After the first episode ended and Heavenly Yuah received the ratings report, she shook her head and sighed.
Kill The Drug’s first episode rating was 10.3%.
It was undoubtedly a good score.
At this rate, they could hope for a record in the high teens, perhaps even reaching 20%.
But if asked if she was satisfied, she couldn’t help but answer no.
Because Restaurant Promo had achieved slightly better ratings.
“How could this happen? This is absurd. How can such a nonsense of a drama…”
Heavenly Yuah had invested quite a lot in this work.
It was already a risky move to join this project competing directly with White Siu’s work.
To make matters worse, she had somewhat made coercive remarks and was likely penalized on many points.
Meanwhile, White Siu himself didn’t seem to take things too seriously, but the penalties were penalties, and there seemed to be no chance for recovery.
If things continued like this, Moon Suyeon, who had merely responded in support rather than take the lead, would land herself in a better position.
Starting with a win, Heavenly Yuah’s plan to gradually recover the penalties had hit an obstacle right from the beginning.
“To top it off… that insane kissing scene… I’ve dug my own grave.”
Above all else, just thinking of that insane kissing scene made her feel like she was losing her mind.
It was certainly not supposed to be a romance with a kissing scene, but somehow, they went through with it from the start.
It was clear; the writer and the director, obsessed with ratings, had requested the kiss.
If there hadn’t been a ratings bet and if she hadn’t participated in the competing project, such a kissing scene wouldn’t have been added.
“Mr. Siu’s first kiss…”
She had heard that White Siu, who had been a recluse during his school days, lacked proper romantic experience.
That’s why using the in-story romance to take White Siu’s virgin kiss seemed like a fairly good strategy to her.
But now that things had turned out this way, that unintentional kissing scene had ended up being his first kiss.
For goodness’ sake, his first kiss was Yoon Yeonhee?
Just thinking about it was infuriating.
It was the day Yoon Yeonhee, who had never once beaten Heavenly Yuah, mysteriously scored her first victory.
In fact, the damage from this attack far exceeded anything Yoon Yeonhee had previously tried.
Of course, this was all based on the assumption that she knew nothing about White Siu’s past activities in Martial Forest.
“…Alright. Since we’ve reached this point, we need to win somehow.”
There was a weapon she had prepared, just in case.
It wasn’t intentional, but things fell into place, and now all she had to do was participate in this event at the right time.
Though she usually disliked outside interference in a work’s popularity, in a situation like this, she couldn’t be too choosy.
“…Hmm? Writer Han… Is something the matter?”
—Ah, Miss. You see…
“Yes, please tell me.”
—Regarding the cameo proposal you suggested. I’ve thought it over, but it seems quite difficult for me to handle something like that.
“…Why not?”
—Because I lack confidence. Adding a kiss scene in the flashback… I don’t think it’s a good idea.
And another piece of bad news.
Writer Han of KTD, skilled in romance, had no capability for adding kissing scenes.
At this point, inviting him as a cameo wouldn’t yield much benefit.
Thoroughly disappointed, Heavenly Yuah sighed and acknowledged the situation.
At this rate, it was suspicious whether the world was teasing her.
In the center of Flame’s building in the lounge, Moon Suyeon, Yang Yuli, and Yang Miju were gathered.
Because the viewing ratings of the first episode of the drama broadcast today had been revealed.
The first episode’s rating was 8.7%.
Generally, it was evaluated as a respectable performance.
“Is it really tough at the start?”
“This score is pretty commendable, don’t you think? Your dreams were set too high, sister Suyeon.”
“Is that so?”
“But don’t worry. We have more resilience on our side.”
“Yes, this is just the beginning.”
Compared to the over-the-top drama Restaurant Promo and the intense investigative series Kill the Drug, the target audience for Mother’s Song were housewives.
Given that the first two aimed at younger audiences, it was indeed a fact that this side would have the upper hand in a long-term battle.
While those two dramas split young viewers, this side could embrace all housewives.
Besides, once Moon Suyeon started to actively move, there would gradually be meaningful changes visible.
This side was not only prepared with perfect comebacks and twists in the middle and late phases but was also supremely confident.
“That said, about what I asked for?”
“…I’ve considered it, but it seems a bit difficult.”
“…Why?”
“How can I put this… Bringing in a kiss at the start of the flashback scene is somewhat…”
“Hah, Yuli! How could you…”
Yang Yuli and Yang Miju were already aware that Moon Suyeon was truly interested in White Siu.
Because Moon Suyeon herself had directly mentioned it.
Of course, they knew Heavenly Yuah also had an interest in White Siu, but Yang Yuli supported Moon Suyeon even more for this reason.
Because she thought that White Siu was good, but Heavenly Yuah was disappointing.
While she was trying to give a slight advantage to Moon Suyeon, this sister was more hopeless than expected.
Yang Yuli first heard about Moon Suyeon’s confession soon after this drama was scheduled.
After hearing the explanation about joining a competing project for the next work bet, Yang Yuli nearly screamed.
Because it was such a ridiculous idea.
What’s the point of getting the next project if it’s going to cause dislike from the rival?
When asking further about this, Moon Suyeon’s answer was so absurd that Yang Yuli completely lost her will to persuade.
-Men loosen up when you touch their chest, so we’ll be touching a lot in this drama. I think you can soothe his feelings that way…
…That was it.
What is this sister? An elementary school student? No, even elementary students these days…
One thing was certain: this sister’s mindset in romance was worse than Miju (7 years old).
To begin with, it was too childish to use a kiss scene as a way to get a kiss from someone who couldn’t even kiss in reality.
Rather than doing that, breaking into White Siu’s officetel would be much more productive.
No matter what happened, Yang Yuli, who herself supported Moon Suyeon, decided to reject the cameo kiss scene.
Wasn’t it rather counterproductive?
It seemed like it wouldn’t particularly help the success of the drama, so this time she couldn’t help Moon Suyeon on this part.
“Instead, I’ll prepare something better for you.”
“…Something better?”
“Yes, how about a back hug?”
“…A back hug?”
When Yang Yuli suggested a back hug, a blush appeared on Moon Suyeon’s face.
Because she thought this was quite a decent proposal.
The back hug contained romance and longing.
“Huh…”
As Moon Suyeon seemed pleased, Yang Yuli sighed quietly.
Thinking that once this drama ended, she had to start rectifying this sister’s romantic mindset first.
And watching these two silently from the side, Miju (7 years old) just shook her head.
In the young girl’s eyes, Moon Suyeon and Yang Yuli were more or less the same.
Because Yang Yuli was also a typical person who learned romance from books and wasn’t skilled in love at all.
As soon as the first episode aired, the ratings results came out.
Restaurant Promo: 11.2%
Kill the Drug: 10.3%
Mother’s Song: 8.7%
Restaurant Promo is slightly ahead.
Due to the odd cliffhangers, there were many viewers watching from the start, wondering, “What on earth is this?”
Starting with, viewers who tuned in live to find out were immediately hit with the power kiss by the stunning Kang Min.
In fact, Yoon Yeonhee is a fairly specialized actress in romantic comedies.
Most importantly, her appearance perfectly fits the rom-com style.
Among various attractive actors, Yoon Yeonhee undoubtedly stands out—actually, extremely attractive.
It’s also largely due to her looks and an adequate level of acting skill that she’s managed to survive in this industry for a few years with good conduct.
Yoon Yeonhee, who has a lot of rom-com experience, is an actress who knows how to set the mood, so the crazy atmosphere of the rom-com was formed perfectly during those moments.
Adding to that, my upper body muscles, which make even men gape, helped keep the show’s ratings up for quite some time.
—Wow, Kang Min, wow, that body…
—That sort of physique can’t be created by exercise alone.
—I am a professional in the industry. That’s not just a body built by exercise.
—Hmm, did he get it from some special program? But he already had a bit of a look from his previous works?
—He’s 23. No special programs needed.
—But isn’t he military service completed?
—23 and already discharged?
—What, is he already a veteran?
—Special Forces?
—No no, he was a driver. I was his successor. Retina.
I don’t know what this is, but my military background even got revealed in real-time.
Because my physique wasn’t just regular gym muscles but rather solid, sharp combat muscles, some people even speculated that I was from the Special Forces, but when it was revealed that I was a driver, the fever cooled a bit.
—But isn’t it weird for someone who completed military service to keep on working?
—He’s got it all. Already playing lead roles without a military service gap.
—He doesn’t have a girlfriend right?
—He’s still a rookie, but if he has a girlfriend, it would be strange, right? But look at that face.
—If he has one, it’s probably secret.
—Balding is coming soon.
—Haha, just cast a spell already.
Even though there were some jinx-like comments on my height and possible baldness, I didn’t care since I’ll always be tall, strong, and full-headed.
Just on this, it’s rare for men actors at this age to have completed their military service. Most postpone entering until their late 20s and continue their activities. But there are quite a few people who positively view the fact that I’ll keep working without any gap.
Of course, comments predicting that I will get shorter or bald are closer to curses, but I am unaffected since I always will grow strong and keep a full head of hair.
If Yoon Yeonhee and I set a good start in the early stages, Tae-kyu carried us in the middle and later stages.
Yoon Yeonhee’s partner Juon, an alien trying to obtain a cheese sauce recipe, left a deep impression on many drama fans.
The viewers confirmed through the preview that the controversial settings remained intact.
We put significant effort into the CG as well.
Juon’s flashback about his past was on an epic scale like a scene from a space opera.
It was somewhat absurd, but there’s no denying that it was grand. It took a substantial production budget.
The most impressive part, however, was Juon’s facial acting.
Even though Tae-kyu isn’t great with his lines, he’s pretty good with facial expressions and gestures.
Since he has experience in performing on stage, his expressions seemed to be quite alive.
Looking at it in the video, while the buildings made of cheese or large structures being bombed by laser guns create amazing scenes, Tae-kyu’s expressions were so grand that it was hard not to laugh.
It was a moment when I realized once again how important an actor’s abilities are in these sorts of dramas.
—Our older brother really is an alien.
—His acting is terrifyingly good.
—Man, how does he pull this off? Tae-kyu is a real acting idol.
And Tae-kyu’s alien-like acting was accepted purely as acting.
Both Tae-kyu’s fans and the general audience recognized his acting skills.
Juon’s setting is that he only freely talks to humans who know his true identity.
Otherwise, during regular times, he just uses eye or hand gestures to express his instructions, which is what the performance is about.
Therefore, the odd lines he says come off as part of his acting.
It would be immediately exposed if he were to say the dialogue to others besides Hyekyung, but with Writer Ok not taking such a risk, Juon’s identity will remain undiscovered until the end.
“We had a great start, but it’s a long road ahead.”
Even though we succeeded in holding on to the interest of the viewers with curiosity, it’s still unclear how things will fare.
Because KTD has been receiving tremendous praise from the viewers.
Honestly, with the acting skills of the two leads, it would be strange not to receive praise.
Since the ratings in that show are expected to keep climbing, we need to continue pushing hard till the end.
