-Only 10 hours left, and time isn't passing. It feels longer than two months.
-Going home! Only 3 hours left!
-Still 1 hour left, but I have KBC on lol. Haven't seen the 9 PM news in a while.
* * *
While waiting for the first broadcast of Naewon, the actors and staff gathered at a reserved meat restaurant. The agreed time was 9 PM, but the grill was already full of meat before that.
"Good thing we reserved at 8 PM. Why did you come so early?"
"Well, we knew Writer So would reserve early. We've known each other for a while, haven't we?"
At the camera director's words, Writer So Eun-jin smiled and looked around the noisy restaurant. Everyone was grinning and holding their drinks.
"I've never been this relaxed about ratings before."
"Didn't you say a lot of ads came in?"
"Yes. A lot of ads, so help yourselves!"
There was still a lot of filming left, but with four days of vacation remaining, everyone was enjoying the party, drinking and eating to their heart's content.
PD Choi Min-sung was at the station to watch the first episode of Naewon being properly broadcast.
Since Writer So told everyone to enjoy, they really were enjoying themselves.
"A lot of ads competed and even bought other time slots. I heard some huge companies got in, so the rerun ads will be crazy too."
"Indeed, Lee Seo-joon! Since this is your first drama after a year's break, you can't miss it! By the way, I heard Seo-joon is coming today?"
"Really? He's still in elementary school, isn't he? Isn't it his bedtime?"
"Is that so?"
When the staff looked disappointed, the door to the restaurant opened. At the jingling of the bell, Writer So Eun-jin turned around and shouted.
"Seo-joon is here! I didn't think he'd come!"
"Hello! Writer! I got permission from my parents!"
The staff, who were busy grilling beef, greeted Seo-joon. It was his first time joining a party so late, and he greeted the staff with an excited expression.
Just for one day! Just for one day, he asked to come in late, and Seo Eun-hye and Lee Min-joon, unable to resist, smiled and allowed it.
The three people sitting at one table waved and welcomed Seo-joon, standing up. Seo-joon, heading towards their table, tilted his head.
"Seo-joon, let's sit over there."
"Huh? Okay."
The three actors sat at a new table. The table was already set with dishes and side dishes.
What is this? Seo-joon blinked and sat next to Lee Ji-seok. Lee Ji-seok used tongs to place shiny beef on the hot grill.
Sizzle—
While listening to the sizzling sound of the cooking meat, Seo-joon thought about the difference between this table and the previous one and asked Lee Ji-seok.
"Hyung, why are we sitting here?"
"Oh, that side is for people who are drinking."
At Park Do-hoon's words, he looked again and saw that the middle of the restaurant was divided, with the other table full of bottles. The table where the three actors were sitting also had soju and beer bottles. This side only had bottles of soft drinks.
"Those who have work tomorrow or can't drink can eat here. If you don't want to drink over there, you can come here too."
It seemed Seo-joon was moved to this side because he was a child. I heard Uncle Jong-ho really likes to drink, is that okay?
"Got it. But hyung and uncle, you don't have to drink, right?"
"We drank early. It's the first broadcast, so we need to be sober to watch with Seo-joon. After Seo-joon goes home, we can drink."
"Ugh. Uncle, drink more?"
"Seo-joon, let's eat the meat. Jong-ho hyung is cooking it really well!"
Lee Ji-seok passed the tongs to Kim Jong-ho. Ignoring Park Do-hoon's disapproving look, Kim Jong-ho flipped the meat. The quickly cooked beef looked very delicious.
"Do you have to use me so much?"
"Didn't you say Seo-joon loves beef? When we meet, you said you'd cook until his stomach bursts?"
"Alright, alright!"
Even though he said that, Kim Jong-ho cooked the meat for Seo-joon with great care. He had only eaten a little in preparation for the party. [Slime's Digestive Ability] is also there! Seo-joon picked up the well-cooked meat with his chopsticks.
"Seems like a lot of ads were sold. Eating beef at a party."
"Since we promoted it early, other stations scheduled dramas with lower production costs. It's obvious that viewers will flock to our drama. Look, ads have been playing since the beginning."
At Kim Jong-ho's words, Seo-joon, who had eaten enough, looked at the TV in the restaurant.
It seemed to be a reserved restaurant, as a large TV was placed where most tables could see it.
As Kim Jong-ho said, ads played for quite a while.
"The internet is going crazy. Why are there so many ads?"
"Since it's a historical drama, they can't do PPL, so they're asking for at least some ads."
"Feels like they gathered all the top 10 companies for the ads?"
"Indeed."
The long parade of ads finally ended. The noisy restaurant quieted down as the Naewon OST played.
Dong-dong, the heavy drum sound was heard, and Seo-jin hyung's voice was heard.
"Good music!"
"Good visuals!"
Lee Ji-seok's face, Kim Jong-ho's face, and Lee Ji-hye's face passed by. Park Do-hoon's and other actors' faces too.
It was a strange feeling to see familiar faces on TV. A different feeling from movies. A different feeling from when I only knew Lee Ji-seok.
"Seo-joon's face isn't in the opening."
"They said they'll add it after he appears in the drama."
"Another commotion will happen."
The first episode was nothing special. Since they had already seen the content during filming, everyone paid little attention and enjoyed the party, drinking and eating to their heart's content. Writer So Eun-jin said PD Choi, who was at the station, was nervous and had worked hard on the editing, so they should at least watch a bit.
"Oh, I don't know."
"Ahaha, Writer So understands. We are watching it well!"
Lee Ji-seok said with a smile. Those who were still sober watched the TV while eating moderately.
"To be honest, during the first broadcast, you can't eat properly because you're worried about the ratings. Where else can you have such a relaxed first broadcast party?"
At the art team staff's words, everyone nodded. As the staff said, no one was worried about the ratings. Even if it didn't start well, it would definitely surge when Seo-joon appeared.
"All thanks to Seo-joon!"
"Right! Seo-joon, do you want more drinks... you're watching the drama."
Seo-joon's gaze was fixed on the TV, not making a sound. Everyone lowered their voices at his focused expression.
"Didn't you see the filming scenes? You read the script, right...?"
"It's different, isn't it? Besides, Seo-joon didn't see the scenes he filmed up to episode 4 because the Crown Prince Sungnyeong doesn't appear. He only saw the large-scale scenes like the coronation and funeral."
"Ah."
Everyone nodded at Lee Ji-seok's explanation. And Da-ho, who was at the manager's table and had to abstain from alcohol due to driving, suddenly looked at the quiet Seo-joon.
Oh, everyone was being considerate of Seo-joon, who was focused on the drama, and kept quiet. And Da-ho took out earphones and a phone from her bag and went to Seo-joon.
"Seo-joon, listen with this."
"Okay!"
I was already feeling guilty, but this is good. Seo-joon put on the earphones given by Andahao and watched the large TV in the restaurant.
The timing of the sound and the screen wasn't perfect, but it wasn't too inconvenient.
'Better than the phone screen.'
Andahao moved Seo-joon to a table where he wouldn't disturb others.
Seo-joon sat right in the middle of the drinkers and non-drinkers. The staff, who had been quiet, couldn't help but smile.
"Ah, isn't Seo-joon so cute?"
"Manager, can I take a picture of Seo-joon and post it on SNS?"
"Yes, it's fine since I already posted that he's joining the party."
At that, everyone took out their phones and took pictures of Seo-joon. A picture of Seo-joon, deeply engrossed in the drama, like a cat staring at an aquarium, was posted on SNS.
[Seo-joon, deeply engrossed in the drama during the party]
#Naewon1 #LeeSeojoon #NaewonParty
"Seo-joon is watching Naewon at the party venue."
"Really?"
Seo Eun-hye showed the phone picture to Lee Min-joon. The side profile of Seo-joon looking at the TV was captured.
Even from the picture, you could tell how focused he was on the drama.
"His eyes are sparkling."
"Right?"
It wasn't just the reflection of the light. Seo-joon always had a happy face when acting and watching productions. His black eyes sparkled like stars, and his soft cheeks turned red. He smiled as if he had the whole world.
"When Seo-joon has that face, I feel like I made the right decision to support his acting."
"I was a bit disappointed not seeing that face for a year."
"Right. Me too."
Although Seo-joon wasn't particularly unhappy or unhappy during the year-long break, he looked happiest when acting.
"Ah, we should watch the drama too. We need to talk to Seo-joon tomorrow."
"Most of it must have passed already."
The couple sat on the sofa and turned on the TV.
The first episode of Naewon was about Heo Yu-seon, the illegitimate son of Heo Daegam.
Heo Yu-seon introduced his childhood with a cold and calm monologue.
Chased out of Heo Daegam's house, Heo Yu-seon learned medicine from a village doctor. Heo Yu-seon filled his gaps with books and improved his skills, earning medical fees from people to live.
"Did the princess pass away?"
"Yes. So all the royal physicians are about to be dismissed!"
That conversation ignited a fire in Heo Yu-seon's heart. If he became a royal physician, he could take revenge on Heo Daegam and his wife, who had caused his mother's death.
There were many ways. He could reveal his dark past to the king when he gained his trust and seek punishment,
"Or he could poison the king's medicine and frame Heo Daegam for treason."
With a cold gaze, Heo Yu-seon, willing to risk his life for revenge, set his sights on the palace.
The screen paused, and the Naewon OST played. Seo-joon, listening to Seo-jin hyung's voice, took out the earphones.
It was fun. It was fun even reading the script, but watching it on screen was even more vivid and enjoyable.
'Ah, when will I appear? I really want to see it!'
His heart was pounding. PD Choi said Crown Prince Sungnyeong would appear in episode 5. With episodes 1 and 2 airing this week and 3 and 4 next week, there were still two weeks left. Oh, how will I wait! I can understand how the fans feel.
Seo-joon turned to look at the table where Lee Ji-seok was, smiling brightly.
"Ji-seok hyung, your acting was amazing!"
"Seo-joon, shh!"
Huh? Seo-joon's eyes widened.
After watching Naewon, he was so excited that he didn't notice the restaurant had gone quiet. The people who were laughing and drinking, and those who were eating expensive beef, were all looking at one place.
"Okay. Okay."
Writer So Eun-jin, who had been holding her phone since the end of Naewon, was talking to PD Choi Min-sung at the station. She looked surprised even as she spoke, her mouth wide open.
"21%! 21%! The highest rating was 22.3%!"
"Wow!"
Seo-joon's eyes widened as he realized the reason. It was because of the ratings!
"Our Seo-joon is the best!"
"Ahahaha, 21% on the first episode, I never thought it would be this high!"
Laughter and cheers erupted from all around, and Seo-joon, caught up in the excitement, smiled widely and raised his drink in a toast.
21%!
Cheers erupted from all around at the astonishing record.