PD Jeong Suryeong gave a small laugh after hearing Kang Rojun’s answer.
“Again with ‘a little’? You said you spoke a little Japanese too, didn’t you?”
That was true. Rojun really had only practiced acting a little. Rather than being modest, he was telling the truth. It wasn’t as if he could say he’d used the buff from “AI Automation,” could he? Kang Rojun nodded.
“Yes, a little.”
Smiling, PD Jeong Suryeong shook her head.
“I can’t tell if you’re being sincere or humble. Well, we’ll know once we check, won’t we?”
Turning her gaze forward, PD Jeong Suryeong was secretly looking forward to Rojun’s Japanese.
‘With that face, anything works. As long as he can do the basics in Japanese, it’ll be enough. Just enough that it doesn’t feel awkward. As for English, he can practice. He doesn’t have many lines anyway.’
She wasn’t even hoping for fluency. On the other hand, she had not the slightest expectation when it came to Kang Rojun’s acting. Rojun was currently in the middle of filming “P100,” and though she didn’t know the internal circumstances in detail, he had to be extremely busy one way or another. On top of that, he was writing as well. He would be sorely lacking time to practice acting.
Besides, Kang Rojun had said he had never acted before.
If he had at least some experience in acting, he would improve quickly, but if he really hadn’t done a damn thing before, it could take a year just to build the basics.
PD Jeong Suryeong knew that better than anyone.
She had seen and directed countless actors, from rookies to top stars. Even so, PD Jeong Suryeong proceeded with “Rental Lover” while assuming Rojun was a complete beginner at acting.
‘It doesn’t matter even if his acting is trash. The role of “Lover No. 4” is more of an image-based bit part anyway.’
A momentary impact. A powerful hook. Kang Rojun’s story, which was close to an anomaly. Those were the things PD Jeong Suryeong wanted from Rojun. Of course, controversy might arise. Viewers would quickly notice that Kang Rojun couldn’t act. And his scene partner was none other than Choi Rina.
‘But right now, he’s practically a civilian who hasn’t even made an official debut.’
So the public’s harsh gaze would be somewhat reduced. Afterward, the issues surrounding Kang Rojun would become several times bigger than such controversies. As she imagined the scheme she had set up, PD Jeong Suryeong’s smile deepened. Because she was looking forward to it. Then she called Rojun again.
“Then before the meeting, let’s take a quick look at your foreign languages and acting. No need to feel pressured. It’s just a simple check.”
“Yes, PD-nim.”
At the moment, pressure did not exist for Kang Rojun.
At the same time.
The media was in an uproar. Articles about “P100” had plastered every major search portal.
《[Issue Pick] “P100” Did It, Ratings Break 20%!》
It was viewership and influence worthy of that reaction. For “JTVM,” a general programming cable channel, surpassing 20% ratings was equivalent to nearly 30% on terrestrial TV, and it was an astonishing rating scarcely seen since JTVM’s founding.
They were writing a legend.
For more than five years, even including terrestrial networks, there had been no variety show in the 20% range. “P100” was the only one. Reaching such numbers in just four episodes was also a record-breaking achievement. Naturally, the broadcasting world and the press were buzzing. Among the articles, quite a few photos of surviving contestants were circulating as well.
《“P100,” 13 Contestants Survive from the “Dance Team,” Including Star Contestant No. 1 / Photos》
Right after episode 4 ended, voting began for the “Vocal Team” and the “Rap Team.” This time, the page did not crash. But that did not mean interest had decreased. The firepower had grown even stronger. Voting would continue until Tuesday, same as last time.
While the flames were blazing like this, the “P100” team, as if still not satisfied, tossed in another huge piece of firewood.
《[Official] Mega-Hit “Produce the 100!” Confirmed to Launch on Netflix》
News that “P100” would be launching on Netflix domestically.
At this hour, “P100” was also receiving quite a reaction in Japan. YouTube and social media were the main channels of communication. Japan had already been heavily influenced by the Korean Wave for quite some time, and Korean idols had a considerable presence there, enough to occupy the top ranks of the Oricon charts.
Those Japanese fans had begun to learn of “P100’s” existence.
Then.
《Korea’s Ultra-Popular Idol Survival Variety Show “Produce the 100!” Landing in Japan Through Netflix Japan?》
The Japanese media also threw out a fairly large piece of bait. News that “P100” would be launched on Netflix Japan. For now, it was being vaguely packaged, but it was soon scheduled to become fact.
Of course, the timing had been coordinated between Netflix Japan and PD Woo Hanseok.
Japanese fans had already been nibbling at the bait, and they rapidly spread news of “P100’s” Japanese launch across social media.
This was the terrifying power of a trend or craze.
Once it took root as a trend among the public, it spread in an instant. Naturally, it was brought up incessantly by people as well. Meanwhile, PD Woo Hanseok had come to JTVM regarding the voting matter and was in the middle of a brief meeting with the writers amid a hellish schedule of editing and more.
“For episode 5, we’ll include as much of the contestants’ daily lives as possible. We need to buy time too.”
“Yes, yes! It’s about time to start increasing the contestants’ appeal.”
“A lot more of them have defined characters now compared to the beginning, so make good use of the footage we’ve selected. And in the middle, let’s include that bit where No. 1 is writing by himself.”
“Ah! But what is he doing there? Did you hear anything, PD-nim?”
“Who knows. But I told him we’d use it for the broadcast. Even if we just show No. 1 writing without any explanation, it’ll draw in viewers’ curiosity.”
It was something he had already discussed with PD Jeong Suryeong, but Woo Hanseok kept it hidden from the writers for now.
“Of course they’ll be curious!! The face of ‘P100,’ No. 1, suddenly writing in the middle of a survival audition camp!”
“We’re dying of curiosity ourselves, so imagine the viewers!”
“Use the cuts in moderation and stimulate curiosity with a line like, ‘What is No. 1 doing right now?’”
Since No. 1 had come up, PD Woo Hanseok turned the thought over in his head and opened his mouth.
“Let’s use that scene in episode 5 too.”
“Which one?”
“You know, the conflict between No. 58 and No. 66. And No. 1 resolving that conflict in one shot. Including his fluent Japanese.”
“Whoa. I thought you weren’t going to use that.”
PD Woo Hanseok smiled faintly.
“Why wouldn’t I use something that tasty?”
About an hour later, at a rental office.
At a rental office building near Seoul, roughly an hour away from the Paju campus, PD Jeong Suryeong stopped the car. When Kang Rojun looked at Jeong Suryeong as if wondering what this was, she shrugged.
“PD Woo Hanseok emphasized that we should be as careful as possible when meeting the writer, so I just rented an office for today. There’s a lot to tell you too.”
It was not a bad decision. If someone recognized Kang Rojun while they were holding a meeting outside, it would be troublesome. Now was truly a time when they had to be cautious. In any case, PD Jeong Suryeong parked the car in the lot, and Rojun adjusted his mask and hat before getting out.
—Slide.
Quite a few people got on the elevator, but they only glanced at him because of the mask and hat. They did not particularly pay attention to Kang Rojun.
The rental room the two arrived at was not very large.
It was simplicity itself: a moderately sized space, a five-person table placed in the center, and a whiteboard set up against the wall. After closing the door, PD Jeong Suryeong placed the things she had brought onto the table. A tablet, diary, clear files, scripts, and more—there was a lot. Kang Rojun also took out a notebook for taking notes and sat down, while PD Jeong Suryeong wrote large letters at the top of the whiteboard.
—Rental Lover Schedule.
After that, she added the cast actors, preliminary meetings with actors, confirmed filming locations, script reading, and so on in order. Deciding that was enough for now, PD Jeong Suryeong pulled out the chair across from Rojun.
“It looks like a lot, but most of this is just information you need to be aware of, Writer-nim, so don’t feel burdened.”
Kang Rojun replied while looking at the unfamiliar words on the whiteboard.
“Yes, I’ll listen carefully.”
“And we’re now passing the middle-to-late stage of pre-production. From here on, there are a few places where we need to reveal your existence, Writer-nim. Things like preliminary meetings with the actors and the script reading.”
Script reading? Rojun recalled something he had seen in passing on YouTube.
‘Is that it? Where all the actors gather and go through their lines together?’
Thinking that he would personally do something he had found fascinating made Kang Rojun secretly nervous.
‘This is a different kind of tension from the idol side.’
Having read Rojun’s inner state, PD Jeong Suryeong smiled lightly.
“Right now, you’re incredibly huge as No. 1 from ‘P100,’ so if you appear as the writer and an actor of ‘Rental Lover,’ it’s going to turn everything upside down. For our key staff and the actors. Seriously, no one knows your identity, Writer-nim. Not even the female lead, Choi Rina.”
Choi Rina in particular would be shocked several times over. Even though his face had been covered, she had seen Rojun before. Whether that was the case or not, PD Jeong Suryeong continued as if it were fine.
“Still, you don’t have to worry. A confidentiality agreement is standard in the contracts, and I’ll make sure to keep everyone’s mouths shut.”
After murmuring that, PD Jeong Suryeong rubbed both hands together.
“I can already see everyone being stunned out of their minds, so why am I looking forward to it? How about you, Writer-nim?”
“I’m kind of looking forward to it too, and I’m nervous.”
PD Jeong Suryeong changed the subject.
“Now, before we start in earnest, shall we first check the things I mentioned earlier? Foreign languages first.”
She picked up the “Rental Lover” script on the table and flipped through a few pages. For reference, this “Rental Lover” script was newly printed after Rojun had finished revising it.
“Uh—this one, among ‘Lover No. 4’s’ lines. Could you try this English line? Without acting, just in your normal tone.”
Kang Rojun nodded and lowered his gaze to the script. Among the few lines for the role of “Lover No. 4,” he saw a short English line. He had already memorized it. He had written it himself and practiced it a few times. Clearing his throat softly, Rojun recited the line in English.
PD Jeong Suryeong, arms crossed, thought,
‘Hm. Exactly as expected. A level anyone could manage. The awkwardness stands out, but with practice, it can be polished a little.’
Before she knew it, her face had become serious.
‘The key is that absurd face. It suppresses a lot of the awkward dialogue because his visuals are so destructive.’
After Kang Rojun finished the English line, PD Jeong Suryeong gave him another request.
“Okay, this time this one. The Japanese line.”
“Yes.”
Kang Rojun exhaled softly and opened his mouth again. What came out was Japanese.
“I cherish you, even though we cannot understand each other’s words. From the moment you called me, I was sincere, even though we could not communicate. The reason I was quiet was because I believed our hearts were connected even without conversation, though even now you cannot understand what I am saying.”
At once, PD Jeong Suryeong’s eyes widened.
“Huh?”
Unlike his English, Rojun’s Japanese skill was extremely fluent. The Japanese she had just heard was far beyond something that could be achieved through mere practice. Slightly flustered, she asked again.
“Wh-what! You’re good??! No, weren’t you only supposed to know the basics of Japanese??”
Inwardly satisfied, Kang Rojun answered calmly.
“Yes, I speak a little.”
“What are you talking about! How is that ‘a little’ in any way?! That’s native level! Your ‘a little’ is wrong, Writer-nim! Wow, that surprised me.”
PD Jeong Suryeong, whose excitement had risen a notch, looked flustered on the outside but was cheering inwardly.
‘This is huge. If he’s that good, he doesn’t need practice or anything. But seriously, this guy even speaks Japanese… I can already see him absorbing the Japanese fans.’
After calming down, PD Jeong Suryeong stared intently at Rojun for a moment, then spoke again.
“Now let’s look at your acting.”
Being good at Japanese and being able to act were completely different areas. First, the acting had to at least meet the basics, and mixing in Japanese came after that. Even if he was good at a foreign language, it was useless if his acting was a dud.
“This scene, where ‘Lover No. 4’ makes his first appearance. Try acting out the expression in this scene. Think of me as the female lead. You said you practiced, right? Do you need some time?”
Kang Rojun immediately shook his head.
“No, I’ll do it right away.”
“You’ve got spirit, but…”
Even that top actress Choi Rina organized her emotions before going into acting. But Rojun showed no sign of thought or hesitation. It was exactly the stance of a beginner.
‘Well, acting he’s never done before won’t improve just because he practiced a little. He probably didn’t have anyone watching him either. Is this him wanting to get it over with quickly?’
At this point, PD Jeong Suryeong resigned herself.
“All right, then. Cue.”
The moment the signal fell, Kang Rojun transformed into “Lover No. 4.” Learned. No, the recalled emotion spread rapidly.
An infinite affection filling his eyes.
With that gaze, Kang Rojun looked at PD Jeong Suryeong.
A faint smile bloomed at his lips. This smile was the core and trademark of “Lover No. 4.” No matter who the other person was, he seduced a woman’s heart with a violently captivating smile. His target now was PD Jeong Suryeong. Without realizing it, she was drawn into Rojun’s smile.
“……”
Everything in the way he treated the female lead had to carry the feeling that he cherished her. His gaze also had to be focused on the female lead. PD Jeong Suryeong’s mouth opened slightly, and Kang Rojun added attachment to his eyes.
At that moment, PD Jeong Suryeong, who had been bewitched, snapped back to her senses.
“…S-stop! Stop, stop!”
Even as she felt her heartbeat pounding far too fast, she asked Kang Rojun across from her,
“Writer-nim… you said you’d never acted before?”
“Yes. This is my first time.”
Furrowing her brow as if it made no sense, PD Jeong Suryeong shouted,
“What do you mean, first time! Even the female lead Choi Rina would get confused and fall for you!!”