Chapter 126. Christmas Eve Run (1)
[This week’s episode of A Restaurant Like This Exists?! will not air due to circumstances at the broadcasting station. We ask for our viewers’ kind understanding.]
“So it really isn’t airing.”
Victoria, who had been sitting in front of the television just in case, sighed in disappointment.
Yukgap could only stare at her in disbelief.
“It’s impressive that you actually thought the episode might air after everything that happened.”
“But this was our chance to introduce Restaurant Shelley to the whole country.”
Victoria still seemed deeply regretful about the failed shoot.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s such a waste.”
“Then you shouldn’t have gone out of control.”
“I was just trying to help the children at the orphanage.”
Victoria answered weakly.
Just then, the restaurant door opened and Nova walked in.
“I’m here.”
Victoria replied halfheartedly.
“Welcome, Nova.”
Nova immediately noticed that Victoria was unusually listless.
“What’s wrong with Victoria?”
“She’s upset because she lost her chance to be on television.”
“Well, there’s no way they could air what happened.”
Considering the chaos they had caused, it would have been stranger if the episode had made it onto television.
Nova nodded in understanding.
Victoria spoke to her in a dejected voice.
“Nova, you still worked hard, so I’ll pay you generously for the part-time job.”
Nova shook her head.
“No need.”
“Just give the money to the orphanage director we met back then.”
Victoria looked surprised.
“Really?”
“You’re okay with that?”
“In a way, she was one of the biggest victims of the whole thing.”
“We were originally supposed to make cupcakes and donate them to the orphanage, but that fell through.”
“She must have been disappointed.”
According to the original plan, they would make inexpensive cupcakes and donate them to the orphanage.
The orphanage would get affordable cake for the children.
Restaurant Shelley would get a heartwarming scene.
The broadcasting station would get useful footage.
It had been a perfect arrangement for everyone.
Until the unprecedented disaster of endlessly multiplying cupcakes ruined everything.
“Wait.”
Yukgap spoke up.
“We still have all the ingredients at the restaurant.”
Victoria’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Really?”
Apparently, she had come up with an idea.
Nova suddenly felt uneasy.
“What are you planning this time?”
Victoria answered confidently,
“Even if the television appearance failed, we can still donate the cupcakes.”
“After all, Restaurant Shelley’s management philosophy is love and peace.”
Fortunately, this time her idea did not sound dangerous.
Nova relaxed slightly.
“Then I’ll help too.”
“I also feel responsible for failing to stop you last time.”
“Really?”
“Making cupcakes isn’t difficult.”
Nova had already been feeling guilty about not stopping Victoria during the shoot.
More importantly, there was always the possibility Victoria might do something bizarre while “making cupcakes.”
For the children’s sake, Nova had to prevent that.
“By the way, how did that broadcasting station even find Restaurant Shelley?”
Yukgap asked while preparing ingredients.
Victoria casually began putting on her cooking clothes.
“That?”
“Apparently some sponsor recommended us.”
“That sponsor has unusual tastes.”
“Of all the restaurants out there, they picked Restaurant Shelley.”
Yukgap spoke as though it were nothing.
Victoria immediately bristled.
“What’s wrong with my restaurant?!”
“You seriously have to ask?”
It looked like the two were about to start bickering again.
Nova quickly stopped them.
“Enough fighting.”
“The children are waiting.”
“Let’s just make the cupcakes.”
“I’ll have to decline.”
The orphanage director smiled gently and shook her head.
Victoria had brought plenty of cupcakes and stared at her in shock.
“Why?”
“These are normal cupcakes this time!”
“They don’t multiply or anything!”
“I appreciate the thought, but another business donated cake after what happened last time.”
“The children ate as much cake as they wanted.”
“They’re so tired of it now that they don’t even want to look at cake anymore.”
“Well... I guess that’s a good thing.”
Victoria trailed off weakly.
She had put a great deal of effort into preparing cupcakes for the children.
Now that the gesture was unnecessary, she looked genuinely disappointed.
Understanding the situation, Nova cautiously asked,
“Is there anything else we can help with?”
“We really are sorry about what happened last time.”
The director thought for a moment before asking,
“Hmm... then could you perhaps help us distribute Christmas presents?”
“Christmas presents?”
“Christmas is coming soon.”
“Every year, we recruit volunteers to give presents to the children.”
“We even dress up as Santa Claus.”
“The presents themselves are already prepared.”
“The business that donated the cake also sent money for us to buy gifts.”
