【The production crew of ‘Life Experience Field’ had all gathered at the broadcasting station to discuss.】 “We just had a cast dropout...” On screen, the production staff radiated a gloomy atmosphere, all clutching their heads in frustration. “Where are we supposed to find someone to appear?” “These days, everyone’s schedules are packed. Can we really bring someone in this urgently? Someone who won’t complain about doing dirty work, at that.” The special project revival of Life Experience Field, brought back after similar web variety content had become trendy, had originally been slated to air early next year. But when another program fell through right before launch, this one had to be rushed in as a replacement. To make matters worse, the cast had now dropped out on top of that. They’d been given a broadcast day and time that wasn’t originally planned, but now that they were in charge of Sunday night, they had to at least hit the average ratings for that slot. A suddenly pushed-forward plan, a hastily gathered production team. Their somber faces filled the screen as a slow, melancholic blues track played in the background. [No but why is this edited like a top-tier variety show HAHAHAHAHAH this is so polished] [ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Why does this feel exactly like the hardships of an office worker ㅠ] Just then, a phone vibrated. PD Choi glanced at it, hesitated, then began smiling as he typed a reply. The production team’s eyes all shifted toward him. “PD-nim, what is it? Did you just think of someone?” Meeting the sparkling eyes all fixed on him, PD Choi stroked his chin for a moment, then suddenly realized something and smirked. “...What if I’m the one to bring someone in?” 【With the crew’s approval, PD Choi immediately made a call.】 【Cut to: A certain restaurant in Seoul.】 The screen changed to a private room in a restaurant with multiple cameras hidden around the space, where PD Choi sat waiting nervously for someone. 【Seo Hoyun of The Dawn appears!】 As if deliberately trying to preserve the old-school variety feel, they inserted canned cheers and applause. [Ah LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] [What is this, is he prey or something LOLLLLLLLL “has appeared” HAHAHAHAHA] Seo Hoyun walked in grinning slyly and took a seat. PD Choi’s face lit up. “It’s been a while. Thank you so much for coming.” “Come on, if PD-nim calls, of course I have to show up.” [Wait, so Hoyun came because of a direct invite?? HAHAHAHAHA I thought Daepaseong made him do it] [You’re gonna get hauled onto a fishing boat at this rate, damn it ㅠ Why is this idol close with a documentary PD] [This idol’s social skills... I can’t deal] 【The coveted guest has arrived.】 “I’ve been seeing such good responses for The Dawn lately.” “That’s all thanks to you, PD-nim, for making the documentary look so cool. Oh, did you see it?” The two chatted for a long time about the documentary while eating. [What is with this idol’s depth of knowledge] [Seriously, what is with this guy... smiling and eating together so smoothly, he’s acting like he’s been a working adult for twenty years whoa] Still grinning at Hoyun’s unchanged charm and wit, PD Choi clapped his hands. “So, Hoyun-ssi, what have you been up to these days? Still busy, right? Filming for music programs and all...?” 【Slowly laying the bait. Will Seo Hoyun take it...?】 Hoyun laughed out loud. “What’s with the lead-up? I’m a bit busy, but if it’s your request, PD-nim, I’ll make time even if I didn’t have it.” [PD-nim’s eyes look like he’s falling in love right now] [You «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» can see the desire to recruit him] The almost blinding gleam in PD Choi’s eyes made Hoyun pause, but his idol smile stayed fixed. “Well, if it’s you, PD-nim, I’m sure you’ll take me somewhere nice.” 【Naively, Seo Hoyun accepts the proposal on the spot.】 Behind his bright smile, the CG of seagulls crying over the East Sea played. “Of course! I’ll take you somewhere great!” 【He’s going to take him to a fishing boat.】 [LOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL so this is how he got cast] [Wasn’t this supposed to be a documentary/informational program?? Why does this sound like he’s plotting a kidnapping] 【And thus, PD Choi successfully cast Seo Hoyun.】 Little did anyone—PD Choi, the production crew, or the viewers—realize that the sly Seo Hoyun had his own intentions in mind. Hoyun’s beaming face was gradually zoomed in on, then overlapped with footage of him on a boat at sea. 【After securing Seo Hoyun, they even managed to rope in his members. The Dawn was now aboard a fishing boat drifting in the East Sea.】 [No but I’m still an idol, I didn’t think I’d end up on a boat...] [Our bunny’s sad eyes... did he really get tricked? LOLOLOLOLOL Sold off just like that??] With the salty wind brushing against him, Hoyun stared out at the still-dark sea, lit only by the boat’s lamps. 【The time is now 4 a.m. While others are still asleep, the fishermen steadily haul in their nets.】 Fish flopped wildly as they were pulled from the nets. A fisherman tossed an octopus to Jung Dajun, who was busily sorting fish into tanks, and Dajun happily lifted it high. PD Choi, who was on board with them, turned to Hoyun. “You’ve been fishing for three days straight now—aren’t you tired?” [Three days straight?!!] [LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OMG so while all those “idol spotted haunting the company building” posts disappeared, you were out at sea??] Taking a moment after hauling in another net, Hoyun brushed his messy bangs back with his forearm and looked toward the camera, his lips curling faintly in effort. Over the sound of waves crashing, his low voice carried: “When we get back, stop calling me.” 【Seo Hoyun, a beautiful young man who keeps his promises.】 [LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] [He’s gritting his teeth right now HAHAHAHAHAHAHA] [Look at PD Choi giving a thumbs-up—he’s so pleased he dragged Hoyun here] Originally, Life Experience Field only had guests try a job for one day, but as a special five-episode run, the filming period had been extended to four days for higher quality content. [This is insane. An idol kidnapped onto a fishing boat... Is the god of comedy blessing The Dawn?] [It’s been so long since I’ve seen such unpredictable guests—this is so refreshing] At that moment, the boat’s captain, who had been piloting the vessel throughout filming, tapped Hoyun’s shoulder with a chuckle. “Wow, which show did this young man come from? He’s the best, really the best! Works so hard without a single complaint.” “What could I possibly do? I just try to help however clumsily I can.” “Hahaha! And such a smooth talker, too.” [My man who looked like he’d never so much as wet his hands... Now hauling nets on a fishing boat... And still managing perfect social etiquette. └ LAMOOOOOOOOOOO What even is this] After that, perhaps he really did just work in silence—footage of Hoyun hauling and sorting nets played in triple speed. 【Seo Hoyun, working hard.】 [Not a single complaint. So good-natured and diligent ㅠㅠ] [The type elders instantly adore hahahaha] [Where are all those people who said Hoyun only does easy variety shows? Come out right now] The camera then focused on Jung Dajun, who was swiftly sorting the catch into tanks. “Dajun-ssi, have you memorized a lot of the fish yet?” “Of course. This one’s mackerel, that’s Spanish mackerel, that’s horse mackerel, and this one’s cutlassfish!” He answered brightly and confidently. The fisherman beside him, smiling like he was looking at a beloved grandson, said, [LOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLl] [Oh my god LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL] “Well, as long as I put the similar-looking ones together, isn’t that fine?” “No, no. Watch closely, I’ll sort them properly. You have to earn your keep.” “Yes, sir!! Jung Dajun will earn his keep!!” 【No amount of scolding can make Jung Dajun sulk.】 [Dajun keeps hitting my laugh button, damn it ㅠㅠㅠㅠ LOLOLOLOLOL] [Seriously, who is he taking after to get this shameless?? └ Who do you think he’s been watching... Eventually giving up on transferring fish to the tanks, Dajun started grouping them by rough resemblance. A crew member asked, “Dajun-ssi, how did you end up on the boat?” “I don’t get seasick!” “Hoyun-hyung asked me if I get seasick, and later I heard he asked the other hyungs too. But Jiwon-hyung said he really does get queasy on boats, so it ended up being me, Sunghyun-hyung, and Hoyun-hyung—the three of us on the boat!” 【Apparently, Seo Hoyun couldn’t go down alone.】 “What about Kang Ichae-ssi?” “That hyung suddenly said he gets seasick.” Dajun’s hands, which had been moving busily, froze. “But I’ve been on a boat to Jeju with him before.” [LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] [Kang Ichae, you quick-witted bastard hahahahahahaha] 【Looks like Kang Ichae managed to dodge it.】 “Maknae!! The fish are flopping, come here!!” “Yes, sir!! On my way!” When the net haulers called for help, Jung Dajun turned his head and shouted a loud reply. Then, looking at the camera, he flashed a big grin. “Let’s talk later, Director!!” With that, he dashed over, found a spot, and started hauling the net with a grunt. Claiming that hard work was best done to The Dawn’s songs, he launched into a full-throated performance of Kismet and Stardust. “The black waves come crashing in~ My heart pounds rough and wild~” The fishermen, who didn’t even know the song, still enjoyed themselves, laughing and saying, “That kid’s got some voice on him.” “Star~~dust~ The night sea’s sewn with stars~” [Hoyun’s probably going to go dead serious any second now...] Right then, Seo Hoyun joined in from beside him. “I cut through the darkness for this very moment~” [Oh hell, he’s actually playing along] [LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO] It was purely out of the thought that if they’d brought the maknae on board, they might as well play along with him. 【The Dawn, showing the value of beautiful labor.】 [Why am I... why am I feeling touched? It’s like watching the beauty of labor in action... damn... ㅠ] [Guys... no... why are your idols working so hard at life... I’ll work harder too... damn it...] [It’s clearly hard work, but watching them laugh and cheer each other on so positively is so cute... I just punched the wall, they’re too cute] “Today’s haul is amazing. Should we start wrapping up?” “Yeah, sounds good. A little later and they won’t be biting as well.” Hoyun, moving with practiced ease, began tidying up the nets. Then, from the wheelhouse, Kim Sunghyun stepped out, holding a fish in one hand. Wearing baggy work pants pulled high, black rubber boots, and pale pink rubber gloves on both hands, he tilted his head. There’s a Greek statue here. └ Holding a fish in one hand. └└ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL] [Damn, he’s so sexy and handsome, that’s my son-in-law. └ Not even my husband, my son-in-law? “Want to have breakfast before you go?” “Let’s have some sashimi, Sunghyun.” “Sure. Yes, understood.” [Sure? Yes, understood???] As the Noeul fans filled with question marks, Sunghyun squatted down right away, expertly catching a fish tossed by a fisherman. “Yellowtail again today? Is that okay?” “What?! If we’re eating, we should eat the big one! What’s the point of the small stuff?” Before the words had even faded, he brought the back of the knife down hard on the fish’s head, then scraped off the few remaining scales from tail to head in quick, rough strokes. With practiced hands, he gutted, rinsed, dried, and filleted the yellowtail with a sashimi knife. The camera captured every step in detail. “Wow, Sunghyun-ssi, how are you so good at this?” “My uncle does a bit of fishing.” Hearing Sunghyun say it so matter-of-factly, Hoyun couldn’t help muttering in disbelief. “Why’s he good at stuff too?” [Coming from the hyung who’s been steadily hauling nets, that’s rich] [LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I can’t breathe] [Oh my god, Hoyun being baffled by Kim Sunghyun is killing me ㅠㅠㅠ hahahaha] [Sunghyun’s too perfect as a son-in-law, it’s funny—can run a household, fish, and slice sashimi like a pro...] Before long, Sunghyun had a plate of sashimi ready. Jung Dajun peeked over curiously. People murmured as they tasted the thick-cut yellowtail slices with their perfect bite. “How’s it this good? Sunghyun’s sashimi is unbelievable.” “Is it good? Hey, Hoyun.” As Hoyun sidled closer, Sunghyun held out a piece dipped in chili sauce. The sight of him accepting it directly into his mouth made the Noeul fans drop like flies. “Put a little more sauce on.” [Why does this look like me eating next to my parents making kimchi?] [Is the seasoning okay, should I add more < Ah, feels like I should add more salt < This is ridiculous, these idols] Next, Jung Dajun opened his mouth like a baby bird to be fed, and the fishermen, touched by the friendly scene, showered them with praise. This update ıs available on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝙣𝙚𝙩 “Those kids must be exhausted, but they don’t even complain.” “They eat whatever’s given, speak politely, always smiling~. If my son had been even half like that, I’d have given him my entire fortune!” “What fortune? You mean the salt on your clothes?” [They’re totally taking care of them ㅠㅠ so grateful ㅠㅠ The kids probably haven’t even adjusted to the boat yet... └ Except Sunghyun was slicing sashimi like someone who’s been living at sea for a month... Then someone chuckled and half-joked, “I want Sunghyun to marry my daughter.” We can’t afford to raise the competition any higher.] While the Noeul fans bristled protectively, the captions rolled in: 【With the sun rising, The Dawn trio finish their fishing and head to the fish market.】 【There, too, the day was already starting early.】 The scene changed to a bustling fish market morning under a still-dark sky. “Squid, ten thousand won a basket.” To the Noeul fans, a clear and pleasantly sweet voice rang out from one corner of the market—one they knew all too well. Amid crates of fish and shellfish spread on the ground, a tall, soft-featured, handsome man stood rather out of place in the crowd. Keeping to the rhythm of a trot tune, he called out enticingly to customers— “Fresh~ shrimp, one kilo for fifteen thousand won~.” It was The Dawn’s main vocal, Sung Jiwon.