Cheat day

Sugar Man (4)

“Hello, this is PD Muk-ji from the side dish store.”

Since the viewers didn’t believe the marriage announcement, Muk-ji stepped in.

“I started dating Ban-chan-yong on May 8, 2023, and today marks 303 days.”

└Wait, is this real?

└No way, if you’re going to act, at least do it convincingly. Your tone is worse than AI’s!

└Cardboard box PD’s acting skills controversy.

└How can she call him Ban-chan-yong if they’re just dating? Hahaha.

└If it’s 300 days, that means last Saturday they were on air all day?

└Hahaha, is there a setting error?

“At first, I thought he was a strange person, but as I started receiving a salary and incentives, I realized he was quite wonderful. After having deep conversations, I developed feelings for him, and eventually, I completely fell for him.”

└What the heck? Hahaha.

└He had a lot of money, right?

└Completely fell for him, huh? Hahaha.

Muk-ji’s word choices evoked various reactions from the viewers.

Even after explaining when they started dating and how they met, they still didn’t believe her, so she expressed her feelings in her own way.

“For those who asked if Ban-chan-yong was broadcasting all day on our 300th day, we don’t usually celebrate anniversaries. We agreed to just treat each other well instead, as we have different interpretations of anniversaries.”

└What does it mean to interpret anniversaries differently?

└Is there really anything to interpret differently?

└No way, it sounds like she’s just making it up! Hahaha.

“The reason we interpret anniversaries differently is that Ban-chan-yong started dating me on June 5, 2023, so today marks 275 days for him.”

└Huh?

└But earlier, she said it was 303 days they’ve been together! Hahaha.

└Hahaha, this is hilarious! Today is just a situation where they’re talking nonsense! Hahaha.

└What she said just now is completely different! Hahaha.

“Since there hasn’t been a mutual agreement between us, we currently cannot set an anniversary.”

The viewers started to trust her even less.

They were treating it like broadcast content and demanding she fill in the gaps in the story.

“Representative, the viewers don’t believe what I’m saying.”

“I wouldn’t believe it either. First of all, can you stop calling him ‘representative’?”

“We need to distinguish between public and private.”

“But this is our wedding announcement!”

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Muk-ji pondered for a moment before speaking again.

“Muk-ji and Ban-chan-yong are getting married this fall. We’ve even reserved the venue with difficulty.”

└Hahaha, that was difficult, huh?

└This is getting boring. Is there a new twist?

└Why do they keep pushing it when it’s already been figured out? Hahaha.

└It seems like they never planned to hide it at all. Hahaha.

Muk-ji extended her left hand.

“A while ago, the ring that Ban-chan-yong was wearing became a topic of discussion. Since I’m wearing the matching ring, it proves our relationship.”

“Eun-ji, no one will believe that.”

└Wow, she even matched rings for content.

└Being in a big company makes a difference, huh?

└Is it real?

└Is it rented or fake? Hahaha.

└Oh, is it a diamond?

└Lab diamonds are cost-effective.

└Hahaha, even Ban-chan-yong has given up!

└Hahaha, as a PD, she has to make the content successful!

└If so, at least act properly! Hahaha.

“Ban-chan-yong has been spreading lies, incitement, and fabrication, which led to today’s situation.”

“That’s not incorrect, but I think Eun-ji is also partly responsible for today.”

“Was there something wrong with my claim?”

Nodding my head made Muk-ji go quiet.

Since she was wearing a cardboard box, it was hard to read her expression.

She spoke to the camera.

“You might think this way since I’ve always been single and have no experience in relationships, but everyone, a miracle has happened for me.”

In moments like this, I needed to convey my sincerity.

If I went back now, it would only add unnecessary misunderstandings.

“As you know, I’ve worked really hard to keep my mental health in check. I dealt with depression and severe self-blame, even going to the hospital. I pretended to be fine, but I developed diabetes, and I seriously wondered why my life was like this. Still, I tried to live on, to live normally, and then I met this person.”

I took Muk-ji’s hand.

“We both had similar wounds, but unlike me, she was incredibly cheerful. She thought about what she could do and put it into practice, which made her look so amazing. I wanted to live like that too. And I wondered if there was anything I could do to help. That thought led me to want to walk side by side with her.”

Muk-ji firmly held my hand.

“One day, while we were eating something delicious and walking, the way she basked in the sunlight was so beautiful. I thought, I can’t let this person go. In the past, I would have kept my feelings to myself, fearing that I might ruin my relationships with colleagues or friends, but I couldn’t do that this time. It was my first time feeling that way, so I stumbled a bit, but Eun-ji gave me courage. She made me believe that I’m a good person too. So, even though I couldn’t say it well, I was able to say, I like you.”

I smiled.

“When Eun-ji first joined, there were chats asking if Muk-ji and she were the same person. Yes. She was the first viewer and subscriber of the side dish store. This broadcast has brought a miracle to my life. Because you all watched, I got to work with Eun-ji, and now we’re walking together. Thank you. Just as you’ve watched us so far, we hope you’ll continue to support us and the broadcasts we have prepared.”

As I bowed, Muk-ji did the same.

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When I looked up, the reactions in the chat had changed from earlier.

└Congratulations!

└It seems to be true.

└Wow, he really found his match.

└Yeah, he’s worked hard, so he should be happy now.

└Wait, was he ever normal like this?

└Hahahahahaha.

└I’m weak when this crazy guy suddenly gets sincere. ㅠ

└When you get married, turn on the broadcast. I’ll send you a congratulatory gift.

└I can’t believe it. I won’t trust it unless I see them kissing.

└So sweet.

With 40,000 people simultaneously sending their congratulations and nonsensical comments, we held hands and just laughed.

***

Saturday.

The members of the Nam-sadang troupe insisted so much that we arranged a meal together.

“Ban-chan, you’re making people feel hurt. You promised to tell me first.”

“Yeah, you should tell us first.”

“Aren’t I supposed to be the first before Ji-chan?”

“The invitations haven’t even gone out yet. I was planning to hand them out when they arrived.”

Ignoring what I said, everyone turned to Muk-ji to offer their congratulations.

“Congratulations!”

“Chan-yong is really lucky!”

“If Chan-yong does anything weird, let me know. I’ll give him a talking to.”

“Why would you tell that to you? You should tell me. I’ll give him a talking to on workout days.”

“Thank you.”

Muk-ji smiled and replied to the teasing from Cha Ji-chan and Baek Woo-jin.

“But if we’re having the ceremony in October, we need to finish up the big things before then.”

Joo Ji-seung said.

“There’s still a lot of time left. We have until next month to get happy, and since Sugar Man started in May and ran until August, it’s not a big deal.”

“You never know what might happen.”

“Even if something happens, we’ll just postpone it. I’m considering a long break.”

“Yeah, it would be nice to take this opportunity to rest and travel a bit.”

Muk-ji and I are both terrible workaholics, so it’s rare for us to have a proper break.

Last year’s Chuseok, Christmas, and even this year’s Seollal, I worked all days except for one.

I plan to take some time to recharge around the wedding.

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“Wow. We’re getting long vacations right after the corporation is established.”

Cha Ji-chan said.

Next month, the Nam-sadang troupe will establish a new corporation, which will incorporate us into that subsidiary.

The parent company will be called “Sugar Man Entertainment,” with Ji-chan as the representative, but the shares will be distributed equally among us.

Under Sugar Man Entertainment, Banya Sikyung, Jimkkeun, the side dish store, and Ujinious will operate independently, and we’re currently preparing various projects.

As all four of us will be representatives of our respective subsidiaries and executives of the parent company, things will become much busier than before.

I think we should be able to rest for about a month in October.

“We definitely need to take a break. You guys should rest before the workload increases, too. Woo-jin, you should, too.”

“I’d love to just collapse for a while.”

“If there were someone to help with my work, I would’ve done it already.”

“That technology is pretty good. If you shoot the expressions and record the lines, you just have to write the script, and the video comes out automatically.”

“Oh! I saw that, too. They were promoting it.”

Baek Woo-jin chimed in at Joo Ji-seung’s comment.

“Hmm. But it’s a bit awkward, isn’t it?”

“No, it looks totally seamless!”

“Has the technology really progressed that much?”

“It has! Just look!”

Baek Woo-jin pulled out his smartphone to show us.

A famous celebrity was introducing an AI-based video production program.

“Hmm.”

“This video is really creepy since it wasn’t even filmed.”

“What?”

“Is it real?”

“It’s really not long until this becomes a thing. If you save the face and lines, the video will just pop out by itself.”

“That’s kind of scary.”

Technology is developing so fast that it’s hard to figure out how to adapt.

If I can teach my facial expressions and mannerisms in advance and just write the script, the cost of producing content for YouTube will drastically decrease.

“Oh, now that I look closely, I can see some signs.”

“There will definitely be people who feel uncomfortable with this for a while. After all, it’s not a real person speaking in front of the camera.”

“That’s true. It might be a good idea to see the reactions with short clips and learn from that.”

“Oh!”

Baek Woo-jin suddenly shouted.

“Today, we gathered to celebrate Chan-yong and Eun-ji! Why are we talking about work again?”

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“…You just showed it.”

“Take it. Take it!”

Baek Woo-jin passed around the expensive alcohol he brought to celebrate us.

In reality, Muk-ji and I don’t drink, so we only took a tiny bit.

“Ban-chan and Muk-ji! Cheers to Muk-ji and Ban-chan!”

Then they clinked glasses among themselves.

I turned my head and laughed in disbelief, only to find Muk-ji beaming with a bright smile.

We raised our glasses to each other, and as we did, the members of the Nam-sadang troupe lifted their glasses towards us.

Being celebrated like this by people who resonate with us filled my heart, even though the wedding was still far off.