The First Shoot
A week passed, and filming began.
The crew gathered at the detached house that would serve as the set, bustling in every direction.
"They said Yujin has to wait a little. Want to sit here with Mom and watch?"
Yujin nodded, took her mother's hand, and sat in a chair set aside in a corner of the set.
Today's main attraction was simple. This season's Couple No. 1—the man and woman who would become Yujin's virtual parents—would appear at the newlywed house first, and then Yujin would be sprung on them as a surprise.
"Sung Areum has arrived!"
At the staffer's call, a woman in a bright sundress stepped onto the set with a radiant smile.
She was Sung Areum of the girl group Loverich, three years into her debut. Her vivid looks seemed to light the whole set the moment she walked in.
"Wow... she's pretty. Right?"
"Yeah. Way prettier than Mom."
"This kid, I swear."
Dazzled by her first look at a celebrity in the flesh, Hyejin waited with Yujin in the corner of the set for filming to start.
Soon the interview began with the woman who had just arrived—Sung Areum.
"Hello. I'm Sung Areum of Loverich."
"Is today the first time you'll be meeting your husband?"
"Yes. They wouldn't tell anyone until the day of, so I really have no idea who it is."
As if shy, Areum tucked her bob behind her ear and flashed a bright smile at the camera.
"Do you happen to have an ideal type?"
"I'd like someone kind and warm."
Ever the model idol, Areum gave the textbook answer and carried the interview through. Before long she finished and went into the newlywed house ahead of everyone else.
A little later, a black van pulled up at the shoot.
"Lee Yongjun is coming in!"
The door opened at the staffer's call, and a tall man stepped out.
He was a young actor whose stock had been soaring lately. A gentle face and striking features had already won him a large female fanbase.
"He's handsome..."
The sigh slipped out of Hyejin on its own. Yujin looked up at her mother's face.
"Mom, your face is way too bright."
"Handsome is the best there is, Yujin."
And so Lee Yongjun's interview began as well.
"Nice to meet you. I'm actor Lee Yongjun."
"Seeing you in person, you're even more impressive than on screen. Were you told who your wife is today?"
"No, I haven't heard yet. I'm very curious."
Yongjun smiled, anticipation written all over it, and started glancing around.
"Has she already arrived?"
"Yes, she's waiting inside the house right now. Could you tell us what kind of person you'd like your wife to be?"
"I'd like someone with a bright, positive energy."
A few more questions followed, and then Yongjun headed for the house where his wife was waiting, his steps light with excitement.
"Ma'am, I think you can start getting ready."
A moment later, a crew member led Yujin up to the door.
"Today, you just call the auntie and uncle you saw earlier Mom and Dad. Got it?"
Yujin had already rehearsed with the other staff so she wouldn't feel awkward calling strangers Mom and Dad, but the crew member was still uneasy, and gave her one last reminder.
Inside, it was beginning. The two of them were facing each other for the first time.
"Honey, I'm home."
Yongjun stepped lightly into the house and greeted Sung Areum, who sat on the sofa with a book hiding her face.
Areum slowly lowered the book and welcomed him with a bright smile.
"Ehh... hello."
The situation was clearly awkward. Areum twisted where she sat and offered Yongjun a shy little greeting.
"Whoa, it's Areum? I'm a fan."
"Really? I'm honored. I've been watching your work too, Yongjun."
The awkwardness didn't last. The two of them slipped naturally into conversation.
"I'm twenty-five. And you, Areum...?"
"You're a year older than me. I'm twenty-four. Should I call you oppa? And you can speak comfortably."
Areum avoided his eyes and asked it carefully.
Caught off guard, Yongjun flushed to the tips of his ears and nodded.
"Uh, yeah."
A moment later, Producer Park Minseok spoke to the two of them.
"Have you had a chance to say hello? The truth is, this season we've added one special element that wasn't there before."
Both pairs of eyes lit with curiosity, and Minseok went on.
"Once you're married, what usually comes next?"
"A honeymoon, right away."
Yongjun answered.
"No, not that."
The two of them started thinking. After a few wrong answers, the right one finally left their mouths.
"Don't tell me... a baby?"
When Areum ventured it carefully, Minseok snapped his fingers.
"Ooh! Correct! That's exactly it. This season, your concept is parenting!"
"Whaaat!?"
"Wait, for real?"
Their shocked cries filled the newlywed house.
"All right, then we ought to meet your child, shouldn't we? Shall the two of you head to the front door together?"
Minseok finished with a mischievous smile and disappeared.
The two of them stared at each other, dumbfounded, then moved toward the entryway as if someone were pushing them from behind.
"Oppa, did you hear about this?"
"N-no. I just found out too. Today was the first I heard my wife was you."
Still a little stiff with each other, they talked as they came to a slow stop in front of the door.
"Should I open it?"
"Let's open it together."
On a count of one, two, three, they carefully turned the handle.
Standing just outside was Yujin, dressed up cute.
"Hello, Mom. Dad."
Yujin pressed both hands together at her belly and bowed to them. Contrary to every worry of the staff and Hyejin, she called them Mom and Dad as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Caught off guard by the child's bright, sturdy greeting, the two of them still felt a faint smile tug at their mouths.
"Oh my, this must be our kid. She's so cute."
"Hi. Want to come in for now?"
Yongjun scooped Yujin up in one arm and headed into the living room.
Once they got there, the two of them sat on the sofa with her.
"What's our baby's name?"
Areum asked gently.
"It's Yujin. Um... the uncles said not to say my last name."
At the child's innocent answer, quick-witted Areum said, laughter in her voice:
"I can see why those uncles said that. How about our Yujin is Lee Yujin, just for today?"
"Okay!"
Areum stroked Yujin's hair and shot Yongjun a playful look.
"How does it feel, suddenly having a son?"
"It's flustering. But if she's this cute, maybe it's actually nice?"
Just then Minseok barged in again.
"Now, if there's one thing you two have wrong, Miss Yujin is your daughter."
"A daughter?"
At that, Yongjun and Areum looked at Yujin.
"Oh my, sorry. Uh... Mommy made a mistake?"
Areum tried out the word Mom with visible awkwardness and apologized.
"All right. From here on, you're leaving this house and going to an amusement park. After that, missions will come through your phones. And the two of you will be responsible for looking after your daughter, Miss Yujin."
"Right now?"
"Yes, of course."
Thrown, the two of them looked back and forth between each other's faces.
And just like that, the sudden trip to the amusement park was decided.
Guided outside by the production team, the three of them found a black van already waiting.
Yongjun settled Yujin into the child seat in the back, then went to the driver's seat. Areum sat beside Yujin.
The moment the doors closed, a subtle tension filled the car.
Yongjun checked on Yujin through the rearview mirror and took the wheel.
"We're heading out. Yujin, seat belt on tight?"
"Yes, I checked."
"Mom, I want a snack."
Yujin held out her tiny hands and tugged at Areum's sleeve. She had already spotted the snacks the crew had stashed in the car.
"Huh? Oh—okay. Mommy'll open it. Want this one?"
"Yes!"
Areum tore the bag open and handed her a piece, and Yujin munched contentedly, gazing out the window.
"Yujin, have you ever been to an amusement park?"
Areum asked. Yujin shook her head hard, still chewing.
"Really? So this is your first time, with Mom and Dad?"
"Yes, first time!"
When Yujin said it with all her energy, Areum's expression melted on the spot.
"Augh! Too cute. Yujin, want to take one picture with Mom?"
Areum pulled out her phone and scooted right up beside her.
"Yujin, look here. Kimchi~!"
"Kimchi~!"
With a click, the screen caught the two of them with their faces pressed close.
"Oh my god. This is no joke."
Areum stared at the photo, unable to look away, and let out a gasp of pure delight.
Bathed in all that attention, Yujin didn't last long. Between the lull of the car and the simple fact of a child's body, sleep crashed over her, and her head began to nod.
"Oh? Shh... Oppa, I think Yujin's asleep."
Yongjun checked the back seat in the rearview mirror, eased off the gas, and drove in quiet.
"She really looks like a doll. How does someone even look like that?"
"Right? I've never seen a kid like this either."
Careful not to wake her, they rode the rest of the way in hush, and at last they arrived.
"Yujin, wake up. We're at the amusement park."
Areum shook her gently. Yujin hurried upright, rubbing her eyes.
"Whoa... an amusement park."
Across her previous life and this one, it was the first time she had ever come to a place like this.
Even from the parking lot, the park's dazzling rides showed over the wall.
Yujin's eyes sparkled.
"Oppa, there's a stroller in the trunk."
"I've never pushed a stroller before. This is actually pretty nerve-racking."
Yongjun unfolded the collapsed stroller.
A moment later the camera crew climbed out of the production vehicle that had followed them, and filming began in earnest.