13
### Chapter 13
One week before the drama's premiere.
The day of the production press conference had arrived.
The inside of the van heading toward the hotel was silent. Kim Hyuntae's hands were drenched in sweat as he gripped the steering wheel.
"Hyungnim, are you okay?"
"About what?"
"I heard the reporters are in a pretty nasty mood today. Especially those hyenas from the entertainment section. Apparently they're sharpening their knives."
Kim Hyuntae glanced at me through the rearview mirror.
"They'll probably try to pump out articles by nitpicking things like how you're a sudden star who only got famous because of Tracking, a parachute hire, a fraud, a bubble that'll burst... stuff like that."
He looked overwhelmed with worry.
Adjusting my tie, I answered calmly.
"We're going there to work. Why would I be nervous?"
"Huh? No, that's not what I meant..."
"It's all marketing anyway. If the questions come in hard, that's even better. It'll generate more articles."
"But... aren't you worried at all, Hyungnim? Once reporters sink their teeth in, they won't let go. The questions could be far beyond what anyone can handle."
"It's fine. No need to worry."
I checked my expression in the mirror.
"Let's go. We'll be late."
There wasn't the slightest trace of tension in my voice.
#
The Grand Ballroom of the hotel hosting the press conference.
The moment I entered the venue, flashes exploded around me.
Flash! Flash-flash-flash!
Hundreds of camera flashes turned my vision white. It was enough light to make even the strongest person blink.
But I kept my eyes wide open and maintained my smile.
On the stage sat writer Kim Heeseon, the director, Park Juyeon, and me.
"Now then, we'll begin the Q&A session."
As soon as the host finished speaking, reporters shot their hands into the air.
At first, most of the questions were directed toward writer Kim Heeseon and the director. Questions about the drama's concept and filming episodes—ordinary topics.
And then, finally.
The arrows turned toward me.
"I have a question for Kang Seojun."
The reporter was seated in the front row. Just from the sharp look in his eyes, it was obvious he had come looking for a story.
"To be honest, you've only attracted attention through a single supporting role in Tracking. Isn't being cast as the lead in writer Kim Heeseon's next project a bit too much for someone like you?"
Murmurs spread throughout the hall.
"There are even rumors that you're a 'parachute hire.' Many people are concerned that an unproven rookie has secured the main role. What are your thoughts on that?"
It was blunt.
No, it was rude.
He was openly questioning my qualifications at an official event.
Beside me, writer Kim Heeseon's expression turned cold. She reached for the microphone.
She clearly had no intention of sitting quietly while her actor was being attacked.
But I was faster.
I stopped her with a glance and pulled the microphone toward me.
If the writer fought my battle for me here, I'd only look like a protected child.
It would reinforce the image of being a parachute hire.
This was something I had to handle myself.
I looked directly at the reporter.
I wasn't angry.
I wasn't flustered either.
I wore the most relaxed, most professional smile possible.
"An outfit that's too much for me? You're right. I think so too."
I admitted it without hesitation.
The reporter's eyes widened.
He'd expected an argument, not agreement.
"I'm standing among Korea's best writer, an outstanding director, and legendary senior actors. Naturally, for a rookie like me, it's an outfit that's too large and too heavy."
I paused briefly before continuing.
"But I intend to prove myself through my abilities. No matter how oversized an outfit may seem from the outside, doesn't it stop mattering once the person wearing it can pull it off?"
"..."
"A parachute hire? That's right. I did drop from the sky. But Reporter, don't special forces soldiers also parachute into the battlefield?"
A few chuckles echoed through the hall.
"What matters isn't how you landed. It's how well you fight after your feet touch the ground."
The reporter cleared his throat.
"No, what I mean is... you haven't really been proven yet..."
"Then judge me after the first episode airs."
I cut him off.
"If you watch the broadcast and still believe my acting isn't worthy of a lead role, feel free to criticize me in your articles as much as you'd like. I'll accept it gladly."
Leaning forward slightly, I met his gaze.
"But."
The corners of my lips rose.
"I'm certain you'll end up writing a complimentary article instead."
"...Excuse me?"
"Because I'm very confident in my acting."
I smiled.
"Very confident."
The reporter fell silent.
There was no opening left to attack.
If he kept pressing, he'd only make himself look petty.
The other reporters seemed to read the atmosphere as well. No more aggressive questions came my way.
"We'll take the next question."
The host hurriedly passed the microphone elsewhere.
The mood of the venue had changed.
The gazes that had been looking at a "lucky rookie" were now looking at a "bold actor."
Writer Kim Heeseon covered her microphone and whispered softly.
"You're good at talking. For a second, I thought you were Han Jaei."
"Thank you."
I answered briefly and looked ahead.
The flashes exploded once more.
I didn't blink.
#
Several days later.
The long-awaited premiere day.
I set up fried chicken and beer on the table in my officetel living room.
I was alone in front of the television.
I had declined watching it with manager Kim Hyuntae or the staff. If I spent all my time checking everyone's reactions, I wouldn't be able to properly monitor the show.
10 PM.
The commercials ended, and the screen faded to black.
Doctor Criminal
The logo appeared, and the opening sequence began.
Rumble—Crash!
A night of torrential rain.
The scene of a massive chain-reaction collision on the highway.
The camera swept across the chaotic roadway.
Crushed vehicles.
Bleeding victims.
Rescue workers shouting desperately.
And walking through the middle of that chaos—
A man.
It was Han Jaei (me), wearing a raincoat.
I watched myself on the screen with a detached expression.
'The lighting looks good. The color grading came out nicely.'
Han Jaei entered an overturned bus.
A patient trapped in the driver's seat was gasping for air.
His chest had collapsed, making it impossible for him to breathe.
"It's a pneumothorax! We need a tube inserted!"
A rescue worker shouted.
But there was no equipment.
Han Jaei didn't hesitate.
Pulling out a pocket knife, he stabbed the patient's chest without even disinfecting it.
Stab!
"Are you insane?! What the hell are you doing?!"
The rescue worker cried out in shock.
But Han Jaei calmly shoved the barrel of a ballpoint pen into the chest cavity.
Pshhh!
The sound of air escaping together with blood.
The patient's chest expanded.
His breathing returned.
"Transport him."
Han Jaei washed the blood from his hands in the rain and turned away.
Close-up.
Beyond glasses streaked with raindrops, cold eyes devoid of emotion.
[Episode 1 – There Is No Golden Time]
The subtitle appeared, and the drama truly began.
I took a sip of beer.
It was overwhelming.
I had acted in it myself, but with the directing, music, and editing added together, it had become something on an entirely different level.
The sixty minutes flew by.
The fast pacing.
The suffocatingly intense surgery scenes.
And writer Kim Heeseon's trademark layers of foreshadowing.
Most importantly—
'I don't stand out.'
The thing I had worried about most.
I'd been concerned my acting might feel out of place among such distinguished senior actors.
But it was an unnecessary concern.
If anything, my restrained performance firmly anchored the center of the drama.
The episode ended, and the credits rolled.
I picked up my phone.
Real-time trending searches:
1. Doctor Criminal
2. Kang Seojun
3. Han Jaei
4. Writer Kim Heeseon
5. Sociopath Doctor
Posts were pouring in so rapidly that the servers seemed ready to crash.
* Holy crap. Is this really a drama? The quality is insane.
* What's with Kang Seojun's acting? No wonder he was so confident at the press conference.
* That surgery scene at the beginning was crazy. Isn't he actually a doctor?
* He's supposed to be a sociopath, so why is he so sexy? He's a bad guy, but I can't help rooting for him.
* Did you see the preview for next episode? Definitely watching live tomorrow.
Success.
No.
A massive hit.
I stuffed another piece of chicken into my mouth.
The rich, greasy flavor spread across my tongue.
The reporter's question from the press conference came back to mind.
An outfit that was too much for me, was it?
Now that outfit fit me perfectly.
Like a custom-tailored suit.
An extremely expensive one.
I drained the rest of my beer and stood up.
I felt like I was going to sleep very well tonight.
#
The next morning.
Bzzzt— Bzzzt—
My phone vibrated wildly beside my bed.
Rubbing my eyes, I answered.
It was Kim Hyuntae.
"Hello."
"HYUNGNIM!!! ARE YOU AWAKE?!"
His shout nearly ruptured my eardrums.
His voice sounded hoarse from excitement.
"Why are you yelling this early in the morning?"
"Did you see it?! Did you see the ratings?!"
"Not yet. What were they?"
"8.4 PERCENT!!!"
The sleep instantly vanished from my eyes.
"...What?"
"The first episode got 8.4%! It's the highest-rated opening episode in cable television history! The peak rating even hit 10.5%!"
8.4%.
That was usually the kind of rating a blockbuster drama achieved at its finale.
And they had reached it on the very first episode?
This wasn't just a hit.
It was a phenomenon.
"The company's gone crazy right now! The CEO said to contact him immediately as soon as you woke up... Wow, this is unbelievable!"
Kim Hyuntae was too excited to continue speaking properly.
Lying on my bed, I stared up at the ceiling.
A ray of sunlight seeped through the blackout curtains.
8.4%.
The drama had become a huge success.
But there was something even more significant.
I was the lead actor of this drama.
The lead actor of a successful drama inevitably becomes popular.
And when popularity comes...
'My rate will go up.'
Appearance fees.
Commercials.
Events.
It was the signal that the amount of money flowing toward me was about to change completely.
A smile slowly spread across my face.
"Hyuntae."
"Yes, Hyungnim!"
"We're going to get a lot of advertising offers too, aren't we?"
"Of course! They're saying inquiry calls are flooding in right now!"
"Okay. Organize everything properly."
I gave the instruction calmly, but clearly.
"Don't let anyone take advantage of us. Pick the most expensive ones."
"Understood! I'll prepare a complete list and bring it to you!"
The call ended.
I set my phone down and slipped back under the blanket.
It felt warm.
The blanket somehow felt softer than it had yesterday.
Just a few months ago, I was a department manager at a small company, getting chewed out by my superiors.
And now I was living in a comfortable officetel with a great view, preparing to shoot commercials.
'You really never know where life will take you.'
I could feel the sweetness of success drawing closer and closer.