The Director's Blush Becomes a Meme
The actors' first major variety show appearance had been a smashing success.
That was great news.
But something even better had happened: people's perception of me had shifted.
The "attention whore" label was gone.
People no longer saw me as some spotlight-chasing diva at the center of every controversy.
They chalked it up to a director stubbornly casting Eum Sung-hyun, only for things to blow up.
If the broadcast had earnestly praised the actors, viewers might have pushed back.
There's that saying, right?
For every wave of hype, there's an equal backlash.
But Graceful, Wow nailed it with humor.
They lingered on my embarrassment—maybe a bit too long, honestly.
Either way, it let viewers empathize with my shame without feeling alienated.
Come to think of it, the head writer really is a cool-headed genius.
I wonder what kind of gift icons she'd like?
Thanks to that, comments about my work skills were popping up too.
A few weird reactions sprinkled in...
Whatever, probably fine.
But I was wrong.
The next morning.
On my way to work, I stopped at a convenience store for milk and caught some high school guys jumping in surprise.
I didn't think much of it.
Familiar reaction by now.
Embarrassing to say it myself, but my looks are... decent enough. Anyway, moving on.
As I headed to the counter with my milk, one of the high schoolers suddenly grabbed my hand.
"It's all thanks to you, Director!"
Then he squealed and bolted back to his friends.
Actual squealing.
From a guy way bigger than me.
"...?"
What the hell? Were they imitating the actors?
U.U had good ratings, but it wasn't some massive viral hit.
I panicked briefly before concluding: High schoolers gonna high schooler.
School sucks that bad.
They'd squeal at falling leaves too.
I grasped the severity on the subway.
"Hey? Director?"
"...Yes?"
People were recognizing me.
"Can you get embarrassed just once for us?"
"...?"
"Oh, that's it!"
"I didn't even do anything..."
And they nailed it.
What the actual fuck.
Trending search? Nah, been off that for ages.
News articles? Just U.U abuse pieces.
My name and face were there, but nothing to spark this.
What was I missing?
Still clueless by the time I reached my stop.
Slipping out of the station, dodging stares, my phone rang—an unknown number.
"Hello?"
Hello. Is this Do Hyun-woo's phone?
"Yes, it is. Who's this?"
Hi. I'm a writer from SBX Variety. Calling about casting for our new launching program.
"Ah, actors aren't my department. I can give you the number—"
Not the actors. You, Director.
"Me?"
They wanted me on the show?
To explain briefly: you know that old Avatar Blind Date? Think of this as its reboot...
"Why me for that?"
Watched Graceful, Wow—you're exactly the character we're looking for! Kinda shy Hyun-woo vibes...
"Shy what?"
That morning, my world crumbled.
In the end, it was all the actors' fault.
It started with a follower explosion on SNS that evening after the broadcast.
Stargram, fan cafes, Criminal Community communities, you name it.
The actors' numbers, already boosted by the drama's success, skyrocketed insanely.
That much was natural.
Variety exposure turns drama fame into personal fame.
The real issue came next.
The actors started communicating with fans on SNS, hijacking—er, using my face.
Ridiculously, my photo got interpreted as "I'm embarrassed..." with zero context.
Yeah, damn it. That one.
The screenshot Seo Jae-yeon had teased me about as "cherry blush."
What was absurd? They thought it was hilarious.
Plus, I don't do SNS, but I know platforms like Stargram don't allow image replies everywhere.
Yet these maniacs—no, these fine people—spread my face using every feature.
Putting it on their stories with "Overwhelmed by all this love and attention, thank you."
What kind of vibe is that?
Seo Jae-yeon seemed to kick it off, but Yoo Won-sang milked it hardest.
Old man sensitive to memes, huh.
Soon my face trickled into non-actor Criminal Community communities.
Still just harmless fun then.
A one-night fad, not even worth calling a trend.
Left alone, it would've fizzled.
Then the arsonist appeared.
Seo Jae-yeon.
The Criminal Community cast didn't just debate on Graceful, Wow.
Filling 70 minutes with talk alone? Insane.
Minus my intro, cast intros, drama plugs—half the 60 minutes was debate.
The rest? Talk and interviews.
That's when Seo Jae-yeon's story dropped.
She'd driven a catering truck to Gangwon-do herself, banner of "Milky Blush Do Hyun-woo" flapping.
MC Choi Seok-hoon had a double reaction.
Believed us, but not quite.
Nine people wouldn't lie about Seo Jae-yeon, yet...
He subtly doubted.
Cast tilted heads.
I wondered at first, then got it.
To unknown Criminal Community actors, Seo Jae-yeon and Choi Seok-hoon were equals: national stars.
But active Choi knew she was leagues above.
Barely any TV besides promo spots on tame shows.
Her personally trucking to Gangwon-do? Unbelievable.
Regulars and her fans reacted the same.
Fans couldn't resist and DM'd her.
She responded: her most trusted senior from rookie days, the one who built her acting foundation.
No Do Hyun-woo, no current Seo Jae-yeon.
That alone would've been heartwarming.
But she immortalized my face.
Game, set, match.
Now my face was Seo Jae-yeon-endorsed meme gold.
Think it's childish?
Don't know the guy?
Skipped Criminal Community or U.U?
Doesn't matter.
Seo Jae-yeon used it.
The trickle-down effect I'd preached? Felt it for real.
The result...
"Sorry, no plans for more variety. Yes. Yes, sorry."
At the office, rejecting casting calls nonstop.
Couldn't ignore unknowns—too many Criminal Community leaks with my number.
"Haa..."
Sighed after the 13th.
Absurd, really.
As an actor, craved fame for roles.
Now as CE, it hits—and I don't want it.
Is this why monks warn against desire?
Let go to receive?
Then I felt Team 2's piercing stares.
Figured they were annoyed at me fielding calls instead of working.
Nope.
Turning, Han Sung-hoon CEO approached.