Chapter 48
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Doesn't My Loving Hubby Call Me "Hubby," Chaewon?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Doesn't my loving hubby call Chaewon "hubby"?
As a longtime fan who's watched PD Ahn's variety shows since childhood, if I were making the preview for this shoot, I'd start with ominous BGM over a black screen and these words overlaid.
『There are two men kneeling here.』
……Yeah.
Kang Yumin
"……Hello, Jo Yuri. During my military service, I found great comfort watching everything from IZ*ONE to your solo activities, music videos, stages, and all your other work."
Han Chaewon
"Then why didn't you recognize me?"
Bratty poking right at the sore spot.
I shot Chaewon a quick glare before turning back to the camera with a polite expression.
Kang Yumin
"……Your photos are so stunning that I blanked on your name for a moment. I absolutely didn't fail to recognize you. Yes, it's still my fault, though. I offer my sincerest apologies once again to the Glassi members and you, Jo Yuri."
Han Chaewon
"You couldn't even add extra noodles or udon sides, aren't you sorry to the team? Especially to our May and Mana, who came all the way to a foreign land dying to try authentic Chuncheon chicken galbi?"
I glanced back at our foreign friends who love Korea.
Fujiwara May
"…It's okay. We can eat it later."
Suzuki Mana
"Korean chicken galbi. I really wanted to try the real deal…."
Hmm, what was this feeling?
Like a dad scraping by at the end of the month, only for his young daughter to understand his financial struggles?
Seeing their wistful faces as they let the noodle sides slip away left me speechless.
Kang Yumin
"…Sorry, kids."
That's right. Chuncheon means chicken galbi.
We'd rushed straight to a famous 70-year-old galbi joint upon arriving, but who is this PD we're filming with?
Yang Hyun-seok.
A.K.A. the mischievous PD who toys with our food.
We'd done a character quiz wagering all sorts of sides, buckwheat noodles, fried rice, and drinks…
Han Chaewon
"Hey, you think saying sorry brings back the noodles and udon? And how does it make sense to remember the fandom name but not her name?"
Kang Yumin
"……."
Hello. I'm Kang Yumin, introducing myself as Chaewon's bestie partner this time. I'm sorry. Yes, because I don't know idols well, our team is about to end up with just plain chicken galbi. Not once, but every time I see one and fail to recognize them or get the name wrong, this is already the fourth time kneeling. So I can't even utter a word back to the angry bratty one; I'm just hanging my head. Sorry for not recognizing you. I feel truly sorry to Chaewon, May, and Mana, who's come to Korea for the first time, for teaming up with a guy like me. I'll take the heat.
……And so, we ate lunch without even knowing if the galbi went in through our mouths or noses.
Afterward, I felt a bit resentful toward PD Yang for creating this public apology session.
At the same time, I was racking my brain over how to regain the credit I'd blown on my own tab when—
Kwon Serin
"PD, you sure this is okay?"
Yang Hyun-seok
"If you succeed in the mission, up to ten million won for groceries—"
A mission for glamping food supplies.
Complete various tasks within the time limit, then at the end, spin the elephant trunk to a big roulette wheel and press a finger smeared with ink on the amount section.
Most spots are under 200,000 won, 300,000 if you're really lucky.
And as mentioned, there's ten million won.
In the corner, smaller than a pinky finger.
Yang Hyun-seok
"Everyone, we've raised the limit as high as possible for a special memory, so don't worry and pick one. We're totally fine with it."
I bet the staff cracked up drawing that wheel.
Imagining it fired up the young folks' competitive spirits…
Kang Yumin
"I'm a taekwondo athlete, you know?"
And there was one guy there who spins 1080 degrees whenever he's bored.
That's me.
Yang Hyun-seok.
A.K.A. the PD suffering from loose lips.
Kang Minah
"Woooaaah!!!"
Shin Sumin (Minah's friend)
"Kang Yumin! Kang Yumin!"
Lee Dahyun (Yerin's friend)
"Oppa, take me~!"
Han Chaewon
"You see this?! This is my friend! Come here, my baby…!!"
Kwon Serin
"Yumin, you're the best…!!"
One camera caught the cheering cast.
Lee Hyun-seok (Main Writer)
"……."
Jeong Hyun-jun (Sub Writer)
"……."
Kim Ji-min (Sub Writer)
"……."
Go Yun-jin (Sub PD)
"……."
Pyo Sung-hoon (Sub PD)
"……."
The opposite camera captured the speechless staff.
Yang Hyun-seok
"…………Huh?"
PD Yang's loose lips cost a fortune in ten million won once again.
Han Chaewon
"I hear washers are essential for glamping these days. Let's grab one."
Kwon Serin
"If we're getting a washer, we need a dryer too, right? Hey, go for LG Objet Collection."
Lee Yerin
"Then for balance, fridge should be Samsung Bespoke."
Kang Minah
"I always sleep at Crispy Baba, any nearby?"
Fujiwara May
"…Gotta get a phone."
True to "money's spent by those who've had it," these young rich kids instantly listed ten-million-won buys.
The besties followed suit, mentioning pricey things they'd skipped before…
Yang Hyun-seok
"I was just joking…! Sorry…!"
In the end, PD Yang had to kneel on behalf of the staff.
It was summer.
+++
We could now buy glamping food freely.
Plus per-person 100,000-won vouchers and a short apology broadcast on the dangers of loose lips.
In exchange for those three conditions, PD Yang could finally stand up.
Yang Hyun-seok
"There's a mission during shopping."
But has PD Yang's variety ever gone smoothly?
Yang Hyun-seok
"Bestie partners have the advantage of genuine endearments, right? So we're giving you a chance to shower them during shopping."
Here's the deal.
Shop in bestie pairs with one cart for 15 minutes.
Draw two keywords to say to each other and one shared keyword to hear from others.
Say the pair keywords once per minute to each other; the shared one must be heard by at least one pair during shopping.
Complete all three throughout, and you keep everything bought.
Fail two missions, especially the shared keyword, and second wager with staff using what you bought.
Honestly, after hearing it, I wasn't too worried.
15 minutes isn't short, no price limits on buys, seemed relatively easy.
Lee Yerin
"…No, what kind of bestie calls another 'tangy-sweetie'?"
Kang Minah
"Unnie, wanna swap with us?"
Lee Yerin
"What's yours?"
Kang Minah
"Baby-boo cutie-poo."
Lee Yerin
"Dahyun, I'll do tangy-sweetie."
Kwon Serin
"PD, honestly, Jang Dong-gun and Ko So-young? That's not besties, that's a married couple…."
A situation where nicknames alone gave headaches.
As expected of the evil PD, he was giggling like a kid at our reactions.
The same guy who knelt apologizing earlier?
Truly magnanimous chest.
…Ah, so what about me and Chaewon?
Han Chaewon
"Honey~."
Kang Yumin
"……."
Han Chaewon
"Love you~."
Yep. "Honey" and "Love you."
……What did you rig in that draw?
Han Chaewon
"My loving honey-bunny~."
Bratty one thrilled at shamelessly hubby-ing without a care.
Even gearing up for a kiss under mission pretense…
Snap out of it, bratty.
We're secretly dating.
Han Chaewon
"Doesn't my loving hubby call Chaewon 'hubby'?"
Kang Yumin
"Mission hasn't even started."
Han Chaewon
"Aing."
Kang Yumin
"…'Aing' is straight-up insane, right?"
A situation making me suspect drunken antics.
Girlfriend or not, honeymoon phase or not, not every moment feels lovey-dovey cute.
Uh. No, it's not.
What if your fans see you acting like this to me later?
Of course, it's my choice to date an idol.
I have to handle some exposure, but why is this bratty trying to frame me as the world's worst guy?
Han Chaewon
"Honey, love you~."
Kang Yumin
"Please treat the game as just a game."
I quickly cut away from her dangerous intent to isolate me from society, but as they say, bad timing.
Fujiwara May
"Soulmates?"
Is there such absurdity?
Our shared keyword: "soulmates."
Kang Yumin
"PD, who uses 'soulmates' for besties…."
Yang Hyun-seok
"I said it yesterday watching kindergarteners holding hands."
If you've ever said "Wow, those two are total soulmates" to close besties or heard it, beware.
That person's Pinocchio-level nose king.
…In other words.
Kwon Serin
"Someone has to say it to these two."
The one pair acting most couple-like has to step up.
Me and Chaewon need to act couple-y enough to hear "soulmates" while being all lovey-dovey…
Lee Yerin
"Wow. Calling Chaewon unnie 'honey' and 'love you,' plus getting 'soulmates'? This'll stir controversy."
Kang Yumin
"…Please treat the game as just a game."
I cut another for potential backlash.
+++
Yang Hyun-seok
"Alright, let's start."
Countdown began right after prep.
On PD Yang's signal, everyone dashed to their assigned items as planned.
Chaewon and I pulled our cart to the butcher section for glamping's star: meat…
Han Chaewon
"Honey, doesn't this remind you of our passionately loving old days? Hehe, of course now's still hot."
Bratty gazing seductively across my face.
Doing some unknown roleplay without consulting me.
Kang Yumin
"…Wow, seriously can't get used to it."
Mission aside, her magic nickname drained me with a hollow laugh.
Like seeing chicken feet first time.
Everyone eats them tasty, parents and others do it naturally…
But facing it feels alien, subtle rejection, lips won't part easily.
Assistant Director 1
"30 seconds left."
Meanwhile, the AD trailing us kept announcing time…
Kang Yumin
"Shall we start with your favorite pork, my loving honey?"
I donned my social mask to protect my sanity: the iron face.
There's a saying, right?
People teased for being cute give the reactions others crave.
Similar here.
If I act shy or awkward at "honey" and "love you," it looks like I'm consciously seeing her as a woman, risking Forever suspicion.
So, play it cool like 15-year true besties. Shamelessness.
Yeah, today's the day for this mask.
Kang Yumin
"———."
Han Chaewon
"…This won't get us 'soulmates,' you know?"
……Even so, no match for Chaewon's shopping couple mode.
Han Chaewon
"Love you, baby."
Kang Yumin
"…Honey. It's 'honey,' not 'baby'?"
Han Chaewon
"Yes. Love you, honey."
Chaewon beaming, squeezing our linked arms tighter.
For that instant, forgetting the cameras, I gave a soft chuckle and reply.
With ten people, meat tastes varied a lot.
Even two types plus other foods should suffice…
With ample budget and possible second wager, why skimp?
Han Chaewon
"Auntie, half a jin each of pork belly and double belly."
Pork. Beef. Chicken.
Even lamb.
Any tasty-looking meat went in the cart, turning PD Yang trailing us pale.
To his "Can you eat all this?" I just smiled.
Han Chaewon
"Loving honey, can you cook all this?"
Kang Yumin
"Huh? Aren't you helping?"
Han Chaewon
"So mean! You said you'd never let a drop touch my hands…!"
Kang Yumin
"……."
Han Chaewon
"Aw~. I just love my honey's grilled meat~."
Only after a scornful glance did bratty quip back.
Her genuine no-water-drop mindset gave me an instant neck crick.
Whoever marries this girl, note she hates cooking.
Han Chaewon
"Today our loving honey promised to slave away."
Kang Yumin
"Don't you remember who came out as the slaver?"
Han Chaewon
"Serin?"
Kang Yumin
"…You're truly bad, aren't you?"
Assistant Director 1
"20 seconds left."
Kang Yumin
"That's why our honey's loved, her spirited charm. Haha."
Han Chaewon
"Aing. Too late for compliments, nothing in it~."
You're rookie award material.
I gritted and forced a smile.
Kang Yumin
"…Shall we think about us? I said I'd handle it, but I'm no pro chef—how can I solo ten minutes? Where's your conscience, Chaewon?"
Han Chaewon
"Gasp. Think I left it on the train, what now?"
Bratty rifling pockets in kingly performance.
Kang Yumin
"I'll call customer service, go find it. Too dark, no one's taken it."
I fired back sharply.
Han Chaewon
"So mean. Is that how you talk to your love?"
But shopping-couple Han Chaewon differed.
Hands on hips, classic "hmph!" pose…
Pfft—.
Absurd at her delivering immersion-free lines repeatedly.
Found it cute, couldn't help a laugh.
Yeah, snag the lead actress award next.
Kang Yumin
"I lose. I lose."
Letting the laugh escape, raised hands lightly.
Chaewon beamed victoriously; I stared, then…
Kang Yumin
"This is why I've stuck with you so far."
Habitually stroked her head.
Kang Yumin
"Love you, Han Chaewon. Let's keep going strong."
Han Chaewon
"———."
Kang Yumin
"Ah, right. Here it's not Chaewon…. Yeah. Love you lots, honey."
Slight smile, eyes softly on hers.
Seemed playful like hers, but how's it land?
Guy friends stroking girl friends' heads feels a tad off.
Han Chaewon
"Heart—."
Hmm. Her slight blush suggests it didn't read as joke.
Release day might be too risky to go out.
Might even die?
Yang Hyun-seok
"…Soulmates."
Unlike my worries, PD Yang murmured low behind.
Glanced back; he had a dad-smile…
Yang Hyun-seok
"……Ah."
Eye contact paled him fast.
I held the gaze a bit, then turned to hanwoo.
Kang Yumin
"15 servings of the priciest here, please."
Han Chaewon
"I wanna try Dom Pérignon!"
Your approved budget enough, PD?