Moment’s Promise
Deok-su let out a long breath.
“I feel like I’m going to pass out.”
“R-ratings… the ratings…! We broke 20%! The peak moment hit 22%!”
Crossing the 20% mark was what people called a massive hit.
It was a huge milestone for any actor’s career.
Yet Deok-su’s face remained perfectly calm.
“That’s a relief. Director Oh has been worrying about the ratings every single day.”
“This is the time to be happy… You’ve finally taken a real step forward as an actor.”
Lee Hui-yeong, who had been jumping for joy just moments ago, cleared her throat awkwardly.
But Deok-su’s goal lay a little further ahead.
“To keep my promise, I need to break 33.3%. Twenty percent still leaves a long way to go.”
“You… you weren’t serious about that promise, were you?”
“I didn’t really want this much attention, but…”
Lee Hui-yeong gave an awkward smile and pulled out her tablet PC.
On the screen were the articles and comments about L'Vyu that the management team had compiled.
Reading the articles and comments was surprisingly entertaining.
The fatigue that had built up from playing Jin Dong-ho seemed to ease just a little.
Lee Hui-yeong watched Deok-su smile and spoke gently.
“Playing a villain must be really hard, right?”
“It’s still manageable. Though sometimes I get angry without realizing it…”
“Actors who immerse themselves deeply often end up confusing their real life with the character. Especially with villains… it must be even harder. I brought some things from the management team. A lot of people are cheering for you, so keep your spirits up.”
Deok-su blinked, then lightly patted her on the back.
Just as she said, immersing himself in the villain role often left his heart feeling twisted and heavy.
Still, knowing that people liked it… those feelings seemed to fade a little.
It was early the next morning.
Before filming, Deok-su and his team headed to Jang Hyeok-geon to get their hair done.
“When are they shooting the prison scene later?”
“They said around the afternoon. Apparently Se-ah is running late today.”
“Ah, our hyung really needs to land a lead role soon so the waiting time can go down…”
Jang Hyeok-geon grumbled for no particular reason.
He had been prickly before the contract, but once it was signed, he turned out to be incredibly easygoing.
Thanks to that, he quickly grew close to both Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong.
Unless something special came up, filming schedules were usually built around the lead actor. Deok-su still didn’t have the pull to shift the entire schedule.
“It’ll happen when the time is right.”
“Hyung, are you really going to take on a lead role with that attitude?”
“Well, if I keep working hard, they’ll call me eventually.”
Deok-su simply shrugged.
The filming of the drama Moment had already passed the midpoint and was heading into the final stretch.
“Alright everyone! Let’s give it our all today too!”
Maybe it was because they had crossed 20% in ratings.
Director O Chang-seok’s face was brighter than ever.
As the ratings climbed, all the ad slots sold out completely, and the sluggish overseas distribution deals began moving forward smoothly.
“Deok-su! This is all thanks to you.”
Director O Chang-seok grabbed both of Deok-su’s hands tightly.
When Deok-su gave an embarrassed shrug, the director burst into loud laughter.
“Writer Min told me she wants to work with you again next time.”
“I’d be grateful if you called me.”
“I feel the same. Deok-su, now that your value has gone up, you’re not going to start acting expensive, are you?”
Deok-su simply smiled.
Once preparations were complete, filming began.
Deok-su put on the suit that Min A-ru had brought and fastened his watch before stepping onto set.
The camera zoomed in on the watch on his wrist, then pulled back to capture the entire frame.
A stylist watching the shoot whispered to Mun A-rim.
“Is hyung Deok-su’s outfit okay?”
“Yeah. Why? Is there a problem?”
“Don’t even get me started. My heart sank last week. The pants that Jin-ho oppa got as sponsorship were worth three million won… They got caught during filming last week and ripped. I begged and begged and barely got away with it…”
There was a reason the junior stylist’s eyes looked especially tired whenever she looked at Lee Jin-ho today.
“Jin-ho does tend to be rough with his clothes.”
“It’s good that he doesn’t hold back during filming… but I wish he’d think about the clothes a little. The sponsors understand to some extent, but… What about Kim Deok-su? He’s on the blacklist, isn’t he?”
“Kim Deok-su? Is Deok-su your friend now?”
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
Mun A-rim frowned.
She absolutely hated people who casually crossed the line like this.
“Watch yourself. Deok-su is five years older than you.”
“Yes, sunbae. But… Deok-su is on the blacklist, right? How are you getting sponsorships? I’m genuinely curious…”
“Well, Deok-su did have a bad reputation back then. If he liked something, he’d just take it.”
“They say more than a few stylists got fired because of him… Oh, they’re calling me. See you later.”
The junior stylist who ran over to Lee Jin-ho clutched her face.
His pants had a long vertical tear down the middle.
Watching her make that miserable face, Mun A-rim felt both satisfied and a little sorry for her.
“Noona. Is something funny going on?”
“Nothing much. Thirsty?”
Mun A-rim handed Deok-su a bottle of water after he finished filming.
As the ratings rose, the atmosphere on set improved, efficiency increased, and the ratings climbed even higher—a virtuous cycle.
As the drama entered its latter half, the ratings that had already passed 20% began climbing even more steeply.
As the drama reached its climax, Jin Dong-ho showed the full extent of his evil deeds.
He framed his secretary—who had followed him faithfully for over ten years—pinned all the crimes on him, and only gave him half the money he had promised.
When the preview showed Jin Dong-ho wearing prison clothes, people’s anticipation reached its peak.
As the story headed toward its conclusion, Deok-su stood at the very center of the ratings success.
* * *
Jaksim was one of Korea’s few men’s magazines and served as a comforting friend to soldiers.
Its seventh-year editor Han Sang-ryul and the chief editor were clutching their heads.
“…Kim Deok-su’s price must have gone up a lot lately. Will he really do it at this rate?”
“We have to at least try. Still, we might need to raise the offer a bit.”
“Our sales have been sluggish lately, right? If Kim Deok-su is the main feature… Hmm… Let’s go for it. We’ll see what happens.”
As soon as the chief editor gave approval, Editor Han Sang-ryul began moving in earnest.
* * *
The UBS Wednesday-Thursday drama Moment ended its run with a high finale rating of 33.0%.
In the final episode, Jin Dong-ho was executed by hanging, Ha Jin-woo and Lee Ye-gyeong became a couple, and the story concluded with them jumping into a new case.
Deok-su had starved for two full days to look gaunt, and he shot the hanging scene in that emaciated state.
When terror filled his hollow face, viewers cheered, and Kim Deok-su received praise for being the best casting choice.
But there was one small problem.
Since he hadn’t reached the target rating, there was no need to keep the promise, but Lee Hui-yeong thought differently.
“…I think you should still do it.”
“It does feel a bit wrong to skip it over just 0.3%, right?”
At Deok-su’s question, Lee Hui-yeong nodded.
“The tide is just starting to come in. We need to row now.”
Good stories about Kim Deok-su were spreading everywhere.
This was the time to solidify his image.
Lee Hui-yeong headed to Executive Director Lee Gwang-yong to get approval for the budget to fulfill the promise.
Lee Gwang-yong was a strict man, but she had no intention of backing down.
However…
“…Now is indeed the perfect time.”
Contrary to her expectations, Executive Director Lee Gwang-yong signed the document without a word.
Lee Hui-yeong was puzzled.
He was the kind of person who nitpicked every single approval.
As he handed back the documents, Lee Gwang-yong said,
“Coordinate well with the local merchants. Don’t create any unnecessary controversy.”
Lee Hui-yeong nodded and left the office.
A few days later, the articles came out.
After the articles were published, Deok-su, his team, and Jeong-mi became busy preparing food.
“We can handle it ourselves…”
“Mom is better at this kind of thing.”
Deok-su tried to refuse, but Jeong-mi took the knife from his hand and began slicing vegetables.
The menu they prepared was chicken steak rice bowls.
They rented a food truck and loaded it with plenty of ingredients.
“Hyun-woo, I’m sorry. Even dragging you into this…”
“No, it’s my job anyway.”
Deok-su scratched his neck, feeling apologetic.
This time, not only Lee Hui-yeong and Mun A-rim but even the youngest, Park Hyeon-woo, had to be mobilized.
Mun A-rim, who had been cutting chicken, took off her plastic gloves and grumbled.
“This chicken smell…! Deok-su! Do I really have to do this too?”
“I’m sorry. This is more than enough help. If you’re tired, you can stop…”
“…What is this kid saying?”
Mun A-rim grumbled but put the gloves back on.
“…Give me that.”
“It’s fine. I can do this…”
“More importantly, please put some sauce in the sauce container. Un…nie.”
At the word “unnie,” Mun A-rim stared blankly at Lee Hui-yeong before breaking into a grin.
“…Alright, got it.”
Deok-su, who had rented a pension in Busan, continued preparing food late into the night.
Jeong-mi kept making snacks for them, saying they were working hard, and Mun A-rim kept munching on them like a squirrel.
“…I see Deok-su’s style now. I have a feeling your path of hardship is going to be brightly lit from now on.”
“I agree with unnie.”
“We actually communicate pretty well, huh? Right, Hyun-woo?”
Park Hyeon-woo looked back and forth between Deok-su and the women, reading the room, which only made them burst into laughter.
Maybe because he was the youngest.
Park Hyeon-woo was becoming the target of the noonas’ teasing.
The next morning, after finishing preparations, Deok-su, Jeong-mi, and the team loaded up the food truck and a passenger car and headed to Haeundae.
“…Hui-yeong drives really well?”
“She’s been driving since she was twenty.”
“Eh? Really?”
Mun A-rim and Lee Hui-yeong, riding in the food truck, chatted nonstop until they arrived.
Perhaps because of all the talking.
The awkwardness between the two of them was slowly disappearing.
Even though it was morning, Haeundae was already crowded with people.
Fans who had come to eat Deok-su’s food, reporters with cameras, local merchants—the Haeundae Food Truck Zone was in complete chaos.
“Okay! Please line up in a single file! I’ll hand out numbered tickets!”
Lee Hui-yeong skillfully organized the crowd into a line.
It wasn’t easy to establish order at first, but thanks to her efforts and the cooperation of the people, the food truck zone gradually regained order.
In the meantime, Deok-su and Jeong-mi began cooking and started handing out the rice bowls one by one to those with tickets.
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Wow…! It smells amazing!”
The middle school girl who received the first chicken steak rice bowl headed to a corner with an excited face.
After taking a big spoonful, her face quickly filled with happiness.
“I’m your fan now! Oppa, can I take one picture?”
Wearing an apron, Deok-su struck a pose, and the moment was fully captured by the fan’s camera.
Of course, everything didn’t go perfectly smoothly.
“One serving per person. You already ate earlier, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t… Ah, it was just so good.”
“I’ll give you more later if there’s any left. I have to give to the others too.”
Even in the hectic situation, Deok-su comforted the fans and continued distributing the food.
He treated the reporters the same way.
“It’s really delicious. Can I take a picture?”
“Of course. Please enjoy it and write a good article, reporter-nim.”
He didn’t forget to secretly add extra chicken on top.
There were moments when order threatened to break down, but each time Park Hyeon-woo and Lee Hui-yeong stepped in to control the crowd.
But there was a problem even they couldn’t solve.
“…Why are you guys here?”
“They said they’d give us food if we came here. We heard the rumor.”
Deok-su let out a small laugh.
The members of Turnshine, still in their stage outfits, stood there holding disposable spoons in their mouths like hungry puppies.
The fans who had been eating nearby burst into cheers at the sudden appearance of Turnshine.
Whether they had been starving since morning or not, they devoured the rice bowls Deok-su gave them.
Their manager scolded them for not being more aware of the fans, but the girls were completely unapologetic.
“These days, acting all innocent only makes you less popular.”
“Mhm, mhm.”
At Han Na-gyeong and Kang Min-ji’s tag-team response, the manager clutched the back of his neck.
“…This is so fucking good!”
“I want to eat again…!”
“Hey! Are you my fans or what!”
“We’re your fans starting today.”
The sight of Deok-su bickering with the Turnshine members was fully captured by the fans.
After many twists and turns, the five hundred servings disappeared quickly.
“One last group selfie…”
When Deok-su lifted the selfie stick, the fans crowded into the frame and struck their own poses.
A few hours later, the photo was posted on Deok-su’s SNS and in various articles.
As time passed, the effect of keeping his promise began to show.
The people bringing up Deok-su’s flashy past gradually disappeared.
* * *
After finishing the drama and fulfilling the promise, even Lee Hui-yeong finally had a little free time.
“Reward vacation… Boracay?”
She was looking at the reward vacation plan sent by the Moment team when a call came from an unknown number.
“Hello, this is Lee Hui-yeong.”
"Hello. This is Han Sang-ryul, editor of the magazine Jaksim. I’m calling because I’d like to work with Kim Deok-su on our next issue."