Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Premiere Viewing Party
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Whirr... whirr...
May 8th, Wednesday. 21:30.
The spacious grill house was packed with customers on both the first and second floors, all of them large groups. Real heroes of the modern age, ordering booze and meat without a second thought.
The owner's mouth hung open in a perpetual grin.
"Hey! Jong-sik! Hurry up and pass out cola and cider to every table!"
"Yessir..."
The groups hadn't ordered drinks separately, but service like this was no big deal. The owner hustled his part-timer, who lugged the beverages around with a grim expression.
The faces of those grilling and eating meat everywhere were beaming. As if they were all anticipating something big.
"Which station was it again? Hope it goes well..."
And naturally, the owner joined in their prayers. It was good for the vibe, and better for sales.
"Doesn't it feel like we're really gonna make waves this time?"
"No clue about anything else, but it's the first time a drama's been this hyped before airing."
"Exactly. Check the articles right now—all spotlights on us. No more three-way battle talk."
"It's there. It'll flood in once we air."
"Yeah? Most people are probably dying to see our premiere anyway. To watch Woo-jin."
"You really do have to see a handsome guy to appreciate him..."
"Why'd you trail off?"
"Ha... Life."
The premiere of [Fixer from Hell]. The production team and cast had gathered to watch this historic first episode together.
"Whoa! Eun-ji! Great work! Head up to the second floor!"
"Waaah! Son Sia, you're so pretty! Lethal!"
"Ooh! Lee Jae-hoon! How are you always so damn handsome?!"
The staff filling the first floor erupted in applause and cheers every time an actor arrived, ushering them up to the second floor, where the stars of the show gradually took their seats.
The second floor was crammed with the drama's actors, key staff, and production bigwigs.
Choi Hyun-yong PD boomed with laughter.
"Filming's not totally wrapped yet, but tonight, forget work—let's stuff ourselves silly! The other networks might not vibe like this, but we can! Haha!"
QBS's Monday-Tuesday drama [Winter Wind], already airing, had scraped mid-single digits in ratings. The WBC Wednesday-Thursday slot rival [Chance Encounter] team, boldly going head-to-head same time same day as [Fixer from Hell], was mourning like a funeral home. Rumor had it they'd even skipped their premiere party.
The production manager, already flushed and tipsy, piled on.
"Thanks to Woo-jin, we're locking in at least 10% initial ratings! Forget 10%—that's conservative. 15% is on the table!"
"True, the pre-air buzz is unprecedented, so viewership inflow's guaranteed! And once they flip to our channel? Game over, right?"
"Haha! Damn straight! One flip, and they're locked in! Flawless acting from our stars, cliffhangers that leave you raging for more at every episode end, directed by the one and only Choi Hyun-yong PD!"
"Three cheers for our actors!"
Whether from the sizzling meat before them or the scorching hype, the air inside the grill house heated up like a furnace.
As everyone shouted excitedly, waiting for the broadcast to start, one person couldn't join the fun.
"Ahh..."
Hong Ye-won, in her usual crisp blouse, neat skirt, and black stockings, kept fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat, groaning softly where no one could hear.
"Ugh... Unh..."
The rowdy surroundings were a blessing. No one else could hear, but to her, the whirring buzz sounded deafening.
Because the source was deep inside her body.
Ever since people started downing drinks, the rotor in her pussy hadn't stopped vibrating.
"Ahh... W-what do I do..."
Her panties were already soaked through, and the cushion beneath her was starting to dampen.
Hong Ye-won tugged discreetly at Jung Woo-jin's sleeve beside her, flashing him pleading eyes.
'Please... I-I'm gonna cum. I can't hold it. S-stop...!'
Woo-jin glanced at her, picking up on it, and the vibrations soon eased.
He whispered softly.
"I'll allow it. Go to the bathroom."
Her face lit up instantly. She slipped from her seat, weaving through the crowd toward the restroom.
But the relief was short-lived.
Midway there, the rotor ramped up to a fiercer intensity than before. Hong Ye-won nearly cried out in ecstasy.
A staffer noticed her clamping her legs and hunching over.
"Writer Hong, you okay?"
"Ah... Y-yeah. Just a little tipsy..."
She waved him off and hurried into the restroom.
Son Sia, who had watched the whole thing, muttered a curse under her flushed breath where no one could hear.
"Fucking bastard... Pulls every damn trick..."
But like Hong Ye-won, Sia was enduring the same torment.
"Unh... Nngh..."
The ticklish pleasure surged again. Sia set down her glass and gripped her skirt hem tight.
Her body shivered involuntarily. Lee Jae-hoon beside her looked worried.
"Huh? Sia, you okay? Why're you shaking? Catch a cold on set?"
"Nngh... I'm fine, so hands off..."
Her heating body made even the slightest touch dangerous. She irritably swatted away his hand on her shoulder.
"O-okay."
Lee Jae-hoon looked awkward and turned to the other actors with his glass. Sia let out a quiet sigh of relief, then balled up some tissues from the table and snuck them between her legs unseen.
Even a brief press, and they were instantly soaked.
Thus, Sia gritted her teeth and endured the stimulation.
May 8th, Wednesday. 22:00.
After Son Sia's cosmetics ad, [Fixer from Hell] finally premiered.
With the lights dimmed like a theater, Lee Ah-ram hugged her knees on the sofa, eyes glued to the TV.
It opened with shots of Detective Lee Jae-hoon and Prosecutor Son Sia, possessed by a demon. The detective, driven by conviction to punish criminals by the book. The prosecutor, wielding demonic power to make the wicked judge themselves.
The two protagonists seemed like oil and water, impossible to mix.
But soon, the villain appears before them.
In a setup like the second teaser—office worker 'Hee-chan' heading to work.
Knowing he was the antagonist, Lee Ah-ram still relaxed into his portrayal of 'normalcy.' His handsome face and toned physique dismantled her guard.
'Hee-chan' was popular at the office. Competent worker, appealing looks.
Company restroom.
He greets the section chief at the sink with a soft smile.
But once alone...
'Hee-chan' stares blankly into the mirror. The smile vanishes into perfect blankness. Then, as if layering it back on...
"Ah...!"
Goosebumps erupted across Lee Ah-ram's skin. She shuddered.
From then on, 'Hee-chan's' smile was no longer a smile.
Just a mask, hiding a coiling abyss of malice.
No gore, just that simple mirror moment, and she fully grasped how terrifying 'Hee-chan' was.
The scene shifted back to the protagonists, but 'Hee-chan's' lingering dread heightened the tension.
Invisible, and thus all the more frightening.
Not some self-proclaimed 'villain' shouting it. One who sneaks, melts seamlessly into society. Unsettling.
Impossible to counter or prevent... A natural disaster of a calamity.
In the latter half of part one, Detective Lee Jae-hoon spots 'Hee-chan' at the murder scene, and CCTV catches him nearby the presumed day before.
Lee Jae-hoon pegs 'Hee-chan' as a suspect and begins investigating.
Watching, Lee Ah-ram felt a massive clash of values.
She'd tuned in for Jung Woo-jin, pure fan heart... But on-screen 'Hee-chan' terrified her. Too real, like such a person existed. Woo-jin's performance breathed such vivid life into the chilling character. Scary.
Yet staring at Woo-jin's moving image, she harbored the perverse wish that 'Hee-chan' wouldn't get caught.
"I must be crazy..."
So she did something she never would normally.
"Idiot. Catch him already..."
Rooting for the detective, Lee Jae-hoon. Her bro was getting the cheers now.