Sincerity Gets Through (3)
Not everyone in the world was thrilled about Kang Min and his merry band of friends, just as with everything else in life.
No, there were a few who desperately wished they'd all come crashing down.
TVM had PD Choi Dan-yong, still smarting from getting utterly crushed on Wine Talk, and KBC had CP Go Beom-su, forever compared to Han Ye-seul and dismissed with eye-rolls.
They all ground their teeth, praying Kang Min's new project would flop spectacularly.
...But none of their rage could match that of actress Choi Na-kyeong, humiliated at the audition.
"Hmph, it's obviously gonna tank! A total disaster! Those obnoxious bastards always band together..."
Choi Na-kyeong felt a rare rush of satisfaction from the recent Must Die to Live teaser backlash.
She unleashed a torrent of venom, as if she'd been waiting for this.
"That Kang Min punk's been strutting around like hot shit, but it's about time he starts sweating. Who stays on top forever in this industry? That's why you bow to your seniors and read the room—some green rookie treating people like dogs..."
"...Kang Min's got a good rep with the old-timers, though. Yi Hoon was still grumbling about why he didn't snag a role in the new one."
"Who asked?!"
"........."
Her manager read the prickly vibe and clammed up.
In truth, when Choi Na-kyeong had turned down the Must Die to Live casting, she'd had a half-baked plan.
She'd panicked and shrunk back at first, but then it hit her later—though it was something, at least.
- ...All the kids who auditioned with me are backing out?
- Yeah, seems like they're scared 'cause you're holed up protesting under that blanket.
- Hmm, really?
- ?
- This could work in my favor if I play it right...
Choi Na-kyeong quietly tapped away at her mental calculator.
With a public audition and still no actors for Must Die to Live, their situation must be desperate.
And she was the only one who could save them.
So, what concessions could she wring out right now—
'First off, no letting that Kang Min punk boss me around. Rookies should act like rookies. And make it explicit I can bail on any shoot I don't like. And—'
But her pleasant fantasies didn't last. While she schemed away in delight, her junior by a year and a half, Yoo Ji-yu, swooped in and snatched it.
If Seo Bom had swallowed tears under her blanket, Choi Na-kyeong straight-up smashed furniture in a rage.
Not only did it make her look even more foolish, but Yoo Ji-yu—fresh off updating her rankings, nearly as hated as Kang Min—was one of the people she despised most.
- Hey, it wasn't aimed at you, sunbaenim. Sorry if it came off that way.
- But was bullying poor rookies with no talent—calling them fans or whatever—really that easy to mistake for me? Unless...
- Right? You're not like that, are you? Whew, almost misunderstood you!
"That bitch!!!"
Choi Na-kyeong gnashed her teeth in front of the shattered living room table.
Kang Min, who'd humiliated her—a six-year senior—at the audition.
And Yoo Ji-yu, always playing innocent while slyly grating her nerves with that beaming smile.
Just imagining those two laughing it up, shooting peacefully and happily(?), drove her insane.
...Whatever the reality, that's how it played out in her head.
'I can't let that happen.'
Absolutely not.
But when word spread that Yoo Ji-yu had joined the Kang Min & Han Ye-seul duo's new project, public opinion was all praise—and Choi Na-kyeong had no outlet but to swallow her fury.
But now, months later, opportunity knocked.
'Now's the time!'
As the Must Die to Live teaser blew up everywhere, Choi Na-kyeong jumped front and center, firing off interviews left and right.
Reporters eagerly agreed to skip any "diving" mentions and got their scoops.
"So, actress Choi Na-kyeong, you felt something was off with the Must Die to Live script from the start?"
"Well, not to bash outright, but yeah. Rookie writer's bound to overreach, right?"
"Odd. Didn't Kang Min say anything? With stuff like the Unbelievable quartet, he could've stepped in."
"Pfft, no matter how hot Kang Min is, he's still a newbie under a year in. No year-end awards yet—one slip and he's done."
"Hoo."
"Honestly, they need a total overhaul now..."
The last jab targeted Yoo Ji-yu more than Kang Min. He had the "short career" excuse; Yoo Ji-yu, nearly six years in, had none. It was basically calling her blind.
The chaos was already everywhere. Naturally, the interview spread like wildfire, sparking endless debate.
'Serves you right.'
Choi Na-kyeong smirked, imagining Yoo Ji-yu flipping out.
And yeah, Yoo Ji-yu did lose it.
Just... differently.
"Exactly! She's right!!"
"Calm down, Ji-yu-ya..."
"How can I?! My pathetic sunbae finally said something smart, manager unnie!!"
"...B-But isn't the point the same? You started this to stop your little bro's nonsense—"
"How long do I have to hack away like 'keu-eok'?! No, even that's better—recently I did fourteen bungee jumps with a camera just 'cause my choking wasn't real enough!!"
"........."
"I'm done!!!"
Different sob stories, but both Choi Na-kyeong and Yoo Ji-yu burned with resentment(?) toward Kang Min.
And that hope—or dread—hinged on Must Die to Live's premiere soon.
The public fixated too, fretting over the drama's fate amid the mess.
As all eyes locked on,
November 1st dawned—the day truth would out.
#
"Phew, finally get to see that damn Kang Min's face twist."
"And that Han Ye-seul bitch's bubble burst."
Sometimes, heroes recognize heroes.
Likewise, scum spots scum.
So it took Wine Talk's Choi Dan-yong PD and Han Ye-seul rival Go Beom-su CP—united in Kang Min hatred—less than a day to bond at a contract meetup.
Two hours before Must Die to Live episode 1 aired, they cackled over cold beers, eyes glued to the screen.
Recalling their humiliations, they grinned darkly.
"Heh, this'll be good!"
Of course, Choi Na-kyeong outdid them in malice, fanning flames everywhere.
She even threw a straight-up party with close pals, giddy as could be.
In such an atmosphere, even MBS's Kim Kang-hyun director and VP shared a gloomy silence.
The VP asked weakly.
"What'd you promise for ratings?"
"20%."
"...Isn't that too high?"
"No choice. Kang Min aside, Yoo Ji-yu's got star power."
"Sigh."
Of course, Drama Chief Kim Kang-hyun had screened the episode 1 tape pre-air.
VP too.
Raw mix, no full post-production, but the story was as teaser-bad or worse. Made you wonder what they were thinking airing it.
VP clutched his throbbing head.
"C-Couldn't you tone down the deaths for at least episode 1?"
"...That's the toned-down version. Episode 2 doubles it."
"........."
"Episode 3 doubles that..."
"Got it, got it."
The chief sighed mournfully.
Kim Kang-hyun's face matched.
No one colder than viewers. They swarm on hype, bolt if it misses.
And no one fancies leads dying every few minutes.
Just a matter of damage control now...
"Hope interest holds a few episodes..."
"Me too, but tough. KBC and SBC are pushing their dramas hard."
"...Yeah, grudges from King and Sovereign. I'd do the same."
"...Yes."
But even that felt impossible.
So they waited glumly, while others partied gleefully.
"Opening scene's that teaser one, right? The mountain jump?"
"Yep. Got the full scoop via MBS connections."
"Heh, viewers'll bail right away!"
"Exactly!"
Choi Dan-yong, Go Beom-su, Choi Na-kyeong—all smirked darkly, awaiting the fallout.
And soon, 10 PM hit.
Post-ad, the screen lit up.
A massive snow mountain shrouded in fog like a cloak.
"?"
First to blink puzzled: the chief and VP, who'd seen the raw tape.
They eyed each other, confirming the same thought.
"W-Was there a mountain like that?"
"Heard they'd CG the opener..."
"...Budget for that?"
"Yeah... Maybe overdid it for the premiere."
"Effort better spent fixing the story..."
Whatever their gripes, VFX director Shim Yoo-hyeon—Han Ye-seul's top pick—delivered flawlessly.
Withered landscape, lone reeds whipping in wind, screen shaking.
Eerie tension in the silence.
Staff roll creeps in with howling gusts—seamless.
"Hah, what."
Choi Na-kyeong scoffed, briefly awed.
"Atmosphere's everything? Story's the issue—what good's visuals without appeal?"
Revenge.
"?"
Soon, it froze.
Choi Na-kyeong blinked.
Choi Dan-yong and Go Beom-su too.
What did we just see—
Not incomprehension, but denial.
As they gawked blankly, subtitles rose.
Two silhouettes collide at blinding speed in the hazy frame.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
Swish.
Whirl.
Boom!
One wields an iron sword.
The other, just iron gauntlets on fists.
Common sense says no contest.
Yet the sword-wielder sweats bullets.
If you seek revenge, dig two graves.
Thud. Kang Min stamps; snow flies.
Masked foe lunges at the gap.
Kang Min spins, left foot crosses.
Mask dodges roundhouse, counters precariously.
Kang Min blocks, punches; dodge, side slash parried, kicked thrust met blade-on-blade, upward elbow, dodged mid-air leg sweep, takes hit chin-bound, simultaneous chest stab.
All in seconds.
"?"
"...?"
Viewers' jaws drop; standoff lingers.
Swirling snow.
Ground quakes.
Wind scatters light—
All CG, yet hyper-real.
Tension peaks.
Those ready to curse stared blankly at the explosive opener.
Minutes into climax-worthy brawl.
Winner decided.
Sigh at fallen foe—short-lived; tremors rise from below.
Kang Min shrugs at dazed Yoo Ji-yu.
Yoo Ji-yu grits teeth.
Deep blue snow peaks.
Wind-whipped azure hair.
Sole crimson amid the blue.
Revenge.
Resolve in her eyes.
Or
Die to Live.
Camera pans twisted peaks; title fades to black.
Silence remained.
"?"
"?"
"...?"
Curse-ready viewers tilted heads at the unforeseen flow.
Choi Na-kyeong mouthed 'Eh...?', Go Beom-su and Choi Dan-yong blinked blankly; even MBS VP and chief gaped wordless.
But amid the stunned masses, one face topped the dumbstruck scale.
"??????"
Yoo Ji-yu—lead in the airing drama—stared at the screen, blinking vacantly.
What the hell is this?