"A fishing variety show?"
Liam, a member of the boy group Thunderst who had just debuted a year ago, thought he misheard for a moment.
Fishing, really?
Naturally, Liam, who had just turned twenty, had never done anything like fishing.
"That's totally for old geezers..."
"Is this the time for you to be picky?"
"......."
Sunshine Entertainment, one of the third-tier management agencies.
It was an entertainment company pushing the idol business as its main focus, but it hadn't been able to produce any significant results.
At the very least, Thunderst had managed to secure a decent fanbase.
"It's a bit harsh to say this, but you're lagging behind, Ho-seung."
"Please call me Liam."
"Why? Kim Ho-seung is a good-sounding name and easy to pronounce."
Of course, he didn't hate the name Kim Ho-seung.
But wasn't it a name that didn't quite suit a boy group?
"Anyway, this isn't the time to discriminate between variety shows for old men or whatever. You need to gather fans."
"......Yes, sir."
He wasn't wrong.
Just as the team leader said, Kim Ho-seung was particularly unpopular among the Thunderst members.
An ordinary, passably decent-looking face.
Decent at dancing, decent at singing.
He didn't have particularly good speaking skills, so even when he appeared on variety shows, he couldn't gather any meaningful attention.
Honestly, lately he even wondered if this job wasn't suited for him.
"Still, if you go on
"That would be nice."
"Ah! That's right. I heard the guest appearing together is a woman."
"A woman? An actress, or an idol?"
"I don't know about that."
"Hey, how do you not know?"
"Ahem, still, no matter who it is, isn't it a good opportunity to salvage your image? You learn fishing together and help her out, huh? If you do that, it's the perfect way to save your image."
He heard that the other person was also a beginner at fishing.
Either way, fishing required a lot of physical stamina.
'Looking at it, it seems like she's someone in a desperate situation too.'
A woman appearing on a fishing variety show, of all things.
Female celebrities generally tended to avoid these outdoor variety shows.
It was hard work, and the sun was bound to tan their skin.
So, Liam planned to make the most of this opportunity to salvage his image.
He didn't know who she was, but if he showed himself helping the female celebrity well, he could imprint a somewhat decent image on the viewers.
With that in mind, he headed to the filming location.
"Hello."
"......."
The actress he had seen in a movie not too long ago was standing there.
The actress who was said to be currently riding a wave of popularity from
Joo Seo-yeon.
She was facing him, carrying all sorts of equipment in her hands.
***
Lee Sang-soo honestly felt a bit ambivalent.
This
Although it was a broadcast, there was Song Kwang-min, whom he was friends with.
And a variety show where they enjoyed fishing with new guests.
Because of that, he felt inwardly uncomfortable when he heard a young actress was coming as a guest this time.
'I wonder if she knows anything about fishing.'
Actually, he didn't even expect her to know.
If she didn't know, he just had to teach her.
But it was doubtful whether she would even try to learn properly.
She would listen because he was a senior veteran, but she might just act like she was enjoying it.
As an actor, Lee Sang-soo could see right through such acting.
He had always been excellent at reading other people's emotions.
'Especially if she recently produced hit works back-to-back, honestly, it's obvious without even looking.'
It wasn't that he was trying to put down the actress named Joo Seo-yeon.
Humans are bound to be like that.
She had already made a massive hit as a child actress and then disappeared.
And if she had two hits back-to-back after her return, she couldn't help but become arrogant.
Especially if she was still in her teens, even more so.
He thought so, but.
"Hello, I'm Joo Seo-yeon."
The way she bowed and greeted him was extremely neat and elegant.
She gave a somewhat cold impression at first glance, but exuded a strangely warm atmosphere.
As if she was very much looking forward to what was going to happen.
Such emotions could be felt vividly.
"......I'm Lee Sang-soo. Did you say it's your first time fishing, Seo-yeon?"
"Yes."
Seo-yeon, saying so, looked like she had brought a whole bunch of things.
The broadcast had prepared the fishing rods, so she had brought plenty of other things.
Spare equipment, and fishing rigs used for fishing.
"I'm Song Kwang-min. Nice to meet you."
Song Kwang-min, who had a quite large build, extended his hand and shook hands with Seo-yeon.
And having shaken her hand, he clicked his tongue inwardly.
'As expected, the hand of someone who has never done hard labor.'
Has she even exercised?
Her skin was soft and smooth, without a single callus.
She felt too frail to hold a fishing rod and withstand the currents of the sea.
First of all, her frame was small, and her body was slender, wasn't it?
If a large fish species bit the float, it felt like she would be dragged right into the sea.
"I will greet the seniors! I'm Liam of Thunderst!"
"Phew, yes. Nice to meet you."
"Please feel free to speak comfortably!!"
At Liam's energetic shouting, the faces of Lee Sang-soo and Song Kwang-min relaxed.
Either way, the male side was easier to deal with.
PD Jung Seung-hyun, who was capturing that first meeting on camera, thought they were roughly ready and opened his mouth.
"Today, we are planning to do jigging fishing here in Wando."
They go far out on a boat and proceed with jigging.
And dividing into teams of two to compete against each other was the basic plot of
"The size will be divided into classes according to the fish species. The side that catches the largest fish wins."
For reference, catching a lot didn't particularly count for points.
Anyway, the ones that weren't suitable were all going to be released.
"Then let's move."
With PD Jung Seung-hyun's words, everyone moved to the boat for sea fishing.
"Seo-yeon, have you ever been sea fishing?"
"No. This is my first time riding a fishing boat."
"Oh my, this is going to be tough."
"It's okay."
Lee Sang-soo said with a smile, but honestly, worry came first.
Unlike regular boats, fishing boats had to stay on the sea for a long time.
So, wouldn't there be a chance of seasickness?
'Is she really okay?'
Such doubts arose, but PD Jung Seung-hyun didn't seem to care much.
That was because PD Jung Seung-hyun had heard a lot of rumors about her this and that.
"They say she pierced through with her finger."
"She caught dozens of fish by throwing a wooden spear on a deserted island."
"They say she made a fire by rubbing branches?"
"There's a rumor that her muscle strength is incredibly strong..."
"They say not a single person has seen her look tired during filming."
......Actually, it was full of rumors where he couldn't tell what was true and how much was real.
Anyway, the common thing they said was that she had good stamina.
That she had excellent motor skills.
So he also thought she would learn fishing quickly.
"First of all, since everyone seems to be new to fishing, look here. You hold the fishing rod like this..."
First, Song Kwang-min stepped forward and taught Seo-yeon and Liam how to use the fishing rod.
"L-Like this, right?"
"Wow, nice form. As expected, young kids these days are good."
When Liam swung the fishing rod first, the line stretched out long and fell into the sea with a splash.
"It would have been better if you released your index finger from the line a little faster."
"S-Should I do it again?"
"What, you did well already."
As the broadcast began in earnest, the two veteran actors dropped honorifics with Seo-yeon and Liam.
Because if they proceeded with honorifics, the broadcast might become a bit boring.
"Seo-yeon, come on, don't be scared and try it. You can do it, right?"
"Yes!"
Seo-yeon was full of enthusiasm.
Fishing!
Honestly, it was one of the things she had always wanted to try since her past life.
From a viewer's perspective, she wondered what was so fun about it, but sometimes seeing the faces of people who succeeded in fishing...
Watching their videos, she had the desire to feel that thrill.
'Thrill!'
A tingling emotion.
Seo-yeon wanted to experience it properly.
So, full of enthusiasm, she gripped the fishing rod quite powerfully.
And swung it powerfully.
In an instant, a *fwip* sound of something shooting through the air was heard.
Then, accompanied by a tremendous sound of splitting air, the fishing rod bent deeply, and the bait—a metal jig resembling a fish—flew away.
"Oh......"
Lee Sang-soo saw a metal jig flying in a straight line for the first time in his life while fishing.
A metal jig that would normally fly in a curved trajectory flew in a straight line and fell into the sea.
No, it was almost shot.
If it hit someone, it felt like they would be pierced.
'......What was that just now?'
Liam, who inwardly thought he did quite well for his first time fishing, rubbed his eyes.
Is fishing usually like that?
The sound made when she swung the fishing rod just now was creepy, and the flying metal jig was truly like a bullet.
By any chance, is fishing about shooting and hitting fish with the bait?
"Um, you don't have to swing it that hard."
"Yes."
Her voice was calm, but a strangely excited air could be felt.
"Release the line, release the line."
Anyway, it seemed Seo-yeon had properly studied fishing.
After throwing the bait, she calmly made the line taut.
And so the fishing began.
The two actors, who were clearly interested in Liam at first, were now mostly looking at Seo-yeon.
That was because Seo-yeon's posture holding the fishing rod was very straight.
She had clearly practiced properly, and moreover.
The jerking, which continuously shook the bait, was also solid.
Unless she had considerable stamina, she wouldn't have been able to keep doing that, but not a single drop of sweat fell.
"Seo-yeon, didn't you bring a hat? Want me to give you my hat?"
"No, I'm fine."
Seo-yeon shrugged.
"Sunlight can't do anything to me."
This white skin had never been tanned by the sun even once.
Invincible and peerless skin.
Still, out of courtesy, she applied sunscreen, but actually, even that wasn't necessary.
"Uh, really?"
He didn't know what she meant, but if she was okay with it, it must be okay.
On the other hand, the one who was really suffering was Liam.
'It's not hard?? Does that make sense?'
Seo-yeon was excitedly shaking the fishing rod without resting.
You'd know if you tried, but even if it's doable at first, if you keep shaking it, it feels like your arm will fall off.
In the first place, it was rare to do it like that normally.
But since Seo-yeon kept doing that, Liam felt self-conscious.
If he just put down the fishing rod and watched, it seemed like Seo-yeon was working hard, and he was just slacking off, didn't it?
"Both of you have good stamina."
"Wow, we can't do it like that."
On the other hand, Lee Sang-soo and Song Kwang-min just laughed as if they were having fun.
For reference, Lee Sang-soo and Seo-yeon were on one team.
And Song Kwang-min and Liam were on one team.
Of course, they knew that Seo-yeon was defying common sense, but they decided to let it be because it was just fun.
"Ah."
At that time, something bit Seo-yeon's hook.
"Oh, it's here, it's here. How does it feel?"
"Do I just reel it in like this?"
At Seo-yeon's nonchalant words, Lee Sang-soo thought a small fish had been caught.
"Reel it in calmly, if it's too much for you, should I help?"
"I'm fine!"
Seo-yeon pulled with her arms with a cautious expression and reeled in.
Seeing her slightly biting her tongue, she seemed to be putting in quite a bit of strength.
'Is it a sea bream? Or a flounder?'
If it was a sea bream, they could guarantee a victory.
Hoping it would be at least 50cm (5-jja) or more.
As they watched that moment, the fish caught on Seo-yeon's fishhook revealed its face.
"Oh! ......Oh?"
At first, it was quite big.
That was what he felt, but something about the sense of distance was off.
The fish is a bit big, isn't it?
And by a whole lot.
"T-t-t-t-t..."
PD Jung Seung-hyun jumped up in surprise.
"S-Seo-yeon! If it's d-dangerous, release the line!"
At PD Jung Seung-hyun's startled reaction, Liam turned his head.
Lee Sang-soo and Song Kwang-min were also seen sticking close to Seo-yeon.
What's going on?
When Liam hurriedly ran over there belatedly.
"......Huh?"
A giant fish was seen hanging from Seo-yeon's fishing line and being dragged along.
Its size was roughly similar to Liam's own height.
"No, wait! What is this!"
"Hurry and help Seo-yeon, help!!"
But Seo-yeon shook her head as if it was fine.
"It's okay, I'm stronger!"
"No, being strong isn't the important part here!!"
Its size was 1 meter 70 cm, a striped beakfish.
It was an ultra-rare fish species, with only a few dozen caught in Wando per year.