Cheat day

Success (4)

As expected, Baek Woo-jin was extremely excited.

“You really like SOS, huh? That’s just a mockery; how can that be SOS!”

“There are still numerous requests on webtoons and web novels asking to shake a carrot. Are you really trying to say the readers are wrong again?”

“Don’t incite!”

I’m not the one inciting.

All I did was open the floodgates so the viewers could express what they wanted to say more comfortably, and things unfolded naturally from there.

“Incite? This is public opinion.”

└ Baek Woo-jin, your attitude as a writer is messed up.

└ For real, each comment is precious.

└ Thinking that shaking a carrot will save you is a really lazy mindset, right?

└ Hahaha!

└ For real, do you think you’d be saved just by shaking a carrot if you were kidnapped?

└ What is this broadcast? What did Baek Woo-jin do wrong? Hahaha!

└ It’s a crime of being teased.

“Ah. Aaaah! Aaaahhhh!”

Baek Woo-jin was scratching his head.

He seemed so aggrieved that he couldn’t even speak.

“Moreover, carrots have historically been used with very positive meanings. Have you heard of the phrase ‘carrot and stick’?”

He was just huffing and puffing, not responding.

“Also, when someone asks a question that is obviously true, there’s ‘carrot’ to imply that they like the conversation. There was an old saying about it.”

Having lost his fighting spirit, Baek Woo-jin let out a sigh and relaxed his face.

“Furthermore, when you wanted to buy something badly, suddenly you hear ‘carrot’! Isn’t that delightful?”

└ Carrot!

└ The carrot voice is cute.

└ For real, carrots are all about positive words.

“What about cucumbers?”

“What about cucumbers?”

Instead of answering, he made a face at the camera and said, “Cucumber. O-ma-e-nan-da-ro.”

└ Hahaha!

└ Cucumber, oh my! Hahaha!

└ This is a win for Banchan-yong.

└ Add another win for Carrot-sshi.

└ What does that mean?

└ It roughly translates to ‘Who do you think you are?’

└ Cucumber, you’re really delinquent.

“You heard it; cucumbers are very delinquent and threatening words. If you keep defending cucumbers like that, I have no choice but to suspect Baek Woo-jin’s private life.”

Baek Woo-jin lowered his head.

I thought I was going to add a smooth win when he suddenly murmured in a low voice.

“…Cucumber.”

“Do you admit defeat?”

“Cucumber…”

“Pathetic. Baek Woo-jin, admit what you need to. Nothing will change by denying it.”

“Oishikuna-re!”

Suddenly, Baek Woo-jin raised his head, rolled his eyes, made a heart with his hands, and started shouting.

“Oishikuna-re! Oishikuna-re! Moemoemoekyun!”

A silence fell.

His manic eyes and inhuman movements scared everyone into silence, and when I looked at the chat window, it was flooded with question marks and laughter.

“Oishikuna-re! Oishikuna-re!”

└ Hahaha!

└ What’s happening? Hahaha!

└ What the heck? Hahaha!

└ Rough translation: May it become delicious, may it become delicious, so cute!

└ Hahaha, wait, was it ‘Oishikuna-re’? Hahaha!

└ Oh, delicious, oishii! Hahaha!

└ I hate that I understand this.

└ Look at Baek Woo-jin’s eyes. Hahaha!

└ Crazy! Hahaha, are you really doing this?

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at Baek Woo-jin’s desperate dancing.

Seeing him wear cat ears made it look like he had prepared a killer gag, but I was secretly impressed while also trying to find a rebuttal in my head.

For example, I could ask, “I believe the phrase ‘Oishikuna-re’ is commonly used in Japanese maid cafes; can I take this to mean you agree with the commodification of women?”

Or, “Seeing you use Japanese to say something about food makes me think you want to comment on the seafood wastewater discharge controversy. What are your thoughts on that?”

If I did that, he would probably have no choice but to shut up.

However, it was harsh for both sides regarding Baek Woo-jin.

While I and the live broadcast viewers recognized that the ‘Banchan Debate’ was all nonsense, the YouTube viewers could misunderstand if I brought up unnecessary topics.

In the first place, my skills in incitement and fabrication were learned from the viewers.

I thought there was no need to add unnecessary commentary.

“I admit defeat.”

“Uwaaaaah!”

Upon acknowledging his loss, Baek Woo-jin roared.

***

With the year-end and New Year approaching, gatherings were happening everywhere.

I planned to attend an event hosted by YouTube Korea, and even though I wasn’t part of Hongdangmu, CEO Hong Sung-il invited me to their year-end event just to make an appearance.

I also received a call about a thank-you event from a place that sponsors us every month, but it felt unnecessary to show off, and since I wasn’t in a good position to do so, I politely declined.

As soon as I hung up the phone, it rang again.

Today, it seemed like I would spend the whole day responding to calls and texts.

“Subeom? Kim Subeom?”

I was surprised to see a name I hadn’t heard in a long time.

He was a friend from college who used to be the class president, and it had been about 10 years since we last contacted each other.

“Hello?”

Yes, hello. Excuse me, but is this Banchan-yong’s phone?

“Ah, Subeom. It’s Chanyong.”

Wow, it’s been a while!

“Yeah, it really has. How have you been?”

You think you’re the only one? I’ve been watching TV a lot lately.

“Ha ha.”

I laughed, unsure how to respond.

The reason I’m calling is that we’re thinking about having a reunion for our classmates. I wanted to check if you could make it.

“Ah.”

Are you busy?

“Um, it’s a bit tight.”

Oh, that’s nice to hear since you’re doing well. I heard you gave a lecture at school recently?

It seems the news had spread among my peers.

I’ll text you the time and place. If you can make it, that’d be great. A lot of people are looking forward to seeing you.

That couldn’t be true.

Since the second year, I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve eaten with anyone.

“Okay, I’ll try to make it if I can.”

Great. Take care.

After ending the call, I felt drained.

Talking to others always required recharging, but today, I hadn’t had a moment to relax.

***

Leaning back in my chair, Mukeunji entered.

“Chanyong, you’re busy from early tomorrow, so you should leave work early today.”

“I can’t postpone after lunch?”

Tomorrow, there’s only a lunch event with the Sadang Family and a dinner event at WTV.

“Yes. I didn’t think about how busy the shop would be with year-end events piling up. I’m sorry.”

“That’s nothing to apologize for. We’re both just busy.”

It’s something that should have been obvious, but I hadn’t considered it since I was so preoccupied with scheduling.

“We can’t afford to make such mistakes.”

Even though Mukeunji usually handles things well, she has too much on her plate alone.

Next year, I need to hire more staff to relieve some of the burden on her.

“I don’t think I need to get makeup done. I’ll just be clapping anyway.”

“That’s not acceptable.”

Blinking in confusion, I saw Mukeunji respond nonchalantly.

“The one receiving the makeup looks cuter.”

“……Then I guess I’ll have to get it done.”

“Exactly.”

I smiled slightly.

“But how long will the award ceremony take?”

“They say it will take about five hours in total. The actual recording time is shorter than that.”

The four of us—myself, Jujiseung, Cha Jichan, and Baek Woo-jin—will attend as the ‘Banchan Dara Season 2’ team.

When we heard it was an entertainment award ceremony, we were all surprised and just blinked in disbelief, until Baek Woo-jin asked PD Park Sang-cheol if they would be giving out awards.

Of course, he was told that there wouldn’t be any, and now we were only looking forward to seeing the celebrities.

“Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Oh, wait, before you leave…”

“What’s up?”

“It’s something really important.”

I pulled out two stacks of documents from my drawer.

“I think January will be too packed with schedules to carve out time separately, so we should decide now.”

“Ah.”

Mukeunji looked at the new contract and chewed on her lip.

“Don’t think you don’t need a raise. You’ve done an excellent job this year, and we’ll be hiring more staff next year.”

“I’ve already received a decent bonus…”

“That’s included in your performance as well. Plus, if you earn a lot, it benefits me too.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because of the costs of hiring, you can benefit from taxes. If both spouses earn a lot, what’s the downside?”

Mukeunji thought for a moment and then nodded.

***

“I understand now why family-run businesses work.”

“Right?”

Family-run businesses often carry a bad image, but being in our position made it feel different, which made me laugh.

“I’ll make sure to treat the other employees well.”

“You should.”

“So how much do you want?”

Mukeunji’s first salary was 42 million won.

This year, I gave her 22 million won in incentives, so I was considering a fair annual salary of 64 million won.

Since she manages four editors and handles everything needed for the banchan shop, she should be compensated accordingly.

Mukeunji wrote down 50 million won in the blank.

“Uh?”

“Is that too much?”

“That’s too little.”

“That’s enough for me.”

“No, I was thinking around 64 million.”

Mukeunji’s eyes widened in surprise.

“That’s too much.”

“Not at all. That’s the money you earned this year.”

“You can’t compare it to the base salary. What if next year becomes difficult? You’re planning to hire more staff, too.”

“Hmm…”

“50 million is enough.”

“Doesn’t it feel like the roles have reversed?”

Mukeunji rolled her eyes while contemplating and then smiled.

“I care just as much about the success of the banchan shop as you do, Chanyong. It’s best to wrap things up this year and watch the trends a bit more.”

“Okay. Then let’s say if the Shorts channel surpasses 500,000 views this year, I’ll give you an incentive of 14 million.”

“The Shorts channel income is already split 50-50 between the editors and me. Any further incentives are unnecessary expenses.”

“Just take it.”

“It’s better to do what I said than to give away too much and end up in a tough situation later and have to fire people.”

“Why would I fire you?”

“If things get tough, that might be the only option.”

“T, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. I think it’s only fair to give you proper treatment based on the current situation.”

“While I’m happy with what you’re saying, you also need to know where to draw the line. The company will grow bigger next year and the year after, so we need to have reserves.”

“To attract capable people, you need to offer good treatment.”

***

“I’m saying the line should be appropriate.”

“I agree with that. So, 64 million.”

“Why are you raising it again? It’s 50 million.”

Even after leaving the office, getting in my car, and heading home, the conversation didn’t end.