Chapter 59
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 059
Chapter Title: Release Imminent
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Geum Seong-je's death.
It was the day Shin Yi-han's final shoot wrapped.
Baek Eun-won, who had played the protagonist Ban Gi-hyeok, went straight home and passed out into a deep sleep.
From the moment he'd watched Innocent Boy right up until the end of filming.
No matter how hard he tried to close his eyes or force it, sleep had eluded him completely.
Until it came so easily now.
Incredibly so.
A sound, unbroken slumber.
Baek Eun-won slept a delightful late morning the next day.
And Shin Yi-han was no different.
Though he didn't collapse right away, of course.
"Hey, CEO Choo. So, who's my next manager gonna be?"
"Ugh. Brutal question."
Whether it was Shin Yi-han's wrap or Choo Gyeo-ul's manager duties, they'd marked the occasion with a modest little after-party.
"...Of course I've got it all set! A really great person!"
"Oh?"
"I'll introduce you soon! But until then, I'm your manager, got it?!"
Shin Yi-han stretched out both legs and slept soundly.
Not only had he nailed the role he'd so desperately wanted, but he could see the growth in the actors he'd shared the screen with. How could he not feel great?
That night, Shin Yi-han had a good dream.
Probably about the time when he'd first thought he wanted to act.
The days when he'd known nothing and just headed up to Seoul, diving straight into acting academies.
The thrilling uncertainty of whether he could land a role, whether he could really do it.
Vaguely convinced that's what it was, Shin Yi-han savored the dream.
But only those two headed to dreamland.
Scene Studio, in charge of producing the Newflix drama Hell of Others, had lights burning until dawn.
Because Director Gil Mi-jin was holed up in the editing bay, working late.
"How do I even hold back from this..."
He had no choice if he wanted to hold onto the feeling from today's footage.
At least the bare minimum edits needed doing.
And the part he was handling with the most care was, naturally, this one.
- Geum Seong-je's solo scene.
Even in pupils fading to darkness.
That radiant smile never wavered. It was truly...
...a spine-chilling death, even on rewatch.
No way he'd sleep until this was done.
And it wasn't just main-episode edits Director Gil Mi-jin was pushing through.
"How could I keep something like this to myself?"
Director Gil Mi-jin stayed glued to his chair, editing till the end.
"What do you think?"
He showed the finished product to assistant director Kim Yu-ri.
"Looks good, right?"
It was barely a minute long.
"Totally."
Assistant Director Kim Yu-ri nodded vigorously. No denying it.
"Not just good—impossible to scroll past."
Director Gil Mi-jin chuckled, adjusting his signature black horn-rimmed glasses.
He saved the file right away. Satisfaction beamed from his face.
And the file name read:
[Hell of Others | Special Teaser_Geum Seong-je.ver]
A special teaser trailer.
Geum Seong-je version, as the title said.
'By Geum Seong-je, for Geum Seong-je, of Geum Seong-je.'
That's right. Before the main trailer dropped,
Director Gil Mi-jin planned to lead with Shin Yi-han.
Shin Yi-han being a rookie actor? No issue at all.
To showcase Hell of Others' signature 'evil'...
Nothing fit better.
After seeing this eeriness.
This horror.
Everyone would wonder about the 'e' in the title, wouldn't they?
No clue what thriller Newflix was cooking up.
Director Gil Mi-jin grinned.
He was already anticipating the reactions.
Because,
they wouldn't be able to look away.
Meanwhile, there was another.
Someone else who hadn't slept a wink all night.
The master of thriller dramas, Ko Ji-sook—the screenwriter behind this blockbuster.
Tap tap-.
In the empty studio, only the sound of Ko Ji-sook gulping coffee and typewriter keys echoed.
With her long career, she'd written plenty, seen countless actors perform.
But this feeling? It'd been ages.
"Can't sleep—what do I do?"
At her age, acting like this? But no helping it.
Geum Seong-je from today kept flickering before her eyes. No way she'd sleep.
At the same time, she couldn't let this Geum Seong-je vanish from her drama just like that.
It wasn't mere fondness for an actor.
Geum Seong-je had simply grown too big in this story.
And she didn't hate it.
No, it was way more fun.
This Hell of Others bloated by Geum Seong-je.
Ko Ji-sook swallowed hard. No matter how she thought about it.
The protagonist Ban Gi-hyeok wouldn't forget his first kill anyway.
Geum Seong-je would revive in it over and over.
And... maybe.
Really come alive.
"Gotta write it to know for sure."
Even if it meant rewriting the finale from scratch.
Ko Ji-sook's fingers wouldn't stop.
The next day at lunch,
Ko Ji-sook showed up at Scene Studio with her revised draft.
"Whoa? Writer?"
"What's up all of a sudden?"
Director Gil Mi-jin, dark circles and all, and assistant director Kim Yu-ri greeted her.
"Sorry about this."
Thud! Ko Ji-sook, equally exhausted, slapped the script down.
"Let's overhaul the finale."
Her eyes alone shone bright.
"I'll take full responsibility."
"Huh...?"
"No, we'll share it."
"What?"
Another change to Hell of Others.
Not long after.
The first to drop was the Hell of Others teaser.
Thanks to Director Gil Mi-jin's swift edits,
and
"Director Gil Mi-jin... are you a genius by any chance?"
"I hear that a lot."
"Wow."
Jennifer Kim from Newflix pitching in.
[Hell of Others | Teaser Trailer_Geum Seong-je.ver | Newflix]
The first teaser for Newflix drama Hell of Others hit the world.
It's out! Finally out!!!! New work from Writer Ko Ji-sook!
Holy shit, the teaser’s out?!
The hype Newflix had built paid off immediately—reactions exploded from the start.
Ko Ji-sook's thriller fans swarmed in too.
Geum Seong-je.ver? What's that? Separate teasers per character?
Newflix killing it ㅋㅋㅋ
Whoa, does that mean Baek Eun-won ver too?! Jackpot—that's basically an auto Baek Eun-won face compilation ㅋㅋㅋ
Jackpot~ How'd you know I've been grinding for Baek Eun-won
Agreed, already hyped for Baek Eun-won ver
Comments poured in before anyone even watched properly.
Why drop Geum Seong-je ver first? Least hyped character? ㅋㅋ
Baek fans be like ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Still feels weird Shin Yi-han as villain.
222 Seen the Brilliant Sky reruns lately? ㅠㅠ I'm cryingㅜ
Even if Hell of Others and Murder's Delusion had flipped Shin Yi-han's image,
You guys have no idea. Don't be shocked when you watch^^ It's gonna be brutal;;
They don't know Murder's Delusion
Come on. Didn't you hear Tak Bong-chun picked Shin Yi-han?
Legit hyped. This teaser's legendary for sure.
Shin Yi-han had built a solid fanbase, but it was still just that—a niche for his fans.
Especially among drama lovers.
What're you gonna do ^^ Not watching? I'll just watch Baek Eun-won ver ㅋ
????
Indie film fans or festival-goers were a minority after all.
Guys? Stop with the top comments and go watch first?
Uh... I'm the one who said Shin Yi-han as villain feels off... just watch it. For real.
Insane tho.
This isn't 'least hyped'—it's a deliberate banger teaser.
?? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Hype train starting again ㅋㅋㅋ
But this teaser would erase all doubts.
Click-!
One click, and even Brilliant Sky fans would forget their skies.
Because the shocking stuff started rolling.
The teaser kicked off like that.
Dung-dung, dung-dung-! Cheerful BGM blending thrill and unease spotlit Geum Seong-je.
- What the hell, why contact me now!
Geum Seong-je greeted his old friend Ban Gi-hyeok warmly.
- Huh? Geum Seong-je! When'd you get here?
- Just... watching. You.
A sub-villain more ordinary than expected,
- I'm alive right now, it's rundown as hell but super cheap and huge.
- Whaddya think? Wanna come?
Just as everyone tilted their heads,
Ddu-dung, dung. Dung-dung-! Newflix logo flashed briefly to the BGM.
Geum Seong-je's lip curled.
Creak-.
Who it was for? Unclear.
But the everyday vibe...
Vanished with that one smile.
Weird.
Like it wasn't human at all.
Yeah.
Alien.
No events, yet the mood flipped completely.
Then scenes cut rapidly.
- Gi-hyeok, now.
Kwachik! Axe swing with someone's voice.
- Don't hold back.
Geum Seong-je's voice followed,
screens switching to faces full of despair.
Kwachik! Every eerie sound flipped the shot.
Tears, wails, screams.
- I just feel so bad for Gi-hyeok.
Kwachik!
- Hold it in, hold it again.
- Hold it.
Kwachik! All victims slain by Geum Seong-je.
Finally, Detective Choi Pil-seung's hellish despair,
Kwachik!
- Or you'll end up crushed. Because of scum like you.
Dark screen revealed someone.
Kwachik-!
Geum Seong-je's face losing focus in death.
Kwachik!
Before the drama even aired, no one'd guess these were
protagonist Ban Gi-hyeok hammering Geum Seong-je.
No, before imagining that,
Geum Seong-je's solo scene.
Before that dying radiant smile,
Everyone froze speechless.
...That smile alone.
Dead or passed out?
First encounter with the story—nothing clear.
But one thing certain.
No context needed.
Chills.
Hair standing on end.
That's something horrific.
And in the silent footage,
- Hell of Others.
Doong-!
With the title, Newflix logo reappeared.
"Evil...!"
"Whoa, shit!"
"Jumpscare! Crazy!"
Viewers holding breath jumped.
How immersed were they?
That standard Newflix sound hit like thunder.
Uh...
Insane.
Post-watch comments exploded simultaneously.
Insane, insane, insane?!!!!!
What. What did I just see...
Ko Ji-sook sharpened her knife and now she's coming for us ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Insane ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
What're you on ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Let's lose it together ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Pure shock.
Whoa... Soundtrack from the jump is insane. Cheerful yet eerie, exciting yet anxious... straight chills?
Netflicks Korea on point ;;
That constant kwachik kwachik... Driving me nuts. Still echoing in my ears.
Realest part's the end tho
Agreed. All I can say is whoa ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Whoa
Whoa
Me too whoa.
That last bit Shin Yi-han right? How's one expression wrecking me like this?!
Not sub-villain at this level—main? ㅋㅋㅋㅋWhoa shit.
Who said miscast? Beyond good—he devoured it.
Public opinion flipped instantly.
Honestly no clue on plot but it's creepy af for sure
And hype soared.
How skip this?
Was gonna watch anyway but now waiting for uploads.
Sameㅋㅋ How hold back
Shin Yi-han suddenly intriguing.
Director Gil Mi-jin's intent landed perfectly.
Captivating all with Geum Seong-je,
next up: Baek Eun-won.ver to hook 'em fully.
Perfect first step.
And this was just the beginning.
The thrills awaiting in Hell of Others would top it.
At the same time,
Innocent Boy was gearing up too.
Red Film studio.
Shin Yi-han arrived to meet Kwak Hoon.
"Yi-han, redid it—take a look."
They were prepping launch too.
"Our Innocent Boy teaser."
Shin Yi-han nodded, sitting beside Kwak Hoon.
"This the real final cut?"
"O-Of course."
He'd tweaked and overhauled the teaser endlessly. Tenth time?
Ahem. Kwak Hoon cleared his throat, hitting play quick.
- Innocent Boy.
Unlike the Seoul Indie Film Fest version, this exposed Shin Yi-han's face fully.
No need hiding anymore—Innocent Boy was infamous now.
Time to reveal properly to the public.
About a minute-plus in, teaser ended.
Shin Yi-han grinned.
'Good.'
Definitely good.
Kwak Hoon hadn't obsessed solo for nothing.
"Can upload for real now."
"Right?!"
Shin Yi-han gave the thumbs-up.
Post-fest fame meant Innocent Boy curiosity peaked—this nailed the intro.
Spot-on.
"By the way, Yi-han. How's Hell of Others teaser? Out yet?"
But Kwak Hoon worried: would Hell of Others bury Innocent Boy?
"Oh. They said today."
"Ah, late by a step."
At Shin Yi-han's reply, Kwak Hoon checked Newtubes for the Hell of Others teaser.
'Geum Seong-je ver, teaser?'
One teaser exploding views like mad.
Indie vs. OTT giant Newflix firepower differed.
'We good...?'
Worry brief, though.
He flinched. Watching the short Hell of Others teaser, Kwak Hoon shuddered.
"Yi-han...? What'd you even shoot...?"
He eyed Shin Yi-han.
The thriller vibe hit hard from this alone.
Classic Shin Yi-han.
'That smile tho...'
Shin Yi-han just chuckled softly, shrugging.
Damn. Kwak Hoon could only laugh dryly.
Anyway.
Kwak Hoon eyed their Innocent Boy teaser again.
This wasn't the point.
Why do directors love the same stuff?
'Timing, and that last scene overlapping ours? No way.'
Worry surged; Kwak Hoon tousled his hair.
Yes.
If Hell of Others ended on Geum Seong-je's smile,
Innocent Boy's finale was
Boy Kang Jae's hallway solo.
Shin Yi-han starting smile fading to blank.
"Yi-han, maybe... one more tweak?"
The overlap gnawed at Kwak Hoon.
"No. Why tweak? This is peak."
Unlike fretting Kwak Hoon, Shin Yi-han grinned wider.
'Opportunity, right?'
Exactly.
Chance for Innocent Boy to shine brighter.
'Admit it.'
Folks who saw Geum Seong-je,
what till next teaser?
Might hunt the actor, trickle to indies.
They'd leveraged Seoul Indie Grand Prize plus Tak Bong-chun name already,
[The Innocent Boy That Shocked All—Will We See It Again in Hell of Others?!]
[Tak Bong-chun's Pick! Shin Yi-han's Sub-Villain in Hell of Others Is...]
Hell of Others drama boost.
Time we used them too.
"We're not even thriller."
Last scenes matching?
"Better if they think that."
Worth aiming for.
"Innocent Boy's protag as villain."
Our boy Kang Jae wasn't just pleasure-killing psycho.
"Uh...?"
Kwak Hoon's eyes widened at Shin Yi-han.
"R-Right?"
He had to agree.
Innocent, Boy.
That's us.
The more audiences recoiled from the boy, the brighter we'd shine.
Kwak Hoon nodded.
Yeah. No worry there.
His eyes lit up again.
"OK! Upload teaser?!"
"Yep. Let's go."
Proper launch—Shin Yi-han's eyes sparkled too.
Post-Seoul Indie,
Time to soar to the masses.
Not long now.
"Ugh. Uploaded!"
Click.Innocent Boy teaser went live.
"What now!"
Kwak Hoon jumped up, panicking every which way.
"W-We good, right?"
Post-upload jitters hit.
"We won Grand Prize as is...! Over 100K views! Right?"
Kwak Hoon clung to proven success.
Shin Yi-han replied,
"Nah. Not 100K."
Yeah, no way even then.
100K? Never.
Shin Yi-han smirked subtly.
'Past life, zero promo—still hit 90K viewers.'
No matching that now.
Definitely.
"T-Ten times that."
"Huh...?"
Shin Yi-han grinned bold, upping the ante.
"1 mil. Might as well aim high."
Commercial blockbuster territory.
And proving him,
[Views: 10]
Fresh Innocent Boy teaser, indie though,
[Views: 100]
climbed fast.
[Views: 10K]
"See? Good vibes already."
"...?!"