Chapter 60
Da-eun stood at the front by the teacher’s desk, with Jung-ah and Tae-hyung taking their places on either side of her.
“Oh—Tae-hyung! Long time no see!”
“Wow, except for your eyes, there’s almost nothing left of how you looked as a kid. You didn’t get work done or anything, did you?”
The attention immediately went to Tae-hyung, who had been active since his days as a child actor.
“I just did the best cosmetic surgery there is—dieting,” he replied smoothly.
Thanks to the stabilizer, Tae-hyung was a little more relaxed, slipping naturally into the casual-speech concept and answering with playful nonchalance.
It really had been a diet that shaved off flesh and bone. He’d cut down even his food portions while training in a military unit with a heavy regimen, completely changing his build.
He hadn’t been chubby before, but his baby fat gave him a youthful look. It seemed he’d gone through truly brutal management to get rid of it.
“Is this Jung-ah’s first variety show? Why are you shaking so much?”
“Ugh, seriously. I drank a stabilizer earlier, but I’m still so nervous.”
“Why are you using honorifics with your friends?”
“Oh! Sorry— I mean, sorry.”
Jung-ah’s completely flustered state sent laughter rippling through the room.
“But I’ve always been curious about Da-eun,” said one of the older cast members sitting in the front, suddenly piping up. “Do you have, like, multiple souls? Do you swap them out every time you act?”
Beside him, another bespectacled cast member jokingly took off his glasses and pretended to be Young-yi’s drunken father.
“Yaaah! I told you to put out some snacks! How can there not even be ramen?!”
Da-eun burst out laughing at the ridiculous imitation.
As of the recording date, only episode one had aired the day before, but thankfully it seemed everyone had watched it.
“You’re really good at acting. This isn’t your second life or something, right? You didn’t win an Oscar in your past life, did you?”
At that moment, another cast member in the back stood up, pretending to check the time on an invisible watch.
“No time. Let’s wrap up the shoot quickly. The next episode of Just, Love airs soon. I’m dying to see it—I have to go watch.”
His utterly sincere expression made even the staff laugh.
It wasn’t based on the broadcast schedule, but the recording date—he was saying he wanted to watch episode two airing today.
“Alright, alright. The enrollment application!”
“Have Young-yi transform into a grandma and bring it! I want to see the acting!”
It was a sudden, unscripted request. Jung-ah nearly jumped out of her skin and turned to Da-eun. She hated it when they made someone act out of the blue like this!
Da-eun’s eyes went wide as she half-hid her face behind the application form.
They expected her to be flustered, but—
“Ugh, those rotten brats. Ordering an old granny around.”
Instantly transforming into a grandma, Da-eun’s quick response sent the room into raucous laughter.
The cast member who was supposed to receive the application hurried over and held out his hand.
“Oh—Grandma, I’m so sorry.”
“You know that, and you still act like that?”
When Da-eun pulled the application back and perfectly mimicked an old comedian’s famous catchphrase, the older cast members burst out laughing again.
“Wow! She really is on her second life!”
“Hey, Kang Da-eun! How old are you, really?!”
At that moment, another cast member who’d been waiting to receive the application awkwardly tried to explain.
“I mean, I wasn’t the one who ordered her around—it was this guy.”
“Oh my, was it?”
Grinning slyly, Da-eun handed over the application. Since the recipient played along so well, the energy soared. Jung-ah and Tae-hyung stared, mouths agape in admiration.
The cast member returned to his seat with the application and said, “Wow. Da-eun’s good.”
“Seriously—great acting, and she’s got variety sense too.”
When Da-eun reverted to her shy demeanor, the cast members watched her with amazed expressions.
Then, from the very back, a cast member who’d been quietly observing tossed out a line.
“Feels good getting lifted up like that, huh?”
His tone—slightly provocative—was his trademark. Newcomers often struggled to respond, and more than once the mood had turned awkward because of it.
Just as the main MC was about to step in after seeing Jung-ah and Tae-hyung’s startled faces—
“Oh yeah. The ride’s super smooth. Give me another lift, just once more.”
Da-eun shot back with impeccable timing and sincerity, instantly softening what could’ve become a stiff moment.
She’s really good, the main MC clicked his tongue in admiration as he carried on.
It wasn’t just the cast who were impressed. The staff cheered at Da-eun’s quick wit and actions, and it was clear Jung-ah was gradually relaxing, while Tae-hyung—secretly burdened as the only veteran among them—looked relieved.
The three of them had great chemistry; this episode was bound to turn out well.
Especially Kang Da-eun. Calm and grounded, yet knowing exactly when to jump in and when to step back—her sense was exceptional. She’d easily carry an episode on her own later.
As time passed, the cast grew more comfortable, and the banter improved.
The actors’ variety-show personas didn’t clash much with the tone of the drama Just, Love, either. After the variety show aired, a significant number of viewers flowed over to the drama.
The corners of the MBS drama director’s mouth lifted higher by the day, while the SBC drama director—who hadn’t managed to maintain interest after Show Window White Paper—looked increasingly miserable.
A week later, the SBC drama director was bowing deeply in front of the company president.
The reason he couldn’t even lift his chopsticks at the expensive Japanese restaurant was because Hong Mu-seok, CEO of Miracle Entertainment, was seated beside them.
The SBC president shook his head gravely and spoke.
“You get backed by President Hong here from the start of the year, and you squander it all in the second quarter?”
“I’m sorry.”
Honestly, it would’ve been better if he’d yelled. Being calmly reprimanded like this was far more terrifying. The SBC drama director suppressed a sigh and racked his brain.
Starting with Show Window White Paper in Q1, SBC’s dramas had clearly been beating MBS in ratings through Q2.
Then MBS abruptly ended their Q2 drama early.
And right after that, they aired Just, Love, starring the well-received rookie Kang Da-eun and Son Tae-hyung, a former child actor freshly discharged from the military.
In an instant, the tables had turned.
Since writer Hwang Eun-jin—known for rom-coms—had delivered a serious script this time, he’d honestly thought SBC would still have the edge even if the broadcast date moved up. But as of yesterday, with episode four aired, Just, Love had already hit a 20% rating.
Hands clasped, the SBC drama director fidgeted, lips parting and closing.
How on earth could they turn the tide back?
Just, Love, which had started late in Q2, looked poised to dominate buzz well into Q3. Even he, as a rival network’s drama director, had found it entertaining.
In this business, if it’s fun, that’s the end of it. He thought of SBC’s upcoming Q3 and Q4 dramas.
…Yeah. Doesn’t look like we have a chance.
If I say this year’s a wash and we’ll try again next year, that plate in front of me is probably going to fly straight at my head, right?
Groaning inwardly, the person who saved the suffering director was none other than Hong Mu-seok.
“The buzz has already shifted their way—it won’t be easy to reverse it. But.”
But?
Sensing a possible solution, both the SBC president and the drama director focused on Hong.
“We can turn it into a mud fight.”
“A mud fight…”
Meaning, throw some dirty water on a meal that’s already done.
But did they even have material for that? As the puzzled SBC president and director exchanged glances, Hong leaned forward and whispered quietly.
“They say Kang Da-eun is dating Jung Si-won?”
“Gasp…!”
Jung Si-won—the actor who’d starred with Kang Da-eun last year in We Must, Without Fail?!
On-set romances weren’t uncommon. If this scandal broke, it would definitely put the brakes on Just, Love’s skyrocketing ratings.
Eyes gleaming, the SBC president poured warm sake for Hong and spoke.
“So—should we tail them with paparazzi or something?”
Accepting the drink, Hong poured sake back for the president, lifting an eyebrow.
“Mmm. I already have the evidence.”
At Hong’s relaxed smile, the SBC president’s face bloomed.
“Ahahaha! Incredible! President Hong! I’ll treat tonight—eat as much as you like!”
With the mood brightened, the SBC drama director’s expression finally eased.
“When the article breaks, just give it big coverage on SBC’s entertainment programs.”
“Oh, that’s no problem at all!”
The SBC president laughed heartily, assuring him not to worry.
At that same time, Da-eun was at the MBS drama department to meet PD Do Young-soo.
“PD-nim.”
“Oh, Ms. Da-eun.”
It was late at night. Do, who looked like he’d stepped out in the middle of editing, dark circles under his eyes, greeted her.
“So—our drama’s been doing amazingly well lately, right?”
Despite the grueling schedule, Do Young-soo’s face was glowing from the soaring ratings. As he walked somewhere with Da-eun, he continued.
“The higher-ups want to release another OST album.”
Hearing that, Da-eun recalled how, in her past life, an additional OST album had been released when the drama succeeded.
“The songs are great. We were thinking—how about you sing one, Da-eun? What do you think?”
