SCT-Novel Chapter 108: Four People (10)
Chapter 108: Four People (10)
The final evaluation performance of 'Produce That 100!' and the first broadcast of 'Rental Lover' overlapped. 'Rental Lover' was scheduled to start today at 7:45 PM, and right after it ended, 'Produce That 100!' would air at 9 PM.'Are people really going to watch 'Rental Lover' on TV? I'm seriously nervous.'
It felt like just yesterday that the shoot happened. No, that his script had won the SBC One-Act Drama Script Contest. And now, somehow, it was already time for the first broadcast. 'Produce That 100!' was heading into its final voting stage, and 'Rental Lover' had Kang Rojun participating as the writer, actor, and even in the OST.
Since he had significant stakes in both, even though they were on different channels, Kang Rojun was filled with anticipation for the two programs that were sure to hit back-to-back.
'What will the reaction be??'
How would people view my, our, final evaluation performance? Will they say it was good? They could also say it wasn’t much. What about 'Rental Lover'? He hoped people say the writing was good and that, as an actor, the acting wasn’t bad. Honestly, Rojun wasn’t too worried about the acting part. After all, it was acting he had learned through ‘AI Automation’.
So many thoughts crossed his mind, but ultimately, there was nothing he could do but wait for now.
'Time’s moving so damn slow today.'
It was like, how should he put it, the feeling of being the day before a long-awaited trip. Kang Rojun exhaled shortly and tried to calm his mind.
At this time.
Outside the 'Produce That 100!' campus, both online and offline were buzzing with today's breaking news.
《‘Rental Lover', the debut work of ‘Writer Rojun’, now with ‘Culture Drawer', premieres today.》
Most of it was related to Kang Rojun.
《[Hot Issue] From ‘Produce That 100!’ Final Performance to the First Broadcast of ‘Rental Lover’... So Much to Watch This Friday Night!》
《Key Viewing Points for the First Broadcast of ‘Rental Lover', Confirmed for Netflix Japan Launch? Female Lead ‘Choi Rina’ and ‘Rojun’》
《"As soon as ‘Rental Lover’ ends, I’m watching ‘Produce That 100!", Rojun fans already buzzing》
Of course, there were also quite a few negative articles.
《From Writer to Actor to OST, ‘Rental Lover’ Overloaded with ‘Rojun’ Issues... Is it Just Shiny with No Substance?》
《[Today’s TV] With ‘Rental Lover’ First Broadcast, Some Netizens Say, "Let’s be honest, Rojun’s all about his looks"》
With the press like this, it was only natural that public opinion wouldn’t be quiet.
-Ha…… Finally get to watch Rental Lover!!!
-Gotta order some chicken right after work today ㅋㅋㅋㅋ First broadcast of Rental Lover and then Produce That 100!
-Rental Lover looks like it’ll be fun.... But I don’t have high expectations for Rojun’s acting.....
-↑This user’s a subtle Rojun hater, so let's just ignore them
-I mean come on, how could he be good when it’s his first time acting ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-With Rojun’s visuals, even bad acting’s fine!!!
-What, another idol trying to act now?
-He’s not even an official idol yet ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ getting ahead of himself
-The lurking morons are starting to crawl out now
-It’s so obvious they gave him a small role just because of his buzz and looks, so why even debate his acting skills ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-If Rojun ends up acting well too, the morons will just scratch their bellies and look for another target
Many entertainment insiders also focused on Rojun.
“Now that it’s the day of, the hate comments have really increased, but Rojun’s hook factor is no joke.”
“With that much aggro, he’s already gone beyond just being a rising star.”
"But will Rojun's mentality be okay?? This is probably the first time he's seen this level of hate comments."
“He’s probably having a hard time. Maybe the ‘Produce That 100!’ side is blocking him from seeing any public reaction.”
Most entertainment people reacted similarly, but what they feared was never going to happen. Because Kang Rojun didn’t care at all about hate comments.
No matter what, every entertainment company, including broadcasters and the entertainment industry at large.
《Can ‘Rojun’ from ‘Produce That 100!’ Silence the Acting Controversy as an Actor, Not an Idol?》
The spike in public interest was undeniable.
That same day, in the afternoon.
It was around 7:40 PM. Many people had probably turned on the SBC channel, whether on TV or their phones. The media, the public of course, people from the 'Produce That 100!' campus and various entertainment insiders. S-Class top actress Choi Rina and several other actors too.
The reason was simple.
Because in about five minutes, the first broadcast of 'Rental Lover' would hit the airwaves.
More than anything, the side that recently signed a contract with Kang Rojun, 'Culture Drawer', was bustling with activity. Executives and employees who even postponed their clock-out time gathered in the office or the break room with a large TV.
“Uh- how do you think it’ll go?? It has to be fun, right? It absolutely has to be fun.”
“I monitored reactions all day today, and there were quite a few hate comments. Most of them were tearing apart Writer Rojun’s acting skills. It was a total mess.”
“What are people even expecting from someone who’s just now showing presence in the entertainment industry?? He was a regular civilian just a few months ago. Isn’t it enough that he’s an idol who’s also a writer? He can improve his acting over time.”
“That’s what I’m saying. With that face, not acting would be a waste, wouldn’t it?”
“Is it a given now that Writer Rojun’s acting will be disappointing?”
“Ah, no, I didn’t mean that.”
"If he's even good at acting, it would feel less- human??"
“Even putting acting aside! As long as the content of ‘Rental Lover’ is entertaining, that’s enough! The OST is Writer-nim’s main field, so that’ll be good no matter what.”
While dozens of employees were chattering away with their own thoughts.
-Swish.
A woman with a bob cut and modest appearance entered the spacious break room. At her appearance, the gathered employees gasped and stood up abruptly.
“Wr-Writer-nim!”
“CEO-nim, what brings you here!”
“What brings you to the office so late-”
It was Writer Han Seo-ryeong, co-CEO of 'Culture Drawer' and one of the country’s star writers. She pushed up her glasses and smiled faintly.
“Sit, sit. No need to make a fuss. I came to see CEO Heo, but since it’s about time for ‘Rental Lover’ to start, I figured everyone would be here, so I dropped by. I can watch with you, right??”
“Of course!! Please, sit over here!”
Writer Han Seo-ryeong was guided to an S-class spot right in front of the large TV, where she sat with her handbag on her lap.
“Our ‘Writer Rojun’ must really be hot right now. I haven’t seen everyone crowd around the TV like this in a while.”
Dozens of employees scratched their heads awkwardly. At that moment.
“Oh! The commercials are over!”
The TV tuned to SBC finished the commercials and shifted to a black screen. Without any characters appearing, rustling sound effects filled the room. Writer Han Seo-ryeong and all the employees fixed their gazes on the TV. A few seconds later, the rustling stopped and the screen showed a messy room.
A room so full of trash it clearly looked like a shut-in lived there.
A woman was sprawled out in the middle of it.
It was Choi Rina, playing the female lead Lee Da-eun of 'Rental Lover'. As she appeared in a complete wreck of a state, the 'Culture Drawer' employees murmured quietly in admiration.
“Wow- Rina-ssi’s really gone all in.”
The response came from Writer Han Seo-ryeong, whose smile deepened.
“She’s the type who’d put everything on the line except her life when it comes to acting, so something like this is nothing to her.”
On-screen, Choi Rina was scratching her greasy, unwashed hair and obsessively tapping away at her phone. She had no particular goal or purpose, just killing time. Then, an ad phrase caught her eye.
-[“Rental Lover? What’s this.”]
After finishing that line, Choi Rina’s character pondered for a day before eventually calling the number listed in the ad. A highly professional female voice answered and asked about her desired lover’s appearance and other preferences.
The next day, a lover actually arrived at Choi Rina’s house.
With a tall height and a handsome face, he matched exactly what Choi Rina had described. He was 'Lover No. 1'. Choi Rina, caught in a mix of confusion, bewilderment, shock, and awkwardness, spent time with 'Lover No. 1'.
But 'Lover No. 1', who seemed perfect, had a problem.
-[“What’s that smell??!”]
He had such a severe smell that it was hard to endure. Poop smell? Body odor?
Around this point, while watching 'Rental Lover', Writer Han Seo-ryeong silently gave Choi Rina the highest praise.
‘Rina, your acting has improved even more.’
The nearby 'Culture Drawer' employees shared the same sentiment.
“As expected- Rina-ssi’s acting is really good.”
“She’s not just any actress, she’s Choi Rina.”
Afterward, the show proved to be quite entertaining, and both Writer Han Seo-ryeong and the employees were completely absorbed in 'Rental Lover'. Not a single person left their seat. Around the 30-minute mark, even while still with 'Lover No. 1', Choi Rina requested 'Lover No. 2'. Soon, a chaotic episode featuring both 'Lover No. 1' and 'Lover No. 2' unfolded.
The 'Culture Drawer' break room occasionally erupted in laughter.
-[“All he’s got is a decent build! They’re each missing a screw!! One reeks so bad it stings the nose, and the second one is so frail he just collapses all the time!!”]
On TV, Choi Rina ended up eliminating 'Lover No. 1', and while with 'Lover No. 2', she summoned 'Lover No. 3'. She began to show behavior close to addiction. This time, 'Lover No. 3' was a man overloaded with kindness and cuteness to the extreme.
But even 'Lover No. 3' revealed his flaws after a few meetings.
-[“He’s- just way too cute!!”]
'Lover No. 3' was no different from a puppy begging for snacks. Still, the female lead endured and continued to meet with her lovers. Honestly, aside from their flaws, their looks and everything else were top-notch.
That was roughly one hour in.
As the ending neared, some 'Culture Drawer' employees glanced at the time and began to speak up.
“Ah, is Writer Rojun not going to appear in episode 1??”
“That’s possible. Writer-nim’s role was ‘Lover No. 4', right?”
“So we have to wait until next week?”
“Phew- but isn’t ‘Rental Lover’ itself super fun?”
“Supeeer fun! Time just flew by.”
“Writer-nim’s writing is seriously amazing.”
At that moment, a scene showed Choi Rina clutching her head in her room. Then her line came.
-[“Just one more. Let’s just call one more. What number is it? The fourth? I’ll stop after this one.”]
With the situation hinting at the arrival of 'Lover No. 4', the eyes of the 'Culture Drawer' employees widened.
“Oooh, is ‘Writer Rojun’ coming out now??”
“Feels like it, doesn’t it?”
“This pacing is seriously fast.”
“Oh my god, why am I nervous about Writer-nim’s appearance?”
On the TV, Choi Rina applies for her fourth lover. In other words, 'Lover No. 4'. Her request was for someone without any of the flaws seen so far.
-[“Seriously! I want someone so insanely super handsome that my jaw drops, who smells good, has a great and strong body, isn’t just cute but also has a distinct masculine aura! Oh, and he has to give me unlimited affection!!”]
With addiction came growing greed in the female lead. But even this request was accepted by the 'Rental Lover' company. A few days later, a knock sounded at Choi Rina’s now slightly cleaned-up home. Choi Rina, who had been lying down, sat up with a start and straightened her messy hair.
-[“He’s here, he’s here.”]
Clearing her throat, she said something like ‘Coming-’ and opened the front door. The camera angle changed from showing her back and the door to the view from outside, as if seeing her directly. Choi Rina’s gaze slowly moved from the chest of the man standing there up to his face.
Her eyes, nose, and mouth gradually widened.
Soon, from the angle showing her face-on, the sound of formal shoes stepping forward could be heard, and the camera panned from the man’s side and hips to his full backside in a suit. Then, a frozen Choi Rina and the tall man standing by the shoe rack were captured in the same frame.
The 'Culture Drawer' break room fell silent.
Everyone was holding their breath, staring at the TV. The camera on the TV moved slowly. A close-up of Choi Rina’s face with her mouth wide open. She finally managed to speak.
-[“...L-Lover No. 4??”]
But the man who had arrived didn’t reply.
-[“......”]
The screen angle suddenly shifted to reflect Choi Rina’s point of view, as if seeing the man’s face through her eyes. Filling the TV screen was the face of 'Lover No. 4'. Slicked-back pomade hair, a devastatingly handsome face, flawless skin, subtly decadent eyes, and a perfectly tailored suit.
It was Kang Rojun.
The 'Culture Drawer' employees gasped and murmured in awe as if they were under a spell.
“......Wow-”
“His visuals are just... wow, all I can do is gasp.”
“He already looked unreal on ‘Produce That 100!', but with professional hair and makeup and a drama-grade camera... this is god-tier.”
“I can’t believe that face actually exists in real life, even seeing it with my own eyes.”
Writer Han Seo-ryeong, who was also entranced by Rojun’s face, felt the same.
‘Seriously... the word ‘absurd’ suits this face perfectly. A visual like a fantasy character. He’d be a perfect fit even as a dreamlike figure in a story.’
'Rental Lover' seemed to deliberately give ample time for viewers to fully admire Kang Rojun’s face, offering an extended close-up. Only after that did any movement begin.
-Swish.
Kang Rojun no, 'Lover No. 4', looked at Choi Rina. Something deep settled in his eyes. A thick, indescribable emotion. A stickiness swirled in his gaze. His calm expression and gaze direction remained unchanged. Only his pupils carried a shift.
-[“......”]
Yes, they were the eyes one shows when sharing raw emotion with someone they truly care for. That Kang Rojun now filled the TV screen. After staring at Choi Rina for a moment, Rojun or 'Lover No. 4', raised his right hand and gently stroked the matted hair of the frozen female lead. There was no hesitation, only certainty. Choi Rina, her pupils dilated, appeared briefly on-screen before cutting back to Kang Rojun.
Before they knew it, he was smiling with eyes full of affection and delight.
In that moment, in the hearts of the dozens of 'Culture Drawer' employees who sat there, slightly open-mouthed and at a loss for words and breath.
“......”
“......”
Something had flown in and pierced them. 'Lover No. 4'. No, it was a ticket sent by that fantastical being. The kind of ticket that might say, ‘Welcome to the world of fangirling.’
In 'Rental Lover', the affection in Kang Rojun’s eyes deepened further.
Feeling chills and tingles down her spine, the influential writer Han Seo-ryeong looked around at the frozen staff. Then she turned her gaze back to Rojun on the TV screen. Silently, she muttered to herself.
‘With just one glance, one smile with those eyes, he planted delusions in everyone here.’
An incredulous chuckle followed.
‘He created fantasy with just a few seconds of eye movement, and they’re talking about an acting controversy? Nonsense.’
Then, a song began to play from the TV. A familiar vocal quickly mixed in.
-♬♪
It was 'Lovers', the OST sung by Kang Rojun.
*****
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