Translator: Dreamscribe
The entire production team of 'Produce That 100!' and the participants at the 'Produce That 100!' campus in Paju were in an uproar. PD Woo Han-suk first calmed down the production crew and then issued a warning through the broadcast to prevent the participants from acting rashly.
In addition,
"Questions regarding the current breaking news to participant No. 1 are strictly prohibited. All participants, please focus on your assigned tasks as usual."
He also enforced a gag order. This was a preemptive measure to prevent confusion upon Kang Rojun's return and to preserve the current mood of the 'Produce That 100!' camp, which had progressed up to the airing of episode 7.
Regardless of anything else, just as the country, including the 'Produce That 100!' campus, was buzzing about Kang Rojun.
"Cut."
The main character, Rojun, was filming on the set of 'Rental Lover'. PD Jung Soo-ryeong, who had just stopped the scene, gave directions to the two actors in the frame. More specifically, to Choi Rina.
"Rina-ssi, your surprised expression isn't bad. But I'd like the emotion of disbelief to come out even stronger."
"Yes, PD-nim. I'll try."
"Yeah. Make it more like you're dazed rather than impressed."
Soon PD Jung Soo-ryeong was conversing with the cinematographer, and after briefly fixing her makeup, Choi Rina gave a small greeting to Kang Rojun who stood in front of her.
"Sorry. This wasn't even a scene where I should've gotten an NG. I guess my condition's a bit off today."
Currently, Choi Rina had completely shed the appearance of a top actress to match her role as the female lead in 'Rental Lover'. She wore a worn-out hoodie, her long hair was roughly styled, and even her skin tone had been darkened. She looked like a total recluse.
Looking at her intently, Kang Rojun.
'She did well, and that was an NG??'
He faintly smiled and shook his head.
"It's fine."
Unlike Choi Rina, who looked like a shut-in, Kang Rojun truly appeared to be a nobleman. Slicked-back pomade hair, a perfectly fitted suit. His destructive visuals stood out even more with enhanced makeup. When Choi Rina glanced at Rojun's face, she inwardly let out a cry.
'Please don't smile like that, it's not good for my heart. Ha- this is seriously the first time I've ever lost focus just because of my co-star's face.'
She tried her best to gather her thoughts.
The surroundings were noisy. Staff members busied themselves to prepare for the retake. Rojun quietly surveyed the set while waiting for PD Jung Soo-ryeong's signal.
'No matter how many times I see it, it's fascinating.'
Standing in this space, even acting itself, still felt surreal. The trembling had lessened compared to the beginning, but his heart still pounded hard.
The first shoot for 'Rental Lover'.
For Kang Rojun, who knew nothing, everything was just new and fresh. How much would that giant camera cost? How do all these staff members eat? How are those lights attached to the ceiling installed? Will this scene we're filming really air on TV?
A flood of curiosity and questions bound him.
Someday, he would get used to these feelings too, but for now, Kang Rojun decided to fully enjoy the present.
'Even though it's only the first day, acting is actually fun.'
He imagined taking on other roles and working alongside various actors.
'Obviously, my acting still lacks a lot, so I'll have to rely on 'AI Automation' for a while.'
Just then.
"Let's go again."
PD Jung Soo-ryeong picked up the megaphone.
"Action."
Multiple cameras were positioned in front, on the side, and behind Choi Rina, all stationary. Entering from outside the frame was Kang Rojun.
-Step, step, step.
With calm yet firm footsteps, Rojun stood before Choi Rina. Or rather, 'Lover No. 4'. In terms of the scene, it was the first meeting between the female lead 'Lee Da-eun' and 'Lover No. 4'. Kang Rojun stopped a step in front of Choi Rina and stared directly at her.
The camera behind Choi Rina zoomed in on Rojun's face.
He gave a faint smile.
PD Jung Soo-ryeong, watching the monitor, also smiled.
'Forget bombs, this visual is the real bomb. His expression acting is killing it.'
Kang Rojun had no lines here. He just needed to show off his terrifying visuals. After about 5 seconds of eye contact, Choi Rina stepped back.
-Swoosh.
As if she had seen an alien lifeform, her expression held a mix of shock and fear. Because the female lead, who had been in the dark, suddenly encountered someone who shone so brightly. But the distance that had slightly widened was closed again by Rojun. Choi Rina looked at Kang Rojun, then at the ground, repeatedly. Eventually, she managed to open her mouth with difficulty.
"Are... are you, perhaps, the lo... lover I was told would come?"
"..."
'Lover No. 4' responded with a silent but deepened smile.
Everyone froze for over ten seconds. The one who broke the frozen set was PD Jung Soo-ryeong's shout.
"Cut!! Nice! Both of you did great. We'll go again, this time focusing on 'Lee Da-eun's' front angle!"
Once again, the staff moved busily, and PD Jung Soo-ryeong called Kang Rojun and Choi Rina aside from the frame. She showed the script to the two standing in front of her and spoke.
"After this scene, we're going straight into the first physical contact between 'Lover No. 4' and 'Lee Da-eun'. No problem, right?"
Choi Rina nodded.
"Yes, PD-nim."
Then Kang Rojun answered as well.
"I'm fine with it too."
"Okay. We're going by the script as is, no complications. The nervous female lead trips over her own feet, and 'Lover No. 4' catches her. In that moment of surprise, they end up in an embrace."
On the outside, Rojun looked calm, but inwardly he thought, so it's finally come. He had written this script himself and studied the character of 'Lover No. 4', so he knew exactly what was coming. Choi Rina would fall into his arms.
'I debated so much when I was writing this scene... and now we're actually doing it.'
The memory of struggling to write that scene flashed through Rojun's mind, since it was hard to imagine top actress Choi Rina in an embrace like that. Consequently, the nervousness he had managed to suppress surged once more.
And so filming resumed. Several retakes followed.
Before long.
"Prep for the next scene!!"
It was time for the physical contact scene. In the blink of an eye, Kang Rojun was already in the middle of filming.
"Ahhh!!"
Choi Rina tripped over her own foot, and Kang Rojun pulled her toward him. Just like that, Choi Rina landed right into Rojun's arms.
In that moment, she thought.
'Wow, his chest is so hard- no! Get it together!!'
She almost lost control of herself.
On the other hand, 'Lover No. 4' Kang Rojun thought.
'How does a shut-in have such a nice scent.'
A pleasant fragrance tickled his nose.
Later.
Kang Rojun's first shoot for 'Rental Lover', which had started in the morning, ended in the early afternoon. However, neither PD Jung Soo-ryeong, Choi Rina, nor the production staff of 'Rental Lover' packed up. Only Rojun's part was finished. Filming for 'Rental Lover' would continue late into the night.
As proof, while Kang Rojun was filming, the actors playing Lovers No. 1 and No. 2 had also arrived.
After instructing the assistant director to take Rojun back, PD Jung Soo-ryeong turned.
"Writer-nim."
She was about to talk about other works he had written besides 'Rental Lover.' But she swallowed her words.
'It's a bit hectic right now. I'll mention it after a few days.'
Instead, she briefly commented on the issue that had turned the country upside down.
"Once you're back at the campus, talk it through well with PD Woo Han-suk. I'll take care of things here."
Kang Rojun nodded and got into the van, which soon drove off. The very first thing Rojun did in the moving vehicle was.
-Swish.
He picked up his phone. A familiar notification had arrived on the screen.
-[You've completed the Hidden Mission 'Start of First Shoot for the Side Job Actor!' You've received 15 coins as a reward.]
The 'AI Simulation' had given him a gift mid-filming. Rojun chuckled lightly and turned off the notification.
-Slide.
He accessed a search site. He wanted to check the current situation. He'd been too busy filming to properly look at it. Before long, he let out a silent exclamation in his mind.
'Whoa- this really blew up??'
The situation had escalated beyond imagination.
Clickbait articles containing keywords like 'Produce That 100!', 'Rental Lover', 'No. 1', and 'Choi Rina' were flooding the web nonstop.
"Did 'Rental Lover' really get written by Produce That 100!'s No. 1... Wild Speculations Flood Communities"
"Despite Hot Issue Around 'No. 1', Produce That 100! Camp Keeps Silent, Public Curiosity Explodes"
Not only were multiple search engine main pages dominated, but online communities were also ablaze over 'No. 1'. YouTube was no different. With some time having passed, ridiculous theories had begun to surface as well.
[Looks like No. 1 and Choi Rina are relatives. That would explain why she suddenly took on that one-act drama.]
-Does that even make sense ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ We're not even certain yet that No. 1 is the writer of that one-act drama
-Why wouldn't it make sense? It's possible, isn't it??
-Honestly, the idea that they're dating sounds more believable
-↑That one makes even less sense, come on
-Here we go again, spreading rumors. What if it's just tabloid nonsense?
-If No. 1 and Choi Rina are really relatives, then their family must have ultra-super genes ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Every corner of the internet that was connected to a signal was crazily mentioning 'No. 1' or Kang Rojun. It was possible because he had already become the flagship star of 'Produce That 100!' After spending several dozen minutes searching busily, Rojun even got goosebumps.
'This is kind of scary.'
Deciding that he should first meet PD Woo Han-suk, Rojun turned off what he was reading and opened the 'AI Simulation' app. His familiar Kang Rojun character appeared. Something about it calmed him down.
-[Coins owned: 646]
To pass the time, he decided to enhance his stats.
'Now that I think about it, I had an item too, didn't I?'
It was the item he had received during the surprise performance. With everything going on, he had temporarily forgotten about it.
-"Stat +8 Enhancement Coupon"
Using the coupon still left in his inventory, Kang Rojun enhanced his Singing Ability. Additionally, he spent 20 coins on enhancing his Rap. A brief tingling sensation radiated from his wrist. As a result, quite a bit of stat increase appeared before him.
-[Appearance (100/100)│Singing Ability (20.3/100)│Rap (14.4/100)│Dance (21/100)│Eloquence (10.4/100)│Acting (10.3/100)│Lyrics Writing (69.5/100)]
Some of the stats clearly stood out.
'Singing and Dance have surpassed 20 now. I should shift enhancement to Rap. I'll have to test all three soon. Acting went up quite a bit too, and I didn't even touch it. Maybe because I was filming?'
'Lyrics Writing' had climbed to nearly 70 points.
At that point, Kang Rojun organized two thoughts in his mind.
'I should definitely keep writing lyrics whenever I have time. If possible, work on helping No. 58, and if that's tough, I can just search the internet for inspiration or something.'
Next was about Writer Kang Chul-soo.
'Let's write something new. Whether it's a film or a drama.'
About an hour later, at the 'Produce That 100!' campus.
When Kang Rojun arrived at the campus, PD Woo Han-suk wasn't there. It seemed he had gone to the broadcasting station. Understandably so. Regardless of Rojun turning the country upside down, 'Produce That 100!' was in the middle of its voting period. On top of that, the upcoming shooting schedules for Teams 2 and 3 had to be prepared.
In any case, Kang Rojun walked toward Room 105.
As expected, he could feel the gazes of the participants he passed by.
Sneaky glances, sideways looks.
Their faces screamed curiosity, but they couldn't bring themselves to speak. The peers in Room 105 were the same. Since Rojun didn't particularly mind, he simply ignored it all, and that noisy Sunday came to a close.
Back again was the weekday, Monday morning, August 31, the last day of the month.
Had the buzz surrounding Kang Rojun died down after just one day?
Not at all.
If anything, it burned twice as hot as Sunday. Journalists were throwing logs onto the fire like maniacs, and it was clear the public's fingers weren't resting either. Even so, whether because he had somewhat adapted or was just forcing himself to ignore it, Kang Rojun was.
-Taht, taht, taht.
Out running with a calm expression. Today, other than his Room 105 peers, no one followed him. After that, Rojun even completed strength training and fulfilled his Daily Mission. From a distance, one man was watching Kang Rojun alone.
It was PD Woo Han-suk, letting out a huge yawn.
He looked like someone who had pulled an all-nighter and come straight over.
Soon, PD Woo Han-suk made eye contact with Rojun, who had just finished his mission, and waved his hands enthusiastically.
"The hottest man in Korea right now, No. 1-nim! Strong morning, huh?"
Kang Rojun, approaching, gave a respectful bow.
"Hello."
"Phew- it's crazy with all these articles, isn't it?"
Your face looks crazy, PD-nim? When Kang Rojun looked at PD Woo Han-suk, who was drenched in exhaustion, the latter yawned again and lowered his voice.
"According to PD Jung's and my plan, we've dropped the first bomb. Now, we need to decide the timing for your official statement. When do you think would be good?"
"I'm fine with making the announcement right now."
"No, no, that's too soon. We need to let the snowball roll for at least a few days. You're going to acknowledge that you're the writer of 'Rental Lover', right?"
"Yes."
"Then let's see. Just tossing out a bland one-liner in an article would be half-hearted. The buzz could die down uneventfully. We need to do it in a more entertaining way-"
With his arms crossed, PD Woo Han-suk looked thoughtful. Kang Rojun spoke up.
'Might as well talk about the idea I had.'
He proposed something he had already thought about.
"What if I make the announcement that I'm the writer of 'Rental Lover' during the next broadcast, episode 8, of 'Produce That 100!'?"
"In episode 8?"
"Yes."
A smile spread across PD Woo Han-suk's face as he rubbed his chin.
"No. 1 making a No. 1-worthy official statement through 'Produce That 100!' If we do it interview-style, it'll shock the viewers and make for a great scene, I think."
Calling it a good idea, PD Woo Han-suk patted Rojun on the shoulder.
"Okay, let's go with that plan. I've got some other things to discuss too, so should we move somewhere else?"
Just as he was about to move, PD Woo Han-suk called out to someone from quite a distance away, No. 58, who was catching his breath after a run and recovering from the exertion.
"No. 58! Can we talk for a sec!!"
No. 58 blinked a few times and then ran over, and Rojun tilted his head inwardly.
'Huh? Why's he calling No. 58?'
The three of them arrived at a meeting room inside the production staff's lodging.
The funny part was.
"Why are you so late-"
There was already a chubby man inside the meeting room. It was Song Min-geun, one of the judges of 'Produce That 100!' and a producer of many hit songs. After receiving greetings from Rojun and No. 58, Song Min-geun gestured for them to sit beside him, and the two took their seats next to each other.
PD Woo Han-suk handed out canned coffee to everyone and stood across from the three before speaking.
"So- No. 1, No. 58."
His expression had suddenly turned very serious.
"How would the two of you feel about creating the theme song for 'Produce That 100!' together?"
No. 58 was frozen for a moment, then blurted out loudly.
"What??!!"
Equally surprised, Rojun looked at No. 58 and then turned his gaze back to PD Woo Han-suk.
'Me and No. 58 creating the theme song for 'Produce That 100!'?'