The pine-scented air of the Gangwon mountains was a sharp contrast to the recirculated, sweat-heavy oxygen of the Starline basement. For the five members of staryu, the "Healing Camp" variety episode was a mandatory breather before the final fifteen-day sprint to the live finale.
The production team had gone all-out on the aesthetic. This wasn't a rugged survival hike; it was a "soft-boy" glamping fantasy. There were vintage cream-colored tents, strings of warm fairy lights draped between cedar trees, and a collection of retro film cameras scattered on wooden picnic tables.
Kang-joon stepped out of the van, squinting against the bright morning sun. He was wearing an oversized, moss-green knit sweater over a white collared shirt, looking like a college student on a weekend retreat.
"Whoa, look at the air!" Jae-hyun shouted, spinning in a circle with his arms wide. "I can actually see it! It's not grey!"
