Chapter 36

“Your Love from the Stars” is a drama that blends various genres, including romance comedy and historical drama.

The scenes transition between several time periods, spanning hundreds of years in the past and modern times without being constrained by any particular era.

Despite this, it maintained high viewer ratings daily, not giving off a chaotic or confusing feel, thanks to the outstanding acting of the cast and the consistent main storyline.

Regardless of whether the backdrop of the scene is in the past or in the present, the romance story between Park Do-jun and Han Yu-hwa continued to unfold.

However, one cannot drift between the past and the present indefinitely.

Among the two main characters, Park Do-jun, who is immortal, remains the same figure in both the past and present, while the ordinary human Han Yu-hwa is a different person in the past and the present.

Even if her soul might have been the same in the past.

Ultimately, the central story of “Your Love from the Stars” was set to focus on ‘modern’ Han Yu-hwa and Park Do-jun, which meant that the story between past Han Yu-hwa and Park Do-jun had to reach a conclusion.

However, the nature of that conclusion was one that could not be described as common, even as an empty phrase.

“Hah… Why am I so nervous about this?”

Since the airing of “Your Love from the Stars” began, PD Huang Min-soo had been at the broadcasting station late into the night, and once again, he found himself anxiously waiting.

The fifth episode, which was about to air in a few minutes, was a significant turning point for various reasons.

Of course, he was confident.

The past episodes boasted a consistently high level of quality, but among them, the highlight was undoubtedly the fifth episode, which featured Ha Eun’s ‘that performance.’

“Such a performance is not something anyone can do.”

Having observed numerous actors until now, PD Huang Min-soo was certain of that.

The fear reflecting in her eyes as the royal soldiers approached was distinctly captured.

And yet, instead of stepping back, she took another step forward with unwavering resolve.

Eventually, she was struck by the arrows of the royal soldiers that plummeted towards Han Yu-hwa, collapsing to the ground and briefly gazing up at the vast night sky with eyes slowly losing their light, ultimately succumbing to death.

Ha Eun’s performance was such that it made viewers realize that Han Yu-hwa’s story had come to an end.

At the same time, it made one inevitably understand why Park Do-jun cannot forget Han Yu-hwa even after 500 long years.

At the time of filming the fifth episode, Huang Min-soo was convinced that there could be no more suitable performance to punctuate the historical arc.

The next scene, depicting the first meeting between modern young Han Yu-hwa and Park Do-jun, was also satisfactory enough to finish in one take.

However, from the sixth episode onward, it was expected that Yu Seong-a would portray Han Yu-hwa instead of Ha Eun.

Despite having seen Yu Seong-a’s portrayal of Han Yu-hwa in the first episode, he felt worried.

Would viewers accept Yu Seong-a’s Han Yu-hwa?

“I can’t believe I’m worried about Yu Seong-a like this.”

It wouldn’t be easy for viewers who had been completely immersed in Ha Eun’s Han Yu-hwa to suddenly shift their focus to Yu Seong-a’s interpretation.

Though Yu Seong-a’s performance could be deemed top-notch in the industry, there hadn’t been a scene with a significant impact yet.

The spectacular performance of Ha Eun’s character meeting her tragic end could potentially backfire.

Would the baton handed over from Yu Seong-a in the first episode be smoothly taken back without any issues?

Yu Seong-a, waiting in her penthouse for the airing of the fifth episode, was well aware of these concerns.

She had originally requested Ha Eun to perform a somewhat different acting style than her own.

However, since the airing of the fifth episode had yet to begin, worrying about the sixth episode might have been premature.

Still, as she gazed at the living room TV with a serious expression, it was clear how impressive Ha Eun’s performance had been.

Even for someone with the descriptor of a top star, Ha Eun’s performance was not to be underestimated.

“If the ratings really start to drop from the sixth episode, it would be humiliation like never before…”

Coincidentally, due to episode four airing the previous Thursday, the tension within the show had reached its peak.

In other words, it was already almost predetermined that the viewership rating for the fifth episode would set yet another record-high.

Feeling a genuine tension that had been absent for a long time, Yu Seong-a searched for wine.

At least drinking some wine might help her cope with the mounting anxiety.

Finally, the fifth episode of “Your Love from the Stars” began approximately ten minutes later.

At the same time, the ratings began to be counted, achieving figures close to the record-high of episode four in merely three minutes.

And another thing.

The responses from the drama-related communities, often referred to as ‘public sentiment’ among the broadcasting station staff, were also noteworthy.

– “Ha Yoon-seong looks pale.”

– “Did he catch some terminal illness?”

– “If he escapes in a UFO, that would be amusing too.”

– “Based on the length of the chase scene, it seems like he might get caught.”

So far, there haven’t been any notable anomalies.

After all, viewers were solely focused on the crisis faced by Han Yu-hwa and Park Do-jun.

They were all concerned about how the two could possibly evade such an unprecedented crisis.

There weren’t really anyone worried about the possibility of them failing to avoid the crisis.

This was the same for Min Da-yeon, who was sitting on a couch similar to Ha Eun’s, watching the young Han Yu-hwa on TV intently.

“They said this was the most painstakingly shot scene. Could you at least give me a hint about how she escapes, Lee Ha-eun?”

“…The contract forbids me from leaking any content.”

“Of course, I know that! Do you think I’m the only one who has acted in a drama?”

“If you know, you shouldn’t be asking.”

“Gu… What am I supposed to do with my curiosity!”

“You’ll find out if you keep watching anyway.”

Thus, Min Da-yeon’s pleas and demands for spoilers ultimately resulted in nothing.

While Han Yu-hwa and Park Do-jun were escaping from the burly royal soldiers, their steps finally came to a halt at that moment.

– *Thud.*

Against the people’s expectations that they would somehow manage to escape.

Han Yu-hwa turning her back to Park Do-jun and starting to approach the royal soldiers beyond seemed to defy logic.

“W-wait…? She shouldn’t do that!”

Eventually, upon reaching the edge of the marsh, she paused her steps momentarily.

With tears beginning to flow, her voice filled with emotion as she bid farewell to Park Do-jun beyond.

– “Something feels off.”

– “What’s Park Do-jun doing? Shouldn’t he stop Han Yu-hwa?”

– “How can he cut her off when she’s saying all of that? He should grab her right before leaving the marsh.”

– “But would it really change anything if he did?”

Distance between them continued to grow against Park Do-jun’s desperate shakes of the head.

A small shadow, revealing its true self, advanced towards the royal soldiers on the other side.

– *Splash.*

“…Seriously. Kids these days are really scary…”

Just seconds later, she was shot down by arrows and fell helplessly.

For the briefest moment, she shifted her gaze toward the vast night sky, finally losing all vitality and warmth like a flower wilting.

“H-Huang PD! The viewership ratings for ‘Your Love from the Stars’ are…”

“What about the ratings?”

“It’s, um… 35%.”

“Y-yes?!”

In an instant, it transformed into a colossal swamp, swallowing all who had been captivated by Han Yu-hwa’s flower.

“Th-this can’t be happening…!”

“Breathe, breathe! It’s not over yet!”

However, it didn’t just stop at swallowing them.

Right after Han Yu-hwa’s death, time began to flow at an incredible speed, blooming a flower of a somewhat unfamiliar yet familiar shape.

“What’s going on? Why are you staring so intently?”

“Um, it’s just… it resembles someone I know.”

“She must have been an incredibly beautiful person if you’re comparing her to me.”

That quiet yet lonely breath had seemingly ceased but signaled that the bond between Park Do-jun and Han Yu-hwa had yet to sever.

“She was a beautiful person, so much so that I regret capturing her in my eyes.”

“Then she must have been too valuable a person for someone like you.”

“…That could be true.”

And so, once again, time flowed on.

Now fully matured, Han Yu-hwa and Park Do-jun found themselves grasping each other’s hands once more at that moment.

“Hey, Park Do-jun. Do you know what the flower language of the forget-me-nots I gifted you earlier is?”

“…Please, do not forget me.”

“Huh? What? You knew? I was going to tell you because I thought you didn’t know.”

“I learned long ago. It was something I could never forget, no matter when.”

The vision of young Han Yu-hwa, who had not left Park Do-jun’s side since hundreds of years ago, wore the same gentle smile as always.

“…Just remember me, my lord. That is enough for the girl.”

Relieved that the end of their parting was not forgetfulness but reunion, she finally began to drift away.

There was no lingering emotion regarding that familiar yet yearned-for face.

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