Chapter 142: The Man of 1% Strikes Back

-Wow~ The Love Some plot is insane? It’s moving so fast.

-Honestly, I was disappointed thinking it was just a cliché time-slip story until Jung Jaehyun showed up, but that ending? Holy shit~ Hurry up and drop episode 2.

-Jung Jaehyun and Lee Kangha’s chemistry is off the charts.

ㄴThe director said he put a lot of effort into it since it’s based on the webtoon. Apparently, he managed it personally too lol.

ㄴThe moment Jung Jaehyun appears, my eyes go wide lmao.

-Jung Haewon looks amazing in that school uniform. Does this sister age backward or something?

-Everyone, episode 1 was just buildup. Episode 2 is where it gets real.

ㄴWhy why why?

ㄴㄴOnce the main leads’ backstories start unfolding properly, that’s when you really lose your mind and can’t stop.

-The writer nailed the female lead’s characterization. In the webtoon, she came off a bit immature.

-Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much, but it’s surprisingly fun?

Once episode 1 aired, rave reviews for Love Some flooded various communities.

-How was Kim Moowon?

Kim Moowon was fun lol.

I wasn’t a fan. I personally can’t stand Cha Taesoo’s forced comedy bits.

ㄴㄴI kept thinking about his previous works too. The story needs more time to judge anyway.

-Still, don’t you think Kim Moowon’s ratings will be higher?

Obviously. Love Some isn’t the type of drama that pulls big ratings.

└They said the goal was 5%, but I doubt it’ll hit that. Probably around 1-2%.

-Just a handful of drama diehards will stick around?

But praise was praise, and ratings were ratings. Everyone predicted Run, Kim Moowon! would have higher viewership, and that prediction wasn’t wrong.

[Love Some Premiere Ratings Plummet to 1%—A Major Flop]

[Jung Jaehyun Too Green for Lead? Love Some Starts at Rock Bottom]

Unfortunately, our drama ended up with a scorecard of 1%.

[It’s just the first episode, we can do this! Fighting!]

[It’s so good though…… Our drama is peak, why……]

[At least the community feedback is positive, so let’s hang in there!]

[Episode 2 will be even better, so the ratings will climb!]

The group chat exploded the morning the ratings dropped—nobody had slept, apparently. 

Some were heartbroken over how low it was, while others comforted everyone that it was just the premiere.

[Don’t be too down. It’ll definitely go up.]

I posted some encouragement in the chat too, and right after, my phone rang with Haewon calling.

“Hello?”

-Jaehyun-ah…….

Her voice sagged like it could reach the underground aquifer.

“N-Noona?”

-What are we gonna do~? Seriously, what do we do? If it stays at 1% forever…….

Haewon unloaded her worries; the 1% rating had clearly shocked her.

“Calm down. Just calm down.”

-If I’d gone for that role instead of that jerk Ji Seojin, it wouldn’t have tanked this bad, right?

“Aw, come on, don’t say that.”

There was way too much left to ride the highs and lows over just one episode’s ratings.

-People’s reactions were so positive, so why are the ratings like this?

“It’s only the first episode. Don’t stress too much.”

-I can’t help it. It stresses me out so much…… Have you seen the articles? They’re tearing it apart like they’ve been waiting for this.

Haewon had clearly read every single one; I could feel her rage through the phone.

“It’s not because of you, Noona.”

Ever since I’d debuted in a supporting role in Jaehoon’s drama and jumped straight to a lead, then landed a spot on the hit variety show Country Meals, the number of people jealous of me had spiked noticeably.

They must be thrilled I’m flopping.

The more fans you gain, the more haters you attract. There were people waiting for me to fail, and those articles were their victory cheers.

-If I were just a little more popular, the ratings would’ve been higher…….

“Then by that logic, it would’ve done better if I weren’t a rookie?”

-You earned your spot fair and through auditions.

“You fit the role so well, that’s why they cast you.”

Haewon was totally deflated by the low ratings; I had to snap her out of it quick.

“Let’s wait until episode 4. If it’s still stuck at 1% by then, I’ll take full responsibility!”

-Why should you take responsibility…

“That’s me saying trust me. It’ll climb for sure.”

I could say it with such confidence for a reason.

Jaehyun-ah, what do you think of this as the episode 2 cliffhanger?

The director had shown me the ending early—just for my eyes. 

The second I saw it, chills raced over my skin, and a thrilling rush hit me.

“Don’t worry.”

With that, I finally calmed Haewon down and hung up. Not long after, Jiwon showed up, buzzing with excitement to tease me.

“Ooh~ The man of 1%~”

“You wanna die?”

Jiwon had taken to calling me “the man of 1%”.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Sometimes things go well, sometimes they don’t. No need to be embarrassed over this.”

“I’m not embarrassed? It’s only been one episode, what are you…… But seriously, why are you here?”

“My buddy just bombed spectacularly—I figured someone had to console him.”

It was obviously a teasing visit, but he wrapped it up as “consolation”.

“Console who…… Get out. This big bro’s busy.”

“Busy? You look like you got nothing going on.”

“Nope. Gotta study.”

“Study?”

“I’m heading to Japan this weekend. If I wanna at least greet people properly, I need to cram the language.”

Fan meetings for Today’s Fruit Shop were booked almost every weekend from now on. 

So, I had to squeeze in studying the local languages whenever I could.

Remembering the fan meets made Jiwon snicker again.

“Ah! Heh heh, I had no idea you had that kind of talent? Your dancing was just…….”

“What? How’d you even know about that?”

I hadn’t brought up the dance part on purpose—how’d this guy find out?

“Well, how’d I know…….”

“You just search my name on YouTube and it pops right up. How do you not know? And why wouldn’t you watch something this hilarious?”

“I can’t watch myself, that’s why.”

I’d given it my all, and the fans loved it, but watching myself dance was painfully awkward.

“The fancams turned out great~ Your fans really know how to film.”

“Our fans are great at everything~ Anyway, that’s not the point…… Why not use that time to actually work?”

“Oh! Right, that’s what I came to talk about. You’re seriously not joining that drama?”

Jiwon brought up Hwang Eunah’s project again.

“Oh.”

I’d totally forgotten amid all the promo work.

“I hear Han Jungwoo might take it?”

“Hwang Eunah’s? Han Jungwoo?”

“Yeah, the other actors’ schedules don’t line up or whatever…… Word is he’s the frontrunner.”

Having read the script myself, “scheduling conflicts” sounded like an excuse. No matter how top-tier the writer, you couldn’t ignore a script like that.

“Han Jungwoo…… taking that role?”

“Well, unless something comes up, yeah. Why?”

“I got sent a script with a similar vibe, and apparently he’s attached to that one too.”

I pulled out the script I had and handed it to Jiwon.

“Sending it……

to you?”

“Same premise. Split personality.”

“Yeah?”

Jiwon angled himself and started scanning the script after my explanation.

“Looks like he’s got a few on the table and mulling them over.”

“Makes sense. He’s a top star.”

I got why he’d agonize over multiple options. It was his post-military comeback—how could he not pour his heart into it?

“But whose script is this one?”

“Originally a novelist, debuting as a drama writer this time.”

“Oh?”

“You think this one’s better too, right?”

Even from a quick read, the vibe hit me instantly. Kind of like that feeling when I first saw Glory Day?

“I wouldn’t say it’s amazingly fun or anything…… But this came your way?”

“Not exactly to me—the rep picked it.”

“If it’s the one floating around that Han Jungwoo’s eyeing, then what’s your role here?”

“Second male lead.”

Even that would require auditioning, though.

“Second lead…….”

Hearing that, Jiwon dove back into reading intently.

“Anyway, whether Han Jungwoo does it or not, I’m passing on that drama.”

He was the type to value loyalty over cash, so to spare me pointless spending “for my sake,” I stated my stance clearly.

“Is this the one you wanna do?”

“What? Your eyes look super suspicious right now.”

That serious stare made me feel like he was plotting something.

“What? Can’t I just ask?”

He said it with a smile, but something felt off.

“I’m showing you this to say don’t invest just because it’s a top star and top writer. There are way better projects out there.”

With that, I took the script back from Jiwon’s hands.

“Why take it back?”

“Go read the one that came your way.”

“I’ll probably find that one online anyway?”

“Then read that. You’re not involved, so you can’t risk leaking scripts.”

Friends or not, some lines couldn’t be crossed.

“You’re so petty…… Figures from the man of 1%.”

“Hey! It’s only aired once!”

I usually held back, but the constant 1% jabs got under my skin. I chucked Jayden’s squeaky toy at him from the table.

Already bummed about the 1%, and this!

I was sure it’d rise, but that didn’t mean the 1% rating sat well with me.

“You’re so stingy, that’s why it only hit 1%. Gotta broaden your horizons.”

“Ugh! It’ll go up, I tell you!”

“Ehehehe~ Isn’t that like the national anthem’s viewership?”

He kept ribbing me, and I fired back, our bickering escalating.

“Tsk tsk tsk, am I wrangling elementary kids or adults here…….”

Kyungho watched us, clucking his tongue as he scooped up Jayden and headed out of the clinic.

-Was this scene in the original?

ㄴNah, not in the webtoon.

-Rehee’s personality is such a cool girl, right up my alley.

ㄴConfessing right after regressing? What even is that, total player lmao.

-No, he regressed, remember? But when Rehee comes on strong, his ears turn red and he fidgets with his hands—it’s adorable.

ㄴRegressed but zero immunity to the heroine? Love that.

└Total fox with everyone else, but clueless when she approaches? Chef’s kiss. Love you, writer-nim.

-Who handled the adaptation? They cherry-picked all the best bits from the webtoon perfectly.

ㄴHeard it’s a writer scouted from a contest. She was an assistant for ages before her debut this time.

With episode 2 of Love Some airing, even more comments and posts piled up in the communities. And that buzz quickly translated to ratings.

[Congrats congrats! Up to 2.4%!!!]

[Whoa~ Thank goodness]

[Keep climbing~ Just like this!]

[Fighting! Fighting!]

1% or 2% might both be peanuts, but everyone celebrated the uptick anyway. Seizing the moment, YouTube dropped binge-watch compilations and summary vids for episodes 1-2.

-Thought the thumbnail was clickbait, but damn, it’s actually peak?

-Why only 2 episodes so far? How am I supposed to wait?

Jung Haewon is stunning in that uniform. She pulls it off so well—why do the reporters gotta be like that?

Trash journalists, duh. Hitting her with age jabs? Pathetic.

-From episode 1, it’s serving catharsis right away—love it. You two, start flirting ASAP please.

……

-Wish there was more to binge…… Why start now and make us wait day by day!

The quick summary uploads paid off—comments were glowing, and views were solid. 

And the real momentum kicked in after the Tokyo fan meet.

“Hyung, my eyes aren’t messing with me, right?”