The Road to Glory Chapter 221 - [Side Story] Chapter 23. Welcome to Baegun Island, Stranger

“Thank you all for coming. I’m PD Na Hyejoo, in charge of the tentatively titled ‘Wise Island Life.'”

PD Na Hyejoo gulped as she looked around at the members gathered in the Korean restaurant’s private room.

99.98% of the reason why everyone from the director to the CP had patted her shoulders was because of these people.

Thanks to them, her shoulders felt heavy, but she recognized once again that this was a fortune that wouldn’t come twice.

‘Get it together.’

PD Na Hyejoo made eye contact with Writer Do Minhee and nodded.

“I know I’ve already briefed you, but I’d like to go over the filming details once more. Before that, could each of you introduce yourselves?”

They had already greeted each other, but the cameras were rolling from now on.

This pre-meeting where the cast could see each other’s faces and introduce themselves could be considered the first filming.

At her words, the cast member sitting on the far right spoke first.

“I’ll go first. Hello, I’m actor Kwon Jaeik. I decided to appear to buy presents for my niece, and seeing the cast, I’ll just blend in quietly.”

Movie and drama actor Kwon Jaeik.

The lead actor of ‘From Today On’ was casually laid-back, though not as much as at the drama’s press conference.

The atmosphere immediately softened with his joke reminiscent of his character from ‘From Today On.’

Some staff members marveled at what a great actor he was.

Here, only his manager knew that his words were 100% sincere.

Next, Lee Sora, the unanimously acknowledged female lead of ‘From Today On,’ placed a hand on her chest and greeted everyone. It was an elegant movement reminiscent of an awards ceremony, but Kwon Jaeik slightly squinted his eyes.

Their playful banter before filming.

‘You’ve aged a lot while I wasn’t looking.’

‘I don’t think you’re one to talk. Seems like you got paid less.’

No, the production team eagerly captured their friendly greetings.

Then came the most shocking twist character from ‘From Today On.’

Rising actor Lee Jeongmin, who played that historic role, greeted everyone with a meet-the-parents-approved smile.

“I’m actor Lee Jeongmin. Please take care of me.”

Kyaaaak!

When dolphin sounds came from somewhere, Lee Sora said it was disappointing, but she too was watching Lee Jeongmin with a motherly smile.

Lastly remained-.

Everyone’s attention turned to one boy.

The youngest at twenty years old among people averaging in their mid-thirties.

However, the boy with an incredible true self inside greeted everyone without being intimidated by the experienced, strong-willed actors.

Waaah-!

Exclamations followed.

It really seemed like an impossible combination had been created.

The production team couldn’t believe these people had gathered again like this.

It was disbelief in a good way.

They were all the type not to appear much on variety shows, and above all, even without a filter, the filter from that drama back then automatically applied.

It felt like an epilogue to that drama.

Like students meeting again after becoming adults.

Of course, Halo hadn’t appeared in that drama, but due to his age, he gave off the feeling of being from it. Like he was actually one of the ‘From Today On’ drama characters who didn’t come to school because he was doing music.

Mmm. That makes sense.

PD Na Hyejoo greeted them once again saying she was the one who needed their help, and distributed files.

“First, you all know that our program is a documentary where we’ll live on ‘Baegun Island’ for two weeks.”

And pre-production was confirmed.

Not only was this a program with predetermined opening and ending, but safety was the top priority.

Usually, actor fans don’t flood outdoor filming locations—especially in the provinces—to an uncontrollable degree. Usually, actor fandoms aren’t as large as idol fandoms, and their average age and characteristics are different.

However, there are exceptions everywhere.

There were stars with idol-like fandoms who had a high proportion of teens and twenties fans. In such cases, fans would flood filming locations, and they’d receive countless inquiry calls.

They had such a star in their cast, so pre-production became absolutely necessary. They even requested delayed content release on NuTube.

Of course, Baegun Island didn’t have regular ferry service, so the chances of people suddenly flooding in weren’t high.

Nevertheless, the PD considered the safety of the cast, staff, and the villagers’ lives.

The writer carefully explained about filming on the island.

There was only one thing to add at the end.

“As you all know, please maintain strict confidentiality.”

Although word had spread that Halo had come to the broadcasting station, the public still didn’t know what program he was doing.

In this situation, if news broke that Halo was doing various programs, and that only ‘From Today On’ top stars were appearing there?

A truly terrible situation would unfold.

Wise Island Life was under embargo.

This wasn’t just for the broadcasting station, but something all cast members needed to be careful about.

The PR representative for ‘(Tentative) Wise Island Life’ smiled with a tired face.

Even now, due to rumors spreading in the industry, all the broadcasting station’s PR representatives had heard about it once. They kept asking if Halo was appearing, if it was their program.

‘We don’t know. Wow, when did Halo come to the broadcasting station? That’s really interesting, why did he come? Haha. Well, he could come to the broadcasting station. Do you think the broadcasting station is some top-secret nuclear fusion facility? You could come in too.’

Their acting skills were improving day by day.

“Then I’ll see you on filming day.”

The camera clicked off.

#

It had become weather where one wouldn’t look for the scarf worn almost every day.

Today too, white clouds hung over Baegun Island, and the sea sparkled in the sunlight.

Seagulls cried kkiruk-kkiruk over the small beach covered in platinum-colored sand, and at the quiet harbor where boats floated, a small-framed child sat swinging their legs.

“Gyeowool, what are you doing here?”

The child turned their shaggy head, discovering a village elder.

It was the captain who occasionally went to the mainland to bring people back.

Since the captain was here, they probably wouldn’t come today.

The deeply disappointed child opened their mouth.

“Aren’t you studying?”

“I am studying.”

Then the child hummed a song.

The captain snickered and picked up the child.

“Do they teach you to play while watching the sea at school these days?”

“I’m not playing! I’m doing homework!”

“Homework? Who assigned you homework?”

“…”

Gyeowool, who was about to say their teacher, opened and closed their mouth without speaking.

Come to think of it, they said they wouldn’t be a teacher anymore.

If they said they’d see them next time they came, they left without saying when they’d come.

Since time seemed to flow differently in the city than on the island, it would probably be a while before they came.

PD Na said there would be good news soon, saying she’d bring Gyeowool’s teacher, but Gyeowool-.

“Honestly.”

“Hm?”

Wasn’t very hopeful.

They just wished that person would come.

Gyeowool thought they were a bad child.

When they looked down at the ground with a gloomy face, the captain patted their head asking why they were so down.

“They said broadcasting people are coming soon, shouldn’t you at least tie up your hair nicely?”

“I have to do homework.”

“So who assigned this homework?”

“…I’m going to do homework. Go away!”

“This is already outside, where should I go? My, what a temper.”

They seemed like a tiny thing going peep-peep.

The captain said they didn’t resemble their pretty mother at all, and added,

“You’ll catch a cold, go inside quickly. The guests are coming tomorrow.”

“…?”

“The guests you’re waiting for are coming tomorrow. Isn’t the homework from those guests? There’s no point waiting here, you’ll just catch a cold.”

“…They won’t come anyway.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll bring them safely.”

Gyeowool pouted at the captain.

Although they knew the captain liked their mother without understanding Gyeowool’s feelings, they thought mother was too good for him.

Soon Gyeowool looked at the sea again and thought.

They hoped that person would be on that boat tomorrow.

#

“Uuugh.”

Everyone’s attention focused on one person.

One uncle looking on pathetically.

One kind younger brother handing over medicine.

And one youngest brother who was cute just by being there.

It’s a biased categorization, but it’s true.

“You’re really something.”

Kwon Jaeik grumbled while giving medicine, and Lee Jeongmin poured water.

“Thank you, Jeongmin. And Haeil too.”

“…I gave you the medicine, why are you only thanking them? What about me?”

“Hmph.”

Lee Sora, who had thanked even Halo who was just sitting quietly, pointedly left out just one person as she took the medicine. She felt like she was dying.

“When do we arrive?”

“We’ll be there soon.”

The captain looked around carefully.

Today there was some fog so the island wasn’t very visible.

One side was dying, and even the production team was struggling.

Since only regular visitors came to the island, it had been a while since he’d seen people getting seasick, so it was a bit awkward.

“Are the three of you alright?”

“I enjoy sea fishing.”

Kwon Jaeik answered calmly.

Lee Jeongmin smiled faintly and said he had experience as an extra.

The remaining person, Halo, was standing alone at the bow.

Even still carrying his guitar.

He even helped steady the cameraman next to him when he stumbled.

“Halo-ssi, are you sure you don’t need to go inside?”

The cameraman asked with a worried face.

“We’re arriving soon so I think it’s fine.”

“What? Ah, you said you’ve been here before. But how do you know? We can’t see anything.”

The camera filmed the fog-covered sea.

“The waves are the same as when I came before.”

“What?”

What does that have to do with anything?

The black-haired boy closed his eyes and faced the sea breeze.

The salty wind was sticky yet refreshing.

Sometimes it blew strongly enough to try to take off his cap but.

The regular sound of the engine rumbling and waves could be heard.

“Should be around here.”

“Oh, I can see the island!”

Some assistant director’s shout covered Halo’s voice.

The cameraman pointed the camera back at the fog at the assistant director’s shout and discovered a silhouette.

It seemed like there was a boundary between the island and mainland.

At some point, along with the feeling of emerging from the fog came the crying of seagulls.

And.

“Wow-.”

Baegun Island with beautiful white clouds.

The white harbor and colorful shanty houses spread out behind it.

Everyone unconsciously exclaimed at the peaceful scenery.

In a place like this, forget two weeks, it seemed like they could live for two months.

:

“Wel.come. to. Bae.gun. Is.land.”

When they arrived at the harbor and disembarked, the village chief was there to greet them.

Writer Do Minhee thought it was fortunate they had told him in advance that he didn’t need to give a welcome speech since they were filming documentary-style.

That’s because the chief, completely different from their first meeting, was spouting T.M.I. in stiff Seoul speech while cosplaying as some Cheonghadong scholar. (TLN: Cheonghadong (청학동) is the name of a legendary village in Korea known for its scholarly traditions and Confucian learning.)

Still, since he was the most cooperative with filming in this place, they didn’t view it negatively.

“You can be comfortable, Chief.”

While PD Na Hyejoo came forward to greet him, the chief who had been wide-eyed at seeing the actors immediately became stiff again when he noticed the camera.

“Then I’ll introduce you to the village.”

Baegun Island, with a mountain rising in the center, had its village formed on the hillside, so it was uphill all the way up.

“How much further do we have to go?”

“The empty house is on the hill, so just a bit further up.”

“Ah, ah.”

If the house was too high up it would be tiring.

Should probably avoid going outside the house unless necessary.

Until then, the novices who hadn’t done many programs besides their main work didn’t think much of it.

Just expectations about country life

And curiosity about the village

They occasionally greeted people they met, thinking it was just a healing program.

But in life, healing is something you have to create yourself.

There is no healing that existed from the start.

“Now, this is where you’ll be staying.”

The chief introduced with a smile.

They who had admired the chief’s house were about to go in.

“Ah, not there.”

Kwon Jaeik stopped, and those who had been mindlessly following slowly turned their heads.

Next to the chief’s house. Inside old stone walls was a shanty house.

There weren’t cobwebs, but it was quite old, a shanty house that didn’t smell lived in.

“Here it is.”

The chief, not knowing the cast’s feelings, explained with a smile.

“It’s still perfectly fine. And it’s prepared enough to fully enjoy island life.”

Kwon Jaeik went over and opened the kitchen.

His eyebrows twitched when he found a fireplace instead of a gas range.

“PD Na, this isn’t right.”

“Just enjoy island life, everyone.”

Lee Sora stood with a stiff face.

“Jeongmin, Haeil, you two should say you hate it too right now.”

“I’m fine with it, noona.”

Lee Jeongmin smiled saying it was better than the house he lived in when he was young.

Rather, his manager worried from behind.

Because Lee Jeongmin suffered from insomnia.

Lee Sora, who muttered that he couldn’t sleep if uncomfortable, looked at her last hope, Halo. Surprisingly, both younger brothers seemed completely unbothered.

“While we set up the cameras, feel free to rest, and fighting once filming prep is done!”

It was the most cheerful voice they’d heard so far.

Very con artist-like.

“Well then, shall we decide what roles we each need to do?”

Kwon Jaeik broke the silence.

The others stared at him with wide eyes.

This was the start of Deputy Kwon.

“Seems like we need to clean the house, and we need to eat but where do we get ingredients…”

Kwon Jaeik, who had just come to rest comfortably, held his head at how much there was to do.

Then, Lee Sora tilted her head.

“Clean? Isn’t it clean?”

“How is this clean?”

“Seems cleaner than my house.”

“…Aren’t you an actress?”

Kwon Jaeik made an expression of disbelief.

“But where do we get our ingredients?”

“You have to get them yourselves. You can gather from the sea or mountains, farm, or you could help the villagers?”

Since they had nothing, realistically only the latter was possible.

There’s no such thing as free in life.

The production team looked forward to seeing what kind of happy country life they would lead.

Kwon Jaeik first looked at Lee Jeongmin, who would surely have strong survival skills,

Excluding the actress who didn’t seem helpful.

Lee Jeongmin smiled and asked the youngest.

“Haeil-ssi, is there anything you want to do?”

There was a different affection than with close Lee Sora and Kwon Jaeik.

Probably half gratitude and half fan sentiment.

Since Lee Jeongmin knew and understood that Halo had risen through his music, they just went with it.

“I-.”

Halo tilted his head, looked at the house once, and said with a smile.

“Music?”

“That’s nice.”

It was Lee Jeongmin who would say anything was good.

“Our Haeil will sing?”

“Wow, a bard, a bard!”

Even the production team said it was good, but only Kwon Jaeik felt sick.

“What’s good about it. What bard. These people-. This is a hidden camera right? You’re doing a hidden camera right now right?”

Should have looked into it more when his manager told him to do variety shows.

With unhelpful peers and juniors, Kwon Jaeik felt sick to his stomach.

He’d come to make easy money by blending into a healing program, but between the con artist production team and upcoming hardships, he felt like he was going to get high blood pressure.

Forget two weeks.

It seemed like he wouldn’t last even two days.