Chapter 78
Chapter 78
You Know, That Incredibly Handsome Guy
As Yu Yeon-seo was preparing for the first shoot of ‘People Who Lack, Season 2’, the final episode of ‘Welcome to the Guest House’ aired.
Raul suddenly collapsed. Amidst the worried cast, Yu Yeon-seo, as if struck by an idea, ran upstairs.
-OMG ㅠㅠㅠㅠ The kid collapsed ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-Yu Yeon-seo is going up?
-What’s he going to do?
Among the viewers, Yu Yeon-seo had already solidified his image as a problem-solver.
When Park Seung-hwan was struggling alone in the kitchen, he had stealthily approached with a knife in hand and asked, “Shall I help?” The sight had made Park Seung-hwan collapse in shock.
[Hey, what do I do?]
[Did you break the machine again?]
[Hehe······.]
He also fixed the machine Kim I-jun had broken. Though, in truth, he’d had Beta’s help.
When Lee Yun-jeong couldn’t open a sauce lid, he appeared out of nowhere, nonchalantly opened it for her, and went about his business. There were also rumors that viewers wearing their ‘shipper goggles’ went wild over the chemistry between the two standing side-by-side.
These accumulated actions left a good impression on the viewers.
-What do we do about our precious baby ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-That island is tiny, there probably aren’t many hospitals, right?
Moreover, Raul, with his cute face, had gotten along well with the cast and gained a lot of popularity among viewers. As the child’s condition worsened, viewers became deeply invested, and the reactions exploded.
(How’s the kid?!)
Producer Lee brought the medical team, but the child’s condition only grew worse. The screen briefly changed, showing Jin Su-ho and Kim I-jun running over after meeting Raul’s parents.
(Where’s the open lot around here?)
Yu Yeon-seo said urgently, phone in hand. Under his direction, the cast members got into their respective cars and set off. When they grew anxious on the festival-congested roads, Lee Yun-jeong and Park Seung-hwan appeared on a scooter, clearing a path.
(······That’s the sound of a helicopter, right?)
(Step back.)
The people arriving at the open lot, the faint sound of a helicopter amidst the tense situation—Producer Lee edited this scene like a movie. The cast formed a human barrier to shield the child from the helicopter’s downdraft, and in response to Park Seung-hwan’s words, Yu Yeon-seo waved his phone with a blank expression.
And the show concluded dramatically, ending with the news that Raul, who had undergone surgery, was okay.
JSTV’s ‘Guest House’ Ends with Its Highest-Ever Ratings... Possibility of Season 2
‘Guest House’ Yu Yeon-seo Shakes Off ‘Young Master’ Controversy with Stellar Performance
-Isn’t this staged?
└Even if it was staged, how do you just summon a helicopter?
└└It’s possible if it’s Yu Yeon-seo.
└└└It’s possible, but it doesn’t make sense lol. Was the kid getting sick staged too?
-Wow, he can even get a helicopter to a foreign island.
Chaebols really are different.
└But who was he talking to on the phone in the car?
└└There’s a rumor he brings his personal secretary everywhere? Probably the secretary did it.
└└└That’s insane.
-Guest House was so fun. I hope they do a season 2.
But they have to bring back this cast.
└fr
└The chemistry was amazing, and the relationships were great too.
└But how many languages does Yu Yeon-seo speak?
└Is it just me, or is it still weird seeing Yu Yeon-seo and Kim I-jun together?
-But don’t you think the screen time was too focused on Yu Yeon-seo?
└idk
└Seems like you’re the only one who thinks soㅎ
└How to get more screen time = summon a helicopter.
Since the show featured so many top stars, there were always controversies about screen time. However, the overall reaction was positive. In particular, countless edited photos and gifs were created from the expression on Yu Yeon-seo’s face when he received Raul’s drawing.
After the broadcast, the island became even more famous as a tourist destination. The stream of Korean visitors, in particular, was endless. Some quick-acting people even boarded planes before the show had finished airing.
“Oh! Isn’t that him?”
“It is!”
The local guide who had helped the variety show team was physically exhausted from the increased work, but his heart was at peace. He was crossing the market to see Raul’s family, whom he had grown close to after their trip to the hospital.
‘What’s this?’
Korean tourists were surrounding Raul, who was playing in the market.
“Hey, look over here.”
“Does he understand Korean?”
“But he doesn’t understand English either?”
“You don’t know English? Ah, jeez... Just try using hand gestures.”
“Hey, kid. Let’s take a picture. Huh?”
They looked like MyTubers, forcibly holding onto the child to film for their channel. He wouldn’t have intervened if the boy was enjoying it, but Raul had his shoulders hunched and was cautiously glancing around.
“Hey, you!”
Just as the guide was about to step in, pointing his finger, a group of young local men swarmed over. There were even some pickpockets among them.
“What are you doing?”
“Get lost, will you?”
Faced with the threat, the intimidated MyTubers lowered their cameras and stealthily slipped away from the group, disappearing into the distance.
“You okay?”
They patted Raul’s head and went on their way. One might think it was an act to protect a child from their village, but the guide knew this group was usually wary of East Asians, especially after the variety show team’s visit.
“Hey, wait a minute!”
The guide, after hugging Raul, hurried after them. One of the group, noticing he was the man who had been with the variety show team, stopped.
“Why did you do that just now? Don’t you guys only do things that make you money?”
The man looked the guide up and down before speaking.
“······Someone asked us to.”
“Who?”
“That... you know, that incredibly handsome guy among the Koreans.”
There was more than one handsome person. But there was only one incredibly handsome person. The guide zoomed in on a group photo the variety show team had taken before returning to Korea and showed it to the man.
“This person?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
“Could you tell me what he said?”
The man caught by the guide sighed softly and began to speak.
Apparently, Yu Yeon-seo had strolled into their hideout as if he were out for a walk, hands casually tucked into his pants pockets.
[Oh, so you were nearby.]
He grinned fearlessly at the men who surrounded him, wary yet ready to threaten. He even righted a chair lying around and sat down.
[Anyone here speak English? Spanish? Italian? No? Anyway, anyone who speaks a foreign language other than the island’s tongue?]
He casually crossed his legs, rapidly switching between languages as he asked, but no one in the group answered. It wasn’t that they didn’t understand. They were just being extremely cautious with Yu Yeon-seo, an outsider.
Yu Yeon-seo stood up as if bored, dusting off his thighs.
[No one? What, can’t you talk?]
[Who the hell are you!]
Just then, one of the gang members who didn’t know the full story rushed at Yu Yeon-seo.
As if expecting it, Yu Yeon-seo gave a small smile, tilting his head to dodge the man’s punch. He grabbed the man’s wrist, twisted it to spin him around, and immediately threw his weight into slamming him to the ground. The movements were fast and precise.
[Aaaaaargh!]
The man was burly and muscular, as if he’d bulked up, yet the relatively smaller Yu Yeon-seo had subdued him with ease.
His companion screamed, but seeing the rest of the gang hesitate, unable to do anything, Yu Yeon-seo grinned.
[You should know better than to mess with me, right? Didn’t you hear from the higher-ups here?]
Everyone swallowed hard. On the second day after Yu Yeon-seo’s group arrived on the island, the chief of police himself had come and issued a stern warning not to mess with any Koreans on the island.
[Hey, let’s make this easy. Where’s your boss?]
[······That’s me.]
[Oh, Spanish. Good thing we can communicate.]
[First, could you please let my friend go?]
Seeing his change in attitude, Yu Yeon-seo noted that the guy was quick on the uptake.
Yu Yeon-seo released the man he was holding down and stood up. His grip had been so strong that the man’s hand was deathly pale. Yet, Yu Yeon-seo showed no sign of exertion.
[Boss man, your name?]
[It’s Samuel.]
[Alright, Samuel.]
The man who had been subdued by Yu Yeon-seo scrambled back as if fleeing.
Yu Yeon-seo dusted off his hands.
[Why have you come here?]
[To ask a favor.]
[A favor?]
[It’s nothing difficult, so relax.]
Yu Yeon-seo patted Samuel’s shoulder a couple of times, then sat back down in the chair and crossed his legs.
[You know Emilia from the souvenir shop in the market? Her husband’s Bruno, their kid is Raul······.]
[Isn’t that the family that rode the helicopter yesterday?]
As expected, news travels fast in a small town. Yu Yeon-seo smiled leisurely.
[I’m the one who called that helicopter. The kid was sick.]
[I know that too. And I know you’re influential enough to do it.]
Mentioning the family and the helicopter eased the atmosphere, as they were also residents of this island.
This makes things easier. Yu Yeon-seo rested his clasped hands on his lap.
[Anyway, protect that family. For about a year.]
Samuel frowned. It wasn’t just the commanding tone; he felt disrespected.
[We don’t bother the families who live on the island.]
These thugs who pickpocket and threaten tourists are getting their pride hurt? He almost scoffed, but this was their way of life, and as an outsider, Yu Yeon-seo had no intention of interfering. He was going back to Korea anyway.
[I know. That’s why I came to you. You know we came here to film a show, right?]
[Yes.]
Besides, there was a limit to what he could entrust to the police. They couldn’t patrol the area constantly. So, these guys, who frequently roamed the streets to pick tourists’ pockets, were the perfect fit.
[When we leave, this island will be flooded with East Asians. Especially Koreans who watched the show. But do you think all those Koreans will be nice people? There might be people like me, right?]
[······.]
[The parents are busy making a living, and the kid has no choice but to spend time on the streets... We can’t have thoughtless people using the kid just because he was on TV, can we?]
For instance, forcing a reluctant child to take photos, or a travel MyTuber using the famous kid to make money for their channel... The possibilities were there.
[Wouldn’t it be better to just give the family money? So the kid doesn’t have to be alone······.]
[Am I a philanthropist? Why would I support a family I barely know?]
An act of kindness with no strings attached could turn into poison. Wealth without labor might eat away at Raul’s family.
Supporting the family now would be nothing more than charity. The kid could draw a bit, but it wasn’t like he was worth investing in.
Raul’s family was fine as they were. It was a little concerning that the kid was alone during the day, but his neighbors were kind, so he wasn’t completely neglected.
[While you’re at it, don’t mess with the nice Koreans. I don’t care about the other East Asians. I’ll pay you well.]
Samuel looked back at his crew. They all gave slight nods. It was a job to protect a local kid. Plus, he was offering money, so there was no reason to refuse. Still, taking orders from someone bruised their pride.
[If you’re not going to do it, I’ll find someone else. I saw another gang besides you guys. Should I go to them?]
[Wait!]
Caught in Yu Yeon-seo’s pace, which gave him no time to think, Samuel cried out urgently.
“So, that’s what happened.”
“Thank you.”
After hearing the man’s answer, the guide turned away. The face in the zoomed-in photo was Yu Yeon-seo’s.
“Hah······.”
The guide let out a dry laugh.
‘Did he have such a thoughtful side?’
Even living on this remote island, he was well aware of the rumors surrounding Yu Yeon-seo. It was impossible not to know, as the man constantly dominated the news.
At first, he wondered if Yu Yeon-seo was as rude as the rumors claimed. But as he’d thought, you really have to meet someone in person to know them; he was a different person entirely.
Besides, who would go to such lengths for a child they’d only known for a few days? No matter how much money one had, this kind of consideration wasn’t something that just came out of nowhere.
“Raul, shall we take a picture?”
“Why?”
“Let’s take one and send it to Yeon-seo to show him you’re doing well.”
At the mention of Yu Yeon-seo, Raul beamed and nodded enthusiastically.
Since his face had appeared on the show, he had been receiving many direct messages on his social media asking for guide services and requesting he post reviews about what the cast members were like. The guide picked up his phone, thinking it would be perfect to post the story he had just heard.
Having slept poorly, Yu Yeon-seo opened his eyes to the vibration of his phone. It was the report on Ryu Hye-gyeong that Im Seung-hyeon had sent.
‘Punctual as always.’
The clock read 8 a.m. Yu Yeon-seo sluggishly sat up and turned on his tablet.
Ryu Hye-gyeong
Born June 28, 1962, in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province.
He quickly flipped through the pages. He didn’t need to know about her childhood or what school she graduated from.
February 1981: Street-cast while visiting her older cousin in Myeongdong, joined an entertainment agency.
November 1981: Debuted as a member of ‘Twinkle’, South Korea’s first four-member dance girl group.
Reading through the report, Yu Yeon-seo lay back down on the bed.
‘This won’t be easy······.’