K-Producer C77 Graduation and hit drama

On February 12, 2010, Daewon Foreign Language High School's auditorium was filled with excited graduates and their families. As Byul-ho's name was called, he made his way to the stage, the whispers of his classmates following him.

"Look, it's the 'idol-maker'," one voice sneered.

"I wonder if he's going to a dance academy next. That's where all the failed students go, right?" another added.

"Bet he'll be too busy teaching pretty boys how to shake their hips to bother with real education," a third voice laughed derisively.

Byul-ho maintained his composure as he reached the stage. The principal cleared her throat, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Jeon Byul-ho," the principal announced, her voice carrying across the auditorium. "Graduating with honors. Byul-ho has consistently maintained excellent grades throughout his time at Daewon Foreign Language High School, particularly excelling in Korean Language, Social Studies, English, Practical Arts and Mathematics."

She paused briefly, then continued, "His dedication to his studies, despite his various extracurricular commitments, is commendable. Byul-ho-ssi, would you like to say a few words?"

Byul-ho stepped up to the microphone, his eyes scanning the audience. After a moment of silence, he simply said, "Follow your dreams."

The auditorium fell silent for a beat before a wave of whispers and muffled laughter rippled through the crowd. Some seemed amused by the brevity of his speech, while others exchanged puzzled glances.

As Byul-ho accepted his diploma and made his way back to his seat, he held his head high, ignoring the continued murmurs.

As the ceremony continued, Min-ji observed from a distance, a small smile playing on her lips. She couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Byul-ho's composure and success.

Beside her, her friend Ye-jun scoffed, "Hmph, that Byul-ho. Just because he managed to start a small company, he looks so proud of himself."

Min-ji turned to Ye-jun, her eyes narrowing slightly. "At least Byul-ho has proven himself in society. Meanwhile, you're still relying on your parents for your studies and club activities."

The words left her mouth before she could stop them. A heavy silence fell over their small group. Ye-jun's face crumpled, a mix of hurt and shock evident in her expression.

"What's your problem, Min-ji?" Ye-jun said, her voice wavering.

Min-ji's other friends moved to comfort Ye-jun, shooting angry glances at Min-ji. It was then that Min-ji realized the impact of her words. She looked around at her friends, seeing the hurt in their eyes. Many of them, like Ye-jun, also relied on their parents' support.

The realization of what she'd said hit Min-ji hard. She'd unintentionally insulted not just Ye-jun, but many of her friends. The atmosphere in their group had shifted, becoming tense and uncomfortable.

Min-ji opened her mouth to apologize, but found herself at a loss for words. She hadn't meant to hurt anyone, but in her eagerness to defend Byul-ho, she'd crossed a line. As her friends turned away from her, Min-ji expected to feel regret, but strangely, she felt nothing of the sort.

Instead, she felt a sense of clarity. Her words, while harsh, had been honest. She realized that her values had shifted, aligning more with Byul-ho's drive and ambition than with her friends' more traditional paths.

As the graduation ceremony continued, Min-ji noticed Byul-ho quietly slipping out of the auditorium. Despite the usual protocol of staying until the end, he was clearly focused on other priorities. She watched him go, understanding his eagerness to return to his business pursuits.

***

After graduation, Byul-ho felt a sense of relief, no longer burdened by high school obligations. However, he knew he couldn't completely escape the education system just yet. He decided to enroll in Seoul National University's business program, a strategic choice that would not only enhance his business acumen but also delay his mandatory military service.

The thought of military service weighed on his mind. Briefly, he considered the possibility of moving to the USA to avoid it altogether, but quickly dismissed the idea. He knew that such a move could potentially damage Ascend's image and his own reputation in Korea.

In the months following Ascend's collaboration with Natthew, their popularity in Thailand had grown steadily. Byul-ho watched with satisfaction as their music climbed Thai charts and their name became increasingly recognized.

Building on this success, Byul-ho had orchestrated a series of strategic partnerships across Southeast Asia. Ascend had toured Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and other countries in the region. At each stop, Byul-ho cleverly utilized local resources and media to increase Ascend's visibility.

Now, as he sat in his office reviewing reports from these various markets, Byul-ho felt a surge of pride. Ascend's name was gaining traction across Southeast Asia, their fanbase growing with each passing week.

But Byul-ho wasn't one to rest on his laurels. His eyes were already set on the next big market: China. He knew that breaking into the Chinese entertainment industry would be challenging, but the potential rewards were enormous.

As Byul-ho was deep in thought, a knock on the door interrupted his planning. "Come in," he called out.

Han Lee entered, a smile on his face. "Byul-ho-ssi, I have good news about the drama project you greenlit."

Byul-ho leaned forward, his interest piqued. "You mean 'My Love from the Stars'?"

Han Lee nodded. "Yes. The project is underway. Park Ji-eun was thrilled that we picked up her script after it was rejected by other companies. She's already working on refining it."

"That's great," Byul-ho said, remembering how he had personally reached out to Park Ji-eun after hearing about her rejected script. It had taken some convincing, but he had managed to secure the rights to what he knew would be a hit series.

"The only thing we're waiting on now is the casting," Han Lee continued.

Byul-ho smiled, memories from his past life flooding back. "Actually, I have some ideas for the cast," he said, trying to keep his tone casual. "How about Jun Ji-hyun for the female lead? And for the male lead, Kim Soo-hyun might be perfect."

Han Lee's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Jun Ji-hyun is quite a big name, Byul-ho-ssi. But Kim Soo-hyun... I'm not familiar with him. Is he new?"

Byul-ho nodded, realizing his mistake. "Ah, yes. Kim Soo-hyun is relatively unknown right now. He had a small role in 'Will It Snow for Christmas?' last year. I think he has potential to be a breakout star."

Han Lee looked thoughtful. "An established actress and a newcomer... that's an interesting combination. Do you think we can get Jun Ji-hyun? And is this Kim Soo-hyun ready for a lead role?"

"It's worth a try," Byul-ho said confidently. "Set up meetings with their agencies. I have a feeling this project could be very appealing to both of them."

As Han Lee left to make the arrangements, Byul-ho leaned back in his chair, a sense of anticipation building. He knew he was taking a risk, especially with pushing for a relatively unknown actor, but he was confident in his knowledge of their future potential. If everything went according to plan, Golden-Star Entertainment was about to make waves in the drama world, further solidifying its position in the entertainment industry.