In Any Case, You Have to Open the Lid to Know (3)

As soon as he hung up the phone, Jang Bongyu’s mobile rang again with a buzz.

It was Yoon Taeri, the head of CSA’s PR team.

“Oh my, Team Leader Yoon…”

-Director!

As soon as he answered, an urgent shout flew in. The sound of busy keyboard typing was chaotic.

-How many times did I insist that live personal broadcasts need censorship!

“Y-yes, you did.”

-She’s already a 20-year-old girl with a naturally independent personality, so who knows where she’ll bounce off to. The weather is getting colder, and working on a Sunday evening, I’m so angry the cold is breaking, really!

Jang Bongyu laughed awkwardly at the tearing nagging.

“Haha. Team Leader Yoon is having a hard time because of our Han Yujin client, right?”

A sigh came back instead of an answer, but he could tell her answer was ‘yes’.

-Do you know what the public opinion on Han Yujin is? A female streamer who spoke rudely about the military, that’s it. Given the current situation, military-related issues are like a powder keg that could explode at any moment. And Han Yujin has thrown an oil can and lit it on fire.

“Listen to me. If the tent is pitched, there will be an immediate reversal…”

-Even I, who doesn’t know the first thing about the military, can see it’s absolutely impossible.

“When I heard the explanation…”

-Isn’t my role to pursue the best and avoid the worst? But now, forget about second best, we should be on our knees praying even for the second worst outcome. Argh, I’m going crazy, really!

Gasping breaths could be heard over the receiver.

-Even if it’s spilled, water has come in so we should wipe what needs wiping and stir what needs stirring, but this is really stinking sewage, sewage!

“No. It’s not sewage, it’s spring water. Grade 1 pure water.”

-What?!

Yoon Taeri’s chatter stopped abruptly. Suspicion came back like a boomerang.

-…Did you fall for it too, Director?

“How could that be! How old do you think I am! Anyway, calm down and listen to me.”

Jang Bongyu relayed everything he had heard from Han Yujin to Yoon Taeri without omission.

The clacking keyboard sound stopped abruptly.

-So, you’re saying she can pitch the tent?

“Yes. I’ve met PD Kim before too, and he’s not the type to exaggerate.”

Yoon Taeri’s sharp decibels softened and settled calmly.

-Then should we really send out a press release? Han Yujin will be floating for a week anyway due to the military base location shooting. It would be best to maintain the buzz with this.

Jang Bongyu nodded at those words.

“Yes. We’ll throw in every log we have and build a big fire. We’ll attach advertisements, guest singers, and do all the promotions to make it like a festival. We just need to fan the flames hard to make it burn brightly.”

-The tent pitching is confirmed anyway?

“The tent pitching is confirmed!”

Jang Bongyu tapped his fingers on the desk and checked the monitor.

It was a nationwide popularity survey conducted by Gallup Korea.

Han Yujin was overwhelmingly first in the popularity survey from teens to 40s.

However, she had no power at all with people in their 50s and 60s.

-If PD Kim Hwachang pitches the tent and promotes “Human Life”…

“We can make the 50s and 60s, who are the main viewing demographic, fans of Han Yujin too. If that happens, even first place in the December brand reputation rankings is no longer a dream.”

KBN’s documentary, “Human Life,” was the final button to raise favorability among the senior demographic.

-If it goes well, how much will the ratings be? 12 percent?

“Since it’s a stable program, if it does really well, I think it could reach about 15 percent.”

-Hmm…

Yoon Taeri mumbled in a questioning voice.

-But Han Yujin wouldn’t have gone to the military, so how did she know about that?

“Who knows. It doesn’t matter either way.”

After a moment of silence, Yoon Taeri asked again.

-Director. You said festival, right? What should we call the event?

Jang Bongyu muttered, then answered.

“Since it’s a 24-person tent… T24 Festival would be good.”

Four-thirty in the morning.

I woke up rubbing my sleepy eyes.

When I opened the door, the house was as quiet as a temple.

All the joints in my body are stiff. I feel like I need to oil my body.

I chased away drowsiness with convenience store coffee from the fridge and made simple side dishes and a large pot of soup for the kids to eat while I’m gone.

I’ll be away from home for a week.

It’s the first time I’ve been away this long since becoming a woman.

…I’m worried sick.

I went into Han Sejun’s room.

I tapped Han Sejun’s shoulder as he slept curled up like a shrimp and said:

“Wake up.”

“…Why.”

Han Sejun opened his eyes groggily. His face was puffy as if he had eaten ramen before sleeping.

While someone is going to the military to earn money until their back breaks, the eldest son is so carefree.

Suddenly feeling angry, I kicked his butt.

“I said wake up!”

“Ah, really! Why are you so desperate to eat me from dawn?”

“Stop talking back and get out here.”

Han Sejun staggered out to the kitchen.

“This is soup and the side dishes are in the fridge. If they run out, I’ve written down recipes here, so just cook according to them, okay?”

“…Can’t we just order in?”

“No. Once or twice is fine, but if you keep eating stimulating food, it’ll ruin your body. Especially since there are kindergarten kids too.”

I patted Han Sejun’s shoulder.

“You can handle it while I’m gone, right?”

Han Sejun just blinked his eyes without answering.

“Answer me.”

“…Yeah.”

“If you bully your younger siblings, you’ll be stripped of your eldest son title from that moment.”

“Come on, with you gone, we should all do the housework together. Why am I the only one stuck with it all?”

Oh really?

Then why have I been doing all the housework, childcare, and labor by myself until now?

“Sejin is about to debut so she’s hardly ever home, and Sieun has the semi-pro selection match this week.”

“Being busy is the boss, I swear.”

Han Sejun grumbled and muttered.

“Do the cleaning, dishes, and laundry well. While you’re at it, do my room too.”

Han Sejun showed his reluctance at my words.

“What? You usually threaten to kill me if I enter.”

“What can I do? I’m going to the military. Do you want to go instead if you don’t like it?”

When the talk of military came up, a broad smile spread across Han Sejun’s face.

What are you grinning about?

“I’m so sad that noona is going to the military. Tears are blurring my vision, boo hoo.”

…This isn’t the time for you to be laughing.

“I’m only going for a week, but how long will you go? Is it one year and six months these days?”

“…”

Han Sejun became dejected after picking a fight unnecessarily and not even breaking even.

Then he said to me in a weak voice:

“Noona. When I go to the military, do you have to come visit?”

“Why?”

“What if I say I’m Han Yujin’s brother when I’m a private? The military will be turned upside down, right? From then on, my military life will be smooth sailing.”

“Okay. I’ll come every time you get promoted, so just handle what’s in front of you well. I’m really so worried.”

“Ah, don’t worry so much.”

Han Sejun held out both hands.

“Noona, can I have your card?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’ll only order delivery food for one day.”

“No.”

“Ah, pleeeease!”

I finally handed over the card to Han Sejun, who was whining as if begging.

“Really just for one day.”

“Did a worry ghost possess you? I’m Han Sejun, Han Yujin’s brother. Han Sejun, the eldest son of the Han family. Don’t worry and go train hard.”

Han Sejun nodded satisfactorily while thumping his chest.

…Can I really trust this guy?

The car was heading to Nonsan.

Looking out the window, dark clouds were gathering as if it might rain any moment.

I hope it doesn’t rain.

Anyway…

I never dreamed I’d come here again. Even less that I’d come as a woman.

I thought the “I Am a Soldier” filming would feel like a final vacation, but the military is still the military after all.

As we got closer to Nonsan, the shadow on my face also deepened.

I don’t want to go…

I really don’t want to go…

Park Jungseung, the PD of “I Am a Soldier” who was in the car with me, asked:

“How do you feel right now?”

Like shit.

…No, not that.

“I’m excited but also nervous. Just feeling unsettled. Although I’m only staying for a week so I won’t fully understand the hardships of the soldiers, I’ll try my best while sweating bullets.”

Park Jungseung, holding the camera, smiled faintly.

“Viewers picked Han Yujin as the cast member they’re most looking forward to.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You’re the eldest daughter raising nine younger siblings, with lots of part-time job experience, good at work, and strong-minded. As for physical strength… ahem.”

What’s wrong with my physical strength!

“With such praise, I’ll have to prepare to throw up.”

Suddenly Park Jungseung tilted his head and said:

“Are you bare-faced right now?”

“Yes.”

You’re going to tell me to wipe it off anyway.

“You’re not bringing anything? I heard the others packed a whole bundle like peddlers.”

“Ah, just underwear and necessities are enough.”

You’re going to send everything by courier anyway.

Park Jungseung seemed to judge there was no more footage to be had, clicking his tongue and turning off the camera.

Just then,

Thin raindrops trickled down the window. With each falling raindrop, my complicated mind also felt heavier as if submerged in water.

When I come out after filming.

How will the world have changed?

Just a week.

It’s just a short period of little over a week, but somehow it feels like a lot will change.

Numerous questions welled up.

Will PD Kim Hwachang be able to pitch the tent?

Will Player Kang Yohan be able to advance to the round of 8?

Will Player Hyun Junho be able to beat Jung Suhyuk?

What will the ratings be when “Human Life” airs?

What will happen if Han Sieun gets her semi-pro license?

If…

Really if…

When I come out after finishing filming.

If all those questions turn into good news,

What will happen to me?

They say life is all or nothing.

But if I keep throwing ‘mo’ every time I throw the yut sticks…

How will people receive me from then on?

Will they really worship me like a god?

…Don’t think about it, Han Yujin.

Anyway, we haven’t opened the lid yet.

When I woke up from a short nap, the rain had stopped and the sky started to clear up.

Moon Jaehyun in the driver’s seat said:

“Noona. We’ve arrived at Nonsan Training Center.”

“…Ah.”

The bridge of my nose wrinkled finely.

From the back seat, I held Moon Jaehyun’s cheeks and said as if sobbing:

“Jaehyun-ah. Can’t you go in instead of me? Hm?”

“I really wish I could do that for you, but… um, noona. You’re too close right now.”

“Ah.”

Looking at Moon Jaehyun’s face, a red flush had risen. Even his earlobes were dyed red.

I slumped down on the car seat like melted margarine.

Ah, I don’t want to go.

I really don’t want to go.

How does this damn ill-fated life of mine make me come to the military even after becoming a woman?

“Player Han Yujin. We’re getting out now.”

Conscious of Park Jungseung holding the camera, I shouted with deliberate aloofness:

“Let’s go, Han Yujin! Cheer up!”

Cheer up my ass!

…I don’t want to do this.

I really don’t want to do thiiis!

Sighing as if the ground would cave in,

I dragged my heavy body out of the car.