Star Maker Chapter 72

The barbecue restaurant was already in full swing with a company dinner.

Judging by how many rounds had already gone by, the staff—faces flushed—were aggressively devouring the meat like they were at war.

Thanks to the tight filming schedule, the staff looked worn out and were eating like starving people. They looked like a band of beggars.

“Oh? Manager Yoo.”

“Manager Yoo Ah-yeon! What brings you here?”

As the three entered the restaurant, entertainment industry folks rose from their seats to greet them.

To be exact, they were greeting Yoo Ah-yeon.

It was a scene Seon-ho had seen several times while filming Tomorrow K-Star, but it seemed that in the showbiz world, Yoo Ah-yeon’s recognition easily surpassed that of most celebrities.

“I heard you landed HSH for Sparkle and it was a huge success! That’s our Manager Yoo!”

“It’s not a hit yet, we’re still working hard.”

“At that level, it’s already a hit!”

“Did you come here for Berry, Manager Yoo?”

While Yoo Ah-yeon received a warm welcome from the entertainment professionals, Seon-ho made the rounds with Manager Kwon Hosan.

After being roped into multiple rounds of soju-bomb shots by the PDs shouting for celebratory toasts, Seon-ho eventually landed at the production team’s table. It looked like Manager Kwon had settled in with the CP and PDs.

While eating meat with the production team PDs, the editing PD Park Joongsu struck up a conversation.

“By the way, Seon-ho, why are you working as a manager?”

“Sorry?”

“I’m not someone who puts much weight on looks… but don’t you have more of a celebrity face than a manager’s?”

“I appreciate the compliment, but I don’t really have much talent for that.”

“Talent comes naturally the more experience you build.”

As Seon-ho just laughed awkwardly, unsure of how to respond, the youngest PD on the team chimed in.

“Joongsu sunbae’s saying that because he saw the two-shot of you and Jia.”

“Two-shot? But I’ve never been in front of the camera.”

“When Jia had that nosebleed, remember?”

“Oh.”

Only then did Seon-ho recall that moment during filming when he had to rush in because Jia suddenly had a nosebleed.

“Writer Min Heeyoung mentioned at first that she wanted to cast some manager, and I was confused—but now it kinda makes sense.”

Park Joongsu sipped his beer and continued.

“These days there are a lot of music-related programs, right? More and more good judges, too.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“I feel like you’d do really well if you were on one of those shows.”

“Thanks for thinking so.”

As Seon-ho gave a lukewarm response, Joongsu just shrugged. Then the assistant director—known for goofing around on set—stood up.

“Everyone, fill your glasses! Let’s hear a toast from the CP and do a big nationwide ‘Cheers!’”

As all eyes turned toward the CP, he waved his hands and pointed at PD Wi Taewon.

“Wi PD did all the hard work—why should I give the toast? He should do it.”

At those words, Wi Taewon stood up with his glass.

Rumors that the perfectionist and notoriously prickly Wi Taewon was more relaxed outside the set seemed to be true.

He wore a bright smile Seon-ho had never seen from him before.

“This is just the first broadcast. You never know how a drama will turn out. But even if we end up on Mt. Bukmang, it’s a mountain we climbed with our own effort, and even if we cross the Rubicon, it’s a river we crossed through our own hard work.”

“Wait, Wi PD, is this really a toast or a curse?” the CP joked.

Wi Taewon laughed heartily and continued.

“We’ve all worked hard. Let’s hang in there just a little longer for a big success with High School in Melody!”

He raised his glass and shouted the toast.

“Chug it down!”

The staff echoed him with loud cheers.

“Chug it down!”

“Chug it down!”

“Kuh!”

One of them, Manager Kwon Hosan, choked mid-chant. Seon-ho didn’t choke, but he looked equally stunned.

Seeing this, PD Park Joongsu burst out laughing.

“Apparently that’s the trendy toast nowadays.”

“…Why is that even a trend?”

“It’s all because of Personal Color gaining popularity. Here, Seon-ho—hurry and chug one down too.”

Seon-ho downed his drink to soothe his burning throat.

The already heated gathering grew even more lively around 10 p.m. when the lead actors—fresh from filming Entertainment Session—arrived at the restaurant.

Jia walked in, glanced around, and made her way toward Seon-ho.

After greeting the production team PDs, Seon-ho stood up and welcomed her. Her cheeks were flushed red.

“You’ve worked hard, Jia. Was it cold?”

“No, not really.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. The fans gave me a ton of hot packs. Like, a ton.”

There was a quiet pride on Jia’s flushed face.

“One of the staff oppas put them in the supply box for me. I’m definitely taking them back to the dorm.”

“Got it.”

Smiling, Seon-ho led her over to make room at the table.

A quick glance showed Manager Kwon still firmly planted at the CP’s table.

As Seon-ho grilled some meat at the empty table, someone approached.

“Seon-ho, mind if we sit here?”

“Of course not, please have a seat, Manager.”

It was Yoo Ah-yeon, Berry, and Berry’s road manager.

“Hello, Senior An Jia.”

“Oh, hello.”

Jia was 20, and Berry was 22.

They were young, but since Jia had more experience as an actress and performer, the air between them was a bit awkward.

“Commercials are starting!”

At that moment, the assistant director who had called for the toast shouted again and turned up the TV volume.

Commercials were an important indicator of a show’s performance, as the type of ad buyers it attracted said a lot about expectations for the program.

The noisy barbecue joint fell quiet in an instant.

The silence broke at the second commercial, right after the first ended.

“Oh.”

“They’re kicking off with a High School in Melody ad.”

The second ad, which caught everyone’s attention, was for Shimizu’s Winter Vivid—starring Personal Color.

In the middle of a bustling city.

Amid the crowd, Personal Color called out “Vivid.”

To the beat of the chorus, Personal Color walked with a cheerful spring in their step, exuding a radiant energy.

As they walked, the colors of their shoes kept changing.

From red to yellow.

From yellow to green.

From green to blue, and back to red.

It wasn’t just the shoes—the shoelaces changed color too.

With every step, the colors shifted. Shimizu’s sneakers were more than enough to stir viewers’ desire to own a pair.

The ad ended with the voiceover saying, “Shimizu, Winter Vivid,” and the smiling face of Personal Color.

It was only a 20-second ad, but the response was enthusiastic.

“Wow, that ad’s really well made.”

“This is Personal Color’s first group commercial, right?”

“Probably?”

Berry, who had been watching the others’ reactions, turned to Jia and asked,

“Sunbae-nim, I’ve always been curious—was it part of the plan to wear mismatched brand shoes?”

“It was a mix-up with the sponsorship items, but Seon-ho oppa suggested we go with it. It was a spontaneous decision.”

“Oh, so the manager suggested it.”

“Yeah. So that commercial was all thanks to Seon-ho oppa.”

Berry and Jia’s conversation filled the quiet barbecue restaurant.

The nearby broadcasting and entertainment industry people turned their eyes toward Seon-ho, and Manager Kwon Hosan smiled with satisfaction.

“That guy’s got good sense.”

“Absolutely. He’s competent and has great instincts too.”

“Shouldn’t MOK be giving him a bonus or something?”

“As far as I know, he already got one.”

Hearing the compliment from the CP, the pleased smile on Manager Kwon Hosan’s face deepened.

Meanwhile, the ads labeled as “pre-CM” ended, and the first episode of High School in Melody began.

#0. Entrance ceremony day at Hanseong Arts High School.

#1. The male lead, Shin Kangyun (played by Kang Mir), wakes up late due to exhausting part-time jobs, and his impoverished family background is introduced.

#2. Child actress-turned-student Song Woohee (played by Ahn Jia) rides to school in a luxury imported car.

#3. Due to a misunderstanding at the school gate, Kangyun and Woohee form a terrible first impression of each other.

#4. Assigned to the same class, they’re forced to attend the entrance ceremony side by side.

Scenes that Seon-ho had read in the script and remembered now came alive on screen.

The drama was… quite entertaining.

Yes, the plot and scenes were predictable, but the youthful story of a boy and girl from completely different backgrounds naturally drew interest.

“The response is fantastic!”

“We just heard from the control room—right before broadcast, the minute-by-minute rating was at 9%, and now it’s just about to hit 11%.”

“Community comment reactions are positive too!”

“Real-time search keywords! Climbing steadily!”

While the assistant directors in charge of monitoring were busy chattering away, the drama continued.

At last, the scene Seonho had been waiting for appeared.

At Hanseong Arts High—the setting for High School in Melody—it was a tradition to invite a top-tier singer for a celebratory performance at the entrance ceremony each year.

So began a congratulatory performance by Personal Color, who had practically taken over the Korean music scene.

“Wow, is that really Personal Color?”

“They actually got Personal Color? Our school’s amazing!”

“Weren’t they on an overseas tour?”

As the supporting characters in the drama fawned over the situation, Personal Color began singing Vivid on screen.

At the same time, articles revealing behind-the-scenes stories about the cameo appearance were released all at once.

[…In particular, it’s said they filmed the long-take performance scene in a single take without any No Goods, drawing admiration from the production staff.]

Variations of this story quickly spread and occupied the main pages of portal sites.

Since the cameo had been kept strictly under wraps, the reaction was explosive.

Especially from viewers who had tuned in expecting “Idol Wars” but happened to stumble across High School in Melody instead.

@texorhyung
Our PerColor are truly Korea’s top artists! The drama writer really gets the feelings of Per-fans!

@Pomi08
What the—LOL. Was watching absentmindedly and got totally surprised. LOL.

@42nak
Turned on KBM to watch Idol Wars and randomly ended up watching this—High School in Melody is seriously fun!

The peak of this fervor came when, in the drama, Song Woohee sees Personal Color’s An Jia on stage.

“Can’t see. Move your head.”

“Ugh, the way you talk…”

As Woohee grumbled, Kangyun suddenly tilted his head in confusion, looking back and forth between the An Jia on stage and Woohee beside him.

Woohee frowned at the scrutiny.

“What? Got a problem?”

“Not a problem, just… You kind of look like An Jia from Personal Color?”

“Are you kidding? I’m way prettier.”

“…Did you get hit in the head or something?”

“You’re saying I look like that short, big-headed An Jia? In what universe?”

As Kangyun (Kang Mir)’s dumbfounded expression was zoomed in on, online comments exploded:

└ LOLOLOLOLOL

└ Full-on self-denial LOL

└ So funny omg LOL

└ That could’ve been cringey, but An Jia acted so well

└ I haven’t been able to take my eyes off An Jia since earlier LOL She’s killing that sharp-edged role

A moment later, the assistant director speaking with the control room gave an update.

“It’s passed 15%!”

“Yes!”

“Amazing!”

“PD Wi, congratulations!”

TV shows that networks aggressively push as “anticipated works” usually start with ratings between 10–15%.

Whether the numbers rise or fall from there depends on how strong the story is.

Some shows that start at 11% end at 25%, and others that start at 15% plummet to 3% by the finale.

So calling 15% a “huge success” this early would normally be rash.

But High School in Melody was a bit different.

While it was a high-profile project for KBM, calling it an “anticipated drama” was a stretch, given the wave of negative public opinion:

An idol-heavy cast lineup.

The inevitable controversy over their acting skills.

A plot likely to appeal to younger viewers, but harder to sell to middle-aged and older demographics.

There were risk factors everywhere.

If PD Wi hadn’t actively volunteered to direct it, it might not have even made it onto the broadcast schedule.

Which is why that 15% rating carried real meaning.

It meant they had dodged all the pitfalls and reached a starting point worthy of an “anticipated work.”

Of course, the average rating hadn’t come out yet, but one thing was certain—they had broken the 10% mark.

“Alright, where are our lead actors?”

“Mir! Jia!”

“Let’s have a national toast!”

“Forget the stats!”—a lively toast echoed through the barbecue restaurant once more.

This time, Seon-ho, Kwon Hosan, and Jia all joined in with cheerful hearts.