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The subway passing along the Han River was my humble version of a trip.
Since we can’t escape daily life, we only find momentary hideouts in those fleeting instants when we finally lift our heads.
You and I, who have absolutely no—zero—interest in each other, are city people.
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The photo I had uploaded just a few minutes earlier was getting likes nonstop.
[HOT/ The acting-major student who took that ID photo just uploaded a Pi Chaewon shot.jpg]
[Teen Anonymous Board/ Pi Chaewon changed her hair—what color is this?]
[Issue Plaza/ Reason why getting into DaeYeJong is insanely difficult.jpg]
Dok Gomin was already somewhat known among hipsters on SNS.
This was after that ID photo—that profile picture—of Han Yeoreum had gone viral.
This new work spread just as quickly through the online communities.
Bzzz—Bzzz—Bzzz—.
Both of our follower counts were rising in real time!
* * *
“Dok Gomin really is different....”
I couldn’t help admiring her again.
It was the exact same scene, but once it passed through Dok Gomin’s hands, it became something entirely new.
You know—those photos.
The ones that suddenly feel like the world is moving in slow motion,
the ones that look like someone captured and preserved a single moment in amber.
“How is this... amateur work from someone who hasn’t even debuted professionally...?”
It had several times more immersion than the Do Gyeoul photos she took in the pre-regression timeline.
If this kept up, it might end up getting more likes than my very first piece with her—the profile photo that had blown up on SNS.
“After ParCheHi, I didn’t really get much new traffic.”
For about a week after the final episode of 〈ParCheHi〉, my follower count had risen quickly, but afterward it slowed into a gentle curve.
But the moment I uploaded the photos Dok Gomin took, the number shot up vertically again.
-wow DaeYeJong is insane lolololol she’s not even a senior and her skill is god-tier T_T
-Is that really Pi Chaewon? I thought it was a different person lolololol the vibe is totally different
˪she looks like a whole other person
-The black hair was nice but the red hair is PERFECT it catches your eyes so fcking hardㅜ saved it without thinking
Both my SNS and Dok Gomin’s were exploding,
and the comment sections in the big online communities were overwhelmingly positive.
It was truly an era where one well-taken photograph stamped your existence on the public mind.
“Now it’s... 100K...!”
Ding—!
I jumped to my feet before I even realized it, startled by the number.
「Hidden Mission 100K Achieved!」
Is an actor’s popularity measured only by TV ratings?
No! These days SNS followers are also a powerful indicator.
You have successfully reached 100K.
Let’s keep going until we hit M!
Reward
[An invitation is given]
〈Check Now〉 〈Store〉
“An invitation?”
Invited where?
There’s no awards ceremony right now...
and I definitely don’t have any awards-eligible works.
I pressed the “Check Now” button.
A small envelope icon appeared.
Bzzz— Bzzz—.
At the same time, my phone lit up and vibrated.
Caller: Joo Junseo.
“Hello~.”
-...What are you doing.
“I’m just here. Why did you call?”
-Can’t I call if I don’t have a reason?
No, that’s not the issue—
it’s just that we’re not that close, to casually chat without a reason...
I almost said that, but remembered our recent exchange of greetings.
“You’ve been doing well, right? I’m glad... Maybe because you’ve been taking acting lessons lately—your diction has gotten so clear.”
Joo Junseo actually shared a trait with Choo Gaeul:
praise softened him immediately.
-I need you to come choose outfits with me.
“...? Outfits?”
Why would model-turned-actor Joo Junseo ask me to pick clothes with him?
He’d choose much better if he went alone.
When I asked, genuinely confused, there was a pause on the other end.
-Did you already select your outfit?
“No, I mean... I don’t really understand what you’re talking about.”
I looked again at my status window.
‘Speaking of which, why hasn’t that envelope icon disappeared?’
I tilted my head.
-Ruel Style Awards. You and I both got invited. Didn’t they contact you?
And then—
the envelope shimmered and real text appeared.
Ding—!
「Mission: Let’s Become the Best Dresser」
Keyword: Trend
Become a red-carpet authority who can make anyone gasp in admiration.
From head to toe, capture everyone’s attention.
Success Condition
[At the 1st Ruel Style Awards, you must receive recognition as the “Best Dresser”]
Reward
[Increase in Recognition]
[Random Skill Ticket]
Ah.
“...Yes. Please, absolutely help me choose my outfit. As expected of you, Joo Junseo. The greatest senior ever. You’re even looking out for a junior who doesn’t even have an agency... calling me like this....”
-...Yeah. Keep talking.
“I’m really touched... I’m speechless....”
Seriously, how could the system give me another mission when I haven’t even finished the public broadcast mission yet?
After hanging up, I lay on my bed and sighed.
‘Best Dresser, huh.’
I had thought I wouldn’t get to touch a red carpet for a long time.
But the opportunity had arrived much sooner than expected.
A smile crept onto my face.
“Let’s go...! Time to choose outfits!”
* * *
This was Apgujeong Rodeo—
the stretch across from Galleria Department Store where the styling agencies were lined up.
Under the luxurious lighting, the neatly hung outfits sparkled.
‘Honestly, there’s no reason for Joo Junseo to come here.’
His name value alone meant that brands sent him enough clothes to fill a truck.
‘Meaning... we’re going around the agencies solely for my fittings....’
Meanwhile, no outfits were coming to Han Yeoreum.
Which meant every outfit I picked might very well get rejected.
This industry judged everything by name value and tier.
‘And this place—this is a nightmare to get sponsorship from unless you’re someone like him...’
The moment you stepped through their door, you could smell money.
The gold-shimmering marble was almost blinding.
I swallowed nervously.
“What are you doing? Come in.”
Joo Junseo looked completely at home.
The huge space felt like a shopping center transplanted indoors.
It was a showroom occupying an entire building.
“Hello....”
I quietly followed behind him.
A staff member who was checking clothes on a chart looked up.
“Oh! Junseo, you’re here?”
The voice was lively and energetic, without a hint of fatigue.
The moment I saw her, I recognized her.
‘Why is she here?’
There is one word that always appears before the names of people with fame:
Star.
Star chef, star writer, star PD—
and among them, the most familiar to the public: the star stylist beside celebrities.
‘...Ssss Stylist Ryu Risa!’
Among stylists, Ryu Risa was the kind whom every top actress and model wanted to work with at least once.
‘And she became one of the biggest winners once the Intube era arrived.’
She opened her own channel and hit a million subscribers.
I knew her well—I was one of those subscribers.
‘And every time Do Gyeoul was called Best Dresser, Ryu Risa was behind it.’
To the public, she was practically seen as Do Gyeoul’s personal stylist.
Movies, dramas, shows, award ceremonies—
Every legendary styling moment of Do Gyeoul’s came from Ryu Risa’s hands.
‘...I want to steal her.’
Someone this big never stayed exclusive to one person—unless they managed several at once.
But still, I wanted to steal her away.
From Do Gyeoul.
‘Even when several actors share the same stylist, the public remembers only one of them.’
I wanted that one to be Han Yeoreum, not Do Gyeoul.
I wanted to be the actress who turned a stylist into a star.
[Baekryong Film Awards — This Year’s Best Dresser? 〈Do Gyeoul’s Elegant Dress〉 Draws Attention...]
At the 37th Baekryong Film Awards, the actress selected as Best Dresser was, of course, Do Gyeoul.
Styled with a “Bridal White” dress, stylist Type A Ryu Risa explained,
“A dress anyone would want to wear.”
With reservations flooding in, netizens reacted,
“As expected of Do Gyeoul,”
“I watch the Baekryong Film Awards just to see Do Gyeoul’s outfits.”
One of those legendary, all-time-great iconic looks—
I remembered—it, too, came from Ryu Risa.
‘But... did Joo Junseo really bring me to Ryu Risa?’
Ryu Risa jerked her chin, signaling ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the staff.
A rack prepared for Junseo was pushed out.
“Noona, let’s start with this side.”
“Hmmm—. Ah. You’re Pi Chaewon, right? I enjoyed the drama. It was fun.”
She approached me, seized my hand, and shook it vigorously—
her grip was surprisingly strong, my arm flapping like a ribbon.
“Haha! You’re Pi Chaewon by nature, huh! You have zero strength in your body!”
Laughing, she patted my back and introduced herself.
“I’m Ryu Risa. You know me, right? I’m famous, so you know.”
“Of course. I know very well. That legendary mustang styling for Junseo sunbae—that was your work.”
“Oh? You really do know?”
Giving her compliments early worked—her favorability shot up immediately.
‘Thank goodness I subscribed.’
Even the notifications and like-history were worth it.
Our first meeting wasn’t bad at all.
“To be honest. My pay is a bit high? You know? And I normally don’t take just anyone—especially not like this—”
Of course I knew.
She made billions of won per project.
“Noona, weren’t you the one who told me to bring her first? And seriously, how are you gonna call someone “just anyone” to their face? Also, don’t you remember last time when I—”
“Shh. Junseo. I’m talking. You should know better than to interrupt adults.”
Yep. This was peak Ryu Risa.
She smoothed out Joo Junseo’s attitude like flattening wrinkled fabric.
Junseo stared at her in disbelief.
“But I am curious about Pi Chaewon—no, Yeoreum. I wanted to see you.
To see what you did that made Dok Gogyeol follow you all the way to that countryside...”
She leaned closer, examining me.
“Hmmm... You’re cute, but I’m a little bored?”
Junseo’s irritation switch flicked on again— freewebnovёl.ƈom
Snap—!
With a crisp finger snap, Ryu Risa pointed at me.
“That’s why! Go pick just one thing.”
“...Pick what?”
“Anything. Eyewear is fine, shoes are fine. Tops, whatever.
Choose something you want to wear, Yeoreum.”
“....”
She smiled brightly—
like she had just discovered something fun.
