Chapter 69: Tomorrow Potato Meeting

Tomorrow Potato.

“Wow~ This is their company building?”

Located in a neighborhood rumored to have sky-high land prices, the company boasted an exterior far more luxurious than its playful name suggested.

“Yeah. They haven’t been in this new building for long, I think.”

“So it really is a famous production company.”

“They’re the top variety show production company in the country. Their dramas are top-notch too, and even A-list celebrities are dying to work with them.”

“Are all those cars for celebrities?”

Black vans were scattered around near the building.

“They shoot YouTube content too, and since most of it’s filmed here, a lot of celebrities show up.”

“Oh~”

“Let’s go in.”

I entered the building with Hayoon, and the interior felt oddly like a cozy house.

“Welcome.”

“Good to see you again.”

Inside were the same people who’d come to scout our village.

“Hello. I’m Jung Hyunjae.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“See? We’re not scammers.”

How did they know? 

They must’ve caught on to the suspicious looks the village head and I gave them.

“Haha, scammers? I never said that.”

“Come on~ We’re not that clueless.”

“We were so offended by how wary you were.”

I’d tried to look tough so they wouldn’t think we were pushovers, but did I overdo it? 

I didn’t expect it to be that obvious.

“Please have a seat here. The PD will be out shortly.”

“By the way, Hyunjae, didn’t you dress up a bit too much for today?”

Hyungkyu had warned me that this place could have cameras anywhere, so I came fully prepared and polished.

“Oh, our CEO insisted I go to the salon first.”

“The CEO, huh? As expected, sharp as ever.”

At the mention of sharpness, I quickly scanned the room and spotted cameras running on the table and walls.

Scary people. 

They say variety show folks are the scariest in the industry, and it’s true.

They said it was just a casual meeting, but seeing the red lights of cameras everywhere made me tense up for no reason.

“Hey! Hyunjae, good to see you~”

A short man with rimless glasses and tanned skin, looking like a friendly neighborhood uncle, came out of a room and extended his hand.

“Hello. I’m Jung Hyunjae.”

“Wow~ You’re really tall. You look even more handsome than in the drama. Did you go to a salon?”

“Yeah, my CEO told me to stop by one first…”

“Haha, you could’ve just come casually.”

“For a casual visit, there sure are a lot of cameras around…”

I glanced at the cameras scattered around the room.

“It’s a habit. A habit. We just film everything in case something usable comes up, so don’t worry about it.”

Youngjae gestured for me to sit. We sat across from each other, with Hayoon beside me and other staff members next to Youngjae.

“Can we speak casually?”

“Of course! Make yourself comfortable.”

“So, Hyunjae, how long have you lived in that village?”

“Not that long. About… three years now.”

“Really? You seemed so close with the neighbors, I thought it’d been longer.”

It started with light questions, but they got so detailed I was like, “They’re asking about this too?”

“Most people your age want to live in Seoul—it’s more convenient for work.”

“I like it here. The people are kind to me, my uncle’s here, and… well, my manager has a bit of a hard time.”

“I’m fine,” Hayoon whispered so only I could hear.

“You don’t act like most kids these days—you barely use SNS.”

“It’s too complicated. The company’s been pushing me to do it lately, but I’m not great at it.”

“The more we talk, the more you remind me of our team. You’re not very MZ-like.”

“MZ! Oh, that stuff’s way too hard for me.”

All this talk about MZ sensibilities or whatever—I just don’t get it. 

Why do people keep dividing generations like that?

“See? He’s totally like me!”

“Come on, PD, that’s a stretch.”

“He keeps trying to lump himself with Hyunjae, but it’s not happening.”

“No, really! You don’t like clubs or parties, do you?”

“Nope, I’m not into loud places.”

“See? I told you~”

It was supposed to be a meeting, but it felt more like a casual chat, and I started getting curious. 

Why were they only asking these kinds of questions? 

What exactly was my role here?

“By the way, is it okay to just talk like this?”

“Huh?”

Youngjae looked puzzled by my question.

“I don’t know much, but shouldn’t you be asking what I can bring to the show or what I’m good at…?”

I’d heard tons of people were vying for a spot on this show. 

Shouldn’t they be looking for someone with something to show? 

I don’t even know how to cook or start a fire.

“Oh! We haven’t explained yet. Tell him.”

“This season’s hosts are Choi Haejin and Yoo Seungkwon…”

Wait, then what about me?

“Hyunjae, you’re a guest member.”

“A guest member?”

“This season, the cast will earn pocket money by helping with village tasks, and we’d like you to show up and assist them.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, think of it as naturally connecting the villagers with the cast.”

It clicked instantly why they wanted me.

“That’s my specialty.”

I was the one who turned Kyungho’s reserved, gruff animal clinic into a community hub. 

So, I just had to do what I always do.

That’s my expertise.

Seeing my confident grin, Youngjae smiled with satisfaction.

“Have some of this.”

While we were talking, a staff member placed snacks on the table.

What’s this?

I stared curiously at a snack I’d never seen before.

“You can eat it.”

“No, it’s just… I’ve never seen this before.”

“You haven’t tried this? Not exactly quick on trends, huh?”

It looked like chocolate, but what was that green color? It looked like poison that could kill you.

“It’s chocolate.”

“Chocolate? This?”

I’d never heard of green chocolate.

“Try it.”

“No, I’m good.”

“Come on~ It’s delicious.”

“I can’t eat chocolate.”

No matter how much time passed, my body still rejected chocolate. 

I tried it thoughtlessly once after becoming human and caused a huge mess, so I’ve avoided it ever since.

“Really?”

“Not being able to eat something this good? What a shame.”

“No joy in life, no joy.”

Everyone reacted to my chocolate aversion as if it were their own tragedy.

“Are you sensitive to caffeine?”

“No, it’s an allergy.”

The word “allergy” made them nod in understanding.

“Anything else you can’t eat?”

“Nope, I eat everything else just fine!”

“That’s a relief.”

The conversation stayed light and casual, and my first variety show meeting wrapped up without any pressure.

***

“Brother, I’ll go grab it. You park and come up!”

“No, I can park and get it…”

“If I grab it while you park, it’ll save time. Plus, I’m treating.”

After the variety show meeting, Hyunjae planned to treat the company staff to coffee to celebrate the payment from Today’s Fruit Shop.

“Okay, now’s my chance! I’ll be right back!”

Spotting a gap in traffic, Hyunjae quickly opened the door and hopped out, leaving Hayoon no choice but to let him go.

With his long legs, Hyunjae strode into the café ahead.

“Welcome~”

A pleasant bell chime rang as he opened the door, and he headed straight to the counter.

“Hello. Two iced Americanos, two vanilla lattes, two strawberry lattes, and… these cakes, this one, and that one too, please!”

Hyunjae didn’t forget to order desserts.

“Uh… just a moment…”

The part-timer, still new to the job, fumbled a bit.

“Take your time, it’s okay.”

“Two Americanos… two vanilla lattes… strawberry lattes… all iced, right?”

“Yes!”

“Please insert your card here and wait over there.”

Hyunjae took the receipt and stood by the counter, while the part-timer hurriedly started making the drinks.

Just hand these over and head home.

Thinking about getting home soon, Hyunjae glanced around the café while waiting. 

The antique interior had a nice vibe.

He’d passed by this place often but never came in, and it was better than expected. 

He was thinking he should visit more often when the part-timer’s voice interrupted.

“Your drinks and cakes are ready~”

“Thank you.”

Hyunjae grabbed the drinks, which came out faster than expected, and left the café.

“Phew~ Good job.”

The part-timer, only on her third day working alone, sighed in relief as she watched Hyunjae leave. 

Handling an order for six drinks without a hitch made her proud of herself.

“This place must have good vibes—lots of good-looking people come here.”

With drama, movie, and modeling agencies nearby, the café saw plenty of attractive faces.

“When am I gonna clean all this…”

Working alone meant cleaning was her responsibility too, and as she reached for rubber gloves to tackle the pile of cups and plates, a voice called out.

“Excuse me!”

“Yes~”

She knew the voice all too well.

That jerk!

A regular who came every single day, ordering one Americano and lingering as if he worked there too.

“I spilled my drink. Can you make it again?”

The part-timer was dumbfounded. 

She knew his coffee was long gone, and he’d been sipping water.

“Uh, sorry… where did you spill it?”

Tossing aside the gloves, she rushed over, only to be baffled.

“That looks like just water.”

The liquid on the floor was suspiciously clear.

“No, it’s coffee! I like it light, so it looks like that. Look closer!”

“Sir, I’m sorry, but even if you spilled coffee, we don’t offer refills.”

“Why not? Other places do.”

Then go to those places. 

She nearly said it but bit her tongue, holding back.

“I’m sorry, we don’t have that service here.”

“I come here every day, and this is how you do business?”

“I’m sorry, I’m just a staff member.”

Please, just leave. She screamed internally.

“Ugh, annoying. No wonder you’re stuck working under someone… It’s all wet, so clean the floor quick.”

“Ha— fine.”

Swallowing a thousand curses, she grabbed a mop, but then—

“Clean this too. Ugh, so gross.”

The jerk, still seated, pointed at his shoes, and that was the last straw.

“Clean your own shoes!”

With a shout, she practically threw the mop at him.

“What! Is this how you treat customers? I’m telling the owner…”

“Tell them or don’t! I’m quitting because of you!”

At her words, the jerk smirked smugly.

About time.

As the fuming part-timer stood there, he glanced toward the entrance where Hyunjae had left.