A room located in a corner of the outbuilding.
“…Dammit.”
Director Bong Ha-gyun let out a deep sigh. Then, he sat bolt upright in bed. What was the point of coming down to the countryside with its fresh air and clear water? Just as he had feared, this cursed insomnia showed no signs of disappearing.
“3:00 AM…”
Feeling stifled, Director Bong threw the window wide open. Instantly, the faint moonlight poured into the room.
“Time is precious, so I might as well work.”
Fortunately, there was a suitable desk in the room. He sat there and pulled a paper manuscript out of his bag instead of a laptop.
“….”
Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes.
Even as time passed, the hand holding the pen didn’t even think about moving. He couldn’t leave a single sentence on the paper. It was nearly 4:00 AM by the time his hand finally twitched.
*Creeeeeak!*
The pen nib inevitably scratched only at the white void. Even then, the ink had run dry, and he was merely tracing through the air.
‘Am I… going to be ruined like this?’
Director Bong raised his hollow eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling. In his mind, discarded scenarios were tangled together haphazardly.
Failed endings. Abandoned characters. Narratives that had lost their way, drifted, and remained unfinished.
“The pride of the Republic of Korea, my foot…”
To some, it might be a glory others would envy. But to Director Bong Ha-gyun, those countless modifiers were nothing more than shackles.
“It’s not fun. It’s not fun!!!!”
*Thud!*
Finally unable to contain his frustration, he slammed his fist onto the desk. The public was not as generous as they used to be. From OTT platforms and YouTube to even few-second short-form videos—the change in trends had stripped people of their patience.
Meticulous buildup? Why should they endure that if it wasn’t fun?
Flashbacks for character consistency? Why put that in instead of moving the story along?
But if he just crammed in visceral fun at random? Then people would say Bong Ha-gyun was a has-been, making mass-produced trash just for the money.
“What do you want me to do…!”
Bong Ha-gyun clutched his head. An artist had to react more sensitively to trends than anyone else. However, his aging brain found it difficult to even chase those trends now. People only opened their wallets for works that could make them laugh, marvel, or cry in just a few seconds.
‘Can I still satisfy the audience?’
‘No, more than that, can I satisfy myself?’
Numerous staff members, hundreds of actors, and thousands of audience members were looking only at these hands. That weight was no longer just an artist’s mission, but a ‘responsibility’ that sustained an entire industry.
*Scratch! Scritch-scratch!*
The tip of the pen scratched the paper again. But what came out wasn’t a sentence, only a single scribbled curve. Doodles continued in a messy trail. Then, finally—
*Riiiip!*
The manuscript was helplessly torn by the pen nib.
“….”
Bong Ha-gyun closed his eyes. In that moment, what floated in his mind wasn’t the cheers of an audience, but the image of an empty theater.
A darkness filled only with rows of chairs. Not a single person visiting. A scene where only the movie he made played on in silence.
*Shiver.*
His body suddenly trembled. His breathing gradually quickened. Yes. What he feared most wasn’t public criticism, but indifference.
“I have to find… the fun.”
Director Bong Ha-gyun muttered once more. His bloodshot eyes were fixed outside the window, where the sun was dimly beginning to rise.
***
The next day, I went straight into the greenhouse.
“I once saw a paper saying that Lion’s Mane Mushrooms stimulate nerve growth factors in the human body. It’s not just about antioxidant levels; it has the potential to act directly on neural circuits in the brain, so it’s considered a step above other brain foods. What do you guys think?”
— ….
At my question, the Snowflakes whispered among themselves for a long time.
*Hop!*
Then, Santa stepped forward.
— We have something like that here too!
“What?”
I couldn’t help but be surprised by the unexpected answer.
“The only thing here is blueberries, though…?”
No. Now that I thought about it, blueberries were also one of the representative brain foods.
“So, blueberries can help in this situation too?”
My mouth hung open unconsciously.
‘This is a total cheat.’
Come to think of it, I seemed to recall a research result. When aging mice were fed a diet rich in blueberries, not only their learning but also their muscle functions improved significantly. However…
— It’s this!
“…Huh?”
Finally, we arrived at the place the Snowflakes had guided me to. It was the deepest part of the greenhouse.
“Wh-What is this blueberry…?”
I discovered something slightly different from the blueberries I knew.
“Why is the blueberry white like snow?”
That was the most striking feature of the berries I saw. Because of this, it was awkward to even call them ‘blueberries.’ If I had to give them a name…
“…Snowberries?”
The new name naturally slipped through my teeth. Although there was only one seedling bearing Snowberries in front of me.
‘Is this possible?’
Having characteristics different from ordinary specimens could be a disadvantage or an advantage. If the taste or efficacy was inferior to the original, it would naturally be treated as an inferior version. But what if it was the opposite?
‘Then a completely premium variety would be born.’
Like those rare variants that appear at auctions and sell for tens of thousands of dollars.
‘Let’s make it right away!’
I immediately picked them and ran to the kitchen.
*Splaaaaash!*
I grabbed a handful of fresh, glossy Snowberries and rinsed them lightly in cold water. The sound of the skins clinking against each other seemed to clear my head already.
“Blueberries are definitely better for desserts.”
I already had something in mind. First, I mixed cream cheese and yogurt in a glass bowl. A savory yet smooth base. When I added finely crushed Snowberries, the white cream turned even more snowy. Like snow softly landing on a roof.
“…Good.”
Simple is best. I added a few whole Snowberries on top, some lightly toasted granola, and a bit of honey.
‘I hope this helps.’
Holding the finished ‘Snowberry’ yogurt, I headed straight for the outbuilding.
***
Had he struggled to sleep? Deep dark circles, which weren’t there yesterday, had appeared under Director Bong Ha-gyun’s eyes.
“Director. Please try this.”
“This is…?”
“It’s a dessert I made. It should be delicious.”
But at that moment, Director Bong made a quite troubled expression.
“Is that yellow stuff on top honey?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes.”
“The thing is, I have a bit of a blood sugar issue…”
“I didn’t put much in, so wouldn’t this much be okay to eat?”
“Mmm….”
Despite that, Director Bong’s uncomfortable expression remained. He likely felt the same way, but there was a strong sense of ‘is this really necessary?’
“Whoa!!!!! It really is Director Bong Ha-gyun!!!!!!”
Just then, my brother, who had arrived late last night, appeared. He was accompanied by our parents on either side.
“A-Ah, hello!”
Director Bong hurriedly stood up and bowed to my parents.
“Oh, you’re a guest, so please make yourself comfortable.”
“Think of it as your own home.”
“I’m a huge fan!”
Unlike my parents, who were somewhat dry, my brother’s reaction was quite intense.
“Why are you making such a fuss without any dignity?”
“Mother! Don’t you know Director Bong Ha-gyun?”
“Well, your father and I only know trot singers… Ah, but I’ve heard the name a lot on the news.”
Thinking she had made a mistake, my mother quickly corrected herself.
“This really isn’t the kind of place you should be…”
My brother’s mouth immediately pouted out.
“Anyway, my little brother, you’re amazing. This isn’t just a golden network of connections.”
*Snap!*
Then, Ms. Seol, who had appeared with them, put her hands on her hips.
“…Seol, what are you doing?”
“Uncle! Amazing!”
“Yes, yes. It’s true that Uncle Seo-jun is amazing, but Daddy is curious why our princess is puffing out her chest like that.”
“Seol’s Uncle!!!!”
Interpreting that as an authority on ‘Seol-i Studies,’ it roughly meant ‘This uncle is my uncle, so I’m amazing too!’
“Seol isn’t seriously reacting like that, is she?”
“…Look at her nostrils flaring. That’s the habit Seol has when she’s being serious.”
My brother placed a hand on my shoulder as if to comfort me.
“Looking at the state of things, you’re going to be more tired than me later. These days, they say kids go even crazier for influencers.”
“…What do you mean influencer?”
“It’s clear as day to me. Even when Seol goes to elementary school, her dad will be pushed aside, and she’ll be shouting ‘My uncle is Baek Seo-jun!'”
“Is that some sinister plot you’ve thought up?”
“…This is why I hate kids who are quick on the uptake.”
A chuckle escaped my lips.
“Anyway, that won’t happen. Honestly, what am I anyway…”
“Good morning!”
At that moment, Min Ha-ru perfectly timed her bright greeting. Shin Hye-seo bowed her head with a faint smile on her lips.
“….”
My brother’s gaze moved as he hung his mouth open blankly. First to Min Ha-ru, then to Shin Hye-seo, and finally back to Director Bong Ha-gyun.
‘…Come to think of it, this old man still hasn’t even touched my dessert.’
Regardless, my brother’s expression was saying everything. And you’re still saying you’re not an influencer?
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“To what now?”
“To what kind of life you’ll be living a year from now.”
“I told you already. I’m going to live here for the rest of my life, just healing.”
“If life went exactly as planned, would it even be life?”
Watching the people who had started chatting among themselves, my brother shrugged his shoulders.
“You’ve already failed at being an ordinary farmer long ago.”
…Then again, I could understand my brother’s words. Celebrities didn’t usually settle down in a normal farmer’s house, and large corporations didn’t come looking for them first every day.
‘…Wait, come to think of it, shouldn’t I be hearing from Deputy Hwang Young-sik soon?’
***
[ Caller ID Restricted ]
That day, Seo I-re received a phone call.
— Prosecutor Seo I-re?
“Who is this?”
— An anonymous informant.
“An anonymous tip? I do quite like that phrase, but you’ll have to answer this first.”
Lately, Seo I-re had been very much on edge. It had been such an eventful time recently.
“How did you get my contact information?”
As she spoke, she quickly pressed the record button. If they were to propose some dirty deal…
— I understand you’re going through a difficult time lately.
At the moment Seo I-re’s lips pulled into a more crooked line—
— I wanted to give the Prosecutor a gift that might be of help.
“!”
Suddenly, a person flashed through her mind. She had a feeling. Since she had already received word from Senior Baek.
‘Deputy Hwang Young-sik?’
A moment later.
“I love gifts.”
Seo I-re then smiled broadly.
“We aren’t a media outlet, but the prosecution does guarantee the informant’s identity quite thoroughly.”
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