Chapter 114: MT (2)
After dodgeball ended, a short break began, and people chatted while passing the time.
Naturally, Kim Si-woo—who was part of the hosting team—was included in those conversations.
“Writer-nim, what’s the prize? I heard you said it’s something really good.”
“That? Hmm… Should I tell you? I feel like someone might get hurt if I do.”
“What is it!”
In an instant, people swarmed around Kim Si-woo, and he quietly revealed the prize.
“Appearance rights in my next project…? Of course, it could be a lead role or a supporting role. Same for the staff.”
“…”
A massive silence fell at Kim Si-woo’s words.
Three seconds later, the people around him scattered rapidly.
“Hey! What’s the next game?”
“Check the scores first!”
“No, the prize is insane.”
It was natural for the actors to covet a role in Kim Si-woo’s work.
None of the scripts he’d written had ever flopped, and more than a few actors had risen to stardom after appearing in his films.
For the staff, participating in a guaranteed-success project was a huge resume booster in itself.
The atmosphere overheated in an instant, and everyone’s mindset flipped 180 degrees from moments ago.
“So that’s the prize… Appearance rights in Kim Si-woo’s next work…”
“This is a chance.
Especially for Kim Ji-hyun, who had caused trouble once before—this opportunity was even more desperate.
“I can’t let this slip.”
Every game turned into a life-or-death battle as people gritted their teeth and participated, stripping away any sense of “fun.”
In terms of sheer willpower, it was no longer a game—it was a duel with success on the line.
“Pull!”
“Uwaaaah!”
During tug-of-war, female actresses let out roars like middle-aged men, and someone even got bruised falling during the three-legged race.
“Isn’t this getting too intense?”
Kim Si-woo said to a nearby host staff member, who looked at him with resentful eyes.
“Why?”
“Why? You’re the one who didn’t tell us earlier.”
“Tell you what?”
“The prize. If it’s appearance rights in your work, I would’ve joined as a participant instead of hosting.”
“Uh… sorry.”
At least Lee Hae-soo and the older staff—including Park Woong-deok—remained calm amid the chaos.
One hour later.
Thanks to the hosts distributing people well, the teams’ scores were neck-and-neck.
“Alright… This game will end Part 1. But don’t be disappointed—treasure hunting is still left. Well-folded notes are hidden inside your accommodations. Inside the notes are gifts and points written on them. After dinner, gather in the hall by 7 p.m. with your notes.”
At the hosts’ announcement, people ran to the accommodations instead of eating dinner.
Those less interested in treasure hunting ate first, while the rest ransacked their rooms like they were hunting mice.
Skipping a meal was routine for them anyway, with their figure management.
By 7 p.m., some faces were beaming brightly, while others were utterly dark.
Some had starved through dinner but found zero notes.
Others had eaten and luckily found several.
“Now, let’s check the notes.”
Kim Si-woo had even used special ink marks in case someone tried copying on plain paper.
“Valid. Group 3 gets 100 extra points. And here’s a 500,000-won department store gift card. Next.”
The prizes written on the notes ranged from cosmetics to department store gift cards, perfume, bracelets, watches, bags, necklaces, cameras—and other high-end gifts.
Of course, there were weird ones too.
“Uh… One-time ‘Lee Yoo-jin Nag Exemption.’ Using this makes Lee Yoo-jin stop whatever she’s saying and return to her seat.”
“Huh? Wait, why am I in this?!”
Lee Yoo-jin, watching from the side, protested in shock at the unexpected prize.
“That’s why I included it. Others did too.”
“Huh? What about yours, writer-nim?”
“Mine? One-day ‘Boss Me Around’ coupon.”
“Who else is there?”
“That’s a secret. If you want to know, find a note.”
“Tch.”
Part 2 of the recreation was the talent show segment.
And it included short plays.
This was something Kim Si-woo had prepared specifically for the actors.
A chance to act alongside professional actors like Shim Ji-young, Kim Ji-hyun, and Jung Se-yeon.
It was Kim Si-woo’s personal wish that they would grow even more through this opportunity.
“Alright, get ready quickly.”
The actors hurried backstage, quickly applying makeup and preparing.
Once makeup was done, they ran through the blocking on stage once before starting the plays right away.
The first turn was Shim Ji-young and five others.
Among those five were Kim Min-ji and one of her friends.
‘I hope she doesn’t get too intimidated by Ji-young nuna.’
Kim Si-woo was worried about Kim Min-ji, who had recently been practicing with fierce determination.
On the other hand, he also expected her to gain a lot from watching Shim Ji-young’s acting up close.
“Here we go…”
The hall lights dimmed, and the play officially began.
Led by Shim Ji-young, who handled the female lead role, the short play unfolded.
Kim Min-ji and her friend stumbled a few times in the middle, but everyone in the audience understood.
They all knew that facing Shim Ji-young’s acting for the first time made your body freeze and your mind go blank.
“Still, that was pretty good for them.”
Kim Si-woo’s evaluation of Kim Min-ji after the play ended wasn’t bad.
Next was Jung Se-yeon and Park Jun-ho’s turn.
Just like with Shim Ji-young, Kim Si-woo had given them a script and asked them to take the leads.
Jung Se-yeon and Park Jun-ho, fully made up and on stage, were dazzlingly glamorous.
In contrast, the middle-aged actors acting alongside them exuded their own unique auras.
But that wasn’t entirely positive.
The mismatched vibes only hindered the performance.
The middle-aged actors had more than one or two issues.
Their diction and script interpretation felt stuck in the past—like 20 years ago—and there was still much to fix if they wanted to stay active.
Yet they had a strength: experience.
Experience not only enriched their acting but added realism.
Their play felt like watching a 2020s performance and a 1990s one at the same time.
The presence of the middle-aged actors was significant—in both good and bad ways.
The second play safely ended, and then Kim Ji-hyun’s group took the stage for the third.
Her group included Lee Na-hyun.
Lee Na-hyun had clear character traits but lacked basics.
In contrast, Kim Ji-hyun had solidly built her fundamentals.
Her acting only highlighted Lee Na-hyun’s shortcomings even more.
After the three groups’ plays ended, the applause was thunderous, but the rookie actors who had shared the stage looked deep in thought.
After the decent performances from Groups 4 and 5 wrapped up, the camera director, sound director, lighting director, and hosting staff—including Park Woong-deok in the back—submitted and announced the scores they had tallied.
“Oh… Scores are in?”
At Choi Ha-rang’s question, a host staff member brought the score sheet.
“Then I’ll announce them.”
Drumroll sound effect played, building tension.
“And the winner of this play segment is… Congratulations! Jung Se-yeon’s Group 2!”
“Woooo!”
Park Jun-ho yelled and rushed onto the stage, while Jung Se-yeon burst into laughter.
However, Shim Ji-young argued that she should have had an active actor as a partner too, and though Kim Ji-hyun didn’t show it, she was thinking the same inside.
Knowing how sensitive actors are about acting-related things, Kim Si-woo quietly approached Shim Ji-young.
“Noona… I’ll grant you one favor later, so let’s just let this slide for now? There are a lot of eyes watching.”
“What? A favor? Fine. Got it.”
Shim Ji-young quieted down more easily than expected.
Kim Si-woo said the same to Kim Ji-hyun before returning to his seat, and the overheated atmosphere cooled a bit.
“Next, we’ll move on to individual talent performances.”
From singing to skits, dancing, stand-up comedy, and impressions—various talents were showcased, leaving only the final highlight.
And that highlight was, of course, Jung Se-yeon’s song.
“Ah ah. Mic test. Ahem. Purrrr. Diring.”
Jung Se-yeon lightly warmed up her voice and tuned her guitar.
“Then I’ll sing exactly three songs and step down.”
“Woooooaaaa!”
Jung Se-yeon passionately sang three of her upbeat songs before stepping down from the stage.
“That was great.”
“Really? Then give me lots of points.”
“That’s not up to me. But I’ll buy you a meal later instead.”
“Deal.”
Kim Si-woo spoke to Jung Se-yeon as she came down, and with her performance, the recreation officially ended.
“Did everyone enjoy today’s recreation?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s announce the long-awaited winning team. It is… congratulations to Group 4!”
The reaction from everyone was one of stunned disbelief.
Except for the members of Group 4.
“Why Group 4!!!”
Shim Ji-young yelled in outrage again, while Jung Se-yeon and Kim Ji-hyun wore expressions of complete incomprehension.
In truth, Group 4 had consistently placed second, steadily accumulating points.
The reason they managed to snag first place was simple: Lee Hae-soo.
The treasure hunt.
Lee Hae-soo had brought in a total of five notes.
While others were lucky to find even one, she had found five all by herself.
When asked how, she simply said she searched places where things could be hidden.
Thanks to that, Group 4 narrowly took first place.
“Anyway, let’s head back to the accommodation now. The MT is just getting started.”
Back at the accommodation, people saw the prepared sashimi and various dishes and hurriedly took their seats.
Of course, seat selection was crucial.
Some wanted to avoid Park Woong-deok.
Some wanted to drink with celebrities.
Some wanted to sit with the person they had a crush on.
Everyone moved with their own goals in mind.
And Kim Si-woo was currently caught in Park Woong-deok’s grasp.
Because Park Woong-deok’s target was Kim Si-woo.
“I went easy on you the first day, so today we drink together, right?”
“Ah… yes.”
“Good. Let’s drink until we burst tonight.”
While Kim Si-woo was forced to drink expensive liquor with Park Woong-deok, a subtle atmosphere formed elsewhere.
The people who liked Kim Si-woo had all gathered in one spot.
“Hmm… We all know each other, so let’s skip introductions.”
“Yeah, let’s.”
Even though Shim Ji-young and Kim Ji-hyun sat on complete opposite sides, they were busy engaging in a silent battle of nerves.
Excluding those two, Jung Se-yeon, Lee Yoo-jin, Lee Hae-soo, and Hong Soo-yeon grew close rapidly—chatting warmly and sharing how they each met Kim Si-woo.
Naturally, gossiping about him was included.
“No, seriously, he’s too much. Is he clueless? Or does he just not like me…?”
“Exactly. Every time I suggest drinking, he refuses…”
All their built-up complaints about Kim Si-woo poured out.
Then Lee Yoo-jin’s words froze the atmosphere.
“Could this be… player behavior?”
“…”
At the word “player,” no one responded—they just fell into thought.
Three minutes later.
Hong Soo-yeon was the first to speak.
“Wow… Yeah, he’s totally a player.”
“Right?”
“What do you all think about players?”
At Hong Soo-yeon’s question, everyone reacted negatively.
Unaware that it might be part of Hong Soo-yeon’s scheme.
“Obviously terrible.”
“The worst.”
“We should grind him up and drink him.”
As everyone chimed in, Hong Soo-yeon struck their weak spot.
“Then you’re all giving up on Writer Kim Si-woo?”
But no one answered her words.
“You were all just talking like you hated him… You’re all liars.”
Hong Soo-yeon’s plan to reduce the competition lightly turned to foam.
From then on, the women—who had seen through her scheme—began competing against each other.
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TL Note:
This novel is now translated and finished at Chapter 176
If you’d like to continue right away, the remaining 62 chapters are available on My Patreon Premium tier, along with extra chapters from my other 5 ongoing translated novels.
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