Haidream Breaks 30% – The Banner of Shame
What the hell is this? Haidream Episode 15 Ratings Hit 28%! Will It Break the Coveted 30% Wall?If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em – Ijei's World Line is on a RollHaidream Fever Among Teens! The Lone Genius Haggler’s 'Unexpected Charm'Haidream Special Broadcast Teased! Massive Release of Behind-the-Scenes and NG Clips?!Mid-March, Haidream Takes the Stage Live Before Fans – Special Performance Promised!
Haidream everywhere, Haidream over there—even when trying to find non-entertainment news.
Kim Donghu Selected as Brilliant Uniform Model! Youngest Uniform Model Ever? Stories related to Kim Donghu were pouring in everywhere else too.
Most people were thrilled by Kim Donghu's success, but there were bound to be places that weren't.
"...That bastard Choi Seokho."
CybersQA CEO Kyeong Minsu scowled at the current situation unfolding before him. The guy from the gutter had the nerve to talk back to his boss without a shred of shame, and after getting canned for all his screw-ups, he'd gone and set up his own one-man agency—and now he was thriving.
'The effort I put into cutting off all his connections... what a waste.'
As if mocking that very effort, Choi Seokho was paving a smooth road under the banner of Kim Donghu's monumental achievements.
"Dig into Kim Donghu's past. There has to be something."
The public loved watching celebrities at the top come crashing down more than anyone.
Kyeong Minsu was doing everything he could to find even a single blemish on Kim Donghu.
But.
"Nothing comes up."
"What? How is that possible for a person?"
"Even when something seems like it's about to surface, the Kim Donghu fan cafe blocks it in advance."
"Then set up a meeting with whoever runs that fan cafe."
"...Word is the operator is Choi Seokho."
"What?"
Crazy bastard. Kyeong Minsu swallowed the words before they could escape. He'd heard Choi Seokho was personally managing Kim Donghu's schedule and even running the company.
But the fan cafe too?
That was exactly why Kyeong Minsu had done everything to cut off Choi Seokho's lifeline. He knew how capable the guy was.
"...Come on, there has to be some controversy. School violence or something?"
"Even if there is, it gets deleted right away, or shield posts go up."
"Shield? What the hell is that?"
"Ah... counterargument posts."
Kyeong Minsu furrowed his brow at his subordinate's explanation.
No, so there was nothing they could do? Were they just supposed to sit there like idiots watching him succeed?
His mood soured in an instant, and Kyeong Minsu pulled up the Kim Donghu fan cafe.
Sure enough, it was mostly full of defense posts and raves about how handsome Kim Donghu was.
That was par for the course in a fan cafe, really.
The surprising part was elsewhere. 'This homepage design rivals a major corporation's.'
It was so polished, he wondered if they had a dedicated programmer.
The Kim Donghu fan cafe had an incredibly sleek image. No exaggeration—even hauling in a truckload of actor fan cafes from CybersQA wouldn't measure up.
Why would a pro like this make a fan cafe? For free?
As Kyeong Minsu let out a hollow laugh, stomach aching from someone else's success.
Tap tap tap tap tap.
There was a talent silently refining the homepage without a word.
Crunch crunch.
The 15-year-old boy wiping his glasses—Kim Donghu's seatmate, Na Gangshik.
Na Gangshik, blessed with innate genius in computers, managed Kim Donghu's fan cafe in his spare time while working on his dream game.
Why? 'Donghu's my friend.'
To Na Gangshik, Kim Donghu was more than just a friend.
Back in elementary school, he'd been teased for his awkward speech, and after getting sick from school milk and shitting himself in the bathroom—getting caught— he'd become the class punching bag.
Once labeled an outcast, he was isolated throughout elementary, shrinking further from the violent surroundings, and even heading into middle school with a vague sense of resignation that it'd be the same.
Then Kim Donghu appeared.
A ridiculously handsome kid who was great at sports and studies—not only didn't bully him but approached with pure goodwill, played with him, and even enthusiastically joined the notebook games he'd always wanted to play with others?
Na Gangshik recalled the first time Kim Donghu played his notebook game.
"No way, Gangshik! This makes no sense—why do I have to start on the crappiest land?"
"Th-the dice rolled a 1..."
"Why does Kim Minhyuk get the good land?!"
"The dice rolled a 6..."
"Can you pay to win? I'll pay—got any cash items?"
"M-money's nice, but I-I think the fun of the g-game should be solved within the g-game itself."
"..."
Just thinking about it made his chest tighten with emotion and brought a smile to his face.
But now, signs of someone trying to slander his friend Kim Donghu?
'No way in hell I'll forgive that.'
Fair criticism? Fine. But one-sided bashing? Unacceptable in Na Gangshik's book.
Time flew by to the broadcast day of Haidream Episode 16.
KBC Broadcasting Station was a storm before the storm.
"If this actually happens, it's huge."
"Yeah, I hope it pulls through."
The massive wall of 30% ratings. Just breaking that instantaneous peak would be a smash hit, and Haidream carefully unrolled its finale.
-Haidream! Spread your dreams!
A gentler version of the OST flowed softly, unlike usual.
-...
-...
Male lead Song Cheolsu leaned out the bus window, bowing his head.
Female lead Yoo Hye-ri looked up at him and gently closed her eyes.
The OST faded as their lips softly met. Snow fell from the sky, blessing their kiss.
Normally, Episode 16 would end here with a "Thank you for loving Haidream—" subtitle.
But the screen went black for a moment, then showed a completely different scene.
♪♩♪♩♬♩♪
A soothing piano melody. Everyone at Ijei's recital was quietly immersed.
The back door of the audience slowly opened, capturing someone entering.
-...Son.
A mother's first time seeing her son's piano stage. Her gaze held regret for not coming sooner and resolve to change from now on.
-...And Ijei, noticing, met his mom's eyes.
END.
The drama truly reached its end.
"Whoa... Donghu's acting is seriously..."
"Donghu? You calling him by name like he's your buddy? Youngmo, even if you're close, show some respect when using his name."
"...More respect than the director eating cherry pie while watching?"
"Skip the small stuff."
KBC Drama Director Kim Cheol-do waited stone-faced for the ratings tally, no smile in sight.
He knew it wouldn't come out right away, but why was he so tense?
'Never wanted future info more than right now.'
How much? Tell me.
He glared at his innocent phone, time dragging agonizingly until.
"Ratings are in!!!"
The rookie writer’s shout had Kim Cheol-do demanding, "How much!!!"
"Yes! So the ratings are...!"
At the answer.
"Zuhahahahaha!"
He laughed.
Haidream Ratings Hit 30.2%! Rewriting High Teen Drama History
Teens' Top Pick: Uniforms? Haidream Cast's Uniform Photoshoot Explodes in Popularity!
Kim Donghu Uniform Craze – North Face? Now 'Brilliant's the Trend'
Amid the flood of articles, time sped to early March.
'Haven't been to school in ages.'
I put on my uniform for the new semester after a long time.
'Though it feels like I wore it non-stop during Haidream filming.'
Plus being a uniform model, it felt like casual wear now.
"Son, off to school?"
"Yeah, heading out now."
"Okay, be safe."
"See you later."
The big change at home lately? Mom was back.
With a clean all-clear from cancer, the subtle tension in the house vanished.
Dad still quietly headed to work, but I noticed his gaze on Mom was warmer, and he hummed little tunes every morning commute.
'Am I getting a sibling soon?'
A 16-year gap—even if late, it didn't seem impossible.
'Whatever, harmony's good.'
With that positive vibe, I hopped on my bike.
Walking would've been the old way, but with popularity, this was better. Pedal quick, and they'd recognize me after I passed.
It worked—no one spotted me until near the school gate.
'Alright, time to enjoy everyday life again.'
Locking my bike nearby and heading to the gate—
"...No, what the hell?"
I looked up at the banner over the gate.
Congratulations! Haidream Ratings 30.2%! Sinbit Middle School's Pride Kim Donghu! Amazing! Incredible! Phenomenal!
Ah.
My mind went blank.
'Isn't this social murder?'
Mortified to death. They actually put up a banner? Not a joke?
Same time, a dark studio.
"R-rough edit's f-finally done!!!!"
The rough cut for indie film Hero had finally wrapped.