Chapter 114
Chapter 114
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: A Proud Introduction
Han Ji-hyo's long-time celebrity acquaintances.
They were all people she trusted, but you never knew when a scandal might break out.
If her remaining commercial contracts were terminated, Han Ji-hyo's financial struggles would only worsen.
That's why we decided she would introduce me as a close younger brother.
Within that framework, I was free to improvise the finer details, and Han Ji-hyo would play along.
It reminds me of when I played the "concept siblings" game with Jung Hye-na, so I'm looking forward to it.
The role of an older brother raping his own sister was quite fun and thrilling.
Jung Hye-na's emotional acting was so realistic that it helped me get even more immersed.
‘The day might come when I have to introduce you to others, so let's think of this as practice.’
So far, only the agency's CEO knows, but I'm still known as Im Chae-seul's man.
From Han Ji-hyo's perspective, hiding our true relationship must have seemed like the wise choice.
There was no groundskeeper.
Instead, Han Ji-hyo and a man I'd never seen before came out to greet me.
I felt a little jealous that it was a man, of all people.
But seeing their physical distance, they seemed to be just acquaintances, so I relaxed.
Come to think of it, I might be more jealous than all my women combined.
The man's eyes wavered as he looked at me.
It was worth visiting the salon. I'm satisfied.
Very pleased.
I'll have to dote on Choi Ji-soo a lot later for recommending such a good salon.
"Uh, so this is..."
"The younger brother I told you about. Isn't he handsome?"
"Wow... I've never seen a man this handsome before. He might be the most handsome man in the world. Are you preparing to be an actor?"
"No. Just a regular person. He says he's not very interested in the entertainment industry."
"How did you meet?"
"I told you. He's been my fan since my debut."
"But you said he's not interested in the industry?"
"Exactly. And yet he's seen all of my work. How could I not adore him?"
Han Ji-hyo's subtly proud attitude is cute.
She would've looked even prettier if she had let me have her pussy sooner.
"I'm Lee Chang-woo."
"I'm Choi Seong-min."
The name sounds familiar.
When I moved on nonchalantly, Han Ji-hyo's and Choi Seong-min's faces turned red.
It was the flush of someone trying to hold back laughter.
Eventually, Han Ji-hyo burst out laughing.
"Oh, Seong-min oppa, what are we going to do with you? You're completely washed up now."
"Hey, it's because he's a guy. I've always had more female fans."
"Didn't you used to brag about having devilishly handsome looks that could even captivate male fans?"
"This is embarrassing. Stop teasing me. Don't say things like that in front of him."
"You must be a celebrity. I apologize. I only know two active celebrities."
"One is Ji-hyo, who's the other? Is it perhaps Im Chae-seul?"
"Yes, that's right."
"As expected."
Suddenly, Han Ji-hyo pouted and looked at me.
In truth, that was the reaction I was aiming for.
My calculation was that I needed to provoke a bit of jealousy, just enough to conquer that arrogant pussy faster.
"This is actor Choi Seong-min. He's a senior in the industry whom I've known for a long time. There was never anything romantic between us, so don't get the wrong idea."
"Ji-hyo, this is the first time I've seen you emphasize something like that in front of a man. Something's suspicious, isn't it?"
"He's not a man, he's my younger brother. Do you know how big our age gap is? It's six years, six!"
"Even so."
"He's still my fan. Don't you understand not wanting to disappoint a fan?"
Hearing the introduction, I remembered.
I'd often heard him mentioned at the cafe, described as a visually-stunning star actor that everyone in the film industry knew and acknowledged.
My colleagues, like Gong Ji-hyun and Kim Yeon-ju, used to constantly compare me to Choi Seong-min in his prime.
By the way, hearing that he was in his late 40s made me see him in a new light.
His face didn't look that age at all.
While I was at it, I looked up photos of him in his prime on my phone, and he was definitely handsome.
Still, at this level... I think the original Chang-woo could handle him just fine.
There wouldn't even be a need to bring out the 'Noble Appearance Destiny Enhancement'.
"You're not criticizing my face in your head, are you? That's exactly the look on your face."
"Not at all. I was just thinking how handsome you must have been in your youth."
"Seong-min oppa, we're not going to stand outside forever, are we? Let's hurry inside."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Including Han Ji-hyo and Choi Seong-min, there were only 10 people gathered at the villa.
But if you added up their net worth, the sum would be astronomical.
Their professions were varied.
Actors, singers, comedians.
The gender ratio was 4:6, with slightly more women.
It wasn't a gathering with any grand purpose.
It was a small group that met regularly to eat and look out for each other's mental well-being.
Long ago, a junior colleague suffering from depression passed away, and Choi Seong-min, out of sorrow, created this group.
Choi Seong-min runs several other groups like this.
He grouped together acquaintances with compatible personalities, which resulted in the formation of many small gatherings.
"I was so surprised when Ji-hyo said she was bringing a close younger brother."
"I know, right? What got into her, bringing someone along?"
"Maybe he's someone she's seeing, or a potential boyfriend?"
"Ji-hyo hates younger men. She says they're childish and unreliable."
"She really does hate younger guys. She even thinks men her own age are immature, let alone younger ones."
Among her acquaintances, Han Ji-hyo was famous for her usual aloofness.
She rarely smiled and maintained her elegance even in relaxed, casual settings.
It was as if the aura of a great actress had been solidified in her from the genetic level.
Not that she had a bad personality; her reputation among her friends was good.
Though they never said it, the three men in the group, besides Choi Seong-min, harbored feelings for Han Ji-hyo.
They just didn't dare show it, knowing they'd be rejected anyway.
"The younger brother she's bringing, did you hear anything about him?"
"She said he's a fan of hers."
"A fan? She's not the type to keep in personal contact with fans."
"A true fan who's followed her since her debut, apparently."
"Wait a minute, does that mean he's been a fan of Ji-hyo since before she was 17?"
"So maybe that's why Ji-hyo finds him admirable and stays close to him?"
"The fact that she's introducing him to us must mean she really cares for him as a fan."
"Oh, here they come."
"Whoa, he's tall. Almost as tall as Seong-min hyung."
"His proportions are great, too. Wow, just looking at his proportions from afar, he could be a model..."
"He's handsome."
"...He's handsome."
"...Handsome."
"Seong-min hyung next to him suddenly looks like a regular person. It's not just me, right?"
"..."
"..."
The eight acquaintances, men and women, suddenly fell silent, their eyes completely captivated by Lee Chang-woo's approaching figure.
Click, clack. Walking beside him with her arms crossed, Han Ji-hyo's expression held a strange sense of pride.
It was like the childishness of a young girl boasting to her friends, 'You don't have one of these at home, do you?'
It also resembled the satisfaction of a successful woman proudly showing off her trophy lover.
These were people who had always lived among handsome and radiant celebrities.
But the overwhelming visual violence emanating from Lee Chang-woo's entire being was something they had never experienced before.
'How...'
'Can a person look...'
'Like that?'
His visuals were so phenomenal that the word "handsome" itself felt inadequate.
For the first time in their lives, they were experiencing what it felt like to be frozen by beauty.
Han Ji-hyo opened her mouth, her voice aloof.
"Say hello. This is my close younger brother, Lee Chang-woo. These are my acquaintances. This is Yoo Seong-jin oppa, he's a movie actor."
"I'm Lee Chang-woo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, ah. Nice to meet you..."
"This is Kim Tae-jin oppa, he's a singer. Chang-woo, you don't know many singers, do you?"
"Uh, I know Kerokshin."
"As expected of a young man, the first thing you think of is a popular girl group, huh?"
"No, I've only heard of them. I don't know what kind of group they are."
Han Ji-hyo introduced Lee Chang-woo to everyone in turn.
Her acquaintances exchanged greetings with Lee Chang-woo, their expressions dazed as if they were bewitched.
"Are you hungry?"
"I'm a little peckish. You know my appetite, noona."
"Come here. Let's get you something to eat first. I'll be back after I get Chang-woo fed."
Click, clack. Han Ji-hyo led the way towards the dining table.
Lee Chang-woo followed, maintaining a suitable distance of about a meter to her side.
At the table, Han Ji-hyo filled a plate with various foods for him, and Lee Chang-woo ate without hesitation.
The remaining nine people, still stuck in a stunned silence, stared blankly at the two of them.
Choi Seong-min let out a bitter smile and spoke.
"He doesn't seem like just a younger brother, does he?"
"Come on, keep him as just a younger brother? That seems impossible unless Ji-hyo is a lesbian or asexual."
"Wow, I thought Ji-hyo hated younger men, but I was wrong. She just hates younger men who aren't handsome."
"But the way Ji-hyo treats Lee Chang-woo, it really feels like he's just a close younger brother."
"It does look that way, but how is that even possible?"
"You know Ji-hyo's personality. Even if she got a boyfriend, she's the type to only show him to us when she's sending out wedding invitations. The fact that she showed him to us this early means she doesn't see him as a man."
"That's true. So does she really just see him as a close younger brother?"
"Look at the atmosphere between them. No matter how you look at it, it's not a man and a woman, it's just a close older sister and younger brother."
After finishing their light meal, Lee Chang-woo and Han Ji-hyo returned.
The eleven of them sat around comfortably, playing card games, chatting, or drinking cocktails.
The center of every conversation kept shifting back to Lee Chang-woo.
No matter what topic they started with, the focus would eventually gravitate to him.
As the alcohol, atmosphere, and time wore on, some people started to doze off.
For these people, always surrounded by the public eye, this occasional gathering was a retreat for mental care.
Chatting and drinking in a comfortable atmosphere naturally made them sleepy.
"Want to go get some fresh air?"
"Sure."
Choi Seong-min, who had naturally started speaking casually to him, took Lee Chang-woo out to the terrace.
They sat at a table, enjoying the outdoor breeze and clinking their beer bottles together.
"Ji-hyo looked like her shoulders were about to ascend to the heavens. She must be so proud to have such a handsome fan."
"Please stop teasing me. It's embarrassing."
"Actually, I asked you to come out because I have something serious to talk about."
"Yes?"
"There's a movie I'm about to start filming. It's a minor role, but the image is a perfect fit for you, my friend. Think of it as a trial run as a movie actor. Want to give it a shot?"
"I..."
"Ah, just do it. Please."