The Fox That Bewitches People
"Wait, I can't even stretch?"
"W-well, that's not exactly what I meant…"
Woo Dan-wol felt unfairly treated. Of course, he understood what Lee Hye-ri was saying. He knew exactly what kind of heart she had put into those words.
But wasn't this too unreasonable? Was a male celebrity not allowed to eat strawberries with both hands or stretch out his body? Still, what could he do? Being an entertainer meant being sensitive to the public's gaze.
"Alright."
In the end, Woo Dan-wol accepted it. For Lee Hye-ri, who had been worried he might stubbornly insist otherwise, this was a relief. He wasn't the type to disobey, but in situations like this, he would always voice his sense of injustice. That made his compliance feel even more precious.
"Oh right, here's the script for episode eight."
"Oh…!"
Seeing his reaction, Lee Hye-ri broke into a wide smile. She felt like a owner holding out a treat. Woo Dan-wol's eyes followed the script like a puppy. If he stuck his tongue out and wagged his tail, he'd be indistinguishable from a dog.
Whenever she moved the script around, his head and gaze followed obediently. The sight stirred some strange, inexplicable feeling in her, and Lee Hye-ri flinched.
What on earth am I thinking?
Because she'd had an embarrassingly foolish thought for a moment, she quickly handed him the script. Today's filming was over.
After saying their goodbyes, Woo Dan-wol dashed toward the van like a dog eager to devour the script. Watching his retreating figure, a faint smile lingered on Lee Hye-ri's lips. He really was like an innocent child.
Woo Ri-na and her friends had gathered once again. Today was the broadcast day of I Want to Stay for Just One More Minute. It was the day episode four would air.
The only thing different from usual was that they were watching at Woo Ri-na's house instead of a friend's place.
"Guys, is this really enough?"
"Yes! Oppa!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"You must be crazy."
Woo Dan-wol had cooked them stir-fried pork. No matter how much his mother claimed it was perfect drinking food or a nutritious snack for her children, it still felt like an odd choice to eat while watching a drama. Weren't people supposed to have snacks or chicken for that?
Woo Dan-wol, who had originally planned to buy chicken, had no choice but to be flustered. All of this had started from Woo Ri-na's declaration: "My oppa's stir-fried pork is insanely good." Of course, Woo Dan-wol, unaware of the full story, simply felt warm and satisfied watching the kids enjoy the food he'd made.
"More rice please!"
"We haven't even started yet?"
"I could eat this all day."
"Stop watching so many food shows."
The stir-fried pork they'd eaten before was fake, according to the friends' reviews. The version from the school cafeteria or made by their own mothers was on a completely different level. Lee Da-bin was already demanding another bowl of rice, while Jin Yu-jeong, who had been trying to savor the pork Woo Dan-wol made, got angry when Woo Ri-na stole it from her.
"Haha..."
What a mess. Woo Dan-wol shook his head and stir-fried another batch of the marinated meat. By the time the commercials ended and the drama began, a solemn silence had fallen over his small one-room apartment.
It was so quiet that even Woo Dan-wol was taken aback.
Amazing focus. The moment the drama started, no one made a sound. A perfect world of consideration had been created.
Woo Dan-wol quietly sat down beside Woo Ri-na. This was the designated seat. Woo Ri-na had strictly assigned it. She was afraid Jin Yu-jeong would talk nonsense if placed next to her, and while Lee Da-bin seemed safer, she still couldn't fully trust her. So in the end, they had agreed he would sit beside Woo Ri-na.
The drama began. Although he had already filmed it and knew the content, seeing his own performance in the edited final product was a meaningful experience. Woo Dan-wol also began to focus, and everyone started watching the drama while enjoying the delicious stir-fried pork.
"His acting is so bad."
Flinch. When a comment that would sting any actor reached his ears, Woo Dan-wol flinched without realizing it. Woo Ri-na and her friends were casually sharing their thoughts as usual. Realizing a bit late that Woo Dan-wol was right there, they quickly apologized.
"Sorry, oppa."
"It's fine..."
"But it's true that Jang Seon-woo can't act."
"Ahaha..."
How was he supposed to respond to his coworkers being badmouthed? Of course, the topic quickly shifted to something else. It was still fresh and surprising that the person they'd just seen on TV was sitting right next to them.
"Whoa. It's Lee Shin-woo. Lee Shin-woo!"
"Please give me an autograph."
"A photo too!"
Of course, they could see him whenever they wanted. Lee Da-bin and Jin Yu-jeong made their requests half-sincerely, half as a tease. It was because Woo Dan-wol's reactions were so cute. Was this guy really eight years older than them?
Jin Yu-jeong's expression grew complicated. Was it okay for someone to be this adorable?
"Haha, alright. I'll do everything..."
Woo Dan-wol, not realizing it was a joke, agreed to everything. That only made Lee Da-bin and Jin Yu-jeong find him even more charming. Faced with their beagle-like energy, all Woo Dan-wol could do was let out an awkward laugh.
Once the commercial break ended, they focused on the drama once again.
They had been laughing and enjoying themselves while watching. Then the highlight scene of this episode began to play.
Lee Shin-woo, who everyone had thought was nothing more than a simple delinquent, was finally showing his true colors.
As if to announce that this was a romance drama, not a story about students growing up, the scene that Director Seong A-reum had poured her heart into was flowing from the TV.
"Hey, Lee Shin-woo."
"...?"
Ha Min-ah snapped at Lee Shin-woo. She told him to stop bothering that girl. Viewers who had watched him torment her until now would nod in agreement. But were they shocked to learn he had truly been hurting her?
With a slightly hardened expression, Lee Shin-woo asked. Because the person in question was right beside him.
"Hey, pig."
Flinch. The one being called was the actress in the drama, but the one who flinched was Jin Yu-jeong.
The person who had kindly brought her stir-fried pork just moments ago was now sharply calling someone a pig. Jin Yu-jeong had completely immersed herself in the extra's role. And the drama continued.
"Did I ever bother you?"
"......"
The pig's confused expression was only natural. If asked whether he had bothered her, the answer would be yes. But if asked whether that had made her suffer... well...
The viewers who had immersed themselves in the pig's role also wore confused expressions. She was satisfied with her current life. Sure, she had to eat with him and carry his bag, but they also walked home from school together. In other words, Jin Yu-jeong's expression was exactly the same as the pig's.
"What? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"It's not that..."
"Should I stop? Do you want me to stop?"
Flinch. His tone unconsciously grew timid. It wasn't sharp or forceful, yet it somehow made her feel watched.
In the end, he must have decided that his actions had been causing her pain. Lee Shin-woo's expression grew complicated. The man who had only seemed like a delinquent was now showing genuine remorse.
It was delicate. Not simply sorry—his expression contained multiple layered emotions.
For less than a second, silence. During that time, Lee Shin-woo's lips parted and closed repeatedly. His gaze would land on her, then, as if his conscience pricked him, he would look away. Had he made up his mind? Lee Shin-woo shook his body as if embarrassed, then—
"...I'm sorry."
"Whoa..."
The exclamation that followed Lee Shin-woo's apology came from an entirely different place. It was Lee Da-bin. She hadn't meant to let it slip, but there was no time to regret it. Her heart was pounding.
It wasn't reason. No, it was reason, but the words of a student who had fallen for a fictional character on TV were already decided. One word from Jin Yu-jeong would be enough.
Between trembling breaths, her eyes remained fixed on Lee Shin-woo inside the screen. Her rough breathing shook like an earthquake, and overwhelmed by this first experience of butterflies, Lee Da-bin didn't know what to do with herself. Her pride was hurt, yet she couldn't stop wanting to keep looking at him. That was the power created by the actor Woo Dan-wol.
In the end, Lee Da-bin couldn't lift her face properly until the drama finished.
When the drama ended—
"Guys...?"
The commercials were playing. The drama was over. Yet the two friends, excluding Woo Ri-na, remained frozen like broken machines.
"O-oppa..."
At that moment, Jin Yu-jeong, who still hadn't come to her senses, made a request to Woo Dan-wol.
"Yes?"
"C-could you say one of the drama lines for us?"
"Hmm... of course?"
Woo Dan-wol nodded. It wasn't difficult, and although they were fans, they were his little sister's friends. It was a request worth granting. In his previous life, he had occasionally done fan service like this too.
"Which line should I do?"
"P-pig..."
"Hey! Step on her!"
"Ack! No! Ah!"
Woo Ri-na pushed Jin Yu-jeong down and began stepping on her. Normally, Lee Da-bin should have joined in. That was why Woo Ri-na was even more flustered. Lee Da-bin fidgeted before opening her mouth.
"M-me too next..."
"Hey...?"
Woo Ri-na's face filled with despair. She knew Jin Yu-jeong had been acting strange lately, but she never expected even Lee Da-bin to fall like this.
Leaving behind Woo Ri-na, who had turned to stone, a small fan meeting began.
"Hey, pig."
"Ah, aah... ugh, th-thank you."
Jin Yu-jeong bowed her head deeply as she gave her thanks. If it had been a simple greeting, she would have responded immediately, but the way Jin Yu-jeong covered her face with both hands and turned away was incredibly suspicious.
"Hey..."
"I-I... want the 'sorry' one from just now..."
"Ah, from episode four?"
"Yes!"
At Lee Da-bin's request, Woo Ri-na called out to her friends with a face full of betrayal. But of course, her voice wouldn't reach fans who were facing their idol.
"...I'm sorry."
Like pressing the cook button on a rice cooker, his acting came alive in an instant. Seeing the scene from the screen recreated right before their eyes, Lee Da-bin had no choice but to bow her head deeply just like Jin Yu-jeong.
"Heyy!!"
"You want me to do it for you too?"
A cry full of betrayal. Woo Ri-na glared at her friends. At this rate, did she have to ask for it too?
Woo Ri-na's face lit up with interest at Woo Dan-wol's words. But she soon realized she had become no different from her friends and wore an expression of self-loathing.