Chapter 145
Translator: uly
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Audience Milestone Promise (2)
“I already thought it would do well, so you don’t need to worry.”
As expected, the staff brightened up like kids who’d just been praised by their teacher. They were such pure-hearted people.
“See? Told you.”
“With Yeonwoo saying it like that, it really feels like it’s going to be a hit.”
“Yeah. It’s already doing well, but now it feels like it’s going to do even better... like that gut feeling, you know?”
Yeonwoo smiled.
“We decided to take part in this movie because we thought it would do well from the start, right?”
“Oh...”
“Now that you mention it, yeah. So we were destined for success all along.”
“Exactly. Getting stranded on that island was probably our bad luck getting flushed out. I really thought we were all goners back then...”
“And who would’ve thought cynical, sarcastic Han Hyang would give it such rave reviews.”
“Han Hyang was totally unexpected. I’m a fan of his myself—maybe I’ll ask for an autograph if I meet him? Think he’d sign it if I say I’m from this movie’s staff?”
“With reactions this good, he just might.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, their heads bobbing up and down as they huddled together.
From what he’d heard, Han Hyang was usually pretty cynical toward anyone in the entertainment industry, aside from regular folks. He barely had any personal connections, either.
“The ending reactions are more positive than I expected...”
“I thought there’d be spoilers flying around, but people are holding back since the feedback’s good. Pretty amazing.”
Part of Woo Do-gyeom’s marketing push had focused on the ending.
They hadn’t intentionally made it ambiguous. But when the circumstances aligned in a vague way, Woo Do-gyeom turned it into a marketing hook.
The photo of the twins visiting the set with him was the centerpiece.
And it had worked like a charm.
[Anyone been to the preview screening...?]
-Can someone just tell me if it’s a happy ending? I keep seeing people crying everywhere and I don’t know why;;; Happy tears? Or the opposite?? No one’s giving a straight answer and it’s killing meㅠㅠ
(Comments)
-No spoilers plz
ㄴDon’t do that, please tell usㅠㅠ Happy ending fanatic hereㅠㅠ
ㄴNope
-Soooo honestly, I don’t think it matters even if you know beforehand...
ㄴWait, so you’re gonna spill?
ㄴNah?
ㄴYou just said it doesn’t matterㅠㅠ
ㄴDidn’t say I’d tell ya^^
-ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
ㄴWhy are you cryingㅠㅠㅠ??
ㄴJust got back from the preview
ㄴCan you tell me the ending?
ㄴSure. No.
ㄴㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-Just wait and see. No one dies or anything, so don’t worry.
ㄴFor real? Not a sad ending thenㅠ Gotta see it when it releases!
ㄴOh dear...
ㄴThe Lord’s little lamb returns to His side...
ㄴ??? Why is everyone like this??? You’re making me anxiousㅠㅠ
The preview attendees seemed determined not to spoil the ending, even if they had to hold it in.
What was it? With all the buzz around the controversial ending, there was this unspoken solidarity not to ruin it early?
‘They’re all strangers to each other, but...’
Yeonwoo couldn’t fathom how they clicked so well.
Either way, it was good news for the movie team.
“Our movie’s ending is already turning into a meme... This is perfect.”
Sure enough.
“Wow, reporters are quick. There’s already an article on Han Hyang’s rating.”
The journalists, always sniffing out the hottest scoops, had pounced.
“No way. Already?”
“Where? Let’s see. What’s it say?”
“He raved about it, and we were the first. Even the reporter’s shocked.”
They hadn’t eaten their fill of the delicious meat... but they’d gotten a good whiff. And with throats parched from scrolling reactions, they’d downed plenty of sweet alcohol instead. How could they not be grinning?
“There’s another article.”
“What’s that one say?”
“‘Unusual Scene at Preview Screening... Attendees United in Hiding the Movie’s Ending.’ ‘Press joining the production in holding back reports before release isn’t uncommon, but regular attendees clamming up too is highly unusual’... ‘Online, a rare sight of people analyzing the ending’... ‘Users venting frustration over the release date.’”
Looked like they’d be glued to their phones and tablets for a while.
‘I thought it wouldn’t help at all, but surprisingly...’
It caught Yeonwoo off guard.
When Woo Do-gyeom said he’d use his own kids for fake marketing, Yeonwoo had wondered if it was necessary.
But.
‘It’s... actually helping. A lot.’
Say what you will about a guy who built his throne with his own hands?
Yeonwoo glanced over at Woo Do-gyeom with newfound respect.
Then quickly whipped his head away.
‘Nearly suffocated there.’
Woo Do-gyeom and Kwon Sung-hyun were still in their seats, even with Yeonwoo gone from between them.
But the vibe between them was awful.
No words were exchanged, but it felt suffocating just looking at them. Like watching a scene from a horror painting, even as they silently sipped their drinks.
‘I didn’t see that. Nope.’
No loyalty here to wedge in and break that frozen tension.
When Yeonwoo turned back.
Yeon Do-hee, who’d been excitedly scrolling her phone with the staff, looked up.
“Yeonwoo-ssi!”
“Yes.”
Yeonwoo answered the voice calling out with her hand raised high.
Yeon Do-hee jumped up and hurried over, plopping down across from Director Ji.
“Huh? Yeonwoo-ssi, you’re grilling the meat?”
“Yes. Want some?”
“Hmm... Director Ji might cry if I do, so I’ll pass.”
The pace had slowed since the start, but Yeonwoo kept steadily grilling.
Grilling was just repetitive manual labor anyway—no interruptions needed.
“But anyway... that’s not the point right now.”
“Yes. What is it?”
At Yeonwoo’s reply, Yeon Do-hee’s eyes sparkled.
“When we officially release, wanna do that thing? You know?”
“That thing?”
“You know, that! The audience milestone promise!”
Yeonwoo blinked in confusion.
“Audience milestone promise? What’s that?”
It sounded like some kind of pledge tied to a promise.
“Well, it’s... for movie promo, actors promise to do something every time the audience count hits a certain number. Hard to pin down exactly...”
As Yeonwoo tilted his head, unsure, Yeon Do-hee pulled out her phone and showed him.
“Seeing is believing! Better than a hundred explanations!”
He took the phone politely. A single photo filled the screen.
Yeonwoo’s eyes widened.
“Not a still cut... Is this from an article?”
It showed one buff actor punching another. Easy to mistake for assault, so he asked. The watching assistant director choked on his beer.
“We have wet wipes here.”
“Thanks... But Yeonwoo-ssi, that’s not from an article... It’s from that XX movie’s actors doing their 8-million promise.”
“Oh.”
“Do-hee-ssi, of all things to show him...”
“Yeah, my bad. I admit it. Yeonwoo-ssi, there are tons of other promises. Dancing, holding signs with messages, striking poses—you name it. I showed that one ‘cause it’s a unique, popular one...”
Of course, it nearly gave clueless Yeonwoo the wrong idea about industry norms.
“Does this help with promo?”
“It does. Big time. So? You in?”
Yeon Do-hee’s eyes sparkled again.
“If it helps promo, of course.”
“Great choice! Let’s brainstorm what to do. I love this stuff.”
Then she added solemnly.
“...I’ve never once succeeded at a promise before.”
Yeon Do-hee’s nickname, whispered in Chungmuro and now known even to the public: Goddess of Box Office Flops. Every movie she touched tanked spectacularly.
“...We’ll make it this time.”
Yeon Do-hee nodded at Yeonwoo’s calm words.
“Of course! This one’s definitely a hit. Where should we start?”
“Hmm. Starting too big early might jinx it, so let’s play it safe?”
The assistant director chimed in.
“How about 2 million to start? Then one more every million after. Sound good?”
“Ooh, Assistant Director! That’s smart. Big numbers feel too vague... This way, it’s motivating, hitting them closer together.”
“Right? Short and sweet beats spread out for promo.”
“Cool, 2 million start, then every million. Done.”
“Oh, and nothing too extreme. Like that tooth-pulling one.”
“Oh yeah, I know that. They chickened out, right?”
“What was it the actor there said? Caused some backlash.”
“You know, eating 10 portions of donkatsu at once.”
“Yeah. Got flak for messing with food.”
“Better avoid controversy...”
“Yeah. Ours is romance—let’s keep it fresh and lovey-dovey.”
They bonded instantly, deep in heated discussion.
Soon, other staff gathered, tossing in ideas.
“How about epilogue-style photos? Like, Yeo-won and Joo-young in the outfits from their last brush-by scene.”
“Good idea. Eases the lingering regret.”
“With that ending, how about them being all couple-y? Upload a date video!”
“Not bad.”
“Handwritten love letters? Thanks to the audience too...”
“Sold!”
Ideas piled up, turning into a full-blown brainstorm.
Director Ji, slipping back to watch with interest, murmured to Yeonwoo.
“Nothing left but waiting, so this fills the time. Promo bonus too. Win-win.”
“Smart approach.”
Then one staffer dropped a fresh idea.
“How about twins with Yeo-won and Joo-young, like that fake promo?”
“Won’t that kill the ending’s aftertaste?”
“Not too early then—as a later promise. At 7-8 million, they’ll be begging for a sequel. Fulfills that demand!”
“Wow... 7-8 million. Sounds amazing.”
“Hey, we could hit 10 million!”
“Man, love to, but reality bites. Anyway, need permission for that one?”
“Twins loved the set—they’ll be fine.”
“Still need guardian approval.”
“If the kids like it, the guardian will obviously...”
Their excited back-and-forth halted.
Come to think of it, those cute little twin angels’ guardian was...
“...”
“...”
Silence fell.
The idea guy’s face hardened like wax.
Creak—
Awkward as that sound, all heads swiveled one way.
Toward the twins’ guardian.
Woo Do-gyeom.
And they screamed inwardly.
“Having an intriguing discussion, I see.”
The subject himself had approached unnoticed.