Chapter 93

<The Chaser>’s third teaser trailer.

Initially, the reaction was that it was simply a compilation of scenes from the first and second trailers.

Of course, the number of scenes that a movie can show is limited, and in the case of a thriller, showing too many scenes can ruin the immersion when the film is officially released.

Thus, the only notable clips from the first and second trailers were of the hooded criminal and the police chase sequence.

The identity of the victim was never clearly revealed.

However…

That final moment…

Ten seconds.

– Was Joo Sooyeon the killer all along???

– What the heck is going on?

– Wasn’t she supposed to be the convenience store clerk???

– I should’ve guessed. Why would an extra appear in the previews?

– Literally.

– But wow, this is actually building some serious tension…

In the trailer, the killer Cha Sooah from <The Chaser> appeared for only ten seconds.

During those ten seconds, her face was shown for a mere two seconds.

Beyond that, the trailer only focused on her silhouette, adding atmosphere.

But even this was enough.

To capture public interest all at once.

[<The Chaser> Third Trailer: Views 13 million]

At five days since the release of the trailer, the number of views was heading towards record-breaking territory.

Even now, when the momentum has somewhat slowed, there are still at least 500,000 views daily. Sometimes, it even reaches one million.

Meanwhile, certain online communities have been adversely affected by this sudden wave.

– Is this the main gallery?

– Are there crazy people here? This is the finance gallery, for crying out loud!!!!!!

– ? What to do?

In any case, as a result, the community focused on Joo Sooyeon sees posts being uploaded at a speed five times faster than usual.

A community that barely managed to fill 100 posts daily has now surpassed 10 times that figure in recent days.

– The killer is Joo Sooyeon lol.

– Was her eye color originally red??

– What? Didn’t she always have those eyes since she was young?

– Technically, she’s pretty much a rookie, right? Is this legit????

– Her acting ability has been proven, hasn’t it?

– Proven my foot.

– I guessed it from her petite frame. Was I the only one?

Sigh.

Absolutely.

– The final post was quite far-fetched though.

– But do movies really disclose the killer in previews?

Thus, discussions were swirling around speculations about the third teaser trailer.

Some mentioned how the plot twist had been neatly resolved.

Moreover, the current character Jo Harin in <Dream Future> was portrayed as entirely opposite to her role in <The Chaser>.

“Manager, is this alright?”

Éclat.

The company, which recently achieved significant publicity through Seoyeon, wasn’t thrilled with the current buzz.

“What a shame she’s playing the killer.”

Team Leader Jung Tae-soo said carefully.

He acknowledged, to some extent, Joo Sooyeon’s ability as an actress.

Because of that, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

What if <The Chaser> becomes a massive hit and compromises the advertising concept?

“Hmm.”

“Manager?”

With arms crossed, Vice President Baek Min-chan looked out the large glass window at the city below while Jung Tae-soo waited silently for his words.

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“Haha, how am I supposed to know? Predicting the public’s reaction is really difficult. You, as the head of the business strategy team, should understand this better than me.”

Taken aback, Jung Tae-soo was at a loss for words. The manager wasn’t wrong.

And by his judgment, the current state was quite perilous.

Based on the data gathered so far, it seemed almost certain.

It wasn’t good.

If an unfavorable image took deep roots, especially in an image-sensitive cosmetics advertisement, there was a high probability of significant impact.

“I watched the trailer, and it truly had a strong impact. My wife already booked tickets. It’s opening in two days, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Hmm, she’ll definitely do well. She’ll do excellently, I’m sure.”

Baek Min-chan nodded his head thoughtfully.

“But don’t we have <Dream Future> too?”

“…”

The vice president was aware of <Dream Future>, but compared to GH Group’s blockbuster investment, it seemed rather meager.

Internet reactions praised the first episode but were less enthusiastic about the second episode.

It was uncertain how successful <The Chaser> would be, but at the moment, it was evident that the role of the killer in <The Chaser> would overshadow the image built in <Dream Future>.

“Anyway, her role doesn’t seem very significant to begin with.”

“Markets are driven by money, after all.”

The role was minor.

Vice President Baek Min-chan, who always kept track of Seoyeon’s appearances, was aware of this.

He knew that her role had significantly diminished in the second episode.

Possibly due to the focus shifting to the protagonist or due to other reasons.

But would they stand idly by if <The Chaser> becomes a hit?

“I think it’s best to simply keep a watchful eye for now.”

“Is that so?”

“And besides, we might be surprised by an unexpected hit.”

The vice president smiled, recalling the <Unmanned Survival> event.

The return of a rising star after ten years was always capable of exceeding expectations.

***

These days, Seoyeon had noticed something.

Wherever she went, there was a subtle uneasiness around her.

Just today at school, she overheard friends whispering as they stared at her.

According to Jiyeon,

“Once the full movie comes out, it’ll probably get worse.”

“Is that so?”

“It depends on how she appears in the movie though.”

This comment made Seoyeon feel unnecessarily anxious.

Things had just started to feel more relaxed between them, hadn’t they?

In reality, actors who played villains often got more such reactions.

People reportedly cursed at them as they walked down the street.

And these reactions carried over to the film sets as well.

“What, you’re the killer?”

Among the crew, who had started to speak casually to her, Ma Yeonwoo asked first.

“…It feels strange somehow.”

“Ah, no. I just meant the role. The name wasn’t disclosed yet.”

That was true.

At the end, Cha Sooah’s appearance was revealed, but the specific name was never disclosed.

Just checking the pamphlet still described it as ‘part-time worker’.

Cha Sooah.

Seoyeon exhaled.

Honestly, Cha Sooah was the character that felt closest to her own ego.

If her life had taken a darker twist, she might have ended up like her.

Thus, Seoyeon worried about how this character would be perceived by the public.

Though she knew it would mostly invite criticism.

“Joo Sooyeon.”

At that moment, a voice cut between the two.

Park Jung-woo.

He walked briskly towards them.

Incidentally, both the filming staff and the cast were glancing at Seoyeon.

After all, the third trailer for <The Chaser> had exceeded 15 million views.

That number was unheard of in the industry.

Though everyone had many questions, the vivid impression left by the trailer prevented them from voicing them easily.

‘She only appeared for about ten seconds.’

The image of those glowing red eyes in the dark lingered in everyone’s minds.

Bloodstained face and deathly pale skin.

It was more like encountering something monstrous than human.

“Have you seen the revised script?”

“Excuse me? Oh, yes.”

In reality, the revision was minor, involving a few lines and the removal of one scene.

Seoyeon had made some guesses about this.

‘Maybe her presence is too strong compared to Song So-ha’s role.’

Or perhaps her role as the killer in <The Chaser> led them to decrease her prominence slightly.

That’s how she interpreted it.

Honestly, it wasn’t a pleasant situation for Seoyeon, considering she’d taken on the role of Jo Harin to offset Cha Sooah’s image.

‘But still, it’s fine for now.’

The crucial scenes central to Jo Harin’s character remain unchanged.

And those were preserved, possibly to avoid undermining the foundation of the drama.

“I could explain if necessary.”

“Huh?”

“Your script.”

Park Jung-woo looked earnestly at Seoyeon.

“Modifications of this kind in scene notes are rare. Yes, you may have overshadowed Song So-ha’s presence, but such revisions aren’t ideal.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s not only about you. It’s bad for Ma Na-hee as well.”

Song So-ha’s role played by Cha Na-hee knew that her prominence had diminished as well.

But instead of appreciating that fact, she seemed to feel that she hadn’t performed well enough.

“I heard that screenwriter Im Jin-ha has a close relationship with Director Baek.”

Park Jung-woo paused in thought.

It was obvious that Director Baek’s influence was behind this script modification.

After all, a debut screenwriter like Im Jin-ha couldn’t easily alter the screenplay otherwise.

“Will it change if I say something?”

Seoyeon wondered at Park Jung-woo’s comment.

It was unusual for actors to influence revised scripts unless they held significant clout—something Seoyeon didn’t have yet.

“Possible. For you, it can.”

“Me?”

“There’s someone at a higher level who really likes you.”

Interestingly, Park Jung-woo knew this person well, as did Seoyeon.

That person’s simple word could have screenwriter Im Jin-ha revising the script accordingly.

“Thank you, but it’s alright.”

“What?”

Seoyeon shook her head.

“After all, the key scenes aren’t reduced.”

“That’s true, but… Hmm.”

Park Jung-woo folded his arms in thought for a moment.

The script had been revised up to episode four.

‘Thinking about it, <The Chaser> premieres around episode four.’

Park Jung-woo had watched the trailer as well.

The last ten seconds.

The main villain of <The Chaser>.

The murderer Cha Sooah’s appearance.

Park Jung-woo could feel the deep deliberation that must have gone into such a short teaser.

How should they reveal the criminal’s identity to maximize impact?

And how could they gather the largest audience into theaters?

‘Nowadays, the box office lacks successful films.’

Domestic films were currently in a slump.

Few works were making waves annually.

With foreign blockbusters dominating theaters, it was crucial to draw attention.

‘The fact that the criminal’s identity isn’t a twist.’

Meaning the killer’s identity will be revealed early in the film.

In that case, showcasing this impact in the trailer might be better.

It also implied that the villain’s role was significantly important.

‘If the backbone of the film is about chasing and tracking the villain, rather than discovering their identity…’

With the villain’s narrative woven in, their prominence would naturally increase.

Naturally, this would boost the name value of Joo Sooyeon playing the role.

In multiple ways.

“…You.”

Park Jung-woo looked at Seoyeon.

She seemed unbothered, gazing at him blankly.

Was she really unconcerned?

Or did she have confidence?

“Hmm, I see. This is better.”

“Huh?”

Park Jung-woo gave a small laugh.

“It’ll be interesting to see how flustered you’ll be once the film premieres.”

“Huh?”

“And <Dream Future>’s ratings too…”

He didn’t favor dramas being excessively dependent on a single actor.

But frankly, Kim Si-hwan, while being the main male lead, wasn’t very standout either.

Most of his impact would come in the latter half of the series.

The early part of the show followed Song So-ha’s perspective, with supporting characters providing key interactions.

If Seoyeon’s role diminishes and ratings drop…

“I’ll have to help Ma Na-hee a little then.”

To avoid her receiving too much criticism.

Looking at the young “monster” gazing vacantly at him, Jung-woo waved his hand.

He believed that she’d handle things well enough on her own.

***

[<Dream Future> Struggling with 10% Ratings]

The media coverage for <Dream Future> was gradually decreasing.

The few remaining stories focused on the declining ratings.

Though 10% could still be considered decent, the critical point was the consistent drop from episodes 2 and 3.

If the trend continued in episode 4, it was clear the ratings would dip below 10%.

Ironically, the peak moment rating surged to 17%, thanks to the third teaser of the newly released <The Chaser>.

Not that there were many, but these preview audiences contributed to the increase, since ratings dropped sharply whenever Seoyeon disappeared from the screen.

“Frustrating.”

Screenwriter Im Jin-ha bit her lower lip as she watched the reactions.

The ratings have been steadily falling.

To make matters worse, it started right after she revised the script.

Director Baek was gradually paying attention to her actions too.

If the ratings fall again in episode 4…

‘After some revisions, parts of the show feel awkward.’

Such criticisms were understandable since awkwardness was intentionally aimed for.

It was better than boringly mediocre, though the disrupted flow wasn’t favorable.

But there wouldn’t be any more revisions.

It’d feel like an admission of failure.

‘Episode 4 has the group performance scene, so it’ll be fine.’

The scene took a lot of effort to prepare, and Director Kim Pil-seok appreciated its quality.

And with episode 4 released…

“What about the ratings?”

She quickly asked her staff.

Cheering echoed from the drama department.

‘Ratings at 14%!!’

A massive jump by 4%! The rebound was a great sign.

Finally, Im Jin-ha sighed with relief and decided to check the live reactions she had been avoiding.

She’d assumed they would be largely positive, given the 4% rise.

But as she scanned the chat window…

– Harin, you’re terrifying…

– Would Jo Harin or Cha Sooah win in a fight???

– I can’t see Jo Harin the same way anymore…

– Why isn’t Cha Sooah appearing????

– Lol, her absence is making it tense

– Is <The Chaser> really that fun?

– Definitely, you’ll see

– Yup yup

No matter how many times she read, there was something strange about the chat window.

And then she realized.

‘<The Chaser> premiere date.’

Thinking about it, today was the day.

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