Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Advertisement (1)
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January 1st.
We woke up early in the morning to catch the new year sunrise.
"The sun's rising a bit early, huh."
"Tell me about it. I could've slept just one more hour."
We yawned as we climbed into the car.
It was still dark outside. A quick search showed the first sunrise of the year would be around 7:30. We had plenty of time, but with so many people driving out like us, we hurried anyway.
Sure enough, traffic jammed up as we neared the beach.
"Haven't seen this much traffic at dawn in ages. Hope we're not late."
"We'll be fine. We're almost there."
In the pitch-black dawn, red taillights stretched out along the road like a long tail. We crawled forward like turtles.
To kill time while waiting, we started a coffee-brewing word chain game.
"Baekdu Mountain."
"Mountainside."
"Side? What's a word starting with 'side'?"
"Sis, grab that spot over there."
Sis, racking her brain for a word starting with "side," had no choice but to park in the empty spot. The game was supposed to last until we parked.
She got out of the car with a pouty expression.
"Ugh, side-stomping bear. That would've worked."
"Too late. Enjoy the coffee."
"...Sigh. Bad luck on New Year's Day."
I chuckled at her reaction and took her hand. January 1st was definitely cold. I slipped our clasped hands into the pocket of her heated padding jacket.
I looked around for somewhere to sit.
The sun wouldn't rise for another 30 minutes. We couldn't just stand the whole time.
"How about over there? We brought the mat, right?"
"Sounds good."
We spread the mat on the nearby beach and sat down. Plenty of others had already claimed prime spots.
We'd left at the crack of dawn, so when did these people set out?
Whoooosh.
The seaside wind was fierce. Every gust of icy air made Sis shiver. Even bundled in her padding jacket and scarf, she was freezing.
"Hang on a sec. I'll hit the cafe."
"They open this early?"
"Yeah, I saw them taking orders on the way."
"Wait. Take the card."
Sis fumbled slowly for her wallet and pulled out the card. I headed to the cafe at a brisk pace. It was crowded, but the staff hustled, so lines moved fast.
"Do you have chamomile tea?"
"Sorry, we're mostly doing coffee right now."
"Two hot Americanos, then."
I returned with the Americanos forged in the part-timers' blood and tears. Sis, who had been spacing out, tilted her head.
"Huh? Back already? No payment notification yet."
"Can't make you drive us here and buy coffee too. Here. No chamomile."
Sis's face lit up a little. Her nose and cheeks, reddened by the sea breeze, made her look like an anime character.
As we warmed up with coffee and chatted, the sky gradually brightened. The pitch-black horizon tinged with yellow.
The sun was starting to rise.
"Beautiful."
"Yeah."
A golden sun floated up over the sea. Its light was so bright it hurt my eyes, but it was stunning. My whole field of vision turned gold, like standing in a vast wheat field.
"Hurry and make a wish."
Sis squeezed her eyes shut and wished.
I wondered what she was wishing for.
Even with regression, I didn't know everything about Sis. If anything, my past indifference meant I'd missed more than our years together suggested.
That made me even more curious.
So much had already changed, and I planned to change even more ahead.
Was my transformation helping build the happiness she envisioned? Was I doing this right?
Doubts crept in.
"Not making a wish?"
Sis narrowed her eyes, somehow sensing it.
I didn't really buy into superstitions like this. Wishing at the sun every day wouldn't work. It wasn't scientific—just a waste of time. Better to sleep in than fall for unproven nonsense.
But I'd already witnessed one miracle.
I'd gotten my deepest wish granted while dying of lung cancer. So I no longer dismissed such things as nonsense.
"No wish?"
"Thinking. Too many popping up."
This life, I wanted to marry Sis again. Have kids if possible, stay healthy unlike last time, and live happily ever after. Plus...
Over ten wishes flooded my mind instantly.
Wishing them all felt greedy. If a god heard, it'd reject the glutton.
I chuckled at the silly thoughts, closed my eyes, and prayed.
'Please let this happiness last forever.'
I wished more fervently than the regrets from before regression.
Ding.
A message from Na Kyung-mo.
[Oju Foods Na Kyung-mo: Hello. Sky and Kite. Happy New Year. Hope you're ringing in a prosperous one. I'm contacting you about an advertisement. Do you have time?]
I showed the text to Sis.
"Sis. Oju Foods wants to know if we're up for an ad."
"An ad? What kind?"
We'd done a Stam ad with Oju Foods about three months ago. Our channel's first ad, and the main reason we could move here.
After Stam blew up, ad offers trickled in. Especially after the pizza feedback success, shops lined up.
But we hadn't taken any since Stam.
Simple reason: the second ad client meddled too much in the video.
We had to entertain subscribers as YouTubers, but excessive interference killed the fun.
The second contract fell through, and we stopped accepting ads.
"Oju didn't meddle much."
"Right. They just gave the broad format last time and let us run with it."
"Let's meet and decide."
Trusting Oju Foods, we scheduled a meeting.
-Na Kyung-mo: I'll come to you. Let's meet at a nearby cafe.
He had business nearby anyway, so we waited at a cafe close to home. As we munched cake and reviewed today's photos, Na Kyung-mo arrived.
"Hello. Long time no see."
Na Kyung-mo looked much healthier than before.
Our first meeting, he seemed tortured by overtime. Now, he radiated ease.
"Long time. Didn't expect an ad pitch right at New Year."
"Haha. Lunar New Year is late January. Gotta prep early."
After brief pleasantries, we got to business.
"This time, it's fruit. Promote fruits sold in gift sets."
"What fruits? Gift sets have varieties."
"Pick Shine Muscat or Red Hyang."
Na Kyung-mo showed photos on his tablet. Huge boxes packed with Shine Muscat and Red Hyang. Looked high-quality even in pics.
"Contract terms?"
"No running guarantee like last time—we spent big on Stam. But we upped the flat fee substantially."
5% commission and 30 million won contract fee.
I didn't show it, but I was surprised. For a channel averaging 300k views, 30 million was huge.
Back at 100k averages, we'd been offered 8 million—including promo. Effectively 7 million base.
Times three was 21 million standard.
Yet Oju Foods offered 30 million, adding 9 million.
Fruit gift sets weren't as hot as Stam. Paying that much for fruit meant they valued us highly.
'5% commission's no joke either.'
Basically, their best possible offer.
That sparked suspicion.
High pay, but excessive meddling?
"Pretty generous."
"I pushed hard. Stam's success helped sway the bosses."
"Format? Collab style again?"
"No, solo this time. Go to the production site, show growing and distribution, then cook with it."
"Other conditions?"
"Nothing much. Just capture production and distribution well."
Not picky at all.
Other clients often demanded "feature at X:XX," "shoutout Y times," or impossible tasks that ruined the video.
"We'll think it over."
"Quick reply appreciated. Brought these to help decide."
Na Kyung-mo handed over boxes of Shine Muscat and Red Hyang.
"Knew you'd want to taste-test. Awaiting your yes."
Back home, we washed the fruit right away. Cool enough in winter without the fridge.
"What do you think about the ad?"
"Gotta taste first. Here, try."
I handed her a properly sized Red Hyang slice. She ate it like a baby bird.
"Super sweet with a slight tang. Sweeter and more aromatic than tangerines. You try. Tasty."
As she said, not bad. Good balance of sugar and acid. Minor drawback: that unique Red Hyang aroma left a faintly bitter aftertaste.
Subtle enough most wouldn't notice, so I let it slide.
Next, Shine Muscat.
Crunch.
Juice burst on the first bite—firm inside. No acidity, pure sweetness like sugar-filled. Even large ones satisfied on sugar.
"What say? Take it? I'm leaning yes."
"Me too. Go with Shine Muscat over Red Hyang. This one's tastier."
High fee, great product. Plus, not just cooking—fresh content. No reason to refuse.