a solid person. What happened in the waiting room that day was your mistake.”

Others started to whisper.

They had no way of knowing what had transpired between Lee Chan-seok and me, so their reaction was understandable.

“Um, Chan-yong. Did something happen?”

PD Choi Young-moon asked.

“I think my words will be neutral.”

Ham Seok-ho stepped forward.

Now that I think about it, it was a bit embarrassing to have Ham Seok-ho there.

“It must have been the recording day for the third round.”

I nodded at Ham Seok-ho’s words.

“Lee Chan-seok asked Ban Chan-yong who he thought would win, and Chan-yong replied that we’d have to wait and see.”

Ham Seok-ho accurately recounted the conversation that day.

‘The ones showing potential are Mr. Sa Daemun, Ms. Gu Yeon-ja, and Mr. Kim Han-yeol. These three.’

‘What about Ji-seung? Ms. Yuk Hye-rin and Mr. Kim Han-yeol’s dishes were delicious too.’

‘Well, I guess that’s true, but you’re friends, right? They might perform unexpectedly well, but you can’t hide their experience. I found out they’ve only been cooking for 6-7 years. Plus, they have no field experience at all.’

‘They do have experience.’

‘Oh. A lunch box. But running it for a month without making a profit hardly counts as experience. They’ll inevitably have weak follow-through. I’m telling you this for your sake, so keep it in mind.’

‘You thought about my interests?’

‘Yes. If you push too hard to defend Ji-seung, it might get tricky because of your friendship with him.’

‘Are you saying I would judge unfairly without your advice, Lee Chan-seok?’

As I listened to Ham Seok-ho’s explanation, Joo Ji-seung clenched his fist so tightly that veins popped out on his forearm.

“Why are you saying such things?”

PD Choi Young-moon asked with a confused expression.

“It was a favor. When someone who isn’t even an expert is in charge of judging, if they take the side of someone just because they’re friends, it’s bound to raise questions.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Why is he like that?”

Several younger participants expressed their strong discomfort.

“Why is he starting a fight first and then acting like this?”

“His personality is really strange.”

“Before calling my personality strange, verify the facts. What exactly was wrong with my judgment? I didn’t want to say this, but I graduated from ICIF and worked for 15 years under Master Bae Seung-ho in Korea. I’m more serious about cooking than anyone. I’m not someone who can easily handle cooking with mundane ingredients like you all.”

“I graduated from there in ’99. What are you bragging about?”

Even Shim Dong-pal, who had been silent, stepped up.

Lee Chan-seok laughed at him.

It seems he found it amusing that the current last place in Korean Cuisine Enthusiasts was a senior from a prestigious university.

“Shim Dong-pal. If you falsify your academic credentials nowadays, you’re in big trouble.”

“What the hell!”

As the atmosphere grew more hostile, PD Choi Young-moon waved his hands to calm everyone down.

“Please wait a moment. We didn’t gather here to fight, so please keep it down. Um… Lee Chan-seok.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t need to come for next week’s filming. No, I’ll announce your departure, so don’t come.”

Lee Chan-seok let out a sigh of disbelief and stood up.

“Good luck to all of you.”

Even when someone is losing their mind, I wonder how they can go so far. Then I noticed the camera in the corner of the meeting room.

Seeing it glowing red, it seems they were even filming this conversation.