The Sudden Fame

The room was swallowed by an eerie silence, as if Jihoon's words had momentarily disrupted reality itself.

Jaesuk's mouth hung slightly open, Haha blinked rapidly like his brain was trying to process a system update, and even the ever-composed Taehyun looked momentarily thrown off.

Meanwhile, Jongkook, who had his chopsticks clamped around a piece of sizzling BBQ meat, had completely forgotten about eating—now using them absentmindedly to point at Jihoon, his brow deeply furrowed in sheer disbelief.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then, Jaesuk suddenly clapped his hands together and burst out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. "Aigoo, this is crazy."

"So, we've just been casually hanging out with a full-fledged director without even realizing it?"

He turned to Jongkook with a smirk. "Ya! You musclehead, you brought in someone you didn't even know was a big shot!"

Jongkook scoffed, crossing his arms. "How was I supposed to know?"

"He looks like some rookie idol, not a damn director."

In a way, their shock was understandable.

Jihoon completely shattered the usual expectations of what a Korean film director should look like.

Most were either older or… well, let's just say, not exactly model material. Jihoon, however, defied both stereotypes. So, it wasn't really Jaesuk and the others' fault for being dumbfounded by the revelation.

Besides, at this point in time, none of them—except for Jongkook—had fully reached their peak yet.

Jaesuk was still working his way up to becoming the beloved "National MC."

Haha had yet to achieve the mainstream fame that Running Man would eventually bring him.

And Taehyun—though already a respected actor—was seen more as a steady presence than an industry powerhouse.

His true breakthrough wouldn't come until 'Scandal Makers (2008)', the highest-grossing film of the year, which not only skyrocketed his career but also marked his transition into film investment, securing his place in the upper echelons of the industry.

Taehyun let out a stunned sigh, shaking his head as he tried to process everything. "Well, looks like our little group just unintentionally covered all the major professions in the entertainment industry."

"Jaesuk hyung as an MC, Jongkook as a singer, Haha as a rapper, me as an actor… and now Jihoon as a director."

Everyone burst into laughter at Taehyun's remark, the initial shock melting into amusement. The atmosphere, once heavy with disbelief, now felt lighter as they playfully teased one another.

Haha smirked and nudged Jongkook. "Ya, hyung, after you're done with your army service, you've basically got a guaranteed spot in the entertainment industry."

"If you want to do variety shows, just call Jaesuk hyung. If you want to sing, you can collab with me—I'll even let you feature in one of my songs."

"And if acting is more your thing, well…" He gestured toward Taehyun and Jihoon with a grin. "You've got a top-tier actor and a rising director right here."

"They'll hook you up."

But beneath his playful tone, there was something more. The reason Haha brought this up wasn't just for fun—it was his way of reassuring Jongkook. Major entertainment companies had already started targeting him, leading to his early enlistment, and Haha knew how uncertain his future felt.

This was his way of letting Jongkook know that, no matter what, his friends would have his back when he returned.

At the same time, Haha wasn't just looking out for Jongkook—he was thinking ahead for himself, too. His own enlistment wasn't far off, and out of everyone at the table, Jihoon held the highest social status.

If Jihoon was willing to support them after they completed their service, their return to the public eye would be much smoother.

So, in his usual lighthearted way, he subtly pulled Jihoon into the conversation, hoping to secure his assistance.

Jihoon, however, didn't miss the underlying message in Haha's words.

Far from being put off by the idea, he found himself more than willing to be part of this group.

He already knew that every person sitting at this table was destined for greatness in the entertainment industry.

Supporting them now wasn't just a strategic move for his own future—it was also a natural decision, given their personalities and how they would eventually be perceived by the public.

With a small smile, Jihoon finally spoke, sealing the unspoken promise.

"Yup, Haha sunbae is right."

"Jongkook sunbae, you can look for me after your enlistment."

"I'll do my best to help you in any way I can."

Jaesuk, who keenly understood the underlying meaning in the atmosphere, sighed internally.

Deep down, he didn't fully approve of mixing friendship with personal interests, but he also knew that in this industry, sometimes connections were just as important as talent.

More than that, he recognized that this was what was best for Jongkook and Haha. If securing a strong network now could ensure their smooth return after enlistment, then it was worth it.

Choosing to guide the moment into a more natural flow, Jaesuk offered Jihoon a warm smile and waved a hand dismissively. "Ya, Jihoon, just call us hyung. No need to be so formal."

Jihoon, who had instinctively been addressing them with the usual sunbae-hoobae deference, hesitated briefly before nodding.

A small smile tugged at his lips. "Alright, hyung," he agreed, letting the shift settle in.

Sensing that the atmosphere still carried a lingering weight, Taehyun jumped in to lighten the mood.

He clapped a firm hand on Jihoon's shoulder and grinned.

"Alright, now that Jihoon's officially part of our group, if you ever get your hands on a big film project, you better come to me first!"

Laughter erupted around the table at Taehyun's playful demand, breaking the last traces of tension.

Jihoon chuckled and nodded. "Of course, hyung. You'll be my first call."

With that, the mood eased completely, and even Jongkook, who had been silently processing everything, felt a sense of relief settle in. He was grateful—grateful to have friends like these, who not only understood his struggles but actively tried to support him.

Jihoon's promise, while something he didn't intend to rely on, was still a comforting reassurance. Just knowing that he had people looking out for him made the thought of enlistment a little easier to bear.

That night, something subtle yet significant changed. Jongkook, always the older brother figure, found himself instinctively treating Jihoon like a younger sibling.

The dinner continued in a lively, carefree manner, filled with laughter, teasing, and shared stories.

The earlier heaviness had melted away, but beneath it all, an unspoken bond had solidified—a quiet promise of mutual support. One that would carry them forward, both in their careers and in their friendship.

As Jihoon's film entered its final production stage, whispers of its existence started leaking into the upper echelons of the entertainment industry.

Top-tier film executives, veteran directors, and industry insiders who had long controlled the flow of cinema began taking notice of the project.

But what truly shook them wasn't just the film itself—it was the identity of the person behind it.

News spread like wildfire across the internet, with outrageous headlines sensationalizing the story.

[A First-Year Student at Seoul National University Shakes Up the Film Industry!]

[Unheard-of Filmmaker Sparks Buzz Among Elites—Who Is He?]

Agencies and veteran filmmakers scrambled to uncover Jihoon's background, digging through archives for any past works, interviews, or public records.

They came up empty-handed.

No previous appearances. No self-promotion. No records under his name. Jihoon was a complete enigma.

Speculation ran rampant across online forums and industry circles. Was he a hidden genius mentored by an unknown master? A ghostwriter-turned-director backed by powerful insiders? Or an industry outsider who had defied all odds?

And just when curiosity about him reached its peak, an unexpected announcement sent shockwaves through the entertainment world.

The morning began like any other, with reporters and industry insiders scrolling through their usual feeds, checking for daily updates on upcoming films.

But then, the news dropped.

[Breaking: Rookie director Lee Jihoon receives Cannes Film Festival nomination!"]

The internet exploded.

Media outlets rushed to cover the story.

Journalists who had ignored Jihoon's existence days prior were now frantically searching for any leads.

Social media buzzed with endless discussions, theories, and reactions from netizen and industry professionals alike.

"How did a first-year university student pull this off?"

"Who even is Lee Jihoon? Where did he come from?"

"This is unprecedented. A complete unknown getting into Cannes on his debut film?"

Within hours, Jihoon's name was plastered across every major news site. His past obscurity only fueled the intrigue—the industry had been blindsided by a director they had never seen coming.

For Jihoon, who had simply been focused on his work, the sudden wave of attention was overwhelming. His phone wouldn't stop buzzing with messages from media agencies, production houses, and people he had never even spoken to before.

Everyone wanted a piece of him, to know his story, to be associated with the rising phenomenon that was Lee Jihoon.

Even Taeyeon messaged him, completely stunned.

She had known Jihoon was directing a movie, but a Cannes nomination? That was something he never mentioned.

Curious and just a little furious, she couldn't believe her friend had kept such a huge secret from her.

It took Jihoon quite a bit of effort—and some serious damage control—to appease her.

In the end, Taeyeon demanded Jihoon to buy her three time of premium Korean beef as compensation for what she dramatically called 'a betrayal of the friend code.'

Yet, even with the chaos surrounding him, Jihoon remained the same—focused, determined, and quietly observing as the industry scrambled to make sense of his sudden rise.

He knew better than to get swept up in the excitement.

This was just a nomination, not a win. If he didn't take home the award, all the hype could just as easily turn into backlash.

The spotlight was blinding, and the weight of expectations was heavy.

But this was only the beginning.