Chapter 131: Departure (5)

Chapter 131: Departure (5)

Subscribers: 1.01 million. The words of a team leader from Netflix Japan Team were true. As if to prove it, Han Ye-jung joined Choi Sung-gun, who had his hair tied back in a ponytail.

CEO~nim.

She whispered softly beside Choi Sung-gun, showing him her phone.

We just achieved it.

On Han Ye-jung's phone screen, the main page of Kang Woojin's alter ego channel on Youtube was displayed.

[Channel Name: Kang Woojin's Alter Ego]

[Subscribers: 1.01 million]

[Videos: 5]

Upon seeing this, Choi Sung-gun's mouth stretched into a wide smile.

Another first achieved.

He gave a thumbs-up to Kang Woojin, who was on stage.

But Kang Woojin, who was currently busy with the event and speaking fluent Japanese, had no idea.

Yes, my chemistry with Hwalin was great. The atmosphere on the set was friendly and warm from beginning to end. If there's something memorable ah, but it's a bit difficult to mention. It could be a spoiler.

He was clueless.

The next day, in the morning.

Having successfully completed the event organized by Netflix Japan the day before, Woojin was meeting with PD Shinjo, who was thin as a reed, from Ame-talk Show!' starting from the morning of the 27th. The meeting took place in a restaurant inside a hotel, with Kang Woojin and Choi Sung-gun on one side and PD Shinjo and the writers on the other.

Haha, Woojin, its even more delightful to see you in Japan!

Hello, PD~nim.

You know, right? Your name is creating a buzz in Japan right now. Hanryang is doing so well, its completely different from the early days of our investigation! Whether it's communities or SNS, you're the hottest topic, Woojin. And since your arrival in Japan yesterday, it's gotten even more intense.

Excitement sparkled in the eyes of PD Shinjo and the writers as they rapidly spoke in Japanese. It was only natural. They had only expected to cover Hanryang' with Kang Woojin, but he had grown into an unexpectedly huge success. They felt like they had hit the jackpot.

And I saw earlier that your Youtube channel has already surpassed 1 million subscribers? That's really amazing. I've been a PD for a long time, but this is the first time I've seen such a rapid rise.

Woojin, wearing a mask of indifference, was genuinely happy inside.

Admittedly, even I can't believe this is real. Me becoming a million-subscriber Youtuber.

He briefly reminisced about yesterday's thrill, imagining a sweet future.

At this rate, reaching 2 million will be easy, and even 3 million won't be hard. No, this could definitely hit 5 million.

It was then that PD Shinjo suddenly brought up work. He talked about the recording scheduled for two days later.

We had to overhaul our original plan because everything happened so suddenly. There are many additions, and the recording time will be a bit longer.

No problem.

Haha, thank you. The opening and closing will be as usual. You have projects youre participating in, right? Like Hanryang, Male Friend, The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger, other Korean works, and your Youtube channel. We've included plenty of promotional segments.

Yes, PD~nim.

And, by any chance could you sing a bit of the song you posted on your Youtube channel?

Do you mean perform on stage?

No, just a verse or so during the talk would be fine.

That's doable.

PD Shinjos face brightened instantly as he explained how the recording would proceed.

As you know, the recording doesn't happen in order like the broadcast seen by viewers. The recording is long, and the invited audience will be present for only 2 hours, so we plan to shoot in a mixed-up manner and edit accordingly. The recording will likely start with the audience Q&A.

So, that segment will be shown towards the latter half when it airs?

Around the middle to latter half, yes. Oh, and just so you know, Hwalin has been confirmed as a guest for the Male Friend segment.

This was news to him. Looking at Choi Sung-gun, he too seemed a bit surprised. Was this a last-minute decision? Just as he thought this, PD Shinjo provided an answer.

This morning, I contacted Hwalin's side just in case, and thankfully, they replied that she could make it for a short time.

Woojin thought he could ask for more details later. Just as he settled on this internally, PD Shinjo on the other side continued speaking.

The audience for the recording has been selected primarily from your fans, Woojin, totaling about 200 people.

Kang Woojin was genuinely surprised, inwardly.

I have 200 fans in Japan??!

But the thin PD Shinjo dropped a twist.

There were over 3,000 applications for the audience. It was really tough to choose.

200 was just a fraction.

29th day.

Two days passed quickly, filled with minor interviews and promotional schedules. Before he knew it, it was the 29th. Today was the day for the official recording of Japan's popular talk show Ame-talk Show!'.

It was a full day shoot.

The location was the Ame-talk Show!' set inside the TBE's private broadcasting station in Japan. The recording was set to start around 10 am. Therefore, Woojin visited the salon early in the morning to get his hair and makeup done, and dressed in a brown blazer and slacks set.

It was a scripted line, typical for a recording. The handheld microphone was then passed among the audience members. At this moment, two staff members approached PD Shinjo. Choi Sung-gun, watching this closely, stroked his chin.

Interpreters? One for potential Korean questions, but what about the other one?

Choi Sung-gun, who couldnt understand Japanese well, thought he heard something about interpreters in the conversation between PD Shinjo and the staff. However, having two seemed odd. Anyway, the first question from the audience came from a woman in the middle. She looked excited to see Woojin for the first time.

Hello! I became a fan after watching Hanryang! I recently saw your Kang Woojin's Alter Ego Youtube channel! Will you continue to upload cover videos on the same theme?

Kang Woojin, holding the microphone, spoke calmly in fluent Japanese.

Yes. I plan to continue uploading consistently. Furthermore, not just KPOP covers, but also covering JPOP and pop songs in Korean is something I'm thinking about.

Oh! When will that be uploaded?

Ill do my best.

Thank you!

My pleasure.

The first question went smoothly. The next was from a young boy in the front row of the audience. But then.

-Swish.

Instead of using a microphone, the young boy began using his hands. It was sign language. Choi Sung-gun wasn't sure if this was a deliberate selection by PD Shinjo, but he slowly nodded his head when he saw the young boy using sign language.

Ah, so thats why there were two interpreters.

Choi Sung-gun, who had turned his gaze to Kang Woojin on the stage, crossed his arms.

Sign language Woojin knows Korean sign language. But sign language varies by country, right? That must be Japanese sign language.'

He was correct. Sign language isn't a universal language. Like spoken languages, sign languages are different in Korea, Japan, America, and other countries. Therefore, each countrys sign language is a different language in its own right.

Soon, Choi Sung-gun thought,

What a pity.

He felt a bit disappointed even as he watched the young boy eagerly using Japanese sign language.

If sign language was the same worldwide, Woojin could have shown his skills in it as a surprise. That would have amazed everyone.

If that were the case, Kang Woojins appearance on Ame-talk Show!' would have been even more impressive. The entertainment world loves such surprises and shocks. Choi Sung-gun's disappointment was greater knowing how well Woojin knew Korean sign language.

However, this was something he just had to accept.

After all, imagining it didnt cost anything. As Choi Sung-gun was indulging in his thoughts, PD Shinjo and the production team organized the translation of the Japanese sign language and displayed it on the prompter. Then they signaled to MC Soyo on stage.

At that moment.

Ah? What?

PD Shinjo, who was sending the signal, suddenly stopped moving. His eyes widened in disbelief. And he wasn't the only one.

P, PD~nim, look at that-

.Whats happening??

Wow, unbelievable.

How is this possible?

The staff around PD Shinjo on the set reacted similarly. The same was true for the 200 or so audience members. Everyone froze like ice as they looked at the stage, their mouths slightly open, as if witnessing something completely unexpected.

And indeed, they were.

What PD Shinjo and the entire Ame-talk Show!' staff saw was Kang Woojin. Sitting on the sofa, Woojin had shifted from his initial indifference to showing an appropriate expression.

Or, more precisely.

He was responding in sign language to the young audience member. Woojin, making eye contact with the young boy, wasnt even looking at the prompter. Why? How? The peculiar thing was.

Japanese sign language?

Just like Choi Sung-gun had just muttered internally, Kang Woojin was calmly using Japanese sign language, not Korean.

But Kang Woojin himself.

This much should be a good enough response, right? Yeah, that seems about right.

Didnt find it significant. It was as if it was no big deal for him. Then, Woojin noticed the expression of the young boy, who had frozen in shock, his eyes wide like a startled rabbit. The young boy then used Japanese sign language again towards Woojin.

[How do you know Japanese sign language?]

Woojin, who understood it comfortably, thought, Huh? Because I know sign language wait, hold on. It was at this moment that Woojin realized.

Why how do I know Japanese sign language??

That what he was using wasnt Korean sign language.

***

For more chapters you can check out my patreon here > /dreamscribe

If you are enjoying this novel, please consider reviewing and rating it at Novelupdates. Thanks!

To receive the latest update notifications or report any mistakes, join our Discord server linked below.

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/woopread