Chapter 19: Introduction

• Enbin’s looks and acting skills have really improved. He’s my boy. I’m so proud. He’s so cool. (?v?)

• So who is that high schooler? Editor-nim, please leave a comment right now. If you don’t, I’ll poop my pants.

• There’s no information about the person who played the high school student ㅠㅠㅠ

• I know him. He’s mixed-race. Heaven and Korea…….

• This is the craziest casting ever. A handsome guy next to a handsome guy. Their beauty is brighter than my future. I’m cheering for you.

• It looks like Seoul City is finally doing something right this time. The mukbang looks so delicious. The cinematography is good too.

• The new guy acts so well; I watched it and my tear glands exploded without me even realizing it.

• Yeah. I was like that too. Good luck to all the students preparing for exams. Looking back, it’s all memories.

• The chemistry between the two is good.

• Enbin oppa. Hello. I’m Malaysian. I like Korea. Is ramen delicious? I love you!

Click. Click.

With every refresh, dozens of new comments appeared. CEO Cho Miyoung kept clicking her mouse as if she were addicted.

“CEO?”

“Look at this. It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

“Are you still doing that?”

“It’s so fun to watch the views go up.”

The team leader laughed and put some papers down on the desk. It was safe to say that the reaction was explosive. Who would have thought it would blow up like this as soon as the video was uploaded?

“I’ll never understand the MeTube algorithm.”

“Team Leader Lee, do you think this is because of the algorithm?”

“Huh? Isn’t that the case? Seoul City has 120,000 subscribers, but in terms of firepower, that’s not nearly enough. Apart from a hand-washing campaign featuring the popular character Aroro five years ago, which got 2.6 million views, there hasn’t been anything notable.”

Cho Miyoung laughed, wagging her long fingers. This is what they call ‘energy’ or ‘flow’—the kind that leads straight to success!

“It’s true that the influx of fans started because of Enbin. But what’s really sealing the deal now is the charm of the two of them, especially Ha Muyoung.”

She couldn’t help but be impressed.

She had seen the edited video, but there was something different about watching it on a computer and phone screen.

“You managed to find such a talent.”

“It wasn’t that I found him; Muyoung just rolled in.”

He acts so well.

He’s as natural and smooth as a seasoned actor who’s been in the business for over a decade. He knows how to emphasize the key points of a line and how to be captured by the camera.

‘He’s a natural. His blood is different.’

When an actor is seen as an actor rather than a character,

the work loses balance, and viewers lose their immersion. But Cho Miyoung had watched this video dozens of times and still didn’t feel that way.

“They said it was smooth on set, too.”

“Yes. Since Muyoung is friends with Enbin, he helped connect the staff. The atmosphere was really good.”

“I knew he was extraordinary from the reading.”

“We’ve benefited a lot from this. Really.”

Rumor has it that he also solved Enbin’s personal problems. I don’t know the details, but it’s probably related to that problematic video.

Ah! I’m curious. What was it that caused such a fuss about Enbin stopping his activities?

“Shouldn’t you give me a bonus?”

“Hehe. Not bad. If we keep going like this, we’ll get plenty of views.”

Achieving a certain number of views was a condition of the contract with Seoul City. If even one video exceeded 1.5 million views, they could proceed with additional production. Her strategy to make an impact early on had worked perfectly.

“It’s been 700,000 views in two days, and it keeps popping up on trending videos. If we can keep the momentum going, I think we’ll get record-breaking views.”

It was expected to be the most successful web drama ever produced by Square Film. Cho Miyoung tapped her fingers on the desk, lost in thought.

“CEO?”

Then, a piece of paper was placed in front of her.

The team leader smiled and called her.

“I know what you’re thinking right now. But if you want to do that, you’ll have to go all in.”

“What? What am I supposed to do?”

“Just today, we’ve received ten inquiries about Muyoung at the company. Four of them were from agencies.”

They wanted to find out who the actor was who played the high school student alongside Enbin. Anyone with eyes could tell that the gem named Muyoung had just emerged into the world.

“Two are model agencies, and the rest are actor agencies.”

The paper contained the names and contact information of those companies. The choice was ultimately Muyoung’s, so the team leader planned to give it to the boy. Of course, he had to check with his boss first.

“Should we offer him an exclusive contract?”

“Yoohoo—you must be living in my head.”

“We’ve been eating from the same pot for five years now.”

Square Film also had exclusive actors, though not in the same way as other companies. They were kept ready for shooting whenever needed.

“What are everyone’s contract terms like?”

“Will you tell me?”

“Right. Stupid question.”

They’re all professional agencies, so there’s no way we can compete…… The CEO pondered for a moment, then picked up the paper and fluttered it.

“What if I tear this up?”

What if we made it so that the offers from other companies never existed? Wouldn’t Square Film be competitive then? But the team leader smiled and snatched it away.

“No. This is my bonus for Muyoung.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know how you work, Team Leader Lee. Just kidding.”

“Should we also make an exclusive contract offer?”

That was the team leader’s point. Cho Miyoung drew a circle with her finger, looking pleased.

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“Understood.”

“And you know how to row when the water’s high, right? Tighten up the shooting schedule and bring forward the upload date for the sequel. Enbin’s been cooperative lately, hasn’t he?”

After a few days off, he was as eager as a rookie, earning him the label of a hard worker. The team leader gathered the papers and replied.

“Yes. Understood. Then.”

Cho Miyoung waved her hand as if to say, “Go on out,” and grabbed the mouse again. And she kept clicking—click, click, click!—watching the views soar higher and higher into the sky.

• So I got contact information from several companies. One of them is even a major player.

Muyoung leaned against the bathroom wall, listening to the team leader’s words. So, he’s getting contract offers now? From several agencies, no less.

“That’s surprising.”

It’s only been two days since the video went up. Muyoung laughed awkwardly and wiped his mouth.

• The reaction is anything but ordinary. You haven’t searched the portal, have you? It’s not just on MeTube; feeds are coming in from various communities, too. The influx from there is significant.

Screenshots of the video were spreading across all kinds of social media. Seoul City and the PPL company would also take action after confirming the reaction. That means support is coming in.

“I’m not someone who uses the internet a lot.”

• Yeah. Whatever the case, it’s good news for us and for you. I’ll send you a list via text, so check it out. And check out our offer, too.

“Yes, Team Leader. Thank you.”

• What thanks? I’m the one who’s grateful! Oh, by the way, are you free the weekend after next? I think the shooting will be finished by then, and we’re having a wrap-up party.

“Really? It’s ending sooner than I thought?”

• We’re grinding our souls to reduce the upload interval. We’ve got to ride this wave.

“Wow. You must be working hard. Of course, I’ll be there. Let me know when and where it’s happening.”

• Okay! Got it! Have a good class then!

He laughed heartily and hung up the phone. A text came in right away. JP Agency, Pledin, Bright Enter…… They’re all companies I’ve never heard of.

“An agency. Hmm.”

It would probably be more convenient to have one if I’m going to pursue acting. But none of them really appeal to me. Is it because I don’t know any of them? As for Square Film——

‘It’s a shame it’s limited to web dramas.’

And, most importantly, contracts were a serious matter. It seemed like a good idea to wait until the strange phenomenon appeared again. It would be premature to decide anything after just a few days. Yeah.

Click.

“Huh? Muyoung’s here.”

“Are you okay? What did you do over the weekend?”

“Come over here quickly and sit down. Were you an acting hopeful?”

As Muyoung entered the classroom, mulling over the team leader’s text, the class reps greeted him noisily again, as if they’d never seen ‘someone who acts’ before.

‘It’s not common.’

There was always one or two students in the class who were into art or music. Before going to BV Academy, Muyoung had never met anyone who acted.

“You guys are amazing. First thing in the morning.”

“What’s amazing is your video! Your acting was so good?”

“Look at the comments. Muyoung, are you from Busan?”

“Huh? No.”

Everyone was curious about who Muyoung was. Normally, an actor’s SNS account would be tagged, but Muyoung didn’t have anything like that at all.

“Good morning—”

The comment section was filled with all sorts of speculation and imagination. When the professor entered, the group’s chatter stopped. Muyoung was about to turn off his phone when——

[Actor Ha Muyoung. You’re doing very well?]

It was a text from Junho.

[The kids sent me screenshots, and I was surprised. You look good on screen? And your acting was awesome. I liked, subscribed, and turned on notifications. ( ?° ?? ?°)]

When he said ‘the kids,’ he was probably talking about his high school classmates. Unlike Muyoung, who became distant because of the stepfather incident, Junho was sociable and kept in touch with other friends.

[Are the kids talking about me?]

[Yeah. They were asking how you filmed with Enbin ㅋㅋ They said it didn’t seem like your first time acting. I’d like to see the faces of the guys who were badmouthing you behind your back.]

Were there guys like that?

Muyoung tilted his head in confusion. Was it because he didn’t know they were badmouthing him, or was it because, given his personality, he didn’t notice them…… Oh, right. There was a homeroom teacher.

[Never mind. It’s only my first work, so what’s the big deal? Oh, and I got offers from agencies? But I don’t know any of them. There are even model agencies. Can you check them out for me?]

[Okay. Send it over. I’ll look at it after work.]

Junho probably knew more about this kind of stuff. Muyoung was about to end the conversation for real when a thought suddenly occurred to him. Come to think of it, Junho’s company……

[How’s work going? The celebrity model launch this time.]

As soon as he asked, a barrage of texts came in.

Starting with ‘JB is a rookie, so——,’ and then ‘What a pain,’ ‘I’m annoyed,’ ‘I want to turn everything upside down,’ and so on. It didn’t seem to be going smoothly. Muyoung asked again.

[But JB is way less popular than Enbin, right?]

[Are you kidding me? Compare what’s comparable.]

[So what if Enbin becomes an advertising model?]

[I’d bow down and do a grand prostration. But would the price be right?]

Grand prostration? What’s that?

As Muyoung was about to reply with a laugh, Junho, sensing something, sent a series of texts.

[What’s up? You wouldn’t——]

[No, right? For real? Bro, my heart’s racing.]

[If it’s really true, I’ll give you all our brand’s clothes. Since you’ve officially debuted, we can do it as a sponsorship, right? I don’t know. Even if my boss beats the crap out of me, I’ll do it for you! Please save me! I’m gonna die from dieting!]

Ring. Ring. Ring.

It felt like his desperate friend’s voice was ringing in his ears. Muyoung laughed, sent a reply, and turned off his phone completely.

[Get ready for the grand prostration.]