My Girlfriend's Fortune: 3,141,592,653,589-Chapter 81: Everyone Has a Plausible Plan

TL: Aniea

Everyone has a plausible plan.

Until the moment it hits them right in the face.

The day after I spoke with Jung Ha-rin, I headed to the orphanage to prepare for the play. However, I noticed some very familiar faces.

“Camera over here!”

“Check the microphone status!”

“Speak quietly so you don’t scare the kids.”

It was none other than the staff I had worked with during the filming of <Peaceful Chaebol Life> not long ago.

Of course, not all of them were here, just a small group of about ten people, but it was more than enough to leave me dumbfounded.

“What the heck is this…”

“Ah, Woo-ju-ssi! Over here!”

As I stood there, stunned, looking around, Jung Ha-rin, who had spotted me first, waved in my direction.

At the same time, the heads of the staff turned toward me in unison, and they all greeted me with bright smiles, waving enthusiastically.

“Nice to see you again so soon!”

“Thanks for inviting us!”

“It’s an honor to be part of such a meaningful event!”

“……?”

“When they heard they’d get to work with you, the competition was intense. We told them they’d have to start working as early as tomorrow morning, but almost everyone volunteered, so we didn’t know what to do!”

Hehe-

Jung Ha-rin had the look of someone waiting for praise, as if asking, ‘Didn’t I do well?’ Her expression gave me a clue as to what had happened.

- If you’re going to do it, you should do it properly! Why not make this into a special program?

- I think it’d be better if I handled the negotiations myself.

Hehe-

Hehehe-

Hehehehe-

The conversation I had with two women last night flashed through my mind. Of all the moments, Kim Eun-ha’s laughter seemed to linger in my ears the most.

‘…Of course.’

Kim Eun-ha wasn’t someone who handled things half-heartedly. She must have squeezed everything she could out of her phone call with Writer Jung Ha-rin.

The result was the scene unfolding before my eyes. Kim Eun-ha seemed intent on turning the theater production at the orphanage into full-fledged broadcast content.

- It’ll be a win-win for everyone.

It was at that moment I realized that when she said “everyone”, she had meant it quite literally.

‘…It really is a good thing for everyone.’

First, from the orphanage’s perspective, the broadcast could bring in various forms of sponsorship.

There are countless people in the world with difficult or unfair stories, but only a very few make it onto television.

However, because the number is so small, the return is substantial. Whether it’s short-term or regular, viewers who sympathize with the broadcast can provide direct support.

TV commercial fees vary greatly depending on a channel’s viewership, airtime, or the type of advertisement.

The range goes from as little as a few million won to as much as several billion won, and that’s just for a few minutes of short commercials.

‘Which means the impact is undeniable.’

The fact that businesses are willing to pay such high amounts shows how effective TV advertising still is.

Of course, with the development of social media and other platforms, TV no longer wields the same dominance as before. But its influence is still formidable.

‘For me, it’s basically my next project.’

I am an actor.

My reputation is my strength.

Naturally, performing a play in our own space is less impactful than appearing on television, even for a single second. This exposure helps boost my value as a name.

Moreover, since this event is a charity performance at an orphanage involving children, it’s an excellent opportunity to imprint a positive image on the audience.

It’s also the perfect chance to dilute the negative aspects of the [Kang Joo-heon] character I portrayed in <Peaceful Chaebol Life>.

‘And for Eun-ha-ssi, there’s no need to say it.’

If I’m not mistaken, Kim Eun-ha must have been supporting this orphanage for at least a few years.

Just the remodeling of the building I’m currently standing in would have taken at least half a year. That much is almost certain.

‘And this isn’t even publicly known information.’

When I had once searched the internet to gather information about Kim Eun-ha, there hadn’t been a single mention of this orphanage.

But what kind of reaction would the public have if this fact were revealed now?

‘…Noblesse Oblige.’

The already positive image of Kim Eun-ha on social media would skyrocket once again.

If the information that she had been donating anonymously for years was “coincidentally” revealed, that is.

Of course, there would be some skeptics who would claim it was all a staged act. However, their voices would eventually be swept away by the overwhelming tide of public sentiment.

‘It’s not bad for the broadcasting station either.’

Objectively speaking, the current market value of “Kang Woo-ju” is considerable within South Korea.

If they could secure his next project exclusively, and without delay, it would be a significant gain.

Additionally, they could build a positive image for Mirae Group, which is tied to Kim Eun-ha’s background.

On top of that, if the broadcasting station were to contribute a certain amount of donations to the orphanage, as if showing goodwill, it would greatly enhance their own public image as well.

‘The only thing that worries me is how the kids will take it…’

As I scanned the surroundings quickly, my concerns vanished. The children, regardless of age, were gathering together with sparkling eyes.

“Wow!!”

“Will Min-ah be on TV too!?”

“Can I brag about this to my friends?”

The younger children were running around excitedly at the idea of appearing on TV.

Even the middle and high school-aged kids were lingering nearby, sneaking glances at the cameras.

“I don’t want to do it.”

“Why should I advertise to everyone that I’m an orphan?”

“My friends don’t know that I live in an orphanage…”

Of course, there were some kids who reacted quite sensitively. However, their complaints quickly disappeared after Jung Ha-rin’s explanation.

“If you don’t want to appear, we can blur your face. If that’s still uncomfortable, we can edit you out entirely. Of course, you won’t be eligible for the benefits we’re providing, though.”

“…Benefits?”

“Our director was so impressed by this good cause that he made a generous donation. Every participant will receive the latest model smartphone, courtesy of Mirae Group.”

“…!?”

The students’ eyes widened at the mention of a smartphone. Their complaints turned into enthusiasm in an instant.

From what I heard, not many kids here owned personal phones.

And even those who did were mostly the older kids preparing for independence, using outdated models that had been donated from somewhere.

Out of curiosity, I had asked why Kim Eun-ha, who had provided everything else, hadn’t bought them phones.

- Personally, I believe that frequent exposure to phones at a young age isn’t good. Especially in a unique environment like an orphanage.

- Then should we refuse this as well…?

- No, it’s fine. I hadn’t considered that the kids might feel left out because they don’t have phones. This is a good opportunity to provide them.

That was her response.

Although it wasn’t intentional, the result was that the children’s participation rate and enthusiasm had reached their peak. This, too, could be considered a win-win.

“And by the way, the communication costs will be fully covered by CEO Kim Eun-ha for up to three years after you graduate from the orphanage.”

“…I’ll do it.”

“Sorry? I didn’t quite hear that.”

“I’ll do it! No, please let me participate too!”

Hehe-

For a moment, the smile on Jung Ha-rin’s lips overlapped with Kim Eun-ha’s in my mind. Was it just my imagination?

Though the situation of persuading teenagers with money wasn’t particularly pleasant, where could one find a better deal than this if everyone was satisfied?

“…I can finally join the group chat now!”

The children, perhaps because they hadn’t been able to enjoy the things most people take for granted, responded not just warmly but explosively.

In the end, all the children at the orphanage came together in unanimous agreement to participate in the filming.

“Oh, Woo-ju-ssi, you’re here?”

“The director is here too?”

“Writer Jung made such a fuss.”

“She’s the one who said she wanted to do it herself!”

“…Well, it’s not a genre I dislike. My debut work was a documentary, after all. I only quit because it didn’t get good ratings.”

Kang In-ho scratched his head with a somewhat bittersweet expression. To shift the topic and satisfy my curiosity, I asked him a question.

“A documentary?”

“Yeah. When I told the director about Woo-ju-ssi, they immediately set it up as a four-episode special. Unlike before, we’ve been given plenty of time for production.”

“That’s longer than I expected. What’s the structure?”

“That’s something I still need to think about. I only heard about this yesterday, so for now, I just hurried over with the cameras…”

Kang In-ho’s gaze briefly shifted to the children nearby. His eyes sparkled for a moment, suggesting that, despite what he said, he already had a rough idea of the direction he wanted to take.

“Do you have any ideas from past projects you didn’t get to use?”

“…You’re sharp, as always. Yeah, there’s something I planned before but dropped. Since this is an orphanage run by a church, it would fit the mood well, and we could involve a lot more participants.”

It fits well with a church.

The number of participants would increase significantly.

Just from those two clues, I had a rough idea of what Director Kang In-ho was thinking.

“…A choir?”

“Exactly. It’s a proven concept that’s frequently used in movies, dramas, and even variety shows. But when I got here, it didn’t seem like the kids were particularly religious.”

“Yes, I heard they don’t enforce religion here.”

Of course, the children generally follow the church’s curriculum, like giving thanks before and after meals.

But prayers and services aren’t mandatory. I found that quite fascinating when I first heard about it.

I cautiously guessed that this might be because the orphanage’s primary benefactor, Kim Eun-ha, didn’t have any particular religious affiliation herself.

“I’m not insisting on a choir. A more general choral group would probably appeal to a wider audience. And if we mix in a bit of theater with it…”

“You’re not thinking of doing a musical, are you?”

“Well, something along those lines.”

Orphanage choirs had been a fairly common theme before. There’s no better subject than singing to bring together children of various genders and ages.

Given the current circumstances, it was also the most reasonable option. The number of participants had increased significantly because of the participation gifts.

“It’s definitely unrealistic to put everyone on stage just for the play. Switching to a choir might actually be-”

“That won’t do!”

Jung Ha-rin, who had been quietly listening until now, suddenly interrupted. Her eyes were resolute, as if she wouldn’t allow even the slightest compromise.

“Woo-ju-ssi must act!”

“You just want to see CEO Kim Eun-ha act, don’t you?”

“Well, I am curious about CEO Kim Eun-ha’s acting, but what I really want to see is the two of you sweetly romancing each other on the script I wrote…”

“Yes. We’ll go with the choir.”

“……!!”

Thud-

Shocked, Jung Ha-rin dropped whatever she had been holding in her hands, her mouth agape.

I glanced over to see what she had dropped, and it turned out to be a notebook with characters that seemed to be based on Kim Eun-ha and me.

The drawings were good enough that I could immediately tell who was who, but the sketch had one significant issue.

“For the record, I’m never wearing that dress.”

The character resembling Kim Eun-ha was dressed in a medieval aristocratic uniform, while the one resembling me was wearing a princess dress.

“Couples these days often swap clothes for fun…”

“Don’t try to generalize something ridiculous.”

Writer Jung Ha-rin pouted and looked like she was about to cry, but there was no way I was going to entertain such a notion.

Of course, Kim Eun-ha would probably look great in a uniform, but that doesn’t justify me having to wear a princess dress.

“…So, as long as we don’t put you in a dress, it’s fine, right?”

“Anything remotely similar is also out of the question.”

“Tsk-”

Jung Ha-rin let out an exaggerated pout, just like a character in a comic, making her frustration audible. Watching this, Kang In-ho suddenly lowered his head to me in an apologetic gesture.

“…I’m sorry. Let me apologize on her behalf.”

“You must have a tough time managing all this.”

“I’m right here, you know!?”

Ignoring Jung Ha-rin’s grumbling, Director Kang In-ho and I resumed our constructive discussion.

“Simple choir performances alone might not be competitive enough. These days, if it’s not a ‘cliché + alpha’, people tend to lose interest.”

“Exactly. But doing a full-fledged musical would be too time-consuming, and we lack the expertise. It’s probably best to keep the play straightforward, with Woo-ju-ssi as the centerpiece.”

“Maybe we could set up a choir in the background of the stage to act as both background music and a chorus. Or we could even stylize them as part of the scenery, like trees.”

“Well, let’s leave those details for later. For now, I want to prioritize fulfilling the kids’ wishes as much as possible, before imposing any adult concerns.”

“That makes sense.”

I nodded in agreement with Kang In-ho’s suggestion. After all, the purpose of this event was for the children at the orphanage. It wouldn’t make sense to lose sight of that and let the adults take over.

The scale of the project had grown larger than I initially imagined, but having grown accustomed to Kim Eun-ha’s grandiose tendencies, I figured I could handle this much.

“Alright then, let’s start by hearing what the kids have to say.”

“We were just about to set that up.”

Behind the cameras, a green screen had been installed for chroma keying, and in front of it, chairs were neatly arranged for the children to sit on.

Once the fine adjustments to the camera, microphone, and lighting were complete, the kids, who had been watching us with excited expressions, began to move toward the cameras one by one. freewebnσvel.cѳm

Having professionals on board made everything run much more smoothly than I had worried it might.

…Or so I thought.

At least until the interviews began.

“I want a prince to swing a lightsaber!”

“……”

The children’s boundless imagination and energy knew no limits. What started as morning interviews stretched all the way into the late afternoon before we managed to wrap things up.

*****

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