GIJS

Chapter 121 Master of the Tower of Exploration (탐구루주 형님)

"Let's try entrusting it to a new company this time."

"!"

"Was it Chillin Pictures for the last company? I think it would be good to give it a try with them."

"That's a valid point."

The other two decision-makers also agreed with Assistant Manager Ju Chang-su's decision.

"To be honest, we also liked that company the most."

"Oh, they sing really well."

The existing company's reliability was overshadowed by how strongly Chillin Pictures and the scholar's presentation had captivated their minds.

Hearing the decision, the public official Gong Yu-min felt elated.

"Yay—!!"

To be able to work with her favorite idol!

This wasn't just a lucky break; it felt like winning the lottery. Not the Korean lottery, but the American lottery, like the Super Bowl or something. It felt like winning a billion-dollar jackpot in one go.

The difference from the lottery was that while winning the lottery might make one quit their job immediately, this felt like a situation where they would need to work insanely hard from now on.

However, Gong Yu-min was not afraid at all. Instead, she was eager to meet the 7IN members as soon as possible.

That day, Gong Yu-min, who visited the Solar system office, personally conveyed that Chillin Pictures had been selected as the production company.

"Yay—!!"

"U, we, we won...!"

"Wow, it's been a while since I've felt this way after Ayuksi."

Seeing the members jumping with high energy, Gong Yu-min clapped along. Their smile was stretching beyond the usual range of facial muscles.

"Hehe, hehe..."

"Great, then we need to get started on the production preparations."

Team Leader Seo Eun-woo spoke up, calming the excited atmosphere.

"The most important thing is the manpower. We've already set up the staff for filming the 7IN reality show. We just need to secure the personnel for the Cultural Heritage Administration's promotional content."

"Huh? Aren't we in charge of producing the Cultural Heritage Administration content?"

"Of course, you'll lead the planning and execution, but we'll need expert help for video production."

Hyun Si-woo also nodded in agreement with Team Leader Seo Eun-woo's words and smiled brightly.

"Ah haha, that's right~ Especially for the directing PD, it's essential~"

"Yes, Hyun Si-woo is correct."

"Ah haha, if it's dramatization filming, we'll need at least one cinematographer and a minimum of four camera crew members~"

"That's correct."

"Ah haha, we'll obviously need a sound director too~ Controlling noise won't be easy~"

"Indeed."

"Set design should be minimized to avoid damaging cultural assets~ If we go with a smaller production scale, maybe the costume team could handle the set design too~"

"That's likely."

"Ah haha, having one line PD would be convenient~"

"The line PD will be part of our Solar system video production team..."

As Hyun Si-woo spoke confidently, the attention in the conference room slowly turned towards him.

"...But wait a minute."

"Ah haha, did I talk too much?"

"Hyun Si-woo, how do you know so much?"

"Ah haha, I just enjoy filming videos~"

"Have you ever directed videos before?"

"Ah haha, I've done a few for fun~"

"...Can we see them?"

"Ah haha, if you search 'nisnis' on YouTube, you'll find them~"

As soon as Ji Hyun-su heard the name 'nisnis', he slammed the table and jumped up from their seat.

"What? Nisnis!?"

"Ah haha, what a surprise~"

"You're nisnis!?"

When Team Leader Seo Eun-woo searched for 'nisnis' on YouTube, three videos appeared. Despite being low-quality and uploaded four years ago, each video had over 5 million views.

"...Oh my."

"What's going on? Can you explain?"

"A few years ago, there was a high school web drama uploaded by a YouTuber named nisnis. It wasn't very famous, but those who like videos probably know it. It was extremely short and concise, but the direction was so good that everyone was curious about the creator. Since it was filmed at a French high school, people guessed it was made by French people..."

"So it was Hyun Si-woo?"

"Yes."

"What is this... Wasn't he just a genius in appearance?"

"Seems not."

Meanwhile, Hyun Si-woo continued to smile nonchalantly as if surprised by the attention.

"Ah haha, I thought everyone would know~"

"How would we know if you don't tell us?"

"Nisnis, if you read it backwards, it's siusiu~"

At the mention of reading it backwards, Tae-woong immediately did a handstand to look at the monitor.

"Oh? It is."

"Hey, do you have to do a handstand to see it backwards?"

"Ah haha, Woong's face turned red~"

"...I think I would never have figured it out..."

"By the way, Hyun Si-woo is amazing. You suddenly seem different?"

"Ah hahaha, it was just a hobby~"

"A hobby, huh... there are a lot of actors?"

"Ah haha, I spent a bit of money~"

"Sure enough, it's clear that they're from a wealthy background."

While others thought that, Team Leader Seo Eun-woo was smiling with satisfaction.

The work was going so smoothly.

Finding a good director is never easy. To bring out the charm of the members, understanding their characters is essential. Such a director can't be simply found with money.

But if one of the members, Hyun Si-woo, takes on the directing role?

Not only would the understanding of the characters be ensured, but the reality content could also be more effectively produced.

"Alright then. Let's have Hyun Si-woo take on the direction for this Cultural Heritage Administration content."

"Wow, Team Leader, you're so cool."

"I've already reviewed the portfolio submitted under the pseudonym 'nisnis,' so the Cultural Heritage Administration won't have any issues."

"Of course! This is so great!"

At that moment, Officer Gong Yu-min, who was present, clapped and agreed with Team Leader Seo Eun-woo's decision, looking at him as if saying, "My idol is truly perfect!"

"Officer Gong Yu-min."

"Yes?"

"Since the production meeting is over, you're free to leave···."

"Leave?"

At Team Leader Seo Eun-woo's comment that the meeting was over, Gong Yu-min looked up with a disappointed expression. Even Team Leader Seo Eun-woo flinched at that pitiful look and backed away.

"Do I have to go?"

"The, the meeting is over···."

"Really?"

"···Well, how about having a meal before you go?"

"Yay! I heard the food at Solar system is amazing!"

Descending to the cafeteria with the members, Gong Yu-min silently celebrated, thinking 'I hit the jackpot' about 300 times.

This is definitely like winning the lottery. Even if bad luck follows her for the rest of her life, she wouldn't have a complaint.

* * *

The next day, the 7IN members began the preliminary work for video production in earnest.

The first task was a visit to the Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju.

Since the schedule was clear, all the members and the management team visited Bulguksa Temple together.

Despite their efforts to find a time when there were fewer people, Bulguksa Temple, being one of Korea's top temples, had quite a few visitors.

The members disguised themselves to hide their identities. To avoid being easily recognized, they split into groups of three or four and moved around separately.

However, despite their efforts, people inevitably recognized them.

"Oh my gosh, it's Cha In-hyuk!"

"Wow, so tall."

Even with hats and masks, and moving in small groups, it was impossible for these strikingly handsome young men to completely hide their identities.

"Ahhh-."

"Si-woo, look over here!"

"Hahaha, we got caught~"

Ultimately, the members whose identities were exposed had an unexpected fan service session. Fans who had come to Bulguksa Temple without much thought kept taking pictures and were happy.

The visit of the seven scholars to Bulguksa Temple quickly became a hot topic on SNS and community forums.

[7IN full group spotted at Bulguksa Templeㅋㅋㅋㅋ.jpg]
They were supposed to go to Jeju for a school trip but came to Gyeongju and it was amazing! Met the 7IN members at Bulguksaㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Didn't expect to meet idols at a templeㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋ

If I had known, I would have done my hair and makeupㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ The kids are so pretty, handsome, tall, and perfectㅠㅠㅠ

I was so nervous that I couldn't even take a proper picture, but they took a selfie with meㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I'll cherish this forever.

Oh, and Gukja wore a fake nose and glasses and when he got caught, he took them off with a funny lookㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ But even then, his face was stunning;; He's a genius in looks, surpassing even Einstein.

Taewoong's commitment to his disguise was hilariousㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He wore a bald cap and monk's robe, and got caught by a Bulguksa monkㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ There are no monks with such a good physique in Bulguksa. When asked if he came from Shaolin, he stuttered and revealed his identityㅋㅋㅋ

I'm so sorry, teachersㅠㅠㅠㅠ I complained about going to Gyeongju, but now it's my favorite tourist spotㅋㅋㅋㅋ

I'm going to convert to Buddhism, buy some rosaries, and Buddhist goods. It feels like Buddha made me meet the idolsㅠㅠㅠ Believe in Buddhism, everyone!

The loud and vivid eyewitness accounts led to 7IN fans gathering.

[What? Bulguksa Temple? Now?] [Can you save me three hours? I'm going to book a KTX now] [Why does nothing like this ever happen to me] [But why Buddhism again? This is unsettling;;;;] [Taewoong's bald cap··· Is this foreshadowing?] [Is this a joke? Did our kids really show up?] [ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Don't make it so funny] [But the repeated Buddhist hints are really unsettling;;] [I don't hate Buddhism, but still, becoming a monk?] [Rather than becoming a monk, just run away] [Run away and come live with us] [Oh, I just imagined that^^ A very nice runaway] [Our kids are really not going to become monks, right?ㅠㅠㅠ] [Jogye Order! If you're watching, please tell me the answer]

The members, who had inadvertently spread more Buddhist hints, now needed to reassure their fans.

As soon as their Bulguksa Temple schedule was over, the official Solar System channel posted an announcement, putting fans at ease.

The announcement stated that the members would never shave their heads and become monks.

Fans sighed in relief but were also curious.

[So why keep dropping Buddhist hints?] [Is this the concept for the next album?] [But the Confucian worldview hasn't ended yet, why Buddhism all of a sudden?] [True, that's odd] [So what's the reason for this~~] [Can't you just reveal the hints clearly?ㅠㅠ] [It looks like something is definitely happeningㅋㅋ] [Huff, huff, I'm holding my breath waiting]

As fans' anticipation grew, the members who had visited Bulguksa Temple, keeping their impressions close to their hearts, moved on to the next stage.

"Alright, now it's time to adapt the Asadal and Asanya folklore."

"Yes, Team Leader."

"Everyone has already studied the Asadal and Asanya folklore, right?"

"Yes, we have."

The Asadal and Asanya folklore had a simple structure.

The excellent stone mason Asadal was mobilized to build Bulguksa Temple and Seokgatap.

Asadal's wife, Asanya, went to Bulguksa Temple to find him when he didn't come home for a long time.

However, due to the taboo that 'no women are allowed in the construction site,' Asanya was prohibited from entering Bulguksa Temple.

She ended up praying by the pond outside the temple, desperately wishing for the shadow of Seokgatap to appear in the pond, but the shadow did not appear.

"There are versions where disappointed Asanya either threw herself into the pond and died or simply disappeared. The ending is a bit vague."

"Can I speak honestly?"

"Yes, Mr. Kwon Taewoong. Go ahead."

"I don't like this folklore!"

"···Why is that?"

"The idea that women can't enter the temple is quite outdated, isn't it?"

Team Leader Seo Eun-woo nodded. It might have been acceptable back then, but from a modern perspective, it's definitely a sexist folklore.

"Then how about adapting it to overturn that sexist content?"

"Sounds good!"

As soon as Kwon Taewoong's enthusiastic response ended, Gunja spoke up. Having stayed up all night watching movies with Yuchan, Gunja's eyes were red and bloodshot.

"It's a simple problem."

"Gunja, your eyes···."

"A woman can't enter the temple?"

"?"

"So, why not just infiltrate?"

"???"

Gunja had just binge-watched the 'Mission Impossible' series last night.

"Hehe, we'll adapt it in the style of the Master of Exploration (探究樓主) who climbs the high tower."