Free Web NovelShe had been talking like that since last time. She was one of those people who acted like it was only natural that Do Gyeoul didn’t attend the class gathering, yet looked at Han Yeoreum with thinly veiled irritation when she didn’t show up.
In other words, even among classmates, there was a clear, unspoken hierarchy.
“Come on, why are you reacting so sensitively? Dami-ya.”
“Yeoreum is good, sure, but she also landed a great agency! So good for her, right?”
Some of the people from Team A who had done <Romeo and Juliet> with Do Gyeoul had received an agency business card once or twice recently, and they were drunk on it.
They seemed to think that if they really tried, they could catch up to someone like Han Yeoreum in no time.
Not Do Gyeoul—but Han Yeoreum, at least.
“...They don’t know anything.”
But So Dami knew. She knew that Yeoreum hadn’t poured everything out on stage that day. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
“Who said Yeoreum just got lucky with her agency?”
Honestly, none of them looked like they would succeed as actors. If she was being even colder, that included So Dami herself. Even when handed the same script, the gap in character analysis was like heaven and earth.
“The agency was the one that got lucky, meeting Yeoreum.”
So Dami stood up from her seat. Now she understood why Yeoreum hadn’t bothered attending the class gathering.
‘What a waste of time.’
It was better to memorize even one more line than to sit here. Gatherings like this weren’t fun anymore.
“I’m heading out first. Happy New Year!”
Without hesitation, So Dami rose from the table, turned her back, and left the restaurant.
Her heart was restless. She wanted to catch up to Yeoreum as soon as possible. She wanted to go over lines together again. That overwhelming feeling of certainty—that they had made something good—she wanted to feel it once more.
Just like on that stage.
For a moment, a chilly silence filled the restaurant. Even the classmates who had subtly talked Yeoreum down a moment ago knew it themselves.
They knew exactly what the emotion they were feeling was called.
“Dami really can’t let go of <Romeo and Juliet> these days.”
“Still method acting the nanny role, I guess.”
“Just leave her. We dragged her out even though she said she wanted to stay in the practice room.”
While one person didn’t even know when they’d debut, another had portal-site articles plastered everywhere the moment they signed with JC ENM.
That fact alone was enough to shake the unstable early twenties of everyone sitting there.
“I’ll call Dami later and talk to her separately! Why’s the mood like this-. Come on, let’s toast, toast! To our debut!”
The classmate who had just made eye contact with So Dami raised her glass high. The chill disappeared, and the place quickly grew noisy again. Glasses clinked with a loud cheers.
“Eunseol, what’s wrong with your nails? Doesn’t that hurt?”
Someone asked as the glasses collided. The nails gripping the glass stood out.
Her thumbnail was unusually short, digging into the skin.
“Ah... it’s nothing. I have a habit of biting my nails.”
“Oh wow, same. But seriously, if you get nail art done, it fixes it. Come with me next time!”
The classmate called Eunseol nodded with a smile. Then she put a spoonful of pineapple sorbet into her mouth. A soft, crunching sound echoed quietly. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
* * *
Finally, the last schedule of the year. December 31. Today was the year-end party and the wrap-up dinner for <Law-Faster-Than>.
‘This year got deleted in an instant....’
I sank back into the car seat and took a deep breath. Still, this was a celebrity’s year-end. Facing the fixed camera in front of me, I spoke casually to myself.
“And finally! <Law-Faster-Than> has wrapped filming, so I’m heading to the wrap-up dinner. Honestly, I joined in summer! Right at the beginning of filming, so I was wondering if it’s okay for me to go to the wrap-up dinner—but it’s been a while since I’ve seen the seniors and the director, and the staff too....”
Was it because I’d been so busy the past few days? Why did I look so pure on screen? But I couldn’t forget to be cute either.
“I’ve been so hungry from wearing dresses all this time. When I get to the dinner today, I’m definitely eating cold noodles....”
Good. Cute. As expected—Han Yeoreum.
“Yeoreum, we’re here-!”
“Yes! I’ll grab the camera.”
I turned the camera off for a moment and took a deep breath. Since this was the wrap-up dinner, not just the staff but industry people would be there too.
‘So what’s important today?’
I had to create an opportunity to complete a mission here. I recalled the ridiculous number once more.
Success Condition
[Exceed ten million viewers!]
‘Just thinking about it is overwhelming....’
<Law-Faster-Than> 1 had changed its scenario from before my regression, but the message running through the film itself hadn’t changed. Influencer 1 had simply been given a bit more screen time.
‘Then the box office depends on the next factors.’
There were countless elements that determined a movie’s success. At the most basic level, it depended on the film’s quality—but that only decided whether it crossed the break-even point.
‘What really matters is what happens after release.’
Coincidentally, this was the peak of the film industry before my regression. I knew the razor-thin difference that made a movie a hit.
‘Shall we give it a try!’
I pushed the car door open with force. As if celebrating the last day of the year, the streets glowed brightly.
* * *
“Hyung, today’s really just about showing up, okay? Give me a signal at the right moment and I’ll jump in immediately! You know, right? Don’t overdo it.”
“Yeah~. Thanks.”
Yun Hyeonjo adjusted his clothes inside the van. Even though it wasn’t an official dinner with reporters, there was only one reason he was attending.
“Self-content is important, you know? We have to drop some bait. We need to introduce it—this movie is fun! This is the vibe! What is <Law-Faster-Than>? Loyalty! Action! Fun! It fits the wrap-up dinner atmosphere perfectly!”
It was because of Manager Ma, who kept insisting on the importance of self-produced content. Efficiency-minded, Yun Hyeonjo nodded.
“Yes~. That’s true.”
“So we’ll casually show your face even before release. These days people watch Intube more than TV, so Intube-focused!”
“But isn’t this different from the materials you sent me?”
Manager Ma, who had been talking smoothly until now, suddenly shut his mouth.
“You said the dinner self-content would be filmed during the first week after release. Then why do I need to attend the wrap-up dinner too?”
At Yun Hyeonjo’s sharp question, everyone nodded in agreement.
“...The more you appear, the better?”
“I’ll choose and focus efficiently.”
“Ahhh! No! Please show your face once for your junior! A warm <Law-Faster-Than> team, isn’t that nice? It’ll look great on camera! I saw that you have a lot of scenes with Detective Kwak Yoon and Yeoreum! ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ When we send out press releases, we’ll just shower you with praise, Mr. Yun Hyeonjo!”
So that was it. They wanted him to appear in a vlog centered on Han Yeoreum. Everyone looked at Manager Ma with distant expressions.
‘...There are still people who think that works on Yun Hyeonjo.’
‘This brings back memories. We were like that once too.’
‘But isn’t Manager Ma kind of crazy? What if he refuses and Manager Ma does a one-man protest or something....’
In any case, everyone was certain Yun Hyeonjo would refuse.
“Sure.”
“What!!!”
That was why. At Yun Hyeonjo’s answer, the staff screamed. He calmly covered one ear.
“Why?”
Even Manager Ma, apparently not expecting immediate approval, asked back in a daze. Yun Hyeonjo answered simply.
“Just~. Sounds fun.”
Yun Hyeonjo, attending the dinner in an uncharacteristic move, quietly watched Yeoreum hurry over to greet him the moment he entered.
She’d dyed her hair, so she looked different from back then, yet she still felt like Influencer 1. Han Yeoreum seemed like a character who was alive and breathing somewhere.
‘It really was fun....’
Ad-libs were still one of the things Yun Hyeonjo hated most.
“Who do you think you are, daring to improvise! Are you the director? The writer? You think you’re something special? Then do everything yourself!”
Ever since meeting a director who exploded in anger at his very first script reading as a rookie, Yun Hyeonjo had avoided ad-libs almost obsessively. And yet, in <Law-Faster-Than>, he had tried improvising for the first time.
Twice, at that.
Strangely, it felt like the picture quality of the work itself had changed.
Because of the junior standing in front of him.
Yun Hyeonjo watched Yeoreum, seriously moving her chopsticks.
