Chapter 83: Chapter 82

The successful broadcast of Two Days, Three Nights and the second episode of The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds filled entertainment news columns on major portals once again with articles about Ha-eun.

The effects of Ha-eun’s recent activities were larger in scale and influence than she had anticipated, reaching unexpected areas—one of which was fan communities like her fan café or fan gallery.

Strictly speaking, these fan communities had been around for quite some time. However, since Ha-eun entered middle school, her activities in the entertainment industry had been sporadic at best.

1463rd repost: Collection of Lee Ha-eun GIFs from ‘You Who Came From the Stars’

Ha-eun-ah… I’m freezing… I’m gonna die like this…

What’s with the sudden despair here? ㄴ It’s because Mr. Love is over. ㄴ What? It’s only the second episode? ㄴ Yeah, but Ha-eun isn’t in it after episode three!!!

Up until a few months ago, most of these fan communities were practically dead. They only briefly revived when Ha-eun returned to the screen with a minor or supporting role, but even then, they quickly quieted down again.

But then—

“Lee Ha-eun cast in KBC’s The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds. Will act alongside Yoo Sung-jae as Crown Prince Lee Hyun.”

News suddenly appeared about Ha-eun being cast in the new drama The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds, playing none other than the lead female role, Yeong-wol.

She’s the lead??????

The article says she’s doing her swordplay scenes without a stunt double? That’s insane LOL.

What’s The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds about? Anyone know? ㄴ Check Gyodong Bookstore. They sell the original novel, and it’s good.

The previously lifeless fan communities started to buzz.

Wait, Ha-eun showed up in the preview for Two Days, Three Nights?*

??? No way, she really did!

A week before the premiere of The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds, Ha-eun appeared briefly in the next episode preview for Two Days, Three Nights.

WTF, Ha-eun’s on SIT ON THE MONEY?*

What is going on?

Ha-eun is singing live!!!!

The moment fans saw Ha-eun perform live during the finals of SIT ON THE MONEY, it was like a festival had begun.

Thanks to this, the first episode of The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds, which aired 30 minutes later, and the second episode the following day, were both watched live by a significant portion of her fanbase.

Ha-eun carrying the ping-pong match and doing mukbang.jpg

Ha-eun’s first SIT ON THE MONEY scene + removing her baseball cap GIF.

Full-body shot of Ha-eun diving into the water.

Even in a disguise, her beauty is insane.

Today’s episode of Yeong-wol annihilating the assassins.gif

Compilation of Yeong-wol solo shots.

Fans spent the entire night buzzing about every moment Ha-eun appeared in any show, making the fan communities livelier than ever. With highlight after highlight airing on Friday and Saturday, discussions about Ha-eun never ceased.

The problem was that one of these buzzing fan communities was the official fan café managed directly by Luna Entertainment, Ha-eun’s agency. Being the "official" fan café, its condition directly impacted Ha-eun’s public image, making its management crucial.

“12,759 new membership applications…?”

The biggest issue was that only one employee was managing Ha-eun’s fan café.

In the past, when the café was quiet, one person was enough. But now, with the café busier than ever, it was impossible for a single employee to handle.

By Sunday morning, the employee began reaching out for help. In the end, five or six staff members spent over 12 hours solely managing Ha-eun’s fan café.

Thus, while Luna Entertainment staff had an unexpectedly eventful weekend, Ha-eun herself was only slightly flustered.

When Monday morning, the start of a new week, finally arrived:

“C… CEO.”

“What?”

“Our Luna Entertainment stock… has risen 11.9% compared to last Friday.”

“What?!”

Ha-eun’s skyrocketing popularity had unexpected effects elsewhere. This included a flood of inquiries about her via email on Monday morning.

Understandably, the situation was overwhelming. It was so confusing that even managing facial expressions became difficult.

-♪

-♪

[“Hello? CEO?”]

“Oh, Manager Ju. Bring Ha-eun to the office as soon as her classes end. There are so many things we need to discuss with her.”

[“Ah… Yes, understood.”]

Despite the chaos, the CEO couldn’t hide his joy. Once again, Ha-eun had brought tremendous profits to Luna Entertainment, just as she had during her child actor days.

However, for Ha-eun, who had just arrived at school—

-Glance.

-Glance, glance.

‘…What’s going on?’

She was more preoccupied with the sudden change in her classmates’ attitudes than with Luna Entertainment’s rising stock. They seemed fascinated by her, as if seeing her for the first time.

“Hey, Ha-eun. Can I ask you something?”

“?”

“When… when did you start knowing the senior members of Double-Lee?”

A cautious question from a friend who happened to be a trainee at a famous idol agency. The friend’s hesitant expression suggested they were watching Ha-eun’s reactions closely.

“Well, since I was seven.”

“D-Did you receive vocal training from them since then?”

“Yeah.”

Without much thought, Ha-eun answered honestly. The problem was that her friend immediately started bowing deeply.

“I’m so sorry for not recognizing you earlier, senior!”

“W-What are you doing? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

She was utterly bewildered. This was completely new territory for her.

“I mean… You debuted as a singer before me. Your trainee period is way longer than mine too.”

Her friend’s sudden switch to formal speech and overly respectful demeanor left Ha-eun even more flustered. She awkwardly lifted her friend’s head, trying to stop the bowing.

But just moments later—

-Screech!

The back door of the classroom swung open, and unfamiliar faces cautiously approached her.

“P-Pinocchio sunbae, may we introduce ourselves?”

Their overly polite greetings only added to Ha-eun’s confusion.

Even during the brief morning assembly, while heading to the gym for first-period PE, and during a dodgeball game against another class:

“Don’t you dare hit the senior!”

The way her classmates treated her as a senior from the entertainment industry gave her a headache.

Ha-eun had no intention of asserting authority or being treated like a senior. Yet, they insisted on treating her with utmost respect.

During lunch, she vented everything to Da-yeon, recounting the day’s strange events. However:

“You’ve already debuted, so what can you do? Just accept the senior treatment.”

Even Da-yeon had no practical advice.

Left without a solution, Ha-eun trudged back to her class, resigned to endure more senior treatment.

After spending the day in ways she hadn’t anticipated, she rushed to Ju Jung-yoon’s van after the final bell as though escaping. She poured out her frustrations about her schoolmates’ behavior, seeking help.

But—

“Ha-eun, let’s handle the urgent matters first.”

News that CEO Jung Do-chul was looking for Ha-eun soon reached them, and her concerns about school had to be set aside for now. They headed to Luna Entertainment’s headquarters.@@novelbin@@

About 30 minutes later, Ha-eun arrived at the CEO’s office.

“Hello, sir.”

“Oh, our golden treasure is finally here!”

‘…Golden treasure?’

Ha-eun quietly sat on the office sofa as CEO Jung flashed her a warm smile. Within seconds, he spoke again:

“Should we start with the advertising offers or the drama casting offers?”

Faced with the sudden choice, Ha-eun blinked in confusion. After a moment of deliberation, she replied:

“Uh… I think we should start with whatever you think is more urgent.”

“Then let’s begin with the advertising.”

Thus began the discussion about advertisements.

Ha-eun expected offers for cosmetics or clothing brands, but—

“You’ve heard the phrase ‘A bed is science,’ right?”

“…Are you saying the offer is for a bed advertisement?”

“Yes. Apparently, your sleeping scenes on Two Days, Three Nights left quite the impression.”

A famous furniture company known for hiring male actors wanted her to star in a bed commercial.

Ha-eun paused, seriously questioning how her image had become associated with being a “sleepyhead.”

But then—

“I really think you should take this ad. The pay is incredibly high.”

Hearing the staggering advertising fee from the CEO, Ha-eun couldn’t help but reconsider.

“This is S-tier treatment. If you take this ad, it’ll pave the way for more S-tier opportunities in the future.”

“…I’ll do it!”

In the end, she accepted the bed advertisement. After all, who could argue with money?