Chapter 783: Question (4)

Honey, I'm Going Fishing

Recently it’s become a hot variety show among middle-aged viewers.

The reason we picked this program was simple.

Fishing.

Isn’t fishing one of the channels middle-aged men watch the most?

When I worked part-time at my grandmother’s diner in Gunsan, I saw lots of regulars like that.

“Wooju! Put on the fishing channel!”

“What number is the golf channel? I need to watch the LPGA today....”

“Oh my. That’s not how you play go.”

Golf. Fishing. Go.

I don’t know what those hobbies mean to middle-aged men, but I do know they love them.

Whenever something important came up they’d eat distractedly and stare blankly with their mouths hanging open.

So when targeting middle-aged men, there wasn’t a better show than a fishing variety.

“Good choice of program.”

Minki said.

“They say it’s really popular with middle-aged viewers. My father’s been watching it lately too.”

“It’s actually fun.”

“You watched it too?”

“Yes, I skimmed through it... It really is fun, I think.”

Even people who didn’t know much about fishing could enjoy watching it.

There have been quite a few fishing variety shows before, but they didn’t take off because they felt unfamiliar to outsiders.

Even for someone like me who’d be thinking, “Is that a black porgy or a rock bream?” it was interesting.

“The cast chemistry is good too.”

Three prickly middle-aged men bickering as they fish, with younger members fussing after them to draw laughs.

A guest gets added, and it’s a bickering broadcast.

Along with that chemistry, they cook the day’s catch into things like spicy fish stew, so it’s also popular as mukbang clips.

Well.

From that description it sounds like a pleasant, fun show, but...

“But are you sure this will be okay?”

“Yes?”

“We’re going to film at sea. That’ll be really tough.”

“That’s a worry, actually.”

The problem was filming on a rocking boat.

Seasickness.

Sudden waves.

Looking at the shooting conditions, I could see why in old days England used to send prisoners into the navy.

“But I can’t give up. I’m the people’s idol.”

“.......”

“Even if I get seasick! Even if waves crash over us! I will receive the people’s love.”

“You already do....”

Minki put his hands over his eyes and I tugged Junhyun closer to me.

“Don’t worry so much. That’s why Junhyun and I are going together.”

“Ta-da. Kim Junhyun appears.”

“With Junhyun by my side, we can overcome any hardship.”

“I’m confident that if I’m with Wooju, I can turn a failed crop into a bountiful harvest.”

We gave each other a staged high five and smiled broadly.

Minki, who had been wearing a worried look a moment before, looked back and forth between Junhyun and me.

“Oh....”

When we tilted our heads in confusion, he said,

“Individually you two seem unreliable, but put you together and... I really don’t worry.”

We burst out laughing.

The IBC building where our pre-meeting was to take place was getting closer.

IBC Broadcasting

IBC has recently become a leading general-entertainment channel, scheduling a variety of popular shows and dramas.

They even have music variety shows that idols frequently appear on, so other idol groups have probably visited this station many times.

“This is our first time here.”

“The lobby is so clean. Ri Hyuk would have liked this.”

Sunlight poured through the clean glass into the roomy lobby.

We looked around the IBC lobby, where a flagship variety like “GuiGok Mountain Lodge” and posters for a recently popular drama were on display.

“Oh? NewBlack!”

“NewBlack....”

“Why is the spaceship here...?”

Employees walking around the lobby stopped and began to stare at us, peeking.

I whispered to Junhyun.

“This is new.”

“It really is.”

At terrestrial broadcasters, even if we passed by they’d treat us like air, as if we were just going to the variety department again.

It felt nice to be treated like celebrities in a broadcast station for the first time in a while.

“Hello!”

People gathered around us and waved their hands shyly at our big smiles.

An employee wearing a badge asked,

“Are you filming NewBlack TV? Visiting the IBC building?”

“No.”

I answered.

“But that’s a great idea. We should start filming right now.”

“Waaah!”

“Now cheer for us!”

As we took out a selfie cam and started filming, the IBC staff cheered, “Waaah! You’re on NewBlack TV!” and waved their hands sparklingly.

“By the way, why are you here? Are you appearing on one of our programs?”

“That’s a secret.”

They asked about IBC’s flagship shows, but nobody mentioned the fishing variety.

They seemed to think, ‘You wouldn’t be on that, would you?’

Seeing their reaction, I thought the public would react quite strongly if news of our appearance leaked out.

While we were having this mini fan meeting with staff, someone walking into the building caught our eye.

“Oh?”

An entertainer walking into the station and our gazes met.

“Hello, seniors!”

“Oh, hi.”

At first he had gotten so thin I almost didn’t recognize him, but he was someone we definitely knew.

He was Nam Dohun.

One of the members we’d debuted last year as ATEN on PBS’s popular variety Mister Producer.

Nam Dohun was an actor with a sportsman’s appearance and a sharp gaze.

He often played detectives or thugs in dramas and pushed a muscle-monster persona on variety.

“Ugh....”

But strangely he shrank in front of Junhyun.

Maybe because he lost badly in a strength contest on a past broadcast.

“Oh, you’re doing well.”

As he awkwardly greeted us and tried to move on, his manager pushed him hard from behind.

His lips mouthed, “NewBlack TV, hyung!”

Nam Dohun slipped naturally between us as if we were interviewing him.

“Long time no see! How have you been?”

“Hm.”

“It feels like the first time we’ve seen each other since the wedding. We sang at your wedding, remember?”

“Yes, I’ve been well.”

Nam Dohun switched to interview tone and answered like he was speaking to NewBlack TV’s viewers.

“Recently, some new lives were born.”

“Whoa! Congratulations!”

Hold on.

Junhyun asked,

“Senior, did you say new lives?”

“Twins.”

“Oh. Twins...”

We started to sing congratulations, like “We’re twins too, double congratulations!” when—

“Yes, twins.”

“.......”

“.......”

The married men and women present let out sincere groans of sympathy.

When an IBC staffer said, “That’s four times the tuition,” Nam Dohun smiled with moist eyes.

While we awkwardly said, “Congratulations,”

“Your fortune-telling from before you got married came to mind. That potato Fantastic Book you used.”

“Oh. JH’s Magic Book.”

“Yes.”

I remembered.

At the ATEN showcase we’d shown Nam Dohun a book before his wedding.

Wasn’t it a note that said, “It’s not too late even now”?

“Could that have been a true foresight...?”

“Senior?”

“Hahaha. I’m happy.”

Everyone parted like the Red Sea for Nam Dohun, who said he had to earn the milk money for his quadruplets and trudged away.

In a somewhat solemn silence, someone who had been watching past videos of Nam Dohun and the magic book on MyTube caught our eye.

“Anyone want to see the book? We’ll raffle it off.”

Everyone raised their hands.

After showing the magical jelly book to a bride-to-be, we went up to the variety office on IBC’s third floor.

Honey, I'm Going Fishing

We knocked on a shabby-looking, warehouse-style door and heard a voice say come in.

The moment Junhyun and I stepped inside—

“Waaaaaah!”

“Welcome!”

The writing staff tossed fake confetti and assistant directors sprayed out a whooshing stream from a hose to greet us.

“Come on in.”

A man wearing an MLB cap and a thick beard approached.

Producer Lee Junhee, who was directing the program, put a flower lei around our necks.

“We sincerely welcome you to our program.”

“Thank you.”

I scratched the back of my head and said,

“But what should we do? We only brought coffee....”

“Coffee!”

“You said you brought coffee?”

“Wow!”

This reaction was different from the usual shows we appeared on.

“It’s the first time we’ve received coffee.”

“Wow. This is how a popular show treats guests....”

Unlike other programs that took their beverages for granted, they were genuinely delighted.

Their raw reactions made our manager and us smile.

Maybe that’s why some people only stan rookies who haven’t blown up yet.

Maybe those who appear at fireworks and then vanish by the masquerade were into that kind of thing.

“Come over here.”

There was no separate conference room, so a table at one side of the office served as the meeting space.

Everyone sat and sipped their drinks.

“We were so surprised to hear Wooju and Junhyun are on our program.”

“We always watch and enjoy it. We really wanted you to appear.”

“Hoo!”

The staff looked emotional.

“We’re moved. We’re fans of NewBlack TV.”

“Wooju, which episode did you enjoy the most?”

When I named the episode I liked most, they applauded like crazy.

The producer straightened his posture in his chair and asked us,

“Is the chair uncomfortable? We’ve complained to the administration about this forever but they never listen.”

“It’s fine.”

“Youngchan! Bring some seat cushions.”

The junior PD brought donut cushions and handed them to us.

“These are donut cushions. If you sit on these your butt won’t hurt as much.”

“Thank you.”

We wiggled and got comfortable on the cushions, then dove into the meeting.

The writers, eyes bloodshot as if they’d worked overnight, handed over the planning proposal.

“This is the plan for the special episode you two will appear in.”

“Oh.”

The title caught my eye.

[Catch the Big Fish! — Thailand Edition]

I flipped through the pages and asked,

“So this is an overseas location?”

“Yes. This is the fishing tourism special we’ve always dreamed of. Thanks to you two, the budget finally got approved!”

“That’s great.”

While I nodded, our manager asked,

“What’s the local environment like?”

“It’s Southeast Asia, so even in winter the weather’s good. It’s January but they say it goes above 30 degrees. Haha. The fishing environment isn’t bad either.”

“Any safety concerns?”

“Yes, we’ve prepared thoroughly for that part...”

The manager discussed practical matters.

We interviewed the production team about the entertainment side.

“Have you ever been fishing?”

“Not yet, but we’ll learn. Would it be a problem for beginners like us...?”

“No! No!”

A writer waved his hands frantically like someone who’d just caught a last-minute big item.

“That doesn’t matter at all. People who don’t know fishing bring their own kind of fun.”

Indeed, the most popular episodes had been those where complete fishing novices got on and, by luck, hauled in a trophy fish, driving the veteran anglers’ expressions crazy.

“And how about seasickness? How bad do you get it?”

“Oh. Seasickness.”

The production team carefully checked our familiarity with fishing, experience, and susceptibility to seasickness.

Every time we talked, you could feel how much they loved fishing.

“Thailand has a huge variety of fish. Introducing new species could be fun.”

“The fish get really big.”

“Will there be episodes like the one we did in Geoje Island?”

Whenever fishing came up, the conversation veered off into anecdotes.

From writers to PDs, everyone felt like a fishing addict.

Before coming, I’d looked into why the program title was set as “Honey, I’m Going Fishing” and it made sense.

Fishing: the number one hobby spouses hate!

But what if you go fishing and bring back money?

It’s a show made by married anglers who go fishing for their own enjoyment.

As a result, viewers get an entertaining show.

Just as I was thinking that people do best at what they love,

“Thanks to NewBlack joining us, our budget increased in several ways. The Thailand Tourism Board has expressed willingness to support us. We expect a lot of ads when the special airs.”

Minki said.

“It still looks a bit tight.”

“Well, since we’re not a hugely popular show, there’s a limit to how much upper management can support us. Haha.”

“We’re not criticizing. We just think this is already amazing. It just looks a little tight, that’s all.”

“You can’t half-measure when you have you two coming.”

We glanced at the sheet detailing program expenses.

Beneath his cap, Producer Lee Junhee’s eyes sparkled.

“But I really think Thailand will be a godsend as a location. K-pop is popular there.”

The PD said,

“Even a subsegment of the cast and your Thailand visit would be great fun.”

“We’re looking forward to it. We’ll trust you, PD.”

“Huh, yes....”

When we said we were looking forward to it, the PD suddenly choked as if overwhelmed.

He skimmed the proposal and said to Junhyun,

“There will be so many people at the airport in Thailand.”

“It’ll be insane.”

We remembered the commotion at Suvarnabhumi International Airport when we visited for a tour this year.

“Hmm...?”

The word airport gave me an idea.

“Filming should be scheduled after January 10 next year. Right after the Gold Disc Awards.”

“Ah, yes yes.”

“By then our members will be a bit more free.”

Team Leader Seomin-gi’s words made Producer Lee Junhee nod.

“Oh... yes, Ms. Seonmyeongju has a performance before that, right?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

While they were talking about Sun Wooju’s father’s performance that was currently a hot topic,

‘He’s hard to handle.’

Producer Lee Junhee wiped sweat in front of NewBlack’s manager.

The other side wasn’t being overbearing; they were just normal, but somehow hard to deal with.

Every time a blunt question came out, Producer Lee Junhee glanced around.

‘You guys answer this.’

‘What should we say?’

They were also new to dealing with a top-tier manager.

It wasn’t their first time an idol appeared, but back then it had been rookie idols who got a lucky break and raised their names.

‘Ugh. This is suffocating.’

For Producer Lee Junhee, who had moved from a cable channel handling celebrity ranking programs to IBC, this was grueling.

NewBlack had been mentioned as celestial beings on those ranking shows.

[This year's highest-earning composer: NewBlack Wooju!]

Facing NewBlack and their manager in person made things difficult in a good way.

-Right now senior Chu Giseok is playing the role of assisting three people; what character should we aim for?

-This mini-game here might cause controversy with overseas viewers...

-Do we need to prepare a stage?

They asked one by one like on Jusehan or Mister Producer, and each time the production staff grew flustered.

They felt like they should answer professionally but only amateurish replies kept coming out.

Producer Lee Junhee stroked his mustache and said,

“Really... you’re amazing.”

“Pardon?”

“I think you two have a great eye for entertainment.”

The PD praised us.

“Of course. Being ninth in this year’s entertainer rankings isn’t for everyone. Hahaha!”

“Ah....”

At that, NewBlack members wore a briefly nostalgic expression and the PD was embarrassed.

‘Was that the wrong thing to say?’

But he meant it sincerely.

Seeing Wooju and Junhyun tackle the pre-meeting like their lives depended on it was something he hadn’t seen from any previous guests.

‘I hope I didn’t say the wrong thing.’

When the manager smiled quietly at the mention of being ninth among national idols, Wooju, who’d been staring at the documents, raised his head.

“PD.”

“Yes?”

“About the budget—this looks like a lot for airfare...”

“Yes. Of course. Since NewBlack will be flying, we should give you good seats...”

Wooju whispered something to the manager beside him.

After thinking for a moment, the manager checked his phone and nodded.

It seemed a conclusion had been reached.

“So, here’s an idea.”

Wooju smiled and said,

“How about flying on our charter to save on airfare?”

“Huh?”

“We have our own charter. If we take that, it’ll save budget and could be entertaining for the show.”

Clouds popped over the production team’s heads.

[All airfare budget covered]

[NewBlack charter plane revealed on TV for the first time!]

[Trailer can include charter plane footage]

Angels blew trumpets and floated over them.

“What do you think?”

“.......”

At Wooju’s question, Producer Lee Junhee sprang to his feet and grabbed more donut cushions.

“Open another one each.”

“Hey! You’ll get a sore throat! Go buy drinks for NewBlack!”

“I’ll run and get them!”

“You’re not guests, you’re saviors—!”

The production team trembled at the arrival of what was truly an all-time guest.