Extra 6: The Variety Show Begins

The first episode of the third season of “Marriage Cube: N-Sided Witness Time” finally officially premiered on GATE. To highlight GATE’s social attributes, the program adopted a reaction-style broadcast mode, where netizens and the witness room guests watched together.

On the day of the broadcast, at 7 pm, a large number of netizens flooded into the program’s live stream room. The host of the live stream was the variety show director, Seo Tae-woong, whom netizens were accustomed to calling PD Seo.

PD Seo: 「Welcome everyone to “Marriage Cube: N-Sided Witness Time”! Before I introduce our newlywed couple for this season, let’s first have our three observation room guests introduce themselves~」

[Hello everyone, I am Lee Seung-woo, the director of “The Witch’s Rule.”]
[I am Choo Min-young, the female lead of “The Witch’s Rule.”]
[I am Kim Seo-ok, the screenwriter of “The Witch’s Rule.”]

[Netizen: Eh? Why is it all people from “The Witch’s Rule”?]
[Netizen: Usually they find people who have had contact with the guests, right? The people who have contact with President Yoon are all from the business world, it’s hard for them to have a variety show sense. As for Actor Qi, he hasn’t filmed many dramas so far.]
[Netizen: It’s not easy for the production team either…]

After all, among the film and television dramas that Actor Qi had filmed, there were not many big-name artists who could make an appearance.

PD Seo: [Um… actually, I’m very curious about one thing. Best Actress Choo is an artist from Woosan, and Director Lee and Screenwriter Kim have also signed long-term contracts with Woosan. You all should be very familiar with the love story of our two “protagonists,” right?]

Director Lee: [Uh, how should I put it…]

Screenwriter Kim: [In our minds, President Yoon is a very serious person. There were even rumors that he and Actor Qi didn’t get along well, so no one ever thought they would be in this kind of relationship.]

[Netizen: Ah? There were rumors that they didn’t get along? Was it before the media took the ambiguous video?]
[Netizen: Daebak, this live broadcast mode is really great. We can hear the inside gossip for the first time without it being edited out. Thank you, GATE.]

PD Seo was surprised: [Rumors that they didn’t get along? Really? I’m as curious as the netizens. What kind of rumors were they?]

Director Lee and Screenwriter Kim looked at each other: [Can we say it?]

Choo Min-young: [I’ll say it! Haha, I heard they argued in the company bathroom, right? A flower pot was even broken! To be honest, when the media first exposed their ambiguous video, I also thought they were together. But Actor Qi said they weren’t. Later, there were many rumors, so I didn’t ask.]

[Netizen: Omo, it got to the point where a flower pot was broken?]
[Netizen: If it’s enemies to lovers…]
[Netizen: They were arguing and then suddenly started kissing, then started dating, and just like that, they got married?]
[Netizen: kkkkk, that’s a bit reasonable.]

PD Seo suddenly laughed dryly: [An argument? In the bathroom? Haha, there were such rumors… alright, in any case, let’s watch the variety show together.]

[Netizen: PD Seo’s expression is weird.]
[Netizen: +1]

---

On a summer morning, a bright and sunny day, perfect for filming a variety show.

However, on the morning the variety show was to start filming, Qi Huai and Yoon Nam-hyuk didn’t manage to get up on time at all.

Large words appeared on the screen: The newlywed couple, who usually wake up before 8 am, slept in today… unforgivable!

The BGM was the sound of a crow flying by.

The netizens in the live stream laughed their heads off.

Even the guests in the witness room couldn’t help but chuckle.

Only the staff of the variety show production team and PD Seo were sweating secretly. Argument, bathroom… they had a deep understanding of these two words! It’s definitely not that they don’t get along, right?!

At this moment, Yoon Nam-hyuk, who was watching the premiere of the variety show leaning against Qi Huai, was also embarrassed. He couldn’t help but cover his face. Qi Huai laughed in his ear.

Yoon Nam-hyuk: “Don’t laugh!”

Qi Huai laughed even louder.

It all had to start from before the variety show started filming.

“Marriage Cube: N-Sided Witness Time” had only aired two seasons so far, mainly featuring artist-singer couples from the entertainment industry. The guests were all very comfortable with the presence of the cameras, so they didn’t need much time to adapt, and the recording was very fast.

But last time, during the 100-question filming, PD Seo discovered a problem. President Yoon seemed to feel very uncomfortable with the camera when discussing emotional issues.

This wouldn’t do…

The main filming period for the variety show was only three days. Cameras had to be installed in the couple’s home, company, and car. If he felt awkward in front of the camera, he wouldn’t be able to show his true self, and the edited show would definitely not be good.

The effect was indeed good after drinking, but… they couldn’t let President Yoon drink for three consecutive days, right?

#PresidentYoonDrinkingSince8amLikeAnAlcoholic#

If they got such a hot search, it would be over…

PD Seo pondered for a few days. To ensure the smooth filming of the main show, he discussed a more feasible method with the couple—let the cameras enter in advance.

Enter in advance, give President Yoon a seven-day camera adaptation period. The production team would be responsible for observing their state. Then there would be a three-day main filming period, for a total of ten days.

If you want to do it, just bear with it. It’s only ten days. It’ll be over before you know it! The male staff of the production team unanimously agreed that such a duration would not have too much impact on the couple’s daily life.

Yoon Nam-hyuk thought so too at first.

He agreed because from a business perspective, the pros outweighed the cons.

It’s only three days, he thought. If I have an episode, I’ll just endure it. After a few days of observation, it should be fine.

But he didn’t expect it to be so difficult to face the camera. During the 100-question interview, without the help of alcohol, he couldn’t even organize his words.

And so, the three-day filming period became ten days. President Yoon, afraid of being discovered having to solve his physiological problems on his own, spent more and more time “showering” alone in the bathroom, to the point where the production team thought he had OCD.

Qi Huai wanted to help him, but Yoon Nam-hyuk was thin-skinned and refused every time. After all, if the two of them stayed in the bathroom for a long time at the same time, even a fool would know what they were doing.

However, this kind of thing tended to get worse the more you suppressed it. After a while, it wasn’t so easy to endure anymore… until the night before the official filming.

Thinking about what happened that night, Qi Huai still found it funny. A certain president had suddenly told him with a serious face that the bathroom showerhead was broken and asked him to take a look together.

If the showerhead was broken, just call maintenance. When did it become their responsibility? Qi Huai tilted his head and looked at Yoon Nam-hyuk’s increasingly red ears. He instantly understood what was going on.

You little greedy cat.

The program’s cameras covered every corner, running 24/7. The only “lawless land” was the bathroom. It seemed that the broken showerhead was just an excuse. The real reason was that the little greedy cat couldn’t help but want to eat fish.

Not going to solve it yourself this time?

Qi Huai didn’t move for a long time, his eyes filled with a smile.

Yoon Nam-hyuk’s face turned even redder. 「Hurry up!」

His tone was not very good.

Qi Huai blinked, still not moving.

「Forget it! Bastard!」 Yoon Nam-hyuk turned and walked away angrily, planning to continue using the useless little toys that Qi Huai had bought for him before the production team moved in.

This “dispute” lasted a total of thirty seconds. One of them was expressionless and unmoving, the other was flushed with “anger.” The production team, who lived on the first floor of the villa, looked at each other. Are they going to fight? Over a showerhead? That doesn’t seem like their personality…

Through a few short days of observation, they discovered that one of the couple had a bad temper, and the other had a temper that was too good. But the one with the bad temper was a paper tiger, who would soften with a little coaxing. The one with the good temper was the one who really called the shots.

Although President Yoon was prone to anger, he would just curse “shibal, shibal” verbally. In reality, he was very obedient to Actor Qi.

This was the first time they had such a puzzling dispute… what should they do?

How about editing it into the trailer!

The controversy would be guaranteed!

The production team was discussing how to edit it when the Qi Huai in the camera suddenly stood up. He first took out his phone and tapped on it for a while, then turned off the bedroom camera.

Beep, beep—

The director’s phone received a text message.

The camera went black.

The production team staff were still confused when the other follow-up cameras outside the bedroom door faintly picked up the sound of a shower… Hmm? A shower? Wasn’t the showerhead broken?

First, they were confused. Then came the tacit understanding and sudden realization of adults. The ordinary sound of the shower, upon closer listening, had begun to become not so ordinary.

Director Seo, who had just read the text message, said dryly, 「…Everyone must strictly abide by the confidentiality agreement supplemented by GATE, understand? If you violate it, ten of me won’t be able to compensate. Ahem, Actor Qi said he will be responsible for turning the camera back on later. After the three-day filming period is over, GATE will give everyone an extra bonus, five million won per person.」

Five million!!!

The staff: Oh my God!

For these ten days, they lived in a villa, ate five-star hotel meals, and got an extra five million! It would be best if this happened every day!

Do it!

Do it as much as you want!

They wouldn’t say a word!

In the bathroom, the silicone toy that had never been used correctly was already lying in the trash can. Yoon Nam-hyuk was biting Qi Huai’s index finger knuckle and crying on his knees in the bathtub.

He had just urged Qi Huai to hurry up, that was right, but he had just wanted him to hurry into the bathroom. He had no other meaning.

This guy…!

Yoon Nam-hyuk couldn’t take it anymore. He slapped Qi Huai hard. Qi Huai grabbed his wrist and pinned it to the wall, biting the back of his neck and mumbling, 「You think you’re the only one who has endured for seven days? Don’t worry, the official recording is tomorrow morning. I won’t torture you tonight. Once is enough.」

But even if he was fast, someone who had been holding back for a long time couldn’t be that fast. Although he had said it would be just once, it had taken a long time before he finally stopped.

Yoon Nam-hyuk lay in the bathtub in a daze, trembling intermittently for two minutes. Afraid he would get cold, Qi Huai quickly washed him, dressed him, and carried the exhausted President Yoon, who was half-asleep, to the bed.

After settling him down, Qi Huai turned the follow-up camera back on, and only then went to bed. When he opened his eyes again, it was eight in the morning, and the variety show officially began filming.

And so, the argument and the bathroom became an eternal secret between them and the production team. At least at that moment, that’s what they thought.

However…

---

In the main show, around 8:10, Qi Huai finally got up. A few seconds after he opened his eyes, he started calling for Yoon Nam-hyuk. 「Nam-hyuk?」

President Yoon had been exhausted last night. One call was not enough to wake him up. Qi Huai couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him sleeping soundly.

To prevent a screenshot of a certain president sleeping soundly from spreading all over the internet, Qi Huai blocked the camera with his back, reached out to pinch his nose, and called out one after another, 「Nam-hyuk, gege, President…」

A person who had just woken up would inevitably have a somewhat hoarse voice. The netizens were all sharp-eyed. Colorful comments immediately appeared in the live stream room.

[Netizen: They did it, right?]
[Netizen: They definitely did.]
[Netizen: Isn’t that a bite mark on Qi Huai’s hand?]
[Netizen: That’s a bite mark???]
[Netizen: Daebak, the way he called him “gege” makes me want to scream like the loudest rooster! No wonder everyone likes younger men! It’s reasonable!]
[Netizen: Aigoo, two people with angelic faces, but they do it like fierce demons~]
[Netizen: ^^ Can the variety show be live-streamed? Please continue doing it tonight, children. I will buy Woosan and GATE’s stocks.]
[Netizen: kkkkk, buying their stocks is good for both the eyes and the wallet. Such a cost-effective investment is my blessing.]

In the live witness room, Choo Min-young leaned close to PD Seo: [So did they do it?]

PD Seo’s expression suddenly went blank: [Ah?]

Best Actress Choo: [Understood.]

Screenwriter Kim: [Understood.]

Director Lee: […]

[Netizen: Understood.]
[Netizen: Understood.]
[Netizen: kkkkk]

Yoon Nam-hyuk, watching the live broadcast, was expressionless.

Qi Huai couldn’t help but laugh, thinking that his appearance was really cute. “As expected, the more a guy cares about his face, the more he can’t save it.”

President Yoon got angry. “Ya!”

He turned off the live broadcast and burrowed into the blanket. “I’m not watching anymore!”

“Alright, we won’t watch anymore.” Qi Huai laughed and threw away the iPad, then followed him into the blanket, pinching his chin for a deep kiss, kissing him until he was dazed.

The kiss deepened, and his hands became more and more excessive. It was clear that Qi Huai was not satisfied with just a kiss. When Yoon Nam-hyuk realized his pajama pants had disappeared, he panted and pushed him away, his face full of disbelief. “Still doing it? Isn’t your illness cured?”

A week ago, or more precisely, on the last day of the official recording of the variety show, the program was originally planned to stop recording at midnight. But starting from that morning, Qi Huai had suddenly started running a high fever.

Along with the high fever came a series of strange symptoms. For the next few days, Qi Huai was like a madman, pulling him along to do it, to the point where Yoon Nam-hyuk didn’t get out of bed for several days.

That madness was full of beastliness, without reason. When he recalled it, he only felt a shiver down his spine. It seemed that Qi Huai himself was also very puzzled as to why he had suddenly fallen ill.

That illness, Qi Huai called it his susceptibility period.