The king of dramas was its ads - Maru heard these words before. A drama with a sturdy scenario, godly acting, and incredible direction did not look for viewers, but advertisers. The individuals that created the drama are said to participate in its production with the ideal to create something worth watching, but the objective of the sum of those ideals was ultimately the ads.

The food he was eating in a drama, the clothes she was wearing in the drama, the location they went to, the life they enjoyed. All of that became products and subsidized into ads.

“I hope you can concentrate on the acting of the actors while the shoot is running. Watching them in real life gives you a different enjoyment than watching through a screen.”

The tourists that were guided to one side of the set nodded as they listened to the staff’s explanation.

There was no way the production team wanted to let tourists in when the drama production stage had many sensitive actors. This was also a facet of advertising. The things they hear and see here would be spread to many other people in the form of stories and rumors. If the viewership went past 30%, the costs of ads would increase as well after all.

Maru had a look at the expression of the actors. They didn’t seem flustered since they seemed to have been notified beforehand, but they clearly did not seem pleased with it. The lead actors, who were right in front of the viewers, were getting ready for the shoot with a smile, but the supporting actors were just clicking their tongues as they looked at the audience.

“I thought we’d be starting the shoot soon, but it looks like we’re going to have to wait a long time,” said a man with a stubble.

He looked like a stereotypical undercover detective.

“Yeah. I think I heard that Entertainment Show Weekly is coming as well.”

“What? The Entertainment Show Weekly? You mean the one on YBS?”

“Yes. They should be making a report about it. I mean, those people are doing well nowadays, aren’t they?”

A skinny man pointed at Joohyun with his chin. The stubbly man nodded in agreement.

It seemed that there was another event other than tourism. Maru took out his earphones from his pocket. It did look like it was going to end within three hours, but it seemed that he would have to stand there like a prop for two out of those three hours.

He was killing some time while nodding according to the beat when some people walked on the set with quick steps and told the producer a few words. After that, a camera entered through the entrance.

“We’ll start from the entry part.”

Along with that shout, a man holding a wireless microphone entered the set with careful steps. The man said ‘shh’ with a humorous face as he put his finger on his lips. Entering the studio, he pointed at Ahn Joohyun standing on the set.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Nam Joongyeon, reporting to you from the field. Today, we’re here at the studio where they’re shooting the popular drama on YBS, The Witness. It’s just nearing 30% viewership, so the atmosphere here is very different from others. Our reporter team came to visit the location without any prior notice.”

Then, the cut sign sounded. The producer sent the reporter back out in dissatisfaction. It seemed that the two were on close terms as the reporter blatantly expressed his displeasure. Only when the producer said ‘one more time’ with a smile, did the reporter nod.

“Geez, you’re too strict on me, Park-hyung.”

“Please give me less work. Go out already. I need to finish this quickly since I have a shoot for Hometown Six after this.”

“Hyung, you’re running double jobs?”

“It’s not two jobs. I’m just working my ass off while I still can.”

“You’ll ruin yourself. You told me that you didn’t get any sleep too.”

“I’m more scared of not being able to earn money than ruining my body. Go back out already. We need to pull out quickly. They’re giving us glimpses as well.”

The conversation between the reporter and the producer could be heard. Nobody seemed to mind him since they knew that he was just here as a background actor. The reporter came back in again with a smile. His comment was no different than before.

“They’re showing us blatantly that they’re being watched. And who came here without prior notice?”

The stubbly man spoke.

Maru laughed a little when he heard those words. Even though everyone on the set was looking at the reporter right now, the reporter was saying that he was here in secret. He wasn’t fooling anybody. Anything without prior notice was on the schedule and anything unexpected was not.

The camera shot as the reporter went on the set with a small camera. The actors, who acted like they knew the reporter until just moments ago started doing their act as though they didn’t notice him. They were pretending to act so it was somewhat awkward to look at.

Meanwhile, Joohyun looked straight at the camera that was closing in on her. The other actors acted as though they were surprised by the coming camera, but she made a shameless smile as she faced the reporter. The reporter seemed to have judged that it was impossible to control Joohyun as he went straight to the interview.

“Renewing records every day! Here, I have the actors of The Witness who have contributed to the drama.”

The interview proceeded on the set. The reason they didn’t change places seemed to be to show the vitality of the field. The tourists were looking at them with excitement outside the camera view.

Just as they shot the greeting, the staff that guided the tourists spoke.

“Well then, please let me guide you to the meeting room where the writer is waiting.”

“Can’t we see the actors’ acting?”

“Of course you can. But right now, they’re shooting something else. Once you come back from your talk with the writer, you’ll be able to see them again, so you can watch them at that time and take photos as well.”

The staff spoke in a loud voice as though he was a tourist guide. He seemed to be telling everyone else that these people were going to leave. When the guide left with the tourists, the interview began.

“Please look at the questions. I’m telling you the questions beforehand, and if you think any of them is unsuitable, then please tell me. I’ll skip that question.”

Reporter Nam Joongyeon showed the actors the question sheet he had in his hand and went over the questions. After a few words of goodwill, Joohyun spoke.

“I’m going to reply as it is no matter what you ask, so ask away.”

“O-of course. Your honesty is quite well-known. But please take it easy. We couldn’t use most of the interview we took from you last time.”

“I don’t care. My image can’t get worse than this. But I don’t hate you, reporter. At least you didn’t attack me when I shot ads like mad.”

“Haha.”

The reporter was clearly sweating. A male actor next to her tapped on her shoulder to let him go, but Joohyun didn’t bat an eyelid.

“Her face is definitely decent, but her personality is shit.”

The stubbly man next to Maru spoke. Maru carefully asked him a question.

“Sounds like she doesn’t take interviews that often, huh?”

“Ahn Joohyun? She doesn’t. Last time, a journalist from KBS or RBS came and tried to get an interview from her, but she snorted and rejected, even though everyone else accepted. She didn’t budge no matter how hard the producer tried to persuade her. Well, she did get attacked by many people before that, so it’d be strange for her to maintain a good relationship with journalists and reporters.”

“I don’t think there’s any good in getting on a journalist’s bad side, is there?”

“That’s because you don’t know this area that well. To actors that are above a certain class, journalists are no different from mosquitos trying to suck their blood. Journalists are only thankful when you haven’t made a name for yourself. People like Joohyun don’t need their presence to spread her name around. In simple terms, the one in the inferior position is not her, but the journalists. Though, even though I say this, that woman is still incredible. Normally, people don’t go that far. They would usually not take such drastic action, but she clearly isn’t someone like that.”

The stubbly man crossed his arms in satisfaction.

“You sound knowledgeable.”

“I’m a fan of her after all.”

Maru was dazed for a second when a man in his mid forties replied so boldly.

“What, an old man like me can’t be a fan of someone?”

“No, I was just envious of her. It’s always reassuring to have fans that look at you in a good light.”

“I look at her in a good light because I’m a fan. Actually, I hear a lot of bad things in the field. I hear that even some actors avoid her because of her personality.”

Maru nodded. The stubbly man wanted to talk more about Joohyun, but the interview started at that time.

“Mr. Lee Junghoon, the handsome actor that’s in a passionate love in the drama. Please say a word or two for the audience.”

“Hello, viewers of Entertainment Show Weekly. I am Lee Junghoon, who plays the role of Hansoo in The Witness.”

“Miss Ahn Joohyun, please say a word too.”

“I’m Ahn Joohyun.”

She replied in the worst manner possible, but reporter Nam Joongyeon smoothly brought the conversation to Lee Junghoon. He only asked Joohyun for her reactions from time to time and didn’t ask her any questions.

While the interview proceeded, Maru went into makeup. The minor actors next to him also changed into dark-toned clothes. The makeup artist touched up his face a couple of times and then there was a big bruise around his cheekbone and lips. The makeup artist also applied something sticky at the tip of his lips, and when he had a look in the mirror, his lips looked like they were scabbed. He tried to touch it out of curiosity, but the makeup artist glared at him with a sharp inhaling sound, so didn’t.

When his makeup was about done, the producer waved his hand. It seemed that he was signalling for reporter Nam Joongyeon to finish things up. After that, the tourists that had left a while ago had returned to the set.

“Can I take an interview with these people as well? A simple ‘good luck’ is enough.”

The reporter for Entertainment Show Weekly who looked like he was about to leave came to where the minor actors were and said those words. It seemed that they were taking some footage since the interview was short.

“Both of the actors are kind to us.”

“They’re so good at acting.”

“They look after people like us. I’m always grateful for them.”

When they stood in front of the camera and the microphone, they all said the answer that the producer asked them to say. The reporter also came over to Maru.

“Are you in high school?”

“Yes.”

“Is your dream to become an actor?”

“Yes.”

“Well, please reply quickly this time. What’s your reason for trying to become an actor? Three, two, one!”

Maru replied without hesitation.

“To earn money.”

“Hahaha.”

The reporter laughed loudly before looking at the producer. The producer nodded once. The camera was turned off and the reporter thanked them for their conversation.

“It’d be much better for you to focus on studying if you want to earn money.”

The stubbly man came over and talked to him.

“That’s not entirely true.”

“Well, I thought just like you when I was your age. You can only dream while you’re still young. Good luck.”

Maru replied with a smile to the man who acted like he knew everything.

“We’re starting the shoot. Please get moving.”

The staff still put on a kind smile that Maru couldn’t get used to. They went to the set where acrylic panels were put up. The stubbly man Maru was talking to sat down at a desk, while the others were located throughout the office.

“You’re here.”

The producer acted like he knew him. He seemed to have something to say but did not, and it was probably because he couldn’t remember Maru’s name.

“It’s Han Maru, sir.”

Maru said his name first. The producer said ‘yes, that’s right, Han Maru!’ before shaking hands with him.

“You’re here.”

“Yes.”

Joohyun also came to him and greeted him. It seemed that the very act of Joohyun greeting someone else first of her own accord seemed curious to everyone around as the other actors came and had a look at his face. Maru smiled awkwardly and greeted all the actors present.

“This is him?”

“Wow, he looks scary. I heard that we got a new record in viewership the moment you appeared on the scene. You’re the lucky mascot for this team.”

Some actors smiled as they spoke. Maru wondered if it was real and looked at the producer for answers. The producer just held his thumb up.

“Just do what you did last time. It might be hard since you don’t have any lines and you have to do everything with your eyes, but since Miss Joohyun said that I can believe you, I will believe you.”

The producer shouted at everyone to get ready before turning around.

Right next to the investigation HQ set was the interrogation room set. When Maru walked towards the interrogation room, he passed in front of the stubbly man. That man stared at Maru in a daze.

Maru nodded his head before walking past him.