Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 047
Chapter Title: What Is the Life of a Star? (2)
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I could see why almost every singer or actor in the industry had an agency.
“Now I just need to submit these, right?”
“Yes. Once we verify your ID and process the paperwork, they’ll call you in a few days to pick it up.”
I handed the documents to the receptionist, who had been glancing at Kwon Sung-hyun nonstop.
“Could you remove your sunglasses for ID verification…… Ka, Kang Yeonwoo……?”
The receptionist’s eyes widened in shock again.
That was all it took.
“Kang Yeonwoo? The Grim Reaper guy?”
“It really is Kwon Sung-hyun. I heard he’s close to that Grim Reaper dude!”
“Wow. I thought he just looked similar……”
The murmurs spread.
People who had only been stealing glances now swarmed over.
“Can I get an autograph?”
“Photo together! Selfie, please?”
Requests flew from all directions.
Sure, it was fan enthusiasm, but the sheer numbers were overwhelming.
It felt like we’d never get our errand done.
“Oops. This is trouble.”
Kwon Sung-hyun whispered softly and took off his sunglasses.
“Yeonwoo, finish submitting yours.”
“Huh? Oh…….”
Kwon Sung-hyun handled the crowd with practiced ease.
In the meantime, Yeonwoo quickly paid the fees and submitted the forms.
The receptionist, who had unwittingly sparked the chaos, apologized profusely, but Yeonwoo just nodded it off.
‘Having an agency really is the way to go.’
He realized once more the value of something he’d once seen as a hassle.
[Yeonwoo! Our actor’s about to get trampled! Let’s bail quick!]
“That’s what I was planning.”
At Yeonwoo’s signal, Kwon Sung-hyun flashed a gentle smile, deftly refusing requests while parting the crowd.
Thankfully, the national top star’s gentlemanly charm made it relatively easy to shake off the grabbing hands.
Of course, people’s stares clung to them until they slipped into the sleek car.
“Whew…… Sorry about that. Because of me……”
It was a first.
This kind of experience.
‘The bigger my influence grows, the more this will happen?’
He’d only thought about the auto-harvest of lifespan from influence.
He hadn’t anticipated this side of it at all.
He’d never been surrounded like this by the living, only the dead.
As Yeonwoo let out a weary sigh, Kwon Sung-hyun chuckled briefly.
“You’ll get used to it soon enough, Yeonwoo. Most people recognized you by name back there. This is awkward……”
“Huh?”
“I was going to tell Lord not to scout you, but that might get in your way. What to do……”
“……”
Kwon Sung-hyun seemed genuinely troubled.
Yeonwoo was at a loss for words.
That offer to personally manage him.
Was it serious?
***
[Good thing. No need to go myself.]
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
The passport took exactly four days to issue.
Thankfully, Kwon Sung-hyun’s manager picked it up.
- Just bring a power of attorney. Leave this to me, bro.
-You sure?
- Your pics from that day hit SNS. It’ll be packed if you go.
- I’ll leave it to you.
- Smart choice.
Sure enough, as Kwon Sung-hyun predicted, photos from that day had blown up on SNS and even made headlines.
‘Reporters must have nothing better to do.’
[Kwon Sung-hyun, Kang Yeonwoo Make Surprise Appearance at X-gu City Hall…… Netizens ‘Wonder Why’]
[‘Surprise Date’ Kwon Sung-hyun, Kang Yeonwoo X-gu City Hall Outing!]
[Kwon Sung-hyun, Why X-gu City Hall with Kang Yeonwoo?]
They were curious about the dumbest things.
What irked him most were the headlines.
‘Why? Why ask why. Outing…… Well, it was an outing. But date? Who wrote this. I’ll remember the name.’
Sensational headlines were a social issue, and this proved it.
-Yeonwoo, first time abroad, right? You’ll need luggage and stuff. Shop with me……
-I’ll ask your manager.
-Darn. You don’t need to learn that quick.
Kwon Sung-hyun clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.
Yeonwoo recalled his final words.
-Oh, right. Yeonwoo. The director and writer want to meet before you leave. How about a short side-story mini-shoot as a viewer appreciation event while you’re on vacation?
Which was why Yeonwoo was now heading to the broadcasting station.
With Kwon Sung-hyun’s manager, of course.
[Humans are such a pain. Why need passports? Imagine wandering free like me!]
Dongja-ryeong bounced around Yeonwoo, who clutched his crisp green passport.
“Then die already?”
[Shed the flesh and gain freedom!]
“You’re nuts.”
[I’m not?!]
“But seriously, you’re coming along?”
[Of course! Who else if not me?!]
Ghosts supposedly couldn’t cross water.
That’s why overseas emigration was recommended for those possessed.
Half-true.
Most ghosts couldn’t cross water.
But……
[Trivial ghosts can’t move due to low spiritual power, but I’m different!]
“This is gonna be a hassle.”
Stronger ghosts could.
Like Dongja-ryeong, for example.
[What?! Why am I a hassle?!]
“……”
He picked up the ghost’s mutter and whined.
Right, he was a ghost.
[I can’t miss our actor resting precious-like! I’m definitely coming! Definitely!]
Sasaeng fan…… No, sasaeng ghost.
“……Let’s drop it. Anyway, why not get a body? You wanna follow your fave actor but not talk to him?”
Kwon Sung-hyun couldn’t communicate with Dongja-ryeong without a physical medium.
[I want one!]
“Then why not?”
[Not won’t. Can’t.]
He deflated suddenly.
“Can’t? Why?”
“Well…… It’s Min Yerin.”
“……Min Yerin? Why?”
[She’s got me all riled up. How can she hate hamsters and lizards?!]
“……”
What a bizarre grudge.
Still, after watching him so long, his moping tugged at Yeonwoo.
‘Worrying this much over not talking to his fave Kwon Sung-hyun. First time for that.’
No helping it. Yeonwoo decided to lend a hand for Dongja-ryeong.
“Hold on. I’ll ask for you.”
[Whoa? For real? Really? No cap?]
“Yeah. Better than wasting spiritual power randomly. Custom fit after asking.”
[Yeonwoo. You know I love you, right? I’ll be your manager for sure……]
“No. That’s a no.”
Even as he rolled firmly in mid-air, thrilled, it confirmed the right call.
The van’s swift ride announced their arrival at the station.
***
“The final hero of our reward vacation has arrived!”
Director Heo welcomed Yeonwoo with open arms.
“I filled Sung-hyun in roughly? Our concept’s a bit of a spin-off, going the story route viewers wanted……”
“Hey! Don’t dump that on the guy who just got here! Conference room’s not ready—let him grab a drink first!”
A sharp clap followed as Min Writer appeared.
“Yeonwoo? Coffee truck downstairs. Your fans sent it.”
“Huh? My fans?”
“Yeah. Sung-hyun tipped us off. I owe you big time. Character, ratings—all thanks to you. Feels like paying back a tiny bit of that debt seeing you succeed. Anyway, snap a pic and say hi to them.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
Fans.
A word he’d never considered.
[Whoa. Shocking so many times today. Yeonwoo, you’ve got fans already! Bro’s thrilled……!]
“You’re not bro.”
[Aw, why? I’m older than you.]
“Yeah. Nope.”
The more people knew him.
The more who liked him.
His influence grew—he knew that.
‘Wild.’
But manifesting as actual fans? First time.
“Enjoy, Yeonwoo!”
“Coffee truck support already? You’re a full top star now, huh?”
“Our drama might’ve birthed a breakout rookie. Autograph later, Yeonwoo?”
Staff beamed greetings en route to the coffee truck in the back lot.
He nodded back until he spotted a face after nearly a week.
“Long time no see.”
Her greeting matched her unenthused face.
Yet she approached instead of ignoring him.
“No official fan page yet, but they’ve rallied on communities for support. Lots of interest in you, Kang Yeonwoo.”
“Really? Didn’t know. Thanks for telling me.”
“No. I didn’t ask on purpose. Don’t misunderstand.”
“No misunderstanding here.”
“……”
He knew how nasty needless suspicion felt.
He wouldn’t do that.
Yet Min Yerin’s eyes brimmed with resentment.
“……Heard you’re joining Kwon Sung-hyun’s agency?”
“Huh?”
“That’s what he said.”
“Oh…… Yeah……”
He hadn’t committed yet.
‘For now…… His agency benefits me.’
Auto-harvest reduced the need for living lifespan vending machines, but Kwon Sung-hyun’s value went beyond.
‘Plenty to learn from him.’
He’d harvested tons of lifespan, but not one extra ability yet.
Just one of those skills would be huge.
“Didn’t seem interested before, but changed your mind quick.”
“Well…… Yeah.”
“……Our agency really no thought?”
“Uh. Sure.”
“Your answers are all so vague?”
“……?”
She looked utterly wronged.
“You remember owing me one?”
Dongja-ryeong in lizard guise had popped out, knocking her out and trending real-time.
Not his fault, but pet’s fault is owner’s.
Not a pet, but Yeonwoo bore some responsibility.
“Come by our agency before signing.”
“Huh?”
“Not to sign. Just a visit? I can give that much.”
“Well…… Sure.”
Top actress’s demand? Mild, even modest.
A tour was easy.
‘Agency’s full of celebs.’
More into rice than chants, but.
Min Yerin couldn’t know.
Yeonwoo nodded lightly.
Her icy face thawed slightly.
[Yeonwoo, body! Ask about body!]
Right.
“Got a sec?”
“……Me?”
“Yeah. Something to ask.”
She seemed flustered this time.
Cheeks faintly flushed……
Breathing heavily like steeling herself, she finally spoke.
“W-what?”
Min Yerin slightly stuttered, but Yeonwoo ignored it for the key question.
“Any favorite animals?”
“Huh?”
“Like, one you really want……”
“Yeonwoo.”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Her abrupt reply left awkward air between them.
‘What kinda weird answer was that?’