Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Episode 10 — Running Away from Home (2)
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Early morning.
Waking to the chirping of birds, Kang Han-do forced open his bleary eyes.
The current time: 8 a.m.
It wasn't exactly early by most standards, but considering he'd gone to bed late into the early hours of the morning, this was still relatively prompt.
“Whew, it's cold.”
Having slept without a blanket, he'd cranked the boiler to maximum, yet it still felt freezing.
The fact that his mouth wasn't frozen shut was a small mercy.
“They said this cold snap is no joke these days. They're not wrong.”
Rubbing the weather from his mind, Kang Han-do fully opened his eyes.
At that moment.
“Mmm…….”
A faint feminine moan made him instinctively turn his head to the side.
He'd momentarily forgotten due to the awkward bedding, but Kang Han-do hadn't slept alone.
Choi Ye-hee, the object of his unrequited affection, had slumbered in the same space, gazing at the same ceiling.
“…….”
With just her face peeking out, Choi Ye-hee breathed softly in deep sleep.
Even asleep, she was beautiful.
The sight of her alone made his heart race, and the corners of Kang Han-do's mouth curved upward ever so slightly.
Sure, the sleeping arrangement had been uncomfortable.
But waking up to the face of the person he loved right beside him?
How could any situation be happier than this?
Feeling immense satisfaction inwardly, he carefully rose from his spot.
His target: the bathroom.
Successfully slipping inside, he handled his business and began washing his face.
After shampooing his hair and brushing his teeth.
Toweling off the water from his hair, he cautiously opened the bathroom door and stepped out.
Even then, Choi Ye-hee was still fast asleep.
Her sleeping position hadn't changed a bit.
Usually, people woke up to the sound of the toilet flushing.
Even with the door closed, the shower's spray wasn't exactly quiet.
And yet.
“…….”
Choi Ye-hee remained lost in dreamland.
This defied Kang Han-do's expectation that she'd be awake upon his exit.
“What to do.”
He'd have to wake her.
Time was now rushing toward 9 a.m.
Kang Han-do was fully awake; he couldn't just leave Choi Ye-hee be.
After much internal deliberation, he steeled himself and slowly approached the sleeping woman.
“Ye-hee-ssi. It's morning.”
“Mmm…….”
She let out a cute sound and turned her head away.
And then.
Fell back asleep.
This time, he lightly placed his hand on the blanket and shook her gently.
“Ye-hee-ssi. Time to get up.”
“……I wanna sleep more…….”
She must have thought it was her family waking her.
Given Ye-hee's personality, she wouldn't drop formal speech with him first.
He shook her a bit more firmly.
“Ye-hee-ssi.”
Only then did Choi Ye-hee slowly open her eyes.
Kang Han-do's face entered her view.
“Did you sleep well?”
“……Why is Han-do-ssi…… a dream……??”
“No. Ye-hee-ssi, you slept in my room last night.”
“……!!!!!”
That single sentence finally pieced everything together for her.
She bolted upright, staring blankly at Kang Han-do.
Then, she yanked the blanket up to cover her flushed red face.
“G-Good morning, H-Han-do-ssi…….”
“Haha, good morning.”
It had taken some effort to wake her.
But seeing her adorable reaction made it all worthwhile.
* * *
Compared to Kang Han-do, Choi Ye-hee rose relatively late. After finishing her face wash and shampoo in the bathroom, she dried her hair with the blow dryer.
In the meantime, Kang Han-do headed to the kitchen to prepare a late breakfast.
The moment he picked up the apron, Choi Ye-hee hurried over.
“I'll make it!”
“You, Ye-hee-ssi?”
“Yes!”
Her eager insistence caught him off guard for a second.
But he quickly regained his composure and offered a reassuring smile.
“I can't make a guest handle breakfast too. I'll gratefully accept the sentiment.”
“But I'm already imposing so much.......”
She'd been imposing since running away from home, but Kang Han-do didn't mind.
With the extreme choice of leaving due to disagreements with her parents, adding more burden would only make him uncomfortable.
“If something tough comes up for me later, you can help me out then, Ye-hee-ssi.”
“…….”
He was right. They could just help each other when needed.
She nodded in agreement.
“Thank you so much for taking care of everything, Han-do-ssi.”
Was it his kindness? Choi Ye-hee's fondness for Kang Han-do was steadily rising.
That affection reflected in her happiness meter, entering a slight upward trajectory.
But.
She was still far from true happiness.
Her family's opposition. And her dream of becoming a singer.
For her stable future, he needed to step up soon and facilitate contact with Noni.
Only then could he reveal VQ Entertainment's misdeeds to Choi Ye-hee.
* * *
HSL Studio filming site.
Since Season 2's premiere, the studio had been buzzing with a lively atmosphere.
Especially Jeon Yoo-hyun, Kang Han-do, and Oh Min-tae.
The three leads of 4 PM News Table had climbed the search rankings together, drawing massive viewer attention.
The PD behind the planning couldn't be anything but thrilled.
But that joy was short-lived.
“Alright, let's start filming.”
“Yes!”
At Yoo Tae-hwan PD's command, participants and staff returned to positions, readying for the 4 PM News Table recording.
Then, a man burst through the studio door, frantically calling for Yoo-hyun.
“Y-Yoo-hyun!! D-Did you see the news just now?!”
Everyone turned toward the intruder.
It was Jeon Yoo-hyun's manager.
“Hyung, what's going on…….”
“L-Look at this!”
The manager thrust his smartphone forward, showing a specific article.
The moment Yoo-hyun glanced at the screen, his pupils dilated rapidly.
“……!!”
Sensing something off from his speechless reaction, Yoo Tae-hwan PD and the production team grew wary.
Kang Han-do and Oh Min-tae were no different.
“What's wrong?”
“W-Well, you see…….”
The manager looked troubled.
Indirectly signaling bad news from an article.
And as expected, ill tidings arrived via Yoo-hyun's manager.
“Looks like the reporters are scheming against you again.”
* * *
For a while now, plenty of media outlets had a negative view of Jeon Yoo-hyun.
It wasn't that he'd committed any major wrongdoing. His crime was being too honest, speaking truth to power.
He'd directly called out reporters for fabricating stories about celebrities.
He'd even named the specific outlets.
Coincidentally—or not—those three exact outlets fired off articles targeting him in unison.
-Comedian Jeon Yoo-hyun. Returning to the stage just to expand his business……?
-‘Broadcasting is just a money-making tool.’ Controversy over Jeon Yoo-hyun's attitude……
-Panic disorder as an excuse? Jeon Yoo-hyun and his double standards.
They churned out pieces framing his comeback as a desperate cash grab, belittling him relentlessly.
Media spin is terrifying. It can make even lies seem like truth.
The three united to bury his return for good.
“Those crazy bastards. Resorting to every damn fabrication now!”
Jeon Yoo-hyun's manager spat curses. He had every right to be furious.
But Yoo-hyun stayed calm.
“It's fine. I've dealt with hit pieces like this forever. If I keep being genuine with the public, the misunderstandings will clear up eventually.”
“That's exactly your naive thinking that led to panic attacks from stress! You can't just live in this world assuming everyone's good, Yoo-hyun. If they play dirty, you play dirtier. It's self-defense!”
“…….”
Jeon Yoo-hyun fell silent. His manager vented his frustration.
Meanwhile, Kang Han-do sensed the gravity. Letting this slide could be dangerous—not just for Yoo-hyun, but the whole show.
They couldn't let the media fabricate unchecked.
‘We need to draw our own sword!’
Kang Han-do suddenly addressed Yoo Tae-hwan.
“Yoo Tae-hwan PD-nim.”
“What's up?”
“What if we turn this media play against them?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Yoo Tae-hwan PD looked puzzled.
Kang Han-do laid out his idea.
“I think it's exploitable. Sure, it's noise marketing, but why not resurface the drunk driving incident and refocus public attention on HSL?”
“It's a comedy show. How the hell do we do that?”
“Forgot? 4 PM News Table is a gag corner parodying a ‘news program.’ Makes it simple, doesn't it?”
The corners of Kang Han-do's mouth lifted slyly.
A plan had already formed in his mind.
“We just report the real news ourselves.”
* * *
Filming was postponed two days.
They'd adopted Kang Han-do's idea, necessitating a full script rewrite.
At the broadcast station cafeteria, having lunch, Oh Min-tae eyed Kang Han-do curiously.
“You must really like Jeon Yoo-hyun sunbae?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. I mean…… he's overly nice, so I get it, but I didn't expect you to step up like this for him.”
“I said it before. If Jeon Yoo-hyun sunbae's image tanks, 4 PM News Table's visibility drops too. It's our first show—wouldn't it suck if media attacks tank it?”
“True, fair point.”
Kang Han-do needed to rise fast as a mega-star dictating Korea's comedy scene.
He'd poured everything into the BLT 16th public recruitment comedian exam for that.
Getting tripped up in his debut broadcast opportunity? Unacceptable.
Plus, this could work in their favor.
“If we play this crisis right, it could be our chance.”
“A chance, huh. I just hope the truth comes out. Then sunbae can film stress-free.”
“It will. No—it has to. For Jeon Yoo-hyun sunbae, and for us.”
Kang Han-do affirmed confidently.
Just then, a familiar voice reached him.
“You're Kang Han-do, who passed the 16th comedian exam, right?”
“Yes, that's me, but…….”
Kang Han-do doubted his own eyes.
Before him stood Oh Shin-hoon, the national MC and president of variety, tray in hand.