Sihoo’s house was a 40-minute walk from campus. After class, he walked home, using the time to brainstorm menu ideas. The uphill alley, with its steep stairs, was a familiar challenge since childhood. Spring had arrived, bringing life to the neighborhood—cats yawned lazily on fences. Though Sihoo disliked spring due to allergies, he appreciated its vibrant energy. If only pollen wasn’t an issue…
Achoo! Wiping his nose, he pushed open the iron gate. Creak. Tossing his bag onto the sofa, he resembled his middle-school self. Grabbing a basket and sack, he headed to the basement field.
The air felt crisp, cooler than yesterday. Almost autumn-like. Scanning the field, he saw crops resembling Korean plants. Does this place have winter? He quickly harvested what he needed, sensing an odd gaze lately. Whenever he left his basket unattended, something appeared inside—today, a small flower, like chrysanthemums or roses. What’s leaving these?
Back in the kitchen, he laid out vegetables on the table. Chop. Recalling the sea he’d discovered, he wondered about its creatures. If field crops have effects, what about seafood?
Buzz. A text from Hayoon: [You okay with a YouTuber filming at 56804?]
Sihoo tilted his head and called. “Hyung, what’s this about YouTube?”
Hayoon explained. “56804’s huge on Instagram, so a YouTuber named Ddakddaguri from a ‘Fact Check’ channel wants to visit. People’s praise seems suspicious to him.”
“He wants to eat and review it?” Sihoo asked.
“Pretty much,” Hayoon said, sighing. “Even if we approve, we’re only open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No telling when he’d show. I’m worried he’d disrupt customers.”
Sihoo’s tone cooled. “If he eats quietly without bothering anyone, it’s fine.”
He saw the YouTuber’s request as just another customer’s.
Like always, Sihoo sprang out of bed at the alarm, greeted by sneezes. Achoo! Pollen allergies haunted his mornings. In the kitchen, he grabbed a bottle of barley tea from the fridge, brewed the night before. Gulp. The golden liquid woke him up. Checking his phone—6:10 a.m.—he headed to the field.
The quiet field felt empty, though animal sounds echoed faintly. Squeak, chirp. Loosening up, he strolled to a fruit tree, picking a “apple-grape” cluster—a fruit tasting like both. Nibbling, he returned to the house. The morning field walks were for exercise and fresh air. Can’t bottle this air for spring allergies?
Back upstairs by 6:20 a.m., he frowned. I wandered for a while, but barely any time passed? A theory formed: Does time move faster in the field? It explained the crops’ rapid growth. Not magic, just time dilation.
Eating nurungji with kimchi, he prepared to leave.
In a dim studio apartment, blackout curtains drawn, a man filmed under bright ring lights. “Hello! Today, we’re diving into hot online comments and visiting a famous diner.”
“Is 56804 at Korea University really that good?” he read, eyes on the chat. “Let’s check Instagram.”
Click. His eyes widened at a post. “What? ‘Tofu steak helped me lose 10 kilos in a month’? Another says ‘4 kilos in 3 days’? Is this real?” He waved dismissively.
Chat exploded:
It’s true.
I lost weight eating there and exercising.
Guri, go try it!
No exercise, Guri. Eat tofu steak at 56804 and work out!
Laughing, he clicked another post, spotting Sihoo’s photo. “This young guy runs it? Must be a part-timer.”
More comments: “He’s a Korea U sophomore. Cut hours for school.”
The man, Ddakddaguri, leaned back. “A diamond spoon? Good looks and cooking skills?” Chat sped up.
He faced the camera. “Alright, Fact Check’s Ddakddaguri will visit 56804, eat, and verify. I’ll dig deep.”
Chat froze, then erupted:
Crazy? The line’s insane!
They do takeout. Don’t disturb others.
Even you, Ddakddaguri, can’t mess with that busy place!
He waved off the accusations. “Guys, I’m not causing trouble! Total misunderstanding.”
“I’ll schedule with the owner first,” he said. “Thanks for watching Ddakddaguri’s Fact Check live!”
Don’t go! If 56804 gets busier, we can’t eat!
As the stream ended, he monitored the chat, muttering, “Too crowded to eat, huh?”