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Chapter

The color palette was all black.

Adorning the tip of the hat was a fluffy white fox fur.

‘…It’s a bit warm.’

It seemed like it was quite a luxurious padding with excellent insulation.

However, it still wasn’t time for Haeun’s winter photoshoot to end.

“Next, let’s try holding the hat with both hands, okay? But don’t wear it completely, just about 70%.”

Under the direction of Gong Jae-ho, who was supervising this winter photoshoot and also the biological father of Gong Hye-yeon, we struck another pose different from the previous one.

Soon, several clicks of the camera shutter filled the air.

Haeun’s image appeared once again on the monitor linked to the photographer’s camera.

A moment later, gasps of admiration came from Gong Hye-yeon, who was watching Haeun’s photoshoot.

Being a proper fashion model, Gong Hye-yeon instantly recognized that Haeun’s pictures were just right for a fashion magazine.

The photoshoot went on for quite a while.

Changing into various winter outfits apart from the padding, Haeun assumed different poses captured by the photographer’s camera.

“Great job today~.”

At last, when Haeun’s photoshoot wrapped up, Jae-ho’s satisfied voice rang out.

He mentioned that we might soon see Haeun’s photos in various department stores.

This was something I had already known thanks to the photoshoot meeting held a few days ago.

Still, it didn’t quite sink in that Haeun’s photos would be displayed in department stores.

I wonder if that’s the reason.

When department stores contracted with Jae-ho’s company began using Haeun’s photos for winter clothing advertisements.

“Hmm… I think it turned out well, but…”

Haeun found herself wandering into a department store she rarely visited to check out her own photo.

Of course, she was wearing a black baseball cap and mask to conceal her face.

It felt bizarrely foreign.

It was a new experience to see so many people encountering Haeun’s photos.

Arguably, the Sears new bed advertisement was also something many people saw.

Even the making-of video uploaded to Sears’ official YouTube channel had quite a high view count.

*Ding!*

[Park Miso (Mile)] – Hey guys, I met Haeun!

[Park Miso (Mile)] – (Selca with Haeun’s photoshoot as the backdrop)

[Park Miso (Mile)] – But she didn’t even say hi to me ㅠㅠㅠ I’m so sad, Haeun!

[Lee Ye-na (Yuna)] – LOL

The kind of advertisement that could be encountered in reality was this winter photoshoot.

Seeing the verification shots sent by acquaintances like members of Fantasia or classmates felt quite odd.

After the day Haeun first visited to see her photo, she continued to drop by the department store whenever she had spare time.

It turned into a sort of adventure, seeking out other department stores where Haeun’s photos were displayed.

It was the first time experiencing the fame of the three-character name ‘Lee Haeun’ so directly.

She felt a bit exhilarated, I suppose.

However, she couldn’t wander through various department stores forever.

It was partly because shopping was not one of Haeun’s numerous hobbies.

But more than anything else.

“Uh, um…?”

A store employee at one department store recognized that the person standing right in front of Haeun, admiring the photo, was indeed Haeun.

At that moment, even though she was dressed in what could be called a celebrity’s secret outing look, trying to hide her face.

“C-could I take a photo together?”

“Ah… Sure.”

Haeun’s ears turned red because of the employee who persistently recognized her and asked for a picture.

It felt embarrassingly peculiar to be caught looking at her own photo by someone else.

As a result, after that day, Haeun couldn’t visit her own photo anymore.

To be fair, she’d already been to nearly every place.

Time passed, and the early winter began to turn chilly.

The streets of Seoul gradually revealed the year-end atmosphere.

But still, as a high school student, Haeun.

*Ding-dong—!*

“Alright, everyone put your pens down, and those at the back, collect the OMR sheets~.”

She had to engulf herself in the stiff and pressing atmosphere of midterms instead of the leisurely year-end mood.

Perhaps it was because it was the midterm exams in the second semester of the second year; it carried some weight.

In any case, the midterms had completely finished.

So she thought she could spend some time leisurely apart from the filming schedule for <The Sunshine>.

“Year-end trip?”

“Yeah. Eunhye’s acquaintance gave her ski tickets for Japan as a gift.”

The suggestion from Ji Hyemin, asking if Haeun would join other Fantasia members for a year-end trip, was made.

This was a brief rest or year-end gathering for the Fantasia members who had worked hard on broadcasts.

To think that it had barely been half a year since their school trip to Japan.

But a suggestion to join a group trip to Japan with none other than the members of Fantasia, whom she could only meet through videos in her past life, was something Haeun found almost impossible to refuse.

“Hmm, how do I fill out the experiential learning application….”

Thus, for the first time in her life, Haeun began preparing for the trip with the Fantasia members by drafting her experiential learning application.

As it happened, the dates didn’t conflict with the filming schedule for <The Sunshine>, so all she needed to resolve were the attendance issues at school.

Perhaps naturally, Haeun’s homeroom teacher appeared bewildered when the experiential learning application, which listed Japan as the destination, was submitted.

However, since there weren’t any procedural issues, the homeroom teacher eventually stamped her approval at the very top of the application.

Following that, she asked a question regarding Haeun’s travel plans.

“So, why are you going to Akihabara? To buy a camera?”

However, the truth was that Haeun’s real aim was primarily related to subculture goods, which she had not relayed.

For some reason, she averted her gaze and mumbled something about wanting to buy a camera too.

In any case, the issue regarding school attendance was resolved now.

All that remained was planning the trip into more detailed itineraries.

There was a buzz when Hyemin suggested that if Haeun had specific places she wanted to visit, she should let them know.

Aside from the ski resort, the decision-making power over the travel itinerary was entirely in the hands of the Fantasia members.

Nevertheless, the saying that ‘even a piece of paper is easier when held together’ was probably not for nothing.

Considering that there were many curious Noels on whether Dia would participate in the group trip posted on the official Fantasia fan cafe.

*Tap-tap.*

<Travel Planning Stream☆>

– Dia

– They say she’s a spirit who came to play in the human world, but she really does go out to play all the time.

– Damn, another trip… Noels are going to freeze again…

As the group trip of Fantasia drew near, they held a stream themed on the winter travel plans to Japan.

Of course, they didn’t mention any specific visitation dates to avoid exposing the Fantasia members’ red pills.

It was limited to receiving recommendations from the Noels on where might be good to visit, what might be tasty to eat, and what they should do.

“I’ve always dreamed of experiencing snow at a hot spring, so should we go to an outdoor hot spring then?”

– Ooo, yeah

– If you go to Japan in winter, you’ve got to experience both snow and hot springs!

– Wow, that sounds romantic.

– Take me with you!

[Ooo has donated 1,000 won!]

: Is it a mixed bath? (No idea)

“Whether it’s a mixed bath or not… Wait, I don’t think I actually asked that out of curiosity?”

– Gasp

– Damn, this perceptive kid…!

– BIIIIIIG OP!!! I can’t help but do the sword dance!!

– Help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me!

– We’ll meet at the mixed bath (User has been banned)

– Aaaah, people are gathering!!!

The chat exploded into chaos for a moment.

Not long after that, a 1:1 chat with a Noel who asked about the mixed bath appeared on Dia’s stream.

– Oh no, Mod, you got yourself in trouble.

– I’ll remember this!!!

– Now, let’s enter the room of truth~~

A moment later, Dia’s expression changed.

The innocent smile she used to wear transformed into a nearly expressionless face.

Was it because of that?

[qwieqo118] – I’m sorry

Caught in the 1:1 chat with Dia, the Noel immediately began with an apology.

In response to that, Dia persistently pried further.

“Hey, don’t just say sorry~. Tell me why you were so curious about whether it’s a mixed bath or not—”

So it was then that the Noel realized they’d reached a point of no return and steadied their heart.

[qwieqo118] – Can I leave just one last word before I go?

They asked for a moment, claiming they had something to say one last time.

Immediately, Dia’s soft voice invited them to say what they wanted.

So, the message stating that the other party was typing appeared in the chatroom, and while other Noels were curious about what might be the last words of the doomed Noel.

[qwieqo118] – Yuna said Dia’s mid is dope!!!!!!!

A sudden and unexpected underwater operation was launched by the Noel who had just entered a new chat.

After a moment of Dia’s avatar being stunned,

Time passed in silence.

Just when they fully understood the meaning of the previous message.

“Ah, I see. You wanted to witness something crazy happening in a mixed bath~.”

With her usual bright voice returning, Dia’s avatar spoke to the Noel.

And at that moment, click.

<The user has been forcibly removed.>

“Get out!!!!”

In an instant, Dia’s voice tone shifted, and the scene of the doomed Noel drawn from the stream left a sea of tears in the chatroom.

Of course, most of the comments were just people pretending to be sad.

The Noel, who had been banned by Dia, was quickly wrapped up in the scene as a martyr.

Afterward, Dia once again opened a private chat with another Noel on the stream, interrogating why that Noel had claimed to be a martyr.

And thus began the reign of terror.

This time, the broadcasting chat was genuinely filled with fear.

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