episode_0048

Two days later.

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SooAh was bustling around from morning.

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─♩♪♬

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First, the call from Deer-GoEunBi in the group chat room started it all. SooAh frowned, wondering why she kept calling.

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[Caller: GoEunBi]

▷ Ya, unban me. ▷ I didn’t unban you. ▷ Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya.

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‘Ah, right.’

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Soon she understood the reason. She immediately unbanned her from the group chat.

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After that, SooAh waited in front of the Doll Department Store for the van to arrive. Of course, SooAh hadn’t actually set the meeting place here.

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‘Is it because the van came here during the mock filming?’

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Mystic, including SeoYeonJoo, used to come here to pick up SooAh in the past. Could that have influenced it? It felt like SooAh’s waiting place had been implicitly decided as here.

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SooAh didn’t mind. She liked that she could look at the dolls while waiting. In fact, SooAh’s eyes were currently glued to the display case.

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‘Whoa, I’m definitely buying that one. Someday…’

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The rabbit dolls that had been there before were gone, and now the shelves were filled with all new merchandise. She maintained a poker face on the outside, but inside, her eyes were sparkling and she was drooling.

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“Who’s that woman?” “…She’s pretty.” “Is she a celebrity?”

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The passersby around her glanced at SooAh and whispered to each other, but she was completely unaware, too busy looking at the display case.

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That’s when it happened.

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A little kid who came out of the store holding his mom’s hand spotted SooAh, stopped walking, and stared up at her with wide eyes. He pointed with his index finger.

“Mom. That one. I want that one too.” “Huh? You can’t call a person ‘that one’, that’s not nice.”

The mom tapped the child’s back and scolded him, but SooAh didn’t feel entirely bad. After all, he was treating her like a doll. Feeling secretly proud, she waved at him, but then…

“Looks like a wolf. A wolf doll.”

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“…?”

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SooAh’s hand froze in mid-air.

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Her expression hardened without her even realizing it, and soon the child, terrified, hugged his mom and quickly left.

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SooAh felt wronged. She was an Arctic fox, an Arctic fox! She was worlds away from a wolf…

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That’s when a van stopped in front of SooAh.

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“SooAh.”

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The door opened, and KimYiSeo, who was even smaller than the seat, was there.

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She looked the same as always. She had two large hairpins attached to her bangs, and she was wearing calm and long clothes.

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The CEO waved her small hand. “Did you wait long? Let’s leave right away.”

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As soon as SooAh got in, the van started smoothly, and KimYiSeo suddenly looked at SooAh’s face.

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‘Is it because the actual filming is getting closer? She seems much more serious than before. Well, it’s time to manage her mindset.’

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The truth was, SooAh was just shocked by being called a wolf.

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SooAh had recently become completely obsessed with Arctic foxes. After hearing LeeGeumSook’s words, she searched them up and found they were such cute creatures. She was so happy. Was this her? She was reacting like that.

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Of course, KimYiSeo, unaware of these thoughts, was just thinking about how busy she would be in the future. Now she had become a CEO who had to take care of LeeSooAh in addition to KimSunIl and SeoYeonJoo.

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KimYiSeo broke the silence first.

“Earlier, I noticed quite a few people glancing at SooAh-ssi. You haven’t even debuted yet and it’s already like that. We’ll definitely have to change the waiting place after the drama airs.”

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“Arctic fox.” “Hmm?” “Do you think they thought I looked like an Arctic fox?”

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KimYiSeo was a little taken aback by the sudden question, but she could at least understand the meaning behind SooAh’s voice.

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“Of course. Because you do look like one.”

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But what KimYiSeo was thinking of was a wolf.

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Rather than a cute fox that jumps into the snow to scoop up its prey, a wolf that bites the neck of its desired target. A fierce wolf that achieves its goals no matter what…

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“Anyway, you know that the actual filming starts in 5 days, right? Both LeeGeumSook the writer and the entire production team are generally looking forward to SooAh’s acting.” “I know that the actual filming starts in 5 days.” “Everyone’s busy and in a panic. Oh, and the filming order has changed a bit. They say they’re filming SooAh’s scenes first.” “My scenes first? Really?” “They decided that would be best. They say the actors watching will be more alert and work much harder.”

“Hmm.”

SooAh’s heart was pounding.

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‘What’s that supposed to mean? That’s a really burdensome reason.’

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Now, what lay before SooAh was actual filming. That meant every single performance she showed there would be exposed to the public as is.

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SooAh had a lot of tasks to do. She had to manage her image throughout the filming and also do a good job acting.

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KimYiSeo quietly nodded.

“Still, with SooAh-ssi, I can rest assured. Please take good care of your condition and show a good performance during the actual filming. If you need anything at all, contact me immediately.” “I’ll think about it.”

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SooAh was about to say ‘I’m okay’, but she quickly changed it to ‘I’ll think about it.’ She was a little more cunning these days. No, she’s gotten smarter. Like a fox. SooAh proud.

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“There’s only one schedule for SooAh to do today.”

What kind of schedule was it? SooAh perked up her ears.

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“Profile photoshoot. We’re going to make SooAh’s profile.” “Profile?”

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It wasn’t that she didn’t know the word. It was something like taking a picture like a pictorial and then hanging one up, right? However, SooAh had never had that kind of experience, so she was quite nervous.

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How many pictures have I had in my life?

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Have I ever taken pictures with family or friends? Nope. At best, there were graduation photos or resident registration card photos.

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“Profile photoshoots are really hard. Choosing one photo that represents you is a difficult thing to do. It took SunIl a whole day, and YeonJoo took about two days.” “Hmm.” “You have to take two, are you confident?” “Two?”

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SooAh tilted her head slightly.

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“We’re going to completely trick the public into thinking you’re a male actor while you’re playing KimYooHan. It’s a kind of risky marketing, but if it works, it’ll be a huge hit. It’s like shooting a rocket into the sky.”

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She immediately understood what he meant.

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Well, I’ve never had a profile photoshoot before…

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Still, SooAh steeled herself and said. “…I’m confident.”

If it’s something she has to do, then she’ll just do it.

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◈◈◈◈◈

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A few hours later, at the profile photoshoot studio.

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What they put on SooAh at the scene was closer to makeup than styling. It was the process of adding a man’s body, ‘KimYooHan’, to SooAh’s body.

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‘Boring.’

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Sitting in a chair for a long time. It was more boring than she had imagined.

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Her butt hurt, and her shoulders were stiff. She couldn’t even look at her phone, so SooAh had to rely on her imagination.

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Most of it was rabbit-related imagination that she often had. SooAh was active in various genres of rabbit worlds.

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She spent a long time like that.

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“Ta-da!”

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One of the stylists made a sound. She made eye contact with SooAh through the mirror and smiled brightly.

“It’s done, would you like to check out the feeling? Do you know how much Writer Lee and PD Choi begged us? They said there’s no work more important than this, so we really put our souls into it.”

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Come to think of it, that’s all they talked about when they were putting makeup on SooAh. The Special Task Force 808 production team had put everything on SooAh’s KimYooHan makeup. Anyway, SooAh snapped out of her thoughts.

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And then she looked in the mirror.

“…!”

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Immediately after, she felt a shock that made the back of her head tingle.

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‘…What is this? Is this me?’

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Because KimYooHan was really reflected in the mirror.

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A white bowl-cut wig, and a nose that was made even more defined by shading her skin tone, and the stylist hid SooAh’s curvy body with a curtain-like barrier. That’s when it happened.

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Once the body unique to a woman was hidden, she really looked more like KimYooHan.

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The stylist smiled.

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“Writer Lee and PD Choi will have no choice but to be satisfied when they see this, right? It’s a makeup that’s captured both prettiness and handsomeness.”

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“I like that there are two rabbits.” “Huh?”

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─♩♪♬

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That’s when the phone rang.

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The caller was none other than SeoYeonJoo.

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In fact, SeoYeonJoo had been showing interest through texts from earlier. She seemed to have become interested in this and that at the news that SooAh was filming a profile. But now it was a video call.

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‘…Is this what it feels like to have a real unnie?’

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SooAh pondered for a moment before putting the phone to her ear and answering.

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─Oh my, look at you. SooAh, you have to show your face.

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Right, this is a video call. The moment she showed her face like that.

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─I couldn’t resist being curious since I heard you were taking a profile… Huh…?

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SeoYeonJoo couldn’t continue her words.

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─….

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After that, there was silence. It was unresponsive as if the screen had stopped.

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SooAh waved her hand slightly, but it was the same.

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─….

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There were no words.

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The image SooAh had of SeoYeonJoo was all about chattering, but she became a little uneasy because she became so quiet.

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Could it be that SeoYeonJoo doesn’t like it very much?

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“…Is it strange?”

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However.

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─Yeah. I’m strange.

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That was SeoYeonJoo’s answer.

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SeoYeonJoo even covered her eyes with her hands.

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─Hey, SooAh. Don’t look at me with that makeup on.

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“Huh?” ─I think I’m really going to fall for you.

.

.

.

.

.

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A few hours later. Dawn.

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The photoshoot that seemed like it would go so smoothly.

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After that, SooAh had to face an unexpected problem.

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She suddenly looked at herself in the mirror.

“Uhhhhhmm.”

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Now, she had to take a profile picture as a woman, ‘LeeSooAh’, not KimYooHan. Therefore, SooAh had been given all kinds of decorations.

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There were so many things rolling around on the floor. Clothes hangers, tools, and empty cosmetic containers were the most representative of them. She had no idea how many times she had changed her styling and changed her clothes.

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It was hard to count the number of times, and it was already dawn.

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SooAh was starting to feel pain in her butt, neck, and shoulders.

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“SooAh-ssi, what styling do you like the most?”

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“Hmm.”

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SooAh didn’t know well, so she hummed.

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Ponytail, twintail, apple hair, updo… There were various attempts, but it was very difficult to pick just one. It was really hard to tell which was superior.

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SooAh’s impression was just that it was fun?

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She discovered aspects of herself that she had never even thought of. The process was amazing and new. She just had that kind of thought.

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Anyway, the stylists were also having a hard time deciding which was superior, so everyone was suffering as if their heads were about to explode.

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The profile photoshoot team leader scratched the back of her head and thought.

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‘…Is this what a face of a thousand expressions is? This has never happened before?’

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She briefly gathered the staff and asked quietly.

“What do you guys think looks the best?” “I can’t choose.” “…Right? Usually actors have a really clear best match, but this is the first time I’ve seen this. She looks good in everything, so it’s too hard to pick one.”

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That’s when it happened.

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“Excuse me.”

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“Ah, yes, yes. SooAh-ssi.”

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At SooAh’s call, the team leader immediately approached.

“This is just one photo that’s going to be left, right?” “Yes. Profile pictures are important because you can only hang one.”

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The team leader continued with a serious explanation.

“When the public gets to know SooAh-ssi’s name, this profile will be the first door to greet them. It’s in charge of the first impression, and there’s nothing more important than the first impression in this industry.”

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Even SooAh was at the point where she understood the importance of it.

“First of all, let’s try the next styling. If there’s anything in particular that SooAh-ssi likes, please let me know. Let’s see, this time, let’s try an idol makeup look.”

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The stylists immediately surrounded SooAh.

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“SooAh-ssi, we’re not doing this because we got paid.” “That’s right. If it was just because of the money, we would have taken it roughly and quickly.” “Then?” “SooAh-ssi’s face is something I’m greedy for. No matter what you do, it has its own texture, so I want to touch it recklessly to find the best.”

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Several more hours passed like that.

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How many different styles did they try?

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All sorts of brushes hit SooAh’s face over and over again, and she changed her clothes several times. Each time this process was repeated, she had to wipe her makeup clean.

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So much so that in the middle, they even had time to put on a face mask to let her skin rest. It was truly tiring.

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In fact, SooAh didn’t have any particular thoughts about the profile photoshoot.

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She thought that anything that contained a pretty picture of herself could be used as a profile. Anyway, she thought it would be beneficial if there was a decent image hanging there.

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But.

“….”

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It was different now.

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Strangely, SooAh was increasingly worried.

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“SooAh-ssi, how about this kind of feeling?” “Ummm…”

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She realized that she also had this kind of feeling, and they all suited her. But if she was asked if she liked it very much, she couldn’t answer for sure. Something kept bothering her.

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‘The act of expressing myself in just one photo.’

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What kind of look should she hang up?

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Is it okay if it’s just pretty?

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Will I really not regret it?

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Then the photoshoot team leader said in a tired voice.

“We’ve tried almost everything now, but it seems impossible to try more here. It’s difficult, but it seems like we have to choose now. How was option number 3 earlier? I think that’s good.” “Option number 3…” “If SooAh-ssi is a bit confused, it wouldn’t be bad to trust my senses. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years.”

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SooAh didn’t answer.

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Instead, she looked back at herself.

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Looking back, SooAh’s life had changed completely since she had obtained her special abilities. At the same time as performing all kinds of acting, she socially used various expressions and attitudes to gain profit.

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She will probably continue to do so in the future.

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SooAh has a bigger success in mind and will move forward tirelessly. But that’s why something lingering in SooAh’s heart couldn’t help but stand out.

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And now, she felt like she knew the name of that obstacle.

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It was a very small wish.

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Just one picture.

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A small wish to leave behind my real self.

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“Excuse me.”

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The hesitation wasn’t long.

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With the main filming for Special Task Force 808 just around the corner, SooAh decided to take courage for the first time in her acting career.

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“Could I style myself?” “Huh? Yourself?” “Yes.” “Um…?”

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Bewilderment appeared on the face of the photoshoot team leader.

“Yourself…?”

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She had suffered from all kinds of power trips, but she had never received this kind of request. It was an incomprehensible thing. Other actors were actually clamoring for her to decorate them a little more.

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The photoshoot team leader tried to persuade her nicely.

“SooAh-ssi, as I said, the profile is the first impression. And there’s nothing more important than the first impression in the entertainment industry. But if SooAh-ssi styles herself, you’ll probably be very clumsy, right?”

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The stylists around her had similar expressions.

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However.

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Rather, that made SooAh’s decision even more firm.

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“That’s why.”

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“Yes?”

SooAh said adamantly.

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“Just one picture, I want to keep myself as I am.”

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“…!”

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Since starting acting, she had been doing her best to play her roles and playing a hard-to-reach rookie in social life. In other words, she had never left behind her appearance as ‘LeeSooAh’ herself.

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So that’s what she wanted to do.

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She, if not now, maybe, forever, would have to live with her appearance as ‘LeeSooAh’ hidden for a while.

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It would be good to leave one behind.

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So that she could remember that she was ‘LeeSooAh’ at any time.

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Also, to remind herself of her beginning.

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The photoshoot team leader was almost in tears.

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“SooAh-ssi, I’m saying this because I’m disappointed. I’m so disappointed…” “Please.”

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SooAh trembled but didn’t regret this choice.

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In the end, the photoshoot team leader nodded. Anyway, wanting to decorate SooAh to the extreme was their own greed. If the person in question has a direction she wants to go in, what can they do?

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“SooAh-ssi, are you really going to take the picture like this?” “Yes.”

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A bare face with all the makeup wiped off, and pure white hair hanging down. SooAh stood in front of the camera, showing those things.

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It was disheveled. It was disorganized.

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Her expression didn’t put much effort into it either.

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‘…Is this really okay?’

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The profile photoshoot team leader thought with an anxious heart.

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LeeSooAh is an undoubtedly a jewel. So, it seems like it would be a hundred times right to carve her sharply and take a picture, but this is like taking a picture of her as is, thrown on a dirt floor.

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The photoshoot team leader said to the woman holding the camera next to her.

“Is this still a no-go? Should we try to talk her out of it again?” “No, no, just wait a minute. Team leader, don’t stop her.”

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An unexpected thing happened then.

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The staff gathered in front of the camera were shaking their heads.

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The team leader was slightly puzzled. What on earth was it that they were seeing on the camera screen that made them react like that? Usually, if they caught something bad, they would immediately scream.

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Meanwhile, the staff member holding the camera was focused.

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The subject was only one person, LeeSooAh.

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“…This, there’s a strange attraction to it?”

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Shooting is about capturing moments in a square frame.

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And currently, the present moment that SooAh was creating contained ‘incompletion’.

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Her hair wasn’t trimmed, and her face wasn’t painted with anything, but that’s why it was more attractive.

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Immediately after, the staff member realized the reason.

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Because anyone who sees this kind of unfinished product wants to touch it.

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Because they can’t help but have the desire to complete it.

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Because it gives you the conviction that if you complete it, it will definitely be perfect.

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That’s how everyone is drawn in. Forcibly.

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“Team leader! This is okay! It’s really okay!”

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Click!

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Finally, the camera spat out the shutter sound for the first time.

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“….”

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The profile photoshoot team looked at each other silently.

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At the same time, they nodded, and the meaning was clear.

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Just one picture.

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Not perfect, but special.

It seems like you can grab it, but it’s appropriately far away.

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[Filename_LeeSooAh_profile. JPG.]

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It was a picture that would surely captivate everyone.