Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Common Sense(?) Quiz
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It felt like a boom! exploded in my head.
This is... YouTube variety?
This is... a common sense quiz?
I wasn't the only one who felt that way.
Kang Ho-su and Lee Kang-chan looked like they'd lost their minds in disbelief.
"Whoa... how do you even know this...?"
"How is this common sense?! I don't even know how much money my parents spent raising me!"
Forgetting their disbelief for a moment.
'...Is it okay for idols to say stuff like that?'
Anyway, now I understood why Kang Ho-su and Lee Kang-chan had been so scared it'd be tough.
The PD was a pretty serious pervert.
Whether this was quiz-worthy common sense wasn't really worth nitpicking.
Drifting in variety shows wasn't anything new...
These were problems the production team cooked up just to mess with the guests for laughs anyway.
The kind where you're basically told to shut up and take the punishment.
But I didn't want to just swallow the bait they dangled.
"Is this... subjective or multiple choice?"
"It was originally subjective, but we'll give you options."
The PD's lips curled with amusement.
Like he was saying, go ahead, guess since you won't get it anyway.
There were five problems in total.
Three correct answers meant success, so they probably figured even one or two lucky guesses would let them win.
If they made them subjective and the guys got zero, complaints about difficulty would start, so they'd switch to multiple choice or give hints—surely they'd planned for that.
Which meant the later problems would be insanely tough too.
But I'm Jeong Gyeowol.
A former aspiring actress from my childhood who never dreamed she'd crash and burn.
I'd dreamed big of one day starring in a Christopher Nolan film.
So I'd watched every single Nolan movie.
This current problem, Following, was no exception.
I couldn't recall the exact budget, but I knew it was an ultra-low-budget production.
If even I had to guess on this one.
The production team had to be total perverts.
As if answering my thoughts, the PD flashed a sleazy grin.
I wanted to wipe that smirk right off his face.
"Oh. If you get it wrong, actress Jeong Gyeowol takes the punishment with you."
"...Pardon?"
Instead, my face fell.
There was no mention of that.
I wouldn't have done this if you'd said, you bastards...
Perverted problems were bad enough, but sharing the punishment too?
At this point, maybe it was Kang Ho-su screwing me over, not the PD.
"Alright, here are the options.
1. $4,000. / 2. $5,000. / 3. $6,000. / 4. $7,000.
Which one's the answer?!"
Options appeared, but I was still screwed.
Ultra-low budget, so I picked the lowest to be safe.
But all the options were ultra-low-budget amounts anyway.
How the hell was I supposed to know which one...
"Noona! Fighting!"
"You got this! Please get it right!"
The two had given up early and were just cheering.
Cheers were useless. They knew it too—their eyes were dead.
They expected me to fail, but for the cameras, they'd keep up the supportive act.
Fine then. Time for a twist.
What if I solved the "impossible" problem?!
"The answer!"
I shouted loud, and the production staff stirred.
"No way she gets this?"
"She knows it? How?!"
"Whoa... if she nails it, that'll be huge."
Kang Ho-su and Lee Kang-chan's eyes lit up again, expectant.
Options: 4k, 5k, 6k, 7k.
4k was ridiculous, so out.
Ultra-low budget but highest option, so 7k out too.
Left with 5k and 6k.
"The answer is! Number 2, $5,000!"
"Ooh! Jeong Gyeowol! Number 2! $5,000! Amazing! Correct an—"
"Kyahaa! I believed in you!"
"Wooah! Insane! How do you know this?!"
Kang Ho-su and Lee Kang-chan erupted in cheers.
My shoulders puffed up automatically, and I couldn't hold back the grin.
"...Not the answer. The correct one was 3, $6,000. So close—just a measly $1,000 difference."
"... "
"No! PD!"
"Tricked again! He got us again!"
The PD sounded regretful, but his face said otherwise.
Master of screwing people over.
Maybe rename the show from Connect Goes! to Connect Gets Screwed!
Fans, what are you doing? Letting your beloved Connect members suffer like this?
"Next problem, then."
The maw of terror opened again.
Like this from problem one—couldn't imagine the rest.
But I couldn't just bolt from the shoot.
Yoo Jun-seung had arrived unnoticed, grinning at me from behind the staff.
He seemed proud I was handling this variety gig solo.
'Jun-seung-ah... this isn't the time to smile...'
Unless the CEO popped out suddenly, no stopping the shoot.
The black-hearted PD smirked evilly at our dejected trio, then opened his mouth.
His hand joined in this time.
He thrust out a photo, and the problem began.
"What's this vehicle's name?!"
...Huh?
Sudden difficulty spike?
Anyone who's ever done delivery knows this truck.
"Correct. 25-ton churella. No, trailer."
I corrected the Japanese pronunciation.
But.
"... "
"... "
"... "
Silence.
Dead quiet.
No gaping mouths or weird stares.
Just watching me.
Why no "correct"?
Did I miss something? Looking closer, it was a wing body model.
Wing bodies are rare in logistics...
Ah, that's why they picked a truck "anyone who's done delivery" should know.
They twisted it like this.
"The wing body model."
"... "
"...Insane."
"...What? Who told you?"
"We didn't even know it was a wing body..."
"Waaah! Actress! I believed! I really believed!"
"Jackpot! Jackpot! How?! Everyone, she's my connection! My connection!"
No credibility from guys whose eyes had gone cold after the budget miss.
Now 1-1.
The PD's face grew a bit serious—
"...Next problem."
"Yes! Our actress is a genius!"
He flipped the page and suddenly smiled.
His ace in the hole, probably.
The gap between first and second was huge, so third was unpredictable.
Please... no punishment... whatever it is, from this perverted PD, just no...
"Next is the Taegukgi design. Which is correct?"
"... "
"... "
The "common sense" quiz had become a hell quiz.
The rowdy beagle boys went mute as clams.
I'd heard modern idols get taught this stuff...
Were these guys from a generation that missed out?
I only knew basic Taeguk patterns, not Gan-Geon-Gam-Ri shapes by heart.
But... not drawing it ourselves, just picking from options? Easy for a sneaky patriot.
Taegukgi n 3456—super simple mnemonic.
Alphabet n stroke order: 3, 4, 5, 6 strokes.
Memorize in 5 seconds. Dead simple.
"Correct. Number 3."
"...Correct."
Did the PD want to brand us traitors?
He looked seriously disappointed.
Better avoid his shows from now on...
After this, ask his name and dodge any offers, blame the agency.
Now 2-1.
One more right, and no punishment.
"If we win the prize, give it all to the actress."
"Duh, noona did it all alone. We just dodge punishment and profit."
Prize was all mine now.
Lee Kang-chan, Kang Ho-su...
What great personalities.
"Next problem."
Now I was starting to look forward to that mouth opening.
Thrilling tightrope—one slip to hell.
Had the thrill gotten to me?
"Pinocchio is the character known for his nose growing when he lies..."
"Correct! Geppetto!"
"Wrong!"
Kang Ho-su and Lee Kang-chan shouted together.
But PD still smiled.
Not Geppetto... 2022 Pinocchio director.
"Guillermo del Toro?"
"Wrong, but... you know so much... We first heard the name researching problems."
Now even PD was purely impressed.
From rivals battling over hell to mutual respect? Webtoons don't go this far.
"Continuing. Pinocchio's growing nose is surprisingly based on real science—the 'Pinocchio Effect.' Lying causes this chemical to secrete, swelling nasal tissue... What's the chemical?!"
Duuun!
"What?! What chemical?! Are we chemists?!"
"...PD, you know it?"
"Of course. I made the problem."
"No, did you know without the answer key...? How is this common sense?!"
Still insane difficulty.
'Heh.'
Couldn't stop smirking.
In Psychometry Her, I played Dr. Helena, a psychiatrist profiler.
Script's packed with psych techniques and terms.
'Pinocchio Effect' was one detectives explained while watching a suspect in interrogation.
As easy as the 25-ton wing body trailer.
But nailing it right away would be boring.
Now it was my turn to toy with the PD.
"...Honestly, these problems are way too hard, PD."
"I admit. But the prizes match. Today's up for grabs: 1 million won cash and two sets of top-grade Hanwoo."
"...What?"
I knew there were prizes, but not this good.
If they split after winning: 500k and one Hanwoo set each.
Three-way split issue if I joined.
But these good boys... promised it all to me.
That meant I monopolize 1 mil and two Hanwoo sets.
'...'
This show... sign me up permanent. I could kill it.