The filming schedule for "2 Days & 3 Nights" is exactly as the title suggests: three days and two nights. Throughout this period, the cameras never stop rolling.

    Even scenes of the cast waking up in their respective accommodations are captured, all thanks to one of the show’s signature segments: the wake-up mission.

    Typically, the wake-up time is set around 8 a.m. to ensure the cast’s condition remains optimal.

    Forcing the cast awake at an ungodly hour to complete a mission would likely do more harm than good. No matter how seasoned and experienced the 2 Days & 3 Nights cast might be, they’re only human, after all.

    Considering the fatigue accumulated from the previous day’s filming, the production team ensured the cast had enough time to recover. Unlike one-off variety show episodes, 2 Days & 3 Nights required three consecutive days of shooting, meaning everyone’s condition had to be as close to peak as possible to maintain the show’s quality.

    That’s why, when Ha-eun emerged from her tent at exactly 6:30 a.m., causing a rustling commotion, the staff couldn’t hide their surprise.

    “...Huh? Isn’t that Ha-eun?”

    “It’s not even 7 yet. Why’s she up already?”

    Her appearance startled the staff, who were just beginning to prepare for the wake-up mission.

    No previous guest on 2 Days & 3 Nights had ever woken up this early. After all, filming from early morning to late night inevitably wore down even the most seasoned entertainers.

    And yet, Ha-eun didn’t seem tired. If anything, she appeared refreshed—dare they say, even invigorated.

    “Ha-eun, aren’t you tired? Are you sure you don’t want to rest more?”

    “I’m fine, really.”

    Her clear eyes, lively voice, and flawless complexion—devoid of any signs of fatigue—left the staff with only one conclusion:

    “Youth is truly a cheat code.”

    The staff assigned to Ha-eun quickly sprang into action.

    “Eun-sung, grab the camera! Ha-eun’s already awake.”

    “What? Already?”

    “Yes, already!”

    This left VJ Gwak Eun-sung, responsible for filming Ha-eun, no choice but to start rolling at the unusually early time of 6:40 a.m. He also had the additional task of conducting the first-wake-up interview, a signature part of the show.

    Approaching Ha-eun, who was casually stretching in the middle of the filming site, he spoke in a friendly tone:

    “Ha-eun, do you usually wake up this early?”

    Her response reminded him of something he’d briefly forgotten.

    “I have school, so I have to wake up early to get ready on time.”

    “Ah, right.”

    Unlike the other adult cast members, Ha-eun was still an 18-year-old high school senior. Naturally, her early wake-up habits made sense.

    But the fact that she woke up on her own to prepare for school at such an early hour added an interesting dimension to her character. Continuing the interview, Eun-sung asked more questions about her daily life, knowing that viewers would be intrigued by her routine.

    Celebrity routines were always a point of interest for 2 Days & 3 Nights viewers, and Ha-eun was the show’s first-ever high school guest.@@@@

    “How’s studying? Isn’t it tough to juggle school and acting?”

    “It’s not easy, but I find studying as fun as acting, so I manage.”

    “Wow, only people good at studying say things like that. You must be a great student!”

    “Not that great. I just try to do enough to avoid getting scolded by my parents.”

    Ha-eun’s image as a "high school actress" became a focal point. Her ability to balance schoolwork and acting was unique, offering the kind of story only she could share.

    Her openness made her easy to talk to, and the conversation flowed without awkwardness. Indeed, Ha-eun’s professionalism as an entertainer shone through.

    “How do your teachers treat you?”

    “They’re really considerate. Sometimes they even mention the shows I’ve been in and say they enjoyed watching them.”

    “Would you like to leave a video message for your teachers?”

    “Hmm... I’m always grateful to them. Oh, and I’d be even more thankful if they watched Moonlight Piercing Through the Clouds live!”

    Her words were thoughtful and articulate—easy to understand but pleasant to hear.

    Having captured plenty of footage, Eun-sung shifted the focus to the upcoming mission:

    “The wake-up music starts at 8, so why don’t we head to the mission area before everyone else wakes up?”

    Ha-eun immediately sprinted toward the mission area without hesitation.

    Caught off guard, Eun-sung had no choice but to grab his gear and chase after her, all while internally cursing himself for mentioning the wake-up mission.

    By the time the wake-up music blared across the filming site, Ha-eun and Eun-sung had already arrived at the mission area.

    [Bap-bap-ba-ba↗ Bap↘-bap-ba↗ Good! Mo! Ning~!]

    With the unmistakable wake-up music as her cue, Ha-eun assumed the elephant pose, preparing for the mission: spinning five times in place and kicking a shuttlecock three times.

    It was something Ha-eun had never done in her 18 years of life.

    But with her focus set entirely on scoring high, she spun five times, picked up the shuttlecock, and kicked it three times.

    “Lee Ha-eun! Success!”

    After completing the mission faster than anyone else, she plopped down on a makeshift chair and calmly watched the other cast members sprinting toward the area.

    ***

    "Since Ha-eun came in first in the wake-up mission, she gets to draw first."

    "Ah, okay."

    It was right after the morning wake-up mission and breakfast had concluded.

    The 2 Days & 3 Nights cast gathered to draw lots to determine how many watermelons each of them would need to harvest.

    When everyone had their lot in hand, Jang Sung-ho called out:

    "One, two, three!"

    At his cue, they all revealed their lots simultaneously.

    One cartload... Is that not much?

    Saying she wasn’t surprised would have been a lie.

    But even now, she couldn’t let her reaction show.

    Not long after, the group posed for a photo.

    Standing beside the elder, Ha-eun smiled on cue as the PD gestured with the camera.

    As soon as they left the elder’s home, Ha-eun pulled out her phone and called Ju Jung-yoon, who was waiting at the parking lot near the set.

    "...I’m doing the punishment, unnie."

    [What? Really? How did that happen?]

    "I worked hard harvesting watermelons."

    [Huh?]

    She didn’t explain further.

    Even she couldn’t articulate the feelings she’d experienced.

    Yet, the soft smile that lingered on her face told her that this feeling—whatever it was—wasn’t bad.

    After another walk, they arrived at a stream behind the watermelon field.

    Standing before the long, glistening stream—today’s final highlight—Ha-eun...

    SPLASH!

    ...jumped straight into the center of the stream alongside Jang Sung-ho.

    She willingly became a drenched mess, fully embracing the punishment.

    To be honest, the water was much colder than she’d expected.

    "So, Ha-eun, how does it feel? Pretty different from watching it on TV, right?"

    Yoo Sung-jae’s playful tone broke the silence.

    Ha-eun glanced at him sideways before replying:

    "Didn’t you say yesterday you were determined to throw Sung-jae in the stream?"

    "Ah, that’s right."

    With that, Yoo Sung-jae turned toward Jang Sung-ho, but before he could protest, Jang Sung-ho and Lim Nam-soo seized his arms.

    "This isn’t fair! I don’t deserve the punishment!"

    "Talk too much, Sung-jae~. Time to go~."

    SPLASH!

    They threw him into the deepest part of the stream.

    Yoo Sung-jae emerged moments later, spluttering and shouting in protest.

    Wrapped in thick towels, they waited for Ju Jung-yoon to pick them up.

    Even then, the strange sensation from earlier lingered in Ha-eun’s chest.

    "Ha-eun, you felt good when the elder thanked you, didn’t you?"

    "Yes."

    "And when you were chosen for the punishment, you didn’t feel all that bad, did you?"

    "That’s true. I wasn’t upset at all."

    Sitting beside her, Jang Sung-ho spoke gently:

    "Helping others is one of those things that naturally makes you feel good. So, Ha-eun, promise me you’ll always help those you can."

    The request came from a man with the nickname "Donation Angel."

    Nodding again, Ha-eun promised to help whenever she could.

    Shortly after, Ju Jung-yoon arrived.

    Predictably, she pulled out her phone to snap a photo of the soaking wet Ha-eun.

    "What? You’re going to take a picture?"

    "Ah, no... I mean, not really..."

    "It’s fine. It’s all going to be on TV anyway."

    But with Jang Sung-ho standing protectively nearby, Jung-yoon ultimately didn’t take a single photo.

    The mere look he gave her was enough to dissuade her completely.

    "Uh, Ha-eun... Let’s go change your clothes."

    "Okay."

    Later, after Ha-eun returned dry and fresh to the camera, she spent the evening sharing stories from the filming of Moonlight Piercing Through the Clouds with the rest of the cast.

    By the time night fell, there was no need for an additional punishment like sleeping outside.

    Lying on a soft mattress, she immediately fell into a deep sleep, too exhausted to even dream after such an eventful day.

    ***

    "Alright, let''s slate—"

    "Stop. When there''s a guest, the guest has to do the slate."

    At Jang Sung-ho''s suggestion—no, insistence—the honor of clapping the slate was passed to Ha-eun, the guest.

    And so, clap.

    The single sound marked the end of the long, three-day shoot for 2 Days & 3 Nights, echoing through the set.

    "Good work, everyone~."

    "You did great~."

    Ordinary farewells.

    And not-so-ordinary exchanges of contact information.

    "Call me anytime if you miss me~."

    How many people in Korea could boast having the contact information of a celebrity like Jang Sung-ho?

    Even though it had been over a decade since Ha-eun entered the entertainment industry, the surreal feeling of saving other celebrities’ phone numbers never really faded.

    Finally, with the filming of 2 Days & 3 Nights wrapped up, her mind was already racing.

    All she wanted was to rush home, set up her stream, and go live as her VTuber persona—a three-day hiatus felt like an eternity.

    But there was a catch.

    "So, Ha-eun... I’ve been debating whether to tell you this or not. I really wasn’t sure, but I think I should."

    "?"

    "You’ve gotten a request. Not as actress Lee Ha-eun, but as Pinocchio, the singer."

    The name she hadn’t used in a long time.

    It echoed in her ears, bringing a moment of stunned silence.

    After hearing the full details from Ju Jung-yoon, she didn’t know what to say.

    For once, words failed her.

    "They’re saying it has to be you. That Pinocchio has to be the one to help."

    "...Let’s go meet them. Something like this needs to be discussed face-to-face."