The Proposal
Kim Yeonji's mother, Section Chief Choi Jimin, greeted us.
"I currently handle promotional work for Korean Sign Language. This is Kim Taemin, who assists us whenever we need a sign language consultant. I introduced him to you two days ago—he's also my husband."
The man beside her greeted us brightly.
He signed, 'Good to see you again,' and I signed back that the feeling was mutual.
Section Chief Choi Jimin waited for the man and me to exchange a brief conversation, then handed over the proposal.
"As Team Leader Woo mentioned, we'd like you to appear in an educational video promoting Korean Sign Language."
"An educational video?"
"Yes. Korean Sign Language is an official language of South Korea, designated alongside Korean. There's even a Korean Sign Language Day, but so few people know about it."
Not every deaf person uses Korean Sign Language, after all. Some read lips and get through daily life without much trouble. Which is to say, you don't have to be deaf to learn and use it.
Korean Sign Language—a language in its own right, like Korean, English, Italian, or French. And I would be appearing in a video promoting it…
'It'd be an honor.'
But something about the proposal seemed off.
'The content is thin.'
The broad framework was set, but details like the schedule and hiring a writer were missing. When I looked at the proposal with a puzzled expression, Section Chief Choi Jimin smiled awkwardly.
"We're a government agency, you see, so any project we run uses taxpayer money. It's a matter where we have to be extremely sensitive about costs, so hiring celebrities separately is very rare for us."
Ah. I nodded.
'So she came to check whether I was interested first.'
Confirm my availability, then proceed. That was the plan.
"If someone as famous as you mentions Korean Sign Language directly, the impact will be enormous. Especially the influence on younger audiences."
She didn't have to flatter me like that. I thanked her awkwardly for the courteous words.
'Hmm.'
My deliberation was short. I glanced at Team Leader Woo, and she met my eyes as if she'd been waiting. When I gave a small nod, the corners of her mouth lifted.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself at this point. I'm Woo Hyunwoo, team leader of Team 1 at Wooyeon Entertainment, in charge of managing actor Lee Yeonjae."
He slipped in naturally and conveyed my intentions on my behalf.
"We'll need to discuss the schedule in detail, but we're viewing this positively."
"That's a relief to hear."
"Let's report to our superiors and discuss it further then. And you needn't worry about costs. Simply being able to take part in such a worthy cause is an honor for us."
"Oh… about that—"
Section Chief Choi Jimin looked flustered.
"Yes. We'll proceed with the actor's appearance fee free of charge."
"…!"
As the other party signed their astonished thanks, Team Leader Woo put on a pleasant smile.
Watching that smiling face, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
'What would this person have done if not this?'
The signal I'd sent Team Leader Woo meant, 'I'm fine with it, so do as you like.' I'd expected as much from her, but seeing her speak exactly as I predicted still surprised me a little.
'She really was born for this.'
Even if a government agency paid, there'd be a ceiling anyway. It wasn't as if companies weren't offering me advertising deals. I could have earned plenty through ads by now. The reason I hadn't was purely to raise my market value.
'And with this, it climbs even higher.'
A fairly large project run by a government agency, with a free appearance that also boosted my image. This wasn't about immediate gains—it was something that required looking further ahead. For Team Leader Woo, it was as easy as eating cold porridge.
"Then we'll leave the press collaboration to you, Section Chief Choi."
"What are you saying? That's obviously our job."
"Ah, I'll contact you once more about the keywords. Words like 'positive influence' or 'talent donation'—we've been avoiding those lately. They feel a bit clichéd."
Even after that, Team Leader Woo picked apart every last detail like a slippery loach. From the permitted phrasing in press articles to charity events to run alongside the project. The words poured out of her mouth so relentlessly that Section Chief Choi was left flustered.
'Is work all that's in that head?'
I suddenly found myself curious about Team Leader Woo's private life. Did she think about anything other than work? While I was zoning out, my turn to jump in arrived.
"Then we'll need a script first. We'll have to hire a writer—does Section Chief Choi have anyone to recommend?"
"We'd appreciate Wooyeon's help with that. Since this video goes out under our name, we'll need some degree of vetting as well…"
"Of course. It would be best to have a writer with solid experience handle it."
Team Leader Woo stroked her chin. Watching her, I quietly spoke up.
"Team Leader."
"Hmm?"
"Could I try writing it?"
"What?"
"The script."
"…?"
"What? You're going to write a script?"
"Bihyeok, keep your voice down."
"Ah, sorry."
Noh Bihyeok apologized immediately.
"Why? All of a sudden? Where did this come from?"
I shrugged at his considerably lowered voice.
"Just because."
"Just because??"
"Yeah. I want to try it once. If it doesn't work out, so be it."
"……Are you actually Lee Yeonjae?"
Seeing Noh Bihyeok's dubious face, I snorted.
"What? It's not hurting anyone."
There was no writer already hired, and the schedule wasn't tight. I'd never written a scenario before, so it would obviously be a mess. Still, couldn't I at least give it a shot?
"They'll proceed with hiring a writer separately anyway. No matter how well I write, we'll need a professional to polish it into a finished draft."
This wasn't child's play. That was probably why Team Leader Woo so readily told me to try.
When I said it lightly, Noh Bihyeok tilted his head.
"Well, that's true, but… it's just strange."
"What is?"
"It's not like you. The old you would've said, 'Why would I write when I'm not a writer? Experts don't exist for nothing.'"
"……"
He knew me better than I'd thought. When I gave him a flat look for mimicking my speech patterns, Noh Bihyeok snickered.
"I'm right, aren't I? You even turned down that film director you ran into at the movie theater when he asked you to work on a scenario. Wow, when was that?"
"Exactly a year ago, probably. It was right before Christmas then, too."
"Ugh. That was a year ago already? Creepy. So creepy."
Noh Bihyeok shook his head.
'A kid whose head isn't even wet yet, talking like he's lived it all.'
I was a little sad that some of his cuteness had worn off.
"So. Back then you refused flat out, saying you weren't interested. Why the change?"
"I told you. Just because."
"Lee Yeonjae saying 'just because'?"
Noh Bihyeok looked baffled, but he didn't have much to say. It really was 'just because.'
Normally I'd have thought focusing on acting was the right call. I had no reason to concern myself with another field, and no leeway to do so either.
What changed my mind was the certainty I'd found in Italy.
'I'll be acting for the rest of my life anyway.'
I like acting. I like the me who acts. So I got curious—about what I'd look like loving something else too.
"I'll keep up my acting practice. I just thought it might be worth a try."
"If that's the reason, great~. I was actually worried you were clinging too hard to acting."
Noh Bihyeok grinned in relief.
"……"
I'd been about to say that writing a scenario would probably help my acting too. But thinking I'd get called 'an acting addict,' I swallowed the rest.
Just as I was trading pointless banter with Noh Bihyeok, the café door opened.
Ding—
The bell on the café door rang, and the moment I confirmed the face of the person walking in, I stretched out my hand.
"Euntaek hyung! Over here!"
I raised my voice deliberately, smiling brightly. I could feel the gazes of everyone in the café turning toward me. Seeing my smiling face, Lee Euntaek's expression froze for an instant before smoothing right over.
'There we go.'
So he did intend to become an idol. I'd been uncertain, having only seen his overly emotional side lately, but watching him manage his expression in a split second put my mind at ease.
"Creepy. Don't smile."
Lee Euntaek whispered as he sat down beside me. I grinned and replied.
"You're creepy too, hyung."
"……"
"Your face is cracking. Smile."
Doing ventriloquism with a smiling face, Lee Euntaek gritted his teeth while beaming.
"Haha… How are you going to survive as a celebrity with that personality?"
"That's my line. At least I don't swear like you do."
"Not giving an inch, are you."
Our words clashed sharply in midair. Noh Bihyeok, who'd been watching us awkwardly from the seat across, cut in.
"I can't tell if you two get along well or badly."
"Does this look good to you?"
"Then why'd you sit next to Lee Yeonjae while saying that? The seat next to me was empty too. You sat down so naturally I only just noticed."
"That's because I don't want to look at your face head-on."
Though he seemed aware of the stares and kept smiling, Lee Euntaek's words were still sharp. Not that it was any of my business. I looked down at my wristwatch.
"Keep the seat for about thirty minutes, then head out. Don't forget to smile."
"Is this even working?"
Lee Euntaek grumbled that it felt like a waste of time. I let the complaint-laden voice wash past my ears and answered.
"There's a reporter at the seat next to ours. Bodyguards behind that."
"……How do you know that?"
No need to tell you that much. I'd come to this café because entertainment reporters frequented it, and there really were a lot of familiar faces.
'I should send Director Yoon a thank-you text.'
His first piece of advice had been: if you want to manage your image, memorize reporters' faces before anything else. I'd wondered if it would help while memorizing endless lists, but it really was useful.
"He doesn't even pretend to listen to me."
"More importantly, hyung—did you apologize for being rude to Bihyeok?"
When I changed the subject, Lee Euntaek clicked his tongue and nodded.
"Yeah. And I told him not to get chummy with you, too. He didn't pretend to listen either. You two are equally good at ignoring people."
At Lee Euntaek's barbed remark, Noh Bihyeok laughed awkwardly.
"Ah, hyung, you were so nice to me this morning too. You're just being prickly on purpose because Yeonjae's here, right?"
"Hey. Try being in my position. It's hard enough just sitting here smiling."
I watched Lee Euntaek and Noh Bihyeok talk with calm eyes.
'Looks like he apologized properly.'
Though he seemed somewhat worn out from mediating between Euntaek and me, Noh Bihyeok didn't seem afraid of Lee Euntaek at all.
'Right. They'll be in the same group, so they'd better get along.'
Since I couldn't let go of Bihyeok, the only option was for Euntaek to treat him well. Not that I could just threaten him into it.
'What am I going to do with this kid?'
As I quietly watched Lee Euntaek, he shot back a crooked, 'What are you staring at?' After organizing my thoughts, I blurted it out.
"Hyung. This Saturday, Christmas—we're having a party at our place."
"What?"
Lee Euntaek was flustered by the sudden announcement. Not that it stopped me.
"My manager, Bihyeok, actor Lee Jeonghyeon, and Ijun hyung are all getting together."
"So what do you want from me?"
I asked Lee Euntaek, who shot back with a dissatisfied face.
"Want to come too, hyung?"
"……"
Lee Euntaek's eyebrows twitched.