Chapter 246
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 246
【A few days ago.】
【The production team of ‘Life Experience Site’ is gathered at the station, deep in discussion.】
“A guest bailed on us…”
On the screen, the production staff looked like a gathering of gloom, clutching their heads in despair.
“Where are we going to find a replacement?”
“Everyone’s schedule is packed these days. Can we even bring someone in on such short notice? Especially someone who’ll do grunt work without complaining?”
With similar content trending on web variety shows, ‘Life Experience Site’ had been brought back as a special project. It was originally slated for broadcast early next year.
However, when another program collapsed right before its launch, this show was rushed in as a stopgap. To make matters worse, their scheduled guest had just flaked.
They had been handed a broadcast day and time slot they hadn't prepared for, but since they were now responsible for Sunday nights, they had to at least hit the average viewership ratings for that slot.
A project put together in haste, a production team scrambled together at the last minute.
The melancholy faces of the staff were shown one by one, accompanied by a slow, depressing blues BGM.
[Wait, why is this edited so well, like a real variety show? LOL It’s so polished.]
[ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ah, why does this feel so much like the struggles of a regular office worker? ㅠ]
Just then, a phone vibrated. PD Choi checked it and paused.
Soon, he began replying with a sly grin, drawing the eyes of the entire staff toward him.
“PD-nim, what is it? Did you find a solution??”
“Ah, well, about that.”
PD Choi looked up, meeting the sparkling, expectant eyes of his team. He stroked his chin for a moment, then, as if realizing something, his lips curled upward.
“…Would it be okay if I handled the casting?”
“Who is it?”
【Having received the team’s consent, PD Choi immediately makes a call.】
【And so, at a restaurant in Seoul.】
The scene shifts. In a private room of a restaurant rigged with several hidden cameras, PD Choi waits anxiously for someone.
“Oh, Ho-yun!”
“Hello.”
【Seo Ho-yun of The Dawn has appeared!】
As if trying to capture the nostalgia of old-school variety shows, canned cheers and applause were intentionally inserted.
[Ah, Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!]
[What the—is he prey? LOL ‘Has appeared!’ Hahahaha.]
Seo Ho-yun opened the door and sat down with a smooth smile. PD Choi’s face lit up.
“It’s been a while. Thank you so much for coming.”
“Oh, come on, PD-nim. If you call, of course I have to come.”
[Hey, Seo Ho-yun, so that’s how it was? Ugh, I thought Daepasung set this up, but he was contacted directly? LOL]
[You’re going to get kidnapped onto a fishing boat at this rate, dammit ㅠ Why are you so close with a documentary PD?]
[This idol’s social life... I’m losing it.]
【The guest PD Choi has his eye on has arrived.】
“The reaction to The Dawn has been amazing lately.”
“Isn’t that all thanks to you filming such a wonderful documentary for us, PD-nim? Oh, did you see that part?”
The two shared a meal while chatting about the documentary for a long time.
[What’s with Seo Ho-yun? Why is he so knowledgeable?]
[Seriously, what is up with this idol... And the way he eats while smiling and making conversation, he acts like a salaryman who’s been in the workforce for twenty years. ㄷㄷ]
PD Choi, who had been grinning at Seo Ho-yun’s consistently kind and slick demeanor, clapped his hands.
“Ah, Ho-yun, what have you been up to lately? You’re still busy, right? Filming music shows and all…?”
【PD Choi slowly lays out the bait. Will Seo Ho-yun bite…?】
Hearing that, Seo Ho-yun let out a hearty laugh.
“What’s with all the groundwork? I am a bit busy, but if it’s a request from you, PD-nim, I’ll make time even if I don’t have any.”
“……!! Really?”
[Wait, the PD has literal hearts in his eyes.]
[His desire to take him away is so obvious.]
Seo Ho-yun flinched slightly at the uncomfortably sparkling gaze of PD Choi. However, an idol-like smile remained fixed on his lips.
“Well, since it’s you, PD-nim, I’m sure you’ll take me somewhere nice.”
【Seo Ho-yun innocently accepts the proposal immediately.】
Behind a radiant Seo Ho-yun, CG of the East Sea with seagulls squawking was overlaid.
“Of course! I’ll take you somewhere great!”
【He plans to take him onto a fishing boat.】
[LOL No, seriously, is this how the casting happened?]
[Wasn’t the genre of this show current affairs/culture? Hahaha. Why does he sound like he’s plotting a kidnapping? Hahaha.]
【And so, PD Choi succeeds in casting Seo Ho-yun.】
Neither PD Choi, the production team, nor the viewers had any way of knowing that this was exactly what Seo Ho-yun—who was as sly as if he’d swallowed a hundred snakes—had intended all along.
The camera zoomed in on Seo Ho-yun’s beaming, innocent face, which then dissolved into a shot of him on a boat as the scene transitioned.
【Following Seo Ho-yun, the PD succeeded in recruiting his members as well. The Dawn has boarded a fishing boat floating in the East Sea.】
[I mean, he’s still an idol, I didn't think he’d actually get on a boat...]
[Aw, look at our Puppy’s sad eyes. Did he really get tricked just like that? LOL Was he just sold off?? Hahaha.]
Buffeted by the salty wind, Seo Ho-yun stared out at the dark sea, where nothing was visible except for the boat’s lights.
【Current time: 4:00 AM. At an hour when others are still deep in sleep, the fishermen slowly advance and haul in the nets.】
Fish pulled up in the nets flopped vibrantly.
Jeong Da-jun was hard at work sorting fish into tanks when a sailor working alongside him found an octopus and tossed it to him. Excited, Da-jun hoisted it high into the air.
PD Choi, who was on the boat with them, asked Seo Ho-yun a question.
“You’ve been catching fish for three days straight. Isn't it exhausting?”
[Three days?!!]
[Hahahahahahahahahahaha. Crazy. Ah, so that’s why all the sightings of them being stuck at the company disappeared? You were in the East Sea? ㅠㅠ....]
“PD-nim.”
Having just finished hauling in a net, Seo Ho-yun took a brief moment to brush his stray bangs aside with his forearm. He looked at the camera with a strained smile.
Splash—
Between the sounds of the waves, Seo Ho-yun’s low voice rang out.
“Stop contacting me once we get back.”
【Seo Ho-yun is a beautiful young man who keeps his promises.】
[Hahahahahahahahahahaha!]
[Seo Ho-yun is literally grititng his teeth right now. LOL]
[Look at PD Choi giving a thumbs up. You’re so happy you brought Seo Ho-yun along, aren’t you? Hahaha.]
Originally, ‘Life Experience Site’ was a program where guests experienced a job for just one day. However, as it was planned as a special five-part series, the filming period had been extended to four days to ensure high-quality content.
[This is seriously insane. An idol kidnapped onto a fishing boat... Is the God of Comedy helping The Dawn?]
[It’s been so long since I’ve seen guys this unpredictable. It’s fun. They’re so wacky and fresh.]
At that moment, the captain, who had been operating the boat throughout the shoot, tapped Seo Ho-yun on the shoulder and joked.
“Kwah, where did this young man come from?? He’s the absolute best! How can he work so diligently without a single complaint?”
“What would I even know how to do? I’m just clumsily helping out by your side.”
“Hahaha! You’ve got quite the silver tongue.”
[My man, who looks like he grew up without ever getting a drop of water on his hands...
Suddenly pulling nets on a fishing boat.
And he’s good at social life too.
└ Hahaha... seriously, this is ridiculous. What even is this? Hahaha.]
After that, it seemed he really did nothing but work in silence, as scenes of Seo Ho-yun hauling and organizing nets flashed by at triple speed.
【Seo Ho-yun working hard.】
[Not a single complaint. His personality is so good, and he works so hard. ㅠㅠ]
[He’s exactly the type to be loved by elders. Hahaha.]
[Where are the people who said our Ho-yun only does easy variety shows? Come out right now, damn it.]
The camera then focused on Jeong Da-jun, who was quickly moving sorted fish into the tanks.
“Da-jun, have you memorized many of the fish?”
“Of course. This is a mackerel, that’s a Spanish mackerel, a horse mackerel. And this is a largehead hairtail!”
Da-jun answered vigorously and confidently.
A sailor working beside him smiled warmly, as if looking at a cute grandson, and said:
“You got them all wrong.”
“Ack!”
[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!]
[Seriously, LOL.]
“But can’t I just put the ones that look similar together?”
“No, you can’t. Watch closely, I’ll sort them properly. You have to earn your keep.”
“Yes, sir!! Jeong Da-jun will earn his keep!!”
【Jeong Da-jun never gets discouraged, no matter how much he’s nagged.】
[Jeong Da-jun is repeatedly hitting my funny bone. Dammit. ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Hahaha.]
[Seriously, who does Jeong Da-jun take after to become so shameless?
└ Who do you think he grew up watching....
└└ Ah, right...]
Eventually, a staff member asked Da-jun, who had given up on moving them to the tanks and was instead just grouping similar-looking fish together:
“Da-jun, how did you end up on the boat?”
“Because I don’t get seasick!”
“Pardon?”
“Ho-yun hyung asked me if I get seasick, and I heard later that he asked the other hyungs too. But Ji-won hyung said he really gets nauseous on boats, so me, Seong-hyeon hyung, and Ho-yun hyung—the three of us—came on the boat!”
【It seems Seo Ho-yun couldn't bear to go down alone.】
“What about Kang Yi-chae?”
“That hyung suddenly said he gets seasick?”
Da-jun’s busy hands suddenly stopped.
“But I went to Jeju Island on a boat with him before.”
[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!]
[Kang Yi-chae, you quick-witted brat. Hahaha.]
【It seems Kang Yi-chae managed to slip away.】
“Maknae!! The fish are flopping, get over here!!”
“Yes, sir!! I’m coming!”
When a call for help came from the netting area, Da-jun turned his head and shouted back. Then he grinned at the camera.
“Let’s talk again later, Director!!”
Da-jun rushed over to take his place and groaned as he pulled the net. Saying that he had to sing The Dawn’s songs when things got tough, he began belting out ‘Kismet’ and ‘Stardust.’
“Black waves crash over me~. My heart beats wildly~.”
The sailors, though they didn't know the song, enjoyed it nonetheless, commenting, “That lad’s got a powerful voice.”
“Star~~dust~. Stars are embroidered on the night sea~.”
[Hey, I bet Ho-yun is going to make a serious face...]
At that moment, Seo Ho-yun joined in from the side.
“I’ve fought through the darkness for this moment~.”
[Oh crap, he’s playing along.]
[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!]
It was out of the thought that if he’d dragged the maknae onto the boat, he should at least play along with this much.
【The Dawn showing the beautiful value of labor.】
[Why am I... why am I moved?
It feels like a beautiful scene of labor.... Dammit... ㅠ]
[Guys... no... you idols, why are you living so diligently?
I’ll live diligently too... Dammit...]
[It’s clearly hard work, but seeing everyone smiling and cheering each other on is so cute.... I’m literally punching my wall right now. Ugh, so cute.]
“The catch is huge today. Shall we start wrapping things up?”
“Yes, sounds good. They won’t bite as well once more time passes anyway.”
As Seo Ho-yun familiarly organized the nets, Kim Seong-hyeon walked out of the wheelhouse holding a fish in one hand.
Wearing baggy floral work pants pulled up high and black rubber boots, with bright pink rubber gloves on both hands, Kim Seong-hyeon tilted his head.
“What are you doing?”
[This makes no sense.
A Greek statue is right here.
└ Holding a fish in one hand.
└└ Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.]
[Dammit, my son-in-law is so sexy and handsome.
└ Not even your husband, but your son-in-law?
└└ Oops.]
“Wanna have breakfast before we go?”
“Have some sashimi, Seong-hyeon.”
“Sounds good. Yes, sir.”
[Sounds good? Yes, sir???]
While the heads of the ‘Noeuls’ were filled with question marks, Kim Seong-hyeon answered and immediately crouched down, expertly catching a fish tossed to him by a sailor.
“Are we having yellowtail again today? Is that okay?”
“Eh?! If you’re gonna eat, you gotta eat the big ones! Who’s gonna be satisfied with the tiny ones?”
“Thank you.”
As soon as the words were out, Kim Seong-hyeon struck the fish’s head hard with the back of his knife. Then, he used the knife to scrape from tail to head, roughly clearing the few scales. He skillfully gutted it, rinsed it, and after removing the moisture, began slicing the yellowtail into fillets with a sashimi knife.
The camera captured every step of the process in detail.
“Wait, Seong-hyeon, why are you so good at this?”
“My uncle does a bit of fishing.”
Seo Ho-yun looked slightly appalled at Kim Seong-hyeon’s nonchalant attitude.
“Why is he good at that, too?”
[That’s not something for an oppa who’s faithfully pulling up nets to say.]
[Hahahahahahahahahahaha. I’m dying.]
[Ah, Seo Ho-yun... LOL. It’s so freaking funny seeing Seo Ho-yun find Kim Seong-hyeon absurd. ㅠㅠ Hahaha.]
[Kim Seong-hyeon is so perfect as son-in-law material that it’s hilarious.
He’s good at housework, good at fishing, and even good at slicing sashimi....]
Before long, a plate of sashimi was ready, and Da-jun hovered around Seong-hyeon.
People whispered after tasting the yellowtail, which was sliced to a thickness that provided a perfect chew.
“Wow, how is the texture like this? The sashimi Seong-hyeon sliced tastes incredible.”
“Is it okay? Hey, Seo Ho-yun.”
“Yeah.”
As Seo Ho-yun sidled up, Kim Seong-hyeon held out a piece of yellowtail dipped in red chili paste. The sight of him taking it with his mouth made the Noeuls collapse in heaps.
“Give me a bit more chili paste.”
“So many requests, so many.”
[Wait, this is literally me eating scraps next to my parents while they’re making kimchi.]
[‘How’s the seasoning? Should I add more?’ <
‘Ah, I think it needs more salt.’ <
These idols are seriously ridiculous.]
Next, Da-jun opened his mouth wide like a baby bird to be fed. Watching their friendly interaction, the sailors showered them with praise.
“The work must be hard, but these kids don't complain about anything.”
“Aigoo, they aren't picky eaters, they speak so politely, and they’re always beaming~. If my son were even half as good as them, I’d have given him my entire fortune!”
“Hey, you don't have anything, what are you going to give him? You gonna shake the salt off your clothes for him?”
[They’re taking such good care of them ㅠㅠ Thank you ㅠㅠ Honestly, the kids probably haven't even adjusted to the boat yet..
└ For someone who hasn't adjusted, he’s slicing sashimi way too well.. Like someone who’s lived on a boat for a month..
└└ Shh..]
Then, one man laughed and said half-jokingly:
“I want Seong-hyeon to marry my daughter.”
“Ehey~.”
[Canceled.
We can't let the competition get any higher than this.]
While the Noeuls growled in jealousy, a caption appeared.
【The three members of The Dawn, having finished fishing with the rising sun, head to the fish market.】
【The day was starting early there as well.】
The scene changed, revealing the bustling morning of the fish market under a still-dark sky.
“Squid~ ten thousand won for a basket~.”
A refreshing yet sweet voice, one that sounded very familiar to the Noeuls, echoed from one corner of the market.
[Wait.]
In a place where boxes of fish and various shellfish were scattered on the ground, a tall, handsome man with a gentle impression stood out awkwardly among the swarming crowd.
He was putting a rhythmic trot-style spin on his sales pitch, enticing customers.
“Fre~sh shrimp, fifteen thousand won for 1kg~.”
[Wait, Ji-won!]
It was Seong Ji-won, the main vocal of The Dawn.