Chapter 87

Yoon Ji-ho looked at Kim Ssao as she left, a bit puzzled, and picked up the handkerchief on the ground, muttering softly, "What a strange girl!"

The first episode of *Boys Over Flowers* had ended...

At this moment, Yoon Jeong-su was already on the phone with the KBS people, and everyone was anxiously waiting for his news...

"Here it comes, here it comes!" Yoon Jeong-su shouted as he ran over...

"How much, how much?" Kim Bum asked, voicing everyone's question...

Although Lee Seung-ri was more relaxed about these things, he still unconsciously tightened his grip on Xiao Huhu, who said, "Dad, it hurts!"

"14.9%, 14.9% nationwide. (Subsequent data will be calculated based on the highest real data + 0.5%, the protagonist is at least 0.5% better than Kim Hyun-joong, right?) We succeeded, we succeeded!" Yoon Jeong-su was of course delighted. With this success, his future path would naturally be much smoother...

Lee Min-ho nudged Lee Seung-ri with his shoulder, "You're really something, Seung-ri. You hit a home run with your first guess at the ratings. You have to treat us to a meal!"

Although it was said that Lee Seung-ri was treating everyone, it was actually a group effort, and even though it usually wasn't enough, the person treating would have to make up the difference. But everyone was happy, so it didn't matter...

Of course, this was only if the ratings were good...

If the ratings were bad? Forget about the meal, they would just have to work even harder on the show...

...

On the way to the restaurant, Lee Seung-ri's phone kept ringing with congratulatory messages from friends and family. Since there were so many, he couldn't reply to each one individually, so he sent a group message, "Thank you!"

But it wasn't just him; everyone else's phones were also ringing non-stop...

"Thank you all for your hard work. As the director, I am proud to have such talented actors. Let's keep up the good work and aim for even better results. Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

...

While everyone was drinking and celebrating, the internet was buzzing with excitement from the viewers who had just finished watching the first episode of *Boys Over Flowers*. They quickly logged onto the official website to express their feelings:

It's over, it's over, I'm hooked. Yoon Ji-ho's gentleness has me swooning...

I like Gu Jun-pyo's childishness more. I want to keep him as a pet...

I want to be kept as a pet by Yoon Ji-ho...

Hwisun Nuna, my Kim Ssao, you're so cute...

...

Besides these purely emotional reactions, many viewers praised the acting of Lee Seung-ri and the others:

Is Lee Min-ho really a model? Holy crap, he's clearly a rising star in the new generation of actors...

Gu Hye-sun is also great, better than in *19 Years of Innocence*...

What really amazed me was Lee Seung-ri. His mesmerizing eyes and heartwarming gentleness... I have to find a single dad to marry in the future. Men with children are definitely the best choice for a warm and caring husband...

To the person above, not all men on white horses are princes, and not all single dads with children are warm and caring...

After watching the performances of the three main actors, I'm now eagerly looking forward to Su Yi-zheng and Song Yu-bin. *Boys Over Flowers* FIGHTING!

...

Of course, there were still plenty of trolls and anti-fans, but let's ignore them. After all, they contributed to the ratings, didn't they?

The next day, the entertainment sections of major newspapers naturally devoted a lot of space to the success of *Boys Over Flowers*...

"KBS's *Boys Over Flowers* has brought a pleasant surprise to the start of 2009. It's clear that 2009 will be a year of outstanding works, a treat for audiences..."

Are you a prophet?

But this was still relatively mild. There were even more exaggerated reports, such as the one in the XX newspaper titled *The Korean Wave Rises Again*:

"Korean dramas have always been the vanguard of the Korean Wave, but their influence in Asia has declined in recent years. However, the broadcast of *Boys Over Flowers* has attracted a large audience and sparked many discussions. The author is confident that this is a sign of the revival of Korean Wave dramas and a milestone in expanding its influence..."

It all sounds good and full of national pride... but why does it feel like a high-end diss?

Besides these praising print media, there were also some unconventional reports, such as:

Title: *Boys Over Flowers* vs. *East of Eden*

Well, the title is quite flattering for *Boys Over Flowers*. Although the first episode's ratings were good and it was a heavily funded KBS production, comparing it to MBC's hit comeback drama, it's not really in the same league...

Coincidentally, yesterday's episode of *East of Eden* featured Lee Seung-ri in a guest role, so the newspaper extensively described the two actors, Kim Bum and Lee Seung-ri, who appeared in both dramas...

Regardless of the budget or cast, *Boys Over Flowers* was clearly outmatched by *East of Eden*. Highlighting these two actors might seem interesting, but it really just emphasizes the gap...

Kim Bum, a minor supporting role in *East of Eden* playing the young lead... in *Boys Over Flowers*, he's a major supporting actor...

Lee Seung-ri, an extra in *East of Eden*, suddenly became the second lead in *Boys Over Flowers*...

It just feels like *East of Eden* is on a whole different level from *Boys Over Flowers*...

...

But the newspaper doesn't care about that. They want attention, hype, and sales. After a thorough analysis, their conclusion was that *Boys Over Flowers* would surpass *East of Eden* in ratings within ten episodes...

Naturally, when this report came out, the newspaper was heavily criticized, but sales were real money... More importantly, when *Boys Over Flowers* really did surpass *East of Eden*, the newspaper had another big sell, who could blame them for their foresight?

But now, Kim Bum and Lee Seung-ri have gained a lot of anti-fans for no reason...

...

Lee Seung-ri is now very, very conflicted. Why?

Because he's about to shoot a kissing scene...

Although Hu Hu is already born, he has no memory of the process, so in his mind, his first kiss is still intact...

Although his ex-girlfriend from his previous life was just playing with him and he didn't get any benefits, after being together for so long, he definitely wasn't pure... But something as sacred as a first kiss should still be preserved...

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