Chapter 150

The MC of *Golden Duckling*, Gong Hyung-man, chuckled at the panelists’ reactions.

It was exactly the reaction he had expected.

There had never been a better day for the guest to remain undisclosed to the panelists beforehand.

That was because Gong Hyung-man was genuinely surprised when he first saw Sua.

After all, an entertainer’s mother is often quite ordinary.

Unless they’re a family with entertainers for parents, they rarely receive special management.

Of course, when the children start earning money, the parents do have the means to take better care of themselves, but such cases are few and far between.

It was hard for parents to frivolously spend their children’s hard-earned money.

Even when they did receive care, while they might look cleaner than their age, eventually, they were still aunties or uncles.

Upon first meeting Sua, Gong Hyung-man had asked:

“Did you perhaps used to be an idol or an actress?”

There was no other way to explain her appearance.

Actresses or idols who had diligently received care often looked younger than their peers.

Women in their fifties often appeared to be in their thirties.

‘This is a bit too much of a “dollook,” isn’t it?’

Sua sat before Gong Hyung-man, unable to meet his gaze properly, fidgeting nervously. Her arms were crossed, and her fingers were playing with each other, squeezing her chest slightly.

He wanted her to please stop doing that, yet at the same time, his curiosity was unstoppable.

In summary, she seemed like a rookie at work. Her appearance could easily pass as being in her late twenties.

If she truly weren’t an entertainer, how many women would think the world was unfair because of her?

“I’m just a regular freelancer,” Sua replied.

“Freelancer? As in…?”

“Uh, just a programmer.”

Programmer. This was a job that seemed entirely incompatible with her image.

Still, a strange sense of intelligence about her somehow made it work.

‘Alright, this could work.’

He felt some kind of instinct that it would.

Though she wasn’t the most talkative person, as he continued speaking with her, she wasn’t overly quiet either.

She spoke freely when the conversation turned to her daughter or her husband.

Apparently, there was a second child too.

‘Hard to believe this is the mother of two daughters.’

But, a good thing is a good thing, isn’t it? He was curious about the panel’s reaction when she stood in front of the cameras after being properly prepared.

And just as he expected…

“Wow, you really are the mother of Soo-Yeon, the actress?”

“Could you have mistaken her for an older sister we invited?”

“Ah, you’re teasing us too much.”

Reactions are very important in variety shows.

So, each panelist had prepared a suitable response based on what Sua’s appearance or personality suggested.

They had done every simulation possible, imagining her every mannerism.

But when it was time to deliver the planned reactions…

‘Wow.’

‘Should I say this? Or maybe I shouldn’t.’

They all felt their planned reactions getting stuck. What they had mentally rehearsed couldn’t match what they saw in front of them.

No, really, could she be someone’s sister? And those… were they real?

Even without being filled out with silicone?

It was easy to predict the reaction such a person would elicit from the public once aired.

If it were a live broadcast, it would have been interesting to see just how explosive the reaction would be.

“Seoyeon is so beautiful. There was a reason.”

“Right, right.”

“But, are you really the mom?”

After Sua sat down in her seat prepared for the guest, the panelists finally gathered their wits and began their questions with smiles.

“Uh, yes. I’m… thirty-nine…”

“Thirty-nine?”

“Wow, still so young.”

“Uh, then how old were you when you had her…?”

“Ugh, don’t count years unnecessarily.”

Finally, the panelists started their rhythm, guiding the conversation as a normal entertainment program would. Sua smiled awkwardly at their questions but…

‘I just want to go home.’

For the first time, she understood how much her daughter was suited for broadcasting. Whenever Seoyeon had a variety show, her excitement was evident.

The best example was *Star Angler*. Seoyeon had already tried fishing, watched fishing shows at home, and practiced.

High-end equipment that Sua had to dissuade her from purchasing.

‘She takes after her father when it comes to this.’

Every time she thought of her perpetually youthful husband, she felt a touch of sentiment for the past days.

Seoyeon’s love for broadcasting, she decided, was like her father’s, and so she didn’t criticize her too much.

Seoyeon was sincere about her love for the media and even eagerly looked forward to it.

‘She must have some communication issues like me, right?’

What was the reason? Despite understanding Seoyeon’s awkwardness with meeting people, she still guessed that Seoyeon simply loved the attention, unlike herself.

Sweat trickled down her forehead, back, and even her chest from the overwhelming attention. She unconsciously tried to dab it with a handkerchief.

“Wait, wait a moment, Seoyeon’s mother!”

“A broadcasting accident! Broadcasting!”

The embarrassed Sua had blushed crimson red and bowed her head deeply. She sincerely wished for a hole to crawl into.

***

In any case, the situation was finally stabilized.

As a guest, Sua participated alongside the screen’s revealed footage of her daughter’s life and explained situations surprisingly sensibly.

“Does Seoyeon enjoy games?”

“Yes, she loves them to an extreme degree. She gets upset if someone says she can’t play.”

“Ho ho ho, how cute~.”

Finally, things settled down, and the show seemed to be progressing as a normal broadcast.

The beginning was smooth.

First, they showed footage of Seoyeon diligently studying, capturing her and Sua up to the point when Young-bin appeared. Sua and Seoyeon’s startled reaction was slightly unusual. Why would they be so surprised by their husband and father coming home early?

“Uh, why is she called ‘Triceraton’? What kind of a weird nickname is that?”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure… it’s what her husband calls her. How cute, right?”

“Oh, that is indeed adorable!”

The panelists laughed warmly, unaware of the origins of the nickname “Triceraton.”

When Seoyeon started squeaking while gaming, it felt like the usual image crafting.

‘Even though we’re entertainers, we enjoy playing games like everyone else.’

That was the general feel they were aiming for.

For internet communities, gaming isn’t unfamiliar. The affinity with this subject made this a natural element in crafting an entertainer’s image.

So, this was the general feeling they intended.

However, this was where it all began.

When Young-bin, who had been quietly watching a video on his phone, sneaked closer as Seoyeon started playing.

This was when…

The endless nitpicking began.

“Our daughter has such great creativity with her game-playing.”

“Her creativity is so wild that the other kids can’t keep up. That’s the problem.”

“Hey, why don’t you focus on swords more? The guns aren’t really necessary, huh?”

“Is your daughter considering enlisting in the army? I think it might be a good experience.”

Regardless, this nitpicking would occur every time Seoyeon died.

It wasn’t ceaseless chatter, just some comments every time she died. He would then glance at Seoyeon, tilting his head.

Is he checking her reactions? But it felt off…

“Ah, usually, even Seoyeon would join in the chatter, but today, she’s silent, so…”

It was probably because it was a broadcast.

Watching the scene, Sua cleared her throat. Young-bin was oblivious to the fact they were recording.

‘Had I known this, I’d have forewarned him.’

Because of this, Seoyeon, who couldn’t outright refute him, poked Young-bin’s waist with her finger.

To others, it seemed like a cute retaliation, but Sua knew better.

A well-aimed poke could easily knock Young-bin over. Yet, he stood tall. Even worse, he started showing off the item he wore underneath as he spread his jacket apart.

“?? What’s that?”

“Uh, this is a bulletproof vest…”

“A what?”

MC Gong Hyung-man asked, puzzled.

Why a bulletproof vest?

“Last time, my husband bought it, but our daughter accidentally tore it. Never thought he would start wearing it again.”

Can one accidentally tear a bulletproof vest?

Despite her calm delivery, everyone accepted it as plausible.

‘How did he even find it hidden?’

Sua gazed at Young-bin, who proudly explained the vest’s merits, genuinely curious. Another item he somehow unearthed mysteriously.

Ordinarily, Seoyeon might have just overlooked it.

Even Seoyeon didn’t think much about the bulletproof vest hung on the wall.

Young-bin must have secretly loved it, despite her token protests.

A symbol of strength, perhaps?

Sua wasn’t sure, but for the sake of appearances, they had stored it away, only for him to find and flaunt it now.

The subsequent outcome was predictable.

“Dad.”

“Hmm?”

“Know what ‘Gyro Drop’ is?”

As Seoyeon spoke in a chilling tone, the chair Young-bin sat on lifted suddenly, moving up and down and side to side.

The pathetic cries of Young-bin filled the air.

“…”

How is she doing this? Is there a wire attached?

Despite the confusion, they recalled the episode of *Star Angler* where Seoyeon managed to catch a flathead fish.

“Oh, wasn’t Seoyeon quite strong?”

“Yes, the child is quite healthy.”

Sua chuckled at her daughter receiving praise. Her smile on the show was rare yet beautiful, but…

‘Is that what they consider healthy?’

The other panelists were lost, but what could they do?

Just applause would suffice.

“Hey, that chair is sturdy.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.”

“Right?”

They could only make casual chatter about the robustness of the chair as it was swung around in the air.

***

Thus, the filming of *Golden Duckling* was successfully concluded.

Incidentally, the lively Gyro Drop rider, Young-bin…

“Hey, now this gives me an idea—how about we hit the swimming pool?”

As soon as he got off the chair, he said that.

It was clear he enjoyed the thrills and wanted to ride more attractions.

After going to the swimming pool…

Thanks to *Golden Duckling*’s thorough filming, Seoyeon’s schedule was spotless.

“Joo Soo-Yeon, didn’t you say you wanted to improve your image?”

Seoyeon was being scolded by Jiyeon.

But Seoyeon felt wronged.

With the exception of that part, she had managed her image diligently. She hadn’t ever used brute force otherwise!

“That’s because my dad kept… And there were no such incidents at the swimming pool or elsewhere.”

“Your uncle might be right in that regard, but… Did you watch the broadcast?”

The broadcast Jiyeon mentioned was naturally her Vtuber broadcasting.

She wondered if Seoyeon had somehow watched her Vtuber stream while filming *Golden Duckling*.

Given what she had heard so far, it only sounded like Seoyeon was gaming and went swimming.

But Jiyeon knew that *Golden Duckling* was a reality show, meaning they were undoubtedly filming continuously. It was a long shoot, which they would edit afterward.

“…”

“Why are you avoiding my eyes?”

It was Seoyeon’s signature expression when she had done something wrong—the classic guilty puppy look, with her gaze shifted to the side.

‘So, she did!’

Jiyeon shut her eyes tightly, knowing that this was partly her fault. She should have paused her broadcasts, knowing that Seoyoen was filming.

But since she didn’t consider Seoyoon might watch…

Jiyeon had continued streaming faithfully.

“Of course, I had a lot on my mind.”

“Oh, I’m sure you did.”

“It’s true.”

Seoyeon said this with an unapologetic, bold expression, leaving Jiyeon dumbfounded.

‘What, perhaps it’s better she didn’t focus so much?’

Watching Vtubing might make her seem more than just a fashion enthusiast, after all.

And anyway, since this was a variety program, there was no need to broadcast her stream on television itself.

‘Proper editing will help.’

Jiyeon shrugged it off casually.

“When’s the airing date?”

“A week from now.”

“Not long.”

Seoyeon nodded, acknowledging the fact. Despite a few scenes of brute force, proper editing would surely happen. Even if not, there were the swimming pool scenes that Young-bin added.

Although nothing particularly noteworthy, the chair incident would probably not be too incriminating.

“And by the way, I have an audition two days before it goes live.”

Jiyeon’s words made Seoyeon nod, already aware.

As for her ongoing project with Seohui Jo, things were progressing. Apparently, for practice, Seohui Jo had it easier than Seoyeon.

“Can you help me with my last practice?”

To this, Seoyeon paused in her continuous nods. Of course, Jiyeon’s audition was for *Gyeongseong Yeon-nyeo* auditions.

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