Cheat day

Success (5)

Today is the day of the 2023 WTV Entertainment Awards.

The entire Sadang Family got together, had lunch, and chatted for a while before heading to the awards venue. None of us had ever seen this many cameras in one place before.

“Wow.”

“Man, look at those legs.”

“I guess being a celebrity really is something.”

We lined up in front of the photo zone, watching who was coming in. When I turned my head, I saw Baek Woo-jin looking displeased.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m so embarrassed I could die. Why are we standing around here? Let’s just go inside.”

“It’s fascinating!”

“Chan-yong! Please come forward!”

Someone called my name, and I looked around to see the event host waving at us.

“Me?”

“The Baekbanttara team, please come forward!”

“Yes!”

I was feeling a bit confused and hesitant, but Baek Woo-jin responded energetically and stepped up to the photo zone.

“Are we supposed to be in the photo too?”

“I don’t know.”

“What are you waiting for? Come on up!”

Baek Woo-jin urged us, so I stepped forward. It was nerve-wracking.

“Please raise your hands.”

“Look this way, please!”

A mix of voices filled the air, and camera flashes went off one after another, leaving me a bit dazed.

I waved awkwardly, while Baek Woo-jin struck all sorts of ridiculous poses, covering his left cheek with his right hand. Cha Ji-chan even took off his coat and did classic bodybuilder poses like the front double biceps and side chest.

Now I understood why Baek Woo-jin felt embarrassed earlier.

I want to pretend I don’t know them.

After taking photos, we squatted down in one corner to people-watch. Producer Park Sang-cheol approached us.

As he looked down at all of us squatting, he seemed baffled and let out a laugh.

“What are you doing here?”

“Sit down with us. It’s fun.”

“What are you talking about? Let’s go in. Only our seats are empty.”

“We have designated seats?”

Producer Park Sang-cheol, seeming a bit overwhelmed, headed inside.

Not wanting to miss out, we quickly entered the venue. We passed through the general seating area and reached a round table right in front of the stage.

A sign in the middle of the table read “Baekbanttara Team,” and each seat had a card with our names on it.

Sitting down at the spot labeled “Ban Chan-yong,” my heart started pounding.

“Hello.”

I hadn’t expected anyone to approach me, so I was drinking a beverage when Baek Woo-jin nudged me, trying to get me to notice something.

I turned my head to see Park Tae-sun, whom I’d only seen on TV, smiling as he greeted me again.

“Hello.”

“Wow.”

He looked incredibly handsome.

“I really enjoy watching Baekbanttara.”

“You’re so handsome.”

Park Tae-sun laughed, and he looked even more handsome when he smiled.

“What are you doing?”

Baek Woo-jin nudged me again, and as I turned away, Park Tae-sun chuckled and went on to greet the others.

We exchanged greetings with people seated at the nearby tables, but I still couldn’t understand why I was here.

“Why am I even here?”

I asked Ju Ji-seung.

“I don’t know either. It’s all a bit overwhelming.”

“Well, it’s because we’re famous.”

Baek Woo-jin raised his chin.

Sometimes, I wonder how far his shamelessness can go.

“The photo came out great.”

Cha Ji-chan placed his smartphone in the middle of the table.

I was amazed to see that the photos we had just taken were already online, and I burst out laughing at Baek Woo-jin’s ridiculous pose.

“Pffft! Hahaha!”

“Did you really pose like that?”

“Why? It looks cool.”

“Cool, my foot. It’s embarrassing.”

“And you? Is this a bodybuilding event? Stop showing off.”

“What? Do you know how hard it is to have muscles visible under a shirt?”

“It’s about to burst. It’s gross.”

As we continued our banter, the celebration stage began.

Apparently, the performers were famous singers, but none of us, except Baek Woo-jin, seemed to recognize them. Then Park Ha-im came out.

**Filled with excitement, we all waved as someone we actually recognized came on stage.**

They spotted us too, giving a bright smile as they started dancing, and I could see why they were at the top of the charts.

“Guess they’re energized after a meal.”

“We should feed them more often.”

Apparently, the doctor had advised them to eat easily digestible food for a while due to a decrease in digestive function. They haven’t been able to have a proper meal yet out of concern for sudden weight gain.

“2023 WTV Entertainment Awards – Best New Actor (Male).”

After the Best New Actress was announced, it was immediately time for the Best New Actor (Male).

I couldn’t help but keep munching on the cookies in front of me. It would’ve been nice if they’d given us more—just two cookies per person felt stingy on WTV’s part.

“Congratulations to Ban Chan-yong from ‘Baekbanttara’ Season 1, Season 2, and ‘The Joy of Korean Cuisine!'”

“Wow!”

“What!?”

Just as I was about to reach for Cha Ji-chan’s untouched cookies, Baek Woo-jin, who was sitting next to me, tackled me.

I flinched in surprise as Cha Ji-chan also grabbed both of my arms and shook them.

At first, I thought they were going overboard just because I was eating cookies, but judging by the shocked looks on Ju Ji-seung, Cha Ji-chan, and Baek Woo-jin’s faces, I hadn’t misheard the announcement.

“What? Is this real?”

“I thought you weren’t getting an award!”

Producer Park Sang-cheol just smiled broadly without saying anything. It was unclear if he had tricked us or if he was also caught off guard.

As a narration introducing me started playing, the host called me up on stage.

After receiving the trophy and bouquet, I thought I should say a few words.

They gave me space to approach the mic, but my mind went blank.

* * *

“Um, I’m flustered. They buy us food, pay us, and now they’re even giving me an award. … Jackpot?”

LOL

Who says ‘jackpot’ on a live broadcast, honestly LOLL

Here he is

His acceptance speech is wild LOL

This is beyond embarrassing LOL

Pull yourself together LOL Leave your livestream lingo at home

Look at the host’s face LOLL

Lucky that everyone’s laughing LOLL

“Oh, stop it. I already got an earful about it.”

The day after the awards show.

I turned on the broadcast to watch the clip of my Best New Actor win with the viewers. As expected, they were having a field day scratching at my nerves.

“Come on, it’s not like I swore or anything! They could’ve at least given me a heads-up, you know? So I could have prepared something to say. I wanted to give a cool speech too! But if I can’t think of anything on the spot, what can I do?”

LOL

Sure, sure

Short and sweet

Right, better to have an impact than to ramble on

Better than Cha Ji-chan at least

After that, Baekbanttara was announced as the Best Popular Program, and we went up to the stage again.

Still in shock from my acceptance speech for Best New Actor, I passed up my turn to speak.

Baek Woo-jin kept going on with his acceptance speech until Ju Ji-seung had to cover his mouth, while Cha Ji-chan, instead of giving a speech, rolled up his pants to show off his calf muscles since he’d been sensitive about being called “bottom-heavy.” As a result, Ju Ji-seung was the only one who gave a proper acceptance speech.

“This is the trophy. Cool, right? Not real gold, though. Anyway, that’s all for the awards show.”

It was time to announce the broadcast schedule for next year.

“I wanted to share the direction we’re heading in next year. It looks like the Sadang Family will continue as is. We have more programs to do together next year, and we’ll keep working out together. Woo-jin is also preparing something; it’s a long-term project like our meal kits and cross-country trek from this year.”

I showed a rough schedule.

“Monday is for Baekbanttara filming. Tuesday is ‘Ha-Chan-eun,’ a cooking show with Ha-im and the PD, where they’ll create healthy meal plans.”

Park Ha-im as a regular cast member OMG

This is insane, he wins Best New Actor AND Ha-im joins as a regular? Baekbanttara’s grown so big

World-class

Will PD-nim reveal their face?

PD-nim, please escape this torture

Making the PD plan, edit, and even appear on the show—what a ruthless boss

That’ll definitely stir up some controversy

“Oh, what are you talking about? The PD agreed to this. They had conditions, and we accepted, so we’re going forward by mutual agreement—don’t make comments like that. Anyway, Wednesday is for working out with the Sadang Family. The type of workout will change week to week. We might film indoors or do an outdoor shoot with the public. We’re even planning it like a performance.”

A workout performance?

I’m not sure what that even means

The Nam Sadang crew, level up! Whoa

Nam Sadang Crew, what’s that? LOL

Four guys with diabetes, the Sadang Fam

It feels like we’re getting more nicknames all the time.

“Thursday is for Baekban Debate and Baekban Review. Fridays will be for story-sharing streams, covering things like Ideal Type World Cups, new product reviews, or restaurant reviews. Saturdays will return to BanChan’s DIY meal prep show with Ji-seung hyung since we couldn’t do it because of The Joy of Korean Cuisine. Sundays are off.”

Monday: Baekbanttara
Tuesday: Ha-chan-eun
Wednesday: Sadang Family Workout
Thursday: Baekban Debate, Baekban Review
Friday: Story-sharing stream
Saturday: BanChan DIY Meal Prep
Sunday: Off

“But this plan might not be set in stone. Of course, things might change along the way, so please don’t complain later if we say we’ll do something and then can’t. This is just the current plan.”

If you said you’d do it, you should do it

Why aren’t you sticking to it?

Promised. You. Said. You’d. Do. It.

Lost your edge already

Already setting up excuses, huh

“And you guys follow through with all your New Year’s plans? Like when people say they’re quitting smoking, and after a day they start showing off about it, only to end up sneaking off to a hidden spot for a smoke when no one’s looking.”

LOL so true

I really need to lose weight this year

I’m really quitting smoking this year

I’m getting out of this dorm next year

No, I’m definitely buying a car in 2024

The viewers start sharing their own New Year’s plans and goals.

“Really? You’re buying a car next year? Which one?”

They mentioned they were torn between an Avante and a K3, which reminded me of something that happened to me in the past.

“For that amount, you could buy a used Sonata or K5 instead!”