As soon as Kim Hyosan secured the supply of matsutake mushrooms, he promptly sent a message to President Makimiya.
– The matsutake ingredients have been secured, so feel free to come by at your convenience… However, it’s best to enjoy them when they’re freshest…
Though the message was long and polite, it essentially indicated that the desired ingredients were ready, so he should come by.
Soon after sending the message, a reply came from Makimiya.
– Please reserve a table for me alone at 7 PM tonight.
– Yes, understood.
As anticipated, President Makimiya couldn’t resist matsutake mushrooms.
With a joyful heart, Kim Hyosan focused on planning the dishes to serve him.
When the appointed time arrived, word came that Makimiya had entered the VIP room.
Kim Hyosan went to greet him but was startled by his appearance.
“President, are you feeling unwell…?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Makimiya waved his hand dismissively with a dark expression.
It seemed he didn’t want to talk.
But Kim Hyosan knew.
He’ll probably drink quite a bit today.
And once the alcohol kicked in, he would start talking without being asked.
Why he looked so down today…
He would explain everything without needing to be prompted.
“Please bring me some drinks. The usual.”
“Yes, understood.”
He’s starting earlier than usual today?
Kim Hyosan had a bad feeling.
The appetizers hadn’t even been served yet, and he was already ordering drinks.
There were rare occasions when he ordered drinks this early, and on those days, the restaurant staff inevitably had to stay late.
Because they couldn’t close the restaurant until President Makimiya decided to leave.
Kim Hyosan quickly contacted the hotel’s general manager.
“General Manager, it seems we won’t be able to close the shutters on time today.”
– “What? Did President Makimiya really start drinking as soon as he sat down?”
“Yes, his complexion is very dark.”
– “Is it going to be an all-nighter?”
“It seems likely.”
– “Do you have hangover remedies ready?”
“Yes, we always keep them in stocked. We brought in a box of the newly released product.”
– “Offer that first. I’ll head up to the hall as soon as I finish up here.”
“Yes, General Manager.”
After reporting to the general manager, Kim Hyosan informed the restaurant staff of the situation.
As soon as the kitchen staff heard, they raised their fists in the air and cheered.
“Oh yeah!”
“Overtime until dawn today!”
“Long live President Makimiya!”
“Hey, it’s not right to be so happy when President Makimiya is drinking because he’s in a bad mood. Even if you can’t empathize with his feelings, you shouldn’t act like that.”
At Kim Hyosan’s slightly sharp reprimand, the cheers subsided. Jeong Seokwu, who hadn’t been at the West Sea Hotel for long, couldn’t understand the current atmosphere.
Why is everyone so happy about having to work overtime until dawn because of one guest? Even if he’s a VIP, this isn’t right.
Everyone seemed busy and cheerful, and Jeong Seokwu took the opportunity to quietly ask Kim Hyosan the reason.
Kim Hyosan answered brightly.
“What’s a little overnight work? We get hefty tips.”
“Tips?”
“When the restaurant stays open late, he usually gives each staff member two million won in tips.”[1]
“After closing, the only guest is President Makimiya, and you just have to wait on him for a few hours to get two million won in tips. Wouldn’t you like that?”
“Well, yes.”
Jeong Seokwu recalled what Kim Hyosan had said before.
Didn’t he say that President Makimiya had more money than the owner of this hotel?
“Alright, let’s prepare without any mistakes.”
The restaurant’s closing time was 10 PM.
But Makimiya didn’t care about the time and kept drinking.
He wasn’t a heavy drinker, so he couldn’t drink much.
He spent a long time sipping on two small bottles of wine.
“Hmm, is it already this late?”
A drunken Makimiya looked at his watch and staggered as he stood up.
Kim Hyosan, who had been playing the role of drinking companion, hurriedly supported him.
At that moment, Jeong Seokwu saw two men in suits enter the hall.
Even though the restaurant had already closed, none of the staff stopped them.
A man with a blue necktie placed a briefcase on the desk and asked,
“How many people?”
“24 people.”
“Here are 48 checks.”
Seeing the man pull out dozens of one-million-won checks, Jeong Seokwu was internally shocked.
“Thank you.”
“Thank President Makimiya next time. I’m just doing what I’m told.”
Even though he had heard about it beforehand, seeing it in person left him speechless.
Throwing away tens of millions of won as tips for the staff for one night.
Wow, how much money does he have to burn…?
Makimiya, supported by the two staff members, left the hotel, and after seeing him off to his car, Kim Hyosan clapped his hands to lift the mood.
“Alright, everyone, good job. Take two checks each with gratitude to President Makimiya, and let’s call it a day.”
Jeong Seokwu also received two one-million-won checks and was filled with a strange feeling.
Just a few hours of overtime, and he received more than half a month’s salary as a tip.
If it’s like this, I wish we had overtime every day.
“Sunbae, but why was President Makimiya in such a bad mood?”
“He said his chronic illness flared up again.”
“…Oh.”
“It seems he was quite distressed because it suddenly flared up after being fine for a few days. He said he really felt what it means to be in agony this morning.”
“That’s really unfortunate.”
“Exactly.”
Kim Hyosan shook his head.
“He’s such a well-mannered, calm, and good person, but I don’t know why he has to suffer from such a chronic illness. Why can’t the hospital even figure out the cause, tsk tsk…”
* * *
Makimiya groggily opened his eyes.
It was 9 o’clock.
For a moment, he thought it was 9 PM, but seeing the bright window, he realized it was morning.
“Did I sleep for two days straight?”
Since he drank until 1 AM at the West Sea Hotel, he shouldn’t be waking up at 9 AM the next day.
Usually, after drinking that much, he’d be out for two days straight.
But looking at the date on his smartphone, Makimiya was bewildered.
He hadn’t slept for two days straight.
He had left the West Sea Hotel not the day before yesterday, but just this morning.
Just 8 hours ago.
“I only slept for 8 hours? After drinking that much?”
Makimiya was so incredulous that he got up.
Come to think of it, he felt as refreshed as if he hadn’t drunk at all.
“How did this happen?”
He wondered if his liver had been swapped with someone else’s overnight.
As he was pondering, an overwhelming urge to use the bathroom hit him.
Damn.
Makimiya grimaced as he entered the bathroom, bracing himself for the usual intense pain.
But then…
“It doesn’t hurt?”
The stream flowed freely without any pain.
Makimiya was dumbfounded.
He wondered if he was dreaming.
What on earth was going on?
How did this happen?
Feeling emboldened, he even took a shower and came out to the living room, where his wife, who was tending to the plants, was surprised to see him.
“Oh, you’re up already? After drinking so much last night, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I feel perfectly normal.”
“My goodness, what a surprise. You usually spend two days out cold after drinking like that…”
“Chef Kim said he got a good hangover remedy, so I took it. Maybe that’s why.”
“We should find out what it is and stock up. I’ll call Chef Kim later and ask.”
Makimiya was bewildered.
Why am I suddenly not in pain?
He thought desperately.
When his chronic illness suddenly got better.
When it flared up again.
And when it seemed to have gotten better again today.
What was the common factor among these three?
And what was different?
A light thrill struck his mind.
“Could it be the matsutake mushrooms? …No way.”
[1] 2 million won is about $1,300
