39
Chapter 39: I Filmed a Commercial for You
As soon as Do Minho stepped out of the exam hall, a swarm of reporters waiting outside surrounded him.
The production team of Genius’s Bucket List tried to shield him, but they were no match for journalists driven by the hunger for a scoop.
“Minho, how do you feel after taking the CSAT?”
“It was difficult, as expected.”
Minho answered simply and honestly.
“What score are you expecting?”
“A perfect score.”
“Didn’t you just say it was difficult?”
“It was difficult, but I could solve it. I might be wrong, but I solved everything.”
Since there had already been criticism that the exam had too many questions to finish in time, his answer clearly showed strong confidence in his score.
“For more details, ask the PDs over there from Genius’s Bucket List.”
“What do you mean?”
“They have my test papers.”
“What?”
“The Korea University professors will announce the results soon, but the PDs wanted to check first, so I handed them over after each section. I haven’t heard my score yet, but since they’re not saying anything, I guess it’s a perfect score.”
Before he even finished speaking, the reporters rushed toward the PDs he pointed to. The actual score was far more valuable than his confident answer.
“I don’t get why they’re so simple-minded. The professors will announce it anyway. And honestly, not many people can even grade it properly—it would take hours.”
Watching this, Kang Jiseop shook his head and led Minho toward the parking lot.
“Wait a moment!”
The casting directors who had been waiting for Minho quickly approached.
“Minho, let’s talk for a moment.”
“Let’s keep some professionalism. Our program isn’t even finished yet. Why would we have time for you?”
“Just a moment, please! He’s been busy with the CSAT! Minho, just a minute!”
“We have commercials to shoot! If schedules get messed up and we miss them, will you take responsibility?”
“Hmm……”
Minho had an unbeatable card—commercials.
“As you all know, one commercial is more valuable than all your programs combined.”
“That’s true……”
“So move aside unless you want to become enemies.”
The casting directors reluctantly stepped back.
“Have you already received commercial offers?”
“Already? They came in long ago. It just took time to choose. There’s a lot to consider.”
“Oh… by the way, are you Minho’s manager now?”
Director Lee Seunghoon, who had acted as Minho’s guardian and manager before, wasn’t present today.
“That’s how it turned out. Our program is Genius’s Bucket List, and Minho’s bucket list includes becoming CF King.”
“What?”
“Let’s go, CF King.”
“Yes!”
It was Director Lee’s judgment that someone who had successfully secured the orphanage reconstruction and earned Minho’s trust could handle his broadcasting work.
“But Minho will appear on our program, right?”
“No.”
“What? Why not? The prize money is accumulating—it’s already 300 million won!”
“That prize wasn’t made for that.”
“What?”
“Does Minho need to damage his career for 300 million? For a CF King, that’s nothing.”
True to the trust placed in him, Kang Jiseop cut off any offer that could harm Minho.
“I’ll report this to PD Park!”
“Go ahead. I fight better than him.”
He even went against his own colleagues for Minho’s sake.
“M-Minjo……”
“I don’t want to either. I’m satisfied with being the first winner. Maybe if the prize reaches ten billion, I’ll consider it. But would the regulators even allow that?”
“What?”
“I doubt it. The viewers wouldn’t either. It’s better to improve the program’s public value—like donating unpaid prize money. Fifty million is already a lot. Everyone who participates is already impressive.”
Minho’s blunt remark didn’t help ratings, but it might extend the program’s lifespan.
“Did you record that?”
It also boosted his image.
“Of course.”
Even before airing, it would help their show’s ratings.
“I must have saved a country in my past life.”
“I’m pretty amazing.”
“Haha! You really are!”
“Now it’s your turn to be amazing.”
“Leave it to me. If someone can be the home run king in the major leagues, why not here?”
---
On the screen, Do Minho sketched a playground on a blank canvas. Around it, he drew apartment buildings.
Once the drawing was complete, Minho disappeared, and the picture zoomed in—then came to life, transforming into a real playground and apartments.
“A home like a painting. DD Construction.”
It wasn’t an official commercial. It was a test production for a future CF.
“Perfect.”
“I told you to trust me.”
“Show me the next one.”
“Okay!”
“Minho, what’s your secret to getting a perfect score on the CSAT?”
“I studied using textbooks.”
“Then why didn’t I get a perfect score?”
“Because you didn’t create ‘Cheonje’ from textbooks.”
“What?”
“Become a genius with textbooks—or with ‘Cheonje.’”
This was also not an official ad. It was a mock interview-style commercial targeting a study guide publisher.
“What did the publisher say?”
“They’re offering up to 10% of net sales as royalties.”
“That’s good. If it sells a hundred thousand copies, that’s a lot.”
“So, will you keep making study guides?”
“I didn’t work to earn money—I worked to spend it. Until I run out, I’m not making more.”
“Haha, you really are something.”
“How much is the model fee?”
“Fifty million won for a one-year contract.”
“That’s a lot?”
“Of course! You’re still technically a civilian. Who pays this much? Before your perfect score, they offered ten or twenty million.”
“That was before I got a perfect score.”
“Then wait a bit more. Just because they’re our sponsor doesn’t mean you have to take it.”
“I like that.”
“You said you don’t work for money?”
“I just want to do things properly while I have to work.”
“That’s right. Just like me.”
Kang Jiseop was known as a brilliant yet laid-back PD, but when he worked, he worked seriously.
And with Minho, he found himself inspired again.
“How do you even come up with ideas like this?”
“The kids wanted to draw like me, so I cut my drawing into pieces like a puzzle.”
“Haha, so it became a toy. And the slogan is ‘You can be an artist too’?”
“Kids play with toys, but parents buy them.”
“Art… parents will love that word. Especially since you’re both a top student and an art genius.”
“But these ads feel too childish.”
“Do you want to shoot cosmetics ads?”
“Home appliances sound better.”
“Those pay more.”
“If our show reaches 40% ratings, I might get those too.”
“Of course!”
“Please take care of it!”
“Same here!”
“How many offers do you think we’ll get?”
“Well, all our sponsors will approach you, with better terms. But we should be careful with companies that already invested heavily—it would be ungrateful otherwise.”
“Understood.”
“They won’t undervalue you, so don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried. I just don’t want to do this kind of work for money anymore.”
“Haha, glad to hear that.”
For Minho, the CF King project was a way to earn enough money quickly so he could later treat broadcasting as a hobby rather than work.
“After this, are you entering the New Year Literary Contest?”
“My work is already finished. I’ll submit it in December.”
“Then we should start covering it tomorrow.”
“Let’s wait until the results.”
“What?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to reveal it after winning? Just in case.”
“Haha, fair enough. But can I take a look?”
“Next time. Let’s focus on CF King first. These videos are just the beginning.”
“Haha, just the beginning.”
“The real thing is lunchboxes.”
For Minho, CF King meant shooting many commercials.
For the production team, it meant attracting many sponsors.
Their main target was food and kitchen-related companies.
“Can you really pull it off?”
“I’m good at cooking. And it has meaning—and it’ll be fun.”
“It’s amazing. An eight-year-old cooking for nearly a hundred people.”
“I won’t be doing it alone.”
“I saw the beef tteokbokki video. The kids loved it. Can they appear on TV?”
“They’re fine with it.”
“Then we could’ve used that footage!”
“Too many adults were involved.”
“Don’t tell me you’re doing it without adults this time?”
“Yes. Older students will help instead.”
“Oh?”
“But they want signed idol CDs in return.”
“What?”
“Please help with that.”
Should I laugh or cry?
“Who are they?”
“You probably know them.”
“…No way.”
“Yes, them.”
“I’ll try to get the CDs. But can they really deliver?”
“Don’t worry. Cooking is science, and science depends on equipment.”
“What?”
“This is all we need.”
Minho pulled out a folder confidently.
“This is…….”
“It’ll be fun, right?”
I must have saved a country in my past life.