Hye-jin parked her car outside the apartment building and stepped out.
Near the entrance, the usual group of elderly neighbors sat together, chatting.
She walked toward them.
"Where's your friend today?" she asked.
One of the old men sighed.
"I think… he's not in a good mood."
Hye-jin nodded slightly and walked inside.
Ding!
Fourth floor.
She stepped out and rang the bell.
The door opened almost immediately.
Her father stood there, looking uneasy.
He leaned closer and whispered,
"Don't argue with your mom."
Hye-jin raised an eyebrow.
"When did she start doing drugs?"
From inside, her mother's voice snapped—
"Yeah! That's the last wish left in my life!"
Hye-jin smirked faintly and walked in.
In the living room, her grandfather sat on the sofa, staring at the TV.
Silent.
Heavy.
Hye-jin walked over and dropped beside him.
"What ruined your mood, Grandpa?" she asked lightly. "Your daughter?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he pointed at the television.
Hye-jin leaned forward and looked at the TV.
The news displayed a peaceful traditional village in Ganghwa Island, Incheon, old houses, narrow paths, and fields that carried the weight of generations.
The reporter's voice echoed through the room—
"This traditional village has recently been selected as a site for factory development. However, the villagers have strongly refused to allow construction, leading to rising conflict in the region."
The screen shifted.
Her grandfather appeared.
Firm. Unshaken. Proud.
"I will not hand over my land to people who don't understand the value of our ancestors."
Hye-jin's eyes widened slightly.
Her mother let out a frustrated sigh.
"See? This is what your grandfather did!" she snapped. "I told him to give that land to your Uncle In-soo, but he never listens!"
Gyu-seok turned his head sharply.
"What I said… I meant."
His voice carried authority that filled the entire room.
"I need a shaman to come and decide whether it's right to build a factory on that land."
He clenched his fist slightly.
"But those corporate people blocked every path I had. That's why I posted it online."
Her father, trying to lighten the tension, muttered—
"They call it X now… not Twitter…"
Gyu-seok shot him an annoyed look.
His eyes were sharp.
"It changed," he said coldly.
Then his eyes softened as he turned to Hye-jin.
"All of this… is for you, dear."
Hye-jin froze.
"If this is solved… I can be at peace when I die."
"Dad!" her mother protested immediately.
But Hye-jin didn't look at her.
She looked at her grandfather.
Then calmly said—
"I know a shaman."
Silence filled the room.
"He's out of town right now," she continued. "He'll be back this weekend. I'll contact him."
Gyu-seok's face lit up with relief.
"Really? Thank God…"
Before anything else could be said, her father pulled her aside.
"Hye-jin," he whispered, voice low, "don't play with things like this."
She looked straight at him.
"I'll take care of it."
Her tone was firm.
Then quieter—but sharper—
Hye-jin lowered her voice, making sure only her parents could hear.
"I know this won't be easy," she said calmly, "but I'll talk to Uncle about the land. He'll arrange another landlord… someone you prefer."
She glanced between them, firm but controlled.
"Until then, please don't create a scene."
A brief pause.
"And I'll tell him to speak with the factory owner… that the land is still within the family for now. Okay?"
She glanced at her mother, who was already turning away toward the kitchen.
Hye-jin sighed.
"I'll handle this," she said. "Both of you… stay out of it."
Her father slowly nodded.
Seo-jun sat in front of the TV, staring blankly at the screen.
His phone rang.
He glanced at it.
"Ma"
He picked it up.
"Yeah, ma…"
Her voice came gently from the other side.
"I saw the TV… you didn't perform?"
Seo-jun hesitated.
His throat felt tight.
"…They replaced me."
Silence.
A long one.
"Oh…"
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
Then she said softly,
"Leave it, son. With your talent… you'll get a better opportunity. I'll pray for you, okay?"
Seo-jun forced a small hum.
"Hmm…"
He quickly changed the topic.
"Did you eat?"
"I just closed the shop," she replied.
"Eat properly, ma."
A pause.
"I'm getting another call. I'll call you later."
"Hmm… take care, son."
The call ended.
There was no other call.
He lied.
The TV light flickered across his face.
Then—
Click.
He turned it off.
Silence filled the room.
He stood up, walked inside his small bedroom…
…and shut the door.
Morning — Saturday
Hye-jin stepped out of her room, fully dressed.
Her mother looked up from the table.
"Office? Today?"
"I'm meeting a friend," Hye-jin replied casually. "I'll eat outside."
She grabbed her keys.
"Bye."
Inside the car, she dialed a number.
"This is the correct address, right? Okay."
She followed the map carefully.
After a while—
She stopped.
In front of an old, slightly worn-out building.
"This place…?"
She frowned.
Still, she stepped out and walked in.
inside—
She dialed again.
The call went to voicemail.
She tried once more.
Upstairs—
Seo-jun groaned in his half-sleep as his phone vibrated beside him.
Unknown number.
He picked it up lazily.
"Hello…?"
"Hi, I'm Hye-jin, SPS Casting Director, I—"
"Yeah, Kang-min," he muttered, annoyed, "don't start your prank this early in the morning."
"Cut the call."
Beep.
He hung up.
Hye-jin stared at her phone.
"…What?"
She blinked.
Then looked around.
Near the entrance, a watchman was sleeping peacefully.
She checked the time.
10:00 AM.
She walked over and shook him gently.
"Excuse me—"
He woke up slowly.
"Hmm…?"
"Which apartment is Seo-jun's?"
The watchman stretched lazily.
"For that… I need 50 dollars."
Hye-jin froze.
"What?"
He didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Just waited.
She sighed, frustrated, and pulled money from her bag.
"Unbelievable…"
She handed it over.
The watchman casually pointed behind her.
Hye-jin turned.
A board.
With all apartment names and room numbers clearly listed.
She stared at it.
"…I just lost 50 dollars."
No elevator.
Under construction.
She had to climb.
Floor by floor.
Her steps slowed by the time she reached the 7th floor.
Breathing heavily.
"701…"
She stood in front of the door.
And rang the bell.
Once.
No response.
Twice.
Still nothing.
Again.
Again.
The door suddenly opened.
Seo-jun stood there, hair messy, eyes half-open.
"I'll pay the rent, just give me—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
In front of him—
Hye-jin stood, slightly bent forward, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
She looked up at him.
"Can I…" she said between breaths,
"…get some water?"
Seo-jun and Hye-jin sat on the worn-out sofa in his apartment.
Hye-jin grabbed a bottle of water and drank it without pause, like she had been holding her breath the whole time.
Seo-jun watched her, confused.
"…Why did you come here to see me?"
She finished the bottle, placed it on the table, and looked straight at him.
"I came to give you a chance."
His eyes widened instantly.
"What?! Really?" he leaned forward. "Wait—, but I got a message. I was rejected."
Hye-jin nodded slightly.
"Hmm."
Then she said it.
"I need you to act like a shaman."
Seo-jun blinked.
"…In a drama?"
She shook her head.
"No."
A pause.
"In real life."
Silence filled the room.
Seo-jun stared at her, trying to process.
"…Act… in real life?"
Hye-jin held his gaze.
"Yes."
SLAM!
The door shut.
Then she knocked.
"Seo-jun!"
From inside, his voice came, frustrated—
"You want me to get cursed or something?! I'm already struggling without that!"
Hye-jin clenched her jaw.
"Listen, I—"
She stopped.
Thinking fast.
Then said—
"I'll pay you."
Silence.
"I'll pay you 5000 dollars every week."
Another pause.
"5,000 dollars... so that's exactly seven point five million won-"
The door flew open.
Seo-jun stood there.
Eyes wide.
"You mean… every week?"
Hye-jin nodded calmly.
"Yes."
She took out her phone.
"Tell me your number."
Seo-jun hesitated for a second… then gave it.
A moment later—
Ping!
His phone lit up.
He looked down.
$500 received.
Hye-jin slipped her phone back into her bag.
"Advance," she said.
Then, with a small smile—
"So… is it a deal?"