Chapter 607

Greeting them loudly had been half impulse.

A famous director, successful actors, industry figures whose business cards alone could earn goodwill.

And among those people, Han Yeoreum blended in as though she naturally belonged there.

‘...’

Throughout the entire runtime of the film, Heo Haena kept thinking as she watched Han Yeoreum's face on the screen.

‘It didn't have to be her.’

It wasn't even such an incredible performance. Just the kind of goofy comic character that could be found in almost any movie.

A role that could have been played by plenty of actresses besides Han Yeoreum.

‘I could've done that too.’

Her crushed pride from the photo wall kept her from concentrating on the movie. Instead, her mind wandered through one hypothetical after another.

Han Yeoreum at twenty years old.

What if she had auditioned for 〈Faster Than the Law〉 back then?

Their debuts were only two years apart. She could have played Influ 1 just as well.

Back then, Heo Haena had simply been too young to audition for 〈Faster Than the Law〉, and she ultimately concluded that such a tiny difference had created this enormous gap between them.

No matter how she thought about it, the only explanation was that Han Yeoreum had simply gotten lucky and ridden the opportunity.

‘She barely had any screen time in Season 1 anyway.’

She even found herself thinking it was unfair. The villain changed every season, yet the role of Influ 1 belonged solely to Han Yeoreum.

‘So she doesn't want to leave any room for younger actresses.’

That twisted thought ignited into action.

With this many people gathered.

Especially people of this caliber.

Heo Haena knew exactly how valuable a chance to leave an impression was.

“Ah... yes. Hello.”

Han Yeoreum's greeting irritated her all over again.

‘Ah... yes?’

Because it was exactly the same greeting Myeong Jeha had given her earlier.

It would be one thing if it came from Myeong Jeha, who had reached Hollywood after only three projects.

But she couldn't accept being treated like this by Han Yeoreum, who had climbed to the top by appearing in every project she could get her hands on.

“I really, really enjoyed the movie! When the first one came out, I was still in high school, so I couldn't watch it in theaters... I'm so happy I got to see Part 3 like this!”

Looking at Han Yeoreum, Heo Haena continued,

“I'm honestly a huge fan of yours, Sunbae!”

“Ah—really? Thank you.”

“I'm really looking forward to your next project too. Actually, I'll also be in a drama airing during the same time slot...!”

She could feel the surrounding gazes gradually gathering toward them. Those familiar looks made the humiliation she'd suffered at the photo wall begin to fade.

“If reporters ask during the production presentation... would it be okay if I said I'm your fan?”

Heo Haena decided this was where she'd drive the final nail.

She knew perfectly well the attention that would soon be focused on her. She had grown up watching the entertainment industry from close by because of her uncle.

As long as she obtained the person's permission, neither Han Yeoreum's fans nor outsiders would be able to interfere.

‘Hardly anyone knows Han Yeoreum's exact age anyway.’

Unless they were fans.

Most people only had a vague idea of celebrities' ages. They estimated based on appearances or associated them with the roles they'd played.

Little Han Yeoreum.

The age of someone who had been a high school student when 〈Faster Than the Law 1〉 was released.

If she nudged the public's perception just a little, Han Yeoreum would become someone who was "older than you'd think."

Once that happened, it wouldn't matter how hard her fans or agency tried to publicize Han Yeoreum's actual age—it would all be for nothing.

After all, very few people remembered celebrities' changing ages year after year. Subconsciously, Han Yeoreum would simply become "a much older senior" than Heo Haena.

“I think the reporters will probably ask too... Since I'm such a huge fan of yours!”

She hadn't been able to watch 〈Faster Than the Law〉 while she was in high school, but she'd seen it as soon as she turned twenty. More recently, she'd attended the VIP premiere, told Han Yeoreum she was a fan, and received words of encouragement.

It was the perfect setup for media play.

And refusing here would be awkward.

“Yeoreum.”

But at that moment—

“The director's leaving. Come say goodbye?”

Myeong Jeha, who had been surrounded by Director Gong and several others, called loudly to Han Yeoreum.

With that single call, every gaze that had been focused on this side instantly shifted away.

“Okay. Thanks so much for coming today.”

Han Yeoreum answered Myeong Jeha, then waved goodbye to everyone around her.

“Take care.”

And without answering Heo Haena's question, she walked away.

With every step Han Yeoreum took, someone else greeted her.

“...”

Before she knew it, everyone nearby was preparing to leave as well.

Seo Eden, Choo Gaeul, and So Dami exchanged a few words among themselves before turning away.

“Um... I really like you too, Sunbae. I'm a fan.”

Desperately, Heo Haena stopped Jun Cedric Valentian.

“〈ParCheHi〉... everyone in my class watched it all the time when I was in high school. We'd gather together in the classroom to watch it!”

She couldn't leave like this.

Heo Haena—the one who had debuted before all her peers and was supposed to get further ahead than anyone else.

She couldn't walk away with absolutely nothing.

“...”

But Jun Cedric Valentian didn't even bother replying.

He merely gave a slight nod, his eyes saying, So what exactly do you want me to do about it?

Not a single person around them cared how Heo Haena felt.

Treatment she had never once received in her entire life.

“Haena, let's go now! The movie was great. Thank you so much for inviting us today.”

Her manager, who had been standing half a step behind her, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her away.

As she passed by, Heo Haena caught a fleeting glimpse of Han Yeoreum's profile, looking completely unconcerned that she was leaving.

Grinding her teeth, she thought,

‘Just wait... Once I become famous, I'll definitely tell everyone about today...’

Popular actress A deliberately ignored rookie actress Heo Haena.

The wounded rookie Heo Haena.

People would dig through old records until they figured out exactly who Actress A had been.

* * *

[You did well!!!]

Director Reed Kingdom had actually brought his sketchbook all the way here and thrust it in front of me.

Smiling, I greeted him.

‘The timing was seriously perfect.’

If the old gentleman hadn't interrupted, I would've been left hanging as bait at someone else's production presentation.

‘Trying to use me with everyone watching... she's pretty clever.’

How was I supposed to say, No, absolutely not, in that situation?

If Myeong Jeha hadn't called me over using Director Reed Kingdom as an excuse, the atmosphere would've become really awkward.

As expected, experience makes all the difference.

‘There are so many reporters here.’

An article like Top A-list Actress H Bullies Rookie Actress H could've been spreading through the Yeouido group chats by now.

“Thank you. You should really be taking care of your health, Director, but you still came all the way here.”

[Of course I did!!!]

[We...!]

Apparently he'd already gotten much more accustomed to writing quickly.

His pen flew across the page.

“Hanada...!”

Apparently pleased by my answer, Director Reed Kingdom bounced excitedly in place.

“The overall quality was excellent, including the final post-credit scene. Going overseas for the shoot was definitely worth it, wasn't it?”

“Right? The scenery was amazing.”

“Of course, I wouldn't know myself, but everyone from our 〈Code Name: Time Seven〉 production says they'd love to live in Russia for a month if they could. They said the footage you brought back looked like a work of art.”

Ma Eungyo really was Ma Eungyo.

The second part was probably what she had actually wanted to say.

Han Yohan, standing beside her, also spoke.

“You worked hard. Are you heading to another shoot afterward?”

“The premiere's over, so promotion starts in earnest now. We're going to film 〈First Train Live〉.”

“I see. Don't drink too much. Like at the last company dinner...”

Han Yohan, who had always been one of the last people to leave the wrap-up dinners for 〈Faster Than the Law 2〉, looked at me with mild reproach.

I turned to Jo Eunnara, who was watching Han Yohan and me with an unreadable expression.

“Thank you for coming too, Sunbae.”

“I enjoyed it. This one's going to pass ten million again.”

“Right? That's what I think too.”

You've got good taste, Jo Eunnara.

Even after Director Reed Kingdom and the 〈Code Name: Time Seven〉 team finished saying their goodbyes and left, quite a few people still remained inside the theater.

Probably because of Ji Haebeom and Myeong Jeha.

Everyone wanted to exchange at least a few more words with them.

Myeong Jeha because everyone knew what his next project was and couldn't wait for it.

Ji Haebeom because nobody knew what his next project was, which somehow made everyone even more curious.

Standing beside me, Myeong Jeha smoothly ushered people along.

‘Experience really does show.’

He'd clearly handled situations like this countless times before, expertly keeping conversations from dragging on.

I also greeted several of the investors who had backed the film, shaking hands with each of them.

Triple ten-million.

This was a tentpole film expected to achieve something Korean cinema had never seen before.

I could feel that all of us had grown into a different league.

Ji Haebeom, who had been speaking with Yun Hyeonjo, finally seemed ready to leave and headed toward the exit.

Our eyes met for a brief instant.

Just as I lowered my head to greet him—

“I enjoyed the movie today.”

“Thank you!”

“Good. You've got a strong greeting.”

After leaving that simple remark behind, Ji Haebeom walked away.

“See you again.”

Why did everything Ji Haebeom did feel like a scene from a movie?

No wonder he was a film actor.

‘That line just now was good.’

Just like Eun Baekhap's "Do you even know how famous I am?", I needed to add it to my list of lines to use someday.

‘You've got a strong greeting....’

Once I had juniors much younger than me, I'd casually say something like that too.

Though definitely not to Heo Haena after what had just happened.

“I loved the post-credit scene. I'd actually really enjoyed that movie before!”

“Really? Thank you.”

“When you think about it, you're an incredible actor. I knew you'd win back during the Holy Grail War.”

One of the investors reached out to shake my hand.

As I lightly shook it, I glanced around.

‘Come to think of it... Do Gyeoul's gone?’

Being free from the gaze that always clung to me somehow felt strange.

* * *

“Continue straight....”

Thinking she had fallen asleep, her manager muted the navigation voice.

With her eyes closed and her breathing calm, Do Gyeoul's mind held only one thought.

Watching 〈Faster Than the Law 3〉 had been surprisingly enjoyable.

The cinematography wasn't sloppy.

Noah Williams' music fully lived up to his reputation.

Most of all, Han Yeoreum's performance in the beginning—which truly seemed on the verge of madness—was unlike anything she'd ever shown before.

Watching someone fall apart before her eyes.

Watching Han Yeoreum collapse.

It felt completely different from the Han Yeoreum who had stared stubbornly at her on set while drenched in sweat.

The former had to be fake.

The latter had to be real.

Yet Han Yeoreum had somehow made even the former appear genuine.

Thinking that she alone knew the difference sent an inexplicable thrill through her.

“The final post-credit scene was brilliant. People are going to go crazy over that homage.”

“I wonder how they came up with that name.”

After the movie ended, the conversations surrounding Director Gong also reached Do Gyeoul's ears.

“Ah, it wasn't my idea... It came up while I was talking with Yeoreum during filming. We were joking around, saying, 'What if Influ 1 was actually a legendary professional gambler with incredible Go-Stop talent?' Then she said, 'What about Goeun?'”

An utterly insignificant moment.

Nothing more than idle chatter exchanged during a long, tedious shoot.

“Then I thought... this kid really ought to have a name now. The opening was so intense that I wanted the ending to completely release that tension. You know what I mean? So it wasn't in the original script, but we added it afterward.”

Han Yeoreum had actually turned that casual conversation into something concrete.

The moment she heard those words, Do Gyeoul quietly walked out of the theater.

Because Director Gong's face overlapped with Seomun Ihwa's from the News Zone.

Back then, while talking about Season 2, Seomun Ihwa's gaze had been fixed on Han Yeoreum.

‘What exactly is it...’

What was it about Han Yeoreum that resonated even with people whose egos were so powerful they were practically made of ego itself?

No matter how much she thought about it, Do Gyeoul couldn't understand.

And somehow, she felt she never would.

Even now, only the dictionary definition of resonance came to mind.

When one object vibrates at a certain frequency and repeatedly receives force at that exact same frequency, causing its amplitude and energy to increase dramatically.

Who had decided to use such a phenomenon as a metaphor?

Why had a word describing nothing more than a physical phenomenon come to mean that hearts could deeply understand one another and share the same feelings?

A never-ending chain of cause and effect she couldn't comprehend.

Everything Do Gyeoul had spent her entire life trying to erase now felt completely invalidated.

What Han Yeoreum had given her felt like humiliation.

Or perhaps the beginning of endless curiosity.

Or perhaps the very force that kept her from growing tired.

‘...Don't smile like that.’

Do Gyeoul wanted to see that face Han Yeoreum had worn on the set of 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉 once more.

The tense, sharp-edged Han Yeoreum.

If she wanted an encore...

What kind of person would she have to become when she appeared before Han Yeoreum again?

Quietly opening her eyes, Do Gyeoul gazed out through the car window.