Chapter 76
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 076
Chapter Title: Drive
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Part 2 of the Newflix drama Others' Hell had dropped successfully.
The ripple effects were even reaching Newflix headquarters.
"Jennifer! Number one in every country?! Congrats!"
"All that hard work, and now we know why."
"I stayed up all night bingeing it! It was seriously the best!"
Her colleagues were swarming Jennifer Kim with congratulations.
She couldn't help but walk around with her shoulders puffed up high all day.
Not a single one of those coworkers who had rolled their eyes at the internal preview screening before Part 1—calling it all hype—was left.
Jennifer Kim's lips curved into a grin.
Every single minute in the office felt this good!
It wasn't just the drama itself. Overseas reactions to Geum Seong-je were pouring in hot, especially.
Anyone know the name of the actor who played the sub-villain in Others' Hell? Please tell me!
Shin Yi-han! My Korean friend says he's a rookie actor who debuted this year!
I totally fell for him because of the Bobby Park podcast!! If you like Yi-han, you have to watch it!
A fresh new face had appeared between top stars Baek Eun-won and Koo Do-jin.
Mr. Gold's acting is insane. Why'd he show up now? Any other works? Please tell me!
I want to see more but can't find anything!
I've rewatched Others' Hell so many times just for Mr. Gold, I lost count. I need something else too!
Oh. He has other works, but no way to watch them in our country. They're recent too.
What?!
No way... This can't be.
You can find some clips by searching Nutyube in Korean! No subs though;;
:'(
Posts buzzing with curiosity about Geum Seong-je kept popping up.
It was the same across Asia and English-speaking countries.
Newflix's influence had clearly introduced actor Shin Yi-han to the world.
And he had captivated them in an instant.
Standing before that wave, Jennifer Kim couldn't help but think:
Why not ride this momentum a little further?
'Especially if it's other works by actor Shin Yi-han.'
Take the Seoul Independent Film Festival she had seen on her trip to Korea.
It had been incredible, plain and simple.
To think others hadn't seen it felt like such a shame.
The other clips on Nutyube were no different.
Sparks. Brilliant Sky. Murder's Delusion.
Teasers, highlight reels—compared to anything, they featured jaw-dropping scenes.
'What if those works hit Newflix?'
Jennifer Kim's mind raced.
Actor Shin Yi-han and his projects. No matter how she turned it over, the conclusion was the same.
That kind of story and acting wasn't something you saw every day.
'Especially if we drop them right as the hype for Others' Hell starts to cool.'
It could play the role of a joker card.
Maybe even reignite the fire for Others' Hell.
'Time to get it ready.'
There was no way the reaction wouldn't be great.
Jennifer Kim felt like she was clutching the Shin Yi-han card for the future. She wanted to complete the hand and reveal it to the world.
But then—
"Jennifer! Big trouble!"
Huh?
"They want you upstairs?!"
At her colleague's words, Jennifer Kim could only blink in confusion.
"Just you!"
Suddenly, one of Newflix's executives was summoning her.
Su, suddenly?
If it was her team lead Brian, she'd get it.
She'd already gotten congrats and performance bonuses—why call her up now...?
She had no idea why.
Gasp. Was she strutting too much lately? Or did they catch her slacking off in excitement?!
Or... did another team need hands and they were reassigning her?!
Worry flooded in.
Not that there was much she could do but head to her boss's office with a dazed look.
And the moment she stepped inside, tense as could be—
One look at her boss's face, and Jennifer Kim breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's just..."
Anyone could see he was smiling warmly.
"Kim, I heard you're well-versed in Korean culture."
The reason for the summons was clear.
"Lately with Others' Hell and all, this actor's momentum is insane."
A profile photo of Shin Yi-han sat on the boss's desk.
"Any other works by Yi-han? Something good we could bring to Newflix."
He was pointing straight at Shin Yi-han, pitching a new project.
Like the actor had completely won him over.
"...!"
Jennifer Kim beamed.
Of course. The boss—Newflix's most capable exec by reputation—couldn't have overlooked the actor she'd scouted!
"Plenty!"
She had no intention of letting this golden opportunity slip.
"They're all worth grabbing! If possible, everything!"
"Uh... everything?"
As she rattled off Shin Yi-han's projects confidently, her boss looked a bit thrown by her enthusiasm.
Didn't matter.
"You'll love them, I promise!"
His acting and the works were more than worthy.
Jennifer Kim gushed excitedly.
That was the moment the Shin Yi-han project kicked off inside Newflix.
And Jennifer Kim wasn't the only one starting to move.
Winter Entertainment, Shin Yi-han's agency, was deep in deliberations for their rising star.
Especially CEO Choo Gyeo-ul and manager Na Seon-yong—they had their heads together.
"Seon-yong, don't you think it's time we step up properly...?"
"Exactly! Right now's perfect timing!"
The issue was what exactly to do next.
Find him good projects? He was already bringing his own every time.
Anyone could see how much he loved acting—pushing variety shows felt wrong.
Ads? Nothing caught their eye yet.
Besides, burning his image on ads or shows at this crucial time made no sense.
So what could they do for actor Shin Yi-han right now?
"It's gotta be that, right."
"Yeah."
Choo Gyeo-ul nodded at Na Seon-yong's words.
"Prep the thing he loves second to acting."
The opinion of the current and former manager.
Both recalled the face Shin Yi-han made when meeting fans occasionally.
"He secretly loves it. Right?"
Na Seon-yong had seen it even on the flight to America.
Beaming in front of people who adored him.
Choo Gyeo-ul had witnessed it too, touring with him.
He'd been openly thrilled at the fan meet after Brilliant Sky's finale—his first real fan interaction.
And that was the result of their deliberations.
"Let's get started. Fan cafe."
"Yes!"
Fan cafe.
And a fan meeting if possible.
That was Choo Gyeo-ul and Na Seon-yong's next step.
They'd done some SNS as Beol Star, sure.
But with followers exploding post-release, they couldn't delay the fan cafe any longer.
"What should we name our fan cafe?!"
"I really wanna nail this... Hmm."
What to call it? Maybe call in the promo team for ideas.
Choo Gyeo-ul brainstormed seriously.
Ding-.
But then—
"Huh?"
A text from Shin Yi-han made Choo Gyeo-ul's eyes go wide.
Gasp. She even sucked in a breath in shock.
"CEO?"
Na Seon-yong startled at her reaction.
"What's wrong? Wasn't that a text from Yi-han hyung? Did something happen?!"
Why text the CEO directly instead of his manager? What shocking news could it be?!
"N-no, it's..."
Choo Gyeo-ul fumbled briefly before showing Na Seon-yong her phone.
Her face soured without her realizing.
"...He got a car as a gift. From Yi-han-ssi."
"...?!"
The text read:
Writer Go Ji-sook really bought it, right?
A playful smile accompanied it.
Attached was a selfie of Shin Yi-han in a shiny new car, with Assistant Director Kwak Hoon beside him.
It was sent to Choo Gyeo-ul, who had overheard that bet during Part 1's airing.
The writer he'd worked with gifted him a Porsche, while as agency CEO, she felt like she'd done nothing special. Urgency hit Choo Gyeo-ul hard.
She declared like she couldn't lose.
"F-first, let's do the house."
"Pardon?"
"Gotta get him a shiny new place...!"
Come to think of it, leaving Shin Yi-han in his near-studio apartment wouldn't do.
This came before the fan cafe.
How could their actor's car outshine his home?!
Around the same time Shin Yi-han texted Choo Gyeo-ul.
He was actually heading to Red Film with Kwak Hoon for a movie meeting.
For Covet.
'I, Yi-han-ah?'
Problem was, Kwak Hoon had spotted it first.
'You little punk...?'
The Porsche gifted by writer Go Ji-sook.
'Told me not to upgrade my car, huh?!'
'What's this then?!'
No, really, it was a brag.
'Wanna ride?'
'...!'
Shin Yi-han grinned and asked, and the result?
Vrooom-!
"Y-you're insane!"
"Whoa! Feels so crisp!"
Right now, Shin Yi-han was speeding along the coast with Kwak Hoon.
"Expensive stuff's worth it! This is epic!"
"Right?!"
Puhaha! They laughed wildly, sea breeze whipping their faces.
The handling was buttery smooth; acceleration felt next-level.
Once he tried it, damn, this was pretty fun.
Shin Yi-han kept bursting into laughter.
"Woo! Yi-han-ah! Floor it more!"
Kwak Hoon's reaction was hilarious, but it was also stuff he hadn't enjoyed in his past life.
Back then, he hated so much.
Gripping the wheel pulled at his burn-scarred skin.
Sea breeze dried out his skin, making it hurt.
Even the bright outdoors sucked.
Man, how much had he grumbled through life?
Vroom-!
But now? Not at all.
Loving the speed.
Loving the windows down, breathing sea air.
"One more lap?"
"Please! Two more!"
Everything felt fresh and fun, laughter bubbling up nonstop.
Shin Yi-han was just thrilled.
"Nah, your turn to drive, Director Kwak."
"Wha—for real?!"
"Of course!"
Though the best thrill was still standing before the camera.
"Ugh! Screw the meeting—let's just drive to Busan?!"
"No can do."
"......"
Anyway, Covet was about to start.
Shin Yi-han grinned wide as ever.
But the total opposite of Shin Yi-han's glee.
When someone rises, someone's always got a stomachache.
Crash!
Someone was pissed amid the universal joy over Others' Hell's success.
The famous director helming the fourth installment of the hit series Innocent Boy.
Kim Hwa-uk's office.
"What? Global number one?!"
It felt like yesterday he'd clutched his neck after Shin Yi-han rejected his casting offer.
Now that same Shin Yi-han starred in the Newflix drama that wasn't just succeeding—it was crushing.
"Shin Yi-han cementing as a rising star?! What kind of trash article is this!"
Already hot-tempered Kim Hwa-uk bellowed.
He'd spotted Shin Yi-han in Others' Hell and offered casting himself.
But seeing him actually succeed? Pure irritation.
"Doesn't matter. They're all under me anyway. Rising star or whatever—no projects, game's over."
Kim Hwa-uk clenched his fist.
"So, Assistant Director! What about that thing I told you to look into?!"
The assistant sweeping up the shattered glass took the heat.
"Did you find Shin Yi-han's next project?!"
"Y-yes...!"
The assistant jumped at Kim Hwa-uk's question, nodding frantically.
"He's filming a movie with Director Kwak Hoon again...!"
Kwak Hoon? That scatterbrained eternal assistant turned director?
Pfft, no biggie. Kim Hwa-uk smirked slyly at the explanation.
"Title's Covet, produced by Red Film!"
That tiny production company again?
Pfft. Laughter burst from Kim Hwa-uk. The opponent was too easy!
"That'll be simple then."
They needed a reality check from the start. Kim Hwa-uk snapped his fingers casually.
"Poach their staff first."
"Pardon?"
"Cinematographer, assistant director, whatever. Promise spots on my team and snag 'em."
He meant to outright delay production.
Ethics? Screw that.
Just drop his name—Kim Hwa-uk—and staff would flock over.
"B-but..."
"Argh! Enough! Didn't I tell you not to wuss out?!"
Kim Hwa-uk raised his hand like he might swing at the hesitating assistant.
"Fail that, and you're off assistant duty. Got it?"
"......"
Oblivious that the assistant's rational thread was fraying.
"Yes... I'll do my best."
"Good, good. Let 'em know—as long as they cling to Shin Yi-han, the movie's dead in the water."
Director Kim Hwa-uk just smiled contentedly.
With no clue what was coming for him.