As the first half of the drama shoot was coming to an end, the broadcasting began. On the day the first episode aired, the entire cast and staff gathered at a rented restaurant.
“Ah, I guess it’s Seo Hoyun’s first time at such an event? Usually, we all gather to watch the first episode together. But sometimes we skip it if the shooting schedule is tight.”
“Haha, it’s my first time with a drama.”
I’d done variety shows before. Still tired of the aftereffects of my variety show appearance, I tried to sit in a corner when Director Yu called me over with a hand gesture.
“Seo Hoyun! This way, this way.”
“Where are you going! Your seat is right here.”
Damn it.
I was called to the seat I absolutely didn’t want to sit in.
But I couldn’t ignore the director, so I sat beside Writer Kim, avoiding Min Jiheon as much as possible. Yu Jia was seated across from me and greeted me with a smile.
“Great job today. Your ad-lib was really good!”
“Thank you.”
I couldn’t stay seated for long because of everyone coming in. I had to stand up, greet people, and accept their drinks. Finally, after the pre-drama commercials began, I could sit down.
“I wonder what the ratings will be this time?”
“Well, I do have some influence, so I hope the first episode can at least get 4%.”
“Isn’t that too modest? I bet on 6%. How about you, Min Jiheon?”
“Me? Um… I’ll bet on 6 for the first episode too.”
While the main dishes hadn’t even been served yet, Min Jiheon suddenly lifted his head after devouring most of the side dishes.
“The final highest rating will be 18%.”
“18%?!”
Are you crazy…?
I choked on my water.
Min Jiheon was doing this on purpose.
“A rating of 18% is almost a syndrome. We’ll get a reward vacation.”
“I’m really expecting a lot~.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen Min Jiheon like this before.”
“What about you, Seo Hoyun?”
I had tried my best not to be involved in the conversation, but the question still came. I wiped my mouth with a tissue and answered.
“I also…”
Sigh…
“I’ll also go with 18%, like Min Jiheon-sunbae.”
“Wow, that’s ambitious~! I’m looking forward to it.”
Though it seemed like a deliberate act, everyone took it as the spirit of a rookie and laughed.
Damn this fucking percentage.
That must be Min Jiheon’s standard for success. I’d have to surpass that for him to talk to me.
As we were chatting, the first episode began. Everyone cheered and clapped as the opening scene rolled with the sound of camera shutters.
“Wow, Yu Jia is such a great actress. Her crying at the funeral made me want to cry too.”
“Haha, you’re too kind.”
Yu Jia’s portrayal of her father’s funeral was truly amazing. Her acting talents shone through as she transitioned from a singer to an actress. Everyone could see that Yu Jia was destined for success.
“Wow~! Min Jiheon, you look great on screen.”
“Honestly, Min Seungtae’s character could be easily disliked, but you really make it believable with your charm alone.”
Let’s just skip Min Jiheon.
Finally, my face appeared on the screen as I joined the company. It was a different feeling than monitoring my performance on stage.
A staff member checking the ratings and community reactions next to me gave me two thumbs up.
“Wow, as soon as Seo Hoyun appears, things heat up again?!”
“Where, where? I want to see it!”
“It’s all positive feedback right now!”
“Haha…”
I’ll have to check it out later as well.
Although I wasn’t too concerned about my acting, I did worry if it would cause harm to The Dawn if people thought it wasn’t that good.
My phone kept ringing, and I saw messages coming in quickly on the group chat with the members.
– Jeong Dajun: Hyung hyung hyung when are you appearing??
– Seong Jiwon: It seems like Hoyun is busyㅜㅜ Let’s not bother him
– Seong Jiwon: Oops!! Hoyun is on now!!!!
– Kang Ichae: Wow
– Kang Ichae: What the
– Kang Ichae: So handsome
– Jeong Dajun: OMGㅠ!!!!!!! Why are you so good at acting???
– Jeong Dajun: PD Lee Jeonghun. I’m totally immersed right now
– Jeong Dajun: Tot[1]
– Kim Seonghyeon: We’re laughing because it’s so unbelievable right now
– Kim Seonghyeon: Why didn’t you act if you could do it so well? ㅋㅋ
I didn’t want to see Min Jiheon, so…
I replied briefly to the messages and focused on the drama. As expected from a script by the renowned Kim Sukhui, the work was so engaging that I couldn’t take my eyes off it until the end.
With her hair tightly tied back, Yu Jia ran to the broadcast station, and the credits for episode 1 rolled.
Everyone finally let out a sigh of relief and checked their buzzing phones.
At that moment, a staff member from the next table suddenly stood up and cheered.
“Real-time ratings are at 6.2%!”
“Wow!”
Writer Kim Sukhui let out a sigh of relief, and Director Yu screamed as he got up.
A rating of 6.2% was a good start.
Could it continue to rise and reach 18%?
“Congratulations.”
“It’s a hit! A hit!”
While racking my brain and digging through my memory of past drama ratings, I exchanged greetings non-stop with people. Amidst this, I made eye contact with Min Jiheon.
“Let’s hope it keeps going up like this… right?”
“It has to go up.”
“How far?”
“Up to fucking percent.”
“…”
“Ah, I mean 18 percent.”
Min Jiheon’s eyes widened, and then he smiled beautifully. His face was as radiant as ever.
***
[Title: Please Take the Camera, this feels like a masterpiece. K-drama fanatic for 25 years…
I can feel it.
This is a masterpiece.
└When Yu Jeonghwa cried at the funeral ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I used a whole box of tissues… ㅠㅠㅠ Seriously… Yu Jia’s acting is insane
└└Right? And behind her, that arrogant Min Seungtae can’t even talk and just stands there with an umbrella… Is his gaze insane? He’s definitely guilty
└└Min Jiheon’s acting gets better and better; sometimes it seems like he’s possessed ;; Definitely a rising star]
[Title: Who is PD Lee Jeonghun? Super handsome and has a strong vibe. Is he a rookie??
└Seo Hoyun
└└OMG I just looked it up, he’s an idol????
└└ㅇㅇ]
[Title: But wasn’t there supposed to be an idol in this drama?
My friend hated it when they said an idol would be in it, but I didn’t know who the idol was until the end. Is it Yu Jia’s friend? Or the one who joined as a PD at the same time?
└No, it’s PD Lee Jeonghun
└└??????? Him???
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I was really surprised too… Seo Hoyun’s acting is like he’s possessed by PD Lee Jeonghun
└How old is he? He’s quite old for an idol, isn’t he?
└└23
└└…???? He doesn’t look 23 ;;
└└I guess celebrities really have different aurasㅋㅋ He was criticized for being cast in the drama since they had to adjust his character’s age to fit, but he’s doing well…]
The community’s reaction was pretty good. As the internet heated up with reactions, the ratings for episode 2 inevitably increased.
Episode 2’s rating was 9.1%.
The people criticizing PD Lee Jeonghun for being too harsh on rookie Yu Jeonghwa, even though he was also a rookie, had completely disappeared by episode 2.
[Title: Hey, is it okay if I sub to Kabu? At first, Lee Jeonghun (Seo Hoyun) was so harsh on Yu Jeonghwa (Yu Jia) that it reminded me of when I was a rookie…
Ah, darn it! How would a rookie know? I was so pissed off. But did you see today’s episode? I’ll sum up the highlights based on my standards.
A higher-up came and was upset about who handled this job.. ㅠ Our rookie Yu Jeonghwa did it ㅠㅠ
(A scene where Lee Jeonghun blocks the flustered Jeonghwa’s view)
Lee Jeonghun: “I did it. I’m sorry.”
Boss: “What? How could a PD like you make such a mistake?”
Lee Jeonghun: “People can make mistakes. Even the chief did that two years ago…”
Boss: (grabbing the back of the neck) “Hey, hey, hey, come here!”
Lee Jeonghun: (calmly going) “Sorry~ I’m busy, gotta go~”
So, as Jeonghwa feels extremely sorry, Lee Jeonghun says this to her: (sigh) “Why do you think I get paid more than you? It’s to take care of things like this…”
Jeonghwa: “I’m sorryㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ I couldn’t help at all…”
Lee Jeonghun: “Wow, do you really think so?”
Jeonghwa: “Maybe??”
Lee Jeonghun: “Good to know… I thought you had no idea.”
Jeonghwa: (trembling)
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ It was suspicious from this point
Rookie Jeonghwa… messed up again today, so Lee Jeonghun goes crazy…
At first, Jeonghwa was like “Why am I like this ㅠㅠ?” and “What did I do wrong… ㅠㅠ,” but after a month, she starts swearing a lot
(Jeonghwa’s internet search history.png)
[How to bury the boss in the mountain]
[How to swear at the boss without getting caught]
[How to backstab that bastard Lee Jeonghun]
She’s searching stuff like thisㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Every office worker can relate to this extreme hyperrealismㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Jeonghwa is grumbling again today, and then Lee Jeonghun urgently comes to use Jeonghwa’s work computer.
But Jeonghwa didn’t delete her internet history.
Jeonghwa: “Wait a minute!!”
Lee Jeonghun: “Why?”
And then, the mouse click…
Lee Jeonghun: (silence)
He sees Jeonghwa’s internet search historyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Jeonghwa can’t stay still… but Lee Jeonghun just casually moves on.
Lee Jeonghun: “Ahㅋㅋ I was like this tooㅋㅋ”
Jeonghwa: “I’m so so so sorry…”
Lee Jeonghun: “It’s okay ㅎㅎ It can happen.”
As I watch, I’m like, what?? I empathize with Jeonghwa so much, why did that guy Lee Jeonghun just let it go?? I thought Jeonghwa was like, “At least he has a line he doesn’t cross…” and was touched, but then Lee Jeonghun stood up.
Lee Jeonghun: “I’m done using the computer~ I’ll leave now.”
Jeonghwa: “Umm, where are you going? The meeting is about to start…”
Lee Jeonghun: “Ahㅋㅋ”
Jeonghwa: (gulp)
Lee Jeonghun: “To the mountain~ㅎ”
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Lee Jeonghun: “I’m going to dig my grave in advance~ I should check it out since it’s my burial place, right? ㅎㅎ”
Jeonghwa: (trembling)
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Lee Jeonghun’s passive-aggressiveness is too muchㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋHe never finishes with just one round. After that, he always asks Jeonghwa if she knows anything about feng shui whenever he sees her, saying he’s worried about where to put his graveㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ It’s so annoyingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
As always, the beautiful garbage, PD Lee Jeonghun, manages to do something crazy today… Jeonghwa is pissed off and gritting her teeth while typing on the keyboard when suddenly, another team asks for help.
Another team member: “Jeonghwa, can you do this by tomorrow?”
Jeonghwa: “Yes?? Um…”
Another team member: “I’m sorry, it’s urgent. We’re short-handed here.”
Jeonghwa: (Do I have to do this too…? Pupil trembles)
This rookie’s dilemma… But I saw those other team members gossiping while drinking coffee in the break room earlier. So annoying. When Jeonghwa was hesitating, I was alone, shouting, “Jeonghwa, Jeonghwa, ahhhh don’t take that job!!!” but…
Jeonghwa: “Yes, I understand!”
= I don’t understand at all!!
And she accepts the job anyway…
…I thought I was having PTSD.
And when Lee Jeonghun returned from the location scouting, he saw Yu Jeonghwa working and raised his eyebrows.
Lee Jeonghun: “What are you doing now?”
Yu Jeonghwa: “Huh? Oh, this is something another team asked for…”
Lee Jeonghun: “…What?” (stern look)
Yu Jeonghwa: (I’m screwed)
After that… it was just Lee Jeonghun’s time…
He went to another variety show team and was really crazily angry… but Yu Jeonghwa watched him, trembling like a scared rabbit from behind…
The narration was amazing.
Yu Jeonghwa: (dumbfounded…) “Our pretty, trashy PD… I wondered where he could use that personality… He’s using it in fights with other teams…”
And, of course, Lee Jeonghun came back victorious. He looked cool and confident, though he had dark circles under his eyes.
Yu Jeonghwa: (trembling…)
Lee Jeonghun: “Jeonghwa”
Yu Jeonghwa: “Yes!!!”
Lee Jeonghun: “If someone asks you for something next time, tell them I’ll go crazy, and it won’t happen. Got it?”
Yu Jeonghwa: “Wow…” (mouth closed) (moved)
But Yu Jeonghwa’s emotions didn’t last long.
Lee Jeonghun: (looking through documents, pausing) “Why didn’t you do this?”
Yu Jeonghwa: “Well… I was dealing with the other team’s stuff…”
Hearing that, Lee Jeonghun laughed so beautifully and gracefully.
Lee Jeonghun: “Yu Jeonghwa.”
Yu Jeonghwa: (trembling)
(Then the endless Niagara waterfall of swearing)
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ this waterfall CG is insane. Anyway, their relationship is so fun. Ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I really think I’ve been hit by their charm. Who wants to catch Lee Jeonghun with me?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└Ah, seriously… He’s so shameless, but too cute. He’s been shameless from the start, so I started to like him even more when I hated him. This was put in to make us swoon, right? Am I going to catch this bad guy?
└└Why are we even swooning over this? There’s nothing but getting scolded.]
[Title: Sorry about the previous Lee Jeonghun post. This is a two-top romance, so there’s no bad guy. The author couldn’t put one in.
└You’re lying, right?
└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋ You’ve caught a losing stock…]
As soon as the drama gained popularity, Daepaseong Entertainment took the opportunity to spread the BTS and making-of films on their official YouTube channel.
Fans were both angry and grateful, wondering why only now was Daepaseong making public the videos it already uploaded on YouTube.
“—That’s the current situation!”
The manager explained the situation with a bright smile, sticking out his index finger.
Honestly, I was speechless.
Why on earth?
[1] “완” is an abbreviation of the word “완전,” which means “completely” or “totally.”