Chapter 6: A Feast for the Eyes

The restaurant interior was generally calm.

Apart from the two staff members, everyone else had come alone, so there was no conversation exchanged between those seated next to each other.

“I’ve prepared this with only sea urchin, no shrimp.”

“Thank you.”

The audio primarily captured the chef’s explanations.

Cameras installed inside the restaurant relayed the scene in real-time to monitors.

The U-shaped table arrangement meant that diners were seated close to one another.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s quite alright.”

“I’ll get you a new one.”

“Thank you.”

When Chaeyeon-woo accidentally dropped a chopstick, the person seated beside them reacted as well.

Though both quickly refocused on their meals after Chaeyeon-woo received a new chopstick, even that minor interaction was destined to become a crucial editing point.

Despite the need for thorough monitoring later, PD Jang Jae-wook meticulously observed every movement and glance from the participants, his eyes alight with focus.

“Only two people ordered alcohol.”

“Chaeyeon-woo ordered a highball, and Ma Won-ho, a bottle of sake.”

“They might both be avid drinkers.”

“Oh, Jae-hyun is ordering now too.”

Three individuals had ordered drinks, while the other three had not.

The entire restaurant had already been reserved for the shoot, so as long as more than one person showed up, the scene was guaranteed to air.

He hadn’t expected all the participants to express such willingness.

The initial plan was to edit the footage to showcase a special encounter among only two or three of the six participants.

However, with everyone gathered in one place, crafting a compelling narrative through editing would be effortless, alleviating any concerns.

“How intriguing, truly intriguing.”

“Our show this time is certainly a feast for the eyes.”

Many programs specifically aimed for visual appeal by featuring Alphas and Omegas, and numerous celebrities debuted with this in mind.

Seeing participants with such exceptional looks—who could hardly be called ordinary people—gathered together filled him with an involuntary sense of satisfaction.

Their popularity was virtually guaranteed.

“It might feel a bit odd, with only handsome men in the restaurant.”

“We’ll have to ask about it in the interviews later. I suspect some might have noticed something.”

Another editing opportunity had just presented itself.

Even if someone sensed something unusual, they might simply dismiss it, attributing it to an unusually high number of attractive people in the restaurant that day.

Conversely, those who did notice the oddity would stand out.

“These two seem entirely focused on their food.”

“Lee Dohwa and Kang Hae-il. Their… ‘vibes’ are similar, which makes them pleasant to watch.”

Lee Dohwa was seated at the very end, next to Kang Hae-il, who had been one of the last to arrive.

While they’d need to check the individual camera feeds, both appeared to be simply concentrating on their respective meals without incident.

These two were strong candidates for those who hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

As several courses passed and the atmosphere relaxed, he wondered if any interesting events would finally unfold.

“…It looks like Lee Dohwa is leaving?”

The camera captured the person who had arrived last, now being the first to rise from their seat.

When he first entered the restaurant, Lee Dohwa was mildly surprised by the number of people already present.

Hurriedly taking his seat, Lee Dohwa listened to the explanations and preemptively mentioned his shellfish allergy.

“Delicious…”

When his favorite white fish course arrived, he savored its melt-in-your-mouth texture, uttering exclamations of delight as he immersed himself in the meal.

Having arrived precisely on time, he was able to begin his meal immediately.

‘This place is a real gem.’

Having prepared to leave as soon as he woke up, the meal Lee Dohwa was now eating at 7:30 PM was his first of the day.

Although a strawberry smoothie had briefly satisfied his hunger earlier, his extensive activity had left him quite famished.

“I’ve substituted the shrimp tempura with vegetable tempura for you.”

“Thank you.”

Under the attentive service of the kind chef, he sampled each dish, enjoying the substitutions made for his shellfish allergy.

It felt almost like a reward for his efforts throughout the day.

Assistant Director Koo Ye-jin had asked for his feedback, so he decided he should contact them on his way home, lest he forget.

After several more courses, he gradually began to feel full.

‘Perhaps because it’s my first meal, I’m not eating much.’

Omakase courses varied by restaurant, and he felt he had already enjoyed all of his favorite sashimi dishes.

Having eaten to a comfortable limit, Lee Dohwa set down his chopsticks.

“I’m quite full, I don’t think I can eat any more. I apologize.”

“Not at all, sir! There’s no need to apologize. Would you perhaps care for some dessert?”

‘Dessert?’

He briefly wrestled with an internal conflict, but after imagining the consequences of exceeding his limit for just one dessert, he quickly shook his head.

It was his principle to always enjoy his meals, and he wasn’t one to overeat by failing to control his portions.

Catching the chef’s eye after the offer, Lee Dohwa carefully spoke.

“I’m absolutely dying to eat more, but I’ve truly reached my limit. Everything was so incredibly delicious, Chef.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. There are many delicious courses you haven’t tried yet, so please visit us again.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The excellent service continued until the very end, brightening his mood even further, and he smiled radiantly.

Upon being told that the payment had already been handled, he exited the restaurant.

He hadn’t noticed while seated, but standing up, he could definitely feel his stomach was quite distended.

While waiting for the elevator, he glanced briefly through the transparent entrance door into the restaurant.

“Ah.”

For a fleeting moment, his eyes met squarely with someone inside, causing him to immediately avert his gaze.

At the end of his averted gaze, the elevator doors opened, and he quickly stepped inside, though he felt a pang of regret on the way down, thinking he’d turned his head too conspicuously.

His gaze had locked with a man who seemed about to drink, a glass raised to his lips.

He had merely looked inside innocently, yet it felt as though he’d been caught secretly watching.

‘Well, it’s not like I’ll ever see them again anyway.’

Upon arriving home, Lee Dohwa immediately showered, then remained indoors for the next five days, quickly forgetting his omakase experience.

Was it because one person had left?

PD Jang Jae-wook, who had hoped that three people ordering alcohol might spark some small conversation, realized his expectations had been entirely misplaced.

‘This is how it usually goes, after all.’

After Lee Dohwa’s departure, the next course was served. Following that, Kang Hae-il, who had been seated next to Dohwa, was the last to rise from his seat.

The remaining four participants and two staff members stayed in the restaurant, ate dessert, and then quietly departed.

“Chaeyeon-woo seemed a little tipsy.”

“Hmm… really?”

Ma Won-ho had steadied Chaeyeon-woo, who had stumbled slightly while standing up.

While PD Jang Jae-wook had captured a scene he desired, in his eyes, there was an unsettling sense of artificiality that seemed to stem from long practice.

‘Had they simply stumbled, or was it intentional?’

In a world where not only celebrities but also ordinary people could become famous influencers, Chaeyeon-woo boasted over a million followers.

And they were widely rumored to be a dominant Omega.

For PD Jang Jae-wook, who already knew the outcome, it didn’t really matter which it was, but it seemed likely that the pilot episode would focus primarily on Chaeyeon-woo.

After all, they were the only participant who had interacted with others.

“Go now and tell them to pack everything up.”

He issued the instructions to the staff.