Free Web NovelAn actress who has already climbed to the top comes with a high price tag. What they need is someone unverified—yet someone they can be certain of.
I proved my influence by selling out Company A’s product, the same brand whose cosmetics line I had never been able to move before.
“Another product in 〈Faster Than the Law 2〉? Go ahead. Apply whatever you want. That brand will start keeping an eye on you too.”
The drama will air in the third quarter of this year, the film in the first quarter of next year. Luxury brands are cautious. They observe a grace period of at least six to eight months.
I revealed my influence in the first quarter. There’s more than enough time to show it again, consecutively.
“Company A isn’t enough.”
During the period of building trust, showing only one brand was not the strategy of Manager Ma and JC ENM.
“You’re more than qualified to start at a higher tier. You’re the only actor under JC.”
Manager Ma beamed. I lifted the corner of my lips in return.
* * *
Gangnam District.
A hospital occupying five entire floors of a towering building.
“Organize the cables! Lighting cables!”
With the doors closed and all patients gone, the quiet hospital buzzed with staff. We had rented the location by taking advantage of its regular closure the next day.
“Oh, Hyeonjo!”
In comfortable clothes, Kwak Cheolsik strode over with wide, almost dance-like steps. Yun Hyeonjo, who usually arrived at precisely efficient times, had shown up unusually early.
“You’re here.”
Yun Hyeonjo greeted him lightly. Today, too, he looked neat and crisp—Detective Yoon in full form. Kwak Cheolsik whipped his head around as if it might snap, searching for someone.
“Where’s the colt?” freewebnovel.cσ๓
〈Faster Than the Law〉 had recorded unprecedented popularity in Taiwan. Riding on Seoryeong’s fame, plus the “letter oppa” and past-life meme layered on top, it was practically invincible without needing viral marketing.
[Can Korean-style comedy break into the global market... 〈Faster Than the Law〉 surpasses 700,000 viewers in Taiwan]
[A new Korean Wave? 〈Faster Than the Law〉 seizes No.1 reservation rate, sending Taiwanese audiences into a frenzy]
They said 350,000 would already count as a success. Word of mouth pushed it toward 600,000.
In the end, 〈Faster Than the Law〉 rewrote legend.
[〈Faster Than the Law〉 enters Top 10 overseas hits in Taiwan... records 800,000]
It was a massive success. In Taiwan, with a population of 23.11 million, 800,000 was an extraordinary figure.
The No.1 overseas hit in Taiwan had earned 1.1 billion at the box office—a colossal blockbuster. Second place: 910 million. Third: 820 million. One by one, they were all recognizable franchise titles.
Among those heavyweights, 〈Faster Than the Law〉 ranked ninth.
“She went to buy snacks.”
“Why is she buying snacks? There are still people around here—won’t she get recognized?”
“That’s the point.”
Analysts kept saying the Korean Wave’s popularity in Taiwan was no joke, but the most talked-about figure was rising star Han Yeoreum.
Big investors from Taiwan had also come aboard for 〈Faster Than the Law 2〉. With the ammunition of investment funds piling up, the atmosphere on set had grown warm and generous.
“She said she hopes people recognize her. Wants to sign autographs, apparently....”
In Korea, the hit had largely belonged to the two leads. In Taiwan, it was Han Yeoreum’s.
Maybe everyone knew it. Normally, a supporting actor’s schedule would shift to match the leads. But 〈Faster Than the Law 2〉 was unusual—it began filming according to Yeoreum’s schedule.
To preserve the character’s uniqueness, Yeoreum dyed her hair red again.
At the same time, she was preparing Yeon Huijae and Influencer 1—two hairstyles that were completely opposite. If the filming schedules overlapped, it would have been disastrous for her scalp.
“After everything we owe her, this much is nothing.”
“I don’t even have that many projects anyway! Hahaha!”
Thanks to Yun Hyeonjo and Kwak Cheolsik bringing it up first, Yeoreum’s filming could be moved forward before 〈The Great Garland〉 began in earnest.
So before cutting her hair, Yeoreum dyed it red again—to approach the audience of 〈Faster Than the Law〉 in a familiar image.
“As expected of the colt....”
As Kwak Cheolsik marveled at Han Yeoreum’s unexpectedly outrageous attention-seeking streak, staff voices rose in welcome from afar.
“Hey! Colt!”
“Sunbae, you’re here!”
Looking proud—perhaps after giving autographs—Han Yeoreum returned carrying snacks.
In perfect Influencer 1 form.
* * *
Wearing comfortable training clothes and a cap pulled low, a woman who could not hide her beauty bit her lip.
Several empty water bottles sat on the glass table before her. The coconut water bottle in her hand crumpled audibly.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
She drained it in one go. Just as she could not hide her beauty, she could not hide the anxiety and tension shadowing her face.
The hollow-eyed woman wiped her dry lips.
“Choi Hyeonseo, you may come in—.”
The moment her name was called, she sprang up. At the same time, Influencer 1 pressed the automatic door button and entered the hospital.
“Do you have a reservation?”
“Yep. Seven o’clock.”
While checking the reservation at the desk, Influencer 1 glanced at the woman entering the consultation room and let out a small gasp.
“Wow.... Do a lot of celebrities come here?”
Her expression suggested she’d fallen for the training outfit’s fit. Curious and lighthearted, Influencer 1 leaned her upper body over the desk.
“Okay! Good, good!”
Seeing Yeoreum like that, Director Gong’s face softened into a fatherly smile.
* * *
The next scene was her encounter with Kwak Cheolsik.
Yeoreum changed outfits—something tighter than before.
Influencer 1 works hard to gain followers with her newly made friends, but compared to flashier, more beautiful influencers, her follower count is still insignificant.
“Ready—!”
Influencer 1 emerged from the dermatology clinic’s dressing room. With her bangs pinned back by a headband, they lay flattened and slightly messy. The detail felt alive.
‘Look at that....’
Kwak Cheolsik couldn’t help admiring her.
After a dermatology procedure, you can’t exactly schedule a meeting. You need to be bare-faced for treatment, and makeup is impossible immediately afterward.
Still, to preserve the character’s obsession with appearance, Yeoreum pulled a tinted lip balm from her pants pocket.
As if she’d used it a hundred times, she opened it one-handed and swiped it on roughly. It was a detail Yeoreum had proposed to the director herself.
Influencer 1 could have simply walked out.
Yeoreum gave her breath.
“Mwah.”
When she lightly puckered and released her lips, she deliberately made the sound effect vivid.
‘She’s definitely improved.’
Han Yeoreum was using the set as if it were her own stage.
‘Wait. We first met two years ago....’
After that, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ one short drama titled 〈No Interest Whatsoever〉, then 〈Strange Tales〉. She had only done two projects.
‘Can someone grow that much in such a short time with just that?’
Kwak Cheolsik had watched 〈Strange Tales〉 live. Even now, recalling the final ritual scene made the back of his neck prickle.
Considering that scene had been filmed earlier for CG work, it meant that less than a year after 〈Faster Than the Law〉, Yeoreum had grown that much.
‘Almost....’
As if she had always been capable of this much.
“Okay! Moving to the next scene. We’re going into the confrontation with Detective Kwak—!”
With messy hair and a bare face, perfectly her age, Yeoreum brushed her bangs aside out of habit as she looked at Kwak Cheolsik.
Even during breaks, she seemed to remain Influencer 1. The habits still lived in her body.
‘Hey, this....’
Kwak Cheolsik chuckled under his breath as he stepped outside for the scene.
‘When she gets older, she’ll be something to watch.’
Director Gong stood behind the frosted glass door and shouted toward Kwak Cheolsik, who was on standby.
“Ready—!”
Now it was Kwak Cheolsik’s turn to become Detective Kwak. Out of habit, he spread his legs wide.
“Action!”
Tap tap tap tap—. As if reflecting his impatient personality, he pressed the button beside the door.
Like Detective Kwak’s gesture as he went to meet Influencer 1.
* * *
Today was the day we sent a coffee truck to the 〈The Fuse〉 set.
Thanks to Myeong Jeha, who had gotten close to Director Hwang through his debut film 〈Crossing Lines〉, the opportunity to visit the set was secured.
‘It’s a good thing....’
It’s good. Supporting a friend making her public broadcast debut, stamping my face in front of a famous director. All good....
‘But I really don’t want to give it to her... I hope Do Gyeoul just drinks water....’ fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
The problem was Do Gyeoul.
Petty, maybe—but I half wanted to hang a “No Do Gyeoul Zone” sign from the rearview mirror.
“Sir. When are you going to cast me as a sociopath?”
