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The girl leader Jeong Gyeoul and her dependents finished their Sunday business as usual.

At 8:20 PM.

Total visitors: 99 teams.

Total sales: 7.75 million won.

They closed 20 minutes earlier than Saturday, and despite one no-show, sales actually increased.

After the stormy Sunday business ended, it was time for the labor union chairman Jeong Gyeoul and the company’s big boss, PD Choi, to resume their labor-management negotiations.

The negotiation table was set.

“So, have you thought about it?”

“…We’ve been holding meetings even during our sleep time. We’ve made a lot of concessions on our part.”

PD Choi looked as haggard as he did back in the days when he wasn’t a star PD, stuck in the editing room for days.

Seeing his state, Jeong Gyeoul leaned on the table and focused on PD Choi.

Because PD Choi looked like that, she was even more curious about what proposal he would bring up.

“Shall we hear it?”

“Let’s start by revisiting what we discussed last time. Increase part-time staff. Limit to 50 teams per day. Guarantee break times, meal times, and rest periods. But Hero Jeong Gyeoul, it seemed like you weren’t impressed by any of these proposals.”

“Yes. Even if we increase part-time staff, how can we get close and teach them the ropes in just a month at a restaurant? Unless someone like Baek Jong-won, the godfather of the food industry, shows up.”

It’s hard to find someone who can cook as well as a scorpion, let alone a Hero.

If they’re not a Hero, they won’t fit the concept of the Monster Restaurant, so at best, they’d be kitchen assistants.

In the end, the cooking would still fall on the scorpion and Jeong Gyeoul.

The front might get easier, but the kitchen would remain the same, so without even looking at the casting list, it’s a no.

Guaranteeing break times, meal times, and rest periods is practically a given, so there’s no point in discussing it.

The only decent proposal was limiting to 50 teams per day…

But if they were satisfied with just that, they wouldn’t have formed a union in the first place.

“So here’s what we’re thinking. Fix business hours to either lunch or dinner. Use the remaining time for coin games and episodes at the accommodation.”

“So… reduce business hours but maintain filming content by doing whatever?”

“Yes. Exactly. Focus on healing and run other content alongside.”

Jeong Gyeoul’s expression grew colder.

“Nothing’s changed. We’re still working all day.”

“…Wasn’t this union formed because business was tough?”

“That’s true, but if we have to do something else instead of kitchen work, it’s meaningless.”

“Sigh… So you really want to work only two days a week and call it quits? Was I mistaken in thinking there was room for negotiation?”

“We’ve already signed contracts, so I don’t want to just demand things blindly. That’s why I’m negotiating with PD Choi, hoping to change the direction based on that. But if the negotiation proposal is almost the same as before, then there’s no room for compromise.”

Technically, they’re already under contract and pushing their luck… but they decided to be shameless.

They started this variety show to relax, but after suffering on an uninhabited island, it looks like they’ll be suffering for another month. They can’t back down now.

“Then there’s no choice. Do as you wish.”

Jeong Gyeoul’s eyes lit up.

Not just Jeong Gyeoul, but all the cast members watching widened their eyes.

The production team seemed to have expected this, shaking their heads or sighing.

“Really? You can do that for us?”

“It’s Hero Jeong Gyeoul asking. How can I refuse? I tried to steer it in a different direction, but I failed.”

PD Choi’s surrender was declared at the negotiation table.

After making Jeong Gyeoul suffer during the uninhabited island filming, and her decision to appear on Monster Restaurant… well, it wasn’t an easy decision, but she did agree to appear.

She’s practically PD Choi’s benefactor, so he didn’t even think of proposing another negotiation.

‘From the start… it didn’t seem like it would be accepted.’

Even her S-Class rating announcement boosted her stock endlessly.

It wasn’t ‘I’ll allow you to work only on weekends!’ but ‘Please, just work on weekends!’

Or ‘If weekends are tough, just one day!’

PD Choi and Jeong Gyeoul smiled at each other.

The negotiation was over.

Everything went according to Jeong Gyeoul’s wishes.

“So, we’re really filming Monster Restaurant only on weekends?”

“Yes. But we’ll still take 100 teams.”

“Well, that’s just two days of hard work. No big deal. Wow, that’s nice.”

The surprised cast members confirmed it again, but it was already decided through the labor-management negotiation process in front of the cameras.

PD Choi wasn’t going to backtrack.

Thus, the Monster Restaurant cast, having finished their weekend business, packed their bags at the accommodation and gathered in the yard.

“Suddenly, it feels like we’ve been given a vacation.”

“It’s not just a feeling, it’s a real vacation.”

“What are you guys going to do now?”

Winter, looking cheerful, asked with a hint of aegyo in her tone.

“First, I’m planning to crash at home until tomorrow night.”

“What about today?”

“You’re trying to suggest a company dinner, aren’t you?”

“Is it that obvious? Hehe.”

“Since we’re going to rest anyway, one day won’t hurt. Alright, let’s go.”

“Since Gyeoul has to come too, why not just eat at the accommodation?”

If they take Jeong Gyeoul to a restaurant, they’d have to add a separate table for her and a few others, but they could all hang out together. Of course, no drinking… but it’s already close to a loophole.

It’d be a nuisance to the restaurant and awkward for them, so it’s better to just eat and have fun at the prepared accommodation.

“Ah, I think I need to go home. Let’s hang out next time.”

“Huh? What! The MVP of our vacation is leaving!”

“Sorry. I called home while packing, and Ha-yul unnie told me not to wander and come home early.”

“…If it’s the Demon King’s call, there’s no choice.”

The cast, who would’ve tried to persuade anyone else, backed down at the name Jeong Ha-yul.

“Convincing PD Choi would be useless, right?”

“…That’s true, but saying it like that hurts a bit.”

“It’s a shame, but if the guardian is calling, there’s no choice. Gyeoul, should the unnies take you home?”

“We can’t just send the girls alone. Let’s go together. We can stop by any place near Gyeoul’s house.”

“No, Kang-woo oppa is coming to pick me up, so it’s fine. You guys should head out before it gets too late.”

“Hey, drinking is best late at night. Let’s chat a bit more before we go.”

“Alright!”

The cast deliberately stayed at the filming site until Baek Kang-woo’s car arrived.

They said that, but staying late, eating late, and returning home late to be tired isn’t ideal.

It was clearly consideration for Jeong Gyeoul, and yet no one seemed displeased.

Fortunately, Baek Kang-woo arrived soon.

The Monster Restaurant cast bid farewell to Jeong Gyeoul, looking forward to next Saturday.

***

It’s a shame I couldn’t join the company dinner…

But I wouldn’t be able to drink anyway.

A company dinner without free drinks is no longer a company dinner.

Having to stay away from the transparent liquid in green bottles while sizzling pork belly and bubbling stew are right in front of you.

That’s closer to torture.

“But why did you suddenly tell me to come home early?”

“It’s a secret. I’ll tell you when we get there.”

“…Oppa, are you starting to resemble Eun-chae unnie? Is it because your female hormones are increasing?”

I’ve heard that male hormones decrease after 30, and female hormones increase after 40.

Come to think of it, how old is Baek Kang-woo…?

“Wow, that’s quite an insult. Even after days of broadcast material, your wit is still top-notch.”

“I’ve been holding back on public broadcasts, almost dying.”

“Even with that level of self-control, you keep going, huh?”

“Oppa, you could quit smoking, but you keep smoking.”

“…If you bring that up, I have nothing to say.”

Cigarettes.

The epitome of harm.

In my past life, as a smoker, I couldn’t say anything against cigarette attacks, like a mute who ate honey.

But in this life, as a non-smoker and a minor, I can freely attack cigarettes.

And if someone fights back, they’re just a bad person.

Fortunately, the kind Baek Kang-woo immediately backed down.

Only silence lingered in the car.

Just one attack, and silence took over.

Maybe it’s because we couldn’t drink together. Or smoke together. Or go to the sauna together.

Maybe… Baek Kang-woo and I are unexpectedly awkward?

In the silent car, I pretended to sleep to avoid the awkwardness.

And then I really fell asleep.

When I opened my eyes, it wasn’t an unfamiliar ceiling…

But the familiar inside of an elevator.

The saying “you wouldn’t even know if someone carried you away” exists for a reason.

Without realizing it, I was being carried on Kang-woo’s broad back.

“Awake? You must’ve been really tired. Maybe I should’ve let you sleep there.”

“Ugh… No, home is more comfortable. We’re already here. Sorry for being rude while you were driving.”

“It’s fine, since when have you been polite? And Jeong Ha-yul always sleeps, so.”

“Unnie needs to be scolded.”

“Agreed.”

While getting off Kang-woo’s back, we laughed while talking behind someone’s back—well, not exactly behind their back.

Anyway, judging by Kang-woo’s condition, it doesn’t seem like there’s anything serious at home.

Why did he tell me to come home early?

The reason became clear as soon as the elevator doors opened.

“Ah! It’s Gyeoul!”

“…Serena?”

The Prophet, who had been rescued from the US and sent to the Diplomatic Department.

Serena Olson was right in front of me.

 

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