Chapter 127
My daily life isn't anything special.
I wake up in the morning and go to the gym. This is an important, unchangeable routine.
If I go in the evening, the gym fanatics grab me and work me to my limits.
If I go at dawn, there are at least fewer people, so it's manageable.
After working out, I eat breakfast and start playing Dunsa.
I drain all my characters' fatigue by lunchtime, eat lunch with Mr. Cheolhon, hang out at a café, then come back and play Dunsa again.
After playing the game until evening, I make do with what I bought for lunch for dinner and prepare for my broadcast.
After broadcasting for two hours, I spend my nighttime free time watching YouTube or the news and seeing how the world is getting along.
When I don't have guests, I generally lead a very regular life.
What a model young man I am.
I even feel proud of myself.
But there are times when this routine gets disrupted, and that's because of the guests who come by from time to time.
Some of these guests are people I know, while others come through introductions from people I know.
Sometimes, people just show up unannounced.
"Hmm. So you're saying you're having trouble deciding whether to choose a movie or a drama this time?"
Today's guest had come through an introduction.
Jang Yu-jun.
He was a male actor in his thirties and a next-generation Chungmuro star who had made a name for himself as a serious actor after appearing in three films that drew over ten million viewers.
"Yes, Teacher Kang. I have a lot on my mind."
The handsome man, whose dignified charm was apparent, asked politely.
He wasn't a bad person, so there was no reason not to help him.
Seeing Kim Hyun-woo beside him watching my reaction, I held out a card.
"Turn it over."
"Yes!!"
He happily turned over the card.
What appeared was the reversed Devil.
To Jang Yu-jun, who seemed unsure whether that was good or bad, I told him about his future.
"Don't do the movie. There's a problem with the director."
"Huh? Why is that? Director Go Yu-han, who's directing this movie, is an amazing person—he's even good enough to be nominated for the Berlin Film Festival..."
"That man will fall from grace."
"....."
"Because of issues involving women."
"Oh dear."
"He seemed like such a gentleman..."
Apparently, Kim Hyun-woo knew him as well.
When he muttered uneasily, I told him about the Go Yu-han I had seen in Jang Yu-jun's future.
"He sexually harassed unknown actresses, and sexual assault was a common occurrence..."
"......"
"There's rape too. He got one woman thoroughly drunk and took her to a motel."
"Huh."
"He was even more of a piece of trash than I thought."
Regardless of how shocked the two actors were, I merely told them about the future.
While they were looking uneasy, Jang Yu-jun's future changed.
It changed into a future where Jang Yu-jun became hugely popular in a drama premiering on Dazny.
"It may be your first melodrama, but isn't this a chance to broaden your acting range?"
"That... is true."
"Don't feel pressured. You can do well."
"...Yes! Thank you!"
Jang Yu-jun sincerely thanked me.
Then he hesitated before taking an envelope from inside his jacket and holding it out to me.
"I wonder if you'll be satisfied with this as a divination fee... But it's my sincere gesture."
"I have no reason to refuse a gift."
I accepted the envelope he offered.
I didn't bother checking how much was inside.
Money wasn't all that important to me anymore.
"By the way, Teacher. I really enjoyed your movie this time."
"Haha. I was just a cameo."
The movie I had filmed earlier had been released.
The movie I had appeared in as a cameo was doing better than expected.
It would be difficult for it to reach ten million viewers, though.
"The director must be disappointed."
"Wouldn't eight million be a success in its own right?"
"Human greed has no end. Your reputation keeps growing, after all..."
Apparently, the director thought he might be able to draw in even more viewers based on my name recognition.
What greed.
But that's human nature, so what could I say?
"Tell him to keep his chin up."
"Hasn't the director contacted you?"
"He has."
In fact, the director had contacted me several times already.
He had asked me to attend the premiere, go with him to fan meetings, and so on.
He had even asked whether I might consider appearing in a supporting role in his next movie.
"He even said he wanted to make a movie about my life."
"Wow... And?"
"I turned him down."
What was there to my life story?
If I were a hero who had lived for decades, maybe it would be different, but I was just an orphan on the verge of turning twenty-one.
All I could do was see the past and the future.
What else could my life story be besides an orphan documentary?
"Haha. The director must have been very disappointed."
"It can't be helped. Anyway, I'm done making movies now."
"Oh. Then are you going into dramas or variety shows?"
"Who knows?"
I wasn't particularly interested in dramas or variety shows either.
Unless people I knew asked me to, I would probably just continue living as I always had.
"A great star of the film industry has fallen..."
Jang Yu-jun muttered softly.
Anyone who heard him would think I was some veteran elder of the film industry.
"Anyway, Mr. Jang, things will go well for you from here on. Don't be too afraid, and just work hard."
"Hahaha! Thank you, Teacher!"
"It's nothing."
Only after drinking another cup of coffee did Jang Yu-jun and Kim Hyun-woo leave.
Since there weren't any more guests today, I should head home and play some games...
-Brrrring!!
My phone rang.
When I checked, it was Chairman Han Jun-ho.
He was the chairman of Saseong Group and Han Yu-na's father.
He wasn't someone who would contact me without a special reason, so what was going on?
"Hello?"
-Heh heh. Teacher, have you been well?
"Hello, Father. Have you been well? And please speak comfortably—formal speech makes me uncomfortable."
-You're a national hero who's saving the world, yet I feel even more awkward speaking informally to you.
"Hahaha. I only did what I had to do."
-Heh heh. Is that so? Anyway... We joined hands with Chunmyung Steel this time... and your name came up, you see.
"Ah."
I had worked with people from Chunmyung Steel the last time as well.
-That fellow kept going on about his connection with you, so before I knew it, I ended up telling him that I was very close to you too.
"That isn't untrue."
Han Jun-ho was Han Yu-na's father.
Weren't a friend's parents essentially no different from my own parents?
In that sense, I suppose we could be considered close.
-Heh heh heh. Really? You think of me that way?
"Yes. Besides, I'm not exactly a stranger to Saseong Group either."
-Hahahaha!! I'm truly grateful you say that! Anyway, the reason I'm calling is that there's going to be a party this time.
"A party? What kind of party?"
-Well, it's a gathering where chaebol families come together to size each other up. Anyway, could you attend and lend the occasion some sparkle?
"It shouldn't be difficult. Oh, but not on a day I'm doing a raid."
-Our Yu-na said the same thing. She said it's a very important day for you. Since she has to raid with you, she flatly told me she couldn't attend the party that day.
After a brief silence, he asked.
-But is this Dunsa thing really that fun?
Huh?!
Could this be a chance to recruit a newbie?
"It's insanely fun. Would you like to try it too, Chairman?"
-I'm old, so I can't handle anything complicated...
"Don't worry. New characters these days are all just point-and-click."
-Heh heh. I'll think about it. Anyway, it's happening this weekend, so if you feel like coming, contact Yu-na.
"Understood. Don't worry. I'll attend."
-Hahahaha!! This is why I like you, Teacher!
He laughed heartily, reiterated his request several more times, and then hung up.
Then, shall I call Han Yu-na...?
-Hello?!
She answered before the phone had even rung several times.
Her voice over the phone was filled with delight.
"What are you doing? Aren't you busy?"
-I'm fine! I'm in a meeting, but it's not a very important one.
Were there really such things as unimportant meetings?
I had never worked in an office, so I didn't know.
"Should I call you back later?"
-No. I was just about to wrap it up. But what is it?
I told her what Chairman Han Jun-ho had told me earlier.
She was silent for a moment before speaking.
-Actually, I was going to ask you too, but I was worried you might be busy, Noah...
"I'm not busy."
I could drain my characters' fatigue later.
Besides, the party was in the evening, and on nights when I didn't broadcast, the evening was practically free time anyway.
-Then shall we go buy you some new clothes?
"But I have a suit."
-That suit is old.
I bought it this year...
-And don't you only have one suit, Noah? Someone like you should have at least a few more good outfits.
There was such a thing as TPO, she said in an impassioned voice.
-I'll style you from head to toe.
"Haha. I appreciate it, but... wait a second. Doesn't that mean everything about me will be tailored to your taste, Ms. Yu-na?"
-......
"Let's have a video call, Ms. Yu-na."
-I-I'm in a meeting, so that might be a little difficult...
This girl?!
Well, Han Yu-na didn't have any strange tastes, so I decided to let it slide.
"All right. I'll trust you with it."
-Yes! See you tomorrow!
/
/
/
And so, the next day.
After giving Mr. Cheolhon the day off, I went downstairs around lunchtime and found Han Yu-na there.
Her face was flushed with excitement.
She seemed to be looking forward to it quite a bit.
"Let's go!!"
"Yes."
I got into her car, and we arrived at a department store in Gangnam.
As soon as we entered the department store, she headed toward...
"Where are we?"
"Only VVIPs can enter here. Could you wait just a moment?"
Smiling broadly, she lightly took hold of my arm.
"Because I'm going to completely transform you today, Noah!!"
"To suit your taste, Ms. Yu-na?"
"....."
Han Yu-na merely averted her gaze and whistled oddly, completely out of character.
She didn't answer.