#078
Today Kang Dojun was fully dressed up. It was the recording day to watch the footage they’d shot last time at the broadcasting station with the MC panel.
Park Daeho patted Kang Dojun’s shoulder and said.
“Just think of it as watching a movie. It’ll mainly show the video you shot last time and they’ll just film reactions separately.”
Kang Dojun drooped his eyebrows.
“Is that really necessary?”
He didn’t even know what kind of reaction he should give. Should he just nod his head?
Park Daeho acted as if he knew all of Kang Dojun’s thoughts.
“You just smile. Just smiling will get you on camera.”
…What’s he talking about? Kang Dojun pretended to listen to his words and contacted Yeonwoo.
「Going into recording now.」
Kang Dojun read the reply that arrived immediately and curled up the corners of his mouth.
Along with the words 「Do well and come back」 was a bee emoji struggling in a container full of hearts instead of honey.
Currently, Yeonwoo had gone to Grace’s new dorm for a housewarming.
…He wished he hadn’t gone. If he restricted him too openly, he’d probably hate it. Seoul kept making Yeonwoo wander around. There was too much to see.
The countryside was just right after all. The two of them could raise bees like children together peacefully.
「I’ll come pick you up right after it ends.」
As Kang Dojun was sending the text, he heard the friction sound of snapping fingers near his ear.
“Now. You can record with that face right now.”
Kang Dojun tried to recall what expression he’d been making. When he thought of Yeonwoo, a smile automatically spread across his face.
…Since Yeonwoo appears in the recording video too, it should be fine.
Park Daeho handed him the outerwear the stylist had prepared.
“Alright, recording starts. Hurry up and put it on and go in.”
“Do I have to wear it? Is it sponsored?”
At Kang Dojun’s question, the stylist next to him shook her head.
“I brought it just in case the studio would be cold from the air conditioning. It’s not sponsored.”
“I’ll just hang it behind the chair.”
Kang Dojun didn’t get cold easily, but considering the stylist’s thoughtfulness, he picked up the outerwear.
“Don’t be nervous, and when it’s awkward to answer, just laugh it off. Just keep smiling. You can do that. You read the expected questions, right?”
“Roughly.”
After a final hair touch-up, he entered the studio.
The MCs who had greeted him in the waiting room earlier were already recording. Kang Dojun went around to the back of the cameras and waited for his turn.
After some conversation between the MCs, they soon called and invited Kang Dojun.
Kang Dojun walked over with big strides and greeted each cast member again in front of the camera before sitting in the seat the staff had designated.
“Wow, a super special guest has come! Please give us a greeting! Actor Kang. Do. Jun!”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kang Dojun.”
“Isn’t this your second variety show appearance?”
‘Even the tone of speech is awkward.’
He couldn’t adapt to the high energy of variety shows.
Kang Dojun smiled and said.
“Yes, that’s right.”
After exchanging opening remarks for about 30-40 minutes, it was time to watch the video.
He turned his gaze to the screen attached to each table. Kang Dojun also looked at the screen with somewhat curious eyes. Now that he was here, the variety show studio felt different.
The video showed his house’s living room. Soon the tightly closed door opened and a figure appeared in the living room.
‘…That’s Yeonwoo’s room.’
The MCs watched carefully, then when the man heading to the bathroom’s face was reflected in the mirror, their pupils dilated and they made a fuss to stop the video.
“Wait, wait! I thought it was Kang Dojun, but this person is…”
“Ah…”
“Isn’t this Lee Yeonwoo from Rural Conquest?”
“That’s right.”
Just play the video quickly.
Kang Dojun tried to laugh it off every time Yeonwoo’s name was mentioned. His reaction broke down at the MCs who specifically picked at things that could just be passed over.
The MCs continued with questions, unaware of his feelings.
Before entering the recording, Park Daeho’s advice was so appreciated.
‘When it’s awkward to answer, just laugh it off.’
When he roughly smiled and nodded, they seemed to have asked all the questions they wanted and moved to the next video.
Yeonwoo brushing his teeth appeared, then the door opened and Kang Dojun entered. Then there was conversation about Yeonwoo’s hair being long and Kang Dojun bringing scissors.
In the video, subtitles saying “Source: Rural Conquest” appeared and photos of Yeonwoo’s ruined hair popped up one by one.
Kang Dojun looked at the screen blankly as if a bit flustered.
The MCs made exaggeratedly surprised expressions and raised their voice tones to question him.
“But this time…”
This time he cut it well. Since the result would come out later anyway, he refrained from speaking.
Haa… When will the recording end?
Unaware of Kang Dojun’s feelings, the recording continued smoothly.
After finishing Yeonwoo’s hair care, the MCs’ reactions became subtle.
‘Why, it’s just pretty.’
Yeonwoo was also satisfied and he could be confident that he’d cut it well. This time he didn’t laugh off the MCs’ questions but answered seriously.
“Yeonwoo liked it too, and I cut it pretty and well.”
Subsequently, Yeonwoo in the screen cleaned up the hair that had fallen on the floor, then while wiping the mirror with a cloth, reached toward the attached camera lens. Soon the screen became blurry.
The MCs suppressed laughter at that action. Kang Dojun added words to defend Yeonwoo.
“…It comes back when it dries.”
“Yes, it comes back when it dries.”
It didn’t seem very effective.
After watching videos for several hours, it was break time. Kang Dojun quickly left his seat to find Park Daeho. Park Daeho handed him water and asked.
“How is it? Manageable?”
“I’m absolutely never going on variety shows again.”
Kang Dojun answered with an exhausted face while drinking water.
“Want to eat something? Let’s go outside.”
“No, I just want to rest.”
“Okay. Have coffee later. The production team went to buy coffee.”
Since it was recording continuing in a somewhat peaceful atmosphere, snacks or food that would interfere with speaking weren’t allowed, but simple drinks could be placed beside the table.
Kang Dojun took out his phone during break time.
Park Daeho clicked his tongue, thinking he’d probably contact Yeonwoo again. They’re stuck together every day, but being apart for a few hours and making such a fuss.
Is he sending a text? Park Daeho glanced at Kang Dojun’s phone screen.
“…What car?”
“Yeonwoo seems interested in cars lately.”
“But why are you looking it up?”
Kang Dojun examined various car models, carefully checking how safe they were, what the mileage was, and various other conditions in detail.
Park Daeho, who suddenly had a scary thought, asked carefully.
“You’re not going to buy it for him, are you?”
“…Maybe?”
“Are you crazy?”
His true feelings popped out.
Are you determined to be burdensome? Even Yeonwoo wouldn’t want this, Park Daeho scolded Kang Dojun.
“If we’re going to live in the countryside, one car should be enough.”
I should tell him to take my car. Kang Dojun muttered lowly and turned off the screen.
“Are you really going to the countryside? Why don’t you think about it a bit more?”
“We’ll see.”
Living in the countryside with Yeonwoo, coming up to Seoul once or twice to play together, then going back down to the countryside. Kang Dojun was already enjoying it.
But Park Daeho, who felt it was a waste of the career Kang Dojun had built up until now, was full of dissatisfaction. Since he’d been by his side while he grew as an entertainer, it felt like an achievement they’d made together.
Kang Dojun also agreed with that to some extent. Without Park Daeho’s professional care as a childhood friend, it would have been a bit difficult to get this far. That’s why Park Daeho wanted to persuade him.
“How about Yeonwoo living in Seoul?”
“I don’t like it.”
Kang Dojun answered firmly.
If they made their nest in Seoul, there would be more people to meet, and naturally the time they’d have to spend apart would increase. Look at now.
Of course, Shin Gihyeon and Grace were all busy people, but there was also Kim Haseon and other friends he contacted.
If you want to meet Yeonwoo, come to the countryside directly.
That’s what he wanted to say.
For those living in Seoul, the distance and time it takes to come to the countryside would be an obstacle.
Then it would be difficult to easily make time to meet Yeonwoo, and in the countryside Yeonwoo also had work to do with beekeeping so they wouldn’t be able to play for long.
He’d heard that Cheolsu, who was also in the same rural village, would soon move to another area for university after graduating high school.
It was a perfect plan.
“Recording starts!”
At the production team’s words, Kang Dojun moved to return to the scene.
“I’ll be back.”
“Uh… yeah, okay.”
Whether he was excited just from imagination, the exhausted person from before was gone and his steps finding his place during filming were light.
Park Daeho looked at his retreating figure with fed-up eyes.
He’s hopeless. He had no confidence in persuading that guy.
Come to think of it, he’d never once beaten Kang Dojun since childhood. The fact that he could persuade him was wrong thinking from the start.
It seemed like persuading Yeonwoo would work better.
He seemed to have somewhat thin ears anyway, so he should make time later to secretly meet. He’d already sneakily gotten his number again when he visited Kang Dojun’s house for the variety show filming.
Park Daeho checked for free days in his schedule to meet Yeonwoo.
Of course, Yeonwoo would have his livelihood in the countryside too, but he still judged that it would be much better for him to live in Seoul. He had no ill feelings toward Yeonwoo, but if he had to nitpick, he wanted to stop his friend from making the wrong choice swept up by momentary emotions.
Park Daeho thought his friend Kang Dojun was blinded by brief love and couldn’t make the right choice.
Kang Dojun stopped while trying to find his seat and sit down. The outerwear he’d hung up was gone.
Did the staff clean it up… Since clothes he wasn’t even wearing were in the way, they seemed to have put it away for appearance’s sake.
And while cleaning up the outerwear, they must have brought it, because his share of coffee was placed on the table.
Kang Dojun sat down and moistened his throat while preparing for filming again.
Then he suddenly discovered something strange. His outerwear that he thought the staff had cleaned up was placed on another cast member’s lap.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
