The Road to Glory Chapter 232 - [Side Story] Chapter 34. Wise Island Life Teaser

“Did you have a good time?”

Jang Jinsoo buried his tired face on the H Label lobby table.

Even though Roh Haeil was the one who went filming, Jang Jinsoo looked more exhausted.

He tilted his head looking at the sheet music, notes, and printouts sprawled across the table.

“What’s all this?”

“Assignments. No, wait. This doesn’t make any sense.”

“What doesn’t?”

Jang Jinsoo spoke with an incredibly wronged expression.

“How can there be more assignments after midterms are over? It never ends no matter how much I do. Do they think inspiration comes from squeezing it out? Forget inspiration, I feel like my brain’s going to cramp.”

“Really? Want me to help?”

“It’d be easy for you- Huh?”

Jang Jinsoo couldn’t believe what he just heard.

The expression was typical Roh Haeil, but saying something like this?

If he had said ‘What’s so hard about that,’ it would have been more like the usual Roh Haeil.

“Hey, did something happen?”

“?”

Jang Jinsoo looked at Roh Haeil intently.

“I heard you filmed a variety show-“

That thing that’s been making noise lately.

With both the Baegun island story and the broadcasting station story coming out in Welcome to My World Episode 7, the rumors about Halo appearing on a variety show were confirmed.

It was such a hot topic that even his assignment-drowning classmates were talking about it.

They’d been enjoying watching Kim Sunchul appearing as a mentor on ‘Me, Mento’ lately, and now they had another show to look forward to.

“You look in good condition. Did you rest well?”

Jang Jinsoo didn’t know much about the variety show Roh Haeil filmed.

All he knew was that they filmed on an island called Baegun-do.

And that the theme was music.

That would be natural since it’s where Roh Haeil was.

“Yeah, I think I rested well.”

He smiled as if he was truly in a good mood.

“And my slump is over now too.”

“…What? Really? Then the album-“

“Now I just need to organize and record it.”

“!”

This was great news.

Jang Jinsoo was secretly worried about his friend’s slump—even though it hadn’t looked like one—and was glad it worked out. Being obnoxious suited Roh Haeil better; acting weak didn’t suit him at all.

Jang Jinsoo raised his head.

Suddenly he felt motivated to do his assignments.

If that guy was making a comeback, he felt like he needed to work harder too.

“You don’t need to help yet.”

“Huh?”

“You asked earlier. You don’t need to help yet. I’ll try squeezing out some more inspiration myself.”

“Okay.”

“Ah, but wait a sec.”

Jang Jinsoo stopped the boy who was shrugging his shoulders without hesitation.

“Later… can you look at it later? After I finish making it, to see how it is.”

Halo nodded as if it wouldn’t be difficult.

Jang Jinsoo’s face brightened.

“I better work hard.”

Halo stepped back from his friend’s face burning with determination.

The album team called from afar.

Halo, who was about to leave, paused.

Something just occurred to him.

The corners of Halo’s mouth turned up.

“Working hard is good, but you might want to hurry.”

“Why?”

“I just thought you might get another senior soon.”

“What?”

“Good luck.”

“???”

The boy who said only what he wanted to say gracefully departed.

Jang Jinsoo muttered with a dumbfounded expression.

“What’s he talking about? What senior… Before that, when did I ever say I was joining your label?”

In a voice too quiet for the boy to hear.

“…At this point, is he just hoping I’ll join? …Is that really it?”

Soon Jang Jinsoo slapped his cheeks with his palms to snap out of it.

“This isn’t the time. Let’s do the assignments.”

#

Clean editing.

Experienced PD and production staff.

Above all, the combination of Kim Sunchul, a singer who has been in the entertainment industry for many years, and a music prodigy who works harder than anyone.

Many people agreed that the culture department had produced a good program.

Of course, like any show, there were malicious comments.

[Gangnam-area prodigy? LOL That’s funny]

[Having perfect pitch doesn’t make you a genius LOL]

[What kind of combination is that kid and Kim Sunchul? They forcefully put them together because of music, but they’re completely different fields. Should’ve brought a pianist or an entertainment agency trainee instead.]

[The show’s concept is supposed to be mentoring kids who need musical help… does a kid from Gangnam need help?]

[They bragged about having a super special guest, and it’s Kim Sunchul?]

[Being from Gangnam makes you a prodigy? You’re just jealous of the kid]

[Watching him play with perfect pitch and moving performances, he’s definitely a prodigy]

[Instead of criticizing a 10-year-old, reflect on what you were doing at 10]

[People complaining now just haven’t watched the show, ignore the haters]

This level of reception was fairly good for a program.

Yes, PD Kyung’s ‘Me, Mento’ gained attention from episode 2 and achieved decent ratings. Keywords like ‘prodigy’ and ‘music’ attracted interest from various places.

After all, hadn’t Halo winning the Grammy this year—a first for South Korea and Asia—already increased interest in music and prodigies?

[I wonder if our Haeil was like that when he was young]

[The kid really lives diligently, seems like he works harder than me]

[Singer Kim Sunchul seems like an ideal teacher, strict but gentle. If only I had met a teacher like that when I was young…]

[No matter how you look at it, he’s a real genius.]

The show attracted many viewers with its portrayal of a prodigy who sometimes acted like a child but was mature and never wasted time when practicing music, along with the strict but warm teacher-student relationship with Kim Sunchul.

“PD Na will do well too. I’m rooting for you~”

PD Kyung bragged while looking at the ratings chart, making sure to say something to her.

“Wow, look at that bastard running his mouth.”

The senior next to her had a sour expression.

“Why? What did he say now?”

PD Na Hyejoo was so focused on releasing the teaser that she hadn’t noticed PD Kyung arrive.

“The usual stuff. Going on about how the show’s atmosphere is great, Kim Sunchul is great, and how nice the kid is. Said it feels like heaven is helping him. Looking at how he runs his mouth, that bastard might fail because of it if nothing else.”

PD Na chuckled at the harsh criticism.

“He’s doing well right now though.”

“Aren’t you frustrated, PD Na? That show… no. Never mind.”

“I have no regrets.”

“Sorry. For bringing it up.”

“Really, it’s fine.”

This will just upset you more. The senior shut their mouth, watching her reactions.

But PD Na wasn’t bothered at all.

On the last day of filming before leaving Baegun Island, she had heard unexpected things while talking with the cast.

Halo said he probably wouldn’t have appeared on the previous program, and Lee Sora and Lee Jeongmin said they honestly came out because they wanted to meet the boy again. Although Kwon Jaeik just came because of his manager’s words, it would have ultimately been related to the boy.

‘Then no one might have appeared.’

She got goosebumps thinking about it then, thinking (?) it was good that it was taken away.

“Heaven must be blind. How could it help someone like him.”

PD Na turned her head to look at the ratings chart.

PD Kyung’s ‘Me, Mento’ recorded the highest ratings among Saturday cultural programs. After the teaser was released and the production presentation was finished, her program would also be on that chart.

But why wasn’t she strangely anxious?

There could be a disconnect where the cast and production team find it fun, but viewers don’t.

PD Na vaguely thought that her program, their program, would do well. She thought viewers would enjoy their broadcast full of laughter, tears, and the smell of real life.

Finally, Sunday afternoon. The teaser was released after the popular variety show ‘Running Man’ aired.

#

Office workers don’t usually watch many variety shows.

They tend to have specific shows they watch.

Including recent web variety shows:

‘Welcome to My World’ on Fridays

‘Me, Mento’ on Saturdays

‘Running Man’ on Sundays.

Among them, the longest-running show would be ‘Running Man’.

Whether there are guests or not, watching the existing members’ interactions to end Sunday has become more than a habit—it’s become part of daily life.

Today’s guest was also a singer he liked.

Leather jacket and chic fashion.

The rocker who makes men’s blood boil. Sin Joohyeok appeared on ‘Running Man’ after a long time. Since they all knew each other for a long time, they naturally talked about recent happenings.

[Joohyeok, I hear about you sometimes these days. They say you gather all the juniors if they don’t greet properly.]

[Haha, not often, maybe once a week?]

[What? Hahaha. He’s playing along.]

Sin Joohyeok laughs and goes along with the members’ teasing.

The rumors were jokes, but Sin Joohyeok was well-known for having clear boundaries. It was known that he disliked people who crossed lines and would tell it like it is whether they were seniors or juniors. With his rocker personality and intimidating expression when not smiling, there were famous stories about how even cult recruiters avoided him on the street.

[Oh, but. Come to think of it, among Sin Joohyeok-ssi’s juniors-]

[Wait. Joohyeok-ssi, you don’t gather that person too…?]

‘That person’.

The members who usually said whatever came to mind asked cautiously.

The office worker’s eyes lit up, knowing who they meant.

Come to think of it, there was someone known as Sin Joohyeok’s closest junior, or friend.

[Ah, isn’t Joohyeok’s closest junior Halo-nim?]

[How dare he to The Sun…]

The members ganged up while explaining who ‘that person’ was for viewers who might not know.

[No, no, Haeil is-. I’m scared of him too. When I meet him, I go greet him first. I say, ‘Did you sleep well?’]

[What? Haha.]

Sin Joohyeok, who usually played along well, raised both palms in surrender.

The members laughed and moved on, but everyone would know.

Though he used honorifics, calling him ‘Haeil’ meant they were really close.

They were actually famous in the entertainment industry for being close senior and junior.

Anyway, this episode’s guest was Sin Joohyeok, and the games revolved around him too.

When he screamed high notes and broke glasses in Hongdae, everyone realized rockers were different.

Today’s ‘Running Man’ was fun too.

The office worker was about to clean up his finished food when he turned his head at a familiar voice.

[These- This is a hidden camera, right? You’re doing a hidden camera now, right?]

A country house. Though wearing sweats, actor Kwon Jaeik appeared, unable to hide his long legs and good looks. Kwon Jaeik, who recently made theaters shiver with his psychopath killer acting, had lost it.

‘Kwon Jaeik does variety?!’

Just ten minutes ago.

Kwon Jaeik looks around the barren house and says.

[Well then, shall we decide what roles we should do? We need to clean, and we need to eat too. Where do we get ingredients-]

The office worker unconsciously sat down at his appearance as an all-around housekeeper.

[Clean? Isn’t it clean?]

Then, another woman’s voice was heard.

An elegant but bouncy voice.

The office worker thought even this seemed familiar as he gulped.

[I think it’s cleaner than my house]

[Aren’t you an actress?]

The camera slowly turned to show a woman.

Backlight poured in behind her.

‘Kwon Jaeik and Lee Sora filming variety together?’

The two people’s comfortable conversation flowed naturally.

The office worker exclaimed, Wow! Crazy!

They didn’t know they filmed variety together.

But they wouldn’t have just sent the two of them to the countryside.

What kind of variety show was this?

[Should we split up and try?]

Then, another familiar voice.

They recognized right away whose voice this was.

Lee Jeongmin.

No way, Kwon Jaeik and Lee Sora and Lee Jeongmin appearing together?

The office worker jumped to their feet.

As an ardent viewer of ‘From Today On’ in the past, he couldn’t contain his excitement at that combination.

[Jeongmin, you’re our only hope]

The camera moves in the direction Kwon Jaeik is looking, showing Lee Jeongmin smiling gently.

Lee Jeongmin in his unwrinkled knit sweater looked like a male lead straight out of a romance manga.

Then, Lee Jeongmin’s gaze turns.

His gaze was so gentle that the office worker thought another female cast member had arrived.

[Haeil-ssi, is there anything you want to do?]

“…Haeil?”

I only know one Haeil. Did I hear wrong?

Just as they doubted his ears.

The camera turned to show a boy sitting on a wooden platform.

The boy put down his guitar case, looked around once, and soon smiled.

[Well. For me, music?]

“Huh?”

Before he could process what was said, the film rolled and an animated teaser played.

An old man—no, Kwon Jaeik boarding a boat with a fishing rod.

A graceful woman in a beautiful dress mingles with children,

A young man stands at a podium reading a textbook.

Finally, a boy with a guitar and a child with messy hair look at each other as the village comes together as one.

Houses and fields appear all over the island made of round mountains, filled with villagers’ faces.

The cast, villagers, and before them the harbor and beach.

[Wise Island Life]

First broadcast next Sunday 18:30

“Eh?”

The office worker stood frozen, staring at the TV.

It had already moved on to commercials, but he couldn’t do anything.

“Ehhhhh?????”

And this soon became the internet’s reaction.