Chapter 67

The scenery is beautiful.

That was the first thought that Ha Eun had when she finally arrived at the opening location of [2 Nights and 3 Days].

If you think about it, the program [2 Nights and 3 Days] is itself a show that travels to find Korea’s hidden tourist spots.

The scenery around the opening location was bound to be beautiful as well.

However, regardless of whether the purpose was to promote [The Moonlight Through the Clouds] through entertainment appearances or not, just the fact that Ha Eun had come to a “travel” destination so beautiful was enough to make her a bit excited.

“The air is nice too.”

The beautiful natural scenery before Ha Eun’s eyes was a world she had never experienced before.

Back when she was trapped in a narrow hospital room, it was a world she could not have experienced no matter what happened.

Just being able to look at it was enough.

It felt good just to be able to gaze at it.

After a while, while Ha Eun continued to look around, she spotted another guest, Yu Sung-jae.

However, unlike Ha Eun, who had no connection to the regular members of [2 Nights and 3 Days].

“Sung-jae, you better jump in the water no matter what today.”

“Ah, hyung. I’m an actor, you know? An actor like me survives on image.”

“You can still make a living with a broken image.”

The MC of [2 Nights and 3 Days], Chang Sung-ho, and other members had been making a commotion since before the opening.

One could say it seemed cheerful in many ways.

Well, anyway.

Since every single person over there was someone who would be spending the next two nights and three days with Ha Eun.

– Step.

Before the filming officially began, she took a few more steps closer to greet them.

Not long after that, as soon as she made eye contact with the eldest, Chang Sung-ho, she nodded.

“Hello. I’m actor Lee Ha-eun.”

“Oh, nice to meet you. I’m Chang Sung-ho.”

His overall impression was warm.

And in contrast, his muscular physique stood out.

Once he requested a handshake, Chang Sung-ho’s right arm was also solid.

The figure he presented held echoes of the past when he was active as a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball 20 years ago.

When she lightly grasped the hand he extended, it felt like shaking hands with a bear.

However, after finishing the handshake with Ha Eun, Chang Sung-ho asked her.

“Did you, Ha Eun? Have you exercised?”

At a moment’s confusion from the meaning of the question, she blinked for a moment, recovering her composure a bit late and nodded.

“That’s why. When I shook your hand, I felt a strong sense of your exercise. What kind of exercise do you do? Swimming? Track?”

“Just jogging or skipping rope, you know?”

“Huh? You wouldn’t get this from just doing a little.”

His voice was filled with curiosity.

In response, Ha Eun trailed off, perhaps due to the swordplay acting classes she had been taking recently.

Strictly speaking, she hadn’t focused on any particular exercise.

Before attending Kim Gyu-tae’s action school, she had never learned any form of exercise.

Anyway, she had achieved her goal of greeting them ahead of time.

From that point on, she continued to look around, taking in the picturesque scenery.

Finally, the preparations for the opening of [2 Nights and 3 Days] began ten minutes later.

After attaching the filming microphone by her assigned writer, she was left alone with Yu Sung-jae, waiting for the guest to arrive.

“How’s your condition, Ha Eun?”

“I think it’s okay. How about you, Sung-jae?”

“Honestly, I’m not good. If Sung-ho hyung is serious, I think I’ll really have to jump in later.”

“…Oh dear.”

As they shared ordinary banter, the opening of [2 Nights and 3 Days] suddenly began.

The regular members who had gathered in front of the camera started to gradually raise the tension, making the filming location lively.

“Hmm… Watching on TV every day is different when you see it with your own eyes.”

“Jumping into the water will probably feel different than when you watch it on TV.”

“Is that you too, Ha Eun?”

“Well, if I play the mini-games well, I won’t have to jump in.”

That was her honest feeling.

She had no intention of forcing herself into a punishment just to create a more impressive scene.

Ha Eun was determined to avoid a situation where she would end up looking like a drowned rat.

She also planned to prevent Ju Jung-yun, who appeared under the pretext of bringing her spare clothes, from capturing her on camera while stifling laughter.

“So let’s cheer on His Highness the Prince as well.”

“…Thanks for at least saying that.”

Time was running out, and the introduction of the guest was just seconds away.

Then, as the staff member in front of Ha Eun signaled her to enter, she walked in sync with Yu Sung-jae and revealed themselves in front of the camera.

“Today’s guests! Actors Yu Sung-jae and Lee Ha-eun! Nice to meet you!”

A large voice that properly conveyed what high tension is.

Together with a simple greeting, a brief description of who Yu Sung-jae and Ha Eun were was provided.

Following that, a short teaser of [The Moonlight Through the Clouds], prepared in advance by the production team of [2 Nights and 3 Days], played.

Afterward, Chang Sung-ho and the other fixed members provided different impressions while alternating questions toward Yu Sung-jae and Ha Eun.

The issue was.

“Oh? By the way, didn’t Nam-soo hyung learn Kendo?”

“Kendo… I learned for about five years.”

“After five years, you’ve learned all there is! Now, enter the athlete!”

It was a situation where “Im Nam-soo,” one of the regular members of [2 Nights and 3 Days], was being pushed right in front of Ha Eun.

The bigger problem was that a mood was being created for Ha Eun and Im Nam-soo to have a swordplay duel.

Of course, it was only the atmosphere.

Regardless, one couldn’t have a swordplay match in the middle of the opening, so Ha Eun intended to just play along for a bit.

However.

“Okay, I knew this would happen, so we prepared.”

As if foreseeing this situation, the production team of [2 Nights and 3 Days] handed a sponge sword to Ha Eun and Nam-soo.

Nam-soo immediately displayed an expression of being very taken aback.

“What? Did you really prepare this seriously?”

“We’ve never done things half-heartedly, have we? If you’re scared, just admit it.”

Eventually, Ha Eun and Nam-soo took their positions with swords drawn at each other.

Anyway, being a variety show, Nam-soo had no choice but to get hit by the guest, Ha Eun.

If he were to genuinely face Ha Eun, regardless of how it was a toy sword, he would face a crowd’s fury from the viewers.

Ultimately, for an even more enjoyable and comedic scene to unfold, Nam-soo had to be the one taking all the hits.

And so, Nam-soo approached Ha Eun, wide open from head to toe.

And, just a few seconds later.

– Sudden.

“…Wait a second. There’s something odd about those eyes.”

Feeling a menacing atmosphere coming from Ha Eun right in front of him, Nam-soo unconsciously halted his steps.

However, regrettably for him, Ha Eun’s sword was already flying through the air.

When he finally realized it and hurriedly attempted to raise his sword.

– Wham─!

“Ugh!!”

A heavy pain hit Nam-soo’s waist.

Even though it was a soft sword made of sponge, the impact was tremendous.

“Ah, I… I’m sorry!”

“Oh, it’s okay, it’s okay. Nam-soo is just acting.”

Honestly, even Chang Sung-ho could see it looked a bit painful.

But to ensure that the special cheerful atmosphere of [2 Nights and 3 Days] continued for smoother filming, he made an effort to pretend he hadn’t seen it.

So, after an opening that turned out to be a bit more chaotic than Ha Eun had expected, they wrapped things up and moved on to the next filming.

A drawing lots container was handed over to all the cast members.

“Okay, each of you draw one lot. You’ll need to buy the ‘food’ written in that lot from the traditional market over there.”

Along with this mission explanation from the production team, Chang Sung-ho added that today’s guests should draw lots first.

As Yu Sung-jae and Ha Eun exchanged glances, they took turns drawing their lots.

After that, the other cast members also began to draw their lots one by one.

With the signal from MC Chang Sung-ho, everyone opened their lots simultaneously.

‘…Was there this kind of bread?’

Ha Eun had drawn a lot for [Gukhwa Bread].

There was no precise location written on the lot.

This was the same for the other cast members’ lots too.

With this, MC Chang Sung-ho took it upon himself to ask the production team what they should do next.

“Can we buy from anywhere?”

“Yes. Anywhere within the traditional market is fine.”

“This is just for clarification, but, is this first come, first served?”

“Yes, that’s right. The first person to return will receive the most points… And then, everyone, go!”

“?! Wait, what? To start without any notice?”

Before Chang Sung-ho could finish his slightly baffling comment, someone among the cast started sprinting toward the traditional market.

“Who is that?!”

Among the cast members, the smallest in stature.

Despite that, their running speed was incredibly fast, quick enough for a veteran VJ from [2 Nights and 3 Days] to barely keep up.

It was Ha Eun.

And she wore an extremely serious expression.

The awkwardness she had shown among the high-tension members of [2 Nights and 3 Days] was nowhere to be found.

***

[It seems… I won’t be able to feature this time. I’m sorry, but they said a caretaker has to be next to her…]

“Don’t worry, family comes first. We’re fine, so take good care of your mother.”

Thus, with a sudden cut off from the phone call, Lee Geon-yeol’s previously composed face quickly darkened.

The final of the hip-hop survival program [SIT ON THE MONEY], where Daulby is currently participating as a producer, was approaching.

Thus, the departure of the female singer who had promised to feature on the final stage was quite a serious problem.

Other female singers connected with Daulby also had their own schedules.

It could be suggested as an option, but would they readily come out to perform on the big stage of the live broadcast final of [SIT ON THE MONEY]?

To make matters worse, there was virtually no time to curate a featuring singer.

Starting tomorrow, it was already a tight situation to start recording the final song with a new female singer.

“…Let’s just proceed with this final without any featuring parts.”

“That would definitely feel empty.”

“I’ll extend my part a little, and Ji-hoon will too. There’s no other way.”

Thus, they ultimately decided that the final stage would proceed without any featuring other than Daulby.

The main rapper and star of this final stage, Hwang Ji-hoon, also did not deny that it was unavoidable.

However, he didn’t feel that this would be the best stage to present.

The final song was originally created with the consideration of the featuring female singer.

The overall atmosphere of the song.

The intention held within the tone and lyrics.

Lastly, the performance conception for a finale was now all things he would have to give up due to the departure of the promised featuring female singer.

For Hwang Ji-hoon, who had lived his life as an unknown rapper, this final of [SIT ON THE MONEY] was literally a dream stage.

He didn’t want to let slip such a golden opportunity that would never come back again.

The song he wanted to present.

The stage he wanted to showcase.

He believed that to qualify for the challenge of winning, he had to have no compromises or regrets in either one of those two.

He wasn’t certain how other competitors might think, but at least this was how Hwang Ji-hoon felt.

And so, after a long time of grappling with and trying to find a hole that could emerge when the sky fell, he looked for a lifeline that could save Hwang Ji-hyuk from this unfortunate situation of having to enter the finals with lingering regrets.

What Hwang Ji-hyuk found, which bore the semblance of a lifeline, came about 30 minutes later.

However, it was still uncertain whether it could genuinely be grasped.

Taking a cautious breath, he finally opened his mouth.

“Um, guys…”

“? What’s up?”

“Uh, well… I was thinking… why don’t we ask Pinocchio?”

He uttered the name of a singer who had debuted as a feature in Daulby’s 10th album.

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