The one-act play *Rental Lover* written by Gang Rojun. PD Jeong Suryeong, who had just set her mind on expanding the scale of that one-act play. The script of *Rental Lover* itself was quite decent—good enough to have won the top prize at the SBC Contest.
But the real deal was the writer who wrote it.
If the writer was that “Number 1” of *Geubaekpeu*, then the value of the decent *Rental Lover* would jump several dozenfold. That was what PD Jeong Suryeong, a director with at least fifteen years of experience, thought.
-Swish.
She suddenly stood up from her seat by the window and started walking down the hallway. Though several assistant directors and PDs had tried to talk to her, PD Jeong Suryeong ignored them.
-Clack.
She sat alone in an empty meeting room. She had moved because the Drama Department was too noisy. Soon, PD Jeong Suryeong, arms crossed, let out a low hum.
“Hmm—first, reset all the actor casting boards I had in mind. And stop the scouting requests I’d casually sent out to agencies asking for rookies.”
The first thing that came to her mind was the actors to be cast in *Rental Lover*. If she was going to expand the scale, mediocre actors would be slightly insufficient.
“I was going to fill more than eighty percent of the cast with rookies because it’s a one-act play, from the female lead to the main supporting roles—no way. First, the female lead needs to be set to at least A-list.”
PD Jeong Suryeong intended to cast the remaining main supporting and supporting roles at around B-list rather than rookies. The higher the grade of the actors, the more material there would naturally be for promotion and marketing. That would immediately become a hot topic, making cross-promotion possible by tying it together with Writer Gang Cheolsu.
“After the actors, the directing quality, the skills of the key staff, the editing—all of it needs to have its volume raised higher than I had planned.”
PD Jeong Suryeong quickly but meticulously revised the plans she had set. As a veteran, none of it was difficult. To the point where the faces of several actors were already floating up in her mind.
Because in the current acting scene, there were quite a few actors whom PD Jeong Suryeong had discovered or who owed her favors.
At this point, she crossed her legs and let out a small sigh.
“Expanding the scale isn’t difficult—the problem is the budget.”
In the end, the problem was money. Typically, the first episode of a one-act play started with a budget less than half that of a regular miniseries episode. Yet the quality had to be raised. Therefore, when PDs took on one-act plays, they reduced spending on actors and poured money into directing.
It was a structure that naturally left them no choice but to use cheap rookies.
Naturally, *Rental Lover* was the same.
But if she expanded the scale, she would need twice the allocated budget. Well, PD Jeong Suryeong did have a way to very easily solve the budget problem.
“If I tell the department head the story related to Writer Gang Cheolsu, it would be solved immediately.”
Gang Rojun, Number 1 of *Geubaekpeu*, Writer Gang Cheolsu. If she tied these three together well and delivered them to the Drama Department head, he would probably drool and jump at it. Besides, wasn’t Rojun now rising on a whirlwind trajectory?
However, the reason PD Jeong Suryeong didn’t use that card was simple.
“Then the budget would be solved, but if something goes wrong, it could harm Writer Gang Cheolsu.”
Too many captains steer the ship up a mountain. For now, PD Jeong Suryeong had to keep matters regarding Writer Gang Cheolsu hidden. Especially since the entertainment industry was a place where rumors spread in an instant. If she carelessly leaked the information and things got damp, the fire might not catch when she needed to light it.
In the end.
“It means I have to expand the scale on my own while keeping the budget as is.”
It meant she had to forge ahead with her own strength without asking the broadcasting station for help. It seemed like a rather difficult mission, but for some reason, her eyes were overflowing with confidence.
“Might as well give it a shot, whatever.”
Meanwhile, at the *Geubaekpeu* campus in Paju.
Over a hundred staff members and PD U Hanseok were gathered in the hall with the stage. Today was the day of the Vocal Team’s second-round evaluation filming, following the Dance Team, and preparations had been greatly delayed due to the aftermath of the premiere that had aired since morning.
Only now, well past noon, were the filming preparations finished.
But the five judges sitting in the front row in front of the stage still showed excitement that hadn’t faded.
“It hit ten percent from the first episode! Doesn’t that mean it’ll really surpass twenty percent by the finale??”
“Wouldn’t it be great if the show we’re doing keeps exploding in ratings!!”
“The ratings are one thing, but the atmosphere felt like a whirlwind was blowing, right?? Just looking at Neutube, related videos are surging like crazy!”
In the midst of it all, including Gang Rojun.
“Hello, Number 1!”
“Hello.”
“Did you watch yesterday’s premiere??”
“Yes, I did.”
“How was it? An enormous number of viewers saw Number 1, you know?”
“Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real. It’s all fascinating.”
The Dance Team participants proceeded with interview filming, and as soon as the hall by the stage was organized, PD U Hanseok spoke.
“Then, starting now, we will begin the Vocal Team’s second-round evaluation.”
They started the Vocal Team’s second-round evaluation filming in earnest. The format was the same as the Dance Team’s. Behind them, as the afternoon approached and the airing of *Geubaekpeu* episode 2 drew near, the press increased the speed at which they pumped out articles.
It truly seemed a trend whirlwind was blowing.
Moreover, among the real-time popular videos on Neutube from first to tenth place, five were related to *Geubaekpeu*. Edited highlight videos, clips of popular participants, and so on.
The one that took first place was, of course—
-!Legend! The ‘Number 1’ contestant who turned the stage upside down with visuals alone | ‘Produce the 100!’
-Rapidly Rising Video #1
-Views: 3,444,991 / 2020. 7. 24
Number 1. No, it was a video of Gang Rojun. The thumbnail was simple. His face. The runtime was short, about a minute. From Rojun’s appearance in the *Geubaekpeu* premiere to the moment he revealed his face. Yet the one-minute video had hit three million views in less than a day.
The public who watched the video poured out pure admiration.
-Doesn’t Number 1 have a slightly luxurious degenerate beauty?? Something crazy sexy
-Wow... I saw the live broadcast too.... but he’s insanely handsome even in the edited clip...
-Wow!! A feast for my eyes, let’s go♥
-I quit stanning... but what is this total hottie....?
-He feels like he’d be super cold, so his charm explodes too hahaha his voice is good too
-Ooh, legend
-He looks like a webtoon male lead striding out, hahahahahaha
-Straight-up heavenly haha he seems like he’ll stay in the heavenly realm even when he’s old hahaha
-How can someone look like that, I can’t believe he’s human no matter how many times I look
-Fuck, he’s insanely handsome
Time passed like that, and around 8:40 PM.
The *Geubaekpeu* team in the hall with the stage finished the Vocal Team’s second-round evaluation filming. Then PD U Hanseok spoke to the participants.
“I have an announcement. *Geubaekpeu* episode 2 will air shortly. I won’t mind you watching with your roommates, but moving between rooms is prohibited. Accidents can happen. And happily, our show got ten percent ratings! It’s thanks to all of you, and we will support you as much as possible going forward!”
His tone was filled with sincerity. Naturally, the hundred or so staff members around him wore the same expression. Soon the staff began cleaning up, and the dozens of participants who had gathered in the waiting room hurriedly moved toward their dorms. All of them had excited faces. Among them, Gang Rojun was visible.
“Episode 2 starts in a few dozen minutes now, ugh—I’m a bit nervous.”
Rojun too maintained a calm appearance on the outside, but inside he was filled with tension. It was natural, since his “Parting” would soon be broadcast nationwide. Before long, the Room 105 members, including Gang Rojun, gathered, and the moment they entered the room after moving quickly, they moved in unison.
“We’re watching on the tablet, right? Let’s use mine. Where should I set it up??”
“Can we use Number 1’s bed??!”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
“Okay! Perfect.”
“Should we connect a Bluetooth speaker too? I have one.”
“Sounds good??”
What, even a Bluetooth speaker. Gang Rojun scratched his chin in awkwardness, and soon a small movie theater was formed in Room 105. A tablet placed on Gang Rojun’s single bed, a connected Bluetooth speaker, and the Room 105 members huddled together in front of it.
Naturally, other rooms besides Room 105 would also be watching *Geubaekpeu* episode 2 in a similar fashion.
At that moment, Number 19 checked the time.
“8:55!”
As the airing approached, commercials flowed on the tablet outputting the ‘JTVM’ channel, and the familiar *Geubaekpeu* logo was stamped at the top of the screen. Number 37 rubbed both hands on their thighs.
“Wait, why am I nervous?? Is Number 1 okay?”
“No. I’m feeling a bit strange too.”
“Right, in today’s episode 2, Number 1 is the main focus from the very start.”
At this, Number 58, who had been quiet the whole time, muttered darkly.
“...I turned on the real-time open chat for *Geubaekpeu*, and it’s already a mess.”
“Omg! Really? The chat is so fast you can’t even read it!”
The real-time open chat was moving at a speed that even Gang Rojun could barely make out.
“How many are going up per second??”
Then.
“Ah!! The logo disappeared! I think it’s starting now!”
The *Geubaekpeu* logo that had been at the top of the screen disappeared, and the commercials ended. The time was 9 PM. That is, *Geubaekpeu* episode 2 was now airing. The tablet briefly went to a black screen before quickly outputting the opening.
-‘Produce the 100!’
First, the title they had seen in the premiere. The first scene was Gang Rojun standing on stage. It showed him taking off his white mask again, and the blank faces of the judges. The contestants in the waiting room who had fallen over in surprise also appeared for a brief moment.
Number 19’s eyes went wide.
“That’s me!! That was me just now!”
But the contestants’ cut ended in a few seconds, and the angle returned to the stage. Rojun holding a handheld mic.
-[“Hello, I am ‘Number 1.’”]
The real-time open chat shone even brighter.
-[“I’ve prepared a song. The song I’ll sing is ‘Parting.’”]
At this moment, there must be countless places watching *Geubaekpeu* episode 2. A practice room at a mid-sized entertainment agency was no different. Five women gathered in the center of the fairly spacious practice room. A familiar face was visible among them.
It was Hayeong, who had performed the ‘brake’ choreography with Gang Rojun.
The five members, including her, were the rookie girl group ‘Laimsseom.’ Hayeong and all five members had been invited to perform in the Dance Team’s second-round evaluation. These girls had stopped practicing to watch *Geubaekpeu* episode 2 on their phones.
“Ooh, he’s singing now. But ‘Parting’? The song choice is really unusual.”
“What do you think? Will he sing well? Hayeong, have you heard him?”
“No. Not at all. I only focused on the choreography when we practiced together.”
“His voice is good, but... somehow I feel like Number 1 won’t be able to sing. The image of someone singing super seriously but being tone-deaf??”
“It wouldn’t matter though, right? Number 1’s choreography is insane. But when do they air the choreography evaluation? Next week??”
Soon, one member showed the real-time open chat she had turned on in advance.
“Wow—eighty thousand connected users!”
Chats refreshing frantically as if war had broken out.
-I feel like Number 1 is going to suck as a twist hahaha
-It doesn’t matter if he can’t sing though?? With that face, even if he’s tone-deaf, I love him
-First time hearing ‘Parting,’ so I looked it up hahaha it’s an old song
-Hahaha if he’s tone-deaf it’ll be hilarious hahaha
-Honestly, if he’s good at singing too, Number 1 is a fucking OP cheat
-I vote that he sings well
-Everyone shut up, I want to listen quietly
At this point, the stage lighting in the phone changed, and the intro flowed throughout the hall. A heart-wrenching melody mixed with piano. After the screen showing Gang Rojun showed the judges with worry or curiosity on their faces—
-♬♪
The angle returned to Rojun again. Song information about ‘Parting’ appeared at the bottom of the screen, and amid enormous attention, Gang Rojun opened his mouth to the mic.
-[I caught a scent. The perfume you loved still lingers, keeping me here.]
From the first verse, rich emotion was conveyed.
Hayeong’s cheeks flushed red, her lips slightly parted.
“......He was good at singing too?”
Of course, all the members of ‘Laimsseom’ had their eyes wide open.
“Wow, his vocals are really good.”
“His tone is totally unique, right?? Was he a singer before?”
“This is quite a twist... he’s not just pretty good, he’s at a level where he could debut right away without any problem.”
Inside the phone, Gang Rojun continued the song in a low register, using a scratchy vocal technique, yet crying out in heart-wrenching sorrow.
-[The seasons have changed, but I am still here.]
[I am here. Everything is here.]
Meanwhile, PD U Hanseok was still in the huge hall with the stage. Of course, the writers and all staff were on standby. They too were monitoring the broadcast of episode 2, and Writer Gim Sehui, who had received the situation from the broadcasting station center, shouted out.
“PD-nim!! The opening ratings for episode 2 are out!! 14.3%!!”
Another female writer took the baton.
“Open chat users have surpassed one hundred thousand!!”
A gradually heating-up atmosphere. The angle of the episode 2 broadcast went from a bust shot of Rojun to a close-up. Then a full shot of the stage. From this point on, no one but Gang Rojun appeared on screen. An edit PD U Hanseok had intentionally made to allow viewers to focus solely on Rojun and his song.
-[Though you’re gone, I sometimes look back.]
[Can’t you call my name? Can’t you give me a sign?]
The resonance in Gang Rojun’s tone intensified.
And the situation of the over one hundred thousand viewers in the real-time open chat was—
-Wtf?
-????????Huh??????
-Hey fuck what???
-Wait hahaha he fucking sings well though????
-?_?
-Fuck, changing my underwear after one verse
-Wow.......
-Bring the bastard who said he’s tone-deaf
-????
-Number 1 was a fucking OP cheat character
Countless question marks and fierce exclamations exploded.