Cheat day

Side by Side (6)

Baek Seung-yong Car: This term refers to a YouTube crew currently gaining attention. Joo Ji-seung, Cha Ji-chan, Ban-chan, and Baek Woo-jin embarked on a national trek starting from Seoul Station on the 1st of this month, visiting cities such as Seongnam, Dongtan, Anseong, Jincheon, Eumseong, Chungju, Mungyeong, Sangju, Gimcheon, Daegu, Cheongdo, Miryang, Gimhae, and Busan.

Each city they visit accumulates sponsorship funds from large corporations.

The citizens’ response has been overwhelming. In Daegu, approximately 1,000 people were estimated by the police to be on the streets cheering for the young people.

[Daegu Dalseo District Resident] “We’re grateful. They came to a place with no connections, donated, and volunteered. How can we not be thankful?”

[Daegu Suseong District Resident] “It’s commendable. Young people are helping the elderly with lunch boxes and side dishes.”

[Daegu Jung District Resident] “At first, I didn’t care much, but when I heard they were coming to our area, I became interested. I went out and saw them looking quite exhausted, but I will support them until the end.”

[Daegu Suseong District Resident] “In these tough times, who helps others? It’s not easy. Baek Seung-yong Car, fighting!”

It’s not just in Daegu. The personal broadcasts of Baek Seung-yong Car have recorded a total of 170,000 concurrent viewers, and support is pouring in from across the country.

They expressed their intention to donate all the sponsorship funds collected during the broadcast back to the community.

[Influencer Cha Ji-chan] “We need to give back. The money was given to us, but it’s meant to be used for good causes.”

The report on Baek Seung-yong Car’s good deeds aired on WTV’s main news and created a significant impact.

Various sectors mentioned “Walking to the Sky,” which only increased interest in Baek Seung-yong Car.

***

Chat Reactions:

“It’s insane! Today’s Super Chat and donations have surpassed 20 million won.”

“Just for today, they’re number one in the world, lol.”

“This makes me feel good.”

“Honestly, life is tough. The weather keeps getting weird, I’m earning money, but prices are insane, and there are problems everywhere. So, when successful people like Baek Seung-yong Car do good deeds, I want to cheer them on.”

“For real, why would they do this if they didn’t need to?”

“They’re just looking for attention. They’re doing this because they’ll benefit in some way.”

“Is it that easy?”

“They’re donating all the money they received. They’re even using their own money to donate!”

“It’s just a ploy. Don’t give them attention.”

“It’s touching. When they were gathering people, the scale was unprecedented, but due to the weather, everything was canceled, and only the four of them started. Now, citizens are stepping up to fill the gaps, and it’s just so heartwarming.”

“Daegu was really wild, lol.”

“Should I go out too?”

“No way, lol. Baek Woo-jin is so funny! He’s still broadcasting but keeps yelling not to come out, lol.”

“Why?”

“He wants to quit, but since people keep showing support, he can’t, lol. He’s begging for people to stop paying attention, lol.”

“Crazy, lol.”

“Wait, they’re still walking?”

“Yep.”

“I got curious and checked in. The viewership is insane. Each room has nearly 100,000 viewers.”

“It seems to be because of the news?”

“The news is also covering it, and YouTubers keep cheering them on. They mention it at least once during their broadcasts.”

***

“Bokbunja even put a link to it in his video.”

“But really, WH is doing amazing this time.”

“Yeah, I’m totally seeing it differently now.”

Baek Seung-yong Car’s “Walking to the Sky” was drawing so much attention that some began to classify it as a social phenomenon.

As a result, even within WH, where expectations were low, they started to reevaluate Director Kim Ki-tae’s judgment.

After being directly commended by Chairman Yoo Jang-hyuk, Director Kim returned to his office and sat down in his chair.

“…Ha ha.”

During the strategy meeting for “Walking to the Sky,” they had once resigned themselves to defeat.

They had thought it was a bad sign to see an empty event space with no one showing up.

However, when Ban-chan entered and Joo Ji-seung and Baek Woo-jin followed, they began to think that there might be a chance after all.

With PD Ahn Sang-kyu’s passion and PD Mukun-ji’s logical persuasion, they decided to take a gamble.

“It’s not a youthful image. It’s a fence that embraces young people who are daring to challenge.”

And now.

As Mukun-ji had mentioned a month ago, WH’s image had been improved more effectively than any branding could achieve.

When everyone else left, Baek Seung-yong Car symbolized a company that protects and supports young people.

The keywords associated with WH generated very positive search results across all social media and communities.

Director Kim Ki-tae skimmed through the news articles.

The sight of citizens walking alongside Baek Seung-yong Car was proving that this event was indeed a success.

“What incredible people.”

Director Kim shifted his gaze to the calendar. Tomorrow’s date was circled. It was the day Baek Seung-yong Car was scheduled to arrive at Busan Station.

He felt he needed to get to bed early today to be ready to greet them.

***

An unbelievable thing was happening.

After seeing signs in Mungyeong, by the time they reached Daegu, there were so many people walking with them that it was hard to greet everyone individually.

The sudden phenomenon left everyone in the party flabbergasted, and even the police had to rush in to control the crowds.

While the scale had reduced, there were still people lined up to see them off in Cheongdo and Miryang.

On the way from Gimhae to Busan, citizens gathered on both sides of the road, waving their hands near Bulam Station.

“We’re almost there!”

“Just cross the bridge, and we’ll be in Busan!”

“Fighting!”

As they crossed the bridge into Busan, the citizens’ cheers continued unabated.

People who had watched the broadcast came out to greet them at various spots, including Pyeonggang Station, Gangseo Sports Park, Mora Station, Dongwon Apartments, Jugaeng Elementary School, and Gaegeum Station.

They had already reached their physical limits long ago, with no energy left to wave or greet anyone, yet the voices of the citizens rang out, encouraging them.

“I can’t stop now. We’re almost there. But I’m so tired. I’m exhausted. I just want to lie down right now,” Baek Woo-jin whined.

“It’s Busan! We’ve arrived! But why are we still walking?”

Maybe it was the dialect, or maybe he just had a lot built up inside him, but he was complaining nonstop.

“It’s until Busan Station.”

“Why? Who decided that?”

“Jichan hyung.”

“Damn that guy.”

“Hehe.”

I laughed with Joo Ji-seung.

Cha Ji-chan seemed so incredulous that he was laughing too.

“I don’t even know why I did that. Why is Busan Station so far?”

“It could’ve just been City Hall! Why did you pick a place that’s 30 minutes further?”

“Because we started from the station.”

“What?”

“Since we started at a station, I thought it would be nice to finish at a station too.”

Even I found that reasoning ridiculous.

“I swear, once I get back to Seoul, I’m never seeing that guy again. Huh? Of all the 12 months in the year, we picked the month with the most rain. Not to mention, we could’ve taken the shortest route, but we’re going all over the place. And we even picked a far destination!”

“It’s Woo-jin.”

“Hello.”

Baek Woo-jin, who had been nagging Cha Ji-chan, smiled at the call of a Busan citizen.

“But I am tired.”

Joo Ji-seung, who had been encouraging us all this time, revealed his true feelings upon arriving in Busan.

“We’re almost there.”

“I think I’ve heard that 3,000 times this month.”

“You asked 3,000 times, so of course.”

“Yeah, yeah. Are you mad at me? I was the first one to find you when no one else was around, right?”

“……”

“After all this suffering, huh? We’ve been doing this together only out of loyalty, and you’re treating me like this?”

“……I’m sorry.”

“See? Chan-yong feels the same way. Joo-seung isn’t saying anything, but I bet he wants to hit you too, right?”

“Yeah. Can I hit you just once?”

Joo Ji-seung agreed with Baek Woo-jin’s words.

It wasn’t like him to act like that; it seemed he had a lot pent up.

“I’ll really give you a proper beating in Busan, so don’t worry.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not even from Busan.”

“But what does a proper Busan beating even entail?”

***

“Eat pork soup for breakfast, cold noodles for lunch, spicy seafood for dinner, and finish the night with eel and a shot of soju—that’s the full course.”

“What’s that?”

Baek Woo-jin frowned.

“I’m okay with that.”

Pork soup for breakfast is always a good choice.

A bowl of cold noodles would fulfill my wishes, and as long as the spicy seafood isn’t too hot, I’ll welcome it.

I haven’t tried eel yet, but I’m open to trying any food.

“Yeah.”

As we jokingly chatted and walked, I suddenly turned my head and saw Busan Station right in front of us.

People who had been waiting for us in front of the station, along with staff and WH’s Kim Ki-tae, waved banners to welcome us. However, I didn’t feel overwhelmed with emotion or a surge of joy.

I didn’t even have the strength to cheer.

I just felt a sense of relief—finally, we could rest. We had secured all the promised donations.

With that sense of relief, I plopped down on the ground.

Joo Ji-seung, Cha Ji-chan, and Baek Woo-jin seemed to share the same sentiment, throwing aside any pretense as they sat down. We looked at each other, then glanced at Busan Station before lying back down.

“……We made it.”

“We really did.”

“We actually did it.”

“We did it!”

I didn’t have the energy to get up and started to smile faintly while lying down when, I don’t know when, my sister-in-law came over with Choi Mi-kael and silently embraced her husband.

“Don’t cry. Why are you crying?”

“You worked hard.”

Seeing that made me choke up.

Cha Ji-chan was surrounded by the staff members who had come to help.

“Why did you all come down? Who’s watching the office? Huh? Huh?”

“Long live!”

“Long live the president!”

The staff, who were crazy about working out, lifted Cha Ji-chan and began to celebrate him.

They threw him up so high that he looked scared and flailed around.

“Wow, you really did it?”

PD Lee Ji-hye from U-Jin-ius approached Baek Woo-jin.

“See? I told you we could do it.”

Lee Ji-hye nodded and pursed her lips before taking out a sports drink and opening the cap for him.

While lying there watching them, I suddenly sensed someone approaching and turned my head to see Mukun-ji holding a handkerchief.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

She wiped my face with the handkerchief. It was very cold, likely soaked in water and put in the freezer, and it felt refreshing.