Our Story - Binjin

Chapter 82: Preparing for Christmas

Author's Note: Happy weekend! Sorry this update took longer, work has been more intense this week and didn't leave me with much time to write 😂
I know I said Christmas was next last time but I realized there's too much to cover. It should be the next chapter. Hope everyone enjoys this! And thanks again for all your votes and comments, they are much appreciated. 🥳

Crash Landing on You finally premiered on 14th December. The ratings were decent at 6% but if everyone were honest, they had secretly hoped it would be better. Still, it was just the first episode and it wasn't a bad result. Feedback were generally positive and the cast and crew were encouraged. They worked even harder to ensure they could show a good drama. They were quietly confident they would win over the audience.

As they had hoped, ratings for episodes 2 and 3 increased to around 7.5% and episode 4, which was the one just before Christmas, hit 9.5%. Everyone was ecstatic. This was the best Christmas present for the team. Morale was at an all time high and despite the bitter cold, everyone was raring to work even harder to repay the audience.

Hyun Bin and Ye-Jin were probably one of the happiest with the results. Despite their efforts to downplay the focus on ratings, it was undeniable that ratings were the most practical success indicator for a drama. Crash Landing on You was their baby. While they had individually decided to accept the drama, they both knew neither would have accepted if the other party had decided against it. In reality, this was their joint project from the beginning. This drama was also extra special because they had an opportunity to influence how their characters were portrayed. Ri Jeong-hyeok and Yoon Se-ri had many elements of the real Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin. It's success was hence that much sweeter.

With Christmas approaching, Hyun Bin and Ye-Jin wanted to buy a small gift for the cast and crew. It was their small way of saying thank you and convey their well-wishes. After discussing, Hyun Bin would get everyone a winter vest and Ye-Jin would prepare a skincare set. The vest would come in useful against the biting winter chill and the skincare set against the dry and frigid winter air.

Manager Kim and Dong Wan made arrangements for the gifts to be delivered to the sets. Everyone was delighted and touched by their thoughtfulness. Filming conditions were harsh that winter but everyone filmed with a warm heart.

This would be Hyun Bin and Ye-Jin's second Christmas together. Their first Christmas had been special but there was a small tinge of regret because they only had a few hours together due to Hyun Bin's filming commitments. They were expecting a repeat this year given they were filming for Crash Landing on You. Thankfully, the production team decided to halt filming on Christmas day as a reward for the crew who had been working extremely hard.

Hyun Bin and Ye-Jin were delighted when they heard the news. Ye-Jin turned excitedly to Hyun Bin and beamed, "We get the whole day off! I thought we would be filming through Christmas. I'm so happy! What shall we do on that day?"

Hyun Bin was elated. It looked like even fate was on his side. He smiled at Ye-Jin and silently replied her, we have a lot to do that day.

Hyun Bin's Preparation

For the first time in his life, Hyun Bin was nervous about Christmas. Why? He's going to propose to Ye-Jin. He had pondered long and hard whether this was the right time. At first thought, it didn't seem like the best time. They were filming practically every waking movement and were exhausted all the time. Would they be in the right frame of mind? But on second thoughts, what frame of mind did they need? Did they really need to be in a 'good mood' to say yes to make a commitment to each other? It made no sense, he was prepared to do it anytime, anywhere. With that, he decided, Christmas was the day.