Free Web Novel* * *
This was Burger Queen in Taiwan.
With Han Yeoreum’s poster still plastered on the door, Meiling slowly chewed and swallowed her Shrimp Beachibi Burger.
“Haa....”
Beside Meiling, Jiarong, Xinlei, and Weixin were also unable to properly enjoy their burgers.
Even now, they made sure not to place anything near Han Yeoreum’s face printed on the paper lining the tray.
After getting beaten up for squeezing ketchup over that area last time, Wang Haoyu had learned his lesson. He carefully squeezed the ketchup far away from Han Yeoreum’s face.
“Why do we have to be outside Korea... and always hear news so late?”
“Seriously....”
“I trust Unnie. Because it has to be Joo Junseo.”
“Right? They’re close senior and junior. Joo Junseo is the real one.”
They had entered the fandom through 〈ParCheHi〉, so Joo Junseo was their number one pick.
Crunching on fries, Meiling announced solemnly,
“You all saw the two of them in 〈Faster Than the Law 3〉, right?”
They had replayed the trailer for 〈Faster Than the Law 3〉 countless times. The official material released after 〈ParCheHi〉 only made their hearts settle more firmly on Joo Junseo.
“Yeah. They looked good together even in the trailer.”
“That’s right. Let’s not waver.”
“Mhm...! I’ll do that too...!”
But Wang Haoyu remained silent.
Meiling frowned fiercely.
“Hey. Open your mouth already.”
Wang Haoyu shook his head.
“I’m Team Shin Seojin.”
He had recently finished watching 〈Unfair Trade〉.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Those two are the close senior-junior pair!”
“Exactly! Didn’t you see how comfortable Unnie looked in the making film?”
But Wang Haoyu refused to be intimidated by the intense bullying.
“Being naturally close! Then developing feelings! That’s ideal! Casually messaging each other every day and then suddenly your heart starts racing!”
Just as they were bickering, a notification appeared from @EverydaySummer, the most-followed Han Yeoreum fan account on Tr*tter.
“Huh?”
Everyone looked at their screens.
EverydaySummer @mailEyeoleum
(Still cut released by KBC_church scarf.jpg)
(Han Yohan on the rooftop.jpg)
(Han Yeoreum leaving a café.jpg)
(Actor using a radio.jpg)
Reposts 102 Likes 221
“Mooore....”
“I thought it was really a dating rumor and got scared....”
“Give us more pictures....”
“I want more still cuts....”
High-quality still cuts had been released.
* * *
“I knew it.”
Joo Junseo believed that someone as materialistic as Han Yeoreum would never do something so reckless after finally obtaining her first leading role on public television.
Comments were rapidly piling up under KBC’s official account.
Youstagram
@KBC_drama.official
(Code Name still cut.jpg)
3,212 likes 4,312 comments
-Ah, so it really wasn't a dating rumor;; awkward
-LOL that's why they kept calling it a spoiler. Just exposing everything with confidence.
-Even so, these still cuts are insane. Looks like a movie...
-@KimYumin Hey, your unnie isn't dating.
-I trusted her.. TT___TT
-When does this air? I need to watch ASAP T_T
Joo Junseo skimmed the comments and shut off the screen.
“Junseo! You got another year-end interview. I sent it, so check it.”
“Whatever. I'm going to sleep.”
“Huh? Why do you look so bad? Did you stay up all night?”
“Mind your own business.”
* * *
Assistant Shin continued monitoring even after work.
The moment the still cuts were released, every community exploded over Han Yeoreum once more.
[HOT / The broadcasting station's frustrating spoiler.jpg]
(Han Yeoreum Han Yohan dating rumor capture.jpg)
(Hate article capture.jpg)
(KBC statement capture.jpg)
KBC: Please trust us... it's not that...
Trash reporter: Bullshit lol show proof
KBC: If we release proof it'll be spoilers... 8ㅅ8
Trash reporter: So you're lying? Want to die?
(KBC still cuts capture.jpg)
KBC: I said no, you bastard.
Trash reporter: ...
KBC: Get down and give me pushups.
Trash reporter: ...
KBC: Count.
-Anonymous 1: LOL how frustrated were they
-Anonymous 12: Wow it's official...
-Anonymous 24: Where's that guy who said everyone in the industry knew they were together?
↳ Anonymous 29: Deleted his post and ran lol who believed him
↳ Anonymous 43: You'd think the entire Korean entertainment industry was gathered here.
-Anonymous 65: The original uploader said there were only two people in the picture. So it was fake from the start lol.
-Anonymous 101: TT_TT that's disappointing, though they looked good together...
↳ Anonymous 117: Same, they really matched.
Its spread was unbelievable.
Kim Jisang had completely disappeared from public attention.
Even Jo Eunnara's presence had been overwhelmed by Han Yeoreum's star power.
-Anonymous 181: Even the still cuts look fun. Please air it already TT_TT
-Anonymous 202: Seriously, just release it tomorrow.
↳ Anonymous 204: Shameless, but same.. Hehe Nothing to watch these days.
↳ Anonymous 235: Ever since the Holy Grail War, everything feels boring.
Not much time had passed since the Holy Grail War, and both drama fans and the public still missed those days.
“If you think about it differently, they just miss seeing Han Yeoreum on television.”
Assistant Shin scrolled through the reactions.
Even without attending award ceremonies, Han Yeoreum generated that much buzz.
Not just drama and film awards.
Fashion magazines.
Even the music industry.
Every trendy award ceremony wanted Han Yeoreum.
“How strange.”
Her popularity spanned nearly every age group.
Still monitoring late into the night, Assistant Shin opened Intube.
Han Yeoreum was dominating discussions there too.
INTUBE
[KBC Furious Over Han Yeoreum Dating Rumor... Takes ‘Special Measures’?!]
52,234 views
Assistant Shin clicked the trailer recommended by the algorithm.
He had already watched it countless times.
The trailer for 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉.
As NetHolics Korea's first original work, there were an unusual number of trailers.
Three teasers.
Character trailers.
All kinds.
Currently, Myeong Jeha's character trailer had the highest views.
An irresistible thumbnail.
An intense personality from the very beginning.
And news of Hollywood advancement.
He was simply untouchable.
“And each teaser had different people attracting attention...”
To avoid spoilers, the footage had been cut minimally, preventing all attention from gathering on one person.
Assistant Shin found it regrettable, but let it go.
“Not much longer now.”
The final trailer for 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉 would be uploaded one week before release.
Having already received it, Assistant Shin believed in the star power possessed by JC ENM's only actor.
* * *
Aetami stared at the released still cuts over and over.
They felt like a dream.
“How can she be such a devoted daughter....”
Not content with pouring out fan material, she had even turned a dating rumor into more material.
Aetami felt the excitement of the fan meeting all over again.
Her heart burned.
She loved Ria's face as seen through Taeo's scope.
A single ray of light entering a dark world.
Even the still cut alone felt overwhelming.
Cold and desolate Russia.
She could barely contain her anticipation for the story those two would unfold there.
“These still cuts are like artwork....”
And it wasn't just Aetami.
As soon as the high-quality still cuts were released, public reactions exploded.
Watching the atmosphere shift to “not a dating rumor,” Aetami smiled.
-Anonymous 301: Why is this drama already attracting romance scandals lol
↳ Anonymous 345: Seriously, it hasn't even aired.
↳ Anonymous 348: Those reporters who kept mocking them for denying it must be embarrassed lol.
-Anonymous 352: Han Yohan somehow looks unfamiliar.. Hehe Has he always looked like this? He looks the best I've ever seen.
↳ Anonymous 367: Same. I thought the same thing.
Gradually, the focus shifted to their chemistry, and—
-Anonymous 402: It's a Han Yeoreum drama anyway. It'll obviously be good lol.
↳ Anonymous 425: Yep, I've been insanely excited since the synopsis came out.
↳ Anonymous 434: With Han Yeoreum, I don't even doubt anymoreㅋㅋㅋ I watched Holy Grail War from episode one. Victory V^___^V
↳ Anonymous 466: Me too V^___^V
A Han Yeoreum drama.
A phrase once used mockingly had become another catchphrase.
The work Han Yeoreum chose.
The acting Han Yeoreum would show.
The public had gained confidence in those things.
An actress who had never disappointed viewers.
Anticipation toward Han Yeoreum, who was expected to usher in the next generation, continued to rise.
* * *
Ding!
The tenth title has been granted.
Title:
Dok Gomin's Muse / So Yesol's Muse / Iconic Rookie / Pi Chaewon / Acting Rookie / Beauty in Person / Seoryeong / Nation's First Love / Trusted Actress <<< NEW!!!
I jumped at the status window that suddenly appeared before me.
“Huh....”
Iconic Rookie.
Acting Rookie.
And now—
Trusted Actress.
‘How long has it been since this appeared?’
The last time was after 〈The Great Garland〉 ended and Huijae became a nationwide sensation.
Then came all the following works.
To someone, I was Yuna.
To someone else, Lee Seohae.
And to others, Shim {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Juhwan's music video heroine.
Or the heroine of Hwang Boseok's drama.
All those scattered names gathered together into one title.
‘Trusted Actress....’
It was a phrase I had wanted so badly.
Proof that my face and name alone could attract people.
The fact that a title I had never gained after 〈The Great Garland〉 appeared now felt like foreshadowing.
As if this work might surpass Huijae.
‘If I show the impact that only appeared for four episodes as a child actress throughout all sixteen episodes... then after that...’
A-Class Actress <<< NEW!!!
As though provoking me, faint letters emerged.
After flickering twice, they disappeared.
It was a title I wanted enough to dedicate my life to.
First-choice casting.
A place where I would no longer be pushed aside or desperately chase roles.
A position where my existence itself supported a project.
If people trusted me, that meant they knew who I was.
Which meant...
That so many people now knew the name Han Yeoreum.
I'm no longer a nobody.
I have a name.
Not Screaming Woman 3.
Not a name written on a script.
I'm Han Yeoreum.
“One rehearsal, everyone—!!!”
A voice called me from afar.
My set.
Han Yeoreum's place.
“Yes—! Coming!”
I ran into the dazzling set.
To become an A-Class actress.
And while looking forward to the day my name would stand at the very top.
