Born to Rise : Becoming Vice President

Chapter 41 – A Crazy Business Idea from the Campus Cafeteria

Two weeks after orientation ended, campus life started to feel more relaxed. But for The Absurd Five, their days remained as chaotic as ever—and this time, the chaos came from… the campus cafeteria.

That day, the five of them sat in their usual corner—an unofficial headquarters of sorts. In front of them: a pile of kimbap, fried chicken, and tteokbokki—their go-to meeting meal.

"I've got an idea," Jiwan announced, eyes gleaming like he just binge-watched a political thriller.

"A business idea," he added with flair.

Gevran paused mid-bite. "Wait, what kind of business?"

"A restaurant!" Jiwan said dramatically. "But not just any restaurant… a restaurant of the future!"

Mi Yong leaned in, face lit up. "Like… with AI? Or hologram waiters? WAIT A MINUTE.. What is AI or Hologram waiters? That would be perfect for my content!"

Eunwoo, uninvited, started snapping selfies. "Obviously, I'll be the brand ambassador."

Haesung raised a hand, calm as always. "We'll need a clear business model. Target market, ROI, branding strategy, and of course, the legal framework."

Gevran blinked. "Wait… you guys are serious?"

"Dead serious," they said in near-perfect unison.

At first, Gevran hesitated. But then his eyes scanned the cafeteria. It was packed. The menu hadn't changed in years. The lines were long, the service slow, and honestly, the food sometimes felt like punishment.

"Actually… this might work," he said slowly. "Imagine: pre-order system, in-app payment, Instagrammable interiors, a virtual…"

"And we give it a catchy name!" Jiwan added. "Like… SeoulPot!"

"Genius," Mi Yong nodded, already planning promo content in her head.

"I like it," Haesung said. "I'll handle the contracts and legal documents."

Eunwoo stood up. "I'm calling my sister—she'll endorse us on IG."

Gevran laughed. They were all a little crazy—but the kind of crazy that fit. Like absurd puzzle pieces that somehow clicked perfectly.

And just like that, from a humble campus cafeteria, a big idea was born:

SeoulPot – The Future of Food.

What they didn't know yet? The journey ahead would be filled with drama, laughter, and wild surprises far beyond anything they could imagine.

---

Fueled by their SeoulPot excitement, they agreed to hold a follow-up meeting the next evening. Location? Gevran's dorm room—closest to the cafeteria and, according to them, "the cleanest option."

But before they could even leave the cafeteria, the universe decided to test their teamwork.

As they were walking out, Jiwan slipped—thanks to a stray piece of tteokbokki on the floor. In reflex, he grabbed Mi Yong's sleeve. Mi Yong clung to Gevran. Gevran bumped into Haesung. And Eunwoo?

He fell very dramatically while shouting, "My nose! My expensive celebrity nose!"

They all ended up in a heap on the floor. Red sauce everywhere.

A nearby table clapped—they thought it was a flashmob.

Gevran sat up slowly. "Okay… maybe this is fate. We're meant to create something together."

Jiwan, face smeared with sauce, grinned. "That tteokbokki fall was a sign."

"A sign of what?" Haesung asked, adjusting his glasses.

"That the world's ready to fall in love with our business!"

Mi Yong was already filming. "Hi guys, we just had our first SeoulPot accident. Stay tuned for more chaos!"

Eunwoo examined his face with a mini mirror. "Thank God… still symmetrical."

And just like that, what began as a simple lunch ended up being the start of their wild dream.

With passion, chaos, and tteokbokki stains on their shirts…

The Absurd Five had a mission:

To build the most hyped restaurant in Korea.

Success or failure—whatever came their way, they'd laugh through it together.