"Use the Today University photos as your profile shots?"
"Yes. Is that not allowed?"
At the unexpected suggestion, Kyung-min rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Well… technically, there wasn't any rule against it. Plenty of actors without agencies used selfies or basic ID-style photos for their profiles.
"We'd have to check with them first, but I don't think it'll be a problem."
"Right. It's not even a commercial magazine," chimed in Na Geum-dong, who had been listening quietly from the side.
"Oh? Really?"
"The magazine's published by a small press called V-People, but the editorial and planning are handled by the Seoul University Student Council Union. Each department collaborates—Photography majors handle the shoots, Fashion Design students take care of wardrobe, Visual Design covers layouts, and Journalism students write the articles."
"Whoa, that's awesome."
Moo-young's eyes sparkled.
Now that was what a real university activity sounded like.
A different school and team coming together every month to publish an issue—it made sense why the magazine was so famous among students.
"They set the tone right from the start," said Na Geum-dong, clearly enjoying the explanation. "The covers are always striking, and they pick great models, so it's naturally created a positive cycle. Exposure, experience, résumé value—for everyone involved. Win-win!"
The magazine had been a long-standing campus tradition for five years now.
Kyung-min began organizing the scattered portfolios on the table.
"Anyway, go ahead and apply. It'll be a fun experience. If you get selected, we'll coordinate with them officially. But seriously—why? None of these photographers catch your eye?"
He couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
He'd wanted to get top-notch professional headshots for Moo-young's debut.
But instead, the kid wanted a student photographer.
Still, it was Moo-young's choice, and he'd always said he'd respect that.
"Well, that's part of it, but also—"
Moo-young trailed off, hesitating. Then, after a beat of thought, he grinned.
"It's free!"
"What—!"
Na Geum-dong's jaw practically hit the floor.
He grabbed Moo-young's hands, shaking them wildly, his eyes misting up.
"Oh, my dear boy! We can afford it! Don't you worry about us! You're family now, you hear? Family!"
"Hahaha, I know. I was joking. I just… really didn't feel drawn to any of the others."
"Really?"
"Really!"
Moo-young's bright smile and handshake melted away the last of the tension.
Watching the two of them, Kyung-min could only sigh internally.
How do a middle-aged man and a kid barely in his twenties get along this well? They're like a perfect comedy duo.
Just then—
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
The office phone rang—a rare occurrence these days.
Kyung-min quickly answered, since Na Geum-dong was still basking in sentimental joy.
"Hello, BigWin Entertainment."
While the two continued chatting animatedly about the Monnette audition, Kyung-min tapped the desk with his pen, signaling for their attention.
"Yes, that's right—Ha Moo-young's agency. Oh, BonTuri? Hello! Regarding the shoot schedule…"
He trailed off, looking at Moo-young for input.
When are you available? his eyes asked.
Moo-young formed a big circle above his head with his arms.
"Anytime's fine!"
A few days later.
"Moo-young!"
"Jun-ho!"
"Come on in! Traffic wasn't too bad, right?"
"Nope, all good. Hello!"
They'd arrived at a studio near BonTuri headquarters.
Moo-young and his manager stepped inside—the staff were familiar faces from the Envin shoot.
"Wow, you look even better than before, Moo-young!"
"Long time no see!"
"I heard you landed Director Jin Kyung-moon's film! And you've got an agency now, huh? Total superstar! Superstar!"
Jun-ho's cousin, the BonTuri CEO, gave a thumbs up with a grin. Despite the hectic schedule and sleepless eyes, the man radiated satisfaction.
And no wonder—thanks to Envin and Moo-young, the company had hit the jackpot.
"Thank you! I heard you've been doing amazing too, sir."
"Heh heh heh. Three consecutive weeks at number one."
"Congratulations! Guess you're sitting on a mountain of cash now."
"Damn right! And soon, you'll be the one sitting there, big-shot actor!"
Without any outside guests today, the man was showing his full, goofy personality.
Leaning close, he whispered, "I even gave you a bonus this time. You know that, right? Just saying—make sure you appreciate it."
He winked. Jun-ho grimaced beside him.
Modeling gigs usually paid hourly—around ₩20,000 an hour, ₩200–300k for a full-day shoot.
"Of course. Thank you so much."
"No, no, I should be thanking you! Tell Envin too—he saved a lot of lives with that project."
In truth, both Moo-young and Bora had been offered per-photo rates instead of hourly pay: ₩100,000 per image.
Considering it was just an SNS campaign, not a major portal ad, that was extremely generous—basically like handing out free money.
"How many shots are we selecting?"
"Base set is five, but we'll see after the shoot—probably around ten total. Oh, and you made your social media account, right? Can you upload still cuts?"
He meant behind-the-scenes photos or clips used for online promotion.
Moo-young looked to Kyung-min for confirmation.
"Is that okay?"
"Sure, as long as it's not an official campaign post."
"Right, this is just a personal favor."
Even if it was a friendly gig, a contract was still a contract. Upload durations and distribution rights were crucial details to clarify.
"Alright, let's get you ready then! Boss, the photographer's asking for you. Moo-young, come here—I'll show you the concept sheet."
"Okay! Where's Bora?"
"She's getting ready inside."
Moo-young followed Jun-ho deeper into the studio.
But something felt… off.
The air shimmered faintly—tiny glittering specks floating lazily around the space.
Weird.
Those sparkles again.
Jun-ho had thrown glitter during the Envin shoot weeks ago… but why was it still here?
Did some of it stick to my clothes?
He brushed off his sleeve just in case.
Swish—
He pushed aside the curtain partition.
Inside, Bora was in the middle of getting her makeup done. She tilted her chin up slightly, only her eyes visible under her lashes. Her lips barely moved.
"Hey."
"Hey! Oh—Manager-hyung, this is my friend, Bora."
"Ah, so this is the one you mentioned!"
Kyung-min and Bora exchanged polite nods.
Meanwhile, Moo-young smiled awkwardly, adjusting the headband the stylist handed him.
"Bora, your nose okay now?"
"Of course. Good as new."
That confident tone—that was definitely the Bora he knew. With the makeup and lighting, she looked every bit like a professional entertainer.
Jun-ho stood beside her, fanning her with exaggerated care.
"Jun-ho, me too!"
"Yeah, no."
The atmosphere between them had warmed up since that day—not much, but enough that she no longer ignored him completely.
As Moo-young flipped through the portfolio pages, he asked,
"So, what's today's concept?"
"The keywords are friendship, fun, and energy. You can check the photo references on the back, but just take it easy."
"This is actually my first photoshoot."
"Oh, really? Yeah, no kidding—I could tell."
"I'll just rely on Bora!"
"Rely on what? We're shooting separately."
When the three familiar faces got together, the studio buzzed with noise and laughter.
Even the stylist's scolding—"Stop moving already!"—barely managed to quiet them down as they finally finished getting ready.
"All set?"
"Yes!"
"Let's see… Oh, wow. You two look great. Let's adjust the pose a bit, shall we?"
Moo-young and Bora stood against the white backdrop, facing the camera.
Maybe it was because both were actors, but their gaze control was flawless. The camera loved them—the visuals were stunning.
"Nice. But Moo-young, you're a little stiff."
"My posture?"
"Loosen up a bit."
"L-like this?"
He moved awkwardly, shoulders slack, limbs floppy.
"...Are you an idiot?"
Bora muttered in disbelief.
Then she took charge—tilting her head toward him, adjusting his shoulder, guiding his stance with professional ease.
Watching from the sidelines, Jun-ho clapped his hands in admiration.
"Bora, that's awesome!"
"Let's keep that energy going!"
"Rolling—shoot!"
Click!Click!
The more they posed, the smoother their rhythm became. The photographer's flash went off in rapid bursts, the bright strobe matching the pair's radiant smiles.
"Excellent!"
"Moo-young, you've got real talent! Just move your left leg a little more that way!"
"Man, those proportions—perfection. Good, good!"
"How are we supposed to pick just ten shots out of these?"
"Boss, maybe just empty your bank account today?"
The set was filled with warmth and laughter. The cheerful energy lifted everyone's spirits, and the shoot hit its peak—
Bzzz—!
"Huh?"
"What the—?"
The lights suddenly went out. The vibrant atmosphere deflated instantly.
The photographer lowered his camera and looked around in confusion.
"Hey, Yeon-chae!"
"S-sorry! I'm so sorry!"
A startled woman near the wall jumped and turned around—she must've hit the light switch by accident. Adjusting her thick glasses in a panic, she bowed repeatedly.
"Geez, be careful next time! We were just getting into the flow."
"I'm really sorry…"
A newcomer?
Moo-young didn't remember seeing her before.
He straightened his outfit and smiled. Accidents happen—no big deal.
Raising his hand, he redirected the attention toward himself.
"Excuse me, can I run to the restroom real quick? Perfect timing, actually."
"Oh, sure. Let's take five."
"I'll review the shots. Bora, want to go first?"
"Check the next outfit for me, please!"
With that, the shoot paused for a short break.
Yeon-chae hurried around the set, relieved to escape the scolding.
About five minutes later—
"Where's Bora?"
"She's changing. Just a moment."
"Jun-ho!"
"Yes, coming!"
Amid the organized chaos, Moo-young tapped his foot idly in a corner.
Then—someone appeared, holding out a drink.
"Uh, here."
"Whoa, a drink! Thanks!"
"I… I'm really sorry about before."
Her hands trembled as she spoke—whether from nerves or guilt, he couldn't tell.
"It's okay. But I haven't seen you before. You're not a BonTuri staff member, are you?"
"I'm the photographer's assistant for today."
"So, just a one-day job?"
Moo-young took a careful sip, making sure not to smudge his makeup.
And there it was again—those glimmering specks of flower dust clinging to the bottle.
"Didn't the assistant last time help with shooting too? Why are you staying in the back?"
"I get really shaky when I'm nervous, so I can't handle the camera today. Haha…"
She looked down at her trembling hands, sighing softly.
"Pretty pathetic, right? Especially for someone who wants to be a photographer."
"Everyone's got their struggles. So, you're a student right now?"
"Yes. I'm taking a break from school and working with Today University magazine."
"...Wait, what?"
Moo-young tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. Today University? Could it be—?
"Hey, could you show me your hand for a second?"
"M-my hand? Why?"
He just smiled wordlessly. Eventually, Yeon-chae hesitated but held out her right hand.
"Wow."
There it was.
Her palm.
The faint, glowing particles drifting in the air—and the ones sticking to his bottle—they were all coming from her.
"My hands shake a lot… I really need to fix it, but it's not easy."
She pulled her hand back awkwardly, embarrassed.
But Moo-young shook his head firmly.
"I don't think so. You've got golden hands."
"G-golden hands?"
"Yeah. I bet whatever you shoot, it turns out amazing."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well, if you need proof—let's find out!"
Moo-young stood up and waved toward the front of the set.
"Boss! Can we have her take the still cuts instead?"
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