Chapter 254: Getting Them Back (4)

Chapter 254: Getting Them Back (4)

Chapter 254. Getting Them Back (4)“The show?” Min So-Yeong suddenly looked troubled by that question.

Jeong Seok-Su cautiously asked, “Yes, Se-Ah's show. Do you think... it'll be a hit?”

“Oh, that. Well, uhm...” Min So-Yeong stuttered ungainly.

Her expression plunged Jeong Seok-Su further into the land of confusion.

Now that he had taken a better look, her expression wasn't troubled. It was more like she was flustered. She wasn't troubled by the prospect of comforting the manager of an actor starring in a rubbish TV show. Instead, it felt like Min So-Yeong was flustered by Jeong Seok-Su's simple question.

'But why is she flustered?'

Jeong Seok-Su had to wonder if 'fluster' were even the right emotion to feel in this situation. He was puzzled, but he decided to wait for Min So-Yeong to organize her thoughts first.

“Ah, that... Well, you see...” Min So-Yeong turned her head and asked the other PR team members, “How was the show? Do you think it'll be a hit?”

“Uh...”

Unfortunately, no one could provide a satisfactory answer.

'Oh no, we're screwed...'

Jeong Seok-Su grimaced. No matter how he sliced at it, their reaction seemed to be saying that Kang Se-Ah's show was a failure, even if their behavior seemed a little different than usual...

However, Min So-Yeong’s following words were completely out of Jeong Seok-Su's expectations, “My bad for saying this, but...”

“Yes?”

“...I can't remember what happened in the episode.”

“Eh?” Jeong Seok-Su stood there in stupefaction and stared at Min So-Yeong. Didn’t she watch the episode with the intent of dissecting it to its minute details? But now, she couldn't remember what happened during its runtime?

This made no sense unless the folks in the office changed the channel and watched something else after Jeong Seok-Su had left the office.

“Well, the thing is...” Min So-Yeong smiled awkwardly. “You see, Miss Se-Ah's oppa was...”

“...You mean, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“Ah, so his name is Mister Kang Jin-Ho? In any case, he left such a powerful impression that uh...”

“...?” Jeong Seok-Su didn't even bother to disguise his expression which basically looked like it said, 'Did this woman lose her mind or something?'?as he stared at Min So-Yeong.

Wanting to defend herself, Min So-Yeong quickly turned her head and asked the others, “Don't you agree?”

“Yes, Chief!”

“Gee whiz, Chief! I've heard the term 'scene stealer' before, but I never understood what it could even mean. However, I finally found out what it is today. I can't even remember what Choi Yeon-Ha did in the episode.”

Min So-Yeong turned around to look back at Jeong Seok-Su; her expression seemed as if it were saying, 'See what I mean?'

“You heard them, right?”

“What on earth is going on here?” Jeong Seok-Su muttered while wiping the sweat off of his forehead. He figured out that there had to be something when both the PD and Choi Yeon-Ha raised so much fuss to rope Kang Jin-Ho in for the shoot. However, was he really that incredible? Seriously?

Min So-Yeong narrowed her eyes. “Besides all that... Mister Jeong Seok-Su! What have you been doing?!”

“I'm sorry?”

“Such a mega acting talent has been practically standing next to you, so why hasn't he signed a contract with us yet?! Things will go super crazy from now on, you know? Are you confident of not losing him to someone else?”

“Huh?!?Mega acting talent?!” Jeong Seok-Su's jaw nearly hit the floor. That embodiment of the worst possible acting in the world was what now?

If the film crew present during that day heard Min So-Yeong’s words, they would've toppled over from uncontrollable laughter while clutching their stomachs. The Chief of the PR department had actually said something so outrageous without any hesitation.

Jeong Seok-Su cautiously asked, “Was he that?amazing in the scene?”

“Well, a situation like this is uncommon, but it does happen...” Min So-Yeong sagely nodded. The 'situation' she was referring to was when some local dude with passable looks suddenly started acting, and they would become indescribably handsome on screen upon receiving the baptism of the cameras.

The phrase, 'I had no idea he'd become this successful,’?was a common phrase in this industry.

Min So-Yeong wasn't done yet. “Even if that's true, it's your job to recognize and sign up the potential superstars, Mister Jeong Seok-Su!”

“Hold on. Hold on!” Jeong Seok-Su hurriedly waved his hands. “Mister Jin-Ho only made that special appearance for the sake of his sister, Se-Ah! It's not like he wants to become an actor, you know?”

“I'm sorry? He doesn't want to be an actor? With his looks? Wait, maybe he wants to be a model, then?”

Jang Hak-Seon leaned back on his chair with a content face, then tapped on his phone to scroll through a popular social media site.

= My honest impression of the first episode of 'Love Will Still Come Around'... Can't remember jack about the show's premise or whatever. But I can't stop thinking about the face of Choi Yeon-Ha's boyfriend. Seriously now! When is the rerun time slot?

= We should be seeing a deluge of articles by now about that historical event, so where are they? I wanna see the episode again just to figure out what I saw earlier, you know... C'mon, get to work, you reporters!

= Maybe the TV network hasn't released any PR material yet?

= I just heard. The rerun's on one in the morning later today. Definitely catch the rerun!

= Are you saying that show was really that amazing?

= No. Can't remember if it were amazing or not, but... In any case, you gotta catch the rerun no matter what. Watch it, and you'll see for yourself. I seriously thought that American actor, DiCaprio, made a cameo or something.

= Eh? Stop exaggerating. How dare you mention someone of that caliber here?

= Sure sure, fam. Just go and watch it. Then let's talk after.

“Mm. No, not yet.” Jang Hak-Seon did his absolute best to suppress the urge to unleash the press release into the world right at this moment. Obviously, he had already selected the best cut out of them all, but such a still shot should only be released after things had reached the boiling point. Only then would his actions reap the full reward. Indeed, it was never a good idea to release the best stuff to the masses without a carefully-crafted plan!

“Aigoo~, I wonder. Did our wonderful Mister Kang Jin-Ho have fun watching the first episode?” Jang Hak-Seon chuckled.

Judging from Kang Jin-Ho's personality, he didn't seem to be the type to watch a TV show like that, but he probably wouldn't have a choice this time. Without a doubt, people around him should raise one hell of a fuss about this, after all!

“Man, what a pity...”

The bigger the happiness, the stronger the bitterness in his heart. To think that Jang Hak-Seon could use that living statue capable of producing an unprecedented level of visual art only once!

If only Kang Jin-Ho could act just a bit—just a tiny bit. Jang Hak-Seon would have done anything to craft a show solely centered around that young man. However, that was an impossible dream. Kang Jin-Ho needed an untold amount of effort to complete a single scene, so to have him as the main lead in a show? Even three years wouldn't be enough to shoot one episode!

Kang Jin-Ho's scene this time was a static one, making it easy to paper over the cracks by dubbing over his lines. But such a 'solution' was only applicable since the scene itself was short.

Every TV show production ran on a tight schedule. If dubbing had to be added on top of that, then well... It would be completely impossible under the current Korean TV show filming conditions. A feature-length film might be a different prospect, but...

'...Hang on. How about a silent film?'

Jang Hak-Seon cackled and lightly smacked his own head. With how good things were going, it seemed all sorts of silly ideas were popping up in his head. Instead of daydreaming stuff like that, he should be focusing on completing the second half of the show properly.

“So, then. The scene rating went past eight percent, huh...”

Usually, an episode's average rating had to be around six percent for a scene rating to hit the eight percent mark. However, this show still achieved that feat while failing to break past five percent. It had to mean that the scene in question had blown everyone's mind. Well, the ones who watched it, that was.

Pretty soon, word-of-mouth should get around. And the impressions of the first episode should quickly profligate on various social media sites. With that, other people dying of curiosity would seek out the episode.

The storyline would only get going for real from the second episode onward, which meant that as long as the new viewers could be retained, the show would be considered a huge success.

“...No, wait. That alone isn't gonna be enough.” Jang Hak-Seon clenched his fists tightly, then yanked open the editing room's door. “Hey, In-Hyeok! In-Hyeok, where are you!”

“Yes, Director!”

“Contact the talent agency, Code!”

“...Code, sir?”

“That's right. Contact Miss Se-Ah's manager and let him know that I'd like to speak to Mister Kang Jin-Ho. Ask him to connect us two.”

"What should I say our business is this time?"

Jang Hak-Seon smirked smoothly. “Now that the viewer reactions are out, how about making another appearance in the second half of the show? Tell him I'll support him to the best of my abilities.”

“Understood, Director!”

While Jang Hak-Seon was cooking up various ways to coax Kang Jin-Ho back into the fray, his phone resting on a nearby table displayed a new tweet.

= I met the actor from 'Love Will Still Come' earlier! He's working in a pizzeria. I thought it wasn't him initially, but it really was him! We even took some pictures!

The new tweet included the photograph of Kang Jin-Ho and two women with their faces blurred out hugging his arms. And that was when the retweets and replies started to appear so fast the PD's latest smartphone was having a hard time keeping up with the notifications.

= Where is that pizzeria?

= Share the address! Hurry!

= He even lets you take pictures? And it really is him!

= I didn't notice it on screen, but from that photo, his physique is no joke either! Look at the snug fit!

= First time I find a chef's uniform so sexy.

A storm fierce enough to fluster Kang Jin-Ho was slowly gathering in the digital space.