Chapter 100

100. The Things That Come with Popularity

Jinhyuk greeted Minyoung's friends, who were staring at him with shocked expressions.

"Hello."

"……"

The girls froze, unable to respond. One of the friends finally managed to speak, but only stammered.

"A, a, t, that, no, I, I, that…."

She was too flustered to form a coherent sentence. She just turned her gaze to Minyoung, as if on the verge of tears.

Minyoung spoke to Jinhyuk.

"How did you end up coming to school today?"

"I've been coming to class all along."

"People said they didn't see you much at school, though?"

"It's only been a week. I only registered for the minimum credits this semester due to some circumstances, and my classes are all on the same days. Plus, I had to leave right after class."

"Ah."

While Minyoung naturally conversed with Jinhyuk, her friends, who had finally regained their composure, spoke up.

"U, um, please, sit here."

"Ah, yes. Excuse me for a moment."

"No, no! Don't be! It's not an inconvenience at all!"

One of the girls shouted, then looked surprised at her own voice.

Minyoung introduced Jinhyuk to her friends.

"These are my friends from the department. This is Jeon Jinhee, and this is Ko Da-young."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Woo Jinhyuk."

"Ha!"

Minyoung burst out laughing at Jinhyuk's greeting.

"Guys, he's a member of your fan club."

"Really?"

The two girls nodded vigorously, as if they had rehearsed it. Jinhyuk smiled and said,

"Thank you."

"We should be the ones thanking you."

Jeon Jinhee, a fan club member since High School 2, said with tears in her eyes,

"But, with Minyoung…."

"Oh, we're high school friends. Very close friends… right, Minyoung? Very close, right?"

"I guess so."

"Me too. I was just wondering if you thought differently."

Jinhyuk said to the two friends,

"We've never really agreed on how close we are. But yes, very close friends."

Jinhyuk's playful smile almost made the two fans faint.

"But… we're all in the same year and the same age, so let's drop the formalities."

At Minyoung's suggestion, the two friends nodded vigorously again.

"Is that okay…?"

"Of course. If you're Minyoung's friend, you're my friend too."

"Kyaa—!"

Ko Da-young let out a scream, almost a shriek, and quickly covered her mouth.

Minyoung, smiling at her friend's reaction, asked Jinhyuk,

"What classes do you have today?"

"Actually, I don't have any classes today. I just stopped by the club before going to a shoot."

"You joined a club?! Oh, no, you did?"

"Yep. Today."

"What club?"

Jeon Jinhee and Ko Da-young, with their ears perked up, looked at Jinhyuk.

"HUSC, the shooting club."

"Shooting club!"

The two girls' eyes sparkled.

"Um, I'll be back from the restroom in a moment."

"Me too."

"You too?"

"Why, can't I go to the restroom?"

Sparks flew in the eyes of Jeon Jinhee and Ko Da-young. But soon, Jinhee nodded.

"Sure. We're friends, after all."

"Right, right. Sisters. Let's go."

The two girls dashed off in the direction opposite the nearest restroom, toward the shooting club's office.

"……"

Watching the two girls disappear, Minyoung said to Jinhyuk,

"They seem like good kids. I met them during O.T."

"They do."

Jinhyuk smiled and asked,

"How's school?"

"It's only been a week. But it's nice to have more free time as a college student…."

Minyoung continued with a somewhat wistful expression.

"I liked high school 1st and 2nd year better. When we could see each other every day."

"Us? Min-woo?"

"Uh? Jinhyuk, you're cracking jokes now?"

It was obvious. When Jinhyuk talked a lot and made jokes, it meant he was immersed in a role and influenced by it without realizing it.

Of course, Minyoung didn't know this.

"Has Jinhyuk changed since becoming a college student?"

"Is that so…?"

Minyoung chuckled and continued,

"But. How can everyone know except him?"

"He can't know."

Jinhyuk's response made Minyoung frown.

"Know what?"

"Like you said. Everyone knows. He's just dense. He'll figure it out eventually."

"Oh, stop joking… What did Min-woo say…?"

Jinhyuk shook his head. Minyoung, taking a short breath, said to Jinhyuk,

"But you don't have to say it for him to know."

"What?"

"But. I can't confess. It was one thing back then, but it's different now."

Minyoung looked at Jinhyuk with a puzzled expression.

"Try to keep in touch. Minyoung asked about you."

"Why can't he contact me first?"

"He seems simple, but he's more complicated than you think, that Min-woo."

While Minyoung was lost in thought, Jinhyuk said,

"Minyoung, I should go now. I have some time."

"Huh? Oh…."

"Let's visit Min-woo's school sometime. He might be lonely."

"Tch! Lonely? He's probably already made a bunch of friends and is having a great time."

Minyoung suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of anger. Seeing this, Jinhyuk just smiled.

"So. You're not going?"

"What? Who said I'm not going?"

"Okay. I'll check my schedule and contact you. I'm off."

"Okay. Take care. Good job."

Jinhyuk stood up.

'Well, this should be enough.'

Jinhyuk, who had promised not to interfere in the love affairs of teenagers, thought.

But now, they were past the teenage years.

As a friend, this much was enough.

Jinhyuk glanced at Minyoung and headed toward the parking lot.

Minyoung stared at her phone, then picked it up as if making a decision.

Ding. Ding.

– Wow! Kim Minyoung! What's up? Of course you miss me, right? Hahaha!

The simple and cheerful voice of Do Min-woo rang out.

Of course. A complicated person, indeed.

'Hey, Do Min-woo. Did you break a finger? Why didn't you ask me directly instead of asking Jinhyuk about me?'

She thought this but couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Just wondering how you're doing."

– I'm doing great, of course! The dorm already feels like home.

"That's good. I'm glad."

– …Why, is something wrong with you?

"What's wrong?"

– But why does your voice sound so weak?

At Do Min-woo's words, something welled up in Minyoung's chest.

"Not weak! I'm doing great! Eating well, living well! Really, completely."

– ……

"Why? What?"

– Well, if you're doing great, I don't have much to say.

"Phew. Okay. I'll hang up then."

– W, wait… doing great.

"You too."

Just as Minyoung was about to hang up,

– Hey! Wait a moment!

"What?"

– Ah, t, that, thank you for calling.

"Tch. Take care. Don't just eat ramen and bread in the dorm. Eat proper meals."

– Got it. Got it.

"Hanging up."

Minyoung's face showed an indescribable emotion as she put down her phone.

At that moment,

"Hey, Minyoung. Did Jinhyuk leave?"

Jeon Jinhee and Ko Da-young, who had just returned, looked around and asked.

"Yeah, just now."

"Geez, because of those seniors!"

"Seniors?"

"Not the seniors, the shooting club seniors. They were just pretending to be reluctant, but they'll accept you quickly, you know."

Ko Da-young agreed, indignant.

"Those seniors are just teasing us on purpose, I bet."

"Definitely. They must have accepted Jinhyuk too. They think they're the bosses."

"Geez. If they had come sooner, we could have seen Jinhyuk before he left!"

Seeing the two girls' indignation, Minyoung thought maybe the shooting club seniors were really in a difficult position.

Jeon Jinhee suddenly shouted at Minyoung,

"Hey! Minyoung! Why didn't you tell us you were such close friends with Jinhyuk, such a major fact!"

"Ah… well, it's just… I didn't want to brag…."

"Why? Why? If it were me, I'd tell everyone, even distant relatives. Wait, wait, does that mean you have Jinhyuk's personal phone number?"

"Uh?"

Kim Minyoung looked at her two friends in surprise. Then she narrowed her eyes.

"That's not happening. If you try, we're done. Jinhyuk can give it to you himself, but I can't."

"Ugh… that's too much…."

Minyoung quickly changed the subject.

"So, you joined the shooting club?"

"Uh? Oh! Of course. We even lay down on the floor of their office. The seniors were at a loss… Hehe."

The two girls, who seemed to have lost their spirit, suddenly perked up and shouted,

"Kyaa! We're in the same club as Jinhyuk! Kyaa—! What a beautiful campus! I'm so glad to be alive!"

"Studying to get into Korea University was the best decision of my life!"

The two girls held hands and spun around. Minyoung chuckled.

"Wow. A lot happened in the restroom."

Hearing Minyoung's mutter, Jeon Jinhee asked,

"Huh? What did you say, Minyoung?"

"Nothing, nothing. Keep spinning."

Minyoung smiled at the two girls.

***

TVC Drama "Chaebol Prosecutor" Press Conference.

"Mr. Woo Jinhyuk, there has been some public opinion that you came to TVC as a newcomer just for the high pay. What do you think about that?"

Jinhyuk smiled and said,

"To be honest, will everyone believe me?"

It's not about the pay. Do Min-woo predicted it. No one will believe that.

"My decision to join this project has nothing to do with the pay. However, if I strongly deny it, it might be unfair to those who make decisions based on pay. I understand that salary is an important factor when choosing a job."

Another reporter asked,

"Yoon Chulgi from the Cultural Daily. Mr. Jinhyuk, you accurately predicted the highest rating of the last drama at 53.3%, which caused a huge buzz. Can the cast predict the highest rating for this drama?"

The actors took turns answering.

"Um, I'll pass. I hope it does well."

"5% would be great, but realistically, 3% would be amazing."

"I'll go with 3%… no, 5%. I hope it does well."

Coincidentally, the microphone came to Jinhyuk last, and everyone looked at him with interest.

"I have a confession to make."

Jinhyuk's unexpected words made people even more interested.

"The 53.3% last time was just a prediction by my best friend."

People's faces, who had been eagerly waiting for a confession, showed disappointment.

"I'll trust my friend this time too. He said it will exceed 15%."

"Ha-ha-ha!!"

The reporters, cast, and production team all laughed heartily.

15%.

Cable dramas had never exceeded 5%.

Even with the success of "Hong Gil-dong," 15% would be a good rating for terrestrial TV.

If we consider realism, 15% would be about three to four times harder than "Hong Gil-dong's" 53.3%.

In short, 15% for a cable drama was an unrealistic number.

Everyone thought Jinhyuk was making a big joke using his friend as an excuse.

The press conference ended with everyone's hearty laughter.

"Hey, Kim. How are you?"

"Same old. What about you?"

"Is your editor still like that?"

"Of course. Does a person change at his age?"

DaySports reporter Kim Sang-guk frowned at his colleague's words.

"True. People don't change."

"Ugh. He was even pushing me to get an exclusive interview with Woo Jinhyuk yesterday…."

"Woo Jinhyuk? He gives exclusive interviews?"

"Exactly. He said I couldn't do it. He's never given an exclusive interview before."

The colleague reporter looked interested.

"Woo Jinhyuk is really something, isn't he? Every project he's in is a hit. Even that surprise appearance on Music Box… what was it, 'Let's watch together'?"

"Let's watch together."

"Right. Even that was a hit. Not to mention dramas and variety shows."

The reporter, the more he thought about it, the more amazed he looked.

"Usually, they'd do anything to get their face out there. He doesn't appear on variety shows much, even as a newcomer, and doesn't do many interviews, but every project he does is a hit."

"Arrogant."

"Huh?"

DaySports reporter Kim Sang-guk frowned and continued,

"It's just that he's been lucky from the start. But when someone keeps succeeding, they start to think it's because they're good, not just lucky."

While the words seemed plausible, they didn't apply to Jinhyuk.

First, Jinhyuk's talent and effort were too significant to call it just luck. More importantly, Jinhyuk never thought he succeeded because he was good.

His success was built on the incredible miracle of a second life. He couldn't be arrogant; he was just grateful. That was Jinhyuk's view of his success.

Even if that weren't the case, Jinhyuk's personality was not one to be arrogant about his abilities.

Kim Sang-guk's malicious words were purely out of personal feelings.

He was frustrated by his editor's pressure. Jinhyuk kept refusing exclusive interviews, and the reason was annoying.

So, in a sense, Jinhyuk was just a target for his anger. A noble hypocrisy, packaging very primitive malice in a plausible argument.

"So. It's funny. He's only twenty, right? At twenty, with such luck, he probably thinks he can conquer the world. Arrogant guy."

His words, filled with deep annoyance, contrasted sharply with the typical newbies who bowed deeply in front of reporters.

"Hey. Look at what he said this time. 15% is his goal. Does that make sense? They've never even hit 5%."

He never said it was a goal. He just said it was his friend's prediction.

The other reporter thought this but didn't add to it, seeing how agitated Kim Sang-guk was.

"It's time for him to fall. I've never seen arrogant kids succeed. This time, if the ratings don't come in, I'll write an article to crush him. Then he'll realize he needs to be humble to reporters."

When someone succeeds, there are always people who get annoyed, whether they're reporters or netizens.

– Come on, 15%? That's ridiculous.

└ It's a bit exaggerated.

└ Not a bit. It's completely exaggerated.

└ He said his friend predicted it. From the atmosphere, it seemed like a joke. No need to exaggerate.

– Hearing that he's doing it for the money. Isn't it just to make it seem like he's writing cable TV history? Talking about 15%?

└ Yeah.

Amidst Jinhyuk's explosive popularity, there were also many controversies and issues.

Drama "Chaebol Prosecutor" D-1