Rookie but One-in-a-Million Actor Episode 90: Great Challenge
"A genius kid?"
The variety show Great Challenge aired on cable TV. Ha Moo-young, who had rushed into the car straight from filming at S Network, blinked in disbelief.
A head-to-head with a genius? That meant a battle of brains. How was he supposed to win?
"Yeah. They're focusing on you being a Seoyeondae student. The challenges start with general knowledge quizzes and go all the way to mental math."
"Ugh. I've forgotten everything."
"It's only been a year since your CSAT. There must be some crumbs left in that head of yours."
"Hyung, the second I stepped out of the exam hall, it all evaporated."
"Haha. Don't worry too much—your opponent's got a handicap. Brain-sex male, right? That's the trend these days. Perfect for promoting Do-ha's character too."
"True, but..."
If I mess up, it'll be total humiliation.
Moo-young muttered as he skimmed the script. His opponent was Kim So-woon, a first-year middle schooler. No info on the kid since he was a regular civilian.
"We go straight into filming when we get there?"
"Yeah, schedule's tight. Just say hi to Doo-seok."
"Oh, right. I'm so excited. I'm a real fan."
"Is there anyone in Korea who's not a fan?"
"He really as nice in person as on TV?"
"If he's held that spot for twenty years, that says it all."
"...Should've washed up."
Moo-young had just come from drama filming, so his hair, clothes, and makeup were all Do-ha. He might even have to head back to S Network after Great Challenge.
Go Kyung-min turned the wheel, mumbling, "This worked out because the opponent's a civilian. Studio's set, problems are fixed, so filming wraps on time."
"Good gig all around, huh?"
"Yep. So go kill it. Win that million-won prize and treat me to meat."
"You really give it out?"
"Of course. Lying on air would be a disaster."
Hmm. Tempting. A million won...
"Won't have time to spend it anyway."
He was pouring nearly twenty-four hours a day into the drama. Maybe he just lacked the knack yet. How did others juggle two or three projects?
"We're here. Out."
They parked at Cable T Station and headed straight to the fourteenth floor. It was 11 p.m., but the floor buzzed like midday with staff and audience members packed in.
"Ha Moo-young-ssi, this way."
"Ah, yes."
"Got the script?"
"Yes."
The variety PD guided him to the waiting room, hitting all the key points. This was a by-the-script show—no ad-libs or wit to fill airtime.
"Doo-seok will greet and intro you, then the music cues. We'll signal from backstage—go when you hear it. Watch the stage height when you walk out."
"Got it."
"Gonna say hi? Waiting room's this way."
Doo-seok, one of Korea's top national MCs. A veteran comedian with twenty years under his belt, gripping the variety world tight. His natural, unflappable banter was his signature.
The door creaked open.
"Hyung, today's guest is Ha Moo-young."
"Whoa! Yeah!"
He'd been devouring a cream bun but jumped up, wiping his hands with a grin.
Holy crap. The real MC Doo-seok.
"W-Wow. Hello! I'm Ha Moo-young!"
"Aigoo, Moo-young-ssi. Great to meet you. Thanks for coming despite your schedule. Loved the drama and movie. I'm a fan now. Fan! Plague and You Are a Star, I Am a Star, right? Haha!"
Oh my god. MC Doo-seok calling his name—and saying he's a fan. The guy he'd watched on TV since he was a kid!
Moo-young froze in overwhelming emotion.
"I-I'm the real fan here, sunbaenim."
As a kid, those Saturday variety shows had made him laugh and cry. They kept the loneliness at bay, always there at mealtimes. He grabbed Doo-seok's hands tight, voice thick with gratitude.
"You were my childhood."
Doo-seok paused too, then chuckled, patting the back of his hand.
"What a cool thing to say. Thanks."
"Ah, what do I do? I'm shaking. Sunbaenim."
"Haha! Can't have that. You're here to compete. Met Kim So-woon yet?"
"No, just arrived."
"Alright, get ready then. Oh! One autograph? My daughter's your die-hard fan."
Doo-seok handed him paper and pen. That's when it hit: Moo-young was a real celebrity now, and Plague and You Are a Star, I Am a Star were smashing it.
"C-Can I get one too...?"
"Of course! Photo?"
"This is amazing..."
Moo-young's hands shook as he signed. Him, giving an autograph to national MC Doo-seok? Unbelievable.
They swapped signatures and snapped a commemorative pic.
"Can I brag about this on SNS?"
"Go for it. Follow each other?"
"...Sunbaenim. I think I'm in love."
"Hahaha! What a fun guy."
With that heartwarming first meet wrapped, the PD team hustled him along.
"Back to the waiting room!"
"Ah, yes! See you soon, sunbaenim."
"Yeah. Let's do great."
The door clicked shut. Moo-young's legs wobbled as he walked; Go Kyung-min laughed, steadying him.
"That hyped?"
"Hyung. Debuting was the best decision ever."
Just facing him was an honor; having his name remembered? Total recharge.
He clenched a fist, resolve burning.
"I'm gonna crush it."
"Any harder and you'll collapse."
"In this state? All-nighter shoots, three—no, two easy!"
The audience sat in rows below the towering stage, cameras nestled among them. The director on the long rail like a drill rig signaled into his mic.
"Ready."
"Slate it! Rolling!"
"Yes!"
Clack! Staff clapped the slate; Doo-seok opened with greetings.
"Hello, viewers! Your Great Challenge and Mine! Doo-seok here! Weather's brutal lately, right?"
Effortless camera work, smooth as silk. Backstage, Moo-young fidgeted nervously.
"-Let's welcome today's guest. Chungmuro's hot topic, leader of youth dramas! Ha Moo-young-ssi!"
"Woooah!"
"Moo-young-ssi, go now."
He followed the marked path onstage. Little sparkles popped from the side. Tense earlier, now pure chill in front of the cameras.
"Hello, I'm Ha Moo-young!"
"Kyaaah!"
"Wow, hot reaction. Plague just opened—your debut, but you're a true rookie. Feeling the fame? Haha."
Moo-young grinned shyly at the MC's words.
"Yes, thanks to everyone, I'm on Great Challenge."
"Aigoo, so polite! Heard you're at Seoyeondae?"
The interview rolled on, thoroughly covering his profile and plugging both projects. Off-camera, the PD smiled at a staffer.
"Doo-seok-hyung must like him. Dragging the interview like that?"
"Yeah, asking off-script stuff too."
Even skippable bits got drawn out with eager nods. Moo-young spilled more than expected.
"-They say ghost voices in recordings mean a hit. Happened on Plague too."
"Oh! Heard the lighting almost fell?"
The writer waved frantically. Her sketchpad screamed 'NEXT!' in big letters. Doo-seok laughed it off.
"Alright, next—introducing Moo-young's challenger! Korea's pride, genius Kim So-woon!"
Upbeat music blared; a uniform-clad boy strolled out.
But...
Huh?
An old lady ghost clung to the boy's back, pitifully stroking his cheek nonstop.
"Nationwide mock exam top hundred genius—!"
Doo-seok's intro fell on deaf ears. Kim So-woon bowed to Moo-young. Now that he looked, the uniform hung loose like hand-me-downs. Sneakers too...
"But Ha Moo-young's a Seoyeondae-level genius too. What showdown awaits? Exciting! Show Kim So-woon's handicap!"
Staff wheeled out two desks: one with pens, paper, calculator; the other empty.
"Yes! Kim So-woon's handicap: mental math! Problems from this year's CSAT. Moo-young-ssi might as well take it two years running."
"Like that? Not as fun as I thought."
"Haha! Give it your best. Let's start!"
They sat at Doo-seok's cue. Onscreen, Moo-young tackled CSAT problems steadily. A glance sideways: So-woon was laser-focused, eyes blazing.
How's he mental-mathing that...?
Geniuses were no joke. Impressive. As Moo-young whistled inwardly, the granny ghost persisted, fussing over the boy's hair endlessly.
"Moo-young-ah, focus! Solve the problems!"
Go Kyung-min's nudge snapped him back. Right—ghost later, this first. He racked his brain, pen flying.
Results—
"Moo-young-ssi scores? 92! Kim So-woon: 89! One problem difference! Congrats! Challenger Ha Moo-young succeeds in his Great Challenge! Prize: one million won—!"
Moo-young's win. Confetti popped, fanfare blared.
Blame the granny distraction? He rattled off comments and closing lines in a daze before stepping offstage. Go Kyung-min dragged him to the PD.
"PD-nim, great work!"
"You too."
"Smart and young? Unfair. Right?"
"Please push the brain-sex male title, PD-nim."
"No worries. We'll handle it. Doo-seok-hyung loves you. Oh—appearance fee and prize. We pay cash on the spot! Haha!"
The envelope was fat. Amid warm goodbyes, Moo-young hesitated, then asked carefully.
"That Kim So-woon kid—do you know him, PD-nim?"
"Huh? Nah, asked my alma mater for a smart one. No hagwon, still top of class. Lives with grandpa, doing it for pocket money?"
Separate appearance fee: 200,000 won. After thanking the PD, Moo-young and Go Kyung-min hit the hall. Kim So-woon walked alone.
"Hey, wait!"
"Huh? Moo-young-ah?"
Moo-young bolted over. The kid turned, puzzled.
"You were amazing back there."
"...? Thanks."
"Late—going alone? Guardian?"
"Grandpa's downstairs."
It nagged at him. Like seeing his younger self? He scratched his cheek.
"Kid, you got a grandma?"
"...Who doesn't?"
"No, like—white hair in a bun, droopy eye corners, mole under the eye."
Moo-young described the back-hitched granny. So-woon's eyes went wide.
"You know my grandma?"
"Bingo! Knew she looked familiar—bam, attached like glue."
He naturally shoved the envelope at the boy.
Then—flower pollen exploded everywhere.
Whoosh!
First time. Not chasing luck, but creating it himself.
Moo-young and equally stunned So-woon blinked at each other.