Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Natural Gymnastics
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A few days later, Na Gang-in headed to the set for Baekhansuryeo's sports cosmetics CF shoot.
Before filming the CF, he checked the conditions of the eight idols.
Their physical states had improved compared to a few days ago.
But they were still far from meeting Na Gang-in's or AI Jeon Ji-in's standards.
"Yeah, tell me about it. Maybe I should've just suggested going in wearing a mask, blasting all the monsters, and calling it a day?"
"Oh. Right, this is a cosmetics CF."
Shin Eun-ha had no new movies or dramas lined up these days. She was waiting for Son Tae-min's script to be finalized, and had no plans for anything else in the meantime.
With some free time on her hands, she tagged along to where Na Gang-in was shooting the CF.
But surprisingly, Lee Bo-ra was there today too.
Shin Eun-ha scanned Lee Bo-ra up and down, appraising her.
'Looks like she threw on makeup casually, but it's probably an hour's worth of subtle work. Clothes that seem everyday but hug her figure just right.'
"You really went all out, huh? What are you even doing here?"
Lee Bo-ra beamed bashfully.
"I heard Gang-in oppa was shooting a CF today, so I came to cheer him on."
"Don't cheer him on."
"Why not? He's my lifesaver."
Shin Eun-ha clenched her fist.
"Where do you get off acting cute? Gang-in oppa can't even hear your voice right now."
Lee Bo-ra dropped the cute act and spoke in her normal voice.
"Hey, I was practicing acting. Acting practice."
"And Gang-in oppa has saved my life way more times than yours, okay? So don't try to push in with just that one time."
Lee Bo-ra didn't know the details of the Gangnam Jackal incident or the Nakgwi Pirates case. All she knew was that Na Gang-in had saved Shin Eun-ha on the Gangwon Province set.
Lee Bo-ra's eyes sparkled.
"What story? Can't you tell me?"
Shin Eun-ha replied firmly.
"Nope. No way."
Na Gang-in ended up donning the green full-body tights again, complete with the face-covering hood.
Na Gang-in grumbled.
"I taught those girls gymnastics and even trained them just so I wouldn't have to wear these tights again."
Shin Eun-ha burst into a wide grin at the sight.
"Wow! You said you'd never wear that again, but here you are!"
"Don't laugh."
"I won't. Hehe."
"Don't smirk like that either. It feels like you're mocking me."
"Nah, I'm not."
Lee Bo-ra slipped in slyly.
"Oh my. Gang-in oppa looks cool even in the tights."
Shin Eun-ha stared at her in shock.
"Bo-ra, have you finally lost it? Even you can't call this cool!"
"Yes! It looks cool to me, so I win!"
"Don't win with something this weird!"
Na Gang-in waved them off.
"One's openly teasing me, the other's pretending to defend me while teasing. Both of you, out! Go!"
Baek Mi-so, the president's daughter and PR team member at Baekhansuryeo, visited the set.
She had immediately agreed when Na Gang-in suggested using the idols for this CF. It was a solid idea in her book, no reason to object.
But she just couldn't buy that Na Gang-in was some genius chemist.
'Real geniuses can achieve amazing things even at that age, sure...'
Na Gang-in wandering the set in green tights didn't scream genius.
'Maybe a mad scientist?'
Filming went smoothly.
The eight members of PPF Girls and Angel Warrior Unit threw themselves into acting out a fight against imaginary beasts.
Since it wasn't actual combat between people, Na Gang-in didn't need to intervene much. Still, some moves required his help.
He amplified the idols' actions when needed, making jumps higher or movements more dramatic.
During a break, maknae Choi Ji-hye asked Na Gang-in.
"How were we? Did we do good?"
Na Gang-in sighed deeply.
"No. The CG team's gonna hate it. How do your timing and movements suck this bad? Is it that hard to imagine fighting a beast right there?"
Thanks to the holographic beasts, Na Gang-in could see exactly how much the idols were flailing wildly. Even after he corrected their forms, a lingering awkwardness remained.
"Should I make them do that gymnastics routine for another week and drill them hard?"
Baek Mi-so, standing nearby, overheard and recalled the stretches the idols had been doing before shooting.
'Na Gang-in shook his head at that, then said he'd wear the tights.'
She suggested to the CF director.
"How about filming that too? The stretches PPF Girls and Angel Warrior Unit were doing to warm up."
"Oh, that? Felt pretty good."
The CF director asked the idols about the gymnastics.
Maknae Choi Ji-hye pointed at Na Gang-in.
"Teacher taught us that."
"Na Gang-in did?"
The director asked Na Gang-in.
"The client's suggesting we use that gymnastics in the CF. Any reason not to?"
Na Gang-in pretended to ponder, then asked AI Jeon Ji-in.
"This gymnastics was originally for soldier training. Any risks if civilians see it in a CF and try it at home?"
"How to make it safe?"
"Perfect."
"Means it still has some posture-correction benefits. Let's go with that."
Na Gang-in told the CF PD.
"If viewers try mimicking what these girls learned without guidance, they'll get hurt."
"Too bad. Looked like it'd make a great visual."
"But there's a simple version stripping out all the risky moves."
"Oh. Shall we film that at least?"
Na Gang-in gathered the eight idols.
"I'll teach you an easy one. It's the original minus the tough parts, so you'll pick it up quick."
Maknae Choi Ji-hye whined resentfully.
"That's mean! If there was an easy version, why not start with that?!"
"Then you do the full version solo, Ji-hye."
"Sorry! Spare me!"
The idols had practiced the full corrective gymnastics for days now. Plus, they were used to physical dance routines.
They mastered the easy version in a flash.
The full gymnastics looked flashy but had tough moves. The simple version lacked flair but flowed naturally.
Filming resumed.
The CF director marveled.
"Man, fighting imaginary beasts was cool, but I think this feels even better."
He shot the idols doing gymnastics in various combos: solo, pairs, foursomes, guys only, girls only, all eight together, and more.
Soon, they were filming on their own.
Na Gang-in no longer needed the tights.
He changed into regular clothes and returned.
Out of camera range, Shin Eun-ha and Lee Bo-ra followed along with the gymnastics.
"Like this, right?"
"Shouldn't you twist your waist more here?"
Shin Eun-ha said.
"We should ask Gang-in oppa to teach us properly later. Just the two of us."
"I'll join. The three of us."
"You're out. Don't butt in so cluelessly."
"That's why I have good instincts—I know when to join."
Na Gang-in watched the self-running shoot and said.
"Should've gone with this from the start. Way easier."
"Four of 'em will end up reserves after military service anyway."
Baekhansuryeo PR's Baek Mi-so approached.
"Watching that gymnastics makes me feel healthier already. I've done yoga and Pilates for years, but it feels similar yet the moves are quite different?"
"It's a collection of poses that help correct bodily imbalances, so doing it daily benefits your health."
"I see. What's it called?"
Na Gang-in paused.
'Part of the training to turn civilians into bottom-rung reserves to boost survival rates on isolated battlefields?'
Can't say that. Not "Chonggwon-do gymnastics" either. The official alphanumeric designation would sound even weirder.
Na Gang-in bullshitted smoothly.
"Natural Gymnastics."
"Pardon? Nature? Like Mother Nature?"
"It naturally balances your body, so Natural Gymnastics."
"Ahh. Where can I learn it?"
"No place teaches it."
"Huh?"
"I made it."
Baek Mi-so stared at Na Gang-in in flustered surprise.
"You're... not joking?"
'Did his chemistry genius extend to sports medicine too? What a guy.'
In the green tights, he hadn't seemed like a chemistry whiz. Now in casual clothes, he did.
'He even named a bomb that doesn't exist yet, so I wondered if he was a mad scientist.'
Hearing he'd created a health-boosting gymnastics routine eased her doubts.
She glanced at the set and said.
"We did joint detection tests with the government. Scent detectors, easy to mass-produce, reacted to November B's smell."
Na Gang-in had taught the five agents learning Chonggwon-do how to use those detectors. He'd given it the name November B too.
She asked.
"But how did you even know about that?"
"Obvious from the public formula. Oh, a bomb from this would smell. So it'd trip scent detectors."
Its recipe is simple enough for field production, so leaks could let terrorists or criminals make bombs.
Baek Mi-so said.
"Few know November B's explosive power. But we're recalling everything that's out there just in case. Until then, scent detectors stay on at airports, ports, key facilities."
"Obviously."
November B's key ingredient, VTX-13, was developed by Baekhansuryeo's labs. Only they know the production method. Recall leaks and tightly control future output—no problem.
They decided against a production ban. Nitroglycerin, dynamite's base, is a powerful explosive but used in medicine.
VTX-13 goes into Baekhansuryeo cosmetics.
Baek Mi-so asked.
"But really, just from the formula, you knew it smelled?"
"I predicted it'd explode. No way I'd miss the smell."
"Fair enough."
Baek Mi-so eyed Na Gang-in thoughtfully.
'This guy's the real deal.'
The CF wrapped that day.
Content changed: beast fights cut. Natural Gymnastics featured in various forms instead.
Baek Mi-so showed execs a rough edit, then said.
"They say doing this 'Natural Gymnastics' daily corrects physical imbalances for better health. Promoting it with the CF will create huge synergy."
Baek Seon-cheol asked.
"Health benefits verified?"
"No. Na Gang-in created it himself, so no prior external validation."
"Then why believe it?"
"Showed the footage to three orthopedic doctors, two ex-pro team docs, and other health experts."
"What'd they say?"
"All said it'd benefit health."
"Huh. Even if it doesn't work, won't catch much flak."
"Exactly."
"Who teaches it to customers?"
"Only Na Gang-in for now."
"Hire him as instructor?"
"No. Offered, but he declined."
"Then what?"
"Anyone wanting to learn must watch our CF closely. TV gets 15- and 30-second shorts; full version online."
Baek Seon-cheol's eyes lit up.
"Our CF is the only tutorial for that health gymnastics?"
"Yes. Even if others make tutorials later, ours is the baseline."
Baek Seon-cheol clapped, boasting to the directors.
"Excellent. Perfect. See how well my daughter's handling this?"
An attending director asked.
"But Na Gang-in made it. Copyright issues later?"
"All revenue from the online CF goes to him."
"Ah. Then no problem. What's that even amount to?"