Chapter 643

After the trailer for <Code Name: Time Seven> was released, everyone went wild, but there was one group in particular that rose up in fervent support.

“That’s it, Yeoreum!!!”

“This is it! Yeah, this is what I’m talking about!!!”

It was the drama directors.

“What’s so special about movies anyway!!!”

That was right. Drama directors had spent so many years getting beaten down by the film industry that they had accumulated a deep-seated grudge.

To them, Han Yeoreum was far more precious than anyone could imagine.

The showdown between Eom Gyun and Ja Sokhwan had, of all places, taken place in Chungmuro, and within just a few hours, the story had spread so far that there was practically no one in the industry who hadn’t heard about it.

Film versus drama.

It had now become a battle for the pride of their respective camps.

“How dare they come after our Yeoreum!!!”

“What the hell are these bastards doing!!!”

And every drama director was on Han Yeoreum’s side.

First, there was the web drama scene.

“Honestly, Yeoreum is the one who revived our whole scene before moving on. She changed an entire industry when she was still a rookie, so isn’t it ridiculous for washed-up film directors who can’t even sell their projects to talk shit about her?”

Web dramas, with their so-called satisfying comeuppance sensibility, had been optimized for short-form content and unable to sustain longer narrative arcs. But after <The Cherry on the Parfait Belongs to the Heroine!>, everything had completely changed.

Unlike before, when everything about the field had been stuck somewhere in the middle, it had now become a gateway for rookie actors, and a fair number of investors had begun pouring money into it as well.

That was thanks to the success stories of two brands that had successfully bought Han Yeoreum stock while it was still cheap: Company N and ALAB, with the Pi Chaewon sneakers and Pi Chaewon hair ampoule.

“Same with our side. And seriously, she’s already a triple ten-million actress, so why the hell do they keep saying she doesn’t suit movies?”

The one-act drama scene had also begun receiving gradually more support from the broadcasters after <No Interest Whatsoever> won awards overseas.

For rookie directors, getting their directing debut had once been as difficult as plucking a star from the sky. They cheered at the increased number of one-act drama slots that existed thanks to Han Yeoreum.

“Those guys can’t even get their hands on a megaphone right now because they don’t have projects. If you really think about it, Yeoreum probably spends more time on set than they do.”

The fusion historical drama scene felt the same way. Such productions cost a fortune, were awkward to stuff with PPL, and could easily get pelted with criticism for historical distortion if they made one wrong move, making them notoriously difficult to produce.

After <Strange Tales> entered NetHolics and received an enormous response overseas, more than a few fusion historical dramas were currently on the verge of securing investment.

“I just hope they don’t come crawling on their knees later, begging her to work with them.”

There was also <Youth Disqualified!>, a coming-of-age drama with three female leads.

“I’m telling you, once Yeoreum’s next project comes out, this whole argument will settle itself. Just like how the apocalypse boom started.”

Even the directors working in the apocalypse genre, once a niche among niches domestically but now shooting up so violently that the graph had practically punched through the ceiling thanks to <Seoul Metropolitan City>, raised their glasses.

“Go, Yeoreum!”

“Just crush the entire film industry!”

“Fuck, seriously, movies aren’t anything special! This trailer already looks better than a movie!”

“Long live the apocalypse boom!”

And with one heart and one purpose, they all raised a toast.

On the table sat bottles of Fresh Leaf Soju bearing Han Yeoreum’s picture.

“Let’s get <Code Name: Time Seven> to 30 percent ratings!!!”

Twenty-four hours after its release.

<Code Name: Time Seven> was unquestionably number one in views.

* * *

[DramaFilmActor TALK/ holy shit the Code Name trailer looks fucking insane]

The value of public broadcasting

-Anonymous 1: Now that I’ve actually seen it it’s even crazier T_T please just air it already

-Anonymous 4: From the shot composition to the camera movement it seriously beats the shit out of movies LMAO

-Anonymous 9: are we seriously allowed to watch this for free?? I screamed when they did that close-up on Jo Eunnara; TT_TT

[DramaFilmActor TALK/ there’s seriously a reason they’re called the Ja Sokhwan Kids]

so many writers and directors have passed through Ja Sokhwan but there’s a reason only Galdaeguk and Ma Eungyo get called his Kids look at them obliterating all the nobodies with a single trailer they’re just crushing everyone with sheer quality

-Anonymous 1: Exactly Han Yeoreum doing her confession in Russian instead of Korean already hits different

-Anonymous 3: please Eungyo no more doomed romances now.. we’re so tired...

-Anonymous 5: the rush from seeing all of Han Yohan’s action scenes compiled together is insane TT__TT

“This is fucking insane....”

Noh Seungchan’s agency, Jeongdam, along with the <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> team, gritted their teeth.

A two-male-lead office buddy drama. It was an inherently winning combination, but the pairing of Han Yohan and Jo Eunnara was far too great a threat.

Of course, Jo Eunnara probably wouldn’t have that much screen time, but there was simply no defending against an attack made of close-ups like those.

“Enough. Once our promotions start, we’ll be fine!”

Before the broadcasts began, however, they had one overwhelmingly advantageous card in their hands.

“Jo Eunnara and Han Yohan are both infamous for being boring as fuck. We’re definitely winning this one.”

Variety shows.

* * *

At the same time, the mood at Management H, Heo Haena’s agency, was just as grim.

“...”

The division head clasped both hands together and pressed them against his forehead.

Current buzz, public interest, views, topicality... Anything that could be compared, they were losing in every category.

But who was Jegal Rok?

The man who predicted success all by himself when everyone else instinctively realized they were fucked.

And the division head of Management H was a man who considered himself no less capable than Jegal Rok.

Behind JC’s innovation stands Jegal Rok.

That phrase, practically a catchphrase by now, had been repeated endlessly from the moment the launch of the country’s first OTT platform, TV in, was announced, all the way until the release of the <Code Name: Time Seven> trailer.

“Just what the hell is so great about Jegal Rooooook!”

After shouting, the Management H division head took a moment to calm himself before smiling.

“You never know whether a project will succeed until you actually put it out there....”

He recalled why he had been able to avoid being too intimidated by the infamous Ja Sokhwan Kids.

Both <First Year, Class One> and <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide>.

“The quality really is excellent, for starters.”

Whether compared by script or direction, neither project fell behind enough to be ashamed of it. Which meant all that remained were the actors and promotion.

And Management H happened to have joined forces with MBS, the most experienced at promotion among the three terrestrial broadcasters.

“And there’s no talent quite like our Haena.”

<M Couple> was currently the most popular and influential variety show.

Heo Haena returning to her alma mater and reminiscing about her memories with her former teacher would make her the very embodiment of Baby Morning Bread.

The public would melt at the sight, which fit the premise of <First Year, Class One> perfectly.

“Our Haena graduated from a foreign language high school, after all.”

There were few things in this country easier to use for media play than academic credentials.

The division head of Management H vowed that if he ever wrote an autobiography, he would describe this period as the most glorious time of his life.

* * *

SBC and Nice Production were also analyzing the current situation. They had finished preparing to stop <Code Name: Time Seven> from running away with the race uncontested.

“Seungchan finished filming that today, right?”

“Yes. It’s a tried-and-true route, so....”

Noh Seungchan had decided to follow the Yoo Jiuk route from <One Criminal>.

It was a strategy that still worked for capturing women’s hearts.

The first step was appearing on <Soft and Fluffy Kindergarten>, a show capable of generating a certain amount of buzz simply from being on it.

“Ah, fuck, seriously. The smell of spit. I feel like I’m gonna puke.”

After finishing the shoot with the babies, Noh Seungchan pretended to gag while snapping irritably at the staff.

“If their faces are gonna turn out like that, isn’t not having them the real act of love? Am I wrong? How can parents care so little about their kids’ futures?”

“Hahaha....”

“Sure, they’re little now, so everyone just goes around calling them cute and fawning all over them and shit. But once they grow up, their cheekbones will grow, their philtrums will get longer, and their eyes will stay the same size. Man, life’s gonna be rough for them.”

Noh Seungchan irritably changed out of the clothes he had worn while holding the babies.

“Still, Seungchan, your fans are going to love it.”

“Obviously.”

“It was seriously hard getting this away from Goo Minho after his side said they wanted it.”

After Noh Seungchan threw a fit demanding to know what the hell the company even did for him, Jeongdam had also tried to accommodate him as much as possible.

After negotiating relentlessly with Goo Minho’s agency, they managed to make <Soft and Fluffy Kindergarten> an exclusive schedule for Noh Seungchan.

“Where’d that old guy go, then?”

And Goo Minho’s side had plans of its own.

* * *

“Fucking hell....”

Goo Minho prayed more desperately than anyone for <Faster Than the Law 3> to fail.

Just how desperately?

From the moment he opened his eyes until the moment he closed them, he prayed for it to flop.

As though deliberately ignoring his desperate prayers, <Faster Than the Law 3> was doing historically well.

[<Faster Than the Law 3>, Cheerful Stage Greeting... “Five Stars on His Face” Joo Junseo Suffers from Overwhelming Popularity]

And the popularity of Joo Junseo, the parachute hire Han Yeoreum had shoved into the production, continued soaring higher every single day.

“She can’t even separate personal shit from work... Fuck....”

Chen Wei should have belonged to Goo Minho.

The fact that Joo Junseo had snatched the role away was entirely Han Yeoreum’s fault, so Goo Minho’s resentment only deepened with every passing day.

Every time the pairing of Yun Hyeonjo and Joo Junseo took over Tritter, Goo Minho developed a headache.

He was the one who should have been standing beside Yun Hyeonjo, receiving the love of younger fans.

Not someone like Joo Junseo.

“As if those old hags screaming their heads off all the time wasn’t annoying enough.”

Remembering the fanbase he had accumulated until now only made Goo Minho angrier.

“This time, I’m gonna crush you, fucking Yeoreum.”

She might have gotten lucky and climbed that far, but this time had to be different.

If the public discovered what a genuinely good guy Goo Minho was, his side could seize the advantage in the initial ratings.

“Minho! We’re starting the shoot!”

Goo Minho had actually spent quite a long time working in theater.

He could invite several older and younger actor friends he was close with onto a variety show and create a touching story about the hardships they had endured together in the old days.

“Minho, seriously, thank you. My wife told me to bring you over to our house sometime too. She says you’re really our benefactor.”

“Thank you! Thanks to you, I get to appear on a variety show too.”

“Come on, it’s nothing.”

It was perfect material for the main audience of <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> to sympathize with.

‘Unlike that bitch who walks around with a seven-billion-won diamond around her neck.’

Some of the people who hadn’t managed to fully vent their feelings during Han Yeoreum’s fainting incident because other issues had swallowed up the conversation would surely use this variety appearance as another opportunity to praise Goo Minho even higher.

* * *

“Eunnara, don’t be too nervous. Come on, calm down. Calm down, calm down.”

“You’re the one who needs to calm down.”

Jo Eunnara looked at her manager making a fuss in the variety-show studio. She carefully controlled her expression.

Of course, Jo Eunnara herself had been somewhat nervous right up until the schedule.

But on the way here, one of their tires had blown out.

“Eunnara! At least we didn’t get into a car accident!”

Then came a sudden downpour.

“Eunnara! At least there’s no lightning!”

And then a staff member tripped right in front of her and spilled coffee on her, forcing her to change outfits once.

“Eunnara! At least it was iced coffee and not hot!”

“I’m really, really sorry. Oh my god, but what...? You actually look even sexier when you’re wet....”

“...Thank you...?”

With all that happening, even if she got nervous, she had no choice but to calm right back down.

“Our Eunnara... fighting....”

It sounded like something an extraordinarily passionate patriot might say, but Jo Eunnara’s manager really was cheering for Jo Eunnara.

Jo Eunnara knew exactly how important this opportunity was.

‘If I screw up here too, I’m finished.’

She had barely climbed to leading-role status only to fall back into supporting roles.

And not even an ordinary supporting role. She was Replacement Eunnara, the supporting actress who had only gotten in as an emergency substitute.

If <Code Name: Time Seven> failed, she might not even get supporting roles anymore.

Jo Eunnara was more desperate than ever.

If this project didn’t work, she truly had nowhere left to go.

“What will ultimately become of our Eunnara’s screen time....”

“Hyung. Can you fucking keep those patriotic-sounding lines inside your head?”

“Did I say it out loud again? Sorry. Your hyung thinks about our Eunnara day and night....”

That was why, before appearing on the variety show, Jo Eunnara first approached Han Yeoreum and Han Yohan, who were working out what concepts they would use.

And Han Yeoreum made a suggestion far more radical than Jo Eunnara had expected.

“...But then my... image might....”

“I think it’d be cute and funny.”

At Han Yeoreum’s confident assurance—the woman who generated buzz not only with every project she appeared in, but even on variety shows—Jo Eunnara hesitated for a moment.

Of course, you should never trust anyone who managed to survive in this industry, and Han Yeoreum was probably just another one of the same bastards.

Still, Jo Eunnara decided to trust Han Yeoreum.

Just this once.

* * *

Manager Na had been more nervous than anyone during Han Yeoreum’s fainting incident.

‘No...’

As soon as he heard that Han Yeoreum had lost consciousness and collapsed right after landing, Manager Na immediately hid Myeong Jeha’s passport.

Then he prayed that Myeong Jeha simply wouldn’t find out.

‘He barely uses his phone anyway.’

Myeong Jeha was genuinely the terrifying type of person who didn’t listen to music while exercising and didn’t watch Intube while eating.

And that wasn’t all.

Even when traveling by car, all he did was fold his arms and close his eyes, and Manager Na didn’t even know what he did when he was home alone.

“I just exist.”

“...That’s it? Don’t you have any hobbies or... anything...?”

“Not really. Haha.”

By now, Manager Na had grown somewhat accustomed to that smile that clearly meant he had no intention of answering.

Manager Na cautiously watched Myeong Jeha, a man for whom a phone was apparently something to possess rather than something to use for entertainment.

‘If he goes straight back to Korea now, there’ll definitely be dating rumors... Definitely...’

Photos taken during this New York Fashion Week had already caused the Taeseok-Huijae shippers to multiply explosively.

Manager Na firmly resolved that even if Myeong Jeha got angry and demanded his passport, he absolutely could not give it back.

Thanks to all the punches Manager Na had been throwing while praying, ‘Please, just never let a dating scandal break out,’ his forearms had been getting steadily more muscular.

“Why do you keep watching me like that?”

“Huh? W-Was I?”

“Yes. You are.”

Myeong Jeha was looking at today’s schedule on his tablet. Without turning his gaze toward Manager Na, he spoke.

“Are you worried I’ll collapse like Yeoreum too?”

“Huhhh? Oh, you knew.”

“Of course. Did you really think I wouldn’t know...?”

A notification appeared on the tablet Myeong Jeha was holding.

Manager Na trembled in fear that it might be an email confirming the purchase of a plane ticket.

“Whatexactlywasthatnotificationsound?”