Kim Chae-eun
Kim Chae-eun. I'd been raised by my grandfather ever since I was little. I did have parents and one sibling, but family finances meant we couldn't live together. I never really resented them for it. Who would want to live apart from their kids, after all? I figured they must have had unavoidable circumstances too.
But then, three years ago, one ordinary morning, I woke up as a girl. It wasn't just my gender that changed—my entire past, even my name, had seamlessly shifted to fit a female life. I couldn't pinpoint the reason, but I'd even gotten a bit younger. This had to be a parallel world where I'd been born a girl. It didn't take long to piece that together.
Everything about my life here was different. Relationships, personal hobbies—right down to the smallest details. But the biggest shift was my family situation. As I said, I'd grown up under my grandfather's care in my original world. Here, though, the records showed I'd been raised by my parents from childhood, showered with all their love.
It didn't make complete sense, but it didn't matter much at the time. I was just thrilled to finally live with them. I planned to start fresh: go back to school properly, something finances had always gotten in the way of before, and soak up all the parental love I'd missed out on in my last life.
Everything seemed to be going great—until I realized my little sister was gone.
In my original world, she'd been living happily with our parents. Here, she was nowhere to be found.
"Chae-eun's staying at Grandpa's place, remember?"
Mom said it so casually. In this world where I'd been born a girl, my sister and I had swapped places. I was with our parents; she was with Grandpa. The reason was the same as before—family finances. But why us had switched roles? That took a while to figure out.
Then I watched how my parents raised us, and it hit me.
In their tight circumstances, they poured every resource into just one child. They chose the one with the higher chance of success between my sister and me.
The moment I realized that, fury boiled up from deep inside. The pain I'd endured in my past life was now all hers.
For the first time, I hated my parents—even after over a year without a single visit from them.
So I left home that very day.
After wandering the streets for a long time, I ran into CEO Kim by chance, and that's how I became an idol. I owed him so much. He stepped in as mediator between my parents and me, making it possible for a runaway teen like me to debut.
"Thank you."
I murmured my gratitude to him as he drove.
"Hm? For what?"
"Just... everything."
"Hmm."
He tilted his head thoughtfully, then nodded as if it were perfect timing.
"In that case, how about a long-term contract next renewal? Might as well go for the max—seven full years."
"No thanks."
Gratitude was gratitude, but business was business. I had no intention of doing this idol thing that long. I drew a firm line and turned my gaze to the window.
Outside, past the familiar road, stood a house I knew well. Grandpa's place, where I'd lived since childhood. Even after all this time, nothing had changed.
Ding-dong♪
I rang the bell, and someone opened the door right away. It was Grandma, greeting me with her usual kind face.
"Is our little pup here?"
"Yeah."
She took my hand firmly and led me inside. I gestured for the CEO, who was standing awkwardly behind me, to follow.
"Where's Grandpa?"
"Out on the boat. He said since you were coming, he'd catch a fish for you."
"Ah, I keep telling him not to go out on the water anymore..."
Ever since debuting, I'd been sending a hefty monthly sum for my sister's upbringing. There was no need for him to fish for a living anymore. But Grandpa still headed out to sea, insisting he wouldn't live lavishly off his granddaughter's money.
With his stubborn streak, talking him out of it was impossible. The man had wrestled the ocean his whole life—what kind of grit did you expect?
"And who's that young man over there?"
Grandma eyed CEO Kim, sitting next to me, with intense curiosity.
He bowed his head politely and introduced himself.
"Hello, ma'am. I'm Kim Baek-ho, CEO of Siyeon's agency. I wanted to pay my respects in person, so I came along."
"Oh my, what a long trip for a fine young man. Hungry?"
"I haven't had dinner yet."
Grandma jumped up and headed to the kitchen, a slight smile lighting her face. I sighed deeply and looked at the CEO.
"You're on your own for this."
"Huh? For what?"
Grandma's portions were huge. Whenever guests came, she'd pile on food until your legs gave out. It was hard to tell if it was hospitality or torture.
Jingle♪
While Grandma was in the kitchen, Grandpa returned from the boat, lugging a massive cooler. The second he saw me, he bellowed in his booming voice.
"Siyeon's here! Take a look at this! Your grandpa caught it just for you..."
He popped open the cooler to show me. Inside was a hefty sea bream as big as my torso.
"Bet it'll taste amazing. Real deal sea bream."
"Does that mean fake sea bream exists?"
I played it cool on the outside, but inside, relief washed over me. Grandma and Grandpa treated me exactly the same as in my previous life.
"And who might you be?"
Grandpa shot a sharp glare at CEO Kim beside me.
"Ah, I'm..."
The CEO introduced himself politely again, just as before. Unlike Grandma's warm welcome, Grandpa eyed him with clear wariness.
"You married?"
"Pardon? No, not yet..."
"Hmph."
His gaze sharpened even more at the confirmation.
"Aren't you sitting a bit too close to my Siyeon?"
"Sorry about that."
Grandpa wedged himself between us, forcing the CEO to scoot away. The man sat ramrod straight, like he was on pins and needles. An awkward silence settled in.
I finally stood up reluctantly.
"Gonna head to my room for a bit."
Ignoring the CEO's desperate glance for help, I slipped out of the living room.
Up the stairs, at the end of the hall, was a room. Mine in my past life, now my sister's. Teddy bears everywhere, cute decor—it screamed little girl.
"Heave-ho."
I smoothed my skirt and sat gingerly on the bed. The vibe had changed a lot, but the room's layout and the view from the window were the same.
I was lost in memories for a moment when—
Thud thud thud!
Someone was racing up the stairs. The light footsteps weren't the CEO's. Only one possibility left.
Click.
The door flew open, and in burst a girl who looked like a second-year middle schooler. She resembled me, but differences stood out: petite height and build, bobbed hair, a tear-shaped mole.
"Hey."
I gave an awkward wave and greeted her first.
My sister, Kim Chae-eun. In my previous life, we'd been distant—practically strangers. She'd never once called me "bro."
And it made sense. We'd lived like outsiders our whole lives.
But here, things were different.
"Huff... huff..."
She must've run all the way home; Chae-eun was panting hard. After catching her breath, she yelled,
"Unnie!"
And launched herself into my arms. I toppled backward onto the bed, and she pinned me there, nuzzling my chest with pure joy.
"It's been forever! You here on Jeju for work? I watched that movie that just came out with my friends—super fun!"
Her attitude toward me was night-and-day from before. I could guess why. Craving the love she never got from our parents, she poured it onto her big sister instead.
Pity swelled in me as I gently stroked her hair.
"Yeah, been almost a year, huh? Sorry I haven't visited more."
"Can't help being busy. You staying over tonight?"
"Well..."
I'd planned to just say hi to Grandpa and Grandma and head out. But her pleading eyes weakened my resolve. I caved and changed my plans.
"Yeah, I'll stay."
"For real!? You eaten yet?"
"Not yet. Gonna shower first—can I borrow some pajamas and undies?"
"Of course! Oh, wanna wash up together like old times? I'll scrub your back."
"Haha..."
I scratched my cheek, embarrassed. To me, Chae-eun still felt more like a little brother than a sister. Bathing together? Kinda awkward.