14
### Chapter 14
The next morning.
The world I saw the moment I opened my eyes was completely different from yesterday.
The entertainment section of every major portal site was plastered with my face.
[(Issue Pick) Kang Seojun Perfectly Brings 'Han Jaei' to Life, Leads Episode 1 to 8.4% Ratings]
[Erasing the Killer from Tracking and Creating a Career-Defining Role... Kang Seojun Proves Himself a Monster Rookie]
[Doctor Criminal's Premiere Explodes with Synergy Between Writer Kim Heeseon and Kang Seojun]
The headlines alone were enough to fill my stomach.
"Monster rookie."
"Career-defining character."
"Explosive synergy."
Every highest-level compliment a reporter could come up with was being attached to my name.
Lying in bed, I clicked into an article and opened the comments section.
Yesterday, public opinion had been full of accusations about me being overrated or the product of viral marketing.
Now it was time to see how things had changed.
* Honestly, I was worried because he was a rookie, but after watching Episode 1, I completely bowed my head. His acting is insanely good.
* Why is a sociopath this sexy? His voice is cheating. His diction punches you right in the ears.
* The surgery scene gave me chills. I thought they used a stunt double, but after watching the behind-the-scenes footage, it was actually him.
* Now I understand why writer Kim Heeseon cast a rookie as the lead. He's irreplaceable.
* Wait, is that 8.4% rating real? For the first episode? Isn't that the highest drama rating this year?
* And this is cable TV, too. 8.4% on cable is absolutely insane.
"They've won over public opinion."
I put down my phone.
It was a successful launch.
Not only were the ratings high, but public favorability and buzz surrounding me as an actor had risen alongside them.
The value of the "Kang Seojun" brand had skyrocketed overnight.
I stared at the ceiling and let out a short breath.
Now all that remained was to ride this momentum and convert that value into something tangible.
#
At the same time.
A café in Cheongdam-dong.
CEO Choi of Ace Entertainment was grinning from ear to ear.
He personally poured tea for writer Seo Eunbyeol, who sat across from him.
"Writer, thank you so much. I should've bought you ten meals by now."
"Oh, come on, CEO. What did I even do? Seojun is the one who did all the work."
Seo Eunbyeol smiled as she lifted her teacup.
"No, no. You're the one who discovered that gem first, aren't you? Honestly, when you recommended him, I wasn't completely convinced. I wondered if you were pushing a rookie too hard."
CEO Choi shook his head vigorously.
"But after seeing the final result... wow. He's the real deal. The foundation of our company just became a whole lot stronger. We received dozens of advertising inquiries in a single day."
"That many?"
"Don't even get me started. The phones are ringing nonstop. Even in my ten years of doing this, I've never seen a single drama explode this hard."
CEO Choi let out a joyful laugh.
But Seo Eunbyeol didn't look entirely excited.
Resting her chin on one hand, she gazed out the window and spoke quietly.
"But, CEO."
"Yes?"
"Don't you think that kid is a little strange sometimes?"
CEO Choi blinked.
"Strange? You mean Seojun?"
"Yeah. He doesn't feel like a rookie."
She carefully chose her words.
"Most people his age—especially if they become famous overnight like this—start floating. They either become arrogant or completely lose control because they can't handle it."
She paused.
"But Seojun..."
"He's just naturally mature."
"It's beyond maturity. It's like..."
She hesitated.
"Like he expected all of this. Even after hearing the ratings hit 8.4%, he just said, 'I'm glad it worked out.' Even when he sees malicious comments, he barely reacts."
She lightly turned her teacup.
"Sometimes he feels more grown-up than I am. No, not even grown-up..."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"More like a machine with its emotions removed. The kind of composure you'd expect from a veteran actor with ten years of experience."
CEO Choi burst out laughing.
"Writer, that's a compliment, isn't it? You're basically saying he was born to be an actor."
"Well, that's true."
Seo Eunbyeol chuckled.
"For an actor, those are ideal qualities."
She took a sip of tea.
"Anyway, he's a blessing. Take good care of him. Writer Kim Heeseon is completely charmed by him too."
"Don't worry. I'll carry him on my back if I have to."
CEO Choi answered confidently.
To him, Kang Seojun was no longer merely a promising rookie actor.
He was a star worthy of becoming the face of the entire company.
#
That afternoon.
Ace Entertainment's conference room.
The table was piled high with colorful proposal documents.
"All of these came in yesterday and today. Just pick whichever you want."
CEO Choi proudly patted the stack.
Beside him, manager Kim Hyuntae held out an iPad.
"Chicken, beer, outdoor apparel, cosmetics, mobile games, instant noodles... we've got everything. Every hot category in the industry is here."
Kim Hyuntae's voice was filled with excitement.
I flipped through the proposals one by one.
There was certainly a wide variety.
From famous chicken brands to beer companies targeting younger consumers, to advertisements from major noodle manufacturers.
Every offer came with terms that would be difficult to refuse.
"What do you think about this chicken commercial? It's the hottest brand these days. The model fee is huge for a rookie. Three hundred million won for six months."
CEO Choi handed me a proposal decorated with glamorous chicken photos.
"And this beer commercial. You have to do this one. They're targeting the summer season, and it'll be great for increasing your public recognition."
I stared at the documents.
Chicken and beer commercials.
They made money.
For generating quick cash, there was nothing better.
But—
"I'm sorry, but I'll reject all food-related advertisements."
Both CEO Choi and Kim Hyuntae froze.
"...Huh? Reject them? Why?"
"Chicken. Beer. Instant noodles."
I pushed the proposals aside.
"Those kinds of images are consumed too quickly."
I continued calmly.
"Right now, my image is Han Jaei. A sociopathic thoracic surgeon. Cold, intelligent, and flawless."
I looked at them.
"But if viewers keep turning on the TV and seeing me holding a chicken drumstick with a forced smile or yelling 'Ahh!' while drinking beer, what do you think they'll think?"
"Well, sure, but advertisements are advertisements and dramas are dramas."
"It breaks immersion."
I shook my head.
"And once a low-end image gets attached to you, luxury brands and premium advertisers stop calling."
My tone was firm.
The immediate three or five hundred million won wasn't important.
If I wanted to extend my lifespan as a product called "actor," brand management was essential.
A premiumization strategy.
I had to position myself as a luxury brand.
"Then... what about outdoor apparel? It promotes a healthy image."
"I'll pass on that too. In the drama I'm either wearing surgical scrubs or suits. Suddenly appearing in hiking gear climbing mountains would feel out of place."
CEO Choi scratched his head awkwardly.
"You're not wrong, but... what exactly do you want to do? We can't reject all of these."
I picked up the final proposal sitting at the bottom of the pile.
Its design was heavy and simple.
[W Investment Securities (Financial Platform)]
"I'll do this one."
"Huh? That one?"
CEO Choi blinked in surprise.
"Isn't finance a bit too stiff? The model fee is high, sure, but it doesn't have the same public recognition as a chicken brand."
"That's exactly why."
I opened the proposal.
A concept image caught my eye.
A cold, sophisticated city skyline at night.
A man in a tailored suit standing before it.
"Finance is built on trust and professionalism. It matches Han Jaei's image perfectly."
I tapped the copy text.
"Just as a surgeon performs an operation with precision, I can create the image of someone who manages assets with the same level of cold rationality."
I continued.
"And the brand value is high. Once I establish myself through a financial platform, it's easier to expand into high-end categories later—cars, electronics, luxury goods."
It wasn't just about money.
This was a strategic decision to keep my image from being consumed like a disposable product.
CEO Choi thought for a moment before slapping his knee.
"Wow... Seojun, you're really smart. I never thought that far ahead."
"Hyungnim, aren't you a genius? The more I hear it, the more sense it makes."
Kim Hyuntae eagerly agreed.
"Alright. We'll do exactly what Seojun said. Contact W Investment Securities."
"Yes, sir!"
#
A few days later.
A studio in Gangnam.
The atmosphere at the commercial shoot was completely different from a drama set.
Everything was clean and organized.
Cold metallic interiors.
Modern lighting.
"Hello, actor Kang Seojun! I'm a huge fan!"
A representative from the client company ran over and bowed ninety degrees.
"Thank you for coming today. Our CEO watched the drama and insisted that we absolutely had to cast you. We really appreciate you accepting the offer."
"You're too kind."
I smiled.
"W Investment Securities already has such an excellent brand image. I couldn't say no."
Today's outfit was a custom-tailored dark navy suit.
My hair was styled exactly like Han Jaei's, slicked back to reveal my forehead.
"Stand by! Check the lighting!"
The commercial director's shout signaled the beginning of filming.
The concept was simple.
A mentor advising retail investors who ruin their investments by following emotions, urging them to trust data instead.
I stood before the camera.
Thirty seconds.
Far shorter than a drama.
Yet enough time to carve a message directly into the viewer's mind.
The director gave the cue.
"Action!"
Click.
[Switch: ON]
I became Han Jaei.
Slowly lifting my gaze from the charts in front of me, I looked directly into the camera lens.
My expression was calm.
But my eyes were filled with certainty.
I casually tossed the fountain pen in my hand onto the table.
Clack.
The sharp sound echoed through the silent studio.
"Follow your heart? Chase your dreams?"
The corner of my mouth twisted upward.
A smile bordering on mockery.
"That's why you lose."
My cold voice sliced through the air.
The staff members held their breath.
The Han Jaei they had seen on television was standing before them.
I extended my hand through the air as though drawing a graph.
The movement was sharp and precise.
Like a surgeon making an incision with a scalpel.
"Trust only the data."
I leaned forward and locked eyes with the camera.
"In surgery and in investing."
My gaze sharpened.
"When emotions get involved, people die."
Silence.
Then the final line.
"The beginning of rational investing. W Investment Securities."
Adjusting my glasses, I finished with a cold stare.
"...Cut! Okay!!"
The director jumped to his feet and applauded.
"That's it! That's exactly it! Seojun, that expression was incredible! Your diction is unbelievable too!"
The client representatives cheered and gave enthusiastic thumbs-ups.
"This is amazing! We can use both the fifteen-second and thirty-second versions! How are you this perfect without a single NG?"
The entire shoot took one hour.
A commercial that normally required half a day was finished in an instant.
"Thank you for your hard work."
I bowed politely.
"Great work, Hyungnim!"
Kim Hyuntae rushed over and handed me a bottle of water.
"Wow, Hyungnim. I just got chills. You looked like a real investment expert. I think I'm going to download the app myself."
"Go ahead."
I took a drink.
"I'm downloading it too."
"Huh? You too?"
"Of course."
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"I need to grow my money too once the advertising fees start coming in."
As I left the studio, I couldn't help smiling.
Using the platform I advertised to increase my own wealth.
It was the perfect cycle of capitalism.