* * *
Due to the schedule, Kyuseong’s classroom shooting was set for tomorrow, making Dojae the last shoot for today.
Dressed in a black rider jacket, ripped black jeans, and a silver cross earring, Dojae looked quite the delinquent.
He had tried a rider jacket before, but this was the first time he went for a fully dark look from head to toe.
He thought if he went to Korean Empire looking like this, people might faint. There was a high chance of that happening more than ever.
Seeing Dojae pacing in front of the van, constantly checking his reflection in the window, Manager Jung Eunji, standing beside him, made a remark.
“This look is so different from your usual image, but it suits you well. Truly, good-looking people can pull off anything.”
She complimented him, thinking Dojae felt awkward about his appearance and to ease his nerves. Dojae responded with a light smile, making eye contact as if to say thank you.
Manager Jung Eunji was momentarily taken aback by Dojae’s professional smile.
It had been a while since she’d felt butterflies from a seasoned actor, and it was the first time she felt this way about a young man with such a significant age gap.
‘Wow. This feels like when I used to like those legendary oppas back in the day.’
She thought.
She understood why he was popular even among the moms on the online community.
‘He was handsome when he debuted, but he’s getting more mature and charming. He’s going to be a big star.’
Contrary to Manager Jung Eunji’s assumption that Dojae might feel awkward or shy like the other members, he was quite pleased with his appearance.
‘This suits me quite well.’
He even thought he looked better than usual.
He felt confident and wanted to act well.
He had watched many films and dramas with similar roles on Louis’s recommendation.
As Dojae was imagining the acting scenes, a male staff member approached him.
“Excuse me, this motorcycle is really expensive. Even a small scratch would be a big problem for us. So, please be careful.”
“Oh, yes. I understand.”
It was a polite response that didn’t match his rugged look.
“Yes, thank you.”
The motorcycle was only there for a scene of being parked against the wall, so Dojae didn’t actually need to use it.
It was just a formal request.
“If everything’s ready, let’s start!”
With the director’s shout, Dojae stepped in front of the camera.
*
From morning to evening.
It was quite a marathon.
The members watched Dojae’s shoot with tired eyes.
They shot scenes where Dojae wandered around the motorcycle waiting for someone and leaned against the wall with a sigh.
During a brief makeup touch-up, Dojae spoke to the members.
“If you’re tired, you can go rest.”
The members shook their heads.
“What are you talking about? You watched all of our scenes and laughed! I saw you trying to hold back laughter during my lines.”
Heungmin muttered in a slightly disgruntled voice, and Dojae chuckled.
But Heungmin’s frustration wasn’t just because Dojae laughed at him.
Unlike the other members, who were somewhat awkward even when they did well, Dojae didn’t seem awkward at all.
He looked like he had stepped right out of an ‘internet novel’.
It was supposed to be funny, but it wasn’t.
“Hey, man… Just standing there, you’re making a picture.”
“Absolutely perfect!”
Woochul and Louis added, almost ready to applaud.
Dojae couldn’t ignore the constant praise that his full shots and close-ups were flawless.
With a light smile, Dojae stepped back in front of the camera.
“Dojae’s lines aren’t easy either…”
“Even so, it doesn’t seem like it will be funny.”
Kyuseong quietly responded to Woochul’s comment.
The other members agreed with him.
At any other time, they would have thought ‘as expected of Dojae,’ but it was hard not to feel a little bitter about the unfairness.
After a while, Manager Jung Eunji proposed something to the advertising company and the director.
“The mood is so good right now, it’s a shame to just shoot the storyboard… How about we film the scene where he takes off his helmet and gets off the motorcycle?”
Everyone seemed to agree with Manager Jung Eunji’s suggestion.
After all, such a scene was essential for this concept.
“Then we’ll add a few shots of him getting off the motorcycle, taking off the helmet, and shaking his hair. Let’s do that.”
“Understood.”
Dojae quickly understood the director’s explanation, having seen similar scenes before.
With the help of a staff member, Dojae got on the motorcycle.
“Wow, he probably doesn’t even have a license…”
“It’s probably his first time on a motorcycle.”
Even so, it suited him.
Without any tension, he moved naturally, making everything look effortless.
The moment he got on and off the motorcycle and took off his helmet, even the wind and his hair seemed to help him look cool.
It was like a scene from a youth movie.
The members were impressed, and the female staff almost burst into cheers.
“He’s really handsome.”
“I wondered why he was so popular, but… He could definitely be an actor.”
As Dojae, who had captured everyone’s attention, turned away from the motorcycle, there was a sudden shout.
“No—!!!”
The improperly secured motorcycle wobbled and started to fall towards Dojae.
The staff responsible for the motorcycle shouted in shock.
Both the motorcycle and Dojae could get hurt.
The members, Manager Seokchul, and Jung Giljoo were also startled, but there was no time to call out or run to him.
In a dangerous situation where an injury was a real concern.
Instead of quickly dodging, Dojae caught the motorcycle with a firm grip.
With a heavy weight, Dojae’s brows furrowed.
“Gasp.”
The staff who rushed over first instinctively checked the motorcycle’s condition.
It seemed the other staff had loosened the motorcycle’s position while moving it.
“It’s alright, we’ll get it fixed,” Dojae said calmly. Finally reassured, the staff member helped hold the motorcycle, embarrassed.
“Oh, thank you. Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“But how did you manage this alone…?”
The staff member looked puzzled, still shaken.
It wasn’t the kind of weight that could be held up with one hand.
Other staff members came over to check on Dojae’s condition.
Dojae really was fine.
He thought it was a good thing he’d been consistent with strength training.
What could have been a noisy incident was easily resolved, thanks to him.
“He’s strong too…”
Dojae heard the staff’s continuous admiration as he walked towards the streetlight for the next scene.
*
―Stop provoking me. I don’t want to show you a dangerous side of me.
“Crazy!”
Sunmi almost tore the paper she was holding when she heard Dojae’s voice coming from the TV.
She felt like she was going to go mad if she didn’t do something.
“No, I can’t. This is my report.”
Even though she wanted to give up on everything, she couldn’t rip apart the report she had stayed up all night to finish.
―I’ve found someone I need to protect now.
“Who is it?!”
But her brother wasn’t helping.
“Sunmi! Is something wrong?”
Her mother called out in surprise from outside the room, alarmed by her outburst.
“No! It’s nothing! Everything’s fine!”
Sunmi quickly answered and replayed the missed part.
Dojae’s low, somehow dangerous voice played again.
―I’ve found someone I need to protect. It’s you.
As Dojae tilted his head as if to kiss, his face under the streetlight gradually came into close-up.
Even his eyelashes, as he closed his eyes, were artistic.
With the camera angle, it felt like experiencing the kiss indirectly.
Sunmi almost cried.
Her heart was racing wildly.
He was impressive on stage, but his acting was equally impressive.
―I will love you forever, Byul-byul.
Famous drama OST played over Dojae’s love confession.
Then, a caption appeared.
[The confessions of six men to Byul-byul, which will you choose?]
The screen showed a picture of the new menu from Star Chicken and its logo prominently.
Having seen it so many times, Sunmi could probably predict where the logo would appear.
It was a video Star Chicken had released a few days ago on MyTube, featuring the story of each member.
The TV commercial was a compilation of these six stories and quickly gained a hot response.
Fans captured the video almost frame by frame and swooned over it.
With various edits by skillful fans, the chicken ad turned into a youth movie.
Not only fans but several communities and message boards buzzed with video clips, gaining widespread public attention.
-It’s so cringeworthy, I can’t watch it, but I keep watching it every time it airs on TV… LOL
-The ad is really well made
-I feel secondhand embarrassment, guys, why are you doing this there? LOL
-This terrible acting saved it LOL
-Isn’t this ad illegal? It’s too addictive
-It’s absurd but well-made absurdity, so it’s good
-It’s strangely high quality
-Ah… brings back memories… I wonder how Gyoni Unnie is doing
-How’s Grandma?
-If they remake ‘Temptation of a Bulldog’, Louis should definitely be cast!
-It’s a trap that looks cool on screen LOL
-These guys will be haunted by this forever
-They’ll be in eternal agony
-No!! Who confesses with chicken!! The answer is yes!!
-From now on, confessions come with chicken, starting today!
-Should I buy you chicken?
-Wow, I’ll eat well
-Is it weird that I find this cool?
-You’re officially a Byul-byul
-I should order some Star Chicken
-Star Chicken is tasty
-These guys are idols, right? They worked hard LOL but that motorcycle guy is cool in this
-Kang Dojae, don’t provoke me either
-I’m Kim Byul-byul, bullied by friends, wandering, then saved by Dojae oppa, I want to ride behind him on his motorcycle, feeling the wind, burying my face on his broad back, crying, because Dojae oppa needs to protect me, I’m his girlfriend…
-You’re too into it
-The baseball team is also nice, my style
-The class president is cute
-A guy who buys me chicken… how did they know he’s my type
The responses were a mix of funny and admiring, showing the campaign hit its mark perfectly.
The members’ efforts to film the ad, despite the cringe, paid off.
*
With the hot response to the TV commercial and MyTube video, Star Chicken’s sales skyrocketed.
MOST’s fans were not just doing one chicken per person but one chicken per day to get the ad concept posters and merchandise produced by Star Chicken.
As predicted by Manager Jung Eunji, the fan support for their first TV commercial was immense.
“We received a thank you call from Star Chicken. At this rate, you might be able to renew your contract.”
In a small meeting room inside the Kingdom office.
Team Leader Jung Heeyoung spoke lightly to Dojae, whom she had called in separately.
“That’s great news.”
Dojae smiled with joy.
Team Leader Jung Heeyoung looked at him for a moment before continuing.
“Thanks to that ad, Dojae. There’s a good offer for you too.”
“For me?”
“Yes, just for you.”
Joy and a bit of trouble could be read simultaneously in Jung Heeyoung’s expression.
* * *
*Summary page is only available for login users. Non-users can view the chapters on the chapter list.*
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