Chapter 137:
On the top floor of the luxurious apartnt building, Lee Hyemin let out a sigh.
"Everyone seems to be praising it a lot."
Lee Hyemin had just returned ho after attending the premiere of "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling." As soon as she got ho, she searched for the reactions to the premiere.
Amidst her search, she ca across a video titled "Audience Reactions at the Absolute Unlicensed Counseling' Premiere." The video featured an influencer nad "Leftover Tuna Can" interviewing regular people who had watched the movie.
"Seriously, you must watch it."
"If you don't, you'll regret it. Definitely watch it."
"I'll co to see it again. I'll watch it whenever I have ti."
"The actress is so beautiful (What?!) Oh, don't pinch ! Anyway, the movie is really fun!"
In the video, so were teary-eyed, and others had satisfied expressions while watching the film.
However, unlike the audience who treated it as fiction,' to Lee Hyemin, "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" was an old diary and a faded mory.
"It seems like the happy ending is possible only in stories that's what it ant."
The events in "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" closely mirrored experiences she had gone through, particularly the setting where a wealthy mute girl, thanks to a swindler, gains the ability to speak.'
"It's strangely similar, even putting everything else aside."
Curious and bothered, Lee Hyemin delved deeper into the details of the work.
A few months ago, she had watched a video of Yeo Jaeyoon talking about the film on "The Talk Show," and she discovered the reason.
"Yeo Jaeyoon, the director's daughter, Yeo Hyemin. The actress couldn't speak either."
The film "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" was made for his daughter, just as Yeo Jaeyoon had the sa thoughts as her own father.
Maybe all fathers in the world think alike.
"Leaving that aside that last scene was truly unbelievable."
Lee Hyemin chuckled dryly as the scene from the movie continued to replay in her mind.
In the final monts of the film, the swindler, while returning the money he swindled, collides head-on with a truck. In an accident that would be fatal for anyone, the swindler miraculously gets transported to the hospital, unconscious.
A few years later, when the protagonist regains consciousness, he finds Moon Hyemin' looking down at him with teary eyes.
From then on, with a piece of touching background music, the two embrace each other, and the story ends.
It was an implausible event. If he had collided with a dump truck as in the movie, he wouldn't have left a single bone fragnt behind; he would have disappeared from the world. There is no way to miraculously survive and et a loved one after such an accident.
But why, Lee Hyemin continued to chuckle with a self-deprecating smile.
"Phew"
Closing her laptop, Lee Hyemin stood up from her seat. Then, she took out sothing from the most worn-out part of her bookshelf.
It was an album' that Kim Faith had given her a long ti ago. As Lee Hyemin flipped through the album, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
It used to make her cry every ti she looked at it. Perhaps it was because of what Jinseok and Kim Faith had said, along with watching the happy ending' in the movie, but now, even looking at the album didn't make her sad.
Now, the mories were joyful.
Putting the album back in the drawer, Lee Hyemin picked up her mobile phone from the desk and started typing a ssage.
"Hello. I really enjoyed the movie today. Thank you for giving
the opportunity to see such a great work. If there's ever anything I can help with, feel free to contact ."
***
March 31. One day before the release of "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling."
"Ugh"
I was rolling around on the living room floor at ho. There was nothing else to do.
"Even the manager is too much. I understand not letting
see the articles, but taking away everything, from the TV to the laptop and mobile phone."
After the premiere, Jang Sunho confiscated every device I could use to access the internet.
"On April 1, the movie will be released, and on April 2, you have to attend a fan signing event. Until then, to avoid stress, the internet is off-limits," he said.
Instead, he brought a bunch of books. From fashion magazines to a novel where the protagonist is a manager nad "Chandy Wexler" who claims to have gained great inspiration from reading.
Although I wasn't particularly fond of reading at first, since there was nothing else to do, I ended up reading everything.
Anyway, whether I should thank him for that or say it was because of that, following Jang Sunho's intentions, I was truly leading a healthy' routine.
A wholeso life without the internet, spending my ti on exercise and reading.
Woong! Woong!
That's when it happened. On the third day of the confiscation, the mobile phone Jang Sunho gave
rang. It was a phone that only allowed calls and ssages because the internet was restricted.
[010-XXXX-XXXX]
"Where have I seen this number before? Who could it be?"
If it were an unknown number, I wouldn't have answered, but since it was a familiar number, I decided to pick it up.
"Hello?"
[Oh, Oppa! It's Yeonsoo!]
A little surprised by the unexpected caller, I asked, "Yeonsoo? How did you get this number?"
[When I called you with Oppa's phone, Manager-nim answered. I said I had sothing to ask and he gave
this number.]
"Oh, I see. By the way, Yeonsoo. Were you talking about Absolute Unlicensed'"
[And he told
not to talk about the movie at all.]
""
[Absolutely not.]
Indeed, I was in Jang Sunho's palm. While I let out a disappointed laugh, Seo Yeonsoo continued.
[Um Oppa. Our departnt is holding an event in early April before the midterm exam season. Do you happen to know about it?]
"An event?"
[Yes, it's our departnt's pub.]
"Oh, I know. I've heard about it. Sotis even senior actors visit, right?"
[Yes, that's right. So, um do you happen to know about the competition with the Practical Music Departnt?]
"I've heard sothing about it. But why?"
Asking again, beyond the mobile phone, Seo Yeonsoo hesitated with sounds like "Well" and "Um"
It seed like the first ti she couldn't articulate herself properly.
"Why? What's going on?"
[It's because um]
"Why are you so nervous? Are you asking
to work at the pub?"
[Yes.]
"Just co and ask
to work. Since my project is finished, I have so free ti, and I already told the manager."
For a while, Seo Yeonsoo didn't say anything. Just when I thought the call might have been cut off and checked, Seo Yeonsoo spoke.
[Really? Can you decide so easily?]
"Yeah. But how did you manage to persuade the manager so easily?"
[Um Yes. He said it might be helpful for you. I'm not sure what that ans, though.]
It was difficult to express, but it felt sowhat awkward. It was a strange reaction from Seo Yeonsoo after a long ti of not talking.
"But what do I have to do? I've done a lot of part-ti jobs in Hongdae pubs before, so I can handle most things."
[We haven't decided that yet. Um for now, just know that much.]
"Okay. Let
know when it's decided."
[Yes, sure]
Until the call ended, the distance felt continued, and it was impossible to know.
She suddenly contacted , maybe she feels sorry for asking.'
After a mont of contemplation, I got up from the floor. It was ti to do sothing other than lying down.
***
The next morning at 8 a.m.
As the front doorbell rang, I rushed to the entrance like soone waiting eagerly for a delivery. When I opened the door with force, Jang Sunho was standing there, flashing his characteristic smile.
"Good morning, actor. Did you rest well for a week?"
"Yes, yes. So!"
Blurting out, I extended my hand. It was a gesture asking for the return of my mobile phone.
Jang Sunho alternated glances between
and the phone, then with a peculiar smile, he said, "I can give you the phone now, but in my opinion, it might be better for you to endure until you arrive at the fan signing event."
"Why, why?"
"Well"
When I asked again, Jang Sunho thought for a mont and then smiled subtly.
"Because if you check the articles first, the joy you get from on-site reactions might decrease."
""
"First, let's go to the shop. I'm quite busy today."
***
The Yongsan CGB where the premiere of "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" took place.
"Wow there are so many people today."
The snack bar staff sighed as they observed the bustling crowd. The female staff next to him nodded in agreent.
"Yes, it's because it's Sunday, and normally, it's crowded. But today, it's even busier because of the Absolute Unlicensed Counseling' actor fan signing event."
"Have you seen that movie? The ratings are really good."
"I haven't seen it yet. I plan to watch it late after work."
"Do you want to watch it together? I haven't seen it either."
He said it casually, but it took considerable courage for the male staff to say those words.
"Oh, I already promised to watch it with my boyfriend. I'm sorry."
She had a boyfriend. It was a failure. At that mont, he felt a bit down, not knowing this fact before.
"They're here!"
Soone in the crowd pointed towards the entrance, and the attention of the people focused there.
Cheers erupted!
Wide-eyed!
The spacious Yongsan CGB was filled to the brim, and the echoes were so loud that it sounded like a roar. The male staff was surprised and turned his head when soone, accompanied by security guards, was entering.
It was Jinseok and Yeo Hyemin.
On the makeshift screen, their images began to appear. Yeo Hyemin's cheeks were slightly flushed, but her expression remained composed.
On the other hand, Jinseok was visibly surprised. The astonishnt was evident in his wide-open eyes as if he were a naive boy from the countryside who had co to the city for the first ti.
"Ah, hello. I'm Kang Jinseok. Um Did everyone have their als?"
Jinseok and Yeo Hyemin took their seats in front of the large poster for "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling." Jinseok, still bewildered, took the microphone.
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Oh, so have eaten, and so haven't. Um, actually, before coming here, I morized what kind of greetings I should give, but I forgot everything. Ahaha I didn't expect so many people to co. But, what should I do?"
With a lost look in his eyes, Jinseok glanced around.
Whether it was cute or for so other reason, cara flashes from reporters and fans began to go off. So were even recording videos from start to finish.
"Uhm, host. Please help."
As Jinseok requested assistance, the host smiled and skillfully guided the fan signing event. Questions that had been discussed in advance were asked, and Jinseok provided the answers.
After about 15 minutes of Q&A, the host said, "Now, we will have ti for fans to shake hands and get autographs from the actors in order of ticket numbers!"
As the host spoke, nurous staff mbers began to move. Fans waited patiently for their turn, having received various instructions beforehand.
The event concluded smoothly.
One week after the release, the first-week audience count for "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" was compiled.
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