In the middle of all this, the Blu-ray and scriptbook funding for 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 ended with overwhelming success. The purchasing power of won in their 20s and 30s, who had beco the target audience, far exceeded MBS’s expectations.
[Drama/Film/Actor TALK / Youth Disqualified scriptbook news contents list.jpg]
-Anonymous 1: Iksun, thank you so much TT_TT I’ve been waiting for this
-Anonymous 3: I’m running there right now, f*ck
-Anonymous 9: Why is this only coming out now when I’m already in a shitty state... ha...T_T still, I’ll regret it if I don’t buy it, right
˪ Anonymous 12: Yeah, it’ll be even harder to find later, just buy it first and think later
˪ Anonymous 18: I had such a hard ti getting the 〈ParCheHi〉 Blu-ray... TT_TT
-Anonymous 24: The contents is insanely generous; one two three thumbs up, Saerok, thank you~~!
Everyone still loved Na Yuna, Go Yungyo, and Jeong Heejeong in their hearts.
Thanks to those unforgettable characters, the funding hit 100% the mont the page opened. And even now, clips from 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 were maintaining steady, modest popularity.
However, beside Director So, who was editing the Blu-ray, MBS Drama Center director Lee Saerok was visibly restless.
The more attention gathered around 〈Seoul tropolitan City〉—which hadn’t even gone into production yet—the more it hurt the currently airing projects.
“Hey, you know, that—don’t let the distance grow. Reach out, check in, Director So! You’ve got to stay close, close. And casually drop that I’m bringing in Hwang Boseok too.”
Hwang Boseok.
Among romantic cody writers, he was at the very top.
He was also the writer of Hong Suryeon’s biggest hit, 〈lody of the Seaside Village〉.
He had never once dropped below 20% viewership ratings.
‘If it’s Hwang Boseok, even Han Yeoreum will be tempted!’
Any actor would want to receive a script from Hwang Boseok at least once.
A shortcut to the top—that was romantic cody.
“Of course she’ll be busy and tired, but still. Our Yeoreum works like an ox, so casually bring up her next project too. Say it’s ti for her to do a rom-com... hey, seriously, tell her we’ve got the director lineup fully prepared. Whoever she wants, I’ll attach them all! All of them!”
Lee Saerok was constantly aiming for Han Yeoreum’s next project.
He had long since calculated that once NetHolics opened and 〈Seoul tropolitan City〉 hit, announcing Yeoreum’s next project would create a massive trickle-down effect.
A rising actress boosted by NetHolics, combined with a top-tier writer. It was practically a guaranteed win.
“Saerok, go away for a bit....”
But So Yesol, annoyed by the whining coming through her headset, brushed him off. Lee Saerok jumped.
“Hey! No matter what, how can you talk down to the director like that?”
Without even turning her head, Director So played a dinner gathering video she had gotten from the group chat.
-Director So, right? When I say ‘Did Yesol co?’ you say ‘Yeah, Saerok, hi.’
The video was so desperate it bordered on pathetic, and the audio was crystal clear.
“...Where did you even get that?”
“You lied way too creatively. Anyway, I’m busy, so go away.”
“Hey, should I send you back to the set again? You can rest a bit. Huh? Just bring Yeoreum, that’s all. If I contact her directly, wouldn’t that be too much pressure?”
“You’ve never contacted her even once?”
“I occasionally send ga invitation ssages, just to subtly remind her I exist.”
“...Wow... that’s so annoying.... It’s a good thing Yeoreum is nice. If it were , I would’ve blocked you.”
So Yesol returned to her editing.
It was already the latter half. The scene where Han Yeoreum stuffs the crumpled 50,000 won her father gave her into one side of her bag, with narration playing over it.
“Hey, Yesol. Don’t you think it’s a waste to keep Han Yeoreum like this? If she goes into rom-coms, she’d soar. Just imagine it. She already fits it, right? I’ll bring you a synopsis soon....”
So Yesol turned up the volu. Han Yeoreum’s quiet voice flowed through the headset.
‘Romantic cody...’
Before she knew it, Lee Saerok’s voice was drowned out by Yeoreum’s.
Director So thought quietly.
‘Rather than that....’
She wanted to see Han Yeoreum in a work that could truly let her voice be heard.
* * *
In a dark room, a boy wearing a headset lay with his eyes closed.
A tablet PC rested in his arms as he lay on the bed. He remained still for a long ti, breathing quietly as if in deep sleep.
Each ti he inhaled, the tablet on his chest moved slightly.
After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes.
“....”
INTUBE
[Han Yeoreum (Na Yuna) inner thoughts compilation from 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 *warning: tears] 12:45
Views 237,112
The video he had been listening to had ended. Slowly lifting the tablet, the boy opened a ssenger window.
Input: I want to go to Korea
* * *
Finally, the filming day for 〈Seoul tropolitan City〉 had arrived. This was the Paju filming studio.
“Yeoreum, want to get so sleep before we go?”
“No, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep anyway....”
I checked the watch on my wrist. It was 4 a.m. The schedule was arranged in consideration of the visit of NetHolics’ head, Andrea Shark.
‘There’s no way I can afford an NG, not even once.’
Today’s scene was from the early part of Episode 1, before the zombie outbreak begins.
On Jihwa sitting peacefully in the hospital lobby, and Yoo Yeonji moving busily—both captured in a single shot.
‘Do Gyeoul....’
At last, I would be standing in the sa place as Do Gyeoul.
Not as a naless extra, not as “Screaming Woman 3,” but as On Jihwa. As a lead with my own na.
Ding—!
「Mission Hitmap」
Keyword: Views
The basic condition of a star is being the one who draws attention first, even when standing among others. In other words, soone who naturally attracts the gaze!
In the SNS era, attention is asured in views. Beco an actor who, once seen, is watched again, and after being seen three tis, is sought out deliberately.
Success Condition
[Among the videos uploaded to the project’s channel, claim the most replayed scene within the video that has the highest view count.]
Reward
[Increase in Recognition]
[Skill Up]
That was when the mission window appeared.
‘Number one in views....’
In 〈Seoul tropolitan City〉, I didn’t have many lines or much screen ti. I wasn’t in a position where many clips could even be made.
‘On the other hand, Do Gyeoul....’
Thinking about Do Gyeoul’s impact in the latter half, my jaw tightened without realizing.
In an apocalypse story, what viewers crave most—the mont of catharsis they’ve been holding back.
That clip might even bring in a wave of new paid subscribers to NetHolics.
‘...But I’ll think about that later.’
I stepped out of the car, script in hand. As I approached the set, the sounds of the busy filming site grew louder.
“Excuse —coming through!”
“Please reconnect the monitor. The power isn’t coming on right now.”
The mont I stepped inside, I couldn’t help but gape.
“Wow....”
The scale exceeded my imagination. It truly lived up to the na NetHolics. It felt as if a real hospital ward had been cut out and placed here.
The tile flooring matched that of an actual hospital, even the pillars were fully replicated. The reception desk in the center of the lobby and the information kiosk were real. Even the display boards and elevators were all there.
And finally, the hospital’s signature uniform white lighting had been perfectly recreated through the lighting setup.
I inhaled the dry air of the set. It slled new.
After walking around the set once, I felt a vibration from my wrist.
[♥︎ Current heart rate: 160]
My heart was racing again.
At NetHolics, and for the first ti, in a studio of this scale...
‘I’m here.’
I looked at the staff busily moving across from . At that mont, soone lightly tapped my shoulder.
“...You ca early.”
“Unni!”
It was Tak Jeongyun, soone I hadn’t seen in a while. She seed to have arrived even earlier than , already changed into her nurse uniform.
“You don’t seem nervous at all...? As expected... rising stars are different.... M-my heart is pounding so much I feel like I’m going crazy.”
Tak Jeongyun’s face was pale. Her fingertips trembled slightly.
It was her first ti on a set of this scale, but more than that, she °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° was probably anxious because she had the most lines to deliver on the day Andrea Shark was visiting.
‘I almost felt like my heart was going to burst just now too.’
But if I said that out loud, it would just double the tension. I tightly held Tak Jeongyun’s hand.
Her cold hand was damp with sweat.
“We’ll do well.”
At that mont, I saw a figure approaching the entrance. A familiar face.
Even though I had arrived first and was waiting, Do Gyeoul smiled as if she had been waiting for .
“Really....”
Andrea Shark was scheduled to visit the set twice—today, and once more before leaving the country.
I didn’t have a single line on either day. It was an extrely disadvantageous position when it ca to drawing attention.
“We’ll do well.”
I repeated it again, like a vow. The watch on my wrist vibrated once more, as if signaling sothing.
That it was ti to beco On Jihwa.
In front of everyone.
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