Chapter 246
Chapter 246
Production for the variety show went even smoother than expected.
I had originally planned to just set up some unmanned cameras and release it in an episodic format on WeTube, but the headquarters must have caught wind of it because they contacted us immediately.
After poking around a bit, it seemed a drama had been canceled for about two weeks due to issues with the cast. They were offering to plug us into that slot.
Obviously, it wasn't a typical proposal.
"They're being much more humble than I expected."
"Right? They're definitely walking on eggshells!"
The others reached the same conclusion.
Anyone could see this was a strategy to bow down and smooth over their relationship with TeSTAR.
However, Bae Se-jin wasn't pleased, feeling like it was a bait-and-switch reconciliation tactic.
"It feels like they're telling us to take this and keep our mouths shut. And it's not even music activities, it's a variety show...!"
That might have been true, but he couldn't push that opinion too strongly.
"Of course... since we decided not to sue, I guess it doesn't matter if we accept it."
Because we had already reached the conclusion not to file a lawsuit.
"Ah, hyung. About that."
"Huh?"
"I was thinking of gathering and organizing the materials everyone collected for the lawsuit. Would that be okay?"
"Oh, uh! I don't mind, but... why?"
"There's something I want to check."
"...?"
Bae Se-jin looked puzzled but handed over the materials without a fuss.
And I was a little surprised.
...He looked up all the legal precedents.
From the situation with the former manager to legal consultations. The traces of his meticulous and realistic data collection were evident.
If I added the call recordings and text logs I had saved, this would actually make for a very plausible set of litigation materials.
I had to admit it.
This is impressive.
If Bae Se-jin had been given the chance, he really might have won the case.
The problem was that it would have taken at least a year, and even if we won, the industry atmosphere meant no agency or major broadcaster would have taken us in.
But as Bae Se-jin said, if cases like this piled up, the atmosphere would eventually change.
"S-so, how is it?"
I gave him an honest answer. This evidence of effort and focus deserved it.
"Actually, I'm wondering if we can achieve the same effect as a lawsuit through a different direction."
"...! Is that possible?"
"I'm still thinking it over, so I'm not sure... but the materials you prepared are so good. Once I've organized my thoughts, I'd like to consult with you. Would that be okay?"
"Of course it's okay!"
Bae Se-jin seemed a bit embarrassed after saying it, but his mood seemed to have improved significantly.
...I'll have to organize this further.
I tucked the files away on my smartphone for now.
With the talk of the lawsuit settled, we readily accepted the headquarters' offer. A TV slot was a good thing.
As for the fact that the scale ballooned as professional variety show staff were rapidly attached... I wasn't entirely sure if that was a purely positive development.
This is what was said at the hastily arranged first meeting:
"We've scouted an island!"
"...Excuse me?"
"Come on, TeSTAR fans are everywhere in the country! Some of the more intense ones might follow you!
The production crew beamed as they pulled up data on the screen.
"So, there's an island that was used for another variety show, and we've booked the whole thing."
From what I heard, it was a private island owned by some wealthy person, and they had built a pretty impressive villa there.
Moreover, an escape-themed variety show had been filmed there earlier this year, so the place was already well-equipped with broadcasting facilities.
I also heard that this saved them a lot of time, which they were short on.
"It's perfect, right? It'll fit the image of TeSTAR members relaxing and enjoying themselves in nature."
While the production crew looked proud of themselves for managing this within the budget, the members were a bit taken aback.
I wonder if we'll actually be able to pull off a 'relaxing' vibe.
The scale had grown so much that it felt like we'd have to work with our game faces on.
However, the production crew was firm.
"Just play! Please, just relax and play!"
"Uh, will that really be okay?"
"Of course! In a healing variety show, things like story and screen time are handled in editing!"
They were a very self-directed production crew.
"Tell us everything you want to do! Yachting? Massages? Yoga?"
"Let's eat king crab!!"
"King crab sounds great!"
Cha Yu-jin was the first to cave, and before long, it turned into a forum where every single one of them was venting about what they wanted to do.
After suggestions for campfires, swimming, meditation, and even hiking came out, the question finally turned to me.
"What about you, Moon-dae-ssi?"
"I... well. I was thinking of trying some cooking."
It was suitable for public content, and since I wasn't bad at it, it would be worth watching.
However, it seemed the production crew had already planned to include cooking as a basic element.
"Since you'll end up doing that naturally anyway~ is there anything else special you'd like to do while resting?"
Cha Yu-jin chimed in.
"Moon-dae-hyung is great at taking pictures! He's the best!"
"Oh~ Then it would be nice for you to walk around the island taking photos together!"
The amount of physical activity is increasing rapidly.
I abandoned my plan to stay indoors as much as possible. It looked like I was going to end up working properly after all.
And after many twists and turns, the first day of filming arrived.
"……?"
"Is this really it?"
The production crew released us into a magnificent villa where unmanned cameras were installed everywhere.
Literally, without any instructions or interference.
"Uh... um, aren't there any games?"
"I-I thought they'd at least give us a mission...."
There were none.
Seven guys had simply entered a large three-story villa on an island with breathtaking views of the beach, mountains, and wildflower paths.
"……."
"……."
The guys, who had been sitting awkwardly in the living room, soon understood the situation.
"They really want us to do whatever we want."
"Wow, this is a first."
And soon, true to their nature, they excitedly began to explore the villa.
"Wow, this room is great!"
"The rooms are basically for two people... Ah, this looks like a room where three people can sleep together!"
"It's really big!"
"...Moon-dae, what are you doing?"
"Checking the water pressure."
The villa building was nice. I didn't know how they managed to build and maintain this on such a remote island, but it was fully equipped with gas and water pipes.
Maybe there's a water tank on the roof.
Anyway, except for the fact that individual rooms weren't guaranteed because it was a broadcast, it was an environment perfectly suited for recuperation.
[Welcome food for TeSTAR ^^]
In the kitchen, there was even a snack basket with flower necklaces and a card.
When I opened the refrigerator, it was fully stocked with ingredients.
It's impressive, but...
To be honest, I felt like the footage wouldn't be interesting at all. I quietly closed the refrigerator, which contained a large silkie chicken for samgyetang.
"I want to eat the black chicken! Let's cook it together!"
"Sure."
"Yeeeees!"
Cha Yu-jin is the most excited.
Anyway, after finishing the house tour, the guys who were curious about the outside of the villa began to peer out.
"Is that... a livestock shed?"
"It looks like it."
"Moon-dae-Moon-dae, look at that! That escape variety show! That must be the frame of the set they used there~"
"Interesting."
I didn't know if they hadn't demolished the containers yet or if the owner told them to leave them, but the walls with the broadcast logo were still there.
Well, if we have nothing to do around the third day, it might be okay to go in and take a look. It's the same broadcaster, so they'd like the promotion.
Honestly, I'll be surprised if we even last three days.
What else is there to do here besides eating three meals a day? After exploring the island for a day or two, there won't be anything left to...
"Hyung. What are those?"
"Ah, I thought it would be good for hiking."
"……."
I'll have to dodge that by being the one in charge of cooking.
I looked away from the seven pairs of hiking boots Ryu Cheong-woo had brought, coming up with persuasive arguments like how mountain paths that aren't properly maintained are dangerous.
"Th-there are chicks in the shed...!"
"Heol, they're so cute!"
After that, it was a general atmosphere of exploration.
The livestock shed right next to the villa, which we visited first, was filled with chickens and chicks. Looking at the setup, it seemed to have been built for this occasion.
Ignoring the guys who were losing their minds over how cute the chicks were, I could roughly guess the purpose.
They probably put them there so we can go 'egg raiding.'
Isn't that a standard rule for these kinds of variety shows?
Then we looked at the beach, took a walk along a nearby path overflowing with wildflowers, and had a simple meal.
The menu was the easiest: kimchi jjigae.
"The rice was already made. There's canned ham, too."
"...The stew is delicious."
"Hmm, shall we go get some eggs from the chicken coop?"
By this point, you start to get a feel for it.
This is really no different from a rural retreat.
To be honest, I had almost forgotten about the cameras. Even when we went out for a walk, drones followed us instead of people.
I wondered how natural a picture they were trying to get, but I concluded that the content wouldn't be anything special.
However, around the time we were getting sleepy after lunch.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang out of the blue.
"Oh~"
"Is it finally a mission?"
It wasn't.
"Hello! You're the ones who applied for the meditation class today, right?"
"Heok!"
"Yes, yes...!"
The things we had casually requested during the meeting began to pour into our laps.
From meditation classes to aroma massages.
Experts and equipment arrived in front of the villa at scheduled times.
"Please lie face down on the sunbeds~"
"Yes!"
"Ugh, argh."
It must have been pretty funny to see Bae Se-jin making dying noises while getting a massage.
Anyway, it was the true realization of 'TeSTAR, do whatever you want.'
I wondered if people would get tired of watching others live in luxury on TV, but I felt somewhat relieved because it seemed like it would provide vicarious satisfaction.
Moreover, as if they were trying to maintain at least some boundaries, we had to do the housework ourselves.
This was reasonable. After all, it wouldn't look good if we only showed ourselves playing and then leaving.
Since there were seven of us, it was over quickly, so it wasn't particularly bothersome. Even the guys with no life skills tried their best, so it wouldn't look bad.
"I'm good at cooking!"
"No, you're not good at cooking, but you're good at moving heavy things, so you should do the laundry instead..."
"Kim Rae-bin is bad at cooking."
"No! I was recognized in the last few cooking videos...!"
I didn't know if they'd use this as content, but well, even if it aired, they're always like that, so it wouldn't spark any discord rumors.
And so, three sweet days passed in the blink of an eye.
"Yawn."
"In your heart~ Pa-pang pa-pang..."
Just as the guys were starting to loosen up—sleeping in late or running around the house singing, things they'd only do when cameras weren't around—the production crew contacted us.
Perhaps thinking of the broadcast footage, it came as a text message rather than a phone call.
"Oh? Is it the PD-nim?"
"Yeah."
The text that arrived on Ryu Cheong-woo's smartphone read:
[The weather conditions are expected to worsen. Please focus on indoor activities and stay safe!]
Keun Se-jin, who read it aloud once, shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh~ That could happen. It's been sunny for three days."
"Right. Should we reinforce the livestock shed a bit?"
When we searched, it said there would be wind and rain, so we spent the morning doing the chore of reinforcing the shed.
And that night.
Krak-boom!!!
"Whoa, damn!"
"That was really loud."
As the wind and rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, actually hit, the guys were impressed and spent their time quietly playing board games indoors.
However, the next day.
Boom!! Krak-boom!!
"……."
"...It's still coming down?"
The rain and strong winds didn't stop. In fact, they grew stronger.
"Moon-dae-Moon-dae, look at that."
Looking out the window, I could see waves crashing wildly onto the beach.
If the villa had been built just a little further forward, the water would have rushed inside.
[Everyone, the situation is currently such that we cannot launch a boat or move on foot on the island, so please wait a moment. We will devise a plan soon.]
The humor had completely vanished from the PD's text.
"Mmm."
"They said it would clear up today, but the weather forecast must have been wrong. Oh boy."
And looking at the revised weather forecast attachment, it seemed it would stay like this at least until the day after tomorrow.
We're screwed.
I could already see the future of this broadcast. It would become sluggish as they tried to stretch out the footage taken when it was bright.
Of course, other concerns besides the broadcast also popped up.
"W-we have to feed the chickens..."
At Seon A-hyun's words, Cha Yu-jin asked a question.
"Is our food okay??"
"...!!"
"Wait."
I immediately did the math.
The interval at which they were supposed to supply us with fresh ingredients... was today.
In other words, we were starting to run low.
"We have instant rice and canned food. We won't starve."
"Uuuu."
Cha Yu-jin slumped.
No, it's not just the food.
Since the recording capacity of the cameras needed to be swapped, the staff who visited occasionally had also stopped coming. Overall, everything had come to a standstill.
I reached a conclusion.
"...It looks like the seven of us will have to stay like this for the next two days."
"……."
"Oh……."
Amidst the speechless crowd, Kim Rae-bin gulped and spoke.
"Then... aren't we essentially stranded on a deserted island?"
"……!"
Content I had never imagined had arrived.