At Gang Rojun’s deep eye-smile, PD U Hanseok, who had been floundering, barely came to his senses.
“Are you saying we can do it right now?”
Rojun nodded sincerely.
“Yes, PD-nim.”
“Hah—both the Korean and Japanese versions?”
“Both.”
It had only been a few days since he told Gang Rojun about the guide recording for ‘Survival 100’. Moreover, the decision to adopt Rojun’s lyrics had only just been made. No matter how much he had listened to the song while writing the lyrics.
‘Just like that?’
There hadn’t been enough time to answer so confidently. Besides, ‘Survival 100’ had two versions: Korean and Japanese. He shouldn’t even have enough time to do one properly, yet Rojun said he could do both right away. PD U Hanseok looked at Gang Rojun’s insane visuals for a moment and let out a snort.
“Today is Thursday, right? I told you about the guide recording on Monday, and Tuesday was the 4th evaluation. So the only time left was yesterday, Wednesday… Is that possible in one day?”
It was a valid question. Naturally, anyone—not just PD U Hanseok—would have question marks over this situation.
“Even if your learning speed is fast, isn’t this too fast?”
Regardless, Rojun brimmed with confidence.
“Is that so? But it’s the truth. I can do it right away without issue.”
He hadn’t learned ‘Survival 100’ yet. However, for Gang Rojun, who possessed the ‘AI Simulation’ and was making full use of it—
‘Not a day—even if you give me 5 minutes, it’s totally possible.’
The difficulty was on par with scratching his head.
‘The lyrics are vivid in my head, and I’ve listened to the melody enough to adapt fairly well. Now I just need to fill in the gaps to perfection through learning.’
PD U Hanseok, who had no way of knowing this, simply saw Gang Rojun as a monster.
‘Come to think of it, No. 1. No, Mr. Rojun has always had a knack for accomplishing anything with ease. It’s not the guide recording that’s the issue; this kid’s very existence itself has transcended the bounds of comprehension.’
PD U Hanseok had seen many people called ‘geniuses’ over the past decade and more. He had been in awe of them too. But Gang Rojun was several levels above. A genius among geniuses, perhaps?
‘There’s no way I can understand him.’
U Hanseok let out a short laugh. Even as he pushed up his glasses, he shook his head as if fed up.
“Okay, then I’ll set up an appointment with Judge Song Mingeun as soon as possible. The faster it goes, the better for me. The faster ‘Survival 100’ is completed, the more the domestic schedule, and of course the Japanese schedule build-up, gets pulled forward.”
PD U Hanseok, who had been muttering, rose from his seat.
“You saw the guests who came during the 4th evaluation, right? Among them were entertainment officials, the ‘Rental Lover’ team, and also the Netflix Japan team.”
“Ah—that foreigner.”
“That’s right. He’s the general director of Netflix Japan, and he really wanted to see No. 1. Anyway—keep in mind that the Japanese schedule will run jointly with Netflix Japan.”
It was PD U Hanseok informing Rojun of quite detailed matters. Because No. 1, or Gang Rojun, was shouldering a lot in ‘Geubaekpeu’. Soon, PD U Hanseok and Rojun, who had finished talking, parted ways. PD U Hanseok headed toward the contestants’ dormitory, and Gang Rojun walked toward the park where he always ran.
Because he had to do today’s mission.
Even as he moved his steps, Rojun took out his phone.
“Let’s see—”
Because there was something he had to do before running.
He accessed the ‘AI Simulation’ app and immediately touched the ‘AI Automation’ button. A familiar phrase appeared.
-[Through ‘AI Automation’ analysis, desired results can be derived. What would you like to derive? (Only things related to the desired occupation, idol, are possible.)]
Gang Rojun thought for a moment and typed instructions into the blank.
-[AI Automation: I want to perfectly learn the vocals for both the Korean and Japanese versions of the song Survival 100.]
A loading circle immediately began spinning round and round. A result appeared quickly.
-[Analyzing AI… Analysis complete!]
-[To derive the desired result, 25 coins are needed.]
Gang Rojun looked at the number of coins and muttered to himself.
“For two versions, 25 coins is cheap.”
Strictly speaking, this ‘Survival 100’ learning was the same as learning two songs. Korean version and Japanese version. The melodies were roughly similar, but because the languages were different, clear differences existed.
‘If so—10 coins for the Korean version, 15 for the Japanese version? Or maybe the opposite. If it were one song, it would have been around 15 coins.’
The ‘AI Simulation’ must have made the precise calculation. If he guessed why it was so cheap, excluding trivial things: Rojun’s singing stat had exceeded 30 points, and Gang Rojun had written the lyrics for ‘Survival 100’. If he learned the choreography for ‘Survival 100’ on top of that, the total coins used would be settled around 50.
‘50 coins? I can earn that in 4 days.’
There would surely be a lower limit, but the fact was that as Rojun grew, it would only get cheaper. Then, with a smile, he approved the coin usage.
-[Using 25 coins.]
-[Applying… Application complete!]
A fairly strong tingling sensation was felt in his wrist. However, the pain disappeared quickly, and Rojun, having finished preparations, began running. At the same time, he sang quietly.
-♬♪
It was naturally ‘Survival 100’, which he had just learned.
A few hours later.
Before leaving the campus, PD U Hanseok was briefing the 23 contestants excluding Gang Rojun.
“We are currently preparing the next theme song. I will inform you of the details gradually, but roughly, we plan to stage a performance for the viewers with that theme song…”
It was related to ‘Survival 100’. Everyone was listening, but the contestants knew that if they were eliminated in this 4th evaluation, they couldn’t participate. Therefore, tension rose.
I want to do it too, I want to survive, I definitely want to be part of that theme song—those feelings exploded.
No. 58, who had composed it, had his heart beating twice as fast.
It was indeed a joyous thing to have the theme song selected. However, if he could also perform on stage for the song he composed, the emotion would multiply several times over.
‘If possible—no, I definitely want to join…’
Around the time PD U Hanseok was speaking passionately, Gang Rojun, who already knew most of the content, was not at the ‘Geubaekpeu’ campus. He could be found inside a van driven by the assistant director of ‘Rental Lover’.
He was on his way to the ‘Rental Lover’ shoot, which had been postponed for several days.
Gang Rojun arrived at the filming set a little past noon.
“Writer-nim!! You killed it on stage!!”
The moment Rojun appeared on set, the key staff of ‘Rental Lover’, who had stopped filming, swarmed over.
“Keu—the others did well too, but honestly, I only saw you, Writer-nim!!”
“Vocals, choreography, and rap too! You were amazing, really!”
“Seeing the stage in person gave me chills? Goosebumps? You even appeared in my dreams, I’m telling you???”
“Oh my, what is that supposed to mean.”
“But Writer-nim, you knew how to write lyrics too??!”
The flood of questions from the key staff who had attended the 4th evaluation. As Gang Rojun was answering them moderately, PD Jeong Suryeong threw cold water on them.
“Did you guys eat the promise not to burden Writer-nim wrapped in ssam?? Let’s stop, shall we?”
The key staff cleared their throats and returned to their places, and PD Jeong Suryeong let out a short sigh.
“Sorry, Writer-nim. Everyone is still not over their excitement, so they’re like that.”
“No, it’s fine. Thank you for coming to watch.”
“What are you talking about. Of course I had to go.”
PD Jeong Suryeong raised the corners of his mouth and held up two thumbs.
“Writer-nim on stage, your destructive power was tremendous? I almost started stanning you.”
Gang Rojun showed a murderous smile.
“You can if you want.”
PD Jeong Suryeong paused for a moment and barely came to his senses.
“Yeah-yeah, that eye-smile is banned on set. No. 1 is great, but I have to see you as Writer-nim. I’ve read almost all the scripts for the other works you sent, and they’re amazing. Well, let’s talk about that gradually.”
Suddenly, PD Jeong Suryeong lowered his voice.
“We will officially announce it soon, but ‘Rental Lover’ will be launched on Netflix Japan.”
“…On Netflix Japan?”
“Yeah. I met with the team there and struck a deal. Just so you know. Isn’t it great?”
Was it good? What a question. Rojun felt some kind of elevated, subtle emotion. ‘Rental Lover’—which he had dismissed as trashy writing, a creation of pure Gang Rojun without the ‘AI Simulation’—was going to be launched in Japan.
‘Of course, it was possible because it was tied to ‘Geubaekpeu’—but my writing is going over to Japan… That’s insanely fascinating.’
Just like ‘Geubaekpeu’, ‘Rental Lover’ was growing bigger in scale without Rojun even realizing it. At this point, PD Jeong Suryeong patted Gang Rojun’s shoulder.
“From your debut one-act play to this much attention, and even advancing into Japan. No. 1 is No. 1, but this is tremendous as a writer too. There’s no precedent.”
It was the truth. From the beginning, an idol who had writing as a side job didn’t exist. Anyway, Gang Rojun went into makeup with a floating feeling, and transformed not as ‘No. 1’ but as ‘No. 4 Lover’.
“Hi—action!”
They began filming. Because they had to clear the postponed scenes, most were solo cuts without a partner. The other actors waited. Choe Rina was nowhere to be seen.
Because Gang Rojun had already perfectly learned ‘No. 4 Lover’.
“Cut! Ookay!! Let’s go once more focusing on the side!!”
The filming went smoothly, and Gang Rojun’s filming schedule continued until the next day, Friday. On this day, Choe Rina, who hadn’t been there yesterday, joined. The filming that had progressed since early morning changed in atmosphere when it passed 2 PM.
“Kuh-eot!!! Writer-nim! Great work!”
Along with PD Jeong Suryeong’s shout, the sound of applause from staff spreading throughout the entire set rang out.
-Clapclapclapclapclapclapclap!
And a flood of greetings.
“Great work!!”
“Great work! Writer-nim! Ah—why does it feel so bittersweet??”
“We won’t see Writer-nim anymore??”
“He’s the ‘Rental Lover’ writer—what do you mean we won’t see him!”
The intense reactions of dozens of staff members.
The reason was simple.
“Today is the last day for you as the No. 4 Lover actor!!”
Because today marked the end of Gang Rojun’s ‘Rental Lover’ filming. It meant the filming for ‘No. 4 Lover’ was finished. Even if he left, ‘Rental Lover’ filming would continue for a while, but Rojun was leaving. Having completed a schedule that was long if long and short if short, and having just experienced his very first drama filming, Rojun expressed his gratitude to the staff, but.
‘The end? I guess so. There’s no reason to come here anymore? Ah—I feel a bit weird.’
A bittersweet emotion welled up. As if sensing this feeling, PD Jeong Suryeong took off his worn hat and put it back on.
“We’ll be able to see each other again soon, though next time your worth will have gone way up.”
Soon, Choe Rina, whose haggard makeup could not hide her heart-wrenching beauty, approached Gang Rojun with a needless cough.
“Writer-nim. Um… an autograph, please.”
His voice was so quiet that Rojun, who couldn’t catch it, asked back.
“Yes?”
“An-a autograph, please. I don’t mean anything else, just for keepsakes.”
“Ah—an autograph.”
Autograph? I don’t have an autograph yet. Gang Rojun scratched his chin and answered honestly.
“I don’t have a set autograph yet.”
“Ah! No way!”
“…Yes?”
“Ah, no. Ahem. Then a picture at least.”
“Yes, yes.”
Choe Rina smiled faintly, quickly took out her phone, and took a picture with Gang Rojun. This became the catalyst.
“Oh-oh-oh! Me too, me too!”
“OMG! Let me in too!!”
Dozens of staff rushed in. In the end.
“Alright—I’m taking it? One, two—three!”
It became a group photo of the ‘Rental Lover’ team. For Gang Rojun.
‘It’s my first time. This is nice. Things like this.’
It was his first experience.
At the same time.
The location was a cafe near Apgujeong. For some reason, a crowd of dozens had gathered near the entrance.
“Hey, hey, that’s Bak Hyeonjeong, right?”
“I think it is?? Daebak.”
“Isn’t Bak Hyeonjeong over 40? Why does she look 30??”
“Wow—her aura is just celebrity itself.”
It seemed there was a celebrity inside the cafe. Before long, that celebrity came out. Screams erupted from the people.
“Kyaaah! Unnie, you’re so pretty!!”
“Just your hand once!! Unnie!!”
“Uwaaak!!”
“Your songs are so good!”
A woman who handled it leisurely, radiating celebrity aura at a glance, waved her hand or gave autographs to the crowd. She even exchanged a few words.
“Which of my songs do you like?”
“‘Sending It to the Wind’ is my favorite song!!”
“Oh—thank you.”
After finishing her fan service for a few minutes, the woman got into a white van that had arrived. She opened the window and waved at the fans until the very end before the car departed. Such a woman sat with her legs crossed and smiled faintly.
“Meeting fans puts me in a good mood.”
In fact, she was Bak Hyeonjeong, who had debuted over 20 years ago and was always mentioned when talking about Korea’s top singers. She was a heavyweight singer with numerous hit songs. On top of that, her easygoing personality, youthful looks, and a face mixed with sex appeal. Of course her skills, and she was famous for good fan service, maintaining high popularity.
Soon, Bak Hyeonjeong asked her manager, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
“Is today the day for ‘Geubaekpeu’? Can I watch it?”
“You can’t. We have to go straight to the recording studio.”
“Aah—I don’t want to. Let’s do it tomorrow. I have to watch ‘Geubaekpeu’. Today is their rap stage! Spoilers came out that ‘No. 1’ wrote the lyrics and stuff, I’m dying of curiosity.”
“Then call the composer directly.”
“…I’ll just watch the rerun.”
Bak Hyeonjeong pouted her lips, and a few tens of minutes later she arrived at a spacious recording studio. A familiar chubby man was waiting.
“Hey! Bak Hyeonjeong, what took you so long?”
It was Song Mingeun, a hit-making machine and judge of ‘Geubaekpeu’. Bak Hyeonjeong smiled as she handed him an iced americano like a tribute.
“I had an important meeting, okay? But what are you eating again?”
“A donut.”
“You should lose some weight. I told you I want to receive your songs for a long, long time, didn’t I?”
“Be quiet. Listen to the guide first.”
A song echoed through the studio.
-♬♪
It was a ballad. Bak Hyeonjeong, who had been listening with her eyes closed, gave a thumbs up.
“I told you over the phone too, but the song is really well-made. As expected of Song Mingeun.”
“Quit buttering me up and get ready, you punk.”
“No, but I’m asking who wrote the lyrics? Fine, you composed it, so whatever, but the lyrics are totally insane. Why are you hiding it???”
“You’ll see him the day after tomorrow, on Sunday. Around when you finish recording? He’s coming. So make sure your jaw doesn’t drop.”
“What are you talking about?”
Song Mingeun let out a short laugh, thinking of someone.
“Because he’s so handsome your jaw will drop.”