Soojin, after finishing her acting classes, went to visit her grandma.

“Oh, Soojin”

Soojin saw her grandma struggling to get up and rushed to stop her.

“Don’t get up, just lay down, it's okay.”

Soojin placed her hand on her grandmother’s forehead, she had a severe fever. Soojin fetched a wet towel and placed it onto her grandmother’s forehead. Her breath sounded like a balloon slowly fizzling out. She closed her eyes weakly: it appeared she had no energy to speak. Soojin, seeing her grandma like this, started to get choked up, and with a blink of her eyes a single tear fell, accompanied by a sigh. Soojin wanted her grandmother’s little time left on this earth to be a beautiful, happy experience.

“Grandma, I have some good news for you.”

Soojin’s grandmother opened her eyes narrowly and looked up at Soojin. Soojin leaned in towards her ear, and whispered.

“I’m gonna be in a play, I’ll finally be on the big stage.”

Soojin leaned back smiling gently at her grandmother.

“Wha- Stage? Big stage?”

“Yea, and you know what role I got? I got a big one! Despite everyone saying I couldn't!”

Soojin’s grandmother, feeling extremely proud of her granddaughter, grasped her hands tight and tried to say something, but she became short of breath and started to cough.

“It must be hard to speak, just rest. I’m gonna go change”

Soojin rummaged through her wardrobe, and pulled out jeans and a t-shirt. She threw off her townwear, and because it was uncomfortable, her brassiere as well. Soojin stared at herself intensely in the mirror. “I will succeed this time, no matter what! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Humiko, the academy president who had recommended Soojin for this play, was a very influential figure in the entertainment industry, and had been in many movies in her younger years. On the wall of the acting academy hung a large poster of Humiko’s younger image. At the time the picture was taken, Humiko was a cute actress with a full chest, flawless white skin, and dimples in both cheeks. Despite how unbelievable it seemed now: that was her. Humiko typically wore flashy clothes, and thick makeup. She had a habit of putting her hand up to the corner of her mouth every time she spoke; and, contrasting with her age, her voice was faint, and high pitched, making it difficult to judge her age based on it. The fact that Humiko had an interest in Soojin was a great fortune to her. Occasionally a man wearing a fedora would come visit Humiko at the academy. Humiko called Soojin to her office. The man in the fedora was a former high-ranking executive for the NHK, and was now working in commercial broadcasting. His name was Harada. Humiko told Soojin about how Harada had graduated from Waseda University, and immediately after graduation, he joined the NHK and played a founding role in the company. Humiko also hinted at the fact that he currently had the entirety of the Japanese entertainment industry in his hands. Humiko told Soojin that she wanted to introduce her to Harada. The moment Soojin heard those words, her heart started to race. Soojin was physically mature but mentally immature. Humiko arranged a meeting with Harada, and took Soojin to the meeting place. Before the meeting Humiko was insistently telling Soojin how much of an incredible opportunity this was. Harada was seated at the hotel coffee shop. Under his khaki-colored fedora laid a scared face covered in age spots. He was also accompanied by a young man and woman. Humiko saw Harada, and as if she was meeting an old friend, locked arms with him joyfully.

“Come on over!”

Humiko beckoned to Soojin, who was standing at a distance.

Harada, seeing Soojin for the first time, scanned her up and down with his eyes, as did the young man and woman. Soojin hesitatingly made her way to where they stood.

“This is the girl I told you about.”

Harada’s gaze was keen

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“She’s just as you said. I can tell at a glance!”

Humiko pulled on Soojin’s arm, leaned and whispered in her ear. “You should greet Mr. Harada.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Soojin, Chong-Soojin.”

“Chong-Soojin?”

Harada looked a bit flustered. Humiko quickly butted in.

“Oh, I apologize, I guess I forgot to tell you about her nationality?”

“Yes, you did.”

Harada said with a side-eyed glance towards Humiko.

“She came from Korea.”

Harada let out a sigh.

“Is that so?”

Harada looked perplexed at Humiko's words. Soojin read his expression but stayed quiet, and looked towards the young man and woman. They both looked very friendly until Soojin’s nationality was mentioned, which caused their cheerful looks to make a complete 180. The young woman crossed her legs and sat snobbishly. Harada seemed to be thinking. He seemed extremely surprised by the fact Soojin was Korean, but very quickly relaxed his face and stuck his hand out towards Soojin.

“Nice to meet you, Soojin.”

Because Harada had spent his entire life in the broadcasting industry, he was no less familiar with Korean actors. Because Korean blood runs deep in the Japanese sports and entertainment industry. But Harada himself was a nationalist of pure Japanese blood, who was still upset that his nation fell in World War II: who also regarded the sexual inslavement of Korean woman lightly, excusing it as wartime practice.

Humiko wrinkled her face, regretting that she had needlessly mentioned Soojin’s nationality.

Soojin didn’t expect Harada to change his attitude so quickly just because she was Korean.

Should I just kick this chair out and leave? Yea, I’m leaving! Who the fuck are you to hurt my pride, sons of bitches.

Soojin thought, and with a disappointed face picked up her bag and began to stand up. As soon as Soojin’s butt lifted off the chair, Harada started to speak.

“Humiko was right, you have an aura to you!”

The corners of Humiko’s mouth jumped up.

“See! I told you.”

Humiko bringing Soojin and recommending her to Harada was a precise calculation. She knew that if Soojin debuted and made it big, many people would ask where she attended acting school. Undoubtedly resulting in a constant stream of customers. Soojin’s beauty was leagues above all the other actor’s Humiko had seen in her life, and she had never seen someone who could make a role come alive like her. If it was a sad scene she would explode into tears, and if it was a happy scene she would shine like the summer sun. She was an extremely talented girl. Humiko was sure that if Soojin just had a little support, she could become a top star.

The young man and woman accompanying Harada were idols strategically raised by him. The woman’s name was Aya, and the man’s name was Komuro. Aya had a tiny face, slightly tanned skin, and small red lips: she was the stereotypical Japanese woman.

“Wait a second, I think I've seen this young woman on TV.”

Humiko said, while pointing at Aya.

“She came to me 6 months ago, asking for me to help her, and now she just made her debut. Aya, what do you think of Soojin? You think that body and face can make it?”

Aya shrugged her shoulders at Harada's question.

“And what I really like about Aya is that she does as she’s told. Aya, do you have the most recent photo collection?”

“Yes, Mr. Harada.”

Aya searched through her bag, which was printed with a popular cartoon character, pulled out a hardcover photo album and placed it on the table. It was a nude photo collection of her. The title was “Temptation”, and the cover was of Aya nude, looking back with bleary eyes. Harada complimented her body and handed the album to Humiko. Humiko flipped open the first page. She stared at the photo of Aya completely nude without a strand of clothing, and praised her.

“They came out well.”

Aya seemed to enjoy the praise, brushing her hair over her ear in a pompous manner.

“But, isn’t this a bit revealing for a newbie? I mean look at her butt. I used to have a body like that. Anyway it’s overall a good pictorial, the camera angle and lighting are great.”

Humiko put the album down, and continued.

“You think Soojin will have a chance to make one? If you release a pictorial of Soojin it’ll sell like hot cakes!”

Aya pouted her lips pompously.

“Well, there’s only one way we can find out. But before that, we have to see if she’s really a good actor.”

“Mr. Harada, I can guarantee it. I’ve been watching her for a while, she’s the real deal.”

Soojin’s face reddened at Humiko’s praise.

Harada looked at his watch, and tapped Komuro’s shoulder.

“It’s time to go film, you two go ahead.”

Shortly after Komuro and Aya left, Harada told Soojin to go outside so he could talk to Humiko in private. Once Soojin was outside the hotel, Harada spoke.

“Alright, now that it is just us two lets get into more detail. You know if I just say the word, her debut will be a piece of cake?”

“Yes sir, that’s why I bought her.”