Kang Woojin glanced around the relatively clean kitchen and muttered under his breath. Sitting beside him, Hong Hye-yeon noticed and slightly widened her eyes.
'Wait… he prepared something himself? With that insane schedule, how did he even find the time? Still… I'm kind of excited.'
During their last shoot, Hong Hye-yeon had been captivated by Woojin's cooking skills and refined palate. Just like PD Yoon Byeongseon and the writers, her anticipation quickly swelled. Back then, Woojin had shown the level of a professional chef.
Because of that—
"Wow! Of course!! That's totally possible! Please, use the kitchen however you like!"
The writers were visibly thrilled, their expressions practically saying, 'We'll bow to you, just please take over the kitchen.' Around that time, PD Yoon Byeongseon leaned toward the head writer and whispered.
"We need to record this. You know that, right?"
"Of course, we can't miss this."
"Since it's just us here, strap on an action cam and film everything from start to finish. Don't interfere."
"Got it. Though… I didn't expect Woojin to come this prepared. He really does have that tsundere side, huh?"
"Same here. I heard his schedule was packed, so I honestly didn't expect much. Anyway, let's get moving."
"Alright."
The head writer soon began setting up the handheld camera, while PD Yoon Byeongseon adjusted his glasses and broke into a grin as he looked at Woojin standing there.
"What about ingredients? We've got some seasoning, but we'll probably need to buy the rest."
"Understood."
Woojin answered quietly and began scanning the kitchen. Naturally, a cook's sense of recipe and technique was already running through his mind. After about three minutes, he calmly voiced his conclusion.
"First, we'll need buckwheat noodles, anchovies, kelp, green onions, onions, ginger, and garlic. Since there's soy sauce, that's covered. We'll also need sesame oil…"
He listed off several ingredients in an indifferent tone. A few writers quickly jotted them down before hurrying out of the officetel. Not long after, PD Yoon Byeongseon, who had been tying an apron around Woojin's waist, tilted his head slightly.
"Buckwheat noodles? Woojin, what are you planning to make?"
Woojin's reply was short.
"I haven't decided on a name yet, but it'll taste something like soy sauce buckwheat noodles."
"…Oh—buckwheat noodles."
PD Yoon Byeongseon's eyes lit up instantly. Hong Hye-yeon and the other writers reacted the same way, some swallowing as they recalled the ramen and spaghetti Woojin had made before.
At that moment—
"Woojin, look over here for a second!"
The head writer holding the action cam waved her hand. Woojin naturally met her gaze.
"Perfect! This is great. PD-nim, we have to use Woojin in an apron for the teaser thumbnail."
"Hmm, come to think of it, we haven't announced the cast lineup to the press yet, have we? Might be time."
"Ah, should we release it today?"
"Yeah, let's do that. If Woojin's leading the kitchen team, fans will love it, right?"
Things flowed on their own, as usual. It was a situation Woojin was already far too familiar with.
'They'll handle it themselves. Still… using me in an apron for the thumbnail… that's a bit embarrassing.'
About thirty minutes passed.
The writers returned with the ingredients, and the table in front of the kitchen filled with vegetables and seasonings. After washing his hands, Woojin began organizing everything with practiced ease.
Chop.
He gathered the necessary pots, wok, and knives, then started cooking without hesitation. At that moment, Hong Hye-yeon approached carefully and spoke in a low voice.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
Woojin answered flatly.
"Please mince the garlic and ginger over there."
"Again??"
"It's important."
"Ah… okay."
Tying up her long hair, Hong Hye-yeon sat down and began working through the ingredients. She looked a little awkward, but her hands moved steadily. Everything was naturally captured on camera as Woojin placed green onions and onions on the cutting board and demonstrated precise knife work.
Chop chop chop chop chop!
PD Yoon Byeongseon and the writers once again couldn't hide their amazement.
"It's incredible every time I see it."
"You just end up staring without realizing it, don't you?"
"Viewers are definitely going to love this."
The main camera operator, who had been filming the two actors, shifted focus to Woojin's forearm as he chopped.
'The muscle… the veins. That's insane.'
She knew exactly what kind of shots to capture.
After finishing the prep, Woojin calmly shook the wok, lightly charring the vegetables. In the pot beside him, the buckwheat noodles were boiling, while behind him, he prepared the broth by adding soy sauce and a bit of water to the sautéed vegetables. Finally, Hong Hye-yeon added the minced garlic and ginger, and Woojin finished it off with a drizzle of sesame oil.
The broth and noodles came together remarkably well, and the entire process was quicker than expected.
"..."
Woojin cooled the fully cooked noodles, then turned off the gently simmering broth. There wasn't a hint of hesitation in his movements, and before long, everything was complete.
He brought out a prepared bowl, placed the cooled noodles inside, and poured over the fragrant broth. Meanwhile, PD Yoon Byeongseon scooped a spoonful to taste.
"Huh?"
He blinked, confused.
"Woojin, this is a bit bland, isn't it?"
Woojin replied calmly.
"We're in the U.S., so the broth should be slightly lighter."
"Ah—"
"And the seasoning comes from this."
Woojin sprinkled perilla leaves and sesame seeds over the bowl as he spoke.
"Perilla leaves have a strong aroma, so you can adjust or swap them depending on their condition."
Then he pulled out a palm-sized packet from below. Inside was crushed seaweed.
"You balance the flavor with this."
He lightly sprinkled the seaweed over the top.
Just like that, Kang Woojin's dish was complete. It had been made quickly, yet the quality was outstanding. The main camera operator, who had been filming the steam rising from the noodles, suddenly grabbed a pair of chopsticks.
"It smells so good I might lose it."
She dipped the noodles into the hot broth, stirred, then scooped a small portion into a bowl and took a sip.
Her reaction was immediate.
"…Wow! This is delicious! PD-nim, this is seriously amazing!!"
Soon after, PD Yoon Byeongseon, Hong Hye-yeon, and the writers rushed in. Once they tasted it, they were all swept up in overwhelming satisfaction. PD Yoon Byeongseon, though slightly hesitant, made a sudden decision.
"We have to sell this! We can sell this!! Wow, it's perfect for hangovers, and it tastes incredible—we have to sell it no matter what!"
Around then, Woojin, who had been quietly watching their excitement, spoke.
"It might be better to call it 'Seaweed Buckwheat Noodles.'"
After that, as PD Yoon Byeongseon continued eating the dish Woojin had made, he began explaining the future plans for Our Dining Table to Woojin and Hong Hye-yeon.
"Since it's the year-end season, we considered filming in the U.S. next year, but there are a lot of challenges—from location rentals to logistics. So we'll likely split filming into two phases."
In variety shows, it was common to divide filming into multiple stages, especially for overseas shoots like Our Dining Table, where cast schedules often overlapped.
"The first phase will run for about a week. The show will have a total of ten episodes, and we expect around five episodes' worth of content from the first shoot. Editing will start near the end of the year, and the official broadcast is planned for early next year."
Though he spoke with a smile, PD Yoon Byeongseon's schedule was practically hellish. He was one of the busiest figures heading into the year-end period.
"Around the time the first episode airs early next year, we'll begin the second phase of filming. Think of it as editing the latter half while the show is already airing. The filming locations and stores for the U.S. season are mostly finalized, and we'll send detailed plans to the agency. We'll collaborate with a food truck about two days a week, and film the rest at pre-arranged locations. Simple, right?"
He chuckled playfully as he wrapped up.
"You heard the first phase starts between late November and early December, right?"
Which meant Kang Woojin would be running nonstop from the end of the year into the next.
After finishing the pre-shoot for Our Dining Table, Woojin was immediately pulled back onto the speeding train of his relentless schedule. The brief breathing room he had from overseas filming and a short break vanished in an instant.
Time passed quickly for everyone involved, including him.
『[Exclusive] PD Yoon Byeongseon's mega-project variety show 'Our Dining Table' revealed, Season 1 to begin in the U.S.… Kang Woojin, Hong Hye-yeon in the kitchen?』
The production team began releasing gathered information.
『Will we finally see Kang Woojin's cooking skills on 'Our Dining Table'? From food trucks to selling Korean food in the U.S.』
With PD Yoon Byeongseon already having a large fanbase, and this project being on a much larger scale than before, attention only grew stronger.
『Ahn Jonghak, Ha Kangsoo, Hwarin, Kang Woojin—filming for 'Our Dining Table' imminent! Public anticipation explodes』
The entertainment industry buzzed almost instantly. The U.S. filming location, food trucks, cast roles, Korean cuisine, and Woojin's cooking all drew major attention.
Meanwhile, Drug Dealer was anything but quiet.
『'Drug Dealer' nearing 3 million viewers… fastest record for an R-rated film』
『Jin Jaejoon, Kang Woojin lead—film 'Drug Dealer' breaks records as it approaches 3 million』
The film surged forward like a runaway train, nearing 3 million viewers with overwhelming performance.
『[Movie Talk] No competition… 'Drug Dealer' dominates, breaking all-time R-rated box office records』
Industry experts predicted it could even surpass 5 million viewers.
And then there was Island of the Missing.
『[Star Talk] Ryu Jungmin, Ha Yura, Kang Woojin—overseas filming completed / Photo』
『Production team: "About 30 percent completed, domestic filming to continue"』
Various media outlets continued covering Woojin.
『[Issue Check] "Lee Sangman" Kang Woojin visits a theater in secret, shares update on SNS』
『From Boy Friend to Drug Dealer—back-to-back hits! Kang Woojin spotted at a theater after overseas shoot / Photo』
The public reacted instantly.
[Online reactions]
[User1: OMG this theater is right next to my houseㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[User2: LOL Kang Woojin is so cuteㅋㅋㅋ he covered his face to watch a movieㅋㅋ]
[User3: So what? Drug Dealer still won't hit 5 million.]
[User4: ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Woojin oppa… please come to this theater too…]
[User5: Lee Sangman's vibe is insane!!!]
[User6: But seriouslyㅋㅋㅋ Woojin must be insanely busyㅋㅋ filming nonstopㅋㅋ Boy Friend, Drug Dealer both doing wellㅋㅋ]
[User7: Honestly, Drug Dealer wouldn't have succeeded without Kang Woojin, right?]
[User8: But seriously… Lee Sangman is the best villain ever]
Even so, rumors like a so-called "Kang Woojin drug scandal" began spreading, but BW Entertainment did not stay silent.
『[Official] BW Entertainment: "We are collecting information and will take strong action"』
『BW Entertainment reviewing legal action regarding rumors and gossip about rookie Kang Woojin』
They responded quickly, though Woojin himself didn't care much.
"Woojin oppa, just ignore those ridiculous rumors."
"What rumors?"
"You know… the drug scandal."
"I haven't really seen it, so I'm not sure."
While it was simply his indifference as an ordinary person, his agency interpreted it as mental toughness.
Around that time, a year-end casting notice arrived at BW Entertainment.
-[Important] Hello, this is the Blue Dragon Film Awards Committee.
It started with the Blue Dragon.
Monday morning after the weekend.
At an advertisement shoot, Kang Woojin—whose drama Island of the Missing was nearing completion—was continuously eating hamburgers on set. Naturally, it was a McDonald's commercial shoot.
"Nice! That was good, Woojin! This time, chew with more energy, okay? Like you can't hold back!"
"Ah, yes."
After his debut, Woojin had been selected as a McDonald's model, and as sales steadily increased following his endorsement, he secured a long-term partnership.
Just as Woojin was busy, Choi Sunggeon, seated to one side, was just as occupied.
"There's an awards ceremony scheduled for December, so we'll need to make more time."
With his diary open, he organized Woojin's schedule. There were so many commitments that he ignored a ringing call for the moment, planning to return it later.
Then—
"Hmm?"
Choi Sunggeon scratched his head as he checked the caller ID.
Director Ahn Gabok.
The call he had been expecting had finally come. Still, it was surprising that the director had called personally. Feeling it would be awkward to ignore it, Choi stepped outside the set and answered.
"Yes, Director. Hello."
An older voice came through the phone.
"Yes, CEO Choi. I know you're busy, but do you have a moment?"
"Please, go ahead."
"I'd like to give you a script. To be honest… I wouldn't mind if my film became your stepping stone."
"Excuse me?"
A stepping stone? Ahn Gabok's hundredth film—considered a milestone in Korean cinema—serving as a stepping stone? Choi Sunggeon couldn't process it immediately.
Meanwhile, Ahn Gabok's tone remained calm, yet carried a strange urgency.
"I can come to you. The one who's free should be the one to move."
Elsewhere, inside a major media company—
A female reporter who had been on the phone in the hallway entered the noisy entertainment newsroom. Her face was visibly excited, though what information she carried was unclear.
Then—
Bang!
She pushed past the busy reporters and burst into the editor-in-chief's office. He let out a deep sigh.
"Ha—what now? Did you eat your manners with your soup?!"
Ignoring that, the reporter immediately spoke in a serious tone.
"Chief, it's about Kang Woojin's one-year contract."
The editor frowned.
"Kang Woojin? A one-year contract? What nonsense is that?"
The reporter stepped closer and lowered her voice.
"Kang Woojin signed a one-year contract with BW Entertainment."