Chapter 7

If a commoner regresses, they become a noble—Chapter 7 (7/405)

“So, what you're saying, Yoon Seul, is that you will not only write about daily looks but also sponsored product reviews, right?”

“Yes. However, if an exclusive editor writes sponsored content, it would be a breach of contract, as it means receiving advertising fees from two places.”

The chick's eyes sparkled.

In this industry, the most valuable thing isn't the number of comments or views, but the sponsors who can bring in real money. Clicking on the ads below the posts barely earns you a few dozen won.

“Then, we can help you. How about this?”

The conditions were as follows: There is a warehouse where Kiki Guest collects clothes sent by brands, and they suggested that Yoon Seul could freely use them. Many new clothes have arrived for the SS season, and they would give her the first choice.

‘They’re going to push the editors who aren’t selling well to the back.’

Currently, Kiki Guest has mostly editors in their 20s. The clothes sent as sponsorships are likely to be slightly older than her target audience.

However, if she takes the products first and shoots them herself, she will have to invest several times more effort than she does now.

‘The efficiency doesn’t match the time investment at all.’

Most importantly, if she becomes an exclusive editor, she won’t be able to post other people’s daily looks anymore.

If it becomes known that she’s making money from her own photos, people might feel it’s a loss.

“I appreciate your consideration, but I’m not confident in creating all the content myself yet.”

“Oh, why are you being so modest, Yoon Seul? Not just our team, but other teams have been praising your sense a lot.”

「[Skill: Chick's Passion (C)]」

A skill above her head twinkled. She was trying to persuade me by talking more.

Yes, just a little more—this supporting actor needs to come in—

Knock knock.

“Sorry, is the meeting not over yet?”

“Team Leader!”

A woman who seemed to be higher up walked in with documents, striding confidently to the table.

“Nice to meet you. I’m the team leader of Kiki Guest Marketing 1 Team.”

Seeing that even the team leader had come to support, it seemed they really didn’t want to lose her.

I forced myself to suppress the corners of my mouth from curling up.

The real drama is about to begin.

“To be honest, we want to invest in Yoon Seul’s talent. We have a strong desire to collaborate as much as possible.”

「[Skill: There Is No Impossible for Me (B)]」

The team leader’s skill twinkled above her head.

If you just write more zeros on the contract, you could take me, why don’t you know that….

“Could you clearly state the conditions under which you would join our side? We often talk about Yoon Seul in our team meetings.”

“I plan to keep posting regularly even without a contract with Kiki Guest. I enjoy writing.”

The two managers’ eyes lit up. But it was impossible.

Plan 1: Give and take.

“But if I sign with you, I won’t be able to post the photos sent by followers anymore. Once they realize I’m making money from my own photos, they might feel it’s a loss.”

“Ah….”

The expression on their faces showed they hadn’t thought that far.

Now, everyone is generous with the content they create together, but in a few years, everyone will want to be an influencer. They won’t be willing to give their content away.

“So, I would need to spend more time on the content… I won’t be able to maintain the current quality. Even with a lot of support from Kiki Guest—”

“Yes, there would be a difference since it’s created by multiple people.”

“So, here’s what I propose.”

“Yes.”

“I will continue to receive photos and create sponsored content myself.”

“Then… in the time it takes others to write one post, Yoon Seul could write several.”

The team leader seemed to like my plan, her expression more relaxed than before. She looked at me with interest.

I leaned slightly towards the team leader, relaxed.

“Yes. And right now, most of the photos are of clothes, but I plan to include cosmetics as well. Gradually… no, starting next month.”

“The range of brand sponsorships will expand, right?”

“Yes. So, I would like Kiki Guest to pay me a percentage of the advertising fees from the brands that sponsor me.”

Let’s rewrite the contract, okay?

“No.”

The team leader thought that losing Yoon Seul would be a huge loss. Everything Yoon Seul did was to her liking. There was no reason not to keep her.

“Yoon Seul can have it her way. That contract.”

She already knows how to make money. The freelance brand model sponsorship contract Yoon Seul proposed is at least 2.5 times the amount a regular exclusive editor receives. It’s a high amount, comparable to a large company’s salary. They decided to hear the more detailed conditions first.

Yoon Seul, who had been waiting, started listing her demands smoothly. The team leader smiled bitterly as she took back the contract.

‘But, a high school student is using the term “internal meeting.”’

Unaware that this high school student was actually born a long time ago.

* * *

It had been quite a while, and when I stepped out of the building, the sun was already setting. Despite this, my body felt light.

‘Using the random sponsorship reward during the meeting was very appropriate.’

I had deliberately set the brightness of the sponsorship inquiry email screen to 100 to show that I was getting many inquiries from various places.

In the future, I should not open such rewards immediately but click on them later.

Ding—

The status window appeared in front of me again.

「▶System

【Clap Clap Clap! First Contract】

▶You have set a direction

The process has been successfully completed.

○Hidden Reward Random Draw☜ Click」

I clicked the box that had become familiar after seeing it several times. The status window, which not only rewards for completing missions but also gives hidden rewards at will.

Of course, I casually pressed the button, expecting something minor to appear, given the sparkling effect of the status window.

A piece of paper appeared in front of me amidst the falling paper rain.

「▶[Random Reward: ‘Odia Hot Chocolate’ (F) Obtained!]

○Odia Hot Chocolate (1-time voucher)

Congratulations!

…Hey, this is the same thing I distributed.

Holding the Odia coupon, which seemed to have a cost-effectiveness like a storm, I entered a nearby store. I ordered an iced drink to snap out of my relaxed mood.

“Extra whipped cream, please.”

“Yes, customer—how much would you like—”

The employee, with slightly unfocused eyes, responded kindly without changing her expression.

I feel like my blood sugar dropped today.

“Enough to match my desire to go home.”

“Oh—then would it be okay if it reaches the ceiling?”

Thinking it was a joke, I quickly corrected myself when I saw the employee’s face, which showed no hint of a smile.

A status window appeared, saying my ‘Focus’ increased by +5! Looking at her, I felt like I should quickly place my order and leave.

“Then….”

“Hi.”

A low voice from behind.

“Moderate whipped cream, iced chocolate, right?”

“Huh?”

“One iced chamomile tea as well.”

It was Joo Baek Hwi. He seemed to have overheard my conversation with the employee and held out his card as if we had been together from the start.

“Customer, have you found a seat?”

“No?”

“Since it’s a busy time, it’s better to secure a seat before ordering—”

The employee, with a soulless but polite tone, guided us. Looking around, there were only a few seats left, mostly uncomfortable bar seats and one empty table.

“Are you going to drink and leave?”

Baek Hwi, who skillfully took back his card, asked. The scent of his heavy perfume wafted to my nose.

“Shall we sit together?”

As if we had planned to meet here from the start. Baek Hwi naturally pushed his way in.

“…Sure.”

I couldn’t help but answer foolishly.

“Where did you go?”

He placed a napkin in front of me and met my eyes. His neatly arranged eyelashes, straight nose, and beautifully shaped lips.

“Hey, look over there….”

“Crazy.”

The two women at the next table kept glancing at Baek Hwi.

Not just the next table, but all the nearby women. His smooth face was indeed eye-catching.

Baek Hwi, used to such gazes, naturally peeled the straw wrapper and placed it in the cup.

“Me? Well… this is something no one knows?”

“What is it? You’re making me curious.”

“I’ll tell you if you do one thing for me.”

“Ha ha, what are you asking for… I’ll listen first.”

“Teach me how to take photos.”

Baek Hwi slightly squinted and smiled, as if the request was nothing much.

I need to show something good since I’ve signed the contract.

‘That way, my value will increase next time.’

Content is content. If I’m going to do it, I want it to be of higher quality.

“I’m not just asking you to teach me. I’ll do something for you in return.”

“What’s the big deal, so, what’s the secret?”

“I’m on my way back from signing a contract with Kiki Guest, right now.”

“Wow. Then you must take much better photos than me.”

No… the status window tells me. Of course, you won’t believe me if I say that.

“Did I ever say I like taking photos?”

“Well, Na Yeon did! She said you take great photos.”

A bit of guilt pricked my conscience for the unnecessary lie. I took a big sip of the iced chocolate, and a mischievous laugh came from the opposite side.

“Na Yeon? She praised me? I don’t think so.”

Sharp.

Embarrassed, I looked at Baek Hwi and laughed. Unlike last time, the skill window above my head didn’t twinkle at all.

Last time, it almost kept twinkling.

“No, Na Yeon praised you a lot.”

“For example?”

“She said you’re very handsome. When Baek Hwi walks, it’s like a fluorescent light is on without turning it on—”

“This sounds too fabricated.”

“You’re right. Na Yeon saying you’re handsome was a lie. I’m just saying you’re handsome.”

“…Really.”

Baek Hwi’s ears turned bright red, and the skill window above his head twinkled non-stop.

You really do look like a fluorescent light, Baek Hwi….

「[Skill: Unknowable (A+)]」

Seeing the words floating above his head, I felt the age of this boy across from me. Last time, the skill window twinkled because it was our first meeting.

Baek Hwi, who usually avoided eye contact, looked away, and I laughed, playing along.

“What kind of photos do you want to learn to take?”

“Oh, for example—”

It’s easier to show than to explain a hundred times.

I turned on my phone and showed him the photos I had taken. As Baek Hwi leaned in, his broad shoulders cast a shadow, and the heavy scent of his perfume wafted again.

“You already take great photos.”

“Still, I want to take even better… like, the feeling just clicks.”

Even I thought it was a demanding client request.

Glamorous and clean. Simple but eye-catching. I worked overtime, cursing at myself, but this is the best I can do.

In the world of good-good-so, quantity beats quality. Posting many photos and writing many posts is the key.

Baek Hwi, who had been listening, seriously uncrossed his hands and rested his chin, thinking. His face, which had been smiling faintly, turned serious, and the skill above his head turned off.

I was admiring his face, which kept catching my eye, when his eyes met mine.

“It might be a new type of content… I’ll show you the SNS of my class from when I studied abroad.”

The screen of the phone he held out showed familiar photos. A small bag, a phone, lipstick, an iPad, a small jar of candy, hand cream….

“In My Bag?”

“Right, they often posted. Even at school.”

A content type that shows what’s inside a bag.

It allows you to glimpse the owner’s taste through their belongings. Listening to the stories of different items in various bags can be a good way to pass time, and it’s easy for people who don’t want to show their faces to participate.

“Most of the photos were taken on a bed. On a white blanket… I think it’s because the background is clean.”

He swiped through the various photos, explaining with his long, slender fingers.

I’m starting to get a feel for it. Just a little more, and I’ll get the feeling…!

“You don’t seem very familiar with taking photos, but from what I’ve seen of yours, you have a good sense of symmetry. Your horizons are also well-aligned.”

That’s because I’ve seen a lot of this on SNS. In a few years, there will be so many pages like the ones I run.

“Can I take a look at what’s in your bag? Maybe we can take a simple shot here.”

We leaned in close to look at the phone, and our eyes met.

Being so close, the high-definition features of his face were overwhelming. I looked away, down at the table, as if it was a habit, and his phone screen on the table twinkled.

It was Jane.