Chapter 82: Chapter 81

The defining feature of Two Days, Three Nights was its focus on "connection."

The candid, informal interactions between celebrities and rural residents had always been the core reason the show was beloved.

For this week’s Two Days, Three Nights: Haman, Gyeongsangnam-do episode, where Ha-eun and Yoo Sung-jae were guests, the main theme also revolved around connecting with local residents.

As a result, the interactions extended from the opening mission at the traditional market to the highlight mission in the vast watermelon field.

“Well, of course, you’re quick on your feet, being a young man!”

“Excuse me, ma’am, what about me?”

“Jang Sung-ho, you’ve worked out before. Don’t compare yourself to a young man!”

The cast continued to chat with local residents who had gathered to watch the filming.

Even while the cast rested to recover their energy, the residents playfully teased them.

“That young lady hasn’t taken a break even once, but you all keep sitting down. Why is that?”

“Ah, elder, young people are full of energy. We should let them use it while they can.”

“Excuses, excuses. And that’s why you’re still unmarried, Mr. Im Nam-su!”

This back-and-forth banter between the cast and the locals ensured there was no lull in the audio.

Meanwhile, the camera angles focusing on Ha-eun and Yoo Sung-jae captured their moments without interference.

“Take it easy, Ha-eun. You’ll get full-body muscle pain if you overdo it.”

“I’m fine… Uh, Sung-jae.”

“Yes?”

“There’s a caterpillar on your left shoulder.”

“?!”

What followed was a piercing scream that echoed across the vast watermelon field.

Unfazed by Sung-jae’s loud reaction, Ha-eun calmly reached out with a decisive move.

-Grab.

Her actions were far from what one might expect from an actress.

“...Bear Grylls said caterpillars are good for you, you know.”

Her statement was just as unexpected.

What did I just hear?

Even fitness junkies would say, "Nah, not for me!"

Does she really think caterpillars are like health supplements?

Is she serious?

Don’t even think about eating it!

Viewers were wide-eyed as they watched Ha-eun gaze at the small caterpillar in her hand.

Sung-jae, still sprawled on the ground, looked up at her with an expression of sheer disbelief.

“I’m joking. You’ll get sick if you eat things off the ground.”

With that, Ha-eun gently released the caterpillar into the grass.

She then went back to harvesting watermelons as if nothing had happened, while the VJ’s camera captured the scene.

Sung-jae, still lying on the ground, eventually got up and resumed harvesting as well.

After all the watermelons in the field were collected, the cast gathered at the edge of the field. Jang Sung-ho led them to their next destination.

“We’re here, elder!”

“Oh dear, I told you not to come. I already feel so bad for asking for help with my watermelons….”

“Oh, but we had to at least say hello. Everyone here came just to help you, elder.”

Another round of “connection” began.

The broadcast showed a letter sent to KBC by the elderly man’s granddaughter:

Subtitles revealed that the elder had been a fan of the show for 14 years.

After greeting Jang Sung-ho and the other cast members, the elder finally came face-to-face with Ha-eun.

“How did a delicate young lady like you lift all those heavy watermelons? Wasn’t it hard, dear?”

“Ah… No, it wasn’t heavy at all.”

The broadcast showed Ha-eun smiling warmly, reassuring the elder that it had been a good experience.

“Wow. She even has a great personality.”

“Mom, I think she actually meant it wasn’t heavy for her.”

“It doesn’t matter. She said it wasn’t heavy because she didn’t want the elder to feel bad.”

Thanks to the earlier interview that revealed Ha-eun’s disciplined habits, middle-aged viewers were already fond of her.

Her gentle and considerate behavior toward the elder only deepened their affection.

Thus...

“Sung-ho and this young lady here, you two worked the hardest.”

When the elder chose Ha-eun as one of the participants for the water punishment, she simply bowed politely, showing no signs of surprise.

Viewers couldn’t help but think, “I’d love to have a daughter like her.”

Meanwhile, in the online communities flooded with talk about Ha-eun:

“The elder has a god-tier sense of humor.”

“This is broadcast gold!”

“Perfect content.”

Soon after, the long-awaited scene aired: a splash as Ha-eun fell into the water.

However, when she emerged, soaked to the skin, and walked back to the shore, viewers noticed something unexpected.

The black T-shirt clinging to her body revealed the faint outline of defined abs.

“???”

“Wait, are those abs?”

“Isn’t she still a high schooler?!”

“Holy crap, I didn’t expect her body to look like that.”

The sight left viewers awestruck, to the point where Ha-eun’s toned physique became the sole topic of discussion until dinner.

Ha-eun had become the ultimate dopamine dispenser.

Every word, every action she took became a topic of conversation.

The various moments Ha-eun had shown so far were truly a dopamine factory.

Every word she spoke and every action she took became a topic of conversation, whether big or small.

Perhaps that’s why…

“For every win against us in ping-pong, you get to add a dish to your dinner. But for every loss, you’ll lose one.”

From the moment the ping-pong game between the cast and production team began, with dinner side dishes on the line, interest spiked.

And when the lot was drawn to determine the players and it landed on Ha-eun, the other cast members let out collective cries of despair.

“Is this it? Are we doomed?”

“We’re gonna lose, aren’t we?”

“‘Lose,’ for sure.”

“Looks like we’re going to bed hungry tonight, haha.”

“Jang Sung-ho is merciless when it comes to food. We’re screwed.”

“Are we about to witness Jang Sung-ho losing it over food for the first time in forever?”

All eyes were on Ha-eun to see what kind of dopamine surprise she’d deliver this time.

After all, just the day before, she had demonstrated a downright disastrous level of ping-pong skill.

It wasn’t long before Ha-eun made a simple request for a small advantage.

“Whether I win or lose, I’d like the production team to serve first.”

The request wasn’t denied.

The team assumed she would inevitably lose points anyway, so granting this small advantage seemed harmless enough.

The game began, with “steamed eggs” as the prize.

As per Ha-eun’s request, the production player served an easy shot.

-Tap—!!

Ha-eun struck the ping-pong ball—not with the flat surface of the paddle but with its thin edge.

The ball hit the table and flew off into the distance.

A brief silence followed.

“...It works.”

Her simple comment broke the silence, and the referee belatedly declared her point valid.

At first, everyone assumed it was just a lucky shot and watched her quietly.

But then…

-Tap—!!

-Ping—!!

-Thunk—!!

Ha-eun continued smashing the ball with the edge of her paddle, scoring point after point.

“How is she doing that?”

“Why does that even work?”

The voices of disbelief filled the audio.

Even viewers who had been waiting for her to lose stared at her antics in stunned silence.

“Is that physically possible?”

“Well, she’s scoring points, so I guess it is?”

“I’ve never seen anyone play ping-pong like this in my life.”

When the final match ended with Ha-eun’s victory, she calmly counted the side dishes she’d earned.

The other cast members, unable to contain their excitement, rushed over to her.

“Hey! On the count of three, lift her up!”

The cast repeatedly tossed Ha-eun into the air in celebration.

“Wasn’t she terrible at this just yesterday?”

“How can her ping-pong skills improve so much in one day?”

“I think her skills are the same; it’s just her smashing technique that changed.”

“Physics engine malfunction?”

“No, it’s not a bug; it’s a skill~.”

Thanks to Ha-eun, what was expected to be a lackluster dinner became a lavish feast.

Throughout the meal, cast members couldn’t stop offering her thumbs-up in gratitude.

“Wow, thanks to Ha-eun, we’re feasting tonight!”

“See? Athletes just have natural instincts for this kind of thing.”

“This braised tofu is amazing. Ha-eun, you should try some!”

The cast showered her with praise and doted on her, going out of their way to make sure she had everything she needed.

With a slightly bashful smile, Ha-eun accepted their kindness graciously.

By the final night of the episode, Ha-eun had only shown “scenes worth watching,” leaving viewers thoroughly hooked.

After all, no previous guest on Two Days, Three Nights had managed to deliver the level of entertainment she did.

Every moment she gave her all, but her efforts often resulted in hilariously disastrous outcomes.

Yet, when no one expected much, she surprised everyone with fresh and impressive performances.

Every scene she appeared in was a highlight.

There wasn’t a single throwaway moment.

It was clear: Ha-eun was destined to rise.

Even people who only vaguely knew her name or face felt certain that she was on her way to even greater heights.@@novelbin@@