The large restaurant was packed with people at every table, and a huge banner hung on the wall.
[Everyone, thank you for your hard work!
‘Today’s Fruit Shop’ will continue doing business forever in all of your hearts.]
Today was the wrap party for ‘Today’s Fruit Shop.’
“Everyone, fill your glasses!”
At the assistant director’s shout, everyone raised their filled glasses.
“Three weeks straight at #1 on OTT buzz rankings!”
“Woooo~!”
“#1 on TVM popularity charts!”
“Woooo!”
“We couldn’t have achieved this without every single one of you here. Thank you so, so much……”
Thanks to the drama’s massive success, the wrap party mood was electric.
“And today we have an important announcement.”
The assistant director held his beer glass, glanced around, then opened his mouth.
“Our ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’…… will be broadcast on regular TV!”
“Wooow!”
“For real?”
Shouts of surprise erupted all over the room. I was shocked too.
“Wow~ Really?”
“Yeah, that’s what they said.”
Tae-woon nodded with a smile.
“You already knew, hyung?”
“The director told me a bit earlier.”
“This is amazing.”
I had felt bad that people could only watch it on OTT, but now it was going to air on TV too.
“Even though today is the wrap party, our long journey isn’t over yet, so when I say ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’—”
“Fighting!”
We all shouted “Fighting!” and chugged our glasses.
“You’re still on soda?”
Ji-bin looked at my cider and teased.
“Of course. And I still can’t tell what alcohol is supposed to taste like.”
Why do people drink something that smells weird and only tastes bitter?
“Does Je-wook hyung know this news? I should tell him.”
Ji-bin pulled out his phone to message Je-wook, who couldn’t come today because of a theater performance.
“We should go see his play sometime.”
“Let’s all find a day!”
“We need a day that actually works…… I’m swamped with new album prep right now.”
“How long have you been saying ‘album prep’? Didn’t you say that last time too?”
It felt like months of hearing “album prep.”
“It’s really coming soon this time. A killer track suddenly appeared…… Hey.”
Mid-sentence, Tae-woon suddenly lowered his voice and called me.
“Don’t call me so seriously. What is it……”
“Let’s use the one I kept.”
“Kept what?”
“I owe Tae-woon hyung a favor. What, what do you need? My ad payment hasn’t come in yet!”
The beverage ad had just been released, but the money hadn’t been settled yet.
“Trying to squeeze blood from a flea. Do you think I’m asking you for money?”
At the mention of money, Tae-woon looked dumbfounded.
“What? Are you two bragging about filming ads and being rich right in front of me?”
Ji-bin, sitting between us, glared at us with full jealousy.
“I said I’d treat everyone to something delicious when the ad money comes in.”
“Everyone already knows I’m loaded, no need to remind me…… You drive a foreign car too.”
“Right! I’m a pedestrian while hyung drives an expensive car.”
“Ahem, anyway, what’s the favor?”
At the foreign car mention, Ji-bin got embarrassed and changed the subject.
“Appear in my music video once.”
“Music video?”
“Yeah.”
Actors appearing in MVs wasn’t unusual, but……
“Wouldn’t the fans prefer you in it, hyung?”
For idols, they usually starred in their own MVs.
“I’m in some of them too.”
“You’re shooting two music videos?”
“This album has double title tracks.”
“That explains why you’ve been so busy.”
“You’ll do it, right?”
I nodded at Tae-woon’s question.
“Of course. That’s nothing.”
“Okay, then I’ll talk to your company.”
“Got it.”
“You all worked so hard~”
Just then, the director plopped down in the empty seat next to Tae-woon with a glass in hand.
“No, the drama did well, so we’re the ones who are grateful.”
“Seriously, Tae-woon, Hyeon-jae, Ji-bin, Je-wook…… I must be blessed, haha.”
The strong smell of alcohol wafting over told me he was already drunk.
“This project was a huge challenge for me. You know how hard it is for a romance-free drama to succeed, right? I worried so much……”
The director poured out all the stories he hadn’t been able to tell before—his struggles, how happy he was it succeeded, endless praise for us……
“I’m really, really grateful to you, Hyeon-jae. You know that, right?”
“No, not at all.”
“If it weren’t for you, our drama wouldn’t have……”
While the mood turned solemn and we quietly listened to the director’s heartfelt words, the assistant director grabbed the mic again.
“Everyone! Now let’s light the celebration cake. Leads, come forward! Director, what are you doing over there? Hurry up!”
At his call, I quickly stood.
“Let’s go.”
“Wow~ Why is the cake so pretty?”
“It was sent by fans.”
“Whose fans?”
The cake was designed like the fruit shop in the drama, with the four members’ symbolic fruits—it was overflowing with thoughtfulness.
“Drama fans. There’s a site where drama fans gather, and they sent it.”
“Drama fans?”
“They offered other things too, but we only accepted the cake.”
The existence of “drama fans” was new and fascinating.
“They’re going crazy asking for a Blu-ray release right now.”
“What’s a Blu-ray?”
“I’ll explain later. Writer-nim, please come forward for the candle-blowing and cutting ceremony.”
Under the assistant director’s guidance, we blew out the candles and cut the cake.
“Now everyone eat comfortably and chat!”
We clapped and returned to our seats.
“Hyung, what exactly is a Blu-ray?”
“It’s only released for dramas that did really well or have lots of fans. Think of it as a director’s cut version of the drama.”
“Ah~”
Ji-bin explained it simply.
“Oh, right, is anyone going to KAA?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Me.”
“Tae-woon hyung is going?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank goodness. I won’t be lonely.”
Ji-bin grinned widely at the news.
“You’re going too?”
“Yes! I was worried I wouldn’t know anyone, but now I’m relieved.”
“You’re a total social butterfly.”
“Singers will be there too. I haven’t broken into that circle yet.”
“Good grief……”
Tae-woon turned his head as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Introduce me to some people, hyung. I love A.N.GEL!”
“I’ve never even met them.”
“Then NewUs?”
“I want to meet them too. But now I’m a senior with so many years that the kids get uncomfortable and run away the moment they see me.”
“Ah……”
“If I go, I’ll probably end up alone in a corner.”
“Hyuuung……”
“I’ll stay by your side!”
Why would anyone feel uncomfortable and run just because he’s older and more experienced? Suddenly I felt bad for Tae-woon.
“Hey kids? I’m not at the level where I need your pity, you know?”
“Hyeon-jae-ya.”
Ha-yoon from the next table called my name cautiously. It was the signal to leave.
“Ah, got it. Hyungs, I have a schedule tomorrow morning, so I’ll head out first.”
“Already?”
“Yeah, filming.”
“You’re the busiest among us.”
“Don’t forget the music video!”
Tae-woon brought up the MV again right until the end.
“I won’t. I’ll make it happen no matter what.”
And exactly three days later, the music video shoot was scheduled.
“You looked over the storyboard and story in advance, right?”
“Yes.”
They called me before the sun was even up and put me straight in front of the camera without small talk.
“Hello~ I’m Moon Ha-young. Please take care of me today.”
“Hello. I’m Jung Hyeon-jae. Please take care of me.”
The moment I saw the storyboard and learned there was a female lead, I instantly understood why Tae-woon had offered me the role.
‘He really treasures his fans.’
He had to do sweet couple acting with the female lead, so he passed the job to me.
“We’re short on time, so we’ll start shooting right away.”
“Yes~”
Right after greetings, we linked arms and started walking down the street.
“Good~ Smile brightly, lightly pinch her cheek, yes~”
Since it was a music video with no dialogue recorded, the director gave real-time feedback.
“Great~ So good~ Eyes like you’re dying for each other. Eye contact once! Hyeon-jae-ssi, ask her.”
“What should we eat?”
“What should we eat?”
“Mmm~ Chicken?”
“Perfect! Let’s get chicken.”
Following the direction, Ha-young leaned her face on my linked arm and looked up at me. I looked down at her with affectionate eyes.
“Turn your head shyly…… Good!”
After a few more sweet scenes, we moved to the next.
“This part is the hesitation~ Here we go!”
The sweet moments were the characters’ imaginations; the awkward, hesitant parts were reality.
This music video alternated between imagination and reality, ultimately turning the fantasy into reality.
“Be awkward! Hyeon-jae-ssi, just keep sneaking glances at Ha-young-ssi’s hand, yes!”
I acted as a guy who liked her but lacked the courage to confess. Following her actions, stealing glances at her face.
“OK! Moving locations~”
Filming romance right now, it wasn’t difficult. The only problem was that the sudden schedule meant I had pulled an all-nighter and was exhausted.
“Hyeon-jae-ya, at least close your eyes for a bit.”
We finally got a short break, and Ha-yoon looked worried.
“I can’t…… If I sleep, my face will swell.”
It was Tae-woon’s precious music video; I wanted to look my best.
“Then should I buy something to wake you up?”
“Mmm~ Sure.”
“Anything you want?”
“I’m good with anything, so get whatever you want, hyung.”
Ha-yoon said okay and stepped away for a moment. Since I had to go straight to drama filming after this MV, I was reading the script for today’s scenes.
“Um…… hello.”
Someone greeted me. I looked up.
‘Who is this?’
I had never seen the face before, so I stood up to greet back.
“Ah, hello. But who……”
“Haha, I’m actress Moon Ha-young’s manager.”
“Ah~ Hello.”
Why was the female lead’s manager greeting me?
“But what brings you……”
“I’m watching your drama and variety show religiously.”
“Thank you so much for watching.”
“I almost cried at the last episode of the drama.”
Is he trying to say he’s my fan? Or does he want an autograph? What exactly does he want?
“I heard you’re still a rookie, but your acting is so good I’m totally charmed.”
“Thank you.”
“Would it be okay if I treated you to a meal sometime?”
“Huh?”
The sudden dinner offer felt off.
“You don’t have to feel pressured. I just want to have a casual meal and hear about acting.”
“Ah~ Okay……”
He said not to feel pressured, but how could I not? A manager I just met suddenly offering to buy me dinner.
“Here’s my business card.”
He handed me a card, and inside it I spotted a very familiar name.