Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: First Broadcast (2)
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The lead actors and big shots from the production team exchanged toasts.
They chatted about trivial things while eating meat and drinking.
Unlike usual, the ads felt endlessly long.
Finally, the first episode of Psychometry Her began.
Tense background music poured out from the TV mounted on the wall.
Those holding drinks or glasses naturally set them down on the table and focused on the screen.
"Freeze!"
"Do the cops have a script or something? They always yell 'Stop! Right there!' Who would actually stop for that?!"
Two detectives and the criminal appeared on screen.
Geum Yuna as the female lead, Kim I-seo, and Kang Min-hyuk as the male lead, Kim Du-han.
The criminal was sprinting at full speed.
"Gotcha, you bastard!"
"You have the right to remain silent..."
Before long, they stylishly subdued the fleeing criminal, loaded him into the car, and Kim I-seo bent down to pick up the wallet he'd dropped.
A flash of the criminal hiding drugs raced through her mind.
"...What's this?"
Suspecting something, she checked the wallet and found actual drugs inside.
After several similar experiences, Kim I-seo became convinced of her psychometry ability.
The Violent Crimes Unit 2's arrest rate skyrocketed as a result.
Then one day.
A homeless man was found dead in their jurisdiction.
As Unit 2 pursued the case, similar incidents didn't stop at one—they kept piling up.
Kwak Du-pal.
Doo Man-sik.
Hong Du-gwang.
Three cases in just one month...
Everyone chalked it up to bad luck.
Only Kim I-seo sensed the connection between them.
"Cover it up? No way! This could be a serial case!"
"Got any proof it's serial? Show me one shred of evidence!"
"I'll find it! I will! So please, just back me up!"
"You think I wanna get chewed out by the chief at my age? Let's just wrap this up nice and quiet!"
"...Cops can't just give up on a case!"
"You give up and live a little, for once!"
I'll catch him, no matter what!
Kim I-seo ground her teeth at her superior's order to bury the case.
After work, she agonized over it before finally making a call.
The screen split in two: Kim I-seo on one side, mid-call, and on the other, just the alluring red lips of Helena.
"Helena, I'm really sorry, but could you help me out?"
Kim I-seo's friend in America.
She asked Helena for help.
And without hesitation, Helena booked a flight to Korea for her.
"...See you later. Or tomorrow, maybe."
The scene shifted with the end of the call.
A pair of white slacks and white high heels entered the frame.
Their owner clicked across the police station entrance.
"Hello? Nice weather, isn't it?"
"Y-Yes... nice... Wait, no! Uh, hello! What brings you here?"
"Do you know Detective Kim I-seo from Violent Crimes Unit 2, by any chance?"
"Ah... Detective Kim. Unit 2 is that way... Actually, let me escort you!"
"Hee-hee, thank you."
Helena's beautiful voice rang out.
The cop's stunned face got a close-up, then Helena—who'd only shown her legs—finally appeared full-body on camera.
Helena followed the blushing cop to Unit 2.
In under five minutes, she reviewed all three cases and confirmed they were serial.
"Here, here, and here... and here too, right? Take another look."
She raked her nails slowly from Team Leader Kim Du-han's solar plexus downward.
Then jabbed precisely at the abdominal aorta spot.
"Guh! Wh-what are you—"
"This is the fatal wound. It pierced the abdominal aorta exactly. The back wounds weren't deep, were they? Either he didn't intend to kill... or he hesitated. In Korea, they'd call it a hesitation mark, probably."
Helena pinned the crime scene photos to the whiteboard, connecting them.
She listed her reasons for believing it was serial, one by one.
"If we don't catch this guy soon, it's gonna blow up. The intervals are shrinking. Next one's... a week from now? Give or take a day."
The team leader didn't buy her profiling at first, leading to a brief argument, but Kim I-seo and the team mediated.
"I'd need to see the scenes myself for more details, but... meticulous personality, perfectionist. Probably a civil servant seeking recognition... or in a professional field."
Interspersed were the team chemistry moments from Unit 2.
Scenes to keep the plot flowing.
Everything hinting at the drama's future direction was there, without a dull moment.
And just like that, episode 1 ended.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Wow, that sucked me in. Felt like 20 minutes, but it's over already..."
"Yoon PD... did you pour your soul into this?"
"I'll cover this one! Everyone! Stick with me from now on! Haha!"
Yoon Jong-pil PD's shoulders shot up proudly.
Then the assistant director's excited babble made them soar even higher, like they might pierce the sky.
"The reactions are insane! It's blowing up! Huge hit!"
"Ratings! What's the rating?!"
"Nationwide 7.8%! 8.1% in the capital, peak instant 12%!"
"Woooo! Me! I bet on 12%! Kuwahaha!"
The camera director who'd bet 50,000 won on 12% couldn't contain himself.
It sounded like a beast's roar.
The pot had exceeded a million won, winner-takes-all.
A perfectly natural reaction.
Someone might complain it only benefits low betters, but the ratings pool was meant to boost drama team morale.
Less like gambling, more like a donation vibe.
Plus Yoon PD chipped in 500,000 from his own pocket, pushing it over 1.5 million.
But...
"Who bets on instant peak? Nationwide's the standard rule, don't you know?"
"What? You should've said that earlier!"
"No exact hits, so my money's off the table!"
"Booo! Yoon PD, that's dirty!"
"Yoon the Cheap PD!"
For that moment, everyone sided with the camera director, jeering.
But Yoon PD was right—nationwide was the rule.
The camera director grumbled at first but coolly conceded.
The scripter posted the ratings bet sheet in the drama group chat.
"...Huh? 11.5% is the closest?"
"Someone worthy won. Dodged a bullet if camera guy got it."
"Yoon PD! Pony up your own cash again!"
"Who is it? Some junior AD?"
Yoon PD, checking his phone late, nodded seriously.
"...Yeah! It's yours. Take it! I'd give more and not regret it!"
"Then add another 50!"
"Dude! That's my monthly allowance!"
Not their money, yet the cheers and applause wouldn't stop, like it was theirs.
The prize went to the owner of the 12% instant peak bet.
Originally a supporting role, but she'd charmed the screenwriter into boosting her to co-lead status.
A face genius who lit up the set just by existing, an acting genius.
It was Jeong Gyeowol's win.
"...Me?"
"You bet 11.5%, closest. Congrats!"
"...I did?"
The winner had even forgotten her own bet.
But the prize was Jeong Gyeowol's anyway.
"Whoo! I'll treat everyone!"
"Pfft! Treat? You think prize money covers the deficit?"
"...Someone stop Gyeowol! She's sober on booze but drunk on winnings!"
Over a hundred staffers stuffed with meat and booze.
No need to see the bill—1.5 million wouldn't cover it.
...Still, I'll pay!
Geum Yuna, the top delinquent, had once snatched 1.5 million from two other actors for housewarming gifts.
Add the prize, and it should cover the after-party.
Not just for the great role, but the screenwriter and PD who trusted her, rewrote the script, and upped her part.
The crew's rock-solid support, working harder than the actors.
Thanks to them, she'd nailed the cool role of Dr. Helena.
Jeong Gyeowol felt all the credit belonged to the production team.
She received the money from Yoon PD like a trophy.
Got a soju-bottle mic from the assistant director.
And with a resolute expression, summed up her feelings.
"If gratitude can be expressed in money, that's gratitude too. Jeong Gyeowol's treating!"
"Wooo! Sounds like an acting award speech!"
"Hahaha! Prepping for year-end already?"
"Jeong Gyeowol's awesome!"
Whistles, claps, and cheers filled the air nonstop.
She'd rung the golden bell, then flushed red with embarrassment and sat quickly to hide her face.
Geum Yuna beside her patted her head approvingly.
"That's right—know when to spend. Gyeowol will always be loved wherever she goes."
"Hee-hee, I did good, right? Can we end the 'actress duty' lectures now?"
"Nope, those continue."
"..."
Time passed. The moment for Jeong Gyeowol, golden bell ringer, to pay arrived.
"Great meal, Gyeowol!"
"Gyeowol, slip your account on the sly! Me and Yoon PD got you!"
"Eek?! Screenwriter! Why drag me in? I chipped in 500k!"
"I'm planning to spin this as Gyeowol's heartwarming tale on variety shows... Can't help, sadly!"
"Whoa! Kang Min-hyuk! We'll monitor every variety you do for Gyeowol stories!"
"Do it! I'm proud! I'll tell everyone!"
"Alright! On to round two!"
People thanked her for the meal and left one by one.
"...How much?"
Jeong Gyeowol shakily offered her card.
"Already paid."
"Huh? Who?"
"Geum Yuna came by... Oh right, she said not to tell."
Jeong Gyeowol took all the credit.
Geum Yuna footed the entire bill.
"..."
Amid the crowd outside debating round two spots.
She locked eyes with the smiling Geum Yuna.
Geum Yuna mouthed something from afar.
Despite the distance, Jeong Gyeowol read her lips clearly.
'Hurry up.'
Vowing someday to spread Geum Yuna's good deeds far and wide, she dashed over.