Chapter 944: I’m going to buy New Black at the supermarket (15)

“Peak rating—10.9%.”

It was nothing short of a miracle. The production team stood there, stunned.

“No way.”

Writer Yang Mihyun asked,

“Manager, you’re not joking, right? You’re saying episode one really hit 10.9% at its peak?”

“Yes.”

He turned his phone around.

On the graph, clearly displayed—

[10.9%]

“My god.”

“Ah... my legs just gave out.”

While the NBS staff kept cheering, the production team sank into their seats, their legs trembling.

“H... hahaha...”

Co-director Oh Taejun pressed a hand to his forehead and looked up at the ceiling.

Then he turned to Gu Jaeyoung beside him.

“Hyung. We made it big.”

“We really did.”

“Is that really all you have to say? We just hit almost 11% on the first episode...!”

“I don’t even know how I’m supposed to react.”

Gu Jaeyoung took a long drink of beer.

As the one who had suffered the most to get here, his expression held too many emotions to name.

Then he looked at us.

“...Thank you.”

“Pardon?”

“For everything.”

At his brief words, we smiled.

“We’re the ones who should be thankful.”

A warm, soft atmosphere settled over the room.

NBS staff raised their glasses with smiles, and the production team looked at us the same way—

Then suddenly—

“Alright, everyone! This is not the time for emotional exchanges! This is the time to celebrate!”

Jiho jumped up and down, and everyone followed.

“Great work, everyone!”

“Wow! Seriously, amazing job! 10.9%! We made history today!”

“This is insane. Seriously.”

Glasses clinked everywhere. Laughter burst out. It felt like a festival.

Even the production team, who had been frozen in shock, now smiled with teary eyes.

Biju whispered,

“Everyone looks like PD Gu.”

“Well, they all followed him here.”

The team that had worked like family for over a decade on Jusehan.

Even when they could have moved to other programs, they chose to follow him to NBS.

“Hey! Juyoun, why are you crying again?”

“Uwaaaah...”

“If you cry, then I’ll... I’ll...”

Watching grown adults cry like children, we couldn’t help but smile.

Ri Hyuk spoke to the NBS staff.

“The first step was a success... now the real beginning starts.”

“That’s right.”

Their faces were filled with emotion.

For people who had invested their careers into a future they believed in, today’s rating was proof:

You were right.

“We need to push promotions hard, meet with advertisers, pull in more production budget.”

“Strike while the iron’s hot.”

“Wooju, should we film something for the Antarctica pledge?”

I pretended not to hear that last part and looked around.

Then I called out to the production team.

“There’s something I’d like to say first.”

“?”

“You remember the promise we made if we passed 10% ratings, right? That we’d send the production team on overseas trips.”

“!!!”

“We’ll keep that promise.”

Cheers exploded.

“Instead of a group workshop, we’ll arrange it so each of you can go with your families.”

“Sun Wooju! Sun Wooju!”

My members narrowed their eyes.

“New...Black! NewBlack!”

They nodded in approval.

Then I said to the cheering production team,

“Shall we move locations? We’ll cover the third round.”

“Let’s get something good for late-night food!”

“Woooooo!”

As everyone gathered their things, someone asked,

“Wooju!”

“Yes?”

“The pledge was for a 10% peak rating, right?”

“Yes.”

With a peak of 10.9%, the average would likely land somewhere around 8–9%.

Practically a success either way.

But then—

“So if it hits 20% peak, are you going to Antarctica?”

“Average rating.”

My firm answer made everyone burst into laughter.

While the New Universe cast, crew, and NBS staff headed to their third gathering—

“Wow...”

“Wow.”

Inside the NBS master control room, small applause broke out.

Staff exchanged high-fives.

“I wonder what the final numbers will be.”

“We’ll know tomorrow morning. Probably high 8s or low 9s.”

“This is insane.”

NBS had always shown similar rating graphs.

Aside from the occasional drama hitting 2–3%, it had been almost stagnant.

But now—

One variety show had broken 10%.

“I checked online—the buzz is insane.”

“Next week will start at 10% easily. People who hesitated will tune in.”

“Yeah. This is it.”

“We knew it would hit... but not like this...”

Smiles spread across their faces.

Most NBS employees had invested their time believing in Lemon Entertainment’s vision.

And now, New Universe was their opportunity.

“The real question now is whether we capitalize on this buzz...”

Would NBS remain “the channel with New Universe”?

Or become a successful channel because of it?

“Hmm?”

“What is it?”

“Wait... look at this graph. Am I seeing things?”

As one employee cleaned his glasses, the other stared.

“...Huh?”

The rating graph was strange.

5%.

Live.

“That can’t be right...”

Their eyes turned to the TV.

“This is the Friday–Saturday drama, right?”

“Yeah, Moonlit Night. It had 1.9% last week.”

Moonlit Night.

A fusion historical drama about a special unit hunting supernatural creatures.

A spin-off with strong chemistry and growing popularity—

Mostly on streaming.

But—

“Why is this at 5%...?”

“...What?”

They tilted their heads in confusion.

The main viewers of New Universe—

Souffle, celebrity fans, and variety enthusiasts—

Shared one thing:

They were adventurous.

‘I’ll try it.’

‘I’m going in first.’

‘Let me test it first.’

While casual viewers hesitated to even tune into NBS, these people were already watching.

And another shared trait—

They were extremely active online.

-This is insanely fun from episode one LOL

-The vibe is so good

-Now I get why the staff adore NewBlack

-Already my favorite show LOL

-First variety show in years I actually enjoy

-No toxic humor, love it

Posts flooded communities.

[Next episode preview]

[Biju “skull water” moment]

[Episode summary]

Curiosity spread fast.

-Is it really that good?

-Already hoping for season 2

-That good???

-Gu Jaeyoung really pulled it off

-Waiting for OTT upload...

-(NBS schedule image) rerun tomorrow

“Try it. Just one bite.”

“Come on, it’s good.”

Viewers were pulling others in.

Then—

“Hmm?”

They glanced at the TV.

“Oh...”

They had forgotten to turn it off.

And—

They kept watching.

‘Wait... I’ve seen this.’

The drama.

‘Oh, right. Moonlit Night.’

One of the trending shows on streaming.

-This is on NBS??

-Yeah, produced by Lemon

-I thought it was streaming only??

-Nope, Lemon production

-Wait I’ve been waiting for this LOL

They kept watching.

[“I’ve been waiting for you, my love.”]

A ghostly woman with a lantern attacked.

The protagonist fled.

‘Oh.’

‘Maybe just a bit more.’

And just like that—

The ratings climbed.

An unexpected ripple effect of New Universe.

Buzz spread across the industry.

“Did you hear about New Universe?”

“I saw the news—woke me right up.”

“Is that even possible?”

Broadcast stations everywhere were the same.

—New Universe debut rating: 8.9%

Peak: 10.9%

The question everyone had—

—What happens when NewBlack leads a show alone?

Had been answered.

“Yeah... we should never mess around with variety.”

“Not just variety—don’t mess with them at all. Their fans are massive.”

“They’re idols, right? Still feels like industry people though.”

But nowhere was the shock greater than in variety departments.

“How is this possible?”

Ratings were everything.

High ratings = success.

Low ratings = failure.

Simple.

“And this... on a first episode?”

Everyone knew—

A major hit had arrived.

Conference rooms filled with PDs rewatching.

“Let’s study it. The chemistry, the editing...”

While the industry buzzed—

One place had a very different mood.

TBC.

The former home of Gu Jaeyoung.

“They talked trash about him nonstop after he left...”

“Yeah. Said he got arrogant...”

“And now look...”

Rumors spread—

A flower pot had shattered in the president’s office.

Serves them right.

Meanwhile—

“Clean up! Clean up!”

At TBC—

A different kind of preparation.

“Dust the windows.”

“Sort the trash.”

“Make a good impression.”

Because a guest was coming.

“He’s here!”

The door opened.

“Ah!”

A pale, delicate, sharp-eyed figure stepped in.

‘Cute.’

It was Ri Hyuk.

“Hello.”

The staff burst into excited greetings.

“We’re honored to have you on Mission Singer!”

He smiled modestly.

“I’ve always wanted to appear on this show.”

Then—

The costume fitting.

A sunflower mask.

Glittering eyes.

Flowing petals.

They pinned the name tag.

[King Sun Wooju]

Ri Hyuk looked down—

And wiggled happily.

As if he had gotten exactly what he wanted.

“Do you have a concept in mind?”

He picked up the voice changer.

[Yes, Souffle.]

Then, mimicking someone—

[This is King Sun Wooju. If I become king today... I will perform a Bongsan Mask Dance at Gwanghwamun!]

Laughter erupted.

“Perfect!”

Nearby, manager Do Wonseok scratched his cheek.

‘Wooju’s going to grab him by the collar...’

But Ri Hyuk just smiled brightly.

The debut of [King Sun Wooju]—

Was three weeks away.