“Y-You can record right away?”
PD Jeong Suryeong, phone pressed to her ear, gasped. It was because of Kang Rojun’s answer on the other end. She was already surprised the lyric writing for the requested OST had finished so quickly.
‘Does being able to record the song right away mean—he’s already finished learning it??’
It had been only four days since the request, yet he said he could record the song. This was PD Jeong Suryeong, who had already produced dozens of dramas. She had carried out countless OST projects before, but such speed was a first even for her.
‘What is this speed???’
From the very start, the OST commissioning process had been different from the norm. Kang Rojun’s recognition had exploded recently, but he wasn’t a formal singer; so, strictly speaking, it was like entrusting an OST to the screenwriter who wrote the script.
Yet his work speed was faster than any veteran singer.
When PD Jeong Suryeong couldn’t close her mouth in shock.
“PD-nim??”
The other staff in the editing room tilted their heads, and after gesturing for them to rest, Jeong Suryeong stepped out of the editing room and asked Kang Rojun over the phone.
“S-So what you mean is, it’s not just the lyrics being finished—but that you can record the song even tomorrow, right?”
A hint of laughter colored Rojun’s response.
“Yes, PD-nim. I didn’t cut any corners.”
“No, it’s not that… I was just shocked because it’s so fast, shocked. Normally, when you hand an OST to a singer, it takes several weeks at the fastest just to get accustomed to it, and up to a month if they’re slow. But Writer Rojun, four days??”
“I have pretty decent comprehension skills.”
“I know that well enough; I saw it during filming. Anyway, thank you for taking care of it despite being busy.”
After exchanging brief small talk for a moment, Jeong Suryeong wrapped up the call.
“First, after checking the lyrics you sent over, for the recording—I’ll set a date as soon as possible.”
“Yes, PD-nim.”
After ending the call, she immediately checked the file Kang Rojun had sent. The lyrics for the OST, ‘Lovers.’ Standing still, quietly reading the lyrics, the corners of PD Jeong Suryeong’s mouth gradually rose.
“……As expected, entrusting it to the writer was the right answer.”
She wore an expression of extreme satisfaction.
“Maybe it’s because he writes himself, but he pulled the OST lyrics off so well too. It’s a perfect match with ‘Rental Lover’ as well.”
The lyrics fit the song and ‘Rental Lover’ like a glove. The female lead’s emotions and psychology were inserted, and the drama’s characteristics were melted into it too. Having read the lyrics from beginning to end several times, Jeong Suryeong recalled Rojun’s face.
‘His lyric writing skills are incredible too. Anyway, his way with words—’
Jeong Suryeong’s experience with Rojun’s lyric writing wasn’t particularly extensive. If she had to specify, it was only the rap ‘Witch’ she had heard at the audience viewing for the 4th evaluation of ‘Geubaengpeu’ in the past. Still, the reason she could trust and entrust him was because of the writing prowess with which he penned scripts, Kang Rojun’s extraordinary and subtle sense.
Honestly, it had been half a gamble.
Additionally, since he was the writer of ‘Rental Lover,’ she had wondered if he might write lyrics with a bit more dimensionality.
In conclusion, it had been the right answer.
Now having seen Kang Rojun’s lyrics, PD Jeong Suryeong wore an expression that said she shuddered to think what would have happened if she hadn’t asked him.
Then, Jeong Suryeong went back into the editing room and shook the dozing assistant director’s shoulder. The assistant director sprang awake.
“Urgh!! U-Uh—PD-nim, I wasn’t sleeping!”
“Whatever.”
Jeong Suryeong gave an order to the assistant director, who was wiping drool.
“Set the recording schedule for the OST ‘Lovers.’ The lyrics are out.”
Friday the 9th, morning. Geubaengpeu campus.
Kang Rojun, wearing his cap pulled low, could be found in the lounge.
—Clack clack clack!
He was busy tapping away at his laptop.
Since today’s group practice started at noon, he seemed intent on spending the remaining time on other work.
What was interesting was that an acoustic guitar lay beside him. He had acquired a reasonably usable guitar on 58 Sihu’s recommendation. The sight of him hammering at his laptop on the table where the guitar rested had exactly the aura of a musician.
However, the work Rojun was doing now was writer-related.
‘It’s flowing right out.’
The task of translating the already-written Episode 1 script into Japanese. It was the script he had discussed with Jeong Suryeong that they would present to Netflix Japan in the future. She had said she would provide the opening move, but before that, he had to translate it into Japanese. It was a task only Rojun, whose Japanese was at a native level, could accomplish.
It was also a sight that would make other screenwriters drop their jaws in awe.
Having typed frantically on his laptop for several tens of minutes, Kang Rojun stretched. Then he glanced at the title of the script he was currently working on.
—‘Like a Kaleidoscope’
To be honest, it was hazy for Rojun when he had written ‘Like a Kaleidoscope.’
How had it been? What had he been doing back then? He thought he had written it roughly in a blank, thoughtless state, yet this ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’ might advance into Netflix Japan. Moreover, ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’ had only been about ten episodes because he had gotten tired of writing it. Even then, the latter half had been written roughly.
“Can this really work?”
Just then.
—Buzz.
The phone beside him let out a short vibration. A message had arrived. It was from PD Jeong Suryeong. The content was that she had more or less finalized the OST lyrics he had sent, and she would contact him immediately once the recording schedule came out. There was no need to wait to hear that Rojun’s lyrics had been chosen.
—Swish.
He immediately moved from the lounge to the bathroom and accessed the ‘AI Simulation’ app, pressing the ‘AI Automation’ button. It was to learn the OST ‘Lovers’ for ‘Rental Lover.’ As expected, the coins weren’t very expensive. To Kang Rojun, who tapped confirm without much hesitation.
—[Applying…… Application complete!]
OST ‘Lovers’ had been learned.
What followed was a festival of practice for all ten participants including Kang Rojun. Repeating the same choreography and movements for hours in a huge practice room. Even as sweat poured and breaths rose to their chins.
“Again!!”
Lee Hanna was merciless. Moreover, from the late afternoon onward, the trainer would switch to judge Lee Dami to carry out vocal practice.
From there on, practice combining vocals and choreography. From tomorrow onward, rehearsals upon rehearsals upon rehearsals in the practice room. There was a lot to practice, including ‘Survival 100,’ the acoustic version, and individual parts.
A schedule several times more hellish than the 4th evaluation.
During a short break in choreography practice, Rojun, both hands on his knees, was internally letting out a wail.
‘I’m gonna die, seriously.’
But the practice showed no signs of stopping until night, and when the time approached nine o’clock, domestic broadcast stations and various entertainment companies turned on the ‘JTVM’ channel.
The reason was simple.
—‘Produce the 100!’
Because Episode 12 of ‘Geubaengpeu’ had just begun. From countless viewers to people connected to Rojun sat in front of their TVs. The opening of Episode 12 began with the conversation of the ten survivors whose names had been revealed in Episode 11. Asking each other’s names, ages, and such.
It might be trivial, but the viewers’ reactions were not small.
—Holy shiiiiit Rojun is 24???!!!
—OMG!! I totally thought Rojun was 20 or 21 at the oldest….
—Dokyeong and Gangmin are the expected ages but Rojun is 24 ddddd
—Rojun looks insanely young
—Huh??? Sihu... 25?? Did you say 25?!!
—Nooo lololol Sihu being 25 what is this lololol
—Rojun.... Sihu.... so they were older than me....
—Ack lololol the great shock that Sihu is the oldest
Next, after brief interviews with the eliminated contestants, the room reorganization of the ten survivors was displayed on screen. Then it briefly covered the ‘Rental Lover’ press conference. Viewers who watched in real time typed away excitedly, and after the daily lives and rest of the reduced-to-ten survivors aired.
—[“Following ‘Produce,’ a new ‘Geubaengpeu’ theme song has been selected.”]
PD Woo Hanseok appeared, briefing the participants. He continued the explanation quite seriously.
—[“The title is ‘Survival 100,’ and the guide recording is finished.”]
Thanks to the theme song teaser dropped in the last Episode 11, viewers went wild as soon as the new theme song’s title came out. Regardless, on screen, No. 26 Dokyeong was shown asking a question.
—[“That theme song. Did Rojun and Sihu-nim make it??”]
PD Woo Hanseok answered with a smile.
—[“That’s right. Sihu-nim took charge of the composition, and Rojun-nim took charge of the lyrics.”]
Here, the screen suddenly switched. A fairly old cut was presented as if it were a recent event. Scenes of Kang Rojun writing lyrics and 58 Sihu composing for ‘Survival 100’ appeared in order.
—T_T T_T ha... so damn cool
—They really wrote and composed it??!
—I! know! right! Play that theme song right now!!!
—Rojun.... even his focused face is handsome... of course he is
Woo Hanseok appeared again and explained how the new theme song ‘Survival 100’ would be used, and finally, talk of a small concert to be held domestically or in Japan was added too. From the scale to the approximate process. The viewers buzzed because of Woo Hanseok’s next words.
—[“Then let me play the guide for ‘Survival 100,’ whose recording is finished.”]
Across the nation.
—[♬♪]
The ‘Survival 100’ of lyricist and guide vocalist Kang Rojun and composer 58 Sihu rang out. Of course, only roughly the first verse. Nevertheless, a nuclear bomb dropped on the real-time open chat that had easily surpassed hundreds of thousands of concurrent viewers.
—This is crazy.... this song is gonna hit big for sure
—This is so good??!!!! It’s somehow hip yet powerful, it wraps around the ears perfectly!!
—TBH it's a hundred times better than the previous theme song
—The lyrics and composition are insane ddd
—But isn't the guide vocal Rojun?? The tone sounds similar to a voice of loss
—Huh? It really sounds like Rojun
—This song is insane.... so damn good lolololol
—Ha... just release the song already!!! I can't take it!!
PD Woo Hanseok revealed the guide vocalist.
—[“Rojun-nim took charge of the guide vocal.”]
Following that, the fact that the lead and main vocals for ‘Survival 100’ were Rojun and 58 Sihu, each person’s parts, and finally that Kang Rojun was the leader of this project. Here, the screen cut again, showing the ten participants immersed in practice like crazy.
Then choreographer Lee Hanna appeared.
—[“Then—shall we look at each person’s condition one by one??”]
A brief evaluation of the participants’ ‘Survival 100’ choreography continued. Mostly lacking appearances. The last turn was Kang Rojun.
—[“Wasn’t it difficult for Rojun this time too?”]
—[“It seems so.”]
The viewers’ chat sped up at Rojun’s villain-like demeanor, and the screen showed up right before Kang Rojun’s choreography before skipping. Soon, the shocked expressions of the other nine participants and Lee Hanna’s spaced-out line ended it.
—[“Rojun. You’re not using some kind of superpower, are you?”]
‘Geubaengpeu’ Episode 12 ended.
After that.
After ‘Geubaengpeu’ Episode 12 ended, a typhoon stronger than before swept through the internet. It was even more so because they had taken a week off for a special episode. Articles exploded endlessly, and viewers’ fingers moved without rest.
In addition.
—Geubaengpeu New Theme Song Edit Video!!! | Can’t Leave the Fandom
—‘Survival 100’ Edit I Made So I Could Listen | Kim Yujin
—Geubaengpeu New Theme Song Repeat Video! | Musicman
On YouTube and various video platforms, the ‘Survival 100’ guide recording circulated. Most were edits of the ‘Geubaengpeu’ broadcast footage. Views reached not only one million but up to five million. Its impact was so tremendous that it rose to the YouTube real-time rankings in no time.
That soon meant Kang Rojun’s vocals were being played in countless places.
And so, Saturday morning, a day later.
《[Issue Pick] ‘Geubaengpeu’ Returns with Episode 12, Viewership Recovers in One Breath... 31.4%》
《‘Geubaengpeu’ Briefly Stumbles, Episode 12 Viewership 31.4% Certifies Monster Variety Show!》
Starting with ‘Geubaengpeu,’ whose viewership had dropped during the special episode, surpassing 31% again, the new theme song ‘Survival 100’ and other topics devoured the main pages of various search sites. Not just Saturday, but until Sunday. Even Monday morning the 12th, which came around again.
It was nothing short of tremendous firepower.
At this moment, Kang Rojun was aboard a minibus. Not just him, but nine other participants, making ten total, were on the minibus racing down the road. Most participants wore extremely nervous expressions. Rojun, too, looking out the window with a black cap pulled low, was no different.
It was understandable. As the days flew by in an instant, before they knew it.
‘It’s already the rehearsal day at the performance hall. Time flies so damn fast.’
Because the domestic small concert was tomorrow.