[The Solar Eclipse] Episode 4 ratings hit 27.8%.
It seemed the ominous signs weren’t going to stop at just being signs. If the growth trend continued, it was already indicating a jump over 30% by next week.
At this rate, we could even see the historic 40% mark. Reaching 40% in the 2010s? That would be absolutely insane.
So, what could the broadcasting station do here?
Swoosh.
MNC’s Drama Director Park Seol-jae adjusted his glasses slightly, as if measuring battle power. Grabbing one side of the glasses frame, he leisurely looked around, and after finishing his analysis, calmly continued.
“Prepare a viewership pledge, a fan meeting.”
“Yes!”
“And plan an OST concert as well. For any of the actors who can sing well, let’s suggest they cover some OST songs.”
“Yes!”
“We’ve already held a production press conference and a media briefing, but since the child actors will be leaving after Episode 10, let’s set a date around then for another big event.”
That should help improve viewership ratings.
Immediately after Director Park Seol-jae finished speaking, everyone started replying eagerly as if they had been waiting.
A loyalty competition commenced in response.
Director Park Seol-jae looked on with satisfaction at that sight.
“Oh… It seems everyone is just as serious about this as I am, which is great. Really great.”
Additionally, once the ratings topped 30%, a proper bonus party would kick off.
Park Seol-jae imparted goals to his staff with calm and precision.
“So let’s all race towards our target with madness.”
“Yes!
Hearing the boisterous replies, Park Seol-jae nodded with a pleased smile.
Yeah, it has to feel like this for me to be motivated.
Moreover.
‘I can really give those cherry pie and poser types a solid smackdown.’
Just the thought of flattening the noses of those who were feeling so smug about hitting 30% recently made him giddy.
And it wasn’t just about flattening noses.
‘It’s also significant that the actor they’re most proud of, Kim Donghu, is working on our side.’
If you can’t beat them, join them.
That most basic tactic ensures guaranteed effectiveness.
In fact, they were already showcasing an overwhelming presence.
‘Let’s just breeze past them.’
Who could stop MNC’s reign?
And just to prove Park Seol-jae’s thoughts,
[The Solar Eclipse] Episode 5 surged to a whopping 30.1% rating, and at the same time, people began to realize a certain law.
– If Kim Donghu appears, it just automatically means over 30%.
– Is it that Kim Donghu appears in dramas going over 30% or is he the one making them go over 30%?
– Don’t be silly, didn’t you think they hit 30% during Baek Dong-su’s finale? Haha!
– Does anyone have the Paladook, Mark Crack version?
– Why on earth are these trolls here causing chaos?
When Kim Donghu appears, ratings are guaranteed to surpass 30%.
Of course, most people brushed it off as a joke.
But a select few took this very seriously.
The “select few” clearly referred to…
“Did Kim Donghu take a break this year? Come on, who doesn’t know that? Just send him our script! He might change his mind!”
“No, I mean how many times do I have to say it! Go check with his agency! Let’s do this with passion!”
This was the chatter among media workers.
As long as he shows up, the ratings are guaranteed? Blockbuster success is assured?
How could anyone resist this?
While everyone was yearning for Kim Donghu’s appearance, the man in question was currently…
“There’s just too much to memorize…?”
Struggling while tackling the anticipated problem set for the “Golden Bell Challenge.”
+++++
Looking back at his 2012 schedule, it could really be divided into three things.
“Golden Bell, boxing tournament, and advertising?”
Even if he was saying he was resting, he couldn’t refuse being an advertisement model.
Since Veritas was still a one-man agency,
stable income had to keep rolling in.
“Brilliant and Haetbap both expressed their intention to extend the contracts.”
He remembered Seok-ho’s face, subtly expressing that it would be better to keep going.
Scratch, scratch.
Lost in thought, he finished the problem set for the Golden Bell Challenge.
Why is there so much specialized knowledge disguised as ‘common sense’ in this world?
When would he memorize all of this one by one?
“But I’m confident about this sort of stuff.”
One of the things he worked hard at in his previous life to overcome his ugly appearance was studying.
With a face like that, he had to at least study well to earn some praise.
He recalled gripping his pen so tightly that his hands would develop calluses.
“Such memories.”
Muttering to himself, he turned painful past into nostalgic memories.
He was happy now, no need to keep remembering the bitter moments of his past life.
While he was studying hard…
> Donghu, what are you doing?
> Can you chat?
Out of nowhere, a KakaoTalk message from Ye-rim popped up.
< Oh, it’s fine.
They weren’t the type to need a specific reason to talk.
They were friends who could reach out whenever they were bored.
‘What’s this about?’
Suddenly receiving such a question made no sense to him.
Plus, even though there was a group chat, she had messaged him privately, which meant something must be up.
Just as he was curious about her reason, Ye-rim abruptly got to the point.
> By the way, I heard about the Korea Arts Comprehensive High School…?
“Isn’t that the Korea National University of Arts…?”
> “They call it Daejong High.”
> “I heard they have a modeling department there. I’m thinking about applying, what do you think?”
As soon as I read the message, I wondered if fate really existed.
Shin Ye-rim, destined to be the supermodel who will shine in the future.
Having survived the wild era using her delinquent camouflage.
Her past briefly caught up to her, allowing her to catch some light before fading away,
“But now, the story is different.”
There’s nothing from the past to hold onto,
In fact, if she pursued arts school, she could further hone her talents.
Now, it was just a matter of meeting an agency that would give her full support.
“What if I do it?”
To be precise, what if I put Seok-ho hyung in charge?
“Other places can’t invest since they aren’t sure if she’ll make it from the start.”
But I was different.
I knew how brilliant a model Shin Ye-rim would become,
So I could make an aggressive investment from the get-go.
“This might just…”
As that thought crossed my mind, various possibilities unfolded in an instant.
For example, take Kang Sik, who had been developing a game alone for a long time.
What if he had gotten investment early and could recruit talent quickly?
If he could cut down time with money, wouldn’t that mean?
“The time for him to shine as a genius developer comes even sooner, right?”
It was something only possible because I knew the future.
I wouldn’t go around investing in every genius before their success,
But at least I could accelerate the success of those nearby.
“Let’s give it a shot.”
As soon as that thought hit me, I stopped studying and grabbed my phone.
Drrrr,
Before the ringtone even finished…
– “Hey, Donghu, what’s up?”
Seok-ho hyung picked up immediately,
“Hyung, are you interested in nurturing a model?”
I jumped straight to the point.
+++++
At the same moment…
“Uh, yeah, sounds good. Let’s set up a meeting soon.”
Choi Seok-ho, receiving Kim Donghu’s call, let out a sigh of relief.
“It wasn’t about that after all.”
Not what he expected, which made him both relieved and even more tense.
– “Yes, thank you.”
“Uh, and Donghu… you know…”
– “Yes?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
– “Okay, I’ll hang up.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Click.
“Phew…”
As soon as the call ended, a deep sigh escaped him.
He glanced over.
And his gaze immediately returned to the calendar next to him.
It was nearing a year since “Hydream” aired.
Choi Seok-ho couldn’t hide his burning feelings every time he looked at the calendar.
“…How should I bring up the topic of re-signing?”
Just the thought of it made my head throb.
‘I’ve got the signing bonus and everything ready.’
Now it was time to sign a multi-year contract, not just a one-year deal.
In other words, it wasn’t just a taste test; it meant I had to truly settle in.
‘Does it even matter if I prepare well?’
Of course, I was crafting a flawless contract, but whether that would actually lead to a re-signing was anyone’s guess.
Because now, this territory was completely in Kim Donghu’s hands.
So, the most important thing right now was to make sure that news about the contract’s end didn’t leak out.
If that got out, I couldn’t even imagine how many big-name companies would come rushing in to snag Kim Donghu.
Hoo.
Sighing deeply, Choi Seok-ho reviewed the advertisement offers that had come in for Kim Donghu.
Even with the re-signing issue looming,
‘Let’s just get things done first.’
I needed to finish what had to be done for Kim Donghu.
++++++
News that Kim Donghu’s contract was approaching its end started leaking from the most unexpected places.
“By the way, did Kim Donghu sign a contract while filming Hydream?”
“Huh?”
During the usual post-lunch coffee & cigarette break, reporter Gil Gil-dong from Daily Happy’s entertainment department had caught the attention of the other reporters.
“No, Kim Donghu actually signed the contract during the filming.”
“And?”
“…And? I mean…”
Gil Gil-dong, who was about to say more, suddenly seemed to have an epiphany.
He hastily burned his cigarette and rushed back to his desk.
‘What if.’
If Kim Donghu started with a one-year contract instead of a multi-year deal?
‘Should I throw out a bait?’
That was a crazy scoop among scoops.
Of course, it might not be true.
‘If that’s the case, I can just revise the article later.’
But what if it was true?
What if it was just a playful suggestion, and it turned out to be real?
‘Would a war break out just to capture Kim Donghu?’
Reporter Gil Gil-dong had no idea the ripple effect a light article could have.
A little while later.
『 Is Kim Donghu’s contract slowly ending… Where will the next nest be after Veritas? 』
An article so hot it dominated trending searches made its grand appearance.
Do you want to sign a contract with Kim Donghu?
The contract period is almost over.
Go for it!
Left at least a 30% viewer rating there!
The comment reactions were just a bonus.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
