Peninsula: Please, I only want to talk about ordinary people.

Chapter 3 New Variety Shows

"I insist on wearing this."

Jiang Yongtai's face was long as he looked at the mask in his hand that Jin Chengyu had somehow gotten his hands on, a mask identical to the one from "The Masked Singer".

Kim Sung-woo had already put on his hoodie, which made him look like a masked wrestler who had already faded into obscurity before even making his debut.

"Of course, bro!"

Kim Sung-woo’s confident voice came from behind the mask.

"Don't forget, we're still full-time employees of KBS. If we start looking for other jobs before even leaving, how will we survive in this industry if the people at the station find out?"

Jiang Yongtai didn't speak, but stared intently at him, causing Jin Chengyu to take a half-step back.

"W-What's wrong, bro? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"...It's okay, let's go, you drive."

"I'll drive?" Kim Sung-woo took the car keys and paused for a moment.

"What else? When the surveillance cameras catch you like this, you'll be famous: 'KBS writer suspected of attempted bank robbery.'"

After saying that, he opened the passenger door and got in.

"..."

Kim Sung-woo realized that it seemed a bit silly to wear a mask before even arriving at his destination, so he quickly took it off and got into the car.

The car drove out of the garage and headed towards Yeouido.

Jiang Yongtai looked out the window. The route was getting more and more off-center. The Han River flashed past on the left. After crossing the Mapo Bridge, it turned into a small road near Hongdae.

He originally thought the meeting would be held at the tvN office building, which is why he agreed to wear this thing.

It's common sense to be secretive when defecting to a rival company, but the direction the navigation is pointing to has absolutely nothing to do with the tvN building.

The car eventually stopped in an alley, and the navigation indicated that the destination had been reached. Both sides of the alley were lined with barbecue restaurants.

"...Cheng Yu."

"Um?"

Are you sure you're not messing with me?

Kim Sung-woo had already put on his mask and was holding the car door handle when he heard this, so he turned around.

"Of course, brother! How could I dare!"

He pointed to the glass door of the barbecue restaurant and lowered his voice, "PD Na and the others have arrived. Let's go, bro."

Without giving Jiang Yongtai time to react, he pushed open the car door and jumped out.

Jiang Yongtai sat alone in the car, sighed as he looked at himself in the sun visor mirror, and put on the mask after all... he was already here.

The two arrived at the door of the private room under the strange looks of others. Kim Sung-woo opened the door and greeted them at a 90-degree angle.

"Hello, seniors!"

There were probably five or six people sitting in the private room.

Luo Yingxi was sitting in the innermost seat. Hearing the sound, he looked up and saw two masked people at the door. He paused for a moment, then recognized them.

"Oh, Yongtai's here... Wait a minute, what are you two doing? Did you finish recording 'The Masked Singer' and didn't remove your makeup?"

The other people at the table also looked over.

Lee Woo-jung was sitting next to Na Young-seok. He had just taken a sip of his drink when he saw the two of them. He choked and covered his mouth with a tissue.

The two assistant PDs next to him were stunned for a moment, and then the whole private room burst into laughter.

Kang Young-tae recognized all these faces: Lee Woo-jung, Na Young-seok's go-to screenwriter, with whom he collaborated from "2 Days & 1 Night" all the way to tvN.

The two assistant PDs next to him used to work at KBS, but later left with Na Young-seok.

They're all acquaintances... Being seen like this by them is a hundred times worse than being laughed at by strangers.

Jiang Yongtai slowly turned his head.

"Kim, Sung, Woo!"

……

"Come on, Yongtai, have a drink."

Na Young-seok chuckled as he picked up the soju bottle and filled the empty glass in front of him.

Kim Sung-woo had already been lectured by Kang Young-tae, who explained why he wore a mask – all because of his earlier statement: "A variety show personality should have the character of a variety show personality!"

Nobody expected that this kid would take it seriously.

Jiang Yongtai raised his glass, and the rim of the glass touched his own half an inch below.

"I heard your show was canceled. It's a shame, it was quite interesting."

Luo Yingxi put down his cup, picked up a piece of grilled meat, and placed it on the plate in front of Jiang Yongtai.

"So, what are your plans now?"

To be honest, he wasn't very familiar with Jiang Yongtai. Including today's meeting, the two had probably only met three or four times, each time with Liu Haozhen in between.

Kang Young-tae joined KBS in 2016. He spent the first two years at Music Bank as an assistant PD for music shows. Later, when "2 Days & 1 Night" was short of people, he went to work under Yoo Ho-jin.

He occasionally drank with Liu Haozhen, and whenever Liu Haozhen mentioned this younger man, he would always sigh a few times.

They say Jiang Yongtai is a quiet guy, doesn't like to talk. He sits in the corner during meetings and won't say a word for an hour unless you call on him.

But what's strange is that his shadow can always be found in the brilliant reactions of the guests on the show.

It was as if he had laid out the line beforehand, just waiting for the guests to step in.

"A person with good eyesight."

Once, Liu Haozhen got drunk and patted him on the shoulder, saying...

Later, Liu Haozhen left "Two Days & One Night", and Jiang Yongtai followed him.

This is not uncommon at KBS. When the main PD leaves, his subordinates are either reassigned to other teams or leave with him.

Jiang Yongtai chose the latter.

However, not long after, he finally produced his first pilot program, "The Non-existent Tone-Deaf".

The pilot episode had good ratings, and several veteran producers in the industry privately said it was quite interesting, but... it's a pity, it was KBS.

This is Kang Young-tae's entire resume. In a place like KBS, where seniority matters, it's as thin as a piece of scrap paper.

But Luo Yingxi remembered what Liu Haozhen said: people with good eyesight are not many in this industry.

When Kim Sung-woo heard Na Young-seok ask that question, his eyes lit up and he opened his mouth to speak, but Kang Young-tae pressed his knee down under the table.

Kim Sung-woo turned to look at him, but Kang Young-tae only gave him a look that told him to shut up.

"Youngseok oppa." Kang Youngtae sat up straight.

"Do you remember that idea I mentioned when I had dinner with Ho-jin last time?"

Luo Yingxi paused, holding the lettuce leaves, and shifted his gaze from the baking tray to Jiang Yongtai's face.

"Last time..."

He frowned and thought for a moment, "Ah, it seems like that's what happened. Back then, you mentioned something about a dating reality show, didn't you?"

Jiang Yongtai nodded.

"Yes, it's a dating reality show. But it's a little different from the dating reality shows we've done before."

Luo Yingxi stuffed the lettuce wrap into his mouth, signaling him to continue.

"I want to film a dating reality show featuring all ordinary people," said Jiang Yongtai. "There will be five couples in total."

Luo Yingxi picked up a tissue, wiped his fingers, and smiled.

"Yongtai, you've done dating reality shows with completely ordinary people before, haven't you? As for the ratings... you know."

Li Youting, who was standing next to him, nodded and picked up some garlic with his chopsticks and put it on the baking tray.

"The settings are different."

Jiang Yongtai wasn't taken aback by this reaction. "I meant five exes."

Luo Yingxi put down the tissue, signaling him to continue.

"They were all couples who had broken up, and they were put in the same room."

Jiang Yongtai picked up his glass and took a sip. "Let everyone see their ex living and dating with someone else's ex."

Of course, new members will join later, but the core setup remains the same.

He put down his glass and looked up at Na Young-seok.

"I've already thought of a name: 'Love on the Transfer Line'."

Luo Yingxi raised an eyebrow, leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and stared at Jiang Yongtai for a long while.

"Your idea," he clicked his tongue, "is a bit unethical."

That's why there was filming.