Chapter 251: Showing Off Beauty (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 251: Showing Off Beauty (1)
“Is Spark on hiatus? Do you guys only come out at the end of the year?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s confidential information.”
“Hah, please.”
Gu Ja-han let out a snort.
Is it funny to you? Looking at the way things are currently running at UA, it’s a miracle a song leak hasn't happened yet.
If a leak ever happens with Spark, I’m going to sue for damages immediately. At this point, suing someone isn't scary or difficult at all.
As I sat there plotting how to crush a leaker who hadn't even appeared yet, Gu Ja-han asked, “Is this how you act when you’re doing idol activities, too, I-wol?”
“What do you mean by ‘this way’?”
“Stiff, calm, that sort of thing.”
“Not really. I whine because it’s hard to keep up with the other members. Sometimes I even get angry.”
“You do?”
Gu Ja-han looked surprised.
Well, I only really got angry at Hong Un-seop. That son of a… Just thinking about him makes my blood boil again.
“Do you fight with your members? I heard idols fight a lot among themselves.”
“We’re actually quite close. Unless there’s friction with the agency, that is.”
“Is that why things are awkward with your company?”
“It’s not entirely unrelated.”
“Well, I’m sure you had a good reason to be upset.”
“...You seem to trust me quite a bit.”
I was surprised. The distance Gu Ja-han felt between us seemed much shorter than I had expected.
“Of course. But your agency really has no sense. Don't they know it’s best not to get on your bad side?”
“Do I really come across as that arrogant?”
“It’s not that you’re arrogant. It’s just that you’re not the type to say things that aren't true, so if you’re pissed—I mean, fuming—it’s because they keep screwing around.”
At least he’s quick on the uptake. It’s a relief to know Gu Ja-han won't be the one to get on my nerves. Plus, it felt like a win to confirm that I don't have an image of someone who oversteps their bounds.
“We’ve smoothed things over. We’re rookies, so we have to work hard.”
“The fact that you’re a rookie is what scares me the most. Don't your members find you difficult to deal with?”
My members, huh?
The guy who says he’s going to drop the formalities and stop calling me ‘hyung’ next year? The guy who tells me to just live in the practice room if I’m going to dance like that? Those punks who constantly sit me down to lecture me?
“Not at all. They all have quite the personality.”
I couldn't believe it when I heard from Lee Cheong-hyeon that Kang Gi-yeon had thrown a barley latte.
I used to think I only had to keep a lid on Choi Je-ho. But now that the members are growing up, they’re getting harder to control. Maybe it would have been better to regress as Spark’s youngest member instead.
“And our leader is actually really scary.”
“Scary?”
“I’m not kidding. I get scolded every day. And they’re all so eloquent; I can't win a single argument.”
Gu Ja-han’s expression turned peculiar. He seemed to be imagining something quite intense.
But that only lasted a moment.
Gu Ja-han let out a short laugh.
“This isn't my request, but since I mentioned I’d be asking you for advice regarding my role, our CEO asked me to ask you something on his behalf.”
“Yes?”
“He wanted to know if you have any intention of switching to acting once your current contract ends.”
What?
I’m already exhausted just trying to be an idol. Why acting?
And that agency of his—what do they know about my acting skills to make such a proposal? The only roles I can play are a boomer boss or a salaryman who has given up on everything. Oh, I suppose I can do a 'fraudulent accident victim' now, too.
I was about to refuse without a second thought, but Gu Ja-han beat me to it.
“But looking at you now, I guess that’s a no.”
“Pardon?”
“I don't think I can sway you. I can see how much you love your members. It looks like you won't have any interest in anything other than idol work for the time being.”
Who?
Me?
Those punks?
This is absurd. The reason I can't be an actor is that I can't act and my life is mortgaged to the System, not because I want to be an idol with those guys for a thousand years.
“Well… I guess there’s no point in pushing it now. Let’s talk again when your contract is nearing its end. Idols usually have seven-year contracts, right?”
I don't believe in the empty promises thrown around in the job market. So, I just gave a vague nod.
As the conversation wound down, Gu Ja-han handed me a shopping bag as a thank-you. I politely declined.
“I’ve decided not to accept any more gifts from you, sunbaenim.”
“Hey, I don't want to be the boomer who calls a junior to his house for advice and sends him home empty-handed.”
In my head, you’re already a boomer, so what does it matter?
Grumbling internally, I opened the shopping bag to find a coat inside.
“The tag…”
“I took it off. Put it on before it gets any colder.”
Gu Ja-han sipped his coffee.
I don't get it. I helped him with all my heart, so why is he making things difficult for me?
To make matters even worse, I received an even heavier shopping bag from Gu Ja-han’s manager on the way out. Apparently, their CEO was very grateful to me.
After being told to please accept it, I returned to the dorm with my hands full, finding the bag packed with high-quality Hanwoo beef wrapped in a traditional cloth.
“Hyung, can we eat this…?”
“You know we’re filming a commercial tomorrow, right? Only those who are confident their faces won't swell can eat.”
At my words, Lee Cheong-hyeon immediately stuffed all the Hanwoo into the fridge. It had been an exhausting outing.
To a muggle, the behind-the-scenes of an idol’s commercial shoot seems simple. You get your makeup done, take photos, check the shots, and film a few interview clips.
But the actual set is different. It is hell.
“We’ll proceed with Cheong-hyeon’s makeup like this!”
“Yes! Oh my. Cheong-hyeon, you’re the MVP today.”
I made a mistake. Let me correct myself. This is a hell where angels have descended.
And I am Icarus, flying toward the sun, blinded by the light and unaware of the work waiting for me. Dammit.
Honestly, shouldn't Lee Cheong-hyeon be banned from doing commercials? That skin of his is a product of the universe’s energy, blessed genes, the touch of an aesthetic clinic director, constant maintenance, and years of beauty management.
There’s no way a single face mask from a cosmetic company could achieve that. Indenia wouldn't be able to complain even if they were flagged for false advertising.
We were scheduled to shoot two sets of pictorials: one for skincare products and one for lipsticks.
The former wasn't difficult. Having spent the last two years sacrificing their lives for their skin, Spark showcased Silk Road-level complexions that showed no flaws even in high-definition close-ups.
When they filmed a slow-motion shot of toner droplets falling onto Park Ju-woo’s face, everyone could only marvel.
He didn't get the nickname ‘Human Dawn Mist’ for nothing. His face was practically radiating coolness and moisture.
Perhaps because he doesn't eat anything stimulating, his skin was like white porcelain. Looking at his face made me vow to keep the dorm fridge stocked with plain milk, even if it meant going to the convenience store a hundred times.
“I was a bit worried because Je-ho and Gi-yeon have an image of doing a lot of outdoor exercise, but your skin is in great condition.”
“It’s not a lie; we really do use a lot of Indenia products. I think that might have something to do with it…”
With that, Kang Gi-yeon opened his pouch and showed off several travel-sized lotions. It was a good comment, as it would serve as a plug for the upcoming ‘What’s in My Bag’ content.
Editing is a necessity for any celebrity filming a commercial. Humans inevitably have minor blemishes or stray hairs.
Spark, however, was an idol group specialized in minimizing the hassle of editing. Naturally, they required less work. Honestly, I think Spark should have been given a sunscreen PPL instead of a general cosmetic ad.
When honey-infused oil was drizzled onto Choi Je-ho’s cheek, exclamations erupted from all sides.
I suppose the sight of thick oil dripping onto skin that was tan by Spark’s standards was quite aesthetic. To me, it just looked like a reverse video of someone tapping a tree for sap.
Jeong Seong-bin and Lee Cheong-hyeon also took great photos that were full of life and freshness.
If you were to split an aloe vera leaf in half, the photos were so moist that Jeong Seong-bin would flow out of one side and Lee Cheong-hyeon out of the other.
As usual, the problem was me. I’m getting tired of this.
“When did your capillaries start showing like this?”
A staff member asked worriedly, looking at the veins showing through my jawline. My lips had been restored to their original color from their usual purple, but they hadn't managed to fix that part yet.
Another staff member gently stroked my chin with a concerned voice.
“It’s because he lost weight. His skin is already transparent, and now there’s no fat under it.”
“If we tone it down, his face might stand out too much from his neck, but if we cover it with his usual shade, I don't think the veins will be hidden…”
Everyone’s attention was on me. This kind of focus was too much for me to handle.
As people moved back and forth discussing the issue, someone entered the waiting room. It was the filming director.
In that moment, I recalled what the lighting director had said during the ‘In My Office’ shoot.
‘You have to look somewhat like a human for the shot to be pretty. You look like a corpse.’
System, is there really no way to lower the synchronization rate?
My mental state is fine, but if people start swearing on set, it’ll ruin the atmosphere for everyone else.
However, the System remained silent. Instead, the director asked, “I-wol, can I take a look at your face for a second?”
“Yes, of course.”
The director grabbed my chin and tilted it up slightly.
He then carefully observed my face from various angles, moving my head slightly from side to side.
“Why don't we just lean into this tone?”
“Wouldn't that make I-wol’s face look too pale?”
“We have the ‘Water Curtain’ shoot, right? Let’s melt his face into that background. It’ll make his features pop.”
“Ah, like the second draft?”
“Yeah. Looking at him now, I think that’ll suit him much better.”
As soon as the director finished speaking, the staff members began rummaging through their makeup boxes. Something I didn't understand was beginning.
Melt… what into where?
I couldn't even imagine it. I was just terrified.
“I-wol.”
“Yes?”
“Noona is going to turn you into Snow White today.”
A princess, huh? Kim I-wol, you’ve certainly come a long way from being a farmhand at Hanpyeong Industry.