“Wow! It’s Han So-hyeon! Oh my gosh!”
“Wow! She’s really beautiful. Seriously!”
In the classroom’s group chat, friends screamed in excitement upon seeing a selfie of Han So-hyeon and Ryu Yeon-woo.
For the male high school students who are currently very interested in celebrities, the photo of Yeon-woo and Han So-hyeon was a powerful bombshell. Soon, students from the next classroom came over, each checking the picture on their smartphones, causing more commotion.
[Slide – Door opens]
“Hey, you kids! What’s all the commotion?”
Due to the noise reaching even the staff room, the homeroom teacher came in.
“Ah! Teacher, look at this!”
Woo seong-sik, seated in the front, showed his smartphone to the teacher.
“Why are you kids making such a fuss… Wow!”
Seeing the photo, Mr. Lee Jung-tae, Yeon-woo’s homeroom teacher, was so surprised that he yelled even louder than the students. He was a fan of Han So-hyeon.
*********
Not only in Yeon-woo’s school but also online, discussions about Yeon-woo were trending.
[Anyone know about the new face from ‘Summer’s Promise’?]
[If you find out, please share.]
[I’ve watched the teaser 10 times already. Already a fan. The casting is amazing.]
[The combination of Son Jin-yuk and Han So-hyeon is crazy, but who’s that last male actor?]
[His profile says his name is Ryu Yeon-woo.]
There was not much public information about Yeon-woo other than a simple profile on social media, which led to increased curiosity among fans.
[He’s attending our school, a senior in 2nd year. Super popular.]
[Stop lying.]
[I don’t know if the previous comment is true, but based on his profile, he’s a high schooler.]
A student claiming to be Yeon-woo’s junior tried to act knowledgeable, but his comment was soon buried by others.
The next day, the main cast of ‘Summer’s Promise’, along with the writer and director, gathered at JNBC’s annex building, not on Film set.
After a brief photo wall event, the team of ‘Summer’s Promise’ took their seats at the production announcement conference.
“Hello everyone. I am Kim Minah, the JNBC announcer in charge of the ‘Summer’s Promise’ production announcement.”
Applause!
With the applause from the staff, cast, and reporters, the production announcement conference began.
“Today’s broadcast is being aired live on JNBC Live Now and JNBC’s official YouTube channel. Please bear with us if there are any unforeseen interruptions.”
Taking a deep breath, Announcer Kim Minah continued.
“It’s a drama that is perfect to be broadcasted in ‘Winter’, titled ‘Summer’s Promise’.”
Laughter!
There was laughter on-site at Kim Minah’s witty remark. After a brief introduction to the work, a teaser video was played.
“Ah, a drama that really gives off a youthful yet intense emotion, right? Let me begin by conveying the viewers’ questions to the director.”
The first question was directed to Director Kim Han-soo.
“Director, the average age of the main cast is 24. It must’ve been lively and cheerful working with such young actors?”
“Haha. Yes, I felt younger myself. Our ‘Summer’s Promise’ is a vibrant campus romance comedy, as you all know, adapted from an original webtoon. Please look forward to it.”
Announcer Kim Minah, with a smile, passed the question to Son Jin-yuk.
“Actor Son Jin-yuk, how was the shooting environment?”
“Our shooting environment was lively thanks to our mood maker actor Ahn Jun-ho and mascot actor Ryu Yeon-woo.”
The announcer naturally shifted her focus to Yeon-woo.
“The internet is already buzzing about you, right? Oh, look at the chat speed, it’s too fast to read. Actor Ryu Yeon-woo, I’ve heard you’re a high school student?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I am Ryu Yeon-woo, playing the role of Chawooju, who joined this drama through an audition. I am currently attending Dongwoon High School. It’s a pleasure to meet all of you through this wonderful project. Thank you, dear viewers.”
Yeon-woo confidently introduced himself and even sent a finger heart gesture.
“Oh my, you speak so well. I thought I was listening to a statue speak.”
Laughter erupted once again at the venue.
“In the summer drama, the main role is played by actress Han So-hyeon. Please say hello to the viewers.”
“Hello. I’m Han So-hyeon, who will be playing Jeong Yeo-rim, caught between Kang Seo-jun and Cha Woo-joo in a delightful dilemma on the campus. Hey, isn’t the chat speed too different from the universe? Ha ha.”
At Han So-hyeon’s words, laughter erupted again.
“Actress Han So-hyeon. It’s flowing real-time in the chat. No! Without So-hyeon, it’s not the same. Yes, that was a comment from Mr. Lee Jung-tae. We will send a small gift. To the viewers who leave these comments that sometimes get read aloud, we’ll send gifts that include signatures from the actors. Please chat respectfully.”
‘Lee Jung-tae? That’s the same name as our homeroom teacher.’
Imagining their bear-like teacher leaving a comment, Yeon-woo laughed softly.
‘That can’t be.’
The production announcement wrapped up warmly with the supporting actors and writer Choi Mi-hyu answering subsequent questions.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
After the production announcement, the staff and actors greeted each other.
Director Kim Han-soo then clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Okay, today’s been long. Let’s have a dinner party, everyone.”
Cheers erupted!!
Thanks to smooth filming progress, they were nearing the end of the shoot, despite various setbacks and a tight schedule.
The team from ‘Summer’s Promise’ gathered at a traditional restaurant that the assistant director had reserved in advance.
“Now, let’s start the first round with a word from our director.”
At the words of the assistant director, Director Kim spoke with a wave of his hand.
“Why listen to an old man like me? Our toast should be given by our youngest member who drinks juice instead of alcohol.”
With Kim Han-soo’s toast, Yeon-woo, who was caught off guard, stood up with a shy smile and shouted energetically.
“I’ve learned so much on this set. Let’s push through to the end! ‘Summer’s Promise’, let’s go! Fighting!”
“Let’s go! Fighting!”
“Let’s go! Fighting!”
Son Jin-yuk laughed at the unexpectedly old-fashioned cheer.
Everyone followed Yeon-woo in good spirits, drank the first round, and the real party began.
As the night deepened, filled with chatter, singing, and dancing, Han So-hyeon sitting next to Yeon-woo remarked,
“We have to cry in tomorrow’s scene, what should we do?”
“Whose fault is it?”
“What? Seriously?”
So-hyeon covered her mouth with her hand, laughing at Yeon-woo’s response.
“Isn’t it also because of senior Lee Sang-jung over there?”
At So-hyeon’s words, Lee Sang-jung, sitting at the next table, responded.
“No, what are you talking about? I had no choice.”
The surrounding actors laughed at the veteran actor Lee Sang-jung’s tone.
However, Yeon-woo, deeply immersed in his role, couldn’t laugh as freely. Lee Sang-jung played the role of Cha Woo-joo’s father, Chairman Cha.
In tomorrow’s scene, Woo-joo realizes his feelings for Yeoreum too late and becomes depressed while watching the budding relationship between Seo-joon and Yeoreum. By chance, he learns why his father treated his mother so harshly.
As the dinner party wrapped up and they were heading to their lodgings, Yeon-woo noticed Lim Seong-su, the lighting director, looking like a zombie in a corner of the parking lot.
“Uh-oh…”
Approaching, Yeon-woo recognized the staggering man’s face.
‘Didn’t anyone notice because he’s in such a hidden spot?’
Yeon-woo tried to wake him.
“Director! Wake up. If you sleep here, you’ll freeze.”
“Uh… ugh…”
Director Lim showed no sign of getting up.
“Uh, it can’t be helped.”
Yeon-woo checked Lim’s ID in his wallet. The address wasn’t far.
“I have no choice.”
Carrying an adult man intoxicated by alcohol is far heavier than a sack of rice. Struggling, Yeon-woo lifted Director Lim.
“Taxi—!”
*********
“Man, I can’t shake off this hangover. I really went hard last night.”
“Did you make it home alright?”
“Ugh, don’t even mention it. I don’t remember anything, but I woke up at home. This morning, my wife told me that Yeon-woo was the one who carried me home.”
Everyone was surprised by the statement of the lighting director, Lim Seong-su.
“Really? Yeon-woo?”
“Yeah. Apparently, he felt so bad for me that he hailed a taxi and carried me all the way to my house. I thanked him several times as soon as I arrived at the set.”
“I wonder how he grow up so well.”
After the party ended yesterday, Ryu Yeon-woo had found Lim Seong-su completely drunk in a corner of the parking lot. He checked the director’s ID for the address and took him home himself.
Thanks to Yeon-woo, both Lim Seong-su’s wife and daughter were shocked twice – first seeing their husband/father being carried home, and then seeing the face of the person carrying him.
The next day, after the chaos from the party, things were getting back on track and preparations for the shoot were underway. That’s when other actors started to arrive on the set.
“Huh? Don’t you guys have a morning shoot today?”
“We had to come and cheer for our youngest, especially for his big scene today.”
“That’s right. It’s the day our star has a crying scene.”
The actors, who had come specially to support Lim Seong-su despite their own hectic schedules, touched Yeon-woo deeply.
“I’ll need to add this emotion to my tears later. I didn’t drink at all yesterday. Did you two drinks too much?”
In response to Yeon-woo’s question, Jin-yuk and Jun-ho replied.
“Of course, we controlled it. We have a shoot this afternoon, so we can’t have swollen faces.”
“Alright, let’s get ready for the take.”
The assistant director shouted, and the trio gave Yeon-woo a thumbs up.
As Yeon-woo entered the set, he greeted Lee Sang-jung who was already there.
“Senior, I look forward to our scene today.”
“I know it’s hard for you, but I’ll do my best to help you with the emotion.”
Ready! Action!
Following the director’s cue, Yeon-woo started his lines.