14
Chapter 14: How to Catch the Broadcasters’ Attention
“What is this?”
The production team of Quiz 5000 stared wide-eyed at the package delivered to them.
They had received plenty of applications before—but never a box the size of a human head.
“It looks like a fan sent it to Joo Youngmin.”
What caught their attention most was the beautifully attached portrait of the MC on the box.
“Wow… I didn’t know our MC was this popular.”
Though Quiz 5000 had decent ratings for an educational program, gifts for a middle-aged male announcer were rare.
“But why stick such a nice portrait on a box?”
“Exactly.”
It was laminated, so it wasn’t damaged—but it felt odd as a gift.
“What’s inside? It’s heavy.”
“Still, we shouldn’t open it before Joo Sunbae arrives.”
“Yeah, that’d be rude.”
“Call him down.”
They waited, curiosity barely contained.
“It’s from an orphanage.”
“Do Min-Oh… maybe a student?”
“The handwriting seems too mature.”
“Maybe a high school art student?”
“Could be.”
“But with packaging like this… what’s inside? A plaster cast of Agrippa or something?”
“Maybe.”
They noticed the “Fragile” label.
“This is kind of impressive.”
“But also suspicious.”
“Suspicious?”
“If it’s really a fan gift, shouldn’t it go to the announcer’s office instead of us?”
“So it’s a tactic to get on the show?”
“Let’s be honest—we get those all the time.”
Quiz 5000 was competing with another popular show that gave out huge prizes.
But unlike that show, Quiz 5000 allowed anyone to participate and offered a single grand prize of 50 million won.
Its difficulty, however, was extreme.
Even professors and professionals failed to win.
“That’s fine. Even if it’s a tactic, it doesn’t guarantee anything.”
“True.”
“What matters is—can this person actually win?”
There had never been a winner yet.
Some even joked the show would end the day someone finally won.
“Still… if they went this far, they must be confident.”
“Or desperate.”
“Either way, it’ll be interesting.”
“Just don’t give them art questions.”
“Not necessarily.”
“Huh?”
“Being good at art and knowing art are different.”
“…Right.”
Then—
“Did you say there’s a gift?”
Joo Youngmin arrived.
“This is it.”
“Wow… first time in 20 years!”
He stared at the portrait, visibly moved.
“Open it already!”
“Wait, let me enjoy this moment!”
But the staff couldn’t wait and opened the box.
“Hey! I was going to do that!”
Inside—
“Is that… a sculpture?”
“…Made of clay?”
They were stunned.
It wasn’t just good.
It was extraordinary.
“I thought clay was just for kids…”
No one spoke for a moment.
“Wait… this says it’s from a first grader?”
“That’s impossible.”
“Maybe someone wrote it for them?”
“At an orphanage?”
“…Then…”
The confusion grew.
“Enough guessing. Call them.”
“Yeah.”
“If it’s real, we’ll know at the preliminary.”
The main PD smiled.
“If this kid is real… we might have something bigger than that math prodigy.”
“Honestly, even if he’s not better, he’ll draw more attention.”
“Exactly. He’s an orphan.”
“And he clearly knows how to stand out.”
“Without this, he wouldn’t even pass the application stage.”
“Call him.”
They moved quickly.
“We need him now—not when he’s older.”
Soon—
“Hello?”
“This is writer Min Yumi from ABS Quiz 5000.”
“…A TV station?”
“Yes.”
“What is this about?”
The orphanage director, Lee Seung-Hoon, was confused.
“Does Do Min-Oh live there?”
“No. Wrong number.”
He tried to brush it off.
“Just as Min-Oh said—you’d try to refuse.”
“…What?”
“He said you wouldn’t want the children used for ratings or pity.”
“…I see.”
“He also said being an orphan isn’t shameful. And that he really wants to participate.”
The director hesitated.
“I understand Min-Oh. But the other children…”
“Don’t worry. We want Min-Oh—not his circumstances.”
“…Still…”
“He also said this. That he wants to show other children that orphans can live proudly. And if he wins, he’ll donate the
prize.”
“…What do you need from me?”
The director gave in.
“Can you come to Seoul this weekend with him?”
“…Yes.”
And just like that—
The plan Min-Oh set in motion began to take shape.