Ch.220It should be getting busy around now.

“For Tarzan, even if it’s stretched out, it’ll be done in 5 months.”

“What? That’s all it takes?”

“Filming people doesn’t take long, but the CG work will probably take almost a year.”

“Really?”

“Of course! You don’t even need to ask, that’s how it’s always been.”

tvW.

They were busily continuing their meeting.

In reality, the meeting was nothing more than determining the casting list.

In variety shows, who you cast can sometimes be everything.

“So… since it’s the end of February now, you’re saying we should do it around August?”

“Yeah, secure the programming slot and make a contract with Netflix, okay?”

“You’re not going for exclusivity?”

“We’ll pre-release it. It’ll definitely be a hit overseas, so we need to sell it quickly.”

Besides, Netflix has been investing serious money in Korea lately.

They continued their meeting like that.

Scribble, scribble, scribble.

Every time an opinion was written on the whiteboard, they nodded their heads.

“We’ll skip the dangerous areas and tour all across the American mainland, okay? How great is that?”

“So the title is ‘Will It Work Here?'”

“Yes, do you get it now?”

“…Yes.”

“Well, better late than never. Anyway, who should we choose as the chef?”

“That’s the trickiest part. Donghu is such a good cook.”

“True, but his skills are… extraordinary.”

From what they heard about his time on The Noble Gourmet,

he did all the cooking himself, and he was the one who planned the entire course menu.

Wouldn’t one person with such skills be enough?

But thinking this way seemed like a waste of Kim Donghu’s appearance.

Does it make sense for someone with that face to be stuck in the kitchen?

He’s obviously a nuclear bomb in customer attraction, an asymmetric force.

Wasting that would be proving one’s stupidity.

“Since the menu is Korean cuisine… hmm, this is difficult.”

“Just because it’s Korean food doesn’t mean we need to pick a chef who specializes in Korean cuisine.”

“What?”

“We just need someone who can interpret Korean cuisine.”

The main PD of “Will It Work Here?”, Choi Jaesang, continued with a nonchalant expression.

“Anyway, Kim Donghu is the main attraction.”

It’s a food truck run by Kim Donghu.

The possibility of it not being popular? Close to zero.

So naturally, they needed a skilled expert.

Someone who could handle customers quickly no matter how many showed up.

“What about Chef Choi Seokhyun… or that chef who’s been mentioned lately? Cha Gangrok.”

As long as the skill was guaranteed.

For everything else, wouldn’t Kim Donghu drive the success?

With such expectations, the meeting concluded.

After all, every decision…

“If Donghu does it, it’s a success; if he doesn’t, it just fails.”

…depended on Kim Donghu.

And at the same time.

There was someone thinking exactly the same thing.

“Why not? This makes absolutely no logical sense!”

On the opposite side of the Earth.

Passionately arguing with investors.

It was the Japanese film demon, Kiryu Sota.

“It’s not that we’re just saying no without reason…”

“How is saying Kim Donghu can’t be the lead any different from rejecting it without reason?”

“Are you seriously suggesting a Korean should play the role of Musashi?”

“Why not?”

“Of course not! That would be like having a Japanese person play the role of Yi Sun-sin!”

Regardless of actual history.

Musashi is quite deified in many places.

The one who reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

The legend of Japanese swordsmanship who never once tasted defeat.

A Korean playing such a character?

It was impossible to imagine how much backlash it would create.

“Can you imagine how severe the backlash would be? Musashi is already more highly regarded than the actual historical figure. He’s literally the god of swordsmanship!”

However.

“That’s precisely why it must be Kim Donghu. Don’t you understand? Only he won’t receive criticism!”

That’s exactly why Kim Donghu should do it.

That’s what Kiryu Sota thought.

Writing the scenario.

Creating the proposal.

How much time had it taken to gather these investors here?

‘Once they sit at the table, they’re practically on board already.’

Yet these conservatives still doubted until the end.

Wanting to ride the wave of change but being afraid.

Though he didn’t like it, he had no choice but to humor them now.

“Anyone who takes the role of Musashi will be criticized! Everyone will object! That’s why! That’s exactly why!”

Only Kim Donghu can do it.

The most perfect appearance and a body crafted by the gods.

And the overwhelming acting talent to showcase it all.

“These combined will create tremendous synergy! I’m certain of it!”

While the investors nodded at his words.

They couldn’t shake the thoughts that kept surfacing in their minds.

‘But if Kim Donghu plays Musashi… and it succeeds.’

‘Would it be Musashi’s success or Kim Donghu’s success?’

‘Aren’t we being culturally conquered? If this isn’t cultural conquest, what is?’

‘Still, if he does it, it seems like it would succeed, perhaps even breaking domestic box office records….’

It wasn’t a matter to approach carelessly.

An actor who makes investors want to just dive right in.

That was Kim Donghu.

End of February.

Signs were beginning to show that work would soon flood toward Kim Donghu.

++++++

“Good work everyone!”

Unlike the first script reading, the second one went.

Very cleanly and smoothly.

There was no suspicious atmosphere.

No sidelong glances.

No flow that made people watch their step.

“I wondered what kind of amazing actor would take the Tarzan role, but now I understand.”

“I learned so much. Truly. The way you immediately express emotions….”

The warm atmosphere that began as soon as the script reading ended.

Everyone introducing themselves, talking about acting philosophies, or casually making plans for drinks.

While such light conversation continued for a while.

Grip.

I felt someone linking arms with me.

“I wondered why you were doing Tarzan, but your muscles seem so alive.”

“Aren’t they… always alive?”

“No, I mean they’re very… hot.”

Kabi Tainer, who plays Tarzan’s adoptive mother Kala.

She naturally closed the distance between us and spoke softly.

“It’s strange that I’m playing your mother when there’s hardly any age difference between us.”

“It must be because of your voice, it’s almost like a voice actor’s.”

“Yes, well, we can’t have a real gorilla, can we?”

Kabi smiled as she said this.

‘But why is she linking arms with me?’

With that question in mind, I naturally pulled my arm away.

No matter how tightly she tried to hold on, she couldn’t match the strength of a heavyweight boxer.

And as if she had anticipated this reaction.

Kabi naturally bowed her head in greeting.

“I’m sorry, I have this habit when I see attractive people.”

“Ah, it’s fine. I’m used to it.”

“You’re used to it?”

“I have to live up to my face value.”

After making this light joke.

Confirming there was no need to stay any longer.

I made excuses and left the place.

‘If I keep making small talk, there’ll be no end to it.’

Since I didn’t want to drink with people I’d just met.

I headed straight for the van.

Or rather, I tried to.

“Did you mean what you just said?”

“Pardon?”

In the parking lot where only staff could park.

Evelyn grabbed my collar and asked.

As if she had hurried after me, she was slightly catching her breath.

“About being used to it, the arm-linking… was that true?”

“No, I was just joking.”

“Ah… ah, yes, yes.”

“Did that bother you enough to follow me?”

At my words, Evelyn seemed startled.

Her pupils dilated and her voice suddenly jumped.

“What?! Ha, huh! N-no, that’s… not related at all!”

“Really? So Evelyn is also leaving now?”

“Yes… well, that… um, separately….”

Evelyn seemed to have something to say.

She held onto my collar for about 3 minutes without saying anything.

Time was just passing by.

Honestly, I just needed to get out of there, so I waited patiently.

After waiting about 2 more minutes like that.

“Have you had dinner?”

“No, not yet.”

“Then let’s eat together.”

++++++

Since I was young, I never particularly wanted much.

Because I grew up as a princess.

Evelyn Queen Ember.

Even my middle name screamed nobility.

Perhaps that’s why I wasn’t interested in relationships.

I was treated like nobility, and because I was so familiar with human relationships.

I already knew how they would end.

But.

For the first time, I found something I wanted.

To be more precise, a wish was created to have someone by my side.

Evelyn believed that her wish would eventually come true.

It had always been that way before, and it would surely be that way in the future.

However.

“Seeing him in person is even more insane? He’s beyond just handsome?”

“His body too… I can see why he’s so popular, why he’s called a man’s man.”

“Kabi, why did you suddenly link arms with him earlier?”

“Do you even need to ask? I was trying to seduce him. Even if it’s just for one night, I want to be with him.”

“Ugh, there’s that bad habit again.”

“You shouldn’t do that to rookies.”

As soon as she heard the conversation around her, lightning struck Evelyn’s head.

‘Why didn’t I think that many people would be after Kim Donghu?’

Yes, in a way, it was too obvious.

How ridiculous was it to think that I was the only one who liked Kim Donghu?

To be so careless.

She thought she shouldn’t just stand by.

No, why hadn’t she thought of this simple fact during the musical?

‘Instead of just stupidly smiling at his face!’

Stupid Evelyn.

Evelyn berated herself.

And vowed never to do that again.

That’s why she suddenly suggested dinner.

“Yes, sounds good. Where should we go? Shall we go now?”

She never imagined Kim Donghu would take the bait so quickly.

Originally, she had planned to go to a nice restaurant.

But with his unexpected acceptance, Evelyn’s body began to fidget.

“Yes, yes… let’s, let’s eat hamburgers.”

Words she never expected came tumbling out.

I’ve messed up.

That’s what Evelyn thought.

‘I’ve been really curious about American hamburgers, I should try them.’

Kim Donghu nodded with great satisfaction.