Chapter 40: Korea University

"Oh, Yeon-woo."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I thought it was empty, so I was going to use the computer for a bit... I'm done now."

Actors rarely visit the agency building unless it's for a contract renewal, so Yeon-woo, who comes to the office every day for acting practice, is unusually close to the staff.

"Huh? An acceptance letter? Wow! You got in!"

Wow!

Congratulations!

The public relations team employees clapped, looking at Yeon-woo from behind.

Only then did Yeon-woo turn around and notice the projector that had been turned on for a meeting.

"Oh, it was on. Thank you."

Although she hadn't intended to show off, she expressed her gratitude to the employees who were congratulating her.

Yeon-woo quickly closed the browser, said goodbye, and returned to the practice room, informing her family and friends about her acceptance.

For some reason, her mother, Lee Sun-ock, seemed even happier than when Yeon-woo had appeared in dramas or movies. Her excitement was evident even over the phone.

Unlike Yeon-woo, who hadn't intended to show off, the publicity team received numerous calls from journalists starting early in the morning.

The Korea University admissions office, adhering to the principle of not disclosing personal information, had contacted the agency.

Soon, articles flooded in, and congratulatory messages and calls poured into Yeon-woo's phone.

"In this new life, it's really... a 180-degree different life."

This life is so different from her lonely past life, where she had no close relationships and rarely opened her heart to others.

Of course, Yeon-woo is very satisfied with this new life.

***

Kim Joo-hyung was accepted into the Economics Department of Korea University as a 19th-year student.

Like Yeon-woo, Joo-hyung, who was accepted into the top university in the country, received many congratulatory calls.

However, Joo-hyung's acceptance, having been the top student in his school for three years, was somewhat expected, and everyone who called said the same thing.

- So you're a classmate with Ryu Yeon-woo, right?

"Ugh, I've heard that a hundred times."

Joo-hyung sighed, and his youngest aunt laughed.

- Hehe. Can't help it. He's hot, isn't he? Get close and get me an autograph.

"He's a celebrity; he might not even show up at school. If I meet him, I'll try. But I need about 50. I have a truckload of requests."

- Hey, if you can't get others, at least get one for me. Check your account.

"Ah! Did you put in my allowance?"

- It's a congratulatory gift. Cash is the best.

"I love you, Aunt."

After hanging up, Kim Joo-hyung lay on the sofa in the empty house, scratching his belly and watching TV.

"Ah, is this what happiness feels like?"

During his high school years, he had been so focused on studying that he had built a wall against all temptations, including TV.

In fact, Joo-hyung didn't even know who Ryu Yeon-woo was. He had only searched online because people kept asking.

The TV was showing Yeon-woo's new commercial for a telecommunications company, which had just started airing.

"Huh? Is that him?"

Joo-hyung, who might become friends with this potential classmate, focused on the TV.

A handsome young man in white pants and a blue shirt was studying in a lecture hall, then stretched and looked at his smartphone.

As he picked up the smartphone from the desk, Ryu Yeon-woo appeared in slow motion with grand music, against a backdrop of the vast universe.

He then flipped, and the world turned upside down, landing with a fast-paced, rhythmic pop song.

Wearing a leather jacket and black jeans, Yeon-woo passed the smartphone to someone else, and the screen dynamically followed the phone as it moved from hand to hand.

A scene reminiscent of a low-budget amateur film appeared, with Yeon-woo's narration.

- They say direction is more important than speed. But, life can change direction too.

Yeon-woo smiled naturally and exchanged fist bumps with others, greeting them.

The image was pure youth.

And the narration continued.

- As long as you don't stop, it's okay. ST Telecom.

"Wow, that's really cool."

Kim Joo-hyung, who had developed a genuine interest in the actor who might become his friend, started looking up articles.

One drama, one variety show, and one upcoming movie.

"The movie opens tomorrow?"

With nothing else to do at home, Joo-hyung decided to watch the drama.

He got so engrossed in the drama that he finished it in one day and clicked on the variety show "Summer's Table" before he knew it.

After staying up all night, Joo-hyung woke up in the afternoon the next day and bought tickets for the movie "Spring's Lover."

Of course, he liked Yeon-woo's acting, but he was also enjoying the cultural activities he had suppressed during the college entrance exam, which led to a binge.

Meanwhile, Yeon-woo, wearing a mask and a cap, headed to a nearby cinema to experience the audience's reactions firsthand.

And, since he was part of the movie, he wanted to increase the number of viewers by one.

After booking a ticket through an app, Yeon-woo entered the screening room and sat down.

He deliberately booked a seat in the last two rows, thinking it would be empty.

'Usually, couples sit there, so the seat next to me will probably be empty, right?'

However, contrary to Yeon-woo's expectations, the seats were full, and a man around his age sat next to him.

'A guy watching a movie alone? I guess I'm doing the same.'

Yeon-woo thought it was a bit unusual and glanced at the person next to him, who seemed to be around his age.

Thus, the two young men who would become future classmates watched the movie, each finding the other somewhat peculiar.

After the movie, Yeon-woo listened to the couples discussing the film as they left the cinema.

The reactions were better than expected.

The movie, which started with positive word-of-mouth, was shown in 647 theaters nationwide on its opening day, attracting 260,000 viewers. The first-week cumulative audience, known as the initial performance, reached 1.02 million.

- "Spring's Lover" - What is true love? Starring Kang Joo-won and Han Ye-jin

- "Spring's Lover" - Unstoppable box office success, soon to break even?

- Kang Joo-won and Han Ye-jin's real-life romance hits home. Box office No. 2

- Is Ryu Yeon-woo becoming a new star in Korean cinema? What's next?

The break-even point for "Spring's Lover" is 1.4 million viewers. At this rate, it will likely surpass it in the second week.

On average, the initial performance of a movie accounts for 30-50% of the total audience. This means that, at the very least, it will attract 2 million viewers.

Articles about Ryu Yeon-woo, who played a crucial but minor role, are also appearing frequently.

At the LN Entertainment headquarters conference room.

At the Monday regular meeting, the middle-aged gentleman, Kim Joo-sung, with a neat pompadour, asked.

"Team Leader Jeong, how is the Master Plan progressing?"

"Yes, the casting is almost complete. The lead actor opposite Ryu Yeon-woo is Ma Seok-do."

Team Leader Jeong's words piqued Kim's interest, and he interlocked his fingers.

"Isn't the Master Plan about Ryu Yeon-woo playing a fixer role?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Hmm, so Ma Seok-do as the hacker? Interesting."

Technically, he's a genius programmer, but Team Leader Jeong just nodded.

Ma Seok-do is a well-known action actor who bulldozes through everything with his large build. His action movies are generally successful.

Although he debuted at a relatively late age and has only about 10 years of acting experience, he is considered a major actor in terms of box office success.

The planning team leader, Yoon Mi-yeon, adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses and said.

"It seems they're casting Ma Seok-do, known for action, in a timid role to add a comedic element. It's a fresh choice."

"Yes, I'm looking forward to it. If it does well, Ryu Yeon-woo's name value will rise two notches with this movie."

Kim Joo-sung, nodding in satisfaction, had been keeping an eye on Yeon-woo since his first drama casting and had invested in him early.

At that moment, Yeon-woo was wrestling with SNS with stylist Yeeun.

"Even you have something you can't do."

"Ugh, it's hard."

Yeon-woo had learned how to create and upload content on SNS relatively easily.

He had been adept at handling tactical equipment.

The "thing" Yeeun mentioned that Yeon-woo couldn't do was taking selfies.

When Yeeun asked Yeon-woo to take a selfie as a test, the result left her with a question mark in her head.

"How can someone with this face take such a photo...? It looks like it was automatically edited."

Not in a good way.

"Let me see, Yeon-woo. I'll take it."

Click.

She took a casual shot, and a so-called "boyfriend shot" was automatically generated.

A natural smile with warm sunlight streaming through the blinds.

"What is this sunlight? How did a single ray of light fall on your face and make it look like art?"

"Wow, you could write poetry. You should try getting published."

Yeon-woo, who had been watching, took the smartphone back with a shake of her head.

"Let's upload this one. In the future, only post photos taken by others. If you post your selfies, you'll unfairly spark plastic surgery rumors."

Yeon-woo, seeing Yeeun's reaction, vowed never to take selfies again.

Even she thought it was bad.

***

Hae-won, seeing the students file out after the Pilates class, straightened her clothes, looking at her reflection in the elevator.

She had investigated her online, but there was surprisingly little information about her family or life.

She found out that she was married and had a daughter, but nothing else about her family or other details.

It seemed as if someone had intentionally deleted the information.

The third floor of the building where the Pilates studio was located also had a cafe across from it and a dental clinic on the floor above, so it wasn't unusual for a man to be there.

After about 15 minutes, she saw the back of a woman locking the door with a security card after tidying up the studio.

And there was Jeong Hye-min walking towards the elevator.

Hae-won, who had been glancing at her, froze when their eyes met.

"Ugh."

Unable to bear the spreading headache and the swirling unknown memories, she let out a weak groan and leaned against the wall, collapsing.

"Oh, are you okay? What should I do?"

Jeong Hye-min ran over and shook Hae-won.

"911! Right, I'll call 911! Just hold on a little longer!"

'What is this... What kind of memory is this...?'

As Jeong Hye-min frantically pressed her smartphone and spoke urgently, Hae-won's vision began to blur.