Chapter 77

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 77

Chapter Title: Scenario 9: 10-Day Intern Training

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Maeng Soyul.

The approaching autumn. The once-vibrant green leaves were visibly fading.

Evergreen leaves still dominated, but the chill in the air signaled autumn's arrival.

Tatata-tak.

Descending the concrete stairs, worn and crumbling in places from age.

A roughly patched concrete ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wall had a rusted drainage pipe glowing orange.

"Haa, haa."

Fearing she'd miss the bus, she'd sprinted down from her hillside village.

Arriving at the bus stop at the village entrance, she spotted the bus approaching ahead.

Tsssk.

Boarding the halted bus, it was packed with students heading to school and commuters to work.

Maeng Soyul wove her slender frame through them and barely grabbed the handle on a seat.

Clunk.

The rough driving made her body sway over every speed bump.

Still, catching the bus on time brought a small smile to her lips.

Wiping sweat from her forehead, she gazed out the window at a clearer sky than usual.

"......"

Pulling worn earbuds from her pocket, she plugged them in, played her favorite song, and enjoyed the passing scenery.

Unlike her factory days, she now savored morning sunrises and evening sunsets.

The announcement filtered through her earbuds. She got off immediately at the stop.

The company building came into view upon disembarking.

It wasn't a flashy glass-walled skyscraper from dramas.

Even so, pride swelled as she smiled faintly and headed up to the office.

On the second floor, the door was slightly ajar.

Wondering if someone had arrived early, she entered to find a spacious room with sparse desks—and Nam Siu standing there.

Having worked alone even at the factory, he was her first workplace superior and senior.

"Oh, you're here? Early bird, huh?"

Spotting her, he smiled and waved.

She wanted to respond loudly but bowed habitually from old times.

"Good morning."

He returned the greeting and handed her a binder of printed materials.

"Here, take this. It's what you'll practice with today."

"Thank you."

He was a kind senior, endlessly patient with her awkward expressions.

"Dressed up nice today, huh?"

His sudden comment as she reviewed the materials made her flinch.

"......"

Thoughts swirled inside, but none escaped her lips.

"Staring like that hurts your senior's feelings."

Her sharp eyes often led to misunderstandings.

Though inwardly, nothing could be further from the truth.

"Sorry."

"Haha! No need to apologize."

He waved it off smoothly.

Bringing coffee, he set a cup on the desk and said,

"After the seminar, we'll kick off real work."

"Ah! Yes...!"

No more practice—full deployment ahead.

She handled minor tasks mid-practice, but only tiny ones.

As starting time neared, people trickled in.

All good folks, one and all.

"Morning meeting time~."

At Kim Woohyun's call, they gathered around the table.

They were all university friends, which explained their easy camaraderie.

"Now that the close-knit friends have settled in, we need more content..."

Sitting beside Nam Siu, Maeng Soyul had ample chances to watch him speak.

His serious work demeanor embodied the adult image she'd imagined.

After the meeting, a bathroom stop revealed her reflection.

[Dressed up nice today, huh?]

Nam Siu's earlier words resurfaced.

"......"

A cheap shirt and skirt suit she'd saved for workdays.

Together under 100,000 won—a fortune to her.

Yet thinking of him calling it pretty flushed her cheeks.

Slap.

Alone, she slapped her reflection's cheek.

"Luxury."

Liking someone was a luxury for her.

Pinching her small cheek with tiny hands.

"Eek..."

Harder than intended; it reddened.

She had duties to her younger siblings.

No time for romance. If she dated, only their elderly grandmother could watch them.

"No."

Steeling herself, she left the bathroom.

Day one's immersion rose by 8%.

No discomfort at all.

Decent results.

First change target: Maeng Soyul's emotions.

Responsibility.

Just adding weight to her existing sense of duty.

That was enough for starters.

Plenty of scenario time left.

Maeng Soyul.

Packing for the seminar.

"Ready?"

"Ah..., yes."

Looking up, Nam Siu waited in his suit.

She followed in her interview suit.

"First seminar, right?"

"Yes."

"Nothing big even if we go. Just listen to the training."

His words said that, but tension built anyway.

No car meant bus to the venue, so they left early.

"Hello? Oh, Woohyun. Yeah, heading out now. Yep, straight home after."

Phone done, he told seated Maeng Soyul,

"Head home right after."

"Yes..."

Venue: training center on city outskirts.

Crowded with early arrivals.

"From Neulsom Studio. Yes, two."

"Sign here."

Signing, he got name badges.

Seeing her [Employee] badge in the neat plastic case made her heart race.

It made her love the company more.

"Interns can't come, so I snuck 'Employee' on yours."

She flinched at his words.

[Intern]

Her actual title.

"Um..."

During pre-seminar break, she asked,

"How do I become an employee...?"

Scratching his cheek, Nam Siu looked troubled.

"Hm, take the exam, then interview?"

"Ah..."

She knew. But the exam and interview were hurdles.

"Want to be an employee that bad?"

"......Yes."

Interns were contract, dismissal anytime.

Regular staff meant security and better pay.

Started for siblings, but now she loved it.

Her first goal, a dream.

"But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the exam's tough... Non-majors struggle."

She nodded. Natural.

Her study-free life wouldn't hand her the title.

The goal loomed like a towering wall.

First regret for no university.

"Seminar starting. Let's sit."

"......Yes."

They took assigned seats.

Professors and CEOs listed.

They discussed filming techniques, editing, etc., in turn.

We just sat, noted, and learned from talks and materials.

"Learn well."

"Yes."

Maeng Soyul thought: Starting late meant double effort for interviews.

Couldn't grasp all terms, but noted diligently.

Break: out for a smoke.

Maeng Soyul fiddled with her cigarette, then checked her notes.

"Senior..."

"Yeah?"

"Not sure what this means."

"Let's see."

Scanning notes with cigarette in mouth, he smirked.

"Guess I taught too casually. This is..."

His fluent explanation impressed her anew.

Noting every word, a voice came from behind.

"Nam Siu~."

He turned; a gray-haired man in suit stood there.

"Ah! Professor. Hello."

Extinguishing his smoke, he approached with both hands for a shake.

"Heh, doing well?"

"Yes, Professor. Hope you're well. Meant to visit, but saw you inside, so stepped out."

"Of course. Didn't expect you at seminar. First since uni?"

"Yes. Woohyun was supposed to come, but here I am. Haha!"

His sly laugh seemed so adult.

Reactions she'd never manage.

"And next to you..."

"New intern, Maeng Soyul."

"Oh, I see. Looks student-like... Which school?"

University mention stiffened her.

Nam Siu patted her back.

"Soyul dreams of video work, learning at company instead."

"Ah~. Got it. Nice to meet you~."

She clasped his wrinkled hands, bowing briefly.

"See you later, Siu~."

"Yes, Professor. Woohyun, Dayoung, Yuchan at studio—we'll visit."

"Heh, good."

Watching him go, she turned to Nam Siu.

"Ah, our uni prof."

"Ah. Yes..."

First professor ever—not like school teachers.

Kind, warm, mature.

"Back in."

Seminar continued, but she couldn't focus.

University, professor, exam, interview.

All walls.

Post-intern, interviews galore—but no time.

Living expenses on her alone.

Maybe back to factory.

"......"

Human too. Didn't want to fall from tasted dream into abyss.

Regular at Neulsom Studio.

Factory not all bad—fed family, saved.

But no more dawn-to-dusk wheel.

"Done~. Let's go."

Seminar ended amid stray thoughts.

Following him, mind chaotic.

Regular meant exam, meant study.

But no money or skill for school/academy.

"Hm, early yet. Dinner? Eat nearby, then split?"

"......Ah."

His words sparked an idea.

Standing roadside, she looked up at him.

"......?"

He peered curiously.

"......Teach me."

"......What."

Awkward from isolation, but couldn't miss this.

Greed for tiny wish.

"I want to be regular. Teach me."

"......"

Shocked expression. Kind senior always.

"Uh... Tough."

"Ah."

Rejection sank her heart. Knew it, yet plummeting.

"Exam needs hardcore study—no time with work."

"I can."

Double effort. Triple if needed.

"Think realistically. And..."

His serious face—once always smiling—raced her heart, cold sweat.

"Uni exists for reason. Majors too. Four years, millions spent."

Knew, but hurt hearing direct.

"Work, siblings, home? Unrealistic, right?"

"I know. Can effort more than others."

Instinct pressed: seize now.

"Haa."

First time another's sigh weighed so heavy.

"......Selfish, you know?"

"Yes, I know."

Too well.

Sweeping hair, he said,

"'I'll try hard, effort'—no trust. Know that?"

"......"

"Say I teach: live at my place 10 days as slave? Can you? No. That's why not."

He was right.

Years' effort in days? Absurd.

"Learn slowly. Intern time left. Post-intern, edit fine. I'll teach that far."

Perfect refusal. Initial goal: film siblings' entrances.

Steps to his back felt worlds away.

Fail to convince, forever lost—heavy pressure.

"Ah......"

Short cry, she clenched teeth.

Thud thud.

Stepping forward, grabbed his sleeve.

"I'm serious. Teach me. Anything for 10 days."

Desperation, responsibility.

Drove her; moved him—lips curved.

"......Hard. OK as my tool 10 days?"

"Tool" unheard in resolved ears.

"Yes, I can."

Could do anything to learn.