In front of the stairs leading to the semi-basement. Kang Rojun, holding his phone to his ear, wore a slightly startled expression. His widened eyes blinked repeatedly.
‘Huh? What did Producer Jeong Suryeong just say??’
He looked as though he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. Producer Jeong Suryeong repeated the reason from the other end of the phone.
“Hello?? Writer Gang Cheolsu? Did you hear that your script won the grand prize in the one-act drama competition?”
Why on earth? That trashy piece of writing had somehow won the grand prize.
‘Is this a hidden-camera prank? Is the whole world deceiving me? At this point, it has to be.’
For a moment, Rojun’s past flashed before his eyes. This was the first time he’d won an award of this caliber. And he’d won it with that piece of crap, no less. It was only natural for Kang Rojun to stop moving. But that lasted only briefly.
-A faint smile spread across Kang Rojun’s lips. He didn’t know, maybe the other side had made a mistake, but for now, he decided to be sincerely happy.
Additionally.
-Bzzzt.
His phone gave a brief vibration. When he checked his smartwatch, a notification from ‘AI Simulation’ was waiting for him.
-[You have completed the hidden mission ‘The First Fruits of a Side Job!’ As a gift, 10 coins have been awarded.]
The bonus coins had arrived. It felt as though the gift coins increased the wider Rojun’s world became. Thinking he’d gotten both the pheasant and its eggs, Rojun answered into the phone.
“Yes, I heard. Thank you, Producer. But you’re not playing a joke on me, are you?”
“Do I look like I have that much free time?? Why would I joke around?”
“No, I just wanted to make sure.”
“Our network’s competition was pretty fierce, but your reaction seems rather lukewarm??”
“I think it’s because it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
“That’s understandable. Usually, when new writers win, they’re dazed at first, but once the work actually goes into production, they feel like they’re floating in the sky. Though, since this is more like a side job for you, maybe you won’t feel that way??”
“I suppose I’ll have to experience it to know.”
Though it didn’t seem likely that something like this would ever happen again. Having answered, Rojun started moving his feet again. As soon as he climbed the stairs and stepped outside, all three high school girls passing by fixed their eyes on him.
“Whoa? Whoa!! Did you see that guy’s face??!”
“Holy crap…… He’s seriously insanely, insanely, insanely handsome?!”
Kang Rojun had grown somewhat accustomed to such reactions and asked Producer Jeong Suryeong,
“So will the process proceed as you explained during the meeting?”
“That’s right. For now, you just need to wait. It looks like not only ‘Rental Lover’ but also the work that won the excellence award will be produced, so I’ll take care of a few things and contact you again once everything’s more or less finalized.”
“Understood.”
“But if production is confirmed, the next call will probably come from the director in charge, not me. Still, save this number—it’s mine. This industry is small, after all. And by any chance, do you have any other works written??”
He did have a few more pieces of literary garbage. Scratching his chin out of needless embarrassment, Rojun replied,
“I do. Not many, though.”
“Oh—really? Keep them safe and show them to me sometime later. I’ll take a look myself. Congratulations again!”
The call ended just like that.
Lowering his phone, Kang Rojun stared into empty space for a while. He was imagining the day the one-act drama ‘Rental Lover’ would be produced and aired on television. Somehow, it felt a little embarrassing.
‘Besides what I’ve already written, I should keep writing whenever I have time, whether it turns out to be crap or something worthwhile. And—’
Then he opened the ‘AI Simulation’ app and carefully looked down at one of the several stats under ‘Status.’
-[Acting (0/100)]
It was acting.
‘That counts as a side job too, right?’
Meanwhile, at SBC Broadcasting’s drama department.
At a seat by the window, Producer Jeong Suryeong, her dry brown hair loosely tied back, tossed the phone she’d been holding onto the desk. Then she recalled Rojun and let out a small laugh.
“A writer with that absurd visual appearance, huh—”
She picked up the stack of papers on her desk. It was the script for ‘Rental Lover,’ written by Kang Cheolsu and already confirmed as the grand-prize winner.
-Flap.
Jeong Suryeong turned to the first page. It was definitely well written. The general story of ‘Rental Lover’ went like this. The female lead was a shut-in. Her self-esteem was rock-bottom, and she avoided meeting people. Even so, she wanted to have a boyfriend at least once. Then she happened to see an advertisement on the internet.
‘A rental boyfriend agency.’
It was a crazy advertisement claiming to rent out boyfriends. Tempted by the offer, the heroine applied for a rental and waited after selecting her preferred appearance and personality. She had her doubts, but a few days later, a handsome man really did arrive at her home.
He was her first rented boyfriend.
The heroine was flustered but happy to meet her first boyfriend, a man she had never met before. He always cherished and loved her. However, the first rented boyfriend had a problem. At first, she ignored it, but the issue gradually came to the forefront, and eventually, the heroine applied for a second rented boyfriend. ‘Rental Lover’ chronicled what happened as the number of rented boyfriends steadily increased.
‘It feels like a romantic comedy, but there’s a subtle thriller element.’
The story gradually grew stranger. Regardless, Jeong Suryeong and SBC had recognized ‘Rental Lover.’ Soon, Producer Jeong Suryeong lowered the script.
“Hmm—”
Writer Kang Cheolsu. No, she recalled the question Kang Rojun had suddenly thrown out during their meeting.
‘Are there any cases of writers appearing in their own works?’
What kind of writer did that? At least in the drama industry, it was safe to say there were none. Writers were usually too overwhelmed just writing their own scripts. The very fact that Writer Kang Cheolsu had asked such a question made him eccentric. However, in Jeong Suryeong’s eyes, he was different from ordinary writers.
“A writer who appears in his own work…… There must be a reason he asked that question. In any case, the writer is that guy with the insane visuals, and if he became an idol—and then appeared in a work he himself had written?”
With an intrigued look on her face, Producer Jeong Suryeong’s thoughts were filled with Kang Rojun.
“It’s an absurd story, but it would definitely be fun.”
Later.
While Kang Rojun was on his way to the filming location for ‘Produce the 100,’ its broadcasting network, JTVM, was pouring all its effort into marketing. Articles had already been flooding out nonstop for several days, while various events were being held on social media to raise awareness.
This quickly spread to online communities.
[What do you guys think of that ‘Produce the 100’ thing JTVM is doing this time?]
-The flavor we know
-The PD is that Woo Hanseok guy, lol. He knows how to make audition shows tasty.
-This time it looks like it’s for a boy group. I’m already drooling.
The rumor spread from finger to finger faster than light.
Then, around eleven o’clock.
The first teaser opened on several video platforms, including ‘Produce the 100’s official YouTube channel. It was a teaser meant to whip up public anticipation before the official trailer, with a few additional filming cuts included.
It began with a lively drumbeat playing beneath images of the dazzling idols currently active in Korea.
-♪♪
Then, all at once, the drumbeat vanished and was replaced by extremely grand music. Next came an aerial view of the Paju Theme Studio Campus, where the sets for ‘Produce the 100’ had been prepared, followed by a host of images besides the enormous stage where the evaluations would take place.
-[The 100 who will steal your eyes and ears.]
Words aimed at viewers appeared prominently in the center of the screen.
Finally—
-[You are the one who will produce the 100.]
After the words disappeared, the backs of 100 contestants filling the stage appeared. A few seconds later, the title appeared. The teaser was roughly thirty seconds long, and only a few dozen minutes after it opened, the reactions from those who had watched it exploded.
-Whoaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I’m definitely watching thisssssssssssssssssss
-The first episode is next week???ㅠㅠㅜㅜㅠㅜㅠㅜ I’m waiting.....
-You can practically drool just looking at their backs... Come on out...
-Lololololol why is this so fun even though it’s the flavor we knowㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-You’re saying 100 insanely handsome guys are appearing, right?????
-Wow, 100 peopleㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I can’t resist something like thisㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-What is it? Murmur murmur what is it, I said? Murmur murmur. Looks like it’ll be insanely fun. Hubbub hubbub.
-Another audition showㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I’m sick of it, so sick of it.
-The flavor you know is the scariest oneㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
·
·
·
Then, an hour later, at noon.
Kang Rojun arrived in Paju with a small backpack. The sprawling ‘Theme Studio Campus.’ Just like the first time he’d come, staff and cameras had been set up around the massive entrance. The difference was that the contestants were not wearing masks.
After staring at the entrance for a moment, Rojun thought,
‘The group training starts today— Still, since I’ve been here once before, I’m not shaking all that badly.’
He stepped forward. Contestants who had arrived earlier than Rojun were already mingling with the staff. And this time—
“Contestants from Group 1, this way!! Contestants from Group 2, over there!! Please leave the suitcases you brought around the outer perimeter for now!!!”
The successful candidates from Group 2, who had been filmed the day after Group 1 and whom Rojun had never seen, had joined them.
‘They said there were 70 people total between Groups 1 and 2, right? That’s a lot. A whole lot.’
The staff seemed intent on separating Groups 1 and 2, lining them up with some space between them. Among them, Writer Kim Sehui, brimming with energy, spotted Rojun.
“Oh! Number 1!!”
She waved her hand enthusiastically. Thanks to that, not only did the cameras filming the arriving contestants turn toward him, but dozens of successful candidates from Groups 1 and 2 also looked back at Rojun. It was excessive attention. But because he had seen how things looked during the filming for Group 1, Kang Rojun thought,
‘Whew—damn, just stay as calm as possible for now.’
He somehow managed to walk with composure. The successful candidates from Group 1 began whispering.
“He’s here, the villain.”
“Number 1 is insanely handsome again today.”
“What kind of villainous stunt is he going to pull during this group training camp??”
“Wait, is that all the luggage Number 1 brought? Just a backpack?”
On the other hand, the Group 2 candidates, who were seeing Kang Rojun for the first time, reacted as expected.
“L-Look at that guy. His face is seriously insane, isn’t it??”
“Wow—this is crazy. There was a monster in Group 1.”
“What is that appearance…… Was he made with CGI? His visuals are god-tier.”
“I heard a little about him from Group 1, and apparently his vocals are pretty good too.”
“That’s totally broken. Completely.”
Shock and horror.
Meanwhile, ignoring the piercing gazes, Kang Rojun was looking down at his phone.
‘I completed today’s five missions already—and oh, stat enhancement.’
To pass the time, Kang Rojun decided to enhance one of the stats under ‘Status.’ He invested another ten coins. Naturally, his target was vocal ability. The change was immediately noticeable.
-[Vocal Ability (4.6/100)]
As expected, it increased by only an infinitesimal amount.
‘They’re not giving me any gift coins this time.’
About ten minutes passed. By then, the entrance was packed with successful candidates, including Kang Rojun, and one of the staff members counting heads gave the OK sign.
“Group 1, 35 people. Group 2, 35 people. 70 in total. Yes! Everyone’s here!”
After confirming that all the successful candidates had arrived, the staff radioed someone and began handing out number tags. Then, a familiar face appeared from within the campus. It was Producer Woo Hanseok, fatigue filling his eyes. Holding a megaphone in one hand, he addressed the successful candidates.
“Welcome, everyone. You’re all mentally prepared, right??”
With a smile on his face, he looked over the successful candidates for a moment before making eye contact with Kang Rojun.
‘He’s still working hard at his appearance today.’
Then, after giving instructions to the cameras, he briefed them again.
“First, we’ll move to the stage where you passed your evaluation. I’ll tell you about the accommodations and the second evaluation there. We’ll move slowly, starting with Group 1.”
With so many people, the staff members overseeing them were on edge. It would be a disaster if an accident happened. Regardless, the only way to get to the huge hall where the evaluations had taken place was by bus.
It took roughly forty minutes for all 70 successful candidates to arrive at the hall with the stage.
There were still more than a hundred staff members, cameras, and audio equipment lined up throughout the place, but the 70 successful candidates were standing in the space at the front rather than on the stage. It was where the judges’ seats had been installed during the evaluation. Unlike when they had been at the entrance, Groups 1 and 2 had now been combined into a single group of 70.
They proceeded according to their numbers.
In other words, Kang Rojun, Number 1, was first.
‘Damn it—am I first again??’
Just then—
-Swish.
Producer Woo Hanseok appeared in front of the successful candidates once more, megaphone in hand.
“Before I give you the briefing, there’s something you need to do. It concerns the assignment you’ll have to perform in the second evaluation.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the staff brought out a square box from somewhere. It was the same black square box they had seen during the first evaluation. Only this time, it was bigger. All the successful candidates’ eyes fixed on the box, and once it had been set up, Producer Woo Hanseok spoke again.
“Each of you will come out one at a time and draw a ball. After checking your assignment, hold it up so that everyone can see it.”
Several cameras soon took their positions. At the same time—
-Pop!
The stage lights, which had been switched off, also came on. The enormous hall quickly brightened. As Kang Rojun and the other successful candidates looked around, Producer Woo Hanseok called out the first person.
“Number 1, please draw first.”
Producer Woo Hanseok, more than a hundred staff members, the cameras, and every successful candidate’s attention fixed on Kang Rojun. Rojun—
“……”
His expression remained impassive, but inwardly he was grumbling.
‘I knew this would happen. Whew—’
Well, it didn’t really matter. Whether he drew first or last, the act of drawing was the same. Kang Rojun stepped forward, quickly reached the black square box, and plunged his hand into the top without hesitation. His hand closed around a ball.
‘It’s bigger than the ones we drew numbers from.’
All the while, Producer Woo Hanseok stared intently at Rojun.
‘Draw already. If possible, I hope it’s something other than vocals.’
Since the draw was random and not rigged, Producer Woo Hanseok was filled with anticipation and curiosity as well.
At last—
-Swish.
Kang Rojun pulled out a gray ball. White letters were printed on it.
‘Ah.’
Just as Kang Rojun reacted briefly inside, Producer Woo Hanseok’s voice rang out.
“Please hold the ball up so all the successful candidates can see it, Number 1.”
After staring at the ball he had drawn for a moment, Rojun turned around and calmly raised it above his head. The cameras focused on him. The assignment written on Kang Rojun’s ball was—
-‘Choreography’
‘Choreography’—a cruel assignment for someone with two left feet.