Reason's Leash
The making film for Black Bride was released.
Fans of Lee Ha-eun and Seo Tae-jun, along with domestic occult-film maniacs, rushed in and devoured the video.
With the fandoms already pouring fuel on the fire, the Black Bride making film climbed into the trending-videos rankings.
Then ordinary NutTube viewers, guided by the algorithm, naturally began watching the making film too.
At the end of the video, one man's interview drew unexpected attention.
To.Any, the rookie girl group that had shot straight to number one on the music charts from their debut.
There was no question who had recognized me: Together, To.Any's fandom, which had been growing larger by the day.
And then there was the one line from my interview.
It drew some small but definite interest from the fans.
But the people even more interested in my comment than the fans were the professionals working in the industry with me.
"Isn't that To.Any's manager?"
"Looks like it. Wow... but wasn't he Lee Ha-eun and Seo Tae-jun's manager?"
"Why did he suddenly show up and talk about ten million?"
"Must be a service line. You really think someone at the level of a Baekhak chief manager seriously declared ten million?"
The industry people who heard my comment burst into snickers.
That was only natural. Even if it was an occult film starring Lee Ha-eun and Seo Tae-jun, reaching ten million viewers in a niche genre like this was nearly impossible.
Still, it had gotten attention.
Whether it was film fans or industry insiders, they were all hung up on the word ten million I had blurted out and started searching for the Black Bride making film.
And inside that attention,
The making film for Black Bride racked up 230,000 views.
It was the highest view count among recently released making films.
***
When I got to the company, the PR team leader had already called for me. I stamped in, then headed straight to PR.
"Chief Kwon! Over here, over here!"
He handed me a coffee he had bought in advance and said, "What's the emergency this early?"
"Emergency? This is obviously because of the Black Bride making film!"
The PR team leader made such a racket that he couldn't hide his excitement.
"Good grief! Is this even right?? A making film for a movie that hasn't even started shooting is on trending videos?"
At his overreaction, I found myself nodding.
Yeah, fair enough.
Honestly, I was surprised too.
Even for a blockbuster, getting a making film onto NutTube's trending rankings was no easy feat, and Black Bride had gone and done exactly that.
In the meantime, the PR team leader let out a sly grin.
"Heh... Lee Ha-eun really is something! How can an actress fandom have more firepower than an idol fandom?"
I shrugged and answered, "She really is an impressive actress in every sense. But, team leader."
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Was it okay to release the making film this early? Usually they put it out after the movie opens."
The PR team leader gave an ahh sound and explained, "Hmm... it was a little early, wasn't it? Usually they release the making film when promotional campaigning starts after shooting wraps. But Black Bride got tangled up in some bad issues recently, didn't it?"
The corners of his eyes lifted mischievously.
"We figured we'd cover that up a bit and talked with Blue Pine Production, so we released it early! And just in time, the article about Lee Ha-eun becoming an Eclat d'Or ambassador went up too."
My eyes widened.
"So the making film and the Eclat d'Or promo article for Lee Ha-eun went up together?"
"Yep. Anyway, the Black Bride fandom is basically Lee Ha-eun's fandom, right? So we linked them together and promoted it in a way that looked convincing!"
A small gasp escaped me.
"Wow, that's a good strategy."
"Ahem. I did use my head this time! But, Chief Kwon..."
The PR team leader trailed off and stole a glance at me.
"You didn't do that interview for nothing, did you?"
That made me tilt my head.
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"...No, it's just that the comment reaction was a little odd?"
Ah, so that was it.
I let out a snort.
Yeah, the reactions were a little mixed, just like he said.
There were comments laughing at my sudden declaration that the film would hit ten million, but there were also fans criticizing me for reaching too far.
If my mentality were weak, I would have cared about those criticisms, but I'd been in this business for six years.
Even if you aren't an entertainer, spending time in this industry is enough to harden your nerves.
For someone like me to get shaken by a few malicious comments would have been ridiculous.
At my explanation, the PR team leader clicked his tongue.
"Man... every now and then, you really are fearless, Chief Kwon."
"I guess so. I have gotten a little less scared these days."
"So when does principal shooting for Black Bride start?"
At his question, the corner of my mouth lifted slightly.
"The day after next."
Even the sound of my own voice trembled a little with excitement as it came out.
"After this weekend, we'll head into a month of on-site lodging and shooting starting next Monday. You're not going to be seeing much of me at the company anymore."
***
I spent the weekend resting hard. I had to drive all the way to Jeongseon, Gangwon Province on Monday, and once principal shooting started, things were going to get busy in all kinds of ways.
Over that weekend, the Black Bride making film reached 400,000 views.
Maybe that was why.
Entertainment reporters who could smell viral numbers started publishing articles about Black Bride again.
The word ten million was oddly emphasized in their headlines.
I found myself licking my lips.
"Hmm, seems like the attention's gotten bigger."
I had expected some baiting, but I hadn't expected my interview to get enough attention to turn into actual articles.
At this rate, if the film flops, am I the one who'll be responsible instead of Lee Ha-eun?
...But that might be better in its own way.
I already knew Black Bride was going to be a hit, so I didn't feel any pressure at all.
Just when my anticipation for Black Bride had started swelling along with all this bizarre attention and spotlight, Monday finally arrived.
Using a van provided by the company, I went to pick up actor Seo Tae-jun.
"Good morning."
"Oh? You look in a good mood, Seo Tae-jun."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I thought you'd be nervous once principal shooting started and start acting all over the place."
Seo Tae-jun snorted.
"I've already figured out your personality, Chief. Those kinds of jabs don't work anymore."
Oh, really? And yet even if he was saying that, his face looked like it was twitching because he wanted to say one more thing.
I laughed inwardly, considering whether to push him a little more, then decided against it.
Needless to say, provoking an actor right before filming started was a little much.
We got on the highway and headed for Jeongseon, Gangwon Province. Seo Tae-jun had stubbornly claimed the passenger seat, and we chatted about one thing and another on the way.
"By the way, Chief, what's with the sudden ten-million declaration?"
"Ah, you watched the Black Bride making film?"
"Of course I did. I was shocked enough just seeing you there, and then you went and declared ten million, so I was even more shocked."
Seo Tae-jun checked my expression with a quick glance, then added, "You know you're in big trouble if you say things like that these days, right? Even if you're estimating audience numbers, you should be realistic."
"Hmm... is that so?"
"You don't know that the psychology of malicious commenters is to latch onto anything they can use as a target? And you work in entertainment management?"
Man, my ears hurt.
Eventually I answered back at Seo Tae-jun, who had started nagging in earnest.
"Then Tae-jun, you should just go and make it hit ten million for me."
"...What did you say?"
"Film well enough to make Black Bride hit ten million, Seo Tae-jun. Then there won't be any comments to pick at, will there?"
Seo Tae-jun's eyes narrowed.
"Are you a snake or a fox?"
"That line was pretty brilliant, wasn't it?"
At my nonsense, Seo Tae-jun finally stopped nagging and let out a snort of laughter. The moment that brief laugh slipped out of me too, I remembered what had come up in the team leaders' meeting a few days ago.
Scratching my chin in thought, I brought it up lightly.
"I forgot to mention this, but Seo Tae-jun, you'll be getting a personal manager around next week."
Seo Tae-jun, who had been browsing a music playlist, frowned hard.
"What did you say?"
"I said you'll have a personal manager attached to you starting next week."
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Why? You're at the point where you need one. Haven't you been uncomfortable without one up to now?"
Still frowning, Seo Tae-jun answered my question.
"Can't you just keep handling me yourself?"
"I'm not a road manager, so that's difficult."
"Then quit being a chief manager and take care of just me."
That made my eyes widen.
That's a weird reaction.
Seo Tae-jun didn't want a personal manager?
No, more than that, was it really such a terrible thing to have a personal manager attached?
His response was so far from what I'd expected that I tilted my head, but when I checked his face, it didn't look like a joke or empty talk.
To my surprise, the Romance Prince Seo Tae-jun really did seem to hate the idea of having a personal manager.
He got this attached to me already?
I forcibly swallowed the small laugh that nearly slipped out of my mouth.
Hmm... not bad.
Being recognized by an entertainer like Seo Tae-jun oddly made me feel good.
But if I gave in to his stubbornness here, his personality would only make him push harder later.
Keeping my expression in check, I explained firmly, "You'll just be getting a personal manager. I'll still be handling your management."
"..."
"And think about it. We're heading into on-site lodging for shooting now, and you'd be staying around by yourself without a manager? I'm also going back and forth to Seoul, so I won't be able to look after you as much as I should."
Seo Tae-jun worked his lips, then let out a long sigh.
"Fine. So stop nagging."
"That's not nagging. It's fact."
"Facts are nagging, whatever. So..."
He trailed off, then asked again.
"Anyway, you're still going to keep taking care of me, right?"
"Who was it that cast you in Black Bride?"
"You, Chief Kwon."
"Then I have to keep handling you."
Only then did Seo Tae-jun nod.
"Then, I guess it's fine. You said you'd keep managing me anyway."
He didn't look convinced, but he acted as if he were forcing himself to be convinced.
At that, another snort of laughter escaped me just as the main filming site for Black Bride began to come into view.
"Wow, that's a look."
Was it because this was an occult-film location?
Even from the entrance, a sinister feeling was already seeping up from the ground.
If we shoot in a place like this, won't a real ghost actually show up?
They say if a ghost appears in an occult film, that's a sign of a hit...
That wasn't going to happen, right?
***
After getting out of the car, I looked for Director Park Jun-seo first. He was off in the distance, running the ritual-preparation work at full tilt.
"Hey, hey! Be careful with that! Do you know how much that pig's head cost?"
I led Seo Tae-jun over to him.
"Director Park."
"Oh! Chief Kwon! Good grief, when did you get here?"
"I just arrived."
"And actor Seo, you've been well?"
Seo Tae-jun shrugged.
"I've been fine. How about you, Director? You doing okay?"
"Heh heh... I was so nervous I couldn't sleep. But now I'm worried I won't have any time to sleep at all."
"Let's take the shooting easy. It's an on-site lodging shoot anyway."
"Oh, come on. How do you take shooting easy? We have to squeeze Seo Tae-jun dry during this lodging shoot!"
Watching the two of them talk, I quietly stepped aside.
I could see the personal managers for the actors gathered a little way off, chatting among themselves. I moved over and joined that group.
"Ah, Chief Kwon."
"When did you get here? You came sooner than I thought."
"Wow! Wasn't the drive rough? You'd expect nothing less from an occult film, choosing a remote place like this for the shoot."
As I tossed in the occasional response and joined the conversation, one manager's eyes suddenly lit up.
"By the way, Chief Kwon, what's with the sudden ten-million declaration? I watched the making film, and you really did seem to be predicting ten million for Black Bride with your whole heart."
I waved a hand and explained, "You asked me about the audience numbers, so I just said it half as a joke."
"Huh? Really?"
"Your face was so serious I thought Baekhak's data must have come out like that, but it wasn't?"
"We thought it was really great that you and actor Park Tae-sik had that eye for talent in picking Queen of Joseon."
Hm.
Even the on-site managers were this interested in my interview?
That left me slightly at a loss.
How am I supposed to explain this?
I hadn't spoken without thinking, but the intent behind it was awkward to explain.
Just as I was trying to ride it out with an awkward smile, one staff member shouted, "Lee Ha-eun has arrived!"
"!"
The managers' eyes that had been on me all turned away.
And then my own eyes widened.
What? Why is Lee Ha-eun here already?
That woman lives as if the world itself is her stage, and she's already arrived on set this early?
A staffer standing beside me let out a low murmur of admiration.
"...Wow. It's Lee Ha-eun."
My gaze naturally went to the top-star actress walking into the set.
Lee Ha-eun wore black sunglasses and a black jacket that clung to her body.
Thanks to that, her slim silhouette stood out even more sharply.
Under the jacket, she had matched a sleek white blouse, and the lace details gave it an added touch of luxury.
Is this a chic-city-woman concept?
It looked like it.
Maybe because of that, her already razor-edged presence felt even sharper, making her seem like a queen, just like her nickname.
And I couldn't tear my eyes away from her when she suddenly stopped walking and snapped her head around toward me.
"!"
Startled, I stumbled back a step. Then Lee Ha-eun moved forward and stopped right in front of me.
"Hi."
Only after that did I barely recover enough to answer.
"Why are you coming to me again?"
"Why, can't I come over?"
"You should be going to the director, Lee Ha-eun."
Lee Ha-eun tilted her head to the side. In that instant, the face of the Lee Ha-eun who had done my interview overlapped with the one in front of me.
Damn it.
My heart started pounding hard.
Bad thoughts, obnoxious people, the people who'd recently been picking fights with me.
I shoved my thoughts toward uglier places on purpose, trying to force that racing pulse back under control.
Lee Ha-eun's eyes curved slightly.
"Kwon Chan."
"Yes?"
"You were flirting with me, weren't you?"
I blinked at her like an idiot.
"...What are you talking about?"
A deep smile spread over Lee Ha-eun's mouth.
With that smile, the queenly air around her softened and turned warm.
I found myself staring at her without thinking, and then her lips moved again.
"You're cute, really."
"?"
A question mark practically appeared on my face.
In the meantime, Lee Ha-eun gave my shoulder a light brush.
"I checked on the way here, and there wasn't anywhere for you to run. See you later."
She turned and headed toward Director Park Jun-seo. Only after some delay did I come to my senses and mutter, "What the hell was that?"
So right now, I was...
Cute in Lee Ha-eun's eyes?
"Has she lost her mind?"
I had been called rude before, but this was the first time anyone had ever called me cute.
Still flustered, I lifted my head and stared at Lee Ha-eun's back for a long moment.
That was when Director Park Jun-seo, who had been talking with her, shouted, "All right, looks like most of the actors are here, so let's get the ritual ready!"
He didn't bother hiding his excitement as he declared, "We've set the altar up nicely, so get your lines ready! And make sure the lucky cash is generous."
***
The ritual praying for the film's success began.
After Director Park Jun-seo's turn passed, the two lead actors stepped forward. Lee Ha-eun moved first and walked up.
All eyes turned to the top-star actress.
What would Lee Ha-eun, the lead of Black Bride, wish for at the ritual table?
She took off the sunglasses she had been wearing, stared quietly at the pig laid out on the table, and muttered, "Ten million."
With that, the top-star actress generously donated a million won as ritual money.
"I think I need this movie to hit ten million, so help me out, will you? Mr. Pig."
At Lee Ha-eun's sudden declaration, silence fell for a moment.
"...Ten million?"
The gazes of the dozens of staff members gathered to watch the ritual shifted from Lee Ha-eun to me.
"Somehow that line feels familiar."
...At one staffer's mutter, cold sweat slid down my back.