At Jeong Suryeong’s words, the expression on Tom Cavill’s face on the screen changed noticeably. His eyes widened, too. At a glance, he looked as if he had fallen completely for Producer Jeong Suryeong’s scheme. Seeing Tom Cavill’s blue eyes grow wide, Jeong Suryeong began managing her expression.
‘Is it because he’s a foreigner? His reactions are big. If he were a friend, he’d be fun to tease.’
Executive Director Tom Cavill asked from within the screen.
“You’re saying he has works he’s already written? Writer Rojun does?”
Producer Jeong Suryeong nodded with a faint smile.
“Yes. I think I heard it while we were filming Rental Lover. So I thought I should ask him properly about it later, but I was so busy that I forgot.”
She had already finished reading all three of Kang Rojun’s other scripts, but she feigned ignorance completely.
“Writer Rojun writes fast. You’ll know if you watch Geubaekpeu, but he writes lyrics, too.”
“I know that.”
“For you, Executive Director, having a work already written is a better situation than having him write something new, isn’t it?”
“Of course. If the work he’s written is good, it would shorten the time considerably.”
If the work is good? Jeong Suryeong, who already knew the quality of the scripts, tapped the Rental Lover script lying in front of her.
“Have you read all of Rental Lover that I sent you?”
“I have.”
“You liked it, didn’t you?”
“It far exceeded my expectations. It was so entertaining I couldn’t take my eyes off it.”
“That Rental Lover was the winner of our contest, and at the time, Writer Rojun answered rather casually. He said writing felt like a hobby or a side job.”
“······”
“As for his other works—this is just my opinion, but I think they’ll probably be even fresher or denser than Rental Lover.”
In that instant, greed appeared in Tom Cavill’s blue eyes. At that moment, Jeong Suryeong broke the flow once.
“But right now in Korea, Writer Rojun’s status has risen quite a bit because of Rental Lover… We’re interested, of course, but other broadcasting stations and production companies are also very eager to get him.”
“I understand. His range of activity isn’t ordinary, and his debut work is already drawing this much attention.”
“A lot of people may have already contacted him. If Netflix Japan is interested in Writer Rojun, I think you’ll have to go after him with real determination.”
In other words, she was telling him not to be stingy with money.
“I don’t know the details myself, but Writer Rojun has a separate main job and is in a position where he lacks nothing at all.”
Tom Cavill on the screen seemed to sink deep into thought, and Jeong Suryeong, still managing her expression, pretended to check the time and brought things to a close.
“That’s about all I can tell you.”
“Ah, thank you. That’s more than enough.”
“As for matters related to this, it’ll be faster from now on to communicate with Producer Woo Hanseok on the Geubaekpeu side rather than with me. After all, he’s the director closest to Writer Rojun.”
“Yes, understood.”
Originally, Jeong Suryeong had planned to sound out Netflix Japan’s intentions herself, but there was no need. Executive Director Tom Cavill already seemed to be overflowing with interest in Writer Rojun.
‘It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’s desperate. In that case, the picture will look better if Writer Rojun hands it over himself rather than going through me.’
The fact that Rojun’s asking price would rise during the waiting period was a bonus. Naturally, Producer Jeong Suryeong’s contracting technique had also been added.
‘As far as I know, Writer Rojun is heading to Japan soon. Something will be settled then.’
Geubaekpeu was holding mini concerts not only in Korea but also in Japan, and the mini concert in Japan was a joint effort with Netflix Japan. In other words, it was certain that Tom Cavill would bring up the works to Kang Rojun then. As Jeong Suryeong thought of the future, she smiled and offered her farewell. The moment the video call ended, she took out her phone and stepped into the hallway.
—Swoosh.
The person she was calling was Producer Woo Hanseok.
The ringing went on for quite a while, but soon Woo Hanseok’s voice came through the phone.
“Yes, Producer Jeong.”
Jeong Suryeong spoke.
“Producer Woo, is this a good time to talk?”
“Please keep it brief. We’re in the middle of the mini concert right now.”
“Ah! I’m sorry. That’s right, it must have already started. Then I’ll just give you the main points.”
Producer Jeong Suryeong, her words coming faster, explained everything—from the other scripts Rojun had, to the promise she had made with him, to the conversation with Netflix Japan just now.
“Please let Writer Rojun know what I just told you.”
Meanwhile.
The concert hall where Geubaekpeu’s mini concert was underway was filled with the screams of thousands of audience members.
“Kyaaaaaaa!!”
Because Produce, the opening stage, had just ended. The ten members, including Kang Rojun, had shown off dazzling choreography as if they were one body. Rojun, of course, but the other contestants as well had clearly improved. Lee Hanna, watching the contestants from near the stage, applauded as if deeply satisfied.
Soon, the ten contestants, panting for breath, bowed repeatedly to the thousands of audience members.
—Sss.
The lights illuminating the stage darkened. The atmosphere hinted at the next performance, but the frenzy of the audience, who were screaming and shrieking, showed no signs of calming down. Woo Hanseok, the writers, and the staff all broke into smiles.
“Wow—the chaos is several times worse than during the fourth evaluation audience session, isn’t it?”
“This is legendary.”
“I guess a viewing and a concert really do feel completely different.”
“The kids are good, too. If someone didn’t know, they’d mistake this for an idol concert.”
Producer Woo Hanseok, arms crossed, looked over the faces of the hundreds of audience members jumping up and down in the standing area. They were utterly captivated by the concert. A gentle smile spread across Woo Hanseok’s face like that of a proud father.
‘Even though they’re amateurs, they have this much destructive power. Once the contestants debut as professionals, it’ll be incredible. I don’t know why I’m the one getting anxious.’
He had planned many audition programs, but this was the first time anything like this had happened. Around then, the lights shone once more on the T-shaped stage, and 26 Dogyeong, who had changed clothes, roused the crowd’s response.
A rap beat played immediately.
It was the self-composed rap 26 Dogyeong had shown during the first evaluation. From here on, it was the solo stages of several contestants. After 26 Dogyeong raised the excitement with his rap, next was 58 Sihu.
Then 58 Sihu’s turn ended, and the lights went out again. In that state, a familiar song rang throughout the entire concert hall.
—♬♪
A heartrending melody accompanied by the sound of piano. The contestant who would stand on stage had not yet appeared, but the thousands of audience members quickly realized what song it was.
“Bereavement!”
“It’s Bereavement, Bereavement!!”
“Wow······ I really wanted to hear this.”
“If it’s Bereavement, it has to be Rojun, right?”
“Yeah, one hundred percent.”
The song spreading through the hall was Bereavement, and just as the audience had guessed, the one who appeared on the dark stage was.
“······”
Kang Rojun, with a solemn expression. He was wearing a white shirt. Goosebumps had risen on Rojun’s arms.
‘I felt it earlier too, but this really is a spectacular sight.’
Thousands of audience members looking only at him, their eyes full of anticipation, countless cheering light sticks swaying like stars in the sky, warm lighting like sunlight.
If he had to describe this feeling in one word.
‘This thrill is insane.’
It was rapture. The sensation of adrenaline surging. Strangely enough, in that moment, Kang Rojun’s trembling disappeared.
—[There was a scent, the perfume you used to enjoy still keeps me here]
[The seasons have changed, but I’m still here]
[I’m here, everything is here]
Kang Rojun’s deeply moving wail swept over the concert hall. The audience, quickly drawn in, slowly moved their light sticks from side to side.
“His vocals are really······ Among the contestants, Rojun is in a league of his own.”
“His tone is so good.”
“At this level, he’s more than enough to be the main vocalist. Honestly, he’d probably eat up even idols who are supposed to be pretty good.”
The hearts of the audience, now wrapped around Rojun, had grown calm, but they were given no time to linger there. The atmosphere of the concert changed one hundred eighty degrees. After the solo stages, the contestants formed teams of two or three and went wild.
A feast of familiar yet improved songs they had heard during the evaluations.
—Baaaaang!!
Thanks to effects like fireworks going off, the audience lost themselves and played with all their might. How much time passed like that? On stage, Kang Rojun and all nine other contestants appeared and took their positions.
Then.
—♬♪
A song unfamiliar to the audience began to play. An intro with rapid guitar sounds added like a heartbeat. It was Geubaekpeu’s new theme song, Survival 100.
The thousands of audience members who realized this.
“Aaaaaaah!!”
“Kyaaaaaaa!!”
“This is crazy!! It’s so damn good!!!”
They nearly collapsed with excitement.
Afterward.
The mini concert ended, and the ten contestants stood on the T-shaped stage. The closing greeting was also led by Kang Rojun, who stood at the center.
“Two, three! Thank you!”
“Thank you!!”
As the ten bowed at ninety degrees, applause and cheers loud enough to pierce the ears erupted. Among the contestants rejoicing together, Kang Rojun heard something.
‘Oh?’
It was a shout from an audience member in the standing area close to the stage. With a small smile in his eyes, he approached them, and Rojun crouched down before the audience member, who was flustered by the suddenness.
“I heard you. For things like that, please say it loudly. Loudly.”
Rojun held the microphone to the female audience member’s mouth. Soon, her shout rang through the entire concert hall.
“Rojun!!! You’re handsome!! Really, really!! Super handsome!!!”
Kang Rojun clapped as if satisfied. The audience became entranced by his smile. Producer Woo Hanseok and the production team burst out laughing. The nine contestants smiled as if acknowledging it. Then, as Kang Rojun walked back to the group, he twisted his ankle. Though he quickly regained his balance, he had ended up in an awkward posture.
—Swoosh.
Pretending nothing had happened, he very naturally made a motion as if tying his shoelaces.
“What was that!! He’s so freaking cute!!”
“Ha—I’m seriously switching to Rojun!”
“That guy’s charm is insane!!”
All of this was captured vividly by the Geubaekpeu cameras.
The next day, Wednesday morning, October 14.
Since the previous afternoon, one piece of news after another had been taking over the main pages of various search sites.
《Geubaekpeu’s First Domestic Mini Concert Ends—What Kind of Stages Did It Feature?》
《[Issue Talk] Long Lines to Watch the Geubaekpeu Concert / Photos》
It was Geubaekpeu’s domestic mini concert, which had ended successfully without any problems.
《Thousands Flock to Geubaekpeu Concert, Audience Members Who Watched the Performance Praise It as “The Best!”》
On top of that, from night until dawn, reviews from people who had attended the concert.
[Geubaekpeu Mini Concert Review (Long Post)]
They appeared one after another on all kinds of communities, endlessly adding fuel to the fire.
[Rojun Is Seriously Insane in Person]
[Geubaekpeu’s New Theme Song Came Out at the Mini Concert and It Was So Damn Good]
[Geubaekpeu Concert from Start to Finish (feat. Ratings of the Kids in Person)]
[Ahahaha I’m So Freaking Jealous of the Kids Who Went to the Concert]
The response was hotter than that of any famous idol concert.
While the media and public opinion were noisily buzzing like this, Gimpo Airport was crowded with people leaving on trips or returning from them, despite it being a weekday morning. Friends, couples, families, and so on. All of them were dragging large suitcases and moving here and there.
Among those crowds, groups of women holding phones in their hands were talking a lot about Geubaekpeu.
“Looks like that Geubaekpeu mini concert ended yesterday?”
“Yeah. Ha—I really wanted to go, too.”
“Who’s your bias?”
“First, Rojun no matter what—and I like that kid Dogyeong. He has that cold handsome guy vibe.”
“For me, Sihu and Jeongu. Jeongu kind of feels like a golden retriever. Rojun is the default, of course.”
“But seriously··· I want to see Rojun in person. According to reviews from people who’ve seen him, he’s insane.”
It was then.
“······Kyaak!”
“No way······ Woah!!”
The area near the airport entrance suddenly became extremely noisy. Thanks to that, the gazes of the people gathered in the lobby all turned toward the entrance. At a rough glance, dozens of people seemed to be surrounding something, jumping up and down as they moved slowly.
Something about it was unusual.
“What is it?? Over there??”
“A celebrity??? Looks like some celebrity came.”
“What is it! Let’s go see!”
It was only natural, since the dozens of people surrounding something were all busy frantically taking pictures with their phones. Up close, burly guards blocking the surging crowd could also be seen. Like a snowball rolling and growing larger, the people who had numbered in the dozens quickly surpassed a hundred.
In the airport lobby, cries of “Ah!” and “Kya!” rose in decibel.
At the same time.
“Rojun!! Rojun-ah!!!”
“Hul!! It really is them??! Sihu!! Please look this way!!”
“Cheek heart! Just one cheek heart!”
“Rojun!! Gangmin!!!”
For some reason, the screams were mixed with the names of Geubaekpeu contestants. Naturally so.
“What’s going on??! Who’s over there?!”
“The Geubaekpeu kids!!”
“Really??!!”
Because the ones turning the airport upside down right now were the ten contestants of Geubaekpeu and the production team. It was utter chaos, with hundreds of people thrusting their phones at them. Among them, Kang Rojun, his hat pulled low, was in a panic at this situation he was experiencing for the first time.
‘W-wait a second! I want to run away??!’
Their advance into Japan was rough from the very start, and a few hours later, Kang Rojun.
‘Can we even get on the plane like this!!’
Was scheduled to set foot on Japanese soil.