Chapter 182: Chapter 182

“This is sweeter than I thought?”

“Do you want mine?”

“No, it’s just right.”

[What are these two doing right now?]

While one endured humiliation filming a crime movie, the other filmed a virtual dating show.

The screen was filled with pink hearts, and the subtitles openly displayed incredulity.

【Are you two perhaps mistaken about the program?】

“Hey, eat this.”

“Huh? No, no, Hoyun, you eat it. I’m not that hungry.”

“I ordered it for you.”

[Ah, seriously, this cheesy vibe is so unbearable

└ But you seem to be laughing quite a lot for someone who hates it

└└ Busted]

As minutes passed in the brief 30-minute segment, the two continued eating.

Seo Hoyun even closed his eyes and savored his cold drink, unconcerned that his phone’s battery might die from the constant notifications.

Eventually, the PD, unable to watch any longer, stepped in.

“Excuse me… aren’t you two going to complete the mission?”

“Oh.”

Seo Hoyun slightly squinted and looked at him, answering calmly.

“It’s nice here, so is there a need to go?”

[Did he eat something bad?]

As speculated that the hotdog he ate earlier was bad, or maybe he drank too much of that pine bud drink, Seong Jiwon’s expression was zoomed in on.

[Ah~~~!!!]

He was smiling with a slightly awkward look.

[Ah, I see, Seo Hoyun is the traitor so he’s trying to sabotage Jiwon on purpose]

[Oh, that’s it…

I thought Seo Hoyun got hit on the head or something…

└ Right, no matter who he’s with, Seo Hoyun wouldn’t act like this…]

“…Hmm. Should we still give it a try?”

“Alright, if you say so.”

[But why does this guy talk like this?

└Ah, I can’t get used to it]

But when Seong Jiwon suggested it, Seo Hoyun quickly changed his attitude and agreed.

Seong Jiwon slightly raised the corners of his lips and hurriedly moved, looking a tad anxious.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Hoyun, you must be more tired. You probably didn’t sleep well.”

Surrounded by flower CGs, Seo Hoyun kindly asked while checking Seong Jiwon’s complexion.

[Stop with the flower CGI

└ I can smell the flowers from here…]

Fans tilted their heads, watching the two amicably chatting and moving together.

[Guys

Seeing Seo Hoyun being all nice is confusing me

Is Hoyun really a fan signing angel?]

[Seo Hoyun always leaves us wondering if he’s a jerk or not…

└ I see…]

Below Seo Hoyun, who threw the Noeuls into confusion, a caption appeared.

【It seems you two have no intention of doing the mission…】

Viewers who were watching felt disappointed with the unexpectedly peaceful progression.

However, those who knew Seo Hoyun well were sure this show wouldn’t proceed normally.

They believed he was setting the stage to his advantage, running simulations in his head.

The key was whether Seong Jiwon knew it or not.

As fans of The Dawn were eagerly discussing how the broadcast would unfold, the screen suddenly shifted.

【Meanwhile, what about Kang Ichae?】

In front of the production team, Kang Ichae sat with his legs crossed, leisurely smiling as he slowly checked the cards laid out on the floor.

The sunglasses hanging on his half-buttoned Hawaiian shirt slightly wobbled.

【Playing poker with the production team for the location of the jewels and gold bars】

The Noeuls were momentarily flustered by the sight.

[He looks so cool, but… that…]

[Ichae, you don’t have friends]

They were merciless even to their “precious ones.”

[How did you practice poker without friends?]

[He said he tried Halli Galli for the first time on V-live last time, so he must have practiced hard…]

Kang Ichae checked his cards and smirked.

“All in.”

He pushed all his chips forward.

The production team flinched momentarily but soon matched the bet, agreeing to reveal their cards.

The production team revealed their hand first.

Ace full house.

A very high-ranking hand.

When Kang Ichae remained still, seemingly accepting his loss, the production team thought they won and began collecting the chips.

“Wait a moment.”

Kang Ichae stopped them, slowly revealing his hand.

[Straight Flush?!?!?!]

Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit.

The legendary hand, said to appear with a 0.001% probability, unfolded right before their eyes.

[Ahㅋㅋ ㅠㅠ This is ridiculous, don’t make it obvious there’s a script ㅠ]

[Even in two-game poker on Paprika, this is hard to seeㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋThree strikes, dismissed for being ridiculous!!]

As negative reactions surged in real-time, an explanation about the straight flush appeared in the captions, as if anticipating this response.

【Hold on! To the viewers suspecting manipulation, please watch this replay video.】

The screen showed the dealer distributing the cards.

The same scene replayed slowly, capturing the moment Kang Ichae switched cards through his sleeve during the brief moment the dealer and opponent were distributing and checking their cards.

【Just like a real card shark, switching cards through his sleeve. This footage is aired with Kang Ichae’s consent.】

【>Swear on the wealth of CEO of Daepaseong Entertainment, it’s not manipulated<】

Everyone watching the broadcast was stunned into silence.

[He switched it?!?!?!]

As soon as Kang Ichae knew his role, he anticipated such a mission and had preemptively hidden cards up his sleeve.

During filming, neither the staff nor the PD noticed.

It was only after repeated reviews during editing that they realized.

[It’s not manipulated, damn… Kang Ichae’s face is shown in slow motion… his hand movements are amazing…

└ If it wasn’t for the slow motion, we wouldn’t have known]

[But Ichae has a lot of money… why is he trying so hard?

└ The consensus is he’s just doing it because it’s fun……

└└He’s taking even a flea’s liver, this guy…]

“We lost….”

“Ahaha?”

After receiving the declaration of defeat, Kang Ichae kissed his cards and took the mission card from the production crew.

“Thank you, the happy ending is mine~.”

Quoting a line from the movie that inspired the show, Kang Ichae blew a kiss and stood up, heading outside.

【Kang Ichae Mission Success!】

【Gains the location of jewels and gold bars.】

The jacket draped over Kang Ichae’s shoulders fluttered.

The Noeuls couldn’t help but smile wryly.

[Well, Ichae, even without friends… being cool is what matters

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋIchae’s mysterious first loss ㅠ]

.

.

.

As Kang Ichae obtained the location of the jewels and gold bars, Jeong Dajun headed to Daepaseong Entertainment under the staff’s guidance to decipher the mission code.

“I’ll try to enchant them all.”

With his confidence at an all-time high, he slicked back his hair and entered the company.

Having grown up closely observing Seo Hoyun’s persuasive way of speaking, Jeong Dajun felt confident he could imitate it well.

As he walked the familiar path and was about to pass through the lobby, someone at the reception desk called out to him.

【Who is waiting for Jeong Dajun, who came for a mission?】

“You’re here?”

[????]

This time, however, someone entirely unexpected appeared.

“I’ve been waiting.”

[Min Jiheon, are you out of your mind??!??!?!?!!!!!!!!!!]

It was Min Jiheon, exuding an even more actor-like aura than during the Please Take the Camera days.

Originally, one of the staff members was supposed to do it, but Lee Jihyeon, spotting Min Jiheon wandering around the company with nothing to do, quickly recruited him.

Since he was bored anyway, thought his dongsaeng would like it if he appeared on The Dawn’s variety show, and might even meet Seo Hoyun, Min Jiheon gladly accepted the offer.

“…S-s-sunbae-nim?”

Unaware of these circumstances, Jeong Dajun froze like a buffering video, stunned by facing his ultimate favorite without any prior warning.

“…Why…??”

Min Jiheon smiled brightly and stepped out from the reception desk, moving closer to Jeong Dajun.

“You’re looking for something, right?”

“…Ah!!”

[That…

It seems like Jeong Dajun is the one getting enchanted]

[Exactly, but if I met Seo Hoyun, I’d be thrilled too

└Jeong Dajun is quite patient, isn’t he…]

Seeing his idol, whom he only saw on TV, come alive within a meter’s distance, Jeong Dajun shook his head to clear his mind.

After all, he had a mission to enchant the opponent, guess the movie line, and obtain the code.

Bang!!

Jeong Dajun slammed his hand against the wall next to Min Jiheon and forced a trembling smile.

“Jeonghwa, shall we truly fall in love?”

【Jeong Dajun’s idea of the ultimate seductive strategy: kabedon.[1]】

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Oh my gosh, I’m going crazy ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

He ambitiously quoted a famous line from Please Take the Camera, but Min Jiheon just smiled as he looked down at the up-close Jeong Dajun.

It wasn’t the correct mission answer.

“…Yep. I guess not. Sorry.”

Overwhelmed with disappointment and embarrassment, the maknae pulled his hand from the wall and tried to escape.

But Min Jiheon was quicker and grabbed Jeong Dajun’s arm.

“…?!?!”

Their positions swapped in an instant, and when Jeong Dajun came to his senses, he found himself trapped between Min Jiheon’s arm and the wall.

Jeong Dajun’s eyes darted nervously as Min Jiheon slowly lowered his head.

His neatly kept brown hair fell over his smooth forehead…

The scene was captured so beautifully that the camera director couldn’t tell if it was a variety show or a drama.

[Wow, but Min Jiheon…

He’s truly handsome…

└He’s mastered the art of making everything look like a drama…]

“…Let’s break up.”

“…Yep? You mean… with me, sunbae-nim?”

“Break up.”

[But he’s talking nonsense…

└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

“We’ve… never dated, though?”

[Jeong Dajun adds fuel to the fire…

└Oh shoot, I’m going to lose it ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

Jeong Dajun’s bewildered face was caught perfectly on camera.

It was a phrase he’d heard somewhere before, but with Min Jiheon right in front of him, the memory was just out of reach.

Min Jiheon looked at Jeong Dajun, who was deeply engrossed with a furrowed brow, and spoke with unwavering sincerity in a poignant expression and a wistful voice.

“Do you love me?”[2]

“…!!”

[OMG]

At that moment, a chill shot through his mind.

It was the famous line from a melodrama Jeong Dajun, who had never experienced love, been in a relationship, or even a crush, had cried over.

Jeong Dajun, who was just opening and closing his mouth, suddenly slapped his forehead with his hand and responded with the next line.

“How, how does love change!!!”[3]

Ding-dong-dang-dong!!

Immediately, the crew behind the camera went wild, beating the xylophone like crazy.

【Jeong Dajun Mission Success!】

【Mission code obtained.】

[Hey Jeong Dajun]

[Jeong Dajun, how do you know this? You weren’t even born then.]

“Kyaaah!!”

“Goodbye, Dajun?”

“Yes!! Yes, sunbae! I’m a big fan!!”

“Hahaha, I like you too, Dajun.”

Jeong Dajun roared with joy and bowed 90 degrees to Min Jiheon.

As Jeong Dajun dashed off, Min Jiheon watched him with a fond smile.

“Hyung!! Ichae-hyung, I got it, ahh!!”

It was a problem that only Jeong Dajun, a drama fanatic who claimed to have been educated early on dramas and movies since he was in his mother’s womb, could solve.

As soon as he stepped out of the company, Jeong Dajun pulled out his phone and excitedly called Kang Ichae.

– “Did you get it?”

“Yeah!! Oh, Min Jiheon-sunbae’s acting is amazing, no, that’s not the point. Did you win the bet, hyung?”

– “Of course I won. So what is it?”

“How does love change!!”

As Jeong Dajun shouted in pure joy, he heard Kang Ichae’s low laughter from the other side of the phone.

– “Right, how does it change, Dajun.”

At those words reaching his ears, Jeong Dajun had an unsettling feeling.

“…Huh?”

– “I think this is our end.”

“Whaaat?”

With that, Kang Ichae ended it.

– “We’re breaking up.”

Dajun stared at the phone, stunned, then frantically tried calling back.

However…

– “You have reached the voicemail…”

“…Blocked?”

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Ahㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He dumped you like thatㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

“Wait, why?!”

[Why, you askㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ You got betrayedㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

【Second betrayal occurs!

Kang Ichae betrayed Jeong Dajun!】

While Jeong Dajun lay on the ground in frustration, stomping his feet at the unfairness of being betrayed, Kang Ichae was using the speakerphone to call someone.

– “Hello?”

“Have you been well, Macao Seo?”[4]

Kang Ichae smiled broadly as if he found it amusing.

“Everything ready?”

With less than five minutes remaining until the end of the broadcast, the screen suddenly rewound like a video tape, and the caption “10 minutes before filming” appeared.

In the studio where the members initially sat, Seong Jiwon, Kim Seonghyeon, and Jeong Dajun were chatting happily, while Kang Ichae was in a corner shuffling cards, warming up his hands.

“Kang Ichae.”

Seo Hoyun approached Kang Ichae silently, making no sound as he walked.

Kang Ichae, who glanced up at him, raised an eyebrow.

“Let’s set up a deal.”

With the light behind him, Seo Hoyun tilted his head arrogantly.

“I’ll make sure you won’t regret it.”

He appeared confident in the outcome.

Kang Ichae’s lips curved into a cheerful arc.

At the same tim, the arrangement of the continuously opposing teams began to move, and lines appeared over the emojis of Jeong Dajun and Kim Seonghyeon in CG.

Instead, a new person was added next to Kang Ichae, and arrows pointed back and forth between them.

【Kang Ichae, Seo Hoyun.

Secret alliance.】

They had planned to betray the other members from the start.

[Wow…]

A movie BGM played over the screen as Kang Ichae walked somewhere.

“You know who the traitor is?”

– “Yeah, it’s Seong Jiwon.”

“Seonghyeon-hyung calls him hyung though.”

– “Of course that’s a lie, man. Would Kim Seonghyeon just spill the beans?”

“Hmm. He seems like he would.”

– “Only to you, maybe.”

At Seo Hoyun’s words, Kang Ichae lowered his gaze slightly and pondered while stroking his chin before coming to a conclusion.

“Why? I’ll tell you. In fact, I’ve already sent the locker location via text.”

His eyes lifted to gaze somewhere.

“But you know—.”

It was the public phone the staff had set up in advance to report traitors.

“—it might be a bit late even if I do tell.”

Kang Ichae had intended to betray Seo Hoyun from the start.

“I’ll be quicker than you, hyung.”

【Third betrayal occurs!

Kang Ichae betrayed Seo Hoyun!】

[1] Kabedon = the wall-slam

[2] Author’s note: A famous line by Sang-woo (Yoo Ji-tae) from the movie One Fine Spring Day (2001.09.28.).

[3] Author’s note: Another line by Sang-woo from One Fine Spring Day (2001.09.28), also used as a mission code in episode 110 of MBC’s variety show Infinite Challenge (2006.05.06.-2018.03.31.).

[4] Based on Macao Park, the mastermind from The Thieves.