Chick 171
by CristaeHunter of the Chick Class is Filial! Episode 171
‘I’m already exhausted.’
Leaning his temple against his hand, he scanned the bustling staff for the child.
He was all the more bewildered since this was his first time appearing on a variety show like this.
According to Grew, it was supposed to be a job experience.
Where had Grew gone, and why was he the only one sitting on the set?
It was the first shoot, so he had no idea how things would proceed, and he’d been thrown in without any proper explanation.
What on earth were they planning?
With his meager imagination, the only thing he could picture was working a fast food part-time job together with Grew.
Today might be the day the child finally found out he couldn’t cook at all.
Producer Seo waved with a beaming smile.
“Well then, Guild Leader On, we’ll start your shoot now.”
“What?”
Junim jerked his head up and a crease appeared between his brows.
What were they about to film? What about the job experience? And Grew?
But Producer Seo merely kept smiling, as if he already knew all of Junim’s questions.
“For now, just watch the VCR we’ve prepared and give us your reactions.”
Although Junim found it strange, he decided to observe for now.
But it was then he should have realized. That was the moment he should have stopped everything.
Before Junim could say a word, the VCR began to play.
On the screen, Grew, wearing a sash, entered the Hyunak headquarters in tiny quick steps.
Junim fixed his gaze on the VCR.
The Hyunak employees burst out laughing when they saw Grew’s sash.
Emblazoned in large letters were the words ‘Guild Leader for a Day.’
“……?”
Junim’s mouth dropped open.
The voice of the producer following Grew with the camera could be heard.
Noticing that Grew was wearing just one chick glove on his left hand despite the warm weather, Junim raised an eyebrow.
The child clenched his small fists.
The cameraman on set, perhaps uneasy, zoomed in on Junim’s left-hand glove drumming nervously on the table.
With grave solemnity, Grew raised his left hand clad in the chick glove.
A stifled burst of laughter rippled through the crew. Up front, Producer Seo’s snickering was clearly audible.
Junim shot him a chilly glare.
Producer Seo and the rest of the staff quickly pressed their lips together and looked sheepishly down.
On Junim squeezed his eyes shut.
Even in this situation, he found himself thinking how adorable the child was, and was dumbfounded at himself.
…Looking back now, maybe it would have been better to let this world collapse.
The next scene took place in the guild leader’s office.
The guild leader for the day was all but swallowed up by the enormous chair.
After all, a guild leader should be reviewing documents.
From what Junim had observed, that was what took up most of his time as well.
‘Alright!’
With her tiny hands, Grew grabbed a random file from the towering stack.
The important documents were stored elsewhere, and whatever was strewn atop the desk couldn’t be that crucial—she skimmed through, poised to slap on a sticker and stamp it.
‘What’s this?’
English!
The long, difficult English words lined up endlessly, and her determined ambition shriveled in an instant like dried pollack.
As she floundered in confusion, Producer Seo asked,
Grew glanced at the camera and mumbled under her breath.
The camera shifted toward the document.
Grew quickly hugged the file to her chest, rolling her eyes.
She hesitated, looking around, then fished a chick-patterned sleep mask from her bag.
<…Mmm. Now it’s nap time.>
Grew slipped the chick mask on and nodded vaguely.
Grew lifted the sleep mask slightly.
Then she slipped it right back down.
On the set, Producer Seo struggled to suppress his laughter as he asked,
“Guild Leader On, you look like you have plenty to say. Any explanations?”
“It’s not… It’s not that I nap a lot, I—”
In truth, he did nap.
With a deadened expression, Junim rubbed his face.
“Yes, I see. Thank you for clarifying.”
“Don’t you think we’ve had enough of this? Isn’t that right?”
“Alright, let’s hurry on before we’re forced to cut the scene.”
A caption popped up: Grew really did sleep for a full hour.
In the next segment, Grew could be seen biking busily around.
Below, the caption read: ‘Major Crisis!’
‘What now?’
He was sure nothing had happened while he was away on business.
Producer Seo voiced his question:
Her urgent tone was brimming with alarm.
It was an important task.
Moreover, managing the break room made her look like a diligent guild leader.
“Guild Leader On. You’ll need to make sure the snack stock in the break room never runs out. Right?”
“Would you mind stopping with the questions?”
Chin propped up, Junim spoke as though barely restraining his irritation, setting Producer Seo off into laughter at last.
While Grew fussed dramatically to Nayeon about the snack emergency, she checked her watch and hopped back on her bike, restless.
Junim clenched his fist.
Gidan, you again.
Without a thought for consequences, Grew pulled out something she’d been hiding behind her back.
When Producer Seo recognized it in surprise, Grew drew herself up proudly, shoulders squared.
Preening.
Her white cheeks flushed, and her little shoulders nearly flipped backward with pride.
Junim narrowed his eyes. Getting so puffed up over a single compliment truly was a talent.
Apparently eager to boast, her chatter grew ever more animated.
Worried the child might say something inappropriate, Junim sighed in relief as the scene changed.
Now, Grew was preparing with Serhi, Gidan, and the First Raid Team.
When Grew flashed her sash, everyone burst out laughing.
Feigning seriousness, Grew gave all sorts of instructions, then, spotting snacks atop the table, tucked them neatly into her bag.
The team leader picked Grew up and scrubbed her face with his bristly beard.
Junim ran his tongue inside his cheek.
‘So everyone knew except me?’
Come to think of it, everyone’s smiles had been twitching whenever they saw him lately—no doubt they’d all kept the secret for today.
As he folded his arms in a sulky scowl, the members gathered for the raid began to file into the dungeon.