Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Rural Life (2)
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I glanced at the staff while fixing the faucet. Director Lee Ji-yong couldn't meet my eyes.
*Do I really have to go this far?*
I'd already given them plenty of entertainment, but they were pushing it too hard. Pretending not to notice, I spoke toward the camera.
“Please open the valve again.”
One of the staff ran off. I quietly struck a pose that would look good on screen.
*Not too over the top—natural is the key.*
Film this, camera. I'm giving you tons of footage.
Several cameras captured my soaked body. Soon, I heard the valve reopening. I turned the faucet, and water flowed out steadily.
“I should change clothes first.”
That was when Yoon Mi-hyeon spoke up.
“Got any?”
Of course I did. But a fun idea popped into my head.
“Can I borrow some?”
The middle-aged actress grinned.
“Want to borrow some?”
“Yes.”
She turned and dashed off excitedly. I shook my head while slicking back my wet hair.
*She's cuter than I thought.*
She seemed far from the strict image people talked about. Why the rumors?
“Here, take this!”
Yoon Mi-hyeon brought a flashy floral shirt. I took it quietly.
“Thank you.”
This was the countryside, after all. All three of the Beauty Trio were in similar comfy outfits.
As I headed to change, the cameras followed.
I scratched my cheek, feigning embarrassment.
“Oh, you’re filming this?”
These guys were casually filming an idol’s body.
PD Lee Ji-yong whispered.
“We’ll just get your back.”
A back shot wasn’t bad.
Then a great idea hit me. I nodded as if to say okay.
*This Rural Life gig is a goldmine. They really don’t know about the burn scar on my back?*
It was a burn scar shaped like a tattoo, refined with my cheat. The head director said it looked good, so it couldn’t be bad.
*I was wondering when to reveal it.*
I held back a laugh.
*Good thing Rural Life knows nothing about me.*
So what did they see in me to cast me? It was puzzling, but not my problem.
I took off my wet shirt where the camera could see, exposing the burn scar on my back.
Behold, viewers across the nation. A wing-shaped burn scar adjusted with my cheat.
“Huh?”
The cameraman let out a surprised groan.
They really had no idea?
“Oh, this? It’s a burn.”
I said it like I’d forgotten.
“Can this air on TV?”
“No? It’s not a tattoo, so it’s fine. Does it hurt?”
“No pain. Well, unless someone hits my back hard.”
Of course, that was a lie for the pervs. As if. I could erase it anytime but left it on purpose.
*Still, not bad.*
A quick glance in the mirror showed the scar—small but striking.
As I put on Yoon Mi-hyeon’s shirt, I said,
“It’s getting better. I’m doing steady treatment.”
Even after I finished dressing, the camera lingered.
“Uh, pants this time?”
“Oh, sorry! We’re out!”
The two cameramen hurried off. I slicked back my wet hair.
*They sure get around.*
But since there was plenty to gain, it wasn’t bad.
I adjusted my sub-goal.
*The concept of feeding and caring for three cooking disasters could work.*
Add in polite junior to seniors.
*I can do this.*
Yoon Mi-hyeon seemed like she’d welcome it. Maybe for the visuals, or maybe she subtly wanted it.
I tugged at the shirt she gave me.
*Giving me this confirms it.*
Everything was going smoothly. I stepped out in her shirt, and Eun Seong-ju spotted me and chuckled.
“Wow. Must be the pretty boy vibe. It suits you. Comfy?”
“Yeah.”
Saying it was a gift from heaven-like senior Yoon Mi-hyeon would be too much.
Eun Seong-ju dragged me to Yoon Mi-hyeon.
“Senior, how could you give him something like this!”
“Why~? It suits him.”
“Still. It’s too much for a puberty-stricken boy.”
“Don’t like it? Dowon?”
I grinned.
“It’s just clothes. Whatever. But what’s that?”
Yu-mi was squatting by the faucet. A peek showed a basin full of clams.
“Nice haul. Want some ark shell soup?”
Their eyes lit up instantly.
“With cl-clams?”
“Yeah.”
“Tasty?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“You can really make it?”
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Teacher, look. He’s a real savior.”
“God gave us Dowon!”
Was ark shell soup that hard?
I checked their clams first. Decent, but something off.
“Why didn’t you purge them?”
“Huh? Purge what?”
Oh boy.
I quietly sprinkled salt from the table.
“Soak in saltwater to get the sand out?”
“Gasp!”
Yu-mi covered her mouth and groaned.
“That’s why we were chewing sand!”
What had they been eating?
“There was a way!”
I smiled awkwardly.
“I’ll purge them next time.”
Eun Seong-ju said excitedly,
“You hear that, teacher? No more sandy chews for us.”
Oh boy. They really didn’t know.
I glanced at Lee Ji-yong.
*He must’ve held back on purpose.*
Even so, letting the cast chew sand? What if appendicitis? Would he take responsibility?
Yu-mi said, face full of emotion,
“That’s why our miso soup tasted weird.”
“No flavor, but plenty of sand.”
“Shouldn’t have added fernbrake to begin with.”
Why’d you add that?
“Let’s purge first and think. Oh, any requests?”
The three turned to me at once. Their intense glares made me step back instinctively.
“I want meat!”
“Fresh meat to tear into!”
“Any meat. Meat!”
Oh boy.
I quietly looked at PD Lee Ji-yong.
“The Beauty Trio wants it that bad—can I get meat?”
Lee Ji-yong gave the okay.
“But budget’s ten thousand won.”
Who’s gonna eat that?
*Let’s see. Pork prices lately.*
Should cover some pork leg.
I smiled brightly at them.
“Let’s hit the market first.”
“Yeah! Let’s go!”
“Meat! Meat!”
Not feeding them meat might cause a riot. They grabbed my clothes and dragged me along. Honored, but too fast.
“Teacher, cameras back there.”
“They’ll follow! Meat now!”
She’d lost her reason.
Hesitating, she hooked her arm in mine impatiently. I laughed and followed.
*This what it’s like with a grandma?*
Past sixty, but slim like an actress should be. Making an elder go hungry for food buys—production was demonic.
*That’s why season 3 was popular.*
In my memory, season 3 had them suffering without real food until snagging staff meals at the end. The Beauty Trio barely scraping by was tear-jerking.
*Hence the backlash.*
That’s why Yoon Mi-hyeon refused next season, only agreeing after begging.
*Gotta make something tasty. But can’t make something from nothing.*
Budget too low. What could ten thousand buy?
Lost in thought, I swapped spots with Yoon Mi-hyeon, nudging the elder inside away from traffic. Writers behind us gasped in admiration.
“Far?”
“Hm? Almost there.”
Yoon Mi-hyeon’s tone softened nicely. The middle-aged actress stroked my face with her hand’s back.
“Such a pretty boy.”
“Teacher, pretty’s for girls.”
“Sigh, have a son like you, no worries in the world.”
What would my late mom, Lady Cha Yeon-hwa, say hearing this?
*She’d scream.*
I chuckled and whispered,
“Butcher owner a lady or gent?”
“Dunno? Woman maybe?”
Good.
I fiddled with the King Sejong ten-thousand-won note in my pocket.
*Miracle on ten thousand possible?*
Damn, network bastards. Who you sticking this on?
Lost in thoughts, we arrived. Staff went ahead for filming permissions and setup.
Trailing Yu-mi said,
“How much with ten thousand? Full bellies?”
“Pork’s doable.”
I smiled a bit. But oops. I wanted beef today.
Okay-to-enter sign came. I steeled myself and went in. The butcher lady, face powdered white, greeted us.
“Oh my. Buying what?”
Start with sympathy.
“Meat for four, plenty.”
“Growing kids? Ten thousand? Pretty though. Celeb? Age?”
What dialect? Not Gangwon.
“Third year middle school now.”
“Aigoo, young. That age devours meat nonstop. Ten thousand’s a joke.”
Tell me about it. Show’s not broke. Network jerks.
“Anyway. More? But can’t give free. Kid, you sing?”
Bingo.
“I’m an idol, auntie.”
“Oh ho ho ho ho. Auntie? Love it. Sing one here? Good voice, lots of meat.”
Generous auntie.
Beauty Trio eyed me worriedly. I beamed.
“I’ll sing one.”
I took proper stance. No mic? Looked around—owner handed a spoon.
*Well, it’s a stage.*
Decent lighting, audience. Raw meat smell wasn’t bad.
*Old folks love trot.*
Cleared throat, started.
“Love is~ pain~ within~”
“Oh my!”
Added light dance. She clapped, then danced along.
*Enthusiastic.*
Unexpected.
I held out hand, spun her once.
“Grasping hands~ that make you stranger~”
“Fun!”
Beauty Trio clapped from afar. Soon, locals crowded behind staff. They watched innocently.
*Nice. Stages like this.*
Butcher lady danced on. As singer, my blood boiled too.
“Don’t go~ I begged~”
Famous song? Everyone behind sang along. Couldn’t resist—more joined, dancing around.
*Crazy good.*
Loved the chaos.
Cameras frantically shot. You didn’t expect this, huh?
*Capture it well. Not every day.*
Grabbed a rushing local’s hand, spun her.
More grannies rushed in.
“Me! Me too!”
Hey, wish granted, no problem.
Kept singing, spinning freely. Dance fever hit outside too. Acapella trot had them raging. I sang through the madness.
“Come back~ my love~”
“Atta! Great!”
Plenty wanted spins. Did them all in turn. Spun the eldest with pinned white hair—song ended.
“That’s it. Zenith’s Cha Dowon.”
Leader hyung would facepalm seeing this.
*Sorry a bit.*