"Nothing Comes for Free!"
"Do you have a curse or something?"
A completely innocent question from Mooyoung.
Between the stalker's hat and mask, her eyes narrowed in disbelief.What kind of nonsense was that supposed to mean?
"You're calling me crazy now, huh?"
She sneered and scrolled through the photos of Envin on her camera.She'd heard that kind of talk too many times to be offended anymore.
"It's not that. I'm just curious."
But Mooyoung didn't back down.
He had to know what that unfamiliar smog meant.If misfortune clung to her—and might spread to him—he needed to be ready.
"Can you move over?""Mm. Hang on. Let me see…"
He stared intently.More precisely—he focused on the dark smog coiled around her neck and back.Since her back was against the wall, its shape was blurred.
"Hmm."
He studied it with surprising seriousness.Though his face was hidden behind a mask, the stalker's cheeks flushed hot.
'What the hell is he doing?'
No man—no handsome man—had ever looked at her like that.Even Envin, the idol she'd obsessed over for months, had always glared at her with disgust.
"Back off already!""You're the one who needs to stay still."
His bright eyes gleamed as he observed her closely.The longer he looked, the redder her face grew.For some reason, she felt… embarrassed.Thankfully, the mask hid it well.
'That shape… it really is human.'
The more Mooyoung looked, the more certain he became.It wasn't just a random shadow—someone was clinging to her back.
—Uh…
"Huh?"
A sound came from the smog itself.
Mooyoung instinctively recoiled.Smog didn't speak. It only appeared.
'Then… a restless spirit?'
Even then, spirits rarely made noise—unless their resentment ran deep,or they didn't realize they were dead.Either way, it was always a hassle.
"W-what's wrong with you?"
She flinched too, scooting back a little.Did she have something on her face?
—Eojin-ah…
"Eojin-ah?"
"…!"
Mooyoung repeated the name softly. Judging from her reaction, it was hers.The smog tightened around her neck, choking.
—Please… come to your senses and go home.
"It says you should go home. Get a grip.""W-who?""The thing hanging on your back."
The woman froze.He had to be messing with her.But Mooyoung's expression was dead serious.The spirit's voice was faint, and he had to focus to catch every word.
—If you don't… everything will burn.
"It says everything's gonna burn. But what's burning?"
"You're insane too, huh?"
She scoffed, thinking he was just mocking her.Her name was easy enough to learn—maybe he'd overheard it earlier.
—The house… it's burning…
"Uh-oh. Lady, your house is on fire."
The stalker scowled.What kind of ridiculous—
Then Mooyoung spoke again, calmly.
"The forty million won in cash in your second drawer, and… what?Something in a pink box? The one with that video of the guy?Oh, right. That's called a USB."
She froze, eyes wide.
He couldn't have known that.She was broke and lived entirely off cash,and that USB—no one even knew it existed.
"H-how do you…?"
"Better go check before it all burns."
She bit her lip hard and hastily dialed a number—a chicken shop near her apartment.
"Hello, O-Chicken in Sang-dong? Is there a fire near the Love Villa—"
Her voice trailed off.She listened, face paling.Then suddenly—
"AAAHHH!"
"Whoa—!"
She snatched up her camera and bolted down the hall.The black smog peeled away from her back, leaving a faint, hazy figure behind.
"Oh. I see."
So the smog and the spirit had been fused together.The pale ghost bowed politely to Mooyoung before fading.Judging by the resemblance, it was probably her mother.
"The black smog's still there, though," he murmured.
Running home wouldn't save her now.Either everything she owned would burn,or she'd get caught in the fire herself.One way or another, misfortune would catch her.
'But that "video of the guy"… from her reaction, it's important.Could it be Envin?'
Whoosh—
The ghost slipped through the wall, chasing after her daughter.
Left alone, Mooyoung dusted off his clothes and straightened up.
Creak—
Envin opened the door.He stared at Mooyoung, then down the empty hallway, disbelief etched on his face.
"What did you do?"
Nothing much.Compared to the usual troublesome spirits, this was nothing.
He'd merely passed on a message.
But still…
"You really want to know?"
Did he really owe him an explanation?
Envin was speechless at the cheeky reply.
Was that even an answer? Of course he wanted to know!
"Tell me. Now."
Stalkers were hell.He'd been through plenty of scandals,but nothing tormented him like those obsessed fans.If this kid had some kind of secret trick, he needed to learn it.
"I just told her to go home. She listened.""You expect me to believe that?""Believe it or not. By the way, isn't it weird how casual we sound now?Feels like we're already friends."
Mooyoung slung his bag over his shoulder, waved lightly, and smiled.
"Well then, I'll get going."
"Hey—"
Envin blocked his path, scowling.Mooyoung folded his arms, tilting his head.
"I don't get why you're making such a fuss.""Explain it. In detail.That psycho's been haunting this company for months.Even the pros couldn't handle her."
"So you're saying I did what the veterans couldn't?""Exactly, so—"
"And you want me to tell you for free?"
Mooyoung widened his eyes in mock surprise.Of course there had to be a price.
Envin gave a crooked grin and signaled to his manager.
"Hey!""Yeah?""Bring my wallet."
Money. If that's what the kid wanted, he could have plenty.He earned tens of billions a year.Paying a hefty sum for some peace of mind was nothing.
But Mooyoung murmured as the manager rushed in with the bag,
"I never said I wanted money."
Leaning lazily against the wall, he smiled faintly.
"Nothing's Free, After All."
"No, I mean—sure, money's nice. But…"
But what?
A dozen guesses raced through Envin's mind.Did the kid want an agency introduction? A connection to another project?Or maybe—
"Cancel my termination."
"What? From this web drama?"
Envin blinked, dumbfounded.
Of all the possibilities he'd imagined, this was the simplest one.Didn't he realize how this industry worked?Actors were swapped out like props all the time—especially when bigger names got involved.
Is he an idiot?
Or maybe just naïve about how the business ran.
Either way, Envin figured this could work in his favor.
"Fine."
"And apologize. To me and the staff."
"Apologize?"
"You fired me on a whim. Casting was the company's call, not yours.You know what they call that? Overstepping authority."
The door was still open.Every staff member in the room—managers, film crew, even the PR intern—was watching.
It was the kind of absurd, once-in-a-lifetime sight that no one could look away from.
What the hell am I seeing right now?Is there actually a way to get rid of a stalker?Did Envin just get told to apologize?
Everyone held their breath.
Jo Miyoung, in particular, felt her pulse quicken.For the first time all day, she was actually entertained.
Bold kid… what was his name again? Ha Mooyoung?
Envin gave a small, helpless laugh and ran a hand through his hair.
But to be fair, he had crossed the line.He'd been too wound up from the stalker mess, too quick to act out of emotion.
"Alright. Sorry. I overreacted."
"Mhm. It's fine. I shouldn't have laughed at your acting either. My bad."
They exchanged apologies like two grade-schoolers forced to make up after a fight.
Then Envin turned and bowed politely to the staff.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I went too far today.""Oh, no, it's understandable.""Ha-ha, right, no worries."
Awkward laughter filled the air—like a moral-lesson skit from a school textbook.
Envin straightened and gave Mooyoung a subtle nod.Satisfied?
"And one last thing."
"You sure have a lot of demands."
"Practice your lines properly."
"…!"
Jo Miyoung's eyes widened.
There it is. The hole in the collapsing sky.Ha Mooyoung—you absolute miracle.
"It's my first project, and it's really important to me," Mooyoung continued."So I hope you'll cooperate. If you need help, I can help you."
"What kind of help?"
"Line delivery, breathing, scene work—whatever it takes to make the acting better."
"Ha! You said this is your first project. I've done three."
"Even better! Then you'll be great.Once we wrap filming, I'll tell you what I said to that stalker."
"You're kidding. What if she shows up again before that?"
"Hmm… I don't think she will. Not for a while."
"…You sure about that?"
The silence carried a warning—if this is a joke, you're dead.Envin scowled.
"I'm sure."
But Mooyoung only smiled, too delighted just to be back on the project to care.
At that moment, two police officers appeared at the end of the hallway.
"Police! We got a call!"
"Ah, yes, right here!"
The manager and staff hurried to meet them.Mooyoung nudged Envin toward the meeting room.
"Come on. Let's head back in.""You want to continue the reading? After this?""Professionals finish their schedules. We'll do what we can.If it doesn't work, call me later—we can rehearse separately.I'm a student; I've got time."
Does this guy forget I'm a celebrity?
Envin gave a short, incredulous laugh.The way the kid talked—like this was a college theater club—was unbelievable.
"Alright, everyone," the director clapped. "Let's pick up where we left off.""How much time do we have left?""About an hour.""Then let's just finish Episodes 2 and 3.Mooyoung, you'll probably meet with Envin separately later."
"Why would I—"
Before he could finish, Mooyoung held out his phone.
"Your number."
He wasn't wrong; they'd have to meet again eventually,especially if Envin still wanted to know how he'd scared off that stalker.
For a moment, Envin hesitated—manager's number or personal?
"If you leak this, you're dead.""Ooh, a celebrity's real number!"
Mooyoung grinned as he typed it in.
Unbelievable. Never met anyone like this.Annoying, yes—but somehow not in a bad way.
A notification pinged.
Ding.
[Ha Mooyoung: Nice to meet you.By the way, did that stalker ever film you or anything?]
"Film me? No idea. She always has a camera, so probably.""Hmm. I see."
"Alright, let's start? Envin.""Yeah. Let's go. Don't talk to me again."
Envin turned back to the script, his pronunciation cleaner than before.Mooyoung sat quietly, watching.
And outside the room—
Damn. I wanted to see Ha Mooyoung act too.
Jo Miyoung sighed as she left for her next appointment,murmuring the name under her breath.
Ha Mooyoung…