Chapter 69

The total filming period of [2 Nights 3 Days] is, as the name suggests, 2 nights and 3 days.

During the 3 days that the cast and crew stay at the filming location, the camera keeps rolling.

The waking scenes of the cast sleeping in different accommodations are also filmed.

This is because of the “wake-up mission,” one of the main entertainment elements in [2 Nights 3 Days].

However, the usual wake-up time is set around 8 AM.

If the cast wakes up too early, their condition might not be good.

Forcing the deeply sleeping cast to wake up and starting the wake-up mission early in the morning would likely cause more harm than good.

No matter how experienced the cast of [2 Nights 3 Days] may be, they are still human.

There was a need to consider their need to recover from the fatigue accumulated from the previous day’s filming.

Since it wasn’t a one-day shoot like other variety shows but three consecutive days of filming, the cast’s condition had to be normal for better quality filming.

Thus,

At 6:30 AM, Ha Eun emerged from the tent with a rustling sound.

“…Huh? Isn’t that Ha Eun?”

“It’s not even 7 yet. Why is he up so early?”

This was enough to slightly bewilder the staff, who had just begun preparing for the wake-up mission.

No guest who had appeared on [2 Nights 3 Days] had ever woken up at such an early hour.

After all, filming variety shows from early morning until late at night would tire even the most veteran celebrities.

Nevertheless, for some reason, Ha Eun did not look tired.

No, rather, one might say he looked a bit refreshed.

“Hey, Ha Eun. Aren’t you tired? Is it okay not to sleep more?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

A clear gaze.

A voice that bore no trace of sleepiness.

Ultimately, his beautiful skin, without a hint of dullness, made the staff conclude that he was in normal condition.

Ha Eun’s dedicated staff became a bit flustered after that.

“Eun Sung, grab the camera. Ha Eun has woken up.”

“Huh? Already?”

“Yep. Already.”

And so, Ha Eun’s VJ, Kwon Eun Sung, had to shoulder the camera as early as 6:40 AM.

On top of that, it was also his role to interview the first cast member to wake up.

“Do you normally wake up this early, Ha Eun?”

He approached Ha Eun, who was stretching alone in the middle of the filming site, with a warm tone.

And there was one thing he had almost forgotten until that moment.

“I have to go to school. I need to wake up early to prepare so I won’t be late.”

‘Ah, right.’

Unlike the other adult cast members, Ha Eun was still an 18-year-old high school student.

There must be a reason for needing to wake up early on ordinary days.

However, the fact that he got up early to prepare for school could also become a topic of conversation.

Thus, he continued the interview by throwing more questions about Ha Eun’s daily life.

In any case, the daily life of celebrities like Ha Eun was one of the things the viewers of [2 Nights 3 Days] were curious about.

Moreover, as Ha Eun was the first high school student guest, it was especially interesting.

“How is studying? Isn’t it tough to balance acting and studying?”

“It’s not completely easy, but studying is just as fun as acting.”

“Oh, that’s usually something kids who study well say. You seem to be good at studying, Ha Eun.”

“I can’t say I’m that good. I think I just do enough not to get scolded by my parents.”

He made an effort to bring out Ha Eun’s character as a ‘high school actor.’

Only Ha Eun could share stories about a high school life as an active actor.

He wasn’t particularly shy, making it easy to converse.

There were no noticeable breaks or awkwardness in their personal conversation.

Perhaps it is true that celebrities are celebrities.

“How do your teachers treat you, Ha Eun?”

“They are very considerate. Sometimes, they even tell me they watched the work I appeared in and compliment me.”

“Then, could you leave a video message for your teachers?”

“Um… I always appreciate them. Oh, I’d be even more thankful if you all watch [The Moonlight Behind the Clouds] when it airs.”

He knew how to speak clearly.

At the same time, he knew how to speak pleasantly.

Thanks to that, they had gathered enough material.

Therefore,

“Since the wake-up music will play at 8 AM, how about going to the wake-up mission spot before others wake up?”

He steered Ha Eun’s interest toward the wake-up mission and concluded the interview.

The problem was that almost simultaneously, Ha Eun began to sprint toward the wake-up mission location, which was visible from afar.

Thanks to this, Kwon Eun Sung, the VJ, also had to hurry and follow Ha Eun while carrying the filming camera.

As he ran rapidly, he deeply regretted mentioning the wake-up mission, which Ha Eun had momentarily forgotten.

The wake-up music resonated throughout the filming site just after Ha Eun and Kwon Eun Sung arrived at the wake-up mission location.

[ Ba Ba Ba Ba↗ Ba↘ Ba Ba Ba Ba↗ Good! Mo! Ning~ ]

With the unavoidable wake-up music serving as the background, he struck the elephant trunk pose and began to spin in place to perform the wake-up mission, [Spin Five Times like an Elephant and Kick a Top Three Times].

It was something Ha Eun had never done in his 18-year life.

Yet, driven solely by the desire to score high, he spun five times and then lifted the top to kick it three times.

“Lee Ha-eun! Success!”

Thus, he ultimately succeeded in the wake-up mission faster than anyone else and plopped down.

After that, he leisurely watched the other cast members running over from a makeshift chair set in a corner of the filming site.

***

“Since Ha Eun came in first in the wake-up mission, Ha Eun gets to pick first.”

“Ah, okay.”

It was just after the morning wake-up mission and breakfast had ended.

A draw was held to determine how many watermelons the [2 Nights 3 Days] cast would harvest.

After all the cast members drew their lots simultaneously on the count of one two three.

At Chang Sung-ho’s signal, everyone opened their lots at once.

‘One cart isn’t too little… is it?’

The quantity of watermelon harvest written on Ha Eun’s lot was one cart.

However, having never harvested watermelons before, he had no idea how much one cart would actually be.

At least, compared to the other cast members’ goal amounts, his was indeed smaller.

Yu Sung-jae, who picked the maximum of five carts, looked utterly despaired.

“Sung-jae, you know we can’t cheat, right?”

“You’re saying that to imply you want to see my wrist break.”

“Oh, Sung-jae, did you know you could also read minds?”

“…please stop talking.”

After shaking his head at Chang Sung-ho, Yu Sung-jae finally moved towards the vast watermelon field.

Other cast members also put on work gloves and headed toward the watermelon field one by one.

In any case, until they actually harvested the watermelons, Ha Eun had no idea how much one cart really would be.

Therefore, Ha Eun also entered the watermelon field wearing rough work gloves.

Moments later, Chang Sung-ho yelled to Ha Eun from over there not to overdo it.

“Be careful not to strain your wrist! If it’s heavy, make sure to ask for help!”

Only then did Ha Eun nod at Chang Sung-ho and finally reach out to the watermelons scattered around.

And, surprised by the unexpectedly heavy weight, he wondered if they might be under-ripe watermelons.

“Um, writer. Are all the watermelons here ripe?”

He turned to the producer in charge of him to check on the ripeness of the watermelons.

Nonetheless, the response he received was that all the watermelons around Ha Eun were indeed ripe.

“The owner of the field already confirmed they are all ripe watermelons.”

After hearing the official confirmation from an expert, he could no longer ask any questions.

From there, he carried and carried until one cart was filled.

“Is this enough for one cart?”

“If you fill any more here, it will spill out, Ha Eun. You can take this to the truck, and the mission will be complete.”

As a result, the watermelons that Ha Eun harvested totaled 10.

Though it felt somewhat prematurely finished, it was finished nonetheless.

“Great job, Ha Eun. The mission is complete.”

He ranked first once again after the wake-up mission that morning.

However, he could not leave the vast watermelon field.

He was still haunted by the sight of Yu Sung-jae, who had barely harvested two carts.

Other cast members, like Chang Sung-ho and Im Nam-soo, were also concerned about Yu Sung-jae, who had to harvest a total of five carts.

In the end, after achieving their respective harvest goals, everyone began to help Yu Sung-jae.

Is that why?

“Um, PD. Is it against the rules to help others?”

“That’s up to Ha Eun. There are no penalties for that.”

Ha Eun also took action to help Yu Sung-jae, just like the other cast members.

There was also a subtle intention behind trying to capture Ha Eun and Yu Sung-jae together in one shot.

Ultimately, for the promotion of [The Moonlight Behind the Clouds], Ha Eun’s and Yu Sung-jae’s segments needed to be primarily secured.

This was a fact that the [2 Nights 3 Days] staff understood well.

Hence,

“Please ask Nam-soo to shift a bit to the side. Make sure only Ha Eun and Sung-jae show up in the shot.”

“Can you relay to Eun Sung VJ to widen the angle just a bit? Ha Eun’s face isn’t showing well.”

“Oh, this composition looks good. It could make a great preview just as it is.”

Several filming adjustment instructions were given with consideration for promoting [The Moonlight Behind the Clouds].

The harvesting of all watermelons, including Yu Sung-jae’s five carts, concluded roughly about 30 minutes later.

However, contrary to Ha Eun’s assumption that they would immediately select the penalty after finishing harvesting the watermelons,

Everyone began walking somewhere with Chang Sung-ho’s remark that they needed to meet someone first before deciding on the penalty.

After walking for a while, they arrived at a small countryside house near the watermelon field.

Specifically, it was a small single-family home where the owner of the watermelons harvested a short while ago lived.

“We’re here, elder!”

Chang Sung-ho’s voice took on a more serious tone.

In response, they heard the shuffling of a limping old man and his cracked voice.

“Oh, I told you not to come. I’m sorry to ask for someone else’s watermelon…”

“Hey, but you should at least receive a greeting, elder. We all came to help you.”

A wrinkled face.

Thick compression bandages wrapped around his waist.

Ultimately, the crutch he was barely leaning on with his bony, thin arms.

These things led Ha Eun to gradually comprehend the real reason why the cast of [2 Nights 3 Days] had to harvest so many watermelons.

“How did you manage to lift those heavy ones with those frail hands? Wasn’t it heavy, kid?”

“Oh… no. Not heavy at all.”

In his eyes were feelings of both regret and pride mixed together.

The wrinkled hands that clasped Ha Eun’s hands.

A faint voice that could only be understood with concentrated effort.

Just being together felt like an unfamiliar sensation.

A strange feeling she had never felt in her life.

Yet, he could not show this strange feeling outwardly and tried hard to smile.

Making a fuss would only confuse the old man standing in front of Ha Eun.

“Thanks to you, I had a good experience. Thank you.”

“Oh, I should be the one thanking you.”

After silently observing the conversation between Ha Eun and the old man for a moment, Chang Sung-ho finally spoke.

“Elder, in your view, who should fall into the cool valley water?”

“Huh? Why should they fall into the valley water?”

“Elder, you’ve sweated a lot harvesting watermelons. They should cool off in the valley water.”

“Oh, is that so? Right, if you’ve sweated, you should jump into the valley.”

Then came the last comment that they could only choose two people.

As he looked over the faces of the [2 Nights 3 Days] cast one by one, the elder chose today’s penalty recipients.

“You, Sung-ho, and this kid. You two seem to have worked the hardest today.”

Chang Sung-ho and Ha Eun.

In other words, the people whom the old man viewed as having worked the most today.

There was no malice included in the elder’s choice.

He simply recognized the hard work of Chang Sung-ho and Ha Eun and designated them to jump into the valley.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t at all surprised.

However, even so, he could not show it. Not at all.

Soon afterward, a group photo time began.

Ha Eun, who was standing next to the elder, smiled at the filming signal from the PD, holding the camera.

After leaving the elder’s house, he took out his phone and called Ju Jung-yun, who was waiting near the parking lot at the filming site.

“…I’m about to jump in, unnie.”

“[Huh? Really? How come?]”

“I worked hard harvesting watermelons.”

“[Huh?]”

He didn’t provide any further explanation.

After all, even Ha Eun couldn’t explain the feeling.

Simply because a subtle smile remained on Ha Eun’s face despite this.

Yet, he couldn’t deny that this feeling was one of good nature.

Once again, they walked until they reached a valley located behind the watermelon field.

At this long valley, which would decorate the last highlight of the day, Ha Eun,

– Splash!

Jumped toward the center of the valley simultaneously with fellow penalty recipient Chang Sung-ho, voluntarily casting himself into the water.

To be honest, it was colder than he had expected.

“How was it, Ha Eun? The feeling of jumping in is very different from watching it on TV, right?”

Yu Sung-jae’s voice bore hints of mischief.

In response, Ha Eun turned slightly instead of answering.

“Weren’t you the one who said you would definitely make me jump in yesterday, Sung-jae?”

“Oh, right.”

Yu Sung-jae also hoped that Chang Sung-ho would end up as a soaked rat next to him.

His arms were then seized by Chang Sung-ho and Im Nam-soo.

“This isn’t right! I shouldn’t have to face a penalty!!”

“Long tongue, huh Sung-jae~. Go in nicely~.”

Thus, splash.

Yu Sung-jae, thrown into the deepest part of the valley, emerged to the surface with a startled scream.

From that point on, he waited, wrapped in a thick towel, for Ju Jung-yun to arrive.

However, the previous strange feeling continued to ripple through Ha Eun’s heart.

“Ha Eun. You felt good when you expressed your thanks to the elder earlier, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And when you were chosen for the penalty, to be honest, it didn’t feel that bad, right?”

“Yes. It wasn’t bad.”

He continued to nod in response to Chang Sung-ho’s questions, who was right beside him.

“Helping others is inherently a gratifying thing. So Ha Eun, make sure to help those you can.”

A request befitting someone known as a ‘donation angel.’

Once more, Ha Eun nodded and promised to help those he can.

Just after that, Ju Jung-yun arrived.

As expected, she immediately pulled out her phone to take a picture of the drenched Ha Eun from head to toe.

“Wait, are you taking pictures of me too?”

“Oh, no… I mean…”

“Oh, it’s fine. After all, these are all things that will be shown on air.”

However, due to the presence of Chang Sung-ho, who remained next to Ha Eun, they could ultimately secure none of those photos.

Just locking eyes alone was overwhelming enough to not even dare to mention taking pictures.

“Uh, Ha, Ha Eun. Let’s go change clothes…”

“Yes.”

Completely dried off, Ha Eun returned in front of the camera a little later.

Afterward, he spent time sharing various episodes related to filming [The Moonlight Behind the Clouds] with the other cast members.

Before he knew it, it was late at night.

Since he had already received the penalty of jumping in, he was not given any extra penalties like sleeping outdoors.

Thus, he lay down on the soft blanket and instantly fell asleep.

Perhaps it was because so much had happened throughout the day, but he drifted into a deep sleep where he couldn’t remember even his dreams.

***

“Alright, I’ll slate—”

“Stop. When a guest is present, the guest should slate.”

Finally, Ha Eun, the guest, heard Chang Sung-ho’s suggestion or request for her to slate.

So, in the end, clap.

A round of applause signaling the end of a long filming that lasted two nights and three days resonated around.

“Thank you all~.”

“Thank you~.”

A normal farewell.

And, the exchange of the not-so-normal contact information.

“If you want to see me, feel free to contact me anytime~.”

How many people in Korea can possess a celebrity’s contact information like Chang Sung-ho?

Though it had been more than a decade since Ha Eun stepped into the entertainment scene, every time she received contact numbers of other celebrities like this, her sense of reality floated away.

Anyway, at last, the filming of [2 Nights 3 Days] came to an end.

She planned to head home as quickly as possible to start her Virtual YouTuber broadcast, which she had not done for three long days.

The problem was.

“Um, Ha Eun. I kept debating whether I should say this or not… But I feel like I have to say something.”

“?”

“There’s been a request for your participation. Not as actor Lee Ha-eun but as singer Pinocchio.”

The name that had not been used for quite a long time echoed in Ha Eun’s ears.

Afterward, upon hearing more detailed circumstances from Ju Jung-yun, she couldn’t bring herself to speak carelessly.

“Ha Eun, I mean Pinocchio really hopes you can help.”

“…Let’s go meet the gentlemen first. I feel like I need to talk to them directly.”

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