A normal school life.
It was one of Ha-eun’s simple wishes.
Thus, anyone who disrupted her normal school life was, by definition, an enemy.
After all, what else would you call someone who obstructs another’s dream?
By that measure, the first-year students who caused a commotion every time they crossed paths with Ha-eun were her clear enemies.
Specifically, the first-years at Narae Arts High School were undoubtedly Ha-eun’s sworn foes.
"But you can’t just eliminate them."
"Of course not. You want to end up in the news?"
Da-yeon sipped on a strawberry milk she’d bought from the cafeteria as she responded.
Her lack of interest in Ha-eun’s grumbling was almost cruel.
Even though Da-yeon received just as much attention from the first-years, she didn’t seem the least bit bothered.
Perhaps it was because she wasn’t as fixated on having a “normal school life” as Ha-eun was.
"They ask for photos. Every break, they come and interrupt my studies."
"Just ignore them. Pretend they don’t exist."
"How can I ignore kids who came just to see me? They’re my fans too."
"…Then what do you expect me to say?"
Da-yeon shot her a look of disbelief.
Feeling her words were nonsensical even to herself, Ha-eun slumped over her desk in resignation.
‘It’ll get better with time.’
At least, that’s what she told herself.
But as long as The Sunshine was airing, it was inevitable she’d remain in the spotlight.
It would be stranger if she weren’t.
"Da-yeon, I want to go to the cafeteria."
Whenever Ha-eun needed to go to the cafeteria or restroom, she always dragged Da-yeon along.
Da-yeon’s naturally sharp demeanor intimidated the first-years, making them hesitate to approach her.
Da-yeon’s aura was imposing even when she was just standing still.
Her perpetually sharp gaze kept others at bay.
Granted, Ha-eun’s own presence was just as intimidating.
However, because her character Kim Jung-hyun in The Sunshine had a gentle and refined image, it seemed to neutralize her intimidating aura in real life.
‘Come to think of it, during The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds...’
Back when Ha-eun played Yeong-wol in The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds and portrayed a strong and stoic bodyguard, the school had been quieter.
If anything, her classmates had been slightly wary of her.
But the moment interest in Ha-eun surged again was after the kiss scene between Lee Hyun and Yeong-wol.
When Yeong-wol’s character gained a new layer of emotional vulnerability as a woman, the attention skyrocketed.
In other words, the way people reacted to Ha-eun depended on the roles she played.
‘Maybe things will calm down once Veterans is released.’
Ha-eun figured that once her first villain role as Lee Ye-seo was revealed, she might finally enjoy a quieter school life.
Of course, that was still a long way off.
For now, her only option was to rely on Da-yeon.
The one thing Ha-eun overlooked was that Da-yeon’s favorite pastime was teasing her.
"Lee Ha-eun! Are you getting a strawberry sandwich?!"
The moment they entered the cafeteria, Da-yeon loudly shouted, her voice echoing through the space.
As expected, every head turned toward them.
The murmurs began almost immediately, most of them about Ha-eun.
Da-yeon’s voice had been so loud that even students outside the cafeteria now knew she was there.
"D-Da-yeon, now everyone’s staring at me because of you!"
"All I did was call your name."
In hindsight, Ha-eun realized her greatest enemy wasn’t the first-years.
Not in the context of her school life, at least.
But Da-yeon, her mischievous friend, who was now sticking her tongue out playfully in front of her.
Still, they managed to buy what they needed.
Da-yeon even grabbed two strawberry sandwiches, the ones she’d yelled about earlier.
Ha-eun reasoned that replenishing her energy was essential for effective studying.
Back in the classroom, life resumed its usual rhythm.
A week later, a sign reading “Access to third-year floor prohibited for other grades” was posted in the school.
The Aftermath of The Sunshine
The impact of The Sunshine extended far beyond Ha-eun’s school life.
"A cosmetics commercial?"
Following Kim Jung-hyun’s surge in popularity for her beauty, multiple CF (commercial film) offers began pouring in.
The famous cosmetics brand mentioned by Ju Jung-yoon was just one of them.
Since appearance is the most crucial aspect of cosmetics commercials, Jung-yoon was thrilled.
She, too, had thought that scene from The Sunshine Episode 6 was like a work of art.
For female celebrities like Ha-eun, cosmetics CFs were a point of pride.
Although Ha-eun wasn’t particularly interested in such things, she understood their importance.
"It’s a one-year exclusive contract. The modeling fee is estimated at 400 to 500 million won, with room for negotiation—"
Nothing could argue with that kind of money.
The French brand Rêve had offered an astronomical contract, which caught even Ha-eun off guard.
It seemed that Rêve’s Korean branch had taken a particular interest in Kim Jung-hyun.
Though unbeknownst to Ha-eun, it was actually the impact of her Sears commercial that had drawn their attention.
Negotiations for the ad were smooth and positive, practically finalizing the deal before Ha-eun even signed the contract.
However, with news of Ha-eun’s role in Veterans recently making headlines...
"Since she’s playing a chaebol heir, will it give her an elegant image?"
Questions about her villainous character Lee Ye-seo arose during discussions.
After all, an actor’s roles in dramas and movies often influenced the public perception of their CFs.
Especially significant was the nature of the role.
For instance, an actor who had starred in a public safety ad wouldn’t want to play a hit-and-run driver in a movie—it would seem contradictory.
"I heard she’s playing a charismatic villain, right?"
"Ah, charisma… Yeah, that’s true."
Maintaining a positive image for the CF was crucial.
Surprisingly, Rêve wasn’t concerned about Ha-eun’s villain role. In fact, they seemed excited about it.
"It’s hard to find impressions as striking as a villain’s. We’re looking forward to it."
Their expressions showed no trace of worry.
Even though Ha-eun herself thought, A villain might hurt a CF’s image, no?, it was clear Rêve had thoroughly considered the implications before making their offer.
The real concern was that Rêve’s stance might change.
If her portrayal of Lee Ye-seo ended up creating a worse impression than they anticipated, the contract could still be canceled.
Of course, Ha-eun’s image as an actress wouldn’t be permanently tied to the name Lee Ye-seo.
At present, her reputation was still dominated by Kim Jung-hyun’s elegance.
Considering that Ha-eun’s role in Veterans was markedly different from her previous performances, the aftereffects were something she couldn’t afford to underestimate.
Perhaps it was necessary to bolster her image as harmless by appearing on lighthearted variety shows.
While Ha-eun was preoccupied with thoughts about her first cosmetics CF, the solution came from an unexpected direction.
"Let’s release just one album while you’re still a high school student. Do you realize how rare and valuable the ‘high schooler’ title is?"
"It’s just a mini-album, so it won’t be too much work! Only five songs—no more, no less!"
This was a proposal for a solo album from Double Lee, who hated the idea of Ha-eun’s voice going to waste—even though she was already using it well as Diah.
His voice, tinged with exhaustion, followed as if he were battling a creative slump.
"At times , I need to work on someone else’s songs to clear my head."
"…Why don’t you just take a break?"
"Taking a break isn’t as easy as it sounds. When my projects stall, it’s all I can think about."
And so, just this once—
Just as he had when they first met long ago, Lee Gun-yeol clasped both of Ha-eun’s hands in his own.
For some reason, this wasn’t the first time Ha-eun had heard him plead “just this once.”
Still, both for managing her image as a CF model and for advancing toward her goal of becoming a megastar…
"…Would there be a music video for it too?"
"Oh, I wouldn’t expect a music video."
"No, it’s just that… I’d like to try shooting one."
Using the name Pinocchio wouldn’t be a bad move.
She had no idea how well her first solo album might perform, but…
"Think of it as symbolic—a meaningful challenge, you know?"
"…If releasing an album is a ‘challenge’ for someone who’s performed in domes, what does that make the rest of us?"