Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Translator: Penny
Chapter 44
The red sunset covered the entire sky.
Long shadows stretched across the dirt ground.
From the thatched-roof houses, devoid of any significant activity, only a tranquil atmosphere was felt.
A quiet landscape where only silence lingered.
“Ha-eun. …No, Lady Yoo-hwa.”
The voice that followed was also exceedingly calm.
At the same time, it was familiar.
Enough to recognize who it was without even making eye contact.
“We must escape before the fake Park Do-joon appears. Come, quickly.”
A hand was gently extended.
And, beneath it, the fluttering hem of a dopo.
If it were someone else, I might have followed without any suspicion.
If it were people I hadn't really encountered before, people I was still awkward with.
Because I wouldn't have been able to tell they were lying with just a fleeting glance.
But, because it wasn't.
Because it was someone whose minor habit of twitching his index finger when he had a secret had become familiar to me.
“…I think he’s already appeared. The fake Park Do-joon.”
Instead of taking the hand offered to me, I took a few more steps back.
Almost simultaneously, a question came in a light voice, as usual.
“Oops, was it that obvious?”
The sight of Lee Gun-yeol scratching the back of his head awkwardly and chuckling was as chilling as it could be.
As expected, when a person with narrow eyes plays the villain, the atmosphere is different from the start.
“I’ll make it quick and painless. So, just get caught willingly.”
“I don’t want to end it yet.”
“Come on, what are you going to do now? The others don’t even know where you are yet, do they?”
Like that, one step.
Another step.
Lee Gun-yeol’s shadow, which had been stretched long on the dirt ground, began to fall over me.
Even if I tried to step back further, the mud wall of the thatched-roof house and the crock stand in front of it blocked me.
Truly cornered.
If I grabbed that hand full of bad intentions tightly or rolled on the ground and forcibly resisted, I could buy some more time.
But no matter what, I didn’t think I could hold out until the others found me.
“Can’t you at least let me pretend to run away?”
“Haha. Pretend to run away. I know how good you are at running.”
“I’m sure I’m faster than you, mister?”
“I think we’re about equal?”
I tried to buy time with words for now.
Either way, struggling a little more would be better than being eliminated quietly.
Like that, forcibly continuing the conversation with the fake Park Do-joon.
I wondered and wondered if there was any way out.
-Thud.
‘…Huh?’
I belatedly realized that the height of the crock stand right behind me wasn’t that high.
I was concerned that I was wearing a stuffy hanbok, but it wasn’t so uncomfortable that I couldn’t move at all.
The mud wall behind the crock stand was also high enough to climb over if I stepped on the crock stand.
‘…At this height, I probably won’t break anything if I fall.’
Of course, I didn’t know what was beyond the mud wall.
But I thought it would be better to do something than to be trapped in the thatched-roof house and be eliminated.
From the start, the program was called Don't Stop People.
I thought that quietly hiding in a secluded place and being eliminated in vain was a sight that didn't live up to the program's name.
“Sir, fake Park Do-joon. Do you really want to harm this girl so much?”
“What can I do when things have come to this?”
“Please, sir. I haven’t even been to a flower viewing in spring or a maple leaf viewing in autumn yet.”
“You can do those things to your heart’s content in your next life.”
The moment the fake Park Do-joon took another step towards me.
With my eyes, which had been full of anxiety until now, wide open, I slightly peeked my head to the side.
“Oh, oh…! Sir Jeon Dong-guk!”
“?!”
The name of the person who could solve this situation more reliably than anyone else.
At the same time, I shouted the name that could deceive the fake Park Do-joon more reliably than any other name.
Immediately after, I jumped onto the crock stand right behind me.
-Clatter.
The lid of the crock stand, which was not fixed by anything, shook slightly under my feet.
Even so, without even taking a breath, I immediately grabbed the edge of the mud wall and jumped over it.
“Ha, Ha-eun! Danger─!”
But, for what reason.
-Cushion.
‘…?’
Instead of the hard dirt ground, I felt something soft and squishy.
In addition, my feet were still floating in the air.
Without realizing it, I slightly opened my eyes, which I had closed.
And, at the same time, I faced.
“I…I thought my heart was going to drop, Lady Yoo-hwa. Why are you suddenly jumping off the wall?”
The sight of Jeon Dong-guk holding me in his arms in a so-called ‘princess carry’ position.
“…Oh. It’s the real Sir Jeon Dong-guk.”
“Then is there also a fake Sir Jeon Dong-guk?”
Like that, both Jeon Dong-guk and I were bewildered, not knowing what was going on.
“Wow, I thought something really bad was going to happen….”
Only then did I come to my senses when I saw the fake Park Do-joon, who was peeking his head over the mud wall and sighing in relief.
Immediately after, I quickly reached out my arms, which had been hanging limply towards the ground, and hugged Jeon Dong-guk’s thick neck.
“Sir, please take me to the escape location quickly. If this continues, that bad thug will harm me.”
“Th, thug? Where did you learn such words?”
“That’s not important right now! Hurry!”
As a result, Jeon Dong-guk, who still had a confused expression, started running as I told him to.
Because he was the person who had obtained the most hints about the final mission today, he was able to find the final location quickly.
Soon, at the same time as Jeon Dong-guk and I finally climbed onto the UFO-shaped stage.
-Bang!
-Pow!...
Brilliant fireworks and confetti scattered everywhere.
It was a victory.
“Ha, Ha-eun…. Still, how could you think of climbing over the wall there?”
“Why are you saying that now, Gun-yeol? Thanks to that, we got a great highlight.”
“It’s because I’m worried, because I’m worried.”
“It’s not because you’re disappointed that you missed the chance to win right in front of you?”
“…What do you think of me, hyung?”
It was after the [Don't Stop People: You Who Came From the Stars Special] recording had somehow finished.
The Don't Stop People members, who were waiting for their respective managers in the waiting room, were having a lively conversation about the various appearances of Ha-eun they had witnessed today.
Ha-eun, who was a guest, was also sitting quietly on the sofa right next to Lee Gun-yeol.
However, because Lee Gun-yeol, who had witnessed Ha-eun performing a dangerous wall climb with his own two eyes a while ago, kept giving her the side-eye.
Unlike during the recording, when she didn't hesitate to say historical drama lines.
She was hardly saying anything, almost like she had swallowed honey.
However, the biggest reason why Ha-eun is currently silent was different.
‘…I have to arrive by 9 o’clock at the latest.’
That was because of a huge incident that would happen in a few hours.
At the same time, it was an incident that I had been constantly worrying about since I first met the people called Deobeulli.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this moment was the most nerve-wracking moment in Ha-eun's 12 years of life.
Unlike movies or dramas, where you can always reshoot even if there is an NG, if you can't stop that incident, it will never be able to be reversed.
That's why I came to the Don't Stop People recording studio in the same car as Lee Gun-yeol this morning.
That way, I would be able to ride in the same car as Lee Gun-yeol even after the Don't Stop People recording was over.
About 10 minutes passed since then, and Lee Gun-yeol's manager finally arrived.
After plopping down in the seat right next to Lee Gun-yeol, just like this morning.
“Hey, Ha-eun. Are you sulking because I scolded you earlier? Why haven’t you said anything since earlier?”
The moment Lee Gun-yeol, who had been looking at Ha-eun’s expression for no reason because she had been wearing a serious expression for quite a while, spoke to her.
-Swish!
After deliberately crossing her arms with a greatly exaggerated gesture.
“Hmph. It’s not because of you, mister."She showed Lee Gun-yeol and his manager, Baek Eun-hyuk, a look that clearly said, 'I’m angry.'"This was an unfamiliar appearance that Lee Gun-yeol had never encountered in the past 5 years of knowing Ha-eun.
Therefore, it was inevitable that Lee Gun-yeol, who was slightly embarrassed by Ha-eun's appearance, which was unlike her usual self, would ask why Ha-eun was doing this.
“If…If you’re not sulking because of me…. Then who are you sulking because of?”
“Lee Jun, mister. He clearly said he would buy me a delicious dinner if I won in Don't Stop People, but he’s not answering no matter how many times I call.”
Almost everything Ha-eun said was a blatant lie.
Except for the part about not answering no matter how many times I call, there was no truth in it.
However, in order to confirm that Ha-eun's words were a lie, I had to contact Lee Jun.
“…Oh. He’s really not answering.”
Lee Gun-yeol, who had confirmed that he wasn't answering his phone either, had no choice but to believe Ha-eun's words for now.
It was after Ha-eun, who had been wearing a noticeably sulky expression since when, said that she was going to find Lee Jun right now.
“Huh? To that extent? Anyway, tomorrow is your singing lesson, so can’t you just meet him tomorrow?”
“The thing I hate most in the world is people who don’t keep their promises. I’m going to get Lee Jun, mister, to buy me dinner no matter what today.”
It was nothing more than a forced argument.
However, Ha-eun, who had always shown a maturity that was not like a child, let alone such stubbornness.
When you think about it, the one who was at fault right now was Lee Jun, who was unilaterally ignoring her, not Ha-eun.
“Well…. Okay. A man has to keep his promise once he makes it.”
I decided to do as Ha-eun said for now.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't that difficult of a request.
As a result, Baek Eun-hyuk, who was driving, drove the car towards Deobeulli's studio instead of Ha-eun's house.
Ha-eun, who had been calling Lee Jun's manager's contact information, which she had obtained in advance a long time ago, over and over again, and finally found out Lee Jun's current location from Lee Jun's manager.
“…Ha. He completely forgot about the promise he made with me and is drinking with his friends, huh….”
She muttered a huge soliloquy that Lee Gun-yeol and Baek Eun-hyuk couldn't help but pretend not to hear.
However, because the voice was so sharp and low.
‘I heard that when a kid who doesn’t usually get angry gets angry, it’s so scary. It was real….'
Lee Gun-yeol, who had been glancing at Ha-eun right next to him, suddenly got goosebumps.
In the end, today's final destination was a hof house located on the main street.
However, no matter what, Ha-eun, who was an elementary school student, couldn't openly enter the hof house.
“Wait here, Ha-eun. I’ll drag Jun out as soon as I find him.”
Lee Gun-yeol, who was an adult, said that he would bring Lee Jun instead of Ha-eun.
However, Ha-eun, who grabbed Lee Gun-yeol and stopped him, said.
“…Lee Jun, mister’s car is over there. I’m going to hide inside and judge Lee Jun, mister, when he gets in the car.”
“Is…Is this something you have to judge?”
“If you commit a crime, you have to be judged.”
She said that she would wait until Lee Jun appeared in front of Ha-eun on his own.
Lee Gun-yeol questioned whether he really had to go that far, but because Ha-eun's expression was still so fierce.
-Beep.
Through the auxiliary key in Lee Gun-yeol's car drawer, he ended up hiding in the back seat of Lee Jun's car with Ha-eun.
Like that, time flowed and flowed in suffocating tension.
“…He’s out.”
Ha-eun, who finally found Lee Jun, who had appeared outside the hof house, gestured to Lee Gun-yeol next to her to be quiet.
Soon, with a beep, the door of the front seat of the car opened, and Lee Jun sat down in the driver's seat with a thud.
As expected, the strong smell of beer began to fill the car.
The problem was that Lee Jun, who hadn't noticed the presence of Ha-eun and Lee Gun-yeol, fastened his seat belt and changed the car gear from parking mode to driving mode at the same time.
It was at that moment that Ha-eun's hand, which had been forcibly blocking Lee Gun-yeol's mouth until now, slowly fell down.
Almost simultaneously, Lee Gun-yeol's hand changed the car gear back to parking mode with the momentum to almost break it.
“…Hey.”
“!??!!? Why, why are you here?!”
Lee Gun-yeol's eyes, which had only been looking at Ha-eun's expression until just now, had truly gone crazy.
That was because the sight that Lee Gun-yeol had witnessed just before was the kind of sight that could not be tolerated at any moment.
After quietly lowering her waist and opening the back seat door, Ha-eun quietly got out of the car again and closed the car door.
It was right after that that Lee Jun's white 5-seater sedan began to shake violently.
“Um, Miss Ha-eun…. Can I ask what the heck is going on right now?”
“Ah, not yet. Still, the manager will find out in a few days…. For now, let’s just leave the uncles alone.”
With those words, Ha-eun grabbed Baek Eun-hyuk's hand and led him somewhere, saying that she would go to the convenience store for a while.
As a result, Baek Eun-hyuk also ended up following Ha-eun to a nearby convenience store and sharing a triangle kimbap that was on a 1+1 promotion with Ha-eun.
It was a truly complicated day.
In a good way, or in a not-so-good way.
“So, this is the trophy you received for winning Don't Stop People?”
“Yeah.”
“…Give it to me for a second.”
Not even a few seconds later, she bit it.
And, crunch.
“Ouch! This isn’t real gold!”
“Hmm, I never said it was gold….”
“If…If it’s gold-plated, you should have told me in advance!”
Strictly speaking, Da-yeon had suddenly taken Ha-eun's trophy before she could even say anything.
However, as Da-yeon had always done, that didn't matter much.
As a result, Da-yeon's storm of nagging poured down on Ha-eun for a while.
Ha-eun, who had listened to it with one ear and let it slip away with the other as always, finally turned to the table in the living room.
To be exact, she stretched out her index finger towards a thick script on the table.
“So, why did you bring that script?”
She asked why Da-yeon, who hadn't made any promises, had barged into Ha-eun's house.
Da-yeon, who had been hesitating and trying to say something for a while, finally took a deep breath.
“Let’s…Let’s do rock-paper-scissors one more time, Lee Ha-eun.”
She requested a rematch with Ha-eun.
The event was still acting.
However, unexpectedly for Da-yeon.
The answer that flowed from Ha-eun's mouth, which had slowly opened, was closer to a refusal than an acceptance.
“Hmm, can’t we do it later with another audition?”
“Wh, what…? Why!”
Without realizing it, she grabbed both of Ha-eun's shoulders tightly and shook Ha-eun roughly.
Even so, Ha-eun's answer didn't change much.
“I…I don’t want to do sick acting. That’s an infectious disease movie.”
“You’ve already done dying acting several times!”
“That’s different from that.”
“What’s different!”
“Anyway, it’s different.For Da-yeon, this appearance of Ha-eun was something she couldn't even imagine.
She couldn't understand why the person who said that you can just keep doing rock-paper-scissors or acting until you win was trying to avoid the match.
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny