Even Falling Backwards Breaks Your Nose (3)
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Yi Hwan-jae.
Leader and lead vocalist of the group Etherbit.
Fans used to call him—though he wasn't that age anymore—"boy breadwinner."
The current Etherbit wasn't a failed group. But in an era where top idol groups sold a million albums, averaging 90,000 copies felt a bit ambiguous to call a success.
"Back in the day, that would've been a ton of money, but these days, even a single music video costs hundreds of millions."
But in the old days, that was still a dream level. Etherbit's first two albums had been downright disastrous.
While his members, like sworn enemies, pointed fingers at each other and went astray, leader Yi Hwan-jae ran around everywhere trying to save the group.
He went on variety shows, dabbled in composing—tried his hand at everything.
Naturally, he got a ton of hate. "Idol kid sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."
"Just when I thought it wasn't gonna work, a web drama blew up out of nowhere. Looking back, my acting was crap, but my image was good, so... Anyway, with no other options, I stuck with acting after that."
But it was a path of hardship.
Already viewed through colored glasses as an idol-turned-actor, and with ulterior motives to boot—how bad could the bullying get?
Yi Hwan-jae learned brutally just how cold this industry was, how desperately he had to beg bloodshot-eyed for even a sliver of opportunity.
"Step on them or get stepped on—that kind of vibe. Even people who play sweet and gentle on screen show no mercy if they think you're even a little bad for them."
"......"
"At first, I was furious, but people just end up resigned. That's just how the world is. Who do you blame...?"
"......"
"Truth is, getting close to you, hyung, was partly for my own benefit. Being next to you means fewer retakes, and since you're the one in the spotlight anyway, pretending to be chummy with the lead or yielding looks good for my image too. That kind of thing..."
Yi Hwan-jae bowed his head.
And squeezed his eyes shut.
"I'm sorry, hyungnim...! I failed to appreciate your deep consideration!"
It was a heartfelt confession.
And Kang Min, hearing this tearful absolution, let out a deep sigh.
"If you're drunk, wash your feet and go to sleep."
"I'll stick with you forever, hyung!"
"I said go to sleep..."
#
For Kang Min's acting prowess to shine, two conditions were needed.
First, the role had to ultimately die. If not, he couldn't even act, and he'd suffer horrific nightmares at night.
Even if the role died in the end, if the scene he was acting wasn't the death scene, he'd take damage. The nightmares were milder than the first case, but after dozens of retakes, it was just as bad.
Naturally, if Hui-yul's screen time increased, retakes would multiply endlessly.
No need to say what that meant for more horrific nightmares.
That's insane!
His condition was already at its limit. What was he supposed to do if it got even worse?
I have to block this somehow...!
Kang Min desperately avoided any increase in his screen time with all his might.
When he waved it off, Kim Kang-hyun, the station chief, looked baffled but backed off the proposal. Forcing more screen time and clashing with the actor himself would be putting the cart before the horse.
But well,
As always, the world wouldn't let Kang Min be happy.
...And the spark came from the lead actor himself, who stood to lose the most if it passed.
"Just accept it already, hyungnim! Where else do you get a chance like this? I already know how much you're looking out for me!!"
"I told you, it's not about you. It's just that more screen time wears me out."
"Urk, even telling a lie no one would believe...!!"
"It's not a lie..."
"And I didn't even realize your feelings...!"
"It's not..."
No matter what Kang Min argued, lead actor Yi Hwan-jae was visibly moved by this "favor(?)."
At the cast drinking party, he wailed drunkenly without a care for who heard.
The manager in the corner looked utterly flustered—clearly a rare sight.
"Hic, it's so touching...!"
Even co-lead Park Yeon-ju, drunk herself, was wiping away tears and sniffling.
This nonsense had been going on for two hours.
Kang Min felt like he was losing his mind.
If this was touching, he'd be Niagara Falls watching Tom and Jerry.
And this festival of bullshit only intensified over time.
"Now I know why Min-hyung always stays so composed! 'If your heart doesn't betray others, your face shows no shame'—If the heart betrays no one, the face shows no shame—that's exactly it!"
"What Ming Shim Bo-gam wisdom is this...? And that's not even what it means..."
"Didn't you tell me to read it, hyungnim? From now on, your words are gospel to me!"
"That was Hui-yul saying it in the script..."
"It's so, so touching...!!"
"Yeon-ju, do you even get what you're saying?"
What do you do when they won't listen no matter what—
Kang Min could only press his temples hard.
The silver lining was that this madness didn't last forever.
Yi Hwan-jae rambled drunkenly for another hour before passing out cold.
Only after he was carried off by his manager, and Park Yeon-ju—who'd been murmuring "So sweet, insanely sweet..." while wiping tears—was dragged away, could Kang Min finally relax.
He had no idea what happened.
Or why.
But whatever, it's over now...!
He'd survived this time too.
Survived.
Kang Min stroked his chest and sighed in relief.
Hmm...
Unfortunately, no.
This time, veteran 25-year actor Park Seong-ho, fresh from the bathroom, had witnessed it all.
He stared at Kang Min for a long while, then went off to his seniors with a resolved expression.
#
"To be honest, I think I've misjudged that kid Min up till now."
Park Seong-ho's tone, facing his seniors, was even somber.
"I thought he was just some arrogant acting maniac, but he's better than me—way better..."
Park Seong-ho still vividly remembered his rookie days.
A newbie just starting his career. How desperately he'd craved screen time, attention.
Even with Hui-yul already buzzing, supporting lead and lead were worlds apart in title. End-of-year awards treated them differently.
And he wasn't even forcing the lead role...!
The PD agreed, the writer agreed, the staff agreed. Even viewers would buy the backstory...
But Kang Min, in that situation, was yielding to a junior he'd known barely a month.
What kind of character was this—
Park Seong-ho couldn't help but sigh at a kindness he'd never seen in decades of experience.
How much of an old-fart senior had he been, dismissing a guy like this as cocky just for lying down briefly...?
As Park Seong-ho wallowed in remorse, senior actress Oh Heon-yeong sighed.
"Me too. I really misjudged him."
"...Hmm."
"How to put it— I thought he'd do anything for his goals."
Even Yi Hoon, playing the Chief State Councillor, frowned silently.
A brilliantly skilled actor amazes people.
But an actor with brilliant character inspires awe.
Could any of them, in the same spot, make Kang Min's choice? The mid-career vets, with all their experience, couldn't speak.
And well.
As usual, these knotheads' discussion veered into something terrible for Kang Min.
"I'll be straight. I kinda wanted to show that precocious junior what-for."
Yi Hoon sighed.
Not an odd thought. The Chief State Councillor in King and Sovereign was set to clash with Hui-yul anyway.
Especially watching Kang Min toss senior courtesy once acting started—it was inevitable.
"Embarrassing. The kid was just serious about acting."
"...Sunbaenim."
"None of us could confidently make that call, so who are we to call him arrogant? Script reading was shameful enough."
"......"
A weirdly lukewarm vibe flowed.
And the weird vibe led to a predictably weird result.
Tipsy Yi Hoon finally spoke, face flushed.
"Tomorrow, I'll formally suggest to PD Yu Ho-hyeon. Can we highlight Hui-yul more, at least in my scenes?"
"...!"
"This drama's basically carried by Hui-yul now. It's for the whole show."
Don't want to cut the lead's time? Cut the vets' and boost Hui-yul's.
Perfect logic. Kang Min would've screamed if he heard.
But alas, the boozed-up vets weren't stopping it—they were applauding.
"Great idea. Let's all pitch in!"
"Right! We're too old to hog screen time anyway! When Min blows up, he'll mention us once!"
"Count me in!"
A nightmare for Kang Min.
But up to here, he could've salvaged it somehow.
What followed? No salvaging that.
Half-passed-out Yi Hwan-jae, hauled to his dorm, woke up sober enough—and went mad.
"Kuh, how can a man accept such consideration and stay quiet!"
Wasted Yi Hwan-jae started something insane he'd never done.
Logged into a solo V Live with fans—sans manager.
Fans gathered, bewildered by the midnight hammer, as he tearfully spoke.
Content? Roughly this.
It took 20 minutes for entertainment sites, smelling blood, to drop "".
...And an hour for copycats to flood night trends.
#
Netizens who saw the articles were all moved.
From the lead actor himself, no less!
With Hui-yul still scorching hot, reactions exploded.
But well,
As the myth grew of some mystery actor who acted brilliantly and had perfect character, not everyone was thrilled.
No need to say who: MBS's bald station chief and the VP with full authority from the prez.
Both were glum.
"Uh, what do we do?"
"What to do..."
Vets in drama production knew to strike now. King and Sovereign's popularity was built on Hui-yul's buzz—fragile sandcastle.
With public opinion roaring, bucking it was riskier.
But the actor was adamant.
They'd try convincing, but Kim Kang-hyun knew best how crazy actor Kang Min was.
"Can't convince him, Chief Kim? Prez gave full power—make it happen..."
"Power or not, he won't budge. If he says no, it's no."
"......"
"Plus agencies circling. Can't push hard."
"Jeez."
VP tsked in frustration, but Kim felt real crisis.
Normal agencies hadn't clocked Kang Min's madness yet.
Time issue, though.
One pulls a This Is Real-level stunt, MBS becomes the dog chasing chicken.
"...Still, not hopeless."
"What? How?"
Kim Kang-hyun sighed, eyes closed.
Two needs now.
Convince the actor rejecting King and Sovereign screen time boost.
Lock him to MBS—or a friendly firm.
Ultimately, one solution.
World gives opportunity after crisis—even for Kang Min.
Kim had to admit the answer after agonizing.
"...VP, no choice. We gotta give it."
"Give what?"
"Agree to screen time—for Unbelievable."
"?"
"With conditions, but no other way...!"
"......?"
VP went silent.
Utterly incomprehensible.
Supporting actor exists,
Pay to promote him to lead,
Payment's Unbelievable somehow,
Confident it'll work,
Even with strings?
They've lost it?
VP felt Gestalt collapse.
But nothing beat meeting Kang Min next day.
Kang Min pondered the proposal long, then spoke dead serious.
"Grateful offer, but King and Sovereign beating Black Forest ratings for 3 special appearances? Too much. Ratings aren't just my effort."
"...Yeah, vs 30B drama, unreasonable. Just agree to more screen time..."
"No—if we beat Black Forest, at least 1-year fixed Unbelievable guest spot."
"......"
"Possible?"
Intensity burning fierce.
"Kuh!" Kim Kang-hyun sweated cold.
VP, watching them alternate, stared blankly at ceiling.
Retirement time?
World seemed a bit mad.