Free Web NovelFirst Premiere.
It was almost like a kind of open-grill system. While waiting for the upcoming first-car live of the <Strange Tales> team, people were already using the real-time chat window.
ChaerinChaeyaMom: I’m so sad I couldn’t go~ but still, thank you so much for showing us a live like this, hehe
c5e9822: TT_TT Seoryeong, Myungdo TT_TT you have to be happy TT_TT
loopydooby: Could you maybe lift the age restriction T_T I’m an elementary school student but I really want to watch.... Sorry if this is rude! (I’m usually a Kwon Junhyeok fan T_T)
mango_0124: It’s already so hard on days without <Strange Tales> T_T please let us pre-consume even the spin-off JC work harder jc
Aetami smiled as she stared at the monitor in the dim office. A ticking clock appeared on-screen, and at last, the countdown began.
“3... 2... 1!”
The first-car live opened in a warm, friendly atmosphere. The company dinner matched the mood of <Strange Tales>—it was an all-pancake spread. The insert shot swept once across green onion pancake, kimchi pancake, and pepperoni potato pancake.
yuuri_hsk: what is this at this hour TT_TT it looks insanely good
bundungcheon-gae-oldman-karaoke: TT_TT ah I’m starving
Everyone welcomed the <Strange Tales> team. And then, a short while later, the cheerful mood of the chat window flipped completely upside down. People started breathing fire.
* * *
IP 85.152 wasn’t usually the type to enjoy this kind of self-produced content.
‘It’s noisy.’
But if you treated it like a drama spin-off, it was half-mandatory viewing.
Because an actor’s interpretation of their character and the director’s intent were things any cultured viewer naturally had to grasp.
‘That’s how I prove my interpretation is right.’
That was why. Reluctantly, they focused on the screen. After pouring a newly released creamy soda—Namwon apple flavor—the actors raised their glasses.
[Yeoreum: Uh...?]
After taking a sip, Yeoreum froze. As if something terrible had happened. She covered her mouth with one hand and stayed still. The chat window flooded with question marks.
[Yeoreum: How is this...]
With a flustered expression, Yeoreum checked the creamy soda bottle. As she read the label, her head tilted down slightly, hair falling over her face.
Then it happened. A slow zoom kicked in.
Like Influencer #1 from <Faster Than the Law>, Yeoreum swept her bangs back and lifted the bottle close to her face. She blinked prettily and spoke calmly.
[Yeoreum: This kind of flavor?]
[Notice: ★The production team did NOT instruct this★]
kkyahang: hey you merchant LOLOLOL
jiwon: wow the sweet aftertaste! creamy soda new Namwon apple flavor I wanna try it too lolol truly Korea’s makgeolli (Yeoreum, is this how you do it?)
With Yeoreum’s very obvious PPL, the chat exploded with “lololol.” The dinner atmosphere grew even warmer. As unknown behind-the-scenes stories kept coming out, the viewer count steadily rose. Users from drama boards across various communities had heard the buzz and joined in.
Current viewers: 17,221
[TopDirector: There are aspects that differ from the original Seoryeong. That’s why we had no choice but to change the ending too. In the original, Seoryeong pours all of her divine power into a blessing talisman and pushes it into Myungdo’s hand. That’s how Myungdo wakes up. He tries to stop Seoryeong as she leaves—but this Seoryeong isn’t someone who’s calm or accustomed to resignation.]
TopDirector’s interpretation made drama fans’ eyes grow misty once again.
[TopDirector: Seoryeong leaving so abruptly is because she was a child who had to prove her usefulness from a very young age. It leaves behind the expectation that if a ‘moment when Myungdo needs Seoryeong’ comes later, she might return. Because, as you all know, the words “I love you” were never spoken between them. Seoryeong understands her own feelings toward Myungdo—but she still habitually doubts Myungdo’s feelings. Because she’s Seoryeong.]
The ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ chat filled with tears. Just as people who remembered the couple’s ending began recalling the legendary riverside scene—
TopDirector dropped a bomb.
[TopDirector: So we modified the final episode’s kiss scene, but...]
The chat suddenly sped up.
ColdCloud: ?? what kiss scene that was a forehead peck lololol stop lying T_T
lulu-nyang: please call it a peck we’re misunderstanding
did-the-moon-rise-so-why-call-me: I’ve felt this since ParCheHi but TopDirector really knows how to frame shots.. actual genius
[TopDirector: Originally, Seoryeong pulls Myungdo in and kisses him. Then she gets shy and snaps at him.]
At that statement, the chat scrolled so fast it became unreadable.
[TopDirector: That scene will be released in the director’s cut. Hahaha.]
It was unbelievable.
IP 85.152 stared blankly at the rapidly scrolling chat, then muttered,
“What...?”
mango_0124: ??????
c5e9822: what are you doing right now??? fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
newmoon-first-night: it existed? no it existed?? it definitely exis?ted????
So, putting TopDirector’s words together, it meant—
“There was a kiss scene... and you didn’t show it to us...?”
Once viewers understood, they exploded.
ChaerinChaeyaMom: you crazy bastards
JC ENM really was cable. Devils with a different level of baiting. Drama fans cried in rage, yet smiled through their tears.
“Fine, fuck it, take all my money!”
IP 85.152 shouted at a volume unbecoming of a cultured viewer. On-screen, TopDirector smiled kindly.
[TopDirector: Blu-ray details should be available in an article shortly after this video is uploaded...]
And just like that, the schedule for the <Strange Tales> funding page went up. The hearts of drama fans—who’d been on the verge of becoming husks on days without <Strange Tales>—started pounding again.
Strange Tales Minor Gallery
[already looks high quality I’m losing my mind waiting]
I’m 100% dropping cash on the highest tier lololol I’ll show you what impulse funding really is
Yup (17.132) unreleased scripts included, right?
Yup (88.111) JC you devil bastards lololol I like you
[If you could only keep one poster, which scene would you choose]
I like everything but the lantern scene is legendary
Yup (23.331) first meeting scene still goes insanely hard how did they think to put a kid up in a tree
Yup (77.777) obviously the final scene lolololol
ㄴYup (12.345) what if they make different versions? and we have to buy A, B, and C versions for the perks?
ㄴYup (45.282) are you insane do you work at JC?
Waiting for the date listed on the funding page, drama fans spent another week happily suffering through <Strange Tales>.
* * *
“Boss! One more glass here!”
I was still quietly in the middle of building the Han Yeoreum fandom. It was right after the Ruel Style Awards. With the venue closed, we were having a small birthday party at the place Myeong Jeha had reserved.
Present were Myeong Jeha, Joo Junseo, Choo Gaeul, Director So, TopDirector and Kwon Junhyeok, Director Gong and Martial Arts Director Kang Hanseong, Kwak Cheolsik, Dok Gomin and Dok Gogyeol, Ryu Risa—and....
“Ah, I’ll have soda. I don’t really like getting drunk.”
Even Yun Hyeonjo was there. I seriously examined the lineup and started calculating a future Han Yeoreum fan meeting.
‘Okay. If I do a two-day fan meeting, I can split it between the <ParCheHi> team and the <Faster Than the Law> team. Then book Kwon Junhyeok and Myeong Jeha on separate days....’
Han Yeoreum’s materialistic calculator spat out an answer at lightning speed. Good. If things keep going like this, there’s definitely going to be a ticketing war.
“Yeoreum... I haven’t even debuted yet. Is it really okay for me to be here...?”
Beside me, Dami whispered timidly, clearly feeling out of place. She wasn’t usually like this. But being surrounded by so many big names must have made her shrink.
“Of course. You’re the future lead actress I personally guarantee.”
“Yeoreum....”
I’m not just saying that. You really have talent for rom-coms, Dami.
But across from us, Choo Gaeul shot me a sharp look.
“Hey! Han Yeoreum! Didn’t you say I was going to be a lead actress? You said you’d send a coffee truck!”
“Gaeul. Anyone listening would think there’s only one lead role in existence. Anyway, get close with Dami. She’s auditioning right now. She’s genuinely good at acting. Her screen debut isn’t far off.”
Choo Gaeul was painfully simple. The moment acting came up, her lips twitched.
“Whatever. Just prepare the coffee truck.”
She clenched a fist and cleared her throat loudly, as if about to make a major announcement.
“I got into <Dohwaseon>!”
I stared at her blankly. <Dohwaseon>. That means—
“I’m acting opposite Do Gyeoul!”
Right. Acting with Do Gyeoul.
“Hey. I’m starting to regret sending that coffee truck.”
My coffee... being drunk by Do Gyeoul...? She can just swallow her own spit....
“What? Hey! Han Yeoreum! Forget about the coffee truck I sent you!”
Somehow, I’d become an ungrateful friend who accepted coffee trucks but never sent one back. At that moment, Myeong Jeha—seated beside me—smiled and spoke. freewёbnoνel.com
“Can I come visit the set then? You and me, Yeoreum.”
Analysis: S++
Agility: S+
A status window shimmered above Myeong Jeha’s head.
“I want to see you act. For reference, too.”
I turned my body almost completely to face him.
‘Me? Using Do Gyeoul’s acting as reference?’
It was one of the most insulting things I’d ever heard in my life.
I was just about to say I didn’t need that kind of thing—
