“I'm grateful, but... why... are you doing this?”
Myeong Jeha gave a languid smile.
“I want to see how far you can go. So cooperate obediently, okay?”
Yes, this was definitely a threat. His smile contrasted with the broken status window floating above my head.
“Why did you suddenly get the urge to see that.”
“Well... because I’m a fan of Han Yeoreum.”
“Stop joking. Say it properly.”
“I checked the final script Director Gong revised. He’s never done this before... I think he’s planning to put you in every installnt of the series.”
At those unbelievable words, my eyes widened. Influencer 1 only appears in season 1. That makes no sense. Did he even read the sa script?
“You’ll understand when you look at the script. Trust and do well this ti on set. Stay close with Director Gong. He’s soone worth keeping near.”
Analysis: S
His stat sparkled. Was this real? Could I seriously get cast several tis as a supporting role in a ten-million-viewer film?
“So now can you promise ?”
Both of us knew the other had regressed, but neither of us said it aloud.
“I do have ti to spare... but I want to reduce the fatigue a little. Let’s keep things smooth.”
It ant: don’t be stubborn for nothing—join hands.
“Okay.”
“I thought you’d try to run away once or twice, but you didn’t?”
I’d anticipated this and had already considered several scenarios right after regression. Script analysis is basic for an actor. I’d analyzed how the developnt would unfold.
“You must’ve found so use in . You’re not the type to do anything that puts you at a loss.”
“Well... let’s just do well as classmates.”
Myeong Jeha didn’t share any information about the past, and I didn’t say anything about the status window. Each of us held a secret.
“So, how are you going to help ?”
“Mm...”
After a mont of thought, he smiled brightly. A face that looked genuinely delighted. Long lashes casting shadows.
“In various ways.”
* * *
The next day, I imdiately understood what direction he was helping in. It started with Dok Gomin’s SNS.
“She uploaded yesterday’s work right away.”
Youstagram
(Jeha holding a phalaenopsis.jpg)
Phalaenopsis. Branches that stretch. Breathing roots. Unstable footing.
Likes 43,772 Comnts 1,047
-OMGOMGOMG what is Myeong Jeha TT_TT
-Why is everyone freaking out lolol it’s just a guy like this....
︎˪Want....
︎˪LOLOLOLOLOL I’m dying
-Congratulations on being handso, Mr. Myeong Jeha. Forbes magazine has selected you as my husband. Congratulations.
His photo had been uploaded. In one day, it passed 20,000 likes. And right after that, my photo was uploaded—positioned right next to Jeha’s face.
Likes 21,778 Comnts 636
-@Kiunjeong hey it’s your fave Pi Chaewon lololol
-She’s definitely warm-beauty IRL but why does she look like a cold-beauty hereㅠ anyway she’s insanely pretty
-My sweet lon soda girl... becoming a Red Wolf worthy of Park Chanwook’s applause...
Because the upload ca imdiately after Jeha’s photo, the comnts were far higher than usual. This picture began circulating rapidly as internet news. I was certain Jeha’s side pushed it.
[Prince of , Myeong Jeha—flower-like visuals... not a photoshoot~]
[The eting of the prince and the heroine of , “We’re DaeYeJong classmates”]
In nearly all articles about Jeha, my photo was attached alongside his.
“...So that people who know Jeha... will also get to know ....”
Jeha’s debut project was a ten-million film. And not even one year had passed. aning his recognition ranged from teens to seniors. On the other hand, I was known mainly among teenagers and twenty-sothings.
“He ca yesterday to work on this, huh.”
Since when did he plan this? Right. If he wanted to truly talk, he would’ve called separately—not co to Dok Gomin’s studio. He intended to boost from the start, regardless of my intentions.
“But what’s this.”
Scrolling further down, I frowned at the headline.
In the middle of the article titles, Do Gyeoul’s na appeared together with mine.
[So this is DaeYeJong? Do Gyeoul, Myeong Jeha, and Han Yeoreum? Visuals overflowing~]
I called Jeha.
“This is you, right? These articles.”
-You checked quickly.
“...I appreciate being linked with you, but I don’t like my na next to Do Gyeoul’s.”
At my words, I heard a small laugh through the receiver. Hey, I’m not amused.
-Yeoreum.
He called my na gently.
-You said you want to beco more famous than Do Gyeoul. Doesn’t seem like you’re that desperate.
That made sothing snap inside .
‘What is he talking about? How desperate do I have to be?’
I couldn’t talk about the previous life, so it only felt suffocating. As I was about to retort—
-If you really want to rise, you have to use everything.
His voice turned cold.
-Think carefully, Yeoreum. Do Gyeoul debuted at age five. The entire nation watched her grow. Do you think you can beat that bond just by getting one or two successful works?
“....”
He was right. Painfully right. I couldn’t even answer. All I could do was bite my lip.
Yeah. She debuted at five and grew up doing whatever acting she wanted. So why did Do Gyeoul treat the way she did?
‘Even now, at twenty, she already has so much.’
Her titles ca to mind.
-No matter how much you hate Do Gyeoul, don’t underestimate her influence. That’s sothing only stupid people do.
“...How did you know I hate her—”
-I just do. And that Jegal Rok is debating whether to scout you or not.
His cold assessnt continued.
-Right now you have no agency, no connections to bring you info, no confird upcoming work. Then you can’t have pride either. Even if your na gets attached to hers, you need to use that chance to imprint yourself again.
Only then did I realize I was still holding onto pride. # Nоvеlight # It felt like Jeha was testing .
-Yeoreum.
He wanted to know how badly I wanted to rise—and what I was willing to endure.
-If you hate it, quit.
Those words instantly cooled my confused emotions.
‘Think carefully, Han Yeoreum.’
When judged calmly, his logic was correct. Was anything Jeha said wrong?
‘Not one thing.’
I recalled the line of audition applicants in the Chungmuro building. And more than anything—
‘Do Gyeoul used my acting too. Why shouldn’t I use her na a little? I had my acting stolen for almost ten years.’
Thinking that way, the disgust slowly faded. Before regression, maybe not—but now, among , Jeha, and Do Gyeoul, the overwhelmingly famous one was Do Gyeoul.
“...Fine. For now, I’ll use Do Gyeoul’s na a bit. Like you said.”
Only then did I hear a small laugh. I had given an answer he liked.
-I’ll send the script by quick delivery soon. Check it. And prepare for a eting.
“A eting?”
-A one-episode drama script. And it’s public TV, just like you asked.
I’d asked for that just yesterday, and it was already solved? Impossible.
“Then help get a public TV appearance.”
“Public TV? What kind?”
“Anything! I just need to appear on TV.”
At my request, Jeha had stared at for a mont.
His face looked perfectly drawn. He’d silently nodded while looking straight at .
Not even twenty-four hours had passed since then, yet the speed was unbelievable.
Exactly thirty minutes after ending the call, the script arrived. The title was written in huge letters on the cover.
[No Interest Whatsoever]
I focused on the na written beneath it. The script title felt oddly familiar.
“...I knew it!”
Director So Yesol. Screenwriter So Yesol.
My heart thumped just seeing the na.
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