Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 322

322. A Heavy Blow (1)

Yeonwoo seemed to be the only one who sensed something strange about Trevi’s remarks, as the conversation with UTT continued without pause.

“Oh, that’s a very impressive naming sense?”

“We had nothing to fear back then.”

“But it actually turned out as you said, right? What’s the problem? UP TO THE TOP. It’s a perfect name that reveals your ambition and aspirations. It suits you very well. You need that much ambition to reach the top.”

They were now sharing even trivial stories as if they had become close friends.

‘This would be perfect for broadcasting.’

The purpose of UTT’s American schedule was the sweet reward for a successful overseas advancement, given to the winner of the competition.

‘Just building friendships with famous overseas singers and showing off a glamorous image will be a success for now.’

That’s what the PD [Production Director] and the broadcasting station think.

They wouldn’t expect UTT to gather all their overseas fans right away, hold concerts, and go on a world tour.

Why?

‘Logically, they’re not at that level yet.’

They’ve only just found a way forward.

You can’t ask them to run before they can even walk.

“This project will be a success if we successfully sign a contract and clearly demonstrate that overseas advancement is possible.”

That’s what PD Gong had said before they left.

“It would be even better if overseas fans recognize and respond to UTT and ‘Breaking the Limit,’ as that would be solid evidence. But more importantly, it’s about instilling dreams and hopes for the overseas market.”

That’s probably why.

The PD and VJs [Video Journalists], who saw the stretched limousine that’s usually seen at award ceremonies, lit up their eyes and started filming like crazy.

‘Providing a benchmark that you can enjoy this much if you succeed was another goal of this trip.’

The glamorous and recognized life of a celebrity that everyone dreams of.

Even if it’s just a superficial show, that’s enough for now.

You can’t be full on the first try.

Practically, it will end with opening overseas routes.

Just showing that you can have these opportunities if you succeed will be a great motivation for the next participants.

‘That will also improve the quality of effort the participants put in. They’ll try harder to show as many possibilities as possible.’

That’s exactly the direction PD Gong wants.

A kind of virtuous cycle is created.

Diversification of possibilities started with K-POP.

The higher the level of competition among participants, the higher the possibility of becoming a hot topic.

The influx of overseas fans will also increase accordingly.

‘He planned it well.’

It wasn’t for nothing that PD Gong came over with modest standards instead of a grand goal to achieve something huge.

Just having a candid conversation with Trevi like now would have achieved half of the goal.

“Ah, we’ve already arrived. It’s a shame, but we have to part ways now. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

“Okay!”

“I’m already looking forward to it?”

In that long yet short time from the airport to the city center filled with buildings.

UTT and Trevi seemed to have become close friends.

Even Doyul, who doesn’t talk much, exchanged a few words with Trevi and soon started talking.

[They’re only talking about you, Yeonwoo? It’s all about Yeonwoo from start to finish.]

I wonder why the PD looked so tired when getting out of the car.

‘Surely it won’t be like that tomorrow too.’

As always.

‘Surely’ is what gets you.

*

[@@@Live) Mincho people watching the ‘Breaking the Limit’ special American episode, gather here@@@]

-Mincho [Mint Chocolate lovers, a Korean internet slang] people watching the American episode live, gather here@@@

The preview was already grand, but the scale from the beginning is unbelievableㅋㅋㅋ

Let’s run together, Mincho people watching together@@@

(Comments)

-Are they all in first class? Wow, is the broadcasting station paying for it?

ㄴNope, Trevi is paying for it. He prepared first-class tickets from the start to bring Yeonwoo

ㄴThe U-Tankers’ eyes are popping out. They’re like meerkatsㅋㅋㅋ

-Wow, I heard from Irida that Trevi initially tried to send a private jet. But our Yeonwoo was horrified, so he had no choice but to cut off (?) the first class (?)

ㄴAh, so that’s why Yeonwoo’s expression was a bit uncomfortableㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴI would have said thank you and accepted it, but our Yeonwoo is too upright in these situationsㅠㅠ He’s a celebrity, so he’ll get a lot of sponsorships and back-door advertising inquiries, but our Yeonwoo doesn’t have any of that, which makes me so happy

ㄴI love clean 덕질 [deokjil, enthusiastic devotion to an idol]^^ (TN: 덕질 refers to ‘fangirling’ or ‘fanboying’)

…

-Crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Hey, Trevi, it’s too obviousㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴHe’s the only one who’s cheerful, lololololol

-The production team is flusteredㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Trevi is flusteredㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴIt’s funny how Yeonwoo recognized him, and he had an earthquake in his pupils and frozeㅋㅋ Did he really think he wouldn’t get caughtㅋㅋㅋ

…

[Watching the ‘Breaking the Limit’ special episodeㅋㅋㅋ]

-Why is everything they do a Yeonwoo praise battle?ㅋㅋㅋ

Aren’t you guys musicians?ㅋㅋㅋ I was a bit worried about what kind of conversation would take place because there were articles about Trevi collaborating with you.

Trevi is famous for simping over our Yeonwoo, but he’s completely professional in his main job, so I was a bit worried about how he would treat the U-Tankers

Surprisingly, he’s very sweet to themㅇㅇ

Maybe that’s why the U-Tankers relaxed quickly

But the process of them relaxing is very funny?

Every conversation ends with Yeonwoo

It’s all about Yeonwoo from start to finish

They only talk about Yeonwoo. But the conversation flows so well.

I’m grateful that they like him, but why are all the topics about Yeonwooㅋㅋㅋ

(Comments)

-The PD looks like he’s going crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴExtreme job PD

-But I’m a bit satisfiedㅇㅇ There are five trillion people who think they succeeded because they’re good, but the U-Tankers don’t seem to be like that, at leastㅇㅇ

-It looks like real 덕후1 and real 덕후23456 met and are having 덕토크 [deoktok, fan talk]ㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴIt looks like that to me too222 Aren’t they completely successful 덕후s

ㄴI should have tried being an idol before it was too late, damn it

The special episode of ‘Breaking the Limit,’ which was hastily arranged at Trevi’s suggestion.

The reaction was very positive.

The evaluation was also very favorable in that it directly visualized and confirmed UTT’s success.

“Oh, I’ve already received inquiries about when we’ll start producing season 2.”

The sweet fruit that went on air seemed very attractive.

Since the reaction is good, the atmosphere of the filming team has naturally become warm.

It was already friendly as if they were on a reward vacation, but now it’s even more friendly?

“Ah, the director is bragging.”

“Oh, it’s not bragging.”

It was bragging.

“The problem is that it’s too popular, so I can’t do it carelessly. It’s killing me, really.”

“You wouldn’t do it carelessly anyway.”

If he had done it carelessly, PD Gong wouldn’t have dark circles hanging under his eyes like that.

“Getting the programming scheduled quickly was a real stroke of genius. Oh.”

“But director, did you really ask Yeonwoo?”

“About what? The programming schedule? I asked him. That’s why we’re so successful now.”

In fact, PD Gong had been thinking of scheduling UTT’s overseas advancement as a 6-episode series to make it long.

‘It would be a bit awkward if it floats too much before going into season 2… We also have to maintain the buzz.’

At first, he had planned and received the programming with that in mind.

He was planning to put in as much promotion as the main season of ‘Breaking the Limit.’

‘As expected, the only drug allowed by the country, national뽕 [national ppong, nationalistic pride], is the best!’

But something felt uncomfortable.

Like leaving the house without turning off the gas stove?

Or should I say it’s like going to the bathroom and not wiping?

There was no firm conviction that should have felt normal.

-Why don’t you ask Yeonwoo? I’m not saying this because he’s my friend, but he has a really good sense.

Then, while drinking coffee with Lee Juha, he heard that story.

‘Come to think of it, there was such a saying…?’

That any program Yeonwoo appears on becomes a hit.

It’s a saying that circulates among industry insiders, but some have even heard testimonies that it’s like a revelation.

So he asked.

-If possible, I think we should strike while the iron is hot.

That one word was the beginning.

“Um… then what about the promotion…? Won’t the promotion be lacking?”

“Well, I don’t think there will be a lack of promotion, and if anything, it might be too much.”

Yeonwoo said not to take it too seriously as it was just a personal opinion, but PD Gong already felt his ears perking up.

The vague path ahead brightened, and the feeling that something that was 2% lacking was filling up.

“Really? Will it be too much?”

“Even a good flower song is only good once or twice. If it’s too much, it might cause aversion. There’s also the saying ‘too much is as bad as too little.'”

Among the sayings that commonly circulate among fans, there is a saying that 빠 (hardcore fans) make 까 (haters).

That word suddenly came to mind like a revelation.

Before he knew it, PD Gong began to listen to Yeonwoo’s words with the attitude of a student.

“Then, 6 episodes is too much… How many episodes would be good?”

“…Is this something I can answer?”

“Ah, of course. What kind of disappointing words are those between us? Ahem. We have to hear various opinions, so Yeonwoo, tell me what you think.”

Yeonwoo made a face that said, ‘What kind of relationship do we have?’ but he answered obediently.

“As short as possible. Compress it into about 2 episodes? It would be good to put it all in one week. A feeling of hitting hard and fast. If that’s difficult, up to 3 episodes…?”

“Oh. Good. But I don’t think we can pull the programming all in one week. How about doing it over 3 weeks?”

“That would also be fine. The point is to show it as quickly, briefly, and compressed as possible.”

“As quickly as possible… Okay. Good. Then I’ll do that.”

“Yes?”

“Then I’ll get the programming right away and keep the promotion short. Okay. It’ll be almost real-time, but we’ll edit it and upload it right away. Okay.”

“PD-nim?”

He heard Yeonwoo calling him in a bewildered voice, but PD Gong, who already had a eureka moment in his head, didn’t hear it.

He was just full of the thought of having to revise the proposal quickly.

And.

That result is the current present.

PD Gong could be sure every time he filmed.

‘This can’t not get good ratings.’

There was no need to put in the devil’s editing or manipulation that PD Gong hated so much.

Every scene he filmed was all worth keeping.

In the middle of that, of course, was Yeonwoo.

“I don’t think there’s a need to do anything grand. Everyone knows that you can’t be full on the first try anyway.”

“I think it’s okay to just show them that they’re doing well here for now. From what I see, there are many people who have good results in various survival programs, but their subsequent moves are unclear… I think eliminating that kind of anxiety is important to fans. There’s nothing as frustrating as when an idol you’ve worked hard to support disappears.”

“I think it would be good to go with a feeling of introducing them. After all, most of the stories about overseas advancement are only heard through news-like reports.”

Every word Yeonwoo said was a treasure-like idea.

Episodes were naturally created based on Yeonwoo’s words.

That’s why PD Gong is so engrossed, staying up all night and wearing dark circles.