Chapter 647

Aetami decided to watch <Class 1-1> for now, partly to monitor it.

“Let’s see how long they’re going to keep pushing that damn Baby Morning Bread.”

Her hostility toward Heo Haena meant she happened to need a drama she could hate-watch anyway. Unlike usual, she sprawled carelessly across the sofa and turned on MBS.

[?Class 1-1 Live Discussion? Everyone who wants to watch Baby Morning Bread’s mentally ill college admissions experience, gather here]

-This is hard from the start I already graduated but I still hate going to school

-Ah are you insane T_T

-I seriously wanted to die back then because I was scared I wouldn’t get into college TT_TT

7 a.m.

Cars hurriedly streamed out of an apartment complex parking lot.

Inside them, students either made do with bread for breakfast or read bound booklets of key summaries, all with exhausted faces.

“You’re really almost there now. You know that, right?”

“Just think of your life as starting after this is over. Stop looking so miserable.”

“Keep thinking about what Mom said she’d do for you if you get into college. Use that to keep going.”

At the pressure disguised as words of encouragement, the students sighed.

“Mom. Is college really that important?”

“You can live a perfectly good life without going.”

“Aaaah... I’ll just retake the entrance exams next yearrr....”

At those words, the mothers busy driving their children to school shouted.

“Absolutely not!”

The reality of South Korean high school seniors worn down by college admissions was vividly alive. The scene that followed was likewise far removed from the usual portrayal of teenagers in dramas.

“Ah... if I have to retake the exams, I’ll just kill myself....”

“Let’s just die now.”

“Then wanna eat tteokbokki tonight and kill ourselves after?”

Students with roughly parted bangs, sharing water from a single tumbler, endlessly talking about killing themselves.

And not far away, the homeroom teacher stood holding the classroom door, looking as though he were chewing over the students’ conversation about wanting to die.

As though saying that the one who truly wanted to die was him.

“Ah, shit. They nailed the realism for no reason.”

Aetami groaned. As expected of the trendiest network, MBS. Her long life as a drama fanatic gave her a feeling.

This clip would probably draw in a flood of attention-seekers.

Even the college admissions process in <Class 1-1> was realistic. There was even an intense sense of tension in the scene showing a conversation between a parent and a college admissions consultant.

“Ma’am. With the state of this school record, if she applies to her target university through early admissions, she’ll be eliminated in the first round. You should change it while you still can.”

“What? Absolutely not. How can we change her target this late?”

The parent pleaded desperately. Her voice was cultured, but her manner was practically begging, prompting the consultant to offer a sharp warning.

“Her grades dropped a little in the first semester of senior year, so she suddenly switched to chemical engineering, right? It’s way too obvious. When the evaluators see this, they’ll immediately think, Ah, she lowered her target major to match her scores, and deduct points. Go to her homeroom teacher and ask them to revise the wording in her senior-year behavioral characteristics and comprehensive assessment, as well as her autonomous activity section.”

The parent nodded with the look of someone receiving a divine oracle.

“You need to completely rewrite the sentence to say she’s an interdisciplinary talent whose medical curiosity expanded into engineering solutions. That impact is extremely important. You have the guidelines we wrote for you, right? Tell the homeroom teacher to enter it ex-act-ly as written, without changing a single syllable. If they refuse, the parents should personally go to the school and request a meeting.”

-Even if getting into college through early admissions looks easy as fuck it’s seriously sooooooo fucking hard you have to spend all three years crawling on your knees

-I’m a regular-admissions fighter so stuff like this is fascinating

-Wish my mom had done that much for me.. T_T I went through hell researching everything alone

Given the subject matter of <Class 1-1>, many viewers could relate. And then, ten minutes after it began.

Only the cold blue glow of a computer monitor illuminated the dark classroom. The homeroom teacher stared at the screen with a haggard face.

[College Early Admissions - Final Deadline and Approval for Senior-Year First-Semester School Records]

Even long after working hours, the homeroom teacher continued receiving messages while staring at the window.

Ding.

[Teacher, you revised the leadership wording in Jeongwon’s autonomous activity section to suit medical school, right?]

[Send me a text confirming you’ve revised it immediately before I file a complaint with the Office of Education :) This isn’t a simple request. My child’s entire life depends on this]

[I noticed you left wording in our Yuna’s behavioral assessment implying that she ‘lacks consideration for others.’ I hope you haven’t forgotten what I do for a living. I would rather not have to fulfill my professional calling against you, Teacher^^]

[Teacher~ You promised to add 20 hours to Seoyeon’s club activities^^ The director of our consulting firm said she’ll fail the first round at Hanguk University if that isn’t included. Please, Teacher, please, I’m begging you]

-Wow fuck this is suffocating

-SAVE THE TEACHERS

-You fucking lunatics stop tormenting them TT___TT

-I’m a teacher irl and watching this makes me wanna fucking die you bastards did you reserve yourselves a spot in college or something??

Just as Aetami herself began feeling suffocated—

-???

-Huh

-Holy shit no way

-Nooooo TT___TT

The open faculty-office door.

The teacher climbing the stairs.

And then.

Thud.

The heavy sound of a fall.

-Ah fuck

The teacher had committed suicide.

It was two days before the deadline for finalizing the student records.

* * *

The office worker cracked open a can of beer and switched the channel to SBC, which was airing <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide>.

“An office worker should watch a story about office workers.”

Of course, he planned to switch over once <Code Name: Time Seven> aired, but if he wanted to gradually catch up on the episodes through Netholics during his commute, it seemed best to make use of the free time he had now.

“The trailer was pretty well made.”

As an office worker who commuted on the red bus, he found plenty to relate to.

Especially when Goo Minho returned home after a company dinner, collapsed in front of his door, and checked his alarm. It felt like watching his own life play out before his eyes.

[?Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide Live Discussion? What is an office worker? Basically I get locked in prison but it can also be a PC café and I get mental illness too]

-This is brutal right from the start

-Did they seriously film this at Gyodae Station? TT_TT

-I live outside Seoul so I don’t really know that feeling is it actually like that?

?From the moment you reach the transfer entrance just imagine getting pushed forward regardless of your own will

The beginning unfolded with an atmosphere similar to the trailer.

It followed office life from Goo Minho’s perspective, and it was just lighthearted enough and just realistic enough.

“Now that I’ve climbed this far up the ladder, I can tell. You can see which guys are going places from the moment they’re rookies.”

A superior who wouldn’t even let them eat lunch in peace after surviving a morning of work that felt like warfare.

Goo Minho, now accustomed enough to corporate life, merely nodded and focused on his meal, but the employees beside him couldn’t even eat properly because they were too busy reacting to the superior’s words.

“A guy who only thinks about climbing up by himself? Later, the people under him—the ones he thought of as his own kids—will grab him by the ankles. That’s why you’ve got to look after every-one-. That’s how you have to treat people.”

-FUCK just let them eat in peace TT_TT

-Can we make a law banning people from talking about when they were rookies at work

-Meanwhile Goo Minho is eating like it’s fucking delicious ah LMAO

-Still better working for a rich household.. look at the quality of that food

“You heard we’re getting a new rookie, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Train him properly and put him to work.”

Goo Minho belonged to the materials logistics management team of a global corporation. It was the perfect position to get worked to death between headquarters and the field.

-Does this make any damn sense right now! You want me to come over there myself? Are we supposed to work without materials or what!

“Oh, Director! Yes, yes. No, of course not. The field is the most important thing. I know that very well. I’ll contact the materials procurement team immediately.”

Goo Minho groveled over the phone.

-You’re going to make the site manager call me directly and scream at me again? I told you to list the items properly on the expenditure resolution!

“I failed to handle things properly in the middle. I’m truly sorry. I’ll correct the erroneous entry on the resolution and submit it again right now.”

-This is literally just an office worker vlog

-I can’t watch this I’m crying ah T_T LMAOO

<Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> followed the classic formula of a lighthearted office drama.

“Okay, everyone, attention for a second! We got a personnel transfer today, and there’s a new rookie joining our team.”

Everyone in the office turned to look.

A bewildered face. Noh Seungchan walked in wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a loose-fitting suit. He looked exactly like a young, awkward nerd, with traces of boyishness still lingering on his face. Even the way he walked was clumsy.

“Ah, Assistant Manager, my account has been locked.... If it’s not too much trouble, could you send me the password again?”

“...What happened to the password I wrote down on a Post-it for you earlier?”

“Ah, ah, ah. The Post-it. Ah. Right. Where. Where did I put it? Ah! Earlier, when I was throwing out the trash, I think I accidentally threw it away too....”

-LMAO Is Noh Seungchan the one he’s supposed to train properly and put to work

-He’s so fucking good at acting like a loser LMAOO

-Ah nerdy guy.. T_T I fucking love it

“Come to think of it, I didn’t watch Noh Seungchan’s version of the trailer.”

The office worker, who had only seen Goo Minho’s teaser, thought Noh Seungchan was a pretty good actor too. Wondering whether he should look up the main trailer later, he kept watching.

Even at the welcome dinner for the new employee, Noh Seungchan was completely flustered.

He tried to drink the alcohol he was given immediately and choked on it, then overfilled a glass and soaked Goo Minho’s shirt sleeve with alcohol.

After the company dinner ended and Goo Minho struggled his way home, Noh Seungchan sent him a message.

[Assistant Manager, thank you so much for today! I’ll work hard from now on, so I look forward to learning from you!]

“Whew... Yeah... What would a rookie know?”

Goo Minho smiled and closed his eyes inside the taxi.

And Noh Seungchan—

“This is Lee Youngchan from Team 3. Day one in the materials logistics management team is complete.”

-???

-Holy shit

-LMAOOO It’s finally here

-How’s the situation? Can you access the materials supply logs and the falsified expenditure records?

“Yes. I’ll secure Director Park’s PC and the backup copy of Logistics Team 3’s server before the deadline.”

-The Chairman is watching closely.

In the construction industry, which department was the easiest place to siphon off money?

Right.

The logistics management team.

Noh Seungchan was the audit office’s youngest undercover agent, planted among embezzlers who stole materials and falsified budgets.

While <Class 1-1> delivered its impact in the first half of Episode 1, <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> delivered its impact in the latter half.

A preview played over upbeat music, bringing Episode 1 of <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> to an end as well.

Both productions had gotten off to successful starts.

* * *

[Noh Seungchan, the Next Big Nerdy Guy? Hearts Flutter Over His Awkward Performance in <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide>]

[SBC’s <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> Wins Over Office Workers from Episode 1... Netizens Applaud: “It Feels Like Real Corporate Life”]

[The Suicide of XXX in <Class 1-1> Sounds the Alarm on Society... “Is College Really Worth This?”]

[MBS Presents the Brutal College Admissions Drama <Class 1-1>, Viewers “Melt” at the Appearance of Baby Morning Bread Heo Haena]

KBC Drama Department.

The director, who had come to work early in the morning, smacked his lips as he looked at the portal-site articles displayed on the screen.

“They really nailed Episode 1. Those bastards....”

Frustrated, the director loosened his tie and looked through the reactions.

[DramaMovieActor TALK/ We always see students committing suicide but seeing a teacher do it really hits different]

Fuck I just keep thinking how hard it must’ve been T_T

-Anonymous 1: They didn’t even do a close-up of the face before the death or anything you literally just hear that thud and it was real-life horror seriously felt like they endured until they absolutely couldn’t anymore

-Anonymous 4: But do people seriously pressure teachers that much? Back in my day only the crazy parents of the top-ranked kids did that

?Anonymous 5: I’m an actual teacher and yeah they seriously text like that LOLOL if it was only texts I’d be grateful they fucking go off over the phone too

[DramaMovieActor TALK/ Teacher died and what the fuck is wrong with the parent cursing them out because their kid’s college admissions got ruined]

It’s so fucking horrifying I actually wanna kill them.. T_T no hard feelings toward the actors though

-Anonymous 1: But that’s what makes it feel fucking real LOOLL if it were based on a true story reality would probably be worse not better

-Anonymous 3: There goes my faith in humanity

-Anonymous 6: I really hope Baby Morning Bread gets into a better college than that psycho mom’s youngest daughter T_T

The nightmare parent who had driven the teacher to death had two daughters. After the older daughter failed in the admissions process and couldn’t get into a prestigious university, she poured everything she had into her youngest daughter.

And the character positioned in direct contrast to that youngest daughter was Heo Haena.

Naturally, a dynamic emerged in which viewers hated the youngest daughter and rooted for Heo Haena.

[DramaMovieActor TALK/ Noh Seungchan and Goo Minho have great chemistry LOOLL a rookie who looks like a loser but is secretly hiding his abilities + a senior who tanks all the hits for him is the best]

I need Noh Seungchan to hurry up and take off his glasses and give us a proper suit fit

-Anonymous 1: I’m so happy his face seems to be getting back to its old form.. T_T

-Anonymous 4: It’s hard to find a male actor with a tofu face as good as Noh Seungchan LOLOLOL tofu + Arab-face combo is the best

[DramaMovieActor TALK/ How did you know I love undercover stories LOLOL]

Already excited thinking about him taking them down one by one

-Anonymous 1: I can never get enough of cathartic office dramas

-Anonymous 2: I think today’s episode is gonna be fun too TT_TT hurry up and let it be broadcast time already..

In particular, <Class 1-1> had made a bold choice by sending viewers’ dopamine levels through the roof just ten minutes into the broadcast. The amount of buzz it generated was considerable.

“Director! The ratings are out!”

Eight in the morning.

The time when dramas received their report cards in the form of ratings.

The KBC director felt like he already knew what they would be.

“<Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> is at 5.3%, and <Class 1-1> is at 6.1%!”

Both had started above average.

Those were about the kind of Episode 1 ratings usually posted by dramas that comfortably reached 20% by their finales.

“What should we do? The ratings for Episode 2...?”

The KBC director knew this wasn’t the end.

“What are you even asking me for?”

KBC’s winning move and JC ENM’s gamble.

“The replays are going up on OTT, so even people who missed Episode 1 can catch up before Episode 2.”

[Issue Board/ This fucking angel app lets you immediately rewatch Episode 1 of Class 1-1 and Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide from yesterday.jpg]

It was a system that allowed viewers to immediately catch up on episodes they had missed.

The perfect shortcut to binge-watching that encouraged people to tune in live—and a double-edged sword.

Netholics offered replays of <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide>, while TV in offered replays of <Class 1-1>.

Unlike <Code Name: Time Seven>, which did not offer replays through OTT.

“Now all that’s left is for <Code Name> to push straight through.”

That meant <Code Name: Time Seven> had to be made so compelling that even people who had missed previous episodes would have no choice but to start watching midway through.

[Netholics]

[Domestic TOP 10]

[TV in]

[Domestic TOP 10]

Before long, <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> had settled into Netholics’ domestic drama rankings.

<Class 1-1> was no different.

The thumbnails bearing the faces of Goo Minho, Noh Seungchan, and Heo Haena were slowly drawing closer.

Toward Han Yeoreum of <Seoul Metropolitan City> and <Dongdaemun Romance>.