1. A Smile as I Enter the Coffin

“2576, it’s exercise time.”

2576—no matter how many times I hear it, it’s still strange to think of it as my new name.

The CEO of WON Entertainment, once hailed as a major player in the entertainment industry.

No one could have predicted that I’d fall so swiftly, all in a single day. And to be ruined so pitifully, by the hands of those I once trusted…

It wasn’t just stock manipulation charges or violations of the drug control laws; the crimes pinned on me were too numerous to count.

“Bastard…”

Every single one of those crimes must have been committed by that scumbag. I gritted my teeth in frustration.

Then, I heard the grating sound of metal scraping, and the door opened.

After walking a short distance, I found myself in front of a mirror on the hallway wall.

I saw a reflection of myself from before: sharply dressed in a neat suit, always smiling brightly.

But now, that person was nowhere to be seen. In her place was a woman in her mid-30s, wearing prison garb, her face gaunt and pale, her skin roughened.

“Will I ever get my revenge?”

I had to find a way to get out of here within ten years and prove my innocence.

As I walked, led weakly by the guard, a glimmer of bright sunlight flickered at the end of the corridor. It was the one time each day I could actually talk to someone, but I didn’t look forward to it at all. Even when I tried to walk alone, other inmates would flock around me.

Though they didn’t know me well personally, they knew all about the idols I had managed. My idols had fanbases not only in Korea but internationally as well.

The boy group Eternal.

Their fanbase was named Timeless, or Timelit for short.

There were plenty of Timelits here, too.

It didn’t take long for my identity to be revealed. Exercise time had turned into a time when I had to endure all their probing questions.

“Does Yeolha have a girlfriend? Come on, be honest.”

“How about Byeolho?”

“Is it true that Hwon is an illegitimate child?”

I could easily brush off questions like that. I had always told everyone that reacting to gossip only backfires.

But it was hard to ignore the aggressive mob that grabbed me by the collar.

“They say you tormented Hyunmyung so much he couldn’t even sleep, you awful woman.”

“That’s why Robert ran back to his own country.”

Don’t they ever get tired? Every time they see me, they spit on me or throw dirt and stones.

“Did you know you ruined our oppas’ lives?”

Oppa? Most of them are probably older than the idols.

“The start and end of every rumor is always the same place. Don’t pay it any mind.”

That’s what I had always told my staff and the idols: don’t respond to every little thing.

But I never thought they’d shove me and hit me like this day after day.

‘Sigh…’

After wiping the spit off my face, I looked up at the sky, letting out a small sigh.

It was up to the guard to drive away the Timelits who crowded around me.

“This must have been how the boys felt.”

Thinking of them again made my heart ache.

I had built up the group step by step, managing every detail—even the direction of each member’s parting. From their early days as nobodies, to their debut song finally climbing back up the charts, and every hit that followed.

I’d helped them study songwriting, venture into acting, and even get into musicals, so they could fully showcase their talents.

The members of Eternal were kids who worked hard to communicate with their fans, studying English and other languages on their own.

But perhaps I was the one who set the stage for all this ruin.

As our company grew into a major player in the entertainment industry, we naturally developed a close, sibling-like relationship with Giordan Entertainment, which was run by Choi Hyukjae, a road manager I had become friendly with over the years. His company was small, but out of loyalty to Hyukjae, I often helped him with various tasks. Giordan’s artists were also full of raw potential.

I even allowed Giordan’s artists to come and practice at our agency, and they felt comfortable around me.

Hyukjae had always admired Eternal, or perhaps… even envied them—though I had been completely unaware of it.

“You need a hit like yours to start making real money. What did I do in a past life to be stuck with these pathetic kids clinging to me?”

Was he always like this? Hyukjae had changed—or rather, he’d always been this way, and I just hadn’t seen it.

A man who only cared about money. Recently, there were even rumors circulating that he was manipulating stock prices.

Taking a small sip from my teacup, I calmly responded.

“Oppa, are the kids just products to you? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

As his eyebrow raised in reaction, the door to the CEO’s office suddenly flew open.

Hesitantly entering through the open door was the leader of an older girl group from Giordan Entertainment, a member they often called their “problem child.” Was her stage name Rose?

She had announced her marriage, but even that didn’t make the news and quickly faded away.

As the secretary who looked flustered, trying to stop her, the idol placed a legal complaint on the table—a claim for damages.

In a shaky voice, she spoke up.  

“You said you’d let me terminate my contract, so how can you demand such a large sum from me? You haven’t even given me my earnings for years.”

Hyukjae smirked, twisting his lips, then took off his watch and placed it on the table before picking up an ashtray.

“You know how much I spent on raising you useless brats? Are you crazy?”

Under his threat, she wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach and crouched down in her seat.

She was pregnant.

I realized it instantly.

I quickly twisted his hand, forcing him to drop the ashtray, which clattered to the floor.

“Aagh, what the hell are you doing?”

Turning to the trembling woman, I took off my jacket and draped it over her.  

“Are you alright? Let’s go out together.”

Before leaving with her, I shot a cold glare at Hyukjae, who was clutching his hand and glaring back at me.

“You scumbag. Calling us ‘siblings companies’ for PR? Don’t ever contact me again.”

After that incident, my falling out with Hyukjae became widely known in the entertainment world, but I couldn’t have cared less.

I fully funded Rose—no, Kim Sunkyung’s—legal fees, severing all ties with Hyukjae. 

Hyukjae was rotten to the core; he’d only hidden it when he was powerless. To the strong, he grovelled; to the weak, he acted high and mighty.

Even so, I didn’t think it was necessary to cut ties with his artists. By now, I’d grown quite fond of them as well. 

I had intended to wrap up our collaborative projects as soon as possible, but in the end, that led to this disaster.

Some of Choi Hyukjae’s artists got caught up in a drug scandal. And then I heard the devastating news that Hyunmyung—the sensitive kid in Eternal—had gotten entangled in it too.

I never thought I’d experience betrayal like this firsthand.

It was a chaotic collaboration between an insider and Hyukjae himself, and that insider was none other than Hyunmyung, the member of Eternal whom I’d trusted, time and time again.

“Have I ever let you down?”

But already consumed by drugs, he couldn’t answer me, only staring blankly at the ceiling.

Seeing him in that broken state during my final visit to the hospital before heading to detention—it hurt even more.

Meanwhile, the media broadcasted a live interview with Choi Hyukjae.

“I should have kept a closer eye on Seo Ahwon, the president of WON Entertainment, who I considered a close friend and cared about deeply. I have nothing to say. I take full responsibility and will do my best to help both companies recover so that the artists can make a comeback. President Seo not only manufactured and distributed drugs, but also encouraged his own artists and even mine to use them…”

Hyukjae’s secretary handed him a handkerchief as he pretended to choke up.

“They were victims, caught unaware. I will work tirelessly to bring these artists back on track and restore WON Entertainment to the level of our own company, for the sake of art and culture.”

Me—the one supposedly manufacturing and distributing drugs and ruining the lives of the artists I cherished. The monster who had destroyed Eternal and my own company.

Of all the Eternal members, Hwon was the only one who hadn’t been tainted by drugs. Occasionally, he would come to visit me, looking at me with eyes full of uncertainty.

“Oh, look. You’re about to cry again.”

He gave me a small grin.

“Wait for me, Director Noona ^[1]  Noona means older sister or older female called by younger males. . I’ll get you out soon.”

“Don’t call me that. It’s over for me. Go on and live your life.”

“Giordan—or rather, WON Entertainment—I’ll get it back for you, Noona. I’ll make it happen soon.”

Hwon gestured through the glass for me to come closer.

“I found out something. I’ve got them by the tail.”

By then, I had almost given up on everything. I looked at Hwon and shook my head.

“Forget it. Didn’t I tell you to avoid getting involved in this mess? Just focus on living your life.”

Hwon unbuttoned his shirt collar and rubbed his face with a dry hand.

“No. I can’t just walk away. You built this with everything you had.”

‘With noona…’

That’s how it all began. I told them to trust me, to think of me as their Noona and follow my lead. But as the company grew, they naturally started calling me “President.” 

Now, what does it even matter? I’m no longer the president.

I just gave him a faint smile.

He may be someone I personally selected, but he truly is strikingly handsome. With his clean-cut features and sharp gaze, he’s anything but ordinary.

Yet it’s been a month without a word from him. Knowing how busy the entertainment world is, I don’t feel hurt by it.

Instead, today, someone else has come to visit me.

Rose, the girl group member I once knew………….no, Sunkyung came to visit, bringing along her cute, bright-eyed baby who looked just like her.

“Look, honey, this is Mommy’s lifesaver. Isn’t she pretty?”

“Pretty? Hardly. And don’t bring your baby to a place like this. Why would you even come here?”

“ Eonni ^[2] Eonni means older sister or older female called by younger girls. , I mean, President, you saved both me and my child. I’m truly on your side. But you don’t look so well.”

“…”

“You have to stay healthy. That jerk has been putting on weight like crazy. Every time he’s on TV, I can’t stand to look at him.”

I just nodded.

“He really does have a punchable face.”

At least, if there’s one thing to be grateful for, it’s this.

They say if you have even three people in your life at the end, it’s a successful one. And here I have two people who came to see me.

I waved to Sunkyung and her baby with a smile as I slowly turned to leave the room. But just as I reached for the door handle, a sharp pain pierced my chest.

Then I heard Sunkyung’s scream mixed with the voice of a guard.

“Eonni! Eonni!”

“2576! Get ahold of yourself! 2576!”

And that was how I died.

Can a soul linger in a funeral hall even after death?

My funeral was arranged by Hwon, Sunkyung, and her husband, and was packed with reporters every day. Ironically, the news of Choi Hyukjae’s suicide, the very man responsible for my death, was also broadcast on television. Apparently, he had taken his own life to escape after confidential documents had been publicly exposed. It was Hwon who had uncovered everything—impressive, really.

Even as a ghost, I couldn’t help but smile as I watched Hwon in his suit, being interviewed.

“There were many obstacles in clearing my president’s name. Choi Hyukjae—not just in our company but throughout society—was distributing drugs….”

Though it was sad that I only saw my name cleared after my death, part of me looked forward to meeting Choi Hyukjae in the afterlife.

I gladly closed my eyes, imagining the satisfaction of beating him up to my heart’s content when I found him in the afterlife.

But then…

When I opened my eyes, I was standing blankly in front of a blazing stove, holding a steaming pot of meat soup.

“Madam! Hurry up and bring it here! Don’t you know I have to head to the courthouse soon?”

I turned and saw a man sitting on a low bench, holding a spoon and looking at me with an annoyed expression.

“Me? This?”

The man stared at me like I was crazy.

“Did you get possessed by a ghost? Just bring it here already!”

Seo Ahwon. 

I was supposed to beat Choi Hyuk-jae to death not just once, but over and over again in the afterlife…

So why on earth have I become a tavern keeper in the Joseon era?

• 1.  Noona means older sister or older female called by younger males.
• 2. Eonni means older sister or older female called by younger girls.