It was the second day since Heavenly Yuah joined Flame.
So far, nothing had really changed.
As I had expected, someone of Heavenly Yuah’s caliber probably intended to keep some distance from the company while still being affiliated.
However, since Heavenly Yuah had already taken a year-long break and was planning to re-enter acting with a few cameos, there was a possibility she might visit the company for script or role discussions.
If we could get past this period smoothly, it would likely be a while before we crossed paths again.
Thus, it seemed I should be more cautious around the building for now.
It would be embarrassing if I happened to run into her in the hallway.
And let’s not forget, I’m the one who discarded that business card she gave me.
If she ever asked me why I did that now that we were on the same team, even I wouldn’t know how to respond.
Honestly, if I had known things would turn out this way, I would’ve contacted her separately and at least politely turned her down.
It was my oversight for not thinking clearly because of lingering memories.
“Okay?”
“Oh, of course. Still, I feel much more alive after getting ready. What do you think, Miss Actor?”
“It feels a little awkward, but it seems fine.”
Today, for the first time in a while, I left the confines of the company.
It was the final farewell party for “The Genius Copywriter, Yoon Seo-eun.”
Yoon Seo-eun, having consistently improved the drama’s ratings, had just recorded the last episode. She was currently achieving an impressive 23.2% viewership.
The farewell event was set to be quite grand, appropriately fitting for such a successful drama.
I, as one of the pivotal supporting characters who helped drive the show’s ratings, was also considered one of the main guests at this farewell party.
It was particularly important for me since this was only my third time appearing as myself on camera instead of in character.
As I mentioned to Jo Yoo-shin, people remember Yoon, the elder, not me, Baek Siu.
Being in this drama allowed me to sign with Flame, but now it was a good opportunity to raise my own profile as much as possible—especially since many reporters would be attending today.
At Team Leader Seo’s suggestion, I made sure to stop by a well-known boutique near the office to enhance my appearance before heading over.
The owner of the shop was so exclusive that they wouldn’t deal with anyone who wasn’t a top star. Still, ironically, I received the same treatment as one, all thanks to Heavenly Yuah.
Speaking of which…
When Heavenly Yuah moved her operations to this side of town, I was tagged along as part of the package.
There’s something I didn’t know before: even something as simple as who touches your hair can determine an actor’s rank.
Apparently, even the best salons selectively accept clients based on their stature. People love dividing themselves into hierarchies—it’s quite comical but it’s part of the reality here.
Still, the owner of this notoriously picky salon was highly skilled, balancing the right degree of sophistication for an event like this.
It wasn’t too flashy because, after all, a farewell dinner still feels like a personal gathering. Thanks to his expertise, I looked much more polished than usual.
I felt like I had earned my place under the afterglow of Heavenly Yuah’s presence. Honestly, being treated as an add-on to her didn’t hurt my pride, so I accepted it graciously.
Flame spared no expense and prepared an enormous van for this event—even for a newcomer like me.
How many passengers could it hold?
It seemed excessively large, so I asked Team Leader Seo. He explained that larger vans are better for switching costumes during shoots and even allowing cast members to rest inside.
“Sure, I get that bigger is better, but still…”
Maybe the company did this because it was manageable under the budget.
Instead of overcomplicating things, I figured it was best to let the company handle logistics like these and just go with it.
*
This farewell party was a grand event attended by not only the actors but the whole crew.
Apparently, a vast barbecue restaurant had been booked just for this occasion.
There were already clusters of journalists waiting outside the reserved restaurant.
Every time an actor arrived, camera flashes lit up the entrance where a designated photo zone was set up for them.
Aware that the media would be present in large numbers, the production team had arranged the area accordingly.
“Oh! A van has arrived. Who’s this time?”
“Hm?”
“Who is it?”
As I stepped out of the van and walked toward the photo zone, the journalists glanced at me confusedly.
The fact that I had come out of the van and was dressed in a manner befitting a cast member of the drama indicated I was indeed an actor, but they couldn’t place my face immediately.
Then quickly…
“Oh! It’s Baek Siu. The elder, Yoon.”
“Ah… yeah, I almost didn’t recognize him this way.”
“Alright, start snapping.”
One of the journalists recognized me, saving me from a potentially embarrassing situation.
If no one had recognized me while I confidently strode to the photo zone, it would’ve been awkward.
Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.
Once again, I resolved not to appear masked in future dramas.
“Hey, Siu. Looking dapper today.”
“Yes, now that I’m an actor, I must keep my appearances polished at official events.”
“Haha, right you are. Anyway, glad you came. Let’s head over there, Writer Min’s also here.”
“Yes, but… where’s Senior Jo Yoo-shin?”
“Oh, Senior Jo? He’s probably running late. It’s his habit to be the last one to arrive at gatherings.”
“Ah. He sure knows how to keep things interesting.”
Well, it would be strange for our “elementary school” prodigy not to make some kind of scene here.
The protagonist always arrives last, right?
Still, not only Jo Yoo-shin but the other two leads had also not shown up yet.
Unlike Jo Yoo-shin, the other two were top idols who could blame their tardiness on tight schedules. Jo Yoo-shin wasn’t at that level yet.
“Oh, there’s Lion and Seon.”
Finally, the two idols arrived just in time, marking their safe arrival.
In doing so, they inadvertently crowned Jo Yoo-shin as the true star of the evening’s grand finale.
Truly, he was consistent in his antics.
“So, you joined Flame, huh?”
“Yes, it looks to be a good place. The treatment’s excellent.”
“Makes sense, given that Heavenly Yuah joined too.”
Before joining Flame, I had reached out to Director Yoo out of gratitude since I owed them a favor.
Because of that, I extended my thanks for helping me land such a good company.
At first, Director Yoo had hesitated, questioning whether Flame wasn’t too new, but everything changed after the news of Heavenly Yuah’s joining broke.
When Heavenly Yuah comes into the picture, newness doesn’t matter, does it?
“Hey, Actor Baek is in Flame too? Isn’t Heavenly Yuah there?”
“Yes, Senior Heavenly Yuah is there.”
“Wow, you really landed a great place, Baek. Both of you and Flame.”
“That’s true. Flame really took a step in the right direction by signing me.”
“Ha, still as bold as ever.”
“If people started changing overnight, we’d all be doomed.”
Writer Min, who had just learned the news of my joining Flame, encouraged me, saying I had picked a great place.
It was a bit late, though, as Writer Min had been preoccupied with writing the ending and hadn’t been in contact.
Still, the fact that Writer Min mentioned Heavenly Yuah first showed just how influential she was.
No matter where you went, her presence was undeniable.
“Ah, here comes the main star…”
While we were chatting about barbecue, the main star finally arrived.
“What’s with that look on his face? And… why’s he frowning?”
Jo Yoo-shin walked in with a discontent look, glaring at me the moment our eyes met.
It was surprising. Although he’s never really liked me, his reaction today was more intense than usual.
Considering he didn’t act this way during the last few shoots, it was odd.
“Haha, well, Jo Yoo-shin is still Jo Yoo-shin, as people rarely change that much.”
“Yes, but it’s puzzling why he’s behaving so strangely. He never acted this way during shooting.”
“Oh, it’s a well-known story in this industry…”
At my perplexed look, Director Yoo, who had been in a great mood after the success of the drama, explained with a smile.
Seems Jo Yoo-shin had been secretly eyeing Heavenly Yuah for a while, so it annoyed him that I now worked alongside her.
Is this some form of twisted affection?
I don’t understand why he’s making such a big deal out of something as simple as us working at the same company.
“Well, if he’s so bothered, SD should’ve just taken Heavenly Yuah with them.”
“Yeah, SD actually made quite a push for her. Everyone in the entertainment world seemed to have their eyes on her.”
“Yes, it seems the industry knows a bit about Senior Heavenly Yuah supposedly looking for a company.”
“There have been rumors about her taking a year off and scouting for the right place. Apparently, many companies made offers, but…”
“…she ended up choosing Flame.”
Sure would’ve been convenient if SD had managed to sign her. My patience was wearing thin with SD today.
They usually disappointed me, but today was especially irritating.
“Anyway, aside from that…”
“Yes?”
“It’s a bit funny hearing Jo Yu Shin associated with Senior Heavenly Yuah, isn’t it? Not even worth a passing mention of romance.”
While I had absolutely no interest in the romantic life of the modern Heavenly Yuah, it seemed objectively that Jo Yoo-shin and Heavenly Yuah were on completely different levels.
Jo Yoo-shin needs to aim higher.
“Haha, Jo Yoo-shin would cry if he heard that, huh?”
Whether my remark about “impossible pairings” amused him or he was just tipsy from the show’s success, Director Yoo was definitely more cheerful than usual today.
“Haha, it’s truly a shame for Yuah, or even more?”
Even Writer Min agreed.
Well, they’ve received great bonus payments and now even planned an overseas vacation, so their mood was understandable.
Overseas vacations? That sounds nice, though.
While I was bewildered by the news of Jo Yoo-shin’s apparently serious interest in Heavenly Yuah, my phone displayed something equally strange.
-Clumsy Mom: Ta-da! Celebrations! Passed the debut tryout! (An emoji of a bear wearing a congratulatory necklace is doing a backflip.)
-Dad: Oh! Our daughter! Great news! Great news! (An emoji of a bear eating fried chicken and giving a thumb-up.)
-Mom: Well done, Hayoung. Well done.
What in the world is going on?
“Uh? What’s wrong, Siu?”
“Ah, no. I just keep seeing strange things.”
Thinking I might’ve eaten something strange, I took a swig of beer and checked my phone again.
But my eyes weren’t deceiving me.
It appears that my clumsy sister really made it into a debut group.
“Is the world coming to an end…?”
Even though I hadn’t drunk much, I suddenly sobered up.
