odwr 134

Episode 35. Still, I like being together (4)

While they were moving to the hotel, Kang Dae-oh encountered an unexpected difficulty.

“The traffic is really bad.”

Min Seung-yeon opened her mouth, looking ahead.

“Did an accident happen up ahead?”

“That could be it.”

It seemed a bit strange to simply attribute the congestion to a traffic jam.

The road to Gangwon-do itself wasn’t as frequently traveled by cars as Seoul.

Seeing the cars almost at a standstill on the road, it was possible that they were unable to move because an accident up ahead was being dealt with.

‘This is a problem.’

They had been stuck on the road for 30 minutes.

At this moment, the PD made a suggestion to the two of them.

“Shall we take a short break at the rest area? Some of the staff members want to go to the bathroom.”

“That would be good.”

Kang Dae-oh had already started to worry about the staff members following them.

For Kang Dae-oh and Min Seung-yeon, it didn’t really matter if they stopped at a rest area or not.

A broadcast isn’t made up solely of its performers.

Since it’s something created together, the staff’s condition is also very important.

Following the PD’s suggestion, Kang Dae-oh newly set their destination to the nearest rest area.

Kang Dae-oh got out of the car and stretched.

Min Seung-yeon also placed her lap blanket on the seat she had been sitting on and stretched both arms above her head.

“Ohh… my back hurts.”

“Are you okay?”

Kang Dae-oh gently massaged his wife’s slender waist with both hands.

“Ah, there. That’s perfect.”

Perhaps because they were a married couple, Kang Dae-oh knew exactly where his wife’s muscles usually tensed up.

“Thank you. Should I do it for you too?”

“It’s okay. I’m fine. More importantly…”

Kang Dae-oh’s gaze shifted towards where the PD and cameraman were standing.

More precisely, it went to the camera the cameraman was holding.

“Are you filming this kind of thing too?”

“Yes, of course. Just now, that was a very good scene.”

The PD formed a rectangle with his thumb and index finger and grinned.

They couldn’t let their guard down, wondering when they would be caught on camera.

Kang Dae-oh acutely felt that this was indeed an observation reality show.

While at the rest area, the two decided to buy some simple snacks.

Kang Dae-oh asked the PD for the number of staff members.

“How many people are moving with us in total?”

“About… 30 people. But why are you suddenly asking that…?”

“You must be very tired from following us. I’d like to buy you some snacks. Please tell the staff members to say if there’s anything they want.”

“Oh, no! It’s not a small number. There are 30 people.”

“It’s fine. I have that much capability.”

As the CEO of Amare, he had enough financial power to buy that much.

At first, the PD vehemently opposed it. However, seeing the staff members’ eyes sparkling, he had no choice but to accept Kang Dae-oh’s kindness.

“Thank you for the food, CEO!”

“From now on, if I ever go to a cafe, I’ll only go to Amare!”

“Me too!”

In front of the staff members’ pledges, Kang Dae-oh merely smiled.

As he was about to pay for the staff’s food, people around him recognized Kang Dae-oh and started gathering near him.

“CEO Kang, you’re so handsome!”

“Seung-yeon-ssi is also incredibly beautiful. Anyone would think you’re a couple in your twenties. You’re so fresh!”

Thanks to the pouring attention from people, Kang Dae-oh had to keep the corners of his mouth turned up.

‘I think I understand the hardships of celebrities.’

How much his daughters struggled and worked normally.

Kang Dae-oh felt empathy for his children in an unexpected place.


After leaving the rest area.

After driving for another hour, they finally arrived at their destination for the day.

Perhaps because it was a recently completed hotel, the building itself looked very clean.

Not only that, but the view was also excellent.

The view, allowing them to enjoy the East Sea endlessly from their room, made Kang Dae-oh and Min Seung-yeon feel refreshed.

It was when Kang Dae-oh was about to change clothes in the living room.

“Honey.”

Min Seung-yeon pointed to the cameras installed throughout the hotel room.

“If you want to change clothes, change inside the room.”

“Right, I forgot.”

He had tried to change clothes too naturally anywhere, and ended up getting a short nagging from his wife.

He shouldn’t forget that they came here for broadcast filming, not for a vacation.

“I heard from a staff member earlier that there’s a private beach here.”

“That’s right. I heard it’s a beach only accessible to hotel guests. The PD suggested we visit there first for filming before the sun sets, didn’t he?”

“Then I should get my swimsuit out beforehand.”

Although it was still a bit early for water activities, as a fellow businessperson, since they came here for PPL, he wanted to make sure they promoted it properly.

Min Seung-yeon also decided to prepare her swimsuit.

She had one concern.

“Um… honey. A one-piece swimsuit would probably be better, right?”

“Why? Didn’t you buy a bikini too?”

“A bikini at this age is a bit…”

“What’s wrong with it? You even had a bikini fitting photoshoot recently.”

Unlike Min Seung-yeon, who seemed self-conscious about her body, onlookers couldn’t understand why she was worried.

Min Seung-yeon had managed herself exceptionally well for her age.

In the end, she bravely decided to accept her husband’s opinion.

She put on a windbreaker over her swimsuit and headed to the beach, linking arms with her husband.

The staff members, who were already waiting, diligently began capturing the couple’s beach date with cameras and audio equipment.

They dipped their bodies in the ocean with each other, and drank beverages while sunbathing.

It was an utterly satisfying time.

Nevertheless, Kang Dae-oh felt that something was slightly missing.

Min Seung-yeon felt the same way.

“Did we forget something?”

“I don’t know.”

“Should we check when we go back to the room later? Just in case.”

“Yes. That would be good.”

So, after finishing the filming at the beach, the two went back to their room to rest for a while, and during that time, they checked if they had left any belongings behind.

The check revealed that there was nothing of the sort.

Yet, an inexplicable sense of unease, as if 2 percent was missing, continued to follow the couple.

Even when they went out and ate a delicious seafood course meal.

Even when they clinked glasses against the backdrop of the sunset sky.

This feeling did not disappear.

‘What on earth could it be?’

A strange sense of frustration kept bothering Kang Dae-oh.

He also worried that such feelings might unnecessarily affect the filming.

However, the PD’s reaction was completely different from what Kang Dae-oh and Min Seung-yeon had worried about.

“I’ve filmed with many couples, but there has never been a couple who exuded such a genuine date vibe as you two today. It really conveyed through the video how much you both love each other.”

Beyond just work, the PD was simply happy to see the two of them side by side, sharing and enjoying the same things.

If the PD felt this way.

“Viewers will definitely watch with satisfaction.”

“It’s a relief that PD-nim said many good shots came out.”

For the two who worked hard.

The PD decided to give them a reward, or rather, a non-reward.

“From this moment on, all cameras will be turned off, so you two can enjoy yourselves as much as you wish.”

“Understood. Thank you, PD-nim.”

“On the contrary, I should be thanking you two. Have a good time. If you need anything from us, please tell us anytime.”

“Yes, we will.”

Thanks to the consideration of the PD and production team, Kang Dae-oh and Min Seung-yeon were able to secure free time.

Inside the hotel, there were many facilities available to enjoy thoroughly until late hours.

What they liked most was definitely the cocktail bar located on the rooftop.

Perhaps because it was night, the sea wasn’t as clearly visible as during the daytime.

Nevertheless, the unique charm of the night sea, only visible at night, certainly existed.

Looking at the distant lighthouse beam, Kang Dae-oh and Min Seung-yeon clinked their glasses once more.

“During the filming earlier, we couldn’t properly drink because of the cameras. That’s a relief.”

“Right?”

Now they could drink to their heart’s content.

The bartender approached the two and offered them a fruit platter.

“This is a service from us.”

“Thank you. We’ll enjoy it.”

After bringing only the snacks, the bartender moved away to avoid disturbing their private time.

The two enjoyed their intimate time, looking at each other.

At this moment, Min Seung-yeon uttered a meaningful remark.

“What on earth could it be?”

“What?”

“Earlier, both you and I said we kept feeling like something was slightly missing.”

At first, they thought it was because they had forgotten something.

No matter how much they thought about it, it wasn’t a problem related to that.

They had clearly enjoyed everything they could possibly enjoy.

Yet, a corner of their hearts felt uneasy.

Furthermore, it wasn’t just Kang Dae-oh feeling it. Min Seung-yeon was feeling it too, which made it even more concerning.

The moment they were about to seriously discuss what this feeling was.

Vibrating!

Kang Dae-oh’s smartphone vibrated.

It was a call from Kang Yera.

It wasn’t a regular call, but a video call.

When he pressed the call button, Kang Yera, Kang Yebin, and Kang Yeyoung – the three daughters – appeared amicably on the screen.

“Mom, Dad! You said the filming was over?”

“Yera unnie contacted their staff and asked if the filming was over, even though I told her not to.”

“What’s wrong with that? We haven’t heard Mom and Dad’s voices since this morning. So, we should see and hear them before going to bed. Right, maknae?”

“Unnie is right.”

The moment they saw their three adorable daughters.

Min Seung-yeon spoke as if she had realized something.

“Honey. I think I know what that feeling we’ve had all day is.”

Kang Dae-oh also seemed to know what Min Seung-yeon wanted to say.

The identity of that unsettling feeling, as if something was missing, was none other than.

The absence of their daughters.

Without their daughters, who were always with them, coming on a trip just the two of them and trying to have fun inevitably led to their thoughts constantly lingering on their daughters.

Had the kids eaten well?

Were they getting along well at home without fighting? These thoughts kept coming to them subconsciously.

Because they were parents.

Because they were Mom and Dad.

Watching the two continue their meaningful conversation, Kang Yera tilted her head.

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing. Just…”

Kang Dae-oh met Min Seung-yeon’s eyes for a brief moment.

The two smiled simultaneously.

Then, Kang Dae-oh said this to his daughters.

“Mom and Dad just wanted to tell you that they love their daughters very, very much.”

At the sudden declaration of love, the three daughters still reacted as if they didn’t understand.

But it was good.

Just by looking at their beloved daughters and spending the evening together like this.

For the two of them, there could be no better way to end the day.


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