Chapter 149
Translator: uly
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: A Very Special Broadcast (2)
A heavy silence descended, so profound that everyone in the room could feel it. It was just a few short words. Yet that single line felt like something massive thudding against their chests as it passed.
There were no dramatic facial expressions or deliberate staging. Just a low, brief, matter-of-fact voice. But the ripple from those few words swept through the studio—calmly, yet with undeniable weight.
A momentary hush. But the aftershocks lingered far longer. Had this been live TV, it might have escalated into a full-blown broadcast mishap.
What shattered the silence was Ki Han-hyang's voice ringing out sharply.
"Not editing this part might actually make it feel more real," the main PD thought, though Ki Han-hyang paid no mind and pressed on, his eyes flashing wide.
"Everyone. This is it. Those of you who know I don't mince words or give empty praise—you get it. That exact moment you just heard? That's the core keyword of the film! Anyone who's seen it will agree completely! I just got chills. Camera director, zoom in here, please."
Ki Han-hyang boldly rolled up his sleeve to expose his forearm, and the camera duly closed in for a tight shot.
"Those who haven't seen the movie yet might not get it, but this is the absolute alpha and omega. That's why I requested this clip specifically!"
Truth be told, Ki Han-hyang wasn't usually this passionate. Even he recognized that about himself. But right now, he couldn't help it. Of course not.
'How can I not get fired up with Yeowon and Juyeong right here!'
He could sense the slightly flustered glances from Yeonwoo and Yeon Do-hee. But Ki Han-hyang just smiled contentedly to himself.
'Today, I'm gonna properly hype up our Yeowon and Juyeong. It'd be a crime to let this chance slip by!'
A good movie would gain traction eventually. But if it was destined to shine anyway, why not roll out the red carpet from the very start?
Ki Han-hyang's fervent explanation continued.
"Remember this: watch the intro narration, then see it through to the end, and you'll understand what I mean. Seriously, remember—listen to that intro narration. You know those people who always show up late to the theater, even with ten minutes of ads playing? Yeah, I know it's just some inconsiderate folks."
Indeed, the world was full of rude people! Ki Han-hyang utterly despised them. People who couldn't even show basic respect to a film!
Every minute of a movie's runtime was the crystallized sweat and blood of countless creators.
-"Getting all worked up over just five minutes late. And with a face like a picky carp to boot..."
Once, when he'd received a comment like that, Ki Han-hyang had unleashed a torrent of over five thousand characters of scathing rebuke at the commenter. Do you have any idea how much time goes into those five minutes? At least a few hours, minimum! Some insane directors waste days or even weeks on the opening alone. The intro was crucial—it had to hook the audience right away.
And to skip that? Especially for a film like this? The mere thought of such rudeness made his neck tense up.
"You all can relate, I'm sure. How utterly inconsiderate and obnoxious those clueless latecomers are. They barge in, disrupting everyone else's viewing. I get it—maybe they're busy or have some huge excuse—but it's selfish. They're late, but they don't want to waste their ticket money, so they disturb others anyway. 'One person won't make a difference,' they think. Not okay at all."
Exactly. This film absolutely could not be started late. Or interrupted by someone else!
He paused for a split second.
'Whoops. I promised the PD I'd tone it down...'
This was mild compared to his usual. He'd watered it down so much it was bland and vague. Normally, he wouldn't worry...
'But I can't let it cause trouble for my kids.'
He didn't know when the characters Juwon and Yeowon had become "his kids" in his mind, but Ki Han-hyang was dead serious.
Fortunately, a quick glance at the PD showed no issues. These people had been thrilled at the idea of having him on despite knowing his reputation, so this was probably nothing.
Emboldened by the unflappable crew, Ki Han-hyang kept going.
"If you're running late, just skip it altogether. This movie is not one you can stroll into midway. Watch it again later. Please don't be the idiot who misses the opening. Viewers will thank me for teaching them not to be late."
One hundred percent sincere. Ki Han-hyang couldn't stomach the idea of latecomers missing the film's piercing through-line from start to finish, then whining, "This is boring? The romance is cheesy and dull."
'No! You're the one who showed up late—don't blame the movie!'
But the problems didn't end there. Late arrivals killed immersion! This film connected with the audience from the first frame. It wasn't some rare spectacle like superheroes stopping a monster from space. It tapped into everyday, universal emotions anyone could relate to. The director reworked those familiar memories, infusing them with something extraordinary.
To feel that magic, you couldn't be late. No exceptions.
'Alright. Nailed the most important point. Time to move on.'
The film's appeal wasn't just that. Ki Han-hyang began unpacking every insight he'd gleaned, one by one.
"They say even a perfectly crafted story sweats the smallest details—props, backgrounds, everything. 'The Most Beautiful Days' is no different. Nothing's overlooked. Pay special attention to the backgrounds. They subtly reveal the characters' psychological shifts and current states."
As pre-arranged, he pointed to spots marked for CG overlay.
Ever heard of "late-to-the-fandom regret"? That's exactly where Ki Han-hyang was. He wasn't even aware of it himself, but superfans get obsessive about their obsession. And that's probably when it started—his words accelerating into a torrent.
"For example, take this early scene from the trailer you're seeing now. A street packed with office workers, but no one seems to notice each other. It could pass as everyday life, or you could read it as satire. Alienation of the individual. The protagonist's bitterness at thinking the world would spin on fine without them, mirrored in mundane society."
"The backgrounds' deeper meanings persist beyond the opener. Even the travel destination where the protagonist takes off isn't ordinary. Look at those crumbling ruins. They symbolize the protagonist's mental devastation—and latent hope. It's like the metaphor in Hermann Hesse's Demian: 'The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born must destroy a world.' The ruined ruins are a broken world. The protagonist arrives there. And meets the other protagonist, who shows her a new one. A place of despair and hope."
"The forest represents their freedom from society's rules and norms..."
"And keep an eye on the recurring 'water' motif. Pouring rain, the seaside, and so on. Water evaporates through vaporization, then... reconvenes from different places, merging into one..."
Ki Han-hyang snapped back to reality mid-pitch.
'Oh no... I've been hogging the spotlight while propping up my faves!'
Ki Han-hyang, who'd never once cared about others' opinions his whole life. He prided himself on never being wrong, even if his delivery divided people. So he wasn't worried about his analysis. But one thing nagged.
'...Did I come off too fangirly?!'
For him, movies were hobby and job. He'd never poured his whole heart into loving one like this. His first "fandom" experience was clumsily enthusiastic. He'd never second-guessed himself mid-review.
For the first time, clutching his pounding heart, Ki Han-hyang glanced toward Yeonwoo and Yeon Do-hee.
And.
'Gasp!'
His breath nearly stopped.
Ki Han-hyang was sensitive to others' emotions. But sensitivity didn't mean he let it affect him. Ignoring what he knew—that was his way.
But now was different. If the actors behind his beloved characters disliked him, even Ki Han-hyang would feel hurt.
That's why he'd worried and checked their reactions... But the eyes looking back held no blame or disgust.
Quite the opposite—pure fondness.
The exact gaze that had made him fall for Juyeong.
'This... is totally Juyeong?!'
Movie characters and real actors were worlds apart. He knew that well. The tragic lover transcending death in the film might be a serial cheater in real life. The vile backstabber could be a kind soul who volunteered daily and wouldn't hurt a fly.
His initial impression of Yeonwoo had been one-sided: "Debut role—how good can the acting be? ...Well, clean-cut face. Narrow field of male actors these days anyway."
But after the film, his view shifted: 'A standout talent emerged. Keep growing steadily, avoid career-killers, scandals, self-sabotaging SNS posts... and he'll be a solid actor.'
That was it. A promising talent.
Yet once his guard dropped, boundaries blurred. If he liked Juyeong, now the actor who played her, Yeonwoo, looked better the more he saw.
He couldn't explain why, but the fondness kept growing...
For the first time in his lone-wolf life, Ki Han-hyang found an actor he felt close to—maybe even a fan of.
While Ki Han-hyang underwent this seismic shift...
The very Yeonwoo who'd thrown him into turmoil was lost in entirely different thoughts.
'It's fascinating. Famous critic, my ass—his approach is downright peculiar.'