Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Episode 17. Sudden Meeting (1)
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It was 11 a.m.
Filming for Pobokjeoldo, plus his ongoing shoots for HSL Season 2.
His schedule had picked up quite a bit compared to before, but it was still pretty light overall.
Kang Han-do had been planning to take the day off and relax, but that plan got derailed by a visit from one of his friends.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang, sounding especially unwelcome today. Kang Han-do swallowed his irritation and headed to the front door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, your dear friend.”
“...Min-tae?”
He recognized the voice right away.
As soon as he opened the door, Oh Min-tae flashed him a bright grin.
“Were you sleeping?”
“Nah, just lounging around.”
“You rascal, I heard the Pobokjeoldo shoot went great yesterday.”
“You heard?”
“I didn’t watch it myself, but word got around.”
Min-tae had missed Kang Han-do’s Pobokjeoldo debut due to his own schedule.
Maybe that regret brought him all the way to Kang Han-do’s place today.
“I figured I’d hear your thoughts on your debut stage, and grab some lunch out of it too.”
“Forget the thoughts. Why should I be buying you lunch?”
“Because you nailed your debut stage.”
“I don’t get the connection at all.”
He couldn’t see how the two were related.
Still, Kang Han-do had been wondering what to do for lunch anyway, so he accepted Oh Min-tae’s suggestion without complaint.
‘Wait a sec...’
Something clicked, and Kang Han-do quickly sent a text.
He got a reply almost immediately. Turning to Oh Min-tae, who was helping himself to a soda from someone else’s fridge, he asked,
“Cool if we eat with some other people?”
“Eat? Sure. Do I know them? Seniors maybe?”
“Nah, one’s someone you know. The other’s new to me too.”
“...??”
Oh Min-tae’s curiosity spiked at Kang Han-do’s cryptic words.
* * *
After her university lecture ended.
Choi Ye-hee was slowly flipping through a newspaper in the break room when a young woman snuck up behind her and wrapped her arms tightly around her waist.
“Hey, whatcha doing, pretty girl?”
Choi Ye-hee flinched and turned around. Seeing it was her friend Jo Yeo-min, she let out a relieved sigh.
“You scared me.”
“Aw, that was the point.”
“Seriously... don’t pull pranks like that. Bad for my heart.”
“Got it, sorry. So, today’s the day, right?”
“Yeah. You got time?”
Choi Ye-hee had gotten a sudden text from Kang Han-do during class.
It was a reply to Jo Yeo-min’s offer to buy him a meal as thanks—he suggested they were already planning to grab lunch nearby, so why not join if their schedules allowed.
It was a last-minute thing, but Jo Yeo-min nodded like it was no big deal.
“Yeah, works for me.”
“Should I tell them to meet at the south gate?”
“South gate? Sounds good.”
“Oh, and he asked if one more person’s okay.”
“One more? Who?”
“Oh Min-tae—ring any bells? He’s a comedian on HSL with him.”
“You think I wouldn’t know?”
Jo Yeo-min was known in her department as a variety show fanatic. No comedian escaped her radar. She exuded confidence.
“Just checking.”
“Doesn’t matter to me either way. One or two, no sweat. Plus, treating them to lunch for a shot at meeting HSL comedians? Total win.”
“Actually, Han-do’s covering it this time. Said he’d buy now, and we owe him next.”
“Cool, that works.”
“Alright, I’ll let him know.”
Choi Ye-hee started texting Kang Han-do back.
“By the way, shouldn’t those two wear sunglasses or something when they get here? They’re celebs, after all.”
Choi Ye-hee gave a wry smile at the question, still typing.
“Guess not many people recognize them yet.”
“True. Han-do’s Pobokjeoldo footage hasn’t aired. But hey, Ye-hee, you and Han-do... got something going on?”
“...!!”
Mid-text, her grip loosened, nearly dropping her phone.
Pulling herself together, she shot back at Yeo-min.
“What’re you talking about?! You said stuff like that last time. What if weird rumors start?”
“Nothing at all?”
“Not like that. We’re not in that kind of relationship.”
“Hmm, really?”
Jo Yeo-min’s gaze locked onto Choi Ye-hee’s face.
Like she was determined to spot any flicker of emotion.
“Anyway, keeping a good rapport with Han-do’s smart. Guy’s got big things ahead, mark my words.”
She wasn’t in the industry, but as a dedicated variety show viewer, Jo Yeo-min rated Kang Han-do’s potential sky-high.
Kang Han-do. He had the makings of a superstar.
That’s what she meant.
“Tell him that later. He’d love it.”
Jo Yeo-min shook her head.
“Your praise would land better than mine. Pass it on yourself.”
“We’re not like that, I said.”
“Still, a compliment never hurts.”
“...”
“Anyway, good luck.”
Choi Ye-hee was speechless at her friend’s enthusiastic pep talk.
Her cheeks flushed red to match.
* * *
Oh Sin-hoon arrived at the broadcasting station lobby ahead of the program’s filming schedule.
The main PD rushed over at the sight of him.
“Hello, hyungnim! You’re early.”
“Haha, can’t be late for filming. Others not here yet?”
“Nope. You’re the first, Sin-hoon hyungnim.”
“Got it. Script?”
“Oh, I’ll grab it right now.”
“Thanks.”
“And today’s outdoor shoot—you might be running around a lot... you good?”
The show featured plenty of physical comedy, so it demanded a lot of movement.
Oh Sin-hoon was well aware.
“What, you think comedians like us mind a little action?”
“As expected from you, hyungnim. Opening’s right here in front of the station, then we’ll move locations for missions.”
“Got it.”
“Also, we’ll recruit civilians mid-way to clear missions together, so heads up.”
“Roger that too.”
“Yes, sir. Writers’ll explain details with the script. See you soon!”
“You too, hang in there.”
Oh Sin-hoon was also the main MC for the program they were about to film: Speed Man.
It was a variety show where fixed cast members teamed up with weekly guests to tackle missions.
Airing Sundays at 7 p.m.—prime time in variety land—with Oh Sin-hoon always at the center.
His presence carried massive weight for the show.
He was thumbing through the script page by page.
As he settled in the car to review it, a familiar voice called out.
“Sin-hoon oppa! Hi!”
“Huh? Mini? What brings you here?”
Ryu Mi-ni, the solo singer, waved from outside the window.
Oh Sin-hoon looked puzzled, and she gave a wry smile, teasing him lightly.
“Oppa, I’m the guest today.”
“Oh, right.”
“Jeez, oppa. Already got memory issues in your forties?”
“Whoops, sorry. Slipped my mind for a sec.”
Mi-ni, a top act in the music scene, as a guest meant they’d pulled out all the stops for casting.
With her long career, she and Oh Sin-hoon were on good terms. She waved casually before heading off.
“Gotta go do makeup. Catch you later.”
“Alright.”
Ryu Mi-ni, the regulars, and a slew of A-list guests trickled in one by one.
Once prep wrapped up,
“Time to go, hyungnim.”
“Got it.”
Oh Sin-hoon stepped out with his manager toward the set.
* * *
Every time Kang Han-do came to the university’s south gate, the same thought crossed his mind.
The faces of these young Koreans, who should be in their prime enjoying youth, were clouded with worry.
In the brutal job market battlefield, survival etched more misery than joy on their features.
Even the happiness stats floating above their heads were mostly below the baseline of 300—way too many.
‘This is tricky.’
Checking people’s happiness levels on the street had become a habit for Kang Han-do.
Seeing so few happy faces furrowed his brow.
Meanwhile, Oh Min-tae, who’d glanced at him, poked his side.
“Hey, something on their heads? You’ve been staring all serious.”
“Nah, nothing.”
No way Oh Min-tae knew about happiness stats. Kang Han-do brushed it off vaguely.
The two were here at the university south gate for one reason: lunch plans.
With Choi Ye-hee, the woman Kang Han-do quietly cherished, and her friend Jo Yeo-min.
Oh Min-tae was a last-minute add, but no one was better at livening up the mood, so he’d brought him along.
Visually, Min-tae was pretty handsome too—a heartthrob comedian in the making, the type girls liked. Since Jo Yeo-min loved variety shows, he figured introducing them might make her happy.
‘Not sure if it’ll work out, though.’
A twinge of anxiety hit him.
What if Oh Min-tae acted clueless and hurt Choi Ye-hee’s feelings?
Reading his expression, maybe?
Oh Min-tae chuckled dryly.
“Relax, dude. I won’t do anything to make your girl hate my face.”
“Ye-hee’s not my girl or anything.”
“Who’re you kidding? It’s obvious. We’ve been friends forever— I can read your thoughts and feelings like a book. No more excuses.”
“...”
“And I’m not the type to blab. Spill it to your hyung. I’ll counsel you on love.”
“Like that fixes anything. What do you know about romance advice?”
“Fine, I’ll just listen.”
Kang Han-do couldn’t help but snort a laugh at Oh Min-tae’s words.