Amidst the Pouring Love Calls (6)

I kept myself busy without rest.

Because once-in-a-lifetime opportunities were pouring down like meteors.

Broadcasting, practicing, filming.

In other words, increasing my value.

I worked like a dog, being called here and there as if pouring in priming water before fully operating the pump.

My shoulders felt heavy and stiff, and a week felt like 8 days, but I felt refreshed.

Today was no different.

I woke up at the crack of dawn and did an ad shoot. This time, the scale was quite big. A brand everyone knows.

It was Nike.

The lineup was Air Max, which was treated by the public as an outdated line that had fallen out of fashion as casual shoes.

Honestly, for me…

I didn’t mind.

They’re giving me a lot of money for the ad contract, so what complaints could I have?

The advertising strategy for the ‘Air Max 25’ shoes I’m wearing now was a retro natural beauty.

I posed in various ways to match that.

Crouching down to tie shoelaces, running boldly, sitting with legs stretched out.

But.

“Han Yujin-ssi. Didn’t I tell you not to be conscious of the camera?”

“Yes, yes!”

The director is quite picky.

He gave off an ‘I’m an artist’ vibe from his appearance.

An irritated voice kept leaking from the director’s mouth, who was neatly dressed in an ethnic muffler, black horn-rimmed glasses, and a formal separate suit.

The atmosphere is definitely 180 degrees different from when I was shooting merchandise at the Ingame.net studio, much more bleak.

Both in scale and the director.

Ingame.net’s Team Leader Choi Eungseok treated me like a noble lady, pampering me.

The director in front of me now is completely different. He was busy glaring at me with raised eyes as if looking at a failed model.

“Geez! You’re conscious of the camera again. Why do you keep doing that?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Didn’t you see the sketchboard? This is basic. It clearly says natural beauty without a trace of artifice, as if capturing a slice of daily life.”

“…I’m sorry.”

I became more and more dejected with each of the director’s shouts.

No, but. This isn’t an excuse, but…

How can I not look when there are so many cameras!

Whether it’s reflectors for shooting, tripod cameras, or rail cameras. There were too many filming equipment perfectly positioned.

It couldn’t help but be a difficult shoot for me, who was inexperienced and clumsy at everything.

Only after receiving countless directing instructions like finger-pointing from the director and changing into three pairs of shoes did the shooting finally end.

I was so nervous that beads of sweat formed on my forehead even though it was midwinter.

The assistant director approached and comforted me with my shoulders all hunched up.

“Yujin-ssi. Here’s some warm coffee.”

“Thank you!”

I accepted the coffee and bowed my head.

The assistant director glanced around and whispered, covering his mouth.

“Please understand Yujin-ssi. He’s not usually someone who roasts people like this, why is he acting like this today?”

“…I guess it’s because I didn’t do well.”

“Oh no, that’s not it. From what I saw, Yujin-ssi was perfect! I think it’s probably because the production and advertiser ignored his opinions.”

Then why take it out on me!

The assistant director rubbed his philtrum with his finger and said,

“But… actually, I’m a Nike Mania VIP level member, you know?”

Nike Mania. Abbreviated as NaeMae.

It was a famous Naver cafe that shoe enthusiasts would join without fail.

To be VIP level there means you’ve poured at least 100 million won into shoes.

“The shoes are really nice, aren’t they? Ah, of course, they shine even more because the model is Han Yujin-ssi. Haha.”

“Thank you so much for seeing it positively.”

“No, seriously! I think these shoes will be a hit.”

At that moment, the lighting director who had been eavesdropping on the conversation finished tidying up and joined in.

“I used to be a shoe reseller too. And my instincts are telling me. This will definitely be a hit.”

Oh come on, no way.

The assistant director nodded and added to the lighting director’s words.

“Right? Later, it might be treated like a legendary Air Max that people want but can’t get. HaYooMax. The name is perfect too.”

“Won’t the resale price hit 1 million won?”

“Hahaha. That would be nice.”

Just as I was about to greet the staff and leave,

“Han Yujin-ssi.”

I flinched at the tiger-like voice, my shoulders tensing up.

“…Yes?”

“Just a moment.”

The director who had been roasting me beckoned from the corner.

…What is he going to say now?

Is he going to warn me not to shoot like this again, or to never see each other again, or something like that?

…Oh well, whatever. Do what you want.

I’ve been criticized so much my ears are calloused, I feel like I’ve reached a state of resignation and enlightenment.

Yeah. If you want to throw a fit, go ahead.

I’ll take it all!

“What is it?”

I raised my head and spoke confidently.

“Um, well, you see…”

The director fidgeted with his phone, glancing around nervously.

He’s having trouble spitting out his words.

Then,

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“…Huh?”

This is so different from the reaction I expected.

I came to my senses and waved my hands.

“No, it’s fine. It’s only natural.”

“Actually, um, I,”

“Yes.”

I tilted my head and looked up at the director. The director shyly pushed up his lowered glasses with his hand.

“I’m a fan.”

“…What?”

The director, conscious of his surroundings, looked around and carefully held out his phone.

“I’m sorry. When I get nervous, words just burst out contrary to my true feelings.”

“…”

“Could I quickly ask for just one photo?”

“…Sure.”

Well, this is unexpected.

Only then did I relax and let out a laugh.

In the end, I took the phone and turned on the camera.

Click, the sound went off and after confirming the photo came out well, the director couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

“Oh my, thank you so much!”

“It’s nothing. Good work.”

“Yes. Take care on your way home!”

As I left the studio, I thought to myself.

At this rate, it seems like it would be harder to find an anti-fan than a fan.

The shooting didn’t stop even after the morning sun rose.

This time it was a collaboration shoot with a famous creator.

I changed into sporty clothes and came to the gym to film Park Dalgyeol’s 3 big lifts measurement content, who is active as a fitness creator on YouTube.

“Wow, friends! It’s your bald brother! Okay, today we’re going to measure Han Yujin player’s 3 big lifts together.”

Park Dalgyeol, with his well-defined muscles showing.

He asked me.

“Han Yujin player. Are you confident?”

“Oh, actually I came here after doing an ad shoot from dawn. I haven’t even eaten yet.”

“Are you already making excuses?”

“Hey! What do you mean excuses. There’s no such word as excuses in my dictionary.”

Park Dalgyeol smiled contentedly and looked at the camera.

“These 3 big lifts refer to deadlift, squat, and bench press. Have you ever done the 3 big lifts before, Han Yujin-ssi?”

Yeah. I have.

In my past life.

“…No, I haven’t.”

He demonstrated the deadlift and explained it to me.

About hip hinge and hip joint. It was all information I already knew.

Of course, considering how much money I poured into PT in my past life.

“Well then, shall we try it?”

“Yes.”

I took a stance in front of the barbell with a confident attitude.

Seeing my stance, Park Dalgyeol’s eyes widened.

“Oh? Your form looks pretty good. By the way, the highest 3 lift total for female streamers is 150kg.”

Hearing that, I smirked.

Come on, you think I can’t lift even that? With my experience from my past life!

I confidently told Park Dalgyeol,

“Then I’ll try for 160kg.”

“Ah, good confidence. So lovely. This must be why they talk about the Han Yujin craze.”

I finished preparing for the lift, bracing my core.

The weight of the empty bar without any plates is about 20kg.

This should be a piece of cake, right?

“Yujin player. Okay, lift!”

In one breath. Very quickly.

I gathered all the strength in my body to lift the empty bar…!

To lift the empty bar…!

To lift…!

…Huh?

“What are you doing?”

Park Dalgyeol is looking down at me with his hands on his hips, as if this is ridiculous.

I scratched my head and asked.

“This isn’t some hidden camera prank, is it?”

“No, why would we do something like that!”

But why isn’t it moving?

The empty bar didn’t budge an inch, like Thor’s Mjolnir.

Park Dalgyeol let out a frustrated sigh and shouted.

“Han Yujin player! Measurement result: zero!”

“…”

It’s okay. I can make up for this humiliation in the remaining squat and bench press.

I confidently stood at the squat rack.

Park Dalgyeol asked with a doubtful face.

“Will 20kg be okay?”

“Come on! I’m Han Yujin.”

“Tsk, I don’t think it’ll work. Well anyway! Squat!”

I placed the barbell on my trapezius muscles and sat down, tensing my hamstrings and glutes.

Good. Halfway there.

I caught my breath, braced my core.

Now if I stand up…!

Now if I stand up…!

Now if I stand up…?

“Ugh!”

In the end, I couldn’t stand up and plopped down.

Park Dalgyeol said in a dejected voice.

“Han Yujin player. Squat is also zero.”

“…”

Shocked, Park Dalgyeol blurted out his frustration.

“Han Yujin player. This is lack of exercise. You need to work out. If you don’t, your posture will collapse and the balance of this body…!”

I was the most shocked.

Other skinny female streamers could lift it just fine.

Why can’t I do it?

Is this a case where I became a woman and my senses improved but my strength became extremely weak?

The millions of won I threw away on PT in my past life became worthless scraps of paper overnight.

Anyway,

I needed to redeem myself in the last remaining bench press. No, I had to redeem myself.

I took a deep breath and declared confidently to Park Dalgyeol and all the staff on site.

“Even if I die crushed today, I’m definitely going to lift this. So don’t anyone come in here.”

Hearing my confident press declaration, Park Dalgyeol clapped with tears in his eyes.

“Good. Very good. That mindset is so beautiful. Okay, Han Yujin-ssi.”

“Yes.”

Park Dalgyeol took out a small container.

“This is ammonia inhalant. Dope yourself.”

Ammonia inhalant.

Inhaling the stench in the container stimulates the nerve endings in the nose with a strong smell, helping to improve strength use.

The smell was, simply put… armpit smell. Because it’s ammonia.

I carefully put my nose to the opening. Then,

“Ugh.”

The sour ammonia scent mercilessly stabbed my nose.

“What are you doing, Han Yujin player! Let’s try lifting after fully receiving that energy. Lie down!”

“Yes!”

I lay down on the bench as if entering the GSL finals.

“I’m going to die today. I’ll be crushed to death.”

“Good. Very good. So good. Even if you die crushed, the Jade Emperor in heaven will applaud. Okay, press!”

I let out a powerful shout and lifted the barbell.

Wobble wobble. Shudder shudder.

My skinny arms shook as if there was an earthquake.

I desperately gripped the empty bar and lowered it all the way to my chest.

Good, that’s half done.

Now I just had to lift it up, an easy task.

An easy task.

An easy task…

“…Ugh.”

Groaning under the pressure of the barbell pressing down like a hydraulic press,

I finally said it.

“…H-help.”

“Haah.”

Then the site burst into laughter. The male staff wearing hats guffawed, holding their stomachs.

I barely saved my life with Park Dalgyeol’s help.

I fanned my flushed face and glanced at Park Dalgyeol.

He opened and closed his mouth, then let out a big sigh and said,

“The results of our Han Yujin player’s three big lifts are…”

How embarrassing.

“Zero points. The lowest score ever.”

“…”

I greeted him with dejected eyes and walked limply towards the exit.

Then,

Park Dalgyeol grabbed my shoulder.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“…Pardon?”

“Where do you think you’re going with that body!”

“…Huh?”

“Let’s do special training.”

“…”

After that, I worked out intensively with Park Dalgyeol.