GNT 9

Episode 9

The biting dawn air stung Yeonwoo’s cheeks.
She’d been curled up under her blanket in her tiny rooftop room until her body ached,
but today, she had gotten up early and was waiting outside for someone.

With a sharp screech of brakes, a box truck stopped in front of her.
The words “Dinosaur Food Truck” were painted in huge letters on the side.
Without hesitation, Yeonwoo climbed aboard.

“Hello, sir. I’m Hong Yeonwoo. I’ll be starting work today. Please take good care of me.”

Though she was used to part-time jobs, Yeonwoo was unusually tense this time.
It wasn’t just because this was her first time working on a catering truck—
but because this job had been personally recommended by Ms. Sunhee.

The driver, Yong Mancheol, gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable,
then smoothly took the highway without even glancing at a navigation system.

“I have a Class 1 license, and I’ve done delivery work before.”

There had been no interview, no résumé—
just a text saying “Depart at 5 AM. Send your address.”

Yeonwoo assumed today was effectively her interview.
Yet, not a single question came from the driver’s seat.

“I can drive if you’d like—”
“No need. We’ll be there in a couple hours. You should get some sleep.”

Silence filled the truck.
Even so, Yeonwoo knew there was something she had to say.

“I’m… a fox.”

Her voice trembled; she had blurted it out without preamble.
Ms. Sunhee had told her it wouldn’t matter—but Yeonwoo knew better.
Most people did care. A lot.

She swallowed nervously, glancing at every passing road sign.
If he told her to get out, she needed to know how to make it home.

She braced herself for rejection—or worse, pity—
but instead, Mancheol asked the most unexpected question.

“You got nine tails?”
“Huh? Oh—no, sir. Just one.”
“Then that’s fine.”

Yeonwoo blinked, speechless.

“Ah…”

The tension in her shoulders melted away.
Her lips curved into a faint smile as dawn light slowly crept over the dark highway.

Later that morning…

They finally arrived at their destination—a filming set deep in Gangwon Province.
Even at the early hour, the set was buzzing with staff and camera equipment.

“Wow…”

Yeonwoo gawked at the bustling scene.
The streets filled with hanok and thatched cottages were so detailed
that she almost believed she’d traveled back to the Joseon era.

“This isn’t a set—it’s a whole village.”

While she was still staring in awe,
Mancheol had already swung open the truck’s side door and begun unloading heavy equipment.

“Sir! Let me do that!”

Snapping out of her daze, Yeonwoo rushed to help.
Though unfamiliar with some tools, her quick instincts and experience
from countless odd jobs helped her keep up easily.

“Should I put the fried food on the warmer?”

Mancheol nodded, fastening the tent cover to the truck.
Inside, a huge pot of soup was already simmering over the main burner.

As Yeonwoo worked, he asked casually—

“You know how to make stir-fried pork and shredded potatoes?”

Those were Yeonwoo’s specialty dishes, perfected during her time at the diner.
Ms. Sunhee always let her handle those two.

“Prepped ingredients are in the container you opened earlier.
Seasonings are ready, but adjust if you need more.”
“Got it!”

Ms. Sunhee had told her the couple running the “Dinosaur Food Truck”
had to stop after the wife suffered a severe hip injury.
Rather than sell the truck, they’d passed the opportunity to Yeonwoo.

She knew she couldn’t replace the wife’s skill entirely,
but she was determined to honor the couple’s trust.
Rolling up her sleeves, she got to work.

Then—footsteps.
Yeonwoo turned—and froze.

“Oh? The Dinosaur Food Truck?”

The towering man before her made her heart drop.
Recognizing him instantly, Yeonwoo yanked her hood over her head
and darted inside the truck to hide.

‘That’s him…’

It was the same man she’d seen at the parking lot recently—
the one with actor Sun Inhyeok.

And if he was here…

“That scary guy’s here, which means…”

…so was Sun Inhyeok—
the man whose pants she’d accidentally stolen,
and the same man she’d fallen on top of twice.

He hadn’t seen her face clearly,
but guilt gnawed at her.

“Lunch will start around eleven. Come back then.”

Thankfully, Mancheol’s calm voice sent the man—Gwanghyun—away.
Yeonwoo exhaled shakily and stepped back out.

“I-I’ll get it ready right away!”

She turned up the heat, pretending to focus,
though her mind was spinning.

‘What should I do? Quit now?’

She’d thought about apologizing someday—
but not like this.

‘No, it’s not like I’ve met him yet…’

Still, it wasn’t like she could avoid him forever—
not when they were stuck together on a film set in the mountains.
For someone who’d always lived honestly,
the guilt of one mistake felt heavier than ever.

Lost in thought, she flinched as hot oil splattered on her wrist.

‘No, I can’t quit. Not after what Ms. Sunhee did for me.’

She’d simply have to face him if it came to it—
and maybe even drop to her knees if that’s what it took.

Determined, Yeonwoo threw herself back into work.
Cooking for dozens outdoors was no easy feat,
and even in the cold, sweat trickled down her forehead.

“Hey, there’s a bandana in the back. Tie it up before your hair falls in.”
“Yes, sir.”

Bandana secured, Yeonwoo glanced toward the bustling set as the noise grew louder.
By the time she finished plating the side dishes,
staff members were already filing into the tent for lunch.

“Huh? Where’s the madam? She’s not here today?”

The “Dinosaur Food Truck” was well-known among production crews,
so many recognized it instantly.
But instead of the usual madam, they found a new face—Yeonwoo.

While they murmured, Yeonwoo discreetly scanned the crowd.
No sign of Gwanghyun. No sign of Inhyeok.
She bowed politely.

“Hello.”

Still uneasy, she quietly slipped toward the back of the truck
after setting up the dishes.

“Mr. Yong! Long time no see.”
“Oh, it’s the Dinosaur truck! I thought you’d retired.”

Even while pretending to check supplies,
Yeonwoo could hear bits of conversation drifting from the staff.

Fortunately, no one paid her any special attention.
But one conversation made her ears twitch.

“It’s because they rushed through the ritual. That’s why all this bad luck’s happening.”
“Rushed? Come on. No one does it properly anymore. It was just a bit simple.”
“Still, it’s weird, right? First the lead actor gets cut for drunk driving,
and now the catering company ghosted them. Good thing this truck showed up, huh?
If this were a horror movie, I’d believe it.”

Then—Yeonwoo froze. A familiar name drifted out.

“Hey, did something happen between Sun Inhyeok and Song Seongmin
at Director Min’s party?”
“Not sure, but those two never got along anyway.”
“Exactly! You shouldn’t cast actors who hate each other in the same drama.”
“Well, Kim Jeonghak messed things up,
so Sun Inhyeok had to fill in last minute.”

The man who’d been haunting Yeonwoo’s thoughts lately—
Sun Inhyeok.

Her hand, mid-motion while slicing onions, stilled.

“Honestly, isn’t Song Seongmin the one picking fights all the time?”
“Maybe, but you know what’s scarier?
People like Sun Inhyeok—the quiet ones who smile while twisting the knife.
He’s not loud, but when he snaps, he crushes souls.
He’s been in a foul mood lately too.”
“Probably just method acting. Happens when actors get too into character.”
“Still gives me chills, though…”

As their gossip continued,
Yeonwoo’s face grew paler by the minute.

“This is bad…”

Her earlier resolve to apologize vanished instantly.
If he was as cold as they said,
would he even accept an apology?

‘No… It’s safer not to get noticed at all.’

She decided then and there—
she’d stay invisible.

Luckily, through the rest of the meal service,
neither Gwanghyun nor Inhyeok appeared.
Maybe she’d just missed them,
but lunch wrapped up without incident.

“About twenty people left, so don’t turn off the warmer yet.”
“Okay.”

Just as Mancheol finished counting plates,
more hungry crew members stepped into the tent.

And then—

“Yeonwoo?”

Her name, called out suddenly from behind.
Startled, Yeonwoo spun around—

—and froze.