When a Butterfly Begins to Flutter Its Wings (1)

Someone I know well, but don’t know well.

A person hidden tightly behind a veil.

The Guild Master invited me.

Even at a glance, it’s a gorgeous invitation.

Gold foil is embossed with dimension on high-quality black cardstock. It looks like an autumn field during harvest season.

Slowly, I turned the stream of my thoughts.

<Galaxy War> is similar to martial arts novels.

Because in the martial world called ‘Battle.net’, you train in martial arts called ‘races’, enter sects called ‘guilds’, and receive secret manuals called ‘builds’.

From that perspective…

Me telling Kang Yohan player about future builds is like “sole transmission” in martial arts novels.

And,

The small guild called ‘Ruin’ that I’m part of is like a mysterious faction.

Everyone’s gaming skills are excellent but they’re not known externally, an elite guild of only four people.

They didn’t even know each other’s identities.

Of course, now we know.

One is Kim Hwachang, the PD of <Human Life>, and one is Moon Jaehyun, my editor.

But there’s one member whose identity still hasn’t been revealed.

The Guild Master. Nickname: Cheonma.

This person sent me a private party invitation.

How did they know my address?

Curiosity welled up like a fountain.

To be honest, I’ve been curious about this person’s identity for a long time. So I even asked Kim Hwachang if he knew who it was.

My heart pounds achingly.

Is it a man or a woman?

In their 20s or 30s?

Ah, I’m going crazy with curiosity!

…This makes me feel like a child curious about Santa’s identity.

I put aside my worries for now and entered the house.

Then,

“Noonaaaa!”

“Unniiii!”

Sweet screams hit my ears.

The middle school twins, Han Suho and Han Sumin, each pulled one of my arms.

Anyone watching would think I’d returned from a battlefield or was reuniting with separated family.

“My arms are going to fall off, kids…”

I said, wriggling my body.

Complaints immediately came back:

“The week without you was hell!”

“Right! Sejun oppa’s cooking sucks.”

Han Sumin, unlike usual, buried her head and purred:

“Unni. I’m hungry. Make kimchi stew.”

She acted cute, making baby talk as if sucking a pacifier.

What’s wrong with her?

She wasn’t the type of character to speak with such flirtatiousness, being an artistic kid…

“Okay. Let me change clothes first.”

This time Han Suho grabbed my hand and said:

“Noona. Make me galbi-tang!”

“Alright, so don’t rush me and wait calmly.”

“Yes.”

Just as I was about to put on an apron before changing clothes.

“Hey!”

Han Sejun’s angry voice cut in abruptly.

“Stop bothering our noona and disperse quickly, you damn twins.”

…Huh.

This is the most shocking thing I’ve heard this year.

Did I hear that wrong?

What did he just say?

“Our noona”?

Did the sun rise in the west?

“How funny. Someone might think we’re not blood-related to big sister.”

“Right. Why is someone who didn’t even treat her like a sister suddenly claiming ownership?”

Han Suho and Han Sumin, who always bickered, united for once and pushed back against Han Sejun.

Han Sejun sharply retorted, as if making threats:

“Since we’re on the topic, let me say a few more words. From now on, just try bothering noona. I won’t stay still.”

Did he take the wrong medicine?

Han Sejun started acting as my guardian angel, which was out of character for him.

“If you climb all over noona without manners, if you don’t know gratitude, if you don’t know how to be sorry. Then I’ll crack your skulls, so behave yourselves.”

The twins looked at each other and chattered with bewildered expressions:

“…Creepy. What’s wrong with that oppa?”

“I don’t know. He suddenly became a sister-con.”

Losing the battle of nerves, the twins grumbled and went up to the second floor.

Han Sejun watched my reaction and said:

“Ahem, noona. I’m trying to get my act together now.”

“Pfft!”

I burst out laughing through my nose.

“What’s suddenly wrong with you? Are you sick somewhere?”

“No… I should act like the eldest son now. I can’t keep letting only noona get her hands wet forever.”

Hearing those words, a faint smile formed on my face. Because it seemed like the precious child had grown a little more mature.

Han Sejun opened and closed his mouth before speaking:

“Noona.”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for everything until now.”

“…”

“And I’m sorry.”

Seeing the smile that bloomed on my face, Han Sejun asked in an embarrassed voice:

“Why, why! Am I not allowed to grow up?”

“…No.”

I stroked his head and replied:

“Sejun-ah.”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“…It’s nothing.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

“…”

Han Sejun sniffled, wiping his nose with his hand.

I savored this situation, enjoying it.

It seems that moving forward,

Is not just me alone.

I changed clothes and flopped down on the bed.

I picked up my phone and checked the week’s gap.

There are so many missed calls. Most are from reporters. Messages asking for replies and KakaoTalk messages requesting round interviews poured in.

There were mountains of people to call, but I decided to put them aside for now.

Because there was too much to check.

First, Human Life.

From Wednesday to Sunday. They aired 5 days’ worth, so reactions should be out by now.

I clicked on the entertainment news tab.

But my name…

Was embroidered like stars on the headlines.

[Human Life, Rising in Ratings Daily, Achieves 20% Household Rating for First Time in 20 Years]

[From Criticism to Recognition… Han Yujin Certified as Trending?]

[Han Yujin Effect Makes Even Gen Z Sit in Front of TV in OTT Era]

[Entire ‘Yujin Fever’, Captured Even 50-60s]

[Han Yujin’s Ad Effect ‘Jumps’ with Record-Breaking Ratings]

[Proving Popularity with Numbers, Han Yujin’s Sweet Sweet Prime]

-According to Nielsen Korea, a ratings survey company, on the 21st, the national household ratings for KBN1’s ‘Human Life’ recorded 20.7% today. This is the highest figure among all terrestrial programs broadcast in the 4th quarter of this year.

This week’s ‘Human Life’ told the story of Han Yujin, a 20-something living in Jamsil, Seoul.

In particular, Han Yujin’s portrayal of taking care of nine younger siblings and doing early childcare provided small touches of everyday emotion.

…Looking further, it’s a grand sight.

The Bacchus ad I filmed rode word of mouth among the elderly, surpassing tonic drinks to become the #1 selling convenience store beverage. The pharmaceutical company’s stock price also rose.

As soon as I entered YouTube, my face appeared right away in a Shorts video.

It was me from a month ago.

[Han Yujin Haggling #SHORTS]

[Views · 2.13 million]

When I clicked, it was a clip cut from the Human Life broadcast.

I was shopping, holding an old, worn-out basket like a rag.

─Mister, please give me some salted shrimp.

The owner’s face brightened as if hit by a spotlight upon seeing me. He asked, rubbing his hands like a fly:

─Yujin-ah, you’re here! How much should I give you?

─Just 1 kilo please.

The owner of the salted seafood store put salted shrimp in a light blue plastic bag.

─1 kilo is… let’s see, 15,000 won!

My lips pursed upon hearing the price.

─Come on, do it for 12,000 won.

Me in the video, attempting to haggle.

The owner waved his hands with an exasperated voice:

─Yujin-ah. If I sell at that price, I won’t make any profit.

─I don’t have anything left now either.

─Okay. Then 14,000 won!

─12,000 won.

─13,000 won.

─12,000 won.

─It can’t be, Yujin-ah. If I sell only to you at that price, it’s obvious all the aunties around here will ask for 12,000 won too.

The battle of nerves between the owner and me.

I, who was licking my lips, suddenly started investigating his background:

─Where’s your hometown, boss?

The quick-witted owner, seeming to grasp my intentions, answered rapidly:

─I’m from Pyongyang, went to boys’ middle school, boys’ high school, and engineering college. You think this is my first time dealing with someone trying to get a discount through school, regional, or blood ties? It can’t be less than 13,000 won!

─…

In the end, I paid 13,000 won with a sulky expression.

-lolololololololol

-Even Han Yujin can’t beat a merchant

-Sadtalk!

-Mister, would it hurt you to give her just 1000 won more discount..

-Look at her asking where he’s from to try haggling using connections lololol

└If the owner said he was from Busan, she would’ve immediately used Yeongnam dialect to get a discount lol

└Queen Yujin is still the best at using her head

-F*ck why is it so pitiful seeing a 20-year-old girl trying to save just 1000 won more

└For real

└Agreed

This time I clicked on another video.

This one is even more extreme. The Shorts views exceeded 3 million.

[The Reason Han Yujin Starves #SHORTS]

[Views · 3.20 million]

Our house was shown.

It was a shabby home, embarrassing to show anywhere.

The ceiling stained yellow with either rainwater or mold. Discolored and peeling wallpaper. Floor covering lifting due to lost adhesion.

I did hand laundry in ice-cold water, turning on the rusty faucet.

My white skin turned red from the cold.

Kim Hwachang asked me as I came out of the bathroom:

─Aren’t you eating?

─No…

I answered Kim Hwachang’s question with a forced smile.

Growl.

The sound of my stomach growling was faintly heard in the audio.

Kim Hwachang asked in an awkward voice:

─You seem hungry, why don’t you eat a little…

─It’s okay.

I shook my head firmly.

─I have to save every penny. It’s already a time when we need to tighten our belts. It’s not like I’ll die from skipping breakfast.

─…

The video ended with my face, wavering with hunger and humiliation.

And,

It seems this emotional marketing worked.

Properly.

-Wow fck she was really dirt poor

-Fck Yujin-ah at least eat meals

-It was more serious than I thought

-What are her parents doing?

└They work in the Middle East ㅜㅜ

└Don’t they earn well now? Seems like they could come back

-Doing hand laundry in cold water is heartbreaking

-Is it because they don’t turn on the heating, all the siblings are wearing thick clothes, they’ll catch colds..

-Wow I used to lament my poor circumstances a lot too but seeing this really wakes me up..

└For real

└Agreed, gotta live hard..

-Look at her working three part-time jobs.. wow.. I thought it was exaggerated but it was real

-I acknowledge she earns a lot of money..

-Skipping breakfast, eating lunch at McDonald’s, and dinner at the bar where she works part-time? Wow I’m going crazy with how unfortunate this is..

-I recommend suicide for those bastards who voted #1, seeing a crisis household like this placed in welfare blind spots without help reaching them, doesn’t it make you think you should vote #2?

└Here comes another person with political disease

└I’ll crack your skull

The highlight was the 50-60s viewers.

Befitting the fixed viewers of Human Life being mostly elderly, comments from older people also increased explosively.

-Hehe Yujin is really cute and I want to cherish her and take care of her and love her!

-Aww~~~~so admirable and cute♡♡ She’s like our daughter~~

-Ms. Han Yujin… You must have been worried a lot due to your hard life until now. Like a lotus flower blooming in mud… I hope you’ll be happy

-Yujin so pretty I’m cheering for you don’t be too upset.

-ThankyousomuchforthehealiingYujinThankyoutakecareofyourhealthIloveyou

-EvenwhenwatchagainshesavirginharrdtofindthesedaysYesYujin-nimIhopeyoullbehappyIloveyou

-A grandmother over 70 liking a child for the first time Yujin-yang take care of your health and meet a good partner and become happier~~

-Oh~~ Yujin awesomemakes viewers happy

-Oh my Yujin you must have had a hard time but you’re so cute hehe

-She really seems like a cutie you could find anywhere..hehe Yujin is so pretty~~~~

-I don’t know how many times I’ve rewatched…every time I watch I smile widely^.^ This aunt cherishes you a lot

This is driving me crazy.

I’ve been called the nation’s little sister because I’m popular with men, but now I’m on the verge of becoming the nation’s daughter beyond little sister.

At this rate, I feel like I could get elected if I ran for office…

Just then, I got a call from Jang Bongkyu.

“Yes, Agent-nim.”

-Hahaha! Haha! Kuhahaha!

Pleasant laughter tickled my ears through the receiver.

“I’m hanging up.”

-W-wait a moment!

The sound of a door closing was heard, and Jang Bongkyu spoke in a hushed voice:

-There’s a lot of news. Which one do you want to hear first?

“Good news, bad news?”

-Haha. Han Yujin-ssi is beyond that level now. It’s good news, better news, and even better news.

“Then I’ll hear the best one first.”

Jang Bongkyu exhaled once and opened his mouth:

-Congratulations, Han Yujin-ssi!

When the veil was lifted,

A good result was waiting.

Jang Bongkyu drove in the final nail:

-You ranked 1st in December brand reputation rankings. 1st overall including entertainers and sports stars.