In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe - Chapter 111:

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: Rxel

Chapter 111

It was when Woojoo was in middle school.

He heard from some trainee hyungs that having posts on the internet could cause trouble, so he deleted the ones he had written in the past.

Most of them were contest entries.

-I want to send my grandma to America! She loves Hawaii!

-My grandma loves Thailand!!! Really.

-♨(Must read) Please pick me! ☆★

 

If he remembered correctly, they were something like that.

That was how much he wanted to send his grandma on a trip since he was young.

So whenever he had some money, he would take her to places like Busan, but she had never been abroad.

Of course, now Woojoo could afford to send her anywhere.

He could even get her a first-class ticket with the money he made from his songs.

But she refused, saying that she didn’t want to go alone with the money he worked hard for.

So Woojoo hoped that if he got something from a variety show, she would have no choice but to go.

No.

…Maybe he should just lie and say he got it from a variety show and send her off?

Woojoo shook his head soon.

It was because of Kim Deoksoon’s superpower to detect his lies.

Meanwhile, the guests’ expressions changed at the mention of a luxury travel voucher.

“Director Gu, you should have told us that beforehand!”

Teacher Woo Jaeyong clicked his tongue.

“Then, the people here would have tried harder in the first mission, right?”

“I’m sorry.”

“…Hmph, I’m not satisfied. Anyway.”

The veteran actor adjusted his glasses, and everyone nodded as if they agreed and fired up their enthusiasm.

His kids were also fired up.

Junghyun’s parents lived in the countryside, Bijoo’s parents had a hard time because of his brother’s military illness.

The youngest… Ah, he didn’t have any motivation.

He was smiling brightly and saying, ‘Travel voucher… nice’ with his eyes.

And Rihyuk whispered to Woojoo, “I’ll give you mine if I get it, so you can send your grandma twice.”

“Thanks.”

“Ah, don’t touch me.”

“…”

Woojoo patted his shoulder affectionately, but he pushed his hand away.

Sometimes he seemed like a cat rather than a brother.

As they each burned their ambitions for the travel voucher, the main PD explained.

“Okay, then we’ll proceed with the second mission. This mission doesn’t have a golden key reward.”

“What did you say?” Song Jinwoo, a member of Team B, asked incredulously, “No, Director. Then how are we supposed to close this gap? We have fewer keys and we’re behind.”

“You can worry about that in the last mission.”

At that, everyone racked their brains.

The last reward must be huge, or there must be a system where you could steal it.

Even if the ones ahead had an advantage, they couldn’t guarantee a win.

He explained, “The second mission is a continuation of the last mission. First, let’s bring in the villagers before we reveal the mission.”

About ten villagers came out from behind the production staff.

There were some familiar faces among them.

It was Im Soonhyun, the grandmother who Rihyuk and Woojoo cleaned for.

“Oh, there’s the grandpa and grandma who raise Daegil.”

Junghyun and others greeted the ones they recognized.

The main PD said, “Okay, then let’s reveal the second mission.”

At that, the main writer unfolded a white cloth.

It had [The Second Virtue of Filial Piety: Helping with Work] written in calligraphy.

Someone asked, “Helping with work? We already did that, right? Like changing light bulbs or cleaning houses.”

“In this case, you will help the elders with their livelihoods. For example… what is it?”

He read the list.

“For farming, there’s sowing fall radish seeds, and for orchards, there’s harvesting apples, and for barns, there’s livestock work. There are also other things like peeling garlic, and if the villagers choose you, you can go and help them.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes, isn’t that filial piety?”

They all looked puzzled as the other person cheerfully said that.

Woojoo felt the same way.

To be honest, it was a common format that came up whenever they dealt with rural areas, but something felt suspicious.

It seemed like there was more to it.

As each of them had a VJ following us, the elders started to pick out their workers.

“Wow, our Daegil’s lifesaver. You come with me. Let’s go pick some apples together.”

“Hyung, I’ll go check it out.”

“I’ll follow you this time.”

As they scattered in different directions, this time Woojoo was able to join the team of his younger siblings.

Strictly speaking, it was because they were afraid of doing the show alone and stuck to him.

Naturally, Woojoo was grabbed by the hand of Grandma Im Soonhyun.

***

They visited the slate-roofed house again.

There were colorful bowls on the table, a Pomeranian named Dusik was running around the yard, and a straw mat was laid out.

…And there were piles of garlic.

“It looks like a mountain made of garlic.”

“Garlic Mountain.”

“Oh, you’re using English without making a mistake for once.”

“Right? It’s been a long time since he spoke like someone who received a high school education.”

“What do you mean?”

The youngest pouted his lips.

“Sometimes I feel like you guys think I’m stupid.”

“Name the six metropolitan cities.”

“…Grandma! I’ll help you!”

The youngest ran over and helped Grandma move the load.

“Do you think he doesn’t know?”

“He doesn’t know.”

“We did our fan signing events in the metropolitan cities, how can he not know?”

“What do you think he thought? He probably just said ‘Wow, Daegu’.”

It was convincing.

They helped Grandma move the straw mat.

Considering the lighting, the VJ changed the camera settings and took his position. They sat around on bathhouse chairs on the mat.

“There’s a lot of garlic, Grandma.”

“It’s a lot.” Grandma Im Soonhyun smiled and said, “Your eyes might sting a bit, but bear with it. It’s still much better than what the others are doing.”

“True, this is just sitting down, so it’s not too bad.”

The ones who went to the field to sow seeds or to harvest apples must have been on a march of misery in this scorching sun.

Rihyuk asked, “But Grandma, what are you going to do with all this garlic?”

“I have no use for it.”

“…What?”

“No, the people from the broadcasting station came and asked me to do something, but I already did everything I could. There was nothing left to do… So I thought about what to do and I remembered garlic because I run a restaurant.”

“Ah.” Woojoo said with a smile, “But it’s nice to be able to talk to you, Grandma.”

“Huh, what’s so good about talking to an old lady.”

“Really. I grew up with my grandmother since I was young, so my hobby is listening to stories that adults tell me.”

“You speak so nicely.”

As she peeled the garlic, Grandma started to tell a story.

It was a story he had heard once before.

What was it?

Woojoo felt it since earlier, but every house he visited for the mission, they said ‘Hey, listen to my story’ and told him their stories.

At first, Woojoo thought they were lonely because they lived alone, but it seemed like they were deliberately telling him stories.

Something was bothering his intuition, but he still didn’t know what it was.

As he thought about it, he added some words to make them not bored whenever Grandma told a story.

“I went to another village with my husband, that time was… When was it?”

“It was 1968, Grandma.”

“That’s right, that’s right. It was noisy then because of the armed communists.”

“What are armed communists?”

And their curious youngest asked questions from time to time.

“Uh, that’s…”

“They’re spies who came in with weapons.”

As Rihyuk explained the 1.21 incident of 1968, Grandma exclaimed.

“Oh my, you’re good at cleaning and you know the old days well. I’m impressed.”

“This brother reads a lot of books. That’s why his nickname is Chek Chek Doctor.”

“You’re smart, are you going to college?”

“No. This brother only graduated from middle school.”

Rihyuk lost his words in disbelief, and Woojoo burst out laughing.

But Grandma shook her head with a serious expression.

“Education is not important these days. What’s wrong with being a middle school graduate? The times have changed and it’s not the era where you succeed by studying well.”

“…You’re right, Grandma.”

Rihyuk rolled his eyes politely. Jiho hid behind Grandma.

“And with these faces, you don’t need to study.”

“Really, Grandma?”

The youngest, who had a bright smile, asked as if he had thought of something, “By the way. Grandma, do you know all the metropolitan cities?”

“Busan, Ulsan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Incheon.”

“…”

“That’s common sense. Our Dusik knows it too.”

As the youngest became equal to a Pomeranian in his sleep, Rihyuk and Woojoo smiled and high-fived.

They continued to talk with the elderly.

“What did you want to do when you were young, Grandma?”

“Me?”

A shy smile appeared on her wrinkled face.

“I wanted to be a singer.”

“Really? You must have been very good at singing.”

“People in the neighborhood said, ‘If you say singing, it’s Im Soonhyun.’ If I hadn’t married wrong, I would have gone to Seoul and become a singer.”

Woojoo suggested, “Then why don’t you sing with us?”

“No, I can’t.”

“It’s the mindset that matters. And we’re really good at playing accompaniment. We can sing along with any song you sing.”

“I’m embarrassed.”

“Don’t be embarrassed, Grandma. My dad says, you have to let go of your face to succeed.”

Rihyuk also sniffed his nose as he peeled the garlic.

“That’s right, Grandma. Please sing once.”

“Then…” Grandma Im Soonhyun said with a hesitant face, “I don’t watch TV much, so I don’t know the lyrics very well. There’s a song I used to sing when I was playing with rubber bands as a kid.”

“Oh, is it a nursery rhyme?”

As Woojoo imagined the scenery of a deer running around on the hillside, Grandma cleared her throat.

They clapped their hands and created the atmosphere.

“Ah, one beat rest! Two beats rest! Three beats rest and one, two, three, four!”

With a pure expression as if she had returned to her childhood, Grandma started to sing.

Ah~”

Let’s crush the communists~

…Communists?

How many millions are there?

They’re going to South Korea like a bunch of dogs~

Woojoo burst out laughing at the garlic and everything.

It was not the fake laughter he had been using for entertainment. It was a genuine laugh. He laughed so hard that he snorted for a long time.

The VJ looked like he was about to faint.

Judging by his reaction, it seemed like this would definitely make it to the broadcast.

Woojoo learned the truth later. It was a military song called ‘The Song of Victory’ that children used to sing while playing with rubber bands after the Korean War.

They played while singing that song.

The old folks must have grown up in a really dynamic environment.

“Ah, I’m crying.”

Rihyuk wiped his tears. Woojoo was the same.

The old lady looked embarrassed.

“…Was the song a bit too much?”

“No, it was great.”

“You know what, we should sing that song like a work song while we work.”

“Good idea.”

They followed the lyrics that the old lady taught them and peeled the garlic.

The work went faster.

Woojoo wondered if this was why people sang work songs when they farmed.

When he was wondering what to do now that the work was done so quickly, he saw the grandmother tapping her back.

“Ouch, my back.”

“Let me massage you again.”

“Fine, aiya, not there, lower.”

While they were bickering, Rihyuk and Jiho cleaned up the garlic.

As Woojoo watched the siblings swinging their spicy hands at each other, laughing, the front door opened with a creak.

A grandmother in a fluorescent outfit walked in.

Grandma Im greeted them with a bow.

“You’re here, Chilseong.”

“I was on my way to visit the elders and stopped by.”

Then she smiled warmly at them.

“If you were surrounded by such handsome young men, wouldn’t you call me?”

“Oh, I forgot.”

Chilseong, who was sitting on a chair in the yard, tilted her head. She seemed to be amused by the grandmother’s warm smile.

“Was the massage that refreshing?”

“Take it. It’s so refreshing that you can’t even speak. I’ve been having back pain lately and couldn’t sleep at night, but I slept well in the afternoon.”

“Really?”

Another grandmother said to Woojoo, “When you’re done, do it for me too.”

“Woojoo. I’m fine, so give those old folks a massage too.”

Woojoo moved to another grandmother right away.

After asking where she was feeling bad, he massaged her focus area.

It wasn’t a massage skill he learned to use in entertainment, but somehow he thought he was using it well.

Thanks to his ability, he could tell at a glance where to target for the best effect.

Woojoo noticed a spot where her muscles moved unnaturally.

That was why he focused his attack on that area.

“Ah, there, there. That feels really good.”

The result was very good.

She stretched her back with a refreshed expression, and Woojoo felt like her posture had become more upright than before.

Grandma Chilseong grabbed his hand.

“Thank you, really. It’s refreshing.”

“I’m glad you feel refreshed.”

“I was fine. But I don’t know if I just made you suffer by coming here for fun.”

“No.”

As Woojoo was about to say that, the old lady standing behind the Chilseong gave Woojoo a look.

What was going on?

But he finished what he was saying anyway.

“I actually enjoy giving massages to the elderly.”

“Really?”

As Woojoo said that, Chilseong chuckled. But Grandma Im Soonhyun touched her forehead as if she had a headache.

Woojoo didn’t understand their reactions, so he asked her after they left.

“Grandma, what’s wrong?”

“Ugh. That’s the biggest gossip in town.”

“…Gossip?”

What did that mean?

***

The village elders’ hall.

“Ha ha ha!”

Amidst the hearty laughter, two elderly members of Around the World With Dice’s group, Woo Jaeyong and Yang Okbun, chatted with the other elders.

“What do you mean, Mr. Woo? Call me Hyung. Hyung. Euhaha!”

“Ugh.”

Yang Okbun peeled an orange and looked at her reflection.

“I don’t want to age like that.”

“Hey, we’re all in the same boat.”

“I still take care of my hair, though.”

It was a time of laughter and banter among the elders, as the two members exchanged jokes and stories.

The door slid open with a creak.

“Chilseong is here.”

“I’m here!”

The people in the nursing home looked at her with a slight surprise in their eyes.

It was because of Chilseong’s bright expression.

She was always scowling, so much so that even the black goat leader avoided her. She was none other than Chilseong.

But to see such a person smile like that.

And on top of that.

“Unnie, why are you standing like that? Your back is so straight today.”

“I just got a massage.”

“A massage?”

“Well, I went to visit Soonhyun’s place and there were some handsome guys there. You know the one who looks decent among the five of them, right?”

“Oh, the one who looks like our grandson?”

“What are you talking about, he looks like our grandson.”

“He looks like our son to me.”

When the best compliment adults could give to someone’s appearance continued, Chilseong started to tell what happened at that house.

Then, a strange aura began to swirl in the old people’s home.

“…That, can we go and get it too?”

“Ugh, it’s hard. It’s a nuisance.”

“That’s right.”

“No, the guy said that. He said giving massages to the elderly is the happiest thing in the world for him.”

“Hey… Still, it’s a bother.”

With that, something unusual started to happen.

“Ugh, I think I left the gas stove on.”

“I need to go and chop some green onions.”

“I have to call the temple for something…”

As they saw one by one leaving their seats, Woo Jaeyong and Yang Okbun smiled and made eye contact with the VJ.

They knew where to go.

***

Before long, the sun was setting behind the mountains.

Bijoo, Junghyun, and Ye Heechan were walking along the dirt road, rubbing their shoulders, after returning from the apple farm.

“Ah, I’m sore.”

“Do you want me to massage you?”

“No.”

Bijoo shook his head.

Junghyun, who was staring at him blankly, handed him an apple he had brought from the farm.

“…What’s this?”

“It’s an apple as an apology.”

“What do you mean?”

“It seemed like you were angry with me for running onto the road.”

“Oh.”

“I won’t do anything dangerous from now on.”

Bijoo laughed. He had given a vague answer because he was tired, but it seemed like his friend had misunderstood.

“It’s not that. I’m just tired.”

“Hey, then do you want me to massage you?”

“I’m fine.”

…He said, but soon his friend was massaging his shoulder.

Ye Heechan smiled as if he found them cute.

“You two are really close.”

“It’s not like that.”

Junghyun shook his head.

“He’s always nagging me and making me feel uneasy. I have to let him win on purpose sometimes.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, Junghyun.”

“It’s not nonsense. Woojoo Hyung agreed with me.”

“No, he didn’t. Woojoo Hyung told me something different. He said you’re working hard to take care of Junghyun.”

“…”

The two who realized the truth gave a hollow laugh. Ye Heechan smirked.

“You guys have a leader who could be a politician, huh.”

“I’m disappointed in Woojoo Hyung.”

As they were joking about their leader, they saw a house with an open door in the distance.

A loud noise came from inside.

And as they passed by, they saw a strange scene through the gap of the door.

Three VJs were filming, while Woojoo was giving massages to the elderly.

Jiho and Rihyuk were performing like guest singers for the other waiting seniors.

“…”

The three had no idea what was going on.