Chapter 88: Advertisement
“Wow!”
“Shh! Listen again.”
It was a break during filming. The staff and actors were huddled together, their heads close.
Director Lee Yujin, who was entering through the door, saw them and smiled.
‘Why are they so close?’
She had been on many shoots, but this was the first time the cast and crew were so close.
No matter how much they liked each other, the set was a workplace, so everyone usually kept a professional distance.
“Muyoung, you really don’t know?”
“……Uh. Um.”
“You’re not saying anything, so you must know!”
“No, I really didn’t know. I just heard about it for the first time. Ciwon said he would take care of the finishing touches.”
It’s probably Ha Muyoung, who’s sitting in the middle there. He seems to play a big role. It felt more like a real university club than a film set. The atmosphere was as comfortable as a real university campus, like Merill Kellin.
Director Lee Yujin cautiously approached them.
“What’s going on?”
“Director! You’re here?”
“What’s all the commotion this early in the morning?”
The first episode’s viewership rating was 9%. The news was delivered to all the staff by Director Lee Yujin. Wondering if the commotion was because of that, Director Lee Yujin intervened with an intrigued expression.
“It’s the OST!”
“There’s more than one.”
“Doha’s main song, ‘The Leader’s Song.’ There was a strange sound recorded in it.”
“Huh? What?”
You didn’t know either, huh?
A staff member handed over AirPods and gestured for her to listen. Immediately, a familiar melody played. She hummed along internally, listening intently, then stopped.
“Oh my.”
-Don’t say you’re sorry. I don’t want to hear those words from you. What I want to hear is thank you ……thank you.
Clearly, the phrase ‘thank you’ was attached at the end. The voice, slightly distorted like howling, resonated with a creak. It was so mechanical that it even gave her goosebumps.
“What is this?”
In response to her question, Muyoung just laughed awkwardly.
‘Oh no. It must be that ghost, right?’
The ghost who was banging his head in the recording booth! I covered my ears because it was so loud, and he must have thanked me for it.
The problem was that Muyoung didn’t know anything about it either.
“What did Ciwon say?”
“I asked him via text, and he said it was noise that got recorded during the recording. But he thought it sounded good, so he left it in.”
“Haha. He thought it sounded good?”
What a sly one.
Director Lee Yujin chuckled and shook her head.
It was clearly a trick aimed at noise marketing. How much experience does Ciwon have?
“What’s the reaction?”
“It’s trending on real-time searches.”
“We’re also getting interview requests from reporters.”
“But Muyoung doesn’t know anything, so he’s just spilling everything. He needs something to talk about before he can do anything.”
Muyoung stood among them, just blinking. He maintained an expression that said, ‘I don’t know anything about it.’
Director Lee Yujin handed over the AirPods with a smile.
“Then just ignore it. It’s a good thing. They say that if a ghost’s voice is recorded in the audio, it becomes a huge hit. Maybe it’s happening because we’re meant to succeed.”
“You said yesterday it was 9%. How much will it be today? Ugh. I really hope we come in first.”
Since it’s a weekend drama, the next episode won’t air until next week. She checked her watch and called the assistant director.
“Jeongjin, is the shoot ready?”
“Yes, almost ready!”
“Hurry up. We need to hand over the studio here. We’ll be shooting outdoors for a while, so everyone, be prepared.”
“Yes, got it.”
The time for goofing around is over.
The actors, including Muyoung, and the crew dispersed and returned to their respective positions.
Just like yesterday, today they would probably face the second episode on set and stay up all night.
“Phone. Sis, just a moment.”
While getting his makeup touched up, he waved his hands around, looking for his phone.
It was kind of amazing. When you typed ‘Ha Muyoung’ into the internet, his face and name would immediately appear.
‘Before, it used to show the name of a university professor. Hehe.’
Moreover, with the release of
“It’ll wear out.”
“It’s so much fun.”
The stylist looked at him with a pleased expression and focused on fixing his makeup. Seeing his humble and friendly demeanor, unlike a lead actor, made her smile involuntarily.
“You must be really tired these days. You’re breaking out.”
“I’m not sleeping regularly.”
“Take care of yourself. These days, the broadcast quality is so good that even pores are visible. Well, Muyoung doesn’t have to worry about pores, I guess.”
They chatted like that as they got ready for standby.
Another day passed, just like the one before, in a repetitive cycle.
The script was delayed, and there were long waiting times during the extended shoot. Then came the broadcast of the second episode. The only difference was……
“Wow! It’s time to go home!”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Go home, get some rest, and see you at the next schedule.”
“Be careful on your way home, Muyoung!”
It wasn’t a sunrise dismissal but a midnight one. Muyoung, who had slept in the broadcasting station’s dormitory for two full days, quickly got into the car and urged Ko Gyeongmin.
“Hyung! Hurry! Let’s go home quickly!”
“Alright, alright. Let’s go and rest.”
“Man, if it wasn’t for Romin, I would’ve really died.”
Thanks to Romin, who had a photoshoot scheduled, Muyoung’s schedule was canceled for the entire day. One day, to be precise, from three in the morning until nine at night, was free.
“I’m just going to keep sleeping.”
Of course, he’d have to go to work at night again, but what does that matter?
From now on, there’ll only be outdoor shoots, so he needs to build up his stamina before that.
“Are you very tired?”
“I can feel my stamina running low. I think I’ll start working out. Which gym does Taeseok go to?”
“Him? He goes to one near his house, and it seems good. Should I ask him to introduce you? If you go together, Taeseok will teach you well. The good thing about us is that we don’t need separate PT sessions.”
Taeseok, a gym rat, has more workout experience than most trainers and is a master at building bodies. Muyoung nodded and rested his forehead against the window.
“Was Episode 2 fun too?”
“Is the reaction good? What’s the viewership rating?”
“I don’t know yet, but there are more comments than yesterday.”
It’s my work, and I want to see it too! Waaah.
Muyoung yawned widely and muttered. And soon, he fell into a deep sleep.
He was out cold until they arrived at the officetel, not waking up once.
Meanwhile, Director Lee Yujin was tallying the viewership ratings at the broadcasting station. She looked at the screen showing the broadcast information and turned to the staff beside her.
“Is this for real?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Wow……”
The viewership rating for Episode 2 was 12%, a 3% increase from yesterday. And it was the number one show in its time slot. She immediately gathered the documents and laughed.
“Hehehe! It’ll sell out!”
“Congratulations.”
“What congratulations? We’re just getting started!”
The commercials that air before and after the broadcast are the station’s ‘revenue,’ awarded to companies through a bidding process.
The higher the viewership rating, the higher the price, and the more profit the station makes.
“You know my first work, the Monday-Tuesday miniseries? The viewership ratings for Episodes 1 and 2 were 7 and 10, respectively. The final rating was 20.”
Back then, it was also in a prime time slot. But look at now. It’s a late-night slot, and this is the reaction.
“I think my life’s work is about to come out this time.”
Director Lee Yujin, excited, rushed out of the control room. The staff just watched her leave, smiling as they reviewed the details.
“Did you see it properly?”
“I guess he did.”
The average viewership rating was 12, and the scene where Doha sang on campus—the time slot when the ghost audio played—was very brief, but it soared to 15%.
‘I guess everyone was curious about how it sounded in the drama.’
Did it really capture the interest of those who tuned in out of curiosity for a moment? Did the song that Lim Doha sang captivate the viewers’ eyes and ears?
The staff closed the statistics window while sipping coffee. They’ll probably know for sure next week.
“Uuung……”
The morning sunlight poured in. Muyoung pulled the blanket up to his head and whined. It had been a long time since he’d been able to stretch his arms and legs and sleep, so he didn’t want to get up. Besides, his schedule didn’t start until night.
“Muyoung.”
“……?”
At the sound of someone calling him, Muyoung lifted his head, one eye still closed, in a half-asleep state. Na Geumdong and Ko Gyeongmin were sitting quietly, waiting for him to wake up.
“Huh! What’s going on?”
“What do you mean? Good morning!”
“No, why is the CEO here?”
“I was waiting to start a meeting as soon as you woke up. Are you awake now? The sun is high in the sky. High.”
“……I want to sleep more.”
Na Geumdong gently blew on his teacup and laughed.
Something felt strange. Why was he acting so unnaturally formal? Caught between sleep and reality, Muyoung closed his eyes again.
“Then you can listen while you sleep. Hehe.”
“……What kind of laugh is that? Seriously.”
That’s weird! It sounds like the laugh of a villain from an animation.
If it were any other time, Ko Gyeongmin would have stopped him, but now he was just quietly nodding along.
“Episode 2’s average viewership rating is 12%, number one in its time slot!”
“……?”
“The highest momentary rating was 15%, which was the scene where you sang on campus. Hehehe!”
“Wow. 15%……?”
Before starting the project, I asked Director Lee Yujin what the lowest viewership rating she’d ever had for a project was. She said 7%, and at that time, I made a resolution.
“Let’s just surpass that.”
“Huh?”
“I prayed that the average rating would be over 7% by the time the show ended.”
But looking at the numbers rising steadily, it seems like it’s time to put that wish aside and write a new one.
“But did you come all the way here just to tell me that? Isn’t the CEO busy these days?”
“Me? I’m busy, you little brat!”
“Then why did you come……”
“Ahem. CESPA, Monoon Learning Materials, Musicss. Dunet Proxy.”
“……? What does that mean?”
They were all familiar brands.
CESPA was a clothing brand famous for its padding, Monoon Learning Materials offered one-on-one study materials for adults, Musicss was a music streaming site, and Dunet Proxy was, as the name suggests, a proxy company.
“Advertisements have come in, you little brat.”
As soon as he said that, Muyoung sat up with a jolt! He kicked off the blanket. What did you just say? Advertisements?
“T, the ads that appear on TV?”
“Yeah. Musicss is a web portal ad, and it’s a condition that all Merill Kellin members participate, not just you. Monoon Learning Materials is an exclusive model for their homepage. CESPA and Dunet Proxy are TV ads, for sure.”
Muyoung just listened quietly, then slapped his own cheek with his hand. Ko Gyeongmin and Na Geumdong were startled and flinched.
“Hey, why are you doing that?”
“Someone whose body is his asset? Hit me instead of your cheek!”
“C, can I really?”
“I’m joking, you little brat!”
Na Geumdong covered his cheeks in shock.
Seeing that, Muyoung really woke up and felt excited.
“Wow. Why me? Only two episodes have aired so far.”
“You also have to consider the word-of-mouth for
It was also a kind of foresighted investment.
They sign a contract with an actor whose value is expected to rise in the future.
Even if their value increases later, they can still be hired as models at a lower rate until the contract is renewed.
“Wow.”
“Musicss is a business partner of S, and the broadcasting station itself is pushing for it. The other members are also considering it positively. As for the learning materials……”
“Is it because I’m from Seoyeon University?”
“Ding dong! That’s why they say you should study hard. The more reasons you have, the better.”
“But what about the proxy driving? I don’t even have a license.”
“Ah, we’re still debating that. It has a B-grade feel, so we’re thinking of not doing it. It’s an important time for your image, so it’s a bit……”
Muyoung scratched his head and yawned.
The rate was a little higher than what a newcomer would get.
“But I’m curious about something. What if the viewership rating for next week’s episode goes up even more? If it keeps going up and becomes a huge hit, will the rate go up too?”
“Of course. You’ll get a lot, a lot more than now. But no one knows that. How can you know about the future right now?”
Hmm…… I don’t know right now, but overall, I have a feeling. Why did Muyoung want to do <You are a Star, I am a Star> so much?
“I know. After watching Episodes 1 and 2, I have a feeling.”
Sparkle. Didn’t he see the sparkle that brings good luck? To ride the wave, you have to know how to wait. Until the wave reaches the sky.
“Let’s hold off on the proposal and wait just a few more weeks. All of us.”