Ch.69Catch me if you can!

<Eclipse> Episode 4 ratings 27.8%.

The ominous signs seemed to be more than just signs.

Looking at the growth trend, it appeared poised to break 30% by next week.

At this rate, it could even reach 40%, a milestone that would go down in drama history.

Breaking 40% in the 2010s? That would be a truly remarkable figure.

So what could the broadcasting station do in this situation?

Swoosh.

MNC Drama Director Park Seoljae pushed up his glasses slightly.

As if measuring battle power.

After holding one side of his glasses and calmly surveying his surroundings,

he continued speaking, seemingly having completed his analysis.

“Prepare ratings promises, with a fan meeting.”

“Yes sir!”

“And plan an OST concert too. Propose OST cover songs to the actors who can sing well.”

“Yes sir!”

“We’ve already had the production presentation and press conference, but since the child actors will be leaving after episode 10, let’s schedule another event at that point.”

That should help boost the ratings.

As soon as Director Park finished speaking, everyone eagerly began responding as if they’d been waiting for this moment.

A loyalty competition that began with their responses.

Director Park looked at them with satisfaction.

“Hooh… Everyone seems as passionate about this as I am. Good. Very good.”

Also, once ratings exceed 30%, a proper bonus party is scheduled to begin.

Director Park calmly and precisely assigned goals to his employees.

“So let’s all run madly toward our goal.”

“Yes sir!”

Hearing their enthusiastic response, Park Seoljae nodded with a pleased smile.

Yes, this is the kind of enthusiasm that makes leadership worthwhile.

Moreover.

‘I can finally deliver a proper blow to those cherry pie and pretentious bunches.’

He was already excited at the thought of deflating the noses of those who had been acting so smug about exceeding 30% recently.

And it wasn’t just about deflating their noses.

‘It’s also important that Kim Donghu, the actor they’re most proud of and confident in, is now thriving on our side.’

If you can’t beat them, have them join you.

The most basic tactic is guaranteed to be effective for a reason.

In fact, it was already showing overwhelming results.

‘Shall we easily surpass them?’

Who could stop MNC’s dominance?

And as if to prove Director Park’s thoughts correct.

<Eclipse> Episode 5 achieved an impressive rating of 30.1%,

and simultaneously, people began to recognize a pattern:

ㄴIf Kim Donghu appears, it just automatically, absolutely exceeds 30%

ㄴDoes Kim Donghu appear in dramas that exceed 30%, or does he make them exceed 30%?

ㄴDo you have no brain? Why do you think the final episode of Swordsman Baek Dong-soo exceeded 30%? lol

ㄴAnyone have the Mark Crack version of Paladok?

ㄴGet lost, troll, why are these people trying to get attention here?

When Kim Donghu appears, ratings definitely exceed 30%.

Of course, most people dismissed this as a joke.

But a small minority took it very seriously.

This small minority obviously referred to:

“Didn’t Kim Donghu say he’s taking a break this year? Yes, I know, who doesn’t? Just send him the offer anyway! He might change his mind after seeing our script!”

“How many times do I have to say it! Go visit his agency if you have to! Let’s do this with passion!”

These were the words of media professionals.

If his mere appearance guarantees ratings? If his involvement ensures success?

How could they resist that?

While everyone was eager for Kim Donghu’s appearance.

The subject of all this desire was currently:

“There’s too much to memorize…”

He was struggling with a practice test book for Challenge! Golden Bell.

+++++

His 2012 schedule could be divided into roughly three categories.

‘Golden Bell, boxing competition, and advertisements?’

Although he said he was taking a break, he couldn’t refuse modeling jobs.

Since Veritas was still a one-person agency,

they needed a steady income stream.

‘Both Brilliant and Haetbap expressed their desire to extend contracts.’

He remembered Seokho hyung’s face, asking what he wanted to do,

while barely hiding his hopeful expression that suggested continuing would be good.

Scribble, scribble.

He continued solving the Golden Bell practice problems while lost in thought.

Why were there so many specialized pieces of knowledge disguised as “common sense” in the world?

When was he supposed to memorize all of this?

‘But I’m actually confident about this stuff.’

In his previous life, one thing he had worked hard at to overcome his unattractive appearance was studying.

He wanted to at least hear people say, “With looks like that, at least he’s smart.”

He remembered gripping his pen until calluses formed on his hands.

“Those were the days.”

He muttered aloud, turning painful memories into nostalgia.

Since he was happy now, there was no need to keep remembering his previous life negatively.

While studying diligently:

>Donghu what are you doing?

>Can you talk?

A sudden KakaoTalk message from Yerim.

<Yeah no problem

They were friends who didn’t need a specific reason to contact each other.

Just the kind of friends who could reach out when bored.

‘What’s this about?’

He didn’t understand why she was suddenly asking like this.

Moreover, sending a private message instead of using the group chat meant she had a reason.

While wondering about this reason, Yerim got straight to the point.

>So I was looking at Korea Arts High School…?

>Is it called Daejonggo?

>They have a modeling department, I’m thinking of applying there, what do you think?

Reading the message, he wondered if fate really existed.

Shin Yerim, destined to become a world-renowned supermodel.

She had survived the wild era by blending in with the school bullies.

That past had held her back, causing her to briefly shine before fading away.

‘But things are different now.’

There was no need to be held back by the past,

and attending an arts high school could actually help develop her talent.

Then all she would need was an agency that could fully support her.

‘What if I did it?’

More precisely, what if Seokho hyung managed her?

‘Other agencies wouldn’t invest aggressively since they wouldn’t know if she’d succeed from the start.’

But I was different.

I knew how brilliant a model Shin Yerim would become,

so I could make aggressive investments from the beginning.

‘This might be…’

Once that thought occurred, various possibilities unfolded instantly.

For example, someone like Kangsik who spent years developing a game alone.

What if he received investment early on and could quickly hire staff?

What if money could drastically shorten the extended timeline?

‘Wouldn’t he gain fame as a genius developer much sooner?’

This was only possible because I knew the future.

I wouldn’t go around investing in all future geniuses before they succeeded,

but I could at least accelerate the success of those around me.

‘Let’s do it.’

The moment I had that thought,

I immediately stopped studying and grabbed my phone.

Ring ring,

Before it even rang once:

-Oh Donghu, what’s up?

Seokho hyung answered right away,

“Hyung, would you be interested in developing a model?”

I got straight to the point.

+++++

At the same time.

“Yeah, sounds good. Let’s set up a meeting soon then.”

Choi Seokho, taking Kim Donghu’s call, felt his heart settle down.

‘So it wasn’t about that topic.’

Since it wasn’t the subject he’d been dreading, he felt both relieved and even more tense.

-Thank you.

“Hey Donghu… you know.”

-Yes?

“Ah, it’s nothing. I’ll talk to you about it later.”

-Okay, I’ll hang up now.

“Yeah, sure.”

Click.

“Phew…”

A deep sigh escaped as soon as the call ended.

Glance.

His eyes immediately turned to the calendar beside him.

It was approaching one year since High Dream had aired.

Choi Seokho couldn’t hide his burning anxiety whenever he looked at the calendar.

“…How should I bring up the contract renewal?”

Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

‘The contract money and everything is all prepared but…’

It was time to move from a one-year contract to a multi-year contract.

In other words, it meant becoming a real nest rather than just a taste test.

‘Does it even matter how well I prepare?’

Of course, he had created a perfect contract,

but whether that would lead to renewal was uncertain.

Because this decision was entirely up to Kim Donghu.

Therefore, the most important thing now was

to prevent news of the approaching contract expiration from leaking.

If this became known, it was unimaginable how many major entertainment companies would rush to sign Kim Donghu.

Sigh.

Putting aside his deepening sighs, Choi Seokho reviewed the advertising offers for Kim Donghu.

No matter how worried he was about the contract renewal,

‘Let’s do what needs to be done first.’

He needed to complete his duties for Kim Donghu.

++++++

The news that Kim Donghu’s contract expiration was approaching

leaked from a surprisingly trivial source.

“Come to think of it, did Kim Donghu sign his contract while filming High Dream?”

“Huh?”

During the usual post-lunch coffee and cigarette break,

Daily Happy entertainment reporter Gil Gildong’s question caught the attention of nearby reporters.

“No, Kim Donghu signed his contract during the production.”

“And?”

“And? I mean…”

Gil Gildong, who had been speaking, suddenly seemed to realize something.

He hurriedly put out his cigarette and rushed back to his desk.

‘What if…’

If Kim Donghu initially signed a one-year contract rather than a multi-year deal.

‘Should I throw out some bait?’

This could be an incredible scoop.

Of course, it might not be true.

‘If it’s not, I can just publish a correction.’

But what if it was?

What if his casual speculation turned out to be true?

‘Would a war break out with everyone trying to sign Kim Donghu?’

Reporter Gil Gildong couldn’t imagine how much impact his casually written article would have.

And shortly after:

『Kim Donghu’s contract ending soon… Where will Veritas’ next nest be?』

The article became so hot it dominated the real-time search rankings.

ㄴWant to contract with Kim Donghu?

ㄴHis contract period is almost over.

ㄴTry to catch him!

ㄴHe left the minimum 30% ratings there!

The comment reactions were just a bonus.