Chapter 23
Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Episode 8. Internal Whistleblowing (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“I have one request.”
“A request?”
“Yes. It’s about the updated character settings.”
“Let’s hear it.”
PD Yoo Tae-hwan and writer Lee Yeon-shin leaned in to listen to Kang Han-do’s words.
Whenever a meeting like this was set up, there was always something he wanted to say.
“If we’re going with a bumbling expert character, then rather than back-and-forth dialogue, the script should mostly be revised so the anchor character is one-sidedly ribbing the expert. You know, like throwing curveballs at them.”
“Hmm, that’s definitely important.”
It was an element they couldn’t overlook.
With clear roles divided into the ribber and the one getting ribbed, the anchor’s lines—the one throwing the jabs, which in the case of 4 PM News Table would be Han-do’s role—needed a sharper, more aggressive tone.
“I saw the sample script from the audition… It was focused so heavily on a realistic anchor that the phrasing felt very much like a professional announcer. To build on that, we could keep it professional for the news segments, but amp up the tone and expressions when jabbing at the bumbling expert.”
“That’s a very specific demand.”
“But it’s these fine details that make or break the comedy vibe.”
“You’re right.”
They couldn’t miss even the small stuff.
4 PM News Table was slated to be the flagship corner for HSL Season 2. They’d held auditions specifically for it and secured a prime slot in the lineup ahead of time.
If 4 PM News Table blew up, it could send HSL’s ratings soaring once again.
Pushing it as a flagship meant sweating every little detail—it was only natural.
Kang Han-do’s input was spot on.
“Our junior’s pointing out something good here.”
Jeon Yoo-hyun praised him without holding back.
If Han-do hadn’t spoken up, Yoo-hyun would’ve brought it up himself.
But he’d held back on purpose since the anchor and expert weren’t characters he was playing.
No matter how senior you were, chiming in on someone else’s roles could come off as meddling.
“Any thoughts, Yoo-hyun?”
“If I had to say… just don’t bury my supporting host character too much.”
“Haha, don’t worry about that. We didn’t pick you for nothing.”
In a way, Jeon Yoo-hyun’s role was pretty crucial too.
His supporting host wasn’t as prominent as the anchor or expert, but that was relative. It still had solid weight.
It was Jeon Yoo-hyun’s first media appearance since the panic disorder incident.
That alone would get people talking.
Put bluntly, it was noise marketing.
Plus, casting rookies in all the main roles was a huge gamble. With a veteran comedian anchoring things, the two newbies could really shine.
“Alright, no other comments? Meeting adjourned then…”
PD Yoo Tae-hwan stood first.
Everyone else rose in unison.
“We’re all here today anyway—let’s grab a drink. Everyone free?”
“Yes!”
“Of course!”
Han-do, Min-tae, and Jeon Yoo-hyun nodding along all chimed in.
“Great. I’m buying, so lobby in ten!”
“Yes, got it!”
The gathering was settled: audition congrats mixed with a “let’s do our best together” vibe.
* * *
While PD Yoo Tae-hwan and writer Lee Yeon-shin got ready to head out, Kang Han-do hurried off to the bathroom.
A familiar voice called out midway.
“Hey, 16th class comedian.”
‘This voice…?’
No way he’d forget.
He turned to see who it was.
PD Jo Woo-kim, in charge of Pobac Jildo, stood there stroking his unkempt beard.
“Yup, it’s you. Let me think… what was your name again…?”
“16th public recruitment comedian, Kang Han-do. Long time no see, PD Jo Woo-kim.”
“Right, Han-do.”
PD Jo Woo-kim gave an awkward smile.
He’d been watching Han-do closely since the audition, but drawing a blank on his name led to this reaction.
He shifted to casual speech, steering the convo.
“Speaking of, you didn’t apply for Pobac Jildo. Kinda disappointing?”
“Sorry. I figured it wasn’t my place yet.”
“So HSL is?”
“Well, not exactly…”
Kang Han-do looked sheepish.
PD Jo Woo-kim chuckled softly.
“Not trying to mess with you—just my bad habit of saying cheeky stuff like it’s a joke.”
“I know.”
“…You know?”
Kang Han-do inwardly winced for a second.
He quickly regained his cool and patched it with an excuse.
“I’ve… heard plenty from the seniors.”
“They’ve been badmouthing me, huh?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Haha, well, I am kinda a jerk in real life. Anyway, congrats on HSL. 4 PM News Table, right?”
“Yes.”
“With Jeon Yoo-hyun. I’ll keep an eye out, so work hard.”
“Thanks!”
That wrapped up their brief encounter.
They weren’t working together now, but they’d cross paths again soon.
* * *
With HSL Season 2’s new corners not yet in production, Kang Han-do was holed up at home, deep in another task.
“Let’s see… there was definitely a specific media outlet…”
He racked his brain for pre-regression memories, but the info wouldn’t surface.
A while back, he’d told Ye-hee he’d bring proof not to audition for VQ Entertainment.
He’d been scouring the internet for VQ’s dirt, but it wasn’t coming easy.
Back then, plenty of singers tied to Ye-hee’s contract issues had lawsuits flying.
And VQ Entertainment had gotten hit twice: contract scandals plus falsified accounting books exposed.
Han-do remembered the problems clear as day, but had no way to snag proof.
He wasn’t naive enough to think googling would magically turn it up.
Still, he fiddled with the mouse on the off chance…
No dice.
“Damn.”
A curse slipped out.
There’d been one media outlet that had fully investigated VQ’s misdeeds beforehand.
Thanks to them, VQ’s scandals spread like wildfire, letting Choi Ye-hee and the other singers band together against it.
If he could just contact that outlet…
Prodding them to break the VQ story early might prevent harm to Ye-hee and most of the singers.
But the name wouldn’t come.
“If only I’d jotted down key future info on paper or digitized it before regressing.”
Too late now.
He’d have to dig up what he could from memory.
“Wait.”
A name popped suddenly.
“That woman… Nemid, right?”
He pulled out the communicator from Nemid.
Pressing the button summoned a translucent hologram screen.
“Hm?”
At first, Han-do thought he’d misseen.
Steam wafting from a bathroom hit his eyes first.
And then—
-Ooh~ Fill the world with looove~
Singing drifted out.
Not well, either.
“Hello.”
Wary of video, he spoke first, but humming continued over any reply.
Fed up, he raised his voice.
“Hello!!”
-Yes?!
A woman flung the curtain aside in shock.
“…!!! ”
Han-do whipped his head away on reflex.
The steamy bath had filled the screen, but the curtain yank revealed Nemid head to toe.
Buck naked.
-Kyaah!!
Spotting Han-do, Nemid shrieked and yanked the curtain back.
Her screams kept going, so he muted to max.
About a minute later.
“…Calmed down now?”
He unmuted, checking on Nemid beyond the curtain.
Even through it, the bathroom light silhouetted her curves perfectly.
Killer figure.
Nemid couldn’t hide her fluster.
-C-Can we ta-talk later? I’m no-not rea-ready yet…
“Ah… yeah. Probably best.”
Another button press vanished the hologram.
Moments later, the communicator buzzed.
‘So incoming calls vibrate like this.’
He made a mental note to tweak settings for notification tones later.
Now Nemid appeared, in a white robe, towel-drying her damp blonde hair.
Her blush lingered from the exposure.
But first things first.
“I noticed incoming calls vibrate for the receiver, but you jumped straight to video. No vibration for you?”
Unlike his side.
Made him curious.
-You set how to receive calls. Vibration, tones, or auto-video like just now…
“For privacy, maybe switch to vibration or tones?”
-S-Sorry. Forgot to change it.
Her sheepishness was kinda cute.
But if this kept happening, it’d scar Nemid more than him.
A woman flashing a strange man? Mortifying.
Even as Sheridel’s underling, Nemid was a woman. He needed to be careful.
-Anyway, did you need something?
She pivoted to bury her embarrassment.
He explained the call.
“Wondered if there’s a way to recall or replay pre-regression memories.”
-Pre-regression memories… I’ll ask Sheridel-nim.
“Yes, thanks.”
Business done quick.
After hanging up.
“…”
Staring at the communicator, Han-do gave a wry smile and muttered.
“Should’ve told her to leave the settings as is.”
You never know.
Another lucky break like today might happen.