Chapter 180
“Ah, you two there—the couple! Mind doing a quick interview?”
A man wearing a cap rushed up, blocking their path with a request. He looked like some kind of assistant director.
Han Yaseong panicked and waved his hands hurriedly. “Ah, no. We’re...”
He couldn’t appear on TV. Everyone would find out. His relationship with senior Choi Yujin had to stay completely hidden.
“It’ll just take a second. The girl’s so pretty. We’re from Show! Solo Escape! Participate for a bit, and we’ll give you prizes.”
Seeing they weren’t keen, he tried luring them with goods. Han Yaseong didn’t want to, but senior Choi Yujin seemed fine with it, arms crossed and just smiling.
She didn’t seem scared of going on air at all.
The capped man spotted Choi Yujin’s relaxed expression and figured they were in, grabbing his arm and pulling. “Come on, quick. It’ll be over fast.”
So they got dragged along reluctantly. Han Yaseong glanced awkwardly at senior Choi Yujin. “Senior, you okay with this?”
“I’m good. Sounds fun.”
“But people might recognize us...”
“No one’ll believe it anyway. We’ll just say you’re a close junior from the club.”
Senior Choi Yujin was already eyeing the celebrities filming nearby. She must have some interest in the industry. Of course she did—stepping into the spotlight would make her shine brighter than anyone.
That’s why she’d ditched Seoul University for TV gigs. Being an entertainer was the ultimate stage for standing out and dazzling.
Pretty girls couldn’t help but be drawn to it. Sure, hate comments were an issue, but compared to the perks and benefits of fame, they were nothing.
An average person’s lifetime earnings? A popular celeb raked that in within a year. Sometimes a month. A little online hate was practically cute by comparison.
A female writer from the show came over, briefing them on everything. She went nuts over how pretty senior Choi Yujin was, even asking if she was signed to an agency.
Senior Choi Yujin answered smoothly with a smile, like she’d prepped for this. Clearly not her first rodeo.
But Han Yaseong was tense, shaking so bad he felt like he needed to pee. First time on camera—he had no clue what to do.
“Alright, let’s meet our couple!”
Familiar faces from TV appeared. Even though the writers had pointed them out earlier, the MC acted like it was a fresh discovery, gesturing at senior Choi Yujin and Han Yaseong watching from off-camera.
“Ah, right there—the couple!”
“Whoa, she’s gorgeous!”
The male celebs’ eyes went wide. They’d seen her before... Total overacting. TV was TV, after all. It felt a bit scripted.
One comedian grabbed senior Choi Yujin and dragged her over. “She’s insanely pretty, insanely pretty!” He made a huge fuss.
Han Yaseong was just background dressing. He followed as she was pulled in front of five-plus cameras, facing a crowd of staff and onlookers. The tension hit hard—his breathing grew shallow. Why was he shaking like this?
But senior Choi Yujin was utterly chill. Born for the screen, apparently.
The MC kept gawking at her face in awe. “This girl’s stunning. What’s your name?”
“Choi Yujin.”
“Pretty name too. And the guy next to her? Boyfriend?”
The MC eyed Han Yaseong. Who the hell are you to be with a beauty like this? His face screamed it. Pushing forty and proudly the industry’s top bachelor.
Choi Yujin, still arm-in-arm with Han Yaseong, glanced at him sideways before answering. “Mm, just a close junior from my club. He’s hanging out with me ‘cause I get bored.”
“Lucky. I wanna be your junior too.”
“With a hot senior like that, I’d do anything.”
The others chimed in, hyping the mood.
The writer held up a sketchpad with cues: age, job, relationship status—all laid out. The MC peeked and fired questions.
“You a student?”
“Yeah, at Hanyoung University.”
“Ooh, nice school. What major?”
“Hospitality Management.”
“Gonna be a hotelier?”
“Yep.”
“That place’ll be packed once you’re there. All for Choi Yujin.”
On the writer’s cue, the celebs piled on.
“I’m booking that hotel.”
“I’d stay a whole year.”
“Dude, quit drooling. You were the same with that dance major last week.”
Chaos as they bantered. Han Yaseong stayed mute, like his mouth was glued shut. Everything felt alien and thrilling. Cameras everywhere, crew and crowds filling the space. Stage fright froze him solid.
“Choi Yujin’s so pretty—ever gotten street-cast?”
“A few times.”
“Gonna go entertainer?”
“Nah, can’t. Dad’s strict.”
“Aw, too bad. He’s against it? You’d crush it.”
The others jumped in again.
“Agencies’ll be blowing up her phone after this airs.”
“I’d scout her myself.”
“She’ll trend hard. Forced debut incoming?”
“Better memorize her now—she might be our junior soon.”
Laughter and chatter. Han Yaseong remained a silent lump.
The MC finally tossed him a bone. “The guy’s her club junior, right? What club?”
“Uh... the Mystery Club...”
“Haha, nice. Choi Yujin’s got a quirky side? Mystery Club with that face? Digging into the world’s enigmas?”
Eyes shifted back to her—answer up.
“Yeah, I’m super curious by nature.”
More back-and-forth followed. The writers kept flashing sketchpad prompts. It was basically the Choi Yujin show. Han Yaseong got the odd question, all orbiting her.
In this broadcast, he was practically invisible. Still, it was fun—new experience and all.
But post-airing worried him. Schoolmates would spot them. They’d grill him about her. Not that they were close enough for deep dives. Probably just casual “saw you on TV” stuff.
He let that worry slide.
“Got a boyfriend now?”
“Nope.”
“Single life, huh? Why no man for someone this pretty?”
“Broke up recently.”
“Oof, how come?”
“He cheated. With some other girl.”
Cue the celebs’ over-the-top reactions.
“Damn, balls of steel. Cheating on her? That ex is wild.”
“What kinda idiot cheats on a goddess like that?”
“I’d be loyal forever. How about me? Got three bank accounts.”
“Quit simping, man. It’s embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing? Time to snag a girlfriend like this.”
They bickered playfully, amping the vibe.
But Han Yaseong sensed real interest from some celebs. The way they looked at her—pure admiration.
He tensed up even more.
“Time for a game? Normally we’d quiz couples on how they met, but since Choi Yujin’s single, straight to solo mode. Pick one.”
The MC pointed to four male celebs lined up.
“Pick me! I rock games!”
“No, me—I’m the hottest here!”
“Hey, elders first. Let me get hitched.”
“Step aside, hyung. We’re dying over here.”
Self-promo central. Minor comedians and actors, no A-listers. Yet the confidence oozed—I’m in showbiz swagger. Not huge stars, but above mere mortals.
Makes sense. Even C-listers pulled at clubs back in the day. Just being recognizable got you more action than average guys.
That celeb ego shone through: hot actresses tough, but regular girls? Easy pickings.
But that underestimated senior Choi Yujin.
“What to do? No one catches my eye.”
“Huh? Eyes that high? Figures with beauties...”
The bachelor MC grumbled, tongue-clicking, then eyed Han Yaseong.
“Tough hauling around a stunner like that, huh?”
Joining the “hot girl woes” bit. Thought it was hilarious, apparently.