Chapter 648

It was just as Jegal Rok had predicted.

[<1st Year, Class 1> Episode 2 Heats Up Too... Ratings Leap to 8.2%, Instantly Becoming a Hot Topic]

[Baby Morning Bread Isn’t Just Good at Studying—She Can Act Too~ The Entrance Exam War of the “Mokdong Kids” as Shown by a Daechi Kid]

[<Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide>—Undercover Noh Seungchan Shines... Noticeable Rise in Ratings]

[Office Workers Cheer for Lighthearted Office Drama... <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> Records 7.3% Ratings]

Both <1st Year, Class 1> and <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> were off to decent starts. Thanks to storytelling that knew exactly how to build anticipation in the first episode, viewer drop-off was low.

MBS had been summoned by the Korea Communications Standards Commission, but at least it had certainly succeeded in attracting attention.

OTT users in their twenties and thirties tended to binge-watch on weekends instead of watching weekday broadcasts live, or first check condensed versions through Intube shorts and SNS clips before deciding whether to watch the full version.

Ironically, viewers in their twenties and thirties could easily watch a hundred thirty-second videos, yet would agonize over whether to watch a single thirty-minute video before ultimately giving up.

Thanks to word of mouth, more viewers began binge-watching both <1st Year, Class 1> and <Assistant Manager Kim’s Survival Guide> over the weekend.

Jegal Rok rested his interlaced hands on the table and stared at the projected screen before him.

A presentation was in full swing. The subject was TV in’s performance one month after its launch.

“TV in currently has approximately 800,000 paid subscribers, and fewer than 5% discontinue their subscriptions after the first month.”

The service had only been open for a month, but consumers who had already discovered the pleasure of binge-watching dramas through NetHolics found the concept familiar.

“Based on this data, the projected number of users for the first half of the year is....”

“1.7 million.”

“Excuse me?”

“We can expect as many as two million.”

The junior employee giving the presentation was left speechless. Yet Jegal Rok’s expression remained perfectly ordinary despite the outrageous number he had just thrown out.

“I’m sorry, but may I ask why...?”

Jegal Rok answered briefly.

“Because it’s quite a good show.”

“....”

“The higher the quality of <1st Year, Class 1>, the more viewers will follow it on TV in. Once that series finishes airing, another show will be uploaded immediately afterward, which will raise expectations even further.”

The show that would be uploaded next.

It was <Code Name: Time Seven>, currently the only drama without an OTT catch-up service.

“This is where our profit comes from.”

The better <1st Year, Class 1> was, the greater the benefit for JC ENM. Because the drama airing against it was none other than Han Yeoreum’s.

“People will watch <Code Name: Time Seven> live and watch <1st Year, Class 1> on TV in, so tell KBC to recheck its advertising rates.”

The steady click of Jegal Rok’s dress shoes receded from the conference room, leaving behind only the absurd prediction of as many as two million users in the first half of the year.

And with that, the day of the <Code Name: Time Seven> production press conference arrived.

* * *

I’d already attended several production press conferences by now. But I still couldn’t help feeling nervous.

‘But this is different.’

This was the good kind of nervousness. The sort of pounding excitement you could only feel when you were confident in something you had made.

And apparently, I wasn’t the only one who could hardly stand waiting to show it to the world.

[Finally!!!]

[The day has come!!!]

Director Galdaeguk bounced up and down in his seat. Ma Eungyo tilted her head and said,

“I don’t really get it, but apparently people feel excitement? Joy? Something like that even before they see my work, just from the press conference. They say the synopsis and trailer alone make it hard to wait.”

Ma Eungyo was the same way.

I sat near Han Yohan and Jo Eunnara, who were reviewing the list of questions we had received in advance.

I meticulously checked the interview questions and the order in which the media outlets would be given microphones. As if that weren’t enough, I even checked the list of reporters who would be admitted.

‘I knew he’d come.’

I let out a quiet sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“Something happen?”

Since I watched dramas and movies and browsed the internet whenever I had a spare moment—in short, since my phone was practically glued to my hand—I knew about Maeng Byeonggwan too.

‘He’s also the bastard who wrote the most articles about Baby Morning Bread.’

My nemesis....

‘I won’t forget this.’

The questions he’d submitted were perfectly normal, but I had a feeling he would change them on the spot, so I refused to approve any questions from The Flash.

But I couldn’t prevent him from entering altogether. If I did that, I would genuinely be making an enemy of an entire media outlet.

No matter how much of a clickbait specialist a reporter was, inside his own company he was still a senior or junior colleague to other reporters and a valuable employee who brought in views.

I hesitated briefly before coming right out with it.

“There’s this reporter who’s been using me for clickbait since last time.... And apparently he’s coming today.”

“What does he look like?”

“Like a catfish.”

“Ah....”

Jo Eunnara, who had never once been ugly in his entire life, shook his head with an expression that said, What a shame.

“Perfect timing.”

“For what?”

“I haven’t been particularly unlucky lately, so it’s probably been building up....”

What was he talking about?

Just as I was about to ask Jo Eunnara what he meant—

[Now!!!]

[We go!!!]

A sketchbook suddenly appeared in front of my face.

I steeled myself.

Because now, at last, it was beginning.

* * *

“I have a question for Director Galdaeguk. Even from the trailer alone, there was plenty to see, including overseas location shoots, large-scale explosions, and gunfights. Were there any particular technical or directorial elements you focused on to give viewers an immersive experience comparable to a movie?”

[We used lots of drones!!!]

[And lots and lots of face close-ups too!!!]

Galdaeguk bounced up and pointed at Jo Eunnara’s face, and the reporters unconsciously responded in unison.

“Ahhh—.”

It was a sigh of agreement.

Jo Eunnara’s ears turned flaming red.

“I have a question for Writer Ma. Actress Han Yeoreum gave a flawless performance as Yeon Huijae in Director Ja Sokhwan’s <The Great Garland>. Did that influence this project in any way? And could you also tell us what kind of person Im Ria is in your eyes?”

The instant Ma Eungyo picked up the microphone, she answered.

“My master’s <The Great Garland> is a masterpiece that will never be replicated, and Yeon Huijae is likewise an extraordinary character, but she is different from my Ria. Therefore, Huijae had no influence on <Code Name: Time Seven>. From beginning to end, I want you to look solely at Im Ria.”

Unlike Ja Sokhwan, Ma Eungyo was eloquent, and the reporters’ hands began moving busily.

“And Ria is....”

Ma Eungyo fell silent for a moment.

“A girl who surpasses. Whatever it may be.”

The production press conference proceeded in a warm atmosphere.

It was partly because this was a blockbuster KBC had gritted its teeth and poured everything into, and partly because the shows competing against it had gotten off to good starts.

“This is KBC’s first major romance production in quite some time, with a budget in the tens of billions of won. Actress Han Yeoreum, this is the largest-budget and biggest-scale production you’ve ever led as the star of a project. I’m curious whether you felt a great deal of pressure. And what do you think about the expectations being placed on you as the relief pitcher who will save KBC dramas?”

The reporters burst into quiet laughter. Amusement rippled through the hall.

Jo Eunnara, already publicly established as an icon of misfortune, and I had suddenly risen together as a meme thanks to one post that compiled every accident and disaster we’d experienced.

[HOT/ Anyone Else Curious Who’ll Win: Jo Eunnara Vs. Han Yeoreum.jpg]

(Drunk driving.jpg)

(Overseas gambling.jpg)

(Tax evasion.jpg)

(Illegal sports betting.jpg)

(Plagiarizing another work.jpg)

And countless other scandals besides, making him the man who had gathered every misfortune in the world into one place (But not his looks)

(Jo Eunnara’s previous filmography.jpg)

Thanks to that, Jo Eunnara had completely tanked both ratings and box-office admissions....

(Joo Junseo.jpg)

(Myeong Jeha.jpg)

(Shin Seojin.jpg)

(Ja Sokhwan.jpg)

(Hwang Boseok.jpg)

Meanwhile, Han Yeoreum, who practically has the entire universe pushing her forward and screaming YOU BETTER SUCCEED

(ParCheHi.jpg)

(Strange Tales.jpg)

(Faster Than the Law series.jpg)

(The Great Garland.jpg)

(Unfair Deal.jpg)

(Dongdaemun Romance.jpg)

(Seoul Metropolitan City.jpg)

Will Han Yeoreum add another win to her filmography... or will the Jo Eunnara effect strike again...?

(Romance Grim Reaper Han Yohan.jpg)

Han Yeoreum + Ja Sokhwan’s Kids win even with a handicap this huge Vs. Come on, it’s still Jo Eunnara

-Anonymous 1: Ah fuck don’t compile it like this T_T LMAO

-Anonymous 4: Jo Eunnara is seriously so fucking pitiful.. shouldn’t he get an exorcism or something

?Anonymous 9: Exorcism~

?Anonymous 12: You bastard

-Anonymous 24: the trailer alone looks fucking amazing han yeoreum is just gonna hard-carry the whole fucking thing and even jo eunnara will become a leading man someday

?Anonymous 45: mr jo this is not the time to be leaving comments on forums

?Anonymous 49: fucking hell LMAOOOO

The post became so popular that it was turned into short-form videos, screenshotted across SNS, and spread far and wide.

Naturally, that meant more members of the public were now paying attention to the ratings for <Code Name: Time Seven>.

“It’s truly an honor to be the lead in a production of this scale... I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel any pressure, especially with the location shoot in Russia, but the director, writer, and all the actors here did such an amazing job that I don’t feel that weight on my shoulders anymore.”

I gave the answer I had prepared.

I subtly sidestepped the part about being KBC’s relief pitcher. Appropriate questions and appropriate answers went back and forth smoothly.

“Then that concludes—”

The MC was just about to end the interview and move on to the photo session.

“I have a question! People are calling this a showdown between Baby Melon Bread and Baby Morning Bread. What do you think about actress Heo Haena, who is currently appearing in MBS’s <1st Year, Class 1>?”

There was no way to answer that question without getting screwed.

“I’m rooting for her!”

= LOL, I know she doesn’t stand a chance, but.... They’d make a headline saying I looked down on both the show and Heo Haena.

“I think she’s a good actress.”

= Han Yeoreum’s Pick... A New Face Among the <Wait! Stay in Here> Actors? They could spin that into media play.

“Could you please ask about our show?”

= They’d slap on a headline saying I’d openly shown my displeasure, then make a short-form video titled ‘Han Yeoreum’s face completely sours ??’ and milk it for views.

How the hell was his voice that loud when he didn’t even have a microphone?

I couldn’t think of an answer and remained still.

Jo Eunnara, sitting beside me, stared fixedly at Maeng Byeonggwan.

Crash.

“Ugh!”

Maeng Byeonggwan suddenly vanished from his seat.

The legs of his chair had broken, sending him tumbling backward. Looking closely, all four had snapped at once.

Was that even possible?

“What the hell?”

“Wait... are you okay?”

The reporters around him began murmuring.

Then Jo Eunnara picked up his microphone.

“I’ve been feeling it for a while now... but the energy around that area seems a little... bad.”

At Jo Eunnara’s words, every reporter around Maeng Byeonggwan instantly scattered in all directions.

“Please help that man outside. I have a feeling he’s going to get seriously hurt today.”

“Huh? What the hell! It’s not over yet! Answer my question!”

“Take care on your way out. And make sure you keep checking yourself for injuries.”

Everyone here knew about Jo Eunnara’s misfortune.

It was impossible not to feel an almost fearful degree of trust in every word he said.

After lowering his microphone, Jo Eunnara quietly whispered so only I could hear.

“That’s the chair I was sitting in earlier.”

This man... the intensity of his bad luck was on a whole other level....

“Well, then. From now on, everyone....”

Han Yohan spoke in his usual calm, serious manner, the stable type who seemed capable of washing away every last trace of that dark, unpleasant feeling emanating from the aura of misfortune.

The reporters obediently listened.

“Yes! Understood!”

“Let’s move straight to the photo session—.”

Even another reporter from The Flash abandoned Maeng Byeonggwan and rushed forward for the photo session.

“I said I’m not leaving!”

“Are you all right? Oh dear. What a shame.”

Jo Eunnara’s manager and coordinator grabbed Maeng Byeonggwan by the arms while he was still lying on the floor and practically dragged him out of the press conference.

I looked at Jo Eunnara.

‘I should stay on his good side.’

Thanks to him, the press conference ended peacefully.

[<Code Name: Time Seven> Finally Premieres... Jo Eunnara’s Face Captivates Women at Press Conference]

[Daily Media?Baby Melon Bread’s Sweet Smile... “Hallelujah”]

[Han Yohan·Han Yeoreum’s Chemistry Already Making Hearts Flutter? <Code Name: Time Seven> Production Press Conference]

[Star CutCut?Han Yohan·Han Yeoreum·Jo Eunnara Make Finger Hearts Side by Side... “Please Show Us Lots of Love”]

* * *

Shim Juhwan turned on KBC.

His heart kept acting strangely.

“Ha... Last time was a variety show, so I must’ve just gotten the wrong impression, right?”

Han Yeoreum had a man named Myeong Jeha, so it was wrong for him to think she looked good with Han Yohan.

Perhaps Jo Eunnara’s face had bewitched him so thoroughly that he was no longer in his right mind.

mailEyeoleum EveryDayIsYeoreum

(Code Name Time Seven press conference photo.jpg)

Retreats 2,235 Likes 5,432

?Let’s just have the three of them live together

?fucking angel chemistry

But something was strange.

The more he looked at the press conference photos, the more his heart wavered.

In every photo, Han Yohan seemed to have his face turned ever so slightly toward Han Yeoreum, his gaze fixed on her, and it was kind of... kind of nice....

“No.”

Just as he denied it, wondering if Seo Eden’s idiot virus had infected him, Episode 1 of <Code Name: Time Seven> finally began.

The camera glided smoothly down a path where wildly overgrown grass rose like walls on either side. The drone footage drew viewers in from the very beginning.

The camera looked vertically down upon an orphanage isolated deep in the mountains, slowly closing in on the building.

A lone red-brick building rising in the middle of fields cut off from everything around them.

A red cross at the very top of the church roof.

And singing drifting through the stained-glass windows.

All of us gathered here

Blessed by the Lord

The Lord is here with us

Forever I shall

Carry faith along this arduous path

For we believe

That we shall claim the final victory

Everyone was singing the hymn together. The children, dressed in choir robes, sang in clear, ringing voices.

The camera closed in on two children standing particularly close together.

-guess they’re the child actors

-they did such a good job casting a kid who looks like han yeoreum TT_TT

-so cute

As though responding to the pastor’s fond gaze, young Ria and Taeo sang the hymn earnestly.

Stand strong, stand strong

You who are blessed by the Lord

Give praise, give praise

To our Savior, King upon this earth

Once again, the church was shown from above.

Rows of children.

Perfectly aligned, without so much as an inch out of place.

The pastor standing in the center.

And the statue behind the children.

Jesus, nailed to the cross.