The reason I hadn’t contacted Jaerin properly— Yes, part of it was for the surprise.
"Peak ratings reached 47.1%...!!!"
Something huge had happened, and I’d been too distracted to focus on anything else.
Final ratings: 46.2%.
In an era where content was overflowing on YouTube, OTT services, and beyond, Our Fake Wedding had pulled off something unbelievable.
It might just be the highest rating a TV drama could ever achieve in this generation.
And, of course, it wasn’t something we got for free.
"There were… some minor issues with broadcasting regulations, but it’s already aired, so what can they do now?"
We danced on the fine line of censorship, showcasing the ultimate in kiss scenes.
We pushed the boundaries just short of an actual bed scene— but never crossed the line.
"This proves that even the most cliché story can explode when the ingredients are top-tier!"
With such insane success, Minha, the writer, was now unstoppable.
"Ahahaha! Eat! Drink! It’s all on me! Order anything! I’ll pay for everything!"
She was treating us to high-end Korean beef and eel. That alone said everything about how thrilled she was.
And the compliments just kept coming.
Director Kim Youngmo, Producer Kim Cheoldo, who’d been cackling nonstop—
Everyone was showering Sujin and me with praise. Sujin and I exchanged knowing glances and smirked.
Because we knew why our performances had been especially intense in the later episodes. We also knew exactly why the scenes had barely skirted past broadcasting restrictions.
I thought I was gonna die filming the last kiss scene. My waist and thighs were killing me. < Did you get hurt? IT WAS YOUR FAULT, YOU IDIOT! Because you were—! < If that’s the case, then what about me secretly covering up my back scratches and hickeys with powder? THAT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO BIG! YOU FREAKING MONSTER PERVERT BEAST!!!
Well, I guess you could call that synergy.
Or maybe— that was what made the ratings skyrocket.
To be fair, even I thought it was kinda hot.
I usually avoided checking online reactions, but this time, the spicy buzz was impossible to ignore.
[The exact moment I realized the network sold its soul for ratings (GIF & Data Heavy)]
My personal theory: 100% chance they actually did it IRL.
Someone sue this bastard immediately. No wonder they were asked if the scene was really okay for TV. It wasn’t. At all. But they just bulldozed through and went with it. Absolute legends. And it WORKED. The publicity alone was insane.
[100% chance this year belongs to Kim Donghu]
And then next year, he’s competing for another Asian Games gold???
??? :: "Surrender. It’s the safest loss you’ll take." ??? "Wait, an Olympic gold medalist is entering the Asian Games? WHY???"
"Bruh, this balance is f**ed."*
Public opinion was overwhelmingly positive.
But that meant I had to fulfill the rating promise. I also needed to review the final cut of my documentary. And on top of that, there were meetings, appearances, and all sorts of obligations.
Before I knew it, it was mid-July— and the day before Jaerin’s concert.
Guess you could call this a half-planned, half-accidental surprise.
But that led to one big problem.
I had to sneak into the concert.
Not just trick Jaerin and her members— but every single person at the venue.
If I coordinated with her company, they might overcompensate and arrange security or VIP treatment— which fans would definitely notice.
And that would raise suspicions instantly.
Getting caught by fans wouldn’t be great either.
Even though We Got Married had turned us into an official on-screen couple, there was no way every fan was happy about it.
People come to solo concerts for their idol, not to see some random actor crash the event.
I wasn’t even from the same company. I wasn’t there for a collab or a surprise performance.
I was just there to Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free! And if I got caught, I’d end up stealing attention from her.
That’s why I came up with the perfect plan.
Where can I buy a fluorescent vest?
That’s right— I was going in disguised.
Even if he hadn’t contacted her, even if he hadn’t given her a single hint,
Believed he would still show up. Believed he’d at least send a message.
He’s too popular. Too busy.
The realization hit her as she checked her phone.
With a sigh, she put it away.
There was no more time for messages.
Now was the time for her concert. The time to smile brighter than anyone else.
"Ugh! But brother-in-law is so mean!" "No talking about that right now." "…Sorry." "It’s fine. You don’t have to tiptoe around me."
What can I do? My husband is just too famous.
Jaerin smiled faintly. Then, without another word, she left the waiting room.
Her members, however, were fuming.
"Agh! Seriously! Kim Donghu! How dare he be this handsome and this frustrating?!" "It’s not his fault! He’s just actually busy!" "Still… he could’ve at least texted!" "Okay, but if we go down that road, where does it end? A text? A call? You expect the man to micromanage every second of his day?" "Yeah, but…! Ugh, whose side are you on?!" "I’m not on anyone’s side. They just understand each other, that’s all."
Besides… it’s just a fake marriage. You guys are way too invested in this.
But even the most rational member couldn’t help but feel bitter.
Because they knew. Even if it was just for TV, Jaerin’s feelings were completely real.
That’s why she looked so crushed during the last episode when they kissed for real.
They couldn’t exactly call him out on it publicly, so they forced themselves to drop the subject.
"Let’s get ready." "Do you think they fixed that shaky spotlight from rehearsal?" "I don’t think they really listened to us…" "I hope they did. It’s right above our heads." "Honestly, this stage crew seems kinda sketchy, but whatever. It should be fine."
Mhm. I got in perfectly.
There had been an experiment once.
How far could someone get just by wearing a fluorescent safety vest?
The results were shocking. Because, apparently, you could get anywhere.
Two guys had even walked into a massive concert, completely unchallenged, and ended up closer to the stage than the actual audience.
…Of course, they got sued afterward.
But I wasn’t going to have that problem. I wasn’t actually sneaking in— I had a ticket.
Hopefully, this won’t be an issue later.
With that in mind, I did one final check in the hallway mirror.
A completely unremarkable fluorescent vest. Fake stubble I borrowed from the special effects team. Thick, fake-prescription glasses. A hat and a mask.
So perfect, in fact, that nobody recognized me.
Alright. I’ll stay up front and cheer for a bit before heading back.
And so, the concert began.
Since this was my first time at an idol concert, BloomBell’s performance hit me like a truck.
The energy. The atmosphere. The sheer intensity of the crowd.
I finally understood why people felt so empty after concerts ended.
"Damn… this heat is no joke."
I muttered to myself, finally understanding why BloomBell was already filling domes in just three years.
The bass rattled my chest. The choreography flowed effortlessly. It was a perfect performance.
The moment I saw it, I sprinted toward the stage.
"Ahhh! What the hell?!" "W-Wait, is this a stage invasion?!"
The crowd erupted in confusion— but I didn’t have time to care.
A loud noise echoed through the dome.
The already unstable rigging shook.
Knocking it away was impossible. I grabbed Jaerin and threw us both out of the way.
The moment we hit the ground, the heavy stage light shattered behind us.
"What—what just happened?!" "Jaerin! Are you okay?! Jaerin!" "Stop! Stop the concert!"
The entire venue was in chaos.
Meanwhile, with Jaerin still in my arms, I gave her a soft smile.
"I was planning to surprise you… but, uh, not ."
Her eyes went wide in shock.
"D-Donghu? Is it really you?! Are you okay?!"
She looked completely shaken. I patted her back reassuringly, shifting the topic.
"I’m totally fine. But, seriously… how do you always see through my disguises?"
"...What kind of wife doesn’t recognize her husband?"