Flaws in PPL and an Unexpected Offer
Monitor showed the close-up of an expressionless Deok-su and Song A-yeong being scolded.
The two of their acting was flawless, but the problem lay elsewhere.
Only the exposure count could be adjusted as PPL, but the negative scenes carried the risk of damaging the image.
Shin Yu-mi, the writer, wiped the corner of her mouth and answered.
“There’s no other place to insert it. No matter how I think about it…”
“Even if I say so myself, on the top side…”
When Director Cho U-seok started to trail off, his phone rang.
The moment he saw the name flashing on the screen, Cho U-seok let out a sigh and headed to the corner.
With filming suddenly halted, Song A-yeong whispered worriedly toward Deok-su.
“Oppa. What could this sudden issue be?”
“It’s probably about the PPL,”
While Deok-su remained calm.
Deok-su had seen filming delays tied to PPL more than once.
This time, the PPL target was fast-food burgers, so the atmosphere was naturally more cautious about images.
While the two of them conversed, Director Cho U-seok rushed back after finishing his call.
“Writer Shin. President Seok just called. He wants you to add PPL to other scenes besides this one.”
“Hah…! Why is that Seok guy getting involved now…”
Shin Yu-mi exploded.
Ultimately, because they couldn’t send it according to her script, they would have to modify it on the spot or do something about it.
Even content errors would be fixed with tears and mustard, but for PPL of all things.
Such instructions she could not accept.
Director Cho U-seok, caught in the middle, felt the same deadpan.
“Writer Shin. What’s good is good, right? We…”
“Ah, I can’t. So PPL should have been something like a workbook or a desk! Those cheap burgers that don’t even suit the money…! They want us to clean up their cheap poop!”
With Shin Yu-mi throwing a tantrum, filming had to be halted and forced break time given.
But it was an uncomfortable break time, only delaying their return home.
While Director Cho U-seok tried to soothe Shin Yu-mi, complaints from the staff rose from every corner.
Song A-yeong gazed at Deok-su with concern.
“Oppa. It seems the mood is quite serious… Is it okay?”
“It’s the PPL issue. Let’s wait and see. If we get involved, the problem might only get worse.”
“Even so, this is our scene…”
Song A-yeong fidgeted.
Deok-su, with a short sigh, sank into deep thought.
“PPL in this industry… you somehow always manage to insert it… If it’s going to be modified anyway, then… Wait. A-yeong is an under-actor, so no problem for her, but me… Can I even do it?”
Quite a bit of time passed, yet the conflict showed no signs of resolution.
The director’s palm was worn down from calming staff venting complaints everywhere.
After long deliberation, Deok-su spoke to Song A-yeong.
“A-yeong-ah. About this part. We…”
At Deok-su’s suggestion, Song A-yeong’s eyes widened before she quickly nodded.
Afterward, the two headed toward the direction where raised voices echoed.
Behind the catering truck, Shin Yu-mi kept sharpening her tone while Director Cho U-seok tried desperately to soothe her.
“I clearly said I can’t do it. President Seok, the head of the broadcasting station, and… just say whatever you want.”
“Writer Shin. Why are you acting like this? You’re not going to turn down the next work, are you?”
“What I mean… Hah. Why accept a non-working PPL just for the money? That Seok guy really…”
“The story starts all over again… Ah, Deok-su-nim.”
Director Cho U-seok was the first to sense the tension.
Shin Yu-mi lowered her voice and stiffened her expression.
“Everyone, please wait. It’ll end soon, so just a little longer…”
“Because of that PPL, there’s a part that needs changing. We’ll fill it in with improv.”
Shin Yu-mi and Director Cho U-seok froze in place.
Song A-yeong took Deok-su’s words.
“If you just create the background and flow, we’ll fill in the rest with improv. More than detailed lines, as long as the character’s emotional line is well expressed…”
“G-Good. If the two of you are willing to step up, we’ll be grateful too.”
Before Shin Yu-mi could protest, Director Cho U-seok quickly intervened.
From his standpoint, the actors agreeing to modify the script was welcome.
Even for the actors, suddenly having the script changed was difficult.
But Shin Yu-mi still insisted stubbornly.
“Do the two of you seriously think there’s a problem with my script?”
“That’s not possible. It’s just that the location for the important dialogue doesn’t sit well with me.”
Deok-su’s words struck Shin Yu-mi right where it hurt.
Actually, this scene was very important.
It was an emotional scene showing viewers that Hae-ju relied on Han Seo-won more than her mother.
The fact that such emotions played out in a fast-food place that lots of people frequented kept bothering her.
“Deok-su-nim, do you have something in mind?”
“I thought lightly, but how about shooting this scene in Han Seo-won’s office? The lighting can be made heavier… and…”
“Wait. An office? Then the scene will be longer, right? We have to shoot the PPL separately too.”
“We can do extra work. Anyway, after scolding him harshly in the office, Han Seo-won asks what Hae-ju wants to eat and answers…”
“If we give him burgers like that… Even if it doesn’t make sense, this would be better. Avoiding the important scene while still pleasing the other side. Wait a moment.”
As if lightning struck her head, Shin Yu-mi opened her phone notes and quickly jotted down the script.
In an instant, she created one scene and handed it to everyone.
It wasn’t rushed or polished, but it provided enough explanation for Deok-su and Song A-yeong to improvise freely.
Shin Yu-mi, who sent the script to Deok-su, said with a hint of smugness.
“I just wrote the feeling according to what Deok-su-nim said. The rest is up to you two to bring to life.”
“Thank you, Writer.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m the one who should apologize. But is it okay to be this enthusiastic? It’s embarrassing for everyone…”
Deok-su was the one who spoke up, and Shin Yu-mi left with a light breeze.
Afterward, filming resumed.
In the revised script, the burger place for PPL had become a healing spot.
The script was straightforward in tone, with no action directions, but Song A-yeong and Deok-su, both under-actors, brought life to the improv and performed.
“…Eat slowly. You’ll get full.”
“Huk… Heuk…”
With a forced smile, Deok-su tore the burger wrapper and handed it to her. Song A-yeong gripped the burger and sipped the cola.
Both gestures were purely spontaneous.
Director Cho U-seok watched them breathlessly.
“Teacher… Can I really… go to Seoul University?”
“Of course. I’ll make it happen.”
“…Really?”
“I’ve already sent more than fifty to medical school. Hae-ju will be the same.”
With a dreamy gaze, Deok-su pushed a French fry in front of Song A-yeong.
As Song A-yeong, eyes red, bit into the French fry, Director Cho U-seok shouted.
“Whoa!”
His voice was louder and clearer than ever.
Most of it was improv, but not one of the two’s acting could be faulted.
“They weren’t even kids.”
Shin Yu-mi blushed and turned away from the scene.
The footage filmed that day aired the following week.
“This Lu Do-touch is really gross. But the burger part looks delicious.”
“Sigh… Suddenly craving a burger.”
“Isn’t this drama advertising burgers? It should be a boys’ drama.”
“Even though it’s utter PPL, I keep watching. Song A-yeong was always good at acting, but Kim Deok-su… An idol? It feels like I’m watching our teacher.”
“I already ordered burgers on the app.”
“I know this Lu Do-touch well. The customers look genuinely happy. And tutoring teachers, don’t take the kids’ homework here… T_T. If you feed them burgers, they won’t turn into any L’Vyu.”
“Why the sudden bone-gnawing?”
“It’s probably because the part-time job is really pissing someone off lolol.”
.
.
Along with drama reviews, reactions to the PPL poured in.
Some said it was ridiculous for a rich kid to be tearing up over fast food, but most people accepted it.
Sales from Lu Do-touch with the inserted PPL rose significantly.
This brought an unexpected result.
“…Ad model?”
“…We want to feature Deok-su-nim as the product model. You’ve been busy lately, right?”
Lee Hui-yeong, manager of the rival Part-del Marketing team, was bewildered.
She hung up after asking to discuss it later and informed Deok-su that an ad offer had come in.
“The drama isn’t even half over yet, is it?”
Deok-su showed a troubled face.
He wanted to accept immediately, but the work came first.
Shooting ads wouldn’t interfere with the work, but Deok-su was obsessively attached to the project.
“It’s just one ad… Isn’t it fine?”
“Ads are work too. If you’re doing it, do it well. It’s hard to handle two works at once.”
Lee Hui-yeong tried to convince him, but he was immovable.
It was difficult for a manager to understand, but she respected him.
“I’ll ask if they can wait until the drama ends. Ah, that’s possible. If ratings rise, your value will go up… It might turn out better.”
Lee Hui-yeong immediately contacted Part-del and received an answer: they could wait until the drama ended.
The condition was to sign the contract now and shoot later.
It was an action taken because Deok-su’s value might rise further.
Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong agreed.
It was out of goodwill for having brought the offer first.
The next day, as Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong were about to leave the company lobby, they ran into Director Lee Gwang-yong heading out for lunch.
“What’s this? You two have no schedule today?”
“We have only an outdoor night scene, so we’re free. Are you having lunch alone?”
“Today it’s just me. Why? Want to eat together?”
Deok-su grinned.
“If you’re treating, I’ll gladly accept.”
“What’s with you, Deok-su? Suddenly so cheeky?”
Director Lee Gwang-yong grinned and led them to their favorite restaurant.
While eating, the three discussed many things.
“Deok-su. I think this drama will easily pull in over 30% ratings.”
“I don’t know yet. It’s not the stage to be relieved.”
“Back then, he would have started with excuses… It’s surprising. Even when we negotiated renewal with penalty mentions, I didn’t expect him to come back and climb higher…”
Director Lee Gwang-yong trailed off.
At this point, few people spoke of Deok-su as a delinquent.
Acting carefully and showing peak performance as a supporting actor, he was the backbone raising the ratings.
Moreover, with the JMT contract nearly over, the industry watched him closely.
Lee Hui-yeong said,
“Thank you for the compliment. But it doesn’t sound like what you wanted to say…”
“Hui-yeong has gotten sharp. It was only a bear before, but now Deok-su, are you not interested in Signature activities?”
Deok-su froze, and Lee Hui-yeong flinched.
Lee Hui-yeong had canceled all Signature-related schedules according to Deok-su’s will.
It was only following the contract terms from renewal, but President Kang Sang-mi would never have approved.
Director Lee Gwang-yong let out a short groan at their reactions.
“Reactions are too subdued. What’s the reason? Now that there’s a comeback, there are many people pushing for it… You’ll earn more money.”
Instead of Deok-su, Lee Hui-yeong answered.
“It’s still better to establish myself as an actor than Signature activities. I haven’t even secured a lead role yet…”
“By the way, you weren’t deliberately only doing supporting roles, were you?”
“I didn’t. I chose based on the works…”
Director Lee Gwang-yong’s chopsticks slowed.
“Personally, I think you should go as an actor, but the president’s view is different. You know?”
“…”
“Probably, after this work ends, direct pressure will come. The Signature national tour starts, fan meetings are scheduled. It’s the perfect timing for a comeback. The comeback will give reason for renewal too.”
Deok-su let out a groan.
Signature activities were completely out of the question.
Even if he had no talent for singing or dancing, he had no desire to add a spoon to the table that others had laid.
“Soon… We’ll have to settle it for sure.”
The conversation ended there.
Director Lee Gwang-yong didn’t ask further, but he had grasped his intention to some degree.
“Kim Deok-su clearly has no intention of returning. Now the problem is the renewal…”
Carrying their own thoughts, the three left the restaurant.
They headed to a nearby cafe.
At the counter, a woman with a gentle appearance smiled as usual.
“Welcome. Are you ordering?”
Behind Director Lee Gwang-yong placing the order, Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong kept glancing at her.
Her looks weren’t particularly striking, but for some reason, her face was oddly attractive.
People seated on the first floor also kept looking her way.
“Hui-yeong. What are you doing?”
“Ah, nothing.”
After Director Lee Gwang-yong finished ordering, Lee Hui-yeong followed.
The three settled at a corner window seat.
Director Lee Gwang-yong whispered to Lee Hui-yeong, who couldn’t stop staring at the counter.
“It seems that girl caught your eye.”
“Ah, that’s…”
“It’s like electricity flowing or something. I think her vibe is good.”
Lee Hui-yeong’s lips moved at Director Lee Gwang-yong’s words.
Deok-su said,
“Is she a trainee?”
“Well… From the way she’s standing, the chances seem low. Her shoulders are slightly slumped… Hey, Hui-yeong.”
Lee Hui-yeong, as if entranced, headed to the counter.
“Customer, do you need something…”
“Ah.”
“Do you have any interest in becoming an entertainer?”
“…Huh?”
Lee Hui-yeong handed her business card to the flustered counter girl.