novelinnhs Chapter 89 is scheduled for release.
Chapter 89 is scheduled for release.
Post-production on "Goblin" was a week behind schedule. Lee Young-eun was glued to the editing room, sleeping only four hours a day, her table piled high with coffee cups and energy drinks. Su Yu visited her twice; the first time, her eyes were as red as a rabbit's, and the second time, her eyes were still red, but her expression was different—a relaxed "almost done" kind of expression.
"It can be submitted by next Wednesday." Lee Young-eun pointed to the timeline on the screen. "I re-edited the ending of episode ten, and it's better than before."
Su Yu stood behind her and watched it once. The tenth episode ended with the scene of the goblin disappearing, and Cai Xiubin standing in the first snow waiting. The previous version cut very quickly, cutting away as soon as the emotion was building. The new version lingered for eight seconds longer, showing Cai Xiubin's back standing in the snow for a long time, the camera slowly pulling back, and the music gradually rising.
"This version is good," Su Yu said.
"I think so too." Lee Young-eun rubbed her eyes. "Soo-bin acted so well in that scene, I don't want to cut it."
Su Yu didn't speak, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
The day the editing was finished, Su Yu treated the editing team to fried chicken. Li Ying'en ate two pieces and then stopped, saying, "My stomach isn't feeling well; I drank too much coffee." Su Yu said, "Go back and get some sleep; you still have dubbing tomorrow." Li Ying'en nodded, stood up, took a few steps, then turned back.
"Representative Su."
"Um."
When will you start writing the next script?
Su Yu glanced at her. "You should rest first."
"I'm not tired."
Your eyes are already red.
Lee Young-eun smiled. "Okay, I'll take a week off."
Su Yu nodded.
After Lee Young-eun left, Su Yu sat alone in the editing room, watching episode ten again. On the screen, Chae Soo-bin's face was large, her eyes revealing all her emotions. He watched her tears fall, watched her lips tremble, watched her wait so long in the snow. He remembered when they filmed this scene; he was standing outside the set, and Chae Soo-bin came out after filming, her eyes red, leaning on his shoulder and saying, "I'm so sad." He said, "It's not true," and she said, "I know, but I'm still sad."
My phone vibrated. It was a message from Cai Xiubin: "When are you coming back?"
Su Yu typed: "Almost there."
"Dinner will be ready soon. You're back just in time."
Su Yu stood up, turned off the screen, and walked out of the editing room. The corridor was quiet; it was already dark outside. He got into his car, started the engine, and drove home. He stopped at a convenience store and bought a box of strawberries—the kind Cai Xiubin liked.
When Su Yu arrived home, Cai Xiubin was in the kitchen serving soup. She was wearing a gray sweatshirt, her hair was tied in a bun, and she was wearing a floral apron. Seeing Su Yu come in, she smiled. "You're back? Wash your hands and eat."
Su Yu placed the strawberries on the table. Cai Xiubin glanced at them, her eyes lighting up. "You bought these?"
"Um."
"Didn't you say you wouldn't buy snacks?"
"You are not a snack."
Cai Xiubin smiled, walked over and kissed him.
Go wash your hands.
The two sat down to eat. Cai Xiubin had made soybean paste soup, fried fish, and a plate of stir-fried vegetables. Su Yu didn't eat much, but he ate a little of everything. Cai Xiubin put some food on his plate and said, "You've lost weight recently." Su Yu said, "No, I haven't." Cai Xiubin said, "You have," and they repeated it twice. Cai Xiubin laughed first.
"Su Yu".
"Um."
When will "Goblin" air?
"It's not decided yet. SBS is scheduling the airing time."
Do you think it will become a hit?
Su Yu thought for a moment. "Yes."
"You're that confident?"
"It's not confidence. It's judgment."
Cai Xiubin looked at him. "What's the basis for your judgment?"
Su Yu put down her chopsticks. "Good script, good actors, good filming. That's enough."
Cai Xiubin stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled. "You look very handsome when you talk."
Su Yu glanced at her. "When am I not handsome?"
Cai Xiubin paused for a moment, then smiled. "What's gotten into you today? Why are you being so sweet?"
"I ate strawberries."
Cai Xiubin laughed out loud. She stood up to clear the dishes, and Su Yu helped her carry them. The two of them stood in the kitchen, the water running. Su Yu stood behind her, his chin resting on her shoulder.
"Su Yu".
"Um."
"Is something on your mind?"
Su Yu paused for a moment. "No."
"You don't say much when you come back from the editing room."
"He doesn't talk much normally."
Cai Xiubin turned around to face him, her hands still wet, leaving two damp marks on his chest. "You're usually quiet, but even quieter since you came back from the editing room. What are you thinking about?"
Su Yu looked down at her. "I was thinking of you."
Cai Xiubin blushed. "You're doing it again."
Su Yu didn't say anything, but lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
The snow outside the window has stopped. The night in Seoul is very quiet, with occasional cruise ships passing by on the Han River in the distance, their lights leaving long trails of light on the water.
A week later, SBS released its schedule. "Goblin" was scheduled to premiere on the first Friday of December, taking over the time slot of a historical drama, with one episode airing each Friday and Saturday.
Kim Dong-wook posted the message in the company group chat, and the group exploded. Yoon Shi-yoon sent a long string of exclamation marks, Chae Soo-bin sent a trembling bear, Kim Go-eun sent a praying emoji, Yoo In-na sent a champagne emoji, and Yook Sung-jae sent a fist emoji. Sulli didn't reply in the group chat, but she sent Su Yu a private message: "Congratulations." Su Yu replied with three words: "Thank you."
Park Jiyeon was in the practice room that day. She had just returned from Vienna and was still adjusting to the time difference. When she saw the message, she was practicing the piano. Her fingers paused for a moment, then continued playing. She played Chopin's Nocturne very slowly, each note clear and distinct. After playing the last note, she took out her phone and replied in the group chat: "Great!"
Cai Xiubin replied with a hugging emoji.
On the day of the premiere, Su Yu didn't go to the company. He stayed home, where Cai Xiubin had stewed pork ribs, cooked rice, and stir-fried two side dishes. Fruit and beer were laid out on the coffee table, and the TV was tuned to SBS, waiting for the premiere at nine o'clock that evening.
Cai Xiubin, wearing Su Yu's gray hoodie with sleeves that were a bit too long, sat cross-legged on the sofa, constantly changing channels with the remote control. Su Yu took the remote away and said, "Stop changing." Cai Xiubin said she was nervous, and Su Yu replied, "It's not like it's the first time."
"Every time is the first time." Cai Xiubin tucked her hands into her sleeves. "A different drama, a different audience, different expectations."
Su Yu looked at her. "You've done your job. The rest is up to the audience."
Cai Xiubin leaned on his shoulder. "You make it sound so easy."
At 9:00 AM sharp, the first episode of "Goblin" began.
The opening scene is a battlefield nine hundred years ago, with a ghost standing atop a pile of corpses, a sword embedded in its chest. Yoon Shi-yoon's narration begins, his voice deep and heavy, each word seemingly squeezed from his chest. Chae Soo-bin nervously grips Su Yu's hand tightly. Su Yu doesn't speak, but instead holds her hand in return.
The first episode aired for seventy minutes. As the ending theme song played, Cai Xiubin's phone began vibrating incessantly. Messages flooded in one after another, from company group chats, friend groups, and even from strangers. Kim Dong-wook posted the real-time viewership data—the first episode had a 12.3% rating, nearly five points higher than the premiere of "Model Taxi."
Cai Xiubin stared at the number for two seconds, then handed the phone to Su Yu. "Take a look."
"I saw it."
Is this true?
"real."
Cai Xiubin buried her face in his chest. "I'm so scared."
"What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid the ratings will drop tomorrow."
Su Yu gently ruffled her hair. "Whether it falls or rises, it's still your work. Don't overthink it."
Cai Xiubin looked up at him. "Why are you always so calm?"
"Because I've considered all the possibilities."
Cai Xiubin stared at him for a few seconds, then laughed. "You really are something else."
She picked up her phone and started replying to messages. Kim Go-eun sent a long message saying, "Soobin, you acted so well!" Yoo In-na said, "Congratulations!" Yoon Shi-yoon said in the group chat, "We did it!" Sulli sent two words: "Awesome!" Park Ji-yeon also sent two words: "Amazing!"
Chae Soo-bin replied to each message one by one. She replied to Kim Go-eun, "Thank you, unnie," to Yoo In-na, "Thank you, unnie," to Yoon Shi-yoon, "Oppa, you acted well too," to Sulli, "Unnie, when are you coming back?" and to Park Ji-yeon, "Unnie, when is your movie being released?"
Su Yu watched from the side, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Night deepened, and the snow began to fall again in Seoul. Cai Xiubin, nestled in Su Yu's arms, was already asleep, her phone still clutched in her hand, the screen displaying a link to the second episode's trailer sent by Kim Dong-wook. Su Yu gently took the phone out, placed it on the coffee table, and pulled the blanket over her. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.