Chapter 95: Breaking Records
“The green tea chocolate snacks from Cheongryong. They’re new, and the crunchy texture is amazing. We got one concept where Doha is wearing a rider jacket and smashes everything up. And then there’s chairs. An ergonomic design specialist brand, you know?”
As soon as they arrived at Big Win Entertainment, Na Geumdong grabbed Muyoung’s hand and sat him on the sofa, rattling off a long list of preliminary contracts and concept proposals piled up like mountains.
“Are all of these for me? Really?”
I can’t believe it.
Many of them were brands Muyoung was already familiar with: snacks, drinks, chairs, study materials, medicine, and even women’s sanitary products.
“How many are there in total?”
“Twelve, all together.”
Na Geumdong’s eyes sparkled with desperation.
Not all of them were TV commercials, but for a rookie to have this many offers was incredible. It meant the market was starting to recognize his value.
“Isn’t it about time you did this, Muyoung? Huh? The world wants you so much, kid. The public wants you! The company wants you! This CEO wants you so much!”
Muyoung’s strategy was definitely working.
In just over a month, his asking price had risen more than fivefold.
Previously, it had been settled at around ten million won, but now offers ranged from fifty to eighty million.
“Wow. How much is all this?”
“Simple calculation: five hundred million. Five hundred million.”
I can’t believe it’s actually in the hundreds of millions!
Muyoung opened his mouth wide and laughed, as if he still couldn’t believe it. Money he’d never even imagined in his life was about to end up in his hands.
“Can I do all of this?”
“Of course. That’s why they came in. But you’ll be pretty busy for a while, right? Still, filming only takes a day, or half a day at most.”
No wonder CFs are the most preferred by stars. Working just one day and earning tens or hundreds of millions—is this even a legitimate economic activity?
“You’re doing it, right?”
Na Geumdong asked, glancing at Muyoung cautiously. Muyoung smiled slyly.
“Of course.”
“Yes! That’s great, Muyoung! When the water comes in, you’ve got to row hard! Director Ko, go around the company and check the schedule.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Oh, but you might have to choose between the two snack offers.”
Na Geumdong shuffled through the papers, showing two snack companies. One was the previously mentioned Cheongryong, and the other was ROS.
“Why? Can’t I do both?”
“I wish I could. If they were different types, maybe it would work, but since they’re both bagged snacks, it’ll be difficult.”
“Oh, I see.”
Not only would advertisers dislike it, but it would also be unethical. Muyoung carefully examined the documents. Cheongryong, a large corporation, offered eighty million won. ROS, a relatively smaller company, offered sixty million.
“Cheongryong is probably the better choice, right?”
In terms of amount, public recognition, and company size, Cheongryong was overwhelmingly superior. But Muyoung couldn’t bring himself to answer right away.
“Hmm……”
“Why are you hesitating again—”
“I’ll go with ROS.”
“Why—!”
After a moment of hesitation, he made his decision. The CEO pounded his chest in frustration, but what choice did he have? He had to follow the path that sparkled.
“I think these snacks taste better.”
He answered, brushing pollen off the paper with his hand. Na Geumdong leaned back on the sofa, looking like he was about to faint. But what could he do? The actor had made up his mind.
“Really?”
“Yes, I’ve made up my mind.”
“Sigh…… The difference is twenty million……”
Muyoung just laughed.
Sometimes there are things more important than money, you know?
He couldn’t say it, but he’d show the results soon. Muyoung patted his shoulder reassuringly.
“But none of them are over a hundred million.”
The highest offer was Cheongryong’s eighty million.
The others started at seventy million and went up from there.
“Of course not. Once you hit the hundred-million mark, the class changes. It’s a record-breaker. Once you break through that, you’re on your way to becoming a top star. You’re a rising star now, Muyoung. Okay?”
“Oh, okay. Haha. But just being a rising star is so great. I’m really satisfied.”
Muyoung laughed brightly, genuinely happy. Na Geumdong watched him and turned away, as if resigned.
“Director Ko, did you hear that? Tell Cheongryong we can’t do it because of scheduling conflicts, and handle the other contracts smoothly. Muyoung, is it a one-year deal?”
Contract periods were usually divided into six months or one year. In a situation where no one knew what tomorrow would bring, longer contracts were good for both the actor and the company. Muyoung drew a circle and smiled.
“So it’s double then?”
“Let’s see. That’s fifty million, sixty million……”
He roughly calculated, tapping away on his calculator. All in all—
“Seven hundred and eighty million.”
“Wow.”
They’d have to split it with the company and pay taxes, but it was definitely the highest amount he’d ever earned. Simple calculation: Muyoung would pocket five hundred million.
“Is this, by any chance, a hidden camera show?”
“Hidden camera? If it is, I’ll smash all the cameras! Hahaha! Our Muyoung. Oh, you’re such a blessing~”
Na Geumdong hugged Muyoung, expressing his joy. Even the crumbling Big Win Entertainment would finally see better days! Muyoung pushed him away and chewed on some snacks.
“Then please look for my next project.”
“Next project?”
“The finale is next week. Once it’s over, I’ll need to find another project right away.”
A wrap party for the actors and crew was scheduled before the final episode aired.
Of course, the drama had to proceed without any hiccups before that. Ko Gyeongmin nodded and brought out some tea.
“Another drama next time?”
“I don’t know. I’ll choose after seeing the projects. Send me the scripts as they come in. I’m not in a position to be picky, but pre-produced dramas might be a bit tough. I’m too exhausted from this one.”
“Okay, let’s see. Offers will start coming directly to you now.”
“Directly?”
Before, he’d barely received scripts and had to apply for auditions. But now that the industry knew there was an actor named ‘Ha Muyoung,’ there would surely be people reaching out, wanting to work with him.
“I wonder how much your next fee will be. Looking forward to it, huh?”
“I’m more curious about the project than the fee. Hehe.”
How different the actor’s and the agency’s perspectives are.
Muyoung sipped his tea and rummaged through his bag. He’d soon have to head out for another drama shoot, so he was preparing for that.
“What was the final viewership rating?”
“23%.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. Really. But there’s no news of an extension? It’s doing well enough to warrant one.”
In response to Na Geumdong’s question, Ko Gyeongmin just shrugged his shoulders.
“The writer’s too slow. I don’t know if it’ll happen. We’re filming this week’s episode this week.”
“True. With only four episodes left, it’s too tight to decide now. That’s a bit disappointing.”
“What percentage do you think it’ll end at?”
“Hmm. Judging by the trend, 28? 29?”
Ko Gyeongmin tilted his head toward Muyoung and smiled.
“If it goes over 30%, we’ll have to hold a fan meeting for Muyoung. He promised that in front of reporters.”
“Huh? He did? That’s great! Muyoung’s never had a fan meeting before, right?”
“Of course not. He’s only had fans for a short time. But he’ll even have to cross-dress.”
Huh? Na Geumdong smiled curiously and patted Muyoung’s back.
“That’s great. The fans will love it.”
“Huh? You’re not saying anything?”
“It’s an event, so what’s the big deal? At fan meetings, they sing, dance, and do all sorts of things. Cross-dressing is no big deal. If it goes over 30%, there’ll be nothing to wish for.”
Yeah, so what if he cross-dresses? High viewership ratings are what matter most.
He asked Muyoung what he planned to do now that a new semester was approaching.
“School? Are you going back?”
“Yes. The drama’s almost over, so I’ll go this semester and decide what to do next.”
It’s so great. Just being able to go to school without worrying about tuition. And with a place to live, commuting would be perfect. I’ll just tag along with Junho when he goes to work.
“Let’s see…… Muyoung, there are about three hours left. Do you want to just rest here before you go?”
“Yes, that’s fine. Is it a studio shoot today?”
“There’s a kissing scene, so make sure to brush your teeth thoroughly. I’ll pack a toothbrush and some candy for you.”
Finally, the time had come. Muyoung covered his face with the script and sighed inwardly. Only Na Geumdong chuckled beside him.
“This will be Muyoung’s first kiss~”
“Don’t make fun of me. Seriously.”
He glared at Na Geumdong and focused on the script again. It had been dragged out long enough. A first kiss four episodes before the finale?
Ko Gyeongmin asked Muyoung, who was still nervous, in confusion.
“Why are you so nervous? You usually do these scenes just fine.”
He hadn’t kissed yet, but he’d done all sorts of skinship scenes. And he’d done them so naturally and professionally. Muyoung smiled bashfully and replied,
“It’s not me who’s nervous, it’s Doha. It’s his first kiss with someone he likes. How can he not be nervous?”
“Ha Muyoung said no?”
The Cheongryong promotional planning team. They were gathering their belongings to go out for dinner. It wasn’t unusual for projects to be created and canceled, but his choice was a bit unexpected.
“He didn’t say no, he said it’s difficult to adjust his schedule.”
“That’s the same thing. Why? Is he unhappy with the pay as a rookie? The conditions aren’t bad for that.”
The team members piled into the elevator and left the company. They all had overtime ahead of them, so they were going to a nearby restaurant to recharge.
“He didn’t say anything like that.”
“Of course not. Who’s going to give a newbie eighty million?”
“But he’s really popular these days, so he might be getting more than that. The drama’s ratings aren’t dropping, and the buzz is insane. Every time it airs, it hits the top searches.”
As they chattered, they arrived at a nearby restaurant. They were about to order pork cutlets and kimbap—
“Oh, there he is. Ha Muyoung.”
The TV in the store was broadcasting <You Are a Star, I Am a Star>.
The team leader was a bit surprised and glanced at the owner. He’d been a regular here for over five years, but this was the first time he’d seen the owner watching a drama instead of the news at this hour.
“Is it good, auntie?”
“Huh? This?”
She was even holding the remote tightly in her hand. The auntie looked embarrassed and fixed her gaze on the TV.
“The songs are nice to listen to! The kids are a bit childish, but that’s part of the charm. Hehehe!”
“It must be popular.”
“Yeah, you think so? Who would’ve thought I’d be watching a drama like this at my age? My friends around the same age talk about these kids whenever we meet, whether we realize it or not. Just wait a bit. Auntie, three pork cutlets and three kimbap, please!”
Come to think of it, even the customers in the hall were staring at the TV as if they were under a spell—
Watching this, the team leader asked,
“What’s the viewership rating for that?”
“The last broadcast hit exactly 23.7. With four episodes left, it should easily surpass 30%.”
“Ha Muyoung’s brand recognition also hit number three for the first time today. He started at number nine. It’s scary.”
The team leader tilted his head, looking at Muyoung on the TV screen. In an industry suffering from a shortage of rookie actors, this young man had appeared like a comet, lighting up everything in his path.
“Keep an eye on that. If it hits 30%, send another offer. This time, one hundred million.”
“Are you serious? Will the higher-ups approve?”
The team members asked in surprise, but the team leader just wiped the table with a tissue, showing no particular reaction.
“If it hits 30%, we can aim for the Baeksang.
It’s called a hundred million, but in reality, Cheongryong was only adding two million more.
But being the first in the industry to break the hundred-million advertising fee mark carries a lot of significance. Once the momentum starts, asking prices soar without limit.
In that case, it’s better to attach the highest price and use it at the lowest cost.
“If it goes up, reorganize Ha Muyoung’s big data collection and upload it. Let’s eat.”
With that, the team leader picked up his spoon.
Completely unaware that his asking price was about to hit a hundred million, Muyoung was just sitting in a corner of the filming set, crunching on three strawberry candies at once.
“Muyoung, are you okay? Your body’s shaking like a leaf.”
“Don’t worry. Phew! Haha! I’m the kiss master!”
“Ew, that phrase is so weird. Just eat more candy.”
Ko Gyeongmin, disgusted, just handed him more candy.
The scene the viewers had been eagerly awaiting was about to be filmed, matching Muyoung’s nervousness.
They’d been wondering when those two would finally kiss, and the moment they’d been anticipating was here.
“Muyoung! Come here. Let’s check the blocking!”
The assistant director called out to him.
Muyoung stood up solemnly and walked toward the set.