All the writers gathered in the meeting room looked at PD Woo Hanseok with expressions of every kind. Gaping, blinking, furrowing their brows, and so on. All because of the words that had just left Woo Hanseok's mouth.
The fastest to respond was Writer Kim Sehui, who resembled a hamster.
“···You want to open their names?? You're talking about the contestants, right?”
PD Woo Hanseok, his gaze fixed on the TV, gave a small nod.
“Then who else?”
“What.”
Murmuring spread among the writers. Only PD Woo Hanseok, dark circles etched under his eyes, remained silent. Having crossed the line of exhaustion, his energy was completely depleted. Then a few writers threw out questions.
“'Produce 100' has passed the middle-to-late half now— isn't this a bit fast?”
“I think so too, it's rather sudden.”
“The numbers have dropped a lot, but······ twenty-four is still quite a lot.”
Mostly bewildered tones.
It was understandable.
From the very beginning, the plan for Produce 100 was to reveal the names only when the final four winners emerged. PD Woo Hanseok, of course, as well as the production staff, the broadcasting station, and all the contestants of Produce 100 knew this. The judges were no different.
It was certainly an abrupt decision.
The writers wore expressions full of question marks, but Woo Hanseok was calmer than expected.
“We've never sent out an explanation of our plan on air anyway. Then we're just flipping the table, nothing wrong with that. Even if we had announced it beforehand, we can just apologize and correct it.”
“······Even while bearing that kind of fallout??”
“Yeah. If I've gotta take the hit, might as well get drenched. Do it cool— and do it strong when you do it. That's part of our job too.”
“Ah.”
“Of course, it's not finalized, but the scales have tipped heavily.”
The writers who heard this looked at each other's faces. Some looked convinced, but Writer Kim Sehui asked, seeming to want a bit more information.
“May I ask why you suddenly thought of this?”
“Yeah, you may.”
“···Please tell me.”
“No.”
“Ah! PD-nim!!”
Woo Hanseok, who had been snickering, crossed his arms and turned his gaze back to the TV airing episode 10 of Produce 100.
“There are various reasons. I did plan to reveal the names at the end. But a lot of situations have gone beyond our expectations. First and foremost, the ratings.”
The current ratings for Produce 100 were around 26%. It was already a ridiculous number, but it was an ongoing process, and 30% was within sight.
“Everything from the 4th evaluation audience recruitment to the spoiler-related work was for the sake of hitting 30%, and it'll be insanely hard. But if we surpass 30% this time— next, we have to throw an impact befitting those ratings. Like delivering a new shock.”
“And that's the contestants' names?”
“Debuting in Japan, announcing theme songs, etc. There's still a lot to do, but a shift in position is necessary. To maintain the current ratings. And it's not just some ordinary reveal of the contestants' names.”
PD Woo Hanseok turned his head toward the writers.
“You all know, but the contestants were forbidden from even exchanging names with each other, and they've been called by numbers until now. We and the viewers did the same. They might be enjoying the show, but their hearts were kept at a distance. When we actually monitored, quite a lot of viewers said they couldn't get attached to the numbers. But the moment we open their names, the intensity of stanning will jump dozens of times over.”
“Of course······ it would be, right? It feels like we've gotten closer somehow.”
“The symbolism names carry is enormous. It's not for nothing that agencies rack their brains over idol stage names. Anyway, if we toss out the contestants' names at this timing, the viewers will go wild in an instant. Not only maintaining the current ratings, but also filling the slight empty void left by calling them numbers, with plenty to spare.”
The writers nodded as if in agreement, and Woo Hanseok continued.
“Second, the Japan side's reaction. Domestically too, but Japan is showing results that far exceed our expectations. Right now they might be enthusiastic because it's fun to watch, but if we keep calling the contestants by numbers, the explosive power will decrease.”
“Mhm.”
“Since we're getting reactions in Korea and Japan that surpass the initial plan, shouldn't we adjust the plan accordingly? We need to pull the timeline up a bit.”
“Well, that's true. Our initial ratings prediction was in the 10% range.”
“Lastly, the contestants' momentum is becoming tremendous.”
“Number 1?”
“Yeah, Number 1 is in the lead, and Number 58 and Number 26 have much bigger presences than in the beginning. Their skills on stage are one thing, but they're putting out quite a lot of results, right?”
“Ah—”
The writers looked at the whiteboard filled with writing as if something had dawned on them. PD Woo Hanseok did the same.
“The one performing most insanely is Number 1. He's the writer of 'Rental Lover' right now, and the lyricist for 'Survival 100,' which became our theme song. Even both the Korean and Japanese versions. Number 58 is the composer. Didn't Number 26 make his own rap too? Various results are ready to go out into the world, but sending them out stamped with a number instead of a name is nonsense. It's not like they're barcodes.”
If the timing matched when the final four winners emerged, there would be no problem, but by Woo Hanseok's calculations, the gap was quite large. Especially so for Gang Rojun, the face of Produce 100.
'He's a writer, lyricist, and even an actor. It's a shame for him to keep being called Number 1. It's a minus for us too.'
In the early planning stages of Produce 100, they hadn't known the contestants' form, including Gang Rojun's, would be this good. Activities outside of evaluations, that is. But once the lid was opened, the contestants' abilities were enough to shock everyone.
“My judgment is that if we throw out their names now and raise their popularity even higher, the explosive impact of the results released over time will also rise considerably.”
PD Woo Hanseok soon smiled crookedly, recalling the agency representatives who had come to the 4th evaluation site.
“It's also a message to the agencies: prepare.”
Afterward.
Along with a chicken-and-beer party, the atmosphere among the 24 contestants on campus watching episode 10 of Produce 100 was highly charged. The news that 'Number 1' had written the lyrics for 'The Witch' had just hit the airwaves, followed by the rap stage of Number 58 and Number 71 from Group 1, Team A.
-♬♪
Just as it had heated up the thousands at the recording site, 'The Witch' stage drove the hundreds of thousands of viewers connected to the real-time open chat crazy.
-58 looks cute normally but the vibe totally changes when he raps, so damn coolㅠ
-No but Number 1 wrote these rap lyrics???
-I thought the article was fake but it's real?
-More than Number 1 writing lyrics! Number 58 composed it too!!
-71 is better than I thought lololol but 58 tore up the rap, seems like Number 1 will get overshadowed this time
Gang Rojun glanced at Number 58, who was sitting next to him, even while biting into a chicken leg.
'I thought it was insane when I saw it live, but it feels different watching the broadcast.'
Soon, Number 58 and Number 71, who had finished a successful stage, appeared on screen, and the baton was passed to Gang Rojun and Number 26. After the information for the rap 'Small Fry' was displayed, the stage started.
Within a few dozen seconds, the viewers' reactions changed drastically.
-???????
-Is he crazy...? Number 1 is good at rapping too??
-Wow...... freaking insane
-Agreedㅠㅜㅠㅠㅠㅜㅠㅠ his rapping is crazy
-26 was always good at rap... their tones match perfectly so it's so good.... please release this as a track....!!
-No way lololol is this bastard Number 1 really crazy???
-lololololol look at the agency reps' faces lololol but if it were me I'd drool seeing Number 1 too
-Hold on let me change my underwear
-Number 1 isn't human lolol I somehow understood the lyric writing but the moment I saw him rap I got full body chills
-Me!!! I was in the standing section!! When Number 1 smiled on the extended stage everyone there collapsed!!!!
-I would've melted too lolol how do you endure that smile?
Following that, agency representatives with their mouths wide open, and PD Jeong Suryeong and staff of 'Rental Lover' appeared on screen. Choe Rina was also watching the stage as if mesmerized. A bonus was Tom Cavil, General Director of Netflix Japan. Quite a few viewers were curious since a foreigner's face suddenly appeared.
In any case, after the judges' evaluation.
-[“The winner of the first team of the 4th evaluation is Group 2, Team A!!”]
When Rojun and Number 26 were chosen as the winners, the chat window flipped again, and regardless, the Produce 100 broadcast kept putting up contestant stages. In the end, all contestant teams were included in episode 10. Right after various people appeared—ear-splitting screams filling the hall, serious agency representatives, and so on.
[4th Evaluation Voting Method]
Along with the faces of all 6 teams of contestants, as always, the voting format was explained by a recruited voice actor. The deadline was, as expected, until next Tuesday. The changed screen showed interview cuts of Choe Rina and actors from 'Rental Lover.' Next was the 'Produce' stage by all contestants that had decorated the end during recording.
The moment it ended.
-'Produce 100!'
With that title, episode 10 of Produce 100 ended. Even so, the chat window where hundreds of thousands were gathered was in an uproar. In contrast, the 24 contestants including Gang Rojun were quiet. Well, Rojun was on the calmer side.
'The air is heavy.'
But the remaining 23 had eyes and faces mixed with worry, anxiety, tension, nervousness, confusion, and more.
“······”
“······”
Because the dice of survival had been cast.
The next morning, Saturday the 19th, at broadcasting station 'JTVM.'
Even though it was a weekend morning, for some reason many people had gathered at JTVM's entertainment department. The most noticeable were PD Woo Hanseok and the writers, who were restless. Around them were the head of the entertainment department and other PDs as well.
They all had the appearance of waiting anxiously for something.
Then the man at the desk with a laptop shouted loudly.
“It's out!! It's out!!!”
At the same time, everyone in the entertainment department, including PD Woo Hanseok and the department head, rushed to the man's side. The interesting part was, within seconds.
“Waaaah!!!”
PD Woo Hanseok roared, taking off his glasses and throwing them.
Even.
“PD-nim!!!”
Kim Sehui and the writers hugged PD Woo Hanseok tight and jumped up and down. The department head watched this with a pleased expression. The surrounding PDs were clapping with a mix of admiration and exclamation. Then PD Woo Hanseok shouted at the writers again.
“We did it!! We did it!!!”
A few dozen minutes later.
Gang Rojun at the campus near Paju had just finished showering and come out. He muttered to himself with a faint smile.
“Showering after completing the daily mission is the fucking best.”
He seemed thoroughly refreshed. Then, reminded of something, Rojun stopped walking and took out his phone. He turned on a search engine, not the 'AI Simulation.' The search term was 'Produce 100.' Within seconds, a flood of search results poured out. Gang Rojun's smile deepened as he saw the articles at the very top.
“This is insane.”
The reason was simple.
《"Produce 100" Episode 10 Official Ratings 30.1%》
《"Finally Broken Through, 'Produce 100' Continues Its Legendary Run with 30.1% Ratings"》
Because the official ratings for Produce 100, which aired episode 10 yesterday, had surpassed 30%. A figure that far exceeded merely tremendous. Gang Rojun, who had exerted a profound influence on such 30% ratings, felt proud and couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.
'30% ratings. Honestly, it doesn't quite feel real, but my mood is soaring. PD Woo Hanseok might have fainted.'
It might seem like a bland reaction at a glance, but it was understandable since Gang Rojun had no interest in the entertainment industry.
30% ratings.
Probably. No, certainly, the entertainment industry excluding Rojun must have been turned upside down. In this day and age, ratings in the 30% range were almost impossible, and the last time something showed that kind of power was a drama from five years ago. It was a drama about the families of chaebols that had caused a huge boom. However, even that hadn't achieved 30% and only came close.
Just then.
-Buzz, buzz buzz.
The phone Gang Rojun was looking at vibrated and the screen changed. It was a call. He thought it might be PD Woo Hanseok, but it wasn't.
-PD Jeong Suryeong.
The caller was PD Jeong Suryeong, who should be in the final stages of filming 'Rental Lover.' Rojun, wondering what this was about, settled his excited feelings and briefly cleared his throat. He then put the phone to his ear.
“Yes, PD-nim. Hello.”
Across the phone, PD Jeong Suryeong's energy was high despite it being morning.
“Yes, Writer-nim. Good morning? Is it okay to talk for a moment?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“It's nothing much, I just wanted to tell you a hot-off-the-press decision.”
“What kind?”
“'Number 4 Lover.' Let's get ready to deploy.”
“Yes?”
To his repeated question, PD Jeong Suryeong replied in a tone mixed with laughter.
“It was confirmed for the 'Rental Lover' production presentation day.”