She was embarrassed by the gazes of the customers surrounding her, but she endured.
“Please give us a fruit appetizer.”
“…”
Seoyoon lightly nodded and turned around.
Even customers who had a considerable amount of appetizers on their table were scrambling to make a new order. It was attributed to their greed to try to speak to Seoyoon once.
“The customers have been waiting for 30 minutes.”
“Chef, when will the steamed crab be ready?”
“It will be out shortly!”
Only Lee Hyun was being worked to the point of death. Because of the other students whose cooking speeds were so slow, he had to do 2 times, no 3 times the work.
On the first day of the festival, he couldn't sightsee the fireworks or the student's songs, and wasn't even been able leave the bar at all.
On the next day, even more customers pressed in early on.
“Please take our order!”
“We're ready to order here!”
Although the kitchen and tables were still busy, they had more time to spare compared to the first day.
The cooking had already been finished ahead of time, and plenty of side dishes had also been prepared. The alcohol was stacked up by the box and the tent had also been expanded.
Since the department sent around 10 people as reinforcements to do jobs like washing the dishes and cleaning the tables, the workload had decreased.
Lee Hyun felt the work's worth through the fun of making money.
'The first day's profit amounted to 700 thousand won (~$700). Even after deducting the rental fees of the bowls, etc., for five days, this much is left.'
The business right now was all experience for the future!
He knew plenty about how to treat customers and cook from his part-time jobs, but self-employment wasn't something to be taken lightly.
'If I can't make a crazy success in special situations such as this, I won't be able to consider any sort of career in business from on!'
On the day of the festival when everyone else was enjoying themselves and playing, he took responsibility of the bar with resolute determination.
They made a large profit on the second day as well, and, from the third day, at no time was a seat at a table empty. Even on the fourth day of the festival, it was impossible for Lee Hyun to sightsee the festival.
The sight of him must've been pitiful because his seniors grabbed the kitchen knife in his stead.
“Lee Hyun, we'll take care of this place so you should also go have some fun.”
“But I have been entrusted with this place.”
“Is this the Silla Dynasty or what, that you're displaying such a 'show no retreat' mindset? The festival isn't some kind of battleground either, so go have fun. The other kids are playing like they've lost their senses, so you should also enjoy the festival.”
Lee Hyun took off the apron and straightened his back.
'The festival… there's probably a need to see what kinds of business the other departments are doing. Even restaurants need a lot of know-hows. The more diverse the information I have, the better.'
“Then I will leave briefly and return.”
“Just rest up today. It's already 6 in the evening. Since the bar is only set to go until 10 o'clock, we'll try and do the rest on our own.”
In order to avoid straining the festival's energy too much, the bars closed at 10 o'clock.
“Alright.”
Lee Hyun looked around the tent bar.
The tables were full of customers, and the students were hectically taking orders.
For the last three days, Seoyoon's popularity was definitely at its peak.
All the customers wanted to order from her. Due to that, the hardworking Seoyoon had received a break today and didn't come out to the bar.
“Even if I'm not there, I'm sure it'll run well on its own.”
As soon as Lee Hyun left the tent bar, he was swept along in the festival's crowd— people who came with their families, students from other schools, and Korean University students who dressed up and were wandering around.
The campus that had been quiet was now clamorous. It was a place where the excitement of youth could be felt!
As if to breathe in that excitement, Lee Hyun took in a deep breath.
“Ah, how nice. The air is filled with the scent of money!”
A stage had been set up in the grass plaza where he had always unpacked his lunch, and bands were performing there.
Multiple teams from the Virtual Reality Department participated in the athletic meet, song festival, and play.
The results were disastrous!
They were eliminated in the preliminaries in the athletic meet, it was impossible for them to sing high notes in their performance for the song festival, and they said an audience of only a few elementary school kids had come for the play.
“Seems like those noonas didn't practice.”
[T/N: Noona is a friendly, casual term for 'older sister.' Like hyung and oppa, it can be used for a non-family member.]
An elementary school kid wearing glasses with a sharp gaze even said something like this. “How sloppy.”
It was a play criticized by even elementary school kids!
That was the conclusive trigger that sent all the Virtual Reality Department's support towards the bar.
It appeared that the other departments had done a lot of preparation in advance, as they were hosting a variety of events.
The Department of Veterinary Medicine brought the characteristics of their department to life and were selling beef.
In the Department of Social Welfare, the students were pushing the wheelchairs of the disabled and elderly as they guided them. It was said that the department accommodated them in a nearby hotel or in their own houses as they personally gave them a bath and performed a meaningful deed that gave the people a gift.
In the Clothing Design Department, clothes they had made themselves were sold cheaply.
The music students were on the side of always having high popularity. Since the pretty female students were performing, there was a swarm of male spectators and they were a big hit.
Stages were set up here and there, and even the small events were unceasing.
Even a flea market that sold off unused products was lively.
It was when Lee Hyun's steps took him towards the flea market behind the main stage, someone beside him grabbed his arm and dragged him.
“Look, it seems like 1 more volunteer has appeared.”
An announcer was in the middle of conducting Slave Dating on the stage.
The event crew had been choosing Slave Dating participants from the audience, but Lee Hyun had pushed through the crowd and barged in.
A total of 30 male students were participating in the Slave Dating!
The announcer pulled the mic close and shouted.
“It's time for them to show off their respective honed skills in the talent show. Your master can change depending on how cool a talent you show, so slaves, you should do your very best! Then let's start with participant number 1.”
Lee Hyun received number 23.
He tried to resist and not go up on the stage, but because of the crowd's jeers, he inevitably went up.
'A fricking talent show, my luck today is the worst.'
What the hell was there that he was good at!
Well, the only thing he knew how to do was martial arts.
Lee Hyun's face hardened more and more whenever the other participants showed off their singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, magic shows, or comedy skits.
He was scared of the frosty look in the audience's eyes!
He wasn't a person with an extroverted personality, and he didn't have any individual skill, so his anxiety increased even more.
Stage fright. Since students from the same school were watching, it was more repulsive.