Free Web Novel* * *
When Hwang Boseok first checked Seo Eden’s acting, he said to Byeon Juhwa,
“Juhwa.”
“Yes, sir.”
“...Bring him in.”
Victory first, battle later.
A winning army creates every possible condition for victory first — overwhelming resources, capital, manpower — and only then begins the war.
“Looks like we’re going to have to spend a fortune on editing.”
Hwang Boseok was the most successful writer in this game. Nobody understood PPL better than he did.
He was famous for weaving even advertisers’ absurd demands perfectly into the story and rewriting the history of sold-out products.
And the very first company to place PPL into Hwang Boseok’s 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 was none other than Sansung Electronics.
* * *
“...Jegal Rok....”
“That bastard....”
Sansung still ground their teeth over the previous NetHolics incident. After digging into the situation afterward, they discovered evidence suggesting that Jegal Rok had never actually contacted AP separately at all.
“How is he so damn good at talking shit?!”
The Sansung executives, who had been completely played by the King of Bullshit himself, fumed in rage.
At the same time, they couldn’t help admiring how cleverly Jegal Rok had manipulated Sansung after cornering them with time pressure.
“Just wait until 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 airs....”
During the filming of 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉, Sansung hadn’t even been allowed a single moment of influence.
Now they narrowed their eyes.
“We’ll show them what it means to crush people with money!”
Sansung launched a massive PPL campaign.
And after that, when they saw the storyboard Hwang Boseok’s side had sent over, the Sansung executives broke into bright smiles. It finally felt worthwhile to shove everything forward with money.
* * *
“Of course we should put it in.”
Haebo Brewery Chairwoman Han Myeongsuk had been slightly disappointed after hearing the male lead casting news, but she never changed her mind.
“She’s our model!”
Her office walls were already covered with posters of Han Yeoreum in different colors. Looking at Han Yeoreum sitting atop a giant green apple, Chairwoman Han genuinely felt like her eyesight was improving.
“Just invest and keep your mouths shut. Don’t start nitpicking afterward.”
Creamy Soda was no longer included in promotional giveaway events in Taiwan.
They no longer needed ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) 1+1 deals, 2+1 sales, or free gifts to maintain demand. A loyal consumer base had already formed.
Their new yogurt-flavored product had launched simultaneously in Korea and Taiwan, and despite only being a slight difference, sales in Taiwan were actually higher.
A staggering 40%.
That was how much their revenue had jumped compared to last year.
“We didn’t request anything, but Writer Hwang asked if we could renew the bottle packaging like this.”
“What? Our packaging? Let me see.”
Chairwoman Han adjusted her glasses as she checked the storyboard Hwang Boseok had sent over.
“This isn’t difficult at all.”
It wasn’t hard to imagine Han Yeoreum in the concept art.
At this point, it wasn’t even simple PPL anymore. It practically looked like an exclusive Haebo Brewery commercial.
“Move forward with it.”
Haebo Brewery also poured in an enormous PPL investment.
* * *
“We should go all in and double it.”
“No, quadruple it.”
“All-in.”
Haebo Brewery wasn’t the only company whose new products stabilized after signing Han Yeoreum as their model.
As the nickname “Baby Melon Bread” gradually spread, Smile Dairy — which had benefited alongside her — smiled exactly as brightly as its name suggested.
The Melon Milk series kept expanding one product at a time.
[Smile Dairy Fresh Cream Bread Releases New Flavor... “Exactly the Taste of Baby Melon Bread”]
Smile Dairy launched a new flavor of its steady-selling “Milk Fresh Cream Bread,” aiming to dominate the convenience-store dessert market. Following the success of the original pure milk and milk chocolate versions, the newly introduced “Melon Milk flavor” sold around 10,000 units in just one week, creating an unprecedented craze.
Industry insiders say the popularity of actress Han Yeoreum, nicknamed “Baby Melon Bread,” also played a major role. Han Yeoreum, who models for Melon Milk, uploaded a certification photo with the Baby Melon Bread on SNS the morning of the launch date, staying loyal to Smile Dairy....
Because of that, the Melon Milk flavored cream bread was now selling like crazy too.
Smile Dairy chose PPL immediately without hesitation.
“Writer Hwang sent over a storyboard. I think everyone needs to take a look.”
“A storyboard?”
The Smile Dairy marketing team checked Hwang Boseok’s concept art.
Just like with Haebo Brewery, there was also a packaging redesign request included.
“Wow.”
At this rate, it felt inevitable that a brand-new Melon Milk product line would release after 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 aired.
Riding an unbelievable wave of popularity.
* * *
And the company with the hottest heart of them all was B-bly, currently locked in a brutal battle for first place against BrandNew.
“This is going to become our hidden card.”
B-bly.
A fashion shopping app that originally launched with the concept of collecting celebrity-run markets.
Its core selling point was collaborating with influencers who opened temporary “markets” through SNS platforms like blogs and Yousta.
The app introduced a system called “B-bly Partners.”
Celebrities only needed to upload photos and share wholesale product information.
Purchasing, shipping, and customer service were all handled by the company itself.
It was an innovative system that helped the app establish itself in the industry at insane speed.
“Exactly! When I first got the script, I almost fainted from excitement.”
“I already liked Han Yeoreum so, so much! Ah, I’m seriously excited.”
And the company handling the biggest PPL deal in 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 — the drama that practically served as a perfect showcase of that system — was none other than B-bly.
“S-so... this amount....”
“It’s nothing! Yes! Absolutely nothing!”
“Then... ah, a-absolutely... nothing....”
They desperately ignored the gigantic production-support number written right in front of them.
They had poured in not only this year’s entire marketing budget, but even next year’s too.
It was the kind of reckless courage only startups possessed.
The moment they watched episode one of 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉, they instinctively knew they had to throw absolutely everything into this project, even if it meant borrowing every last cent.
If they wanted to defeat the current number-one fashion app, BrandNew, this was their only option.
After lowering their heads for a moment and enduring the pressure through gritted teeth, the B-bly team shouted:
“Then let’s begin!”
“Yes, sir!”
YoustaStory
[Comfortable but pretty, pretty but comfortable — effortless fashion you can wear anywhere while still looking naturally stylish (●'▿'●)۶
Which color do you think Han Yeoreum will wear in today’s B_bly pick?
The first 100 B-blies who guess correctly will receive 3,000 shopping points!]
B-bly.
A fashion app directly connected to teenage and twenty-something consumers.
It was considered the trendiest company of the moment, constantly communicating with customers in real time and dramatically reducing emotional distance.
And the marketing for 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 wasn’t limited to in-house promotion alone.
Make noise in the east, strike in the west.
Marketing had always been about subtly coloring people’s surroundings before they even realized it.
JC ENM intended to use every marketing card they could possibly pull.
Even the influencers selling through B-bly became weapons for their side.
Everyone already knew what would happen if a single comment saying “Han Yeoreum pick” got attached to a product.
Several extra zeros would instantly appear in that month’s revenue.
Without even spending additional marketing money, the influencers would naturally promote the drama every week themselves.
If even a fraction of each influencer’s followers tuned into the first broadcast, this was already a winning battle.
Before the drama even aired, B-bly uploaded sponsored clothing sent to Han Yeoreum and opened events around them.
It was a method that naturally drew public attention without spoiling the drama.
YoustaStory
[Kyaaa! Looks like Actress Han Yeoreum wore the hoodie training set sold at Rosy&Me during 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 filming ♡ ୧⃛՞•ﻌ•՞୨⃛ ♡ Guess correctly and receive shopping points, Rosy babies!]
[I’m already soooo excited for DongRo (ง ˘ω˘ )ว Apparently Han Yeoreum wore the daily hoodie training setup sold by our Cameliyoon during filming! It already suits her so well~]
Before long, people became less focused on the shocking on-set photos of Han Yeoreum that had spread online earlier.
Instead, curiosity exploded over how she would transform while wearing the clothes uploaded through B-bly.
Without even properly showing her face, Han Yeoreum had already managed to make the public’s hearts flutter.
* * *
Seo Eden stared at the chroma key background while waiting.
“Eden’s here?”
“Yes!”
“We’re almost done setting up, so go sit near the cameras.” freёwebnoѵel.com
Director Byeon gestured toward him.
A chair had already been prepared.
At the moment, they were filming Han Yeoreum’s solo scene.
Technically, Seo Eden didn’t need to attend since he wasn’t appearing in it.
But—
“...I should probably think about what kind of CG gets added when I’m acting too. Like... preparation and stuff.”
Byeon Juhwa briefly made a strange expression at Seo Eden’s words before nodding.
“You know our chroma key shoots take a long time, right?”
“Yes. But... would I maybe be bothering people?”
“No. If you’re coming, come knowing you’ll be here for a while.”
“Yes! Then I’ll still come!”
Director Byeon and Writer Hwang had already decided to completely cover Seo Eden’s lacking acting ability with every other possible element.
A sharp director, a top-tier writer capable of smoothing scene transitions naturally, a female lead actress whose acting never failed, and the capital of major corporations combined together—
that was more than enough to cover someone like Seo Eden.
“Director! Please check the shadow positioning once!”
“Let’s brighten the lighting a little more. Slightly to the right—.”
Seo Eden sat in his chair waiting for Han Yeoreum.
Han Yeoreum had already transformed back into her messy ordinary-girl appearance.
Untouched hair, thick glasses, flushed cheeks, and a tracksuit just like during the previous shoot.
“She’s here?”
Spotting Seo Eden, Han Yeoreum waved happily.
Seo Eden waved back.
“Alright, let’s roll!”
Director Byeon shouted while watching the two with satisfaction.
Standing before the green screen, Han Yeoreum scrunched up her face adorably.
Then she held her breath as though the tip of her nose felt itchy.
“Achoo!”
Seo Eden stared fixedly at Han Yeoreum acting out the cute sneeze.
Like Jeon Segye looking at Nam Pyeonghwa.
“Heh....”
Watching Nam Pyeonghwa raise her clenched fists to cover her mouth, Jeon Segye’s lips slowly curled upward.
* * *
‘What’s this?’
While taking a short break, I noticed something strange.
The text above Seo Eden’s head was flickering.
Agility: B+
<Beyond the Frame> D
It wasn’t just the skill flickering.
Two things were flashing at once.
‘If he really levels up properly on set....’
The current filming progress for 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 was around the middle of episode five.
If Seo Eden genuinely showed growth starting from the middle, viewers would naturally accept Jeon Segye more smoothly.
Not as actor growth.
But as character development.
Maybe he could show a Jeon Segye whose heart gradually softened, whose walls slowly crumbled, who naturally seeped deeper and deeper into Nam Pyeonghwa’s life.
“What’s this? You practiced way more than I thought when nobody was looking.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t even think about lying.”
Seo Eden had apparently worked much harder than I expected.
To grow this much in such a short time—
“Th-that’s not true.... I didn’t think that much, it’s just, when you keep reading the script naturally? Without realizing it? Anyway maybe it’s because this is like mammoth acting.”
“You mean method acting?”
“That’s what I was trying to say.”
Pretending he hadn’t practiced.
I lightly smacked Seo Eden on the shoulder.
Soon, everyone’s teaser would be released.
The curtain was almost ready to rise.
