After finding the right skating shoes, we started heading to the skating rink. Unfortunately, there was only one rink. If there had been two or more, we could have had twice the fun.
As we entered the skating rink, a blast of air-conditioned wind hit us. The temperature inside was kept low to prevent the ice from melting. It was a stark contrast to the warm, sleep-inducing temperature of the VIP room.
It was so cold that you could see your breath. Inside, there were already people skating. I watched them with sparkling eyes, imagining myself skating gracefully in a fabulous outfit.
I even fantasized about performing a triple axel like a figure skating queen, thrilling the audience. Of course, with my current skills, even a simple jump and landing would be a challenge. I was a beginner with little experience.
At least I wasn’t as much of a beginner as I was when I tried skiing last time.
“Hana, let’s go!”
“Come in quickly!”
While I was staring blankly, Jiyu and Yumi had already put on their skates and were on the ice. I quickly took off my shoes and put on my skates. When I tried to pick up my shoes, they were already gone.
“Huh?”
I looked around, confused, and saw Maru grinning at me. She was holding my shoes.
“Ah, Maru! Aren’t you coming in?”
“No, I’m not good at skating. I’ll watch you, Hana.”
Maru urged me to go in while holding a camera. She was probably collecting my photos. Last time I went to the boss’s room, I found my photo on the desk. It was no secret that Boss Kim Sehee liked my photos—it was common knowledge in the building.
Anyway, I left my shoes with Maru and entered the rink. Thanks to the good quality skates, I glided forward effortlessly. Unlike cheap skates that barely moved, these were different. I didn’t know how well they were maintained, but they made a strong first impression.
“Yahoo!”
I shouted as I raced toward Jiyu and Yumi. They quickly moved aside to avoid me. I charged at them with open arms, ready for a hug, but they dodged me smoothly.
“Ouch!”
I ended up crashing into the rink’s fence. I didn’t fall, but I held onto the fence and glared at Jiyu and Yumi, looking like a betrayed heroine.
“Why didn’t you catch me?”
“If you come that fast, we can’t catch you, Hana…”
“Hmph…”
Yumi had a point. If they tried to catch me at that speed, we might have fallen. The floor here wasn’t soft snow like a ski resort—it was hard ice. Even though we were wearing thick padding.
And so, we started skating.
“Catch me!”
I sped ahead, weaving through the crowd like a tiger. Looking back, I saw Jiyu and Yumi chasing after me. I increased my speed to avoid being caught.
Though to others, our speed probably looked average.
But to us, it felt fast.
“Ah!”
Eventually, Jiyu and Yumi caught me. They pinched my cheeks and ran away. The game of tag had begun.
—
The broadcast preparations were progressing quickly. There wasn’t much to hide on the farm. The only thing that needed protection was securely guarded inside the building. We had discussed everything beforehand, so there was no need to worry. Kim Sehee wasn’t the type to snoop around like paparazzi.
And there was no sensitive information that could be leaked through the broadcast. Just some plants.
They only grow properly within a limited area. If planted elsewhere, they do grow, but they don’t bear fruit properly. It’s like something’s missing.
Kim Sehee’s goal was to use the broadcast as an opportunity to spread more awareness about Starlight Food. She also allowed the broadcast partly to support her brother’s broadcasting station. It felt a bit wasteful to show Starlight Food and the farm’s scenery to other stations.
However, there was a slight concern. There wasn’t much to show on the broadcast. Well, the broadcasting station would probably come up with their own content.
And so, the filming day arrived.
Farming started very early. They couldn’t set up streetlights in that vast plain, so they had no choice but to follow the ancient way of working. It was winter now, so it was later than summer, but farming still began at a time when most modern workers were still asleep.
Farming couldn’t be done when it got dark because it was dangerous. They had to farm as much as possible when the sun was up and the surroundings were bright. There were so many crops, but if someone got hurt or died, it would be irreversible.
Of course, while farming, industrial accidents were mostly minor injuries. It wasn’t like a steel mill with molten metal boiling everywhere. All they did was sow seeds and harvest the grown crops, so there was no chance of anyone dying. Still, just in case, they didn’t forget to set up an emergency treatment system.
Even if crops were ruined or died, they could just sow seeds again and harvest, but if a person died, that was the end. You couldn’t pick up spilled water again. Human life was always the most precious.
Anyway, they welcomed the production team from Starlight Broadcasting. Some were carrying cameras, others were attaching microphones to reporters. Everyone was busy preparing for the broadcast. Since it was an outdoor winter shoot, everyone was shivering while preparing. Seeing this, Kim Sehee said:
“Don’t prepare outside, come inside.”
She didn’t understand why they were preparing outside when there was a building. The production team seemed to be wary of Kim Sehee, the boss, so when she said that, they all rushed inside. It seemed like they were being cautious because she was the younger sister of Kim Sein, the broadcasting station’s boss. In a way, she could be considered the second boss.
With preparations done, they had to film diligently for a day. Of course, there wasn’t a strict time limit for the filming. Filming farms in Seoul and the ranch in Gangwon Province would be tight for just one day. They needed at least two days.
“Do a good job, okay?”
“Yes, Boss!”
Kim Sehee told a suitable person to introduce the farm and ranch and then left. There was no reason to stick around all day while they filmed.
“Alright! Let’s start explaining about Starlight Farm!”
And so, the explanation about Starlight Farm began. A representative from Starlight Food and a reporter walked around the farm, asking and answering questions.
“This is the place that will be responsible for all the wheat in South Korea.”
The representative showed the vast field of swaying wheat. In the West, wheat fields are often used to depict scenes of heaven or something good. It was a sight perfectly optimized for media portrayal.
“This is amazing! I had no idea there was such a large farm in the country…!”
The reporter also seemed amazed, her eyes wide as she looked at the wheat farm. Seeing the endless expanse of the wheat farm, it was awe-inspiring. It wasn’t a complete plain, but it was the largest wheat farm in the country.
And the biggest thing was yet to come. The representative handed the reporter a piece of bread made from their wheat.
“This is…?”
“Bread made from our wheat. Please try it.”
It was time to showcase an incredible taste.
