Han Yejung, Jang Suhwan, and the rest of the staff could not hide their shock. They had all fallen for the stir-fried pork Kang Woojin had thrown together in no time at all.
"I'm seriously impressed. Oppa, this is stir-fried pork, right? Doesn't it look insanely good?"
"Wow! Wow!! It's so good! This is seriously the best!"
"Oppa! What is this??! Why does it taste this crazy?!"
"Wow! This is the best stir-fried pork I've ever had! Oppa, this is seriously, seriously delicious!"
"Hyung! This is good enough to sell for money!!"
"Then this one's mine."
"...So that means it's good."
It was not empty politeness. Their eyes were full of genuine feeling, and their chopsticks never stopped moving as they kept reaching for the pork.
"Wait, hold on! Wow, seriously! Oppa, give me more rice!!"
They shouted in excitement, but they were too busy stuffing the pork into their mouths to even slow down. Watching them, Kang Woojin felt a quiet satisfaction settle in his chest. Keeping his expression blank, he muttered to himself inwardly.
'Heh. So this is what it feels like to be a mom? This is pretty satisfying.'
Then he raised his voice.
"Eat slowly. There's more, so just let me know if you need anything."
This was the first dish Kang Woojin had ever cooked for other people.
And the response was overwhelmingly good.
At this rate, there would be no problem using it for Our Table or for YouTube content. He did not even need to worry about the menu. Kang Woojin's "recipes" contained all kinds of dishes anyway.
Right then—
"Wow, Woojin, this is seriously good. Since when did you even know how to cook…"
Choi Sunggeon, who had been greedily eating the stir-fried pork, trailed off. He had already prepared himself to accept almost anything related to Woojin. Even so, this was still shocking. Acting, singing, multiple foreign languages, even sign language. But cooking too? When had he learned that?
'The moment he thought of the menu, his hands started moving right away. His wok handling and knife work are at a professional level. The dish itself is good enough to sell, and the taste is unbelievable. This is way beyond survival cooking.'
But Kang Woojin, who was loosening his apron, answered simply.
"My mom is good at cooking. My dad is too."
Choi Sunggeon stared at him for a second.
"…So that means you can make other dishes too, right?"
"Yes."
That was enough.
Choi Sunggeon immediately slipped into workaholic mode.
"This is more than enough for content. There's no doubt about it. That part is certain. I think we should keep the concept exactly as it is now. Yejung, what do you think? And the rest of you too."
Han Yejung nodded while still chewing.
"I think that works. He cooks casually, but there's this unique twist to it, and the food ends up tasting incredible."
Another stylist quickly joined in.
"Right, right. What if he invited people over and cooked for them? If Woojin is going to cook comfortably, then the person eating should really enjoy it too."
Choi Sunggeon, who had been thinking, suddenly looked at Woojin.
"Could you also do something like taking food requests on the spot?"
That was easily possible.
Woojin gave an indifferent nod.
"Yes."
The answer made Choi Sunggeon's eyes brighten.
"Then we can bring in guests too. A concept where Woojin cooks whatever dish the guest requests wouldn't be bad at all. Celebrities would line up to appear on a YouTube channel with five million subscribers."
Ideas started pouring out one after another.
Listening quietly, Kang Woojin found the plan fairly interesting himself. Around that point, Choi Sunggeon, still eating the stir-fried pork, suddenly thought of PD Yoon Byeongseon, whom they were scheduled to meet in a few days.
"The Our Table production team is going to be one hundred percent shocked."
──────────
The next morning, on the 22nd.
Two familiar women stepped out of a white imported car that had just pulled into the parking lot. They were none other than the star writer Park Eunmi and Choi Nana. The two of them headed straight to the elevator and pressed the button for the seventh floor. On the seventh floor, the name of the newly established production company was written there.
DM Production.
As she pressed the floor number, writer Choi Nana adjusted her round glasses and murmured shyly,
"I'm so nervous... I'm really so nervous, Writer-nim."
Park Eunmi, her long permed hair tied back, gave a light, confident smile.
"Don't worry. He's just out of work right now, so there's nothing to be nervous about."
"No way. To me, both of you are like gods."
"It's fine. He doesn't care about status or things like that when the work is good."
"I'm really nervous."
"What's wrong with you? You're the writer who hit number one on Netflix right after debut."
"That was only because the actors were amazing!"
Like that, the two entered the newly established production company, DM Production, through the glass doors. Even though it was a new company, there were quite a lot of staff members inside. The office, split into several teams, was fairly large, but it still looked a little messy, as if it had not been fully organized yet. Park Eunmi smiled at the sight.
"Ah, the unique charm of a startup."
The moment Park Eunmi appeared, the DM Production staff rushed toward her, as if they had already been expecting her visit. A short while later, Park Eunmi and Choi Nana were guided into a private office inside.
Thunk.
The moment Park Eunmi opened the door, the man who had been sitting at the desk sprang to his feet. It was Song Manwoo PD.
"Hahaha, you're here."
So DM Production was the company where Song Manwoo PD was serving as CEO, even if only in name. Even so, the moment Choi Nana saw him, she bowed deeply in greeting.
"Hello, PD-nim! It's been such a long time!"
"Yes, yes, that's right. You've really been doing well lately, haven't you? Boy Friend was a huge hit. It's still number one today too, right?"
"No, not at all!"
Meanwhile, Park Eunmi frowned and criticized the messy state of the office.
"Good grief, what is this? You should be cleaning before coming into work! Is this an office or a flea market? You've been independent for quite a while now, and it's still in this state?"
"You start complaining the moment you arrive. I just didn't have the time."
"Didn't have the time? What nonsense. You could've just put it off."
"I put it off because I didn't have the time."
Park Eunmi, looking annoyed, took a seat at the central table that could fit five people. Choi Nana sat beside her. The table itself was just as cluttered. Song Manwoo PD hurriedly cleared away the piles of documents and asked,
"Coffee?"
"You actually have something like that here?"
"Of course. Though it's canned coffee."
"Anything is fine."
Song Manwoo PD took some canned coffee out of the small fridge and sat down. Then he sincerely offered his congratulations to Choi Nana, who was seated across from him.
"Congratulations again."
"Th-thank you!"
Park Eunmi and Song Manwoo PD naturally met each other's eyes and exchanged a silent conversation.
'Kang Woojin really is someone worthy of reverence.'
'Of course. He's Kang Totem, after all.'
Their misunderstanding, along with their almost fanatical faith in Kang Woojin, only deepened. Just then, with a coffee can in hand, Song Manwoo PD changed the subject.
"So, what was it you wanted to show me?"
"What else would it be? A script."
"Huh? You said you weren't going to work with me. But Choi Nana came with you, so does that mean this script isn't your work, Writer Park, but Writer Choi's?"
"You really do catch on fast."
Park Eunmi smiled and gestured, and Choi Nana quickly held out the stack of papers she had brought with her. It was a script.
"It's lacking, but please take good care of it!"
Song Manwoo PD's eyes widened slightly.
"So that was actually true?"
"Yes!"
"Writer Choi, you only just started with Boy Friend, and you've already written another script?"
Park Eunmi quickly set down her coffee can and answered,
"It looks like she revised something she had worked on before."
"Ah—"
"PD-nim, have you already decided what script you're going with? If you have, then there's no need for you to bother looking at this."
Thinking of Kang Woojin, Song Manwoo PD shook his head.
"If I'd already made up my mind, I wouldn't have asked you to come."
"It's still cold, then. In that case, take a look and tell me what you think."
"It's an honor for someone like me who's out of work. Let's see."
Song Manwoo PD immediately picked up the stack of papers. But he wasn't expecting too much. He had thought it probably would not suit Choi Nana's style very well. If anything, he assumed it would suit Park Eunmi much better.
'How should I put it? Writer Choi seems like a kind and thoughtful person.'
Boy Friend had been exactly that type of work. Still, since they had come all the way here in person, he at least had to read it. Soon enough, Song Manwoo PD began.
Flip, flip.
He started turning the pages quickly. True to his reputation as a master of the industry, he read at a fast pace. In no time at all, he was past page five, page ten, and page fifteen.
But something strange happened.
'What?'
His face gradually stiffened. By the time he reached page twenty, he had even straightened his posture.
'What is this?'
Then finally—
"······Did Writer Choi really write this?"
Song Manwoo PD looked at Choi Nana with his pupils widened, then turned to Park Eunmi and asked. Park Eunmi shrugged, as if it were obvious.
"It may be hard to believe, but Nana wrote it. It makes sense that you'd be surprised. I was shocked too at first."
At that, Choi Nana blurted out,
"I-I wrote it!"
After hearing her answer, Song Manwoo PD looked back down at the script and evaluated it inwardly.
'This is interesting. It doesn't feel like the kind of writing timid little Writer Choi would produce. Is this what it means to grow into the image of your teacher?'
He turned the next page.
'The action scenes begin with thrilling, exciting action and are very tightly composed. The opening scene presents the theme that runs through the entire piece. The pacing is fast and tense, yet the ending is clean and satisfying. More than anything…'
At that moment, Song Manwoo PD lifted his head and met Choi Nana's tense gaze.
"The protagonist is a likable villain. A true 'do it my way or leave' type."
"Really??"
"Yes. That character is truly awful. How should I put it? He isn't clean. He has the kind of mindset that says, 'Screw manners and the law,' or 'Answer violence with violence.'"
Park Eunmi cut in.
"He's never righteous. He simply passes judgment."
"Right, evil punishing evil?"
Song Manwoo PD's interest exploded. Kang Woojin's face surfaced in his mind again, but this time it was not because of Woojin's influence. It was because this was a script he genuinely wanted.
"This could absolutely work as a series. Social issues are always exploding one after another, and here, the protagonist gives people vicarious satisfaction. I think there's room for at least two seasons."
"Really?"
At that, Song Manwoo PD closed the script and spoke to Choi Nana in an excited voice.
"Writer Choi, let's do this together."
"······What?"
Choi Nana blanked out for a second from the shock.
"R-really??!!"
"Why would I joke with you? How many episodes have you written?"
"···O-only the first one. What you're looking at now is just that."
"Then let's start working on Episode 2 as soon as possible."
"Wow, is this a dream? It's a dream, right?"
Song Manwoo PD smiled in affirmation.
"It feels like a dream. Is there any better way to stay sane and survive in this industry?"
As he opened the script again, he added one more question.
"About this protagonist. Considering the character's atmosphere and the acting required, choosing the actor will be absolutely crucial. Do you have anyone in mind?"
After looking at Song Manwoo PD, Choi Nana turned her head toward Park Eunmi and answered quietly,
"······If it's Kang Woojin, I couldn't ask for anything more. It was only a rough draft, but the entire time I was revising it, all I could think about was Woojin."
Park Eunmi let out a low laugh.
"Then it looks like I'll lose this time."
Song Manwoo PD raised a thumbs-up.
"We were in perfect agreement from the very beginning. Woojin is absolutely perfect for this."
But then his mood darkened for an instant.
"Of course, there's no guarantee Kang Totem will actually do it."
──────────
Meanwhile, at Lee Wolsun's workspace—
Lee Wolsun's workspace was near Sinnonhyeon Station. Unlike Park Eunmi, who used her apartment as a workspace, Lee Wolsun worked out of a luxury officetel. Still, in essence, the atmosphere between the two places was fairly similar.
Even so—
in a living-room-like area inside the writing office, Lee Wolsun, an assistant writer, and members of the planning team had gathered on the central sofa for a script meeting. For reference, Frozen love had already been completed through Episode 9, and they were currently reviewing Episode 10.
At that moment, Lee Wolsun, barefaced and wearing no accessories at all, asked the PD,
"How is it?"
She asked confidently, smiling as though she already knew the answer. Proving that her expectations had been correct, the PD closed the script he had been reviewing and gave a thumbs-up.
"It's interesting. In particular, Song Taehyung's psychological changes and the restoration of relationships between people feel warm. At the same time, various incidents keep happening, so the pacing feels even stronger. But…"
"···But?"
"Even though the 'mysterious man next door' doesn't appear after the opening except in flashbacks, I think it would've been nice if Song Taehyung had mentioned him at this point."
"Ah, as if he hasn't shown himself lately?"
"Yes. That concern for someone else in itself would show Song Taehyung's growth. Then later, when he brushes it off by saying the man must have moved away, and regrets it afterward, Song Taehyung's change will stand out even more."
"Song Taehyung's change would stand out more."
"Yes, Writer-nim."
Writer Lee Wolsun accepted it seriously, as though it were perfectly natural, and jotted something down on the script she had been reading. Just then, the PD, having taken off his cap, suddenly smiled faintly.
"Writer-nim, the broadcast schedule for Frozen love has been confirmed."
"Ah, really? That was fast."
"Yes. It'll air at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Bad Relationship, which is currently occupying that slot, will end in the first week of November. After one week of a special broadcast and the following week of a one-act drama, the first episode of Frozen love will air on Friday, November 27."
The premiere date for KBC's Frozen love had been set for Friday, November 27. Today was only the 22nd, so there was just over a month left. Hearing that, a faint smile touched writer Lee Wolsun's face.
"Whew. No matter how often I hear premiere news, it always leaves my heart feeling a little heavy."
"Hahaha, and you call yourself a writer? That's ridiculous."
"Anyway, now that the premiere date is fixed, we'll need to push the promotions even harder, right?"
"Yes, of course. Especially now, with all the ripple effects from Woojin-nim, we're planning to push more than twice as hard as usual."
And that was true. Because of Kang Woojin's recent major issues, Frozen love had also been getting mentioned frequently. This was the perfect chance to raise awareness for the drama even further.
At that point, the planning team leader joined the conversation.
"Writer-nim, since we're on the subject of promotion, Woojin-nim has always been at the center of attention because of his box office power, but didn't his popularity explode even more after the massive success of Boy Friend?"
"Right. I honestly never expected a short drama to become the most popular thing on Netflix."
"Woojin-nim only makes a special appearance in our project, but at this point, rather than hiding his presence, I think it'd be better to highlight it properly."
Lee Wolsun, with her arms folded, asked back,
"Are you saying we should reveal what kind of role Woojin-ssi is playing in Frozen love?"
"Exactly. The media is talking nonstop about Woojin-nim these days. Acting transformation, the man of a thousand faces, that sort of thing."
"But Assistant Manager Park and the characters from Boy Friend are quite different in the end."
"If you go from Assistant Manager Park to Boy Friend and then add our drama on top of that, it'll definitely attract attention. The same goes for Woojin-nim himself."
The manager's smile deepened even more.
"Especially since nobody will imagine it's sign language acting."
From Assistant Manager Park, who became a hit nationwide and in Japan, to Haninho of Boy Friend, to Lee Sangman of Drug Dealer, the lineup was already waiting.
And then comes the mysterious man next door.
No, sign language acting.
The manager's judgment was correct. At least, Lee Wolsun thought so. Bringing in the mysterious man next door at a time when Kang Woojin's wide range as an actor was drawing so much attention would clearly become a powerful box office factor.
So Lee Wolsun agreed with the manager's suggestion.
"Then starting today, let's begin releasing the prepared press material related to Woojin-nim."
That bait was thrown into the world around lunchtime.
『[Exclusive] Does Kang Woojin's role in Lee Wolsun's Frozen love include "sign language acting"?』
Interestingly enough, around the same time, there was another noteworthy piece of news as well.
[Melon Real-Time TOP100 Chart]
It could be seen on the number one music platform in Korea.
[1 (New!)] Boy Friend / Kang Woojin (Boy Friend OST Part. 1)
First place.
The OST of the drama Boy Friend caused a major sensation just one day after release.
Melon is a music streaming service similar to Spotify, but geared toward Korean users.