NOVEL NEXT Chapter 73
In the early match, when Kim Donghu was just throwing jabs,
Baek Sang-ha, the coach, wondered if Donghu was just nervous.
‘This is so different from when we sparred before!’
Could it be that the opponent is so different that it’s causing such timid movements?
Kim Donghu was genuinely just throwing jabs.
Of course, that alone was enough to pressure his opponent and push him into a defensive stance.
‘Wait a second, is jabbing really enough?’
In that moment, Baek Sang-ha immediately understood why Donghu was operating the match this way.
Shin Ye-rim, who was watching the sparring, Kim San-soo, Donghu’s opponent,
Even the referee, Coach Geum-jin, couldn’t grasp why Donghu was behaving that way.
In a way, only Baek Sang-ha, who had watched Donghu for a long time, could arrive at that truth.
‘They probably think it’s because he’s young and inexperienced.’
But that wasn’t it.
‘He’s deliberately not going for a knockdown.’
There was intent behind it.
He was viciously wearing down his opponent by just jabbing,
Keeping hope alive until the end, only to watch them flail about, adopting a brutally cruel strategy.
That’s why it was jabs.
Straight punches, hooks, and uppercuts could knock someone down in an instant.
Only jabs could slowly kill the opponent, and that continued until just before the end of the first round.
Then, just before the round was set to finish,
Donghu deliberately gave his opponent a chance to counter, waiting for them to come in before timing a liver shot.
It was truly a design that reached the realm of art.
“…I’d love to chat more, but the situation doesn’t allow for it.”
Baek Sang-ha snapped out of his thoughts at Coach Geum-jin’s words.
‘Right, that’s true.’
This wasn’t the time to be savoring and admiring his disciple’s skills or replaying the match in his mind.
‘The atmosphere isn’t great.’
He’d love to watch the recorded footage right away, counting out compliments second by second,
But with his junior disciple already throwing up and wetting himself, it was clear that addressing the current situation had to take priority.
“It’s so rare for a middle school boy to so overwhelmingly beat a high schooler…”
Coach Geum-jin blurted out without knowing how to wrap up the situation.
“I mean, they must have realized there’s a skill gap, but for them to deliver this result? Makes me think there might be a bit of intent there…”
And within that, there was a hint of blame directed at Kim Donghu.
Even though it was sparring, his strikes felt excessive.
As he couldn’t quite say anything about that, Coach Baek decided to apologize first, and just then,
“That’s not true, the one who started it was that guy!”
Ye-rim pre-emptively blocked Coach Baek’s apology.
“They started it with, like, bad words! They made it impossible not to get emotional!”
Before the sparring began,
How helpful it was to have the camera rolling during practice!
Shin Ye-rim scrolled through the footage and replayed the moment Kim San-soo provoked Kim Donghu.
The screen showed only feet, and the face was blurred out.
Still, I could perfectly infer the situation.
“….”
In this situation, it was actually the director, Kim Jin, who felt embarrassed.
Director Baek hurriedly took the kids and rushed out of the gym.
‘Our junior has quite a bad personality.’
She had stirred up trouble and lost in sparring, which was quite humiliating.
‘That guy is gonna be in trouble.’
Director Baek offered a prayer for Kim San-soo’s soul.
+++++
After a small commotion during sparring, time quickly flew by and it was now the time for the 10th episode of [Eclipse].
Kim Donghu’s passionate fan, Ji Eun-bi, 18 years old, was waiting in front of the TV just for [Eclipse].
‘Now Donghu Oppa is almost all out.’
Even a student who doesn’t know anything about the script understood that it was the time for the child actors to appear as the story progressed.
Moreover, the content itself was getting quite serious.
Having become a couple in love,
all they had to do was promise to marry and share a future together.
Then suddenly, the partner began to suffer from an unknown pain,
and the crown prince could only watch his dying half, his sorrow deepening.
“Oh, it’s happening, it’s happening.”
And today was the peak of that sorrow.
After a long opening commercial, the 10th episode of [Eclipse] finally started.
The first thing we see is the sorrowful face of Kim Donghu.
It was as if there was no distinction between the character and the actor;
Kim Donghu was showing perfect synchronization.
-…Are you really planning to leave us without remembering our promise?
The first emotion exhibited was resentment.
Watching his beloved partner die helplessly,
he urges, asking why she’s there and pleading for her to get up.
-I’m sorry, Your Highness.
But all that comes back are apologies.
-…I am so inadequate.
On the still screen, only Kim Donghu and Kim Sujin are visible.
In close proximity with no flashy direction, they convey their hearts to each other solely through eye contact.
-Forget about someone as ungrateful as me and start over.
At those words, tears streamed down Kim Donghu’s face.
How can you say such a thing?
How can you let those words slip so easily?
Forget? How can you tell me to forget?
Tears flowed continuously as if responding to those unspoken words.
A moment of silence.
Taking a breath, Kim Donghu spoke with a heavy heart.
-Even if I close my eyes, I can still see you.
That was a confession that he couldn’t forget,
a vow that his heart was already filled with her.
-Still, you must forget.
But such tender feelings were callously trampled by the girl who was ready to meet death.
She knew for certain that she would soon die.
And so, she understood that she must sever their bond here.
“Your Highness, please live your life forgetting me.”
At that earnest request, Kim Donghu’s fingertips tremble slowly.
“Why are you… so graceful and beautiful…”
As if it would shatter the moment it touches.
Shaken by sorrow, Kim Donghu’s fingertips brush against Kim Sujin’s cheek.
“I love you, truly… I really love you.”
So please, reveal your heart to me,
Stand up and tell me of your love.
Yet until that final moment,
“No, you mustn’t.”
The girl does not grant love.
Even as tears fill her eyes to the point of blurriness,
Even as she grips the hand on her cheek tightly,
The words rising to her tongue are shot forth like a cold blade.
‘This is madness.’
How can kids who aren’t even adults act like this?
I knew Kim Donghu was a great actor, but
This performance completely shattered everything he had shown until now.
He had been a villain actor through and through,
But how can he pull off such romance?
‘I wish he would do a modern rom-com and not just historical dramas.’
It was only natural that Ji Eun-bi’s thoughts flowed this way.
Despite those expectations, the screen continues.
The fated death of the beloved.
But even if one knows, one cannot prepare for sorrow in advance.
Gahhh…
Kim Donghu’s desperate wails begin.
‘No, this is insane?’
It’s not just Ji Eun-bi who thinks this.
The screenwriter of [Eclipse], Yeo Sujeong,
She too is watching the drama with the same feelings as Ji Eun-bi.
‘This isn’t just simple crying.’
If it was one-dimensional weeping, there would be no admiration.
That sort of thing is way too common.
Moreover, if one can’t deliver a heartfelt sob,
It often feels more funny than sad, a very challenging level of acting.
‘…What is he really?’
But Kim Donghu’s performance is on an entirely different level.
He seems to know how to express sorrow with his whole being.
One wonders if he has truly experienced losing someone he loves.
Gwaaaah!
The sadness is so thick, there’s a pain that feels like one’s insides are tearing apart.
With nowhere to hold on to, his nails turn red as they dig into the ground.
Losing track of time,
His acting is so engaging that viewers forget to even switch the channel.
People only realize the drama has ended when they see the banner ad.
‘With reactions like this, it must have been huge!’
As soon as the drama ended, Yeo Sujeong immediately logged onto the internet.
And there, as expected, were the trending searches.
1. Kim Donghu
2. Eclipse Kim Donghu
3. Kim Donghu Romance
All the real-time search terms were filled with Kim Donghu.
“Nah, Kim Donghu’s really amazing!”
“Isn’t he only sixteen? How can he act love this well?”
“But Kim Donghu and Kim Sujin both are incredible, they bounce off each other perfectly.”
“Is the Wolf Team about to rise? Our Berserker Wolf is a total pro, lol.”
Who’s ready for some fun? I’m a berserker wolf pro, yay!
Seriously, broadcasting companies better watch out once Kim Donghu grows out of his child actor phase, lol. You know what I mean?
Hey, someone should make a rom-com starring Kim Donghu. The first one to do it will rake in all the ratings!
No kidding, lol. That Kim Donghu kid is such a legend; he’s beating up a kid two years older than him!
I’ll report such falsehoods immediately. Thanks for your effort.
And you are…?
I’m Kang Sik.
The responses from netizens were just chaos.
So, how’s the viewership looking?
Honestly, Kim Donghu’s acting was already top-notch, and everyone was expecting the search rankings and netizen reactions.
But the ratings were different.
In this upward trend lately…
“As long as it surpasses 40%, it would be a massive hit. Of course, looking at the flow, it should be possible.”
Could it really show more growth from here? Expectations were high.
But breaking through the 40% barrier was a completely different story.
“It’s common to hover around that area and not go up.”
Sometimes it even drops for no reason at all.
But…
> “Director, we’ve got the ratings for Kim Donghu.”
> “Episode 10’s rating is…”
Just like always, Kim Donghu exclaimed, “What, what? 4, 41%…?!”
He brought in results beyond everyone’s expectations.
+++++
At the same time, in the MNC drama department, Park Seol-jae shivered as he heard the ratings.
Suddenly, energy surged into his weary body; it felt like he was about to sprout new muscles, and his skin tingled.
He felt so lively he thought he might transform into a second form.
“Whoa… Actor Kim Donghu, you’ve really crossed the line!”
To achieve such results, how can I possibly repay you?
“This is just ridiculous.”
Honestly, he felt like hugging him and taking a stroll around the neighborhood right now.
Park Seol-jae promptly pulled out the company credit card and handed it to the PD in front of him.
“Go on a trip abroad.”
“Uh, yes?”
“I’ve already discussed it with the higher-ups. With this level of achievement, the entire production team deserves a sweet getaway.”
I am a person who fully rewards accomplishments.
As he finished, Park Seol-jae fell into a dilemma.
“Has a child actor ever shown such a strong presence?”
He was honestly confused about the emergence of this out-of-the-norm prodigy.
He had never encountered such a type of person before.
“What should we do from here on out?”
How do you treat a monster actor who pulls in 40% ratings, a guaranteed box office hit?
“Hmm…”
He hoped for at least some guidelines on how to handle this.