Chapter 34
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Gwikok Mountain Lodge Special (1)
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“Let’s clear this up.”
Of all things, a dating scandal.
It was nothing short of a fatal blow for idols.
There was no solid evidence, no articles—it was just fabricated nonsense cooked up by those scumbag netizens….
‘Might as well hit them hard while we’re at it.’
With rumors flying that Sophia was his foreign girlfriend, and even absurd drug allegations spreading, letting them run wild like this would only encourage worse from those bastards.
Just then, a knock at the door, followed by Cha Jae-hyun’s voice from outside.
“Guys. Time to get ready for schedule.”
Right. Schedules first. The problem was Eun Hae-sol….
‘Can this kid even handle today’s schedule?’
I patted the shoulder of Eun Hae-sol, who was staring blankly into space.
“Snap out of it.”
“…….”
“Chin up. You didn’t do anything wrong. We’ll figure out how to address it on set.”
Only then did focus return to Eun Hae-sol’s eyes.
“Let’s go.”
Leading him out to the living room, all the members’ gazes snapped to us. They were craning their necks, checking on Eun Hae-sol’s condition.
That’s when Eun Hae-sol spoke up.
“No one using the bathroom? I’m gonna wash up.”
“Go ahead.”
The moment Eun Hae-sol slipped into the bathroom, the members swarmed over.
“What happened?”
“What’s going on?”
“Ah, one at a time, please….”
Then Baek Si-woo shoved his face in close.
“Is Eun Hae-sol okay?”
“Whoa, you scared me.”
Baek Si-woo stepped back slightly, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Who’s Sophia?”
Right then, the bathroom door creaked open, and the chattering members froze, turning around.
Eun Hae-sol was peeking out.
“Can someone bring me a towel?”
Guess he left it behind somewhere.
Cha Jae-hyun headed to the drying rack as he said,
“I’ll grab it. You guys talk.”
Standing by the rack, Cha Jae-hyun pulled off a towel.
He started toward the bathroom, but then tilted his head at something odd.
“Steamy Sauna Hot Stone?”
“Huh?”
There, in big block letters on the towel in Cha Jae-hyun’s hand: “Steamy Sauna Hot Stone.”
“Why’s a sauna towel here? Whose is this?”
The members flipped it around, inspecting.
“Not mine.”
“Haven’t been to a sauna in over three years.”
Among them, Song Yu-bin hesitated, then slowly raised his hand.
“It’s mine.”
The members’ looks turned subtle as they eyed Song Yu-bin.
“…You stole it?”
“Did you steal it?”
“Didn’t peg Yu-bin for a klepto.”
At their reactions, Song Yu-bin’s face flushed red as if he’d just hit the sauna himself.
“No! My dad runs a sauna—it’s from home. From home.”
Only then did the members nod, convinced.
From the bathroom, Eun Hae-sol’s voice called out.
“When’s that towel coming?”
“Hold on. Coming now.”
Eun Hae-sol took the towel and shut the door. Immediately, the members’ heads swiveled back to me.
“So, who’s Sophia?”
They were genuinely curious.
‘Guess I should tell them.’
I beckoned them closer, speaking softly.
“Sophia is….”
The members leaned in, faces intent, waiting for my answer.
Looking at them, I silently pointed toward the room.
They glanced inside, then turned back, baffled.
“What?”
“She’s in there?”
“Sophia’s in the dorm?”
I let out a short breath.
“It’s a plant.”
Silence fell.
“A plant. Dicotyledon.”
The members exchanged incredulous looks.
“So Sophia’s a plant name…?”
Baek Si-woo shook his head in disbelief once he pieced it together.
“Who the hell has a dating scandal with a plant? What kind of lunatics freak out over a houseplant? Ridiculous.”
The others reacted the same.
“Why’d they trash us? What do they even know?”
“This is insane.”
The conversation about Eun Hae-sol’s dating rumor dragged on like that.
Click—
Eun Hae-sol emerged from the bathroom. The instant the door opened, the members scattered at lightspeed.
Leaving them behind, I took a close look at Eun Hae-sol.
‘This guy’s off.’
Water dripped from his feet. His pale face and damp hair, not properly dried, clung messily, giving off an eerie vibe.
Eun Hae-sol slowly turned to us.
“What were you talking about?”
The members waved their hands in unison.
“Nothing.”
Protecting Eun Hae-sol’s mentality, they avoided the dating rumor entirely.
“Who’s next for the shower?”
Song Yu-bin stood up, and Baek Si-woo jokingly waved the sauna towel.
“Yu-bin, take this!”
Even with the group getting dragged through the mud over Eun Hae-sol’s rumor, they kept up that bright energy.
Their mental strength was impressive.
Or maybe….
‘They might just be hiding how they really feel.’
I closed my eyes, organizing my thoughts.
Now that those toxic netizens had us in their sights, they’d pull out all the stops to tear us down.
The kind of trash who spends all day at their computers just to dent our celeb image with hate comments.
Part of me thought, why bother with scum like that? Just ignore and move on.
Feed them attention, and they only rampage harder.
But….
‘Easier said than done.’
Sure, don’t feed the trolls, but watching them run rampant boiled my blood.
They’d poured time into this fake scandal—watching it evaporate in a day would be priceless.
“Okay….”
Time to figure out a plan.
* * *
The members filed out of the dorm and into the van one by one. Inside, a vlog camera hung from the ceiling.
“Oh, camera.”
The members flashed V-signs at the vlog cam as they sat.
Buckling up, I heard the chatter beside me.
“What’re we filming today?”
“No clue, right? They won’t even say where we’re going.”
“Must be something huge if they’re this secretive.”
“Surprise attack?”
What could it be?
As rookies doing our first outdoor vlog, probably something tame.
The manager in the driver’s seat started glancing back at us.
‘Why’s he doing that?’
Looked like he had something to say.
I hoped he’d just stay quiet.
But soon enough, his voice rang out.
“You guys saw it, right?”
The chattering members turned.
“Saw what?”
“The dating scandal. You guys are something else. Sasaengs already, scandals popping off debut—must be exhausting.”
This guy’s poking the bear?
No trace of concern in the manager’s smirking grin.
Cha Jae-hyun spoke up.
“We’ll handle it.”
Drop it, basically.
But either oblivious or ignoring him, the manager kept muttering.
“Ahem! Gotta watch out for those around you too. Don’t bite the hand that feeds. Even if you’re doing well, stay humble, yeah?”
I swallowed a sigh, opening my mouth.
“Manager hyung.”
Normally, I’d brush it off, but with my mood already sour, no patience for his bullshit.
“You know we’re filming, right?”
“Huh?”
“Whatever you say might get edited, but the crew’ll see it once it airs, no?”
“W-what’s it matter? I didn’t say anything weird!”
His reaction said otherwise—visibly rattled.
Idiot.
“Our van ride’s going in the vlog too, so let’s keep the vibes positive.”
“Uh….”
The manager clammed up, aware of the camera now.
‘Total eyesore.’
My phone buzzed.
[Baek Si-woo]
ew gross lol
The others nodded at each other, same thought.
The van’s mood lightened right back up.
“Bet it’s some games.”
“Mafia game’d be fun.”
“I want I Am Ground.”
What variety games were there again?
I knew most of them cold, so no sweat….
“What’s I Am Ground?”
Heads turned toward the voice. Eun Hae-sol, blank-faced, clueless.
Baek Si-woo sounded baffled.
“You don’t know I Am Ground?”
“…Nope.”
“No way. You’ve heard of it. I Am Ground, introduce yourself! Anteater one!”
In the silence, blank-faced Eun Hae-sol slowly spoke.
“Hello. I’m Anteater.”
The members’ faces twisted in shock. Undeterred, Eun Hae-sol kept going.
“Age twenty. I like eating ants.”
Total disaster. Did the scandal break him?
“What’re you saying?”
“You said introduce yourself.”
“You doing this on purpose?”
“No. I really don’t know.”
Lived under a rock?
The members murmured at Eun Hae-sol’s media blackout vibe.
“Hey, Hae-sol. Listen up.”
I had to teach him the game.
“Like this: I Am Ground, introduce yourself. Rabbit four—like rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.”
Tapping my knee for rhythm, I explained. Eun Hae-sol finally nodded.
“Ah. Got it.”
Baek Si-woo jumped in.
“Rabbit twenty-five! Means twenty-five times. Got it?”
“Don’t teach him weird shit.”
“Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit….”
Soon Eun Hae-sol was chanting rabbits soullessly.
Leave him be, and he’d seriously do twenty-five.
“Hae-sol. You don’t have to.”
“Okay.”
Weird kid. Doesn’t know a basic game? Unreal.
Though, no friends in school makes sense.
“Next, 369 game go?”
Variety game practice went on for a while.
Before long, the van neared the schedule spot.
“Put these on from now.”
The manager tossed something to the back.
Turning, I saw….
“Eye masks?”
Cute animal ones.
Not revealing the location till arrival, huh.
“Where the hell are they taking us?”
“Kinda scary now.”
“Not somewhere weird, right?”
Amid the nervous members, Cha Jae-hyun grabbed an eye mask.
“Shall we?”
They put them on reluctantly, one by one. Darkness swallowed everything.
“Eye mask’s making me sleepy.”
“No. Almost there.”
“Sleeping with eye mask on: eye mask.”
“Si-woo hyung, nah.”
Ignoring Baek Si-woo’s dumb pun, I pondered the destination as the van started bumping.
Rumble rumble—
“Uphill?”
“Bumpy.”
“Whoa, shaking.”
Seemed like a remote spot, so maybe….
‘Nah.’
I shook my head quick.
‘No way they go hard for our first vlog.’
Crew hadn’t analyzed our style yet—probably light warm-up stuff.
How much time passed? The van jerked to a stop.
Door opened, manager’s voice.
“Out.”
Finally here. Stepping out, anxiety building over what awaited.
“Can’t see a thing.”
“Hold hands, go slow!”
“One step at a time. One step.”
The vlog PD’s voice cut in.
“Take off the eye masks!”
Pulling it off, right there in front….
“Welcome to Gwikok Mountain Lodge!”
A lodge draped in colorful fabrics, oozing horror vibes.
No way….
‘It was the Gwikok Mountain Lodge special?’