Chapter 252
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: The Mirror and the Vote
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Saturday morning.
It was early, but the front of the bookstore was already bustling with people.
Lining up for a bookstore? It was such a curious sight that even passersby stopped to look. Unable to contain their curiosity, one person asked someone in line.
“What’s this line for? Is there a signing event today?”
“Not a signing. I’m here to buy a novel that goes on sale today.”
“Is it a famous novel?”
“The author is new, and the book isn’t a bestseller…”
Im Myeon smiled faintly.
“But the person who recommended it is a famous actor.”
“Oh? Who?”
“Lee Seojun.”
“What?”
And so, the line grew longer.
***
Inside the bookstore.
The employees, who had come in especially early today, paused from moving boxes of books next to the counter to check the situation outside.
“Wow! It’s gotten even longer!”
“Are other bookstores like this?”
“I heard people are lining up at other places too, but not this many.”
An employee checking photos on social media shook their head. Other bookstores had lines, but none were as crowded as this one.
“Well, if it were me, I’d probably come to our store too.”
“I’m planning on buying a copy later myself.”
The bookstore employees knew why people had gone out of their way to come here.
“To think Lee Seojun came to our store!”
The reason this bookstore had a much longer line than any other was because it was the venue for the book concert for the novel, ‘Mirror.’ That was why Lee Seojun’s fans were making a point to buy the book here.
An employee, gauging the number of people lined up outside against the number of books sent by Yeongung Publishing, nodded.
“Still, it doesn't look like we’ll run out of books.”
“The book concert was in July, right? They must have been stockpiling them since then.”
“So that’s why they didn’t release any stock until now.”
An employee setting up two separate entrances to distinguish between those buying ‘Mirror’ and other customers spoke with a look of regret.
“I was right here at the store at that exact time, but I didn't see him.”
“Me too. I was working so hard!”
“He must have been caught on the CCTV…”
Everyone looked up at the CCTV camera on the ceiling with disappointed expressions.
“I never knew the storage period for that CCTV footage was only 30 days.”
“Me neither.”
Even as they chatted, their hands and feet never stopped moving. Thanks to their busy work, they managed to finish all preparations before the bookstore’s opening time.
“Alright, everyone. Let’s open the doors.”
The employees, who had been catching their breath, scattered to prepare to welcome the customers.
Soon, the bookstore doors swung wide open. The people who had been waiting in line filed inside.
“Welcome. If you’re here to buy ‘Mirror,’ please proceed directly to the checkout counter.”
“Please form a single file line here.”
Following the employees’ instructions, the people headed straight for the counter, picking up copies of the book, each wrapped with a pure white book band.
Pick up a book, pay. Pick up a book, pay.
The line moved quickly, and soon it was Im Myeon’s turn. After grabbing a copy for Park Seongah, who couldn’t make it today, Im Myeon briefly examined the book while others were checking out.
The book band, with its black text, a square symbol on a white background, and a single sentence, naturally drew her gaze.
[Look into Lee Seojun's Mirror [■]]
There could hardly be a more intriguing phrase.
Seeing the QR code, Im Myeon instinctively took out her phone and scanned it with her camera. Everyone else holding the book did the same, pulling out their phones to scan the code.
[Coming soon.]
“Ah, right.”
Im Myeon sighed with a look of disappointment.
It was still only the end of September.
There was still a long way to go until December, when the Yeoul Arts Middle School graduation performance would be uploaded to N-tube.
***
[Title: I bought the novel ‘Mirror’… and now I’m debating.]
I’ve been agonizing for an hour over whether to read this or not.
I haven’t even opened the cover yet lol.
The book band itself has a QR code that basically screams ‘Watch Lee Seojun’s play!’ so I can’t help but hesitate.
I’m sure it’d be interesting to watch it knowing the story, but I feel like it would be even more fun to go in blind.
-I’m debating it too ;;;
=Same here. I went to the bookstore first thing in the morning to buy it, but now I can't bring myself to read it lol. Even I think it's ridiculous.
=This. Seriously. I don't know what I'm doing just staring at the book lol.
=I'm dying to know what Seojun saw in this book to pick it!
-I’m not gonna read it!
=Why not? Got a reason?
=Think about *Naeuiwon* and *Yeok*. Imagine how much foreigners who don't know our history enjoyed them. The impact is doubled when you don't know what's coming!
=…I’m convinced.
=Same. Wow. I was on the fence, but that convinced me in a second.
=This. Just sealed my copy away. See you in December, book!
-But I think it wouldn’t be bad to read it either.
=True. Thinking about *Naeuiwon* and *Yeok*, even if you knew the story, you still felt all the emotions. With Seojun’s acting, the impact will be there whether you know the plot or not.
-This is really a matter of personal preference.
[Title: I got tricked by the QR code on the ‘Mirror’ novel.]
The QR code on the book band was cool lol.
Even though I knew the play wasn't out yet, I couldn't help but scan it. So I excitedly scanned it and got [Coming soon] lol.
They could have at least uploaded a practice video or something…
Still, the QR code is convenient.
The only problem is my phone screen is too small.
-?? You can watch it on your phone and then on your computer, can’t you?
=You have to watch something like this on a big screen for the first time.
-Seeing it live is the best, though… T_T
=I want to be an insider. An insider at Yeoul Arts Middle School!
***
The weekend passed, and Monday arrived.
The list of students who had made it onto the Mirror team was posted on the Yeoul Arts Middle School bulletin board.
A mix of joyful and disappointed students gathered around to look.
“Practice Room 5 after class!”
Park Minhyung, a first-year from the art department whose name was proudly on the list, had eyes sparkling with excitement.
After school, the Mirror team gathered in Practice Room 5, which they had booked until the graduation performance. The background & props team, the music team, and the cast—seeing the kids all gathered together, Seojun smiled.
“Let’s all work hard until the performance!”
“Yeah!”
“I’m looking forward to working with you all!”
“I’ll do my best!”
Seojun beamed at the kids’ energetic replies and handed out the scripts that Cocoa Entertainment had printed and bound for each team member.
“This is the script. It would be great if you could all read it by tomorrow. That goes for the props and music teams too. I’ve already noted the necessary backgrounds, props, and music for each scene inside. Of course, if you have better ideas, please let me know.”
“Okay.”
“Got it.”
The leaders of the background & props team and the music team nodded.
“And for the actors, if you have any better ideas, please be sure to share them.”
And so, the preparations for the graduation performance began.
***
[WTV Film Festival Voting Begins!]
[Let’s Find Out How to Vote for the WTV Film Festival!]
[Website Crash on the First Day?]
[The WTV Website is (Mostly) Safe!]
[WTV: “We are doing our best!”]
[From the Sprouts: “Voting is being conducted by country.”]
-Oh, it’s started.
-Found my ID! Heading over to vote now!
=lol I think I saw your post.
-Is the site gonna crash? (Intrigued!)
=Yeah, I came to watch the show lol.
-WTV: We’re defending as best we can!! Please be gentle!!
=From the Sprouts: Be prepared for the whole week.
=lol Is this a war? lol
-So which country is voting today?
=First day is our country. The last day is the US.
=Then I should vote today too!
=Me too!!
=Me three! I was going to vote tomorrow, but for some reason, I feel like I have to do it today!
=WTV: NOoooo!
The voting for the WTV Film Festival had begun.
To prevent the WTV website from crashing due to a massive influx of fans from various countries, the fan club ‘From the Sprouts’ had decided to organize the voting by assigning different days to different countries.
“I didn’t expect it to turn out like this…”
Seojun, who had thought it was a good idea, scratched his cheek. It wasn't just his fans anymore; even the general public was following their method.
“Why is everyone voting today?”
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun laughed at Seojun’s question.
“Because it’s fun.”
“Maybe I should vote today too.”
Chuckling, Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun also cast their votes. They had spent yesterday digging around for the IDs and passwords they had used eight years ago, and it seemed they had both found them.
“Ah, I should vote too.”
It felt a bit awkward to vote for himself, but the thought of losing the award by a single vote because he hadn't voted seemed like it would be even more frustrating.
‘Well, it’s not like I’m going to lose.’
Seeing how diligently his fans were encouraging people to vote, it felt like he couldn't lose no matter who the competition was. Thanks to his dependable fans, Seojun could vote with an excited heart, free of any anxiety.
A notification pinged.
Just as he finished voting, Seojun’s phone went off.
>Lee Jiseok: Voted.
>Kim Jongho: Voted.
>Park Dohun: Done!
>Choi Soyoung: Today’s the day, right? (Screenshot of vote confirmation)
>Lee Dajin: Me too! (Screenshot of vote confirmation)
>Mina: I voted!
>Jihu: I felt like I had to vote today, so I did.
>Jio: Same here.
>Jiyun: I just voted too!
>Charlie: Unfortunately, today isn't France’s voting day.
>Charlie: I’ll vote the day after tomorrow!
>Grace: I’m in the US, so my day is the last day ㅠ
>Grace: I’ll definitely vote!
>Evan: I just have to do it on the last day, right?
>Richel: That’s what they said!
Besides Evan Block and Richel Hill, all his acquaintances in the US sent messages saying they would vote on the last day. And the messages didn’t stop there.
>Jayden: Jun. The WTV Film Festival? The voting thing.
>Jayden: The professor and I are in Paris right now. We should vote the day after tomorrow, right?
>Benjamin: I thought it was based on nationality, but Jayden seems to think otherwise.
“Even Jayden and Professor Benjamin…”
He had never dreamed that Jayden Moore, who was in the middle of a performance run in Paris, and Professor Benjamin Morton, who was with him, would know about the ‘daily voting schedule.’ Amazed by the incredible influence of ‘From the Sprouts,’ Seojun chuckled and sent a reply.
***
[Title: I’m in the US, so is it the first day or the last day for me?]
I’m a Korean working in the US.
I want to vote for the WTV, but I’m in America. Since I’m Korean, should I vote on the first day? Or since I’m in the US, should I vote on the last day?
-The reason they divided the days by country is because of traffic, so you should vote on the last day.
-It’s based on where you are. Since you’re in the US, it’s the last day for you.
-Oh, Mulppurigae-nim just posted a notice!
=Mulppurigae-nim is crying again lol.
***
Early October.
Seojun and his parents packed their bags to attend the WTV Film Festival. They expertly pulled out their respective suitcases and neatly folded clothes suitable for the October weather in LA, placing them inside.
“This should be enough clothes, right? Do I need to pack more?”
“No, I think you have enough.”
“Dad. Do you need this too?”
“Ah, put that in the suitcase for me.”
Seojun and Seo Eunhye, having finished their own packing, helped Lee Minjun, who was still getting his things together.
While Seojun and Seo Eunhye, who would return right after the festival, had packed light, Lee Minjun, who had a two-week business trip in the US after the event, had a lot of luggage.
Watching Lee Minjun pack his last item, Seojun smiled.
“I hope it turns out well.”
“With Jenna Tryde and the Mirror Team participating, it’s going to be amazing. Of course, the price will be a bit steep.”
Seojun nodded at the mention of the Hollywood special effects teams, Jenna Tryde and the Mirror Team. Seeing the Go Joowon model they created, which was the most popular attraction at the Escape theme park, their skills were truly top-notch.
‘If you add Samchon Heesang’s skills to that, it’s going to be incredible.’
Seojun giggled, recalling the concept art Lee Minjun had shown him.
***
[Actor Lee Seojun to Attend the WTV Film Festival!]
[Actor Lee Seojun Departs Today!]
[The Shadowman Team Reunites! WTV Film Festival!]
[WTV Film Festival to be Broadcast Live on WNET!]
-He left today!
-This is really the last time, isn't it? For the Shadowman team ㅠ
-ㅠㅠ But it’s great that they’re all getting awards ㅠㅠ
=Are the results out?
=No, not yet. But just based on the buzz, isn't Shadowman 3 going to sweep?
-OMG. They’re releasing Shadowman team figurines!
=(Article Link)!!