Chapter 28

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 028

Chapter Title: Ratings (1)

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Shin Yi-han couldn't help blinking in disbelief. He wondered if there was some mistake in the contract.

- Advance payment: 2 million

It was an enormous sum that no ordinary rookie could ever hope to receive.

Even if they saw potential in him, this was excessively generous.

"But there is a condition."

Of course, money that good didn't come without strings attached. Shin Yi-han looked up at Choo Gyeo-ul's words.

What kind of condition could it be?

Maybe some unique clause not listed in the contract.

"What is it...?"

He asked in a slightly tense voice.

"It's nothing major. Just a small favor."

Shin Yi-han managed an awkward smile at Choo Gyeo-ul's beaming grin.

A small favor worth 2 million? No way—

"Let me be your road manager for a while."

...There was.

It really was a small favor, and completely unexpected coming from her lips.

The tension drained out of him in an instant.

But what was this all of a sudden?

Let her be his road manager? That meant having the CEO of an entertainment agency personally handle his schedule.

"You mean yourself, CEO?"

Shin Yi-han had to ask to confirm. It was so out of left field.

"Yes!"

Of course, to Choo Gyeo-ul, it was completely sincere.

"At least until your next project after Innocent Boy, I'd like to manage you personally."

His schedule was still wide open anyway, and there were so many more sides of Shin Yi-han she wanted to see.

Besides, it was crucial for a CEO to know her actors inside and out.

The better she understood his acting direction, his aspirations, the more synergy they could create!

In truth, it was mostly her desire to watch his acting up close on set, but still.

Choo Gyeo-ul couldn't help but beam with excitement, just like when she first founded Winter Entertainment.

"Oh! You haven't met the Innocent Boy screenwriter yet, right? Even if the writer's identity is secret, they'll show up on set at least once, won't they?"

She asked with barely concealed anticipation.

In the end, Shin Yi-han could only chuckle.

A powerhouse who had risen to CEO at such a young age wanted to manage him personally—there was no reason to refuse.

Her skills were trustworthy.

With treatment like this and that signing bonus, there was nothing left to consider.

Soon, Shin Yi-han nodded. The contract was sealed in an instant.

"Looking forward to working with you."

"Likewise, Actor."

Shin Yi-han lightly shook hands with Choo Gyeo-ul.

Now he had an agency: Winter Entertainment.

He looked forward to how much further he could go as an actor.

And as Shin Yi-han left the CEO's office with her seeing him out—

Uh...?

He didn't know how she knew or why she was there, but right outside the door.

He ran into Ham Yeon-jeong, the lead actress playing the mom in Brilliant Sky.

"Oh my. Already done?"

Ham Yeon-jeong made an exaggerated expression, like she'd been caught sneaking around.

"Looks like it went just as I predicted?"

She glanced at the grinning Choo Gyeo-ul and laughed along.

"Welcome."

Ham Yeon-jeong naturally extended her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hand to Shin Yi-han.

"Now we're family."

She warmly welcomed the new member.

Just like with the CEO, she was sincere about this rookie actor too. After all, hadn't she been the one to recommend him in the first place?

When she heard he'd be visiting the agency today, she couldn't stay away.

Ham Yeon-jeong smiled brightly.

"Since we're all here, how about we grab something delicious? Everyone free?"

Choo Gyeo-ul naturally suggested a group meal at Ham Yeon-jeong's appearance.

"What's on the menu?"

Ham Yeon-jeong asked with a laugh, and Choo Gyeo-ul replied playfully.

"Braised short ribs?"

It was the cafeteria menu.

"Ooh, sounds good. I was curious about the cafeteria anyway."

Shin Yi-han subtly agreed with a small laugh.

"Ah, I was half-joking. You really want to? We can do something fancier!"

"Why? The braised ribs are delicious."

Shin Yi-han nodded at Choo Gyeo-ul's incredulous look.

Honestly, with his bank account about to get so padded, he already felt full without eating.

"True. The nutritionist's cooking here is no joke."

Ham Yeon-jeong chimed in from the side.

In the end, the three headed to the cafeteria for a modest celebration.

"Oh, right."

Then, while riding the elevator down, Ham Yeon-jeong spoke up as if something just occurred to her.

"What are you doing on the day Brilliant Sky premieres? We're getting the leads together to watch it. Want to join, Shin Yi-han? We're watching here at the agency. They've got a movie theater-level screening room on the 4th floor."

It was about the upcoming premiere of Brilliant Sky.

"You can invite anyone you want to watch with too."

The agency let actors bring friends and family to view their broadcasts comfortably.

"Ah, am I being too pushy with the new signee? No pressure, just asking."

Ham Yeon-jeong backpedaled, worried about overwhelming the young actor.

"No, it'd be an honor."

But Shin Yi-han gladly accepted.

His sister would be at the station all day anyway.

Watching the premiere alone on his tiny laptop screen in his TV-less studio was no contest.

And watching with the Brilliant Sky leads? Even better.

Now that he thought about it, there was someone he wanted to invite.

Shin Yi-han grinned.

The same-age actor who played the villain's high school days in Brilliant Sky.

'Park Mu-gang.'

It hit him perfectly.

During filming, the guy had dumped ice water while searching for a cold pack, then screamed for an ambulance when he pretended to faint.

The mastermind behind all that chaos.

And he immersed so well too.

Shin Yi-han was curious about his recent whereabouts.

Especially since they'd exchanged numbers last time, promising to tell him about the next project, but he hadn't followed up yet...

Perfect timing.

'There's still one role in Innocent Boy without casting.'

If he asked Park Mu-gang to take it...

He wondered what his reaction would be.

Ah, of course, the most anticipated ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was...

'The audience reactions to the premiere.'

Stepping out of the elevator, Shin Yi-han exchanged numbers with Ham ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yeon-jeong and finalized the plan.

The tender braised short ribs in the basement cafeteria were even better than imagined.

This place is a real gem.

No regrets signing with Winter Entertainment that day.

After that, up until the premiere of Brilliant Sky.

The Brilliant Sky team, where his sister was the junior PD, was swamped right before episode 1 aired, with no time to breathe.

The Innocent Boy staff at Red Film were just as frantic preparing.

Kwak Hoon was making a fuss about wanting to start filming ASAP, and Shin Yi-han was busy following him around.

To onlookers, it looked like the lead actor diligently shadowing the director to learn the ropes...

But Shin Yi-han was even busier than that.

As the writer, he was fine-tuning the script,

scouting locations with the director to snag better spots than past films,

and subtly dropping hints when rookie director Kwak Hoon couldn't quite grasp the vibe.

Whew. So busy.

'Yi-han... how did you even find this place? It's exactly what I envisioned!'

'You didn't plan locations in advance, did you...? First you pick actors by physiognomy, now feng shui too?!'

Not so subtle after all. Anyway.

Time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flew by amid the hustle.

Before he knew it, it was premiere day for Brilliant Sky.

Articles about tonight's broadcast started popping up from morning.

On Nutube, his past drama Flames of Dong-ho got mentions now and then, and the Brilliant Sky special trailer regained buzz.

But with more attention came more backlash.

Especially with a competing drama premiering in the same slot.

Articles openly targeting Brilliant Sky—with its leads in their late 30s to early 40s like Ham Yeon-jeong—were plentiful.

Whether conscious of Brilliant Sky's rookie writer Yoon Si-a or not, they flaunted the writer's credentials nonstop.

Shin Yi-han wondered how much this shade would actually help Oh My Love!

He shrugged.

Scanning online reactions, he headed to Winter Entertainment.

'Screening room's on the 4th floor, right?'

Shin Yi-han bypassed the lobby and hit the elevator button.

And then—

"Hey! Shin Yi-han!"

He turned at the voice calling him.

Park Mu-gang, whom he'd texted about watching the premiere—said he'd come right away.

"Long time no see."

Shin Yi-han smiled and waved lightly.

"Long time is putting it mildly. Why didn't you text me...?! You said you'd tell me about your next project."

Park Mu-gang grumbled like he'd been waiting desperately—which he had.

"Huh? I did."

Shin Yi-han replied innocently.

"Huh? When?"

"Just now."

"...No. That's now, and that was then. Right after Brilliant Sky wrapped would've been perfect."

Shin Yi-han chuckled at Park Mu-gang's blatant exasperation.

"Kidding, of course. Took a while to decide."

He honestly couldn't help the delay.

He thought Park Mu-gang would be great for Innocent Boy, but the role was tricky.

It was a super minor cameo, barely any lines.

An actor known enough for the villain's high school self wouldn't jump at a silent bit part.

Well, now that they'd bumped into each other, might as well ask.

"Anyway, I've got an indie film coming up?"

But then.

"Actually, wanted to ask you for a role. Interested? It's super short though."

"Me? A role?"

Park Mu-gang seemed caught off guard.

"Yeah. If you're in—"

"I'm in!"

Before he could finish. Without even hearing what.

"It's a corpse role."

He flinched at "corpse," understandably.

"Not a fully dead one."

"...!"

Park Mu-gang perked up again.

"Need someone getting killed. Victim."

Stepping into the elevator on the 1st floor, Shin Yi-han explained briefly.

Specifically, a victim killed by the boy.

Park Mu-gang, with his immersion skills, would die nicely in the boy's hands.

"Uh... who kills me?"

Park Mu-gang asked cautiously, like it was key.

"Me."

"Oh, what? Then I have to do it."

Relieved it was Shin Yi-han killing him, he nodded eagerly.

"Honestly, corpse roles aren't my fave."

He scratched his cheek.

"But acting with you sounds fun."

Shin Yi-han couldn't help laughing. Classic Park Mu-gang.

"Okay. I'll tell the director."

Ding! Elevator hit the 4th floor.

The casting for the role was locked in seconds ahead of Brilliant Sky's airtime.

Shin Yi-han and Park Mu-gang headed to the 4th-floor screening room.

"Whoa."

"Damn, this is sick..."

Stepping inside, they couldn't help but gasp softly.

It was a real theater setup.

Shin Yi-han's eyes scanned the room.

He hadn't seen it during his earlier tour.

Tiered plush black sofas, massive screen up front.

The real deal.

"You made it?"

"Oh my, Park Mu-gang too? Everyone doing well?"

"Shin Yi-han! Been waiting!"

A few Brilliant Sky leads, including Ham Yeon-jeong, approached.

"Come on in! Snacks?"

Crunch crunch. Choo Gyeo-ul offered a popcorn bag from who-knows-where, playfully.

Th-thank you? Park Mu-gang took it reflexively.

As the room buzzed, Shin Yi-han smiled faintly. This premiere party would be fun.

"Hey, anyone wanna bet on ratings?"

Five minutes to air. CEO Choo Gyeo-ul asked casually.

"Ooh, fun! Winner gets what?"

"Wish ticket?"

"Nice! Grant the winner's wish!"

"Hm, better than the neighbors. That smug KBB one, Oh My God or Love whatever."

Everyone chimed in excitedly.

"Alright. I'll go fair... 7%!"

"That's fair? 4% would be jackpot!"

"Yeah. Confident in our show, but premiere? People don't know it yet. 5.5% for me!"

They called numbers, acknowledging Brilliant Sky's niche vibe against trends.

"And you, Shin Yi-han?"

His turn last.

"Hm."

He pondered.

Even knowing the past, so much had changed in this Brilliant Sky—hard to predict.

The original hadn't started strong; word-of-mouth built it later.

"...10.1%?"

He threw out a hopeful number. Random, but dreaming big from the start.

Brilliant Sky deserved it.

"Ooh, that'd be awesome."

"Right?"

"Okay, show's starting! One minute left!"

They laughed lightly and took seats.

All thinking he'd be furthest off.

Aww, so green!

Our rookie's clueless on ratings~!

Great actor, but young and naive!

A drama by an unknown writer hitting 5%? Tough sell.

But as Brilliant Sky began—

Opening with Shin Yi-han's son, Lee Ha-neul's narration...

Ending with the mom confronting the now-adult perpetrators.

Meanwhile, SBC station was pandemonium.

"Gasp..."

"W-We wonnn!"

"Insane! We did it! We diiiid!"

Cheers erupted.

"Hell yeah! What about Oh My Love?"

"Toast! Barely 4%!"

"Ha, burned! Bwaahaha!"

#1 in the timeslot, crushing rivals.

Another 10%+ smash after Flames.

A resounding hit.