Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: First Broadcast
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Putting aside Jeong Gyeowol's season 2 black history for the moment.
Geum Yuna and Jeong Gyeowol threw themselves into filming.
Kim Seulgi and Lee Arang focused on the company.
Everyone charged ahead, immersed in their own busy lives.
Stuck in the endless loop of home - filming - home - action school - home, just like always.
That was when the "Connect Strikes!" episode featuring Kang Hosu, Lee Kangchan, and Jeong Gyeowol went up on Nertube.
The video racked up 500,000 views before the day was even out.
In the quiz show segment toward the end, reactions started pouring in about the rookie actress Jeong Gyeowol making her appearance.
💬 Comments — AnonUser123 Jeong Gyeowol? Who's this nobody hanging with the oppas? -.- — FanGirl88 You don't know actress Jeong Gyeowol? Let me tell you about her... See more — TrollKing Not even a big star and I fell for the "see more" bait. Dying fr. Some folks were even coming over from Nertube to fall for the "see more" traps.
— NewFan Actress Jeong Gyeowol is seriously charming. Thought she'd be stiff and cold based on looks, but her speech, personality—she seems great. And intellectual too? — HaterBot Nah, it's a concept. Looks that could eat other actresses alive AND a great personality? No way. Bet she's a total power-tripper off-camera. Probably dates seven guys and rotates them weekly. FML, wanna be one of those seven dwarfs. — Cynic101 Since when is knowing Taekwondo intellectual? Even kindergarteners can draw the flag. That 25-ton truck thing? Obvious she's from rough dock work. Total meathead vibe. Bet she just stands there smirking and the thirsty oppas unload and load for her. Snakes slithered into the praise posts, desperately trying to tear her down.
— CuriousCat Does Jeong Gyeowol have a Bestal? Pls share the account. — PingPongHater Wanna kill PingPong. Just search the green window, idiot. ⭐ Top Comment — SimpLord How can someone be this pretty, cute, AND handsome? Is this allowed? Starting my anti-fan career today. — KSEnterFan KS Actor Team finally putting in work. Signing someone like this. Best move since Cheon Taeseong. — VisualGod Visual legend. Line up all the actresses and make 'em kneel. — BodyCheck Y'all focused on face so missed the body. Even in training clothes, that figure. Bet she's an action actress. Or at least loves working out. — ThirstyAF Dunno about that. Just training clothes and she's hotter than the naked ones ㅗㅜㅑ. — RageQuit Peak incel energy... Pls sue them already, company. Most of the comments were overflowing with praise for Jeong Gyeowol.
Stuff like ㅗㅜㅑ or "blessed midlaner"—pervy comments popped up often too, but they didn't faze her much.
Geum Yuna, waiting beside her for the next shoot, was the one losing it.
"Look at these guys crossing the line! Executive Manager Kim Gyujin! Tell the legal team to do their job!"
"At this level, it's kinda iffy for a lawsuit..."
"What? Gyeowol, when's your re-signing? We should join the bidding war for Jeong Gyeowol too."
"...Uh? Actress Geum, you're laying the groundwork like this? We've already talked through the hate comments with Gyeowol..."
"It's a 3-year contract. Just wait a bit."
"...Gyeowol?"
"Joking~"
A rookie actress already jumping into comment control?
If she was a true fan, she'd slay the bad comments to protect Jeong Gyeowol's mental health—so it was actually welcome.
But most commenters were just aggro bait.
They might defend her now, but if it went to actual lawsuits, they'd flip with stuff like "Why so dramatic?" or "Thinks she's the only actress in the world?"
"I'm totally fine with these comments, so don't worry about it, Sis...ter."
"Gyeowol... you've grown so much. Maybe I can drop the 'Duties of an Actress' lectures now."
Just moments ago, Geum Yuna had been ripping into Jeong Gyeowol for showing up on "Connect Strikes!" with messy hair, no makeup, and sloppy training clothes.
But she knew how to give praise when it was due—a better mentor than expected.
"I'm using the cosmetics you gave me properly. Scalp and hair care on point too. Exercise... I'm probably the most dedicated here. Heh."
"...Might wanna dial back the workouts. You're going at it like you're prepping for a competition..."
Jeong Gyeowol had stubbornly stuck to "Senior" at first, but Geum Yuna's relentless pushing had her calling her "Sis" now.
It still felt a bit awkward, but time would fix that.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📰 Breaking News [Reporter Shin Seonyeong] Even before airing, the drama <Psychometry Her> is exploding in popularity. Today, we sit down for an interview with actress Jeong Gyeowol, who plays Dr. Helena, to learn more about her. - Q&A with Actress Jeong Gyeowol -
Q. What sparked your start in acting?
A. It's a long story, but short version? Screenwriter Bae Jongwook kept calling. Eventually caved.
Q. Bae Jongwook—the one who wrote the Nomen screenplay?
A. Yep. Thanks to him, I joined Nomen. And now dramas. He's the one who made me an actress.
Q. Acting wasn't your dream from the start. What efforts are you making now?
A. Hitting action school so hard people ask if I'm signed there. Like seven times a week. Stamina's key—without it, acting loses power. Never know what role's next, so learning martial arts, staying flexible, analyzing scripts during commutes, noting stuff. At home, studying seniors' performances.
Q. Seeing you drunk at the company dinner reminded me of those old pics of great actors boozing in a yeogwan. How'd that feel?
A. ...Those pics are circulating? Hunting down who posted right after this. Beg on my knees to delete if needed.
...Omitted.
Q. Final question. What kind of actress do you want to be?
A. One where it's "Jeong Gyeowol or bust!" Irreplaceable. Not stuck in one style—able to handle any spectrum.
The actress "Jeong Gyeowol," armed with unbelievable visuals and raw honesty.
Even this jaded reporter, numb to society's BS, couldn't stop smiling throughout the interview. Pure magic.
—
The company rode the "Connect Strikes!" wave with interviews to promote rookie actress Jeong Gyeowol.
Geum Yuna and Kang Minhyuk hit variety shows to hype the drama too.
Soon, [Psychometry Her] chatter flooded the internet.
💬 Comments — HypeTrain Saw the teaser? Hottest anticipated show of the year finally airing! Which day next week tho. — KDramaHater K-dramas always end with romance melodrama dragging. Predictable. — YunaStan Watching for Geum Yuna only. Other detectives act so bad lol. — HelenaHunter Who plays Helena? Asking for the 32nd time. — Convert Came for Geum Yuna... fell for Jeong Gyeowol too. — MDramaFan Korean cop shows suck. Everyone go American dramas. — TrollFace Jeong Gyeowol should gain some weight to widen her face. Jaw and features too small, looks pitiful. Ruins immersion. — ClapBackKing Lmao those sharp features visible on that tiny face and you're calling it small... Your face is life's obstacle. — GodTouch That god-sculpted face looking pitiful? What kinda life you living, human? This wasn't the fleeting blip from reading session articles.
It drowned out coverage of other airing dramas and upcoming ones.
And finally.
The day of [Psychometry Her] episode 1 premiere arrived.
Half pre-produced with a tight schedule, the Psychometry team had plenty of time to spare.
To celebrate, they gathered for drinks and a watch party.
'...Tonight, I absolutely will not get drunk!'
Jeong Gyeowol nodded with fierce determination.
Geum Yuna chuckled at how cute she looked.
"Whoa! The day has come!"
"PD Yoon! Time for ratings bets!"
"Obviously! Winner who nails it gets 500,000 won from my pocket!"
"Wooo!"
Excited PD Yoon Jongpil dangled a prize he'd regret tomorrow.
"50,000 won on 12%!"
"20,000 on 12.1%."
"Hey! No scummy decimals!"
"Bets don't have rules like that!"
"15%! 10,000 as directing team maknae... I'm broke..."
These days, even terrestrial dramas struggled past 7% on premiere.
They framed it like serious predictions for the pot.
But really, it was just hopeful hype to pump the mood.