Chapter 150: The Gift

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Entertainment at Your Side — No Ads
Story Created: April 2007
Recommended Song: Stanley Huang — "Gift"
Disclaimer: This story is entirely fictional; please do not draw parallels. Any resemblance is purely coincidental!

Regarding the casting, Li Ran had very little say. Both Xu Le and Song Namin maintained a very positive attitude but were extremely strict in selecting actors. They wanted to avoid any situation where Jiang Yihan would withdraw due to problems with other actors, so relying on connections was out of the question—they insisted on thorough auditions. Another reason was that Xu Le and Song Namin viewed this project as a rookie drama; apart from Jiang Yihan, all cast members were newcomers to television drama. Thus, they deliberately sought out talented newcomers or experienced actors who had yet to get their break, prioritizing how well each fit their character. This was crucial because in a drama mostly featuring fresh faces, if the actors failed to embody their roles convincingly, the whole production would become a joke. Their meticulousness ensured the cast fit Li Ran’s expectations, so there was no further dispute.

Li Ran was also not overly worried about the advertising side.

In television dramas, sponsors fall into two categories. The first are major sponsors who fund the production and whose products—such as cars, phones, houses, or filming locations—are prominently featured as props. For example, the filming location designated by the sponsor for “Winter Sonata” was Nami Island, which has since become a famous tourist destination in Korea. Such sponsorship deals are a primary source of filming expenses. The other category is object sponsorship, where specific meaningful items like necklaces, dolls, or cups are provided by sponsors. Take the doll from “My Lovely Sam Soon”—that adorable pink pig became a designated product and later generated immense peripheral value.

Producing a drama entails complex sponsorship arrangements. After securing sponsors, the screenwriter must adapt the script to meet their conditions, such as changing shooting locations or including scenes that promote overseas shoots. The significance of commemorative items must be woven into the storyline as well. In Korea, scripts are often continuously revised to align with this system.

Many dramas attract sponsors automatically due to the fame of actors, directors, or writers, but negotiations are usually difficult because of conflicting interests: sponsors are unwilling to increase funding but want maximum benefit. Some productions must actively seek sponsorships, often with great effort. However, this drama was unusual—sponsors approached them proactively, making Xu Le marvel that both the toughest parts, casting and sponsorship, became surprisingly easy thanks to Jiang Yihan.

As for Li Ran, the advertising sponsorship discussed with Xu Le and Song Namin mainly involved major sponsors. The mobile phone Jiang Yihan was currently endorsing had been snapped up by Samsung at a high price. Competitors like LG and Pantech were furious that the company hadn’t signed Jiang Yihan sooner—a decision they now deeply regretted. Samsung was naturally delighted; thanks to a recommendation from Jang Dong-gun, they had taken a gamble on a newcomer and unexpectedly gained Korea’s top star. As for the car sponsorship, options were limited in Korea, so Hyundai secured the deal.

About 80% of the scenes in “Playful Kiss” were shot at the school and the male lead’s home, making these locations crucial. Numerous sponsors, especially real estate companies, approached them. Although Li Ran had many real estate ads, he hadn’t accepted any yet, hoping to ensure the house quality met standards—otherwise, Jiang Yihan’s endorsement would be worthless. Fortunately, all the real estate firms were eager to cooperate, which promised smoother deals in the future. Ultimately, Li Ran chose a newly built villa in southern Gangnam, completed just three months prior, with a good environment. Jiang Yihan also received a free villa courtesy of sponsorship.

In short, Jiang Yihan’s lifestyle was now essentially expense-free—clothing, food, housing, and transportation all covered by sponsors, while he still received a salary. In truth, Jiang Yihan was a wealthy man.

Jiang Yihan had yet to move into the new villa, so he was still staying in his cozy home. Li Ran cleared his schedule to ensure Jiang Yihan could rest completely, a decisive move only Li Ran could make without repercussions.

“Brother, come see this!” Jiang Ziyi called loudly from the living room.

“Hm?” Jiang Yihan stood from his computer and was startled to find a piano and a guitar prominently placed in the living room.

“Wow, who sent this?” Jiang Yihan was speechless, completely shocked.

“It came from your official fan club, The Castle. They even sent a piano and guitar, probably hoping you’ll create more music,” Jiang Ziyi said, somewhat surprised but no longer shocked—Jiang Yihan had received countless gifts.

Jiang Yihan picked up the attached card and read it aloud: “Master, we have long wanted to send you a gift to thank you for all the moments you have moved us, but never had the chance. We recently learned about your throat injury from striving for better performances, and the whole forum was worried and saddened. Since you always give selflessly, we can only support you. This gift is a token from the entire forum. Please accept it and rest well at home—your health is most important! From all members of The Castle.”

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Jiang Yihan set the card down without a word. A gift? His injury had already been widely reported in the media; as Korea’s most renowned artist, his every move was watched. The media frenzy was inevitable, but Li Ran had shielded most of it. Now, The Castle’s collective gift added another layer of attention.

Jiang Yihan stepped forward to examine the piano and guitar, opening the piano lid and testing a few notes, then strumming the guitar lightly. After a moment, he hesitated: “I can’t accept this gift.”

“Why not?” Jiang Ziyi looked at the piano and guitar, knowing how much Jiang Yihan loved them.

“They’re too valuable. We can’t accept such expensive gifts,” Jiang Yihan said earnestly. “You know we can’t take something this costly; it’s improper.”

“But…” Jiang Ziyi explained, “Min said when the gift arrived that it was bought collectively by the entire forum, so no one spent much individually. You should accept it. Besides, if we return it, who in the forum would use it?”

“Everyone pitched in? Why?” Jiang Yihan frowned, clearly concerned about the price.

“They all wanted to give you something useful and joyful for your work. The piano and guitar fit perfectly. Since you got injured, everyone’s been worried, so they pooled money to buy this gift. Really, is it that expensive?”

“Sigh, I feel unworthy of such an expensive gift,” Jiang Yihan sighed. “Do you know how much this piano costs?” Jiang Ziyi shook her head. “And the guitar?”

Still clueless, Jiang Ziyi listened as Jiang Yihan explained, “This piano is nearly eighty thousand dollars, and the guitar is about five thousand.”

Jiang Ziyi was stunned—she hadn’t expected such an enormous value.

“This piano is a world-class German treasure—the Blüthner Bösendorfer. It’s the best upright piano we have at home.”

Jiang Yihan detailed: “This company has made high-quality pianos in Leipzig, Germany since 1853, managed continuously by the Bösendorfer family—Germany’s only internationally renowned brand still run by its founding family. Before 1900, Bösendorfer was Europe’s largest piano manufacturer. During World War II, their factory was bombed; after the war, the German government declared Bösendorfer a national treasure and allowed the family and workers to rebuild. The piano is part of royal collections across Europe, owned by the German King, Queen Victoria of England, Russian Tsar, Danish King, Turkish princess, and the Saxon King. This shows how precious this piano is.”

Jiang Yihan, who followed piano news closely and loved Bösendorfer pianos, was amazed that the fan club had sent such a gift.

“Could I possibly accept such a piano? It’s far too valuable,” Jiang Yihan muttered.

Jiang Ziyi leaned in to inspect the piano but, as a layperson, couldn’t discern anything special.

Jiang Yihan sat down and played—the piano produced a warm, rich tone.

Blüthner pianos are known for their full, warm, romantic, and song-like sound, with a delicate and elegant timbre. The tone is strong yet sweet and soft, very pleasing to the ear. Many professional pianists and composers praise the emotional and unforgettable quality of its music. Thousands of famous musicians who have played Blüthner pianos agree with the legendary praise: it is the finest singing piano in the world.

The melodious notes flowing from the piano enveloped Jiang Yihan and Jiang Ziyi in a subtle, soothing warmth, like soaking in a warm bath.

Though only a short piece, Jiang Yihan could already feel the piano’s worth. Then he picked up the wooden guitar.

“This guitar was one of only fifty ever made before production stopped,” he said.

He gently strummed the strings, and a clear, beautiful sound filled the room.

“This is the world’s finest wooden guitar, a 1969 Martin D41. For over a century and a half, Martin has been recognized as the world’s best instrument maker. Its founder, Christian Frederick Martin, born in 1796 in Germany, was the son of a carpenter. When he began making guitars, the instrument was not yet widely accepted, showing how long this guitar’s history is. Up to 1969, Martin guitars with Brazilian rosewood and models above 28 were the best series. However, in 1969, Brazil banned the export of raw wood to protect its industry, forcing Martin to switch to Indian rosewood. Thus, Martin’s Brazilian rosewood D41 guitars, produced until 1969, are extremely rare—only about fifty exist worldwide.”

“Martin wooden guitars have always been considered the best choice for accompaniment, recording, and solo performances. Their sound is clear, clean, and bright—very pleasant.” Jiang Yihan was reluctant to part with the guitar. “Because of their outstanding tone quality, guitars are ranked alongside pianos and violins as the world’s three great instruments.”

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After Jiang Yihan’s explanation, Jiang Ziyi was truly stunned. The value of these two gifts far exceeded her imagination—they were beyond expensive.

“So, even though I love them, we can’t accept these gifts,” Jiang Yihan stated firmly. Such presents carried more than mere value. “My injury wasn’t serious; the media exaggerated everything. Now The Castle has spent so much on me again—I really can’t accept it.”

Jiang Ziyi understood the gravity of the situation and nodded, then called Jiang Zaimin to explain and express the wish to return the gifts. Jiang Zaimin laughed and told her to hand the phone to Jiang Yihan.

“Yihan, you have to accept this gift. It’s from all of us in the forum,” Jiang Zaimin said.

“Zaimin, you know how valuable these are. How can I accept them? It would be a burden,” Jiang Yihan replied, uneasy at the thought of everyone spending so much on him.

“Yihan, don’t worry. We all contributed very little individually,” Jiang Zaimin reassured him. “This was an official forum collective effort, with over 100,000 fans worldwide pooling money. Divided, each person paid just a few thousand Korean won—pocket change. The gifts were specially ordered in Germany and air-shipped here. It’s our heartfelt gesture—you must accept it.”

“But…” Jiang Yihan began, only to be cut off.

“Yihan, no one paid much individually—don’t worry. This was a joint effort by over 100,000 fans worldwide. We worked hard to collect the funds and bring these gifts from Europe. Please just accept it. You’ve been debuting over two years, and we’ve never given you anything as a group. Think of this as your once-every-two-years gift, okay?”

“Zaimin…” Jiang Yihan hesitated, deeply moved.

“Yihan, just accept it, okay?” Jiang Zaimin said firmly before ending the call, leaving Jiang Yihan and Jiang Ziyi speechless.

After hanging up, Jiang Zaimin smiled briefly but soon grew worried again, thinking of Jiang Yihan’s throat injury. Though not serious, the concern lingered. Luckily, it was confirmed to be nothing major—otherwise, the fan forum would have been in chaos. Recalling the night Jiang Yihan’s throat bled, which caused an uproar across the forum, Jiang Zaimin folded her hands in earnest prayer: “Master, for us and for yourself, please stay healthy!”

Over 100,000 fans worldwide had come together to send such a precious gift to Jiang Yihan—truly a miracle.

While Jiang Yihan felt both joy and worry over the gifts, Li Ran had already wrapped up all production arrangements for the drama.

Besides securing sponsors for the main house and villa, another key location—the school—had also been finalized with sponsorship.

With everything prepared, filming was only a matter of time!