Chapter 171
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Trailer
Kim Yu-chan fumbled with his fingers over the smartphone keyboard as he spoke.
"That guy posted a ridiculous comment first. He said he didn't know I was handsome. Just let go of my hand so I can write this one comment."
"Don't. Tastes differ when it comes to judging handsomeness."
"No, hyung. How can tastes matter when you see my face? Is that even possible?"
"When are you going to learn some humility?"
"I'm humble, but my face isn't?"
Kim Yu-chan gave up on the comment and finished watching the video playing on his smartphone. In the video uploaded by Yoon A-reum, Gong Ji-hyeon was smiling.
"By the way, seeing Ji-hyeon praise my looks on the broadcast... the kid's got it. This is going to last."
The manager let out a sigh.
"Argh. This pretty-faced punk."
A large monitor in the THO Entertainment conference room was playing the trailer for Window of Fate. It was a short 30-second clip.
After the video ended, the head of the promotion team explained.
"We coordinated the format of the promo video with Director Byeon Hyeong-chan, and the editing was handled by our promotion team. He also reviewed it."
An executive at the meeting asked,
"Shooting's only just begun, and you're already rushing this?"
"Our company's invested a pretty penny too, so we need to start promoting bit by bit ahead of time."
"The trailer's quality is impressively high for this early stage."
"We've got a lot of great footage from the start. We looked at other clips while making this trailer, and they're no joke."
President Lee Tae-ho said,
"This is already generating a ton of buzz. If no one's against it, let's release it right away."
The promo video went live on the internet.
Since production was still in the early stages, they skipped TV ads and just dropped the 30-second clip online.
The first 15 seconds featured bright modern-day scenes flashing by. In the modern settings, Kim Yu-chan wore button-down shirts or tracksuits.
Then, at the 15-second mark, the background suddenly shifted to the Joseon era.
Kim Yu-chan swung a sword, followed by Gong Ji-hyeon leaning back to dodge the blade.
The two shots connected seamlessly, making it look like Gong Ji-hyeon was dodging Kim Yu-chan's sword. The promotion team and Byeon Hyeong-chan had deliberately arranged it to mislead viewers.
Gong Ji-hyeon immediately counterattacked, leaping into the air and slashing down. But she wasn't striking Kim Yu-chan—it was a masked figure.
The 30-second video closed with Kim Yu-chan standing coolly, a few drops of blood splattered on his face. Next to him, the film title [Window of Fate] slid in vertically.
Though short, the back half packed a punch. The video spread rapidly across online forums.
It even appeared on a board Yoon A-reum frequented. Comments piled up below the post.
There were plenty of comments on the trailer itself.
Even people who knew a bit about kendo chimed in.
Director Son Tae-min, who had watched the trailer, called Na Gang-in.
"Gang-in! This isn't CG, right? You did it for real?"
- Of course. How long since we started shooting? No time for CG yet.
"We gotta do stuff like this together next time!"
- We shot a ton last time.
"Nah, we didn't go all-out with sword fights between swordsmen like that. Whoa. So jealous.
- Why make Thousand Million Director look bad?
"You know I'm hyped for my next film, right? Script's done, but should I tweak it? Add more action? Me with a sword? Nah, overhaul it and throw in guns?
- Stick to your original plan. Change it because of me and flop, you'll blame me.
"Right? You always make my movies this cool."
- We'll see.
"Don't say it like... He hung up."
Son Tae-min set down his phone and replayed the 30-second promo.
"Real combat action—no one tops Na Gang-in. Damn, what a waste. If I'd known it'd turn out this good, I'd have used high-speed cams last time too."
The newly appointed assistant director beside him said,
"Director, Na Gang-in joined your last film during that rushed reshoots. We were in a hurry to film—where would we get high-speed cams, shoot, and edit?"
"That's why it'd have been perfect if we'd done it from the start."
"Do it in the next one."
"Yeah!"
The first trailer for Window of Fate hit the real-time search trends briefly, thanks to its high quality and the promotion team's hustle.
Yoon A-reum logged into her YouTube account and checked the latest interview video she'd uploaded.
"Huh? Why'd the views spike like this?"
She scanned the comments.
Yoon A-reum panicked at that comment.
"If Unha noona sees this, I'm dead."
Kwak Chan-seok's new song was complete. Though one track, they'd use various remixes in the film. The title was straight-up Window of Fate.
Kwak Chan-seok said in the SAH Entertainment conference room,
"Ppfgirls, you'll sing every remix tailored to the film's scenes. To give listeners a fresh feel each time, you gotta nail it."
The four Ppfgirls steeled themselves. Leader So Ji-young spoke for them.
"We'll work hard!"
"Good. Work hard. I'll whip you into shape for the rest."
"Pardon? Yes!"
Kwak Chan-seok continued,
"Male vocals featuring will be Ddangddang-i."
Maknae Choi Ji-hye shot her hand up.
"Then Ddangddang teacher sings a full male version too?"
"He said no need, but if we do a male remix later, we'll talk. If we record it, it'd be great if you girls featured...
"We'll do it!"
Filming progressed smoothly. Ppfgirls' song practice went well too.
Na Gang-in visited Son Seong-hyeon—Lee Yeon-ji's uncle and the plastic surgeon—at midnight.
Today was practice for Kwon Su-yeon's catatiger syndrome surgery. This clinic was their only spot for secret sessions.
The others had already arrived.
Department head Lee Jeong-ho of surgery asked Na Gang-in,
"Before eating? Join us?"
Yulmyeong Bio president Kwon Dong-jin had picked up fancy Korean banquet lunchboxes himself.
They avoided delivery to keep nighttime gatherings secret.
Na Gang-in shook his head.
"I ate already."
The group chatted over food. Surgery times were shortening, so moods were high.
Na Gang-in sipped coffee on the side.
"Everything's going smooth lately."
- Except our mission intel, which is stalled.
"Everything but us."
- Tell me about it.
They practiced on a dummy mimicking Kwon Su-yeon's symptoms. Two runs scheduled today.
Right after the second surgery, Kwon Dong-jin hit the stopwatch and yelled,
"We did it!"
He showed the digital stopwatch around.
"We did it! Under time!"
The goal for dummy surgery: 40 minutes. It stopped at 39:59.
A measly second, but Kwon was thrilled. He bowed to the group.
"Thank you so much for going this far for my daughter."
Clinic director Son Seong-hyeon muttered softly,
"One second left means one slip-up next time overruns...
Na Gang-in nudged him quiet, then told Kwon,
"Not satisfied yet. Gotta shave more time."
"Hahaha. Absolutely!"
Kwon knew one second wasn't safe. Real ops had surprises—leading to failure.
Still, joy reigned. Hope was visible now.
Lee Jeong-ho said,
"Patient's stable enough, so more practice to cut time further. Shorter is better for her."
Kwon blurted eagerly,
"One more today then...
"No. Overdo it and it backfires—you've seen it. Stop here, try again next time."
Yang Yong-jun was a team leader at Palseong Tech. He'd rocketed from newbie to leader in three years.
No one thought the president's second son earned it on merit.
That irked him.
"I'm Ivy League, and they all treat me like nothing."
He'd gone to a U.S. college most hadn't heard of—but it was his pride.
His brother nagged him whenever they crossed paths at work.
This year, his little sister joined—and rumors said she outshone him as a rookie.
No one dissed him openly. But he imagined backtalk.
To blow off all stress at once, he prepped his ace.
"Nail this deal, and those mockers will eat crow. Watch."
A suited man entered the VIP room of a high-end cafe.
Yang stood.
"Mr. Anderson."
"Mr. Yang. Early bird."
"Traffic was light. Haha."
They sat, chatting world news idly. Staff brought coffee.
As they left, Yang cut to it.
"How'd HQ take the deal?"
Anderson opened his briefcase, slid a document over.
"We're greenlighting positively with Palseong Tech."
Yang suppressed a grin.
"Ahem."
He checked it. "Omega Tech" stamped clear.
Yang declared,
"A win-win for Palseong Tech and Omega Tech."