Ch.44High Dream Special Concert

For the High Dream Special Concert, Jieunbi, 17, purchased multiple OST CDs.

Today, she sat in front of the TV to watch the High Dream special broadcast.

Script reading, making film, and NG scene releases.

These three elements were packed tightly into one hour,

so she couldn’t help but feel excited.

‘I wonder if my Donghu oppa will appear a lot?’

After reading various articles and thoroughly devouring writer interviews,

it was revealed that Lee J’s screen time had been additionally increased.

That meant they filmed more scenes with him,

and naturally, there would be proportionally more NG scenes as well.

While Jieunbi was happily imagining this…

-High Dream Special Broadcast! Starting right now!

The High Dream special broadcast began.

But,

“…Why isn’t he appearing?”

Kim Donghu showed no signs of appearing.

Lee J’s script reading was skipped since they didn’t film the initial part where they divided up roles,

and most of the making film was passed over since it was largely shot during the early filming period.

“Does this make any sense?”

She could understand this much, knowing about the additional filming circumstances.

However.

“Why isn’t he in the NG scenes either?”

As time passed, she increasingly felt this was too much.

She even started to wonder if they were deliberately excluding him because he was young, handsome, and a good actor.

‘Is this right?’

As the question marks continued for the fourth time,

Jieunbi calmly calculated Kim Donghu’s screen time.

He didn’t appear in any main parts,

and his only screen time was at the very end during the 30.2% ratings thank-you speech and post-filming comments.

Compared to other actors, his screen time didn’t even reach 50%, which made her blood boil.

Even renowned actors like Kim Yuryeon and Jang Geonho had NG scenes!

‘They completely left out our Donghu? Do they think this makes sense?’

She normally wouldn’t want to whine on the viewer’s bulletin board,

but this was bullying beyond acceptable limits, so she had no choice but to complain.

“Huh?”

Just as she thought that.

Crackle!

With a bit of static noise, the screen changed, and,

-I will completely finish High Dream.

A scene of Kim Donghu acting appeared.

She briefly wondered if it was an NG scene.

Like a montage of short scenes stitched together, Kim Donghu’s acting played sequentially.

And there, Jieunbi realized something.

“…He doesn’t have any NGs?”

In scenes where other actors had at least three NGs,

only Kim Donghu consistently received OK signs.

Even in cases where NG scenes did occur, it was because of mistakes by others,

never because of Kim Donghu.

How could this be possible?

Her boiling emotions instantly cooled,

and Jieunbi checked the viewer’s bulletin board.

ㄴDid Kim Donghu really not make any NGs?

ㄴYeah, seems official?

ㄴI mean, regardless of acting skills, he seems to get more handsome every time I see him.

ㄴHe’s still growing, his face is just unbelievable

Half the comments expressed disbelief at this impossible feat.

The other half were the usual comments about Kim Donghu’s handsome face.

Jieunbi also wrote a post.

ㄴI won tickets to the Special Concert.

She couldn’t resist bragging.

+++++

The morning before the High Dream special performance.

To cut to the chase, I had become class president.

“?”

Why am I class president?

Before I could even question it, I was already the class president.

For reference, Shin Yerim was the vice president.

Despite changing classes in the second year of middle school.

Whether it was fate or not,

Kangsik, Minhyeok, and Yerim ended up in the same class as me.

“Donghu, did you grow taller again?”

“Hmm? Yeah, I think so.”

“Go measure your height at the nurse’s office later. I really have to look up at you now.”

I laughed lightly at Yerim’s words.

I don’t know how much taller I’ll get, but I’ve definitely been eating more lately.

It’s quite something in my second life that everything I eat doesn’t turn into fat but into height and muscle.

“Donghu, are you a 2 Days 1 Night fan or a Crazy Challenge fan?”

“What?”

“Kangsik says 2 Days 1 Night is more fun, which I don’t understand.”

Isn’t Crazy Challenge more fun?

Minhyeok’s sudden question made me realize that it was indeed 2011.

You could say it was the golden age of TV.

Those days when I would always end the week listening to the Gag Festival band performances every Sunday.

I certainly hadn’t felt this flow for a while, being so focused on my acting career.

‘Have I finally gained some leisure time?’

Just as I was thinking that.

>Donghu, how are you?

>Every day without you is so lonely.

>Do you remember… the memories we shared?

A series of KakaoTalk messages arrived that would terrify any stranger who saw them.

<Master, I’ve been well. How have you been?

>No, I haven’t been well. I can’t find talent like yours.

>Donghu, I understand you’re busy with acting, but could you come spar with me sometimes?

>I’d like you to at least maintain your practical sense…

>Sorry for being so clingy when you’re busy.

Our master, quite well-known in the fighting world.

Why does he sound like an ex-girlfriend whenever he messages?

<I’ll visit the gym sometime. Thank you for always looking out for me.

>Our Donghu is the best! Oh! And I also won tickets to the Special Concert!

Wait, he bought that?

‘So I’ll see him at the concert.’

It would be quite embarrassing to meet someone I know there.

As I was muttering to myself,

as if timing really existed, KakaoTalk messages suddenly poured in.

>Kim Donghu, are you crazy?! What, what is this?

>(Photo of Kim Donghu and Ryu Jaerin standing side by side in school uniforms)

>Who is she! How does this make any sense?!

>How could you spend Christmas with me and then take couple photos with her first!

Even with the name hidden, I knew it was Sujin,

and her flood of messages made me break out in a cold sweat.

>Donghu, look, people are saying we look like a couple.

>(Photo with several captured community reactions)

>At this rate, we might end up on Will You Marry Me?

>We might really be calling each other “honey” someday haha

Messages from Jaerin, with emotions felt in every character, as if she couldn’t lose.

After giving appropriate replies, I checked my schedule.

‘The Special Concert is tomorrow.’

I heard there would be a fan meeting too. What if I handle it poorly?

I suddenly became worried.

‘Should I practice?’

People who love <High Dream> even bought CDs to come.

If my response is inadequate, it might leave a bitter aftertaste on what should be a good memory.

To ensure visitors can create the most satisfying memories possible.

I needed to learn some fan meeting speech techniques that make people feel good.

And at that moment.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

As if to help,

text messages from [Sims – Real Life] arrived one after another.

‘Will it give me speech techniques for fan meetings?’

But the text messages that arrived were completely unrelated to fan meetings.

-[<Swordsman Baek Dong-soo> child actor for Jaun injured?]

-[<Swordsman Baek Dong-soo> desperately seeking child actor who can perform swordsmanship]

-[Secret auditions underway? Searching far and wide for suitable actor]

These unexpected future messages.

Their meaning was clear.

‘Does this mean I’ll appear in a historical drama?’

+++++

The day of the High Dream Special Concert.

About 5,000 fans crowded the concert venue,

proving High Dream’s popularity.

Reporters took photos non-stop,

and fans cheered in anticipation of the upcoming concert.

Photo time, idol performances, High Dream band songs,

and even Kim Donghu’s solo piano performance.

Fans couldn’t keep their composure amid this endless dopamine feast.

Among all performances, Kim Donghu’s piano playing was naturally the most popular.

One of the countless rumors that had circulated:

The power of La Campanella, a technically demanding étude, completely shattered the nonsense claim that ‘Kim Donghu used a piano double.’

“Donghu, you’re really… too multi-talented to be real, not just martial arts… but piano too…”

A man resembling a white shark who cried while applauding briefly drew attention, but it was truly just for a moment.

After the performance ended,

the next item on the agenda was what all fans had been waiting for,

the much-anticipated fan meeting time.

Ideally, they would have liked to talk with each person individually,

but due to time constraints, this was absolutely impossible, so questions were collected in advance,

and the actors selected a few to answer.

Because of this.

‘I hope they read my question!’

Fans desperately hoped their submitted questions would be selected.

At this moment when the host’s choice determined everything,

Jieunbi, who had bragged about winning concert tickets a few days ago, clasped her hands together.

‘My question isn’t heavy, so it should be fine, right? Please, please!’

Honestly, it wasn’t a complicated question to answer.

Just something simple enough to lighten the mood.

Did her prayers work?

“Ah, the first question is very light and witty. It’s for actor Kim Donghu. Are you ready?”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

As Kim Donghu took the microphone with the introduction of a light question.

“Oppa Donghu, since when have you been so handsome?”

Everyone laughed at the question parodying a famous line from Secret Garden,

and the host’s wit in capturing the point perfectly.

‘Yes! It’s my question!’

Jieunbi wanted to shout out loud but held back.

Not only would it be impolite,

but she also wanted to hear Kim Donghu’s answer as soon as possible.

Thump thump.

As all eyes focused on him, wondering what he would say.

Casually brushing his hair back with a playful smile,

“But why are you speaking informally to oppa?”

At Kim Donghu’s response,

“Kyaaaaaaah!!!”

The hearts of female fans, including Jieunbi, skipped a beat.