Suddenly, I Became Crazy Handsome, and the World Became Easy

"After performing as originally planned, we suddenly switch each other's parts?"

At the idea of Judge Gong Joo-mi, PD Woo Han-suk crossed his arms and let out a hum.

"Hmm-"

Normally, PD Woo Han-suk did not change the system he had set. However, this time, he seemed to be deeply contemplating for some reason.

'It's not a bad idea.'

Setting everything else aside, the idea itself was quite good. Of course, there were a few concerns, possible complaints from the participants or dissatisfaction from viewers watching the broadcast. But such risks had to be taken to create an engaging show.

With over a decade of experience, PD Woo Han-suk knew this better than anyone.

'More than anything, 'Produce That 100!' is a survival show. These kinds of unexpected twists make it more exciting.'

While he ensured the participants' convenience and freedom as much as possible, he remained ruthless when it came to judging. Having made up his mind, PD Woo Han-suk nodded at the judges.

"Okay- Ah, but as you know, the participants..."

"Of course, no one will know."

Intrigued, the judges became more talkative. Meanwhile, veteran singer Yoon Seung-won asked,

"So, half of them will be eliminated again in the second round?"

"Yes. I plan to observe how many we can bring back in the revival round and in what manner."

"Well, since viewer voting will start from the second round, there will be a lot of variables."

At the mention of viewer voting, the judges suddenly felt how quickly time was passing.

"The first episode airs next week already?"

"It's like a bullet, a bullet. What do you think the viewership ratings will be? The public response seems quite intense."

"Who knows? But we’re editing it as nicely as possible, so I have high hopes."

"Oh, come on- You're being modest. Since it's PD Woo’s project, it'll be a huge hit again! I hope it blows up so much that 'Produce That 100!' takes over YouTube and everywhere else."

If an audition variety show flopped, it would disappear without a trace. But if it managed even a moderate success, the impact would be immense. Songs released from such programs could dominate the top ranks of music streaming platforms, and edited clips would take over YouTube and other video platforms.

This would generate numerous benefits.

The most certain of them all was the exponential rise in the participants' recognition.

Among the judges, Lee Da-mi, well aware of this, murmured with anticipation.

"Never mind the ratings, I'm more curious about how many views that number-one kid will rack up."

Song Min-geun, the composer, chimed in.

"Just slapping his face on a thumbnail guarantees a million views."

Meanwhile.

The 'Produce That 100!' training camp filming proceeded without major issues as the participants began their intensive training.

In the days leading up to the second round of evaluations, their daily routine was quite simple, eating, training, personal practice, and short interviews with the staff.

However, Kang Rojun’s schedule was slightly different.

'Feels like I just closed my eyes for a second, and it's already morning. Ugh, my whole body is screaming in muscle pain. Phew- Running is such a hassle... But I have to do it.'

He started his morning workout alone, ate breakfast, and then headed to the practice room while the others went to their training sessions. Although he had already mastered the choreography for 'Brake', he did not stop practicing.

-♬♪

The more he repeated the practice, the more smoothly his body moved. It was as if any lingering resistance or unfamiliarity was fading away. Maybe it was just his imagination, but either way, more practice could only be beneficial. At least, that was Kang Rojun’s firm belief.

'Since it's a duet choreography between a male and female, it might feel different with a partner. I can't just waste time, and the more I do it, the better I'll get, right?'

After finishing practice, he would sit in the lounge and write. He wasn’t writing with serious intent, just casually tapping on the keyboard, much like he used to.

And just like that, the days flew by.

Before he knew it, it was already July 19th.

It was the first weekend since the training camp had started, and 'Produce That 100!' operated only until Saturday. Sunday was a rest day for both participants and production staff. Most of the dozens of participants stayed at the dorms to recover from the week’s exhaustion. However, Kang Rojun did not take a break.

His trainer, 'AI Simulation', showed no mercy.

But an interesting phenomenon unfolded.

"Huh?? Number 1-nim, you're going out for a morning workout even on a Sunday??!"

"Whoa- Wow, damn, I can't let this slide! Number 1-nim! Can I join you??"

"Oh, then should I go too??"

"I don’t mind, but I run for a long time."

"I've got pretty good stamina too! Should we just have all of Room 105 go out?"

Gradually, Kang Rojun found himself gaining workout companions. The highly energetic Number 19 and Number 37 took the lead, and the responsive Number 88 followed suit. The shy Number 58 seemed hesitant at first but eventually muttered,

"......Then I'll go too."

Thus, a five-member running crew was formed.

Kang Rojun, who was used to running alone, responded indifferently but felt a bit awkward.

'What the heck, it's not like we're a running crew or something. If they suddenly run for an hour, they’ll be dying.'

Regardless, this unusual sight caught the attention of the participants resting at the dorms.

"Hey, look at that. Number 1 always went out alone, but now a few more are joining?"

"Ah- You're right. They seem to be from the same room."

"Oh? The cameras are rolling! Didn’t the staff say they were off today? Maybe they’re filming because it’s unusual."

"Damn, should I start running from tomorrow too?"

Even some of the staff couldn't help but watch.

Naturally, except for Kang Rojun, the rest of the group soon began to struggle.

"Huff- Huff- I can't! I can't run anymore!"

"......Ugh! I almost threw up."

After about 20 minutes, they were all gasping for breath. In particular, Number 58, with his baby perm, was quietly heaving, wheezing and gulping for air. Soon, the members of Room 105 collapsed on the ground, watching Kang Rojun continue running effortlessly, shaking their heads in disbelief.

"Wait, why is Number 1-nim still so full of energy? Is he even human?"

"H-How does he do this for an hour......"

"He said he'd go straight into strength training after the run."

"Please spare us."

Kang Rojun, still running without issue, gave himself a small compliment.

'My stamina has definitely improved. I wasn’t this good before. Sure, I’ve increased my workout load, but 'AI Simulation' must be helping a lot too.'

He could feel his overall status growing, and at that moment, he felt a brief vibration from the smartwatch on his wrist.

-Bzzz.

-[You have achieved the Hidden Mission "Building Bonds with First Companions!" A reward of 15 Coins has been granted.]

A sweet-smelling bonus.

Morning of the 20th.

After completing his daily mission, Kang Rojun checked his current Coin balance while heading to eat.

-[Title: Side Job Tycoon]

-[User: Kang Rojun / Age: 24 / Height: 182.8 cm / Desired Occupation: Idol / Side Job: [1] Screenwriter +1 / Coins Owned: 316]

He had recovered what he had spent.

Just then, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he tilted his head, PD Jung Soo-ryeong.

'What is this about?'

Kang Rojun stopped in his tracks and placed the phone to his ear.

"Yes, PD-nim. Hello."

From the other end, PD Jung Soo-ryeong’s voice came through. Her tone sounded slightly excited.

"Writer-nim- How have you been? I just called to share some great news!"

"Great news?"

"Yes. The one-act drama 'Rental Lover'! It looks like it's going into production right away. Isn’t that great?"

Wait, already? Didn’t they say it would take a while?

"That was fast. Last time we talked-"

"I know, I know. I told you that if it got delayed by half a year, it might be pushed to next year. But due to some internal circumstances, things have been expedited. And one more thing! I’ll be directing 'Rental Lover' myself."

"PD-nim, you?"

"Yes- Various factors led to this, and now I’m the one directing. Sounds good, right?"

Why did she keep asking if it was good? As Kang Rojun scratched his chin, she continued.

"Anyway- Rental Lover's production is confirmed, but it’s hard to go over the details over the phone. We need to have our first production and script meeting as director and writer. What do you think? I can come to where you are."

If Jung Soo-ryeong came here, it would certainly be convenient, but for Rojun, it was a bit troublesome.

"No, I’ll go to you. But can I check my schedule and get back to you with a date?"

"Of course. Today was just a call to say hello as the director. But let me know soon."

"Understood."

"Looking forward to working with you, writer-nim—"

-Click.

After ending the call, Kang Rojun quickly ate his meal and approached a nearby staff member to deliver a message, he was looking for PD Woo Han-suk. Fortunately, Woo Han-suk was at the production team's lodging and had given permission for him to come.

A few dozen minutes later, Rojun entered the designated room.

The room had been converted into a meeting space, and inside, Woo Han-suk was sitting alone, sipping coffee.

"PD-nim."

"Oh- You’re here? Have a seat. Coffee?"

"I'm fine."

"Alright, so what did you want to talk about?"

"Actually, a script I wrote won a broadcast station’s script contest. It won the Grand Prize."

"...What?"

Woo Han-suk's eyes widened. However, Rojun remained calm as he explained the situation, only the key details about 'Rental Lover'. His explanation was fairly brief, but Woo Han-suk was left with his mouth hanging open.

"So- You're telling me that you wrote a script, submitted it to a contest, won, and now SBC is producing it soon??"

"Yes. I haven’t heard all the details yet."

"...The 'hypothetical writing' you mentioned before was actually true? Wow- Now this is a crazy plot twist."

Woo Han-suk stared at Rojun, wondering what kind of overpowered character he was dealing with. The kid was already a talent on a god-tier level, an outstanding vocalist, and now, apparently, a skilled writer too. Even though Woo Han-suk worked in variety shows, he had spent over a decade in the broadcasting industry.

'This isn’t something you just casually mention. A major network's script contest isn’t some random neighborhood raffle. How is he talking about winning it so nonchalantly?'

He knew exactly how competitive those contests were, which made it even more unbelievable.

'No wonder- The others kept saying he’s always writing something in the lounge. So he was actually working on a script?'

It was honestly baffling. The guy was already going through the brutal battlefield of a survival show, yet he was managing a side job at the same time?

At that moment, Woo Han-suk also sensed the future impact of this situation.

'...If it's a one-act drama, it could air as early as September or October if production starts right away. By then, 'Produce That 100!' will have ended. If he gains fame from the show, and then his writer credentials explode at the same time, this could be the perfect fangirl trap.'

He didn’t know the exact contents of the script, and technically, Rojun could still get eliminated from 'Produce That 100!' But regardless, this was a guaranteed win for him.

'Depending on how big he gets, this could turn into a major sensation.'

At that moment, Rojun asked Woo Han-suk,

"Am I allowed to leave the camp for this?"

"As a writer, you’ll need to attend production meetings, so as long as you inform me in advance, that should be fine. Just make sure to follow the guidelines we discussed earlier."

"Thank you."

"Oh, no need to thank me. For now, let’s keep this between us."

Woo Han-suk carefully observed Kang Rojun.

'Why is someone with this much star potential only now stepping into the spotlight? The more I look at him, the more I see how much talent and charisma he has.'

Scratching his head slightly, he changed the subject.

"By the way, you know Ha-young? The one taking the female part for 'Brake'?"

"Yes."

"Originally, you and Number 10 were supposed to coordinate with her on the 22nd and 23rd, right? But it looks like Ha-young got an unexpected schedule on the 22nd. She’s free on the 23rd, but she asked if she could move the 22nd session to tomorrow instead. How about you? Of course, we’ll ask Number 10 as well."

"I don’t mind. I’ll meet her tomorrow first, then."

"Oh, really? Sounds good."

To Kang Rojun, whether he practiced a day earlier or later didn’t make much difference.

"Alright, then after breakfast tomorrow, you’ll meet with Ha-young."

The Next Day

A van pulled up at the 'Produce That 100!' training camp.

Stepping out of the vehicle was a woman with long, waist-length hair, her features overall giving off a fox-like charm. She was Ha-young, the one in charge of the female part for 'Brake'.

Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and loose training pants, her usual practice attire, she immediately went to see PD Woo Han-suk.

Before anything else, she bowed deeply.

"I'm so sorry! My schedule got messed up at the last minute! I sincerely apologize."

"It’s okay. These things happen a lot when you’re new. There’s no issue with today’s practice, right?"

"No! I can stay all day if needed!"

"Haha, great energy. So- The participant you’ll be practicing with today is Number 1. He's got quite a face, but overall, he’s a bit... different."

"Different?"

"Yeah. Oh, and his dance skills might be a bit lacking. On top of that, he’s not receiving any training, so when you practice together, if you notice anything that needs improvement, you can give him some light advice. But don’t be too strict about it."

"I'm still lacking a lot myself..."

"But you have real stage experience, right? Anyway, you can head over now."

Ha-young bowed and tied her long hair back tightly as she followed the staff’s directions. At the same time, she felt a slight thrill of excitement.

'Number 1… That’s him, right? The super handsome one.'

The one who had thrown the entire girl group into chaos, Number 1.

Still, Ha-young tried to keep herself composed. She was here to work, not to gawk.

'Phew- Stay calm. The more I see him, the more I’ll get used to it.'

Soon, she stepped into the spacious practice room.

Inside, Kang Rojun was in the middle of doing push-ups. Sensing someone enter, he turned his head, then immediately stood up and approached her.

-Swoosh.

Sweeping back his sweat-drenched black hair, he greeted her with a small nod.

"Hello."

The moment Ha-young saw Kang Rojun standing right in front of her, she instinctively took a step back. She hadn’t even realized she was retreating.

'Wow- He’s so good-looking it’s scary.'

For a moment, she just stared blankly up at him, before finally snapping back to reality.

"Ah, sorry- I mean, hello."

"What should we start with?"

"Huh?? Ah! Then… let’s try the choreography first? We can talk about it after we go through it once."

"Sounds good. I’m doing the second verse."

"Yes, yes. I have the files from the staff."

Ha-young skillfully set up her laptop, and soon, 'Brake' echoed through the practice room.

-♬♪

Standing in the center of the room, Kang Rojun and Ha-young got into position. Ha-young stood in front, tapping the floor with one foot to catch the rhythm.

"I’ll count us in. You start when the final count ends."

"Okay."

When her count reached the cue, they immediately launched into the duet choreography for 'Brake'. The room filled with the sound of the song, the scraping of their shoes on the floor, and their heavy breathing.

A few minutes later.

"Whoo-"

As the song ended, Rojun caught his breath for a moment before turning to Ha-young.

"How was it?"

Still panting, Ha-young simply stared at him, as if she had short-circuited. At the same time, PD Woo Han-suk’s words from earlier flashed through her mind.

'Give him advice? What advice??!'

That was impossible.

'If anything, I’m the one who needs advice, right?!'