The final judging stage of ‘Geubaekpeu’ overlapped with the premiere of ‘Rental Lover.’ ‘Rental Lover’ would begin at 7:45 p.m. today, and as soon as it ended, ‘Geubaekpeu’ would air at nine.
‘Are actual people really going to watch ‘Rental Lover’ on TV? I’m freaking nervous, seriously.’
It felt like only yesterday that he had filmed it. No, that he had won SBC’s one-act drama screenplay contest. And yet, it was already time for the premiere. ‘Geubaekpeu’ was awaiting its final vote, while Gang Rojun had participated in ‘Rental Lover’ as its writer, actor, and even OST singer.
Since he had a considerable stake in both projects, Gang Rojun’s anticipation was rising sharply for the two programs that would explode one after another, even though they were airing on different channels.
‘How will people react?’
How would people view my—our—final judging stage? Would they say we did well? They might also say it was nothing special. What about ‘Rental Lover’? He hoped they would say he had written it well and that his acting wasn’t bad. Honestly, Rojun wasn’t particularly worried about the acting. He had learned it through ‘AI automation.’
His thoughts grew complicated in all sorts of ways, but in the end, there was nothing he could do for now except wait.
‘Today’s going to pass unbearably slowly.’
It felt rather like the day before a long-awaited trip. Gang Rojun let out a short breath and calmed himself.
At that hour.
The area outside the ‘Geubaekpeu’ campus was buzzing, both online and offline, with the news that had broken that day.
《‘Rental Lover,’ the debut work of ‘writer Rojun,’ now signed with ‘Culture Drawer,’ premieres today》
Most of it concerned Gang Rojun.
《[Hot Issue] From the final stage of ‘Geubaekpeu’ to the premiere of ‘Rental Lover’… There’s plenty to watch this Friday night!》
《What should viewers look forward to in the premiere of ‘Rental Lover,’ confirmed to launch on Netflix Japan? Female lead ‘Choe Rina’ and ‘Rojun’》
《“As soon as ‘Rental Lover’ ends tonight, I’m watching ‘Geubaekpeu’!” Rojun’s fans are already buzzing》
Of course, there were quite a few negative articles as well.
《Writer, actor, and OST singer—‘Rental Lover’ is saturated with ‘Rojun’… Some call it all glitter and no substance》
《[Today’s TV] Following news of ‘Rental Lover’s premiere, some netizens say, “Honestly, Rojun is all about his face”》
With the media in such a frenzy, public opinion could hardly have remained quiet.
- Ha...... I’m finally watching Rental Lover!!!
- I’d better order the chicken god as soon as I get off work today lololol Rental Lover’s premiere and Geubaekpeu too!!
- Rental Lover looks like it’ll be fun.... but I’m not really expecting much from Rojun’s acting.....
- ↑ Ignore them, they’re bashing Rojun in a calculated way
- No, but realistically, it’s his first time acting. There’s no way he’d be good at it lololololol
- With Rojun’s looks, it’s fine even if he can’t act!!!
- What is this, another idol who treats acting like a side job??
- Rojun or whatever isn’t even an official idol yet lololololol Talk about getting ahead of yourselves
- The idiots who were hiding are slowly crawling out now
- It’s obvious they gave him a minor role solely because of the issue and his face, so why are they talking about a controversy over his acting? lololol
- If Rojun turns out to be good at acting too, these psychos will just scratch their bellies and go looking for another target to feed on
Various entertainment-industry people were also focused on Rojun.
“The number of malicious comments has gone up quite a bit now that the day’s here—but his ability to draw attention is incredible, Rojun’s.”
“He already surpassed the level of a rising star on sheer buzz alone.”
“But will Rojun’s mental state be all right?? This is probably the first time he’s seen such a flood of malicious comments.”
“It’ll probably be hard for him. The ‘Geubaekpeu’ side may even be keeping him from seeing the public’s reaction at all.”
Most of the many people in the entertainment industry had similar reactions, but the thing they were worried about could never happen. Gang Rojun didn’t care in the slightest about malicious comments.
Regardless, the entertainment industry—including the various agencies and broadcasting circles—was paying attention.
《Can ‘Geubaekpeu’s ‘Rojun’ silence questions about his acting ability as an actor rather than an idol?》
One thing was certain: public interest was surging.
That same afternoon.
It was around 7:40 p.m. Many people would have already turned on the SBC channel in front of their TVs or on their phones. Naturally, the media and general public were watching, as were those at the ‘Geubaekpeu’ campus and various entertainment agencies. Top actress Choe Rina and numerous other actors were doing the same.
The reason was simple.
The premiere of ‘Rental Lover’ would be broadcast in about five minutes.
More than anyone, the people at ‘Culture Drawer,’ which had recently signed Gang Rojun, were in a flurry. Executives and employees who had postponed going home had gathered in the office or in the lounge with its large TV.
“Ugh—what do you think it’ll be like?? It’ll be fun, right? It absolutely has to be fun.”
“I monitored the reactions all day, and there were quite a lot of malicious comments. People were chewing Rojun’s acting ability to pieces. It was absolute chaos.”
“What do they even expect from someone who’s only just begun making a name for himself in the entertainment industry?? He was an ordinary person just a few months ago. Isn’t it enough that an idol is a writer? He can improve at acting little by little.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Not becoming an actor with that face would be a waste, too, wouldn’t it?”
“Is everyone already certain that Writer Rojun’s acting will be disappointing?”
“Oh, no, that’s not what I mean.”
“If he turns out to be good at acting too, it might—how should I put it?—make him feel less human?”
“Even if we set the acting aside! ‘Rental Lover’ only needs to be fun! The OST is his main profession, so it’s bound to be good.”
The dozens of employees were chattering, each voicing their thoughts, when—
- Swish.
A woman with short hair and an unassuming air entered the spacious lounge. At her appearance, the employees who had gathered there gasped and sprang to their feet.
“W-Writer Han!”
“Representative, what brings you here?”
“What brings you to the company so late—”
She was Han Seoryeong, co-CEO of ‘Culture Drawer’ and one of the country’s star writers. Adjusting her glasses, she gave them a faint smile.
“Sit down, sit. It’s not like some important person has arrived. I came to see Representative Heo, and since it was almost time for ‘Rental Lover’ to start, I figured everyone would be here, so I came over. I can watch with you, right??”
“Of course!! Please sit here!”
Writer Han Seoryeong was guided to an S-tier seat directly in front of the large TV. She placed her handbag on her lap and sat down.
“Our ‘Writer Rojun’ must really be hot right now. It’s been a while since I’ve seen everyone crowd around a TV like this.”
The dozens of employees scratched their heads awkwardly. Just then—
“Ah! The commercials are over!”
The commercials playing on the SBC TV ended, and the screen went black. No characters appeared immediately. Instead, a rustling sound effect played, and every one of the employees, along with Writer Han Seoryeong, fixed their eyes on the TV. Only after several seconds did the rustling end, and a disheveled room suddenly appeared onscreen.
A room filled with trash, the kind that clearly belonged to a shut-in who lived in a corner of the world.
A woman lay sprawled in it.
She was Choe Rina, playing Lee Daeun, the female lead of ‘Rental Lover.’ The ‘Culture Drawer’ employees let out small gasps of admiration at her utterly ruined appearance.
“Wow—Rina really let herself go.”
Writer Han Seoryeong, whose smile had deepened, answered.
“She’d risk everything short of her life for acting. That level is nothing for her.”
Onscreen, Choe Rina scratched at hair that looked as though it hadn’t been washed in days while repeatedly tapping her phone. She had no goal or purpose. She was simply killing time. Then an advertisement caught her eye.
-[“A rental lover? What’s this?”]
After her line ended, Choe Rina spent a day thinking about it before finally calling the number in the advertisement. A thoroughly professional woman’s voice answered and asked Choe Rina what sort of appearance she wanted in a lover.
The next day, an actual lover arrived at Choe Rina’s home.
With a striking face and considerable height, he was exactly the kind of lover Choe Rina had described. He was ‘Lover No. 1.’ Carrying a mixture of confusion, absurdity, shock, and awkwardness, Choe Rina spent time with ‘Lover No. 1.’
But ‘Lover No. 1,’ who seemed perfect, had a problem.
-[“What is that smell??!”]
He smelled so bad that it was difficult to endure. Was it the smell of feces? Or a soldier’s barracks?
At that point, Writer Han Seoryeong, watching ‘Rental Lover,’ inwardly heaped praise on Choe Rina.
‘Rina, your acting has improved even more.’
The surrounding ‘Culture Drawer’ employees had the same impression.
“As expected—Rina’s acting is really good.”
“She’s not just any actress. She’s Choe Rina.”
As the show proved increasingly entertaining, Writer Han Seoryeong and the employees became absorbed in ‘Rental Lover.’ Not a single person left their seat. Around thirty minutes in, Choe Rina requested ‘Lover No. 2’ even while still seeing ‘Lover No. 1.’ Soon, the chaotic episode involving ‘Lover No. 1’ and ‘Lover No. 2’ followed.
Occasionally, great bursts of laughter erupted in the ‘Culture Drawer’ lounge.
-[“You all look fine on the outside, but each of you is missing a screw!! One reeks so badly it stings my nose, and the second one is so frail he collapses at the drop of a hat!!”]
In the end, Choe Rina rejected ‘Lover No. 1,’ and while seeing ‘Lover No. 2,’ called for ‘Lover No. 3.’ She was gradually displaying behavior close to addiction. The ‘Lover No. 3’ who appeared this time was a man overflowing with kindness and cuteness to the extreme.
But after meeting ‘Lover No. 3’ a few times, his problem also became clear.
-[“He’s just too cute!!”]
‘Lover No. 3’ was no different from a puppy begging for treats. Still, the female lead somehow endured and continued meeting the lovers. Honestly, aside from their flaws, they were top-tier in appearance and everything else.
That was roughly an hour of content.
As the episode drew toward its end, the ‘Culture Drawer’ employees, watching the time, began speaking one by one.
“Ah, is Writer Rojun not appearing in episode one??”
“That could be it. The role Writer Rojun took was ‘Lover No. 4,’ right?”
“We have to wait until next week??”
“Phew—but isn’t ‘Rental Lover’ itself incredibly fun??”
“Insanely! The time just vanished.”
“Writer Rojun’s writing is really good.”
Just then, a shot of Choe Rina clutching at her hair in her room appeared onscreen. Then came her line.
-[“Let’s call just one more. Just one. What number is he? Is he the fourth? I’m only going to see him, and that’s it.”]
The scene suggested the appearance of ‘Lover No. 4,’ and the eyes of the ‘Culture Drawer’ employees widened.
“Whoa, is Writer Rojun coming out??”
“It seems like it.”
“The pacing is really fast.”
“What do I do? Why am I the one getting nervous about Writer Rojun’s appearance?”
On the TV, Choe Rina requested a fourth lover. In other words, ‘Lover No. 4.’ Her request was that he have none of the problems of the lovers so far.
-[“Really! I want him to be so unbelievably handsome that my jaw drops, smell amazing, have a strong, healthy body, and not just be cute, but definitely have that manly scent! Ah, and he has to adore me without limit!!”]
The female lead was becoming addicted—and growing increasingly greedy. Yet the rental-lover agency accepted even this request. A few days later, a knock sounded at Choe Rina’s somewhat tidier home. Choe Rina, who had been lying down, shot upright and fixed her disheveled hair.
-[“He’s here. He’s here.”]
After clearing her throat, she said something along the lines of, “I’m coming—,” and opened the front door. The camera angle, which had shown Choe Rina’s back and the entrance, changed. It seemed to look at her head-on from outside the doorway. Choe Rina’s gaze slowly rose from the chest of the man standing before her to his face.
Choe Rina’s eyes, nose, and mouth gradually expanded.
Soon, from an angle facing her head-on, the sound of dress shoes taking measured steps rang out. The man’s side, hips, and finally his back, clad in a suit, came into view. Before long, the frozen Choe Rina and the back of the very tall man standing by the shoe cabinet were captured in a single frame.
The ‘Culture Drawer’ lounge fell silent.
Everyone was holding their breath as they stared at the TV. The camera angle on the screen shifted slowly. It closed in on Choe Rina’s wide-open face. With great difficulty, she forced out a few words.
-[“...L-Lover No. 4??”]
But the man who had arrived did not answer.
-[“......”]
The screen abruptly changed angles, presenting the man’s face from Choe Rina’s perspective. The face of ‘Lover No. 4’ filled the TV. Pomaded hair, devastating features, clear skin, and subtly decadent eyes, with a perfectly fitted suit.
It was Gang Rojun.
The ‘Culture Drawer’ employees, entranced, let out exclamations of wonder and admiration.
“......Wow—”
“His visuals are really... Wow, I can’t do anything but admire him.”
“He was already unbelievable in ‘Geubaekpeu,’ but now that he’s had his hair and makeup done properly and is being filmed by a drama camera... He’s practically divine.”
“The fact that a face like that exists in reality—I’ve seen it, but I still can’t believe it.”
Writer Han Seoryeong, also captivated by Rojun’s face, felt the same.
‘Really... The word “absurd” suits that face perfectly. Visually, he’s a character from a fantasy. He’d be perfect even for some dreamy figure in one of my works.’
‘Rental Lover’ seemed determined to let viewers fully appreciate Gang Rojun’s face, as it devoted quite a long time to a close-up of him. Then he moved.
- Swish.
Gang Rojun looked at Choe Rina. No, something filled the eyes of ‘Lover No. 4.’ An indescribably thick emotion. Something sticky and intense churned within his gaze. His calm expression and the direction of his gaze remained unchanged. The only transformation lay in his pupils.
-[“......”]
Yes, they were exactly the eyes one might show when generously sharing one’s emotions with someone one adored. Gang Rojun’s face filled the TV. After looking at Choe Rina for a moment, Rojun—or ‘Lover No. 4’—raised his right hand and stroked the female lead’s matted hair. There was no hesitation, only certainty. Choe Rina’s pupils widened on-screen, and then Gang Rojun appeared again.
At some point, he was smiling with his eyes, full of affection and delight.
Something flew into and lodged itself in the chests of the dozens of ‘Culture Drawer’ employees, their mouths slightly open, their words and breath caught in their throats.
“......”
“......”
It was a ticket. The admission ticket sent by ‘Lover No. 4.’ No, by that fantastical being. The ticket must have borne a message like this:
‘Welcome to the world of stanning.’
The affection in Gang Rojun’s eyes in ‘Rental Lover’ grew increasingly intense.
Writer Han Seoryeong, a major figure in the industry, felt goosebumps rise over her body. She looked around at the employees who had frozen in place. Then she returned her attention to Rojun on the TV and murmured inwardly.
‘With one look and one smile of his eyes, he’s planted fantasies in everyone here.’
A disbelieving laugh came as an added bonus.
‘He created a fantasy with a few seconds of eye acting. And yet—they’re talking about a controversy over his acting ability? What nonsense.’
Just then, a song began playing from the TV. A familiar voice soon joined in.
-♬♪
It was ‘Lovers,’ the OST sung by Gang Rojun.