It was said that *Produce the 100* had taken first place on Netflix Japan immediately after launching. Indeed, *Produce the 100* was currently number one on the Netflix Japan rankings.
[Japan’s Real-Time Top 10 Content]
1. Produce the 100!
2. Bizarre Restaurant
3. Spy Army
4. Squid Money
5. Midnight Diner
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The Korean entertainment program *Produce the 100* had trampled Japan’s popular content and seized first place in one fell swoop. A few domestic reporters who confirmed this feat quickly reported on it back in Korea.
《"At This Rate, Everything Will Be Stolen by Korea" As Soon as *Produce the 100* Takes First Place… Japanese Content Market in "Shock"》
However, the impact was weaker than on the ground in Japan. On the Japanese side, it wouldn’t be strange to call it a *Produce the 100* craze. *Produce the 100* had already been spreading by word of mouth on Japanese social media and communities, and as soon as it launched on Netflix, its recognition ballooned several-fold in an instant.
Right now, Japan was in a similar situation to when *Produce the 100* first aired in Korea.
The Japanese public was sending immense interest toward the 100 participants. The core of that interest was, of course, Number 1.
[@rRruUu_55412]
[Did you see *Produce the 100* that launched on Netflix this time?? Why can’t Japan make programs like this! And contestant Number 1 doesn’t even look human!! He’s too handsome—it’s unreal!]
On famous Japanese social media, captured screenshots of Gang Rojun were circulating like crazy. However, Korea did not focus heavily on *Produce the 100*’s smash-hit launch in Japan.
The subject was the same—*Produce the 100* or Number 1—but Korea had something else that was far more explosive.
《Right Now Communities Are Buzzing Over "Number 1" and "Rental Lover"… When Will *Produce the 100* Release an Official Statement?》
The rumor that had exploded a few days ago—that Number 1 was the writer of *Rental Lover*—was overwhelmingly powerful. Even though some time had passed, articles were still being churned out, and groundless rumors were spawning like crazy, centering on online communities.
The press moves toward what sells the most.
Therefore, news that *Produce the 100* had ranked first on Netflix Japan was a huge commotion in Japan, but in Korea, it was merely a sideshow that boosted Gang Rojun’s momentum. Regardless, it was certainly something to celebrate, and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the starting gun for PD U Hanseok’s targeted overseas expansion had been properly fired.
In the midst of this, PD Jeong Suryeong dropped by the broadcasting station for the first time in a few days because filming had started in earnest.
The PDs around her swarmed.
“Hey! PD Jeong!! Is it true that Number 1 is the writer of *Rental Lover*?!”
“The Chief is going crazy too! Just tell us quietly!”
“It’s not true, right?? That Number 1 wrote *Rental Lover*??”
PD Jeong Suryeong smiled faintly and shrugged.
“How would I know?”
“Whoa—what the hell! No, is it even possible for the broadcasting company producing the show to not know the facts?”
“What’s so impossible about that?”
Just then, the Drama Department Chief, having arrived with quick strides, shouted as soon as he saw PD Jeong Suryeong.
“Hey!! Jeong Suryeong!”
The Chief was in no different state than the other PDs.
“You punk! What the hell is going on! You aren’t even answering your phone!”
“Don’t you know filming has started?”
“I know! But more importantly, tell me. What you’ve turned upside down everywhere! Is that Number 1 writer Gang Cheolsu?”
“Who knows?”
Too many captains steer the ship up the mountain, so as planned from the start, PD Jeong Suryeong hadn’t informed the broadcasting station of the scheme at all. The station had been grinning ear to ear with Choe Rina firmly cast as the female lead in the one-act drama, so when they heard that Number 1, the face of *Produce the 100*, was the writer of *Rental Lover*, they inevitably flipped out.
“You won’t talk straight?? The higher-ups are giving me looks, and I’m stuck in the middle dying here! I need to know for sure so I can report it!”
“Try to keep your head down.”
“Hoo—it’s true, right? That Number 1 is the writer. Why hide it even from headquarters, you punk.”
PD Jeong Suryeong leaned close to the bald Chief and whispered.
“I’m telling you, I don’t know either. Let’s not go jumping the gun for no reason.”
“What?”
“The *Produce the 100* side will move on their own somehow. We’ll know clearly by then. If the station steps in now, we’d just be pouring cold water on a blazing issue. Look at the press and public opinion—*Rental Lover* is being mentioned dozens of times more than a few days ago.”
“You think I don’t know? The one-act drama is making more noise than the high-profile miniseries with all those top stars right now.”
With a deepened smile, PD Jeong Suryeong brushed past the Chief and delivered her closing line.
“So just leave it to me like this, and hold back your curiosity.”
And so PD Jeong Suryeong moved to the busy set preparing for filming. Unlike before, the *Rental Lover* staff were focused solely on shooting.
“Let’s pick up the speed!”
With PD Jeong Suryeong, the on-site supervisor, joining in, the fervor intensified. Around 10 a.m., roughly forty minutes later.
“The writer has arrived!!”
“Hello—”
Gang Rojun appeared on set, taking off the mask and hat that had hidden his face. This was to carry out the second filming schedule following the first. Soon, the key staff including PD Jeong Suryeong crowded around him. Various greetings and questions poured out, and Rojun, answering them moderately, moved to get his makeup done.
—Swish.
On the set he had grown somewhat accustomed to since it was his second time, Gang Rojun muttered internally.
*Today I feel more anticipation than nerves. It’s definitely better than being cooped up on campus—going back and forth like this. It’s refreshing, too.*
Currently, no other actors had arrived besides Rojun. Today’s filming schedule started with the solo cuts of Lover Number 4. The others would probably arrive while Gang Rojun was in the middle of filming.
And so.
“Lover Number 4, ready?”
“Yes.”
Gang Rojun’s.
“Action.”
The second filming began.
At the same time.
The voting for *Produce the 100* Team 1 had reached a fever pitch. Because voting closed this afternoon on Tuesday. Furthermore, Gang Rojun had dropped a nuclear bomb in between, making it even more heated.
PD U Hanseok was at the *Produce the 100* campus.
To be exact, in the hall with the stage.
—♬♪
The booming sound of *Produce*, the busy filming crew, the flashing lights, I Hanna standing before the stage, and Team 2 members unleashing choreography like mad on the stage.
Like Team 1, they were rehearsing ahead of the surprise performance coming up soon.
Not only Team 2, but Team 3 was also waiting beside the stage.
Because the surprise performances for Team 2 and Team 3 were scheduled for Wednesday morning. Fortunately, neither Team 2 nor Team 3 had participants who couldn’t take the stage this time. Although their skills might be lacking, their passion burned hotter than anyone’s.
Soon, PD U Hanseok, who had been scanning the Team 2 and Team 3 participants on stage, crossed his arms.
*In a few days, Episode 8 airs—meaning we’ve passed the midpoint. After this evaluation, the participants will decrease noticeably. The agencies have been drooling all over themselves for a while now.*
Currently, there were 38 surviving participants total. After this third evaluation, they’d probably drop sharply to around 20.
*…Time to start working on the agencies, too.*
It was PD U Hanseok wearing an ominous smile, while Team 2 and Team 3, who had no way of knowing this, were simply immersed in the rehearsal stage. The production crew was no different. They played the song, danced the choreography, corrected mistakes, and played the song again when finished. Repeating this infinitely.
The more they did, the faster time flew.
Rehearsal filming had started in the morning, but before they knew it, the time was pointing to late afternoon. The crew had changed in shifts, but I Hanna, Team 2, and Team 3 around the stage were still sweating.
The rehearsal practice ended after 8 o’clock.
Additionally, Team 1’s voting had also concluded.
The *Produce the 100* production crew, including PD U Hanseok, gathered again in the hall the next morning, Wednesday.
If there was something different from the previous day.
“……”
“……”
The staff and PD U Hanseok had become terse, their faces quite grave. Before long, over ten participants entered the hall, which had finished filming setup. Among them was Gang Rojun.
*The mood is heavy. Well, no wonder.*
They were Team 1 members. PD U Hanseok requested in a low tone to the thirteen members of Team 1.
“Everyone, please come up to the stage.”
Team 1 gulped and climbed onto the stage, lining up in numerical order with Rojun first. The cameras were already rolling—meaning filming had started. Soon, PD U Hanseok, standing before Team 1, raised his tablet and opened his mouth.
“Team 1’s voting has concluded. I have your survival results in my hand.”
After briefly scanning the grave thirteen participants, he continued the briefing.
“Five out of the thirteen will be eliminated, and there will be no survivor revival this time.”
Going forward, there were no plans for participants to resurrect through revival rounds.
“Those who pass may remain where they are. Those who are eliminated, please leave *Produce the 100* immediately.”
The participants’ hearts pounded despite having heard the same words several times before. Having come this far, wanting to survive was only natural, unlike if they had fallen early on. Regardless, PD U Hanseok slowly opened his mouth.
“Contestant 94, you have been ‘eliminated.’ Thank you for your hard work.”
Contestant 94, called as the first. The slightly pointy-chinned 94 widened his eyes in disbelief.
“M-me?? I’m eliminated?!”
“Yes.”
“Ah- ah……”
His eyes reddened. But sadness couldn’t turn elimination into a pass. In the end, Contestant 94 briefly greeted the participants and production crew before leaving the hall. PD U Hanseok then proceeded to announce the remaining eliminations one after another.
In total, five people left the stage.
Soon, on the stage.
“Congratulations on your survival.”
Only eight remained, including Gang Rojun.
About an hour later.
Though the filming for Team 1’s third evaluation results had ended, Gang Rojun remained in the vast hall. He was the only one left among the eight survivors, and PD U Hanseok approached him.
“Ready? It won’t take too long. A simple greeting to the viewers, and just deliver the line you came up with, Number 1, and it’ll be over.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The reason Gang Rojun remained? It was simple. To film the declaration to viewers that Number 1 was indeed the writer of *Rental Lover*. It was as discussed previously. PD U Hanseok, having roughly coordinated their words, stepped back behind the camera, and when the signal that filming had started was given, Rojun bowed deeply to the front-facing camera.
“Hello, this is Number 1.”
At the next line Rojun delivered, PD U Hanseok and the writers made bewildered expressions.
“Th-that’s it?”
Afterwards.
Around 2 p.m., a basketball court in Goyang was packed with many spectators, and a pre-game announcement broadcast rang out.
“There will be a celebratory performance!!”
The lights went dark and brightened again. In the center of the basketball court stood over a dozen *Produce the 100* participants. Team 2 had launched into their surprise performance. Since the press and public had already been abuzz over Team 1, the audience caught on quickly.
“Kyaaaa!!”
“It’s *Produce the 100*! *Produce the 100*!!!”
Screams poured out. *Produce* spread throughout the entire basketball court. However, this time, Team 3 was deployed immediately after Team 2’s stage ended. Thanks to the short, intense surprise performance, thousands of spectators were excessively excited.
This news was thrown onto the internet immediately.
《*Produce the 100* Team 2, Team 3! This Time Appearing in Goyang!》
And matters related to Gang Rojun were still bubbling. However, perhaps because several days had passed, the issue’s intensity had grown, but the atmosphere had changed slightly.
—Stop the media play lollll stop mass-producing tabloid trash
—Looking at how quiet Number 1 and the Rental Lover side are, seems like it’s fake lolllll
—Anyway, trash journalists churning out articles in droves without fact-checking is the problem, the problem
—Huh?? Did Number 1 say he’s not the writer of Rental Lover??
—↑Nah, not that, but the atmosphere is turning into typical tabloid trash
—It never made sense from the start lollll what do you mean Number 1 is a drama writer lollll
A negative nuance had crept in. This continued until Thursday, a day later, and as public opinion slowly shifted, the press released similar articles.
《[StarPick] *Rental Lover* Starring Choe Rina, Which *Produce the 100* Number 1 Supposedly Wrote, Turns Out Number 1 Didn’t Write It?》
On Friday, the next day, it grew even more heated.
Night fell in this state, and Episode 8 of *Produce the 100* hit the airwaves.
—Produce the 100!
After the title card, Episode 8, following Episode 7, showed a lot of Team 2 and Team 3. Team 2 and Team 3’s first evaluation regarding *Produce*, first group choreography practice, rehearsals in the practice room, stage rehearsals, and so on.
—Oh, contestant 48 dances well hahaha
—Contestant 48 got an A+? Isn’t this the first time since Number 1 that I Hanna checked the second verse choreography??
—Are Number 1 and 48 the only two who copied the choreography exactly?
—Number 1 is a cheat-level existence, that’s why lollll contestant 48 has sharp features too and is indeed insanely handsome
—ㅠㅜㅠㅜㅠㅠ contestant 58 is so cute
—Team 2 and Team 3 perform as well as Team 1!!
—Nooo lollll tbh Team 1 was the best
—Nnn Team 2 seems better; Team 1 had too much Number 1 favoritism
—But looking at contestant 58, they’re kind of an all-rounder lollll good at rap and vocals too, and the choreography is decent
—Am I the only one who thinks Team 3 is the best??
—Yeah, just you~
After the surprise performance, interview cuts with some Team 2 and Team 3 participants. The angle changed again.
—[“Team 1’s voting has concluded. I have your survival results in my hand.”]
PD U Hanseok appeared. After the stern-faced Team 1 members were shown, the death sentence was handed down.
—[“Contestant 94, you have been ‘eliminated.’ Thank you for your hard work.”]
The viewers grew quite noisy.
—Farewell, contestant 94….ㅠㅠ
—Honestly, I had a feeling he’d fall
—He’s crying, he’s crying lollll
—It’s a shame to drop after coming this far
Soon, five people left *Produce the 100*, and the survivors were shown starting with Gang Rojun.
—But Number 1 barely had any screen time this episode
—The press and public are going crazy!! Number 1! Clarify your position!!
—What? Number 1 is the writer of Rental Lover?? I heard that’s totally fake lolllll
—Yeah, it’s fake
—It was weird… Number 1 suddenly writing some drama
It was then.
A completely empty stage suddenly appeared, and in the shot, only Gang Rojun stood alone.
—???What??
—Why are they only showing Number 1 all of a sudden?
—What! What is it!!
—Crazy…. My mom just gasped at Number 1 lollll said he’s so handsome
Such a Gang Rojun. No, Number 1 greeted the viewers.
—[“Hello, this is Number 1.”]
Rojun’s calm next line was extremely short.
—[“I wrote *Rental Lover*.”]
Soon, the OpenTalk chat exploded.