Chapter 68

**2 Nights 3 Days**

Once considered a national variety show and capturing the interest and affection of many, this real variety program still held enough competitiveness even after its peak.

The friendly atmosphere created by famous celebrities interacting with rural residents in picturesque countryside settings was unmatched by any other program.

“Reality is important.”

A natural appearance devoid of contrived situations or scripted setups for broadcasting.

In Ha-eun’s view, the key reason behind the love for the program [2 Nights 3 Days] lay in this very reality.

Thus, Ha-eun, as a guest, aimed to show his true self, presenting the image of “Actor Lee Ha-eun” rather than the scripted character.

Rather than introducing the character ‘Yeom Wol’ from [The Moonlight Breaking Through Clouds], he wanted to showcase who “Actor Lee Ha-eun” was.

Having spent over a decade in the entertainment industry, Ha-eun’s name and face were somewhat known, but his off-screen self had never been revealed.

Most importantly, he needed to present an image that would make viewers on the other side of the TV feel a ‘liking’ towards him.

“…Let’s do our best.”

It was undeniable that the reputation of actors who had been passive or uncooperative in variety show shoots like [2 Nights 3 Days] had suffered.

Therefore, he aimed to focus on showing a proactive attitude and doing his best in everything he handled.

Moreover, Ha-eun was still an 18-year-old high school student.

When a relatively young actor shows a willingness to do anything diligently, there’s no doubt it would earn additional points.

After all, the actor’s image directly influenced the image of the project they appeared in.

He believed that if ‘Lee Ha-eun’ began to acquire a positive image through the shoot of [2 Nights 3 Days], [The Moonlight Breaking Through Clouds] would also share in that good image.

As soon as the PD of [2 Nights 3 Days] signaled the start, he dashed forth, arriving first at the traditional market.

If he scored well in this first-come mission, he could avoid penalties like entering the water.

“Chrysanthemum bread is still bread… I should at least check the bakery first.”

The problem was that he had never visited a traditional market even once.

He had also never eaten the chrysanthemum bread he was supposed to buy.

In fact, it was only today that he learned such bread existed.

Until now, he had avoided street food altogether, thinking it might be unhealthy—he couldn’t deny that it had a great taste.

This preconceived notion led Ha-eun to imagine chrysanthemum bread as a regional specialty made with chrysanthemum flowers.

Thus, he busied himself searching for bakeries within the traditional market, diligently looking for the menu item of chrysanthemum bread.

“…Why isn’t it visible?”

In the end, Ha-eun couldn’t find chrysanthemum bread in any of the bakeries he visited.

Arriving first at the traditional market now felt meaningless.

To make matters worse, the market-goers recognized him.

“I won’t take your money, so come here and try this. It’s really delicious.”

“Um, I can’t just take this for free, sir. I’m sorry but I can only accept your—”

“Shh! When an adult gives it to you, you say thank you and accept it. Now take a big bite.”

Ha-eun was caught by someone who insisted on letting him taste various side dishes like seasoned vegetables.

*Gulp.*

“That’s it. You eat so well.”

“Excuse me, could we take a photo together? My son really likes you.”

Without finding the chrysanthemum bread he needed, he was unexpectedly taken for a series of photo opportunities.

It felt rude to flatly refuse the bite-sized snacks offered with such pure goodwill and fan affection.

Later, feeling increasingly rushed, Ha-eun finally asked about chrysanthemum bread at a jokbal (pig’s trotters) restaurant.

Until then, he had been determined to find it on his own, but he felt that further delays would hinder filming.

“Sir, do you happen to know where I could find a bakery that sells chrysanthemum bread?”

“Huh? There’s no bakery that sells chrysanthemum bread in our market.”

“Pardon?”

“If you want to eat chrysanthemum bread, go to a street vendor. Why are you looking for bakeries?”

‘…Do street vendors sell bread too?’

The jokbal restaurant owner pointed with his wrinkled fingers just thereafter.

“That guy in the red hat over there is currently grilling chrysanthemum bread.”

“Uh, sir, that’s… a steamed bread, isn’t it?”

“Steamed bread is chrysanthemum bread. Didn’t you know?”

He truly did not know.

He had no idea that chrysanthemum bread was something that resembled walnut cookies filled only with red bean paste, devoid of any chrysanthemum flowers.

He felt the jokbal restaurant owner’s curious gaze upon him.

An overwhelming sensation hit him, like being struck in the back of the head.

He couldn’t help but recall his foolish actions, only searching for bakeries and not glancing at street vendors at all.

So ultimately, with his ears burning bright red, he turned his body.

He walked creakily toward the street vendor where the jokbal restaurant owner had pointed.

“…Please wrap up one pack of chrysanthemum bread for me…”

He ordered 2,000 won worth of chrysanthemum bread in a whispering voice.

Of course, Ha-eun’s actions were all captured on camera by the VJ assigned to him.

When he eventually returned to the opening location, slowly carrying the chrysanthemum bread wrapped in paper, the others who had already returned greeted him.

“Oh, here comes Ha-eun!”

The voices of Yu Sung-jae, filled with concern, and Chang Sung-ho, full of mischief, were heard consecutively.

“We thought you got lost, Ha-eun.”

“We thought you were coming back having made the chrysanthemum bread yourself.”

“…I’m sorry for being late…”

In the end, Ha-eun’s score came out to be 0.

It was a pitiful score for someone who had dashed out and arrived first at the traditional market.

Though he felt wronged, he couldn’t grumble about it.

After all, it was entirely his fault from beginning to end.

Whenever he recalled the moments wandering solely through bakeries while bypassing the street vendors offering chrysanthemum bread, he couldn’t help but shut his eyes tightly.

Perhaps because of this, he remained silent during the bus ride headed to the next filming location.

Eventually, a talk led by Yu Sung-jae began.

Fortunately, since Yu Sung-jae had a certain degree of acquaintance with other [2 Nights 3 Days] members, the conversation never seemed to lose momentum.

As he silently observed the ongoing chatter between Yu Sung-jae and the other cast members, Ha-eun had only one thought.

“…I have to be first in the next mission.”

For the sake of establishing a more favorable image for himself.

Moreover, to maintain the charisma of Yeom Wol, the lead character in [The Moonlight Breaking Through Clouds].

He could not afford any more mistakes.

He began scanning the vast watermelon field that appeared through the bus window, his eyes filled with fierce determination for the next mission.

There would only be one mission in the watermelon field—harvesting watermelons.

Thus, he focused solely on the plan of harvesting as many watermelons as possible to make up for the earlier mistake during the first mission.

“Alright, we’ll arrive at the restaurant in about 10 minutes, so please bear with us a little even if you’re hungry.”

However, upon arriving at the watermelon field, the bus did not stop and continued to pass by.

On seeing the watermelon field gradually moving away, he watched with a slightly flustered expression.

In the end, he arrived at a renowned bulgogi restaurant meant for a late lunch or early dinner.

The mission did not even get a mention until they sat down to eat at the table, where an array of dishes had already been set up.

Ha-eun, who had just moments ago burned with enthusiasm for the mission, found himself only answering various questions during the meal.

“How many actors applied for the Yeom Wol audition?”

“Umm… I think there were about 40.”

“Were all those people older than you?”

“Oh, yes. I don’t think I saw anyone younger than me.”

After continuing the conversation about [The Moonlight Breaking Through Clouds], the meal eventually came to an end.

Once they stepped outside the restaurant and boarded the bus, he trusted they would return to the watermelon field to start the harvesting mission.

Maybe that was why.

“Alright, everyone. We need a moment to set up a ping-pong table, so please sit back and relax for a bit.”

He was surprised once more to see the production team starting to prepare for a ping-pong match instead of the watermelon harvest mission.

One of the sports Ha-eun had never tried in his 18 years of life was ping-pong.

Of course, he intended to give it his all, but he didn’t imagine that a beginner like him would win against anyone.

Still, he couldn’t show any symptoms of panic or discomfort because.

“Okay, let’s play rock-paper-scissors to form teams! If you don’t play, you lose! Rock-paper-scissors!”

Under the leadership of MC Chang Sung-ho, the rock-paper-scissors to determine teams quickly commenced.

After around three rounds of rock-paper-scissors, Ha-eun ended up on the same team as the other guest, Yu Sung-jae.

In other words, for Ha-eun to win the ping-pong match, he had to rely on Yu Sung-jae’s skills.

“Do you play ping-pong well, Sung-jae?”

While observing Yu Sung-jae with a slight glimmer of hope, he asked.

“I can only just manage a serve. Can you play some ping-pong, Ha-eun?”

“…To be honest, I don’t even know how to hold a racket.”

“We’re doomed.”

Ultimately, it was clear that this ping-pong match would also earn them the lowest score.

But the ping-pong match began nonetheless.

There was no advantage given to the two guests who were clearly novice players.

After all, [2 Nights 3 Days] was a real variety entertainment show.

To make matters worse, all the regular members of [2 Nights 3 Days] were skilled at ping-pong.

As a result, Ha-eun and Yu Sung-jae were eliminated in the very first match with an overwhelming score of 3 to 11.

To be fair, it was entertaining.

Their images were captured multiple times on camera—Yu Sung-jae managing to score a serve while Ha-eun desperately trying to return the shots.

It would have been a perfect display, had the balls Ha-eun returned not launched far away instead of bouncing back on the ping-pong table.

“Ugh!! This isn’t baseball, Ha-eun!!”

“…I’m sorry.”

Ha-eun’s smash was the very definition of a home run.

And watching that shot, Yu Sung-jae fell into despair.

These moments were certainly enough to elicit laughter from the viewers.

The images of the two guests would likely form a more favorable image than an unfavorable one.

But ultimately, the targets for today’s penalties were the two guests.

Therefore, they had no choice but to accept any penalties that would be handed down.

“Still, since they’re guests, it feels a bit harsh for both to receive penalties.”

“Let’s do rock-paper-scissors, and whoever wins will be exempt from the penalty! If you don’t play, you lose! Rock-paper-scissors!”

Almost simultaneously, Yu Sung-jae’s and Ha-eun’s hands shot out, desperately trying to avoid penalties.

The desperate outcome of that rock-paper-scissors was.

“Wow, Sung-jae, you really have bad luck.”

“At times like this, a man should let the woman win! Ugh~~.”

“I thought men always use their fists!”

“Well, that’s that, and this is this~.”

Ha-eun lost while throwing scissors against Yu Sung-jae’s fist.

She tried her best to keep a poker face, but she couldn’t hide her trembling eyelids.

On a positive note, today’s penalty was not entering the water but rather sleeping outdoors.

“So when will we have to enter the water?”

“Hmm… I think it’ll probably be after we harvest the watermelons tomorrow.”

‘…The watermelon harvest is tomorrow, huh.’

After finally hearing the details about the long-awaited watermelon harvesting mission, she felt the anticipation.

“Uh, Ha-eun, are you really okay with this?”

“A penalty is a penalty… I can’t help it. It would be odd to ask for mercy now.”

She started walking towards the hut in the middle of the watermelon field where they would sleep outside.

Before long, Ha-eun arrived at the hut to find a yellow one-person tent that had been set up.

And also, four infrared cameras installed on the hut’s pillars.

Perhaps to prevent insects from being attracted, there were no lights set up inside.

For some reason or another.

‘…The stars are so visible.’

A remarkably beautiful night sky captured Ha-eun’s gaze.

As she rummaged through her pockets, she pulled out her phone.

*Click.*

She then rotated to capture the beautiful night sky from different angles.

Finally, she selected the best photo.

[Lee Ha-eun (Diah)] – (Night Sky photo X10)

[Lee Ha-eun (Diah)] – The stars are so visible.

[Lee Ha-eun (Diah)] – (Amazed otter emoticon)

She sent it to the members of Hwan Sang Hyang.

She wanted to show the beautiful scenery filled with twinkling stars to her Hwan Sang Hyang members as well.

Soon, responses from the Hwan Sang Hyang members began to appear.

Most responses expressed a desire to visit such beautiful places, just like Ha-eun did.

[Kim Eun-hye (Ria)] – Our Ha-eun is definitely the youngest, yet at times like this, she feels like an elder.

[Lee Ha-eun (Diah)] – Elder?

[Kim Eun-hye (Ria)] – You know, usually older folks share these scenery photos every time they take them.

Unexpectedly treating Ha-eun like an old soul, Ria had inadvertently hit a nerve.

[Lee Ha-eun (Diah)] – …That’s harsh.

Ha-eun felt a bit hurt.

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