NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 93
It seems like there are too many participants, so no parent interviews lasted longer than a minute per contestant.
Still, it feels like the more major participants get more time allocated.
Especially this week’s hot potato, Seo Yoo-jin, seemed to have received more than double the time compared to others.
[So Yoo-jin…! Mom and Dad are always watching from behind, so don’t be too scared…!]
“Uh, Mom…! I-I-Iing….”
Since the midterm evaluation, Seo Yoo-jin hadn’t shed a tear, but after seeing her parents’ interview, she began to cry rivers.
I gently patted her head while watching her parents on the screen.
I had once searched out of curiosity. It turns out Seo Yoo-jin’s Dad is the CEO of a company that makes computer parts.
They say he had her later in life, and maybe that’s why Seo Yoo-jin’s parents definitely looked older compared to other parents.
‘Both of them look so kind.’
Well, considering how precious they must have raised Seo Yoo-jin, it’s no wonder she has the trait of being arrogant.
Worried that Seo Yoo-jin was hurt by this incident, her parents looked like they were in despair on the video.
Just by looking at that, you could tell they were good people.
[Yoo-jin…! I love you…!]
After that warm atmosphere, Seo Yoo-jin’s parents’ interview concluded….
‘…How many are left now?’
I anxiously counted the number of remaining participants.
…It seemed like not many were left.
It wouldn’t be weird at all if our parents’ faces appeared on screen right now.
However…
Bam!
“Phew….”
Fortunately, the middle-aged couple that just appeared weren’t my parents.
[Yoo-jung!]
“…Yoo-jung? …Ah.”
Come to think of it, it looks like those were the people who came to pick up Park Yoo-jung last time.
I felt relief seeing a familiar face and asked Park Yoo-jung next to me.
And….
“Yoo-jung, those are your parents, right? I saw them from afar last time.”
“No, they’re not my parents. They’re my aunt and uncle.”
“…Ah.”
I paused for a moment at Park Yoo-jung’s response.
An interview video of her aunt and uncle instead of her parents… I wondered if I might have touched a sensitive subject….
[Our Yoo-jung! Your aunt is watching to see if you’re doing well, you know?]
“Ugh… Aunt…”
Park Yoo-jung’s expression was calm.
Unlike other participants who cried the moment they saw their support videos, Park Yoo-jung watched with a smile.
Her aunt and uncle seemed to be cheerful people who, instead of worrying about Park Yoo-jung, were actively supporting her.
[Yoo-jung, when your aunt and uncle watch the show, you do the best! Go for it, Park Yoo-jung! Win for sure!]
“Ugh…! Aunt! Don’t say things like that!”
“Hahaha!”
Everyone else burst into laughter watching the slightly silly aunt and the shuddering Park Yoo-jung.
Thus, the tearful atmosphere that had filled the room was lifted, and the screen moved on to the next.
And….
Bam!
‘…Just as expected.’
I let out a secret sigh as soon as I saw the faces on the screen.
The protagonist that appeared in this round was, in fact…, my Mom and Dad.
‘They finally showed up….’
As the worst thing I’d feared unfolded, my heart began to fill with anxiety. But oblivious to my feelings….
“……Huh?”
“Wow…….”
“They’re so pretty and handsome….”
The hall filled with admiration.
It was all because of my Mom and Dad’s looks.
Park Yoo-jung next to me, also awed by my Mom and Dad on the screen, turned to me and asked.
“Sister! Those people on screen look a lot like you, but….”
“…Yeah, that’s my Mom and Dad.”
“What?! Your Mom and Dad?! Amazing! I thought they were your siblings!”
“…My Mom had me early.”
By the way, my Mom and Dad got married before finishing high school.
My Mom had me at just 19, right before her birthday, which meant they were younger than other parents.
Besides that, my Mom and Dad were both incredibly good-looking, so they definitely looked youthful.
‘Sister, brother… now that’s a bit overboard.’
Anyway, with the participants’ admiration, our parents’ video began.
[Yes, Ye-rin…!!!]
…And the moment our parents’ video started, they began crying.
[I don’t know if you’re eating well…! Mom and Dad are worried every day…!]
They never even prepared a meal, so what were they worried about?
[Our Ye-rin slept between us every night, but suddenly sleeping alone must be so scary at night….]
That was because I didn’t have my own room back then, so I slept with Mom and Dad.
Watching that ridiculous scene, Park Yoo-jung turned to me with a playful smile.
“Sister, you slept with your parents every night?”
“…….”
“Hehe, if you’re scared at night, just tell me. I’ll hug you to sleep.”
Seemingly sensing a crisis, Seo Yoo-jin suddenly held my hand tightly.
“…….”
I ignored both Park Yoo-jung and Seo Yoo-jin and focused on the video.
[Yes, Ye-rin… We know it’s been hard because of Mom and Dad, right? I’m so sorry….]
[But I hope you remember that Mom and Dad always love you….]
[Our most precious treasure is you, Ye-rin….]
Fortunately, my parents on the video were only a little silly in their remarks and didn’t say anything too strange.
I absorbed all of their expressions, momentarily feeling sentimental about how much they seemed to have changed…
‘People don’t change easily. From an objective point of view… Ye-rin, your parents are sure to live their lives as scumbags forever.’
‘If left alone, they’d probably suck your life dry and make you miserable.’
…Recalling Kang Hyung-man’s words, I shook my head to snap out of it.
Yeah… those people don’t change.
Having been deceived for 19 years, no one knows better than I do that they don’t change.
If I had to believe those people could change, I’d rather believe the Earth is flat.
‘…Don’t be fooled. Look at them with the coldest eyes possible.’
I watched my parents’ interview video with a straight face, not crying like the other participants or laughing like Park Yoo-jung.
‘…Alright, I’ve captured the scenes I wanted up until now.’
Shin PD smiled for the first time this week as he watched the participants in tears over their parents’ interviews.
Korea loves melodrama.
This applies to people of all ages.
With the excuse of a special feature for Family Month, if he could release such a heavy melodrama, it might distract the viewers from criticizing the production team.
‘…This should buy me some time.’
Especially since Shin PD had worked hard on Seo Yoo-jin’s parents’ interview video under the orders of the section chief.
He could broadcast Seo Yoo-jin in a good light and perhaps temper SAV’s anger a bit.
‘Yeah… I’ll manage little by little….’
Shin PD gathered his thoughts, looking at the spectacle in front of him with a satisfied smile.
Of course, some parts were disappointing.
‘Ha Ye-rin, she should show a different expression when her parents’ video appears….’
Unlike the other participants, who cried as soon as they saw their parents on the screen, the key participant, Ha Ye-rin, maintained an even colder expression without shedding a single tear.
Well, he didn’t expect her to cry. He just hoped she would show a more lively expression upon seeing her parents’ video.
‘Could it be she doesn’t have a good relationship with her parents?’
He had received no special notes from his juniors after shooting Ha Ye-rin’s parents’ interview.
Shin PD suspected Ha Ye-rin’s relationship with her parents was strained after seeing her expression but soon caught a glimpse of the deep emotions nestled in her eyes.
This was a talent Shin PD had developed over a long career dealing with numerous contestants.
He was adept at detecting hidden emotions in others by looking into their eyes.
And the emotions hidden in Ha Ye-rin’s gaze were….
Nostalgia and affection.
It seemed that Ha Ye-rin was secretly loving her parents even while pretending otherwise.
‘Tch, she should at least care about her outward expression.’
If her expression remained so blank while watching her parents, it would surely ruin the warm atmosphere completely.
Shin PD felt regret at not being able to use Ha Ye-rin’s footage.
This was particularly because Ha Ye-rin’s parents had outstanding looks.
Just as much as Korea was obsessed with melodrama, it also had a ridiculously strong bias towards appearances.
If it became known that Ha Ye-rin’s parents had extraordinary looks too, it would surely make a big splash.
‘If Ha Ye-rin shed just one tear, the ratings would skyrocket… What a shame.’
Feeling regretful about having to throw away the footage of Na Ah Ah, currently ranked 2nd, Shin PD still had one last hope.
Because he had yet to reveal his trump card.
[Our Ye-rin…!! Huh!! After this competition, make sure to come home right away!! Got it? Huh…!! Ha Ye-rin, fighting!!]
Then, after the half-melodrama that didn’t even include Ha Ye-rin shedding a tear ended…
Shin PD’s secret weapon, the true melodrama, made its appearance.
Bam!
“……Huh.”
Murmurs.
As soon as a new person appeared on the screen, participants began whispering in surprise.
And rightly so….
Unlike the parents who had appeared until now…, this person was alone…, wearing a patient gown and lying in bed to start the interview.
[Seol Ah, it’s Mom.]
That’s right.
She was none other than…, the mother of Yoo Seol, the current No. 1 contender in Na Ah Ah.
‘I knew she was sick, but I never expected it to be this severe.’
Stage 3 pancreatic cancer.
After checking with the production team, it was revealed that even if she went into surgery right now, the chance of a full recovery is less than 10%. If she opts out of surgery, she could live for up to 2 years, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she died at any moment within that time.
The ultimate melodrama is indeed terminal illness.
‘Didn’t plan to support Yoo Seol this much, but… I’ve got to survive too.’
If Yoo Seol shed a single tear upon seeing her sick mother’s interview, she would receive immense support from viewers.
Thanks to that, the production team could boost the buzz and viewership of Na Ah Ah’s episode 7….
This was a win-win scenario for both Yoo Seol and the production team.
‘Yoo Seol is the contestant who understands the drama of the broadcast better than anyone.’
Shin PD believed that Yoo Seol would willingly capture the scenes the production team wanted for her own vote count.
[Our Seol, who must always struggle because of Mom…]
[Mom… I’m always sorry….]
‘Oh wow, nice line!’
As if she had read Shin PD’s thoughts, Yoo Seol’s mom opened the video with incredible lines.
Brush.
Shin PD signaled for the camera to focus on Yoo Seol.
This was the moment to capture the part that would bring the highest viewership in season 7 of Na Ah Ah.
But then….
Boom!!
“……!”
“……!”
With an enormous blast sound, Yoo Seol kicked her chair and stood up.
The tearful figure that was always grinning in front of the camera now had bloodshot eyes, unlike before.
“…….”
The sight of Yoo Seol that no one had seen before froze all the contestants and the production team.
In that moment, Yoo Seol shot a glare at Shin PD as if she wanted to rip him apart….
Bam!
…And with that deadly expression and determined stride, she left the set.
“…….”
“……Huh?”
Shin PD was left utterly flabbergasted by Yoo Seol’s unexpected behavior.
The melodramatic atmosphere he desired… was, of course, completely shattered to pieces.