NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55
What’s the upside of going back in time?
Honestly, there are probably so many that I can’t count them all.
But let’s pick out some of the minor details.
‘Like being able to defeat the Great Adventure of the Platypus during its prime.’
Breaking games that I couldn’t defeat with a kid’s physical ability with ease.
Like taking down that final skateboard boss wielding a gun in the game [Me and Dad],
or helping a kid escape from aliens,
or making sure that the sleepwalking uncle gets home safely without waking up,
or helping a ninja with a baseball bat successfully construct a golden baseball statue, and so on.
Games where you can’t clear them at all without a guide.
Or games you’ve given up on even if you’ve got infinite coins because they’re just too hard.
Now, all of that can be solved easily with adult physicality.
‘So easy.’
After feeling a bit nostalgic, I suddenly looked at the calendar to check the schedule.
‘Is there a special meeting tomorrow?’
I don’t know how it coincidentally lined up like this.
After the Brilliant Special Meeting on Saturday,
the following Thursday was the release of [Endless Frontlines].
Normally, during this time, there wouldn’t be many marketing means to promote,
it would be frustratingly hard trying to promote.
And yet, just before the movie’s release, an event for the actors to meet fans ended up getting set up spontaneously.
It was literally a situation where there was no way to avoid promotion.
Maybe the audience curious about [Endless Frontlines] would be even more eager.
Wouldn’t everyone want to show up to an event where they could meet before the actor’s stage greetings?
‘I heard from the boss that about 50,000 people applied.’
It was impressive to narrow down that number.
‘Isn’t this turning into a movie promotion event rather than a school uniform event?’
Around the time I was thinking that,
>Dong-ho, I got into the special meeting too.
>Let’s meet there, I’ll bring some tasty snacks.
>Are you keeping up with your diet these days? You should eat about 1.5 times your weight in protein.
A message from Director Baek Sang-ha came through.
‘Wait, you got in too?’
The same with the Hyde Dream concert and even now,
our director’s lottery luck was something else entirely.
++++++
On the day of the Brilliant school uniform special meeting,
CEO Han Seong-mun laughed in disbelief at the spectacle before him.
“Is this really the scale of a school uniform event?”
They had more than doubled the original allowance of about 20 people to make room for 45,
and what was once a casual chat area had transformed into a place resembling an idol fan meeting.
“We didn’t expect it to turn out like this either, but honestly, if the scale wasn’t this big, we’d feel sorry!”
“Hey, if the scale isn’t like this, it honestly would be a bit embarrassing, right?”
Han Seong-mun, the CEO, nodded at his subordinate’s words.
“True.”
Kim Donghu, the mastermind who turned their dreams of reclaiming the industry’s number one into reality and made this event a blockbuster hit.
He felt that this level of decoration was worth it just to express his gratitude.
“I’m just worried that we might be inexperienced since it’s our first event…?”
He was concerned about making a blunder and getting criticized unnecessarily.
They had to wrap this event up successfully, that was the goal. Just then…
Pitter patter.
“…?”
Someone was approaching from afar.
With a silhouette reminiscent of a white shark and a fierce impression as if he had killed someone once, he walked casually but somehow created a tense atmosphere around him.
‘W-what is that?’
Why is such a person coming to a school uniform event?
A looming fear filled his head, and he thought he should call security to prevent any disruption to the event.
“Is this the Brilliant Special Meeting place?”
“Y-yes? Yes, yes.”
The loud white shark’s words snapped him back to reality.
“Oh, I’m number one, I just arrived early. Did I arrive too early?”
He presented an invitation and there it was, number one printed on it.
‘…What? He’s attending our event?’
But why did such a person buy our school uniforms?
It didn’t make sense, but since he was a valuable customer, everyone responded with smiles.
Simultaneously, a thought crossed everyone’s minds in the venue:
With this guy around, there’s no need to worry about any terrorist attacks.
In reality, as if to prove that thought, even as the event time approached and people began to gather, everyone meekly followed the guidance of the shark-like guy.
So, 30 minutes before the event was set to start…
Whoosh!
“Honey, you’ve gotten so popular!”
In a dressing room where no one was watching, Ryu Jaerin once again wrapped her arms around Kim Donghu.
“What are you doing? What if someone sees?”
“Who would see? Who dares to walk into a dressing room full of models?”
“The managers…?”
“I came alone without any manager.”
That’s how trainees usually roll.
Kim Donghu scratched his head awkwardly at Ryu Jaerin’s nonchalant words.
To think someone like her would end up being a world-famous idol one day.
Life is truly unpredictable.
“Why didn’t you invite me to the VIP preview?”
“…It’s a place only for stakeholders, you know?”
“Aren’t we connected enough?”
“Your kindergarten classmate is an idol trainee, and actually, I’m modeling school uniforms with them?”
“Hmm… Well?”
Ryu Jaerin deliberately evaded the question while looking up at Kim Donghu.
A few times, she looked at him with eyes sparkling like those of a cat in boots.
The moment Kim Donghu noticed his embarrassment, Ryu Jaerin took two steps back.
It’s important to push boldly, but sometimes pulling back is the key.
With a faint smile, Ryu Jaerin glanced at her watch.
“I’ll just wrap it up here for today, it’s not like this is the end.”
What does she mean by wrapping it up here?
Ryu Jaerin responded to Kim Donghu’s puzzlement with a laugh and stepped out of the waiting room, her heels clicking.
Most of the people at the event came to see Kim Donghu.
So, to avoid being overshadowed, she had to make her presence known first.
“Hello, this is Ryu Jaerin!”
The returning reception was a chilly gaze.
“…”
That’s a natural reaction.
What kind of welcome would an unknown idol trainee like her get?
Just as that thought crossed her mind—
Clap, clap, clap!
The person resembling a great white shark clapped loudly, prompting an immediate wave of applause.
‘Is this fear-based ruling?’
As Ryu Jaerin was taken aback,
“Hello, I’m Kim Donghu.”
Waaaaaaaah!
Cheers and shouts erupted at the leisurely entrance of Kim Donghu.
In the background, Han Seong-mun, the manager, watched with a satisfied smile, thinking,
‘When it comes time to renew the contract next year, no matter the cost, I will definitely, definitely secure him.’
He hoped to be the manager who takes care of all the school uniforms Kim Donghu would wear in the future.
And so he vowed to himself.
“Welcome, everyone, to the Brilliant Special Meeting! Due to time constraints, we will skip over the minor details! Let’s get to the twin shot!”
The host smoothly continued the event, as if to carry on that vow.
When uniforms were introduced, everyone was naturally indifferent.
But when the long-awaited fan meeting time arrived, the fans were buzzing with excitement.
They were eager to exchange even a single word with Kim Donghu.
Even if it was only a minute of conversation,
Just being able to have it was a blessing.
“Alright, it’s the fan meeting time you’ve all been waiting for! Please line up and proceed in an orderly manner, one by one!”
“Yes!”
The fan meeting, filled with resounding cheers, began.
Kim Donghu was bewildered from the start.
“…You really came, Director?”
“Why would I come as a fake? I’m here to see my Donghu, of course!”
“Uh… um… Are you happy?”
“Donghu, I don’t ask for much. Let’s just run 10 kilometers a day lightly, like we used to. Sound good?”
“…”
Was that what she came to say at the special meeting?
She could easily say that through a chat!
Faced with such madness, Kim Donghu was momentarily numb.
After the successful conclusion of the Brilliant Special Meeting last Thursday,
“Sorry, sir, but tickets are currently unavailable at the venue.”
“There’s really nothing at all?”
“Yes, uh… there’s one seat available on the left end of Row A at 6:30 AM next Monday. Would you like to reserve it?”
“…No, I’m good with that seat.”
The cinema staff was completely overwhelmed by the influx of people.
They knew that [Endless Frontline] was doing well in promotion and was popular, but they didn’t expect this much chaos.
Running around, dealing with customers, and popping popcorn all day was a nightmare.
“I really chose the wrong place to work.”
“I want to go back in time and smack my past self.”
“There’s a reason why places that pay minimum wage are the way they are, why was I tempted by money?”
Especially since the cinema they were working at was the one scheduled for a stage greeting with the cast of [Endless Frontline], it was even more intense.
Amidst the frenzied customer interactions,
“You’re all doing a great job. I brought some burgers, so please eat while you take turns.”
Someone with a hat and mask pulled down suddenly offered food at the counter.
“…Yes, yes?”
For a moment, the staff was taken aback. The staff at the front froze the instant their eyes met with that person.
‘G-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g, K-K-Kim…!’
Just looking at him screamed ‘unbelievably handsome.’
With a gaze that seemed to contain a galaxy, he enchanted everyone instantly.
“Th-thank y-you…”
With the snacks secretly given by Kim Donghu,
the staff’s legs gave out completely, and they collapsed.
++++++
When discussing a movie’s performance, box office numbers on opening day are a crucial factor.
These figures roughly indicate whether it will hit ten million admissions or not.
Thump thump thump.
In that sense, Park Geum-gang, the director of Studio Geum-gang, couldn’t believe the figures he was seeing.
“I-is this really our movie?”
“Yeah, I thought I was going to drop my jaw when I saw it.”
Director Kang, with his Guan Yu beard, also seemed unable to grasp the reality, shaking his head and smiling helplessly.
“I feel like I’m going to be the director of a ten-million admission film; I want to receive some early congratulations.”
“Hey, I’m becoming the representative of the production company that made a ten-million film too… I want to get congratulated too?!”
On the opening day of [Endless Frontline], roughly 500,000 admissions.
It was the moment that signaled the dawn of a ten-million film.