Chapter 147: Tales of a Foreign Land (Part VI)

Today marks the final day of recording for this overseas special, bringing us to the couple selection segment.

The first to step forward is Yoon Eun-hye.

"After spending this time together, if you believe Yoon Eun-hye is the most charming and she is the girl in your heart, please step forward and express your love for her," Kang Ho-dong calls out loudly.

Yoon Eun-hye stands before the male guests, her back turned to them, feeling the mixed gazes upon her and a strange flutter in her heart. Over the past few days, Jiang Yihan's smile, his actions, their collaboration, and his gentleness beneath the sea replay in her mind again and again. The clearest memory remains that moment of bungee jumping; she seems to still feel the warmth of Jiang Yihan's embrace—a warmth that makes her face burn. Then there was the touch beneath the ocean, a somewhat scorching contact that made her heart race wildly. Originally, this was just a variety show recording, everything was merely a game, and there was even a script. Yet for some unknown reason, at this very moment, Yoon Eun-hye sincerely hopes, truly hopes, that he is standing right behind her.

Long ago, her few collaborations with Jiang Yihan always left her feeling deeply comfortable. Jiang Yihan is simply that kind of man—perhaps a bit passive, perhaps slightly taciturn, but his smile, his words, and his actions can always make you feel warm and at ease. Yoon Eun-hye had felt it.

That unexpected meeting earlier this year—actually, Yoon Eun-hye had not been as calm as she appeared on the surface. Watching Jiang Yihan's profile as he read a book, the sunlight outlining the contours of his face, the air permeated with the scent of afternoon sunlight and the coffee fragrance of the bookstore—it had all left her somewhat infatuated. What was originally just a comfortable feeling suddenly yielded a trace of sweetness, giving Yoon Eun-hye new thoughts: the desire to deeply understand this endlessly charming man. Therefore, at that instant, Yoon Eun-hye had perhaps hoped for more than just a nodding greeting; she had hoped Jiang Yihan would walk over proactively, sit down opposite her, and chat with her calmly. Regrettably, that wish went unfulfilled.

In Phuket, when Yoon Eun-hye learned that Jiang Yihan would also be attending—at a time when she was still hesitating whether to accept this episode—her pursuit of that inner fondness made her accept without a moment's hesitation. When they met at the airport, Yoon Eun-hye confirmed that her feelings for Jiang Yihan were merely an attraction, the thought that they could become good friends and see what the future might hold.

Their meetings over the past few days cemented her fondness for this friend, yet the days of filming in Phuket stirred up excessive, further-reaching thoughts within her. Yoon Eun-hye herself did not know whether this was a blessing or a curse. What was originally just work, originally just a mild attraction, originally just friendship, had now blossomed into a feeling of love.

Yet, thinking of how difficult it is to simply make friends in this industry, let alone pursue a romance—and especially when the two of them had barely met a handful of times—Yoon Eun-hye began to feel conflicted. She simultaneously hoped that Jiang Yihan would step forward and that he would not.

Stepping forward would not only serve as a conclusion to these days of filming in Phuket, but also as an affirmation of that fondness and budding love blooming in her heart; not stepping forward might allow her to snap back to reality, reminding herself that this was work, that this was just work, and that she and Jiang Yihan had barely met a few times—that it was merely an attraction, nothing more. Yet, perhaps that would leave an infinite void of disappointment in her heart.

Yoon Eun-hye had no idea what she should do.

Amidst her hesitation, Kang Ho-dong's countdown finished, and the male guest who chose Yoon Eun-hye was already in place. Yoon Eun-hye gritted her teeth. No matter what her heart felt, the outcome was already determined; only by facing the present result would she know how her heart might unfold in the future. With a decisive turn, the moment she caught sight of Jiang Yihan's figure, Yoon Eun-hye's radiant smile instantly overshadowed all the other female guests.

Affection, love, affection, love, affection, love... Everything was hidden within Yoon Eun-hye's smile.

Jiang Yihan, Lin Erxiang, and Kim Jong-min were all standing behind Yoon Eun-hye.

To Jiang Yihan, Yoon Eun-hye was simply a friend who made him feel comfortable—nothing more, and today was just another day of filming. However, if Jiang Yihan knew what Yoon Eun-hye was thinking at this exact moment, one could only wonder how he would respond.

Stepping onto the "Love Train," each male guest is given one minute to confess his feelings to the female guest, who then decides whether she likes him, dislikes him, or chooses to wait. If she likes him, they immediately become a couple; if she dislikes him, the male guest remains single. If she chooses to wait, she must observe the performances of any other male guests who selected her before making her final decision.

When Jiang Yihan boarded the carriage and sat beside Yoon Eun-hye, that familiar, comforting scent drifted into her nose, leaving Yoon Eun-hye slightly flustered. It was merely the simple fragrance of shower gel, yet it proved intoxicating.

Once Kang Ho-dong announced the start, the carriage began to move.

Jiang Yihan raised his hand, holding it flat before Yoon Eun-hye. "Put your hand here."

Yoon Eun-hye gazed dazedly at Jiang Yihan's slender fingers for a moment before gently placing her hand upon his.

Jiang Yihan's fingers slowly closed, clasping her hand before pulling it toward his chest. "Can you feel my heartbeat?" After receiving Yoon Eun-hye's shy nod in response, Jiang Yihan continued, "During the bungee jump, as we held each other and felt each other's heartbeats, when our heart rates synchronized, I felt as though the world had narrowed down to just the two of us. The moment we leaped from the platform, all I could perceive was your breath, your heartbeat, your scent—an intoxicating intoxication."

Jiang Yihan's rare display of sweet talk left everyone somewhat stunned. Yoon Eun-hye's heart was already beating frantically, and Jiang Yihan's slightly husky, alluring voice ringing in her ear sent shivers of sweet anticipation through her.

A faint smile touched Jiang Yihan's lips as he softly began to hum David Tao's "Angel"—a romantic love song he adored.

"Sometimes I think no one could understand the pain hidden within my heart. Afraid to face this world with genuine sincerity, I grew increasingly silent. Drifting alone through a sea of humanity, unable to find anyone to speak with, who can offer me a gentle embrace when I feel my heart is about to shatter? Angel, angel, I hope you are by my side; angel, angel, can you hear me calling your name? Can you tell lonely, exhausted me that you will wait for me forever? Angel, angel, please stay by my side; angel, angel, please do not let go of my hand."

Although Yoon Eun-hye could not understand the Chinese lyrics, Jiang Yihan's gaze, his singing, and the warmth of his palm set her heart racing. For a fleeting second, Yoon Eun-hye even experienced an illusion—as if this were a true confession, as if Jiang Yihan were truly confessing his love to her. It felt as though an affirmative word was on the very tip of her tongue, dying to burst out.

Suddenly, Yoon Eun-hye regretted coming to Phuket.

Originally, she had only felt a sense of comfort around Jiang Yihan, followed by a mild attraction. But after interacting with him once more, everything about Jiang Yihan acted like an addictive poison, plunging Yoon Eun-hye hopelessly and irreversibly into the net of romance. Though her heart refused to admit it, she could no longer deny the truth: she had fallen for Jiang Yihan. Perhaps it was not yet love, but it was undoubtedly a liking—a very definite, undeniable liking.

Having been in this industry for so many years, Yoon Eun-hye had experienced relationships and understood the cruelty of this world; she knew all too well the difficulties involved. Setting all that aside, she was even more acutely aware that a man like Jiang Yihan would never lack admirers—rumors in the industry already swirled around names like Lee Hyori and Han Chae-young, and now she had fallen into the trap herself. This realization filled Yoon Eun-hye with panic.

Overwhelmed by panic, nervousness, and a runaway heartbeat, Yoon Eun-hye's mind flooded with countless conflicting thoughts, making the world spin in a dizzying blur.

As Jiang Yihan finished his song, the carriage arrived at the station, and the time was up.

"Please make your decision!" Kang Ho-dong's voice brought a dazed Yoon Eun-hye back to reality.

Yoon Eun-hye looked up at Jiang Yihan. Unlike their previous encounter during the bungee jump, the Jiang Yihan before her now resembled a prince—a white knight straight out of her dreams, sitting right in front of her, waiting for her to mount his steed and gallop toward the shores of happiness. In that instant, Yoon Eun-hye finally understood why Jiang Yihan's fans referred to him as the young master; Jiang Yihan possessed precisely that aura—the undeniable presence of a young master who could drive everyone crazy.

Despite the inner conflict, the confusion, and the chaos swirling in her mind, Yoon Eun-hye blurted out, "I like you."

The moment the words left her lips, Yoon Eun-hye immediately regretted them. She had confessed! She had actually confessed! It was over, completely over.

The cheers and groans erupting from the scene left Yoon Eun-hye momentarily bewildered. Only when Kang Ho-dong announced that Jiang Yihan and Yoon Eun-hye had officially become a couple did she snap back to reality: they were still recording a show. In this segment, if one agreed to pair up, saying "I like you" was simply part of the script. Therefore, everyone thought nothing of it, assuming Yoon Eun-hye was simply playing her part in the show by accepting.

At that moment, Yoon Eun-hye almost wished it were real, because she had no idea whether she would ever have another chance—or another ounce of courage—to utter those words again. Looking at Jiang Yihan as he held her hand and led her forward, the sense of security emanating from his broad back made Yoon Eun-hye fall into confusion once more.

As time flowed on, Kim Jaejoong and Chae Yeon became a couple, while Han Geng and Park Jung-ah, along with Lee Min-woo and Bae Seul-gi, formed the remaining pairs, bringing the main recording of the program to a close.

Why call it just the main recording? Because today marked the final episode's broadcast, requiring an additional indoor recording session.

"Hyung Ho-dong, the show is coming to an end. How are you feeling?" Jiang Yihan walked side by side with Kang Ho-dong, noticing that the usually boisterous and carefree host wore a rather solemn expression.

"Aside from reluctance, I don't really have any other thoughts," Kang Ho-dong replied, his tone tinged with a mix of regret and relief, as if he had already mentally prepared himself despite the lingering sorrow. "Actually, every show has a beginning and an end. It's just that ever since I took over *X-Man*, more than two years have passed, and too many things have happened. This show gave me countless honors, lifting me from obscurity to the position I hold today. There are simply too many emotions tied up in it. I'm still very reluctant to let go."

"In our industry, it's always been this way—infatuated with the new, discarding the old, putting profits above all else. If you fail, you get eliminated. Society is like this, and the entertainment circle is no different; equally cruel, with no retreat," Jiang Yihan remarked, his words carrying a heavy sense of reflection.

"Yihan, I was just wondering—what if one day I returned to where I started, losing everything I have now? What would that be like?" Kang Ho-dong's rare display of sentimentality tugged slightly at Jiang Yihan's heart. "Since *X-Man* started, it has launched many artists and created countless memorable segments, but now it's ending just like this, coming to a close without leaving a trace. Will we artists end up the same way? Who knows, maybe one day we'll lose everything?"

"Hyung Ho-dong, do you remember my situation last year? I believe we are never truly left with nothing, no matter the circumstances," Jiang Yihan said, his mindset now completely settled, shaped by what he had experienced and witnessed. "When we think we've lost everything, there are actually always people we don't know silently guarding us. When God closes a door, He opens another window."

"Hyung Ho-dong, *X-Man* has indeed brought you countless honors, but now that the time has come to an end, let it end. Perhaps this is also an opportunity—a brand-new beginning," Jiang Yihan continued. "Facing the future, no matter what new challenges arise, *X-Man* will always remain a glorious chapter in your life. What you need to do now is embrace an even more brilliant future."

Kang Ho-dong suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking strangely at Jiang Yihan in a way that made the younger man feel rather uneasy. "What is it, hyung?"

"Nothing. Why does it feel like our roles have reversed? You're the one lecturing me on the philosophy of life right now. Haha." Kang Ho-dong chuckled, rubbing his ultra-short buzz cut.

"Hyung Ho-dong, having lived through certain things, one naturally gains some perspective. It's not any grand philosophy of life, just a few personal thoughts. Haha." Jiang Yihan smiled lightly, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

Kang Ho-dong laughed, looked up at the impossibly blue sky, stretched lazily, and then resumed walking forward.

"To all the viewers who tuned in faithfully every Saturday, *X-Man* has now been on for two years," Kang Ho-dong adjusted his mood, returning to his signature smile and exaggerated expressions for the final sign-off. "I want to sincerely thank everyone for your support and affection. I also hope the guests who participated in our recordings will continue to present their best sides to the audience in the future."

"Let me jump in," Shin Jung-hwan suddenly chimed in. "Let's also give a warm round of applause to show our gratitude to Kang Ho-dong, who never missed a single recording in two years, even when he wasn't feeling well."

As soon as Shin Jung-hwan finished speaking, all the guest performers, staff members, and directors broke into enthusiastic applause. Jiang Yihan stepped forward to give Kang Ho-dong a massive hug, followed by the rest of the cast members, who all took turns embracing the beloved host.

"As far as I know, Hyung Ho-dong's current wife is the fate he found right here during the very first recording of *X-Man*," Jiang Yihan added with a smile. "I hope Hyung Ho-dong and your wife's life together will continue to be just as sweet as the romance we've shared here on *X-Man*."

Jiang Yihan's words brought a slight blush to the usually bold Kang Ho-dong's face.

"Though *X-Man* is coming to an end, I hope we can all return with even better appearances and even better shows to repay the audience's love," Kang Ho-dong concluded. "To our viewers, thank you so much."

Finally, amidst a collective bow from the entire cast, the recording came to an end.

And just like that, the classic variety show *X-Man* officially came to a close.