Chapter 41
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In the entertainment industry, there's a saying: "Cute beats cool every time."
It's not literal—it's about how genuine public affection is the real currency in this business.
People might admire coolness, but it fades to disillusionment. Cuteness? That's endearing no matter what.
In other words, this leaked audio scandal had perfectly tapped into that public fondness.
Just days ago, the warrior swinging his sword with manic eyes was now nitpicking mock exam scores in a lecture.
For those who'd shied away from King and Sovereign's Hui-yul as too brutal or unrelatable, this only amplified their affection.
This buzz instantly ignited the fans already quietly gathering. They couldn't resist the gap moe between the razor-sharp Hui-yul and Kang Min's rambling speeches.
One problem, though.
There was nowhere for these fans to go.
Fans scoured everywhere, but Kang Min info was scarce—just a few King and Sovereign promo articles.
Not even a basic profile pic.
Hommas—fans who stalk celebs' schedules, snap pics, and sometimes sell them. Mostly majors, but some specialize in rookies or auditions.
It's passion, sure, but mostly betting on old cute pics paying off later.
Even they had zilch on Kang Min.
No one sane would've photographed an aspiring actor's skills back then anyway.
Fans were baffled.
They grudgingly piled into a fan cafe, but it wasn't satisfying. They craved official crumbs.
While Baek Chae-i suffered through thousands of join requests, reporters sniffed it out and turned it into headlines.
Variety shows, sensing the frenzy, perked up.
"So, Kang Min fans are rallying, but no crumbs means they're screaming?"
"Exactly!"
"Drag him on, let him ramble nonsense..."
"Ratings explode!"
"Hoo..."
Kang Min had been tempting but not worth chasing. Now? Prime red snapper. Variety PDs were salivating.
But rumors made him no pushover.
"Turning down agencies and big directors' calls?"
"He wants to focus on King and Sovereign till it ends."
"Hm, sounds noble, but..."
No agency meant direct contact—tricky.
And rejection after effort? Humiliating.
That's why most PDs hesitated.
But some couldn't afford to.
"This is our shot."
Like the show whose ratings cratered 80% in the whale wars.
"Choi PD. Contact that Kang Min actor somehow. Beg, whatever—bring him."
"...Pardon?"
"No 'pardon'! Fix ratings! Execs are rioting over the drop!"
"......."
"Or what, got a hotter topic?"
TVM's Wine Talk.
It took massive hits competing with Black Forest and King and Sovereign.
Young audience or not, analysis didn't matter. The grilled variety chief was pissed.
Choi Dan-yong found it absurd.
"Impossible. Wine Talk airs same time as King and Sovereign. No actor would sabotage their own drama's ratings—"
"Shift slots then."
"...Pardon?"
"Last week's 9 PM Love Me Hill ended. Fill with specials few weeks. Praise Kang Min at 9, King and Sovereign at 10—they win too. Pitch that."
"......."
"Better this way. Hiding from psycho dramas? Line up and recover."
"......."
Shift time slots.
Invite the ratings-killer himself to boost yours.
Broadcasters call it "running away." Backbiting inevitable.
Choi Dan-yong couldn't stomach it.
"No need!"
"Listen, Choi PD."
"Chief, I'm Choi Dan-yong. Veteran who's lived off variety. Fleeing to circus for a drama that pulled stunts? Ridiculous?"
Black Forest, sure—budget, star power.
But King and Sovereign? One-tool actor show, lucky rookie? Bow to that?
Infuriating.
He snorted.
"Dramas already peaked! Black Forest had affair drama, King and Sovereign showed Hui-yul's true colors! Ratings converged naturally!"
"Hm..."
"Post-peak defense is tough—you know. Now's the chance! More budget, I'll rig the board. Crush rivals, Wine Talk surges—you save face!"
Less analysis, more rage and stubbornness.
But not baseless.
Historic scenes from rivals? Follow-ups can't match.
'This time, go all out...!'
Lucky rookie Kang Min? Due for flops.
Perfect opportunity—Choi truly believed.
The chief stared oddly.
"Hey, Dan-yong."
"Yes?"
"Black Forest aside, seen King and Sovereign? Your take on Kang Min?"
"Hm."
Of course not.
Hated trendy sageuks and hype rookies. Obvious from articles.
But he didn't admit it.
"Absolutely. Trust me!"
"Hm..."
Chief pondered, then nodded.
But warned the beaming Choi.
"This is you defying higher-ups' fix. Fail again, no memo—done. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Understand? Your neck on the line."
"So be it!"
PD nodded confidently.
His 20-year network and killer scripts flashed by. YouTube viral previews, star members—easy.
Budget on time? Unstoppable!
'What can dramas do now!'
Post-ace downhill dramas, clueless rookie—what?
Choi smirked inwardly.
'Others shrink, but pros see chances!'
Cowards. No way bigger than last week—
Scoffing at timid chief, he envisioned leaping the crisis, next chief anointed.
#
"Planning something bigger than last time."
"Second climax?"
"Yes."
"...Guess no choice."
Same time,
KBC drama chief's office still gloomy.
Han Ye-seul CP looked zombie-bitten, Jo Young-chul chief dodging her gaze like a rookie exorcist.
What a week.
Military theory says strategy trumps tactics—but this? Lone grunt shattering strategy.
Even Lu Bu or Zhang Liao wouldn't...
"Know the audio leak? Actor Kang Min."
"...Yeah."
"Fuck, how's a guy like this exist?"
"......."
"Rookie drops outta nowhere: hot, aura, acting, stunts, swordplay—all killer. Personality draws buzz. And cast opposite my drama?!"
"......."
"Chief, my fault?"
"Well..."
"Putting affairs in my baby drama... my fault?!"
Chief silent.
Anyone knowing Han's love for Black Forest would be too.
Pity.
...Or zombie eyes scared him.
"Next project, with Kang Min... somehow..."
"Ahem, got it. Push full force if chance comes. Work now."
Promise he'd regret? Chief soothed grumbling subordinate.
She calmed barely.
Sighs inevitable.
"Even so, Kang Min's insanely viral. This week, King and Sovereign flips us."
"That bad?"
"Online buzz like A-lister. Worse: non-drama fans watching. Can't control this flow."
"Hm..."
King and Sovereign closed gap two eps straight.
All-out direction episodes.
Nights revising scenes—gone with one sword swing, one aura. Who'd motivate?
Even PDs/staff wearier than Han.
"We'll try, no big hopes. You'd curse too in my shoes."
"Hm..."
"Life's fucked..."
Chief sighed.
Here, Choi Dan-yong's hopes weren't pie-in-sky.
Black Forest team exhausted, morale dipped—cast too.
Hero speech climax? Not enough now.
Choi's masterstroke fitting.
But,
World has cure-alls.
Chief sighed, pulled ultimate card.
"10 billion."
"Pardon?"
"10 bil immediate. Burn all next week. You griped no VFX—go wild. Bonuses too."
"......."
"Boss says: no backlash."
"......."
"Can do?"
Han silent seconds.
300 bil budget—not all production.
Fees, scripts, hunting, labor, transport, promo.
Dramas bloat beyond guts; per-ep pure budget shrinks.
10 bil two eps? Doubles production.
All CG? Spectacle beyond dreams.
Offer that, ask "can do"?
'Kuh...!'
Chief scratched pride—nailed it.
Han gnashed, gloom gone.
"Fine. Let's do it!"
Wine Talk's nightmare didn't end.
Same time, "one-tool actor drama" King and Sovereign stirred differently.
"Hm, not flowing... break time."
Unofficial fan cafe sub-manager OlivePenguin, duty-bound to scour Kang Min reactions, spotted something online.
Crude mashup: recent lecture audio + drama clips.
Funny enough for laughs, but minor amid crumbs galore.
Baek Chae-i chuckled to scroll past.
Then—
'Ah.'
Lightning inspiration struck.
'Lecture? To Left State Councillor? By Hui-yul?'
'That's—'
Hui-yul's past in King and Sovereign: vague outline only.
Yu Ho-hyeon PD praised "beauty of blanks," but really undetailed. Baek left it loose for Kang Min.
But now,
Hui-yul crystallized perfectly.
'Yes. Arch-enemy needs ideological clash!'
Mind crystal clear.
Fingers flew.
'Hui-yul despises Left Councillor, despises Crown Prince. Third path. Unset, but inherent clarity.'
'Prince: restore monarchy. Councillor: extreme militarism/nationalism—future national socialism. Hui-yul loathes both.'
'Not dumb mockery. Knows what they are. Unfazed by Swiss/Polish/Ottoman names. Knows old Europe, open to them—not Prince-like. Closer to Councillor.'
'Yet hates. Distrusts. Beyond minben vs absolutism.'
'Intra-racial hatred.'
'Then, for , Hui-yul's past with self-loathing—'
"Revolutionary."
Dazed,
Through associations, Baek uttered it.
"Failed... revolutionary."
Unthought before, yet perfect fit.
She felt her rote back-half script gain massive link.
Grabbed printed draft.
"No."
Three pages in, tossed it.
"Actor-tainted writer" eyes blazed blue.
"Rewrite. All."
Start of King and Sovereign's turnaround—"back half slaps."
"Haha, didn't expect such quick yes!"
'Good, it's over!'
...Shrimps laughing at whales couldn't know.