Chapter 78
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78
“…A PD?”
“Yep! The protagonist of this drama is a variety show producer.”
Only then did my interest pique slightly. As I met his eyes, Jeong Da-jun’s face instantly brightened, and he handed me the script as if urging me to read it first.
Since I’d promised to look at it, I figured a quick glance wouldn't hurt. As I took the script, Da-jun gave a wide grin.
“Hyung, once you read it, you’ll change your mind.”
I snorted, naturally.
“Not a chance.”
.
.
.
…Actually, there was a chance.
I had returned to the dorm in the early hours of the morning after practice, my body melting with exhaustion, yet I couldn't pull myself away from the script once I started. Thanks to that, I had to head to a meeting with the planning team in a daze, having barely slept a few hours.
‘Well, now.’
“How is it, hyung?! It’s so good, right?”
“Yeah, it’s interesting.”
First of all, it was entertaining. There was a reason Jeong Da-jun had been clamoring for the next script after finishing this one in the morning.
They say Korean dramas prioritize a constant stream of "inciting incidents" over a traditional narrative structure to hook viewers, but this one maintained interest until the end by skillfully scattering foreshadowing in between.
Furthermore, while it stayed true to the realities of a broadcasting station, it glossed over the parts that needed to move quickly with plausible fiction, never losing its tension.
It was a "two-top" lead story disguised as a romance.
The protagonist was a rookie PD who followed the female lead into the station, but he was secretly a chaebol heir (an essential element for drama ratings). There was a backstory where his family had ruined the female lead’s family, forcing him to hide his feelings for her.
“Writer Kim Suk-hee is a total genius, don't you think?”
“She is a genius.”
I’d laid it out in detail, but those plot points weren't what mattered to me.
“Right! Right! And doesn't Lee Jeong-hun remind you exaaaactly of yourself, hyung?”
“…Hmm.”
Yes, that was the part that bothered me immensely.
I slowly stroked my chin.
“Jeong Da-jun, you see it too?”
“Huh? Isn't it obvious?”
The character Lee Jeong-hun in Please Take Care of the Camera was thirty-three, not much older than the protagonist and "experienced rookie" Yoo Jeong-hwa. However, he was a ratings-guaranteed PD who had taken the most elite path—graduating at the top of his class, entering the station with the highest scores, and never hesitating to play dirty.
A rude personality, a man who would do anything for the sake of ratings… Right.
‘Doesn't this sound suspiciously familiar?’
“Ah, I’m getting hyped again! I’m going to rewatch the summary video before we leave!”
“Sure~.”
Da-jun barked excitedly for a while before disappearing into his room, saying he was going to watch the summary video of Please Give Me Cider on his phone.
Left alone, the system window popped up.
Ding!
[I think I know what Mr. Seo Ho-yun is thinking…]
It always showed up at the perfect time.
I stared at it intently and threw out a question.
“Hey.”
I fluttered the script and asked.
“This is just me, isn't it?”
Exactly.
PD Lee Jeong-hun? Don't give me that crap; this was basically a carbon copy of my life.
Of course, since he was a supporting character, his family history was completely omitted, but this prickly personality was definitely mine.
Even if the speech patterns or character traits were similar, his profession and actions couldn't possibly be this identical by chance.
“What is this? You know something, don't you?”
There was no way this was just a staggering coincidence. As I glared at the system window, the entity, which had been silent for a moment, popped up again.
[Mr. Seo Ho-yun.]
“What.”
Then, it suddenly sent me a link. It was the first time it had shown me something through a search function rather than a dialogue window, so my mouth hung open slightly.
The title was: [“Narcissism” in people with high self-love—what is the cure?]
[Hello!! (Emoticon)
Today, I’m going to tell you how to treat narcissism! (Emoticon)
It’s surprisingly common in people around us, isn't it? T_T (Emoticon)
It can be quite flustering at times~ (Emoticon)
So, today we looked into how to treat narcissism!! (Emoticon)]
“…….”
Did it actually tell me how to treat it?
The more I looked at it… the more meaningless the post was. As I stood there with my mouth agape in absurdity, the system window added one last comment.
[You’re just overflowing with self-love… hehe. Give this a read!! Recommended!!]
= Let’s prevent excessive self-consciousness and reclaim a healthy life.
I glared at the system window, then lowered my head with a sigh.
‘This little bastard….’
It was going out of its way to screw with me. I set the script down and tapped the table.
“Is that so?”
Who do you think you’re trying to play?
“Then shall I, a narcissist overflowing with self-love, find out for myself whether that’s true or not?”
[……Pardon?]
“Because I do find myself flustered at times. I think if I confirm whether it’s true or not, I’ll be cured.”
The system window went silent at my words. It had been displaying a list of meaningless blog posts like a phone AI just a second ago, but now it was running away because its conscience was pricked. This strange reaction, the first of its kind, made me even more certain.
‘How should I look into this?’
Harassing Kim Jae-yeon wouldn't yield any answers, and reading the script again didn't seem like it would provide more hints.
That left only one conclusion….
‘I have no choice but to ask the writer directly.’
I organized my thoughts and slotted the script into the bookshelf. Jeong Da-jun, who had finished his video and come out of his room, eyed it covetously, but I had no intention of giving it to him.
Just then, the other members, having finished getting ready for the office, poured out of their rooms and asked.
“Ho-yun. By the way, what’s that meeting with the planning office about?”
“We’re going to do some Nutube self-produced content.”
“Huh?”
For Kim Seong-hyeon, who tilted his head as if asking what I was talking about, I kindly explained once more.
“A rural healing program.”
“…Huuuh?”
Kim Seong-hyeon asked again as if I were talking nonsense… but I just smiled.
What?
I actually really like healing programs.
* * *
A rural healing program.
It was a concept that had worked in Korea for nearly twenty years.
“Pardon? Could you say that one more time?”
The planning team, who had been wearing expressions that said, ‘Oh, this guy again,’ made a rather strange face when I proposed the project. The rest of the members seemed to be letting their imaginations run wild, their faces flushed with excitement.
Sure, enjoy yourselves for now.
“A rural healing program.”
“Uh… you mean self-produced content?”
“Yes. I’d like you to upload it to The Dawn’s official channel.”
With the exception of the youngest staff member, Lee Ji-hyeon—though even her expression wasn't great—I could see everyone’s faces shift from "strange" to "we just finished promotions, do we really have to do more right now?" But I remained steadfast.
“May I ask the reason?”
The team leader sighed and raised a hand in surrender as she asked. It was her way of saying, ‘Since Seo Ho-yun is pushing for it, we’ll end up doing it anyway, so let’s at least hear the reason.’ I replied with a shy smile.
“Because I want to communicate with the fans….”
“…….”
“…That didn't work, did it?”
I was quite sincere, but the reaction was freezing.
“Alright, fine. We all know the reason. Will the album-related content be enough? We have to survive during the off-season too.”
“Yes….”
“Now, let’s get to the point. What is the most important thing about self-produced content? Kim Seong-hyeon, what do you think?”
“Me?”
Kim Seong-hyeon blinked.
“Dance… practice?”
“Wrong.”
“Vocal practice…?”
“Wrong!!”
“I feel like your ‘wrongs’ are getting more cheerful…?”
It’s just your imagination.
Now, let me show you a model example.
“Lee Ji-hyeon.”
“Yes!”
“Give us the model answer. If you were a fan of an idol, what would you want to know about them?”
“I’m into 2D characters these days, though.”
“I know. Just speak as if it were about someone you like.”
Lee Ji-hyeon hesitated… then began to pour it out.
“I… want to know what he’s eating lately, what he likes—”
Everyone nodded as if they understood, but Ji-hyeon couldn't stop there.
“—his height, his weight, his playlist, what kind of umbrella he uses when it rains, how he holds his chopsticks when he eats….”
“…….”
“…I’m suddenly getting mad. Why doesn't the original creator give us those crumbs?”
“Yes, thank you. That’s more than enough.”
There’s probably a reason they don't give out those crumbs.
“…What was that?”
“What did I just hear…?”
Leaving the guys behind, who were gaping at the unexpected intensity, I quickly stopped Lee Ji-hyeon and began to wrap things up. It seemed I would have to provide the model example myself.
“It means we should show the daily lives of The Dawn. Just as Ji-hyeon said, I think it’s a great source to show what kind of food they like, what songs they enjoy, and what they do on their days off.”
While Ji-hyeon continued to grumble beside me, saying, “The author is too much,” Kim Seong-hyeon still tilted his head as if he didn't quite understand.
“Then how can that daily life fans want be revealed in a rural healing program?”
“Me!”
Kang Yi-chae raised his hand.
“Yes, Yi-chae.”
“I think I get it after hearing Ji-hyeon. A self-sufficient rural healing program!”
“And what does that mean?”
“Isn't it that they want to see us picking wild greens, chopping firewood, cooking our own meals, and just hanging out together?”
“Bingo. That’s exactly it.”
“What should I do if I, Yi-chae, get any more perfect…?”
“Don't praise yourself.”
Kang Yi-chae let out an exclamation of admiration and patted his own shoulder. Then, he sent a mischievous look toward Seong Ji-won, who simply chuckled.
“For now, we’ll run it as a pilot program, and if the reaction isn't bad, we’ll make it a regular series.”
“That means… the location… the filming equipment….”
“I’d like it ready within a week.”
“Pardon?”
“Within a week, please.”
“…….”
I gave a beaming smile. No matter how much they resisted, I was capable of being an even bigger nuisance.
‘As expected, bossing people around is the most fun!’
To be honest, the planning team only had a handful of people, and since they had to handle all the celebrities under Daepasung, I knew they weren't short on work.
But I was also 120% sincere about The Dawn succeeding. To raise an idol, this much was a given.
Ignoring the planning team, who looked like they wanted to spit on me to feel better, I turned to the members.
“I’m going to talk a bit more before I head out. You guys go ahead.”
“Oh, hyung. Can we leave it to you?”
“You’ll just be in the way if you stay.”
“Oh my, how cold!”
“Go.”
“Beautiful Yi-chae is hurt, so he’s leaving first~. I need to go prepare the T-shirt I’m going to wear for the shoot!”
“T-shirt?”
“Look forward to it~.”
Kang Yi-chae winked and stood up first. I let out a silent laugh at how quickly he picked up on the cue to leave.
‘You’ve got incredible intuition too.’
By now, all the members were experts at reading the room, but Kang Yi-chae was far and away the best.
“Good work.”
“Good work, everyone~!”
As the members and some of the planning team filed out, leaving me with the manager, the planning team leader, and Lee Ji-hyeon, I made sure the members were definitely gone.
“This is suspicious….”
The planning team leader, sensing something, glanced at me before speaking.
“What is?”
“It’s surprising because you brought something so strangely normal. I mean, rural healing is a steady genre, but… you’re the one who brought it, Mr. Seo Ho-yun. I can't imagine you thinking of such a peaceful concept.”
“Why? I like healing.”
“Hahahaha. They say people always want what they don't have. Right?”
“I suppose so. Is that what you’re feeling lately, Team Leader?”
“…….”
The team leader’s laughter stopped abruptly, like a staccato. Then, she asked quietly.
“What are you aiming for? Are you looking for fan reactions like, ‘Ho-yun suggested this healing concept, sob sob. Our genius idol is even perfect at planning’?”
“Oh, Team Leader. Wouldn't it be more like, ‘Ho-yun pretended he wasn't, but he actually wanted to do a healing variety show like this. Yes, our baby, do whatever you want’?”
“…….”
Ding!
[…That actually sounds like a plausible reaction.]
Exactly. The planning team must be monitoring things diligently lately.
“…I hadn't thought that far, but that’s not bad.”
“I’m seriously curious why Seo Ho-yun is like this….”
“Just how did he grow up to be like that?”
As I stroked my chin and murmured, the team leader and Lee Ji-hyeon waved their hands as if they were repulsed. I held back the urge to answer that you end up like me if you grow up struggling to raise a younger brother ten years your junior, and returned to the main point.
“Anyway. Read this and then let’s talk.”
When I pulled out the proposal and pushed it toward them, the faces of the planning team and the manager changed by the second as they read. There was no separate script; it was a plan that set a broad framework and left everything entirely to the realistic reactions on-site….
“There’s a reason I sent the members out, right?”
I had skillfully added another spoonful of MSG.