GalaxyTL
Chapter 72
At the start of the match, while Kim Donghu was only throwing jabs, Baek Sangha thought it might be due to nerves.
'This is way too different from the way he usually spars.'
He wondered if it was the unfamiliar opponent making him so cautious, as Donghu was sticking strictly to jabs alone.
And though that alone was enough to press his opponent and put him on the defensive…
'Wait a minute, you’re telling me he’s managing with just jabs?'
Baek Sangha quickly grasped why Donghu was playing this way.
Neither Shin Yerim, who was filming, nor Kim Sansoo, Donghu’s opponent, nor even Geumjin, the referee, understood what Donghu was up to.
This was a truth only Baek Sangha, who’d observed him for years, could realize.
'They probably think he’s just inexperienced because he’s young.'
But that wasn’t it.
'He’s intentionally avoiding a knockout.'
There was a calculated intent behind it.
By sticking only to jabs, he was methodically draining his opponent’s stamina,
letting him cling to futile hope, and watching as he tried desperately to fight back.
It was a calculated, brutally ruthless approach.
That’s why it was all about the jab.
If he threw a straight, hook, or uppercut, he could end it too quickly.
Only a jab could slowly wear his opponent down, and that’s exactly what he did, right up until the end of the first round.
Just before the bell rang,
he intentionally left an opening, inviting a counter.
He then waited for his opponent to come in, timing it perfectly with a liver shot.
It was a plan crafted with an artistry in cruelty.
"...I’d like to discuss this more, but now’s not the time," said Geumjin, breaking Baek Sangha’s train of thought.
'Oh, right.'
Now wasn’t the time to be admiring his student’s skills or relishing every detail of the match.
'The mood is off.'
As much as he wanted to watch the footage and praise each moment,
the fact remained that his opponent had vomited and lost control of his bladder.
The immediate priority was to handle the situation.
"It’s very rare for a middle schooler to overwhelm a high schooler this way..."
Geumjin didn’t know how to explain the situation and began to ramble.
"Even knowing there was a skill difference, this result feels... intentional."
There was a hint of resentment toward Donghu mixed in his words.
Though it was only sparring, Donghu’s blows had been excessive.
Baek Sangha was about to apologize, but just then...
"That’s not true! He was the one who started it!"
Yerim cut off Baek Sangha’s apology.
"He started it with mean remarks, making it hard not to get emotional!"
Just before the sparring began, she’d left the camera running for a test recording.
Who would have thought it would come in handy now?
Yerim played back the part where Kim Sansoo was picking a fight with Donghu.
Only their feet showed, and their faces were blurred,
but it was still clear what was happening.
"..."
With the situation exposed, Geumjin was now the one feeling embarrassed.
Baek Sangha quickly gathered up the kids and exited the gym.
'Our junior has a really bad attitude.'
Starting a fight, losing in sparring, and now facing complete humiliation.
'That kid’s going to be in trouble.'
Baek Sangha silently wished Kim Sansoo good luck.
+++++
After the small commotion of the sparring match, time flew by, and it was already time for episode 10 of Ilshik.
Ji Eun-bi, an 18-year-old die-hard fan of Kim Donghu, sat in front of her TV, eagerly awaiting Ilshik.
'Donghu oppa’s scenes are nearly done now.'
Even as a high schooler with no knowledge of screenwriting, she could sense that the child actor’s screen time was nearing its end.
The plot itself was also heading into a darker turn.
The two characters had fallen in love,
promised to marry, and were preparing to face the future together.
But just then, his partner began to experience inexplicable pain,
and the crown prince’s sorrow deepened as he watched his beloved slowly fade away.
"Oh, here we go, here we go!"
And today was the climax of that sorrow.
After a long opening advertisement, episode 10 of Ilshik began.
The first thing on screen was Donghu’s forlorn expression.
At this point, there was little distinction between the actor and the character;
Donghu displayed perfect synchronization with his role.
...Are you really going to leave like this, breaking our promise?
The first emotion he showed was resentment.
Watching his beloved suffer, unable to do anything,
he scolded her, urging her to wake up and not leave him behind.
"I’m sorry, Your Highness."
But her response was only an apology.
...I am such a worthless person.
The scene was a tight shot, showing only Donghu and Sujin.
Without any added direction, they conveyed their emotions entirely through their gazes.
Forget someone like me who is so ungrateful, and move on with your life.
Tears began to fall naturally from Donghu’s face.
How could she say such a thing?
How could she say it so easily?
Forget her? How could he forget?
The tears that followed spoke these unspoken thoughts.
After a brief silence, Donghu caught his breath and continued, struggling to speak.
Even if I close my eyes, I can still see you.
It was a declaration that he would never forget her,
a pledge that his heart was already filled with her.
But you must forget me.
But that tender feeling was crushed by the girl, who had already accepted her impending death.
She knew that the bond had to be broken here.
Please, Your Highness, forget me and live on.
At her desperate plea, Donghu’s fingertips trembled.
Why are you... so graceful and beautiful...
As if she would shatter if he touched her.
His hand, quivering with sorrow, touched Sujin’s cheek.
I love you, truly... I love you with all my heart.
So please, let me hear your heart,
stand up and tell me that you love me too.
But until the end...
No, I cannot.
The girl refused to allow herself to love.
Despite his tear-filled vision, despite his firm hold on her face,
her words came out cold, like a blade, cutting off his love.
'Unbelievable.'
How could a teenager pull off such a performance?
She knew Donghu was a good actor, but this was on a whole new level.
Donghu had made his name playing villainous roles.
But now, he was showing he could handle romance?
'He should do a rom-com in a modern setting after this.'
It was only natural that these thoughts crossed Ji Eun-bi’s mind.
Meanwhile, the scene continued to unfold.
The inevitable death of his beloved.
But even knowing it was coming, no amount of preparation could soften the sorrow.
Ugh...
Donghu’s heartbreaking sobs filled the screen.
'This is incredible!'
Ji Eun-bi wasn’t alone in her reaction.
Even Yeo Sujeong, the writer of Ilshik, felt the same way as she watched.
'This isn’t just simple crying.'
If it had been a one-dimensional crying scene, it wouldn’t have had this impact.
Such scenes were common and often came off as silly if not done well.
In fact, the more difficult the sobbing scene,
the more likely it was to be unconvincing and even ridiculous.
'...What is this kid?'
But Donghu’s performance was in a league of its own.
It was as if he knew how to convey grief through his entire body.
One might even wonder if he had lost a loved one in real life to portray this so powerfully.
The sorrow was so intense that it felt like his insides were being torn apart.
With nothing left to hold onto, he clawed at the ground, his nails turning red.
An acting performance that captivated the audience,
making them lose track of time and forget the thought of changing the channel.
Viewers only realized the drama was over when the banner ads began playing.
'The response is going to be huge, isn’t it?'
As soon as the episode ended, Yeo Sujeong opened her laptop.
And, as expected…
Real-time search rankings were filled with Kim Donghu’s name.
Kim Donghu is amazing. People kept saying he’s good, and he really is!
He’s only sixteen, right? How is he so good at romantic acting?
Sure, Donghu’s amazing, but Sujin was incredible too, matching him line for line.
Anyone up for a Wolf team? My Berserker Wolf is top tier.
Broadcast stations better be ready. Once Donghu outgrows child roles, it’s game over.
Someone needs to cast Donghu in a rom-com ASAP! Whoever does will get all the ratings.
Nah, Donghu’s trash. The kid’s a total punk; he beat up someone two years older.
False information like this will be reported immediately. Thanks.
Who are you?
I’m Kangshik.
The netizens’ reactions were explosive, to say the least.
But what about the viewership ratings?
Kim Donghu’s performance was beyond question,
and with him topping the real-time search rankings and igniting reactions online, that was already expected.
But viewership was a different matter.
Though the ratings were on a sharp rise recently…
'If we just break 40%, it’ll be a massive hit. With this momentum, it’s definitely possible.'
She was hopeful, though breaking the 40% barrier was a different story.
'Often, shows hover near that mark but never quite break through.'
Sometimes, ratings dropped for no apparent reason.
However…
Writer, the ratings for Kim Donghu’s episode are in.
Episode 10 of Ilshik achieved…
Kim Donghu, as always...
"What? 41%...?!"
He’d exceeded everyone’s expectations once again.
+++++
At the same time, in the MNC Drama Department Director’s office, Director Park Suljae shivered as he heard the ratings.
The exhaustion in his body seemed to lift instantly,
like his muscles were regenerating, and his skin tingled.
It felt like he was undergoing a second transformation.
"Ho... Actor Kim Donghu, you’ve really crossed a line here."
What kind of thanks would be fitting for results like this?
'This is unbelievable.'
Feeling like he could run around the neighborhood and shout for joy,
Director Park pulled out his corporate card and handed it to the producer standing in front of him.
"Go on an overseas trip."
"E-excuse me?"
"I’ve already discussed it with the higher-ups. With achievements like this, the entire Ilshik team deserves to relax somewhere nice."
As someone who believes in perfect rewards, Park Suljae concluded his words and fell into thought.
'Has there ever been a child actor who left this big an impact?'
A sense of bewilderment filled him at the birth of this monster of an actor.
He’d never encountered anyone like this before.
'What are we supposed to do from here?'
What kind of treatment would be appropriate for a phenomenal actor who could pull in a 40% rating?
'Hmm...'
If only someone would send him a guide on this.