Life is Easier If You're Handsome novel Chapter 281

A 10% rating the moment the opening aired.

That alone meant the viewership had already multiplied tenfold compared to their usual numbers.

“This is the Kim Donghu effect?”

“I’ve only heard about it before, but experiencing it in real time... this is insane.”

“Seriously, how is this even real?”

Even PD Choi Minseon couldn’t close her mouth in disbelief.

The entire staff of Comedy TV was slack-jawed.

No matter how big a star he was, this kind of explosive attention?

As they tried to make sense of it, they kept refreshing community forums for updates.

[Legend Kim Donghu enters the chat😆😆😆😆😆]

—Chef Killer is f***ing hilarious 😆😆😆😆

ㄴ??? : He’s coming. Are there enough chefs ready for Delicious Guys?

ㄴThat day, the chefs saw it. Eyes that looked like they’d devour them whole.

ㄴThe chefs’ nervous faces are hilarious.

ㄴOf course they’re nervous. Kim Donghu practically owns this show now.

ㄴEarth’s strongest has descended.

ㄴHe might smile like a nice guy, but the fact that he could probably fold a human in half is terrifying.

ㄴ??? : Everyone was nice to me back in school.

Just as the online buzz suggested,

the current screen showed Kim Donghu slowly walking into the studio.

Normally, a shot like this would get cut.

But Delicious Guys was going all-in—

every frame that could make Kim Donghu shine was left in.

Not only that—

“YouTube live viewers just passed one million!”

“But it’s only been two minutes since we started!”

“Exactly! This is crazy!”

They’d boldly decided to stream the episode on both TV and YouTube.

While only Koreans—or those with a TV—could catch the live broadcast,

YouTube allowed them to rope in the entire world.

Still...

“We just passed two million!”

No one expected the effect to be this massive.

‘Was that... why?’

The truth was, this whole YouTube angle hadn’t even come from Comedy TV.

—Let’s stream this on YouTube too.

—Both platforms, you mean?

—Yes. It’ll probably perform far better that way.

—...We’ll do it.

—Make sure to differentiate the content. For example, upload behind-the-scenes footage exclusively to TV first. You can put it on YouTube later.

—That’s a brilliant idea!

It had all come from Veritas CEO Choi Seokho.

‘To think it would create this kind of massive promotional ripple...’

Global-scale thinkers really did operate on a different level.

Choi Minseon muttered to herself and refocused on the monitor.

Delicious Guys had gathered around Kim Donghu.

And in front of them stood twenty chefs lined up in formation.

A breathtaking scene.

—“The goal today is to push the chefs to their limits, so no mercy!”

—“Seriously?”

—“But you do have to eat as hard as you can!”

—“Well, that’s kind of our specialty.”

The rules were explained—though honestly, it was barely a rule.

Just sit at a long table.

Keep eating course after course brought by the chefs.

That’s it.

ㄴSo it’s just regular ol’ Food Random Defense

ㄴWhat’s Food Random Defense?

ㄴIt’s like a tower defense game, but with food. You just eat whatever comes at you.

ㄴOh.

Even YouTube viewers who followed current trends caught on instantly.

The concept was incredibly simple and intuitive.

The real question was—would the chefs be okay with this?

Among them were Michelin-starred chefs,

globally recognized culinary masters,

and top-tier celebrity chefs with sky-high rates.

Would they really be okay with their dishes being treated like some kind of "random defense"?

The camera cut to the chefs' faces as if to immediately answer the question.

ㄴThey're loving it 😆😆

ㄴThey’re not even hiding it—they’re straight-up staring at Kim Donghu

ㄴYou can {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} feel it: “I will win your heart.”

ㄴIf you impress him, become friends, and get him to visit your restaurant? Your life is set.

ㄴThis isn’t Chef Killer. This is “Get Noticed by Kim Donghu.”

ㄴAt least they’re being honest about it. That’s refreshing.

ㄴYou can feel they only came here for Kim Donghu.

The chefs’ faces were full of resolve.

They looked ready to cook, serve, and explain with everything they had.

And who could blame them?

This wasn’t just anyone—this was Kim Donghu.

The hottest name on the planet right now.

Five years since his last Korean variety appearance—and they had the chance to feed him?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

No chef in their right mind would pass that up.

‘I might end up cooking on his private jet.’

‘He could take me to Hollywood with him.’

‘Donghu, I’m going to lock down your stomach with my food.’

‘If he doesn’t like it, I’ll just end it all. That’s that.’

With firm determination in their hearts—

—“Then let’s begin... Chef Killer!”

At PD Choi Minseon’s signal, the cooking began.

The chefs brought setups that looked like they’d moved their entire kitchens here.

The hunger to satisfy Kim Donghu was unmistakable.

And before the actual dishes rolled out,

Delicious Guys kept the talk light and friendly to ease him in.

—“So, do you really watch our show often? I mean, this is such an honor...”

—“Thirty Meals Hyung! Don’t scare him off with pressure right at the start!”

—“No, it’s okay. I really am a fan. I watch all the time—keeps me from getting bored while eating.”

But as the conversation flowed...

—“Would it be alright if I invited you to our hotel sometime in the States, if our schedules line up?”

—“W-wait, really? You’d actually do that?!”

—“Of course. Especially because I want to train with General Kyung-min one day. I watch Workout Pig all the time.”

—“O-oh. Is... that so?”

Kim Donghu naturally took over the center of the conversation.

ㄴWorld class really is built different

ㄴHe’s just a guest, but he’s already taking over the show 😆😆😆

ㄴHis energy is something else

ㄴWhen he offered that hotel invite, they looked like they’d seen heaven

ㄴThe PD’s already clapping like a seal—he’s hoping for another show appearance

ㄴAnd who can blame him? YouTube viewership’s already passed five million

ㄴDelicious Guys, you’ve officially made your mark across the world

ㄴSome people still don’t get it? Memorize it: Kim Donghu = Success

After the lighthearted talk came to an end,

the real dishes started rolling in—

and the feast began.

Eventually, the chefs started dropping out before the guests did.

Soon, new chefs were brought in to replace them.

ㄴThis isn’t Food Random Defense, this is Donghu Random Defense 😆😆😆

ㄴCan’t serve Kim Donghu properly? Get out.

ㄴCan’t make him full? Get out.

ㄴDoes this guy even know what fullness is?

ㄴReminds me of that Dragon Ball character who kept eating until he even ate the Dragon Balls

ㄴKim Donghu is just straight-up Toriko

ㄴBut hey, it really does look like a movie scene

The real-time chat was blowing up.

The comparison to a movie made people lean in again, eyes glued to the screen.

Honestly, it did feel that way.

Four exhausted, collapsed courtiers surrounding the “king”—

who was still eating cleanly and quickly.

No, not a king. A tyrant.

On either side, the chefs were sweating bullets trying to keep up with the demand.

And when one fell, another silently took their place.

A tyrant’s banquet.

It was just Kim Donghu eating for a long time—

yet the mood was strangely grand and majestic.

ㄴEven the background music is like some royal death march 😆

ㄴLord Donghu approaches 😆

ㄴWhat are the replaced chefs thinking as they watch their coworkers wordlessly slaving away 😆

ㄴExplaining the dish and then sprinting back to cook again is hilarious 😆

ㄴNo one has satisfied the tyrant’s stomach... yet

Eat.

Eat.

And eat some more.

He keeps eating.

ㄴDoesn’t it look like his body’s even more shredded than 3 hours ago?

ㄴWhat are you talking about?

ㄴLike... I dunno, it just feels like he’s getting sturdier or something

ㄴWhat are you saying, dumbass

ㄴTroll alert 😒

ㄴAt least no one here uses ㅇㅅㅇ

ㄴㅇㅅㅇa

ㄴ/split screen

ㄴ/split screen

ㄴWait, is it “split screen” or “split screen”?

Kim Donghu kept eating on-screen.

But maybe it was because he ate so well—

or maybe because he kept up the light conversation as he did—

viewers didn’t feel bored for a second.

The viewer count just kept climbing.

And the one man driving those numbers higher and higher—

wasn’t even mentally present anymore.

He was inside the Joker script.

***

“Ahahahaha! Ehh... ehehe... KYAHahahahahaha!”

Joy.

Life was joy.

I am chaos.

I am laughter.

“Bruce Wayne, the fact that we have the same face—don’t you think that’s the best joke ever?”

I will—

“Make Gotham a playground with your face. Kkhh—keh—kehhAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

Joker.