Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 78

#78.

It wasn’t a real kiss with a partner.

‘Byeolbyeol’ [Star Star] was a virtual entity.

The advertising planner believed that showing the face, body, or even the tips of the hair of the partner could break the immersion for fans or viewers who might develop a crush on the character.

Because of this, the members were scheduled to act facing empty space.

‘I don’t know which is better.’

It would be easier to immerse themselves if the partner actor could match their breathing, but for the members who weren’t actors, it could be embarrassing and make acting difficult.

However, acting in empty space wasn’t easy either.

“We’ve arrived.”

Kim Seok-cheol, the team leader in the passenger seat, announced their arrival as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

Through the window, they could see the set being prepared and the staff moving busily.

***

“Hello!”

“Hello!”

The members, who had been nervous in the van, saying they didn’t think they could do it, greeted the staff with confident voices as soon as they arrived at the set.

They still seemed nervous, but they looked quite professional.

The staff greeted the members with smiles at their energetic greetings.

“Tsk, always exaggerating…….”

Jeong Gil-ju looked at the members with satisfaction and muttered to himself for no particular reason.

Kim Seok-cheol first greeted the advertisement manager of Byeolbyeol Chicken.

She, who was usually interested in idols, was the one who actively recommended MOST for this advertisement.

“Hello, nice to meet you!”

“Let me introduce you. This is Jeong Eun-ji, the manager in charge of Byeolbyeol Chicken advertising.”

The members greeted politely at Kim Seok-cheol’s introduction.

Jeong Eun-ji smiled and said,

“I’ve had my eye on you since your debut, and I’m so happy to be able to use you as models right away.”

“Ah. Thank you for seeing us in a good light.”

Gi-jun greeted on behalf of the members.

Jeong Eun-ji quickly scanned the members.

Until now, Byeolbyeol Chicken had been using well-known veteran actors as models.

It was part of a high-end marketing strategy.

Then, with the launch of the new menu, the need to secure the loyalty of young customers was raised.

It was judged that young people would be more willing to try and consume menus with different flavors, not just the existing fried or seasoned options.

Then, the higher-ups suggested selecting HOH, which was currently the most popular idol group, as a model.

However, Jeong Eun-ji recommended MOST.

HOH had too many products they were already modeling for.

It depended on how the promotion was structured, but the impact could be lower compared to the cost.

‘Even if some success is guaranteed… the company’s expectations will be higher for that price.’

On the other hand, MOST wasn’t yet expensive, so the cost-effectiveness could be better.

‘The upward trend is good for generating buzz, and it’s their first TV commercial.’

The ‘first time’ aspect was quite significant.

There was no product that immediately came to mind when thinking of MOST.

‘Of course, if the image is directly connected, there’s a risk involved…….’

There was a controversy over manipulating the music charts a while ago, and the deal almost fell through, but MOST managed to handle even that well, so they were worth believing in.

Within the fandom, it was clear that they would promote and consume Byeolbyeol Chicken in order to prove the model effect of MOST, who were becoming the advertising model for a major brand for the first time.

It was a choice that Jeong Eun-ji, who knew idol culture well, could confidently make.

Frankly, there was also a personal reason for taking a slight risk, rather than choosing the easy and smooth options.

‘Even if sales are good with HOH, it won’t be thanks to me.’

It was her calculated gamble ahead of the promotion.

So, this advertisement had to be successful for everyone.

Jeong Eun-ji smiled and added, as she couldn’t put such personal pressure on the models.

“Please take good care of us. I have high expectations.”

Do-jae smiled as he shook hands with each of the MOST members.

It was a reliable smile, as expected.

After greeting Jeong Eun-ji, the members greeted the people from the advertising company.

Soon, the director gave a rough explanation of the shooting storyboard.

***

It was almost time for shooting.

Since it was an outdoor shoot, the scenes were being filmed in chronological order.

“Gi-jun hyung [older brother/male friend], fighting! [Good luck!]”

“Hyung [older brother/male friend]…. do well.”

With Rui’s energetic encouragement and Heung-min’s half-worried support, Gi-jun approached the camera.

Unlike usual, Gi-jun’s steps forward were stiff.

Squeak, squeak. He was like a broken robot, as they say.

“Gi-jun ssi [Mr. Gi-jun]! Here’s the baseball!”

Gi-jun’s shooting concept was the baseball team captain.

If it wasn’t for the robotic movements, Gi-jun, wearing a baseball cap, baseball jumper, and white baseball pants, looked like a plausible high school baseball player.

He looked a little thin to be a pitcher, but thanks to the baseball jumper, his shoulders looked strong and his physique looked better.

“Okay. Then, try throwing it over there for practice.”

For today’s shooting, Gi-jun had been practicing his pitching posture with Jeong Gil-ju for several days.

Gi-jun, who had relaxed a little, took a stance as he had practiced and threw the ball lightly.

“Oh! Did you practice a bit?”

The director, who was looking at the camera, exclaimed.

Even if an expert saw it, it would be different, but it felt quite plausible to someone who wasn’t.

Jeong Gil-ju had never played baseball, but he was a so-called ‘baseball fanatic’ who had been watching baseball broadcasts every day for over 10 years.

His guidance was paying off.

“Okay. Next, let’s go for a close-up cut!”

The director, who had captured several cuts of Gi-jun throwing the ball from afar, shouted.

“Just before throwing the ball…. in a shape that looks like you’re exchanging signs…. Do you know what I mean?”

Gi-jun nodded quietly.

And as the director wanted, the look in his eyes under the hat added a cool charisma.

“Oh. Gi-jun hyung [older brother/male friend]. You’re doing better than I thought?”

The members gathered together to watch Gi-jun’s shooting, even though they could have waited in the van.

Woo-cheol’s voice was mixed with envy.

Heung-min nodded and said.

“I know. But until now, it’s not much different from usual…….”

“I guess.”

The shooting, which had been going smoothly without any major NGs [no-gos/mistakes], started in earnest right after that.

It was a scene where he smiled at the person who picked up the ball, but his smile was so awkward that he had to reshoot it several times.

“Cut! I think this is enough. It’s a little awkward…. Well, it looks like you’re shy in front of someone you like. Good.”

It was fortunate that the director was flexible.

The storyboard itself was at a level where they could get away with it to some extent, even if they didn’t act very well.

The next scene was the one the members were most worried about.

A scene where he runs from afar, gasping for breath, and says his lines.

Running was okay.

He also acted quite naturally while gasping for breath.

“Huff…. Huff. My heart hurts.”

The set was silent.

The members watched Gi-jun’s acting with bated breath.

“Why? Because it beats too fast when I see you.”

Gi-jun frowned subtly.

It was clear that he couldn’t believe that he was saying these words even while saying his lines.

The members also couldn’t believe it even while watching and listening.

“Take this ball.”

Gi-jun stiffly held out the ball in his hand.

The very next line was the highlight.

It was a scene that they had only seen in the storyboard, and they had never seen or heard Gi-jun practicing.

That’s why the members had to clench their teeth to hold back their laughter.

“Hoo…….”

Do-jae took a deep breath.

It was also very difficult for Do-jae to hold back his laughter.

He was reminded of the time when he participated in the Jongmyo Jerye ceremony [royal ancestral ritual] around the age of five.

As it was a solemn event, he should never laugh, but his older brother, who was walking ahead, farted.

It seemed that he was nervous and had indigestion.

However, it was a stimulus that was difficult for a child to bear.

Eventually, Do-jae burst out laughing at the sound and was severely scolded.

The reason why he was able to learn the Four Books and Three Classics [Confucian texts] so quickly may have been because of the ‘writing repeatedly’ punishment he received at that time.

Since that day when he thought his arm would fall off, Do-jae became quite good at holding back his laughter.

‘Still, it’s hard.’

Do-jae corrected his expression and hoped that Gi-jun would finish this acting in one take.

That was definitely what he wanted the most.

“…Because this ball is instead of my heart.”

“…….”

“Byeolbyeol. I like you.”

Enough to give you my heart.

By the time he got there, Rui was holding his breath and his face was turning red.

With the director’s cut, the members took a deep breath instead of holding back their laughter.

Gi-jun, who had given his heart to Byeolbyeol, pounded his chest.

“Well, it was better than I thought. It’s a little…. scary? It would be nice if you smiled a little shyly at the end.”

Of course, it wasn’t a perfect okay just because the cut was called.

At the director’s instructions, Gi-jun nodded diligently with a stiff face.

That’s how Gi-jun handed over his heart to Byeolbyeol about ten more times.

***

The shooting continued.

Thanks to a lot of practice, everyone showed a better performance than expected.

Woo-cheol filmed a scene where he confessed to Byeolbyeol, who was his childhood friend, in the middle of the playground where Gi-jun had run.

“You idiot. Didn’t you know? That I like you.”

Inside a large heart model made of chicken boxes, Woo-cheol knelt on one knee with a mischievous smile.

And he opened the chicken box as if showing a ring case to Byeolbyeol and continued.

“If you eat this, we’re dating from today?”

Woo-cheol repeated the confession until the hot chicken was cold, and he thought that he might not want to eat the chicken he liked for a while.

Heung-min’s concept was to act indifferent as if he didn’t like her, and then beat up the bullies who bothered Byeolbyeol.

Forgetting his appearance a little while ago, Woo-cheol couldn’t help but laugh as he watched Heung-min hand over the chicken box, saying, “I picked it up on the way.”

Thanks to this, Heung-min designated Woo-cheol as the opponent to grab (although he doesn’t appear on camera), and Heung-min legally grabbed Woo-cheol’s collar and shook him.

“If you’re stupid, engrave it in your heart. Byeolbyeol is under my control.”

Still, Heung-min had quite a charisma thanks to his disheveled hair and a face with wounds.

“This is the constitution I made!”

“…….”

The problem is that the lines are in a bad acting tone…….

And the object to protect is chicken.

Rui’s shooting was on a larger scale than the other members.

Because they had to shoot a scene where it was raining.

“I hope I don’t look ugly because I’m getting wet?”

Rui was more worried about that than the cheesy lines.

To pull off these lines, the important thing was still the face.

It was a thought that came from the experience of mastering all kinds of dramas.

“Don’t worry about anything!”

The stylist patted Rui’s hair, saying that she was pretty enough, so don’t worry.

“I brought a hair dryer too. But just in case, don’t make too many NGs [no-gos/mistakes] and finish quickly!”

“Yes!”

That’s how Rui unfolded a yellow umbrella in a slightly wet state as if she had been rained on a little.

And she smiled brightly and shouted.

“I found you. My Byeolbyeol.”

The expressions of the director and staff who were monitoring with the camera brightened.

It was like a scene from ‘Temptation of Wolves’ [popular Korean movie] in the old days.

***

That’s how the members worked hard on the shooting, repeating lines that they had never said in their lives and probably wouldn’t say in the future.

Meanwhile, darkness fell all around.

While the equipment was being set up, the members rested in the van and fell asleep, forgetting their initial nervousness.

A staff member groaned and parked a large motorcycle in front of the wall.

“Everyone, get ready again!”

At the staff’s shout, Do-jae, who had changed his clothes, got out of the van.