-Ah... I’m so excited... why is time passing so slowly!!
-The Rental Lover preview finally dropped!! Wow, what was with Rojun’s visuals at the end lmaooooooo
-Rojun is so damn handsome I literally gasped out loud at the last part
-The other actors are handsome too, but lmao Rojun is just on another level....
-I admit his face is insanely handsome, but what about his acting?
-Hullllll, Rojun even did the Rental Lover OST??
-There’s an idol (not yet) who did the writing + acting + OST all by himself??
-Let’s be honest, I don’t have high hopes for his acting lol Rojun is just there for the violently good visuals
-Look at the teaser views keep climbing lmao insane
-So we’re adding another idol who acts like trash?
-Rojunㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠ I’ve been waiting
-How many killing points does Rental Lover have lmao I might have to watch just out of curiosity
·
·
·
·
The first teaser for Rental Lover and the bait that writer Rojun had even taken charge of the OST were delicious morsels for the media.
《[Issue Pick] Rental Lover Teaser Opens, Hits Hundreds of Thousands of Views in an Instant》
《Rental Lover Releases First Teaser Trailer: “Rojun Has Taken Charge of the OST”》
And for Kang Rojun’s fans and the public, they were the kind of sources they could pounce on.
《Writer, Actor, and Even OST? Rojun Fans Awaiting Rental Lover Grow More Excited》
On top of Rojun’s violently gorgeous visuals revealed in the teaser, hearing that he had even handled the OST left them with no choice but to drool. As a result, interest overflowed, and the Rental Lover teaser surpassed one million views in no time, heading toward two million.
On top of that.
《Gebaekpeu Theme Song “Survival 100” Still Defending No. 1 on Various Music Charts / Photo》
With the Gebaekpeu issue mixed in as well, it created a terrifying synergy. Around the time the internet was in an uproar, Kang Rojun and the 9 contestants were focused on choosing the song to be used in the final evaluation.
“How about this song?”
“I like it.”
“Wouldn’t something a little more exciting be better??”
“Really? Then this one.”
“What do you think, Rojun hyung?”
“I like the first one.”
Because it was an extremely important process, the contestants spent a great deal of time on it, and the song for the final evaluation was decided around lunchtime.
-♬♪
As soon as it was decided, the song was handed over to Kang Rojun and 48 Kangmin. Rojun had to write the lyrics, while 48 Kangmin and several others had to choreograph it. The two teams were so absorbed they even skipped meals. They had to move as quickly as possible to secure time to practice.
At this time, the Rental Lover side, whose editing had reached its final stage, began its promotional schedule.
“Today, we have the actors from the hot topic Rental Lover with us!”
“Hello—”
Starting with Choi Rina, the female lead who participated in the recording, and the male actors playing the lovers. Unfortunately, Kang Rojun was absent, but for about a week, the remaining actors were scheduled to appear on YouTube and broadcasting station variety shows, spurring on the promotions.
Netflex Japan was also in full swing preparing for Rental Lover’s promotion.
However, General Director Tom Cavill was.
-Flap, flap.
Completely immersed in script reading from a few days ago. What else could it be? It was the “Kaleidoscopic” script he had received from Kang Rojun. Tom Cavill had fallen into the two copies of the script that Rojun had personally translated into Japanese.
The moment he finished reading was.
-Slide.
After late afternoon had passed.
“......Hoo—”
Having finished reading up to Part 2 of Kaleidoscopic, General Director Tom Cavill sat in his chair and let out a sticky, incredulous laugh.
“It’s absurdly entertaining. Maybe even more than Rental Lover. The quality is definitely higher than Rental Lover.”
Because in terms of fun, directing, subject matter, pacing, and more, it surpassed any script he had read recently. Soon, his gaze reached the other scripts piled up to the side. They were things that had come in from Japanese writers or production companies.
‘Compared to this Kaleidoscopic, those are garbage.’
Was that a little harshly put? But that was the truth. General Director Tom Cavill, too, was a veteran, a big shot if one wanted to call him that. He had produced and invested in countless works and had seen more scripts than he could count. And the Kaleidoscopic he had just read was something Tom Cavill had been so absorbed in that it ranked among his top five.
‘Each episode proceeds in an omnibus format, but the overall flow of the drama maintains the protagonist’s narrative, so there’s no feeling of disconnection. On top of that, the structure of each episode is incredible. It’s bizarre and witty.’
To briefly explain the script Kaleidoscopic, it was ten stories that followed the protagonist, a detective. You could say there were ten unusual premises like Rental Lover. Naturally, aside from the protagonist, the characters changed every episode.
‘What I read was only up to Part 2. And there are ten parts of this.’
Tom Cavill was certain.
“This Kaleidoscopic would work anywhere, but especially here in Japan, it will definitely land.”
At the same time, he felt an unbearable impatience. Because of what Kang Rojun had said during the meeting and PD U Hanseok’s final comment.
‘For your reference, that script wasn’t given only to Netflex Japan.’
General Director Tom Cavill sprang to his feet.
“We have to take this work, no matter what.”
He immediately called an executive meeting.
Meanwhile.
There was someone in Korea showing similar behavior to General Director Tom Cavill. It was Jung Suryung, flipping through a stack of papers while taking a brief break during the editing of Rental Lover. What she was reading was the film scenario she had recently received from Rojun.
“Ha, this is ridiculous.”
She, too, let out a hollow laugh as if she were fed up.
Dramas and films seemed similar, yet were completely different. The rhythm of development, directing methods, conveyed messages, and many other things. A film had to contain what the screenwriter wanted to say within a runtime of roughly two hours. That was why master directors or famous screenwriters spent months writing them.
And yet Kang Rojun, in less than two months.
“Even his film screenplay is top-class??”
He had pulled all of that off. In a way completely different from a drama script. The quality was enough to make PD Jung Suryung’s eyes widen. Of course, even though Jung Suryung wasn’t a film specialist, she could feel it.
‘It’s worth coveting.’
How would people in the film industry react after seeing this scenario? PD Jung Suryung met someone from the film world the next morning, Thursday. The location was a large café.
“Oh my—PD Jung! Long time no see??”
“It has been. The last time I saw you, Chief Jang, was—at the Baeksang the year before last, wasn’t it?”
“Haha, that’s right. The work you’re preparing these days is hot, isn’t it? You must be busy, so I was surprised you contacted me.”
The person PD Jung Suryung called “Chief Jang” was a pleasant-looking man in his forties.
“It’s nothing else. I happened to obtain a scenario.”
“A scenario? Uh—that’s a bit sudden.”
“I received it suddenly too. Could you take a look?”
“No, looking at it isn’t hard. But... I don’t usually accept scenarios that come through connections.”
“Don’t look at it too deeply, just take a light look and think about whether it could become a proper scenario or not. You’re the production chief at a top-tier domestic film company, so you have a good eye, don’t you?”
“Come on—my eyesight has gotten much worse too. Hmm, anyway, if it’s just judging it, that doesn’t sound too bad.”
“After you read it, if you get greedy, it’d be fine to move on to production too.”
“Come on—”
Soon, Rojun’s film scenario was handed over to the man called Chief Jang, and as he turned the first page, his eyes on the scenario, he asked.
“But whose scenario is it that PD Jung is personally handing it over? Could it be... written by some star writer I might know too??”
It was a perfectly reasonable guess, but as promised to Kang Rojun, PD Jung Suryung hid the screenwriter.
“That’s difficult for me to tell you just yet. Please judge it by the scenario alone.”
“...That’s strange.”
She wanted him to read only the pure scenario without even knowing who had written it? And she even said it was all right to produce it if he liked it. Chief Jang stroked his chin, but.
‘It’s enough for that PD Jung Suryung to personally hand over the scenario, but she’s keeping silent about who wrote it? This smells like something.’
He quickly put on a business smile.
“Understood. I’ll read it first and contact you.”
That same afternoon.
BG Pictures, a film company located in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul. BG Pictures, a standalone five-story building, was a major film company that ranked in the top three among Korea’s most prominent film production companies. In a small office within the planning team of BG Pictures sat Chief Jang, who had met Jung Suryung that morning.
Chief Jang. No, Chief Jang Hakseon was a production producer with the longest career at this film company.
His ability had also been proven through several hit films.
In a word, Chief Jang Hakseon was one of the core figures of BG Pictures, and right now, he was in the middle of reading the film scenario he had received that morning. What he had started with a light heart at first.
“......”
Had now become serious. His stiff expression said everything. What was interesting was.
“Huh—”
While reading the scenario intently, he.
-Swish.
Suddenly took out his phone and called somewhere. Was it PD Jung Suryung? One might have thought so, but it was not.
“Director, I found a scenario similar to the feeling you mentioned.”
At the same time, over in Japan.
Japan’s social media, which had been buzzing over the Gebaekpeu mini concert for the past few days, was now stirring over something else.
[Survival 100 is so, so good!!!]
[Survival 100 just dropped, everyone go listen!! I’m listening to it on repeat right now too!]
[I’m listening to Survival 100 endlessly.... I’m so grateful to the kids for letting us hear such a good song....]
[I hope Rojun and Sihu collaborate and release another song too!! Anyway, Survival 100 is the best!!]
Following Korea, the theme song “Survival 100” had officially been released in Japan as well. Naturally, not the Korean version, but the Japanese version. As soon as the Japanese version of “Survival 100” was released, Japanese fans spread it like mad through social media and the like, running infinite streams and unleashing a firepower no less than Korea’s.
Of course, Japanese fans as well.
[I’m so grateful they released the Japanese version, but is the Korean version of Survival 100 not coming out in Japan??]
[Release the Korean version of Survival 100 too!!!]
[What about the acoustic version?? Is that one not planned for digital release at all?? I want to own it....]
They were not satisfied with only the Japanese version of “Survival 100.”
Friday the 23rd, the Gebaekpeu campus.
After finishing his daily mission and stat enhancement early in the morning, Kang Rojun.
“Everyone must be gathered.”
Moved to the largest practice room even before taking a shower. All the contestants were to gather for a simple briefing regarding the final evaluation. For reference, Rojun had completed the lyrics for the final evaluation song last night. Strictly speaking, he had finished it in two days.
‘I’m definitely getting faster and faster.’
His “lyric writing” stat had surpassed 100 points, and since Kang Rojun was experiencing many things as an idol, his lyric-writing speed had risen tremendously. The completed lyrics would have to be accepted by the other contestants, but Kang Rojun was satisfied.
‘Let’s say the lyrics are done. I wonder what happened with the choreography. They said they had a rough outline.’
Then Kang Rojun opened the door to the largest practice room. All 9 contestants were gathered.
What was interesting was.
“Hm??”
Even though Rojun had appeared, the contestants did not spare him a glance. Every single one of them had their nose buried in their phones. Kang Rojun slightly narrowed his brow and asked.
“What is it? Did something happen?”
Only then did 58 Sihu raise his head and turn his phone around to show him.
“Ro, Rojun. We took first place on Japan’s music platforms.”
“Huh??”
Surprised, Kang Rojun also took out the phone he had tucked into his back pocket. He searched quickly. The results appeared fast.
《Gebaekpeu Occupies Japan’s Major Music Charts / Photo》
《“Survival 100” All-Kills Music Charts and Social Media, Will It Spark a Japanese Syndrome?》
《[Official] It Worked in Japan Too! Gebaekpeu’s “Survival 100” Goes Straight to No. 1 on Major Japanese Music Platform Charts!》
The news that had started in Japan had already invaded Korea. Kang Rojun’s eyes widened quite a bit as he murmured softly.
“It’s true?”
Several contestants murmured under their breath with faces that looked like they couldn’t believe this was reality.
“We’re number one on the Japanese music charts too?? Us?”
“Wow—is this real?? Is this a dream???”
At that moment.
“Everyone checked, right?”
A familiar male voice spread from the entrance of the practice room. When they turned around, PD U Hanseok, with dark circles under his eyes, was grinning crookedly.
“Yeah, I see you’re looking. The Japanese version of ‘Survival 100’ went straight to number one. But that’s not the end.”
U Hanseok checked his wristwatch, and his smile.
“The acoustic version of ‘Survival 100’ is going to be released soon.”
Grew twice as deep.
“In Korea and Japan at the same time.”