In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Chapter 112:

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: Rxel

Chapter 112

A village festival was held at an unexpected time.

The younger line was singing trot songs in the yard, the elders were clapping and laughing, and the Pomeranian Dusik was running around excitedly.

And Woojoo was suffering.

Oh, his arm hurt.

If you had ever massaged someone else’s shoulder, you would know that it required more strength than you thought.

You knew what he meant.

When you said to your friend, ‘Let me give you a massage’, and started kneading their shoulder, but after about 20 seconds, you lost your strength and slowly lowered your hand.

The problem was that he had been massaging for 20 minutes now.

It was really hard.

Woojoo had a cramp in his arm.

His hand had been numb for a long time.

He secretly stretched his back and clenched and unclenched his fist, but his hand was still stiff.

But Woojoo managed to smile brightly at the grandfather who sat in front of him.

“Where do you feel uncomfortable?”

“Well, I have a curved back… It hurts so much when I lie down.”

“Let me try to massage it for you.”

Soon, the grandfather’s sincere exclamation came out.

Like a vending machine that dispensed a drink when you pressed a button, he kept saying it felt good whenever he kneaded his sore spot.

The faces of the elders, which had been stiff and rigid, bloomed like flowers in full blossom.

Woojoo felt a subtle sense of pride whenever he saw their expressions.

While the youngest one was joking around and mingling with the elders, Rihyuk whispered in Woojoo’s ear.

“That’s enough. You look too exhausted.”

Woojoo smiled and said he was fine.

Yang Okbun, who was peeling a tangerine, seemed to notice and spoke up.

“Oh my, look at you. Don’t you think you should stop? Your hands are… Oh dear, your beautiful hands are all red.”

She said it loud enough for everyone to hear.

That was when the elders, who had been chatting happily, started to express their concern.

“Oh no, oh dear. We’re such a bother to you…”

“What should we do, should we get some ice and rub it on your hands?”

“I can’t believe it. I didn’t notice at all.”

Woojoo waved his hands to reassure them.

“I’m fine, I can do more…”

“No more, no more. Come and sit down.”

Woo Jaeyong gestured to a chair in the yard. Woojoo followed his silent gaze and sat down quietly.

“Oh dear, you’ve worked so hard.”

“No, you don’t have to do this for me…”

In an instant, the roles were reversed.

There was a grandfather who patted Woojoo’s shoulder with his fist, and some people who brought him honey water from the kitchen.

And someone else added some ice to it, saying it would be too hot.

“Are you hungry?”

Woojoo waved his hand, knowing that he would rush to the kitchen and cook something if he said yes.

Before he could answer his question, Rihyuk slapped his hand over Jiho’s mouth.

Woojoo felt like a grandson who had a dozen grandparents.

In the midst of that, Teacher Woo Jaeyong asked, “Why are you working so hard? Just pretend to do it, okay? You have to be smart as a person.”

“But I only get to see them for one day, so I want to do it with care.”

“You’re foolish, so foolish,” Teacher Yang Okbun said, as the veteran actor clicked her tongue.

“Why, you’re so amazing. You gave it your all to do this for me. Look at your face. You’re sweating like rain.”

“Oh dear, you’re right.”

Three VJs were taking turns filming this scene.

This was going to be on air, for sure.

Sometimes, Woojoo had a feeling like this when he was recording.

He still felt sore in his arm, but he was glad that he managed to meet the quota.

Of course, Mrs. Kim Deoksoon would curse at those bad old people who made her grandson suffer when she watched the broadcast.

But Woojoo also felt good to receive such affection from the elders.

If there was one thing that bothered him, it was this.

“I still haven’t given a massage to some of you…”

“Ah, just stay still! The others here will do it.”

“That’s right, I also want to give you a massage.”

As Jiho interrupted with his lively voice, everyone laughed. Behind the elders, a voice rang out.

“Hello!”

It was Ye Heechan’s voice.

After him, Bijoo and Junghyun also walked in with bags of apples.

When did they get here?

"We love massages too."

Bijoo smiled and looked at Woojoo.

Woojoo had a feeling that he wanted to say something, but he didn't know why.

It felt like he had done something wrong.

Woojoo tried to think of all the things he had done wrong in the past 30 days, but there were too many to count, so he gave up.

The elders who hadn’t received a massage from Woojoo yet kept refusing the offer from the new faces, saying they didn’t want to bother them. But after much persuasion, they finally agreed to sit down and enjoy the service.

The two elderly members of Around the World With Dice’s team elicited lively conversations from the elders, while the younger ones showed their filial piety to them. It was a heartwarming scene.

As Woojoo watched that scene, he gulped down some refreshing honey water.

Then, Junghyun squeezed Woojoo’s shoulder.

“Ow! Hey! Be gentle!”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Junghyun, go massage some other grandpas and grandmas. Why are you kneading me?”

“In our house, our Hyung is the oldest, right?”

“You and I are only two years apart. I’m young.”

“That’s true.”

“Hey, Junghyun. When you agree with me, can you put some soul into it?”

“Speaking of which, I have a question,” Junghyun asked. “Hyung, am I letting Bijoo win, or is he being considerate of me?”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, we talk differently.”

Woojoo looked at Bijoo, who was giggling next to him. He met Woojoo’s eyes and narrowed them slightly.

Then Woojoo remembered.

They weren’t fighting, but they were a bit annoyed with each other. Woojoo stepped in as a mediator.

Woojoo wondered what to do and remembered how politicians acted on TV. He copied them.

“Did I? I don’t remember…”

“Hyung. I’m disappointed.”

“It’s okay. Your disappointment is already familiar to me.”

“Then I’ll be twice as disappointed.”

He snorted and made the people around them laugh. Then, Rihyuk, who was tapping someone else’s shoulder, said, “Junghyun Hyung, there’s something else. When you were chased by the black goat earlier, that guy saw you and closed the door.”

“Wow.”

Junghyun changed his eyebrows into triangles.

“I’m three times as disappointed, Hyung.”

“Wow, Seo Rihyuk, you snitch…”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I just told the truth.”

“I’m four times more disappointed in you.”

Woojoo wondered how many times it would go up.

As the elders around them laughed and added a few words, Woojoo defended himself.

“Junghyun, how can you help someone who is chased by a black goat? In movies, you run away first when a monster appears.”

“No, I have a zombie movie that I watched with Bijoo before, and there, a kind old man saved the protagonist from a horde of zombies. He told him to take shelter in his house.”

“…Why do you only get smart when you talk to me?”

“I’m smart.”

He was serious, but his expression was funny, so the siblings and the elders burst into laughter. Then, Junghyun said with a realization, “But come to think of it, the old man who saved him died.”

“…”

“So, from that perspective, you were wise, Hyung.”

“Junghyun.”

“Yes.”

“Swear at me instead.”

A loud laughter erupted.

The second mission that started with peeling garlic ended in a warm atmosphere like a neighborhood banquet.

The elders left with a fresh expression, emitting a strong garlic smell from their shoulders, and they enjoyed a small joy from the fact that they secured some footage.

“Wow, look at that. Peeling garlic was a piece of cake.”

Jiho pointed to the members of Girls on Top, who looked miserable.

They were all sweaty and dusty, and one of them had a bit of dirt on her butt, probably from falling down.

They must have been sowing the autumn radish seeds over there.

But they looked happy, maybe because they had done a lot of work.

The other teams also had a similar vibe.

Maxi and Heysion had red eyes, too. What did they do?

“Ugh… I’m not going to live in the countryside.”

“The grandpa said so, too. It’s better for girls not to live in the countryside.”

“Right. I’m a city-like beauty, you know.”

As Woojoo watched them say that, he swallowed a laugh. Then, Junghyun whispered to Woojoo, “She seems like a very unique person.”

“I guess so.”

To him, she looked like his soulmate.

“Hi, everyone!”

Meanwhile, Ye Heeyeon appeared.

She had two or three watermelons hanging from each hand.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“What’s that, Sunbae-nim?”

“Oh. The grandpa gave them to me for doing a good job. Let’s eat them together later.”

“You did a lot of work.”

Lee Gyeonwoo explained.

“Nah, it wasn’t much.”

“No… You were very passionate, you know…”

The Hallyu star looked at the distant mountain with a wistful expression.

It was a very sad expression, but it seemed like he had taken the pain that he should have suffered.

There were friendly greetings here and there, and when the teams finally gathered.

There was a discussion about the identity of the last mission.

“But what’s the last mission?”

“Maybe it’s something like a game. Like the one where you wear earplugs and pass on words.”

“Maybe it’s related to the second mission? The PD said to think along the lines of the extension cord, remember?”

“Right. That’s why I checked for any hidden things while doing the mission. I wondered if there was a key hidden somewhere in the house.”

“Did you find anything?”

“No. I just got scolded for snooping around other people’s houses.”

As they listened to that conversation, their team also discussed.

Ye Heechan rubbed his chin and said, “Based on my experience, this is 500% a physical challenge.”

“Hmm? Why?” Heysion asked, and Ye Heechan answered.

“It’s like a rule that comes from experience, but our program has a physical special once in every ten episodes. It’s been a while since we had one. And… more than anything, the guest lineup is like that.”

“Guest lineup?”

“Ah, this is annoying to explain. Hey, Ye Heeyeon.”

Ye Heeyeon, who had slapped her brother’s back, answered instead.

“Look at Team A. We have three members and seven guests. Team B has two members and three guests. Team C has two members and four guests.”

“…Sunbae-nim, aren’t there eight guests on our team?”

“You guys are a bundle, remember? You only got one key when you completed your mission.”

That was right.

That was why Woojoo thought it was unfair.

There were four guests, so even if they got them all, they would only have four keys, but Team A had seven individuals.

“Usually, when they give an advantage to Teacher Jaeyong and Teacher Okbun’s team, it means that the mission involves physical activity. That’s because they are really strong. Hyungseok Oppa is also a legendary klutz.”

“Ah…….”

Then, the other guests, including them, nodded.

It felt like a mystery was solved.

Lee Gyeonwoo asked, “Then what’s the last mission? A chase?”

Heysion shook his head.

“It’s hard to chase because of the terrain. Junghyun and I know because we were chased.”

“Oh, it was fun. I can do it again.”

“No, put it away.”

While they were talking, Woojoo was lost in thought.

About the content of the last mission.

Woojoo had a hunch about something.

It was something that he had thought was strange while doing the mission, but he was sure of it when he went to Grandma Soonhyun’s house.

Woojoo had a feeling that it was this.

Ye Heechan poked Woojoo with a finger.

“What are you thinking about, Woojoo? Do you have any idea?”

“I have a guess, but I’m not sure…”

“Tell me then.”

“Okay. Let’s hear it.”

Woojoo said cautiously, “I’ve been feeling this since earlier. Did you have any such thing while doing the mission? The elders kept telling us stories about their past.”

“Yeah, they did.”

“Oh, I listened for a long time too.”

They all nodded.

“But I went to the same house as the first mission, and they told me the same story again on the second mission. They repeated the same story like rewinding a tape.”

“Oh, right. I was like, ‘Why are you telling me the same story again?’”

“…Was it just me?”

“Oh, then this might be…”

Woojoo nodded.

“The PD said that the second mission was related, right? I think that might be a hint.”

“Wow, this is a mess.” Heysion said, “I just ignored what they were saying.”

“I was too busy working…”

They all looked worried as Woojoo spoke.

“It might not be. It’s just my guess.”

“No, it makes sense.”

Ye Heeyeon asked Woojoo, “Woojoo, what about you? How did you listen to the elders’ stories?”

“Oh, I wrote them down on my phone memo since the first mission, in case I forget.”

“Wow…”

The expressionless VJ filmed them as they talked, and Lee Gyeonwoo started to say something.

“I…”

“Everyone, gather up!”

The assistant director’s shout calmed the atmosphere, and the main PD, Gu Jaeyong, came out after finishing the meeting with the writers.

“Now, I will reveal the third and final mission. The team that wins this mission will get a luxury travel voucher.”

Everyone swallowed as PD Gu Jaeyong stroked his stubbly beard and smiled.

“Did you do well on the second mission?”

“Director Gu, don’t beat around the bush and just reveal it.”

“Actually, the third mission is linked to the first and second missions.”

“…?”

“Didn’t you wonder why the elders kept telling you the same stories over and over?”

As they blinked, their teammates looked at Woojoo with a strange expression.

Gu Jaeyong PD smiled and said, “Actually, the way to show filial piety is not only to give them gifts or help them with chores, but also to listen to their stories.”

“…!”

“The third mission will be revealed now.”

As everyone seemed to have guessed the content, the main writer unfolded the last sheet.

[The most important virtue of filial piety: listening attentively]

“The third mission, finding the treasure chest, will be based on the stories you heard from the elders.”

As people murmured, “What, what, what do we do?” the PD smiled smugly.

You didn’t expect this, did you? His expression said.

Meanwhile, their team members looked at Woojoo with somewhat uneasy eyes.

Ye Heeyeon swallowed and asked, “So, you have all the notes in your phone, right?”

“Yes.”

As Woojoo nodded, the team members’ faces brightened.

“I met all of them.”

***

The last game, ‘finding the treasure’.

Each team was given a questionnaire and several maps on A4 paper, and the PD explained.

“Please look at the example on the questionnaire. There will be a question written there. For example, ‘Gu Jaeyong’s birthday is October (?)th.’”

As PD Gu Jaeyong said, there was a question written at the top of the paper.

[Gy Jaeyong’s birthday is October (?)th.]

Below that, there was a phrase that said, ‘Which one is correct for the blank?’

“As you can see, there are multiple-choice options. From 1 to 9. You just have to choose the right answer.”

The main PD’s explanation continued.

“These are questions based on the stories that the elders told you today. If you know the answer, go to the elder’s house and say the password like ‘Number!’ Then they will give you a key.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes, simple, right?”

The PD smiled and said, “But you only have one chance to answer. If you get it wrong, you won’t get the key under any circumstances. Of course, if you don’t know from the start, you can tell us and we’ll give you a hint. But it’s not free. There’s a mission.”

“…Like when we filmed the introduction video?”

“Yes, but that would take too much time, right?”

The PD grinned and said, “So you can also steal keys from other teams. The method is simple. Just say ‘I challenge you!’ and compete in a mission.”

“What, then stealing is overwhelmingly advantageous.”

“That’s right. But if you want to steal someone’s key, you have to bet the same number of keys.”

“…”

“So please think carefully.”

Someone raised their hand and asked, “PD, so if we get sixteen, we win?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Do you see the last map of the back mountain that we gave you?”

“…”

“There are numbers from 1 to 64 marked there. Among them, there are three places where each team’s treasure chest is buried.”

At that moment, everyone had the same thought in their minds.

“Sure, it might seem like we just have to dig up one each, but we buried them one meter deep.”

“…”

“So the other team got sixteen of them. But there’s no need to worry at all. If you just work harder with your shovels, you can still win this.”

“…”

“Isn’t this more fun as a game?”

As the PD laughed out loud, everyone looked at him as if he was a devil. Then, they heard the sound of metal scraping behind them.

There were three metal shovels.

As they all felt hopeless, Heysion noticed the leader of New Black smiling smugly next to him.

He wondered why he was like that, then he suddenly remembered something.

The conversation they had in the car this morning.

-But why were you digging there?

-Because of this variety show…

That was what Woojoo said, looking very happy.

Heysion nodded his head.

He felt it during the black goat incident too, but that group had a lot of weird people.