Chương 1: EP 1: The Ghost-Seeking Top Star
"Ishia unnie, your skin is so moisturized today."
Ji-hyun, who was in charge of makeup, exclaimed repeatedly in admiration.
Her hands became more careful as they touched Shia's face, which seemed like it would drip with moisture if just lightly tapped.
"No one else could maintain skin like this after staying up all night for over a week."
"If I paid that much money at the skincare center and couldn't keep up with this, I should sue them, right?"
"Come on!"
Ji-hyun laughed lightly. She always complained about how expensive the skincare center was but then expressed dissatisfaction when it didn't meet her expectations. Despite being one of the top stars in the country, she wasn't fond of spending money.
"By the way, Ji-hyun."
"Yes?"
"You said you grew up with your grandmother."
"...? Yes."
Ji-hyun tilted her head at Ishia's sudden question. Why was she bringing this up now after mentioning it casually during a drinking session long ago?
"When I was little, my parents were busy, so I lived with my grandmother until I got into middle school."
"When was the last time you contacted her?"
"Um... I think it's been about two months?"
"Two months?"
"Yes, I've been super busy with recent filming. Now that I think about it, it's been too long since I reached out to her."
Ji-hyun's face was still filled with confusion as she answered.
It was extremely rare for Ishia to show interest in someone else's family matters. Even after knowing each other for a long time, she never crossed certain boundaries.
That she remembered Ji-hyun grew up with her grandmother surprised her a bit.
"What about your phone?"
"My phone? Yours is over there..."
"Not mine; yours."
"My phone? Ah..."
As Ji-hyun hurriedly searched around, she let out a small sigh.
"I think I left it in the car."
"Go get it."
"Pardon?"
"Bring me your phone."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"You have to go into shooting soon..."
"I don't care."
"It's not something we need immediately; I can get my phone later."
"Go now."
"I'm still doing your makeup..."
"I'll handle the finishing touches."
"But..."
"Hurry up."
This was really strange. Surprised by Ishia's unusually firm demeanor, Ji-hyun finally ran toward the parking lot.
"Hyunseok oppa."
"Yes?"
Ishia quietly called her manager Hyunseok, who stood there looking just as curious as Ji-hyun.
"Find someone to fill in for Ji-hyun for a few days."
"For Ji-hyun?"
Hyunseok's eyes widened at her sudden request.
"Temporarily."
"Temporarily?"
"I think Ji-hyun won't be able to come for a few days."
"What do you mean all of a sudden?"
Instead of answering, Ishia cast her gaze toward the already distant Ji-hyun. More precisely, she looked at an elderly woman quietly following behind Ji-hyun.
The grandmother had been standing behind Ji-hyun with a sympathetic look on her face since earlier.
She stroked Ji-hyun's hair and smiled warmly whenever Ji-hyun laughed, making it easy to identify her as Ji-hyun's grandmother.
'Will a week be enough?'
Should I give her more time to gather herself?
"Prepare a wreath too."
"A wreath? What kind of wreath?"
"A wreath to send to the funeral."
"What?"
Leaving Hyunseok shocked by the mention of a funeral, Shia skillfully finished her makeup.
* * *
"Grandma, you saw that I sent an expensive wreath, right?"
There's a saying in the entertainment industry:
"I also contributed generously."
The fates of celebrities and shamans are quite similar; their fortunes are very much alike.
After completing a two-week filming project in the countryside and returning home, Shia let out a small sigh.
To relieve some fatigue and enjoy some alone time with a drink, she opened a can of beer from the fridge when she suddenly noticed the grandmother standing behind the refrigerator door.
"The funeral went well, and she was buried in a sunny place, right?"
Ah... maybe not? A columbarium isn't exactly what one would call sunny?
But anyway, why had this old woman come to see her out of nowhere after having had such a proper funeral and cremation?
Sighing inwardly again, Ishia brought the beer can to her lips.
"If you don't have anything to say, could you please leave? I'm tired right now."
Normally she would just ignore such things, but since this was her co-worker's grandmother whom she had worked with for over four years, it felt slightly wrong to dismiss her outright.
'Just slightly.'
Maybe it would have been better to pretend not to notice. Dealing with such beings while tired could be mentally exhausting.
[Our Ji-hyun...]
Finally breaking her silence after quietly watching Shia for some time, the grandmother spoke. Her hands and face were lined with wrinkles that hinted at a life not so smooth or easy.
[Please take care of her from now on.]
"..."
Are all grandmothers like this?
Seeing the grandmother bow politely with an incredibly kind smile towards someone much younger than herself made Ishia take another sip of beer.
Suddenly remembering something Hyunseok had said days ago made its way back into her mind.
'The only person crying at the funeral was Ji-hyun.'
It seemed that there had been quite a spectacle when Ji-hyun's parents and siblings fought over their grandmother's inheritance.
Guests at the funeral had even hurriedly left upon witnessing how the family members squabbled over who would get more from the inheritance and money from selling the house and land.
'Ah, what a waste of money.'
If she had known those kinds of people would take it all away, she wouldn't have contributed anything either.
[And can I ask you one small favor?]
Ishia raised her head again at what followed from the grandmother's words while grumbling internally.
Ishia. A top actress making waves across Asia at just twenty-five years old.
She started acting at fourteen and has established herself firmly through hit projects across various genres without fail.
'I want to say confidently that it's because I'm pretty and act so well.'
But...
'I can't deny that I've benefited from them.'
The information they provided has been incredibly useful.
Ishia. The representative top actress of South Korea possesses a unique trait:
'That's right; I...'
I see ghosts.
* * *
"Ji-hyun."
─ Yes, unnie?
She made a video call to Ji-hyun.
It seemed that Ji-hyun had suffered emotionally due to her grandmother's death; in just a few days' time, her face looked gaunt as if all flesh had melted away. Shia clicked her tongue softly inwardly at this sight.
"Did I mention before? I'm really interested in fortune-telling and astrology stuff."
─ Yes! You were the first one who predicted my grandmother would pass away. I was so startled when you kept asking me to bring my phone! But then this happened...
"It's just... your fortune didn't look good that day."
Of course, that was a lie. Ishia knew nothing about astrology or fortune-telling whatsoever.
She merely pretended to be interested in such things so others could easily accept what she learned through ghosts instead.
"You said you went to church too?"
At that moment Hyunseok interrupted their conversation from behind.
"Yes, I did."
No—she used to go.
"I'm baptized."
Once upon a time when trying hard to suppress these ghost-seeing abilities she attended church diligently—even getting baptized!
'On the day of my baptism...'
She remembered how ghosts stood around applauding in celebration as if congratulating her before quietly cutting ties altogether afterward!
Afterward, she visited temples and shrines but found nothing special there either.
"What does going to church have to do with fortune-telling?"
"Well still..."
"That's enough."
Ishia cut Hyunseok off quickly before he could dig deeper into his thoughts and returned her attention back toward her phone screen instead.
"Are you still at your grandmother's house?"
Ji-hyun remained alone at her late grandmother's house sorting through belongings left behind.
Other family members left immediately citing busyness—wanting to sell the house and land as quickly as possible!
While they could hire someone else for cleanup work; Ji-hyun couldn't bear throwing away precious items belonging to someone who had cared for them for so long through strangers' hands!
Having asked Ishia and the agency for more time off; she continued working alone sorting through everything left behind by grandma.
─ Sorry! I need to return quickly...
"That's right; hurry back! Don't let others touch my face anymore!"
─ Yes!
Ji-hyun's voice brightened even more upon hearing Shia insist on returning quickly rather than resting properly!
"Is there a persimmon tree on the east side of your grandma's house?"
A while later Ishia got straight into what she wanted after asking about this matter directly without hesitation!
─ ...!
Ji-hyun's mouth dropped open in shock upon hearing those words!
─ Yes!
Of course there is one!
─ I'm not sure if it's east...
But it is indeed east!
─ Anyway yes! How did you know?
"Today your fortune says you'll find great wealth under that persimmon tree on the east side."
─ W-Wealth?
"If you're not going to lose something anyway then digging under that tree wouldn't hurt."
─ Digging under it?
"Yes."
─ Ah… okay...
Her response sounded lukewarm.
'This must sound absurd.'
It would indeed be strange if someone believed such words outright without question!
'But people are funny creatures.'
Even when told something like this they find it hard not believing entirely! It's natural for them to feel 'what if' lingering doubts arise too!
'If there's potential for great wealth then what harm could come from digging just once?'
Moreover since Ishia had predicted Ji-hyun's grandma passing away beforehand; completely ignoring what she said would become even harder now!
"Well then good luck!"
─ Yes unnie!
Having finished everything needed quickly Ishia hung up immediately afterward!
'That should do it?'
Last night what Ji-hyun's grandmother requested was precisely this message:
[Please tell her to dig under the persimmon tree.]
'Perhaps she felt pity.'
While neglecting their own children due business ventures—spending every last penny earned on themselves—Ji-hyun took on countless part-time jobs since childhood helping support younger siblings instead!
To those eyes belonging solely towards granddaughter—wasn't it only natural they appeared filled with sympathy?
'That must have been quite some money.'
Most likely all profits accumulated through saving efforts were stored carefully beneath where the tree grew!
All kept neatly inside large jars meant specifically for the granddaughter's share only waiting until needed later down the line...
Knowing full well no inheritance would ever come back regarding houses or lands due greedy offspring fighting over everything once gone already...
'She must've written letters ahead too.'
Did grandma somehow foresee passing unexpectedly due heart attack? Long ago she'd already penned down words meant solely intended towards future granddaughter placed inside those jars waiting patiently until now...
All money contained within belonged solely yours—so don't feel burdened using any funds freely without worry whatsoever...
'There shouldn't be any chance losing even that much.'
Ishia wasn't naive enough believing anyone could take away something like this easily either...
'Well whatever—I've done everything required already.'
Having conveyed every message given meant completing tasks assigned successfully thus far completed satisfactorily without issue whatsoever henceforth!
"Oh wow! You can read fortunes too? What about mine? How does mine look today?"
Hyunseok who'd been pacing nearby throughout their entire conversation suddenly looked eager staring expectantly upon Ishia once again!
"..."
For just an instant Ishia remained silent while gazing back deeply into Hyunseok's eyes directly facing him straight ahead afterwards!
"How about Hyunseok oppa's fortune—I don't know but Hye-eun unnie seems like luck awaits today!"
"Hye-eun?"
Upon hearing his wife's name mentioned unexpectedly caused Hyunseok confusion flickering across his features briefly before settling down again soon enough afterwards too!
"She has good fortune regarding wealth today."
"Really!?"
Whether he believed or not hearing about his wife having good luck regarding money brightened Hyunseok's expression immensely while pondering whether he should buy lottery tickets perhaps?
Meanwhile remembering Hye-eun laughing cheerfully earlier while revealing hidden stash savings made Ishia glance sympathetically toward Hyunseok once more afterwards…
"Today you have the fortune of losing wealth, oppa"
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