Chapter 390: On Air (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 390: On Air (1)
“My girl’s home!”
“Have you had dinner? Did you eat?”
“I get a meal allowance, so of course I ate before coming home.”
Yeo Ha-na, sharing a celebratory end-of-the-day hug with her mother, spotted a drama she hadn't seen before.
“What’s this? Mom, you don't usually watch dramas.”
“It started last week, and it’s actually quite good. Come watch it with me.”
“Will I be too late if I shower first?”
“No, it just started. Should I get some snacks?”
“I’d love that.”
Yeo Ha-na hurried to wash up. She grabbed two cans of beer—her mother’s long-time companion—from the fridge. When she returned to the living room, she saw a large bowl filled with Secret Royal Inspector Rice, the mother-daughter duo's favorite snack.
The two of them sat side-by-side on the sofa in their most comfortable pajamas and began watching the drama.
“What’s it about?”
“This guy’s dad and that girl’s dad died in an accident, and they’re looking for the cause. I’ve only been watching bits and pieces, so I’m not entirely sure.”
What did they call this genre? A romance mystery? She’d heard of ‘rom-coms,’ but she wasn’t sure if ‘rom-mystery’ was a thing.
Ha-na, who didn't have a hobby of watching dramas, couldn't quite piece together the narrative that had been compressed into the first two episodes. Nevertheless, the actors' gripping performances made her hand movements slow as she reached for the snacks.
“Where is this Cheonju Group supposed to be?”
“That boy is claiming that the chairman of Cheonju Group is the one who killed his father.”
“That sounds like a scary place.”
Ha-na reacted with an expression that wasn't scared at all. To her, the company messenger that was still pinging at this hour was far scarier than the Cheonju Group she had just learned about today.
Go ahead and message me all day, see if I reply.
Ha-na had worked herself to the bone today, even coming in on the weekend. Since all the urgent tasks were finished, she felt she had done her duty.
If she made a habit of working even after heading home, it would set a bad precedent. Rather than hearing through the grapevine that the juniors lacked discipline because even the senior was working, Ha-na preferred to take a bit of heat and think to herself, ‘Sure, sure, may you live a long and healthy life,’ and move on.
“Oh?”
When she looked back at the screen after setting her phone face down, a familiar face appeared.
“He’s quite handsome. Must be a rookie. He’s a good actor, too.”
Her mother commented on the actor who had apparently started appearing in the previous episode.
It was a visual Ha-na knew well. He was the protagonist who occupied the entire home screen wallpaper of the junior colleague she had just vowed to protect.
『Division Chief, isn't it your mother’s birthday soon?』
『That is correct.』
『Why don't you take a bottle of wine? A good one just came in.』
‘Wait, isn't that Kim I-wol?’
The person presumed to be the favorite of her cherished junior, Won Chae-hee, had appeared.
There was a reason she said ‘presumed.’ Ha-na’s eyes weren't well-trained in matching a face she’d seen briefly while flipping through a photo album to a moving face on a screen.
Ha-na picked up her phone, which had finally stopped ringing. She typed the drama title into a portal site and clicked on the information tab, bringing up the cast list.
Role of Cheon Yun-seong
Kim I-wol
Surprisingly, Ha-na’s deduction was correct. Considering Ha-na’s life history—where she couldn't even name five idol groups since her school days—this was a historic event.
“He’s an idol. I don't think it’s been long since he started acting.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. My junior at work likes him.”
“Chae-hee?”
The name came out instantly. Her mother remembered everyone in her daughter’s circle.
『Give her my regards.』
Kim I-wol handed a bottle of the recommended wine to the Division Chief.
『Thank you.』
The Division Chief bowed deeply and opened the back door of the car. Kim I-wol looked incredibly natural being waited on. As Ha-na followed Kim I-wol with her eyes, the episode ended in a flash.
“Mom, is this on Sundays too?”
“Yeah. Why? Want to watch it together tomorrow?”
“Definitely.”
Their father looked on in surprise as the two made plans for the next day.
“Ha-na is watching a drama?”
“I guess it suits her taste. You should join us tomorrow too.”
“I suppose I should.”
“People would think I live under a rock!”
Ha-na burst into laughter.
“I’m just watching because it’s interesting to see someone I recognize.”
Making excuses, Ha-na followed her mother, who was taking the empty snack bowl and beer cans to the trash.
≫ I told you last week Cheon Yun-seong was suspicious.
I told you he had the face of a villain~!~~!!! ᕕ(ꐦ°᷄д°᷅)ᕗ
└ I think I saw your post lol. Didn't you ask how Cheon Yun-seong could possibly be the sub-lead?
└ So you were the one shouting "That bastard is the culprit!" while everyone else was screaming for the chaebol sub-lead.
≫ But it’s still unclear.
There are so many cases where they keep you guessing if someone is a mastermind or an ally and then—tada!—it turns out he was a good guy all along.
└ True lol. And he’s good to Division Chief Go.
└ A man who remembers his subordinate’s mother’s birthday? He’s not trash.
≫ So Sae-young is So Sae-young……
She’s been acting for so long, how does she still fit the female lead role so well?
But it’s not just the typical drama female lead vibe; she acts so realistically that you feel like a reporter like that could actually exist. It’s amazing.
└ I heard that after she was cast, she went and interviewed the reporter who broke her dating scandal years ago. Her professional spirit is insane.
└ What? Where can I see that??
└ “I went to see the reporter who broke my dating scandal in the past. I wanted to learn the cycle of a reporter. I suggested we fairly exchange our private lives.” ← This is part of an excerpt. You can find it if you look at the press conference articles!
≫ I think all three leads of Exclusive Report are incredibly driven.
Going to the reporter who broke your scandal to learn the reporter lifestyle.
Building a body to match firefighter physical exam standards because the character is a firefighter.
Looking at 100 references of real people to learn the attitude.
└ Isn't Exclusive Report a two-top lead drama? Who’s the third person?
└ Probably Cheon Yun-seong.
└ Cheon Yun-seong is crazy…… I love that it’s not that superficial chaebol acting where they just lift their chin to act arrogant while their pronunciation sounds cheap.
└└ Your description is very specific.
└└└ Whose acting did you hate that much? lol
└└└└ KJH
└└└└└ Ah, agreed.
└└└└└└ lol look at that cool admission.
≫ Am I the only one shipping Yun-seong and I-seo……?
Their initials are both YS, so I thought it was destiny……
I even named them the Yun-Seo couple……
└ lol you’re getting way ahead of yourself.
└ You probably already looked into English kindergartens for their kids lol.
Golden time on the weekend. Big-name actors and a solid story. Combined with the attention gathered from the private life issues of the idol appearing in it. With this triple threat, the viewership ratings for Exclusive Report were soaring.
The reactions were pouring in. There was no need to go to communities or search specifically. It trended in real-time during the broadcast, and before and after the show, the entertainment news drama pages were all about Exclusive Report.
As is the way of the world, it wasn't all good news.
≫ He appears as the perfect man in the drama, but…… the true nature of that actor that no one knew #ExclusiveReport #KimIwol
≫ Who is the actor being accused of habitually threatening his parents? #Impiety #Actor #ExclusiveReport
≫ I knew it would explode! The predicted fall of a rising star #ExclusiveReport #Iwol
A popular drama was a keyword that guaranteed clicks. Naturally, videos linking all my issues to Exclusive Report flooded in.
└ Both the person himself, walking around with such a thick skin…… and the production team who won't fire him are all in it together. I knew the entertainment industry was ugly, but this is shocking.
└ They’re not keeping him because they’re in it together; they’re just not dealing with it because it’s a ridiculous rumor. You’ll probably be getting a lawsuit from UE soon too~
└ Everyone knows that when idol fans talk about suing and collecting PDFs, it’s all just threats, right? If suing were that easy, who in the world would be badmouthing celebrities? lol
Even with the agency’s notice of legal action, this flow did not cool down. To cyber wreckers, tightrope walking over the risk of being sued was nothing more than a sport.
『Young Master.』
『I am told the Chairman has passed away.』
“What?”
I was thinking that the title ‘A tearful accusation against a brazen actor…… Did he think he could succeed after abandoning his parents?’ was a bit much, when those around me gasped. It was the highlight scene of episode 4.
“Grandpa died?!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon shouted.
“I thought Grandpa was going to be the mastermind!”
He was so immersed that his face was bright red.
“Then what was that line about Cheon Yun-seong inevitably becoming entangled with the Chairman?!”
“Be quiet for a second.”
Kang Gi-yeon said, frowning deeply. When I gestured for him to relax his brow, the wrinkles vanished instantly.
『Chairman.』
The scene transitioned to Cheon Yun-seong walking into the funeral hall. His steady stride and calm voice drew the gazes of the mourners.
The clicking of shutters from the entrance and the silent stares. Cheon Yun-seong drew attention like a star even at a wake.
Who would become Chairman Cheon’s successor?
In that place where the list of those who came to the funeral for so-called ‘line-standing’ became gossip one by one.
『Grandfather…….』
Cheon Yun-seong knelt and wept. He, who used to plaster the media with a gentle smile, sobbed with trembling shoulders. The sound of the camera barrage, which had put respect for the deceased behind the lure of a scoop, gradually faded.
‘The color grading is incredible.’
A blue tint was layered over the ordinary funeral hall, maximizing the sorrow radiating from Cheon Yun-seong. The tears flowing down my pale face became even more vivid due to the blue-gray shadows. My red lips contrasted with the space of the dead, making the screen look much more aesthetic.
“…….”
Looking at the suddenly quiet seats next to me, everyone was focused on the TV. Park Ju-woo was practically clinging to my arm.
Unable to overcome his grief, Cheon Yun-seong, showing an uncharacteristically disheveled appearance, got into the car with the help of Division Chief Go. Belatedly, reporters captured the back of the car leaving the funeral hall.
Cheon Yun-seong sat still, looking out the window as if composing himself…… or so it seemed.
Cheon Yun-seong’s gaze was fixed on the side mirror. Since no cars were following, only the empty road was reflected in the mirror.
Division Chief Go glanced at Cheon Yun-seong through the rearview mirror and spoke.
『The one on top is a wet towel, the one below is a dry towel.』
The camera caught a black bag placed in the back seat. Inside the open bag, white towels wrapped in transparent plastic were visible.
With a shadowed expression, Cheon Yun-seong pulled out the wet towel. He buried his face in the towel and slowly rubbed it clean.
When he removed the towel, there wasn't a trace left of the sorrow from losing his grandfather.
『As expected of you, Division Chief. This was a first for me.』
『You flatter me.』
『Did Father say anything?』
『He asked to see you briefly before the board meeting.』
『I see.』
After finishing the conversation, Cheon Yun-seong pulled out the dry towel. He then covered his dry face with the towel and pressed down firmly. As Division Chief Go turned on the radio, the news of Chairman Cheon’s passing flowed out as a breaking report.