After Jihoon's surprisingly sound advice, the rest of the group sprang into action.
Working like a well-rehearsed team, they stretched their nets out across the stream, slowly encircling the fish like patient hunters.
Inch by inch, they advanced, tightening the net with practiced ease.
As they raised it from the water, a shimmer of silver flickered inside—the fish fluttered wildly, but they were caught.
The moment the first few whitebait were scooped up, something lit up in everyone's eyes.
What started as a simple mission turned into a full-on fishing frenzy.
The thrill of the chase became addictive.
Taeyeon giggled as she caught another one.
Daesung cheered like he'd just won a gold medal.
Even the usually calm Sooro was splashing around like an excited kid. In no time, they'd filled half a basin with the slippery little fish.
Meanwhile, Jihoon remained dry and comfortably seated on the shore, the very picture of useless elegance.
Bored of twiddling his thumbs, he squatted next to the basin and began poking the fish with childlike curiosity.
He stirred the water gently, watching the fish scatter and wiggle.
For a moment, it was oddly meditative—until chaos broke loose.
A few of the fish, as if seeking revenge, leapt from the basin in perfect synchronization, flopping onto the muddy ground beside him.
Jihoon jerked back in surprise, nearly falling on his backside.
He instinctively reached out to scoop them up—but paused midway.
Then a mischievous grin crossed his face.
This is a variety show, he thought.
Why solve the problem quietly when you can milk it for drama?
He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted with theatrical panic, "Jaeseok hyung! The fish! The fish are escaping! They're making a run for it!"
Down by the stream, everyone turned at the sound of his shriek, mid-fishing and drenched to their knees.
Lee Hyori barely looked up as she responded with a classic shout, "YA! Just pick them up and throw them back in the basin, baboya!"
"But I don't dare!" Jihoon whined dramatically, clutching his hands to his chest and playing the part of a scared child.
Unfortunately, his acting chops clearly didn't extend to this kind of role—it was about as convincing as a cardboard cutout in a thunderstorm.
Park Yejin rolled her eyes so hard it nearly became a medical emergency. "The men in this family get more useless by the minute," she muttered, stomping toward the basin.
In less than ten seconds, she scooped up all the rogue fish with the ease of someone who'd cleaned up far worse messes.
She didn't even break a sweat.
By the time everyone regrouped and returned to shore, the basin was nearly full of squirming whitebait.
Jaeseok looked over the bounty and nodded approvingly. "We've got more than enough now. I heard from the locals there's a great diving spot nearby. Want to check it out?"
"Really?" Taeyeon's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That sounds fun!"
Jihoon opened his mouth wanting to respond, but before he could get a word in—
"YA! Lee Jihoon, shut up!" Lee Hyori snapped like a whip, pointing a wet finger in his direction.
Her voice echoed off the nearby trees like a command from a general on the battlefield.
Jihoon blinked in disbelief, completely caught off guard. "What did I even say?" he asked, voice filled with theatrical betrayal.
But Hyori didn't answer. She had known him far too long to give him the benefit of the doubt.
She could already guess what nonsense was about to come out of his mouth—and preemptively shut it down.
And the thing was… everyone else had started to catch on too.
At first, Jihoon had walked onto set like some prodigy filmmaker—respected, polished, a symbol of youth and brilliance.
But now, with every lazy quip and exaggerated gesture, the cast began to see past the reputation.
He wasn't the serious genius they'd imagined.
He was just… Jihoon. The chaos magnet. The housework dodger. The guy who pokes fish and cries wolf when they jump.
And now, no one wanted to hear his "suggestions."
Taeyeon, now fully invested, raised her hand like a kid in school. "I want to go diving!"
That sealed the deal. Jaeseok clapped his hands and declared, "That's it then! Let's go!"
Laughter bounced between them as they headed down toward the diving spot, the camaraderie palpable.
They teased each other over who'd probably scream first in the water.
Daesung offered to do flips off a rock, Chunhee challenged him with a chicken splash contest, and someone—probably Sooro—was already doing breathing exercises like it was the Olympics.
And Jihoon?
Still dry. Still dramatic. Still—decidedly—Jihoon.
"We'll need two boats to get to the diving spot!" Jaeseok called out cheerfully as they reached the shore.
Lee Hyori narrowed her eyes at the sound of his voice. "Oppa, what's with that creepy smile?" she asked, arms crossed suspiciously.
Jaeseok's grin only widened. "Ah! Just imagining riding in a boat with Taeyeon—how can I not smile?"
Cue the laughter from the male cast. They all nodded like middle school boys at recess, every single one of them suddenly volunteering for Boat Taeyeon.
"Fine! Jihoon, Yejin, and I will take the other boat," Lee Hyori huffed, tossing her hair dramatically.
"Hell no!!" Jihoon shot up like someone had just announced a tax audit.
Hyori whipped around. "YA! You brat—don't tell me you want to sit next to Taeyeon too?!"
Jihoon looked personally offended. "Nonna, it's not like that! I just… I know how this works. If I go with you and Yejin noona, you'll gang up on me and make me row the whole time!"
"You're the youngest. It's tradition," Hyori said flatly.
Jihoon threw his arms up like he'd just been sentenced to hard labor. "That's exactly my point!"
"You'll still be the youngest on the other boat," she snapped.
"Yes," Jihoon said smugly, "but because Taeyeon's there, Sooro hyung and Chunhee hyung will be too busy showing off to make me row. I can just sit pretty."
There was a moment of silence. Then a collective ohh… from the group.
They hated to admit it—but he wasn't wrong.
Lee Hyori fumed. "YA! You use that SNU brain of yours for this kind of logic?"
Without warning, she reached out and grabbed Jihoon's ear, twisting it like an angry aunt at a family gathering. "You're in our boat. If you refuse, I'll twist it off and feed it to the fish!"
"Nonna! Nonna! It's tearing!" Jihoon squealed, wincing as he patted her hand to surrender. "Of course I'm with you! I love rowing! I was born to row!"
"Who's rowing?" Hyori asked again.
"I'll row! I'll row! Just let go!" Jihoon cried, half-laughing, half-crying.
Finally satisfied, Hyori released him with a glare and marched off to pick their boat.
Jihoon slumped to the ground, rubbing his ear like a war victim. "This is abuse," he muttered. "I need legal representation."
From the distance, Hyori turned her head and shouted, "LEE JIHOON! If you don't get your butt over here, I will row back and drag you by the hair!"
"I'm coming!" Jihoon scrambled to his feet and ran after her like a schoolkid late for class.
The others—Taeyeon, Jaeseok, Chunhee, and Sooro—were bent over in laughter. Watching Jihoon flail helplessly through life was quickly becoming everyone's favorite new hobby.
"Rowing team, assemble!" Jaeseok called out like a Marvel hero.
And so the boats were chosen. One full of chaotic uncles trying to impress a girl. The other with two no-nonsense noonas and one very reluctant, very doomed youngest member.
[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe, JiangXiu, OS_PARCEIROS, Divine_Cheese and Daoistadj for bestowing the power stone!]