The Last-Minute Ad Change
On Wednesday morning, Namhun finished preparing the lunchboxes as usual and drove to Mubibro.
"Nam, you almost here?"
"Yes. Just pulling into the parking lot."
"Hurry up and come on up. Team Leader Song will be here soon."
"Even the marketing team leader's coming to the shoot?"
One person in charge should have been enough.
"She wasn't planning to, but decided to stop by briefly. Guess she's worried since we swapped the model on our own."
Listening to Kang Seokho's explanation, Namhun started to feel tense.
He had no experience as an ad model to begin with, and now he was being thrown in as the fixer for a botched job. The pressure was mounting.
If I mess this up, everyone takes the hit, right?
Kang Seokho, who'd pushed him into this. Song Hojin, who'd accepted him.
And it would even hurt Mubibro and Belly Coffee.
That was the entertainment industry for you.
One person could make an entire company wobble.
High risk, high reward—that's why everyone flocks to it.
Even successful celebrities eventually dipped into business.
Most crashed and burned, of course.
But the few massive success stories kept the dream alive.
Anyway, Namhun had little interest in business.
With all the family depending on me.
He couldn't afford the risk.
By the time his nine-year-old triplets were ready to marry, he'd be pushing fifty.
The thought made everything feel dark.
I've got to save up bit by bit... Give each kid their own house someday.
Every parent's dream—and one of the hardest to achieve.
Especially as living costs kept climbing.
Damn, dream big why don't I. When I'm still renting.
Jang Namhun steeled himself to nail this ad right in front of him and headed into the building.
Kang Seokho clapped Namhun on the shoulder the moment he arrived.
"Sorry. Schedule's a bit tight, huh?"
"It's fine. Nothing but practice on my plate these days anyway."
Kang Seokho chuckled at that.
"Thanks for understanding—perks of having industry chops. These days, kids are so picky. 'No schedule changes!' Like hell. If they're desperate, they beg to reshuffle dates."
"Agencies are always hypocrites like that."
"You know how many managers hit me with 'That's a contract violation, right?' Violation my ass. They can't even read the damn thing. Real talk... At least I handle the big egos. Newbies quit left and right from the petty power trips."
For all its glamour, the broadcasting world was rotten inside.
Still, Mubibro treated people decently.
Kang Seokho, who'd walked that rough road himself, despised the nonsense.
"It's always been that way, hasn't it?"
"Back then, they'd just curse you out straight. Cleaner, honestly—no grudges. Take the hit, grab a drink, done. Now they passive-aggress it till your blood runs dry. And with the internet..."
"Ah."
"They make up total bullshit and spread rumors. Can't unspill that water. Fake news everywhere—how do you debunk it all?"
Namhun didn't follow the industry closely anymore, but Kang Seokho's words hit hard.
He knew YouTube was flooded with fake news.
"So, watch my step, got it?"
"Sharp as ever. Just keep quiet today—no random outbursts."
Kang Seokho was ribbing him about butting in last time.
"That was critical info for Belly Coffee. Didn't want to screw them over."
Kang Seokho threw up his hands in surrender.
Truth was, that's partly why he liked the guy.
Guys like this deserve to make it. World doesn't always agree, though.
Loyalty and principles were rare in the entertainment snake pit.
Someone like that became a priceless connection.
"Anyway, hope the ad goes smooth."
"Yeah. I'm dying of nerves. Dream Concert felt less scary."
"Haha, you know they still do Dream Concert?"
"Really? Don't watch TV much."
"Who knows. Do well, maybe you'll headline as a singer."
"Nah. Trot singers don't get on music shows anymore."
"True. Dream Concert might be tough then."
"Probably."
"Aigoo, you're all here early."
Song Hojin, Belly Coffee's marketing team leader, arrived soon after.
They held off shooting because of some last-minute changes.
"How'd it go?"
"Approved. If Namhun agrees."
Song Hojin nodded, so Kang Seokho turned to Namhun.
"Mind if we use that song as an insert track?"
"Which song?"
"Forever Only You."
Namhun froze at the sudden mention of Forever Only You.
He shot Kang Seokho a glare; the man winked back.
What the hell?
Then Song Hojin jumped in to persuade him.
"Not just me—everyone at the wedding was moved by your song. Learning your story afterward? Left an even deeper impression."
"Pardon?"
"A singer who lost his voice fights back after nearly ten years... Compelling story, right?"
Praise to his face was embarrassing.
"I mentioned it, and Director Kang suddenly wanted to overhaul the storyboard."
"..."
Namhun could only glare at Kang Seokho.
Typical schemer.
Warn me ahead!
Acting was new; he'd prepped to the storyboard for nothing.
"Short version: contrast your idol days with now."
Kang Seokho explained the revised storyboard to them.
"Yes...?"
"And not two versions—four."
"...Four?"
The absurdity made his voice crack.
Mouth dry?
Feeling foolish, Namhun chugged water.
"Care to elaborate?"
At Song Hojin's request, Kang Seokho laid it out.
"First scene: idol-era Namhun, Evil Spirits' Elixer, fresh off a music show, drinking Belly Coffee's TopiBelly."
Sudden Elixer!
The black history bomb made Namhun spit water.
"Pfft! S-sorry."
He'd swerved just in time—no whale-spray on the client.
Impressive: neither Kang Seokho nor Song Hojin cracked a smile, just kept pitching.
...Pros. Both of 'em.
Honestly admirable.
Not laughing in that moment?
"Elixer version: unskippable 15-second and skippable 1-minute cuts. Goal: hook viewers so hard they forget to skip."
Song Hojin was hearing details fresh too.
"Storytelling in YouTube ads—rare move."
"Yes. Four versions means bumping the model fee a bit."
Namhun eyed Song Hojin at "model fee bump."
Pre-agreed change; Song Hojin nodded easily.
"Details in the contract later... Nam, weekend shoot okay?"
Namhun nodded.
That's why he cleared the weekend.
More days, more pay? Pure gratitude.
"Wrap by Sunday, edit fast to hit schedule."
"No schedule issues on our end. So, the extra two versions?"
"Second scene: adult Namhun drinks Bellycano. Short and long cuts."
"Bellycano... the black coffee mix?"
Song Hojin blinked at Namhun's interjection.
"Oh, you know our product. Only in stores now."
"Gonna shoot the ad—had to try Belly Coffee. Hit a nearby shop yesterday."
Song Hojin nodded inwardly.
Got a good eye for people.
Celebs caught using rivals post-shoot? Common nightmare for marketers.
But he'd made time for their store? Thrilling.
"Haha, yes. Director Kang suggested plugging Bellycano too, so we pivoted."
"Right. YouTube slots: Elixer into Namhun. Stronger impact."
YouTube ads often chained same ones.
Good or meme-y ones went viral.
Kang Seokho was banking on it.
"Storytelling, huh."
"Yep. TrueView end: drive to buy button. No skips via story. Plus live Forever Only You."
"Sounds solid."
"Precisely: Elixer sings it once, current you once. Twice total. Post-song, tired Elixer grabs TopiBelly. Namhun, Bellycano—refreshed."
"Better vibe than original. But Forever Only You copyright?"
Song Hojin's concern; Namhun replied.
"Oh, that's fine."
"Pardon?"
"Songwriter's the Evil Spirits leader—my hyung. He holds group tracks, my debut copyrights, neighboring rights."
Side perk from debt payoff.
No way Wonhyeong planned this...
Business was business, even with friends.
Needed formal permission for insert track; Namhun confessed the Belly Coffee ad to Wonhyeong.
Wonhyeong was stunned.
"Not a drama—you're shooting an ad?"
"...Sun Knight Jo Wonhyeong's an old man now, for real."
"Spill. How'd you land an ad?"
"Guy like me can pull it off."
"Damn... speechless. Filthy world."
Wonhyeong griped playfully, then switched tones.
"Not a scam, right?"
"Nah. Seokho hyung's company."
"Seokho? Director Kang? Connections scare me more. Hold on—I'm coming now."
"Huh?"
"Him, probably fine. But I'm pissed. Need to see the contract myself. Some get pretty faces from parents, snag ads. Others can't even marry at this age..."
His rapid-fire rant poured out; Namhun closed his eyes and confessed one fact.
"Hyung, your voice is carrying—everyone around can hear."
Click.
The call cut dead.
"Pfft."
Namhun pondered.
Was Team Leader Heo Jueun, who'd burst out laughing, a pro or not?
Either way, he decided Kang Seokho and Song Hojin were the real champs for not cracking.
Feel a bit bad.
Should've stepped out to call.
Didn't expect this.
"As you heard, permission granted."