Chapter 124: Variety Show

The day of the pet variety show filming.
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‘Studio Snack’ meeting room.
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The space, filled with punishment props, seemed peaceful, but it was actually a battlefield.

With countless comedy channels popping up on MyuTube these days, the moment you lose your edge, you lose your livelihood.
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Therefore, everyone was currently engaged in the meeting with desperate determination.
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One of the team members let out a deep sigh.

“This industry is really tough.”

“I want to focus just on the upcoming shoot, but here we are, already discussing what to do after it ends.”
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Then, PD Kang Hyun-sung shrugged his shoulders.

“What can we do?”

“We’re not bank robbers who hit a score and disappear.”

“Of course, we have to prepare for the next shoot.”
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Just as the team member said, they were already discussing the theme to adopt after ‘Pets’.
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Fortunately, they had already somewhat settled on a direction.
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[ Utilizing Cultural Differences Between Nations ]
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Cultural differences.

This was the theme for the videos they would shoot next.
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One of the team members carefully observed the mood.
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“PD Kang, if my idea isn’t good, you don’t have to use it.”

“No, the idea is excellent.”

“Gather foreign actors who speak Korean and have them talk like it’s a summit meeting, right?”
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Star Summit.

That was the working title for the program.
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“Yes. That’s right.”

“Setting a theme and having one person from each country chat, it can’t possibly be boring. The only problem is…”
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PD Kang Hyun-sung made a groaning sound.

“Who should represent South Korea?”

“We need to filter out anyone with a frivolous image, and it would be good if they have a high intellectual level.”

“Korean viewers will want their representative to appear competent.”

“No comedic characters.”
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“Right. And if possible…”
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PD Kang Hyun-sung adjusted the cap he wore backward.
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“…it would be great if they could speak a foreign language.”

“Basically, we’ll introduce actors who have learned Korean, but it’s better if the Korean representative is also fluent in a foreign language.”

“To ensure smooth communication.”

“We’ve already finished casting for the other countries.”

“India, Japan, China, UK, Germany, Italy.”

“That’s about finalized.”

“Right. Now we just need to find the Korean representative.”
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Silence followed for a while after that.
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One of the staff members let out a deep sigh.
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“It’s going to be really difficult.”

“Good looks, good image, smart… even large corporations would get cursed at for demanding this much.”

“And even if we find someone, their schedule has to work out.”

“We can demand this much.”

“Because we’ll pay them accordingly.”

“Let’s take our time and search carefully.”

“If we can pull it off, it’ll be a huge hit.”
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The morning meeting concluded like that.
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It was time to prepare for the afternoon’s pet filming.
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◈◈◈◈◈
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Like a beach where waves endlessly crash against sand sculptures, the internet was constantly flooded with new articles.
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However, the bigger picture hadn’t changed. The buzz surrounding Special Mobile Unit 808 and the Rookie Award candidates was still the hottest topic.
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[ The Miracle of Wednesday-Thursday Dramas, ‘Special Mobile Unit 808’ Gains More Buzz Daily. Can the Viewership Ratings Continue to Rise for Episode 3? ]
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[ Lee Suan ♡ Lee Sua, Groundless Rumors? ]
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In terms of share, Special Mobile Unit 808 naturally held more, but mentions of Sua weren’t lacking either. This was because the link of dating rumors was strong.
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[ Lee Sua, No News Since Winning the Grand Prize, Making a Surprise Return on a MyuTube Variety Show? Production Team Led by None Other Than PD Kang Hyun-sung. ]
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[ Actors’ Pet Special, ‘What on Earth Are They Raising?’ ]
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Amidst dating rumors with the strong Rookie Award candidate Lee Suan, she was defiantly appearing on a variety show. The impact couldn’t be anything but significant. Naturally, the reactions were fervent.
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• ─Going head-to-head with a variety show appearance amidst dating rumors? She looked unusual from the start, but she really has nerves of steel hahaha
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• ─PD Kang Hyun-sung is really mischievous. He’ll definitely ask about the dating rumors. How will she respond?
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• ─Aish, I guess I have to watch it out of curiosity.
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◈◈◈◈◈
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That afternoon.
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Sua finished her styling.
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‘Wow, who is this in the mirror? Why do they look so cool?’
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There was a reason for making more fuss than usual.
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Usually, she focused on makeup and wore outfits fitting the role, but today was different.

She was meticulously styled in casual clothes.

Sua liked this very much.
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‘It really is different when a stylist dresses you. But it’s such a complex world. Caring about even a single sock…’
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Whatever! The stylists will dress me well from now on!
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And suddenly, she felt nervous.
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‘…It feels like, I’m really appearing on a variety show.’
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She wasn’t just going out to play with friends now.

She had to produce scenes that were entertaining yet didn’t damage her image on the battlefield called variety shows.
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Huh? Why am I suddenly saying such smart things?
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I didn’t think of it! Yuhan Sua told me!
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Just then, Kim Yi-seo greeted Sua, who had finished getting ready.
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“Sua looks gallant again today. Thanks to you, I can feel relieved too. You said you already bonded with the Arctic fox, right?”

“Yes.”
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Sua felt her nervousness intensify anew.
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Come to think of it, she wasn’t going alone; she was going with Sumi. What if she embarrassed herself in front of Sumi?
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“It’s a variety show with multiple guests anyway, so they won’t stick just to Sua. There’s absolutely no reason to overdo it; just showing affection for your pet is enough to fulfill the requirements perfectly.”
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Kim Yi-seo showed a smile.

“Sua’s image is good right now. Just maintaining the status quo is a gain.”

“I agree.”
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Sua agreed. She truly, genuinely agreed.
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The statement that just maintaining the status quo was a gain resonated deeply.

Wouldn’t just staying still get her halfway there? Let’s not get greedy. Let’s not push too hard and reveal my bottom.
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Sua-passion!
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◈◈◈◈◈
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Afterward, Sumi arrived from the center.
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Sua unknowingly broke into a wide smile.

“Sumiya!”
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Sumi seemed incredibly happy too. As soon as she saw Sua, she started panting and wagging her tail furiously.
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‘Woah, foxes grow up really fast.’
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She used to fit in one palm, but now she was almost the size of a soccer ball. Her fur looked noticeably finer too.
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Thanks to that, the fox’s unique figure was now prominent.
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‘So this is why they say foxes bewitch people.’
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If she were born human, guys would be flocking to her.
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Sumi rubbed her face against Sua’s hand for a while, then promptly showed her manners. Bowing her head.
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“Mother. Have you been well?”

“Huh? Uh, uh.”

Somehow, her body had grown slightly, but her mind felt like it had matured immensely. Sua found herself nervous about misspeaking without realizing it.
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“…You seem to have thought about a lot?”

“Yes. A change of place changes the mind, and cultivation changes the body. Lately, I have been striving in both aspects.”
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Sua didn’t ask how she was striving.
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Instead, Sumi asked first.
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“It seems we are going out today, what shall we be doing?”

“Um, it’s like showing ourselves to everyone…”

“It must be an occasion to display Mother’s dignity.”

“…”

“I do not know the exact nature of the occasion, but I do not doubt that there is something truly meaningful in Mother’s actions. I shall endeavor with all my heart and soul.”

“R-Right. That’s commendable.”
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Sua scratched her head.

“It’s been a while since we met, is there anything you want?”

“Something I want.”
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Sumi’s eyes immediately sparkled.
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“There is.”
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Studio Snack ─ Pet Special.
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Seo Yeon-ju, wearing her usual headband, appeared. It was evident that much effort had gone into her outfit and face.

“What’s all this? Are they really planning to go all out?”
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That was her first impression after looking around.
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The scale was incredibly large to dismiss it as just a MyuTube channel variety show. The professional filming equipment, renting an entire gymnasium and a grass futsal field – all pointed to that.

“Hmm, I came because Sua said she was doing it…”
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The production team had cast Seo Yeon-ju as a safety net, ensuring Sua wouldn’t be a flop. If the rookie Sua showed any strange behavior, the experienced Seo Yeon-ju from the same agency could take care of her.
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Of course, this didn’t deviate from the theme either.

“Meow.”
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Seo Yeon-ju raises a Sphynx cat. A cat with no fur at all. While not exactly rare, it’s certainly uncommon.
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Meanwhile, the production team was holding a meeting on site.
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PD Kang Hyun-sung, wearing his cap backward, asked.
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“Did you confirm the attendance of the actors and animals?”

“Yes. No problems so far. Seo Yeon-ju’s Sphynx cat, Yang Ha-rin’s parrot, also a raccoon, hedgehog…”
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“It sounds diverse every time I hear it. Thanks to that, we almost broke our heads devising missions. Making a living is tough.”

“Tell me about it.”
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PD Kang Hyun-sung looked somewhat tense.
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“Just seeing various animals and actors interact guarantees views. Going for a heartwarming atmosphere is enough. Let’s absolutely not make them do anything risky. You know that, right?”

“Of course. If any of the actors’ pets get hurt…”
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Just the thought seemed horrifying, as everyone genuinely recoiled.
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“…It’ll get really complicated. Absolutely not.”
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In fact, the most nervous ones right now were the production team.
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Although the special started with guaranteed views, if an accident occurred, the aftermath would be uncontrollable.
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PD Kang Hyun-sung emphasized his words.

“Don’t miss even this brief moment. From the actors’ entrances to how they interact with their pets, grasp their tendencies and remove any missions that seem unsuitable.”
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Everyone nodded vigorously.
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“Seo Yeon-ju seems very close to her cat. Finding the owner’s clothes in a pile of clothes. We can proceed with that.”

“The raccoon looks active too, right? Let’s give it cotton candy. It would be a jackpot if we could capture a scene of it washing the candy in water.”
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“The parrot talks incredibly well?”
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It was then.
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“Lastly, Sua has arrived!”
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“…!”

Everyone quickly turned their heads. Understanding Sua’s tendencies, about whom they had no information yet, was crucial.
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And a moment later.
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“…?”

Everyone’s exclamation marks bent into question marks.
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The production team simply shared the same thought.
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‘What is this?’
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Sua, wearing sunglasses, appeared with the Arctic fox wrapped around her neck like a scarf, belatedly reminding the production team of a chaebol madam.