Chapter 229: Review Time (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 229: Review Time (2)
On the TV, the only sound was the clacking of me pinning circular magnets over the characters' photos. The sound of metal striking metal was surprisingly chilling.
Glancing at the members, I saw them all watching with bated breath, swallowing hard. I suppose this is the power of directing.
『Should I start by cutting off the limbs first...?』
Wait, did I actually say that out loud instead of just thinking it?
How embarrassing. I feel like a chuunibyou mafia otaku going through a mid-life crisis.
Unable to lift my head, I buried my face in a new batch of SNS posts.
≫ The way he mapped out the relationships is insane
The killing intent is insane too
└ Fr lolololol you can tell he’s ready to kill everyone
└ It would’ve been cool if they’d used an entire set for this on a larger scale ㅠㅠㅠ
└ Seriously. Are the Act On producers watching? For Season 3, bring the scale up to Hollywood levels.
≫ What is Seong-sil-han’s deal, seriously?
Even knowing the target is Jo Yong-han, he looks so suspicious lol. Imagine how the other players feel.
└ Since he put a question mark for Jo Yong-han instead of labeling him a bystander like the others, it feels like he has a different role.
≫ He could’ve just left Jo Yong-han and Yu Yeon-seong as irrelevant people.
But he treated the bystanders the same as the perpetrators, saying they’re just as bad. I love seeing this man’s sense of morality.
└ But it’s true. The people who just watched are at fault too.
└ Especially when those bystanders are superiors? << Absolutely unforgivable.
└ To think I’d hear the phrase "harassment using hierarchy" while watching a variety show.
≫ When other people say they’ll "cut off the limbs": Oh, they must mean it metaphorically!
When Kim I-wol says he’ll "cut off the limbs": Oh... he’s actually going to cut them off.
└ I-wol... he really looks like he’d do it.
└ I love I-wol, but he’d definitely do it.
└ I-wol rips people apart.
≫ Kim I-wol, please, just one noir movie.
Just one role as a total psychopath.
└ Please, let him smoke a hookah with a pet black panther by his side, ordering men in suits around like limbs with just a tilt of his chin.
└ What on earth do you guys want I-wol to do? lol
Is my image okay with the general public and the Sparklers? It feels like I’ve crossed a river of no return.
Among the mountain of reactions, I spotted a post that was hard to ignore.
≫ I-wol, please, just take the CSAT one more time.
It’ll be hard, but give it a shot. Your brain is too good to waste.
└ I’m glad we didn’t lose our boy, but lately, I’m not sure if that’s actually a good thing...
└ What if he says he wants to focus on his studies...?
└ Our boy focusing on his studies... ha... but if those studies are at S University... ha...
└ I want to tell him to balance it with his studies, but Kim I-wol is already working at UA too, so I can’t bring myself to say it. Kim I-wol, stop working so much.
Is it easy to feel sincere regret for someone else's failure and pray for them to do better? Yet, the fans did that difficult thing as if it were nothing. For the current me and Spark, and for the Spark of the past.
Perhaps it was because others were feeling more indignant on my behalf than I was. Seeing the mention of a degree again didn't feel as despairing as when I first realized my bachelor's degree had vanished.
'Act on' was racing toward its conclusion. The Spark brats had somehow found energy bars and were crunching away on them.
“This is really keeping me on the edge of my seat.”
“Maybe your seat would cool down if you put the energy bar down for a second, Cheong-hyeon?”
“I’m concentrating right now, so don’t talk to me.”
He was the one who started mumbling first. I gave Lee Cheong-hyeon a brief glare before turning back to the TV. Deputy Head Yu Yeon-seong was dragged to the Silence Room, and Han Ga-un and I sat across from each other at the center table of the set.
『And after that, are you going to forfeit, Sil-han?』
Hearing my words, Park Ju-woo gasped and covered his mouth. Thanks to the editing, the psychological warfare between Jo Yong-han and Seong-sil-han looked intense, but I wondered if it was really worth that much shock.
And then—the hidden narrative of Jo Yong-han and Seong-sil-han, which the production team likely intended to reveal later—was disclosed.
The two of them, close colleagues who joined the company at the same time, working together to adapt; a fresh-faced photo of them together after achieving results; the anonymous, provocative messages in Seong-sil-han’s room and the resignation letter in my room. All of it came together to reveal the reality of the bullying surrounding the young employees.
≫ Jo Yong-han was actually a really good person.
And here I was thinking... he was an office worker back from hell whose only purpose in life was revenge...
└ Me too...
≫ Reinstate Jo Yong-han immediately and promote him alongside Seong-sil-han.
Make it happen!!!!!!!
└ It looks like Jo Yong-han is already completely fed up with the company, so he probably wouldn't come back lolololol.
└ I’d be fed up too lol.
A curse word escaped Choi Je-ho’s mouth as he watched quietly.
“They were all total assholes.”
“Watch it.”
Despite the scolding, Choi Je-ho was too busy chewing his energy bar to care.
Jo Yong-han and Seong-sil-han reached a peace treaty amidst public attention. The faces of the production team, horrified by the target’s blatant rule-breaking, were also shown on screen.
“Is that allowed? On a broadcast?”
Kang Gi-yeon asked, sounding bewildered.
“It’s being broadcast, so it must be allowed, right?”
“Sigh...”
At my words, Kang Gi-yeon let out something between a sigh and a groan.
≫ I told you Jo Yong-han isn't sane.
He’s telling him to leave the company together lololol.
└ He left first and realized how great it was.
└ Ah, how could he resist recommending something this good to a friend?
└ But this is so fresh. Who wins then?? lololol
└ The people in the Silence Room look so damn interested lolololol.
During filming, I was too focused on Han Ga-un to notice, but the people in the Silence Room really did have sparkling eyes. Since the new recruits' line was about to have a vacancy just as the juniors' rebellion succeeded, it was bound to be entertaining.
At the moment Jo Yong-han and Seong-sil-han successfully reached their dramatic compromise:
『The resigned employee, Jo Yong-han, has been discovered. Company security is maintained.』
Along with the narration, the screen captured the shocked Seong-sil-han, the cast members sent to the Silence Room, and the buzzing writers.
Then, my face was captured in a one-shot... and because the atmosphere was so contrary to the people before me, I looked incredibly nonchalant. In my memory, I didn't think I looked that relaxed.
At the same time, a goddamn alarm popped up.
+
[SYSTEM] Party B’s ‘Enchanting Morning Star Smile’ is activated. Influence is generated.
+
And it had evolved since 'Adan-un.' Didn't it just say 'Morning Star Smile' last time?
Before, it said 'slight influence' was generated, but with the extra word added to the front, the effect had upgraded to just 'influence.'
≫ What
What is this, seriously?????
└ I was cackling thinking it was a group resignation ending, and then my jaw just dropped.
└ I literally dropped my popcorn. What is this...?
≫ Wow
Total shock... I feel like I got hit in the back of the head.
└ Everything was in the palm of Kim I-wol’s hand... look at that expression.
└ Am I the only one who paused here?
└ No, if this were MeTube, it would already be the 'most replayed' section.
└ Thank god I’m not the only one obsessed with his face.
≫ So to summarize:
Jo Yong-han knew from the start that the target of the bullying wasn't him, but Seong-sil-han.
He took the bullying meant for Seong-sil-han and then resigned.
But knowing Seong-sil-han loved the company, he secretly came back, kicked out all the useless bosses, and then got himself 'exorcised' again? Just so Seong-sil-han could live happily?
└ There’s a trap at the end though.
└ He deceived Seong-sil-han until the very, very end, but the narrative that it was all for Seong-sil-han’s sake is insane.
『Congratulations on your win!』
『The ordinary employee, Seong-sil-han, protects the company’s security.』
Confetti fluttered. Lee Cheong-hyeon couldn't close his mouth, fidgeting with his lips.
“Wow, Hyung... I really have to hand it to you for this one.”
“I’m just glad you enjoyed it.”
“I thought you went to film a variety show, but you filmed a drama.”
“You flatter me.”
Before I knew it, the only posts left were those summarizing 'Act on' Season 2.
≫ [Personal Review/Subjective Warning] Act on Season 2 General Review
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.
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Above all, I want to highlight the USB that Jo Yong-han handed to Seong-sil-han at the end.
This USB was a device containing the memories of the two of them. Regardless, when the USB—a company asset—passed from Jo Yong-han, an outsider, into the hands of Seong-sil-han, who remained at the company until the end, the phrase 'Seong-sil-han protects the company’s security' appeared. I loved that.
The ending, where the ordinary employee who endured until the end despite the bullying ultimately wins, was also impressive. It felt more like watching a short play than a mystery variety show.
A long review someone had written on a blog was filled with likes. It seemed many people resonated with it.
“Alright, it’s really late now, so everyone...”
Just as I was about to tell them to go to bed, the system appeared.
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from the ‘Person in Charge’ has arrived.
▶ I’m hearing a lot about Assistant Manager Kim here and there today. You didn't cause any trouble, did you? I trust you, Assistant Manager Kim.
[SYSTEM] Party B is notified of the progress of the KPI ‘Capturing the Hearts of Potential Customers.’
▷ 467/10,000
+
It was a number that made me doubt my eyes.
That’s nearly 500. Have that many new fans already chosen Kim I-wol as their bias?
I remembered it being around thirty when I checked briefly after 'Adan-un' ended. Even that was higher than my expectations, likely because it was a gathering of people who were already fans of specific groups.
But to gather this many just from one variety show appearance. And the program had only just been released, before it had even been spread through short-form content.
'I just have to pray... that the numbers don't drop...'
What kind of show do I have to put on for these people to stop them from escaping before the number hits 10,000? It looks like I’ll be spending another night wide awake.