Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Episode 14. New Role (3)
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In the middle of it all, Kim Sang-heon dropped a comment that made Kang Han-do's ears perk up.
"I'm a fan of 4 PM News Table."
The moment the decision was made for Kang Han-do to join Game World, they binged through all the footage of his past appearances on 4 PM News Table to review them.
But they didn't stay up all night rewatching clips like Han-do would have.
Just one straight watch-through was enough to get a rough sense of what kind of comedian he was.
Even as unknowns, these were people with at least three years of experience under their belts.
They had the eye for it.
Kang Han-do bowed his head once more at Kim Sang-heon's praise.
"Thank you for watching favorably."
"It's not like I'm doing you a favor. You did well, so it looked good. No need to thank me."
"I'll work hard to show even better in this Game World stint."
"Yeah. Looking forward to it."
As the warm exchange wrapped up.
Knock knock knock.
Another knock echoed from outside the conference room.
Jo Woo-kim PD stood up with a mutter.
"This guy. I told him to bring the script quick, so what took him so damn long."
He spoke like he already knew exactly who was out there.
Who could it be?
Kang Han-do's gaze, along with everyone else's, fixed on the door.
And the moment it opened, Kang Han-do's pupils dilated wide.
"Sorry I'm late, sunbae-nim!"
"What kept you so long?"
"The printer was acting up... Huh?!"
The woman was just as shocked as Kang Han-do.
They each had their reasons for the surprise.
The woman Kang Han-do had helped on the subway from a molester not long ago—Min A-rin—had just walked in, arms full of printouts.
* * *
Fate's prank, perhaps.
The victim and her benefactor from that molester incident crossed paths by pure chance, without any prior plans.
Min A-rin, looking flustered, double-checked.
"You're Han-do-ssi, the new guy joining us, right?"
"Ah, yeah. More importantly, how are you here, A-rin-ssi..."
Jo Woo-kim PD, overhearing their exchange, voiced his own confusion.
"You two know each other?"
"Know each other is a bit..."
It was an awkward question.
They weren't total strangers, of course. But calling them acquaintances? Well, there were still a lot of gaps to fill.
Kim Sang-heon, watching the flustered pair, chimed in softly.
"Should we hear them out first?"
"Yeah. A-rin-ah, pass out the scripts and take a seat over here."
"Yes..."
Min A-rin trailed off, clearly still processing the situation.
* * *
After the scripts were handed out.
Kang Han-do explained exactly how they had crossed paths.
Jo Woo-kim PD let out a light sigh.
"A molester, huh. You never mentioned that to me."
"It wasn't even an injury or anything."
Jo Woo-kim PD looked exasperated at Min A-rin's casual attitude and gave her a light flick on the forehead.
"Ow!"
"It's not about injury. Getting groped is the problem. You should've told your uncle right away."
"Un... cle?!"
Now it was Kang Han-do's turn to be shocked.
From their banter, he'd vaguely sensed they weren't just casual acquaintances. But relatives? No way.
Jo Woo-kim PD, realizing belatedly he'd forgotten to introduce, continued.
"This is Min A-rin, my niece. She had nothing to do over break, so I put her to work as an assistant writer, like a part-time gig."
"So, part-time, huh."
"She's in broadcasting studies, but her mom kept worrying she's just lounging at home with no direction. So I brought her on. She says she wants to be a writer after graduation anyway, so I'm thinking of grooming her."
"Training under Jo Woo-kim PD must be intense."
"Hahaha! You bet."
Even as uncle and niece, with Jo Woo-kim PD's personality, any slip-up would earn a barrage of scolding.
Min A-rin surely knew that.
And being family, she had an even better grasp of his tendencies than Han-do ever could.
"Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's get to the main topic. Filming's right around the corner."
Jo Woo-kim PD shifted the focus.
The meeting finally kicked off properly.
But Kang Han-do's mind was cluttered with thoughts of his encounter with Min A-rin.
* * *
On the way home after the meeting.
Min A-rin approached him apologetically.
"Sorry I didn't recognize you right away. I heard from my uncle you're an entertainer too, Han-do-ssi."
"Haha, I'm just a rookie who debuted not long ago. Totally normal not to recognize me."
Truth was, Kang Han-do still lacked real recognition.
If he were somewhat famous, the people at the subway station back then would've spotted him before the molester incident even blew up.
But they hadn't.
He needed to boost his profile.
"Anyway, didn't know you were an assistant writer."
"Me? Well... I'm not an official one. Just kinda joined the Pobokjeoldo team riding my uncle's coattails."
She was honest.
Her frank admission of being a 'parachute hire' actually appealed to him.
"Anyway, we'll be working together now. Nice to work with you going forward."
Min A-rin offered her hand first.
Kang Han-do shook her slender hand and echoed the sentiment.
"Likewise."
And so, a new connection was rekindled under the name of reunion.
* * *
The first 4 PM News Table filming for HSL Season 2 since Kang Han-do's confirmed addition to Pobokjeoldo.
As announced to the cast, today's guest was Han Mi-jin, the actress making waves not just in Korea but Hollywood too.
"Hello."
As Han Mi-jin entered HSL Studio with her greeting, staff and cast returned the courtesy.
"Hello, Mi-jin-ssi!"
"Long time no see!"
Even those who knew her faces lit up with delight.
Han Mi-jin, the young actress dubbed Korea's sweetheart.
Her mere presence brightened the studio instantly.
'As expected, a beauty freshens the air. And not just that...'
Kang Han-do's gaze fixed above the heads of the staff and cast.
He looked there for one reason only.
To check happiness levels.
Most hovered in the 350-400 range.
Considering the average was around 300, the studio's happiness was at least 50 points above normal.
That was the power of beauty.
Especially his friend Oh Min-tae's, which spiked the highest.
'Jeez... tsk tsk.'
Kang Han-do clicked his tongue at Oh Min-tae's blatant reaction, but he got it.
Seeing a beauty from TV in the flesh? Heart-racing stuff.
Even as fellow entertainers, Kang Han-do and Oh Min-tae were still green rookies fresh off passing the public recruitment comedian exam this year.
Sure, Han-do's pre-regression experience changed things, but by current standards, he was a total newbie too.
Click-clack.
Han Mi-jin approached in her heels.
"Nice to work with you."
She extended her hand first, and Oh Min-tae frantically wiped his on his pants for maximum cleanliness.
"Yes! Nice to work with!"
"Han-do-ssi too. Nice to work with."
"Yes."
Unlike Oh Min-tae, Kang Han-do shook calmly.
Same rookie status, but their poise with a star actress was night and day for fellow newbies.
* * *
After Han-do and Min-tae, Han Mi-jin reached for Jeon Yoo-hyun.
"Long time no see, Yoo-hyun-ssi."
"Hahaha, yeah. Hope you've been well."
"Yes. I've been busy with this and that. You seemed to have it rough mentally. You okay now?"
At her question, Jeon Yoo-hyun laughed heartily and replied casually.
"Thanks to everyone around me helping out, I shook it off clean."
"Good to hear. I was worried."
Han Mi-jin smiled.
Even her casual smile looked stunning, befitting a Hollywood actress.
As the cast chatted, writer Lee Yeon-shin approached her.
"Mi-jin-ssi. Mind if I get your okay on something in the script quick...?"
"Oh? What?"
"See, there's a line in the middle asking about scandals."
"Scandals..."
Her manager's face hardened instantly.
Han Mi-jin had been caught in dating rumors with Korean actor Ahn Seo-min recently.
The article had dropped just two days ago.
Neither Han Mi-jin nor Ahn Seo-min's agencies had issued official statements.
The parties themselves were mum too.
In that context, a script line about scandals?
"Sorry, Mi-jin-ssi. Our rookie writer messed up big time... We'll strike it with red ink, so if you see it, just pretend it's not there."
"No, no need for that."
Suddenly, Han Mi-jin stopped Lee Yeon-shin from editing.
Lee Yeon-shin blinked in confusion.
"Is there something else you need?"
They'd pulled strings for this A-list guest; no way to sour her mood over this.
She vowed to accommodate fully.
It was her oversight too, as head writer, for not catching the rookie's mistake.
But Han Mi-jin lit up instead.
"I'd actually love more time to address that scandal article head-on."
"Pardon?!"
What could she mean?
Lee Yeon-shin stared blankly, and Han Mi-jin dropped a bombshell.
"I'm planning to make my official stance clear through 4 PM News Table."