Chapter 1018: First Broadcast of Land of Happiness (1)

PD Ju Se-Hyung spotted the news van pulling into the school grounds and turned to me. "Chief Jung, why's that our secret weapon? What's happening on this set that's worth putting on the eight o'clock news?"

I answered, "In a little while, they're going to connect to the studio live and reveal that Land of Happiness is actually based on Mrs. Lee Ji-Yeon's own life."

"Wait, what? You're saying our drama is based on a true story?"

"Yes. Mrs. Lee Ji-Yeon's original name is Yoon Kkot-Nim. The protagonist, Yoon Na-Ra, is actually her older sister's real name."

Ju Se-Hyung stood there in stunned silence. Even as the drama's main director, it was the first time he had heard any of this.

"Holy... You're telling me all these unbelievable things actually happened to the writer herself?"

"Yes."

Realizing what he had just blurted out, Ju Se-Hyung immediately bowed to Lee Ji-Yeon. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Lee. That was a poor choice of words."

Writer Lee Ji-Yeon waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine. It's all in the past now. Besides, only the part about my family being torn apart is true. My sister becoming a celebrity is completely fictional."

"Ah... right. Even so, I'm sorry. I was just so shocked." Ju Se-Hyung scratched his head and looked at me with a slightly aggrieved expression. "But why didn't you tell me, Chief Jung? I'm the main director, aren't I?"

That was when Director Lee Gi-Cheol answered as though scolding him. "Chief Jung and Mrs. Lee Ji-Yeon wanted to tell you. I was the one who said we shouldn't."

"Why?"

"You're an excellent director, and you're fast on set too. But you're a little soft under pressure. Even today, you couldn't handle those presidents from Mira Entertainment and ended up getting shaken. I was worried that if someone leaned on you, you might accidentally let it slip. If you're going to blame anyone, blame me."

Ju Se-Hyung groaned and scratched his head. "Ugh... Even so, did you really have to fool me this completely?"

Lee Ji-Yeon offered him a comforting smile. "Sorry we couldn't tell you in advance, PD Ju. We had to keep everything under tight security if we wanted to beat KBC. Even the CP doesn't know. Among the executives, only Director Lee Gi-Cheol and the president know."

Ju Se-Hyung grumbled. "Well... when you put it that way, I guess I can't complain too much. So what happens now?"

From there, I took over the explanation. "At 8:30, we'll go live during the culture segment with a direct studio broadcast."

"You're doing a live interview with Mrs. Lee?"

"Yes. That's the real reason she came to the set today."

Ju Se-Hyung slowly broke into a grin. "If that's the case, we'll take a pretty big bite out of their viewership ratings."

"Yes. That's exactly what will happen. And the higher the viewership ratings for Episode 1 of Land of Happiness, the bigger the impact of Mrs. Lee Ji-Yeon's interview will be."

KBC 1TV's daily dramas, the undisputed kings of the genre, averaged over 20% in viewership ratings. A Life Lived Twice, written by Nam Jong-Ok—the queen of over-the-top daily dramas—would very likely surpass 20% again, just as it had before my regression. That meant we needed to push Land of Happiness as close to 20% as possible. The more people watched the first episode, the more interested they would become in Lee Ji-Yeon's interview. And they would switch over to SBC to watch it.

"Phew... We put everything we had into editing Episode One. I just hope people respond well."

"They will. We've handled the promotion properly too, so don't worry."

Before my regression, Land of Happiness had aired on KBC 1TV, averaging a 25% viewership ratings and peaking at 38%, becoming a massive hit. This time, however, it was airing on SBC, so there was a good chance the ratings would be lower. That was why I had already prepared several measures to make up the difference.

Just then, the clock struck 7:20 p.m.

Ju Se-Hyung clenched his fist and nodded. "You're right. So what if they're KBC? We've got Korea's best writer and Korea's best actors. Why shouldn't we win? Let's do this!"

Despite his confident words, his legs were trembling ever so slightly. No one pointed it out. Aside from Lee Ji-Yeon, Miso, Jang So-Yeon, and a handful of others, almost everyone else felt much the same way.

"It's starting!"

At that moment, Land of Happiness, based on Lee Ji-Yeon's true story, began its first broadcast.

***

"One-minute viewership ratings are in! We opened at 12%! That's a fantastic start!"

The moment Land of Happiness appeared on SBC, its viewership ratings opened at an impressive 12%.

This was no ordinary project. It was the first daily drama from the legendary Lee Ji-Yeon, the return of SBC's daily drama lineup after years of absence, the acting debut of rising star Jang So-Yeon, who had recently burst onto the scene as Louis Vichon's advertising model, Kang Si-Ah's first television drama after her memorable performance in Jiri Mountain, and the appearance of acting prodigy Jung Miso.

With all those talking points flooding MeTube and news articles, viewers responded immediately.

Encouraged by the strong opening, I smiled along with everyone else and turned my attention to the tablet resting on the table in front of the waiting chairs. Jang So-Yeon appeared on the screen, dressed in a high school uniform as second-year student Yoon Na-Ra.

The moment classes ended, she dashed down the hallway, her long hair flowing behind her, only to suddenly stop when she spotted her homeroom teacher. Still wearing slippers, she skidded across the floor, but thanks to her athletic reflexes, she barely managed to regain her balance.

In a bright, cheerful voice, Jang So-Yeon called out to her English teacher.

『Hi, Teach!』

『Forget "hi." Get over here, Na-Ra. That English writing assignment you turned in earlier... you copied song lyrics, didn't you?』

As her teacher raised a fist, Jang So-Yeon instantly backpedaled.

『Huh? How'd you figure that out? It's a pop song!』

『Who do you think I am? I'm an English teacher! Did you really think I wouldn't recognize Taylor Swift's 'Fearless'? If you were going to cheat, you should've at least translated a Korean idol song instead!』

Jang So-Yeon clenched her fist.

『Darn... I should've done that.』

『Actually... Now that I think about it, that probably would've been impossible too. You're terrible at English.』

『Wow, Teach. Are you looking down on me? I'm amazing at English!』

『Yeah, right. Then spell "Fearless" correctly. If you can do that, I'll forgive everything today—and I'll even cut your makeup homework in half.』

She froze. Jang So-Yeon then hesitantly opened her mouth.

『Umm... F... E... E... R... R... E... S... S?』

She cautiously sounded out the letters, nervously watching her teacher's reaction. The actress playing the teacher smiled. Seeing that smile, Jang So-Yeon suddenly gained confidence and proudly declared.

『FEERRESS! That's right, isn't it, Teach?』

The actress playing the teacher smiled even wider.

『Don't you think there are a few too many Es and Rs in there? Somehow that doesn't look quite like what you copied.』

『Oh~ You're right! Teach, you're a genius!』

The actress playing the teacher immediately flared up, raising her fist again.

『I'm not a genius—you just got it wrong! Hey! Get back here! Come here right now! Stand still!』

Jang So-Yeon raised both hands like karate blades and slowly backed away.

『Aw, come on, Teach! Cut me some slack! I've been busy preparing for the inter-school drama festival! Isn't bringing honor to our school by winning the festival more important than studying?』

『Hey! Have you ever considered that your English grades are dragging our school's reputation through the mud?』

Jang So-Yeon glanced around, spun on her heel, and bolted while shouting,

『BYE! TEACH I GO! I FAST! UM... YOU LOSER?』

『What? "Loser"? You're dead once I catch you!』

『Come on, Teach! It's not like being bad at English will ruin my li—Aaaahhh!』

Yoon Na-Ra, a bright and cheerful girl from the drama club who wasn't exactly gifted academically, came vividly to life through Jang So-Yeon's performance.

"Pfft..."

As the staff monitored Jang So-Yeon's performance on their tablets, laughter kept breaking out all around the set. The viewers were reacting the same way.

[SBC Land of Happiness Viewer Board]

-She seriously spelled it "FEERRESS." LOL.

-Jang So-Yeon looked so charismatic in the Louis' Batton commercials, but she's absolutely adorable here.

-She's twenty-one this year? She looks amazing in a school uniform.

-She's such a natural actress.

-Oof, that backhand smack is going to hurt.

-Yeah. You can tell from how carefree she is that she grew up in a good family.

-Is that why it's called Land of Happiness? Is this just going to be the happy life story of Yoon Na-Ra?

Watching Jang So-Yeon's effortless performance, viewers assumed she had grown up in a wealthy, loving family. The reality couldn't have been more different.

Because of her mother's repeated remarriages, Jang So-Yeon had spent part of her childhood in an orphanage. They moved so often that she never had the chance to make lasting friends.

She had been beautiful since she was little, which meant countless awful people had harassed her. Neglected by her mother, she had to support herself through part-time jobs, and life had been so difficult that she had earned her high school diploma through the equivalency exam instead of attending school.

Now, with both her mother and stepfather in prison, she was raising her three younger half-siblings herself. Despite living through such an unimaginably difficult life, Jang So-Yeon portrayed Yoon Na-Ra perfectly—a cheerful high school girl who had obviously grown up in a happy home.

'You've come a long way, you little crybaby.'

Seeing how much Jang So-Yeon had changed after once being one of the infamous "Three Walking Disasters" filled me with pride.

"So-Yeon, you really did an amazing job," I said.

Still watching the broadcast, Jang So-Yeon's cheeks flushed red. "Thank you, Yoon-Ho oppa."

Just then, AD Park Byung-Seo shouted again, "We've passed 15%!"

After that, Land of Happiness continued building momentum by introducing the mischievous fraternal twins, Yoon Na-Bi and Yoon Kkot-Nim, alongside the model student Yoon Sung-Woo.

Then, thirty-five minutes into the episode, "the scene" came.

Crash!

The car carrying Yoon Na-Ra's parents and Yoon Kkot-Nim was struck in a devastating traffic accident. The screen faded to black. Moments later, the emergency room scene Miso had auditioned with—the one where her character was paralyzed from the waist down—began.

『Waaah! Mom... it hurts! It hurts! Mom, where are you?!』

Miso writhed on the hospital bed in agony, desperately calling for her mother. As Yoon Kkot-Nim, she dragged her useless lower body across the bed while twisting her torso so violently it looked as though her waist might snap, all the while crying out for her parents.

Compared to her audition, the performance was on an entirely different level. Everyone on set swallowed hard.

-Wow... Miso's acting is terrifyingly good, even the second time.

-Isn't she basically lead-actress level?

-Not lead-actress level. She is a lead actress.

Miso's overwhelming performance, combined with Lee Ji-Yeon's brisk storytelling, was drawing an explosive reaction from viewers as well.

[SBC Land of Happiness Viewer Board]

-Miso's way beyond child actor level.

-Isn't Writer Lee Ji-Yeon absolutely insane? She killed off the parents in Episode One?

-Seriously, is there anything Lee Ji-Yeon can't write? She's crushing it even with a daily drama.

-So the title Land of Happiness was ironic.

-Thirty-five minutes in, and we already get a massive traffic pileup?

-I've got a feeling after watching Episode One. This is going to be huge.

Viewers were left speechless by the breakneck pace. In a daily drama that lasted only forty minutes, not even an hour, the parents died in the very first episode, and one of the four sisters, Yoon Kkot-Nim, was left paralyzed from the waist down. Then the story reached its final scene.

Jang So-Yeon entered the university hospital emergency room. Her face was deathly pale. She staggered forward as though her soul had already left her body.

Moving to one side of the emergency room, Jang So-Yeon stood before her parents' bodies, covered by white sheets. Clutching at her chest, she began to cry in muffled sobs. She held back her grief for fear that her younger siblings, waiting outside the emergency room, might hear her. Yet those restrained sobs rang out all the more clearly, squeezing at the hearts of everyone listening.

After a long moment, Jang So-Yeon gently took her parents' cold hands and made a promise.

『Mom... Dad... I'll... protect this family... no matter what...』

After repeating that vow over and over, Jang So-Yeon slowly lifted her head. In that instant, the weight of becoming the head of the family settled across her face. At the same time, the camera slowly pushed in for a close-up. Jang So-Yeon's bloodshot eyes burned into the minds of the viewers.

[To be continued...]

As the closing CG appeared, Episode 1 of Land of Happiness came to an end.

***

Thanks to the relentless pacing and the cast's powerful performances, those forty minutes disappeared in the blink of an eye. The staff on set barely dared to breathe as they watched only Lee Ji-Yeon.

In a trembling voice, she finally spoke. "Everyone... Thank you for your hard work."

The staff forgot even to thank her back and immediately turned toward Ju Se-Hyung.

Then, Ju Se-Hyung suddenly leaped to his feet and grabbed Miso's hand. "Miso was right! Miso, you're the best!"

'Miso was right? Don't tell me...'

Still holding Miso's hand, Ju Se-Hyung shouted to everyone. "Episode 1 of Land of Happiness has broken 20% in the viewership ratings!!"

At that, Miso threw both hands high into the air. "Hooray! Hooray!"

The moment Miso cheered, the entire staff erupted as one. "Woooooo!"

Lee Ji-Yeon, Lee Gi-Cheol, and even Writer Kim Soll-Ip, who had stopped by the set, all congratulated one another.

Watching everyone celebrate, I finally allowed myself to breathe a sigh of relief.

'We did it.'

However, my work wasn't over yet. To make sure Land of Happiness won the viewership ratings battle, I had prepared one more event timed to coincide with the broadcast of its rival, A Life Lived Twice.

***

In the KBC's Drama Department Meeting Room, Drama Director Pyo Eun-Jong, Writer Nam Jong-Ok, Director Hong Ah-Yoon, and AD Choi Yoon-Seon sat together, waiting for A Life Lived Twice to begin.

The large clock above the conference room television read 8:25 p.m. Only five minutes remained before airtime, but the room was heavy with tension. The reason was simple—Nam Jong-Ok was in a foul mood.

"I heard SBC's daily drama broke 20% with its very first episode. Is that true?"

At Nam Jong-Ok's sharp question, Pyo Eun-Jong dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "You know that's all thanks to the advertising campaign. Those viewership ratings won't last, so there's nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry... about? Hah. Seriously, Director Pyo. Are you really going to sit there acting so relaxed?"

Nam Jong-Ok's eyes blazed as she bore down on Pyo Eun-Jong. For an SBC daily drama to surpass 20% on its premiere meant that, had it aired on KBC 1TV, it would likely have achieved at least 25%.

"Mrs. Nam, that's not what I meant..."

Just then, Hong Ah-Yoon stepped in. "Mrs. Nam, all we have to do is win. And we will. You know how much our HK Inc. spent on advertising."

Nam Jong-Ok glared at Pyo Eun-Jong before finally forcing herself to calm down. "I'm only letting this go because of Director Hong."

At that moment, Choi Yoon-Seon, who had been quietly gauging the atmosphere, finally spoke up. "The broadcast is starting."

Looking relieved, Pyo Eun-Jong pointed at the monitor. "KBC has done everything we can. Let's just watch. If it's one of Mrs. Nam Nam's dramas, it'll easily break 20%!"

An 18% premiere viewership rating was the standard for KBC 1TV. And not once had a drama written by Nam Jong-Ok ever fallen below 20%. After all, there was a reason she was called the Queen of Daily Dramas.

Just then, the opening CG appeared, and the broadcast began. KBC 1TV's daily drama A Life Lived Twice told the story of three female protagonists who survived near-fatal accidents, resolved to change their lives, and started over.

Its opening scene began with one of the women, now in her forties, returning home after working late—only for her mother-in-law to throw a bucket of filthy mop water all over her.

Splash!

『You little bitch! How dare you show that filthy face around here?』

True to Nam Jong-Ok's reputation as the queen of over-the-top melodramas, the drama opened without warning with mop water to the face and the heroine immediately getting dragged around by her hair.

A minute later, Choi Yoon-Seon reported the viewership ratings. "One-minute ratings are in. 16%. That's two points higher than the previous series!"

Only then did Pyo Eun-Jong finally relax. "Hahaha! See? At this rate, we'll comfortably reach 22%. We might even hit 23%."

Nam Jong-Ok's anger finally subsided. "Of course we will. Who do you think wrote it?"

"Who else? The Queen of Daily Dramas herself, Writer Nam Jong-Ok!"

Nam Jong-Ok proudly squared her shoulders. But by the second minute, Choi Yoon-Seon said nothing.

Pyo Eun-Jong frowned. "What's wrong, AD Choi? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Well..."

"Just spit it out! What's the viewership rating?"

"It... isn't going up. It's still 16% in the second minute."

"What?"

Just then, the conference room door flew open as PD Choi Tae-Yung from the Drama Department rushed inside.

Bang!

"Mr. Pyo! We've got a serious problem!"

"What now?!"

"Land of Happiness is based on Writer Lee Ji-Yeon's own true story! And right now SBC's eight o'clock news is doing a live broadcast from her filming location as part of their 'Interview with a Distinguished Figure' segment!"

"What?"

"And the person who planned the Lee Ji-Yeon special interview... was Jung Yoon-Ho."

"What? Jung Yoon-Ho again?!"

The room echoed with Pyo Eun-Jong's roar.

At that moment, Choi Yoon-Seon spoke in a trembling voice. "Three-minute ratings... 15.7%. They've... dropped slightly."

Pyo Eun-Jong whipped his head around. "Why are the viewership ratings dropping now?!"

"I think... viewers are switching over to SBC's news broadcast..."

"Don't be ridiculous!"

Even as he shouted, Pyo Eun-Jong switched the television over to SBC's news channel to see for himself. The instant he saw the broadcast, a cold sweat ran down his back.

What Jung Yoon-Ho had prepared wasn't just an ordinary interview with a writer.

"Jung Yoon-Ho... you crazy bastard..."