Chapter 291: Chapter 291

When Ha-eun and Da-yeon's coal briquette volunteer work finally ended, it was around 1 PM — early afternoon.

Jang Sung-ho suggested they stay and have lunch with the other volunteers, but coincidentally, both Ha-eun and Da-yeon had their own schedules.

So in the end, they decided just to take a group photo and part ways.

After snapping a picture with all the volunteers, Ha-eun and Da-yeon walked away, leaving behind Jang Sung-ho's regretful voice.

"I'll definitely treat you both to a meal later, so please make sure to stay in touch~!"

"Yes. We'll be waiting."

"...Even from a distance, he’s huge. Didn't he say he was over 190 centimeters?"

Not long after that, Ju Jung-yoon's van arrived for Ha-eun and Da-yeon.

Since both of their next schedules after the volunteer work were for dubbing Forgotten Child, they decided to ride together instead of going separately.

Soon, they hopped into the backseat together, and casual chatter began.

Stories about various small episodes from Forgotten Child ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) and news about the original author's new work flowed between them.

"The author of Forgotten Child recently started serializing a new novel. It's titled Forgotten Star."

"Does that person have something against memory loss? Why do they keep making people forget things?"

Time passed like that.

By the time they finished their lunch at a small toast shop they stopped at before heading to the dubbing studio for Forgotten Child...

A call came in for Ha-eun.

She pulled out her phone from her pocket and saw the name: "Man with Hat" — six characters.

It was the number of Lee Gun-yeol, saved long ago, right after her parents' contacts.

Without hesitation, Ha-eun slid her finger over the green call button.

[ Hey, Ha-eun. The ■■■ demo is finished. Do you have time today? ]

The voice of Lee Gun-yeol over the phone brought news about Ha-eun's new song.

Back when Ha-eun was still in the Maldives, she had sent him the lyrics she completed, and Doublely had been composing a song that matched her lyrics.

The call was to tell her that the demo for her new song was finally ready.

He was asking, or rather requesting, that she come to check out the demo melody as soon as possible.

[ We have to shoot the music video too, so it’s better to record it as soon as possible. When are you free? ]

"Ah, yes. I'll come by this evening."

Throughout January, Ha-eun had firmly held the number one spot on the charts with Snowflake.

Naturally, Doublely had no choice but to be passionate about working on her next song.

After all, they were also Ha-eun’s mentors in music.

Thus, with her empty evening schedule now filled with a visit to Doublely’s studio, and not long after the call with Lee Gun-yeol ended, Da-yeon, who had unintentionally overheard the conversation, opened her mouth and asked,

"What's the title of the new song?"

"...Lee Ha-eun, you've really become fearless now."

"No, it's not like that. ...Well, actually, the title does target that direction a little. But it has a deeper meaning too."

Until they arrived at the dubbing studio for Forgotten Child, they continued talking about the new song.

For example, the hidden meaning behind the song’s title.

"In Australia, they call it fairy floss. If you translate it directly, it’s like 'spirit thread'."

"...You didn't just like it because it was sweet?"

"This is all part of RP, Da-yeon. You have to think deeply and plan thoroughly."

Or, the message Ha-eun wanted to deliver to those who would listen to her new song.

"No matter how big and pretty it looks, once you put it in your mouth, it disappears quickly. It's sweet at first, but..."

"I just want people to see things as they are. Once you start, it vanishes in an instant. Of course, I don't actually plan on disappearing."

Some of the meanings Ha-eun had hidden in the new song were conveyed, at least partially, to Da-yeon.

Regardless of what Ha-eun had embedded in the song, there was no doubt that it would attract people's attention anyway.

"When the new song drops, it’s gonna be crazy on the broadcasts, no doubt."

"Yeah, that’s true... but honestly, right now, I don’t think I’d feel anything no matter what kind of chaos happens."

"Well, yeah. Nothing's going to top the mess during your comeback broadcast anyway."

Thus, chatting about the new song while walking, walking, and walking again, they finally arrived at the dubbing studio for Forgotten Child and immersed themselves in their work.

'Come to think of it, there's only two days left for the Forgotten Child dubbing.'

From what Ha-eun had heard, the actual dubbing didn’t take long.

What took time was adjusting her voice to sync with the animation and some minor volume edits.

If she could free up a full day, she could wrap up all the dubbing in about three days.

But given her current schedule, even three hours a day was her limit.

｢You don’t even know... who I am... after all... I was a fool to trust you...｣

"Good! Let’s move on to the next scene~."

After recording another line for Yume, the forgotten heroine, into the microphone, and after finishing the dubbing for Da-yeon's supporting role as Natsuki,

"Hello. I’m Lee Ha-eun, the actress dubbing the role of Yume in Forgotten Child. Personally, this project is─"

Seated on the sofa of the dubbing studio, Ha-eun started filming the Korean voice actor greeting video for Forgotten Child.

In short, it was a Korean dubbed trailer for the film.

"...so please look forward to it. See you at the theater in March."

Since movie promotions usually rely heavily on trailers, it was necessary for a celebrity like Ha-eun to appear directly.

Her fame was one of the reasons she had been cast as Yume.

Of course, Da-yeon also filmed a greeting video.

Though her appearance was framed more as a surprise cameo for a supporting role, just seeing Da-yeon's face in the trailer would generate plenty of interest.

"...This has been Min Da-yeon, the actress voicing Natsuki. See you at the theater in March."

"Okay. That’s a wrap!"

Thus, the recording of the greeting videos wrapped up smoothly without any issues.

Just as Da-yeon was heading for her commercial shoot and Ha-eun for her The Youngest Son of the Chairman meeting, both managers waiting separately...

"Um, Da-yeon! Ha-eun! Just a moment!"

A staff member from the dubbing studio called them back, saying it would only take a moment.

The staff led them into a small room inside the studio.

Within seconds, the door clicked shut, and the staff’s expression turned serious.

Just as Ha-eun and Da-yeon exchanged puzzled glances—

"Um, would either of you be interested in dubbing another project? It’s a new children’s animation."

A proposal was handed to them — for a magical girl animation dubbing.

The staff added more, explaining how they came to hear about them.

"Through... internet broadcasts, should I say? Somehow, I came across your streams—"

The gist of the story was simple.

The voices of Diah and Hida matched the new characters of Honey Ping perfectly.

They had thought it over, but simply couldn’t find anyone else who fit the characters as well.

"The PD and writer both said 'yes' immediately after hearing your voices. So, um... would you consider it?"

The staff’s purpose in stopping Ha-eun and Da-yeon just before they left the studio was clear.

They wanted to cast Ha-eun and Da-yeon as voice actors for Honey Ping.

Of course, Da-yeon, who had just heard of Honey Ping today, still looked baffled.

But for Ha-eun, who wasn’t encountering Honey Ping for the first time—

'Isn't this... gonna be huge?'

She recalled how Honey Ping had once sparked an unprecedented boom and stared intently at the proposal.

In other words: influence.

Especially among children, Honey Ping had become explosively popular, to the point everyone nationwide knew it.

Even its theatrical version, despite being a children's movie, surpassed two million viewers.

'I think the toys were so popular they even made the news....'

According to Ha-eun's memory, no toy could compete with Honey Ping merchandise.

In other words, participating as a voice actor for Honey Ping would greatly boost her influence.

However, the voice needed wasn’t Ha-eun’s — it was Diah’s. That made her hesitate.

Although she had no real reason to hide Diah’s voice anymore, she thought she should discuss it with LUX and Ji Hye-min.

'Will this cause another commotion online...? Hmm....'

Thus, she answered that she'd think about it first.

After leaving the studio with Da-yeon, she messaged Ji Hye-min.

Only after that did she ask for Da-yeon’s opinion.

"What do you think, Da-yeon? Want to try it?"

"I’m still... not sure. What about you?"

"Hmm... For now, I’m leaning positive. I should talk it over with Hye-min unnie though..."

She would probably end up doing it.

Hearing Ha-eun’s positive stance toward the Honey Ping dubbing, Da-yeon shook her head vigorously.

Workaholic — if there was ever a definition, it would fit Ha-eun perfectly.

"If I do it, would you do it too?"

"I don't... know. Maybe. I’m busy too." This update ıs available on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝓷𝓮𝓽

For some reason, it felt like Da-yeon would end up doing it as well.

Even while she avoided giving a clear answer, it seemed inevitable somehow, maybe because she had decided years ago to follow Ha-eun wherever she climbed, or maybe simply because if it was something Ha-eun did, Da-yeon naturally wanted to try it too...

"Oh? What's that paper, Da-yeon?"

"The casting proposal. They asked if we’d be interested in dubbing a kids’ animation."

Even after meeting their manager Kim Jin-soo and getting into the van, they still couldn't be sure what decision they would ultimately make.

"First, this is the preliminary revised script. As you’ll see, compared to the original—"

A meeting room at the KBC Drama Department.

Gathered there were the new scriptwriter for The Youngest Son of the Chairman, the original author Seo Haeyeon, and the chief director Cha Sunho.

The air was thick with tension.

And it was no wonder.

Sitting before them were none other than Yoo Sung-jae, the drama’s lead actor, and Ha-eun, the one who had influenced the SL Group itself.

Even if the chances were slim, if the new script failed to satisfy Ha-eun again, it could very well cause another bloody storm(?) within the KBC Drama Department.

Of course, in the end, another bloody storm did not occur.

Just the thought of even having to bring it up with the SL Group had been stressful enough, but with the newly revised script showing no major flaws,

Ha-eun had no reason to deliberately voice any objections.

"...Sung-jae, what do you think? You said you binge-read the original novel twice, right?"

"...From what I can tell, it looks good. The original author even reviewed it personally."

Thus, until Ha-eun gave her OK after carefully listening to Yoo Sung-jae's opinion,

and even until the filming schedule for The Youngest Son of the Chairman, which had been under constant adjustments, was finally confirmed,

everything proceeded without major issues.

Time passed, and then, on the day of the first script reading for The Youngest Son of the Chairman—

｢Just because you covet something doesn’t mean you can have it, Shin Dohyeon. Especially if it already belongs to someone else... Touch it carelessly, and you might get hurt.｣

At the same time, lightly tapping her lips with her finger as she approached, her gaze froze.

｢For someone as smart as you to still dream of romance, it must mean you have some luxury left...｣

Her cold eyes repeatedly narrowed and opened, as if in slow motion.

Before long, a shadow leaned in, closing the distance to just a hand's breadth by her ear.

｢There’s only a paper-thin difference between boldness and recklessness... You should remember that. Seriously.｣

The small hand that lightly gripped Yoo Sung-jae's right shoulder delivered 'Yoon Seoa's' warning.

At the soft whisper next to his ear, a chill ran down his spine.

｢Either way... It’s fun to tame you.｣

Through lips almost brushing against his ear, only a faint breath flowed out gently.

Even though he knew it was all acting, why...

"Sung-jae. Sung-jae."

"Are you feeling alright today? Your expression's been..."

"Hmm... You don’t have a fever on your forehead..."

"...I'm not sick. I think I'm just not fully awake yet. Give me a flick on the forehead or something. I feel like half my soul is still floating somewhere."

"No, no, not that seriously! Just enough to sting a little—"

"...Don't be dramatic. I barely even hit you."