Translator: Dreamscribe
PD Jung Soo-ryeong chuckled after hearing Kang Rojun's answer.
"A little again? You said you spoke a little Japanese too, didn't you?"
That's right, Rojun had only practiced acting a little. It wasn't about being modest; he was just telling the truth. He couldn't exactly say he was using the buff from 'AI Automation', could he? Kang Rojun nodded.
"Yes, a little."
Smiling, PD Jung Soo-ryeong shook her head.
"I can't tell if you're being sincere or just modest. Well, we'll find out soon enough, right?"
Turning her gaze straight ahead, PD Jung Soo-ryeong was secretly looking forward to Rojun's Japanese.
'With that face, he can pull off anything. Just knowing the basics of Japanese is enough. Just enough to not sound awkward. He can work on English later. There aren't that many lines anyway.'
She wasn't expecting fluency. On the other hand, she had absolutely no expectations for Kang Rojun's acting. Currently, Rojun was filming 'Produce That 100!', and while she didn't know all the internal details, he was clearly very busy with this and that. On top of that, he was writing too. He must hardly have any time to practice acting.
And on top of that, Kang Rojun had said he had never acted before.
If he had any prior experience, he'd improve quickly, but if he had never done it at all, it could take a whole year just to get the basics down.
No one knew that better than PD Jung Soo-ryeong.
She had seen and directed countless actors, from rookies to top stars. Even so, PD Jung Soo-ryeong proceeded with 'Rental Lover' assuming that Rojun was a complete novice in acting.
'Even if his acting is garbage, it doesn't matter. Anyway, the role of 'Lover No. 4' is more of a visual cameo anyway.'
A momentary impact, a strong hook, the almost mutant-like story of Kang Rojun. These were what PD Jung Soo-ryeong expected from Rojun. Of course, there might be controversy. The audience would quickly notice if Kang Rojun couldn't act. Especially since his partner was that Choi Rina.
'But right now, he's close to being a regular person who hasn't even officially debuted.'
So the public's critical eye would be slightly less sharp. In the end, the issues surrounding Kang Rojun would grow far bigger than any controversy over his acting. PD Jung Soo-ryeong's smile deepened as she envisioned the plan she had crafted. She was looking forward to it. Then she called out to Rojun again.
"Then let's briefly check your foreign languages and acting before the meeting. No pressure, okay? Just a simple check."
"Yes, PD-nim."
Right now, there was no such thing as pressure for Kang Rojun.
At the same time.
The media was buzzing. Every major search portal was plastered with articles about 'Produce That 100!'
"[Issue Pick] 'Produce That 100!' Did It, 20% Viewership Surpassed!"
It was a viewership rating worth the hype and had the impact to match. For 'JTVM', a general/cable channel, surpassing 20% viewership meant it was equivalent to nearly 30% on a public broadcaster. It was one of the few monstrous ratings since the launch of 'JTVM'.
They were writing a legend.
Across all public networks, there hadn't been a 20% viewership rating in over five years in the variety show industry. 'Produce That 100!' was the only one. Achieving such results in just four episodes was a record-breaking feat. That's why the broadcasting world and the media were in a stir. Some of the articles even featured photos of surviving contestants.
"'Produce That 100!', 13 Contestants Survive in the 'Dance Team', Including Star Contestant No. 1 / Photo"
Right after the fourth episode ended, voting began for the 'Vocal Team' and 'Rap Team'. This time, the pages didn't crash. However, it didn't mean public interest had decreased. The momentum was even stronger. Just like last time, the voting would continue until Tuesday.
As the flames roared, the 'Produce That 100!' team threw another big log into the fire as if they weren't satisfied yet.
"[Official] Blockbuster Hit 'Produce That 100!' to Launch on Netflix Too"
The news of 'Produce That 100!' launching on Netflix Korea.
At this moment, 'Produce That 100!' was also getting a considerable response in Japan. Youtube and social media were the main channels of communication. Japan had long been heavily influenced by the Korean Wave, and the impact of Korean idols was significant enough to dominate the top ranks of the Oricon Chart.
And now, Japanese fans had begun to discover the existence of 'Produce That 100!'
Then.
"Super Popular Korean Idol Survival Variety Show 'Produce That 100!' Coming to Japan via Netflix Japan?"
The Japanese media had also thrown out a major teaser. News broke that 'Produce That 100!' would be launching on Netflix Japan. Although it was still wrapped in vague terms, it was soon to become a reality.
It was precisely timed, the result of an agreement between Netflix Japan and PD Woo Han-suk.
Japanese fans, who were already showing interest, quickly spread the news of the Japanese launch of 'Produce That 100!' across social media.
This was the terrifying power of trends and hype.
Once something becomes a trend among the public, it spreads instantly. Naturally, people can't stop talking about it. Meanwhile, PD Woo Han-suk was at 'JTVM' in relation to the voting matter, and during a hellish schedule filled with editing and more, he was having a brief meeting with the writers.
"For Episode 5, we'll go with a format that includes as much of the participants' daily life as possible. We also need to buy time."
"Yes, yes! It's about time we start boosting the participants' charm."
"Now that more characters have been established compared to the beginning, make good use of the selected footage, and let's include a shot of No. 1 writing alone in the middle."
"Oh! But what is he doing there, anyway? Did you hear anything about it, PD-nim?"
"I'm not sure. But I told him we'd use it for the broadcast. Even just showing No. 1 writing without any explanation will pique viewers' curiosity."
Although this had already been discussed with PD Jung Soo-ryeong, Woo Han-suk kept it under wraps from the writers for now.
"Of course it's intriguing!! The face of 'Produce That 100!', No. 1, suddenly writing something during survival audition camp!"
"We're dying to know already, so imagine how curious the viewers will be??"
"Just throw in a narration like 'What is No. 1 doing right now?' over the cut to stir curiosity."
Since they were talking about No. 1, PD Woo Han-suk, who was mulling over some thoughts, spoke up.
"Let's also use that scene in Episode 5."
"Which one??"
"You know, the conflict between No. 58 and No. 66. The one that No. 1 resolved in a flash. And his fluent Japanese too."
"What?! I thought you weren't going to use that."
PD Woo Han-suk gave a faint smile.
"Why wouldn't I use something that good?"
About an hour later, at a rental office.
Roughly an hour away from Paju Campus, PD Jung Soo-ryeong stopped her car in front of a rental office building near Seoul. What is this? Kang Rojun looked at Jung Soo-ryeong, and she shrugged.
"PD Woo Han-suk emphasized that we should be as discreet as possible when meeting with you, so we just rented out an office today. There's a lot to go over."
It was a smart decision. If someone recognized Kang Rojun during an external meeting, it would be a headache. This was a time to be extremely cautious. PD Jung Soo-ryeong parked in the lot, and Rojun adjusted his mask and cap before getting out of the car.
-Swish.
There were quite a few people in the elevator, but seeing him with a mask and cap, they only glanced and didn't pay much attention to Kang Rojun.
The rental room they arrived at wasn't very spacious.
The room was modestly sized, with a five-person table at the center and a whiteboard standing against the wall, simple and straightforward. After closing the door, PD Jung Soo-ryeong placed the items she brought on the table. A tablet, planner, clear file folder, script, there was a lot. Kang Rojun also took out a notebook for notes and sat down while PD Jung Soo-ryeong began writing large letters at the top of the whiteboard.
-Rental Lover Schedule.
She then added items in order: the casted actors, preliminary meetings with actors, finalized filming locations, script reading, and so on. Once it seemed sufficient, PD Jung Soo-ryeong pulled out the chair across from Rojun.
"It might look like a lot, but you don't have to feel pressured. It's just information for you to be aware of."
Looking at the unfamiliar terms on the whiteboard, Kang Rojun replied,
"Yes, I'll pay attention."
"And we've now passed the mid-to-late stage of pre-production, right? There are some events where we need to reveal your identity as the writer. Like actor pre-meetings or script readings."
Script reading? Rojun recalled something he'd come across briefly on YouTube.
'Is that it? Where all the actors get together and read their lines?'
Thinking about doing something he had once found fascinating himself made Kang Rojun quietly nervous.
'This kind of tension feels different from the idol stuff.'
Understanding what was going on inside Rojun, PD Jung Soo-ryeong smiled faintly.
"Right now, since you're this massive sensation as No. 1 in 'Produce That 100!', if you show up in 'Rental Lover' as both the writer and an actor, it'll blow people's minds. Our key staff, the actors, all of them. No one knows who the writer is. Even the female lead, Choi Rina, doesn't."
Choi Rina, in particular, would be much more shocked. Though Rojun's face had been covered, she had seen him before. Regardless, PD Jung Soo-ryeong continued as if it were no big deal.
"But don't worry. Confidentiality clauses are included in the contracts by default, and I'll make sure everyone keeps their mouths shut."
She rubbed her hands together as she spoke softly.
"I can already see everyone flipping out, and I don't know why I'm so excited to see it. How about you?"
"I'm also a bit excited… and nervous."
PD Jung Soo-ryeong changed the subject.
"Okay, before we officially begin, should we go over the things I mentioned earlier? Let's start with the foreign languages."
She picked up the 'Rental Lover' script that was on the table and flipped through a few pages. For reference, this was the updated version that Rojun had finalized himself.
"Ah- this line from 'Lover No. 4'. Can you try this English line? Just in your normal speaking tone, no acting."
Nodding, Kang Rojun lowered his gaze to the script. Among the few lines for 'Lover No. 4' was a short English dialogue. He had already memorized it. He had written it and practiced it a few times, after all. Clearing his throat softly, Rojun murmured the line in English.
PD Jung Soo-ryeong, arms crossed, thought,
'Hmm. Just as expected. A level anyone could reach. Pretty awkward, but it's something that can be improved with practice.'
Her expression had turned serious at some point.
'The key is that absurdly good face. The awkward lines are drowned out by it. His visuals are just too overwhelming.'
After the English line, PD Jung Soo-ryeong gave Rojun a new instruction.
"Okay, now this one. The Japanese line."
"Yes."
Letting out a quiet breath, Kang Rojun spoke again. What came out was Japanese.
"I care about you. Even though we don't understand each other. From the moment you called me, I was sincere. Though we couldn't communicate. I was silent because I believed that even without words, our hearts were connected. Even now, you don't understand what I'm saying."
PD Jung Soo-ryeong's eyes widened instantly.
"Huh?"
Unlike with English, Rojun's Japanese was extremely fluent. The Japanese he had just spoken was far beyond the level achievable through simple practice. Slightly flustered, she asked again.
"W-what! You're good?! Wait, didn't you say you only knew the basics of Japanese??"
Internally satisfied, Kang Rojun replied calmly.
"Yes, I speak a little."
"What are you talking about! How is that 'a little' in any way! That's native-level! Your idea of 'a little' is totally wrong, seriously?? Wow- I'm surprised."
Though PD Jung Soo-ryeong appeared flustered on the outside, she was inwardly cheering in delight.
'This is amazing. With that level of skill, he doesn't need practice or anything. And now he speaks Japanese too... It's so obvious he's going to suck up Japanese fans like a vacuum.'
PD Jung Soo-ryeong, finally showing her true feelings, stared at Rojun intently before speaking again.
"Now let's take a look at your acting."
Being good at Japanese and being able to act were completely different matters. Acting needed to be at least fundamentally solid, and adding Japanese came after that. No matter how good he was at foreign languages, if his acting was garbage, it would be useless.
"This scene, the first appearance of 'Lover No. 4'. Do a facial acting performance for this scene. Think of me as the female lead. You said you practiced, right? Do you need time?"
Kang Rojun shook his head immediately.
"No, I'll do it right away."
"Confidence is great and all…"
Even the top actress Choi Rina would take time to collect her emotions before acting. Yet Rojun showed no hesitation or signs of worry. A total beginner's mindset.
'Well, just because he practiced a bit doesn't mean his acting will improve when he's never done it before. And he probably had no one to guide him. Is he just getting it over with, like taking the first hit?'
At this point, PD Jung Soo-ryeong had resigned herself.
"Alright, then here's your cue."
The moment the cue signal dropped, Kang Rojun transformed into 'Lover No. 4'. Emotions that had been studied or rather, recalled spread rapidly.
Endless affection filled his gaze.
Kang Rojun looked at PD Jung Soo-ryeong with that gaze.
A faint smile formed at the corner of his lips. This smile was the essence and trademark of 'Lover No. 4'. No matter who the other person was, this dangerously charming smile swept women off their feet. Right now, the target was PD Jung Soo-ryeong. Unconsciously, she found herself being drawn into Rojun's smile.
"..."
Every expression toward the female lead needed to carry the feeling of cherishing her. Even his eye movement had to stay focused on the female lead. PD Jung Soo-ryeong's mouth slightly opened, and Kang Rojun added more affection into his gaze.
At that moment, as if she had been possessed, PD Jung Soo-ryeong suddenly snapped back to her senses.
"S-Stop! Stop, stop!"
Even as she felt her overly elevated heart rate, she asked Kang Rojun from across the table.
"Writer-nim... you said you've never acted before?"
"Yes. This is my first time."
PD Jung Soo-ryeong furrowed her brows in disbelief and shouted.
"What do you mean first time?! Even Choi Rina would get confused and fall for that!!"