Chapter 111: A New Beginning, Written in Snow

Somehow, the article popping up out of nowhere felt suspicious. 

It wasn’t like I’d collapsed or anything; it was just a simple nutrient shot, and yet it made the news.

I’m not even some massive top star or anything.

“These little articles like this all add up to shape a celebrity’s image, you know.”

He said this while glancing at Hayoon beside him.

“Ah~ Really? I had no idea.”

“That’s why I said I’d buy you a meal to share tips like this. How about it? When we get back to Korea, if you could make some time…”

“……”

“I should tell the CEO about this.”

“Huh?”

He looked flustered at the mention of the CEO, after trying to sweet-talk me.

“Thanks for the great tip.”

“No, that’s not…!”

“I’ll make sure to tell him the team leader shared it with me. Next time we have time, let’s have a meal with the CEO!”

I pretended to be clueless, but Taewoon probably realized his plan wasn’t working. 

That kind of roundabout talk is common among celebrities.

“Haha, sure.”

As expected, he caught on to my intent and backed off smoothly.

“See you next time~ Hyung, let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Hayoon stared at him blatantly before following me.

“That guy seems like the one who was with Moon Hayoung during the music video shoot.”

Hayoon remembered him even though he’d only seen him briefly on set.

“Yeah. The one who gave me his business card.”

“I thought it was weird how he kept staring at you on set.”

“Really? He did?”

I was too busy filming to notice, but like last time, Hayoon was really perceptive and good at reading situations.

“Yeah. So I kept an eye on him.”

“Hyung, you’re really… I’ll do well, so even if another actor tries to lure you away, don’t you dare go. Got it?”

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“I’m dead serious.”

“Uh, got it.”

Hayoon scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and asked.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m starving~ Let’s go back to the hotel and order room service!”

I’d won an award, after all. I planned to head back to the hotel with Hayoon and celebrate properly.

***

Kingdom Entertainment.

With Hyunjae getting busier, the company was buzzing right along with him.

“CEO, the ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’ side is talking about an overseas fan meeting…”

“Overseas fan meeting?”

“Yeah, probably because the drama’s getting good reactions abroad.”

They say people have the same eye for talent regardless of nationality—thanks to Taewoon, the overseas rights sold well, and since the drama was fun, international buzz followed naturally.

“They’re really milking it for all it’s worth.”

An overseas fan meeting from just one drama. It was an unexpected bonus.

“Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam. They’re planning to hit about five countries.”

“What’s Hyunjae’s schedule like?”

“‘Love Some’ filming doesn’t have much left, so no issues.”

“Go for it. No reason for us to turn it down. Overseas fans are huge for actors these days.”

It was a great chance to turn drama fans into personal fans, so we couldn’t pass it up.

“Okay, I’ll proceed with that. Oh! And Dewin contacted us about sending a coffee truck to the set, so I set a date for it.”

“Good job.”

“Probably because of the renewal—they’re really doting on Hyunjae and taking good care of him.”

With good reactions from both variety shows and dramas, Dewin seemed to be pampering their ad model Hyunjae a lot.

“And Smile Yogurt reached out about an ad…”

“Smile Yogurt? Isn’t that the brand people are boycotting?”

“This one? I don’t think so? The name seems different.”

The employee quickly pulled out their smartphone to search.

“No. Look into it closely—it’s probably the same one.”

Hyungkyu, who always had a mental list of brands consumers avoided, spoke with confidence.

“So many celebrities get called thoughtless for taking the wrong ad. And doesn’t that product taste bad anyway?”

“I… don’t buy it, at least.”

“Me neither.”

“Then absolutely not.”

And of course, product quality couldn’t be overlooked.

“I’ll turn it down politely then.”

“Okay.”

In the middle of the meeting and chatting with the employees, there was a knock, and Hayoon cautiously opened the door and came in.

“Hello~”

“Oh, what brings you here? Doesn’t Hyunjae have filming today?”

Hayoon mostly stuck with Hyunjae, so he rarely came to the office.

“It’s evening filming. This… Hyunjae asked me to pass it on to the company folks.”

As he spoke, Hayoon placed a shopping bag on the table.

“What’s this?”

“He said he’s sorry he couldn’t mention it in his acceptance speech.”

“Aww~ So thoughtful!”

“He didn’t have to buy stuff like this.”

They said it was fine, but the employees were all smiling ear to ear.

“He said he was too flustered and forgot, but next time he’ll definitely say it.”

“Hyunjae’s the only one who looks out for us like this.”

“Tell him we all understand~”

“Oh, and CEO, just a moment…”

Hayoon carefully called Hyungkyu out of the conference room, and Hyungkyu glanced at the employees distracted by the gifts before following.

“What’s up that you need to pull me aside?”

“Well… After the KAA awards, we ran into someone from DreamN at backstage.”

“Ran into them?”

“That person tried to… with Hyunjae…”

“Approach him?”

Hayoon’s eyes widened as Hyungkyu finished his sentence for him.

“How did you know?”

“Those pointless articles popping up felt off, so I looked into it myself.”

“Wow… As expected from the CEO.”

Hayoon was newly impressed, thinking this was why he was the boss.

“What did Hyunjae say?”

“Our Hyunjae drew a firm line, of course.”

Hayoon said it decisively, in case Hyungkyu misunderstood.

“Then it’s fine.”

“Huh? You’re okay with it?”

Hayoon wondered if this cool reaction was really alright.

“What are they gonna do if the guy’s not budging?”

“Ah.”

It takes two hands to clap—if one side shows no interest, all the fuss from the other is pointless.

“Those guys hit the jackpot with Jung Jaehyun and just bloated up without substance. How dare they try to poach someone else’s kid.”

Hyungkyu knew exactly how DreamN operated. 

They acted all professional and systematic as a big agency, but in reality, it was a hole-in-the-wall shop jerked around by CEO Kim Taehwan.

“One thug joins and muddies the whole industry. Do they think that kind of sleazy crap will fly here?”

They probably thought we were small and easy to push around, but if they tried it once more, he wasn’t going to let it slide.

I’ve been in this business for years—where does this young punk come from thinking…

“If any more weirdos latch on, tell me right away.”

“Got it.”

“But… leaving my name out of the acceptance speech entirely was a bit much, don’t you think?”

“Huh?”

“Just kidding.”

He said it was a joke, but to Hayoon, it felt sincere.

“Ah… Yeah.”

It seemed like Hyungkyu was a little miffed at Hyunjae. 

He’d have to tell him not to forget next time he gave an acceptance speech.

***

And a few days later, Taewoon’s music video was released.

[‘Taewoon – 1cm feat. Uria’ Official MV]

└Finally, the MV’s out!

└A duet with Uria is cheating.

└Taewoon hopped on the Uria train lolol gotta do what you gotta do if solo doesn’t work.

└└Duets happen, why the fuss.

└└└You say that so nicely.

└Jung Hyunjae and Moon Hayoung are in the MV?

People showed interest in the fresh pairing of the two actors.

└What? They look so good together!

└The height difference is heart-fluttering.

└Y’all know this is Jung Hyunjae’s first romance, right? lolol

└└Rly?

└└└He’s filming Love Some now, but this is the first one released ㅋㅋ

└I just thought he was cute, but correction: Jung Hyunjae looks like a man now…….

└Seeing this makes me want a romance with Jung Hyunjae.

True to the song title 1cm, the video captured the delicate, heart-fluttering tension of a man and woman on the verge of getting closer.

└Won’t they do a project together?

└Same project pls ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

└An older woman-younger man thing would be good.

└└Personally, he matches better with Moon Hayoung?

└└└Me too! With Haewon it’s too much big sis-lil bro vibe.

└The song fits perfectly~ Who’s the MV director? It’s my style.

The sweet music video that matched the song drew a lot of attention, and the proof was in the view count.

“The views are climbing really fast~”

The stylist in the back seat said while watching the music video.

“Really? The song is good, yeah.”

“This song’s charting higher than the title track they released first!”

It felt oddly satisfying that the song from the MV I was in was ranking higher.

“Comments are blowing up asking for a project with Moon Hayoung.”

“Haha, did we come off that compatible?”

“Yeah! Especially this scene!”

The stylist held out her smartphone, pointing at the screen.

“Ah~ This scene?”

The part she showed was where the two walked together, eyeing each other, wanting to get just a bit closer.

“Eeee~ It’s making me all fluttery? This sneaky glance! This!”

Walking with the co-star, sneaking side-eyes, fidgeting to close the gap even a little.

“You really… You need to walk the romance path only.”

“Hahaha!”

No matter how I looked at it, having her as my stylist was a godsend. 

I still couldn’t see why this scene was getting such reactions.

“Noona, if there are good reactions like this, make sure to tell me.”

“Of course~ Especially since you bribed me like this. Thanks, the scent is amazing.”

I’d naturally included a gift for the stylist when buying for the agency staff.

“Hyunjae, filming’s starting.”

“Yeah~”

“Let’s go.”

At Hayoon’s word, I got out of the waiting car and headed to the set, where Haewon’s filming was in full swing. Since they were shooting, I approached quietly with a greeting, and soon the cut was called.

“Cut! Good~ Next scene!”

“Ugh~ So cold.”

The moment cut was called, Haewon shivered all over and immediately draped a padded jacket over her shoulders. 

It was an outdoor night shoot at dawn, with temperatures well below freezing.

“Haa~ Hyunjae, need time to get into character?”

“No. Let’s just go right in. Everyone’s cold.”

All the staff were bundled up against the cold but still shivering, so I didn’t want to drag it out.

“Jaehee walks, and Kangha appears from behind and hugs her tight. Then deliver the line.”

“Yeah!”

“Let’s shoot quick and get inside.”

In that moment, everyone was of one mind. The scene we were filming was important—the end of the long regression, where the two reunite.

“Ready.”

“Alright~ Ready~ Action!”

At the director’s cue, I followed the walking Haewon and hugged her from behind.

“You’re not here to see me?”

Haewon froze in surprise at my unexpected appearance, and I continued the line.

“If you’re gonna save me, take responsibility. How could you just leave?”

“……Liar.”

She turned naturally to face me, and seeing my face, Haewon shook her head in disbelief.

“I promised I’d say it every year on your birthday…….”

“Hic… Sob.”

“Happy birthday, Han Jaehee.”

Tears streamed from Haewon’s eyes like a faucet turned on, and she bit her lip to hold back the sobs, but they leaked out anyway.

“I love you.”

I whispered love to her, and at the same time, something fell from the sky and landed on my hand.

Snow.

And this snow was a signal sent from the heavens.

A new beginning.