Chapter 209

To begin with, it was just a few photos.

Of a film set.

Until this point, it would’ve been a fairly typical leak.

– Is this the new movie starring Sooyeon Joo?

– What’s the title?

– I heard it’s called *Gyeongseong Yeong-nyeo*.

– Oh, is it another movie set during the Japanese occupation? How predictable.

– I heard Sooyeon Joo has been getting popular in Japan, huh? Bold move to pick such a sensitive setting.

The actor featured in the photos garnered a bit of buzz in online communities.

Just a bit though.

After all, the movie hadn’t even been officially released yet, and actor fan communities tend to have less clout compared to idol fandoms.

On the contrary, Sooyeon Joo had an unusually strong fanbase for an actor.

Still, the reason Sooyeon had become a topic of conversation wasn’t solely due to the genre or subject matter of the movie.

“Striking.”

The Korean branch of the French luxury brand Cocklico.

Jang Tae-hee, the CEO of Cocklico Korea, tilted his head thoughtfully as he looked at the circulated photos during a meeting. The reason? Recently, the headquarters had inquired if there was anyone in Korea they could recommend as the brand ambassador for Cocklico.

In other words, it was a discussion about the Luxury Ambassador role.

Choosing a luxury ambassador isn’t as simple as just looking at popularity. After all, this face would represent the brand not just in Korea, but globally.

‘How can such a small country rank first in the world in terms of luxury goods per capita?’

There was a reason Cocklico was considering a Korean celebrity for the role. Currently, the brand had a lower market share in Asia compared to Europe.

This request from the Korean branch was likely an effort to claim back market share from other luxury brands.

Thus, Jang Tae-hee carefully weighed the options among numerous contenders.

“What candidate was recommended by the HQ?”

“Lee Hyun of Just X.”

“Not bad.”

With Just X currently being a globally recognized K-pop idol group, choosing one of their members as an ambassador would indeed be a solid decision. Especially in light of recent trends with Korean idols stepping into ambassadorial roles for luxury brands.

At least, by the numbers.

“And they are asking if there are other candidates to consider?”

Cocklico Korea’s PR Team Leader, Hwang So-young, calmly reviewed the photos of previously considered contenders.

Of course, all the celebrities had dazzling appearances, but what stood out most was, ironically, the leaked photo.

“But doesn’t a leaked photo raise some concerns?”

“That’s probably because the image was truly striking. Also…”

The photo also captured the Japanese film crew that was involved in the production. Although not entirely clear from the photo itself, the leaker specifically mentioned it was taken during the “Japan filming” process.

“Sooyeon Joo is reportedly the Korean actor receiving the most attention in Japan right now.”

“Really? Hardly any Korean actors manage that kind of visibility there, so this is quite impressive.”

“Her level of recognition solely based on appearance is indeed unprecedented.”

Of course, it wasn’t only about her looks. A mere one-minute performance had gone viral in Japan, becoming a popular meme and YouTube sensation.

“But focusing on the Japanese market alone might be too limiting.”

“It’s not just the Japanese market. Haven’t you heard about the recent *Sky Garden* phenomenon?”

Hwang So-young had nothing to counter with at that.

The recently concluded *Sky Garden* had achieved an impressive 33% final episode rating, something considered practically impossible in recent years for terrestrial broadcasts.

Translating that into historical terms, it was akin to achieving over 40%.

So, the impact *Sky Garden* had was so immense that calling it a ‘phenomenon’ felt like an understatement.

The biggest benefactor from all this? The chair brand Aids.

Then came Éclat Étoile.

In particular, the student chairs by Aids reportedly sold out completely.

“Currently, there is no comparable Korean actor in Sooyeon Joo’s age group.”

“In terms of impact over just one year, even big names like Seohui Jo or Jung-woo Park pale in comparison.”

Both actors had major hits this year, but Sooyeon Joo was on a streak that was almost absurd.

What started as amusement within the entertainment industry was slowly turning into outright astonishment.

Variety shows? She dominated them.

Dramas? Similarly excellent performances.

Even films were no exception.

How many hits did she produce in a single year?

Though she didn’t star in too many advertisements compared to the number of works she appeared in, one could understand why she didn’t have time for many ads given her workload.

“*Sky Garden* and *DreamFuture* are currently being exported overseas, so Sooyeon Joo’s recognition will undoubtedly increase.”

“That’s true. Though the issue is…”

“Her career is still too short.”

No matter how remarkable her accomplishments, it had only been a year. Predicting the future was uncertain.

Though, if this momentum continued till next year, it might be a different story.

‘At the very least, from the image alone, it’s hard to find an actress who fits Cocklico’s aesthetics this well.’

The image of Seoyeon wearing a butterfly kimono, holding a stylish smoking pipe, was literally movie-worthy.

Miss Butterfly.

The nickname the leaked photo had acquired suited her perfectly.

Butterfly in French means red poppy, and it fit Cocklico’s image beautifully.

“It seems like this is a bit far-fetched for now, so let’s observe for a while.”

“What about Lee Hyun?”

“Let’s wait on that front too. There’s something about Just X, especially their leader Ro, that’s concerning me.”

To be exact, there were rumors circulating about Ro, Just X’s leader, though nothing definitively negative as of yet.

Yeah, at least ‘for now.’

“But if Just X is looking after someone in particular—Lee Hyun seems to be actively pursuing endorsements—wouldn’t it be better to entrust them with the opportunity?”

“In that case, we’ll inform them accordingly.”

Jang Tae-hee chuckled lightly as she spoke. Indeed, right now, Lee Hyun had greater global recognition and more tangible benefits as a model.

‘But what about the future?’

An instinct she had developed over years of experience in this industry.

Seoyeon Joo, with merely a year in the industry, was still very much a rookie. Comparing her to an already established figure like Lee Hyun was almost laughable when considering recognition.

Their fame was as distinct as the heavens from the earth.

But the future was unpredictable.

Currently, there was interest from the Japanese market in this young actress.

The Japanese market was undeniably much diminished from its former glory, but the nation’s prestige as a cultural leader in Asia at one point was not entirely forgotten.

Whether good or bad, its influence over past trends remains considerable.

“*Gyeongseong Yeong-nyeo*….”

There was a vague premonition that many things would change once that film premiered.

***

“Wow…”

In the dark, a woman was raptly watching a TV drama.

On the screen, a beautiful girl with long, dark hair was giving a compelling performance. Her pale skin and deep black hair stood out distinctly.

Her mysterious red eyes further accentuated her allure.

The scene was reaching its climax.

The latter half of *Sky Garden* unfolded.

Yoo-joo Lee, who had blindly followed the path set by her father, found a new dream through the influence of her friend, Song Ga-yeon.

“I’m scared.”

Yoo-joo clung to Ga-yeon’s arm.

The girl who had saved her from falling off a cliff without expecting anything in return was her friend.

“I have to decide everything on my own now.”

In the past, she wouldn’t have even noticed her.

An inferior background compared to others.

Her overly kind personality.

Not particularly extraordinary in her studies either.

But still, Yoo-joo started to follow Ga-yeon, as if under a spell.

Several times, she rejected and pushed Ga-yeon away, mocking her while convincing herself that her own path was above such mediocrity.

But maybe that was why.

The adults of “Sky Garden” who extended their hands to her.

And the children manipulated by those adults seemed grotesque to her.

Like marionettes tethered by threads.

She shuddered at the thought that she was just like them.

“I’ve already made a mistake before.”

Min-seo Lee.

The second daughter of the Lee Min-hyeok family.

The stepping stone Yoo-joo had used to rise.

But Min-seo refused to be a stepping stone.

Right before Yoo-joo could extend her hand to Min-seo’s brother, Min-seo pushed her off the cliff.

And after Yoo-joo survived, Min-seo attempted suicide, glaring at her hatefully.

“You wouldn’t understand…”

Min-seo said in a low voice.

“For the first time in my life, my parents started paying attention to me. It was hard-earned. But if you treat my brother the way you treated me… I just end up back where I started.”

With a sorrowful voice, Min-seo jumped off the school building.

“You’re still alive, though.”

Ga-yeon smiled as she recounted the incident.

“It wasn’t your fault. Min-seo should take responsibility for her own actions.”

Min-seo had fallen from the school but, fortunately, didn’t die. She remained in a coma.

Ga-yeon understood some of Min-seo’s feelings, but she also knew it wasn’t Yoo-joo’s fault.

“Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes, they’re unintentional.”

Min-seo’s story changed Yoo-joo’s mindset.

Having doubted what she ought to be doing, Yoo-joo could no longer tread the same path as before.

In a sense, she’d lost her way.

“Yoo-joo, you’re talented, aren’t you? Giving up everything because of one mistake seems a waste to me.”

A small word of encouragement.

It was the first comfort she had ever received from this ‘Sky Garden,’ perhaps the first in her entire life.

No one had ever said such words to Yoo-joo, not even once.

Could she do it?

Yoo-joo took a deep breath.

She hadn’t yet decided what she truly wanted to do.

But, before that…

“There’s something I need to resolve first.”

The matter concerning the family of Hyuk-soo Lee.

And her father’s situation.

Yoo-joo resolved to confront these issues, no longer running away.

And so, the screen faded to gray as the drama concluded.

Only now did the woman, who had been holding her breath during the entire sequence, let it out.

“Whoa, if I had been following this in real-time, I don’t know how I would’ve handled it!”

There were only three episodes left, which felt incredibly disappointing.

Yoo-joo had regained her focus after Min-seo’s incident, and now she was about to resolve her long-delayed final issue.

“The screenplay was excellent.”

The woman nodded as she mulled over the drama’s script. It was always inspiring to see good work before starting her own creation.

Although technically she had taken a break for a year after finishing her previous work, it was now time to start a new project.

“…Hmm, do I really need to rush?”

Of course, while it was inspiring, she wasn’t in a hurry to get started.

Writing requires relaxation. Novels are incredibly delicate, responding sharply to one’s mental and physical condition.

Which meant she needed more rest.

“Seoyeon Joo…”

The woman mulled over the name of the actress she’d just seen on the drama.

She didn’t usually watch dramas.

More accurately, she didn’t watch video media like TV shows or movies frequently.

Occasional YouTube videos?

It was only because of one particular actor’s performance that she had started watching *Sky Garden* after it had ended.

“Jealous. I’m jealous of Sua… If I had worked harder… Even just a little faster…”

The woman pounded her fists frustratedly on the bed.

She was late with her writing. She was late with love.

Nothing ever seemed to happen quickly for her.

What was the point of publishing a new work? Wouldn’t it be better to just stay hidden away and die?

Living alone forever seemed a better option.

While she lay curled up in her bed, her phone buzzed.

It was probably spam, but when she checked the screen with a lazy expression…

“Yayy! Editor, hello! I’ve finished drafts up to Chapter 5 and am about to send them along with the proposal!”

[Writer, I know you haven’t written a single page so far.]

How did you know?

She felt even more down after hearing the editor’s voice.

But ignoring her wasn’t an option.

Her editor wasn’t from an ordinary publishing house but a major web novel platform.

To be specific, directly connected to the platform.

Of course, if she asked, they’d just smile and say it wouldn’t affect her, but that feeling lingered.

“We’re the ‘ beta’ in the contract, right?”

What was this “beta”?

The woman felt even sorrier for herself.

“I will never go direct again.”

What’s the point of selling novels well if one can’t even speak freely?

She wouldn’t be friendly with CEOs or directors at a regular publishing house.

She’d change her pen name and debut somewhere else.

Could she really stand this platform?

[Writer, I have good news for you.]

“Really? I’m already excited!”

Regardless of what the news was, it was probably nothing spectacular.

Maybe just some promotion opportunity?

The webtoon adaptation was done ages ago, and there was nothing more to adapt currently.

Moreover, the platform might be thinking of producing its own content instead of outsourcing to smaller companies.

Surely, it’s about getting a bigger share of the profits.

[Writer, your novel is being adapted into a drama.]

“?”

The woman momentarily detached the phone from her ear.

After checking the screen, she pressed the call recording button.

“Uh, sorry, could you repeat that? My hearing must be off.”

[Writer, your work is being adapted for broadcast on a major terrestrial network.]

“Wow! Mind blowing!!”

[?]

She’d screamed without realizing it.

Ah, this is why working with the platform directly was good. Mind blowing indeed.

A drama adaptation?

Not a web-drama, but on a major terrestrial network?

Of course, the universe’s strongest platform.

She had faith in it.

Surely, this was where she’d spend the rest of her life.

“Sua, living happily? Keep being happy with Seoyeon. I think I might be happy too.”

Her gloomy mood vanished.

Why prepare a new project?

Who was this person calling herself a web novelist?

From now on, she’d be referred to as a drama writer.

Lying back with an overwhelming sense of high spirits, the woman collapsed.

Her vitality completely drained, she fell asleep.

Meanwhile…

Unbeknownst to her, Seoyeon who had received the blessings somewhere, was now saying:

“Then I’ll head in.”

“Ah, okay. Come in.”

She stood face-to-face with Yeo-hee.

‘During the next filming session, I’m going to show her exactly who’s boss.’

The humiliation from the last filming session had to be repaid, and she needed extra training for that.

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