Chapter 23: Heartwarming Bonds

I kept calling out to her, but there was no response.

Instead, the gaze she fixed on me wasn’t unkind. It seemed I’d passed the first impression.

“…Sunbae-nim, hello!”

“…Oh.”

Finally, Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim responded.

“Hello.”

Her languid, relaxed voice sent shivers down my spine. It wasn’t a common tone.

Since we were both shy, the lack of back-and-forth made things awkward.

“Hey! Noona! My dongsaeng!”

At last, Cheon Ian, the star and heart of Kitchen Warrior, appeared.

“Meeting my two favorite actors here—I’m thrilled.”

As he approached with open arms, Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim blocked me with her arm.

“Huh?”

“…?”

Both Cheon Ian and I were startled.

He folded his arms, tilting his head.

“Noona? Why’d you block me?”

“…Small animals get scared when you approach with open arms.”

“Animal?”

“No idea.”

Her cryptic words made me turn around, spotting a dog sitting a bit away.

‘Oh, was she worried I’d get scared?’

I mentally noted: Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim loves animals dearly.

What a kind person.

“What? Noona, what’s that about? Last week when we met…”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

From behind, she stood out. Even greeting the Kitchen Warrior staff, some of whom she seemed to know from before, she looked cool.

‘…Am I starstruck?’

As I walked quietly, Cheon Ian whispered, “How’s your first step into variety?”

“…A bit nervous.”

When I whispered back, he patted my head as if to say, “Don’t be.” Then he dragged me to meet Ong PD.

“Here’s our Ong PD-nim!”

“Oh, Bada-ssi~!”

I bowed immediately.

“Hello, PD-nim. I’m Im Bada. Please take care of me.”

I greeted the camera director and writers too. Ong PD, observing me, chuckled cheerfully.

“You’re so calm in person.”

“Me?”

“In dramas, you play intense characters, so I expected that vibe.”

“…..”

“You’re like a little potato in person.”

A little… potato? Never heard that before, so I just blinked, unsure how to react.

Ong PD’s bombshell comment had everyone laughing.

“Like a round, hearty little potato.”

As he gestured a round shape with his hands, Cheon Ian nodded enthusiastically.

“Agreed.”

“Why would you agree?”

“Because you are like a little potato.”

‘A hearty little potato, huh.’

But from watching variety shows, I knew nicknames like this mattered.

“Thank you for the nickname, Ong PD-nim.”

He looked at me with intrigue, as if I were a rare specimen.

“…Now I get why Ian called you.”

“Right?” Cheon Ian chimed in.

They whispered conspiratorially, leaving me out. Then—

“They’re teasing you.”

“Huh?”

“If you react, they’ll enjoy it more.”

Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim approached, quietly offering advice. So kind. Wanting to show gratitude, I gave her a green grape candy Seo-eun had given me.

“…Here.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome…”

Taking the candy, her radiant smile lit up the world like the sun.

‘So pretty… Snap out of it, Im Bada!’

I barely regained my composure. I came to see Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim, but not to fangirl, so I had to be careful. I almost let my fan side show.

‘…It’s a broadcast. A broadcast!’

“But PD-nim, why are there so few staff?”

As Cheon Ian said, there really were few staff. Is this normal for variety?

“It’s about healing and cooking, so we don’t need many staff.”

“Huh?”

“We want the cast’s natural selves to shine. Too many people make you self-conscious. Bada-ssi, how many are here now?”

Suddenly? I counted with my fingers.

“Five.”

“Smart.”

Praising me for something so small—she’s generous with compliments.

“So, if we go somewhere out of sight, we carry the cameras.”

“What? Everywhere?”

“Yup, we have off-hours too.”

Ong PD taught us how to use the cameras—how to hold them, how to avoid shaking. While listening—

“When the red light’s on, it’s recording…”

I knew that but figured he was explaining since I’m a variety newbie. Then—

“PD-nim! Our Bada isn’t a fool!”

Cheon Ian’s sharp voice hit me, leaving me stunned like I’d been ambushed.

“Even if our Bada’s a hearty little potato, she knows the red light means recording.”

“…Sunbae-nim.”

Clenching my teeth, I smacked his arm hard. His fake pain reaction made me scowl.

“Unbelievable.”

“Yup, unbelievable~”

With explanations done, Ong PD led us to the house.

“Don’t be shocked by the house.”

The aura outside was already intense, but opening the door, Cheon Ian, Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim, and I couldn’t hide our expressions.

It was too run-down. Uninhabited for years, it had cobwebs and dust so thick it was almost black.

‘Do we have to clean this ourselves…?’

As I stood dumbfounded, a thud sounded.

“Not bad,” Cheon Ian said, tapping various spots to check the house.

“The house is solid. Clean it up, and it’ll be usable. The kitchen’s got a cauldron—cool.”

An old house with a cauldron instead of a gas stove.

“What do you think, Bada-ya? Cleaning alone will make great footage.”

Now I got it. Why was I called for Kitchen Warrior episode 1? Pure labor. They needed manpower.

I clenched my fists. It’s episode 1—cleaning, cooking, and relaxing will keep viewers comfortable.

‘This is it!’

Time to show true labor power.

“Sunbae-nim, what can I help with?”

“You figured it out? Why we called you.”

“Yes! I get it!”

“Hmm? Can you do it? Do it well?”

“I can!”

He seemed a bit like a shady boss, but it was fine. I grabbed a mask and gloves from the supplies and handed them to Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim first.

“Sunbae-nim! Mask and gloves here.”

“Mask and gloves?”

“You might get hurt cleaning. You can’t get hurt.”

Her hands, white and slender like a snowy mountain, shouldn’t be harmed. She smiled, looking at the gloves.

“Thanks… but little potatoes shouldn’t get hurt either. Be careful.”

“Yes!”

I nodded so hard my neck might cramp.

“Bada-ya! Over here!”

“Yes! Coming, sunbae-nim!”

Gotta work hard! I grabbed cleaning tools from the storage and ran to Cheon Ian.

“Sunbae-nim, clean here, right?”

“Yup! You got it!”

I’ll burn this body to the ground!

“Bada-ya, let’s go! Let’s go!”

“Let’s go, sunbae-nim!”

Me too! Let’s burn the dust away!

★★★

While everyone was engrossed in cleaning, Tae Jin-hwa caught a sickness. A heart-harming condition where small flowers or objects reminded her of Im Bada.

No wonder—her small frame bustling around cleaning was adorable.

“Ian-ah.”

“Yes, noona?”

“How’d you get to know Bada-ssi?”

She asked while watching Im Bada clean diligently.

“Hm? Obviously from doing a drama.”

“Really?”

“Why? Wanna get close to Little Potato?”

“Yeah, but she seems scared of me.”

“Little Potato…?”

She trembles when she sees me, lowering her gaze like she’s frightened, even though I haven’t said anything.

“Noona, you like Bada, huh?”

“Yup.”

No reason not to. She’s cute, after all.

“But noona, I’m a bit hurt. You criticized my acting at first.”

“You were really bad.”

“Fair, I was bad.”

His flat delivery, wandering eyes—thinking of old Cheon Ian’s acting made her grimace.

“Ugh, don’t wanna think about it.”

“Don’t want to, but that was me.”

“What can I do, it’s my opinion.”

“Noona, that’s harsh.”

His chattering was drowned out by the creak of a door hinge as she oiled it. While working meticulously, her eyes followed Im Bada closely.

‘She keeps blinking.’

Sweat must be dripping into her eyes from cleaning so hard.

“Ian-ah.”

“Yeah?”

“Give this to Little Potato.”

“Yes, noona.”

When Cheon Ian handed her a towel, Im Bada bowed repeatedly, thanking him.

‘That jerk. He didn’t say I sent it.’

He was obviously getting back at her for earlier teasing. Having known him since childhood, she knew his antics.

Still, she’d only seen juniors who admired her, never one trembling in fear like this.

So Tae Jin-hwa pondered. How could she break down that wall?

“Noona, Bada says thanks~!”

“Did you say I sent it?”

“Nope, why would I?”

As expected, his cheeky grin was infuriating.

She was at a loss for words. No, she didn’t want to speak.

“But noona, listen.”

He pushed up his goggles, striking a dramatic pose.

“Bada’s scared of you, right?”

“Yup, looks like it.”

“Hm, really~?”

His playful tone hinted at some scheme.

“Want me to tell you how to get close to people?”

What method? Even if it sounded absurd, she was curious.

“What?”

“Here’s how.”

His method was outlandish.

‘…Will it work?’

It seemed unlikely, but seeing Im Bada glance at her and then scurry away, she resolved.

‘I want to get close.’

Might as well grasp at straws.

“If you wanna get close, this is the best way. Noona, I have tons of friends.”

“What is it?”

“Trust me.”

Tae Jin-hwa, half-skeptical, decided to try his advice.

★★★

My body was exhausted from pushing to the limit. Sitting on the small veranda, I stared ahead and dozed off for maybe 5 to 10 minutes?

Gurgle.

A blanket covered me, and snacks, drinks, and water were lined up nearby. I’d carried three heavy cauldrons from the kitchen and washed them, so I was starving.

Looking for my sunbaes to share, I found no one.

“PD-nim, where’d my sunbaes go?”

“They went to buy food for dinner.”

“Oh… I wish I’d gone with them.”

If I’d held on a bit longer, I could’ve pushed the cart or carried bags next to Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim.

Such a pity. When would I see her picking groceries?

“Who brought all this food?”

Who left these?

“Jin-hwa-ssi brought them.”

“What?”

“She said you’d be hungry when you woke up.”

Food from Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim. I covered my mouth to stifle my awe.

Suddenly, I wasn’t hungry anymore. Instead of eating, I carefully tucked the snacks and sweets into my pockets.

“Bada-ssi? Why aren’t you eating? You seem hungry.”

“Too precious.”

“Precious?”

“Yup…”

I didn’t want Tae Jin-hwa sunbae-nim’s gifts to disappear.