WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Potter

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Why Do My Dramas Keep Becoming Hits!? ◈

Chapter 33: You Can't Have This Script!

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"Hey, did you watch <Living with My Ex> yesterday?"

"Of course. That three-way confrontation at the end was insane. I could barely breathe."

"Ah, the finale's next week. How am I supposed to wait until then? I'm dying to know what happens."

On the streets, in restaurants, at cafes, even on packed commuter trains.

Wherever people gathered, one name came up without exception.

<Living with My Ex-Boyfriend Somehow>, also known as <Living with My Ex>.

The public excitement and interest surrounding the drama could only be described as a full-blown phenomenon.

[Hit Drama <Living with My Ex> Praised for Do Jae-hyun and Cha Ye-rin's Perfect Looks and Insane Acting!]

[Seven Years of Obscurity Washed Away. Do Jae-hyun Rises to Become a Top Leading Actor Through <Living with My Ex>]

[No Competition in Sight! <Living with My Ex> Dominates Viewers in Their 20s Through 40s!]

[Do Jae-hyun and Cha Ye-rin's Crackling Back-and-Forth Chemistry Sweeps Weekly Buzz Rankings and Actor Search Terms....]

[The Birth of a Monster Rookie. Writer Yeon-woo Proves the Power of a Script with Meticulous Pacing]

It had become a black hole, sucking in every issue in broadcasting, no, in all of Korea's cultural scene.

When the drama aired, the streets emptied. Bars and restaurants fixed their televisions to tvM as if by agreement.

And its overwhelming popularity was soon proven once again by astonishing ratings.

[Week 4 Ratings Surpass 25.8%.]

[Week 5 Ratings Surpass 26.8%.]

A graph that rose vertically, easily breaking its own ratings record every airing day.

At a time when terrestrial dramas were struggling with single-digit ratings, these numbers were absurd records that completely shattered industry common sense.

Then came the long-awaited day of the finale.

"It's hereee!!!"

Director Woo Young-taek's ear-splitting shout shook the ceiling of the Korean beef restaurant.

After staring at the smartphone screen, he shot to his feet and threw both arms into the air.

"We broke 30 percent ratings!!!"

"Waaaaaaa!!!"

The instant he announced it, the high-end Korean beef restaurant, packed with tvM Drama Department employees, staff, and actors, became a literal sea of celebration.

"This is insane! We passed 30 percent?!"

"Ahahaha!! Fuck, this is it!!"

"Hey, hey! Don't empty your glasses! We're going all night! Department Head, another case each of soju and beer!"

"Huh? Ms. Ye-rin, are you crying? Haha! Are you that happy?"

"Sob! That's not it...! The writer won't take my glass! Waaaaah!"

"...You're really drunk."

People popped beer bottles like champagne, shouted with joy, and embraced each other.

Even Ha Do-woon, who would normally frown over budget concerns, had loosened their tie today and was laughing heartily as they downed mixed drinks.

On the grill, beautifully marbled premium Korean beef sizzled cheerfully, while everyone laughed and clinked glasses in celebration.

"Haha.... Thirty percent. It still feels like a dream, Writer."

"...."

"Writer?"

Do Jae-hyun tapped my shoulder again, and only then did I snap out of my thoughts.

"Ah. Were you calling me?"

"You don't look well. Did you get indigestion?"

"...No, I'm just dizzy from the alcohol."

"Ahaha. Is that so? Then have some cola with me. I'm a lightweight too."

I gave a distracted laugh at Do Jae-hyun's words and sank back into my thoughts.

Thirty percent? We really got 30 percent ratings?

Honestly, it didn't feel real at all.

I thought the drama would make a brief splash after drawing attention with noise marketing at the start, so how had it turned into this? Was the whole world pulling a hidden-camera prank on me?

Whatever the case, Director Woo Young-taek, already thoroughly drunk, struck a beer bottle with his spoon, drawing everyone's attention.

"All right, quiet down!! Attention!! Let's give a round of applause to the father of <Living with My Ex>! The biggest contributor of all, our writer!"

"...?"

Out of nowhere?

"Oooh!! Writer! Writer!"

"Writeeer, take a selfie with us before you leave!"

"Do you have plans for your next work?! You'll work with us again, right?!"

"Sniff! Writer, what is with the cola in a soju glass? You can't be the only one cheating like that!"

In an instant, everyone in the restaurant turned toward me.

They began chanting my name and applauding.

"And! We will now hold the glorious prize ceremony! You all remember the bet we made when the first episode aired, right?"

Director Woo grinned and pulled a thick cash envelope from inside his jacket.

"To the writer, the only person who bet on 30 percent ratings, I present the entire pot!"

When Director Woo pressed the thick envelope into my hand, everyone erupted again, rising to their feet in applause.

This was driving me crazy....

"All right then, Writer! Please say a few words!"

At Director Woo's words, the noisy voices gradually died down.

In the sudden quiet, I took a moment to choose my words.

I was still confused by the whole situation, but I didn't want to ruin the happy mood.

'...Ah, fuck it. Whatever.'

I raised the cash envelope high and shouted.

"I'll treat everyone to the second round with this. Eat and drink as much as you want."

"Waaaaaaa!!!"

Their cheers and standing ovation were even louder than before.

...What an honest bunch.

#

[<Living with My Ex> Ends, Breaking the Dreaded 30 Percent Ratings Barrier... A Glorious Finale for the History Books with Final Ratings of 30.3%!]

The hit drama <Living with My Ex> reached 30 percent ratings with its finale.

It was a miraculous figure, drawing back all the viewers who had left television amid the flood of OTT platforms and short-form content.

It was also huge news that shook the entire broadcasting industry.

"Good grief.... They really hit the jackpot. They hit the jackpot."

The PDs of MBS's Drama Department stared at the article.

As they blankly looked at the overwhelming headline of final ratings at 30.3 percent, bitter, disbelieving sighs escaped their lips.

It was ridiculous. No, it was enough to make them lose their sense of reality.

To be honest, MBS had not even paid attention to tvM's <Living with My Ex>.

The only competitor and rival they had considered this season was SBC's <Suspect X>, into which an enormous production budget had been poured.

They had been certain that <Living with My Ex> would be a shrimp caught with its back broken in a fight between whales.

And it should have been.

But an unknown rookie writer had appeared out of nowhere and swept away this entire massive playing field alone.

What? A shrimp caught in a whale fight?

Not a chance.

When they looked at it plainly, it was more like two whales, swaggering around and fighting because of their size, had both gotten their spines shattered by a passing shrimp.

Faced with that unbelievable reality, the gathered PDs could only swallow bitter smiles.

"Whew.... I knew it would do well, but this is too much...."

"Was 30 percent ratings even possible these days? What kind of person is this writer?"

"Tch. This is why people say dramas live or die on their scripts. Look at that. One incredible script, and all the acting that had been dead and the directing on set came alive like crazy."

Hearing their lamentations, MBS PD Seol Min-su rubbed their face and let out a deep sigh.

It made them sick with envy.

They had to watch tvM, which they had not even cared about, monopolize all that massive buzz and advertising revenue.

Regret, envy, and deep jealousy weighed heavily over the MBS Drama Department office.

"No, what are you talking about all of a sudden?!"

At that moment, Chief Producer Gong Myeong-ho burst through the door, breaking the silence with a shout.

The PDs naturally turned toward them, but Gong paid them no mind and yelled into the phone.

"Writer Park! We had finalized our agreement to sign the contract just moments ago! What do you mean you're backing out now?"

"You only said it was the main slot! You never said the day and time would be that particular slot!"

Writer Park's voice, coming through the receiver, was thick with betrayal and urgency.

Gong flinched and quickly softened their voice.

"Th-that's just how it is! Broadcast slots are always subject to change...! Besides, the quality of your script is so good that upper management decided we should push ahead immediately...."

"Ha! Don't talk nonsense. Do I look like some idiot sucker to you?"

Writer Park also made a living writing in Yeouido.

With rumors spreading here and there, Park had figured out with uncanny accuracy that they themselves would be offered up as a sacrifice in the death slot.

Gong wiped the cold sweat from their forehead and tried to persuade Park somehow.

"Phew, calm down. Writer Park. Just listen to me. MBS will promote it heavily...."

"I won't do it! I clearly told you that we should treat this as though it never happened. I'm hanging up!"

Click!

Beep... Beep... Beep...

With that firm declaration, the call was cut off unilaterally.

Gong stared helplessly at the disconnected phone screen.

"H-hello? Writer Park! Fuck, seriously...!"

Gong raked their hands through their hair and let out a deep, devastated sigh.

They had spent days and nights desperately persuading this writer just to fill the vacant broadcast slot.

But the moment Park heard the most important scheduling date, the writer had run without looking back.

Seol Min-su and the other junior staff in the office cautiously looked away.

"Haah...."

An earth-shaking sigh escaped Gong's lips.

We, once called a drama kingdom, did not even have a drama ready to air, and here we were, clinging to writers and begging only to be turned down.

Unable to bear the pounding headache, Gong pressed hard against the stiff back of their neck.

"...Hey, Seol Min-su."

"Y-yes, Department Head."

"If the department director asks for me later, tell them I stepped out for a while."

"Yes? Where are you going?"

Without answering, Gong rapidly tapped at their phone.

They made a call, but only heard the ringing tone again and again.

"Fuck.... Why is Department Head Park ignoring my calls?"

After spitting out those irritated words, Gong opened the door and left.

#

Gong Myeong-ho of MBS headed out at once.

Their destination was Studio Miracle, a large outsourced production company.

The reason Gong had gone personally was clear.

Studio Miracle's Department Head Park Ho-seong was known in the industry for being well-connected and quick with information.

At a time when a single writer or script was desperately needed, Gong intended to pressure Park into introducing a writer worth using.

There were also some highly suspicious circumstances.

Ever since Gong had called a few days ago about the gap in their broadcast schedule, Department Head Park had subtly cut the conversation short.

Park had also seemed to be openly avoiding contact with one flimsy excuse after another.

'That sly old fox. He must be hiding something.'

Upon arriving at Studio Miracle, Gong walked straight inside.

"Ah, Chief Producer Gong. What brings you here?"

A Studio Miracle employee, surprised to see Gong, greeted them.

Gong immediately asked, "Is Department Head Park in?"

"Ah, the department head just left for an outside meeting, so he isn't at his desk."

At the employee's words, Gong turned and glanced toward Park Ho-seong's private office behind the glass wall.

The lights were on inside, but it was truly empty, without a single shadow of a person.

'He really isn't here. Tch, of all times.'

Thinking the trip had been wasted, Gong smacked their lips and was about to turn away regretfully.

"Then when he comes back, tell him I stopped by..."

Gong's gaze abruptly stopped as they turned.

It had landed on Park Ho-seong's spacious desk beyond the glass wall.

"...Huh? Well, look at this."

In the middle of the desk, scattered with file folders, lay a single conspicuous stack of paper.

Gong had spent more than a decade working in broadcasting.

Even from a distance, Gong could tell at once from the paper's thickness and the outline of its font what it was.

A script.

And a very fresh one, with corners ragged from clearly having been read over many times.

Gong's eyes sharpened.

'I never took this person for that kind of person.'

Just as I thought. He kept his mouth shut even around me and stashed away something choice for himself!

As suspicion turned into certainty, a hollow laugh escaped Gong's lips.

"Chief Producer Gong? Why aren't you leaving...?"

The employee called out in confusion, but Gong strode over and boldly opened the door to Park Ho-seong's private office.

"W-wait? Chief Producer! You can't just go in there...!"

"I'll only be a moment."

Ignoring the flustered employee's attempt to stop them, Gong approached the desk as if possessed.

What kind of remarkable work was it that Department Head Park, a veteran in this industry, had hidden away so tightly to keep for himself?

Unable to suppress their curiosity, Gong carefully reached out and picked up the heavy script, which didn't even have a proper cover sheet yet.

"You said you didn't have a single script ready to put into production. Then what's this?"

Clicking their tongue, Gong flipped open the first page.

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