One day after EY Entertainment’s massive tax evasion scandal broke, Thursday, November 26. Since yesterday, both online and offline had been in utter chaos over talk of EY Entertainment.
《[Issue Pick] When Will ‘EY Entertainment,’ Suspected of Hundreds of Billions in Offshore Tax Evasion, Speak Up?》
Yet EY Entertainment itself remained silent even until Thursday morning. Thanks to that, the controversy and suspicions swelled in an instant, and twice as many articles poured out as the day before. The press went at EY Entertainment with intent, and without any statement to offer, EY Entertainment had nothing to do but take the beating.
EY Entertainment finally opened its mouth just before noon.
《[Official] ‘EY Entertainment’ Says, “We Will Cooperate Faithfully with the Investigation, and Apologize to the Disappointed Public”》
EY Entertainment’s CEO personally held a press conference, offering an apology and pledging to properly comply with the investigation. But nothing changed. After their position was released to the world, the media gleefully churned out even more articles, and public sentiment had already hit rock bottom.
The result was as obvious as daylight.
In just a single day, EY Entertainment’s stock price plummeted.
《Emergency Press Conference Proved Useless, ‘EY Entertainment’ Stock Price Crashes / Photos》
Next came the broadcasting world. Various shows began erasing EY Entertainment.
《‘Produce the 100’ Removes All Episodes Featuring Tax Evasion Suspect ‘EY Entertainment’… Netflix Joins In》
Things in the advertising industry were no less ominous.
《[Entertainment Today] Emergency for Celebrities Under ‘EY Entertainment,’ Movement to Oust Them from Advertising Industry》
And was that all? The enraged public began dragging EY Entertainment’s past misdeeds back into the light through social media and online communities, and the situation spiraled to an uncontrollable extreme. There was chaos, and then there was this. All of this had happened within twenty-four hours of the suspicions breaking.
《National Tax Service Launches Special Tax Audit into EY Entertainment》
《[Hot Issue] National Tax Service Likely to File Criminal Complaint Against EY Entertainment Over ‘Offshore Tax Evasion’》
Just imagining how much more EY Entertainment would be beaten down from here was terrifying enough.
Building a corporate image was no easy task. Recovering one that had crashed to the bottom after causing trouble was even harder. On top of that, a gradual exodus of celebrities from the agency would likely follow due to the agency’s problems.
They would have to wait and see the exact result, but predicting the ending wasn’t very difficult.
A one-way ticket to the abyss, confirmed.
Since EY Entertainment was such a major corporation, if they replaced the CEO and reaped what they had sown, perhaps they might recover someday. But it was obvious they would be trampled into the dirt for at least five years.
Gang Rojun, who checked on all this in the spacious practice room on campus, said,
“Yesterday, they were number one among entertainment agencies, and today they’re just trash.”
He got goosebumps at the cold cruelty of the entertainment industry.
“Well, I dodged a pile of shit, so that’s enough.”
Once again praising the “AI Simulation” app, Rojun soon erased thoughts of EY Entertainment from his mind. That was them, and he was him. On the quiet campus, Gang Rojun had completed his daily mission early in the morning.
—Srrk.
After warming up for a few minutes, he recalled his stats. Whatever else, his vocal, rap, and choreography stats had all surpassed 50 points. Rojun first sang familiar songs he had often listened to but had not learned yet, looking at the lyrics as he did.
—♬♪
Compared to his tone-deaf past, it was now a world of difference. Settling into the practice room, Gang Rojun wasn’t satisfied with just one song and poured out several. From pitch and rhythm to the high notes, it all felt pretty good.
“Compared to when my stats were in the 40s, it definitely feels better. At this level… would I be considered not bad even among trainees?”
Or he might even be in the upper ranks. Of course, that was all Rojun’s guess, but it was more or less correct. However, the level of idol trainees rose rapidly every year, and those called geniuses were appearing one after another as well. He might still fall a little short of the upper ranks.
Realistically, that was the case, but Gang Rojun still felt more than satisfied.
‘The fact that I, who used to be tone-deaf and had two left feet, have reached a level where I can compete with trainees is already a miracle, isn’t it?’
The choreography and rap he practiced afterward were also on a similar level to his vocals. The interesting part happened when he performed things he had already learned.
—♬♪
Starting with “Separation,” every rap and choreography he had already learned through “AI Automation” felt more energized than before.
‘…Hmm. What is this?’
Since they were things he had learned, it was only natural they were perfect, but they felt even more flexible, like they fit snugly to his body.
‘Is it because I kept repeating them even after learning them? Or is it combined with the growth of my basic skills?’
Needless to say, while participating in “Produce the 100” and living in the entertainment world, Gang Rojun’s own abilities apart from “AI Simulation” naturally improved. His knowledge, too. Perhaps this was the result of those basic abilities being added together. He would have to check gradually, but for now, that seemed to be the case.
Whatever it was, it was something for Rojun to smile about.
“Later on, if my basic skills are good and I add ‘AI Automation’ learning on top of that, I might be able to make something ridiculously amazing, huh?”
It was the same as saying there was no ceiling.
Meanwhile.
Over in Japan, Netflix Japan was busy with matters related to the contracted “Kaleidoscopic.” Executive Director Tom Cavill selected separate personnel dedicated to “Kaleidoscopic,” and those personnel immediately began searching for production companies within Japan.
That did not mean it was a task that would take very long.
Even in Japan, Netflix was an extremely hot platform, and the tide was changing. Because of Netflix’s highly flexible production methods, many Japanese production companies—
“There are over twenty companies that want it, and five companies we had in mind. We should be able to choose from a total of twenty-five.”
—strongly favored Netflix. They were tired of the Japanese broadcasting industry’s production system, which had not changed for decades. In any case, Netflix Japan began production on “Kaleidoscopic” in earnest, and the most urgent tasks were selecting a production company and lining up a confirmed director, storyboards, and cast members.
Around this point, Gang Rojun, the writer of “Kaleidoscopic,” was mentioned once again.
“Executive Director, it seems Writer Rojun’s idol agency has been confirmed as GN Entertainment. Shouldn’t we start discussing the actor matter you mentioned with GN Entertainment as well?”
“We should move. Contact them as soon as the production company is confirmed.”
At the same time, even amid its busyness, Netflix Japan heavily promoted in Japan another project it had been steadily preparing.
《Netflix Japan to Release Korean Drama “Rental Lover” This Afternoon!》
“Rental Lover” had ended in Korea, but in Japan, it was just beginning.
With Rojun’s popularity already exploding in Japan due to his confirmed final victory on “Produce the 100,” “Rental Lover” received molten-hot attention from Japanese fans before it had even properly launched. No—how could they possibly resist a drama written by Rojun that also featured him as an actor?
“Rental Lover” was uploaded to Netflix Japan in the afternoon.
Then, about an hour later, praise for “Rental Lover” and Gang Rojun exploded across Japan’s famous social media platforms.
And the next morning, Friday, “Rental Lover” even surpassed “Produce the 100.”
[Japan’s Real-Time Top 10 Content]
1. Rental Lover
2. Produce the 100!
3. Spy Army
4. Strange Restaurant
5. Night Diner
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·
It rose proudly to number one on Netflix Japan.
At the same time, in Korea.
Around the time “Rental Lover” occupied first place on Netflix Japan, Gang Rojun could be found at a clothing studio in Seoul. To be exact, a bespoke suit studio. Suits, tuxedos, shoes, and the like hung all around.
It was Gang Rojun’s first time in a place like this, and his eyes were filled with wonder.
‘Whoa—everything looks expensive at a glance.’
The ones guiding Gang Rojun were Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa of “Culture Drawer” and her team members.
“Writer, please choose a design you like.”
She handed something that looked like a magazine to Rojun, who was seated on the sofa. When he opened it, it was packed with photos of handsome foreign models all wearing suits or tuxedos.
‘Oooh.’
With his curiosity rising, Rojun began searching for the tuxedo he wanted. The reason he was choosing a tuxedo now was simple. It was to decide what to wear to the SBC year-end awards ceremony, to which he had been invited.
‘There are so many, it’s hard to choose.’
Meanwhile, a male and female employee of the studio sidled up to Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa and whispered.
“Rojun looks insane in person.”
“No, he’s not even wearing makeup.”
“I feel like he’d devour the awards ceremony if he went just like that.”
“His body’s no joke either. He must work out a lot. If he builds up his physique on top of that face, seriously…”
Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa, whose long hair was tied back in a single line, felt her shoulders rise for no reason.
“The tuxedo fit is going to be killer, right?”
“Does that even need to be said? At that level, it’s not that Rojun will benefit from the tuxedo—the tuxedo will benefit from Rojun.”
As the murmuring grew louder, Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa glanced at Gang Rojun, who was carefully choosing a tuxedo.
‘How should I put it? He seems to have gotten even more handsome. A little more mature? His pull on the eyes has gotten stronger—’
Compared to when she first saw him, the current Rojun was even more destructive.
‘Is it because his body got better? He seems to have lost some weight, too.’
Just then.
“I picked one.”
Rojun met Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa’s eyes.
“I’ll go with this.”
“…Pardon? Ah! Yes, yes!”
Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa, who had momentarily been entranced by Gang Rojun’s visuals, snapped back to her senses and requested the tuxedo Rojun had chosen from the surrounding staff. By the time they finished taking his measurements as well, about an hour had passed.
‘That ended faster than I thought.’
As Gang Rojun checked the time, Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa approached him.
“The order is all done. Once the tuxedo comes out, we’ll deliver it right away—and, Writer, what is it?”
When she asked after seeing Rojun’s subtle expression, Gang Rojun pointed with his index finger at one tuxedo hanging on the wall.
“Could I possibly try on a tuxedo with measurements similar to mine?”
Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa blinked, then smiled.
“Of course you can.”
“Thank you. I’ve never worn something like this before, so I wanted to try it on once.”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa quickly called over an employee and told them what Rojun wanted. A few minutes later, Gang Rojun entered the changing room with a male employee of the suit studio. Soon, the “Culture Drawer” staff, including Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa, and the studio employees waited for Rojun.
Gang Rojun came out of the changing room—
—Srrk.
—about fifteen minutes later.
Perhaps feeling awkward in the tuxedo, Gang Rojun cleared his throat.
“Ahem, how is it?”
In contrast, Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa and the dozen or so people looking at him—
“…”
“…”
—froze with their mouths slightly open.
Around then, SBC, a terrestrial broadcasting station, threw new bait onto the internet.
《[Official] ‘Rental Lover’ Rojun Confirmed to Attend This Year’s SBC Drama Awards as a Writer》
It was news of Gang Rojun’s year-end awards ceremony appearance.
Early afternoon, the “Produce the 100” campus.
After having lunch with the “Culture Drawer” staff, including Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa, Rojun returned to the campus. Looking up at the still-empty dormitory building, Rojun muttered to himself.
“When are the guys coming back?”
It was already Friday. So it was about time the members started returning. They would probably come tomorrow, Saturday, or the day after, wouldn’t they?
“It’s starting to get boring.”
Just as Rojun murmured and was about to move his feet, his phone briefly vibrated.
—Bzzzz.
It was a message from Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa, and she had sent him a photo. Gang Rojun in a tuxedo. As Rojun looked at the photo, he scratched his chin awkwardly.
‘I can’t get used to this.’
When he lowered his phone, another message arrived.
—Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa: Writer Rojun! Rental Lover is No. 1 on Netflix Japan!! Congratulations again!
Gang Rojun had already heard about it over lunch and even skimmed through the reactions on the way back, but—
“‘Rental Lover,’ number one on Netflix Japan. Damn, that’s awesome.”
The corners of his mouth still twitched upward. Maintaining the ranking would be the key from here on, but either way, wasn’t this something worth dancing over? Rojun looked around once, then actually shook his body.
That was when it happened.
—Bzzzz.
—Bzzzz.
Several short vibrations rang out. Was it Team Leader Ryu Jeonghwa again? He wondered, but it was not. This time, they were notifications sent by the “AI Simulation” app.
—[You have completed the Title Mission, “Recognition That Grows Without Rest!”]
—[The Title “Recognition Monster” has met the conditions and will be enhanced by +1!]
—[As the Title “Recognition Monster” has been enhanced, 1 bonus coin will be added to mission coin rewards.]
—[Congratulations! The Title “Recognition Monster” has reached +5!]
—[First +5 Title completed! As a gift, you have been awarded the item “AI Automation 1-Time Free Pass.”]
Seeing the flood of notifications, Gang Rojun let out a faint exclamation.
“Oh—+5 enhancement! Huh? But isn’t +5 the end for titles?”
As if answering him—
—[Title Awakening is available.]
“AI Simulation” displayed an additional notification.
—[Would you like to awaken the +5 Title “Recognition Monster” into the Title “World Star”?]