episode_0011

#11

After hearing the specifics from the CEO, what I realized was that Venus hadn’t proposed an outright absurd ad campaign either.

There were plenty of underwear models available, and there was no reason to spend big money hiring idols for that kind of thing. No idol would willingly shoot such an ad in the first place.

What Venus suggested was, in essence, noise marketing.

A way for idols to naturally expose their product while attracting attention.

They wanted it done during a performance.

“……Is that even an ad?”

Eunchae raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

“That’s not for us to judge. Even if it flops, it’s not our fault.”

“…I know that. I’m just genuinely curious. What the hell are they thinking? Would something like that even be allowed on broadcast?”

“It won’t air. They’d never let it through.”

Music Center runs on a five-minute broadcast delay.

Given how sensitive music shows are to exposure, they’d cut the feed immediately if anything happened.

“Then what’s the point of the ad?”

“It just means it won’t air on TV. But cameras aren’t exclusive to broadcasting stations that day.”

“……Ah.”

Fan clubs, SNS, YouTube—everywhere.

They planned to recruit all kinds of fancammers, hardcore fans, lurking paparazzi.

“Through fancams…”

“Because that kind of thing gets more attention, intentionally or not.”

They’d rack up views while maintaining plausible deniability.

A slip-up could be passed off as an accident—way less damaging to ’s image than openly endorsing underwear.

“So *that’s* their ad campaign.”

“…Maybe that’s why they picked you as the model.”

“I get it now. Why they’re doing it like this.”

It only came out later, but sales for the Venus underwear Eunchae wore in those covert photos had quietly risen after the leaks.

Venus was aiming for the same effect again.

“…Am I the only one doing it?”

“Everyone’s exposing something during the music show.”

“The other members don’t know yet, do they?”

“Nope.”

“When will you tell them?”

“I won’t.”

“Huh? Then how are they gonna—?”

“They’ll be filmed without realizing it, obviously.”

“…That’s just hidden camera footage.”

It wasn’t technically wrong.

“…Why are you only telling *me*? Is it because of my trauma?”

“That’s part of it… The client wants to meet you.”

“What?”

Eunchae carefully unfolded the crumpled business card.

Two names were printed on it.

**Executive Director Burarajang Director Baek Pansu**

“They said they need approval from higher-ups too. Since it’s a foreign company. They need profile photos as references for the ad.”

“Profile photos?”

“They mean lingerie shots.”

“Ah…”

Eunchae’s face twisted even more than the business card she’d just uncrumpled.

She stayed silent for a long time after that.

…I know it’s something I’d never be able to do myself.

I also know these “profile photos” won’t be as simple as they sound.

I’m not sure if Eunchae realizes that yet.

But even just the idea of being photographed in lingerie is already unbearable for someone with her trauma.

And yet, here I am, pressuring her to do it.

I know it’s wrong, just like with Harin… but I can’t stop anymore.

“Eunchae.”

“Yeah.”

“If word gets out that there’s exposure in your fancam… it’ll rack up views.”

“……Huh?”

She looked at me like I was insane.

“It’ll spread awareness that even appeared on a music show. More people might listen to the song, even just once. We’ll get more screen time.”

“……I guess so.”

“This music show slot was hard to get. I don’t want to waste it.”

Appearing on a music show is a huge promotional opportunity, but success isn’t guaranteed.

Just showing up doesn’t make you explode in popularity.

If the response is bad, there won’t be a next time.

At that point… all the effort Harin put into getting this opportunity would’ve been for nothing.

“I know it’s a tough ask. I know it’s shameless… but please.”

“……”

Eunchae didn’t respond.

She gritted her teeth, clenching and unclenching her fists repeatedly.

Finally, after a long silence, she spoke in a low voice.

“Manager.”

“Yeah.”

“You said… I’m the only one shooting the profile photos, right?”

“Right.”

“……When?”

*

“Yes. We’ll arrive in ten minutes. Yeah. Uh-huh. Should we head straight to the studio? Sixth floor? Got it. See you soon.”

As soon as the speakerphone call ended, Eunchae slumped in the passenger seat and exhaled deeply.

“Ugh… So we’re really doing this.”

“…If you’re scared, we can still turn back.”

“Do I look that irresponsible to you?”

Not really.

Just getting this far showed how determined Eunchae was.

We were now heading to Venus’s private studio.

Specifically, for her profile photo shoot.

Saying it like that made it sound normal, but the photos Eunchae would take today were in lingerie.

Officially, they claimed it was for “reference material” in model selection… but I knew better.

Since the two names on the business card were the decision-makers, there was no way they’d change models after singling out Eunchae.

Then why drag her there in person? Well…

“We’re here. Venus Central Building.”

As the GPS announced our arrival, Eunchae muttered under her breath.

“Venus Central… Venus Central…”

For some reason, she repeated the building’s name a few times.

After parking in the building’s lot, we got out.

Since it was a Sunday evening, the garage was pitch black. Only one side door was open, forcing us to go through there.

“This way, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I *have* to see what kind of perverts we’re dealing with.”

“…Just watch your mouth in front of the client.”

Still, I trusted Eunchae to behave.

Her prickly personality was reserved for me—once she switched to “idol mode,” no angel could compare.

She wouldn’t screw things up with the clients.

…Probably.

“Sixth floor, right?”

Eunchae pressed the elevator button herself.

The building was empty and silent, likely because it was the weekend. Only the hallway lights were on, giving the place an eerie atmosphere.

*Ding.*

We stepped out on the sixth floor, where light seeped out from only one room at the end of the corridor.

“……Manager.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m switching to ‘idol mode’ now. Play along.”

Eunchae swallowed hard and strode toward the studio.

*Click. Click.*

The moment we entered, “idol mode” vanished.

“……Ugh.”

Eunchae gagged quietly, just loud enough for me to hear.

The spacious studio was no different from any other—white backdrop, focused lighting, cameras, props.

Except for one thing.

In one corner, hundreds of women’s lingerie pieces were blatantly on display.

That much was understandable for an underwear company, but there was another reason Eunchae had gagged.

“Eugh… Mr. Jeon, team leader from ? And… Miss Lee Eunchae?”

*Cough*… Thank you for coming.”

Two men waited inside the studio.

I’d gotten two business cards, too.

I could only assume these were their owners.

And the second Eunchae saw them, her face turned ghostly pale.

“Eugh… N-Nice to meet you. I’m Vice President Burarajang of Venus.”

A gaunt frame. Glasses with crooked teeth. A high-pitched, almost feminine voice. Patchy stubble. An ill-fitting oversized suit.

*Cough*… I’m Director Baek Pansu of Venus.”

A suit stretched to bursting over his gut. No buttons left intact. A faint stench if you got too close. One-third bald.

Their shared trait? Being two of the most repulsive-looking men imaginable.

It was like the stereotypical basement-dwelling NEET duo, fossilized for 35 years before crawling out.

…And these guys were executives?

Of a *women’s underwear* company?!

If I owned Venus stock, I’d sell it immediately.

Eunchae quietly hid behind me and muttered under her breath.

“F*cking gross. Disgusting. What *are* these things?”

I completely understood.

But these were the clients behind the ad offer.

And soon, Eunchae would be posing in lingerie—in front of them.

With “negotiations” to follow…

……

Damn it.

My pants were starting to hurt again.