Ch.73What should we do from now on?

During the early part of the match when Kim Donghu was only throwing jabs.

Master Paek Sangha thought Kim Donghu might be doing this because of nervousness.

‘This is so different from how he spars normally?’

It was to the point where he wondered if Kim Donghu was being passive because he was facing a different opponent.

Kim Donghu was honestly just throwing jabs.

Of course, even with just that, he was putting enough pressure on his opponent,

pushing him into a defensive position.

‘Wait, just jabs are enough?’

Master Paek immediately understood why Kim Donghu was fighting this way.

Neither Shin Yerim who was filming the sparring,

nor Kim Sansu who was facing Kim Donghu,

not even Master Geum Jin who was refereeing,

could understand why Kim Donghu was fighting like this.

In a way, this was a truth that only Paek Sangha, who had watched Kim Donghu for a long time, could reach.

‘They’ll think it’s because he’s young and inexperienced.’

But that wasn’t it.

‘He’s deliberately not knocking him down.’

It was completely intentional.

He was purposely using only jabs to slowly wear down his opponent’s stamina,

letting him hold onto false hope until the end just to watch him struggle—

adopting an incredibly cruel fighting strategy.

That’s why he used jabs.

Straights, hooks, and uppercuts could knock someone down instantly.

Only jabs could kill the opponent slowly,

and that continued until just before the end of the first round.

Then right before the bell.

He deliberately gave a sloppy opening for a counterattack,

waited for his opponent to come in, and delivered a perfectly timed liver shot.

It was truly a masterful design.

“…I’d like to talk more, but the situation doesn’t allow it.”

Master Paek snapped out of his thoughts at Master Geum Jin’s words.

‘Right, that’s true.’

Now wasn’t the time to admire his student’s skills

and savor the details of the match.

‘The atmosphere isn’t good.’

He would have liked to watch the recorded video and point out things to praise every second.

But his junior student had just collapsed while vomiting and wetting himself,

so dealing with the current situation was definitely the priority.

“It’s so rare for a middle school student to dominate a high school student like this…”

Master Geum Jin rambled, not knowing how to summarize the situation.

“I knew there would be some skill difference, but the result makes me wonder if there was some intentional malice involved…”

And mixed in was a slight resentment toward Kim Donghu.

Because his moves were too harsh for just sparring.

Master Paek had nothing to say about that and was about to apologize,

when suddenly.

“That’s not true! He was the one who started it!”

Yerim preemptively blocked Master Paek’s apology.

“He said bad things first! That’s why emotions got involved!”

Before filming the sparring.

The camera that Yerim had turned on for practice ended up being helpful in an unexpected way.

Shin Yerim scrolled through the footage and played the scene where Kim Sansu had provoked Kim Donghu.

The video only showed their feet and their faces were blurry.

But it was still possible to perfectly infer what had happened.

“….”

With the situation turning this way, it was Master Geum Jin who became embarrassed.

Master Paek quickly took the children and hurriedly left the gym.

‘Our junior has a really bad temper.’

He started the provocation, lost the sparring match, and was humiliated.

‘That guy is dead.’

Master Paek prayed for Kim Sansu’s soul.

+++++

After the sparring session that caused a small commotion,

time passed quickly and it was soon time for episode 10 of <Eclipse>.

Jieun-bi, 18, a passionate fan of Kim Donghu, waited in front of the TV only for <Eclipse>.

‘Donghu oppa is almost done appearing now.’

Even a student who knew nothing about screenwriting

could tell that as the story progressed, there would be fewer scenes with child actors.

Plus, the content itself was flowing in quite a serious direction.

After becoming lovers,

promising marriage and moving forward together with dreams of the future—right at that moment.

Suddenly, the partner complains of mysterious pain,

and the Crown Prince’s sorrow deepens as he can only watch his other half slowly dying.

“Oh, here it comes.”

And today was the day that sorrow would reach its peak.

After the long opening commercials, <Eclipse> episode 10 finally began.

The first thing shown is Kim Donghu’s sorrowful face.

To the point where distinguishing between the character and the actor was meaningless,

Kim Donghu showed perfect synchronization.

-…Have you forgotten our promise and decided to leave first?

The first emotion he reveals is resentment.

Seeing his partner dying without being able to do anything,

he scolds her, asking why she’s there and telling her to get up quickly.

-I’m sorry, Your Highness.

But what comes back is an apology.

-…I am so inadequate.

The static scene shows only Kim Donghu and Kim Sujin.

At close distance, without any direction, they convey their feelings to each other solely through their eyes.

-Please forget someone as ungrateful as me, and start anew.

At those words, tears naturally flow down Kim Donghu’s face.

How could she say such things?

How could she utter those words so easily?

Forget? How could he forget?

Tears that substitute for these words continue to flow.

A moment of silence.

After catching his breath, Kim Donghu’s words continue with difficulty.

-I can draw you even with my eyes closed.

That’s both a statement that he can’t forget

and a vow that his heart is already full of her.

-Still, you must forget me.

But such tender feelings are mercilessly trampled by the girl who has prepared for death.

The girl clearly knew she would die soon.

That’s why she knew she had to sever their connection here.

-Your Highness, please forget me and live on.

At that earnest request, Kim Donghu’s fingertips slowly tremble.

-Why are you… so elegant and beautiful…

As if she might shatter at the slightest touch.

Kim Donghu’s fingertips, trembling with sadness, touch Kim Sujin’s cheek.

-I love you, truly… truly love you.

So please let me hear your heart,

rise from your place and tell me of your love.

But until that final moment,

-I cannot.

The girl does not permit love.

Even though her vision blurs with tears,

even though she strongly holds the hand touching her cheek,

she turns the words rising on her tongue into cold blades and shoots them out.

‘This is insane.’

How can kids who aren’t even adults act like this?

She knew Kim Donghu was a good actor,

but this performance completely shattered the framework he had shown until now.

Until now, Kim Donghu had been at the level of a villain specialist,

only playing villainous roles.

But to think he could perform such romantic acting?

‘I wish he would film a romantic comedy in a modern setting, not just historical dramas.’

It was only natural for Jieun-bi’s thoughts to flow this way.

Even with such expectations, the screen continues.

The expected death of his partner.

But even if you know it’s coming, you can’t prepare for the sorrow in advance.

-Keuheuk…

Kim Donghu’s desperate wailing begins.

‘No, this is insane?’

It wasn’t just Jieun-bi who had this reaction.

Yeo Sujeong, the writer who wrote the screenplay for <Eclipse>,

was also watching the drama with the same feelings.

‘This isn’t just simple crying.’

If it had been one-dimensional crying, she wouldn’t have even been impressed.

Because that’s so common.

And crying scenes are harder the worse you are at them,

making them not sad but rather ridiculous—a very difficult level of acting.

‘…What is this kid, really?’

But the acting Kim Donghu was displaying was on a completely different level.

Should she say he knows how to express sadness with his whole body?

It made her wonder if he might have actually experienced losing someone he loved.

Kwaaaaak.

The sadness is so deep that groans escape from the pain of his insides tearing,

and with nothing to hold onto, his fingernails turn red as he clutches the ground.

Acting that makes viewers lose track of time,

not even thinking of changing the channel.

People only realized the drama had ended when they saw the banner ads, not by the time slot.

‘With this level, the response must be huge?’

Writer Yeo Sujeong immediately turned on the internet as soon as the drama ended.

And there, as expected.

1. Kim Donghu

2. Eclipse Kim Donghu

3. Kim Donghu romance

The real-time search terms were all filled with Kim Donghu, and.

ㄴThey said Kim Donghu is good, and he really is good

ㄴIsn’t he only sixteen now? Why is he so good at love scenes

ㄴKim Donghu is good, but Kim Sujin is no joke either, she responds perfectly.

ㄴAnyone want to join Wolf Team? I’m a berserker wolf expert

ㄴTV stations better watch out, the moment Kim Donghu outgrows child roles lol you know?

ㄴMake a romantic comedy with Kim Donghu as the lead. Whoever films it first gets all the ratings

ㄴWTF lol Kim Donghu is a f***ing thug; he beat up a kid two years older than him;;

ㄴI will report such false information immediately. Thank you.

ㄴWho are you?

ㄴKangsik

The netizen response was also in an uproar, as expected.

So what about the ratings?

In fact, in a way, Kim Donghu’s acting was already beyond discussion,

and dominating the real-time search rankings and netizen responses was as good as predicted.

But ratings were different.

Especially with the steep upward trend these days.

‘If it just exceeds 40% here, it would be a huge hit, and looking at the trend, it seems to be heading that way.’

Could it possibly show even more growth from here? There was that expectation.

But crossing the 40% barrier was a completely different matter.

‘Usually shows hover around there and can’t go higher.’

Sometimes ratings drop for no reason at all.

But.

>Writer, Kim Donghu’s ratings are in.

>The ratings for Eclipse episode 10 are…

Kim Donghu, as always.

“W-what? 4-41%…?!”

Brought results beyond everyone’s expectations.

+++++

At the same time, in the MNC Drama Director’s office.

MNC Drama Director Park Seoljae trembled as soon as he heard the ratings.

Strength suddenly filled his tired body,

it felt like muscles were growing where there were none, and his skin tingled.

He felt so energized it was as if he was undergoing a secondary transformation.

“Hooo… Actor Kim Donghu, you’ve crossed the line by far.”

For bringing such results,

how should I repay you?

‘This is truly unbelievable.’

Feeling like he wanted to hug someone and run around the neighborhood,

Director Park Seoljae immediately took out his corporate card and handed it to the PD in front of him.

“Go on an overseas trip.”

“P-pardon?”

“It’s already been discussed with the higher-ups. With an achievement like this, the entire Eclipse team should enjoy somewhere sweet.”

I am someone who gives perfect rewards.

As he finished speaking, Director Park Seoljae fell into one concern.

‘Has a child actor ever shown such a strong presence?’

He was honestly confused by the birth of this non-standard monster.

Because he had never met this type of person before.

‘What should we do from now on?’

How should we treat a monster actor who guarantees success,

pulling in 40% ratings?

‘Hmm…’

He wished someone would at least give him guidelines.