Olivia and the Broadcast Appearance
After the second round of the Sejong Tournament against Cheonghyeon High wrapped up that very evening.
I was lying on my bed in my studio apartment, scrolling through news articles.
"Let's see... ah, here it is."
"Nah, not these."
I carefully typed 'Geum Seong-muk' into the search bar.
It was my own place, but it felt kinda sneaky somehow.
Still, nothing beats the thrill of some good old ego surfing.
"Hmm, now these are the real articles."
I was about to quietly hit save when my phone rang.
"What the—Olivia?"
A sudden call from her.
I picked up right away.
"Hey, Olivia. What's up?"
"Ah, Seong-muk. It's nothing major, but... I recently appeared in a YouTube content video..."
Olivia had been on a popular female idol's "daily cooking teacher" content. Apparently, the idol liked her so much she got her introduced to another big YouTube channel.
"...School Attack?"
"Yes, it's a concept where they visit high schools around the country and interview a famous guy and girl from each school."
The channel had a whopping 1.3 million subscribers, so it was pretty popular.
"So, they scouted you and me?"
"Yes, exactly. You and me."
They could film right after school tomorrow to fit my schedule. I asked Olivia first.
"You wanna do it?"
"Only if you're okay with it, Seong-muk."
"Tch."
I thought it over seriously.
The interview was only about an hour, and I had plenty of time before the stadium draw tomorrow. It wasn't impossible.
Considering it was content popular with teens and twenties, it could boost Munhyeok High's fanbase too.
'But if it's not necessary...'
They send a coffee truck to schools that participate—my classmates would love it, but it wasn't much incentive for me.
I'd pretty much made up my mind to pass.
Then—
"Oh, right. They set the pay high considering our recognition."
"Pay...?"
My ears perked up.
I wasn't planning to do it, but might as well hear the number.
"They're thinking around 5 million won..."
"Let's do it right now."
"Pardon...?"
I couldn't resist that.
Whether I make billions or trillions later—that was far-off future talk.
5 million won?
Too much to turn down.
I was just a broke high schooler with barely 100,000 won in my wallet right now.
In one of Munhyeok High's classrooms.
A YouTuber had borrowed an empty room to set up cameras.
Han Jae-beom, known as MC Jae-beom, was a 1.3 million subscriber creator hugely popular with the youth.
'Today's lineup is historic—Geum Seong-muk and Olivia!'
The national team ace and the next-gen star chef.
Sure, it cost a bit, but using these two? Worth every penny.
Han Jae-beom, a diehard high school baseball fan, planned to ask Seong-muk for an autograph after filming.
"Hello, everyone! Han Jae-beom here...! Today on School Attack, we're at Munhyeok High!"
"And we've brought the school's hottest guy and girl! Introducing Geum Seong-muk and Olivia Ramsey!"
Seong-muk and Olivia waved at the camera.
Brimming with excitement, Han Jae-beom fired off his prepared questions.
He targeted Seong-muk first.
"Can I start with Geum Seong-muk?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Do you hear stuff like 'You look scary!' a lot?"
"Every single day."
"Haha! Got it. So, your style—blond hair, tanned look—is there any particular reason?!"
Gulp...
Olivia swallowed hard beside him, clearly curious too. Seong-muk nodded like he'd expected it and pulled something from his pocket.
"You might be shocked, but I've been like this since birth."
"What...?!"
"Take a look."
He showed a photo from around age five at the orphanage—clear proof he was naturally golden-tanned blond.
"Wow, it's real! Geum Seong-muk has had blond hair and dark skin since he was a kid...!"
As the camera caught the surprised YouTuber's reaction, Olivia barely covered her mouth.
'So... cuuute...!'
Seong-muk's toddler waddle phase, before he became peak alpha male.
Olivia desperately wanted a copy of that photo.
"Next question! Geum Seong-muk, your insane physique and muscles are obvious even at a glance. How do you supplement nutrition lately?"
Himself a workout enthusiast, Han Jae-beom asked with sparkling eyes. Seong-muk glanced at Olivia and answered.
"We have a pro at school who takes care of my nutrition. Top-tier taste and balance—I always enjoy it."
"Ah, must be a skilled nutritionist! Got it!"
It was about Olivia, but the YouTuber mistook it. She flashed a sly smile while the camera was away.
After several personal questions for Seong-muk, Han Jae-beom moved to baseball topics.
"Geum Seong-muk, you've been dominant in this tournament. Anyone in the Sejong catching your interest?"
"Yeah, one."
"Who?!"
"Seo Hui-geon from Gwangya High. Just him."
"Ooooh!!"
His mouth dropped wide.
Seong-muk had tossed the ultimate bait he'd been craving.
"Gwangya High, with Seo Hui-geon, is called the national powerhouse. If you two faced off, who wins?"
"Me, obviously."
"Whoa! So, Sejong championship is the goal?"
"Yep. I've said it since spring: Sejong title or bust."
"Munhyeok High doesn't bow to anyone. Watch us climb."
Seong-muk's face brimmed with confidence.
Han Jae-beom grinned ear to ear.
'This content's a hit!'
Already enough for a full video.
He wrapped Seong-muk's questions and turned to Olivia.
"Olivia Ramsey! You've been in Korea a while now—can you finally spill why you came?!"
Olivia had always dodged with "reasons I can't say..." She nodded and dove in.
"Simply put, some trouble with my dad."
Her dad Godin had tried marrying her off to Felix out of nowhere, so she ran—but toned down for Korean sensibilities, lest it trash his image.
Something like, 'We clashed on cooking, he said hit the road if I acted out, so I did.'
Naturally, follow-ups came.
"Europe has tons of countries—why Korea specifically?"
"I've always loved K-culture. Dramas, movies, music..."
"Whoa, nice!!"
Han Jae-beom beamed.
Foreigners praising Korean culture? Gold.
He amped it up for more clips.
"Alright, 10-Second Questions!"
His channel's signature.
Answer any question in 10 seconds—the time crunch plus spicy topics made killer content.
His question:
"K-culture means Korean food can't be missed! Olivia, your top three Korean dishes—10 seconds!"
He didn't expect much.
Foreigners usually said bulgogi, kimchi, bibimbap.
But Olivia, seasoned in Korean eats:
"Japchae."
"Oh!"
"Seonji hangover stew."
"Ooh!?"
"Baby oyster jeotgal."
"Woooow!!"
The YouTuber chugged national pride.
Totally unexpected picks.
World-class chef's daughter with that deep Korean food knowledge and love? Thumbnails wrote themselves.
'Damn, she knows how to pander.'
Seong-muk watched, impressed.
Even as a Korean, he went "Oh!"—comments would explode, he knew.
"Haha, mind blown! So, Olivia, comfy with Korean cooking now?"
"Embarrassing, but I was pretty raw earlier this year. Then a master chef helped me big time."
"Master chef? Mind if I ask who?"
"Can't reveal, but super strict. Didn't hold back criticizing my Korean food arrogance. Tough at first, but..."
"But?"
"Now I respect and adore them. Thanks to this platform, let me say thanks again."
"Ooh, if your master sees this, they'll be thrilled!!"
Seong-muk smirked.
No need to look far—that was him.
Olivia's cooking questions wrapped, time for couple questions.
"Finally, 'Hope We Get Close!'—subs love this!"
The over-involved 'Hope We Get Close' segment.
Awkward hotties bonding, subtle sparks—this was the killshot.
He'd heard they were already friends.
Hoped for hidden truths, but Olivia wouldn't spill.
'Can't burden Seong-muk.'
Any flirty line would spark "Are they dating?" rumors.
Seong-muk had the tournament; even without, she didn't want to tie him down.
'He said wait for his answer, so...'
She steeled herself.
Spicy couple questions flew, but she deflected flawlessly.
Then, the last one.
"Your ideal types?"
"Someone I click with conversationally. Bonus if they see the real me."
"Ah, got Geum Seong-muk's type!"
Same as his old answer to Do-jin. Now Olivia.
"Olivia's ideal type?"
"Seems aloof but kind..."
"Wild yet sometimes gentle."
She subtly glanced at Seong-muk. Vague, but pointed straight at him.
"Oof, tough standard!"
Han Jae-beom, oblivious.
Not satisfied, he added one more.
"Real talk finale! How many percent does the other match your ideal?!"
"...!!"
Olivia's shock was obvious.
Seong-muk just blinked; hers was huge.
'...Crap, too deep?'
Alarm bells in the YouTuber's head.
Felt like a viral hit, but also lawsuit from England vibes. He backpedaled.
"Whoa, Olivia looks horrified?!"
"Ouch, that stings a bit."
Seong-muk smoothly played along; Olivia scrambled.
"No, not like that...!"
"Ahem, don't wanna hurt Seong-muk more! Final words to viewers!"
Time nearly up.
Seong-muk smiled faintly at the camera.
"Watch the Sejong lots, cheer for Munhyeok High. We'll always deliver fun games."
"Now Olivia!"
"Planning to keep cooking in Korea post-grad. No set plans for my own place, but I'll show you my best."
"Great, heard loud and clear...!!"
Han Jae-beom wrapped poses.
Subs and likes plea done—filming over.
"Wow, great job!!"
He bowed repeatedly in thanks.
But Olivia barely heard.
Thump, thump!
Heart racing wild.
That last question was dangerous.
If he hadn't cut it, she'd have said 100% honestly.
'...Almost spilled it.'
She sighed in relief—no harm to Seong-muk.
But a strange regret lingered.
"Good work, Olivia."
"Ah!"
Seong-muk's voice snapped her back.
Her face lit up.
"You too, Seong-muk."
"Whew, this stuff tires you out too. Wanna grab food?"
His grinning invite.
Olivia's lips curved up.
"Yeah, let's eat."
Her beaming smile.
Reserved for one person only.
A few days later.
Their video dropped on the 'MC Jae-beom' channel.
Two of the hottest names in sports and variety—viral inevitable.
Hit 5 million views fast, massive ripple.
Mostly positive vibes.
But not the end.
Hot young talented high schoolers? Coupling comments galore.
Stuff like that.
But oddly, every coupling comment got a couple dislikes.
Who hit 'em?
No one knew.