Free Web NovelThe sensation was intense, like insects crawling up her body.
“What... is this?”
IP 85.152 had become a revolving-door viewer even for the teaser trailer. After replaying the video countless times, she realized something.
Unlike <Top Class>, <Strange Tales> didn’t lay in any notable background music. It tightened the atmosphere using nothing but ambient noise and dialogue.
“...”
Above all, Geum Bitgang’s expression at the very end felt like it was crushing her heart. The weight of it was overwhelming.
IP 85.152 searched <Strange Tales> on the portal site. As if they’d been waiting for it, articles popped up immediately.
[<Top Class> vs. <Strange Tales> — who will be the winner this summer? The authentic SBC versus the flashy TVM in a head-on showdown]
[The teaser trailer for <Strange Tales>, a collection of Korea’s classic ghost stories, finally revealed... Netizens say, “Already getting chills”]
[TVM’s fusion historical drama finally unveiled... Geum Bitgang’s master-class acting becomes a hot topic]
“That’s not it!”
But this wasn’t what IP 85.152 wanted. After taking a short breath, she turned thought into action.
“Guess there’s no helping it.... All of them are half-baked idiots.... What are they thinking, not having this up yet?”
[Create Minor Gallery]
She clicked the ‘Create Gallery’ tab tucked away in one corner of the site.
[Please enter the gallery name:]
Without hesitation, IP 85.152 started typing.
[Your request to open the Strange Tales Minor Gallery has been submitted. Approval will take 1–3 days.]
* * *
Today as well, filming for <Strange Tales> continued in Namyangju. It was the day for the marketplace scene, where past memories and the present overlapped.
Thanks to that, Noh Jeongyeon and Geum Bitgang, Kwon Junhyeok and I—everyone ended up gathered in one place.
Maybe because the teaser trailer response had been so good, the mood on set was more buoyant than usual.
“A minor gallery already popped up! Yeoreum, what is this!”
Director Jang hit the recommend button on every one of the few gallery posts. All the articles were burning hot too, entirely focused on scene-stealer Geum Bitgang.
‘Even I couldn’t do anything but admire it.’
How could someone express a shamaness who looked like she was being controlled by vengeance like that?
Even watching that short clip made the backs of my knees go weak. Sitting across from me, Geum Bitgang looked completely uninterested in other people’s reactions as she asked,
“So?”
“...”
“You’re not telling me you still haven’t?”
“...”
I still hadn’t found the answer to what Seoryeong was lacking, or why she couldn’t reach 100 percent. Geum Bitgang clicked her tongue, clearly displeased.
“Then you should’ve done it properly during lectures!”
“...Pardon?”
“You didn’t do things properly in class, your mind was wandering elsewhere, you half-assed it—and now you’re wondering why you’re still not at 100 percent!”
This is like saying you’ll get into Korea University if you just study textbooks....
“Um, Professor. If you look at it objectively, Yeoreum’s still a freshman, so lectures alone—”
“You’ve seen it yourself, haven’t you? Even if they’re all freshmen, doesn’t it strain your conscience to treat them the same?”
It’s praise, but it’s terrifying. It’s definitely praise, but it’s genuinely terrifying. Even coming out of Geum Bitgang’s mouth, it’s terrifying.
“Still, if she learns steadily on site—”
“Steadily, my ass. If you watch a kid who can run just stand there blankly next to kids who can barely crawl, you can’t say that. She’s pretending to crawl along with them. That’s why I’m about to burst, aren’t I!”
So she’d noticed that I’d been acting “adequately” even during lectures.
At some point, having casually quit eating, Geum Bitgang launched into a lecture about my flaws.
“...”
Next to me, Kwon Junhyeok—who’d been quietly eating—put down his chopsticks as well and listened to Geum Bitgang’s crash course on “the scientific reason why your skills stagnate if you can do it but half-ass it.” He didn’t cry, but his face turned pale.
“If you were outright bad, I’d let it go. If you tried and still couldn’t do it, I’d let it go. But? That’s not the case, is it?”
“Uuuhm-. Bitgang-. Saying mean things again.”
She’s here....
‘My savior....’
A gentle voice came from behind. Without even needing to coordinate, Kwon Junhyeok and I scrambled over to Noh Jeongyeon. She pulled us both into her arms, one on each side.
“Professor, why are you only coming now.... I’ve been waiting so long.... I was enduring Yeomga’s brutal oppression, waiting only for Jeongan....”
“Sniff....”
Kwon Junhyeok quietly shed tears. He’d held it in for a long time too. Noh Jeongyeon lightly patted his shoulder, then looked at Geum Bitgang.
“So what Bitgang means is, work hard, right?”
“Not hard. Well.”
“Anyway-. Honestly. Then shall we take a look around the set today?”
“I’m not done eating yet—hey, let go!”
Before anyone realized it, Noh Jeongyeon was dragging Geum Bitgang off toward the set beyond. Only then did Director Jang, Kwon Junhyeok, and I breathe quietly.
“Yeoreum..., I’m really scared....”
“Me too....”
“Sniff....”
The scariest one is me. There really isn’t much time left now.
The climax of the ritual scene needs CG, so it has to be [N O V E L I G H T] filmed well before the broadcast date.
‘Even if it’s pushed back as far as possible, next month at the latest....’
In that segment—the one destined to become a legendary scene of <Strange Tales>—I absolutely don’t want to end up asking Geum Bitgang for help just because I couldn’t grasp my own character.
‘But my schedule isn’t just <Strange Tales> filming.’
<Law-Faster-than> is about to be released. To promote the film before its release, I need to attend photo calls and other movie premieres, plus variety shows and interviews before <Strange Tales> airs.
‘And regional location shoots soon, too....’
Not only is time to focus on filming scarce, there’s also travel time on top of it.
There hadn’t been any problems with filming so far, but the anxiety was unavoidable. What if my Seoryeong ends up getting completely swallowed by Yeomga at this rate...?
Bzz-. Bzz-.
“Ah, that startled me.”
No time to worry, huh. Is this what a star’s daily life is like? I looked down at my vibrating phone screen.
[Elder]
It was Myeong Jeha.
Come to think of it, he usually showed up like this whenever some kind of problem arose.
‘Maybe I can get some help this time too?’
Before the call disconnected, I opened my mouth politely.
“Elder, it’s been a while.”
-Are you working? On set?
“That’s me.... You have a movie coming out soon—how have you been? Staying healthy?”
-Haha. Cut it out. Come to the premiere.
Myeong Jeha spoke like he always did, gently but commandingly.
“When is it? I need to check my schedule.”
-If it doesn’t work, you make it work anyway, Yeoreum.
With a smile in his voice, Myeong Jeha continued,
-The professor said you’re still lacking.
I went silent for a moment. How does he know that?
-Even if she graded generously, maybe a 90? Around there. But you probably still haven’t found the remaining 10.
As if he’d expected my reaction, Myeong Jeha added lightly,
-Come find it in this movie. Watch my face closely.
“...Okay.”
Could watching Myeong Jeha’s movie really complete my Seoryeong?
But what am I supposed to take from a crime film to build Seoryeong? I couldn’t see it at all.
-For your information, the <Top Class> team will be attending the premiere too. I’ll hang up.
Ah. So Gi Juye’s coming too.
“Wow, then I have to go! I’ll definitely be there!”
Maybe because the stress had piled up, a perfect idea to blow off steam came to me. Find Seoryeong—and maybe smack Juye around a bit, too.
‘She’s still more famous than me, so let’s reuse the same outfit, different vibe viral strategy.’
[Joo Junseo Sunbae] freewёbnoνel.com
I lifted my phone.
* * *
Click-. Click-.
Gi Juye sat comfortably in the van, monitoring articles about herself. Her feet, clad in heels, bounced restlessly.
“The reaction’s amazing!”
Following the teaser trailer, <Top Class> had even released a one-minute official trailer. With only a month left before airing, it was a highly anticipated project, and reactions were exploding everywhere.
Officially uploaded on-set still cuts were also being posted in the minor gallery.
-Gangster x babygirl combo, mm, fucking Michelin
-Just putting the K-bon body and the Ina-bon body together and the face chemistry’s insane.. who cast this shit TT_TT
-SBC’s really bringing something huge, huh. Among the big three terrestrial networks, their hit rate’s probably the highest now?
ㄴPlease stop overhyping.. you never know till it airs, could still be all bark and no bite lolol why stick an idol into a big production, I seriously don’t get it
ㄴIf you’re gonna rain on it, why crawl into the gallery at all lolol Gi Juye didn’t even start as the lead like some other idols, she’s a supporting role
“Unni, what rank was I last time on that ‘celebrities to look forward to this year’ list?”
“Uh..., so....”
“God, that’s frustrating. I told you to memorize stuff like that! Seriously, where’s your professionalism?”
Gi Juye searched up the article she’d seen before and clicked it. Her name was sitting almost at the very bottom.
‘Annoying....’
There was a time when Gi Juye’s name appeared before you even scrolled. Right at the very top.
But now, Gi Juye’s name was lumped together with someone like Han Yeoreum.
‘Me at ninth and Han Yeoreum at tenth? That’s ridiculous!’
The period when Gi Juye had been the hottest passed quickly, and unfamiliar faces and unfamiliar names shoved their way into those spots.
Even insignificant rookies dirtied the value of Gi Juye’s name.
‘That spot... I’ll take it back.’
Just thinking about how the whole country would soon be buzzing about <Top Class> made her heart race.
Gi Juye’s schedule was packed. She planned to appear on various programs shoulder to shoulder with top seniors, starting the second act of her life.
‘This is where I quit being an idol and switch to acting.’
She’d milk idol activities for money just enough, then be recognized by the public as an elegant actress—that was Gi Juye’s plan.
Top Class. Even the title sounded like it was made for her.
‘First, the <War with the Law> premiere—.’
As Gi Juye smiled, an unfamiliar number popped up on her phone.
“Fuck, I just changed my number not long ago....”
It was obviously a sasaeng fan. Gi Juye irritably hit the reject button. This time, a message came through.
[This is Junseo.]
“Joo Junseo? Joo Junseo?”
“Juye, what is it?”
“No, just be quiet for a second!”
At the name Joo Junseo, Gi Juye quickly called back. Before the ringtone even finished a few times, the other side picked up.
As if he’d been waiting.
“What is it?”
-I'm contacting you about the <War with the Law> premiere.
“What about it.”
She answered curtly, pretending not to care, but Gi Juye couldn’t hide her expression. A bright smile bloomed across her face.
‘Of course.... You need to use your head properly, Joo Junseo.’
Judging by his reaction, he’d finally realized the synergy of putting the “main bodies” together.
-Last time, you suggested matching outfits, so I wanted some reference for what you’ll be wearing.
“Didn’t you say that was a bit much back then? Honestly.”
-If you don’t like it, never mind.
“Who said I don’t like it? I’m getting so many sponsorship offers that I can’t decide right now, so wait.”
She hurried her answer, worried Joo Junseo might change his mind. To barely maintain her position as the one on top, she added,
“Until I contact you.”
Then she hung up. The humiliation she’d suffered from Joo Junseo on set melted away in an instant.
“Unni, give me the full list of outfits that’d work for <War with the Law>. I need to start choosing now!”
She thought of that insolent Han Yeoreum from last time.
“Since it’s your first acting challenge, you must be really nervous, sunbae.... I’m looking forward to seeing a pretty styling!”
Even thinking about it again made her snort.
“Yeah. Pretty styling... you’re looking forward to it, huh. I’ll show you.” ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
With early virality, <Top Class> had already overtaken <Strange Tales>. It was obvious that Han Yeoreum—who’d be Gi Juye’s comparison target—would get crushed in styling.
So Gi Juye chose the most glamorous, prettiest dress from the sponsorship list. It was a rising designer brand that had been getting attention overseas lately.
* * *
“Ms. Juye! Hand wave! Let’s get a hand wave-!”
“Cheek heart!”
“Look this way just once! To the right-!”
On the red carpet, where flashes popped nonstop—clickclickclick—Gi Juye responded with a satisfied smile.
This time, it was thanks to Joo Junseo cooperating properly. Following Gi Juye’s instructions, he’d removed all piercings and rings, styled perfectly to serve as a keychain.
“Then everyone, enjoy the show-.”
After smiling and greeting the reporters, Gi Juye took the escalator, about to stroll casually into the <War with the Law> premiere theater.
“...Huh?”
But then, far in the distance, the figure walking toward the red carpet looked strangely familiar.
Han Yeoreum was coming.
“...That...?”
Wearing a dress of the exact same design as Gi Juye’s.
