episode_0149

“…”

SuA’s mind momentarily froze. SuA pulverized.

Despite the utter bewilderment freezing her body, SuA managed to scrutinize the person before her.

‘What, what is this? What is it?’

She hoped her eyes were mistaken, but no, it was definitely her. The woman in front of her was undoubtedly that person.

‘My Japanese tutor? Why are you here?’

She was wearing a “Jog Korea” employee ID card.

Thinking about it, it might not be so strange. People with foreign language skills might have the same kind of job, and switching companies is common. Did she quit tutoring now?

The next moment, fear washed over her.

‘My Japanese was terribly bad.’

SuA recalled a past conversation with her teacher.

─SuA-ssi, what was this letter again?

─Hi…. It’s probably…. Um….

─I told you, it’s “hi.”

─Ah….

─It looks like a smiling mouth, so “hi.” If you associate it like that, it shouldn’t be difficult, right? Please, SuA-ssi.

‘….’

It wasn’t that she confused grammar or sentence structures, but surprisingly, SuA was a student who couldn’t even memorize the hiragana and katakana.

In Korean terms, it was like not knowing the consonants and vowels.

Can’t tell *giyeok* from a sickle? That was SuA’s story.

‘…What should I do?’

This was why SuA was sweating buckets and tense at this moment. What would it be like for the Japanese expert teacher to know that SuA was so bad she almost had to be spoon-fed information?

‘But I always showed her how hard I was trying, right? I was always polite, too. Yeah. Can’t I just say I worked like crazy and gloss over it? No, I guess not?’

She felt like she was going crazy with anxiety.

Of course. If the tutor even mentioned how ignorant SuA was back then, it would damage her image.

Meanwhile, the teacher spoke again.

“SuA-ssi, you recognize me, right?”

SuA sensed a hint of disappointment in the teacher’s voice. Well, sure enough, she’s incredibly disappointed.

‘Of course I remember!’

But she couldn’t easily answer.

There were too many people around to have a comfortable conversation. SuA was an actress now. She inevitably had to maintain her image. What should she do?

“Umm.”

SuA hummed for a moment.

“…Well, you always forgot things easily.”

The tutor began to understand something on her own. No, wait. Don’t just accept it like that.

Then Kim Iseo interjected.

“What’s going on?”

The Jog Korea team leader next to her spoke.

“Well, it seems they know each other.”

Before they knew it, all the employees’ attention was focused on them. It was only natural. Everyone there was interested in SuA, and suddenly a story from her past had surfaced.

The employees chimed in.

“SuA-ssi isn’t saying anything, though?”

“Was she a witness instead of an acquaintance? Like she just saw her at some event a long time ago or something.”

“Hye-seo-ssi, I understand you want to act like you know SuA-ssi. But we’re in a meeting right now, okay?”

Then the tutor looked a little wronged.

“Saying I was a ‘witness’ is too much. No. Don’t misunderstand. We definitely knew each other.”

SuA just felt more sorry.

“Yes, that’s right. We do know each other….”

But perhaps because of SuA’s listless tone, no one in the conference room took her words seriously.

“SuA-ssi’s admitting it reluctantly?”

“Hye-seo-ssi, stop making things difficult for SuA-ssi.”

“…Okay. You’re all being too much.”

SuA was really at a loss.

Her Japanese tutor had been kind to her despite her countless frustrations. That’s why SuA wanted to at least say hello….

‘…What do I even say?’

The problem was the explanation. She couldn’t exactly say she received a special perk, but if she hid that, there was no way to explain it.

Saying she worked hard wouldn’t work either. Why? Because she did work hard back then. The tutor already knew. That SuA was a student who couldn’t get it even if she worked hard.

Meanwhile, Kim Iseo was lost in thought.

‘Well, it’s a natural phenomenon. SuA-ssi is the hottest rookie in Korea right now. It’s time for hidden acquaintances to start appearing.’

She touched the hairpin in her bangs and continued her train of thought.

‘She probably didn’t start acting as soon as she came to Korea, so she probably has some connections here and there.’

SuA, the person in question, felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.

She secretly hoped the topic would change. How great would it be if they could finish the meeting and then talk to the Japanese teacher separately? But already, people were very interested.

The employees all chimed in with a word or two.

“If it’s back then, it’s before SuA-ssi debuted, right? I’m curious. What was she like back then?”

“She probably still had overflowing popularity back then.”

“Is her actual personality Kim Yu-han? Or Wi Ji-hye?”

At the employee’s words, the Yu-han SuA and Wi Ji-hye of the SuA Association frowned. SuA urgently calmed them down. I know I don’t look like you, so don’t get worked up.

More than that, she couldn’t focus at all. In the meantime, everyone was sending her burdensome glances.

SuA first said just one thing.

“I lived my life diligently.”

…Yeah! Because it’s true that I lived diligently!

“If SuA-ssi lived diligently, men would have flocked to her, right? She must have been popular even back then?”

“Not really….”

SuA suddenly recalled something that happened with a work colleague. It was probably when they went to a matchmaking bar after a company dinner.

─SuA-ssi, please, just smile. Do you know how many men stop approaching after seeing SuA-ssi’s expression?

In the end, no men came that day.

The employees burst out laughing.

“That can’t be true?”

“SuA-ssi probably just has high standards.”

Of course, their gazes soon turned to the tutor. If she was an acquaintance, she might know a little about the past.

“Hye-seo-ssi, you knew her in the past, right? Do you know anything?”

“…I don’t know. She seemed similar to how she is now.”

“Huh?”

“Polite, and always working hard. I learned Japanese with her…. Ah, never mind. It’s annoying. I won’t say anything.”

Everyone laughed at her slightly sulky voice. They seemed to think that she was just acting like she knew SuA out of fan sentiment.

On the other hand, SuA’s emotion grew.

‘She’s, she’s upholding her loyalty to me!’

The tutor hadn’t said anything that would be detrimental to SuA. SuA’s eyes teared up. Teacher….

That’s when it happened.

Kim Iseo whispered to SuA, just loud enough for her to hear.

“You learned Japanese together?”

“Umm, it was a group format.”

“…Group format?”

Kim Iseo repeated the words “group format.”

‘Ah, could it be?’

She came to a conclusion that seemed reasonable to her.

‘Did she teach Japanese? Well, she’s too good to keep that skill to herself. She was doing talent donation from back then….’

At that moment, each person’s misunderstandings swirled in the air.

SuA quickly opened her mouth.

“…Let’s finish the meeting first.”

Then everyone looked like they had almost forgotten. The team leader opened his mouth with a slightly apologetic look.

“The conversation was so enjoyable that we took too long of a break. I apologize. Yes. Let’s finish the meeting quickly.”

◈◈◈◈◈

An hour later.

The meeting was productive every second, so it went smoothly. There was no conflict along the way. Jog Korea desperately wanted SuA.

“The products that are checked with a highlighter are to be used for wearing them…. that is, actually wearing them. For the rest, we’ll just film SuA-ssi holding them up on a hanger.”

“Yes.”

“We’ll give you a generous period of time for the filming date, so Mystic, please pick one day from that.”

The product and the date. Everything was decided.

Now, there was just one thing left. Kim Iseo opened her mouth.

“The bare minimum price we have in mind for SuA is around this.”

SuA, who was glancing sideways without much thought, was startled. The amount was enormous. CEO-nim, is this okay?

But Jog Korea responded with a smile.

“It’s almost exactly the same as the limit we had in mind. Yes. Then let’s proceed like this.”

She couldn’t help but stick her tongue out inwardly. Kim Iseo definitely knew Jog Korea’s situation and had poked the exact point. She was newly grateful that she had a good CEO.

Then Kim Iseo whispered.

“SuA, do you want to reveal it?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Your emotional expression disability, I mean.”

At that moment.

‘Ah?’

SuA realized. SuA-ureka!

A way to avoid making the tutor feel disappointed!

SuA quickly whispered to Iseo.

.

.

.

.

.

After the meeting.

The “Jog Korea” employees chose to chat instead of leaving the conference room. There was a set topic to talk about to their hearts’ content. After all, they had just met SuA!

“SuA-ssi is amazing in person.”

“I know, right? I was wondering if her actual personality was similar to Kim Yu-han, but no. She’s incredibly grounded.”

“…Doesn’t that make her even more amazing? How could someone so calm act like Kim Yu-han?”

Meanwhile, the tutor─Hye-seo─remained silent. Soon, the employees’ attention gradually turned toward her.

“Hye-seo-ssi, tell us a little about SuA-ssi.”

“Weren’t you calling her a ‘witness’ just a moment ago?”

“She’s really pouting. If you know her, you can tell us.”

“Well, not much to tell, we were together in a Japanese group tutoring session. Of course, she was hardworking even though she was aloof….”

“SuA-ssi’s a foreign resident, right? She must have been really good at Japanese?”

“…Uhhhmmm.”

Hye-seo was gradually reaching the point where she was doubting her own memories. Is that right? Was SuA more talented than she thought? Was she being too harsh?

The reason was that SuA’s image was so perfect right now. It made her doubt her own memories.

“The friends she studied with in the group must be going crazy. The person who was writing Japanese in the notebook with them one day appears on TV and hits it big with a drama. I can’t imagine how that would feel?”

“That’s true.”

Around that time, Hye-seo’s eyes widened.

Because Kim Iseo was gesturing from outside the conference room. As if telling her to come out for a moment.

She pointed to her chin with her index finger, wondering if the gesture was directed at her, and Kim Iseo nodded.

“…?”

Hye-seo swallowed hard, then followed Iseo. When she came to her senses, she was in the Mystic van in the parking lot.

“…What’s going on?”

Hye-seo blinked and asked, and Iseo smiled.

“SuA said she was sure you’d be disappointed.”

At the same time, SuA greeted her.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ah, yes….”

Hye-seo awkwardly accepted the greeting. The truth was that she was quite disappointed, but now that she was called out separately and greeted like this, what had been bothering her melted away immediately.

And a moment later.

“This is confidential, but SuA seems to value Hye-seo-ssi a bit especially. So I’ll let you know.”

“Know what?”

“Actually, our SuA….”

While SuA remained silent, Kim Iseo continued to explain, and soon the tutor’s eyes widened.

A moment later.

Her eyes were watery as she got out of the van.

.

.

.

.

.

Vrooooom─!

Inside the van, which had begun heading toward the Mystic headquarters.

“Whew.”

SuA heaved a sigh of relief.

‘It was the first time I’d encountered an old acquaintance, so I was too flustered. Get used to it. More will appear in the future.’

While calming her surprised heart, SuA was also reflecting. I’m different from before! SuA developing!

At that time, Yu-han SuA opened her mouth.

─See? I emphasized that it would be a helpful element back then, right? Your friends have done a very big thing. They created the perfect excuse called emotional expression disability.

‘…It did end up that way as a result. I don’t have an emotional expression disability, but there’s no other way out other than that.’

SuA nodded.

Fortunately, the Japanese tutor didn’t have any ill feelings toward SuA, and when they covered it up well with the emotional expression disability, she looked at SuA with eyes that seemed to be greatly supporting her. To the point that SuA felt apologetic.

─Old acquaintances who have malice toward SuA *sunbae* should be ignored. You can just step on them as you walk the road to success and crush them. But.

‘But?’

─The problem is the precious people who treated SuA *sunbae* with ‘goodwill.’ These people have observed SuA *sunbae* with affection, so they have a higher understanding than others, and as a result, they will have a hard time understanding while supporting the current situation.

‘An emotional expression disability is a justification to make people like that accept the situation without feeling disappointed, right? I understand.’

─…You already understand? You really have gotten better, haven’t you?

Yu-han SuA widened her eyes for once.

SuA proud!

◈◈◈◈◈

The next day.

The internet is like a school of sharks. They are always searching for prey to bite in the sea of information.

A very good bait was thrown to them.

[‘Lee SuA’ Selected as Jog Korea’s Summer Special Model]

The content was that SuA would decorate the main page of Jog Korea’s summer special. Simple but strong.

[Jog Korea, is this special topic swimwear?]

[‘Shhh, it’s a secret.’ Kim Yu-han, who perfectly pulled off cross-dressing, Jog Korea side “Great results will come out”]

The hottest rookie is entering the hottest pictorial, so it’s bound to attract attention. Thanks to this, those who were curious about SuA’s next move immediately went wild.

Meanwhile, Special Task Force 808, especially Kim Yu-han, was already a trend. It was the same just by looking at MuTube.

[Channel: Scoundrels] [Let’s try matchmaking while cross-dressing]

[Channel: Voice Actor Chu Ho-jin] [Special Task Force 808 24-Person Voice Imitation]

[Channel: Hair Artist Sang-hwa] [I ruined my hair trying to copy ‘Kim Yu-han’…. ㅠ.ㅠ Sang-hwa teacher will try to save it once! Challenge!]

Some people used the following grounds to criticize the MuTuber. They said it’s an ugly profession that lives by plugging a straw into a topic that’s always hot.

But that’s why it’s even more certain.

The straw they’re sticking in now is none other than SuA. This proves that SuA is currently the most rising rookie in Korea.

And one more thing.

Articles related to NextFlixs also began to pour out.

[NextFlixs ‘Korea Landing Signboard Work’, Hong Ye-ji in Charge]

The content was that NextFlixs OTT was just around the corner from landing in Korea, and at the same time, Hong Ye-ji’s work would be in charge of the signboard. Of course, most people didn’t even know who Hong Ye-ji was.

But.

They at least knew who Lee Seo-jung and Lee SuA were.

[NextFlixs Hong Ye-ji Writer ─ Lee Seo-jung, Lee SuA Casting Completed. Will This Really Be a Work That Captivates Overseas Viewers?]

In other words, just the casting was enough to be cheered for.

─Who is Hong Ye-ji? ─Wow, but Lee SuA? Crazy. ─I heard that this OTT is very hot overseas, but SuA-nim is a rookie, so she joined right away ㅎㄷㄷ ─Wow, Lee Seo-jung is doing it too ㅋㅋㅋㅋ ─What is the genre anyway? ─What is the genre? What is the genre? Genre! ─Please, additional information!!

[Hong Ye-ji 曰 ‘I won’t bother trying to decide on a title. I didn’t want to rashly define the genre either.’]

─??? What’s with the confidence? ─How amazing of a thing did they prepare? ─Isn’t this clickbait? ─Well, I’ll have to watch it once ─If it’s not fun, I’m going to cuss so much

In the meantime, the reporters used the fact that the genre and title hadn’t been decided, and those facts gathered an incredible amount of attention again.

What to say.

It was a fact that Hong Ye-ji would be very moved if she knew.

◈◈◈◈◈

Two days later.

SuA had to move breathlessly again.

She repeatedly checked the CEO’s text on her cell phone.

[Sender: CEO Kim Iseo] ▷ SuA, you know the variety show will be broadcasted soon, right?

▷ It’s important to make people talk about SuA while filming movies and dramas. That’s why variety shows and promotions are so important.

▷ But SuA is not at the level to handle trivial things, right? So what I chose was NeoLive. When I looked at the estimates, it seemed like you could enjoy amazing effects.

▷ I really want to join you, but I have to take care of Yeon-ju today, so I can’t help it. See you at night.

Thus, SuA was currently at the NeoLive headquarters.

‘NeoLive project….’

SuA didn’t know exactly what kind of project it was either.

All she remembered was that she agreed to do a collab with Deer once, but suddenly what project?

Well, she could just listen from now on and decide. It’s okay even if the CEO isn’t here. Deer─Go Eun-bi─also works here, so why couldn’t SuA do it? Plus, there’s the SuA Association!

When she entered the conference room, there were a lot of people.

“Oh! SuA-ssi, you’re here!”

Everyone stood up to greet her. Of course, Go Eun-bi just waved her hand lightly, and SuA also greeted them with her eyes.

“Was it hard getting here? It’s so good to see you.”

“It wasn’t hard. I’m thankful that you called me.”

“Yes. Then, let’s get straight to the point….”

He was rubbing his palms together quickly, so he seemed to be the planner of this project. Just by looking at his face, you could tell he was full of passion, and it looked like he was seriously going to do this work.

“SuA-ssi, would you like to look at this draft first?”

SuA looked at it without much thought and then was amazed.

‘Oh?’

The reason was because a very cute character was visible.

“It’s a character that personifies an Arctic fox. I heard that SuA-ssi’s pet is an Arctic fox, so I included that.”

As the planner said, what was visible was a pure white character with fox ears. It was a perfect sniper of her taste.

“It’s very cute. But why is this?”

“It’s an avatar for SuA-ssi to use.”

“…My avatar?”

She couldn’t help but tilt her head.

“Ah, is it an avatar for a collab? To even make something like this for just one broadcast.”

“It’s not just one broadcast. Compared to the money that SuA-ssi’s promotional effect will bring, it’s an investment that has several times more left over.”

“…Then I’ll use it gratefully.”

SuA briefly greeted him. And then asked back.

“I just have to use this avatar and talk to Cicalin, right? Playing a game or doing an interview….”

“No. Just that much would be disappointing for SuA-ssi. We’ve prepared big to match your level.”

SuA was becoming anxious around this point.

‘Um?’

Big? What?

On the other hand, the planner continued to speak excitedly.

“We’re going to put up a fake project that will debut NeoLive’s new maknae, and then we’ll try doing a broadcast for just one day.”

“…One day? A personal broadcast?”

“Yes. The effect of promotion is maximized when you give a twist. You can think of it as a one-day hidden camera.”

The planner smiled cheekily.

“Tricking the viewers. Isn’t that SuA-ssi’s specialty!”

SuA screamed inwardly. SuA-kyaaaaaak!