Peninsula: I'm the Top Streamer

Chapter 634 Official Announcement of Contract Renewal! Sky-High Salary!
Hirai Momo held her phone, the screen still showing the abrupt message from Minatozaki Sana.

Sana Minatozaki: If Tzuyu asks you, just say you went shopping and had dinner with me.

The icy chill at my fingertips spread from the screen to my heart.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on Chou Tzu-yu, who was a few steps away in front of him.

Chou Tzu-yu had just put away her phone and was quietly listening to Lim Na-yeon talking excitedly beside her.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the mall's bright glass roof, falling on Tzuyu's profile and outlining her soft features.

She wore her usual faint smile, occasionally nodding gently in response to Nayeon unnie's words, appearing as gentle and serene as ever.

Why... would Sana suddenly post this?

Momo frowned, puzzled, and typed back quickly.

"...I'm with Tzuyu."

"Momo?" Nayeon's voice suddenly broke in, with a hint of inquiry.

"What are you standing there for? Are you staring at your phone? This store seems to have some new limited-edition cakes, want to go in and take a look?"

Chou Tzu-yu also turned her head at the sound, her clear gaze falling on Momo's face.

Her gaze remained gentle and docile, without probing or questioning, simply watching calmly as if her exchange with Minatozaki Sana had never occurred.

She quickly caught up with the two people in front of her, trying to focus her attention on the cake shop window, and responded with words.

"New product? Where is it? Let me see!"

Hirai Momo temporarily put aside the matter of Minatozaki Sana and started playing around without a care in the world again.

Chou Tzu-yu looked at Momo's bewildered expression and slowly looked away.

Who knows.

Sana Minatozaki was completely unaware that her lie had been exposed.

She just sat there playing on her phone, her legs motionless, not wanting to wake Quan Xuanhe, who was sleeping with his head on her lap.

Quan Xuanhe gradually regained consciousness and slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing that hits the senses is the delicate fragrance lingering on the tip of the nose—the perfume scent worn by Sana Minatozaki.

As my vision cleared, I saw Sana Minatozaki's downcast profile, scrolling through her phone listlessly, her jawline appearing exceptionally soft in the light.

He moved his neck, feeling a warm, soft touch on the back of his head, and could even clearly feel the warmth of her thigh skin seeping through the thin fabric onto his cheek. He slept even more soundly than in a hotel bed.

"Awake?" Minatozaki Sana immediately noticed the movement on her lap and poked his forehead with her fingertip.

"It's so heavy, my legs are numb."

Kwon Hyun-hyuk remained lazy and didn't bother to get up. Instead, he looked up at her from his reclining position, a playful smile curving his lips as usual: "It's especially comfortable to sleep with your head on my lap."

"I feel refreshed."

"Don't push your luck." Sana Minato rolled her eyes at him and poked his head.

"Still not getting up?"

Quan Xuanhe slowly propped himself up, a slight clicking sound coming from his neck.

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked around the messy lounge.

The assistant peeked out at the opportune moment to remind him: "Brother Xuanhe, the styling team is waiting."

He responded, his gaze returning to Sana Minatozaki, and he reached out to pat her thigh.

It is both flexible and elastic.

"Thanks a lot."

Sana Minato slapped his hand away and glared at him, but there was no real annoyance in her eyes.

There are still people here.

Kwon Seonhyuk stood up, grabbed the wrinkled costume jacket from the back of the chair, draped it over his shoulder, and walked out the door.

After Kwon Hyun-hyuk left, Minatozaki Sana stretched her stiff thighs.

Another message popped up on her phone, but Sana Minatozaki didn't pay it any mind and just picked it up to take a look.

It was a message from Momo.

“Ani. I’m with Tzuyu right now.”

These words immediately froze Minatozaki Sana's body, her expression, and her heart.

what?
The message from Momo hit Sana Minatozaki like a brick of ice. The warmth in her fingertips vanished instantly, as if struck by an invisible electric current, leaving her body stiff.

"...I'm with Tzuyu."

The short line of text burned and magnified on her retina, each syllable reverberating in her chaotic mind.

How can it be?

how so? !

The feeling of skillfully weaving lies with my fingertips just moments before was shattered, replaced by a surge of panic.

Her breath hitched, and almost reflexively she looked up sharply at the door of the lounge—Kwon Seonhyuk had already left for the dressing room.

Momo and Tzuyu are together... What does this mean?
This means that the lie she just posted about "going out to buy some things with Momo" and "satisfying Momo's stomach" was such a ridiculous, clumsy, and immediately exposed performance!

Imagine this scene: Tzuyu receives a message from her claiming that she is with Momo, and then she looks up to find Momo looking at her with a "What happened?" expression.
What expression would Chou Tzu-yu have at that moment?
Will it be a moment of shock, then understanding, followed by disappointment and hurt?
Will the cracks of being "deceived" be clearly reflected for the first time in her eyes, which always seem somewhat naive and docile?

Sana Minatozaki frantically unlocked her screen, wanting to immediately send a message to Tzuyu to make amends. She typed a line and then quickly deleted it. No, it was too late to say anything now.

Explanation is just a cover-up, and it only makes this clumsy lie seem even more obvious.

Ruined.

Sana Minatosaki felt a chill run down her spine, and the thought of how she would face Tzuyu when she got back made her feel dizzy.

broken.

I often walk by the river, so how can I not wet my shoes?

Sana Minatozaki forced herself to calm down, looked around, and decided that she couldn't stay there any longer.

We need to hurry back and clear our names of suspicion.

Sana Minato grabbed her bag, walked out of the dressing room, glanced at Kwon Seonhyuk who was surrounded on set, bit her red lips slightly, and left without looking back.

She is a decisive woman.

Sana Minatozaki immediately got into the car, started the engine, and merged into the traffic heading back to Seoul.

The afternoon silence descended like an invisible shroud, making her heart clench.

She opened the dormitory door almost while holding her breath.

"Tzuyu? I'm back—"

The sound rang out abruptly in the empty living room, but no one answered.

Sana Minatozaki strode into the house, her gaze quickly sweeping over the living room and kitchen—no one was there.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked a few steps to Zhou Ziyu's closed door and gently knocked.

"Tzuyu?"

There was no response. She knocked again, raising her voice slightly.

It remained deathly silent.

Chou Tzu-yu is not in the dormitory.

Sana Minatozaki sat on the edge of the sofa.

She didn't even change out of her slippers, just sat there, her gaze unfocused on the smooth floor in front of her, her mind racing.

"It's over..."

Sana Minato murmured unconsciously.

She simply couldn't imagine how Chou Tzu-yu's expression would change at that moment.

Disappointment? Hurt? Disbelief? Or... a calm that is understood but not spoken?
That's what she fears most.

Chou Tzu-yu rarely expresses her dissatisfaction with intense emotions; her quietness is sometimes more penetrating than any question.

Especially when it comes to things like Kwon Hyun-hyuk, and the unspoken secret between them.

At the time, I just wanted to use the seemingly reasonable excuse of "being with Momo" to get by and avoid Tzuyu from overthinking.

But man proposes, God disposes. How could she have known that Momo would happen to be with Tzuyu at that time!
"Ugh...!" Sana Minatozaki scratched her hair in frustration, her carefully styled hair instantly becoming messy.

This coincidence was nothing short of a cruel mockery of fate.

What should we do now?
frank?

He proactively confessed to Tzuyu, "Tzuyu, I'm sorry, I lied. I didn't go to eat with Momo, I went to find Kwon Hyun-hyuk..."

Just thinking about saying those words aloud made it hard for Sana Minatozaki to breathe.

This is tantamount to directly lifting the veil of that tacit understanding.

Avoiding the topic? Are they betting that Tzuyu won't bring it up herself? But that's highly unlikely.

Tzuyu specifically asked where she was going, proving that she cared. Even if she remained silent at the moment, that distance was already there.

It's all his fault! That womanizer! If it weren't for him, why would I have gone to such lengths, even clumsily telling such a lie that could be exposed at any moment?!
But... despite her resentment, she couldn't deny that she had gone to the film set on her own initiative.

Ugh.

This is really worrying me.

Let fate decide.
After much deliberation, Sana Minatozaki decided to just wait and see how Tzuyu would react.

Meanwhile, after Kwon Hyun-hyuk finished filming a scene, he didn't see Minatozaki Sana.

"she left?"

When he heard his assistant say that, Kwon Heon-hyuk was a little confused and didn't know what was going on.

"He looks rushed, as if he has something urgent to attend to."

"Oh, I see."

Quan Xuanhe nodded thoughtfully and didn't ask any more questions about Minatozaki Sana's whereabouts.

If I could have told him what I wanted to say, I would have done so already.

"Our Blues" is nearing its end, and it has achieved remarkable success on a series of charts, especially as an ensemble drama.

GOODDATA has released its ranking of the most talked-about TV dramas and their cast members for the first week of May 2022.

1. My Liberation Diary (Super Topic) 19.67%
2. Our blues is 15.67%. 3.
3. #RedHeart# Super Topic: 12.77%
Netflix Korea's Top 10 This Week:

1. Our Blues

2. My Liberation Log
3. Annara Sumanara

8. In-house matchmaking
The highest TV drama rating in 2022 (May 29, 2022)

SBS Gold and Earth/Again My Life 12%
SBS Monday-Tuesday/Internal matchmaking: 11.6%
tvN Weekend/25, 21 11.5%
tvN Weekend/Our Blues 11.242% (Airing)
In addition to the high ranking of the entire TV series, the main actors in the series also ranked highly on various actor evaluation lists.

Top 30 Movie Actor Brand Reputation Rankings in May 2022
1-10: Kang Soo-yeon, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Hye-soo, Son Seok-gu, Lee Byung-hun, Lee Jung-jae, Kwon Heon-hyuk, Son Ye-jin, Han Hyo-joo, Kim Da-mi.

Ranking of actress Racoi's popularity in South Korea during the second week of May 2022:
1. Sun Xijiu, "My Liberation Diary"

2. Shin Min-ah - Our Blues

3. Kim Ji-won, *My Liberation Diary* 4. Lee Byung-hun, *Our Blues*

5. Kwon Hyun-hyuk, "Our Blues"

This is reasonable. No matter how outstanding Kwon Heon-hyuk is, he is only the second male lead, a supporting actor. This drama is not his main role, so this result is already quite good, after all, it is an ensemble drama.

As the series progressed into its later stages, the feedback from various metrics had become quite stable.

It is expected to end completely in early June.

After the drama ends, "Determination to Break Up," starring Kwon Heon-hyuk, will be put on the table immediately, ensuring a seamless transition in popularity.

However, Kwon Heon-hyuk will also need to do some promotional work, such as appearing on a simple variety show. But it's the same as before; Tang Wei is the main force behind the promotion, and she is the soul of this movie.

Kwon Hyun-hyuk was just used to accumulate seniority.

However, Netflix recently approached him to formally discuss the second season of DP, and it's now officially on the agenda.

The renewal of "DP Season 2" was officially announced as early as when the first season was released and received a good response from Netflix. However, that was more of a way to make promises and increase marketing efforts to attract more viewers.

Now it's time to seriously put it on the agenda and start production.

As the core of the group, Kwon Hyun-hyuk naturally agreed, after all, this was his big-budget male-centric drama.

In this situation, paying salaries is the simplest thing to do. Now is the time when Netflix is ​​most generous and can spend money like water, it's just a piece of cake.

Moreover, given Kwon Hyeon-hyuk's good relationship with Netflix, this matter would be a piece of cake.

Kwon Heonhyuk now earns 200 million won for filming movies and over 100 million won for dramas.

The latest signed contract for "Dark Glory" has more than doubled, also reaching the 200 million mark.

This level is basically at the top level.

However, it is said that the highest-paid male actor in Korean dramas is Kim Soo-hyun, whose salary rose to 500 million won per episode for the drama "One Day".

Normally, the highest salary for a top male actor is between 200 million and 300 million Korean won; any higher would exceed the production company's limit.

However, Kim Soo-hyun clearly exceeded that limit.

Until Kim Soo-hyun's scandal broke, he was a golden brand in Korean dramas, and his brilliant achievements in the Korean Wave were undeniable, justifying his high price.

After Kim Soo-hyun broke this limit, other male actors followed suit and raised their salaries.

Lee Min-ho then took an even bigger step, earning a billion won for his role in the drama "Bangkok Life"!

It completely stunned everyone.

While the influx of hot capital is a factor, to be honest, the domestic film and television industry has already experienced the path of high actor salaries, and in this respect, China is ahead of the curve.

South Korea, on the other hand, is trapped in a cycle of high actor salaries, and it will be a long and arduous process for them to recover.

In DP Season 2, Netflix offered Kwon Heon-hyuk a price that was roughly the same as Dark Glory.

They quoted a price of 250 million Korean won.

Two hundred million is the level that Kwon Hyun-hyuk should be enjoying now, and the remaining fifty million is the price that should be raised for the sequel.

No problem. Although this number immediately surpasses 99% of other male actors, the price is not excessive after careful analysis.

He deserves this price now. Kwon Heonhyuk is now at the very top of the Korean Wave, and he is impeccable in terms of both reputation and popularity. Especially in terms of going global, he is practically the face of the industry.

Lee Min-ho and Kim Soo-hyun are certainly very good at fighting, but they are older actors. Young people nowadays recognize their faces more.

The price of 250 million is currently being negotiated between Park Jung-jung and the production company, and it is highly likely that the deal will be reached.

However, news of the start of production for "DP Season 2" has leaked out, along with Kwon Heon-hyuk's current "sky-high salary".

The news of the official launch of DP Season 2 exploded on entertainment headlines, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

As a sequel to a hugely successful Korean drama that Netflix has achieved worldwide, its return is enough to attract massive attention.

The announcement of the production team's restructuring and script polishing has already excited fans and the media.

However, the core information that followed, leaked by an industry insider, truly ignited the storm of public opinion: the salary quoted by the male lead, Kwon Seon-hyuk.

"2.5 million won per episode!"

This number, like a spark thrown into a frying pan, instantly ignited public discussion.

It far exceeds the mainstream salary range of top male actors in current Korean dramas, and even with Netflix's heavy investment, it stands out from the crowd.

Money has always been a major concern for the public, especially when it comes to the sensitive issue of actor salaries. South Koreans are very sensitive to this and quite picky about it.

Furthermore, the current discussion within the industry regarding high actor salaries is mixed, with production companies complaining bitterly, while top actors are raising their prices without batting an eye.

The actors in the industry are becoming increasingly polarized, with 95% of them earning less than 10 million Korean won per film, and most of them struggling to make ends meet.

At this time, the news of Kwon Hyun-hyuk's salary naturally attracted a lot of attention.

Some supporters believe that Kwon Hyun-hyuk's salary is an inevitable result of market forces, and there's nothing wrong with it; he's worth the price.

The huge success of the first season of DP is one of Netflix's most outstanding achievements in Asia in recent years. Its global popularity, award nominations, and social discussion are all inseparable from the core driving force of the character "Ahn Joon-ho" played by Kwon Heon-hyuk.

He not only brought the character to life, but also rose to become a global Hallyu star.

As one entertainment commentator pointed out, "Kwon Seonhyuk's value to Netflix is ​​like the spine to the body. Netflix's willingness to pay this high price is itself a strong affirmation of his commercial value and ability to carry a series. This investment is purely based on business logic."

Analysts emphasize that Kwon Heon-hyuk is no longer just a South Korean star.

His starring roles have demonstrated a strong ability to "go global" on Netflix, bringing significant added value to South Korean cultural exports.

This salary includes an assessment of his international appeal.

Kwon Heon-hyuk is now a rising star in Chungmuro, and he also has access to top-tier drama resources such as "Dark Glory," making his time extremely valuable.

As a significant representative work and foundation of his early acting career, the sequel to DP was more than just about the salary.

To secure his return, Netflix and the production company needed to show sufficient sincerity and pay a high price, and this high salary also reflects the "scarcity" of the actor's availability.

The most pointed criticisms were directed at the unreasonable pay.

Opponents argue that even with DP's outstanding performance, 2.5 million won per episode is a manifestation of a "salary bubble" for a young actor with limited experience, far exceeding his due market value.

A veteran entertainment journalist commented: "This figure will raise the benchmark for actor salaries across the entire industry, exacerbating the burden of production costs. Where will the pressure ultimately be passed on? To script polishing? To the salaries of other actors and crew members? Or to the quality of the series itself?"

Many believe these are isolated cases or special contracts from a period of capital frenzy.

Paying a rising star with a price close to or even exceeding that of some top national actors for a realistic drama like DP is seen by some as a dangerous signal, indicating a potential imbalance in the industry's salary system.

Many online comments questioned: "Shouldn't factors like seniority, national popularity, and stable viewership appeal be considered? Did they really rise to this level based on just one Netflix hit?"

Critics also worry that such high salaries are one of the side effects of streaming platforms' crazy spending to seize the market. Capital has "hijacked" top actors with sky-high salaries, distorting the normal evaluation system of acting value.

These criticisms and objections are not without merit, and some of them are even quite correct.

But as I said before, the future of the industry is not determined by any one person, and Kwon Heon-hyuk's high salary is just a result of the general trend.

Everyone knows these words, but when it comes to actual benefits, how many people would actually put aside their own interests for the greater good?

Kwon Heon-hyuk takes this salary more to match his status.

He can easily earn billions of Korean won from a single advertising endorsement, and his acting fees are only for a few episodes, nothing more.

As evening approached, the dormitory door lock made a faint, soft sound.

Sana Minatozaki almost immediately jumped out of bed and looked towards the door.

It turned out that Minami returned.

Mina returned carrying several shopping bags and smiled when she saw Sana Minatozaki rushing into the living room.

"what happened?"

"Are Tzuyu and the others back?"

Sana Minatozaki didn't know if she had been hanging out with Tzuyu and the others, so she asked that question.

"I don't know, why don't you go and take a look?"

As it turned out, Mina wasn't with them.

This caused Sana Minatozaki's emotions to fluctuate wildly once again.

It's highly likely that Chou Tzu-yu is currently alone in the dorm. The three of them lived together, but since Chou Tzu-yu, Son Chae-young, and Kim Da-hyun lived together, and those two have both gone home, now Chou Tzu-yu is the only one left.

If she confronts Chou Tzu-yu directly, without a mediator to smooth things over, what if they end up arguing?

Sana Minatozaki swallowed hard, imagining Tzuyu yelling angrily at her.

It's best not to do that.

"Then I'll go take a look."

Sana Minatozaki hurriedly left the room after saying that.

Mina looked at her and seemed puzzled by her somewhat absent-minded manner.

what's wrong?

Sana Minatozaki turned back halfway through her walk.

Did she really need to go and find Chou Tzu-yu?
If Chou Tzu-yu were truly angry, she would have come over and questioned her personally, instead of leaving her here alone, as if awaiting an unknown judgment, enduring unbearable torment.

Sana Minato stopped in the middle of the corridor, as if she were nailed to the spot.

She was upset and ultimately gave up the idea of ​​taking the initiative to apologize to Chou Tzu-yu.

Such deliberate actions will only make one appear more guilty, and may even make one seem like a fool who has inadvertently confessed.

In the dormitory, Mina was sorting through the shopping bags she had just brought back, turning the items over and over in her hands.

Seeing that Sana Minatozaki had returned looking lost, she looked up and gave her a questioning look.

Sana Minatozaki had no energy to respond; she felt completely drained and collapsed onto the sofa with a thud. The soft cushions did nothing to ease her anxiety.

"Click."

The dormitory door was gently pushed open, the sound not loud, but it felt like a thunderclap on Sana Minatozaki's tense nerves.

Minami also stopped what she was doing.

Chou Tzu-yu appeared at the doorway.

Unlike Sana Minatozaki, who was filled with fear, she didn't exude a fierce or disappointed aura; instead, her face retained its usual gentle and serene demeanor.

She was wearing loungewear, her long black hair casually draped over her shoulders, as if she had just strolled over from her own room to visit someone.

Mina looked at Tzuyu, who seemed a bit off, and then at Sana Minatozaki, who was curled up on the sofa, motionless. She keenly sensed the invisible tension in the air.

She quickly determined that it was not a good time to stay.

"Ah, I'll go tidy up the wardrobe."

She made up the most ordinary excuse, stood up almost immediately, and quickly walked into her and Minatozaki Sana's bedroom with the things in her hands, thoughtfully closing the door behind her, leaving the living room, this delicate space, to the two of them.

The footsteps stopped in front of the sofa.

Chou Tzu-yu simply stood there, tilting her head slightly, looking at her curled up on the sofa, her eyes as calm as a lake in late autumn, and asked softly.

"Unnie's back?"

Sana Minatozaki nodded somewhat hastily, trying to appear as natural as possible.

"What's wrong with unnie? She lied to me and said she was with Momo unnie."

At this moment, Chou Tzu-yu smiled, her eyes filled with laughter, as if she were joking.

"Ah ha ha."

Faced with Chou Tzu-yu's relaxed attitude, Minatozaki Sana gave an awkward laugh.

Did Chou Tzu-yu think it was just a joke?
That's true, it's impossible for her to immediately think that she has a relationship with Quan Xuanhe.
(End of this chapter)