The Grand Finale of Along Along
The broadcast hadn't even started yet, but the online reaction was already exploding.
“Say a few words before we start, Director!”
Director Choi Seung-ah, who had half-risen from her seat, accepted the microphone someone passed over. Arong Arong had been praised not only for its actors' performances but also for its bold color palette and sensual direction.
“Everyone worked so hard filming this.”
Her voice was drained — the closer they got to the finale, the more the shooting schedule had spiraled out of control. But then the director suddenly turned her head toward Yoon Jay, wearing the liveliest expression anyone had seen from her in days.
“And our Jay. There was a big incident midway through, but thankfully you turned that crisis into an opportunity. Thank you once again.”
“So cool!”
Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Yoon Jay simply curled the corner of his mouth upward. Somehow even that looked impossibly cool, and the cheers grew louder still.
“And there's something we need to tell you all before the finale—”
“We're going on a reward vacation!”
“Ah! Writer-nim!”
Writer Im Hyun-hee was already a fairly famous name. The reason she'd taken on Arong Arong despite it having an original webtoon was pure fan love for the source material. Thanks to this drama, she'd also picked up a reputation as a skilled adapter, and she was beaming from ear to ear.
Amid the cheering, Yoon Jay looked bewildered and turned to Park Seo-ah and Kim Hyun-jun beside him.
“A reward vacation?”
“From what I hear, somewhere like Bali or Da Nang — some resort, apparently.”
“Oh...”
“No idea if I can make it with my schedule.”
So that's a thing too, huh. He'd like to go if he could. There'd never been anything like this before. Yoon Jay's eyes sparkled.
“Jay, will you be able to go? Things are about to get busy for you.”
“I'll have to see.”
“Still, at least one of the leads should be there.”
In truth, things weren't about to get busy — they were getting busy starting tomorrow, with photo shoots and advertising deals lined up back to back. The person who had benefited most from Arong Arong was, without question, Yoon Jay.
Park Seo-ah and Kim Hyun-jun already had existing endorsements, and their product categories overlapped heavily — which left only Yoon Jay, a rookie with a completely blank slate.
Yoon Jay emerges as the advertising world's blue chip... 15 companies already circling
The speed of the advertising industry's response was itself a barometer of his rising popularity. Director Kwak had even told him that some companies, sensing the birth of a new Rising Star, were rushing to lock in long-term contracts early.
Yoon Jay didn't stop him. He had no particular craving for money, but more couldn't hurt, could it? The agency would handle it.
“Krrgh, I loved days like this. Getting called from every direction...”
“Hey. Kim Hyun-jun, when have you ever had days like this? If word gets out you were late to call time somewhere else too—”
“Ah, noona, I'm genuinely reflecting on it, I swear.”
Kim Hyun-jun pulled an exaggerated sulk. As it turned out, he and Park Seo-ah were from the same agency.
He knew he'd been outshone by Yoon Jay in both acting skill and buzz, but skipping the wrap party would only invite comments like 'Kim Hyun-jun got pushed aside by a rookie and then didn't even show up to the wrap party' — so he'd dragged himself there anyway. After all, these were people he might cross paths with again someday.
“It's starting!”
At someone's shout, Yoon Jay's gaze locked onto the TV along with everyone else's.
The capital and palace, seized by Lee Hwi. The screen showed the flag of Doyul-guk snapping in a fierce wind.
(Hold on just a little longer!)
(Crown Prince Lee Geon approaches!)
Lee Hwi, who even the regressor's buff had struggled to hold back, now had gear on his side. With the power of the treasures he'd amassed, he easily subdued the soldiers Lee Geon had used to occupy the palace.
Lee Geon led the loyal retainers who had fought to the last, heading for the palace where the throne waited.
(When did His Highness become like that...!)
Lee Geon, as the protagonist, was exceptionally gifted. Even Lee Hwi — who had repeatedly fended off two regressors working in concert — had once envied that talent: the sword.
The screen captured Lee Geon's martial prowess in sweeping, artistic strokes. Yoon Jay glanced sideways and saw Kim Hyun-jun's cheeks bulging with a huge grin.
(You've come, have you.)
Unlike the chaos outside, the area near the throne was utterly still. In that silence, Lee Hwi's chilling voice cut through.
Lee Hwi, seated, lifted his head. A face smeared with blood, eyes gleaming like frost.
It resembled the opening scene of episode one — but a trace of exhaustion now showed on Lee Hwi's face.
Lee Geon, by contrast, had a set jaw that spoke of unshakable resolve. Lee Hwi might occupy the throne, but the psychological balance between the two men had already flipped.
(It was always going to come to this.)
Deep shadow pooled around the throne; only sunlight filled the space where Lee Geon stood. His voice was languid and weary, yet the oppressive aura hadn't faded at all.
He slowly rose from his seat. At first he seemed drained, but bit by bit his spine straightened, and a heavy presence rolled off him. This was Lee Hwi's final struggle.
(Draw your sword.)
(Must it truly come to this, Your Majesty?)
(If you have resolved yourself... then do as you wish.)
The King's lines came out mixed with fatigue, like a sigh — even the stage directions in the script had read, 'a glimpse of a father's figure.' So Yoon Jay, for a moment, blended in the image of the King he had once seen delivering a thunderous address.
Yoo Gwang-seok, watching the wrap party broadcast alongside everyone, turned to stare at Yoon Jay in astonishment.
Shing!
The two men raised their swords against each other—
(Your Highness!)
In the middle of it, Jung Yeon-hwa goes searching for the King. In her hand was a treasure gained by preserving her memories from before the regression — the legendary elixir capable of curing the King's dementia.
And the scene shifts again. Lee Geon and Lee Hwi's blades clash; at first Lee Geon seems to give ground slightly, but soon he overwhelms him completely.
(...Your Highness!)
Jung Yeon-hwa reaches the King's chamber, eyes flying wide open.
The screen cuts back to Lee Geon and Lee Hwi — someone's sword spins through the air and plunges into the ground.
And then—
“Ahh!”
“Cutting it off at the most devilish timing ever!”
“Somebody grab the director!”
It was the mid-episode commercial break. Even the staff, who already knew the entire ending, groaned.
When the long commercial break finally ended, what appeared was Lee Hwi, utterly wrecked. His sword was planted near the throne, his topknot had come undone, and long hair fell across his face.
(...Finish it.)
Lee Geon hesitates briefly, then slides his sword back into its sheath. Left alone, Lee Hwi would draw his last breath soon enough anyway.
But to Lee Hwi, that felt like pity. Just as he gathered every last ounce of strength to scream, a familiar voice came from behind him.
(Your Highness!)
Jung Yeon-hwa's voice. Was he hearing things? Lee Hwi turned his head. Having cured the King's dementia with the elixir, she was approaching the throne, supporting the King as she came.
Lee Hwi smiled faintly, then raised himself up. And walked, with great effort, toward the two of them.
(...!)
Meanwhile, the retainers who had crushed the rebellion entered the palace. The King raised a hand to stop them.
(Y-Your Highness! It's dangerous!)
(Let them be.)
The answer came from Lee Geon. Behind him, his guard whispered.
(Your Highness, are you well?)
(I have... already taken a fatal wound.)
It was a wound that should have felled him long ago, yet Lee Hwi kept moving — slow, but never stopping. Until he reached the King's very feet.
Thud! His knees struck the floor, and the blood-soaked man lifted his head.
(What in the world this thing called affection is... I found I couldn't kill it.)
A final lament.
Was it his feelings for Jung Yeon-hwa he couldn't kill, or the King who was his father — or both? With an expression full of everything at once, Lee Hwi looked at the King, and at Jung Yeon-hwa behind him.
Thud!
(...)
Lee Hwi collapsed sideways, his eyes still open. The King waved off the retainers rushing to support him and bent down.
And with his own hands, he closed his son's eyes. Only in death did Lee Hwi receive the small touch of affection he had longed for all his life.
(Hear me, all of you!)
(Your Highness!)
The King, his faculties restored, brings the crisis under control. And he declares he will pass the throne to the Crown Prince at once. Lee Geon and Jung Yeon-hwa, frantic with managing the aftermath, spend sweet days together and hold their wedding.
The people harmed by Lee Hwi reclaimed their lives under Lee Geon's reign, and laughter never left their faces. It was the happy kingdom for all that Lee Geon had wished for.
(Thank you for watching Arong Arong.)
When the final episode ended, behind-the-scenes photos and a short NG reel went up alongside the OST. The crowd gathered at the wrap party erupted into applause and cheers all at once.
“Woo!”
“Congratulations, everyone — you worked so hard!”
Glasses began clinking in earnest, and the room filled with chatter. Remembering the Wings Company dinners, Yoon Jay raised his own glass and made his rounds around the tables, thanking each staff member and even posing for photos with them.
“Our Lee Geon, Lee Hwi, and Yeon-hwa — over here, please!”
Then came the cake cutting on the three-tiered cake the drama's fans had prepared, followed by closing remarks.
“This feels good. I really think we'll break 20%.”
“What was our 20% promise again, noona?”
“A girl... group dance...”
Park Seo-ah couldn't get the words out properly. She was a hopeless case of two left feet. A production staffer nearby sprang to his feet.
“Well then, since we're here — let's film it now!”
“What? The numbers aren't even tallied yet.”
“Come on, we're filming it in advance. You'll all be busy soon. If it doesn't happen, we just delete it.”
Truthfully, they'd upload it whether the ratings hit 20% or not. Kim Hyun-jun was shamelessly good at that sort of thing... Park Seo-ah turned to Yoon Jay.
“Jay, you said you were only recently back from the States?”
“Yes.”
“So you know nothing about girl groups at all?”
“Mm, no.”
At most he'd know Flava — Yoon Do-hwa's group? At his answer, Park Seo-ah smiled slyly. As long as I'm not the only one with two left feet.
But her hopes were mercilessly crushed. The group chosen as the reference for the girl-group dance happened to be Yoon Do-hwa's.
“Ah, come on! Why are you so good at this!”
“I've always been a quick study — one look and I've got it.”
“Could you not answer so shamelessly?”
Yoon Jay's smile never left his face the whole time. The filming had been fun, and this moment was pretty fun too.
“These are the fans who supported our wrap party.”
“Thank you so much for today. The gifts, the flower bouquets...”
He didn't forget to meet the drama fans who had prepared all these things either. The moment they came face to face with Yoon Jay, their faces flushed scarlet and they bowed their heads deep.
“...Haven't I seen you somewhere before?”
“Ah — no, sir!”
The (former) PeachMango, who had secretly attended his father's funeral and been reformed at the sight of Yoon Jay's face, kept her head bowed low.
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“Jay was the son of Managing Director Yoon Su-heon?”
The day after the wrap party, CEO Lee Seo-won — catching him briefly before his next schedule — looked thoroughly stunned.
“Yes.”
“No, I knew you'd remarried, but I never imagined you had a son...”
The reason for his reaction was the article that had suddenly dropped that morning.
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