Beautiful Campus (1)

[Notice: Road manager for actor Jeong Seo-hoon.]

One official event announcement lit up the Biraep community like wildfire.

Ha Tae-soo, verified as the community manager, spread the word quickly among the fans.

The first fan meeting location was chosen by Jeong Seo-hoon himself, but poor Ha Tae-soo took all the heat.

Just as the fans' complaints were bubbling like a volcano on the verge of eruption, good news arrived.

Jeong Seo-hoon rarely made time to connect with fans, but when he did, he treated them to the full course—and that was famous even among other celebrity fandoms.

They envied it that much.

"The extreme hot-and-cold is part of campus guy's charm."

"Totally, that's a real bad boy."

Oh So-hee and Kim Da-hye clutched their hard-won tickets as they climbed the Times Square stairs.

Crowd control staff were out in force, managing the throng.

Come to think of it, the lobby and first floor were packed today—insanely so, even though it was a weekday, not a weekend.

"Most shops close at 10, right? Shouldn't people be thinning out? Why so many?"

"All undergrads, aren't they? Swarmed just to catch a glimpse of campus from afar."

"Pfft. Undergrads? Don't use that word since it got tainted."

"Undergrad" was the self-deprecating new term Biraepers—who failed to stop Jeong Seo-hoon's grad school admission—used for themselves.

Since he was in grad school now, it meant "destined for grad school anyway." Real engineering undergrads reportedly flipped out when they heard why.

The ScreenX theater entrance was chaos—intimidating crowds.

No tickets, but fans mobbed just to see their favorite actor once.

"Campus!"

"Whoa! Stands out from a mile away."

Oh So-hee was thrilled. Worth nagging her brother for backup in the ticket war.

Just dark pants and a shirt, yet he glowed. They say even a sack would look like runway on him—Paris Fashion Week right here.

"What're Louis Vuitton peeps doing? No runway call for campus yet?"

"Hey, campus class needs Chanel or Dior. Hermès is too super-rich—no trickle-down for us fans."

Oh So-hee and Kim Da-hye basked in envious stares while queuing.

Being in line meant ticket success—and a greeting with campus.

Oh So-hee subtly nodded at the high school girl ahead and whispered.

"Check that passion. High schooler power unbeatable."

"We had that phase too—before campus."

"Thinking of our old oppas—no, those jerks—still embarrassing. What'd we see in those druggie losers?"

"We didn't know better. Campus has zero such worries—pure fanning bliss."

"Nobel speech or Oscar speech—which comes first?"

"Nobel first. Bet he wins before 30."

"Crazy. Campus takes Oscar supporting before 25 in a Zim Wozny flick."

The line shortened; the high schooler's turn for pics with Jeong Seo-hoon.

Her pounding heart audible from tension and excitement.

As Oh So-hee and Kim Da-hye smiled inwardly, Jeong Seo-hoon suddenly beamed.

"Aren't you Kim Yu-ri?"

The first-year high school fan Kim Yu-ri froze solid at his greeting.

"Uh, uh, you know my name?"

"Of course. You came to the last fan meet. Finals soon, right?"

Oh So-hee and Kim Da-hye watched her shoulders shake wildly from behind.

That tremor screamed her ecstatic face—no need to see it.

"This way. Instant frame event again—wanna do it?"

"O-of course!"

Kim Yu-ri, beaming pure joy, linked arms with Jeong Seo-hoon side-by-side.

Her bliss enriched everyone watching.

Oh So-hee and Kim Da-hye suddenly felt wistful.

When was the last time they felt such carefree, sunny happiness?

"So jealous."

"Tell me about it."

"Fan meet had 200—remembers every face and name?"

"Campus can. Totally."

"We here today—will he remember us now?"

"Hope so, but 440 today... doubtful."

Pic taken, light chat, Kim Yu-ri entered like a docile lamb.

Oh So-hee stepped up, heart racing.

"Um, campus. Arm link okay?"

"Sure."

"C-could you put your arm on my shoulder?"

"Like this?"

"Yes!"

Jeong Seo-hoon struck a gentle pose, hand on her shoulder.

Short talk/greeting time.

"M-my name is..."

"I know. Oh So-hee, right? Ticket number tells me."

"Whoa, really... how..."

"From today, faces and names too."

"Huh?"

"Good ears. Overheard."

His bright smile right there made her heart slosh.

Ready to ditch her blood pump and dive into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him.

"Right, my co-star's sister—also Oh So-hee, your fan. Won't mix up."

"Th-that's probably me."

"Pardon?"

"My real bro's Oh Tae-woo. Heard he's Yoo Jeong-ah's oppa role..."

"Ah, sorry. Didn't know I'd meet actor Oh's sister here."

Talk stretched, but fans in line didn't mind—curious what shocked them so.

"Next time, dinner with actor Oh. I'll set it up."

"Call me, please!"

Frame pic done, Oh So-hee slinked in like melted octopus.

Kim Da-hye, waiting nearby and eavesdropping, jumped in post-pic.

"So-hee's friend—can I join?"

"Of course. Come anytime."

The private box was the rearmost, highest VIP booth.

Separate entrance from general seating, price multiples higher.

Inside: CV Cable vice president he'd met before.

The sharp-charisma 50s woman welcomed him warmly.

"Welcome. Thrilled CV Cinema pitches in for this meaningful event—as a fellow filmmaker."

"Thanks for the support. Fans get great memories because of you."

Jeong Seo-hoon sat and chatted with her.

Fans saw them live through the fully transparent front glass.

Even through the glass, fans' murmurs reached his ears clearly.

"You know how much grief actor Jeong Seo-hoon causes me lately?"

"My fault."

"Too many 'hook me up once' requests. I ask formally, but no real interest?"

"Never even thought of dating, let alone marriage. Busy with acting and studies."

"Exactly. Marry now and waste that momentum? Shame as a media pro too. Film all you can pre-marriage."

They traded laughs and well-wishes, snapped pics; she rose.

"Easier without me hogging? I'll savor in the car home."

"You could've stayed."

"Nah. Old rich folks like me shine leaving with a swipe."

After seeing her off, Jeong Seo-hoon entered via general door.

Center seats empty for him.

440 fans squealed low as he trudged up the stairs.

Lights dimmed; CV Cable logo appeared.

Last ad pre-Episode 1: his coffee commercial.

Fans alternated between real him and screen him, savoring the joy.

Title rose over low, powerful engine roar; wind-cutting metal angel emblem filled the screen.

Rolls-Royce emblem: ecstasy goddess pulls forward; close-up on Hwang Geon-wook (Jeong Seo-hoon) in back seat.

Aerial of Phantom powering up campus.

Finally parking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at a lab; Hwang Geon-wook opens door himself, steps out—turns to viewers like observing them.

His secretive gaze ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pierced straight; fans squealed and sighed in awe everywhere.

Excitement and thrill of sharing space with fave star, watching his drama together.

Episode 1 bloomed, but with real him front-row, fans weren't yet plunged into fiction.

Hauling grunt work at a small troupe, playing corpses or passed-out homeless—

Rashid dreamed of one day taking the big stage as lead, basking in applause.

'Major Rashid, actor Jeong Seo-hoon, aspiring actor Rashid...'

Where did their memories or selves divide? Fuse?

The glory Rashid dreamed didn't fit Jeong Seo-hoon.

He basked in fan cheers so easily now.

Thus, at least the shy dream of small-troupe Rashid—hiding war hero mask—stood apart from Jeong Seo-hoon.

'Major Rashid. War hero. Another me. This spot today... gift from another you to you.'

Rashid: comet-linked other-world self. Yet sometimes felt like someone else.

Though he'd spoken, acted, thought as Rashid willingly.

Like prepping this not for himself, but gift to the war-hating hero.

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