The Fan Cafe and the Drama Promotion
The fan cafe of L'Vyu, Ruby, buzzed with lively chatter as always.
Once numbering only around twenty members, the club had exploded in size thanks to the drama's airing, the signing of the contract, and the endless promotions and CF appearances.
Now it was pushing two thousand members, steadily climbing toward three thousand.
– It looks like NBS isn't promoting the drama this time either.
– It's famous for its stingy promotion budget.
They just rely on the author's fame for NBS Class...
– The neighboring UBS is really pounding the promotion.
– We can't keep it up.
Even among us...
Still small compared to other fan cafes, the loyalty of the fans here was exceptional.
At first it had been nothing more than a splinter group from Signature, but now it had become L'Vyu's dedicated fan club in full.
– When Deok-su oppa is filming, we should send the coffee truck.
– That's a great idea.
They've been doing those group donations a lot lately...
– Let's open a fund.
Everyone...
The fans were ready to take action and fundraise.
But that was not what Hui-yeong or Deok-su wanted at all.
– ...Just the feeling in your heart is enough.
Please attend more fan meetings instead.
– Even so, the coffee truck would be perfect...
– Deok-su oppa or the manager are so strange.
Other managers sing good goods, good goods.
– But when is Signature's goods coming out for Deok-su oppa?
It was an awkward question even for Hui-yeong to answer.
Signature goods were a good revenue source for both the company and the members.
But for Deok-su, who had no plans to continue Signature activities, those goods were nothing more than pie in the sky.
Ironically, as Deok-su's popularity rose, more fans were seeking his goods.
It was a dilemma for Hui-yeong.
“...Hui-yeong. What are you doing?”
Hearing the voice from in front, Hui-yeong lifted her head.
There stood Mun A-rim, arms full of clothes.
“...Oppa is taking them again, isn't he?”
“Ha... Did Deok-su's metabolism just explode?
How many times has this happened now... I have to go get more clothes again.”
Watching A-rim shiver, Hui-yeong could only offer an awkward smile.
Mun A-rim muttered and left the company.
Hui-yeong shrugged her shoulders and headed for the waiting room where Deok-su was.
Inside, Deok-su sat before a mirror while Jang Hyeok-geon, holding scissors and a straightener, frowned in displeasure.
“...Hyung.
What about a slick back instead?”
“A slick back now would look like a vibrating tiger... I need a different feel.”
Jang Hyeok-geon worked diligently with his hands.
Kim Deok-su was not an easy client to please.
Even picky customers usually calmed down after a few snips, but Deok-su found fault in every tiny detail.
In the end, Jang Hyeok-geon shook his head.
“...What about a wig?”
“I need to do it with my own hair for it to feel real.”
After that, Jang Hyeok-geon had to style Deok-su's hair again and again.
Through twists and turns, Deok-su's hair was finally completed.
It was a steward style with the forehead and eyebrows clearly visible.
It carried an easy, elegant charm with a cool, refreshing scent.
Only then was Deok-su satisfied, and Jang Hyeok-geon set down his scissors.
“...I researched the hairstyle while reading the script... It wasn't because I was unnecessarily picky.
I did it because I wanted it to be good.”
“Sorry.
I was a bit much.
I just wanted it to be perfect...”
“...A quick apology is a foul, you know.
I was trying not to seem like a bad guy.”
Afterward, Deok-su had to soothe the irritated Jang Hyeok-geon.
Through twists and turns, Deok-su completed his hairstyle and outfit coordination.
The next day, after receiving his hair and makeup at Jang Hyeok-geon's shop, Deok-su headed to a studio in Gangnam.
Today was the day they shot the poster and title for the new drama.
“Hello, senior.”
Arriving thirty minutes before shooting, Deok-su greeted Lim Na-ra and Kang Jeong-ran, who were already there, with a bow.
“Oh?
Kim Deok-su.
Early as usual?”
“...”
While Lim Na-ra welcomed him, Kang Jeong-ran simply nodded flatly.
Deok-su apologized and sat in an empty seat in the corner.
Lim Na-ra, who was getting her makeup done, turned her eyes toward Deok-su in the corner via the mirror.
“Deok-su, your hair really looks good.
Mind if I ask where the shop is?”
“It isn't famous. In Cheongdam-dong...”
Deok-su spoke about Jang Hyeok-geon.
There had been no clause in the contract forbidding him to mention it.
Lim Na-ra's face brightened.
“A shop I haven't heard of before?
Who is the director?”
“Director Jang Hyeok-geon.”
“A new face.
He seems skilled.
Still, the makeup...”
“It's a bit disappointing.
Jeong-ran, right?”
Kang Jeong-ran stared at Deok-su before opening her mouth.
“...Wasting the canvas.”
When Deok-su looked puzzled, Lim Na-ra explained.
“Jeong-ran's talent in this area is quite good.
It's actually her who did it.”
Lim Na-ra's skin showed not a single blemish.
The skin tone and color harmony blended perfectly without a single standout.
Deok-su's makeup had actually been done by the makeup director working alongside Jang Hyeok-geon at his shop.
Jang Hyeok-geon's skill was beyond reproach, but the makeup director's ability... was lacking.
Lim Na-ra continued.
“Jeong-ran.
Touch Deok-su for me.”
“...Why me?”
Kang Jeong-ran turned her head away.
She had no desire to, yet something made her glance at Deok-su.
Deok-su, sharp-eyed, had no idea what was going on.
'This is a chance to get closer.'
“May I ask, senior?”
“If it's a request...”
Though she had seemed about to refuse, Kang Jeong-ran picked up her makeup tools and began fixing Deok-su's makeup.
Every touch from her hand made Deok-su's makeup settle into place bit by bit.
Deok-su did not stop talking.
“...Your technique is wonderful.
When did you learn makeup?”
“When I was struggling to make ends meet.”
“Deok-su, you didn't know?
Jeong-ran was a former makeup artist.”
Kang Jeong-ran had mentioned that her previous profession had been makeup artist.
She had accidentally started acting and managed to survive with her good acting skills.
Once it had been her bread and butter, but now it was just for building connections, she said with a small shrug.
“...Deok-su's skin accepts makeup well.
But with the current cosmetics, matching your tone will probably be difficult.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Mix them.
Here, number 21...”
As she received her makeup and chatted, Deok-su gradually narrowed the distance with the difficult seniors.
But things did not flow smoothly.
“Oh?
Everyone's here?”
Just as shooting time approached, Yu Tae-seon entered after finishing her makeup.
Lim Na-ra and Kang Jeong-ran stood up from their seats with obvious tension, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
“Hello, senior.”
“Yeah, Na-ra.
Jeong-ran.
You two are all ready?”
When Yu Tae-seon turned her chair around, the two actresses stood with their hands neatly folded.
The warm atmosphere had already vanished.
“Relax your hands.
If you stand like that, what do you think Deok-su is going to think of you?”
“Sorry, sorry, senior.”
“Yeah.
More importantly, can you two go grab something to drink?”
Lim Na-ra and Kang Jeong-ran fled the waiting room as if running away, leaving only Deok-su and Yu Tae-seon.
Only then did the cold edges of Yu Tae-seon's eyes soften.
She pulled her chair closer to Deok-su with a smile.
“L'Vyu.
What happened that day?
You disappeared suddenly.
I was really worried.”
“Was it the day of the party?
The alcohol kicked in suddenly... I was carried home by the manager.”
“Is that so?
Aah.”
Yu Tae-seon furrowed her brows.
It was the standard excuse the girls who had fled first at the party used.
But she instead smiled brightly.
“Well, maybe the alcohol just wasn't strong enough.
Still, a little disappointing.
Our L'Vyu would have handled the drinking like a pro...”
“It doesn't seem to mix well with alcohol.
I get drunk after just a few sips.
Anyway, sorry.”
“...Well, if I get drunk, I get drunk.”
A decent guy had appeared, yet he had built a wall without realizing.
It was almost cute, but Yu Tae-seon felt a slight irritation rise.
“Hey.
What time is it now?”
“Oh, it's past time.
It seems like it's almost time to call...”
Deok-su looked at his watch and tried to stand, but Yu Tae-seon blocked his path.
“It will take a bit longer.
Did you not bring the jam?
The lighting director went to get it himself.”
“I-I see.”
“It seems we'll have to wait a little longer.
So, shall we sit and chat?”
Deok-su smiled relaxedly, but in truth he felt awkward.
Confronting her head-on would spoil the shooting atmosphere.
Small troubles could become large scandals in this industry.
He carefully scanned his surroundings and felt a vibration in his pocket.
Deok-su pressed the call button without even checking the name and answered hurriedly.
“...Ah, yes! I'll be there right away!”
Deok-su apologized to Yu Tae-seon and left the waiting room in a hurry.
Rushing like the wind, he headed to where Hui-yeong was.
“Oppa. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.
Thanks to you...”
Deok-su finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
It had been Hui-yeong who called.
The moment she learned that Deok-su and Yu Tae-seon were alone with the two actresses who had passed by, she had called immediately.
The timely call from Hui-yeong had been the ace in the hole to escape the situation.
“...Nice.
Timing.”
Deok-su gave her a thumbs-up, but Hui-yeong shook her head.
“...I know that constantly avoiding it isn't an option, right?”
“I know.
I hope you understood on your own...
If not, I'll have to be much clearer...”
Not long after, title shooting began.
Dry ice smoke rose from the floor as Deok-su closed his eyes and raised his head.
“...Good expression.
You caught the point right away.”
Title director Kim Jung-woo nodded in satisfaction after seeing Deok-su within the frame.
Then the shooting with the other actors continued.
The actresses and child actors gathered together while Deok-su stood apart from them, turned away and waited.
“Just like that.
Yes.
Good.”
Most of the cast were veteran actors familiar with their profiles and various shoots, so the pace of filming accelerated.
“...Is it sad?
This much?”
“Yes.
Okay...
A little more...”
Especially Yu Tae-seon's expressions stood out among all the actors.
After a few exchanges with the photographer, she quickly caught the points and shot an A-cut in under a minute.
'She's amazing.
How can she make such an expression in one take?'
Other actresses needed time to prepare an A-cut as well.
But Yu Tae-seon was different.
She captured and expressed the director's or writer's requirements instantly.
Personal life aside, her skill was real.
'Her skill alone is really great...'
Wink.
Without knowing Deok-su's thoughts, Yu Tae-seon winked at him.
Several staff members quickly turned their gazes elsewhere upon seeing it.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
That day's shoot ended past ten o'clock.
Deok-su and the actresses had quickly understood the director's intent, but some child actors repeated mistakes and delayed things.
After filming, Deok-su greeted the staff.
He also greeted CP Kim Mun-seong, who cautiously said,
“...Deok-su.
We are about to do some promotional work for the drama.
Could you help?”
“Of course, if there's anything I can do.”
“To be honest...
We'd like Deok-su to do the promotion.
It's embarrassing, but you know we don't have much promotion budget?”
“Is the promotion perhaps a broadcast appearance?”
When Deok-su nodded, Kim Mun-seong CP scratched his head awkwardly.
“Yes.
I asked the others too, but the actresses are picky and won't do it, and sending the child actors isn't possible...
Instead, what I want from Deok-su is...”
“...There is one broadcast I want to appear on.”
“Just say the name.
If it's one of our stations, we'll put in anything.”
After a moment of thought, Deok-su spoke heavily.
“...Please put it in Morning Garden.”
“What the— Morning Garden...?”
Kim Mun-seong CP's eyes widened.
Morning Garden was a talk program targeting middle-aged and older viewers that aired at 8:20 a.m.
Average viewership was 7-8%, and the host was a veteran announcer.
It was a good promotion platform unless it was purely for explicit promotion, but the real issue was something else.
“...Deok-su.
You've done live broadcasts before, haven't you?”