Success on the Stroll

Days have passed, and summer is settling into Korea with its rising temperatures and high humidity—a defining characteristic of the season.

It has been a full week since Jihoon completed composing the two OST tracks for the film '200 Pounds Beauty'.

With the final versions now finished, he has handed them over to Joongbin, the film's director, to make necessary adjustments and ensure they fit seamlessly into the movie's overall tone.

Beyond his work on the soundtrack, Jihoon's debut film has been making waves at the box office.

A month after its release, 'Secret: Untold Melody' has grossed $820,450 in South Korea alone, while across the rest of Asia, ticket sales have soared to an impressive $19.1 million.

What truly caught Jihoon off guard, however, was that 60% of the film's total Asian box office revenue came from China.

Initially surprised by this overwhelming response, Jihoon soon realized the key factor behind it—CJ Entertainment had strategically partnered with China Film Group Corporation (CFGC) to promote and distribute the movie in the Chinese market.

CFGC, being one of the few entities in China authorized to import international films, plays a pivotal role in determining which foreign movies gain substantial exposure within the country.

With a vested financial interest in the film's success, CFGC ensured that 'Secret: Untold Melody' received a strong promotional push, maximizing its reach among Chinese audiences.

This strategic backing, combined with the film's engaging storyline and Jihoon's growing reputation, resulted in its remarkable performance.

In total, Secret: Untold Melody has amassed $19.9 million across Asia, marking a huge milestone for Jihoon as a first-time filmmaker.

Notably, this figure does not account for box office earnings from Europe and North America, as Jihoon had previously sold the film's international distribution rights to Paramount Pictures.

While this means that revenue from Western markets will not directly contribute to his earnings, the financial stability gained from the deal with Paramount was a crucial step in mitigating risks early on.

Analyzing the numbers, Jihoon estimates that the film's profit margin falls between 25% and 30%, with the remainder covering production, marketing, and distribution costs.

Factoring in both the Asian box office performance and the profits generated from the sale of the Western distribution rights, JH Entertainment—Jihoon's company—has secured a net profit of approximately $6.2 million. Meanwhile, SM Entertainment, which holds a 20% stake in the project, is entitled to around $1.2 million from the film's success.

With such a promising debut, Jihoon is beginning to realize the full potential of his filmmaking career. His success has not gone unnoticed, as media reports about his achievements and box office performance have been circulating widely across newspapers and online platforms.

While his film's domestic earnings may not yet rival those of seasoned Korean directors, 'Secret: Untold Melody' stands out as the first Korean debut film to achieve significant international success.

Unlike many other locally produced films that struggle to gain traction beyond South Korea, Jihoon's film has managed to break through cultural and linguistic barriers, resonating with audiences across Asia and beyond.

And beyond Asia, the film has also garnered attention in Western markets, with critics praising its storytelling, cinematography, and musical composition.

The decision to sell the international distribution rights to Paramount Pictures further cemented its place on the global stage, allowing it to reach audiences in Europe and North America.

Although Jihoon won't receive direct profits from these regions, the exposure alone is invaluable, solidifying his reputation as a filmmaker with the potential to create internationally recognized works.

In the midst of the film's success, Jihoon took time to personally send off Kim Jongkook as he enlisted in the army.

On the day of his enlistment, friends and family gathered at the military service center to see him off. Yoo Jaesuk, along with several other close friends, also attended to show their support.

Rather than an emotional farewell filled with tears, the atmosphere remained lighthearted and full of encouragement.

Everyone reassured Jongkook that they would be waiting for his return, promising to support him once he completed his military service.

Laughter and words of motivation filled the air as they bid him farewell, ensuring that he left with a strong spirit and the confidence that he had people standing by him.

With things settling down, Jihoon found himself with little of immediate importance to occupy his time.

Apart from refining the script for his next film and handling company matters, his days were mostly spent at the gym or at home—both of which quickly grew monotonous.

However, he understood that jumping straight into another project wasn't a wise move.

Right now, too much attention from the public was focused on him. If he were to announce a new film so soon after 'Secret: Untold Melody's' success, it would inevitably stir resentment within the Korean film industry.

The domestic market was too small to sustain multiple back-to-back blockbusters from the same director.

Unlike Hollywood, where the sheer scale of the industry allowed for multiple successful films to coexist, Korea's film market was limited.

If Jihoon continued dominating the box office, other directors would see him as a threat, potentially banding together to resist his rise.

Realistically, Jihoon had only two viable options: wait for Joongbin's film to release first before proceeding with his next project, or venture into Hollywood, where he could create without restrictions.

However, breaking into Hollywood at this stage wasn't practical.

His current financial backing and industry connections weren't strong enough to establish a foothold in the competitive American market.

Without the right support, making the leap now could jeopardize his long-term plans.

For the time being, patience was his best strategy.

Until Joongbin's film was released and the industry's attention shifted elsewhere, Jihoon needed to focus on something else to occupy his time and keep himself from growing restless.

On a pleasant evening, Jihoon decided to take a casual stroll around the neighborhood, treating himself to an ice cream along the way.

The warm breeze of the monsoon season carried a mix of humidity and freshness, making the walk both relaxing and slightly stifling.

The lingering heat from the sun, combined with the warmth radiating off the city's buildings, created a tolerable balance—just enough for him to enjoy his outing without discomfort.

As he walked, he took his time, letting the gentle wind and the quiet atmosphere provide a brief escape from his usual routine.

As Jihoon walked toward the corner of the street, he was just about to turn when he suddenly found himself face-to-face with someone familiar.

The person in front of him, also holding an ice cream, was making the same turn at the exact moment.

Fortunately, neither of them was in a hurry—had they moved even a step faster, their ice creams might have collided, leaving stains on both their clothes.

Jihoon glanced up and immediately recognized her—it was Jessica. A brief moment of surprise flickered across his face before he greeted her first.

"Hey, Jessica! What are you doing here?" he asked casually.

Jessica, looking equally surprised, studied him for a second before responding, "I live in this neighborhood. I was just on my way home. What about you?"

Jihoon raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the revelation. "Really? I live around here too! I just moved in when I enrolled at SNU. What a small world," he said with a chuckle.

Jessica seemed just as surprised as he was. The city was vast, yet somehow, they had unknowingly ended up living in the same neighborhood. What were the odds?

A brief pause settled between them, but rather than awkwardness, there was a sense of newfound familiarity. Jihoon took a bite of his ice cream, then gestured toward the sidewalk. "Since we're both heading the same way, why don't we walk together?"

Jessica smiled, nodding. "Sure, why not?"

And just like that, an ordinary evening stroll turned into an unexpected reunion.

As they walked side by side, a lingering silence settled between them.

Though they had met before, Jihoon recalled that during his visit to the SNSD dorm, Jessica had remained quiet, sitting in the corner and barely engaging in conversation with the them.

Now, as they strolled through the neighborhood with a gentle summer breeze brushing past them, the initial awkwardness slowly began to fade.

Jessica was the first to break the silence. "Oh yeah, I didn't get a chance to congratulate you on your box office hit. Anyway, congrats on the big success!"

Jihoon smiled at her words. "Haha! Thank you."

For a brief moment, silence returned, but Jessica, unwilling to let the conversation die again, quickly found another topic.

"Oh, right! I heard Taeyeon is singing the OST for your second film again?" she asked, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.

Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, she'll be singing one of the OSTs, and the other will be performed by BOA noona. How did you find out about that? I thought Mr. Lee Sooman wanted to keep it a secret."

Jessica's eyes widened slightly as she realized she had just let slip confidential company information.

She quickly tried to cover up her mistake. "Eh… I overheard BOA unnie and Taeyeon talking about it the other day at the office," she admitted with a sheepish smile.

Jihoon chuckled. "No wonder. Well, as long as the news stays within the company, it's fine. If it leaks to the public too soon, it might affect your group's debut."

Jessica nodded in understanding, then steered the conversation in a different direction. "Anyway, are you heading somewhere specific?"

Jihoon shook his head. "Nope! Just wandering around, trying to find something interesting to do to pass the time."

Jessica's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? Interesting stuff? Like what?"

Jihoon stroked his jaw thoughtfully. "I'm not sure yet. I just had some free time, so I figured I'd explore the neighborhood a bit."

Jessica thought for a moment before suggesting, "Hmm… if that's the case, why not take a class or something?"

Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "That's actually a good idea. Any recommendations? You've lived here longer than I have."

Jessica hesitated briefly before suggesting shyly, "Eh… if you don't mind, you could try my dad's Taekwondo class. It's nearby."

Jihoon burst into laughter. "Hahaha! So aside from being an SM trainee, you're also your dad's personal promoter?"

Jessica shot him a playful glare. "It fits your criteria, doesn't it? Not only will it keep you busy, but it's good for your health too!" she argued, crossing her arms.

Jihoon, still chuckling, nodded. "Alright, alright. Let's check it out on the way."

Jessica's expression softened as she smiled in satisfaction. "Good! I'll let my dad know to expect a new student soon."

As they continued walking, the awkwardness between them had completely disappeared.

What had started as a chance encounter had turned into an unexpected but amusing conversation, making Jihoon's evening stroll far more eventful than he had anticipated.

[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to LucidMemories for bestowing the power stone!]