Translator: Dreamscribe
Meet PD Jung Soo-ryeong directly? Kang Rojun answered inwardly while watching PD Woo Han-suk, who had suddenly become serious.
'Well, rather than me constantly communicating back and forth in the middle, it'd be faster for the two of them to meet and settle things directly.'
Both were professionals with well over ten years of experience in the industry. Compared to Kang Rojun, who had only just begun to learn the entertainment business, there was a much higher possibility that conversations and work would proceed much more quickly. Sensing this, Rojun picked up his phone.
"Would you like me to do that? Then I'll try contacting her right away."
They say to strike while the iron is hot. There was no need to drag this out. As Rojun acted swiftly, PD Woo Han-suk gave a small approving smile.
"Not a bad idea. Give it a try."
"Yes."
Although it was morning, it wasn't exactly early. Still, just in case, Kang Rojun sent a message first. But whether she was already at work or not, PD Jung Soo-ryeong called right away. PD Woo Han-suk gestured for him to answer. Rojun put the phone to his ear.
"Hello, PD-nim."
On the other end, PD Jung Soo-ryeong's voice carried a hint of fatigue.
"Yes, writer-nim. Is something up?"
"It's nothing much. I just wanted to let you know that I spoke with the PD of 'Produce That 100!' that I'll be appearing in 'Rental Lover.'"
After Rojun explained the situation, PD Jung Soo-ryeong responded without much concern.
"Oh really? I was actually planning to ask that PD myself. Is he with you now? Let me speak with him."
Rojun handed the phone to PD Woo Han-suk, who was standing next to him. He took the call without hesitation.
"Yes, hello, PD Jung Soo-ryeong. This is PD Woo Han-suk from 'JTVM'."
Maybe because they were both veterans? The conversation progressed quickly. They wrapped up the call by exchanging contact information. PD Woo Han-suk handed the phone back to Rojun, and PD Jung Soo-ryeong spoke to Rojun again.
"Could you pass my number along to PD Woo Han-suk?"
"Understood."
"Thanks."
Once the call ended, Rojun handed over her number to PD Woo Han-suk. After saving PD Jung Soo-ryeong's number to his phone, PD Woo Han-suk lowered his voice.
"Once again, keep this whole matter confidential."
"Yes."
"I'll meet with PD Jung Soo-ryeong and let you know if anything comes out of it."
PD Woo Han-suk began walking away, telling him to get some exercise. Rojun stretched his legs for a run as he watched him leave, while PD Woo Han-suk glanced at the saved number in his phone and murmured to himself.
''Rental Lover', if things go well, we might be able to tie it into the tail end of 'Produce That 100!' for a big impact, and even drop hints about Rojun-ssi's script during editing to hook the audience.'
He needed to coordinate the timing carefully with PD Jung Soo-ryeong. He immediately called the saved number. As if she had been waiting, Jung Soo-ryeong answered, and the two arranged a time to meet.
"PD Jung Soo-ryeong, I'd like to meet with you, soon, if possible."
"Yes, I think that would be best as well. We've already started pre-production for 'Rental Lover', so time is running out. What day works for you? Since you're in the middle of airing 'Produce That 100!', do you have any availability?"
PD Woo Han-suk mentally reviewed his schedule. Today was Wednesday, the 29th. With his calendar packed, he responded with the next available date.
"How about Monday, August 3rd, after episode 3 of 'Produce That 100!' airs and the weekend is over?"
"Let me see, Monday works. Morning is good for me."
"All right then, let's meet that morning. I'll contact you again about the exact time and place."
"Okay. Take care."
-Click.
After ending the call, PD Woo Han-suk looked back. Over by the park, Kang Rojun had already started running. Several participants were following behind him. Watching Rojun, PD Woo Han-suk clicked his tongue inwardly.
'The presence he showed in 'Produce That 100!', he debuted as a writer even before his official debut? And he even managed to land a role in his own project. Does this make any sense as a career path?'
Even to PD Woo Han-suk, who had seen countless idols, Kang Rojun was a type he had never witnessed before.
'He's a true disruptor of the ecosystem. A monster, a real monster.'
About an hour later.
After finishing his workout, Kang Rojun checked the condition of his body before showering.
'Feels like my body's getting more toned. Did my shoulders get broader too?'
He worked out every single day without skipping, and whenever he had spare time outside of missions, he'd exercise as well. So it was only natural that his physique was improving. No matter what, Kang Rojun had completed his daily mission through working out and hearing that he's handsome. His dorm mates had been pouring out compliments about his face more than usual today.
After his shower, Rojun headed straight to the cafeteria.
'Ah- meat in the morning!'
Stuffing himself with kimchi stir-fried pork, he then headed to the restroom. Always to the one nobody else used. First, he checked his coins.
-[Coins Owned: 506]
As expected, with 8 coins earned from missions, he had now surpassed 500 coins in total. Smiling, Rojun immediately proceeded to enhance his status stats. Starting today, instead of investing in Singing Ability, he decided to focus on Dance.
-[Appearance (100/100)│Singing Ability (10.3/100)│Rap (2/100)]
[Dance (8.1/100)│Eloquence (6.9/100)│Acting (4.4/100)]
With just a few more days, Dance would also hit 10 points. Skimming through his stats for a moment, Kang Rojun quietly sang a tune and tried a few dance moves.
'The singing definitely feels smooth now, and I'm hardly going off pitch anymore. My body feels more flexible too when dancing.'
Feeling his daily improvements brought a strange rush of satisfaction. In a good mood, Kang Rojun was about to leave the restroom but paused. It was because he saw his own reflection in the mirror. Then, he tried something different than usual.
-Swish.
Suddenly, he wiped the smile off his face. His first attempt at facial acting. He gave up after exactly three seconds.
"Ugh, acting- no, this isn't acting, this is just complete crap."
Taking PD Jung Soo-ryeong's advice, he tried to act out the role of the 'Lover Number 4' from 'Rental Lover', but it was so awful that an overwhelming sense of shame washed over him.
'Right, my Acting stat is only 4 points, isn't it?'
Still, even if it felt terrible, he decided to keep trying. Maybe it felt more unpleasant simply because it was unfamiliar.
'I could just run an 'AI Automation' right away, but the 'Lover Number 4' character isn't even fully developed yet, and there's still time.'
With that thought, Kang Rojun left the restroom just as the other participants began their training session.
'Let's start revising!'
He sat in the lounge and began typing away on his laptop.
Meanwhile, in a lavish home.
A spacious house with a predominantly white-toned interior that offered a clear view of the Han River through the window. A tall woman entered the living room. Wearing beige pajamas with a headband in her hair and a face mask on, it was the top actress Choi Rina. After glancing at her large poster hanging on the wall, she settled down onto the plush sofa.
"Let's see, let's see-"
Crossing her legs, Choi Rina picked up a stack of papers on the table. It was the script for the one-act drama 'Rental Lover', in which she had been confirmed as the female lead just yesterday. Of course, she hadn't told her agency's CEO yet. As she flipped through a few pages of the 'Rental Lover' script, she murmured while reading.
"As expected, it's fun."
In that moment, Choi Rina recalled the masked and capped writer Kang Chul-soo she had met yesterday.
"He seemed like a rookie, but his writing is sharp. No wonder it caught the eye of PD Jung, who's notoriously picky about scripts."
Then curiosity resurfaced.
'But what circumstances would make him hide his face so completely??'
But that floating question mark didn't last long, and her attention shifted elsewhere. Like who the other actors in 'Rental Lover' would be. Soon, Choi Rina got up from the sofa, removed the mask pack from her face, and opened the refrigerator. While drinking water, she suddenly remembered a line from her agency's CEO.
'Hey, did you see 'Produce That 100!'? That thing's blowing up these days. One of the contestants there has a face that looks straight out of CG. It's insane.'
She also recalled what PD Jung Soo-ryeong had said right before they parted ways yesterday.
'If you have time, check out 'Produce That 100!' It's worth watching. The whole broadcast industry's buzzing about it these days.'
Is it really that good? She'd heard the rumors about its popularity. Curious, Choi Rina picked up her phone. Naturally, she searched for 'Produce That 100!' Her reaction to the results was immediate.
"Wow- it's even crazier than I thought??"
Both the articles and public reaction were overwhelming.
"It really did blow up, huh? Ah! Episode 2's ratings went over 15%??"
Surprised, Choi Rina placed the 'Rental Lover' script she was holding back on the table and turned on the large TV. It was to watch a rerun of 'Produce That 100!' After fiddling with the remote for a few minutes, episode 1 of 'Produce That 100!' began playing on the screen.
Choi Rina started watching without much thought.
"..."
Before she knew it, it was the final part of episode 1.
-["'Number 1', please remove your mask."]
The contestant number 1, whom even the CEO had praised, appeared. Soon, contestant number 1 took off his mask on TV. At that moment, top actress Choi Rina's eyes widened sharply.
Because of number 1's revealed visuals.
"Wow... whoa."
Choi Rina was honestly shocked. Even to her, who had worked with countless top male actors.
"He really looks like his face was photoshopped or something..."
Number 1's visuals were incredible. She now understood why the CEO had been left speechless. He could easily crush male actors who were considered good-looking. Instantly captivated by 'Produce That 100!', Choi Rina reacted softly as she listened to number 1's lines.
"'Farewell'? I really love that song."
When episode 1 ended, she immediately played episode 2. And then.
-♬♪
She listened, entranced, as number 1 passionately sang 'Farewell' on stage. Her body stilled, and her cheeks turned slightly red. Of course, she had no idea that this very number 1 was the writer of 'Rental Lover', whose script was sitting right on the table in front of her.
"..."
Choi Rina had no way of knowing.
The following night, at the 'Produce That 100!' campus in Paju.
Most of the participants, having wrapped up another grueling day, were in their rooms. Still, the mood was upbeat.
"Tomorrow's finally episode 3's broadcast."
"I wonder how high the ratings will be??"
"It's been trending all week, so I'm sure it'll be even higher this time."
Everyone was excited for the long-awaited airing of episode 3 of 'Produce That 100!' It was around then that Kang Rojun, freshly washed, returned to Room 105. When he arrived, contestants number 19, 37, and 88 weren't there, only number 58 was. The others seemed to still be in the showers. Kang Rojun glanced at number 58, who used the lower bunk of the second bunk bed and had a baby perm. He was lying on his stomach, writing something.
'Is that an earphone in one ear? What's he doing?'
Curious, Kang Rojun asked number 58.
"What are you writing?"
With little reaction, number 58 quietly answered.
"...Studying."
Though 58 usually had a weak presence and a gloomy vibe, the public who watched 'Produce That 100!' described him as having a cute, puppy-like appearance.
'What did they say? He gives off a vibe that makes you want to protect him?'
Surprisingly, 58 had passed the first round with his rap performance, and he won in the 'Vocal Team' during the second evaluation. Whatever the case, Rojun, intrigued by the answer studying, sat down on his bed and asked further.
"Studying? What kind? Composition or lyric writing? Ah, you don't have to answer if it's uncomfortable."
58 sat up and showed a small notebook.
"I do study lyrics writing and composition... but right now it's just foreign language. Japanese. My dream is to go to Japan. I've been studying it for about four years now, but I don't improve much."
"Ah-"
Sure enough, the notebook was full of Japanese writing. Then, 58, now even quieter, murmured.
"Want to hear a little?"
Out of nowhere? This guy's a bit quirky. Kang Rojun scratched his chin.
"Japanese? Well, sure, I'll listen."
With permission granted, 58 nervously began speaking in Japanese. Internally, Kang Rojun thought, 'Oh- he's pretty good?' Then, just as 58 was speaking, the energetic numbers 19 and 37 came into the room, and 58 instantly stopped his Japanese.
He lay back down again.
'Looking at him kind of… reminds me of my past self a bit.'
After chatting briefly with 19 and 37, Kang Rojun also lay down in bed.
Then suddenly.
'Japanese, huh- wait, would foreign languages like that work with 'AI Automation' too?'
Kang Rojun became curious.
However, there was one condition for using the overpowered 'AI Automation'. It could only be used for things related to the desired occupation of idol. After thinking for a moment, Rojun thought.
'Foreign languages like Japanese could be considered related to idols, right? Popular idols go overseas and stuff, don't they?'
He recalled things he had seen on TV in the past. Top-tier idols making their way overseas to Japan or the United States. He remembered watching news clips showing tens of thousands of foreign fans packed into concert halls, wildly waving glow sticks in both hands as they went crazy for Korean idols.
After thinking it over for a few seconds, Kang Rojun picked up his phone.
'I'll find out if I just test it.'
Naturally, he opened the 'AI Simulation' app. The character Kang Rojun appeared prominently on the main screen, and the real Rojun tapped the 'AI Automation' button. A message immediately popped up.
-[Through 'AI Automation' analysis, your desired outcome can be achieved. What would you like to achieve? (Only applicable to things related to the desired occupation: idol)]
Rojun typed in a test request into the blank space.
-[AI Automation: I want to perfectly learn Japanese to the point where I'm indistinguishable from a native Japanese speaker.]
Soon, a loading circle spun on his phone screen, and not long after, 'AI Automation' gave its response.
-[Analyzing with AI... Analysis complete!]
-[To achieve the desired result, 350 coins are required.]
-[※ The number of coins required may vary depending on the difficulty of achieving the result.]
Kang Rojun's eyes widened instantly.
'It works??! I-I can acquire Japanese right now?!'
In that moment, his adrenaline surged.
*****
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