“Photo spread? Swimsuit?”
Sua inadvertently murmured the words.
Getting one’s face on a magazine spread was considered a sort of certification that an entertainer had arrived, wasn’t it? It was the reason Sua’s heart was swelling with anticipation.
[ JOGUE KOREA ]
Jogue Korea.
The magazine spread currently laid out on the desk was both notable and from a brand Sua herself recognized. Sua inquired.
“Are we really shooting for this brand?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
At the same time, Kim I-seo shrugged.
“I anticipated offers for photo spreads, but the terms were surprisingly good, so it was unexpected. It means the world’s interest in you, Sua, is scorching. In the face of overwhelming buzz, everyone becomes a subordinate.”
Sua nodded.
After all, magazine spreads didn’t always feature just the prettiest faces and best bodies. Sua herself had seen chefs featured when cooking shows became popular.
I-seo was right—Sua was making waves, enough that even top-tier publications were looking for her.
“Let alone a swimsuit spread…”
Sua quietly muttered under her breath.
“Why a swimsuit, Sua must know, right?”
“Because of that rain scene at the end?”
“Yes, that’s correct. You were completely drenched and the reactions were huge. If rain alone could spark that much attention, imagine what properly soaking you in the right environment would do? Chaos is expected. I agree with that judgment.”
“Is that so?”
“Listing all the industries influenced by Special Mobile Unit 808 would be difficult. The PPL beverage sales have gone up, and hair salons are using bleach advertisements now.”
Sua nodded.
Although her response seemed casual, it was heartfelt and filled her with pride.
“The swimwear industry is no exception. With the weather getting warmer, they’ve decided that having you in swimwear would boost sales significantly. That’s why there’s an ‘808 Swimsuit Special’ slated for August.”
“…A spread that’s putting me as the special feature.”
“Far from a third-rate magazine, Jogue has chosen you, Sua, as their protagonist. How does that make you feel? This isn’t something a newcomer typically experiences.”
Sua remained silent.
She was speechless, feeling an odd sensation.
Afterward, Kim I-seo explained the detailed terms of the contract and the benefits Sua would receive, but none of it really sank in. After a moment, she realized that what she was feeling was close to… gratitude.
‘Photos? Photos, really?’
Upon reflection, Sua had always been excluded from photos.
-Sua, for the group photo, please adjust your expression a little.
-It’s just Sua who stands out too much here.
-Sua, we’ll just take your photo separately.
It was a memory from when she was working at a regular job.
Sua was always excluded from group photos because she wasn’t good at her work and had a rather unappealing demeanor. But now things were different. A top-tier photo magazine wanted her.
Her pictures were now something people wanted.
This was a result of her hard work as an actor, and thus the sense of gratification was even stronger. Sua nodded.
“What a good thing.”
“This isn’t just a good thing. It’s extraordinary. Though you don’t seem to react much, Sua.”
How could that be? A wave of gratitude was washing over her.
Anyway, each swimsuit she’d model would be a different advertisement. Sua would get to be a cover star, try on beautiful clothing, and earn money in the process.
It certainly seemed like a highly satisfying deal. Getting paid to look good? Incredible!
But then, one question sprang to mind.
“Do we know what swimwear I’ll be wearing yet?”
At that moment, the representative smiled as if reading Sua’s mind.
“No worries there. I’ve taken a look at some samples, and nothing came off as tasteless.”
“That’s a relief.”
The line between something cheap and enticing allure was thin, but the reactions they’d get could be worlds apart. Thanks to her newly acquired skills in manipulation—referred to in the biz as “fox-like tricks”—Sua was now more cognizant of such things.
Kim I-seo cleared her throat and stared at Sua’s chest unnecessarily.
“They’re also being careful on the photo shoot. Even regular swimsuits might look… inappropriate once Sua wears them. And there’s a risk they could seem too suggestive.”
Sua understood. Her body had turned out to be much better than she had realized, thanks to how much the Association (Sua’s fanbase) talked about it, she had started to notice it a little more now.
“How long will the photoshoot take?”
“It’ll be done on the same day. However, if the reactions are fantastic, they might request a formal contract.”
Kim I-seo took a sip of water from her mug.
“Alright. Sua, now comes the most crucial part.”
She was simultaneously checking Sua’s expressions.
“…Sua is in agreement with this photo shoot, right?”
“Of course.”
Why would she say no?
But Kim I-seo’s face looked like she’d overcome a major crisis, even with Sua’s brief answer. She even sighed in relief.
“Phew, finally, we’ll have some sexy photos from Mystic as well. Even though Yeon-joo gets frequent offers, they’re all about youth or summer freshness…”
“…Which suits her well.”
Though it seemed like Yeon-joo didn’t desire such roles herself. Sua quietly swallowed that thought and asked something else.
“Is it enough to prepare for some facial expressions?”
“You might not even need that. Just tossing you in the water will have people going nuts about you. But I’ll make sure to inform you of any specific requests as the situation arises.”
“Understood, thank you.”
Upon Sua’s response, Kim I-seo smiled faintly.
“So, the photo spread will go ahead as planned, and we’ll have upcoming schedules related to Special Mobile Unit 808. Especially, there will be meetings to discuss the ending.”
Sua nodded.
‘Right, they said the conclusion could vary depending on its popularity.’
Though they’d completed filming for all possible scenarios, they would decide which ending to use through meetings. Sua thought it was truly a Lee Geum-sook-worthy way of doing things.
Kim I-seo continued.
“Right now, Mystic is flooded with all sorts of inquiries and booking offers, but I plan to cut down on most of them. Jumping into everything that comes our way is a rookie mistake. We need to keep things tantalizing.”
“Tantalizing?”
“It’s like matchmaking.”
Kim I-seo quietly went on.
“Even if the other party seems to be all in, you don’t rush to kiss immediately. To completely reel them in, sometimes you need to be a bit demanding.”
“I need a more straightforward explanation.”
Sua was serious.
What does that even mean? Suachung!
“All information about Sua will be tightly locked down.”
Kim I-seo smirked.
“People will want to know more about Sua, but no useful information will be given out, driving them crazy. The anticipation will be immense.”
…
…
…
…
…
Later, things went exactly as Mystic had planned.
The internet was still buzzing with talk about Sua, but no new information was being released. People had no choice but to speculate on what they already knew.
Consequently:
[‘Special Mobile Unit 808’, Kim Yu-han’s breakout star, Lee Sua, still closing SNS even at the peak?]
[No updates on Lee Sua… her agency remains silent.]
Curiosity about Sua’s recent situation was growing.
But nobody could get answers. Mystic wasn’t releasing any information. The difference in approach compared to other entertainment agencies that seize every opportunity was stark.
Just as their CEO had described, comparing public relations to dating, Mystic was maintaining a high-and-mighty attitude, not revealing eagerness even when good opportunities presented themselves.
Actually, Sua had wondered about it.
Is this process really necessary?
But she didn’t wonder for long.
Soon, Sua understood Kim I-seo’s intentions.
[Lee Sua’s depression controversy… ‘Overworking on multiple roles in a short period causing this’, fans express concern.]
[Lee Sua might retire? Is this rising star already fading?]
[Despite numerous rumors… ‘Lee Sua Fan Cafe reaches 300,000 members’. Support flooding in. Retirement not an option!]
“…?”
Sua was quite surprised when she saw this.
‘Wait, why would I retire?’
Gossip spreads quickly.
The phrase wasn’t exaggerated. Unverified rumors traveled around the country in no time. But through it all, there were no derogatory comments about Sua—only pure worry and anticipation for her.
Amazement morphed into admiration towards Kim I-seo.
‘Incredible, she even accounted for this.’
Whatever Sua would do next, the moment the information was released, she was bound to receive immense attention. Sua was set to proceed with future plans with great anticipation.
‘If it weren’t for Director Kim, this would have been terrible.’
If she had joined a less competent agency, Sua might have found herself overwhelmed by random engagements and schedules, leading to trouble. Just thinking about it made her uncomfortable.
Fortunately, a message from Director Kim arrived around this time.
[Sender: Kim I-seo]
▷ Things are progressing smoothly as planned.
This was also a moment when Sua felt immense satisfaction within herself.
Choosing Mystic was the right choice.
Suahappy!
[Sender: Kim I-seo]
▷ Let’s move onto the next project.
