Free Web NovelHowever, there was a major problem with Han Yeoreum becoming a hanbok promotion ambassador.
“But that was fusion hanbok.”
“Well... that’s true....”
Most of the costumes in 〈Strange Tales〉 had been fusion hanbok, and compared to Eun Baekhap, her overseas recognition was still lower.
While focusing on work, the slightly disappointed office worker suddenly thought of a possibility.
‘If NetHolics officially launches in Korea... then 〈Strange Tales〉 will be available worldwide, right...?’
The heaven-blessing cords and five-blessing cords that fans of 〈Strange Tales〉 in Taiwan had popularized were still popular souvenirs around Gyeongbok Palace.
* * *
“Damn, we’re screwed.”
“We’re screwed.”
At the same time, Team Leader Hong and Manager Ma were leaning back in their chairs with their heads in their hands.
“I heard Eun Baekhap had a temper, but I didn’t think she’d be this much of a gambler.”
“I thought she’d obviously go with Company C! Why would she—?! We even heard Company H sent her a love call, so I thought it was a done deal!”
Among high-end brands, there were a few famous luxury houses often referred to as the “commanders.” Collectively nicknamed Erusha.
Company D—the brand Manager Ma was trying to push Han Yeoreum into as an ambassador—was definitely popular and matched Eun Baekhap’s image well.
But it wasn’t a brand you would choose over top-tier houses like Company C or Company H.
Company C, the arrogant brand everyone recognized just from the logo.
And Company H, which had the reputation of not selling to just anyone.
Whichever one she chose, a single article announcing her as ambassador would skyrocket her value.
“If she becomes the hanbok promotion ambassador, it’ll be awkward to also be a top-tier luxury ambassador....”
“Exactly. Imagine her showing up at an official event wearing earrings with Company C’s logo on them. She’d be eliminated instantly.”
Meanwhile, Company D carried a less extravagant image compared to those two. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Manager Ma and Team Leader Hong quickly read the board.
Eun Baekhap hadn’t chosen an option where both sides would lose.
Instead, she had structured the situation to maximize damage to Han Yeoreum while benefiting herself.
Eun Baekhap needed to defend her position at the top.
Han Yeoreum needed to steal it.
Without increasing her own size, Eun Baekhap had prevented Han Yeoreum from growing as well.
Like a perfectly balanced tug-of-war.
“I really thought Eun Baekhap would focus on strengthening her overseas position.... If Company C or H took her, they’d definitely launch a few pilot projects with her....”
“Yeah, me too.... Wasn’t her agency obsessed with overseas expansion...?”
Eun Baekhap, who had been aggressively climbing upward, chose to consolidate domestically rather than expand abroad now that the Chinese market had closed.
“If she becomes Company D’s ambassador and grabs the hanbok promotion ambassador position too, then naturally shifts her image to something more elegant than now....”
“Then the CF offers will get bigger. The huge ones senior actresses usually do. Like apartment commercials.”
“Trust is important for those. High-paying ads—finance, telecom.... Ah, add foreign car brands too.”
“Yeah. In the long run, Eun Baekhap takes everything....”
Manager Ma stared blankly at the ceiling.
Company D might not be one of the commander-level luxury brands, but among young luxury consumers, it was currently the most popular.
The reason he had tried to insert Han Yeoreum there was disappearing.
“I told you not to poke Eun Baekhap for no reason, Ma Suyeon!”
“What do you mean no reason? Eun Baekhap climbed up by devouring senior actresses too. That’s normal in this industry! Don’t you remember? Even before she had a hit work they kept pushing articles calling her ‘Nation’s First Love’!”
Team Leader Hong and Manager Ma bickered.
If Eun Baekhap pushed into Company D, Han Yeoreum would naturally be pushed out.
They had to redraw the board.
“Company A contacted us too, right? Right? The lipstick Yeon Huijae wore in 〈The Great Garland〉 sold out instantly.”
Team Leader Hong had already finished thorough monitoring.
Company A had launched a pilot project after their product sold out from a brief appearance in 〈EmBubu〉 and had even added additional product placement.
And Company A was also a luxury brand.
“But their overall image really doesn’t match our cutie—Aaaagh!”
Manager Ma spun around wildly in his chair in frustration.
Every plan he had drawn had collapsed.
As the chair spun rapidly, the view of the office kept changing.
Eun Baekhap.
Han Yeoreum.
Nation’s First Love.
Best Couple Award.
Hanbok promotion ambassador.
Company D ambassador.
He had drawn and torn apart the same plan countless times.
Manager Ma’s mind worked furiously.
“...Wait a second.”
Manager Ma, who had been spinning in the chair like a man possessed, suddenly jumped to his feet.
“There’s not just one ambassador.”
Realizing something, he grinned.
“Ah.... Then our cutie just has to climb up the proper way—from the bottom.”
Eun Baekhap’s agency had chosen endurance.
JC ENM chose not to retreat.
* * *
“The day has finally come....”
I picked up a pen with a solemn expression.
A product name I normally never thought about suddenly looked beautiful today.
“A name... pen.... This is... incredibly romantic....”
A pen born to write names.
Tomorrow, I’ll make sure you live up to your name.
I adjusted my grip on the name pen.
Then, like always, I started my daily routine of practicing one hundred signatures.
“A fan signing! Kyaaaaa!”
Tomorrow is finally the day of my fan signing.
It reminds me of the Taiwan fan meeting.
How many people’s eyes had been fixed on me, how loudly they called my name at the airport.
It feels as vivid as if it happened yesterday.
I’ll never forget it.
“A lot of people will come tomorrow too, right?”
Of course.
Who am I?
Han Yeoreum.
The actress who gathered massive buzz right after debut, opened a new market for web dramas, broke through one million views, made Pi Chaewon sneakers trend, became the profile icon of countless Tretter girls, won Best New Actress for her first terrestrial TV appearance in a one-episode drama, received strong praise in a luxury healing drama, became a hot topic just from reading an ASMR script, landed the lead role in 〈Strange Tales〉, stamped her presence in the industry as an iconic rookie, became known as an irreplaceable MC on MusicN, appeared in a movie that surpassed ten million viewers even as an extra, became “that red-haired girl” whose photo people saved on their phones when they went to dye their hair that summer, successfully launched the first Blu-ray ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) crowdfunding for a web drama and even crashed the server, became the first model for Creamy Soda—the beginning of the low-alcohol trend in the liquor industry—and broke cable television’s miracle 20% ratings.
The actress who stood proudly among veteran theater actors in a Daehakro small theater and was called “worthy of becoming Geum Bitgang’s favorite doll.”
The actress who has already held overseas fan meetings and even attracted foreign investment.
And now, with only four episodes, has become the Nation’s First Love.
Han Yeoreum.
“...A lot of people will come, right?”
Since it’s my first fan signing, my heart is pounding like there’s an earthquake inside my chest.
“Alright. Mind control....”
While practicing signatures every day, I began my usual image training.
Under a banner reading “Han Yeoreum Fan Signing,” a table is set.
A few bottles of water and spare pens beside me.
Fans sitting across from me one by one.
The voices calling my name.
The sound of camera shutters.
Wow who is that? Did a celebrity come? Who is it? Han Yeoreum apparently—what? The Nation’s First Love? I love Yeon Huijae so much, I watched the drama because of Han Yeoreum. I’m such a fan. Wait, can I just take a quick photo? Wow her real-life visuals are insane. Next time I’m definitely coming to a fan signing. Me! Me! I must be the one to get Han Yeoreum’s autograph....
“Okay.”
Next is natural responses during the fan signing.
“But I’m not worried.”
How many fan signing videos of celebrities have I watched until now?
I’ve simulated the “if it were me” version so many times in my head that I know the answer to every conversation.
“The trend around this time was...”
“There’s something on you.”
“What?”
“Your handsomeness.”
Well, nobody will probably say that to me.
But people will probably say things like, “I can feel a wall... it’s perfection.”
When that happens, I’ll naturally show a surprised expression.
The key point is widening my eyes like I didn’t expect that comment, then smiling after hearing the answer.
This part is important.
“Wow... that’s so cute.”
I startled myself looking at my reflection in the mirror.
Even to me just now, that was incredible.
“They’re coming here just to meet me, so I can’t disappoint them even a little.... I’m... an actress holding a solo fan signing....”
And in Yeouido.
A solo fan signing.
Even passersby will have to look at least once.
Nation’s First Love.
Clack.
“Hey. Go to sleep already.”
“Hey? Did you just say hey to me?”
I was in the middle of preparing for tomorrow’s fan signing when the door burst open.
Han Taeyang walked in holding his phone.
“It’s past 2 a.m.”
“I wasn’t going to sleep anyway.”
“You practice signatures every day already. Why are you making a fuss again? Just go to sleep.”
Han Taeyang snatched the name pen from my hand.
Then he took the name pen set on the desk, the spare set in the cabinet, and even the one I always carried in my bag so I could sign anytime.
“Hey, at least take these practice sheets.”
“There are still some left. I already gave them out in the staff office. Everyone got three Han Yeoreums.”
“...Your classmates still haven’t... asked for one...?”
I handed him a stack of autograph sheets.
Han Taeyang nodded.
“No one asked for your autograph.”
After he left, I cried a little alone in my room.
Come to think of it, I might have seen something strange on Han Taeyang’s phone wallpaper earlier.
[R=VD Successfully Finish Han Yeoreum’s Fan Signing]
* * *
Dok Gogyeol lightly brushed concealer across my cheek.
My hydrated skin shone like smooth porcelain.
“Stop smiling so much, darling.”
“I can’t stop....”
“The fans will be right in front of you. If they see your foundation getting patchy, they’ll love that, right?”
At that, Yeoreum—who had been smiling with her cheeks raised—suddenly went completely serious.
Dok Gogyeol sprayed mist across Yeoreum’s face.
Yeoreum tightly closed her eyes.
“Let’s not bully our cutie today, alright? The photos have to turn out perfect. Be professional. Professional.”
Manager Ma, clearly showing signs of pulling an all-nighter, lay on the sofa with a neck pillow.
His dark circles were so deep they looked like extra eye shadow.
“I’m Dok Gogyeol. Do you think I’d half-ass a day with this much money on the line?”
Dok Gogyeol smiled blissfully just imagining it.
“Ah.... Company D.... I can hear the sound of my value rising.... What’s a less popular category for Company D...? I’ll slip into a niche....”
“You’re subtly fulfilling your personal desires again using our cutie.”
“I should repay this kindness at least this much. They still haven’t paid me back for never calling my name at an awards ceremony.”
Despite their conversation, Yeoreum kept her eyes closed.
Something seemed to cross her mind, because her cheeks lifted again.
She was clearly trying to hold back laughter, but the corners of her mouth kept twitching.
Coordinator Hwang and Manager Choi watched her cheeks from behind and chuckled quietly.
“Is she really that happy...?”
“This is the first time she’s been this excited since the fan meeting.”
Today was Han Yeoreum’s very first fan signing.
Yeoreum, who had practiced one hundred signatures a day for this moment, fidgeted even while getting her makeup done.
Using every spare moment, she practiced signing in the air.
“Director! Is this really enough? I feel like it’s not enough. When people see me up close, shouldn’t they think something like ‘It has to be this person. I want to dedicate my life to her. I think I’ve fallen in love. I have to come to the next fan signing too. No, if I ever see the name Han Yeoreum anywhere—premieres, photo walls, award ceremonies—I have to attend no matter what. Even if she only appears for fifteen seconds as an extra, I have to watch it. Even clips on Intube or Youstagram—I can’t just scroll past them.’ Can you make them feel that way?”
“If I could do that, I’d start a cult instead of running a salon.”
“Aaaaah, Directooor—! Like the moment our eyes meet, it hits their heart hard, their body suddenly floats like they got into a car accident, and time slows down in that instant—‘Ah... this must be love’—and when they come back to their senses they end up going through my entire filmography one by one—please make that happen!”
“...Did you rehearse this? You didn’t even stutter.”
“I think about things like this sometimes.”
“You’re lying! Not sometimes! Anyway, go already. Today is absolutely perfect.”
Director Dok Gogyeol pushed Yeoreum out of the salon.
Inside the car, Yeoreum looked out the window and murmured softly.
“Huh? That person is wearing a Han Yeoreum padded coat too.... Unni, do you think they’re coming to my fan signing today? Oh? There’s another one! A Han Yeoreum coat! Unni, do you think that person’s coming too? Or maybe they didn’t win the lottery.... What if they came just to see me from far away? I hope they cleared space in their phone gallery. Their battery needs to last so they can take lots of pictures of me.”
Watching the excited Yeoreum, Coordinator Hwang thought back to the aftermath of Episode 4 of 〈The Great Garland〉.
‘It really was huge....’
If she had to summarize it in one sentence—
Yes.
The world was currently suffering from a Yeon Huijae epidemic.
Even though only two weeks had passed.
