The moment the "On Air" light extinguished, the artificial tension of the studio dissolved, replaced by the frantic, buzzing energy of a wrap-up. Staff members swarmed the set, technicians began pulling cables, and the heavy silence of the broadcast was replaced by a cacophony of voices.

The host, still clutching the signed cue card as if it were a sacred relic, beamed at the trio. "Thank you so much for joining us. Truly. That was the most electric interview we've had in months. The producers are already seeing the engagement spikes—you've practically broken the internet in real-time."

"Thank you for having us," Mirae replied, her voice returning to its natural, soft tone. She looked exhausted but happy, the adrenaline of the broadcast slowly receding.

Chae-won stood up, smoothing out the fabric of her dress with a practiced, elegant motion. She glanced at Joon-ho, her gaze lingering for a moment with a hint of the competitive spark that always defined her relationship with him.

"Well, as much as I enjoyed the attention, I have a schedule to keep," Chae-won noted, her voice smooth and cool. "I'll leave you two to your 'national sweetheart' moment. I'll see you on premiere day, Joon-ho."

With a small, enigmatic smile and a subtle nod to the host, Chae-won turned and walked away, her heels clicking rhythmically against the studio floor. She left behind a vacuum of space that Elena, the Netflux representative, was more than happy to fill.

Elena stepped closer to Joon-ho and Mirae, her expression open and friendly. Gone was the corporate mask of the executive; she seemed genuinely thrilled to be in their company. She looked at them not as business assets, but as the creators of a work she truly admired.

"I can't tell you how excited I am for the premiere," Elena said, her voice bright. "I'll be honest—this is my first big project since taking over the East Asia region. Usually, the transition is all spreadsheets and budget meetings, but this… this is the first time I've felt a genuine thrill about a release. I've watched the screening three times already, and it still hits me like a ton of bricks."

Mirae giggled, touched by the sincerity in Elena's voice. "Three times? I'm flattered. I hope it doesn't get old."

"Impossible," Elena replied, waving a hand dismissively. "The chemistry between you two is a loop. I could watch it for a week and still find something new to be obsessed with. You've given us something that the algorithm can't replicate—actual, raw human tension."

Joon-ho watched her, appreciating the way she spoke. Elena was a strategist, but she was also a fan. That combination made her a dangerous ally for LUNE. She didn't just want the movie to succeed for the sake of the company; she wanted it to succeed because she loved the work. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"You've handled the distribution perfectly, Elena," Joon-ho said, his voice a low, appreciative rumble. "The simultaneous release is a bold move. It puts a lot of pressure on the production to deliver, but it's the right call."

"I like bold," Elena replied, her eyes sparkling. She leaned in slightly, her tone becoming more casual, almost intimate. "Listen, once the premiere madness settles down, you two absolutely have to visit New York. I have a place in the city that makes the penthouse suites of Seoul look like dorm rooms. I'll treat you both to the best food, the best views, and the best nightlife the East Coast has to offer. My treat."

Mirae looked at Joon-ho, a look of curiosity and excitement on her face. "New York? That sounds amazing."

"It's a deal," Joon-ho replied with a slight nod.

Elena smiled, but then her expression shifted into something more mischievous. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I must tell you, though… I'm glad I'm the one handling the East Asia region. Min-Kyung has been complaining incessantly in my emails. She's absolutely slammed with the global rollout, and she's practically screaming about how much work this project is creating for her."

Joon-ho and Mirae exchanged a surprised look.

"Wait, you know Min-Kyung?" Mirae asked, her eyebrows lifting.

Elena let out a soft, knowing laugh. "Know her? Oh, we go way back. We're old drinking buddies," she said, her voice returning to a normal volume. Then, leaning in once more, she whispered with a playful glint in her eye, "And we're… well, let's just say we're partners in a few other ways. She's a lot more aggressive than I am, but she's a riot once she's had a few glasses of wine."

The revelation was a small, visceral detail that humanized the corporate machine. It was a reminder that behind the titles of "Regional Director" and "Global Executive" were people with their own private lives and hidden desires.

"I didn't realize you two were so close," Joon-ho noted, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

"The best part of the job is the people you meet," Elena replied, stepping back and preparing to leave. She gave them one last, encouraging smile. "Seriously, don't forget about New York. I'll hold you to it. I want to see if Joon-ho is as charming in person as he is on screen—though, based on the last ten minutes, I think I already have my answer."

With a final wave and a wink, Elena walked away, her presence leaving a lingering sense of warmth and possibility. She was a bridge to a larger world, a sign that LUNE's reach was expanding far beyond the borders of South Korea.

Joon-ho and Mirae stood in the center of the studio for a moment, the noise of the crew continuing around them. The adrenaline of the interview was fading, leaving behind a sense of quiet satisfaction. They had played their parts, they had secured their allies, and they had set the stage for a global event.

"New York," Mirae murmured, leaning her head against Joon-ho's shoulder. "I've always wanted to go."

"We'll go," Joon-ho replied, wrapping his arm around her. "But first, we have a movie to release."

As they walked toward the exit of the studio, the lights began to dim behind them. The "Fox Priestess" was no longer a secret, and the world was waiting. As they stepped out into the cool evening air of Seoul, they knew that the path ahead was fraught with challenges—the Baek family was still lurking, and the AI project was a looming shadow—but for the first time, the scale of the game had shifted in their favor.

They left the studio and headed toward the car, the city's neon lights reflecting in the windows, a shimmering reminder of the urban jungle they were currently conquering.