Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: For the CF
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“Dowon-ah. What are we gonna do about this?”
“What do you mean? It’s a good thing. We can just do season two as the pitiful victims.”
Yoo Hajin’s pupils trembled.
“We didn’t do anything wrong. We’re just the ones who got hurt, right?”
“We can’t let that image stick around too long.”
I shook my head.
“Images change fast. Go on one variety show, show a different side, and it’ll flip right away.”
Of course, that only works if the show pulls decent ratings.
Yoo Hajin rubbed his dry face. I smiled at my worried leader.
“Don’t worry too much. Let’s just enjoy the attention. Our fans are banding together, fighting Hush, and getting closer because of it. I’m really grateful to them.”
“R-Really?”
“I’ll think of ways to change the image. Hajin hyung.”
Yoo Hajin pressed his forehead and sighed.
Poor guy. I felt bad for him, whatever he was stressing over.
***
The home of Korea’s diva, Lee Hyun-kyung, was always lively and bustling. She loved cooking and inviting people over.
A huge screen played *Eternal Hit Songs*. As they enjoyed a small party, they watched the broadcast and chatted.
“That Hush girl or whatever hit the burn spot on that bright kid? With the camera rolling? Kids these days are something else. Total lowlifes.”
“Hey, stuff like that happened in our day too. It’s not like it’s any different now. But why didn’t they edit it out?”
Lee Hyun-kyung spoke while grilling meat.
“Brother Kim Dong-seop was pissed at Hush. That guy doesn’t pick and choose his methods when he gets mad.”
“Wasn’t he the polite type?”
“He’s courteous and holds back well, but sometimes he doesn’t.”
It was obvious no matter how you sliced it.
“Hush must’ve messed up to set him off. Anyway, why hit the burn spot in the first place?”
They all nodded in agreement.
On screen, the bright pretty boy trembled with rage.
“He looks like it hurts.”
“Yeah, poor kid.”
“That one seemed polite. Well-mannered.”
They tore their eyes from the screen and looked at Lee Hyun-kyung.
“Oh my, unnie! You don’t praise people easily. You must like him.”
Lee Hyun-kyung nodded with a smile.
“A pretty boy who’s polite too—how could you not like him?”
That’s when it happened. The woman who’d been quietly eating meat across from them spoke up.
“Is the dog okay?”
Lee Hyun-kyung looked at her.
She was a very close friend. Yoon Mihyun. Approaching her sixties now, but still active in projects like she was in her twenties. A longtime friend who’d weathered hardships together.
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m going on a variety show soon. PD Lee asked yesterday if I knew any fresh, fun kids. Thought a polite, nice one might be worth trying.”
“Oh my, oh my! PD Lee’s show? That one gets great ratings!”
Yoon Mihyun nodded.
*Yoon Mihyun’s Rural Life*.
It was a hit planned by top PD Lee, with huge recognition. Yoon Mihyun had been iffy at first, but now it was already season 3.
The concept of *Yoon Mihyun’s Rural Life* was simple.
‘Top star self-sufficiency.’
Yoon Mihyun and a few others get dropped in the countryside. They cook, fix up the house, and live the rural life.
“You gonna put that bright kid in there?”
Yoon Mihyun nodded.
“I don’t know idols well. Was gonna mention it to PD Lee. After hearing you, he sounds decent enough?”
“Oh my, oh my! The dog would love Rural Life too.”
On screen, the pretty boy held back the pain and forced a smile.
‘With that much sense of responsibility, he should be fine, right?’
Lee Hyun-kyung smirked while eating side dishes.
‘Guess I just recommended him?’
Not bad at all.
They looked at each other. Then, as if on cue, they smiled and clinked their wine glasses. Time with good food and good company was always fun, as usual.
***
How should I change the image?
‘Need something to trigger it.’
Needed a show with high ratings and lots of press coverage.
“They want you for Rural Life.”
I looked up mid-push-up. The manager was dancing the rumba in front of me again.
‘Ah, damn it.’
His jiggling belly was driving me nuts. I lowered my head again and said,
“Rural Life’s famous. Good for us.”
Even before regression, that show was huge. Remembered it going up to season 10.
‘Season 3 was the most famous, right?’
And it had to be now.
I held back a laugh and did another push-up.
“One-day guest, right?”
“Huh? How’d you know?”
“Too tough for a regular spot with our schedule.”
Even with my head down, I could see the manager’s flashy footwork.
“I’ll try to negotiate it down as much as possible.”
“When is it?”
“Tomorrow night. Gotta film it as an overnight trip. Then straight to Music Six after. Kinda grueling, you okay?”
“Fine by me. High-ratings show—we gotta do it, even if it’s tough.”
“Your stamina hold up?”
I chuckled.
“Don’t worry. But it got booked awfully fast.”
“Ah…….”
The manager’s rumba stopped. I stood, sweat dripping.
“Actually, it’s a last-minute fill-in. You pissed?”
“We’ve only been debuted a month. Time to be picky? Any gig that comes up, thank you very much.”
Plus, Rural Life season 3 had record-breaking rerun revenue.
“Good thing. You’re always so chill about work.”
Do I seem too detached about work or something?
I wiped my sweat and looked at the manager.
“W-Why?”
“Just me going?”
“Yeah, just you.”
Got it.
“Who else besides Yoon Mihyun?”
“Oh, that!”
The manager grinned happily.
“Yoon Mihyun! Eun Sung-ju! And Korea’s rep female singer, Yumi!”
Ah, right.
Vaguely remembered the pre-regression show. Yumi showed a super down-to-earth charm in Rural Life season 3.
“Been a while since I see the seniors.”
Not really that long, but whatever.
“Knowing people makes it less stressful, right?”
“Don’t care if it’s all strangers.”
The manager, all excited, started rumba again. Ah, seriously. Can’t he stop?
“Yoon Mihyun picky?”
“I know. But it’s fine.”
Rural Life was about fixing houses and cooking meals.
‘No way I can’t handle that.’
Plus, if Yoon Mihyun was really that picky, the show wouldn’t have lasted. Obvious. Dumbasses hype themselves up and blame “picky” when they fail.
“Alright, prep for tomorrow! Cameras follow you from the start!”
“Got it.”
I headed for a shower. ‘Yoon Mihyun’s Rural Life,’ huh. Kinda looking forward to it.
What kinda shoot will it be?
‘Stomach’s growling.’
I wanna shine more. Til everyone recognizes me and cheers. More.
A bit of food went into my hungry belly. But it wasn’t nearly enough.
Sighed and glanced back—the manager was still dancing happily.
“Woo! Rumba!”
Ah, damn it.
“Dance over there somewhere.”
“No way!”
If I switch agencies later, it’ll be because of this manager. I shook my head, thinking that.
***
What image sells well in CFs?
‘Gotta consider it.’
I thought of my strengths.
‘Young.’
Final education was still elementary grad. School uniform CF might work—aim for summer version maybe.
‘Group ones are per group, so skip. Next up, food?’
Housewives do the grocery shopping. What image do they like?
‘Varied, but push polite and well-mannered for now.’
Imagined my face on food packaging. Yeah, it’d wear out eventually. But shining young ain’t bad.
‘Best is home appliances, but that’s for when we’re classy. Zenith ain’t there yet.’
I exhaled and closed my eyes. Heard Rural Life cameras come into the dorm too.
‘Gotta bring stuff to shine on Rural Life, right?’
So, what?
I prepped this and that, smirking. Clothes and toolset felt heavy.
‘This good?’
Forced the heavy trunk shut. Turned off the light and lay on the bed. Lee Seung-jun on the next bed had been asleep forever.
‘Oh yeah, that guy sleeps half-naked…….’
How far do the cameras come in?
Should wake him to put something on, but sleep weighed on my eyelids. One deep breath, and the world went black.
***
“Dowon-ah.”
Noona’s voice after so long. Soft hands gently shook my shoulder.
“Sleep a bit more.”
I said that and braced for impact. My noona had sharp hands and heavy fists.
Earthquake on my back soon.
But noona just spoke softly.
“Time to get up.”
Something was off.
I rolled over, mumbling.
“Noona, why no hit? You all out of strength already?”
Weird. Madam Cha Sora wouldn’t……
Ah!
I shot up. Eyes open—straight into a camera lens.
“Uh…….”
The youngest writer had woken me. Brain wasn’t processing.
“Gotta go to Rural Life.”
Damn it.
I looked around. Room as I left it. And next to me, Lee Seung-jun sleeping in just boxers.
‘They said they were coming in. But the bedroom?’
I dry-wiped my face and smiled anyway.
“Time already?”
The female writer smiled faintly.
“Yes.”
Smiling helps?
‘Why didn’t manager warn me?’
Handle the urgent first.
I got up and covered Lee Seung-jun with a sheet.
“I’ll be out soon. Gotta change.”
“Oh, we’ll wait outside then.”
Writer and cameraman both left. I sighed.
‘Damn. Hope that didn’t make it.’
Shoulda talked last night. Coulda said something viewer-friendly.
‘Missed a golden chance.’
Just you wait, manager.
I bit my lip hard.
***
Gotta read the show’s intent.
‘Know what Rural Life wants from me.’
Filming sleep meant it was obvious.
‘Raw side of a kid my age?’
Do viewers wanna see that?
‘15-year-olds peak at PC bangs.’
I changed and opened the door. Writer clipped a mic to my waist like she’d been waiting.
‘Showtime.’
Manager was behind the cameraman.
I flashed a bright smile and started acting.
“Manager hyung. You didn’t say it’d be this real. Scared me.”
Chubby manager did a quick rumba in the lens’s blind spot.
‘Damn. On purpose.’
You’re dead.
The writer smiled at me. You think it’s funny? I’m pissed.
‘Still, gotta do the show.’
I smiled brightly.
“Writer-nim, what food does Teacher Yoon Mihyun like?”
If they want natural scenes, I’ll give ’em.
The writer smiled and answered.
“She likes home-cooked meals.”
“Ah, then she might like this.”
The brightly lit living room was already set. I pulled out the young radish kimchi I’d made a week ago from the fridge.
“I made it myself.”
The writer yelped, surprised.
“You made this yourself?”
“Yeah. Got cucumber salad too—wonder if she’ll like it. Oh, and dried shredded squid.”
I pulled out banchan I’d mass-made in spare time, one by one. Grabbed tongs and packed them neatly into Lock & Lock containers like a pro.
“Bringing homemade sides to Rural Life’s fine, right?”
I smiled at the writer.
“Y-Yes?”
The youngest writer covered her mouth and nodded. I packed generously.
‘Broadcast station bastards.’
You fired first—I’m grabbing my image. You punks.