Cheat day

The More You Empty, The More It Fills (1)

Morning of July 5th.

While having breakfast, PD Ahn Sang-kyu approached. He had gone to ask WH’s Kim Ki-tae to ease some conditions, but judging by his expression, it was hard to tell how it went.

“How did it go?”

“He said it’s fine.”

Fortunately, it seemed to have been well received, and everyone in the group let out a sigh of relief.

We had overcome a hurdle.

“The only thing left is the viewers.”

Joo Ji-seung put down his chopsticks and spoke.

Even if WH allows Baek Woo-jin to ride a bicycle, it means nothing if the viewers cannot accept it.

“It’s okay. Leave it to me.”

“What are you going to do?”

When I stepped forward, Cha Ji-chan asked.

“Everyone saw he was sick. If I appeal to their emotions, some people will sympathize. It’s not a bad thing.”

There aren’t many people who would be so unyielding as to refuse to accept something like a bicycle just because we want to do something good.

Most viewers of this journey support our intentions.

“Some may question if it’s too easy for him. So, we need to emphasize that this is the last time and then set conditions for Woo-jin. Like winning the Baekban Discussion or something.”

“Will that work?”

“It depends on how you phrase it. If said plainly, it could be received negatively, but I think our record is 22 wins and 4 losses?”

Baek Woo-jin quickly turned his head and glared at me.

“If I provoke him by mentioning our record, the reaction will be fine.”

The same words can be interpreted very differently based on tone and attitude.

If we’re not careful, reactions like, “If you’re going to ride a bicycle, why not ride an electric one?” or “Why not just ride a motorcycle?” could follow.

That would lead to a direction completely opposite to the purpose of this event.

We need to clarify our goals and conditions ourselves and remind everyone that this is the last time.

“But if he loses, it’s all for nothing, right?”

Cha Ji-chan asked.

“I will win.”

Baek Woo-jin straightened his back and replied confidently, only to bend over in pain immediately afterward.

***

“Who do you like more, your mom or your dad? Are you a ‘dipping’ or ‘pouring’ type? You will get a taste of the most intense debate in the history of the Korean Peninsula for the last half a millennium. Hosting today’s Baekban Discussion is Joo Ji-seung.”

“Cha Ji-chan here.”

Afternoon of July 5th, 5 PM.

While heavy rain poured outside, Joo Ji-seung and Cha Ji-chan took on the roles of hosts for the Baekban Discussion and delivered the opening remarks.

Although the content already had a large viewer base, the buzz generated by the morning’s debate between Berry vs. Apple seemed to attract even more attention. Perhaps it was due to the fact that all viewers from Baek Seung-yong’s show had tuned in, as the live broadcast viewer count reached 60,000.

Even though the content had been running for over half a year, this was the first time there were so many viewers, which made me a bit nervous.

└ It’s obviously WH vs. Pineapple, right?

└Is this an ad for WH?

└Isn’t Baek Woo-jin going to win for sure? There’s no way he’d lose at an event sponsored by WH!

└Even without that, Ban Chan-yong seems like he would purposely let him win.

└ㅇㅇ It looks like Baek Woo-jin isn’t in great shape, so they’re probably trying to give him a chance to ride a bike.

Indeed, the viewers are not fools.

They may have avoided directly naming it Berry Phone vs. Apple Phone, but no one is unaware that it refers to WH and Pineapple’s smartphones.

Therefore, Baek Woo-jin cannot afford to lose, especially for the sake of WH, his only sponsor.

Additionally, he must create a justification for himself to be able to ride the bike.

Since the viewers likely understand this situation, I cannot take it easy.

I must push hard to ensure that everyone clearly believes in Baek Woo-jin’s victory, to prevent any talk of manipulation or other controversies.

“Today, we have Berry vs. Apple. We’ve invited two experts to discuss which is more delicious,” Joo Ji-seung announced, mentioning today’s topic.

“…Are we really doing this?” Cha Ji-chan asked as he looked at the hastily written script, prompting Joo Ji-seung to poke him in the side and hurry him along.

Cha Ji-chan began to sing with a reluctant expression.

“Red, red taste. Curious, honey. The Berry, which melts away as you bite into it, is presented by our Berry enthusiast, Baek Woo-jin.”

The atmosphere dampened with the awkward singing from a muscular 1986-born man weighing 46 kg of skeletal muscle.

“Isn’t this funny?”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Although the song was a failure, the lively reactions led to laughter.

“Cha Ji-chan, in support of Baek Woo-jin, if he wins today, he will have a dinner of protein-rich beef. However, if he loses, he will be restricted from protein intake for three days.”

“Hey, get it right! Got it?”

Cha Ji-chan urged Baek Woo-jin, now facing the threat of forced muscle loss in case of defeat.

“Don’t worry.”

Baek Woo-jin tightly shut his mouth and nodded heavily once, clearly determined to win and earn the bike.

“Next is the face of an apple. Quite pretty too. Our Apple fanatic, Ban Chan-yong, joins us.”

As Joo Ji-seung introduced him, Ban Chan-yong raised his hands above his head and waved, moving awkwardly in rhythm to the 1985 bald man’s tune.

I was astonished by how poorly he executed the opening script.

Now I somewhat understand why Choi Michael enjoys teasing Joo Ji-seung for fun.

“Joo Ji-seung, supporting Ban Chan-yong, notes that if Ban wins, he can leave his backpack with the transport vehicle tomorrow, but if he loses, he won’t be able to shave for three days.”

As Cha Ji-chan finished explaining, Baek Woo-jin raised his hand.

“I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“Why is not being able to shave for three days a penalty?”

“Because the hair follicles will grow back in those areas.”

Joo Ji-seung replied, patting the back of his head.

It’s said that it’s less embarrassing to be completely bald than to have hair only on the back and sides while the crown and front remain bald.

“I understand.”

Baek Woo-jin nodded his head.

“Then, I ask both of you to discuss with a rational attitude and respect for each other. I will give the first speaking opportunity to Baek Woo-jin,” Cha Ji-chan announced, handing over the floor.

“First of all, let me explain what a berry is. Berry is a term that refers to fleshy fruits that contain moisture. Examples include strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.”

“That sounds messy.”

“Not at all. If delicious fruits have the name berry, it actually indicates how tasty they are.”

I waited silently for him to rev up.

“It’s not just fruits. There’s Cure Berry from Fresh Precure, Shirayuki Berry from Berry Berry Mu Mu, and Berry from Shining Star, as well as Daysha Berry from D.Gray-man. Various cartoons and animations also use the name berry.”

“…So?”

“It’s named that way because children like it.”

“Children like it?”

“Not just children, but adults too.”

He raised his palm.

After allowing him to express himself fully, I would then stomp him down.

“Boberry, Runeberry, Rudeberry, Solzberry, Berry Man. The individuals I just mentioned have all left their names in their respective fields.”

“Is that berry really a berry?”

I asked, suspecting it wasn’t really a berry, but Baek Woo-jin scoffed.

“It’s called berry, right?”

“Are you going to go there?”

“Don’t throw unnecessary challenges my way. Delicious fruits, lovable characters, and people who have achieved great things all have the name berry attached to them. This indicates they are that good.”

“Thank you for your comments. So, you are arguing that because many people and fruits have the name, berries are good and delicious, correct?”

“Exactly.”

“However, to my knowledge, there is another person with the name berry.”

“Who is it?”

“Lavrenti Beria.”

Baek Woo-jin’s eyes widened dramatically.

└Who?

└What are you talking about?

└Crazy Berry

└Speak clearly!

“He was in charge of the Great Purge under the Stalin regime in the Soviet Union and is responsible for the Katyn Massacre. It’s said that hundreds of thousands died at his hands.”

“Wait a minute.”

“If the name berry is truly associated with wonderful, delicious, and good things and people, how do you explain Beria?”

└Oh no,

└Mass murderer

└Be careful, if you make a wrong joke about the Soviet Union, you’re done for

└As expected, incitement and fabrication!

“Answer me! Is the name berry truly wonderful, delicious, and good?”

“No, um. Um?”

Just one person. Bringing up someone who doesn’t even use the letters in berry doesn’t strengthen my argument.

However, no one would be unfazed by the framing of defending a Soviet mass murderer.

No, while others might not be affected, it would definitely resonate with Baek Woo-jin, who has faced countless slanders over the past six months.

“Baek Woo-jin!”

“Cancel that.”

Baek Woo-jin took a step back.

“Upon reflection, not everything that has the name berry is wonderful or good.”

“Right?”

“Are you even trying?!”

Cha Ji-chan yelled, losing his temper.

“Do you know what happens if you can’t eat protein for three days? Huh?”

Cha Ji-chan, now facing the crisis of not being able to consume protein, was in a frenzy.

└Cha Ji-chan is having a meltdown

└How can you stay calm when you’re about to lose muscle?

└This is a lost cause.

└Come on, just give in a little! Are you trying to help Baek Woo-jin?

└ There’s no way that’s happening.

└Quickly surrender already.

Cha Ji-chan was soon subdued by Ju Ji-seung, and the viewers were demanding Baek Woo-jin’s surrender.

Continuing this atmosphere, I planned to thoroughly scold Baek Woo-jin.

“Then this time, I’ll speak first,” Baek Woo-jin said, clenching his fists and shaking with rage. He seemed really furious.

“Berry and Apple. In fact, Baek Woo-jin knows best which is better.”

Baek Woo-jin frowned and glared at me.

“I know that Baek Woo-jin received scholarships throughout his university years.”

“What are you trying to say now?”

“Is this true or not?”

“…It’s true.”

Baek Woo-jin reluctantly acknowledged it.

“You are college classmates with PD Lee Ji-hye from Ujinious, right?”

“What are you getting at?”

“A few years ago, I heard from PD Lee Ji-hye that Baek Woo-jin cried after receiving a B in a liberal arts course. Why on earth did you cry?”

“Why are you bringing up old stories?”

“Why did you cry?”

“Because my grades didn’t come out.”

“No, that’s not it. According to PD Lee Ji-hye’s testimony, Baek Woo-jin sobbed about how he ‘got a B’.”

└Berry-named

└Oh, he said he got a B

└What do you mean by that?

“Despite hating berries so much, why are you defending them?”

“No, that ‘got a B’ is not the same as the berry!”

“Is that not true? Then how do you explain this?”

“What?”

“You received an A+, that is, an ‘A-ple,’ and you’ve been on scholarships. How can someone like you side with berries?”

“Uh?”

“Are you deceiving your alma mater and the donors who provided you with scholarships?”

└Apple

└What’s ‘A-ple’?

└A-plus, A-ple, Apple

└ The praise has begun

└You should return your scholarship

└You received a scholarship for getting an Apple? But now you’re siding with berries?

“What are you talking about!”

“I asked if you’re deceiving your alma mater and the donors who supported your education during tough times.”

Once again, I pressed him, and his pupils shook.

“Answer me! Have you ever received an Apple? Yes or no!”

He slowly nodded his head.

“…Yes.”

“Then how can you deny the Apple! Hurry and apologize, no, Apple!”

Baek Woo-jin’s gaze darted around until it landed on the camera.

“I’m sorry.”

“You shouldn’t apologize, you fool!”

Cha Ji-chan shouted loudly.

“Is this a complete mess? Are you not doing this right? Do you want me to lose my mind watching this!”

└This is thrilling.

└Honestly, isn’t it more entertaining that Cha Ji-chan can’t eat protein than Baek Woo-jin not being able to ride a bike?

└I’ve never seen Cha Ji-chan like this before