Free Web Novel* * *
<Top Class> began to seriously assert its presence to viewers.
With its enormous production budget and big-name actors, it had already entered public discourse as a hot topic even before its official broadcast.
[Buzzing / Drama fans getting restless after the trailer drops.jpg]
This is <Top Class> lol
(<Top Class> trailer capture.jpg)
1 I’m curious if it’ll be worth the money
2 Feels like I already know how it’ll end
Opinions are split
Anonymous 1: 1111 guy looks kinda tight but still pretty in every shot
︎˪Anonymous 7: I think the director’s choice to shoot the old guys from as far away as possible and close-up Joo Junseo was right.. calculated as hell and smart
︎˪Anonymous 19: storing away the old guys f*ck LOOOL T_T yeah visuals gotta be center
-Anonymous 2: I like cliché gangster stories so I’m already hyped, insta-watch
-Anonymous 3: How many times does Gi Juye’s styling change in the trailer TT_TT TT_TT real eye candy aaah
Scroll-. Scroll-.
“Hmmm—.” freēwēbnovel.com
Rolling the mouse wheel down, Manager Ma tilted his head back as if burying the back of it into a neck pillow.
“Wow—. They spent some money, huh?”
Wearing a 9,990-won three-pack short-sleeve T-shirt, Manager Ma looked so comfortable you’d think this was his house, not an office.
“Hyupcha.”
With one knee propped up on the chair, Manager Ma roughly sized things up. Out of the 50-billion-won production budget, a fair chunk seemed to have melted into promotion.
“Then I guess we can start on our side too.”
His fingers flew across the keyboard so fast they blurred. The clatter of typing echoed through the office.
Input: Let’s book variety schedules for the <Strange Tales> team, same network ones
This was after hearing that the <Top Class> team’s schedule was packed—not just terrestrial variety shows, but magazine pictorials, interviews, radio appearances.
The brands that had already placed sponsorships with <Top Class> were probably preparing press releases at # Nоvеlight # bullet speed.
All that was left now was to fire indiscriminately.
“Gi Juye’s agency works fast.”
Maybe because she’d been compared—same outfit, different vibe—after the last <War with the Law> premiere, there was especially a lot of talk about Gi Juye’s styling.
“They’re even planning to use our cutie as a backdrop.”
Once the broadcast started, it was obvious they’d be gearing up to properly trample Han Yeoreum.
The shallow move was painfully obvious.
“We need to go a little differently.”
Behind JC ENM’s success was Ma Suyeon.
As if repeating that phrase to himself, Manager Ma twisted his neck, stretching.
Poster and still-cut releases, magazine interviews, portal-news interviews like ‘Why the Actor Chose This Drama & Role Analysis,’ web content, variety shows—and even the production presentation.
They had to stack firewood to fuel <Strange Tales>’s buzz.
“Then first—.”
Manager Ma contacted the PR office.
“Hey, Manager Hong. We’re prepping articles for the cutie Creamy Soda ad, right?”
With full confidence that just as <Strange Tales> would open a new chapter for fusion historical dramas, Creamy Soda would open a new chapter for the liquor industry.
* * *
This place, filled to the brim with sweet sky-blue balloons, was the set for the Creamy Soda shoot scheduled for summer release.
White cushions resembling fluffy clouds were scattered everywhere. Staff busied themselves setting up equipment.
The commercial director who had shot the First Dew ad was on site again this time.
“Gi Juye reactions keep popping up.... Is this okay? Damn, what if <Top Class> really takes off.”
“Don’t think about whether the drama does well. Think about who gets bigger.”
The Creamy Soda ad manager and the commercial director were college classmates. Just like the director had pointed out Yeoreum during a drinking session last time, the first model for Creamy Soda became Han Yeoreum.
The last person left on the model shortlist was none other than Gi Juye.
“If a drama does well, the celebrity gets big. What kind of logic is that.”
“Plenty of cases where the drama does well and the celebrity doesn’t. <Top Class> has tons of actors. Gi Juye’s a supporting role, right? But look at <Strange Tales>! Han Yeoreum’s the lead.”
Checking the camera’s memory card, the director added casually,
“And from what I’ve heard through the grapevine—Geum Bitgang, you know? Breaking her hiatus. That was....”
“Yeah?”
“They say it was because of Han Yeoreum.”
For a moment, the two locked eyes. A three-second silence settled in.
“Bwahahaha!”
And without anyone saying a word, they burst out laughing. They both knew it was half a joke.
“That was a bit much just now.”
“Agreed.”
There was no way that Geum Bitgang would break her hiatus for a single rookie actress.
The master’s stubbornness was famous in the industry—and to the public.
“But Han Yeoreum fits Creamy Soda better.”
The director said to the anxious Creamy Soda ad manager, who nodded like, well, obviously.
“Yeah. Ah... I really hope it takes off. We’re always second, losing to First Dew.”
This was an item launched to target younger consumers, trying to beat First Dew somehow, riding on the current trend.
Staring at the soda liquor prepared at the center of the set, the two sighed briefly.
“Well, the choice is up to the public.”
At last, the ambitious project of Jigeumcheoreom—Creamy Soda’s commercial shoot—began.
* * *
‘Wow. Creamy Soda.’
Arriving on set, I admired the familiar soda bottle. A pale sky-blue PET bottle, with cute white clouds drawn all over it.
‘It was pretty popular.’
After this, sweet, lower-proof alcohols with less hangover practically swept the market.
‘It finally feels real that I’m the one doing this ad now.’
Before the regression, Gi Juye had done it. Thinking that I’d taken even this, after Do Gyeoul, made a smile creep onto my face.
“Yes! That’s great just like that!”
The director shouted while pressing the shutter. I was wearing white pajamas, holding Creamy Soda.
“Gooood—! Let’s try taking a sip! One take!”
Tsssh—.
As I twisted the cap, a light fizz sounded. Pouring Creamy Soda into the glass, soft foam flowed out with a sweet scent.
I took a sip from the clear glass. Fluffy foam left a mark on my lips.
The Creamy Soda touching my tongue was especially sweet.
‘Is this... the taste of a protagonist?’
I smiled brightly to emphasize that even the finish wasn’t bitter like other drinks.
Last line. This ad’s catchphrase.
“In summer, Creamy Soda.”
No sooner had I spoken than the director shouted loudly.
“Okay!”
Maybe because I’d been standing in front of cameras so much lately, the okay came fast. This time, they hooked up the wire.
There was a scene where, right after taking a sip, my body floated up to emphasize Creamy Soda’s soft lightness.
‘Maybe because I’ve used wires on set before.’
Posing wasn’t hard. This is the posture of a rising actor, right?
“Ready—.”
I deliberately pointed my toes mid-air to emphasize lightness. It felt like not just my body, but my heart too, was floating.
‘That makes two ads....’
What if headlines start rolling in like CF queen, the rise of the new trend, and all that?
A fashion brand from Company N, a food brand with Jigeumcheoreom’s Creamy Soda. And then other advertisers rushing in.... Me, me..., I want to do an ad with Han Yeoreum.... Please let it be me.... Everyone..., I get it, but don’t fight—line up.... Who am I? That’s right.... I’m the actress Han Yeoreum who swept all the CFs....
“Yeoreum, we’re here!”
I woke with a start from nodding off. Checking the time, it was 11 a.m.
Maybe because I’d shot the Creamy Soda ad late last night, the fatigue had piled up.
Drama filming, ads, even music program MC work.
‘Who am I?’
A rising actor with a packed schedule—Han Yeoreum.
‘This isn’t enough to tire me out.’
I shook my head lightly to wake up. Manager Choi, having parked the car, handed me a cold green tea.
“Nervous? It’s your first variety show.”
“It sounds like it’ll be really fun.”
“Nice! That’s the mindset!”
At the same time, a constant rustling sound came from the back seat. Coordinator Hwang was organizing today’s outfit.
Quiet for once, Coordinator Hwang caressed the clothes with blissful eyes. That was the source of the rustling.
“Finally.... Finally, I get to put you in a pretty hanbok!!!”
As if finally releasing the grudge of all those grimy cross-dressing looks, she screamed. In her hands was a pale sky-blue hanbok.
* * *
“We’ll start recording—!”
Everyone on set finished standing by. Kwon Junhyeok, dressed in a matching hanbok, glanced sideways.
‘Even if we’re both rookie actors....’
Strictly speaking, Kwon Junhyeok was far more senior. He pressed his lips together tightly.
‘She said it’s her first variety show.’
So he needed to help Yeoreum well.
Of course, if he helped too obviously, she might become keenly aware of the hierarchy and feel crushed by it.
‘As naturally as possible. Just tell her when to throw a line.’
Today’s show was a quiz program.
Since it was a sit-down format, they had to keep talking nonstop, and reactions were important too.
‘Even if she keeps getting them wrong, I should tell her it’s okay.... I’m the senior.’
Having already ended up practically outsourcing acting skills to Han Yeoreum in every scene they’d shot together, Kwon Junhyeok felt a heavy sense of responsibility in this moment.
And exactly 30 minutes later.
“Huh! Yeoreum-ssi, what is this! What even is this?!”
“Correct! That’s correct!”
“....”
The one who shrank back was Kwon Junhyeok.
* * *
‘What is this. It’s way too easy.’
I carefully managed my expression, pretending to be a little confused. I was already familiar with this variety show’s format.
‘And I can basically see all the quiz answers.’
If it was lip-reading, it’d be hard to find anyone in Korea better than me.
On the screen appeared the main PD of the variety show. It was the program’s most popular segment. The PD was already somewhat known to viewers, which made it funny, but the quiz format itself—something not seen before—was what really drove its popularity.
[HOT / Today’s After-School Quiz Show is so reckless it’s impossible.jpg]
Lip-reading quiz accuracy is abysmal so later the enraged panelists start a revolution to steal snacks lolololol
It’s supposed to be a moist madeleine but the shoot dragged on so it dried out and the main PD almost got executed
(So are you going to eat it? No! meme.jpg)
-Anyone who gets this right is a legit genius lolololol how did they even do it
-It was torture doing this with tteokbokki right in front of us.. this is contestant abuse, abuse...TT_TT
-They say the format was made just to torture the PD and that’s fucking hilarious LOOOLLLL
They’d borrowed slightly from a previously popular format—guessing quizzes by lip shape only.
But unlike the old game where you guessed a single word, this time it was a full sentence.
—In the Joseon era ☐☐, a health food specially eaten for ☐☐’s well-being, where a whole ☐ ☐☐☐ is ☐☐, the inside scooped out and filled with ☐☐, ☐☐, jujubes.... Ugh....
They tied the main PD to a chair, and like the Joseon era, the youngest PD and assistant director twisted him from both sides.
Because he pretended to be in pain and mouthed the words silently whenever a crucial hint came out, the difficulty was quite high.
It required basic knowledge, the ability to infer lip shapes, and the sense to pick up hints from the sentence.
“Ah! Too short!”
“Should we twist more?”
“No! Stop twisting!”
The cast desperate for more hints, the staff eager to torment their boss even more, and the trembling PD—everything clicked perfectly.
-F*ck get a professor in here right now
︎˪Why a professor all of a sudden..
︎˪Just bring one if I say bring one, there’s a use for everything
︎˪LOOOOLLL insane LOLOLOLOL
Even memes like this circulated. As everyone clamored for more hints and tried to start a bonus game, I raised my hand.
“In the Joseon era court, a health food specially eaten for the king’s well-being—boil a whole chicken, scoop out the inside, and fill it with ginseng, glutinous rice, jujubes.”
The panelists all shot to their feet at once. On the screen, the main PD’s mouth fell open.
