An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 80

80. Episode 17 – Surviving is Winning (2)

“Cut, okay!”

Director Yoo’s voice echoed from beyond the megaphone.

All the staff and actors on set applauded and cheered.

“Great job, everyone.”

“You all worked hard.”

The reason why so many actors and staff were excited was because today was the first broadcast of the drama ‘You’re Too Good at Cooking’.

Moreover, with the end of the scene we just filmed, we would be heading to a company dinner without any more night shoots.

This drama had a lot of passionate staff and actors.

Of course, that was the case on every set, but the director of this drama was particularly passionate.

Director Yoo’s debut work.

On top of that, the writer had won an award at the KTS [Korean Television System] screenplay contest.

That passion made every episode heat up the set.

As the lead in my first drama mini-series, I always did my best, but the truth was, I was most curious and excited about the viewership ratings for this drama.

So, Director Yoo hoped that all the staff and actors would watch the historic first episode of the drama together on the live broadcast.

That’s why we decided to wrap up the shoot early and head to the company dinner.

The staff, who fully understood his feelings, were busy tidying up the set.

***

The drama aired at 10 PM.

When I arrived at the company dinner, the clock hands were pointing to 8 PM.

“I wanted to come early and have a hearty meal before watching, but it took a little longer to clean up than I thought,” Director Yoo said as we all took our seats.

“No, this is plenty of time,” the assistant director said, looking at his watch.

“Right. Let’s eat slowly, have a light drink, and monitor the broadcast together.”

“Yes.”

The staff and actors in the restaurant shouted in unison at his words.

Soon, food began to be set on each table.

Sizzle-.

Sizzle.

Thick, bright red slices of pork belly were placed on the hot grill.

The sound was reminiscent of rain pouring outside.

“Wow, it’s raining outside, and hearing the sound of meat grilling inside is so nice,” Seo In-woo said, looking at the rain outside. Director Yoo slowly nodded.

“Indeed.”

He turned his head to look out the window and said with a short sigh.

“But why does it have to rain on the first broadcast day?”

Director Yoo’s expression and tone didn’t seem very good.

He didn’t seem to like the drizzling rain on the day the first episode of the drama was broadcast.

I quickly filled his glass.

“Director, let me pour you a drink.”

Only then did he turn his head to look at me.

“Well, I have to accept a drink from our Hee-sung. Haha.”

“Director, I think it’s a good thing, actually.”

He tilted his head at my words.

“If it rains on Monday, everyone will go home early. Wouldn’t that increase the number of viewers watching our drama at 10 PM?”

Director Yoo laughed heartily as soon as he heard my words.

“Haha, is that so? Right, we have to think positively for good things to happen. Hee-sung is right.”

He seemed to feel better in no time, and he poured the shimmering alcohol into his mouth.

“Ah, sunbae [senior/mentor]. The variety show yesterday was a hit, wasn’t it?”

At Seo In-woo’s words, Shin Min-young and Director Yoo looked at me at the same time.

He must be talking about the variety show ‘Mystery Family’ that aired yesterday.

The broadcast of the episode I appeared in was perfectly timed for the day before the first episode of the drama aired.

The response to the variety show was more explosive than I thought.

The variety show, which was decorated as a HS Entertainment special, focused attention on Song Yu-na, who doesn’t usually appear often.

Thanks to that, I heard that the viewership ratings for the variety show increased by 2% compared to other episodes.

Because we were both from KTS, my screen time was edited more than Baek Young-hoon’s, and naturally, the drama was promoted, and interest turned in that direction.

The subtitles also featured many parodies related to the title of ‘You’re Too Good at Cooking’.

Director Yoo opened his mouth as if agreeing with Seo In-woo’s words.

“I haven’t seen the broadcast yet, but the staff told me. They said Hee-sung did a great job and the viewership ratings were good?”

I smiled awkwardly at his words.

“No, I just tried my best….”

“That’s right. I also saw an article saying that there were a lot of viewer comments saying they would watch the drama today because Hee-sung was appearing?”

Even Shin Min-young added a word.

The table was filled with stories about me.

I didn’t know what to do with myself at their words and kept smiling.

“It may not be because of the variety show, but I hope many people will watch the drama after seeing it.”

Everyone held their full stomachs, and time passed.

Finally, the sound coming from the TV.

“‘You’re Too Good at Cooking’ will be broadcast shortly.”

At that sound, everyone became quiet as if they had zipped up their mouths.

And quickly turned up the TV volume to the maximum.

The staff and actors in the restaurant turned their chairs and fixed their eyes on the screen.

After a while, the first episode began.

The restaurant was as quiet as a mouse.

The meat on the hot grill was moved to a plate for monitoring.

My face filled the screen, and cheers erupted at the first scene.

“Wow, Hee-sung looks great!”

“What, Hee-sung! Your on-screen presence is no joke? Haha.”

“Isn’t Hee-sung originally a real-life visual actor? Hahaha.”

That’s how we started enjoying the drama, laughing and chatting.

***

The next morning.

The first thing I checked as soon as I opened my eyes was the viewership ratings.

My swollen eyes weren’t even fully open, but my hand was quickly clicking on the internet window of my cell phone.

The viewership ratings appeared as soon as I searched for the drama.

‘Viewership Rating 8.2%’

My eyes widened at the viewership rating of the first episode.

8. 2% is a good start?

And the articles that poured out right below.

[Drama ‘You’re Too Good at Cooking’ Starts with a Refreshing 8% Viewership!]

[Rising New Lead Actors. ‘Jin Hee-sung’ Starring Drama Starts with 8.2% Viewership… ‘Baek Young-hoon’ 6.3%]

[[Mon-Tue Drama] You’re Too Good at Cooking, Starts with Good Viewership… Jin Hee-sung and Connected Character Relationship…]

[Jin Hee-sung… Conquered Variety Shows, Now Dramas Too…!]

Articles were pouring out in real time.

The viewership rating of the drama starring Baek Young-hoon, which I saw through several articles, was 6.3%.

The corners of my mouth turned up without me realizing it.

I jumped up from the bed and cheered.

The half-drama with 8 episodes that everyone thought wouldn’t work.

It was a more successful start than I thought, and my heart started pounding when I saw the score of 8.2%.

But I can’t just be happy.

It was still literally the first episode, so I have to carry this start all the way to the end.

I read the articles and comments posted on the internet one by one, clenched my fist, and strengthened my will.

Let’s keep going like this!

***

As I got out of the car, I saw Seo In-woo in the distance.

He always ran up to me happily when he saw me.

So today, I carefully headed towards him to approach Seo In-woo.

“In-woo….”

As I got closer to him, Seo In-woo was having a serious conversation with the staff in front of him.

I stopped in my tracks at the serious look on his face.

I had a feeling that I shouldn’t break the atmosphere, whatever the story was.

Moreover, I had no intention of eavesdropping on other people’s stories.

Just as I was about to turn around.

The staff’s shrill voice was properly stuck in my ear.

“That thing. The fight with Jin Hee-sung!”

In an instant.

The name I heard was none other than me, ‘Jin Hee-sung’.

When I realized that their conversation topic was about me, my feet wouldn’t fall easily.

Seo In-woo asked, surprised at the staff’s words.

“What fight?”

“I heard there was a big commotion with Kang Chan-sung during the last movie shoot. I mean, I don’t think it makes sense to fight that much on set….”

The incident where the argument with Kang Chan-sung escalated during the last movie ‘Became a Genius Salesman’.

It seemed to have spread among the staff in the meantime.

But I didn’t think much of it.

I didn’t commit a crime, and I didn’t think there was a need to hush it up so that the story wouldn’t come out.

The staff clicked their tongues and continued to speak to Seo In-woo.

“I thought Hee-sung was a good person. I was so surprised when I heard the story from a senior I know. I thought In-woo seemed close to Hee-sung, so I was going to tell you to be careful.”

I didn’t have any particular feelings about the incident.

But the truth was, I wasn’t very happy that the story was coming out from behind like this.

However, I don’t think I need to go and make excuses or clear up misunderstandings one by one.

However, I nodded, thinking that I would have to open my mouth if the story was distorted and went one step further.

Suddenly.

Seo In-woo began to speak with a very frowning face.

“But are you sure you checked properly?”

“Yes?”

“I was wondering if you heard Hee-sung sunbae’s side of the story.”

“No, that’s….”

“I know there are a lot of rumors in the entertainment industry, but Hee-sung sunbae, who I saw and felt, is not that kind of style. Of course, I’m grateful because you said it for me.”

Seo In-woo took a breath and continued.

“It’s your freedom to talk behind my back, but I think it would be a problem if it’s not true.”

“…That’s right.”

“Hee-sung sunbae wouldn’t be that kind of person. If he was angry, I think there would have been a good reason.”

The staff was embarrassed by Seo In-woo’s reaction and opened his mouth with a forced smile.

“Oh, come on. Maybe Hee-sung has a reason. I should ask the senior who told me the story properly. Haha.”

“Yes, I think you should listen to all the circumstances. And even if that’s the case, I don’t think it’s very pleasant to pass it on like this from behind.”

The staff quickly waved his hand at Seo In-woo and said.

“Ah… I’m sorry if I made you feel bad.”

Seo In-woo bowed his head and left the spot.

Well, I guess that staff is just like that.

Seo In-woo… he’s better than I thought?

***

“Okay!”

Bang-!

Bang bang-.

As soon as Director Yoo’s okay sign fell, the staff and actors appeared with a cake.

They set off firecrackers and opened champagne.

The filming period was shorter than any other drama.

But the affection that accumulated during that period was by no means short or shallow.

The set, which was close-knit and more cohesive than any other filming set, was soon filled with tears.

“Thank you so much for your hard work.”

“Thank you all for following me so well. This is not the end, so let’s meet again in another drama in the future.”

That’s how… our drama filming came to an end.

The drama was a Mon-Tue drama, with a total of 8 episodes broadcast twice a week.

So it was a drama that aired for a full month.

Filming ended today, and the last episode of the drama was two weeks away.

Now in the second week.

The viewership rating has surpassed 10% and is running at 10.8%.

Breaking all the prejudices that it was a half-drama to fill the gap.

It was winning Baek Young-hoon’s drama viewership ratings in the same time slot every episode.

Baek Young-hoon’s drama started at 6% and was still struggling at 8%.

It was literally a KTS drama’s overwhelming victory.