Ji Eun-bi, 17, eagerly sat down in front of her TV, ready to watch the special broadcast of High Dream. She had purchased multiple copies of the OST CD for the upcoming concert, and now she was excited to see the behind-the-scenes footage and NG moments that would fill the hour-long special.
“Surely Dong-hoo oppa will appear a lot, right?” she thought, anticipating his presence. According to various interviews and articles she’d read, Jae Yi's screen time had been increased, which meant there should be plenty of NG scenes featuring him as well.
But as the show began, Ji Eun-bi started to feel frustrated.
“Why isn’t he showing up?”
There was no sign of Kim Dong-hoo in the table read footage or in the making-of clips, which mostly featured the early episodes. As the program moved into the NG section, her anticipation grew.
Yet, he was still absent.
“Is this some kind of exclusion?” she wondered, angered by the lack of screen time for someone who was supposed to have a significant role. Eun-bi couldn’t believe that while other actors had their blooper scenes, Dong-hoo, known for his flawless acting, was nowhere to be seen.
As she angrily counted his actual screen time, she realized it was only during the thank-you message and the final commentary, making up less than 50% of the content other actors received.
Just as Eun-bi was preparing to vent her frustrations on the viewer board, something unexpected happened.
With a slight crackle, the screen switched to a series of Dong-hoo’s scenes stitched together.
It became clear: “He didn’t make a single NG?”
The scenes showed that his only mistakes came when other actors stumbled, not him. Eun-bi's anger began to cool as she saw how perfectly he delivered each line.
Fans flooded the message boards:
And Eun-bi couldn't resist adding her own post:
The day before the High Dream special concert, Dong-hoo found himself bewildered to be elected as class president. Despite moving to a new class for his second year, he ended up with familiar faces: Kang-sik, Min-hyuk, and Ye-rim, who was now the vice president.
Ye-rim, noticing something, asked, “Dong-hoo, did you grow taller?”
Dong-hoo chuckled and nodded. He wasn’t sure how tall he’d eventually be, but it seemed like his constant training was paying off.
Just then, his phone buzzed with messages from his old martial arts instructor, who missed having him around for sparring practice. Dong-hoo smiled, promising to visit the gym soon. Then, more messages poured in:
Dong-hoo checked his schedule, noting that the special concert was the next day. He knew he’d have to prepare for fan interactions. “Should I practice?” he thought, wanting to make the fan meeting as memorable as possible.
Then, his phone buzzed with another notification from SIMS - The Real Life:
“A child role injured in The Swordmaster Baek Dong-soo. Urgent casting call.”
Dong-hoo couldn’t help but smile. “So, I might be joining a historical drama next?”
On the day of the High Dream special concert, around 5,000 fans filled the venue, eager to see their favorite stars. The energy was electric, especially when Dong-hoo’s solo piano performance took the stage. He played La Campanella, shattering rumors that he used a stand-in, leaving the crowd in awe.
Later, it was time for the fan meeting. Fans had submitted questions in advance, hoping theirs would be chosen. Ji Eun-bi, who had bragged about winning her concert ticket, crossed her fingers, hoping her question would be picked.
Finally, the host announced, “Our first question is a light one for Kim Dong-hoo. Ready?”
Dong-hoo smiled, “Yes, I’m ready.”
The host read the question: “Dong-hoo oppa, when did you start getting so handsome?”
Eun-bi’s heart raced as she realized it was her question. She held her breath, waiting for his answer.
With a playful grin, Dong-hoo leaned into the microphone and replied, “Why are you talking informally to oppa?”
The crowd erupted into screams, and Eun-bi’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help but cheer as she joined in the wave of excitement surrounding her favorite star.