Chapter 144
Translator: uly
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Audience Count Promise (1)
The atmosphere of a film can change drastically depending on how it's edited. So while the actors deserved credit for the lifespans harvested this time, Director Ji's influence had played a substantial role too.
"Have plenty."
I piled up a generous helping of meat onto his plate, my gratitude infused in every piece.
"Yeonwoo-ssi too..."
"I've had plenty."
"Too much..."
"Ah, eat it properly when Yeonwoo-ssi goes out of his way to serve you! Do you know how exhausting it was for me always looking after Director Ji's meals? Eat up while you can!"
"...More than that, Yeonwoo-ssi, about your next film..."
"Hey. No changing the subject!"
Caught in a pincer attack from Yeonwoo and the assistant director, Director Ji ended up eating diligently in silence against his will.
"Whoa!"
"No way."
"Incredible!"
Cheers erupted from one side of the table.
It came from the group who'd forgotten their food entirely, glued to their screens scrolling through reviews.
This might be the first time Hanwoo Two-Ple has ever been so thoroughly ignored.
'I should grab that and grill it for them too.'
I'd have to rescue the neglected meat from those distracted souls.
But before Yeonwoo could even approach.
The clustered group came rushing over in a herd.
"Director! Check this out!"
Director Ji flinched in surprise as the assistant director waved them off vigorously.
"What's got everyone so hyped all of a sudden? You've been like this for a while—don't you ever get tired?"
"Tired? With news this huge?"
"We all know the premiere reactions are great, so why the fuss?"
"This is on another level."
One staffer thrust forward a large tablet PC.
It was filled with reviews.
[The Most Beautiful Days premiere review—it's lit!]
[Hands up if you went to the premiere today~~!]
[Premiere movie is f***ing insane no cap;]
[Detailed review of The Most Beautiful Days premiere reactions.]
[Guys, major rotation-worthy film dropped.]
[Spilling the tea on how my friends are dying of envy over my premiere trip.]
[This_is_the definition_of_an_epic_premiere.ssul]
The titles were eye-catching enough, but the content below was downright staggering.
There were so many it was impossible to read them all, but every single one brimmed with positivity.
No wonder the staff had been mesmerized, devouring review after review.
'We put out our first product with bated breath, and they're loving it. How could we not be thrilled?'
Yeonwoo was no exception.
'It's definitely different from a drama.'
The difference lay in a whole other realm.
Dramas had that thrill of watching viewers gradually get hooked episode by episode as the story unfolded.
But with a movie, you could see audiences empathize with the complete tale and linger in its afterglow—a subtle distinction.
"Huh? Isn't this the one you showed earlier?"
"Oh. Right. Not that one. This."
The staffer swiped through the screen and pulled up a particular post.
A unfamiliar name was displayed there.
"Hmm? Han Hyang? Han Hyang? Wait, the Han Hyang I'm thinking of? Is it?"
"Yes! Isn't it insane?!"
"Who else could it be?"
"Whoa..."
The assistant director practically shoved his nose into the tablet, eyes bulging.
'Han Hyang?'
Curious about the unfamiliar name, Yeonwoo asked the staffer.
"Who is this that has the assistant director acting like that?"
"Gasp. Yeonwoo-ssi doesn't know Han Hyang? Well..."
"Move. Let me explain."
"Yeonwoo-ssi! Han Hyang is a film critic, and he's super famous!"
"Damn, you stole my thunder."
The staffers eagerly vied to explain just how big a deal he was, their excitement palpable.
"This guy's got a whopping 300,000 followers per platform."
"He's an online critic with a razor-sharp tongue that hits hard, and it resonates so well he's blown up."
"His reviews are gospel—people watch based on them!"
"He grades super stingily too. A 7 out of 10 from him is basically lavish praise."
"Ah... I see."
Their passionate rundown painted a clear picture of the type.
[I know Han Hyang too!]
Even the Child Spirit chimed in.
[The snarky intellectual type? How to put it... Yeah, the kind where you think he could kill with words alone! But weirdly, it's all fact-based, not curses, so... you just take the fact-beating and survive.]
Yeonwoo watched the Child Spirit shrug and thought.
"If a guy like that left a review... shouldn't we be on edge?"
A critic known for his venomous wit.
Everyone parroting the same warnings spoke volumes about his rep.
A review from him was bound to be scathing.
Yet the staffers' excitement suggested otherwise.
"No! It's the total opposite!"
"Pardon?"
"He gave it a whopping 9 out of 10!"
"That's... really good, right?"
Objectively, 9/10 was stellar.
But from a critic notorious for nitpicking?
'It clashes with everything they just described.'
Reading Yeonwoo's skepticism, the staffers nodded knowingly.
"You think it's weird too, right Yeonwoo-ssi? We did at first. Thought it was sarcasm, but nope."
"From what I see, he genuinely loved it. Huge win!"
"And a 9! Legendary first-ever 9 from him!"
"Han Hyang! Han Hyang! Han Hyang!"
A glint of fervor shone in the staffers' eyes.
They'd survived near-death shoots and shady investors, enduring mental and physical torment—no wonder tears welled up now.
For their blood, sweat, and tears to earn top marks from an infamously merciless critic.
[Definitely worth the high.]
The Child Spirit, who'd been listening in, nodded.
"Whoa... this is nuts."
The assistant director, having finished reading, lifted his head from the tablet and muttered.
"Kids... are we seriously heading for 10 million viewers...?"
"Ah, Assistant Director! Don't jinx it! ...But yeah, agreed."
"So Director Ji's a 10-million director from now on?!"
"Lemme see too, me too!"
Yeon Do-hee, who'd been chowing down on meat, jumped up and snatched the tablet.
Then declared.
"10 million viewers."
She lowered her voice solemnly, aligning with the staff.
"Yeonwoo-ssi, take a look. It's nothing but rave reviews!"
Yeonwoo took the proffered tablet and scanned the screen.
It showed Han Hyang's SNS page.
@onefragrance
[Photo][Photo][Photo][Photo]
Just back from The Most Beautiful Days premiere. Here's my take while the afterglow lingers.
No huge expectations going in. Romance flick? Anyone who knows me gets it—I'm utterly indifferent to the genre.
So the invite caught me off guard and piqued my interest.
'Confident enough to invite even someone like me?'
After watching, I had to concede their confidence was justified.
Straight up: the plot isn't spectacular. No, it's downright subdued.
But viewers will sense it—that gentle ripple seeping into the heart.
Haven't teared up in ages. I'm the guy always called ice-cold. Some joke my veins run with chill instead of blood. (Probably not joking.)
Yet there I was, tissues in hand before I knew it.
That sensation was long forgotten.
The warmth caressing the heart.
Sure, you could dismiss it as just another romance.
But that's not this film's true value.
It's one that touches deep-seated emotions. How many masterpieces do that?
Haven't seen one lately, that's for sure.
This movie dredges up old memories.
A love buried deep in the chest. First love.
Clumsy beyond words, fumbling and losing it.
Unrealized, unforgettable—etched eternally in memory and heart.
First love.
The flutters, pounding heart, fervent recollections resurface.
That's this film.
One that revives precious, long-forgotten moments.
Enough to thaw a cold fish like me(^^)—you can imagine.
I'd take this over brainless blockbusters any day.
It'll quench your parched soul, reawakening senses you'd lost.
The visuals are masterful, of course, and the actors' chops are unreal.
Special props for that ending—bravo.
No spoilers for those who haven't seen it.
Fresh out of the theater, this raw take ends here. Proper review soon.
Personal score: 9.
#TheMostBeautifulDays #9Stars #HanHyang #Critic #MustWatch #Masterpiece #KimJooYoungsEyesHauntMe #BringTissues #EndingPerfection
-What guts to invite Hyang-ssi? Emperor-level swagger.
-Missed premiere seatsㅠㅠㅠ Now I crave it more after your reviewㅜㅜ
-Wow... what else has Hyang ever scored this high?
-OP, like nothing?
-Wasn't Hyang only kind to animals??? Any critters in it????
-Don't do romance, but Hyang recommends... gotta watch.
-Honestly zero clue this rave was coming from the feedㅋㅋㅋ Twist-loving Hyang~
-9 stars = legend? He's never given one before?
-Dying to know what plot got Hyang gushing a 9—off to theaters.
-Wtf ending has every forum exploding??? Spoil???
-Rumors say open ending, but set photos show twins, so happy ending fix...?
-Happy or sad???
-That's the problem—we don't know.
-Gotta see the end to discuss, but spoiling sucks...
-OP plz spoilㅠㅠ?
-No.
-Did Hyang take bribes?
-Dude, don't you know he roasts sponsored stuff harder??
-TBPH budget looked too low to bribe...
-Distro seemed solid tho, premiere venue was no joke.
-Insane venue pics ㅗㅜㅑ lmao
-Hyped from Nutyube, your take amps it^^ Thx for details~^^
-Heard the news and bolted here. Grateful for the great reviewㅠㅠ
-Do-hee unnie, flower road from here!
-Yeonwoo too, flower road only!
Having read it slowly and thoroughly, Yeonwoo looked up from the screen.
"...Why's everyone staring like that?"
He glanced up to find them all gazing at him with sparkling eyes.
"How is it, Yeonwoo-ssi? Impressive, right?"
"Totally killer, yeah?"
Their anticipation was thick—they were dying for his take.
"Rumor has it Yeonwoo-ssi has killer instincts..."
"What do you think? Gonna crush?"
They practically begged for an optimistic verdict.
A negative would deflate those sky-high shoulders in an instant.
Not that Yeonwoo had any intention of raining on their parade.