* * *
Shim Juhwan shouted YES without a second thought when he was asked to perform the congratulatory song. He had a year-end concert, but he absolutely had to come.
Because this time, it was finally his chance.
“Jeha’s really coming, right?”
Just imagining witnessing the two of them together while singing one of his famous wedding songs had filled him with excitement.
But perhaps because Han Yohan and Han Yeoreum’s dating rumors had exploded before the end of the year, Myeong Jeha only appeared at the Baekryong Film Awards and did not come to the MBS Awards.
‘Ghh....’
Shim Juhwan’s heart ached at the opportunity he had missed yet again.
[MBS Awards Live Thread]
-?? Why’s his expression like that
-He’s immersed already from the intro?
-I went to Shim Juhwan’s concert last week and he looked so happy when he sang <Love Week>, today it really seems like a condition issue..T_T
‘Don’t tell me... they’re taking some time apart?’
Thinking of Myeong Jeha getting into a huge fight over a small misunderstanding, taking some time apart, then breaking up like in the music video for <How>, crying and becoming the regretful male lead... made his heart ache, while at the same time giving him a rush of dopamine.
‘No. There’s no way they broke up.’
Han Yeoreum sat at the table, hugging Beopsun tightly with a bright smile on her face. She looked incredibly happy.
Wednesday
Saying I love you never gets old no matter how many times you say it
‘And there’s definite proof.’
Seeing Myeong Jeha’s face at the recent Baekryong Film Awards, their relationship still seemed rock solid.
Because with that face, there was no way they could drift apart. Even if they fought, everything would obviously be resolved.
Saturday
Saying I love you feels like saying your name
[MBS Awards Live Thread]
-Holy crap, why is Shim Juhwan’s live so good today
-So damn sweet.... There’s a reason he’s the king of ballads lmao
-I listen to Seo Eden’s version often, but the original is the original T_T
-The hell, he’s singing better than at his concert
Shim Juhwan’s voice was sweeter than ever.
* * *
IP 85.152 had come here both to witness the rise of South Korea’s media content industry and to experience firsthand the distance between life and art.
Because Oscar Wilde’s words, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life,” seemed as though they would become clearer at the MBS Awards.
They absolutely had not come to see Han Yeoreum.
They were definitely not a fan, merely someone who liked her a little. After all, even inside dramas overflowing with clichés, Han Yeoreum was a brilliant artist who constructed a three-dimensional persona through her own unique narrative interpretations.
“Uuuugh...!”
At that moment, when Seo Eden’s face appeared on the screen, sharp gasps through clenched teeth rose from all around.
After <Dongdaemun Romance>, Seo Eden had entered his prime.
Unlike the people around them who reacted instinctively to the visible beauty of the subject before their eyes, IP 85.152 sat there with the heart of a true lover of culture, genuinely supporting Korea’s cultural content industry.
[MBS Awards Live Thread]
-Segye-Pyeonghwa TT_____TT So good seeing them again
-Beopsun said “ang”
-Why am I getting butterflies over the two of them reuniting..Heh Their chemistry’s still so good
-Why’s Seo Eden trembling so much lololol cute
-Who’s Beopsun?? Why’s everyone talking about Beopsun
˪Elizabeth’s real name is Beopsun
People flooding the MBS Awards live thread couldn’t hide how happy they were to see the lead actors of <Dongdaemun Romance> again.
As though paying homage to the wedding scene that had been the ending of the drama, Beopsun was once again wearing a pretty tulle skirt today, driving all those who still couldn’t let go of the drama crazy.
‘Since it was a reinterpretation of the Cinderella cliché, of course people can’t forget it easily.’
IP 85.152 felt relieved that people who truly recognized good works still made up the main body of South Korea’s cultural consumers...
-And the recipient of this year’s MBS Popularity Award is... congratulations. Han Yeoreum of <Dongdaemun Romance>.
“Aaaaaaah!!!”
* * *
The dinosaur-like cries from the fan section felt distant to Seo Eden.
Beopsun, whom he had entrusted to someone while he walked onto the stage, was now back in his arms. Her little front paws scratched furiously at his chest.
Perhaps because of that...
“Thank you so much for giving me such a precious award. I’m deeply moved that we’re still receiving so much love even after the drama ended...”
His chest stung and hurt terribly.
“I believe this isn’t an award for me alone, but one for our entire <Dongdaemun Romance> team, including Eden and Beopsun.”
Meeting Han Yeoreum’s eyes as she called his name while looking at him...
“Ah! Beopsun!”
-LMAOO Beopsun’s kissing Seo Eden T_T
-The DongRo team is seriously too cute
-How can they be this cute..T_T Beopsun is such a good girl
-She seriously understands everything. As soon as they said the award belonged to the DongRo team, she suddenly started showering Seo Eden with kisses
˪Dogs really understand everything. Seriously. You’ll know if you raise one
After Beopsun’s fierce barrage of kisses ended, Han Yeoreum had already disappeared from the stage.
He knew she would walk through the corridor backstage and return to him, but it was disappointing not being able to meet those eyes that had looked back at him for long.
Now Han Yeoreum would move on to <Code Name: Time Seven>, getting along happily with Han Yohan and Jo Eunnara. The joyful days she had spent with the <Dongdaemun Romance> team would now be shared with those people.
And memories Seo Eden knew nothing about would pile up one by one...
“Ha...”
“Beopbeop.”
“Hoo...”
“Beopbeopbeop.”
Thinking about that made sighs keep escaping him.
To overcome pet loss syndrome, Seo Eden hugged Beopsun tightly.
“Why, Eden? Nervous?”
“It must be because they’re about to announce Best New Actor. Hoho.”
Byeon Juhwa and Hwang Boseok patted his shoulder from beside him.
Seo Eden waited for the Best Couple Award announcement. Beopsun, resting in his arms, stared at him intently.
“Still, the only one who understands me is you, Beopsun...”
“Beop!”
“...What? How can you say something like that?”
“Beopbeop!”
“Obviously you’re the one who’s going to win, so stop worrying? No!”
But there wasn’t a single thing in this world he could trust. Beopsun didn’t understand his feelings at all.
Seo Eden had voted every single day with bloody determination, and although he knew he shouldn’t have, he had even offered prizes to people around him in order to beat the Pet Association Metro.
And Seo Eden had always been lucky.
Even when opening a raccoon snack, he’d get two pieces of kelp instead of one. Recently, he’d even gotten two packs of vegetable flakes. Of course luck would be on his side this time too.
“And we... we got married! That’s one of life’s most important matters! It’s something incredibly important! It’s a promise to spend our whole lives together!”
Suddenly having become smarter, Seo Eden insisted to Beopsun that the Best Couple Award belonged to him.
“Eden even knows the phrase ‘one of life’s most important matters’... He’s really become smart. Hoho.”
“Seriously. Is he taking private lessons or something? Last time he said ‘Myeongnyunjin Daesa’ instead.”
Hwang Boseok and Byeon Juhwa looked at Seo Eden with proud smiles.
* * *
“What’s wrong, Nara?!”
Jo Eunnara, who was in the middle of a brutal filming schedule, was watching the awards ceremony while eating cup noodles to keep herself from losing too much weight.
“Why are you eating noodles without the vegetable flakes?!”
“There weren’t any.”
“What? It wasn’t enough that there was no kelp, now there aren’t even flakes?”
Jo Eunnara quietly ate the raccoon-shaped fish cake. She had already gotten used to not getting kelp every time, but even the vegetable flakes being missing was rare.
Her manager burst into tears.
“This won’t do. Hyung will open a new one for you.”
“It’s fine. I’ll just eat this.”
Ignoring her manager, who was saying he would immediately call the company and demand an explanation, Jo Eunnara continued watching the awards ceremony.
The camera captured the face of an actor looking tense as though the opportunity of a lifetime was right before him.
And then—
“Why is there suddenly a dog...?”
Did it know something? Looking at the presenter on stage and the tiny dog that seemed to be barking for the trophy to be given to it, Jo Eunnara tilted her head in confusion.
Then Han Yeoreum appeared on the screen.
She looked different from how she did while suffering through all kinds of hardships here. The smile she gave the camera filming her came naturally.
-The Best Couple Award. The competition was truly fierce.
The nominees appeared in split-screen.
Even with a casual glance, Jo Eunnara knew Han Yeoreum would win anyway.
None of the other actors had left any particularly memorable impact this year.
-It is a joint award. <Dongdaemun Romance>'s Jeon Segye and Nam Pyeonghwa. Nam Pyeonghwa and Elizabeth. Congratulations.
The actor who looked as moved as though he had won the Grand Prize and the brightly smiling Han Yeoreum rose to their feet at the same time.
Han Yeoreum looked happy as she embraced Hwang Boseok.
Jo Eunnara, who had never had much luck with awards in general and especially with the Best Couple Award, asked indifferently,
“I wonder what it feels like to receive an award like that.”
“Hngh... Nara...!”
Apparently she had accidentally pressed her manager’s crying button.
By next year, Han Yeoreum would surely be holding that trophy once again at the KBC Awards.
‘Han Yohan will probably be beside her.’
That bright smile she had now... no, she'd smile even more happily because she'd be receiving it with her real boyfriend.
Jo Eunnara would probably just become one of the nominees to fill out the category.
She would simply be an extra applauding and congratulating the two of them.
She knew that.
But somehow, she felt strange.
Even though it was perfectly natural.
* * *
There were no surprises.
-Congratulations. Top Excellence Acting Award. Han Yeoreum of <Dongdaemun Romance>.
My face appeared on the screen.
That made three awards now.
The fact that I was receiving this much attention at a single ceremony sent another thrill through me.
“You did well, you did well.”
“Congratulations.”
“Hnghhh....”
“Ang!”
I hugged Hwang Boseok, Byeon Juhwa, and Seo Eden once each.
Even now, saying goodbye to a work wasn't easy.
Once on the last day of filming.
Once at the wrap-up party.
And once at the awards ceremony.
Even after having three opportunities to prepare myself for parting, it was still hard.
I walked up onto the stage.
Bright lights shone above my head.
When you stand high up, you can see below more clearly.
You can trap every single person looking at you inside your field of vision.
Hwang Boseok looking at me proudly.
Byeon Juhwa genuinely happy for me.
Seo Eden looking deeply moved.
And far behind them, all the faces of those cheering for me.
It felt as though I had truly...
Done incredibly well.
I wanted to do even better.
I became greedy for far more people to look at me with those eyes.
Even if someone called me arrogant, there was nothing I could do.
Recognition I was receiving for the first time.
The blinding ambition born from achievement.
The security of knowing I had a place as an actress.
Even though I held them in my hands right now, they felt so fleeting that anxiety kept creeping in.
I had finally come to understand what people meant when they said they became anxious when they were too happy.
I should have gotten used to the cold sensation unique to the metal trophy in my hands by now, but every time I received one, my heart pounded violently.
By now, the path toward backstage after finishing my acceptance speech had become familiar.
Having just stood beneath the dazzling lights, my body was warm.
Stepping away from the brilliantly burning white spotlights, backstage, I looked at my long shadow and thought,
‘The day I win the Grand Prize...’
How hot would that moment be?
If that day came, would I be satisfied?
Would I be able to erase this shapeless anxiety and stop wanting more?
Would I finally be at peace and think, This is enough?
‘...I don't know.’
But there was one thing I knew for certain.
‘I want to win the Grand Prize.’
A clear goal.
The desire to stand at the summit.
That alone.
* * *
The MBS Awards became a complete sweep for <Dongdaemun Romance>.
-Best Excellence Award for Actor goes to Seo Eden of <Dongdaemun Romance>.
-Congratulations. Writer's Award goes to Hwang Boseok of <Dongdaemun Romance>.
-Work of the Year. <Dongdaemun Romance>. Director Byeon Juhwa will accept the award on behalf of the production.
-Stealer Award goes to... Kim Ilhee, who played Emily in <Dongdaemun Romance>.
-Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations to writer Hwang Boseok of <Dongdaemun Romance>.
It was rare for one team to dominate an awards ceremony so thoroughly.
Yet nobody could object.
This year truly belonged to <Dongdaemun Romance>.
-Hngh.... I wasn't really... a great actor... but... I won't forget all the love you've shown me and I'll work hard... hngh... so I can continue being the lacking Segye... Thank you so much to the perfect Pyeonghwa who helped me... hngh....
-To be honest, there was a time when I was full of stubbornness and arrogance while pretending otherwise. It's embarrassing, but I can finally say it now. I really don't act like that anymore. Hoho. To my beloved Pyeonghwa and Segye, my precious children, who melted away the heart that wanted to strut around because I was some top writer... thank you.
-Unlike writer Hwang, I still have a bit of a desire to show off. Being humble is difficult. Romance always wins. First love is invincible. As a director, the process of learning and showing that truth feels precious and invaluable. I will continue approaching viewers with that heart. I love our Segye and Pyeonghwa. You turned a difficult filming set into something invincible and left me with happy memories.
-I was already so, so happy just to come to the MBS Awards as an actress... I never expected to receive this.... But actually... I wanted it so, so badly.... Yeoreum, who told me I could do it and believed in me... thank you so... much....
Praise for <Dongdaemun Romance>, the winner of the Holy Grail War that had heated up the entire year, never ceased.
Seo Eden cried his eyes out while giving all the credit to Han Yeoreum.
Master writer Hwang Boseok touched hearts with an honest speech about his past arrogance.
Byeon Juhwa's candid confession and Kim Ilhee's tears, the once unknown theater actress, melted viewers' hearts.
-TT_______TT Damn it why am I crying
-Father Hwang... Just creating <Dongdaemun Romance> alone gives you the right to strut around...
˪2222 At that age, with that kind of sense, he deserves to show off
˪33 LMAO Grandpa created the character Jeon Segye
˪Exactly. Why's he being humble? He can be arrogant as hell
-Kim Ilhee is so touching. Just hearing her say she actually wanted the award made me cry T_T
-The DongRo team is family
-I'll let Seo Eden off because he gave Han Yeoreum a shoutout lmao
˪Seo Eden was flying by the second half though
˪But Han Yeoreum was the one who pulled out that immersion. Be honest, put another actress there and would they have won the Holy Grail War? They would've gotten beaten into a pulp. Stop overhyping.
˪I like Han Yeoreum too.. TT_TT I was just saying Segye and Pyeonghwa both did well and suited each other. I'm not overhyping
-Seriously, <Dongdaemun Romance> was a new chapter in Korean drama history. I've seen every rom-com out there, and it's so rare to find one that doesn't mess up the story, foreshadowing, or characters.
-Han Yeoreum never disappears from any acceptance speech lmao Ah I love it
˪Seriously, they should just call it Team Han Yeoreum lmao
Now, with Han Yeoreum once again in the spotlight because of the Acting Grand Prize—
[NetHolics Reveals D-Day for Its Long-Veiled First Original Project... “Something Big Is Coming,” Viewers Anticipate]
["Korean dramas? I'm not interested." After Hollywood, Myeong Jeha Smiles as He Chooses NetHolics]
['NetHolics First Event' at KOEX... One visitor photo Shot Grants a Free One-Month Subscription in Bold Promotion]
[NetHolics Korea Presents K-Apocalypse, Declares 100% Pre-Production... Will It Shake the Broadcast-Centered Drama Ecosystem?]
Han Yeoreum's next project—
And the opening of a new era in media content unlike any before—
Had finally arrived.
Naturally, the public's attention gathered around it.
December 31.
The release day of <Seoul Metropolitan City> had come.
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