Ch.33The Catfish Trying to Swallow the TV

After the High Dream photo time ended, the formal Q&A session began.

The cast and production team sat in a row at the table, ready to take questions from reporters.

Glance after glance.

Instead of asking questions, the reporters kept staring at Kim Donghu.

‘How can someone look like that.’

‘Playing Lee J? He’s not even a main member of High Dream.’

‘He’s incredibly handsome, but it doesn’t feel excessive at all.’

No matter how many times they looked, his appearance could only be described as perfect.

From his face size to the line where his neck meets his shoulders,

his square shoulders and perfectly balanced muscles.

Not a single flaw could be found.

In fact, the more they tried to find imperfections, the reporters arrived at one truth.

A perfect hexagonal appearance.

Everyone felt intimidated by his presence, which had no unflattering angles.

Plus, he was only fifteen years old.

The perfect age where criticizing him would earn public backlash.

People would say, “What would a kid know?”

Still.

‘I’m curious.’

Only the brave earn rewards.

One reporter raised their hand high.

“Yes, please ask your question.”

“Daily Happy, Gil Gil-dong here. The High Dream synopsis has very little information about Lee J’s character. Could you tell us exactly what role he plays?”

Asking the first question to a minor supporting actor rather than the leads or director?

It might have seemed strange, but no one found it odd.

If someone asked who shined brightest in this room…

“I think our Donghu should answer that himself. Donghu?”

It was obviously Kim Donghu.

Seemingly pleased that a question about Kim Donghu had come up,

PD Kim Youngmo quickly turned to him.

“Ah, Kim Donghu, I mean Lee J, is a character who has an opposing relationship with the High Dream members, and he has a classical side to him.”

“Classical?”

“Yes, he plays the piano.”

“Do you actually play yourself?”

“Yes, I perform it myself.”

“Could you tell us what piece it is?”

“For that, you absolutely must watch the show! Please don’t miss it.”

Hahaha.

The reporters laughed softly at Kim Donghu’s witty response.

Not only was he handsome, but he was also funny and occasionally showed his human side.

‘He’ll go far if there are no issues.’

‘But can he really play the piano? There have been many controversies with actors who lied about their skills.’

‘Well, I’ll definitely have to watch the show now.’

Though they wanted to ask more questions about Kim Donghu…

To gather material for their articles,

the reporters began bombarding the main cast and production team with questions.

Starting with light questions about their roles, then their approach to filming, routines, ideal types, and so on.

The usual parade of questions seen at any production press conference continued.

The atmosphere flowed smoothly.

But critical questions tend to spring from quiet bushes.

“Since you’re all rookies, has anyone impressed you with their acting skills during filming?”

A question that could potentially cause conflict.

An intentional attempt to create drama for a clickbait article.

But contrary to the reporter’s expectations, the actors’ expressions showed no sign of embarrassment.

“Yes, there is someone.”

“Can you tell us who?”

Jin Suhyeok calmly took the microphone without showing any hesitation.

“…You’ll find out if you watch the show.”

After a brief pause came the relaxed answer.

Everyone laughed loudly at his clever response, but…

In truth, the cast and production team knew the real answer to that question.

‘Kim Donghu.’

When you’re revealed to the world,

how big will the waves be?

Will we survive those waves?

Suhyeok suddenly found himself worried.

+++++

After the successful conclusion of the High Dream press conference.

Time passed quickly, and in a café near Daehangno…

A man with a hunched back and trembling hands was waiting for someone.

‘Wow, I never expected to get a call. And from a manager…’

Upon research, it wasn’t a big company, but not one to be dismissed either.

Choi Seokho. It was funny that a director who hadn’t even made his debut knew the name of a mere manager.

But Seokho’s career moves were quite famous.

‘They say since Cybers QA, Choi Seokho is the only manager who tracks down every script and makes contact.’

An obsession with producing the best work.

A workaholic who works 16 hours out of 24.

A deep-sea diver who devours even the most obscure scripts.

Choi Seokho was quite famous among industry insiders.

And now I’m meeting someone like that?

Lee Seongdeok, director of “The Hero,” hurriedly took another Cheongsimhwan pill.

He felt he needed it to calm his nerves.

Ding-a-ling.

And at that moment.

“Oh, you’re here. Hello. I’m Choi Seokho, CEO of Veritas Management. I gave you my business card before, right?”

“Y-yes, y-y-yes. H-hello, I’m Lee Seongdeok.”

Choi Seokho had arrived.

A refreshing smile and a kind-looking face.

Broad shoulders and a casual suit that suited him well.

To the Type A Seongdeok,

the obviously Type O Seokho was a perfect opposite.

“I’m here because I really liked your script and wanted to work with you.”

“Ah, th-th-that’s an honor! If we p-pull together a budget, we could have about 700 to 1000… million won!”

“What? Haha, you’re getting straight to the budget, how straightforward.”

“Thank you.”

No, it was more like a one-sided counter.

“How did you come to write such a work?”

“Ah, I was inspired by the saying ‘The rich are innocent, the poor are guilty,’ and as you know, there’s vigilante justice… But usually, these stories start with adults.”

But when you think about it, values and personality are formed from childhood, right?

So I wanted to film the boyhood of a hero who punishes evil from a young age.

And also…

Creators get excited when someone shows deep interest in their creations.

Choi Seokho listened to Seongdeok’s passionate explanation while slowly operating his phone.

“Oh, am I talking too much about myself? I’m sorry.”

“No, not at all. It’s fine. By the way, would you like to see a video of our building-owner actor reading your script?”

“What? Yes!”

Did he just say “building owner”? I must have misheard.

Seongdeok thought as he looked at Seokho’s phone that started playing.

A scene of an impossibly handsome boy holding his script and slowly reading it.

The moment he saw it.

“…Ah.”

Seongdeok’s eyes were filled with the desire to capture this person on camera.

Another Kim Donghu believer was born in that moment.

+++++

Mid-January.

As snow fell and bitter cold struck South Korea,

people preferred staying in their warm homes watching TV over going out.

Going to ski resorts was nice, but

eating tangerines while watching dramas at home was also extremely enjoyable.

Plus.

“High Dream is seriously so good!”

Today was the day episode 2 of High Dream would air.

The first episode had achieved a 12% rating.

A fairly good start that could potentially crush all competing shows if things went well.

Perhaps that’s why?

Seventeen-year-old Ji Eunbi, who had decided to become a devoted High Dream viewer, was very excited.

“Watching High Dream lets me fangirl over both idols and actors at the same time.”

And with handsome boys and pretty girls in a sweet love triangle,

“It can’t help but be delicious.”

Especially Jin Suhyeok, who played Song Cheolsu and showed his handsomeness from the opening,

his popularity was skyrocketing.

“Ah, Suhyeok oppa is seriously too handsome.”

And so began episode 2.

The real start of the story,

it was also a segment that further developed characters who didn’t appear in episode 1.

-I can’t believe students with such grades are admitted to our school.

-It’s fine, this way our school builds an image of giving fair opportunities.

-Chairman, even so…

-Ahem, let’s not discuss this any further.

A conversation between Principal Wang Ho and Chairwoman Maria.

Their tone clearly showed dislike for High Dream.

“Ha, that’s really funny. Isn’t it admirable just to see them trying?”

Eunbi, who never understood why parents talked while watching dramas,

was now completely immersed and muttering to herself.

-Besides, our school already has one flower that will never be broken, right?

-Ah, you’re talking about that student.

-Yes, Lee J.

Meanwhile, High Dream episode 2 was already racing toward its conclusion.

The principal and chairwoman, who disliked High Dream even before they formed,

began mentioning one student.

-With him alone, the rest doesn’t matter, right?

-That’s right. Honestly, it’s not wrong. Lee J is a genius our school will never see again.

‘Lee J?’

Come to think of it, she seemed to have heard that name before.

She hadn’t read the press conference articles, but

she thought she’d heard something about an extremely handsome boy.

But she hadn’t paid much attention to it.

She wasn’t the type to devour every detail including press conferences when fangirling over someone.

-Yes, a genius. That’s why I called him here.

-What? You called him here?

-Yes, I need to explain our plan. Our J needs to move according to it, right?

With those words.

Click.

The door to the principal’s office opened, and a boy entered.

Hair neatly swept back and a dignified appearance that was evident at first glance.

Though he wore the same uniform as other students, he had the presence of someone in a formal suit.

-J, you’re here?

-Hello, Principal, Chairwoman. I heard you wanted to speak with me.

-Yes, J, there’s something I need you to do.

As Chairwoman Maria finished speaking, the screen turned black and white.

♪♩♪♩♬♩♪

The BGM signaling the end of the drama played.

The frozen frame was a close-up of Lee J’s face.

“…Who is he?”

Eunbi couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.

+++++

At the same time at KBC Broadcasting Station.

PD Kim Youngmo anxiously looked at his phone.

“PD-nim, staring won’t make the ratings come out faster.”

“Hey, don’t you have any emotions? How can you be so calm?”

“Well… I’m just an assistant director.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

If there were a religion worshipping Kim Donghu, PD Kim Youngmo would be its high priest.

Having achieved a phenomenal 12% with the first broadcast, he hoped the second episode would be just as successful.

‘Please, 13%, or even 12.5% would be a blessing!’

Succeed, succeed.

While he was praying.

Ding!

A text message arrived.

“…M-momentary rating f-f-fourteen percent?!”

14% by the second episode.

It was an incredible increase of 2% in just one day.

They were still in the introduction phase, so what could have caused such a rise?

While he was pondering this question,

the usually calm assistant director’s eyes widened as he urgently called to PD Kim Youngmo.

“P-PD-nim! PD-nim!”

“What! What! What is it!”

“R-real-time search, search rankings!”

“Search rankings? What about them?”

“Portal site #1 is Lee J.”

Lee J? Lee J is the top search?

‘So the 14% momentary rating was because of Lee J?’

Lee J had appeared for less than 6 minutes.

But with just that, Kim Donghu was already devouring the portal sites.

A true catfish.

The catfish was about to swallow television whole.