Officially launched in Japan, “T100P” was gaining momentum among young people and growing to a force not far behind its popularity in Korea. Since the Korean Wave had already sent the popularity of Korean content—films, dramas, music, and the like—soaring sky-high, “T100P” had an even stronger wind at its back.
Of course, “T100P” still held firm at No. 1 on Netflix Japan.
An impregnable fortress, at least for now.
The craze for “T100P” was so intense that it was even being introduced on popular Japanese variety shows. It also came up constantly in interviews with Korean idols who had expanded into Japan. Have you watched “T100P”? I hear it’s insanely popular in Korea too. Who’s the most beloved contestant in Korea? And so on.
Naturally, there were also plenty of people who looked upon it with displeasure.
There were especially many in Japan’s entertainment industry, and one popular comedian even criticized it in a magazine, calling “T100P” “a program that eats away at the minds of young people.” Of course, immediately afterward, his social media was bombarded with comments along the lines of “worry about yourself,” and he met the ending of shutting down his account.
At this point, it was fair to say “T100P” had created a huge trend in Japan as well.
Around the final scene of episode 8 of that very “T100P,” the line uttered by contestant No. 1—
[@juju_990]
[Does anyone know what that Rental Lover thing No. 1 mentioned is? I searched it, but I can’t find any clear info!]
—became quite a hot topic in Japan, but in a completely different direction from Korea. In Korea, people had been freshly shocked by the fact that Kang Rojun was the writer of “Rental Lover,” but in Japan, where the full context wasn’t clear, a great wave of curiosity spread.
It was only natural, since it had been a meaningful comment from No. 1, the flagship star, rather than any other contestant.
Japanese fans who had watched “T100P” spread the phrase “Rental Lover” around social media and online communities, and as it continued to spread, Japanese media outlets also took notice.
《What Exactly Is “Rental Lover,” the Term Spreading Rapidly Across Social Media?》
“Rental Lover” was becoming quite hot, and eventually, a Korean living in Japan appeared and posted the answer on social media. The “Rental Lover” No. 1 had mentioned was a one-act drama being produced in Korea. The writer of that one-act drama was No. 1 from “T100P,” and Korea was currently in an uproar over the issue as well.
Soon, reactions from Japanese “T100P” fans poured in.
-No. 1 is a writer?? Oh my god... He has that face and he writes too??!!
-I want to see it!! Is there no way to watch it in Japan??
-Netflix! Bring us Rental Lover right now!!
-That’s amazing. So does that mean No. 1 is going to be an idol while continuing to write too?
Recognition of “Rental Lover” was rising rapidly in Japan as well.
-I’m going to watch it! Even if I have to travel to Korea, I’m definitely going to see it!
No. 1. No, Kang Rojun was no different.
At the same time, in Korea.
Kang Rojun had finished filming “Rental Lover,” which had begun early in the morning, and was on his way back to the campus. Inside the van. Sitting in the back seat, surrounded by props related to the shoot, Rojun—
“Ugh—my eyeballs hurt.”
—rubbed his face with both hands. Fatigue was pouring in. If he closed his eyes, it felt like he could fall into a deep sleep instantly. But it was a pleasant kind of exhaustion. These days, results came out as much as he worked, and change happened as much as he ran.
“Of course my body’s creaking when I went from lying around all limp to suddenly doing a ton of things.”
Then Rojun thought about exercising as soon as he arrived at the campus. Since he had left early today, he hadn’t had time to do his mission. Soon, Kang Rojun took out his phone and opened “AI Simulation.” He used coins to enhance his stats.
-[Looks (100/100)│Vocals (22.2/100)│Rap (17.7/100)│Choreography (21.7/100)│Talk Skills (11.1/100)│Acting (12.4/100)│Lyric Writing (72.3/100)]
Before he knew it, even his rap was just shy of reaching 20 points. He had left talk skills and acting alone too, but they had risen quite a bit. Most of all, lyric writing had already broken past 70.
“At this rate, lyric writing might hit 100 pretty soon too.”
Just as Kang Rojun was smiling in satisfaction—
-Bzzzz.
-Bzzzz.
—the phone in his hand gave off several short vibrations. They were notifications from the “AI Simulation” he had been looking at. The messages appeared immediately.
-[The recognition level of the title “Recognition Monster” has met the conditions and will be enhanced by +1!]
-[The title “Recognition Monster” has reached +3 enhancement, increasing bonus coins to 3.]
-[You have achieved +3 enhancement on a second title! As a gift, the item “AI Automation 50% Discount Coupon” has been provided.]
An enhancement to the title “Recognition Monster.” It came completely out of nowhere. No, maybe it didn’t? Rojun tilted his head even while feeling pleased.
“Right, with all the fuss about Rental Lover and everything, it makes sense for it to get enhanced, but why now?”
It would have felt more natural if it had happened earlier. Here, Kang Rojun failed to think of the Japan side. In any case, wasn’t it something worth dancing over? He immediately checked his titles first.
-[Titles: Side-Hustle Tycoon +3 / Recognition Monster +3 / Global Genius +2]
Sure enough, the title “Recognition Monster,” which had been at +2 enhancement, had changed to +3. One bonus coin had been added as well. That meant from now on, Rojun would obtain 13 coins per day.
On top of that—
-[Inventory]
-[1] AI Automation 50% Discount Coupon
There was even the “AI Automation 50% Discount Coupon” item he had received as a gift. It was a shame that it wasn’t a one-time free pass like last time, but this item was also highly valuable.
“An AI Automation one-time free pass? That thing must be a super rare item.”
A 50% discount coupon would also be able to save him a lot of coins. Kang Rojun smiled faintly and kept the item for now. Around then, the van arrived at the campus in Paju. After thanking the assistant director, Rojun stopped by Room 105 first.
No one was there.
The campus as a whole was quiet. It was only natural, since more than 70% of the 100 contestants had been eliminated. PD Woo Hanseok was at the broadcasting station, Groups 2 and 3 were shooting interview cuts, and Group 1 was training.
After looking around the empty room for a moment, Rojun murmured.
“Is it tomorrow that voting for Groups 2 and 3 ends? The number of contestants will shrink again.”
Then he immediately began exercising. In about two hours, Kang Rojun was given 13 coins.
-[Coins Owned: 663]
After finishing his shower, he immediately grabbed his laptop and headed to the lounge. Once he took a seat, Rojun opened not the new piece he had recently started—no, not the film synopsis he had begun writing—but the file where he had saved the works he had written in the past. It was because of what PD Jung Suryeong had requested earlier.
“Send me all your long-form drama scripts, including the unfinished ones.”
Reflected in Rojun’s eyes as he slowly scratched his chin was a fairly large amount of scripts and screenplays.
“It still feels awkward calling these scripts or screenplays.”
It was sort of like picking up a rock from the ground, only for other people to praise it as a lump of gold.
In any case, he excluded the film scripts among the printed works. He also removed the short pieces. What he needed were long-form dramas. Some had 8 episodes, and some had 12. Back when his face had been hideous, he had obtained scripts floating around the internet and written them by roughly matching the form, so they still looked like typographical garbage to him.
“Well, I’ll just send them for now.”
Kang Rojun picked out three relatively recent scripts and sent them to PD Jung Suryeong.
Having finished what he had to do, he began working on the film synopsis he had newly started without delay. Next, things flowed smoothly into deciding the characters. Writing the actual scenario would come after the preparation stage.
“Let’s not think about it too heavily. Like in the old days, I’ll just write however I want, like I’m writing trash posts.”
How much time passed like that?
Before he knew it, it was past 8 p.m., and contestants began appearing one by one in the quiet lounge. Each of them had finished their daily schedule. They glanced at Rojun, who was focused on typing away on his laptop, and since it had already been revealed to the whole world, Kang Rojun didn’t particularly try to hide it either.
Around then—
“No. 1.”
A staff member called Rojun from behind. Slightly surprised, he turned around, and the staff member spoke quietly.
“PD wants to see you for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Had PD Woo Hanseok returned already? Kang Rojun nodded and packed up his laptop. Not long afterward, Rojun left the lounge with the staff member, and several contestants who had been glancing at him—
“Did you see that? Just now.”
—openly let out exclamations.
“With that face, and now that he’s writing too, his whole vibe is seriously insane.”
Several dozen minutes later.
The place the staff member guided Kang Rojun to was a studio inside the campus. It was the place where writer Kim Sehui had once played “Produce” for them and announced the third evaluation. At the door, the staff member said goodbye and left, and Kang Rojun opened the studio’s heavy door.
He saw PD Woo Hanseok standing there with dark circles under his eyes. And—
“Ohh—you’re here?”
A plump man sitting in front of the equipment. No, Song Mingeun was there as well. When he waved with a crooked smile, Rojun also bowed in greeting.
“Hello.”
“Yeah, yeah, sit down.”
Watching Kang Rojun take a seat, PD Woo Hanseok asked Song Mingeun,
“So what is it you wanted us to hear?”
“Haha, just listen first.”
Smiling, Song Mingeun operated the equipment right in front of him, and soon a song rang out in the studio.
-♬♪
It was a ballad.
Kang Rojun recognized it quickly.
“Huh? This song—it’s that demo.”
It was a familiar melody. It was the demo track he had written lyrics for. However, this time it was a little different. Lyrics that hadn’t been there before had appeared, and a singer’s voice had been inserted as well. In addition—
“Those are the lyrics I wrote??”
The lyrics the singer was singing were the lyrics Rojun had written. When Kang Rojun looked slightly surprised, Song Mingeun’s smile deepened. On the other hand, PD Woo Hanseok, apparently not knowing the circumstances yet, listened to the song seriously. After about three minutes, the song cut off.
“How is it?”
PD Woo Hanseok slowly nodded and gave a thumbs-up.
“It sticks right in the ear. It’s incredible.”
“Right? It’s killer, isn’t it?”
“But why are you letting us hear this—ah, wait.”
As if that was the answer, Song Mingeun’s gaze landed on Kang Rojun.
“The lyrics you just heard were written by No. 1 here.”
PD Woo Hanseok’s eyes suddenly widened.
“Y-you already finished all that and handed it over??”
While hiding his embarrassment, Kang Rojun gave a dry cough.
“Ahem. Yes.”
Song Mingeun cut in between them.
“After I got the lyrics, inspiration hit me, so I recorded a guide right away. Listening to it, I like it.”
His eyes were sparkling. He looked utterly sincere. Enough that PD Woo Hanseok, standing beside him, was surprised inwardly.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Song Mingeun, who has countless hit songs under his belt, openly like something this much. Does that mean he liked Rojun’s lyrics that much??”
Whether in composition or producing, Song Mingeun, known as a big name, became cool-headed and cold once he entered work mode. He was so strict that even veteran singers with 30-year careers were made to repeat recordings again and again. Yet that very Song Mingeun was smiling brightly at amateur No. 1.
PD Woo Hanseok couldn’t get used to it.
On the other hand, the smile never disappeared from the plump Song Mingeun’s face.
“No. 1, to be honest, about writing lyrics for that demo track? I received a lot from professionals. I’d already chosen a few, and we were right before starting work on them, you know? But I scrapped them.”
It was PD Woo Hanseok who asked back.
“Scrapped them?”
“Yes. The lyrics No. 1 sent me were the best.”
“Th-then.”
Song Mingeun once again fixed his gaze on Kang Rojun and delivered the conclusion.
“The lyrics for this song are confirmed to be No. 1’s.”
PD Woo Hanseok let out something like a laugh of disbelief and looked at Rojun.
“This kid is debuting as a writer and lyricist on his way to becoming an idol. What the hell is he?”
The situation was absurd, yet fascinating.
“And the ones attached to him are PD Jung Suryeong and Song Mingeun. People called the best in the industry, or big names.”
Soon, Song Mingeun offered Kang Rojun a handshake.
“How about it? Deal?”
Rojun smiled faintly.
“I look forward to working with you.”
The next day, Tuesday morning.
The location was the CEO’s office of a major entertainment company in Korea. On the spacious five-person sofa in the CEO’s office sat the CEO, who looked to be in his fifties, along with executives, and the CEO seated on the sofa of honor was looking down at a tablet.
An email was displayed on the screen. Its subject line read as follows.
-[“Produce That 100!” Invites Your Agency!]
It was an email sent to the marketing team, and seeing “Produce That 100!” included in it, the sender seemed to be PD Woo Hanseok. As the CEO read through the contents of the email, he stroked his chin.
“Inviting entertainment companies, huh—has Woo Hanseok finally started to make his move?”
The executive seated beside him answered.
“Considering the rather long time frame, it seems PD Woo Hanseok has called in all the sizable domestic entertainment companies, including us.”
“I’m sure he has. Not only the top five agencies in Korea, but all the mid-to-large ones too. This is a wave on a massive scale. It’s not something that can be done in a day or two.”
The CEO lowered the tablet and gave a faint laugh.
“He’s slowly setting up the board—the board to spin off the kids he’s been raising.”