Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: First Time in This Life
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...What?"
I blurted it out in shock before I could stop myself. Kim Han-soo looked at me and asked,
"Did you call me?"
"Ah, no."
Even in the middle of all this, the system alerts kept coming.
Tutorial perks have ended. Shop item discounts are now terminated.
Hold on—the tutorial ending or not wasn't the point. What? Shop item discounts are ending?
'No way the price for buying time is going up...'
The thought sent chills down my spine. I slammed the script shut and hurriedly opened the shop window.
But then.
Tonight All-Nighter: Adds 1 day (24 hours) of life. / 30 Coins
To Be Continued: Adds 7 days (168 hours) of life. / 200 Coins
'You mad bastard...'
Why did my ominous hunch have to hit the nail on the head every single time?
The price for buying time had jumped more than tenfold. And all the other items had vanished.
Does this even make sense? An upgrade? What kind of upgrade raises prices and cuts options? Small-batch artisanal production?
But ignoring my protests, the status window spat out alerts nonstop.
With the official shop opening, the types of purchasable items will change.
Item types are determined by user growth and will be added to the shop later.
"Ha, haha..."
A hollow laugh escaped me. I could feel Kim Han-soo staring at me curiously, but I ignored him.
It probably just looked like I was reading the script anyway.
'Alright, Do-jun. Let's calm down and sort this out step by step.'
First, I'd finally collected 500,000 likes.
The system upgraded because... that was the tutorial completion condition.
Second, it wasn't really an upgrade—it was just the tutorial ending. And with it went the beginner discounts.
Now buying time cost way more coins. Ten times more.
And finally, whatever it meant, the shop lineup would change based on what I did from now on.
'That last one's not important right now.'
Once I pieced it all together, one thing stood out crystal clear.
'...I'm in deep shit, aren't I?'
Twenty-four hours for 30 coins, seven days for 200. I had just under 4,000 coins.
Even rounding up to 4,000, that was barely 20 weeks. Less than half a year.
My vision went dark. I flashed back to the old days, scrambling for likes before debut.
Eating Daddy's Desserts every day, hitting up cute cafes, posting endless photos.
I'd thought those worries were finally behind me.
Rage boiled up. How were we supposed to buy time with prices jacked up like this? Even monopolies weren't this ruthless.
Not double or triple—a straight tenfold hike? Might as well say drop dead.
You wanna go tit for tat? At least let people breathe!
Depending on user growth, some consumable items will convert to talents.
Talent: [Intense Focus] has been created.
'What's this now?'
No price cut on time—instead, weird new talents?
Reading closely, it seemed the effect of "Ho, Not Bad" had turned into a talent. I'd used it so much, maybe I didn't need the item anymore?
Using other items often might've created matching talents.
But my mind was fixed on one thought.
'Good thing I didn't waste coins on useless items...'
That was when it happened.
Ding.
As tutorial completion reward, trait This Life is My First has been granted.
The alerts kept going, like it wasn't done yet.
'Is this really the priority right now?'
This time, real anger surged. My grip tightened on the script without me realizing. If Kim Han-soo weren't there, I'd have yelled.
What good was a reward now? Without time to use it!
At least warn me ahead! I'd have grinded harder.
'Isn't this a violation of consumer protection laws?'
Special terms like this need proper prior notice.
I wanted to storm customer service, but there was none. The eternal tragedy.
"Do-jun, it's almost our turn."
"Ah, coming."
The previous shoot had wrapped; it was my turn.
Fine. We'll settle this after filming.
Stepping out of the car, hot air hit me like a wall. The staff, filming under the blazing sun, all looked wiped from the heat.
Heading to PD Kim Shin-hyo, Lee Jun-hyung—who'd been shooting first—glared at me while fanning himself with a portable fan.
But oddly, he didn't pick a fight and just turned away sharply.
'What's his deal? The heat getting to him?'
One day without his bullshit and he acted like thorns were sprouting.
Whatever. If he skipped the crap today, great. My nose was already full of stone.
As I stepped into camera range—
This Life is My First
Suddenly, everything froze, and my vision turned ashen.
"...Huh?"
Without warning, a massive screen appeared before me. Unlike the status window—this was cinema-sized.
The screen glowed alone in the stopped world, demanding my focus.
More precisely, I couldn't move or look elsewhere even if I wanted to.
What the hell was this? It alerted, so surely...
Flash!
An image appeared on the screen.
I saw myself moving inside. Not just me.
Staff including PD Kim Shin-hyo sat in what looked like a bar, all watching a big TV.
'...Our drama?'
Park Min-ha—no, Park Ji-eun on screen. MVT logo up top.
Murmurs suggested a premiere after-party.
Watching the screen felt like being right there—hearing every word.
"PD! Congrats!"
"Ratings are climbing live!"
Drama started strong. Everyone buzzed happily, tipsy. Screen-me flushed red from drinks.
What? Not a dream—why show this? Don't worry about the drama? Precognition?
In the chaos, Lee Jun-hyung slipped up quietly. Angle followed naturally.
'Why show him?'
Bathroom break?
No need to watch him pee, right? Thankfully, he passed the restroom for the parking lot corner. Pulled out his phone.
Screen zoomed on the phone.
To: Lee Kyung-wook—a stranger. Simple message.
Reporter Lee, get ready. Let's nail it like always.
Then, boldly opened a car door. Not his usual ride—black, heavy tint.
A woman's voice from inside.
"Oppa!"
Oppa? No way...
"Hey, everyone's drunk, so slip in casually. Stick to Lee Do-jun if you see him."
"That's all?"
Gut check confirmed. Inside: the extra actress his manager introduced.
Always smiling at me, now biting her lip tensely.
"Yeah, there's a pro pap nearby. He'll handle the angles."
"Paparazzi?"
Hold up—what? Paparazzi?
"Peach Star'll call you tonight or tomorrow. Pick up no matter what. They'll record everything—say we're definitely dating."
As I strained to hear more, the screen flashed off. The gray world regained color.
Trait This Life is My First has ended.
The frozen set sprang back to life like nothing happened.
"Do-jun! Into position!"
"...Ah, yes!"
PD Kim Shin-hyo's call startled me into motion. The assistant director adjusting my spot asked worriedly,
"Everything okay?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah. Fine."
I waved it off frantically.
I've got a status window, but this jerk just grayed out the world, popped a screen, and showed me the future or whatever.
Can't exactly say that.
'What the hell was that?'
Trait end notice was too vivid for a hallucination.
'Even for this system, that's too much... No.'
Calling it impossible? The whole status window thing was impossible from the start.
I needed to check "This Life is My First" effects first—then the director yelled.
"Alright! Ready!"
"Camera rolling!"
'Wait!'
Wanted to check now, but couldn't halt filming on a whim.
Confused, but lenses on me. I slipped into acting on reflex.
And.
For the first time since starting drama shoots, I flubbed takes back-to-back.
❤
Somehow wrapped and back at the dorm—it was midnight.
Staring at the status window, my mind was more tangled than ever.
Worse than shop prices—the new mess clouded my head.
I tapped the trait with my finger.
Ding!
Trait: [This Life is My First]
Description: Unfortunately, it's your first time in this life! A guide to light the path ahead for a newbie like you.
Activation: (Locked)
'Hmm.'
Vague, but anyone could see it meant showing the future.
Right? No other explanation fit.
So what I saw wasn't illusion or dream—real future events.
'Driving me nuts. Better if it were a dream.'
No more denying via status window. Just wishing it was.
Even "Peach Star" media from the screen—real place. Searched it.
Articles all dating scandals. Some exclusives with photo "proof."
Scandals that once scorched the net, vivid in my memory.
All fake, of course.
Most debunked as rumors.
So, recap: Lee Jun-hyung sticks a girl on me at set, sneaks her to after-party.
Hidden pap snaps pics to bury me?
'...This guy's a total psycho.'