Now It Seems Possible
Now it seemed like it would work. Kids that age accept things just as they are better than anyone. What that means is—
"Hey, why are you so filthy?"
—they react extremely sensitively to both kindness and malice.
The year Ryu Jaerin turned six. Kids' heads were growing bigger, and they were starting to distinguish the world around them. Living alone with her grandmother, Ryu Jaerin's clothes were bound to be dirtier than everyone else's. To endure poverty, adapting was quicker than overcoming it.
The six-year-old girl matured faster than anyone. People don't like me much.No one approaches me except Grandma.
Around the time those thoughts crept in—
"What are you doing here all alone?"
The prince on the white horse appeared.
He'd look after her when she was alone, wipe her mouth when it got dirty, share snacks on picnics. As those little moments piled up, one day Ryu Jaerin couldn't hold back her curiosity.
What was the purpose of this baseless kindness? Why could he give her Pokémon bread stickers every single day? How did he always add an extra boiled egg when buying cup ramen?
When she asked, his answer came back casually.
"Just 'cause? You seem like you'll become a famous idol someday."
Idol?
"...Then am I prettier than Kim Sujin?"
"Uh, yeah?"
That decided Ryu Jaerin's fate.
Six years old—an age where time fades memories. But the intense recollections of Kim Donghu burned deep into her brain, refusing to leave. The longer time passed, the deeper those emotions grew.
Pure kindness and a year of sticking together like glue in happy times. Even the miraculous luck of always being paired as desk mates.
How could she forget?
That feeling became a huge source of strength when Ryu Jaerin later became an idol trainee. Even when people treated her harshly or bullied her just for being pretty, she endured by clinging to those memories.
On one hand, she wanted to find Donghu. But as a trainee, she couldn't have a phone, external contact was restricted, and family circumstances forced her into dorm life.
Ryu Jaerin couldn't find Donghu.
Time flowed on until she turned fifteen.
Huh?
Ryu Jaerin locked eyes with Kim Donghu on TV. Seeing him shine brighter than anyone at Hideam, she thought, I want to stand right next to him soon. Her imagination even extended to appearing on a show together as a pro couple.
We'll get married when we're adults and he's popular enough to go on those shows often. Imagining up to that point always made her happy.
And then, like fate, Kim Donghu appeared right in front of her. As uniform model couple partners, no less.
Life returned to Ryu Jaerin's emotionless eyes in an instant. Annoyed that he didn't recognize her right away, she wanted to tease him.
"Wh-who...?"
To that foolish question, Ryu Jaerin replied,
"It's me, your bride Ryu Jaerin."
Celebrating their fateful meeting, dreaming of holding a wedding on Shall We Get Married? in the near future, she beamed.
"Honey, have you been well?"
Ryu Jaerin?!
That top-star idol Ryu Jaerin? The one who becomes a world-famous diva?
Why are you here with me?
Did they pair us because female model rates are lower to match my fee? Or because of the solid perks?
Either way, I quickly pushed Ryu Jaerin away.
"What if people see?"
Idol scandals carried different weight from actor ones. Actor scandals felt like mere news, but idol ones became endless fodder. In bad cases, it led to hate, hiatuses, or even retirement—the worst possible route.
"Waiting rooms like this don't have CCTV anyway, so it's fine."
A small laugh escaped at Ryu Jaerin's nonchalant words.
"Still so laid-back, not a thing's changed."
"You're still the white-horsed prince."
"You still use that phrase? First time hearing it since I was six—it's embarrassing."
"Tch, so what? It's mine."
Ryu Jaerin pouted briefly before relaxing and sticking close again. Great to reunite after so long, but this distance...
Should I warn her one more time? Idols can't do this?
Just as I opened my mouth—
The door burst open.
"What's this? You two already getting close?"
Choi Seokho walked in, grinning at the sight of us. The businessman gleam in his eye—good model chemistry means great synergy.
When did this guy slip away?
By the time I snapped to, Jaerini had already put some distance between us. Just enough to seem friendly, nothing more.
I was impressed by her skill in calibrating that subtle gap. She instinctively knew the precise point to avoid rumors—top-idol instincts at work?
"They suggested a sweet couple concept since it fits well. What do you think?"
Oblivious, Seokho hyung continued casually.
Couple concept? Is that okay?
I glanced over. Our eyes met, and Jaerin shot back an affirmative look. More like steely determination than agreement—probably my imagination.
"Yeah, Jaerin says it's fine too."
"Exactly. Fifteen-year-olds doing uniform modeling is super rare."
Our Donghu really is on another level.
My face burned at Seokho hyung's random praise. Why say something embarrassing like that with Jaerin right here? But even more mortifying was Jaerin nodding vigorously, chiming in with "Right, right."
I couldn't lift my head.
"Anyway, since everyone's agreed, change into the uniforms and prep for the shoot."
"Got it."
Seokho hyung left promptly, and I moved to exit for changing too.
Or tried to.
Grab.
As I turned to go, Ryu Jaerin caught my hand.
"Donghu, can I get your number now?"
"Number? Mine?"
"Yeah, it's awkward later."
"True, it'll be chaos after the shoot."
But why fondle my left ring finger while exchanging numbers? I wanted to ask but held back—felt like a bad idea.
Why's her face so red?
Is she sick?
The shoot went smoother than expected. Couple concept meant close hugs, linked pinkies, hands forming hearts—standard stuff for uniform photoshoot.
After, Jaerin and I chatted briefly before parting.
"You two knew each other?"
"Yeah, kindergarten classmates. Never thought we'd meet like this."
"Small world."
I hopped in the van and chatted schedules with Seokho hyung.
"Oh, they said the special concert's probably second Sunday in March."
"Not right after Hideam?"
"Yeah, scheduling conflicts."
Apparently piano solo and band collab—totally doable, I nodded.
"So I rest till then?"
"Yeah, best after cramming projects. Need mental recovery even if body's fine."
I nodded at his consideration.
This immersion's straight-up broken for stuff like this.
Saved max stamina and research time for acting, toggled emotions on/off lightly—total cheat.
"Oh, Hero's ready for edit review whenever, and Mise-en-scène screening prep too."
"That fast?"
"Heard he's sleeping three hours a day lately."
Hope he's not wrecking his health.
Mid-convo, Hm?
Spotted an unfamiliar script beside me. All in English, start to finish.
"Seokho hyung, this script's fully English?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, sorry—left it there. Printed an overseas translation of that indie film script."
Forgot and got off.
One question hit me.
Can I immerse in English scripts?
First time trying.
Does that mean I'll learn English?
That instant—
[Sims - The Real Life]
The language of the script you're reading is deemed unsuitable for your current state.
Downloading application 'Uncollapsing Tower of Babel'.
Henceforth, immersing in foreign-language scripts or characters will also grant proficiency in the corresponding language.
...?
Acquire languages?
Immersion.
To test, I immersed instantly— not for the script, so I popped out right after. Mere seconds.
English, which should've looked alien, was readable. As natural as my native tongue.
"...Seokho hyung, can you get scripts in other languages besides English?"
"Huh?"
"Like Japanese or French."
Seokho hyung froze like his brain short-circuited. Drove blankly for seconds before responding.
"...Donghu, you can read that? Wait, others too?!"
I couldn't before.
"Yeah, I can."
Now it seemed like it would work.