‘While shooting this photospread, I got excited seeing a side of Han Sena that I couldn’t see during drama filming. I want to keep supporting Han Sena going forward.’
‘During the <Say Your Name> shoot, I relied on Sena-ssi so much. We shared emotions to the point where we could understand each other without words. It was warm throughout.’
‘There were so many times I went too deep becoming Kang Jio. But in truth, actors sometimes need to show just what’s necessary, and that was incredibly difficult this time. Sena-ssi helped me through it. Yu Dayang knew exactly how to comfort Kang Jio (laughs).’
I smiled with satisfaction while reading the magazine that had been published at lightning speed.
The magazine side had also moved fast once they’d grasped our plan to exploit the scandal.
Lee Seonho’s interview had also turned out exactly as we’d planned.
I’d put in plenty of effort during my interview too.
‘Did Seonho-ssi say he relied on me? I’m the one who relied on him so much. Yu Dayang can’t exist without Kang Jio.’
‘I also found it incredibly difficult to escape the emotions from the drama. Seonho-ssi and I would both cry whenever we made eye contact. While comforting each other like that… we grew quite close.’
‘What kind of actor is Seonho-ssi to me? (Laughs) Well. Just… precious.’
Content that any fan who’d encountered the scandal articles could immerse themselves in.
Without forcing outright lies, I’d filled it with episodes and behind-the-scenes stories that people who’d watched the drama could enjoy reading.
<Masquerade> doubled our interview content, putting my interview in the A version and Lee Seonho’s interview in the B version.
It was a strategy to make people buy both, and that strategy succeeded 200%.
Magazine sales were writing unprecedented sales records and adding fuel to the scandal.
For several days straight, Lee Seonho’s and my names wouldn’t drop from the real-time search rankings.
With both agencies not releasing statements, and as unplanned ‘fake sighting stories’ continued, the scandal between us was becoming accepted as fact.
The <Say Your Name> director and staff were also devising ways to draw in viewership until the very last episode.
Writer Gu Semin was already writing a separate side story in novel form, and <Say Your Name> was streaming on NetMate’s main top banner.
First, the plan was to broadcast a special episode after the finale.
I’d contributed an idea to this flow too.
“How about filming side stories to include in the special?”
That’s how side story filming proceeded in secret.
Staff members got excited and started filming portions of our shoots from a ‘secretly hiding and shooting’ angle using their phones.
They planned to spread it on the internet as if they’d caught us on a date.
While the side story filming progressed, I also planned to deliberately ride in Lee Seonho’s car to fool even outside paparazzi.
Everyone was moving in perfect sync as if they’d planned it all in advance.
The set where we’d gathered after so long.
Despite this sudden extra work, the <Say Your Name> family exchanged greetings with huge smiles.
“This is the most fun thing in my career, seriously.”
“No, but aren’t you two totally vicious? First time I’ve seen celebrities exploit a scandal.”
“Everyone around me keeps asking about it—it’s chaos.”
The director also appeared with a bright face, having put on some weight during the break.
“Writer wrote the side stories really well too. Let’s get to filming.”
“Fighting!!”
“Production crew! Move quickly! Take good paparazzi-style photos!”
* * *
However, the fans’ reactions to the scandal flowed differently than expected.
It became a huge issue starting from fan cafes and various places, but our fans weren’t jealous—they seemed more fascinated.
-Is it real…?
-I must’ve lived too long. I’m seeing a scandal from my kid;;
-Looking at the paparazzi photos, it does seem real. Anyway, congratulations!
-Lee Seonho… so he does date women. I’d believed different rumors… This is surprising.
-I don’t know much, but given their images, if they date once they’ll probably go all the way to marriage. If there’s a second generation, that’ll be huge.
-Please invite us to the family meeting too.
Seeing these reactions made me inwardly worried that we’d just be left with a scandal history and insufficient drama promotion.
Fortunately, other people and drama fans aside from our core fans were fully enjoying the scandal issue.
-Ah, I’m so excited! Living just waiting for Wednesday and Thursday.
-The OST is also amazing. Playing it on repeat every day
-Feels like the universes merged—I’m watching in a trance.
-Eunje T_T Jangmi T_T
-Healing my sad heart about the kids leaving with the scandal
-All the women in my house only watch that in the evenings. They watch the reruns again. But I’m enjoying it the most.
-Wow, ratings will hit 30% soon.
-I’m a Seo Jaeyeon fan. I oppose this relationship.
⤷ 22
⤷ 333
While thoroughly enjoying the fans’ reactions, I was also watching the live broadcasts faithfully.
This was the period when personalities were leaving one by one.
While the staff and entire cast were all sincerely preparing the side story filming as a final gift for the fans.
The production company suddenly came to us with an unexpected proposal.
‘By any chance, Sena-ssi, Seonho-ssi… neither of you are tone-deaf, right?’
Lee Seonho and I just blinked in confusion.
* * *
The next day, we were dragged to a recording booth.
I stood in front of the microphone alongside Lee Seonho, both of us looking dazed.
“Is this really okay?”
“I don’t know either… We didn’t even have time to practice properly.”
“This is crazy.”
The <Say Your Name> OST, which had unusually high music sales and performance, contained tracks sung from each personality’s perspective and tracks sung from Kang Jio’s perspective.
I’d been frequently listening to these high-quality tracks that heightened the drama’s immersion.
While the ratings soared higher day by day, before I knew it, three OST tracks had entered the top 10 on the music charts.
That’s how the OST production team celebrated and proposed the idea of the two main leads singing an OST as a special event concept.
Lee Seonho and I ended up here.
It was too fun an event to refuse, plus the staff’s enthusiasm was too strong, so we’d agreed without much thought.
I should’ve at least practiced singing regularly.
This was a schedule where we had to record as soon as possible since the finale was approaching.
Plus, I’d received the shocking news that this recording would be inserted in this week’s broadcast.
I could practically hear the editing team’s screams as they got ground down.
When everyone’s working this hard…
I couldn’t back out saying I couldn’t do it.
I steeled my resolve and read through the lyrics.
Lee Seonho and I were each scheduled to sing one existing theme song, plus a new duet track.
First, the duet.
There’s too many mes inside me
There’s too much of you inside me
It’s okay, still it’s okay
You who tells me it’s okay
If it’s okay, I’ll come closer
Don’t let go of me, find me
I’ll always be by your side
I’ll stay no matter who you are
Don’t worry, don’t worry
I’ll always tell you it’s okay
If it’s okay, I’ll come closer
Don’t let go of me, don’t leave me
The first verse was my lyrics, the second verse was Lee Seonho’s.
Whoever wrote this…
These were truly well-written lyrics.
Without any special techniques or flashy expressions, just words that melted Yu Dayang’s confused emotions and Kang Jio’s desperate heart.
The melody was also structured to be soft and addictive, sticking in your ears after just one or two listens.
While listening to the flowing intro, I made eye contact with Lee Seonho nervously.
Then we both simultaneously laughed.
Right, so what if we can’t sing well.
It would reach the fans as Yu Dayang and Kang Jio’s rough but sincere voices.
I decided to just convey that sincerity.
I cleared my voice.
* * *
After finishing both the side story filming and OST recording.
While continuing my schedule that still felt insane enough to make me faint even after drama filming ended, spending each day frantically…
Jung Sewoon finally left the drama.
“You don’t need to be perfect here.”
“As I thought, it’d be a waste to give you to someone else.”
“…”
“Baek Jangmi and Lee Eunje both left? You made them leave, didn’t you, Jio-ssi?”
“Sewoon-ssi.”
“I don’t want to beg to stay longer by borrowing someone else’s body either. It hurts my pride.”
“Sewoon-ssi, just a moment.”
“The fact that I’m the best match for Kang Jio won’t change. But still, since you’re going this far, I should disappear for you.”
“…”
“And some advice—about Yu Dayang. Cut ties with her quickly. Because you’ll have to part with her eventually too.”
“What? What do you mean…?”
“Take care, Kang Jio.”
Watching each personality leave still made my heart ache.
Even Mom and Dad, who’d been watching the drama with me, cried at a near-wailing level.
Saying it felt like their daughter was leaving.
That’s how episode 12’s ratings with Jung Sewoon’s departure hit 28%.
Everyone was predicting next week’s ratings would break through 30%.
While catching my breath during just half a day without any schedule.
The director called.
-Sena-ssi, you’re not resting, are you?
I burst out laughing the moment I heard the director perfectly reading my situation.
“I heard you’re already picking your next project, Director?”
-Yeah. Gotta make a living.
Hearing that made me laugh again.
-It’s not about anything else. I’ve got some good news. We postponed the wrap party and said we’d do an MT when we have time, remember?
“Ah, right. Did the plans come together?”
I sat up from sprawling on the sofa.
-Don’t be too shocked.
The director announced the surprising news.
-We’re going overseas for our MT.
“What?!”
Who planned this?
How are we covering the costs?
My head spun.
-SCBS is sending us on a reward vacation.
“Oh wow, really?!”
-Yeah. So we ran a vote in the staff chat, and it looks like we’re going to a resort area.
“Wow, that’ll be so fun!”
The <Desert Island> days suddenly came to mind.
-Hang in there through a bit more hard work.
“Yes, Director. See you soon!”
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