Variety Show: Cabbage Pulling and Steamy Tension
"But after eating this, do we have to do anything else separately?"
I ask Ria while digging into the meal.
The moment we arrive at the location, the two of them wrestle with the hearth, so I chop the firewood, light the fire, and even cook the rice in their place. I originally planned to leave the cooking to the two women, but cooking in a real cauldron isn't easy, so I step in—thanks to my own experience. Lucky I'm a country boy... Otherwise, the ridiculous show we'd have put on just for one meal doesn't even bear thinking about.
Anyway, all we've done since arriving is eat heartily, and that's it. These scenes should fill some airtime, but ending here and taking a break feels a bit off. Wasn't this show more than that? From what I remember monitoring episodes, they tended gardens and went fishing too...
Then Ria, tearing into some green onion pancakes with gusto, glances at Han Jiyeong's back and tosses out casually, "We gotta harvest the cabbage and potatoes too."
"Cabbage? Potatoes?"
"Yeah, they said we're doing kimchi."
"...Ah."
I vaguely recall hearing about it in the meeting. The meal wraps up, and the group splits right away. Ria handles cleanup, while Han Jiyeong and I head to the fields. Ria looks disappointed, but there's no helping it. As the main MC of this outdoor meal special, Han Jiyeong has tons of field work experience under her belt, and as the only male guest, I need to go too if we want any decent visuals.
"Has Jimin ever made kimchi before?"
"Yeah, a lot when I was a kid. I grew up in the countryside back then. We farmed everything."
"...R-Really?"
"I had a rough childhood."
"With that face and skin, you look like you were raised in some noble house."
Han Jiyeong blinks in surprise. The production crew who didn't see me chopping wood earlier wears similar expressions.
We reach the field, and there they are—rows of hefty cabbages boasting lush green leaves. No way the crew grew these. The sheer volume spread across the plot is staggering.
"The local grannies who live nearby grew them."
"Ah..."
Come to think of it, I spotted a few houses on the drive in.
"Pick out the ones we'll use for kimchi yourselves."
"Ah... No limit on how many?"
PD Na nods at my question.
"Fair enough? But... gotta be at least ten heads to make the kimchi visuals pop, right?"
Han Jiyeong and I blurt out in unison at "ten heads."
"What?!"
"What?"
Her tone screams Is this guy insane? Mine's different. Ten heads? For what?
"And you'll need ingredients for the kimchi too, right? Chili powder, salt, shrimp sauce, that stuff. Buy it all with cabbages."
"No, this bastard...!"
Han Jiyeong bickers with the crew amid grumbles. I chuckle at the sight, then check the price list the junior writer hands over.
Chili powder, salt, ginger, minced garlic, fermented seafood... To cover everything, we'll need about thirty heads, roughly. The rest—cabbages not for our kimchi—seem meant for the grannies who tend the field. Even for experienced elders, bending over to yank them out isn't easy.
"You got knives?"
"......"
The writers shake their heads and back away at my words. A bad feeling hits me; I glance at the field and cautiously ask the crew, "...You're not saying we pull these by hand, are you?"
A plastic bag stuffed with work gloves flies my way instead of knives. Han Jiyeong, who's snuck up, sighs deeply and pouts at the cabbage patch.
"You guys really need to pull these yourselves sometime? You think it's easy just 'cause I've played along a few times."
She's chewing out PD Na—turns out this isn't their first rodeo.
"Anyway, you get the situation? Looks like it's just us two. You good?"
"Uh, yeah... It'll work out somehow."
"Love the positive vibe. Let's pull ten and call it—how's that?"
We'll see. My eyes flick to the crew. They're pushing visuals because I'm here, but ten heads to wrap shooting? Doubt it.
Anyway, I slip on the gloves and head to the field. I stroke the top of a cabbage.
"These grew nice."
"Yeah?"
"Yep. Cup it like you're hugging—feel how firm the core is? That's a good one."
"Huh. Never thought about that while pulling."
"Anyway, I'll do the pulling. Sis, just tidy the outer leaves."
Han Jiyeong's eyes go wide at "sis." She beams like she's waited forever for it, grinning ear to ear.
"...Sis? Oh my, Jimin. Did you just call me sis?"
"Yeah? You are my sis."
"Right, I am. Hey! PD Na, you hear that?"
She gloats triumphantly at PD Na. After bragging forever, she fans herself with her hand, eyeing me—it's hilarious, and I can't help laughing. Oh Minseo and Choi Nahee do the same. Call them "sis" occasionally, and they light up.
Put myself in their shoes... A twenty-year-old girl calling a thirty-something guy 'oppa.' Makes sense they'd love it.
While Han Jiyeong trims the tough outer leaves—the hard part—I handle the pulling. I roll my shoulders, get in position, and the female crew watches anxiously.
"Think you can pull it?"
I shoot them an incredulous look.
"Of course. I'm a guy, after all..."
The camera director backs me up. "Han Jimin looks scrawny but he's strong."
It's the same guy who filmed me chopping wood. Pulling cabbages is easy with the trick. Grip wide like hugging, focus strength, push one way to loosen roots. Twist and pull slow—bam, out comes a massive head.
"Whoa...!"
Gasps erupt as the big cabbage pops free in seconds. Han Jiyeong trots over from trimming leaves.
"How'd you do that? This monster?"
"All technique."
I keep yanking them out effortlessly. Doesn't take much power, but after a bit, sweat beads on my forehead. Time to pad the footage and give some eye candy—I shrug off my windbreaker. Then I lift my dirt-streaked tee to wipe my brow.
The moment my abs gleam under the clinging shirt...
"......"
Silence blankets the set. Not just Han Jiyeong—every crew member's gaze locks on me. Their eyes burn so hot, no missing it.
"...Damn."
Han Jiyeong stares dreamily, then checks the camera and whips her head away, hiding her face.
"Jimin, hot? Want some water?"
"Ah, yeah. Thanks."
The head writer brings it herself. Same voice as our first meeting, but trembling slightly—thanks to the abs?
This is why sexy appeal is scary.
I flash them again while pulling, and Han Jiyeong—done with her end—approaches. She casually sweeps hair back with one hand, but her lips curve smugly.
"Our Jimin's working up a sweat, huh?"
Sounds caring, but her eyes rake my body. It's fun, so I smirk.
"I work out hard. Stamina's national power, right?"
"Stamina's national power?"
"Yeah. Gotta have it to work—and do other stuff."
"Other stuff?"
I shrug with a grin at her loaded question.
"Mm... Night work?"
"Ugh, listen to this kid. You sure you're twenty?"
She bursts out laughing, playing it off smoothly. But her earlobes flush bright red.
Anyway, cabbage pulling's a smash hit. We exceed their quota and pull dozens more for the grannies. Back home, we make kimchi and boil pork belly—more footage. I carry it all, naturally. Ria hustles to help me, but Han Jiyeong lounges like royalty.
"Anything else besides eating?"
"Nah, I'm off today."
"......"
The hardworking guest shows up, and she flops. It's amusing, so Ria and I flirt while prepping everything from broth to meat. Our chemistry comes off super sweet, delighting PD Na and the crew.
Is this why Han Jiyeong's hooked? Pros at this really stand out.
We chat over the meal, squeezing out more footage, and the day wraps.
I wash up and enter the room. Ria's doing skincare, prepping for bed.
"Where's your senior?"
"Went to wash."
I nod, tidy my stuff, then spot the bedding: blankets and pillows laid out. One, two... three?
"...We all sleeping here together?"
"Guess so. Kinda weird, right?"
"Nah, I'm fine... but."
I check for cameras—just in case. None visible. Probably only in the living room; no bedtime shots.
"No cameras here?"
"Nope. They don't film that. Without footage, who knows..."
If they edit today's haul well, it'll fill at least two episodes. Tons of gold.
As I unpack, Ria turns and asks, "How was today?"
"Tiring, but fun. You?"
"Great. Cooking with my Jimin."
She loved our kimchi and pork teamwork. We came off like a couple—or newlyweds—churning out cute scenes. Once it airs, fan comments will explode.
"This might spark dating rumors."
"I'd own it right away."
"For real?"
I nod at her words. In a normal world, maybe hesitate—but here? Rumors do no harm. With that bizarre harem law, fans mostly envy or cheer. Breakups hurt the image way more.
"Obviously. You're my future wife..."
I trail off, slipping a hand under her thin nightie to fondle her breast.
"Hng...!"
She blushes but arches into my touch.
"Wanna do it with Jimin so bad..."
I tug her nipple lightly; she moans hotly, unable to hold back, and nips my ear. Her eyes were already hungry during filming—now alone, she's in full heat.
I toy with her breast, leaning to suckle, when...
[No, isn't the water too cold?]
Han Jiyeong's voice echoes from outside. We break apart hastily, postponing for later.