episode_0191

After the courage training, we took a quick shower and gathered in one room for bedtime.

Of course, the members’ teasing towards me continued until then.

“Sister, aren’t you scared that you’ll think of ghosts while you sleep? Should we put you to sleep?”

“Yoo Jeong-ah, stop… .”

“Haha.”

“Okay, Yoojung. Stop teasing Yerin. What if she cries again?”

“Ahahaha-!”

“Hoohoo.”

“… … ”

It’s unfair.

Honestly, I didn’t cry… .

I just had tears welling up in my eyes as a physiological reaction when the production team suddenly surprised me, but I hated the members who kept insisting that I cried.

“chi.”

“Hey, Yerin unnie is upset.”

So I turned my back to the wall and lay down. Seo Yu-jin, who was sitting next to me, came over and wrapped her arms around my waist, comforting me.

“Sister, it’s okay. You have me.”

“Eugene… .”

Thanks to that, I was almost moved for a moment… .

“And if you’re scared of ghosts, you might cry a little.”

“… … Go away.”

As expected, Seo Yu-jin was also in the same group as the other members.

When I, who was shaking with betrayal, pushed Seo Yu-jin away, the members laughed again.

It was at that time that there was such a commotion.

dripping.

“Yes, come in.”

At the sudden knock, the members who were already well prepared turned their heads towards the door… .

“Ah, everyone’s already prepared. I wonder if I’m being rude.”

“No, it’s okay. What’s wrong?”

Likewise, there was Director Jeong with a slightly tired expression.

“I just wanted to tell you about tomorrow’s schedule.”

“… … .”

The members’ expressions hardened a little at the mention of tomorrow’s schedule.

I was worried that tomorrow would be just as difficult as today.

but….

“Tomorrow’s schedule is completely free.”

“… … !”

Director Jeong said something completely opposite to what we expected.

Director Jeong was a very strict person and uncompromising when it came to schedules.

But what? Tomorrow is free?

I couldn’t believe it, so I opened my eyes wide and asked Director Jeong.

“Freedom…? So we can do whatever we want?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“No, why all of a sudden… .”

As the members, including me, tilted our heads, Director Jeong snickered and answered.

“Isn’t it true that the Rookies have had a hard time? Above all else… , I made this decision because I thought that the members just freely resting and healing would fill up enough broadcast time.”

“Ah… .”

“You are free to wake up tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if you wake up at dawn or at lunchtime, so sleep well.”

“Wow-!”

With those words, Director Jeong left with a goodbye.

We couldn’t help but be very happy to suddenly have some free time.

Especially, the members of the younger sibling line, who were excited by the word free time, jumped up from their seats and shouted as if all their sleepiness had disappeared.

“Freedom, freedom! Rookies are free!”

“What are we going to do tomorrow? I see there’s a valley. Should we go to the valley?”

“You can wake up late tomorrow, so let’s play a game, a game! I happened to bring a board game… !”

At the urging of our younger siblings, Na, Yoo Seol, and Lee Hye-jeong stood up from their seats.

That night, we had a blast playing mafia games, board games, etc.

“Cool… .”

“Oh, Hannah is sleeping.”

Na Hanna, who was very sleepy, eventually couldn’t hold it in any longer and fell asleep, smiling and lying down next to me.

“Yeah, it’s really late now.”

“There’s nothing we can do. Let’s sleep too.”

I, like the other members, lay down and closed my eyes.

“… … .”

When I close my eyes to end the day and go to sleep, various thoughts usually come to mind.

for example….

‘Then, Ms. Ha Ye-rin. What do you think about the fact that Ms. Ye-rin’s parents were booked by the police on charges of fraud, document forgery, and child abuse?’

Two people who had decided never to think about each other again.

Ever since I heard that question from the reporter, I’ve been wondering what those two do for a living every time I go to bed.

but….

‘…Not today.’

Today I didn’t think about those two at all.

‘Is it because today is an especially enjoyable day… . Come to think of it, it’s also my first time on a trip like this… .’

I have never gone on a school trip in my past life or this life because I had no money.

When I was in elementary school, I went to mandatory retreats, but since I didn’t have any friends, I would just quickly sleep in a corner every day.

… Yes, this is my first time traveling like this with people my age.

In the past, I used to console myself by thinking that these types of trips wouldn’t be fun at all… but actually, when I was traveling with the Rookies members, it was so much fun that I didn’t have any distracting thoughts.

Maybe that’s why.

“… So good.”

I muttered just before falling asleep, unable to overcome my fatigue.

“Next year too…, the year after that too…. Let’s go on a trip like this.”

“… … .”

There was no answer at first, probably because everyone was already asleep.

At that moment, I was about to fall asleep.

“Yes.”

“Of course.”

“Yerin, if you want, I’ll be happy to.”

“Next time, just us, without cameras.”

“Hmm… , yes… , come again next year.”

Five people, including Na Hanna, who had already fallen asleep, answered simultaneously.

“Hehehe.”

I closed my eyes, listening to those members’ answers as a lullaby.

It was a very comfortable night, the first time in a long time.

**

The next day.

The production team really didn’t wake us up, just like Director Jeong said.

Because we had fun playing until late last night, we only woke up at lunchtime when the sun was high in the sky.

And yesterday, after I excitedly steamed some sweet potatoes and had a quick lunch… .

“Let’s go-!”

“ Wow, that would be really cool!”

We headed to the valley in front of the base camp.

Of course, there was a brief incident during that time… .

“Wait! Yerin! What are you going to do if you go in wearing a white t-shirt!”

“Huh? Why?”

“Oh my… When it gets wet, everything is transparent.”

“Ah… Then I’ll change into something black and come back!”

We were able to jump into the valley without any problems.

with a plop.

The stream water was really cool.

Thanks to it, we had a cool afternoon in the hot late summer.

“Guys! You’re going to catch a cold! Get out of here! It’s getting dark!”

“Oh my… , it’s already time… .”

Time flew by as I was splashing around in the water with the members in the valley.

As evening approached and it began to get dark, we had to get out of the valley and return to our lodgings.

After returning to our accommodation, we decided to take a quick shower and cook dinner ourselves.

The menu includes spicy stir-fried chicken, kimchi stew, and hot pot rice.

After exchanging canned sweet potatoes and the necessary ingredients yesterday, we divided up the roles and started cooking.

“Sister, how do you wash rice? Do you wash it with detergent?”

“… Eugene. If you don’t want to go to the emergency room with all the members in the middle of the night and get your stomach cleaned, then put that down.”

“Then I’ll help you cut the vegetables!”

“Have you ever used a knife in your life?”

“No!”

“… Eugene. Our Eugene is helping her sisters by sitting here quietly.”

Of course, there were some minor problems during the cooking process… .

“Wow! Yerin unnie is amazing!”

This is where I took an active role.

When Park Yoo-jung saw me diligently stir-frying spicy braised chicken on the cauldron lid and shouted in surprise, the members gathered around me.

“Everyone, check out the spicy stir-fried chicken that Yerin unnie made!”

“Wow… , daebak… !”

“The colors are crazy… .”

“Sister…, why are you so good at cooking?”

“This much is basic.”

In my previous life, I left the orphanage and started living on my own as soon as I turned 20.

In this life too, I have been doing housework since I was very young.

For me, cooking at this level was basic.

“The rice in the pot will have steamed by now.”

“Wow-!”

As we opened the lid of the pot, well-cooked, pure white rice greeted us.

“This is my first time seeing rice being cooked in a pot!”

“Isn’t it so hard to cook rice in a pot? Yerin, why are you so good at it?”

In this life, until I was in the third year of middle school, we didn’t have an electric rice cooker or pressure rice cooker at home.

Because I had been cooking rice in a pot every day until then, I was an expert at making rice in a pot.

“It’s a complete feast.”

“They all look so delicious.”

This is the pot of rice and spicy stir-fried chicken that I made.

And with the addition of kimchi stew, which Lee Hye-jeong and Yoo Seol had made in earnest, the table became as bountiful as yesterday’s pork belly party.

“Dakbokkeumtang is really delicious… ”

“Kimchi stew too.”

The members, who were hungry because they had just finished playing in the water, started eating in a combative manner.

I was worried because it had been a long time since I made it, but the spicy stir-fried chicken I made was delicious.

We were able to finish our meal satisfied because the kimchi stew made by Lee Hye-jeong and Yoo Seol was also delicious.

“We finished washing the dishes.”

“Okay, take a rest.”

After we finished eating and my siblings finished cleaning up, we all gathered in our room and lay down.

Even though I woke up late today, I quickly closed my eyes because I had fun playing in the water.

It was at that time that the atmosphere became so tiring.

“Everyone.”

“Yes~”

Likewise, Director Jeong, who had finished his meal, came to the room again.

So we rose up to meet him… .

“The last corner of the day remains.”

“… … Yes?”

He said something unexpected.

It’s the last corner.

You clearly said today was free time.

I was particularly sensitive to this, so I looked at Director Jeong with suspicious eyes and asked.

“… This isn’t another courage training session, is it?”

“Haha, no. The last corner of today is ‘Sneak Guest’.”

“A secret guest…?”

“Yes, a guest has come from Seoul to meet the Rookies. Please welcome them together.”

“… ?”

Who on earth would come to this mountain village in the middle of the night?

As we tilted our heads, the secret guest soon revealed himself.

And when we saw his face, we couldn’t help but be amazed.

That would be true… .

“Hello, everyone.”

“What… !”

“Producer Han Si-woo…!”

That was because the guest who came to see us was none other than Han Si-woo.

“Hey, sit here.”

“Then excuse me, I will stop for a moment.”

When we quickly pushed aside the blanket and offered him a seat, Han Si-woo sat down with a laugh.

Everyone was dumbfounded by Han Si-woo’s sudden appearance, and Yoo Seol asked him on his behalf.

“I… , but Producer Han Si-woo. What’s going on here… .”

“Because there is an important announcement.”

“… Is this important?”

In a jiffy.

Jiiing-.

As soon as Han Si-woo said that it was serious, the cameras outside came rushing in and zoomed in on our expressions.

And Han Si-woo looked straight at the camera, not our members, and spoke meaningfully.

“The next song from Rookies is out.”

“… … !”

“And the concept of this song is… , it’s the complete opposite of , so you can look forward to it.”

At that moment, I realized.

The fact that we came down to the countryside and filmed a reality show under the pretense of a vacation was the build-up for this one scene.

And at the same time, it was creepy.

‘This black company…! They’re trying to use this vacation to get us back to work right away… .’

I feel like NAS Entertainment is determined to somehow recoup the money invested in Rookies over the past year and make a profit… .

I couldn’t help but tremble.