Gang Rojun slowly scratched his chin as he looked at Sihu. An invitation to the year-end awards ceremony for me too? Rojun hadn't heard anything about this from PD Jeong Suryeong yet.
'No way—would they invite me too??'
*Rental Lover* did well, but it was a one-act drama regardless. Were one-act dramas even invited to year-end awards ceremonies? Besides, Gang Rojun was a writer. Were writers invited to those things?
'Well, it's not like it'd matter if I were invited.'
Still, the unexpected topic caused a slight tension to rise in his quiet mind. For now, Rojun looked at Sihu and shook his head.
"I don't know, would they invite me too? Isn't that kind of place only for actors?"
Sihu, who had started walking again, answered.
"No. I like year-end film festivals and award ceremonies, so I watch them often. Actors are definitely the main focus, but they give awards to production staff too."
"Aah—"
"You've never seen them?"
"Not really. Even when I did watch, it was only for a few minutes before turning it off."
Sihu smiled faintly.
"Sometimes you really seem like you have no interest in the entertainment industry. Anyway, the three major broadcasters' award ceremonies include both acting and variety. So they give awards to PDs and staff, and of course they'd give them to writers too, right??"
"Even for one-act dramas?"
"Hmm—I'm not sure about that. I think there were awards for one-act dramas, though."
Of the two who had come down to the first floor, Sihu, recalling what they'd discussed, added:
"But year-end award ceremonies at broadcasters change a little in format and flow every year. If you want to be sure, ask the PD of *Rental Lover*."
"Got it, Hyung."
Gang Rojun saw Sihu off to the entrance. After confirming his parents in the distance, Sihu turned his head.
"You're really okay, right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"I'm heading out. Message me if anything happens."
Rojun waved his hand as if telling him to hurry along. Sihu, who had hesitated slightly, walked toward his parents. Gang Rojun, who'd been watching Sihu walk away, also turned around.
—Swish.
As he slowly returned to the lodging, he muttered to himself.
"Now I'm really left alone."
A few staff members remained, but it wouldn't be wrong to say Rojun was virtually alone on the campus now. There were no cameras either.
'It's been a while since I've been free, so free.'
The bustling campus had grown quiet. He had suddenly found comfort after living through rigidly scheduled days, but Rojun wasn't particularly happy about it. Anyway, Rojun set his feet moving and recalled the year-end awards ceremony Sihu had brought up. Though he had never watched one extensively, fragments of scenes he had briefly viewed flashed by.
Glamorous celebrities, the red carpet they stepped on, the hundreds of gathered reporters and audience members, and so on.
In that instant, goosebumps rose on Gang Rojun's forearm.
"It'll probably be fun."
The next day, Tuesday.
As he had done yesterday, Rojun had woken up early in the morning and started running. Perhaps because the campus was quiet, the sound of Gang Rojun's footsteps seemed to echo loudly.
"Huff, huff."
Having steadily completed his daily mission, Gang Rojun checked the stats he hadn't been able to focus on due to practice.
'Indeed—natural growth is a lot slower.'
Since he hadn't been able to invest in them until now, today he poured 50 coins into enhancements. Then, as he tried to enter the restroom he naturally used all the time, he stopped short.
Gang Rojun let out something resembling a wry laugh.
"What the. I don't need to come here anymore."
Since the cameras from *The 100%* team had all been withdrawn, he could use the practice rooms here comfortably. Gang Rojun entered the largest practice room and enjoyed it to his heart's content.
With practice including experiments, an hour passed quickly.
Soon, Rojun finished showering and checked his phone while walking to the lounge. The world was still abuzz with *The 100%* and *Rental Lover* and so on. Regardless, Gang Rojun—
—Swish.
settled into the lounge and spread out what he had brought. A laptop, a tablet, a phone, and an acoustic guitar.
He began working.
'First, lyrics—'
*Lyrics* had already hit 100 points, but he didn't neglect it.
'The more I do it, the more I feel this strange sense or instinct growing. And it's not like 100 points is the end of the stat.'
Rojun played some random MR and neatly wrote lyrics as he pleased in Korean, as well as Japanese and English. Then he turned his eyes toward the writer side.
"I think it's about time I could start writing again—should I at least think about what to write today?"
He had spent roughly two hours up to this point.
"Next, next."
Gang Rojun's next task, picking up the guitar, was composition.
"Let's try to get the first verse done this week if possible."
At the same time, at SBC Broadcasting's Drama Department.
PD Jeong Suryeong could be seen in the bustling department head's office of SBC's Drama Department. She still had her brown hair tied up in a dry-looking bun, but perhaps because she'd rested well for a few days, her face looked a bit fuller. She was sitting on a five-person sofa talking to the bald department head.
The department head was in such a good mood that the corners of his mouth, stretched up to his ears, wouldn't come down.
"*Rental Lover* final episode ratings, 24%! Hahaha, amazing, truly amazing! The fact that it was a one-act makes it especially meaningful. It's a shame it was a bit overshadowed by overlapping with *The 100%* in scheduling, but at this level, it's the best!"
"It might have hit 24% because it was intertwined with *The 100%*."
"I know, I know, you punk. Anyway, you worked hard."
After several minutes of effusive praise, the bald department head glanced at a calendar covered in a packed schedule on the coffee table in front of him and changed the subject.
"By the way, Writer Rojun, do you have a tuxedo? Even if not a tuxedo, you should prepare a suit."
PD Jeong Suryeong shrugged her shoulders and answered.
"I should ask; I don't think he has one."
"You punk. Don't tell me—you haven't told Writer Rojun yet?? To prepare for the year-end awards ceremony."
"I haven't. I thought he'd be out of it now that *The 100%* is over."
"Hey—hurry up and tell him! Before he shows up to the SBC Drama Awards in practice clothes!!"
"You sure have a vivid imagination."
The department head let out a small sigh.
"Prepare properly. No matter what anyone says, all eyes will be on Writer Rojun at this year's Drama Awards. Is it common for an idol to come to an awards ceremony as a writer?"
"There aren't any cases like that. Probably—no, I'm 100% sure Writer Rojun will be the first."
"Right, you punk. Just imagine how the reporters will swarm."
PD Jeong Suryeong also seemed subtly excited. For reference, broadcasters' year-end award ceremonies were divided into two. The Entertainment Awards and the Drama Awards. The Entertainment Awards were for variety, while the Drama Awards were for acting and dramas.
"Feature-length dramas always got the spotlight every year, but well, I guess one-act sensations will be hot this year."
"It's because a big shot like *Rental Lover* didn't come out before. We've steadily taken care of the short-form side, as have MBS and KBC, kiddo. Now that *Rental Lover* is out, the one-act scene will be abuzz for a while."
Then PD Jeong Suryeong rose from the sofa.
"I'll let Writer Rojun know to prepare for the year-end awards ceremony."
Meanwhile, at EY Entertainment.
EY Entertainment had been almost certainly mentioned as the nest for the final winners. However, now that *The 100%* had ended, a lot of noise was being spread through the press and public opinion.
Especially.
"[Special] EY Entertainment, Not Chosen by *The 100%* Final Winners, The Reason for Their Defeat to GN Entertainment"
Overnight, the label "defeat" had been attached to them.
Given the situation, the overall atmosphere at EY Entertainment, which had been like a house of celebration just a few days ago, was quite bad. Employees watched the executives' moods, and those executives watched the CEO's moods.
"...We checked with *The 100%* side—there apparently wasn't any particular discussion with GN."
"They say choosing GN was purely the final winners' decision."
"I still don't understand. Why GN of all companies?"
"What can you do, it's already happened. Their future is obvious now. They'll go under before long; it's only natural since GN is handling them."
The executives were lying right now. They were all tacitly acknowledging that Rojun and the members would do well in the future. But saying that in front of the EY Entertainment CEO, whose face was as hard as stone, would be insane.
"CEO, I think we should move in accordance with those kids' debut from *The 100%*."
EY Entertainment had now become a competitor, and the remark was to keep them in check by sending out existing popular or new male idols. The EY Entertainment CEO then scanned the executives with a cold gaze.
"That goes without saying."
He shot them a wordless look asking if there was nothing else. But the executives avoided the CEO's gaze. The CEO clicked his tongue as if disappointed.
"I can't believe the plan isn't coming together immediately."
He voiced his thoughts to all the executives.
"If it's not a scheme behind our backs and not a mistake—shouldn't we make those four regret their choice that day? Since they looked down on us."
"Huh?"
"I'm saying we can't let them promote comfortably."
"Ah!! O-of course, CEO!!"
Only now did the executives, understanding the CEO's plan, quickly agree. The CEO of EY Entertainment ground his teeth slightly and muttered.
"I absolutely cannot let them have it easy."
And as for GN Entertainment—
"The contract preparations are complete! We'll report it as is!"
"What about the dorm?!"
"It'll be confirmed within this week!"
"The CEO personally went to see the kids! Get your heads on straight and prepare!!"
They were swamped preparing to receive Rojun and the members.
The next day, Wednesday.
Immediately after finishing his daily mission, Gang Rojun's phone rang. It was a call, and the person on the other end was PD Jeong Suryeong. The year-end awards ceremony flashed through Rojun's mind for a moment, and he pressed the phone to his ear.
"Hello, PD-nim. Hello."
"Yeah—are you resting well??"
"I think I'm doing okay."
PD Jeong Suryeong's voice was quite high-energy.
"It's nothing much—I'm calling to deliver some hot news. Writer Rojun, you'll have to come to our SBC year-end awards ceremony, right?"
He had thought 'no way, no way,' but that 'no way' had become reality.
"I'm coming too??"
"Of course? If you don't come, who will? You seem surprised."
"A little. I was slightly expecting it, though."
"You even held a concert? It's similar to that. It'll be fun. Ah, of course, this invitation is as an actor and writer. But since the main category is writer, I've notified Culture Drawer as well."
"...Understood."
Soon, PD Jeong Suryeong's laughter could be heard over the phone.
"On the day of the ceremony, Writer Rojun, you're going to get so, so much attention? A lot of actors are curious about you, too. Ah, right."
She threw out some sudden advice.
"The award nominees haven't been decided yet, but just in case, think about your acceptance speech."
What speech? Acceptance speech? Gang Rojun blinked his eyes and asked again.
"Do I need to prepare something like that too?"
PD Jeong Suryeong answered as if asking what the big deal was.
"It doesn't hurt to be prepared, right? Who knows?? Maybe Writer Rojun's name will be called with pride? Ah—that would be a first too. Receiving an award less than a year after debuting in the entertainment industry."
Having finished the call with PD Jeong Suryeong in such a surreal state, Rojun barely had time to organize his thoughts before this time it was Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa from the Culture Drawer side.
"Hello, Writer-nim, did you receive PD Jeong's call??"
"Yes. I did receive it, but..."
"Congratulations! A year-end awards ceremony invitation alongside your debut as a writer! It's our first time dealing with something like this, so it's chaos!"
Just as Rojun was slightly surprised internally, Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa spoke again.
"More importantly! It's your first awards ceremony, so you need to get a proper tuxedo fitted! I'll schedule the date as soon as possible!"
"What date?"
"The day to have your tuxedo fitted! We have a place we work with at Culture Drawer. Since it's a special occasion, bespoke would be best, right??"
A tuxedo. To think the day would come when he'd wear such a thing in his lifetime. After finishing the call with Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa as well, Gang Rojun slowly lowered his phone. Then he searched things like "celebrity tuxedo" on his phone. Pictures of massive stars appeared on screen.
'So fucking cool.'
Gang Rojun, who had been imagining his future self wearing a tuxedo just like that—
"Let's work out a bit more."
He began building his body more solidly.
A few hours later, around lunchtime.
The location was the broadcasting station JTVM. PD U Hanseok could be found in one of the variety department's meeting rooms. Naturally, several writers were with him. *The 100%* had ended its run, but it wasn't completely over yet.
There were YouTube videos to continuously pump out, and a lot of post-work like music source management.
Still, the atmosphere was lighter than when they were on air.
"PD-nim, Music On Top keeps messaging us, asking where the final winners will debut on the music show!"
"Just ignore them."
"But—since we're under the same broadcasting company, they're asking shouldn't they do it on Music On Top rather than another music show??"
"The kids' management is out of our hands now—contact GN and tell them to handle it. More importantly, how are the YouTube videos looking?"
"Good, the new videos are getting good views too."
It was then.
—Swish.
The meeting room's glass door burst open urgently, and writer Gim Sehui—who resembled a hamster—came rushing in.
"PD-nim!! L-look at this!!!"
The already high-tensioned writer Gim Sehui was overexcited. At this, PD U Hanseok let out a long sigh.
"What is it. What's making you bounce around again."
Writer Gim Sehui shoved her phone in front of PD U Hanseok.
"I-it just came out!!"
An article was displayed on her phone.
"[Exclusive] EY Entertainment Caught for Billions in Offshore Tax Evasion"
U Hanseok's eyes instantly doubled in size.
"...Wh-what is this."