Chapter 619

Every single day, the surging volume of buzz left Jun Cedric Valentian under immense stress.

Rosydu @rosydwuuuu

(Yun Hyeonjo stage greeting.mp4)

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˪ Tickets are expensive though.

˪ Worth every penny.

˪ LMAOOO WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS AHJUSSI HELPㅠ(p)

The more Yun Hyeonjo acted however he pleased, the more popular he became.

“How do you feel about dating someone much younger?”

“I don't think about it~.”

“Aaaah!”

“Please wait until I become an adult.”

“You really have no filter~.”

“Aaaah!”

Meanwhile, it was Jun Cedric Valentian who was diligently attending every stage greeting, yet Han Yeoreum watched Yun Hyeonjo with obvious satisfaction. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, as though she were looking at a machine that printed endless buzz metrics.

It was exactly like Han Yeoreum—materialistic and calculating.

“Sunbae! Have you seen this? Look at the number of retweets on the stage greeting video.”

Today was already the last day she would be doing stage greetings alongside him.

Even now, Han Yeoreum's attention seemed to be focused entirely on Yun Hyeonjo.

Even during their late lunch, she kept watching Yun Hyeonjo. At the moment, if anyone searched for 〈Faster Than the Law 3〉, the first thing that appeared was that middle-aged man.

Jun Cedric Valentian snapped the wooden chopsticks in his hand.

“They're saying you're definitely the humanities-type older brother. Did you study liberal arts?”

“No~. I was in the science track.”

“You must've been good at math.”

“Not really.”

Listening to such completely pointless conversation put him in an even worse mood.

“Then why did you choose science?”

“Because I had a crush on my math teacher.”

“Neverevertellanyonethat.”

“Alright~.”

Jun Cedric Valentian felt irritation bubbling inside him. Before they left for the next theater, he stopped Han Yeoreum.

“Why do you care so much about other people?”

“Ah. What now?”

“Why are you telling him not to talk about some old crush? Why are you getting involved in something like that?”

“I happened to save a man named Shin Seojin's life today... so there's a reason.”

Another man.

Jun Cedric Valentian sighed.

There always seemed to be countless men appearing around Han Yeoreum.

Every time he got closer, she climbed even higher. Every time he thought he'd caught up, she'd already moved farther ahead.

And once Han Yeoreum returned from America, how much broader would her world become?

She'd probably come back from Hollywood having discovered an entirely new collection of buzz-generating machines.

For now, he just wanted to get that middle-aged man out of her sight.

“You've still got energy left?”

“I'm not tired.”

“Really? Then run harder.”

“...?”

“Let's do more stage greetings.”

“But today is my last day. Starting tomorrow, I'll be a woman summoned by America.”

“You like barging in out of nowhere and greeting people anyway.”

Jun Cedric Valentian made a completely uncharacteristic impulsive decision.

Still holding Han Yeoreum by the wrist, he barged into theater after theater showing 〈Faster Than the Law 3〉.

“Oh my god! What?!”

“No freaking way...!”

The audience erupted in excitement at the actors' unexpected appearance.

Han Yeoreum's face lit up brighter than anyone's.

Whether she was taking photos while holding fans' hands, or simply greeting them because there wasn't enough time, she smiled with genuine happiness whenever someone called her name.

As though the only people who existed were the audience standing before her.

“Sunbae, please take good care of the stage greetings while I'm gone. Today's idea was really great.”

Week two of 〈Faster Than the Law 3〉 stage greetings continued late into the night, and Han Yeoreum carried on without showing even the slightest sign of exhaustion.

Everyone knew how reluctant she was to leave, so despite having to start another round of stage greetings early the next morning, the entire team stayed with her until the end.

“You little rascal! Have a safe trip!”

“Stay healthy!”

“Yeoreum, use these on the plane. They're a heated eye mask and leg packs... I know how exhausting long flights are, so I prepared them for you.”

“And while you're over there, you're going to ignore our messages again? Only contact us when you need something?”

“If that's what you're telling me to do, then I will.”

“...Hey.”

Han Yeoreum climbed into the car headed for the airport.

“Promise you'll break ten million!”

Jun Cedric Valentian waved both hands vigorously as he watched her disappear into the distance.

“You'll make far more than that.”

* * *

“Woooooow...”

The moment I boarded the plane, I completely froze.

“F-First class...”

Maybe because Netholics had invited me, they'd booked me into First Class.

“This is something I've only ever seen in movies...”

A career woman who'd made it big in business.

Or a genius hacker.

Or a writer spending every last cent before going bankrupt to fulfill a bucket list.

Or a con artist who'd just pulled off the score of a lifetime.

'...Or an actress standing at the very top?'

The realization shot through me like electricity, racing from my feet straight to my brain.

The seat was as wide as a bed.

The moment I collapsed into it, I became so happy I almost felt dizzy.

My body was clearly telling me it had reached its limit, yet I couldn't fall asleep.

Slowly, my body lifted into the air.

The plane was climbing toward California.

My first destination was Los Angeles, where Netholics' headquarters were located.

I'd greet the executives at headquarters, take photographs for the official archive, do interviews, then head to an LA studio for a global web magazine photoshoot.

Immediately afterward, I'd board another flight to New York.

Fashion Week outfits normally had to be finalized at least a month in advance, but since I'd only been invited a week beforehand, Brand D had arranged to rush my outfits from Paris to New York for an emergency fitting.

After trying everything on the list, there would be more interviews, followed by fashion magazine shoots and Yousta content.

Finally, Fashion Week itself.

Then the after-party.

And after that, back to Korea.

A schedule packed so tightly there wasn't even room to breathe.

With a dazed mind, I silently memorized the interview questions I'd received in advance—and every answer I planned to give.

'Don't get nervous.'

'Don't make a mistake.'

This opportunity hadn't come easily.

I couldn't afford to waste even a single part of it.

As my thoughts about America continued endlessly, something entered my field of vision.

An unreal, glittering landscape.

I turned toward the window.

Far above the Pacific Ocean, beyond the endless horizon, the pitch-black night sky overflowed with so many stars it looked impossible.

Staring at the countless stars embroidered across the sky, I thought of the street of dreams.

Hollywood.

Names engraved in gold upon pink stars.

Could I one day carve out a place for myself among that immortal glory—

a place that would remain there forever, never fading?

* * *

“Welcome to Los Angeles.”

“Hello. Thank you for coming to meet us.”

The moment I stepped off the plane, Netholics' headquarters protocol team greeted me.

As we walked along the VIP route, the sunlight streaming through the windows felt unusually dazzling.

“We'll take excellent care of you.”

Outside the airport waited a car that I couldn't identify, except that it looked outrageously expensive.

The staff opened the door for me, revealing seats every bit as soft as those in First Class.

“Ahhh... American capitalism is embracing my entire body. Babe, success really is everything. I never imagined I'd be treated like this in America.”

Dok Gogyeol quickly slid into the seat opposite me and sighed in admiration.

If I'd come alone, I'd probably have frozen from all this overwhelming hospitality.

I was glad she had come with me.

So this was what an American schedule looked like for a truly popular actress...

“This feels... completely different from the Critics Choice Awards...”

“It definitely does.”

Coordinator Hwang and Manager Choi couldn't hide their amazement either.

We all quietly admired the scenery outside through the enormous car windows.

I picked up a bottle of sparkling water from the drink holder.

I'd gotten so nervous that my throat had gone dry.

The icy water sliding down my throat felt incredibly refreshing.

Manager Choi handed me a tablet.

“First we'll check into the hotel. Shower, then straight into makeup. At twelve-thirty we'll head to Netholics headquarters for the welcome lunch, and shooting starts at two-thirty.”

“Unni. Say it one more time.”

“Alright. First we'll check into the hotel. Shower, then straight into makeup. At twelve-thirty we'll head to Netholics headquarters for the welcome lunch, and shooting starts at two-thirty.”

“Aaaaaah!”

I was so excited I couldn't keep my feet still.

As the car glided smoothly forward, I watched the scenery outside as though I were watching a movie.

It truly felt like an entirely different world from Seoul.

Road signs written in English.

Palm trees swaying gently on both sides of the boulevard.

Then, in the distance, I saw the word I'd dreamed about countless times.

Stretching across the hillside.

The name every actor longed for.

HOLLYWOOD

It had become such a cliché.

Yet it didn't feel familiar in the slightest.

Something enormous seemed to press down upon me.

'I really made it this far.'

I was no longer the Han Yeoreum who had nowhere to stand on set and constantly worried whether she belonged there.

I no longer needed to secretly write my own name beside a role in a screenplay, wishing it would somehow become mine.

The car stopped at a red light on Sunset Blvd.

Everyone walking outside looked so carefree.

Some carried cameras.

Others strolled leisurely with coffee in hand.

'I wonder if they've watched 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉.'

Would they recognize me?

A greedy little wish quietly surfaced inside me.

One day...

I wanted everyone here to know who I was.

Even if they hadn't seen 〈Seoul Metropolitan City〉, I wanted them to remember me because they'd happened to watch another one of my works.

It was an absurd dream.

Yet somehow, I couldn't stop myself from dreaming it.

My blood raced through my body with overwhelming anticipation.

The traffic light turned green again.

The car moved forward.

Ahead of us stood a large red sign.

Netholics

The pinnacle of new media.

The stage that could carry me to the entire world now stood directly before my eyes.

* * *

It was one transfer after another.

After getting out of the car, I took the Fairmont Century Plaza's private elevator directly to my room.

“Ah... so this is what a 'popular' actress's life is like...”

“Yeoreum, there's no time! Hurry up and shower!”

Before I could even enjoy the feeling of being the protagonist, I was shoved straight into the bathroom.

Even while taking a cold shower to reduce the swelling from the long flight, my heart refused to cool down.

When I stepped back out, the beauty staff assigned to assist Dok Gogyeol had already arrived.

'How many people are working just for me?'

If I ever filmed in Hollywood someday...

There would probably be even more.

The giant letters I'd seen on the hillside still felt burned into my mind.

With a facial mask covering my skin, my hair was blow-dried while my eye makeup was done at the same time.

“Mmm. Your skin condition is perfect. Babe, should we go with an American vibe?”

The brush glided softly across my eyelids.

Keeping my eyes closed, I mentally repeated every interview answer once more.

I didn't want to be remembered as an awkward, inexperienced young actress.

It was the kind of nervous excitement that felt good.

Yet every time I climbed another step upward, my body stiffened.

That feeling hadn't disappeared in years.

They finished curling my hair into thick waves, sprayed it with hairspray, and the makeup artist was just outlining my lips with a brush—

Ding-dong.

The room's doorbell rang.

“Who is it?”

“I'll get it.”

Manager Choi walked to the door.

Who could it be?

I instinctively turned my head as well.

The moment I caught sight of what was visible through the opening door, the corners of my lips lifted on their own.

“I was asked to deliver these to this room.”

The hotel manager was carrying an enormous bouquet.

No—

"carrying" wasn't quite the right word.

He was practically buried beneath it.

It looked as though he was hugging an entire mountain of flowers.

The bouquet, tied with a white silk ribbon, contained what looked like a hundred roses.

“Who sent them?”

“They wished to remain anonymous. They simply said they were a fan.”

I already knew who had sent them.

No explanation was necessary.

The whole thing was such a familiar cliché that I couldn't help smiling.

“Seriously...”

Because the bouquet was made of—

“Purple roses?”

“There's a card too. Yeoreum, look.”

After taking the bouquet from the hotel manager, Manager Choi handed it to me.

Nestled among the purple roses was a small white card.

Welcome to Hollywood.

The elegant handwriting looked almost businesslike.

I couldn't hold it in any longer.

I burst into laughter.

It was as if I could hear that neat yet mischievous voice.

“What is it? Who sent it?”

“Did Netholics send these?”

I gently shook my head.

“Ah... this is too funny...”

So he could pull a surprise like this too.

The completely unexpected gesture instantly melted away all of my nervousness.

Every breath carried the rich fragrance of roses.

I gently touched one of the purple petals.

It was soft enough to make my heart race.