Sera, a 24-year-old vibrant young woman from the UNICEF Nepal Disaster Response Headquarters, had been a university student in Paris with a keen interest in volunteer work. Prompted by the news from Nepal, she volunteered to come here, harboring aspirations to work for UNICEF after her graduation. Hence, she possessed a genuine interest in her work and a deep understanding of the organization. It was her 29th day in Nepal when she noticed Kevin Deisler, the director, heading outside the base camp with a telescope late at night to observe a specific area.
Stealthily following him, Sera peered towards where Kevin was looking. Straining her eyes in the deep night that made it hard to see, she called out, "Director!"
Startled, Kevin, who had been intently observing through his telescope, jumped, his shoulders visibly shaking from the shock. Turning to Sera with wide eyes, he found her with her hands on her hips, stating, "I'm not sure what you're looking at, Director, but you do know that could be considered a crime, right? If news got out that the head of a humanitarian organization like UNICEF was involved in this sort of crime, it could cause quite a stir. It's time to stop now."
Fumbling with his telescope, Kevin stammered, "No, no... Sera, it's not what you think..."
"What do you mean it's not? I've seen you come out here every night with your telescope for the past two weeks."
Looking around uneasily, Kevin offered the telescope to Sera, urging, "Look, you'll understand if you see for yourself."
Sera took the telescope, skeptically aiming it at the spot Kevin had been observing, to inquire, "What beauty could possibly be... Oh? Is that Geon?"
Detaching from the telescope to regard Kevin, Sera's expression grew even more puzzled.
"Really? You were interested in that?"
Kevin, confused, asked, "Interested in what?"
Blushing and waving his hand dismissively, Kevin exclaimed, "What are you talking about? Do I look like that kind of guy?"
As Sera motioned with the telescope, implying him to explain further, Kevin clarified, "Look again. Isn't Geon sitting on the cliff, singing? Just look around him."
Sera gave Kevin a disdainful look before peering through the telescope again.
"What's there? He's just playing guitar and singing."
"Look around him, will you? Around where Geon is singing."
"Around? What's around... Oh?"
Through the lens, Sera saw Geon seated on a cliff, endlessly extending his legs over it, strumming his guitar and singing. Although too distant to discern the song, the faint sound of the guitar reached her. Shifting the telescope's lens around Geon, a black cow came into view, seemingly in high spirits, laying on its back, rubbing itself on the grass. Not taking her eyes off the telescope, Sera remarked, "A cow? Why a cow? Is this your first time seeing a cow in Nepal? It's common here since they're considered sacred."
"Yeah, I've seen plenty. But Sera, have you ever seen a cow lying next to a person, belly-up, rubbing its back on the ground like that?"
After a moment's thought, Sera admitted, "I guess not... Is that so unusual?"
"Look around more."
"What else is there? Let's see... Oh?"
"Do you see? There are over thirty cows lying around."
The scene in Sera's telescope was indeed astonishing. Behind Geon, who was looking towards the mountains and singing, lay over thirty black cows in various positions, all sleeping. Kevin spoke to an awestruck Sera, "If you look around, there are over ten dogs and cats, even chickens and ducks. Look up at the trees. There are even unknown birds sitting on the branches."
Hearing Kevin, Sera frantically scanned the area as he described. Among the large black cows, yellow and black dogs lay sleeping in the grass, tongues lolling out. Cats of various patterns, normally avoidant of dogs, were sprawled on rocks and grass, asleep. Several chickens and ducks waddled around, and on the trees, numerous birds of unknown species perched on the branches, looking towards Geon.
Lowering the telescope, Sera gaped, momentarily speechless, before pointing towards Geon and looking at Kevin, her mouth agape in silence for over a minute before finally speaking.
"Are... are those animals gathered because Geon is singing?"
Kevin nodded slowly, "I had the same thought initially, wondering if such a thing could happen... The first time I saw this was 15 days ago. Since then, I've observed Geon singing every day at the same time, and it's only after he starts singing that the animals gather. Before he sings, not
even a mouse is in sight. As soon as Geon begins his first song, birds start settling down on the branches first, followed by dogs with sharp hearing, and then the black cows arrive, with cats, chickens, and ducks following."
Sera, dumbfounded, exclaimed, "Is that even possible?"
Shaking his head, Kevin admitted, "It doesn't make sense, which is why I haven't told anyone. You've seen it with your own eyes and still can't believe it, who would believe such a story if I told them?"
Sera stood in silence, then once again raised the telescope to her eyes to watch Geon. A bird had landed on his head, not waking from his gentle singing. Geon opened his eyes wide in surprise but soon smiled and continued singing. The bird, undisturbed by his presence, began to play with his hair. Watching this surreal scene, Sera again removed her eyes from the telescope to stare into the darkness, then back again, stealing glances at Geon. Kevin, folding his arms and chuckling softly, remarked, "You're reacting just like I did when I first saw it."
Sera, eagerly peeking through the telescope at Geon, suggested, "Wouldn't this be a huge sensation if it were reported?"
Kevin shook his head, "I tried to take pictures, but it only happens late at night, and there's no lighting. If I try to approach stealthily, the animals sense it and run away, and so does Geon. So, I ended up lying that I came just for a cup of coffee."
Lowering the telescope, Sera nodded in agreement, "Even with infrared mode, it wouldn't capture the atmosphere. Maybe a professional photographer or documentary cameraman could do it?"
"Maybe, but taking photos without Geon's permission would be invasion of privacy. We're disaster relief volunteers, not paparazzi. I wouldn't want to go that far."
Sera, nodding, asked, "Then why do you keep watching every day?"
Extending his hand for the telescope, Kevin explained, "You know why. You'll definitely be here tomorrow at this time, holding a telescope, right? Where else would you see something like this in your life?"
Sera smiled, handing back the telescope, "Not tomorrow, I want to see more right now. Let me watch a little longer."
Kevin, attempting to snatch the telescope, protested, "No, Geon goes inside once all the animals have fallen asleep. There's not much time left, give it here."
Sera stepped back, exclaiming, "But you've seen it every day, let me watch a bit more!"
As Kevin rushed to take the telescope, he suggested, "There's another telescope in the camp! Go get it and watch."
Moments later, the two sat side by side on a rock, each with a telescope, gazing at Geon. The scene they observed through their lenses was mystically beautiful. Sera watched in amazement as a bird on Geon's head snuggled against his hair, slowly nodding off. As the Himalayan night deepened with Geon's song, Sera and Kevin continued to sneak peeks at him. At that moment, Geon found a reason to smile, thanks to the animals. Carefully setting aside his guitar to not wake the bird on his head, Geon turned to gaze at the sleeping animals around him. Not all were fully asleep, but the ones dozing off contributed to the quiet surroundings. Looking further into the Himalayan mountains, Geon's thoughts deepened.
'I certainly had opportunities to make money in the past. But I've always tried to avoid it as much as possible.'
Reflecting on the past month of physical labor, Geon considered, 'Of course, I must have been of some help, but my efforts were too insignificant. Although I've contributed financially through fundraising, if I had my own disposable income, I could have provided immediate assistance to those in need more swiftly.'
Gazing at the mountains, barely visible in the darkness but unmistakably filled with life, Geon pondered, 'Would I have had the same thoughts here if I had aggressively pursued wealth? Might I have been too caught up in the comfort money brings, striving only to accumulate more?'
Leaning forward, elbows on his thighs and chin in hand, Geon mused, 'It's hard to say... If I had money, would I have readily offered help, or would I have been too stingy to part with it?'
As Geon shivered slightly in the cold mountain air, causing the bird on his head to fly away, he watched it disappear into the mountains with a sigh.
'Maybe it's time to start making money... to plan and set rules, ensuring a portion is always donated.'
Geon looked towards the school, brightly lit by government-installed lights despite the late hour. Patients lay on temporary mattresses in the playground
, awaiting treatment. Even at this late hour, nurses in white bustled among the patients, looking like ants from a distance.
'Sigh... But how do I begin making money? Should I try producing an album right away?'
Pondering, as he doodled with a twig on the ground, a person came to mind. A serious expression turned into a faint smile on Geon's face, gradually deepening into laughter. After glancing around at the animals, careful not to awaken them, Geon tiptoed back to his tent to sleep. Left behind on the rock, a message doodled with the twig remained: 'Son Lin.'
In the office of the director on the 12th floor of Fantagio in Shanghai, Son Lin sat with a steaming cup of coffee in front of her, lost in thought as she turned her chair to look out the window.
"Do you want to make money?"
She recalled the conversation she had just had with Geon, who had borrowed Yeongseok's satellite phone to call her.
"Director, is there a way for me to make money?"
"Have you changed your mind? You, who lived as if you'd built a wall between yourself and money, what's going on?"
"Well... I've come to realize that extending a hand in sympathy and providing financial support are two different things. I think I should do both."
"Really? Feels like you've suddenly become a philanthropist. What about returning to school?"
"I haven't thought about that yet, I plan to postpone it a bit."
"Hmm... Do you have a specific amount in mind?"
"No, I just want to keep enough for tuition fees later on and donate the rest of the money I earn to Nepal."
"Hmm.. Donating... Are you thinking of making money through music?"
"No, any method will do. Right now, all I want is to provide immediate assistance to those who are suffering."
"I see... Immediate cash flow would most likely come from advertising. Your current popularity is at its peak. Just yesterday, 'The Song of the Himalayas' Part 3 was aired, featuring you rushing down to Gorkha village carrying an elderly woman on your back. Not to mention, the fundraising broadcast produced through UNICEF has become a global topic."
"Then, could you look into advertising for me?"
"Your contract with Fantagio expired during your military service. I'll send over the re-signing documents."
"Yes, I'll sign them right away and send them back. Please proceed with the advertising, Director."
"Geon, we can't just recklessly shoot a lot of advertisements."
"Huh? But the more we shoot, the more donations we can gather, right?"
"Advertisements also consume an entertainer's image. Too much exposure can lead to a quick downfall due to becoming stale. How about limiting it to two or three?"
"Hmm... Won't that limit the amount of money I can make? How much can I expect to earn?"
"Your current standing is S-grade. Based on Korean standards, a 6-month contract for a single shoot could bring in between 400 to 500 million won."
"What? So, shooting just two could make a billion?"
"Yes, after dividing Fantagio's share and handling taxes, your portion would be less than 700 million won."
"Wow, that's more than I expected. Alright, I trust you with this, Director."
"When do you plan to return to Korea?"
"Well, considering Cha Eun's and Yeongseok's schedules, I think I can make it back in about two weeks."
"Alright, we'll get everything ready."
Bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window, Lin was deep in thought.
'Geon will live his life as a musician. Rashly shooting numerous ads could, in the long run, be detrimental.'
Lin's contemplation lasted from the morning after ending the call with Geon until the sun set.
Three days later, Fantagio announced a press conference to the world's media, not just Chinese media but also foreign correspondents. Although it was unusual for a private company like Fantagio to hold such a press conference, the announcement garnered immense interest as soon as the content of the press conference was revealed. The news that Fantagio intended to discuss Geon's contract extension and his future endeavors spread worldwide in less than a day.
Various countries sent special dispatch teams to China, in addition to their correspondents residing there, to cover news about Geon. Consequently, Shanghai was bustling with foreign journalists. Anticipating the number of media attending based on the RSVPs, Fantagio rented the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) instead of a hotel venue due to the overwhelming number of participants.
Exactly four days later, the SNIEC was chaotic from dawn. Journalists jostled for a good spot to capture Lin's arrival and the entire event. Lin had arranged for around a hundred security personnel beforehand to prevent any issues.
Thirty minutes before the press conference, Lin alighted from a black Rolls-Royce Phantom at the entrance of the venue. Dressed in a black blouse, a black skirt, and a white ribbon on her left chest, Lin's arrival prompted journalists to swarm around her, bombarding her with questions. However, blocked by security personnel from getting too close, Lin simply stated, "I will address everything at the press conference," and entered the venue without turning back despite journalists' pleas for comments.
Inside, journalists quickly set up their laptops and connected with their home offices through messaging apps to prepare their articles for immediate release.
As Lin entered the stage,
a barrage of flashes greeted her. Dressed in all black, she greeted the audience politely before taking a moment and then stepping up to the microphone.
"First, I would like to express my condolences to the victims of the recent Nepal earthquake and their families."
The unusual opening remarks for an entertainment company's press conference quieted the journalists. They stopped typing and focused on Lin, who continued.
"Fantagio intends to express its condolences for this tragedy by launching a crowdfunding system to provide financial support to Nepal as much as possible. This fundraising will target companies within China, excluding the general public. More details will be shared later."
The journalists typed faster, as it was an unprecedented decision for a Chinese entertainment company to engage in fundraising through crowdfunding. Lin observed the journalists for a moment before moving on to the main topic.
"Let's get to the point. Fantagio has decided to extend its contract with Geon, who had completed his military service, causing his previous contract to end. I want to clarify that this was done with Geon's consent."
After taking a brief pause, Lin continued.
"Geon's first contract will involve advertisements. He intends to donate 90% of his earnings from these advertisements to Nepal."
The journalists had mixed reactions. Some admired Geon's commitment to donate 90% of his advertising fees, while others were disappointed, having flown to China just to learn about his ad campaigns. However, Lin's following statement shifted their expressions to shock.
"Geon will live as a musician. We, Fantagio, want to avoid excessive advertising that could deplete his image. That's why we've made this decision."
As Lin stepped off the podium, the screens beside her displayed a PPT presentation, showing a world map. Approaching the screen, Lin announced:
"Geon will only shoot three advertisements. As I mentioned earlier, 90% of his earnings from these ads will be donated to Nepal. Starting now, Fantagio will initiate an unprecedented 'ad model auction'!"
The screen changed to show the auction details:
'Minimum Bid: None / Maximum Bid: None / Country/Region: None / Duration: Starting now, for 3 days'
As murmurs grew among the journalists, Lin smiled and explained, "These three ads won't be limited to Korea or China. Any company or government from around the world can participate, with the top three bidders winning the opportunity to work with Geon. Bids can be sent to Fantagio's business email on our website from now for the next three days."
"Please include the ad duration, all necessary conditions, and the bid amount in your email. Fantagio will keep all bid amounts confidential, and only after contracts are finalized with the selected companies will the bid amounts be disclosed. This isn't just about securing an ad model; it's an opportunity to help the victims of the Nepal earthquake. We hope many companies will participate. Thank you."
As journalists raised their hands for questions, the room grew noisy. Lin picked one journalist, a man with brown hair and glasses, who asked:
"When will Geon return from Nepal? And we're contracting with Fantagio's representative, not Geon directly, correct?"
"Yes, that's correct. Next question?"
Lin answered each question succinctly, preventing further inquiries due to her clear responses. After addressing the journalists for a while, Lin gathered her documents and left, saying, "This concludes our press conference. For partnership inquiries, please visit Fantagio's website."
As Lin exited, journalists busily typed their articles or sent summaries to their home offices. One journalist accessed Fantagio's website, which featured a large photo of Geon with the caption 'An angel of the poor' and a countdown timer reading 'Day - 3 23:43'.
The journalist included a screenshot in his article, and soon, other journalists followed suit, spreading the news.
**
In the publicity director's office of SJT, one of Korea's leading telecommunications companies.
"Bang!"
"Get it no matter what, even if it costs a fortune!"
The publicity director yelled at the team gathered around the long table. An article about Geon had just been published, and all the employees were busy on their laptops. The director, in his early 50s, glared at a man in his early 40s sitting next to him.
"Team Manager Kang! When did I tell you to try and get Geon as an ad model? You've been spacing out, and now we're stuck in a bidding war with other companies! Do you have any idea of Geon's current status? He's not just a national hero; he's a hero of the world!"
Manager Kang, sweating, replied, "But, Director, you said we shouldn't trust a nobody who hasn't even released an album yet..."
"Bang! What? Isn't it your job to assist me in making informed decisions? Do you expect me to keep up with the news all day when I'm
this busy?"
"I'm sorry, Director."
"Get it done. Consider it a large-scale corporate donation if you must. Use the social contribution budget if needed. I'll deal with the CEO."
Manager Kang cautiously asked, "How much should we aim for, Director?"
The director looked at Geon's photo on the screen and said, "Start at 100 billion. Use your connections to find out the bidding prices of competitors and always bid higher! Let's move!"
Employees quickly packed up and rushed out. The director watched Manager Kang, who lingered awkwardly.
"Manager Kang, aren't you leaving?"
"Oh! Yes!"
Manager Kang hurried out of the meeting room. And this scene was repeated in publicity departments of major corporations across Korea. They all knew they would be competing, but they underestimated the extent of the competition.
They were unaware that this phenomenon was not limited to Korea.