Goosebumps ran down Kang Rojun’s arms in astonishnt. His face was all over YouTube, and the overwhelming number of viewers watching ‘Produce That 100!’ were pouring attention onto contestant number 1. These things he had only imagined were now happening in reality, so it wasn’t strange that he had goosebumps.
-Swoosh.
Shaking his head to snap out of it, Kang Rojun put down his phone and turned his gaze back to the laptop.
‘Once you start watching, ti flies. This stuff’s addictive.’
After about another hour of revising the script, Kang Rojun seed satisfied and stopped his hands.
‘For now, the story of Lover No. 4 should be good enough. I’ll finalize the detailed revisions or additions after the eting with PD Jung Soo-ryeong-’
Rojun had created a new character, Lover No. 4, who didn’t exist in the original ‘Rental Lover’ script. Crossing his arms, he recalled PD Woo Han-suk’s dark eye circles.
‘Guess it’s ti I tell PD Woo Han-suk that I’m appearing in ‘Rental Lover’, huh?’
He had already told him that his writing work and the script ‘Rental Lover’ had been selected as best at SBC, but he hadn’t yet ntioned his appearance in the work. Though his writer-related activities had been approved, actually appearing was another matter.
At that mont, Rojun’s phone vibrated.
The caller was PD Woo Han-suk, who had sent a ssage in advance. He was currently not on campus but at the ‘JTVM’ broadcasting station.
“Yes, PD-nim.”
“Yeah. I saw your ssage, Rojun-ssi. What did you want to talk about?”
“I think it would be better to tell you in person.”
“Really? Ah- well, I won’t be able to get to campus today. I can probably make it there by tomorrow afternoon?”
“That’s fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow then. And as I ntioned in the ssage-”
“Yeah, I saw it. You said you’ve got a eting tomorrow morning with the SBC Drama Departnt? That’s okay, but- hmm, Rojun-ssi, you really need to be careful right now, you know?? You saw how crazy things are, the ‘Produce That 100!’ craze is insane right now. If your face gets seen sowhere, a crowd could gather and that’d be trouble.”
“Yes. That’s why the drama departnt PD said she would personally co pick up. We’re going to talk sowhere out of the public eye.”
“Alright then, just be extra careful. If anything happens, call imdiately.”
“Understood.”
After finishing the call, Kang Rojun scratched his chin and muttered inwardly.
‘A crowd might gather if my face is seen? Feels like I’ve really beco a celebrity.’
The next morning, in front of the ‘Produce That 100!’ campus.
It was around 10 o'clock. A sedan pulled up near the campus entrance. In the driver's seat sat PD Jung Soo-ryeong, her frizzy brown hair tied back. As she let out a big yawn and looked toward the campus gate, she spotted a man with black hair walking toward her.
The mont she saw him, PD Jung Soo-ryeong chuckled as if impressed.
"Whew- Eye candy in the morning, how does this kid look like he's in a photoshoot just by walking?"
The one walking over was Kang Rojun. As soon as he saw the car parked in front, he approached it, and PD Jung Soo-ryeong rolled down the driver’s window and waved her hand.
“Writer-nim, good morning-”
“Yes, hello, it’s a great morning.”
"A great morning? You're always a bit unusual. Anyway, get in."
As soon as Kang Rojun got into the passenger seat, PD Jung Soo-ryeong started the car and pulled away. While turning the steering wheel, she asked Rojun,
“You brought a mask and a hat, right?”
“I did.”
“I’m sure the ‘Produce That 100!’ production crew told you already, but you’re not just an ordinary person anymore. You’re the face of a program that surpassed 15% viewership. You’ve got to be aware of the public eye. But honestly, weren’t you already getting stares even before ‘Produce That 100!’ aired?”
Kang Rojun gave a slight nod and looked down at the hat and mask in his hands.
‘In the past, I wore these to hide my monstrous face, and now I have to wear them because my face is recognized.‘
Though the situations were drastically different, he felt a strange similarity in the outco. PD Jung Soo-ryeong, who had stopped the car at a traffic light, turned her head.
“Before our eting, I want to see soone first. If it’s uncomfortable, I can go alone.”
See soone? Who? Curious, Kang Rojun replied simply.
“I don’t mind, but who are we eting?”
“I got the call out of the blue, too. Hm, I think- no, I’m almost certain it’s soone related to ‘Rental Lover’, so it would be good for you to et them. Feels like I stumbled upon a big catch.”
“A big catch?”
“Yeah. Do you have a favorite actress, by any chance?”
Kang Rojun didn’t particularly follow any actress passionately. Still, there were a few he acknowledged as good perforrs.
“I don’t have a favorite actress, but I’ve watched so works because Choi Rina and Seo Soo-min act well.”
PD Jung Soo-ryeong’s smile deepened.
“Really? Then you might be a little surprised.”
Surprised? What does she an by that all of a sudden? As Kang Rojun tilted his head slightly in confusion, PD Jung Soo-ryeong changed the subject.
“‘Rental Lover’ is growing more and more in volu. This is my first ti with a one-act drama like this. But rember, all of this started because of Writer Kang Chul-soo. Honestly, I only got interested in taking on ‘Rental Lover’ because of you, Writer-nim. If it weren’t for you, I definitely would’ve given it to a junior.”
She was right. It was Kang Rojun who submitted ‘Rental Lover’ to the script contest, and it was because he was the writer that a heavyweight like PD Jung Soo-ryeong agreed to direct it.
In effect, Kang Rojun had triggered everything.
Then, as they rged onto the highway, PD Jung Soo-ryeong continued.
“I don’t know about other things, but I do have a good eye for people. I’ve got high hopes for you, as a writer and as an idol. As for acting, it’s still hard to judge, but one thing’s certain. You’re visually the best male actor I’ve ever seen.”
Embarrassed by the overwhelming praise, Kang Rojun awkwardly looked out the window.
The place PD Jung Soo-ryeong led him to was a classy-looking Korean restaurant quite a distance from Sinsa Station. Naturally, she took the lead.
“We made a reservation under the na Jung Soo-ryeong.”
"Yes- just a mont please."
Wearing his mask and hat, Kang Rojun looked around the luxurious Korean restaurant.
-Slide.
They entered the room the staff guided them to. It was a traditional floor-seating room with a table. After ordering drinks in advance, PD Jung Soo-ryeong checked the ti.
“We got here a little early. They’ll be here in about ten minutes.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, and even if it’s uncomfortable, keep your mask and hat on. It’s not ti to go public yet.”
Who on earth was coming? Kang Rojun tried to guess.
‘She ntioned an actress earlier, don’t tell , is an actual actress really coming here??’
His heart soon began to race. About five minutes later, the tea they had ordered was served, and after another ten minutes passed, there was a knock, and the door of the room slid open. A woman entered, also wearing a mask, just like Kang Rojun.
The woman brushed back her long straight hair and removed her mask.
“PD-nim, I'm here.”
Smiling, PD Jung Soo-ryeong hugged the woman and jumped in place excitedly.
“What is this? Your beauty ga got even stronger? Have you been going all out with skincare lately since you’ve had a break??”
“Of course, and you got prettier too, PD-nim?”
"Are you picking a fight? Bring it on."
Kang Rojun, who had awkwardly started to rise, flinched in shock.
‘Hul? Hul!! Crazy... Choi Rina???’
The one who entered was none other than Choi Rina, the top actress everyone in the country knew, even Kang Rojun. Seeing a top actress in person for the first ti in his life, Rojun froze. Regardless, PD Jung Soo-ryeong briefly chatted with Choi Rina, and then Choi Rina, who had taken a seat across from him, looked at Rojun and smiled.
“But, who is this?”
It was a reasonable question. She thought she’d only be eting PD Jung Soo-ryeong, but there was a man wearing a mask and a hat sitting there. PD Jung Soo-ryeong answered.
“He’s the writer working with on the project, but he’s a bit shy. Also, for certain reasons, he’s covering his face. That okay?”
Choi Rina’s eyes widened slightly, and she asked again.
“He’s a writer? Then is he the one who wrote ‘Rental Lover’?”
PD Jung Soo-ryeong nodded.
“Yep. This is Writer Kang Chul-soo, who wrote ‘Rental Lover’.”
Kang Rojun, who had been briefly lost in Choi Rina’s smile, finally ca to his senses.
“...Hello.”
“Nice to et you, Writer-nim. I finished reading your script in one day, it was that good.”
Top actress Choi Rina complinted his writing, what he had thought of as garbage words. A rush of adrenaline flooded Rojun, and as he grabbed his teacup, PD Jung Soo-ryeong chid in.
“How’d you even get to read it?”
“I asked my CEO-nim to show anything that cos from you, PD-nim.”
"That's scary, really scary."
“Oh, co on. I was just surprised. PD-nim suddenly doing a one-act drama?”
“Well, that’s how it turned out. So? What's the reason our Ms. Choi suddenly wanted to et?"
Choi Rina tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned slightly forward. As Rojun caught a pleasant fragrance, the top actress Choi Rina smiled with her eyes and said,
“PD-nim, I want to do ‘Rental Lover’.”
Kang Rojun blinked several tis. His mind temporarily stopped functioning.
‘...Huh?’
*****
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