Chapter 151
Translator: uly
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Look Twice, Look Thrice (2)
2022.03.31.
The theaters on opening day had seemed a touch leisurely.
But even that began to shift, hour by hour.
First day of release.
Word of mouth from those who caught the very first morning shows started spreading like wildfire.
[This is seriously a gem....... I know my generation's all living these dry, hollow lives lately. This'll heal you.]
[Got totally swept up for the whole under-two-hour runtime. It brought back memories of first love I'd forgotten, and now I'm craving a poignant cup of tea tonight.]
[You can't explain this one without seeing it;; Strongly recommend for anyone with dry eyes b]
The reviews pouring into communities everywhere were like that, but Ki Han-hyang's SNS post played a big role too.
@onefragrance
[Photo][Photo][Photo]
Happiest day^^
First broadcast appearance in ages!
Thanks to all the PDs and writers for your understanding.
Everyone, Sunday at 11 a.m.!
X Channel lock-in!
You'll be shocked when you see who the guest is~!
#BroadcastFilming #Happy #TheMostBeautifulDays #YeonDohee #KangYeonwoo #YeoWonJooYoung #Movie #Critic #HanHyang #9Points #OpeningSoon #ChannelLock
Not like Ki Han-hyang at all.
But that was more than enough to fan the flames.
Especially since the episode that aired the next day left viewers doubting their own eyes.
Netizens went back and forth debating it.
Han-hyang, already a big online name known for his aggressive style that pulls aggro like nobody's business.
He didn't just stir trouble—his movie critiques earned real respect, giving him serious clout.
And now here he was, openly showing this much favor.
Naturally, the buzz exploded, drawing in even people who hadn't cared about the movie.
The first uproar hit his post's comments, predictably.
-Hyang-nim, did your account get hacked by any chance?
-If it's not hacked, this feed makes zero sense;;;;
-If you got hacked, shake a carrot pls
-Why's everyone reacting like this?
-You see that last episode? Male idol broke down crying, total broadcast accident. Of course it feels off.
-Yeah got it ㄱㅅㄱㅅ
-Wtf is this movie that Han-hyang's hyping so hard? Can't wrap my head around it;
Anyone who knew Ki Han-hyang was split—hacking theories flying.
But the episode that aired the very next day threw everyone for a loop in all sorts of ways.
[Anyone catch Hyang-nim's broadcast today...?]
-Saw X Company on my schedule and thought maybe, but it was real. Boom......!
Hyang-nim on a show was wild enough, but I kept doubting my eyes the whole time......?
Am I the only one who felt the bias?
(Comments)
-That guy's not usually all soft and gentle like that...... Hit me right away like 'honey dripping from his eyes' ㅇㅇ
-You too......? Me too!
-Twin theory gang rising, you in?
-lololol Doppelganger rumors somewhere else but here it's twins lolol
-Lately his reviews felt a bit routine, but that broadcast was pure passion; Analyzed it like a damn thesis, all glowing praise lol
-ㄱㄹㄱㄹ Even for good movies he'd nitpick something, so this is weird af ㅎㅎ;
-Maybe cuz of Yeon Do-hee? She's a goddess.
-Nah. You must've missed him roasting X-ssi in Movie X......
-"Why did you worry?" <- That line, just me? Even as a fan, that fake concern slayed me lololol
-Me living to see Hyang-nim like that......
-He was calling her by her character name by the end lololol
[Hyang-nim stanning?]
-Yep, guilty^^...
[SNS screenshot]
[SNS screenshot]
[SNS screenshot]
Look at this, total stan behavior^^...
(Comments)
-If real, S-tier stan ㅇㅇ Who appears on a show just to stan?
-But fr no joke;; Thesis-level post wtf lololol
-I love it ㅎㅎ! Sharing a fave with Hyang-nim? What luck ㅠㅠㅠ Feels like he'll break down every crumb at the nano level, can't wait
-But ain't it movie-stanning, not actor?
-He's stanning the movie...... and the actors...... so both right?^^777
-Stanning movie so hard but already vibes like he's praising Do-hee unnie lol
-Cuz of Ki Han-hyang, Do-hee unnie and our Yeonwoo gotta fake-marry now lol
-Greatest crackship born......
*
“I should at least give Han-hyang a thank-you.”
The little spark Ki Han-hyang had tossed up.
Word of mouth begat more word of mouth, people drawing in people.
Like strapping a booster rocket on.
Even amid exhaustion piling up from near-nationwide stage greeting tours, the assistant director's face wore a satisfied smile.
Dark circles down to his jaw from fatigue, but he didn't care.
“Anyway, we're closing in on two million already—time to make good on that promise, right?”
38% reservation rate on release day.
Opening score of about 250,000 tickets.
Compared to Korea's all-time box office records, a wildly anomalous start.
Romance genre norms had predicted half this or less, but it smashed right through.
[The Most Beautiful Days Tops Korean Films as Fondest Memory Rekindled......]
[Blockbuster Vibes: The Most Beautiful Days Hits No. 1 Reservations!]
[Surpassing Past Romances for No. 1 Record, The Most Beautiful Days!]
Articles flooded in, naturally.
Chaos everywhere.
Not just the production—actors were swamped with calls too.
Amid it all, some stayed unflappable.
-As I said, Yeonwoo-ssi. Told you it'd succeed.
Kwon Sung-hyun, with his gentle smile and "Knew it" vibe.
-Hmm. A bit underwhelming compared to my expectations......
Woo Do-gyeom, furrowing his thick brows like something was off.
Those two were the ones.
Excluding them, everyone was stunned that a quiet romance flick could blow up like this.
Word was, Director Ji chewed two calming pills after hearing the scores......
The initial results were shockingly huge, but the real shock hit from day two.
-70% reservations? Real? Data error?
-KOFIC system doesn't glitch, so probably legit?
-Check again. Might be nationwide reality prank on us.
-Right......? Kinda feels like it......?
Assistant Director Jo dead serious.
Staff taking it just as seriously.
Everyone lost in the numbers, beyond all expectations.
-70%......
Nearly double.
Weekend helped, but word of mouth was massive.
Day two: nearly a million poured in.
The Most Beautiful Days, low-budget at heart despite Qingwang's sudden cash injection.
Everyone melted like cats on catnip at scores double day one's.
The one cool head?
-Everyone, this is real—snap out of it.
Yeon Do-hee.
-Do-hee-ssi, you're not shocked at all? Look at me—heart's pounding like it'll punch through my ribs...
-Of course I'm shocked. But too early to celebrate. Just opened—stay calm. That's pro, right?
Like snapping out of group hypnosis, everyone nodded sharply.
Yeonwoo included.
Yeonwoo's daze had a different cause.
[SUCCESS: Lifespan harvested.]
[Harvested Lifespan: 2 days]
[SUCCESS: Lifespan harvested.]
[Harvested Lifespan: 4 days]
[SUCCESS: Lifespan harvested.]
[Harvested Lifespan: 1 day]
[SUCCESS....]
[Harvested....]
Lifespans updating in real time, nonstop.
'Mind's totally shot.'
Lifespans vanishing pointlessly for all sorts of reasons.
What Yeonwoo harvested was just a sliver of those wasted ones.
A tiny fraction of what would've been lost without him.
'Rare to get this explosive influx lately. Feels weird.'
Clear-cut drama messages.
Music encompassing full emotional spectrum.
Easy to see their impact.
Even his insomnia-curing voice.
Reasons were clear enough.
But.
'Picked this movie for influence, not lifespan.'
How much sway does romance have over life to yield this?
How massive is love's domain?
[SUCCESS: Lifespan harvested.]
[Harvested Lifespan: 1 day]
[SUCCESS....]
[Harvested....]
Lifespans kept rolling in steadily.
Whatever. No clue.
Yeonwoo gave up deep thought.
'Good is good, right?'
Incoming lifespans meant he'd touched someone's life enough to save part of it.
Mutual aid, basically.
That's how he'd frame it.
Definitely not because love felt alien.
Definitely not some "mosigi" word thing.
Definitely.
“So, what's the promise gonna be?”
Day four of release.
Scores well past a million.
Reality sinking in, staff and cast calmer than before.
“We planned first promise at two mil, bit late now—how about thanks at two, promise after?”
Near two mil in one week.
Rewriting romance history.
Everyone nodded at Yeon Do-hee's idea.
“Then one big bow! Promise after. Three mil: date as Yeo-won and Joo-young!”
Key: as characters Yeo-won and Joo-young, not themselves.
“If we hit it, this'll be my first promise kept.”
Staff faces hardened at her beaming smile.
“Three mil easy!”
“Folks already rewatching—three mil no sweat!”
Even,
“Do-hee-ssi...... I'll...... make it...... somehow......”
Director Ji steeling himself to her.
Talk says ten mil's the era.
But countless films prove how brutal it is.
Hitting a mil day one, half a mil in first week? Crashes week two.
The Most Beautiful Days crushed first week, but next? Unknown.
“No. Think positive. Thoughts become reality, right?”
True to the stubborn soul who'd stuck with directing through flops.
“Hm. Promises mapped to seven mil...... Ten mil, what though?”
“Cross that bridge later. Time left. For now...... focus on work?”
Chit-chat over.
Yeon Do-hee seized the chaos.
[Did you enjoy the movie? We've got special guests here today. Give 'em a hand!]
Emcee's booming voice from outside.
Stage greetings starting.
Theater staff flung open the thick soundproof doors.
Time to work.