Chapter 14

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: penny

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Those Two Are Definitely Dating

-----------------------------------------------------------------

All of Ever's posters, from their debut album right up to the most recent release, were neatly arranged on the walls in a precise pattern.

Not just the individual member posters, but also season-specific fan club cheering sticks and all sorts of merchandise created a home atmosphere reminiscent of a pop-up store. It was more than enough to show just how devoted she was to Ever.

"It's finally here. Finally..."

Lee Chae-ah, Ever's team leader-level fan manager, kept frantically refreshing the official YouTube channel from her bed.

She wasn't from the industry.

It all started when she created Ever's fan cafe as one of the Forever fans.

She managed it so meticulously that it grew to an enormous scale in no time. About two years after the fan cafe launched, the agency officially recognized it and even proposed a manager contract to her.

Manager might be an extreme job with low pay, but the idea of turning her hobby into her career convinced her to sign the employment contract.

And now, four years into her role as a fan manager.

With her promotion to chief manager, she was earning a salary anyone would envy—a successful superfan living the dream. To her, Ever wasn't just a girl group; they were the ones who had changed her life.

If asked who her ultimate bias was, Lee Chae-ah wouldn't hesitate to say Han Chaewon, the one who first pulled her in.

It started with Chaewon's entry cam from her second mini-album comeback.

She couldn't believe someone like that existed.

There had been plenty of top visuals before, but Chaewon's thumbnail was straight-up heaven-sent.

Singing and dancing in perfect school uniform look, delivering mind-blowing expressions—she was the epitome of an idol, teaching everyone what an idol should be.

She already dominated stages like it was nothing, but on top of that, she had a great ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠personality, immense love for fans, released fan songs as originals, consistently did live streams, and even showed up on variety shows during hiatuses...

A charm you couldn't help but love.

Her reputation was so stellar that there was even a saying: You might not be a Forever, but you can't not be a Chaewon fan.

So how could fans not adore her?

Especially grateful that in six long years, she'd never once been tangled in any scandals.

For someone as devoted to Ever as she was, staying up past midnight—when she should be asleep—to wait for Chaewon's vlog on the official YouTube was only natural...

"So, who's Chaewon's childhood friend?"

Ever's Three Great Mysteries, and one of the top five happenings that made any Chaewon fan's heart skip—one of them was about to be revealed. Her feelings were incredibly complicated right now.

In six years of stanning Chaewon, there had been three major shocks.

The first was during their second year of debut, when she got caught in a dating rumor with a famous male idol.

Thankfully, both agencies and the parties involved quickly issued statements and went live to clarify, ending the controversy fast...

Even now, thinking back to that rumor still made her heart drop.

The second was when her first supporting role in a drama had a kiss scene.

It was a campus rom-com, so a kiss scene wasn't out of place, but still—she was an idol in a supporting role.

As a Chaewon fan, watching with joy mixed with anxiety, the finale's kiss scene had all Forever fans seeing red.

The buzz was insane; entertainment sections wouldn't shut up about it, and the short YouTube clip racked up tens of millions of views in days.

Chaewon proudly declared she'd finally filmed a kiss scene like a grown-up...

But the behind-the-scenes on the channel showed no actual lip contact—just clever angles so even their noses didn't touch.

Chaewon ended up nicknamed "Real Baby Mungmung" for a while, and fans sighed in relief, saying they weren't ready yet.

The final third was when Chaewon cheered on her childhood friend serving in the military during a self-cam.

She'd spilled details about where he was stationed, and it even became a big topic in his unit.

A childhood friend? Sure, that could happen.

But if that friend wasn't same-sex, but opposite-sex?

That was iffy, but still rationally acceptable.

Fan hearts don't work that way, though.

Dating rumor-like happenings split fans into deniers, accepters, haters of the rumored partner, or those who unfan.

Lee Chae-ah was the type who believed celebrities could date too.

Even so, when Chaewon first mentioned her childhood friend, she'd thought it was just cheering on a military buddy and dismissed the childhood friend romance cliche.

But doesn't constant repetition make fans uneasy?

Chaewon's ongoing childhood friend stories became famous among fans as the "That Childhood Friend" series.

Fans couldn't help imagining a romance.

And now, revealing him in a vlog?

"Just show me his face already."

Forgetting about her bias's dating for a sec, the chance to see "That Childhood Friend" after two years of rumors had her refreshing even faster.

Noon finally arrived.

Lee Chae-ah clicked the new upload at light speed.

The vlog opened with Chaewon greeting the camera brightly.

She panned around the scenery, then cut to short insert shots of highlights without any effects.

True to the title "Japan Trip with That Childhood Friend," the vlog wove in footage from her past self-cams mentioning him as reference clips, despite being a daily log.

"Come on out already..."

Muttering to herself, Lee Chae-ah was fully immersed.

Chaewon, with a playful grin, gave a quick intro about her childhood friend.

"My 15-year best friend. Introducing Yumin~!"

Finally, the face of Ever's Three Great Mysteries—and one of Chaewon fans' top five heart-stoppers—was revealed.

"...What? He's an idol?"

Lee Chae-ah, age 28.

Her YouTube algorithm filled with girl group vids now stirred a new emotion in her heart.

+++

If there were unicorn-like impossibilities in the world, they were definitely two types.

Your ultimate bias having a perfect childhood friend.

"...Chaewon really has it all."

Is this a vlog or We Got Married?

She let out a hollow laugh at the unbelievable "daily life"—something no one would mistake for an idol vlog.

"Ugh, I want a beer."

Unable to beat the envy and reality check, she grabbed her phone, rushed to down a can of beer.

No matter the bias, this was closer to a date vlog than daily life.

She figured it could happen, but not publicly like this.

The unexpected twist shattered expectations; she considered quitting to hit the communities instead...

But the chemistry screamed childhood friends.

Chaewon was always high-energy with members, but her back-and-forth with her 15-year pal was next level.

Basically, a self-cam in vlog disguise.

"Is it tastier because Minah roasted it?"

"It's 'cause it's a good spot. Don't say misleading stuff."

"Hey! Just take the compliment!"

Sometimes like sweet rom-com.

"Do you still think you're world-class?"

"...Stop."

"Chaewon-ssi, your childhood friend once said 'Chaewon isn't world-class yet,' and got an earful. Still think so? Don't you feel bad for him?"

"Hoo. At attention."

"...Wait. Why's the camera pointing at the floor? And what's that line? What're you trying to do?"

"21-73051248, at attention."

"This is giving me chills. How do you even know his service number...?"

"Not doing it? Ha, guess you've forgotten my temper since it's been a while."

"No way. Not in a sacred temple... Time out. This could spark assault controversy—?!"

Sometimes a chaotic sitcom full of punches.

"Forever, we're at the beach right now. Isn't it gorgeous? Came just to walk, but wow—the vibe is amazing. Had to show you even with low battery."

Sometimes a textbook vlog nailing everyday vibes.

Chaewon's vlogs were always packed, but this one went beyond sharing daily life, making viewers feel part of their memories.

"See you next time. Mwah~."

The screen went black in a flash.

"...What? Already over?"

Realizing 20 minutes had flown by, Lee Chae-ah snapped out of her daze and muttered.

Instinctively, she exited and re-entered the channel.

The video replayed, her eyes drawn to the comments.

English. Japanese. Spanish. Arabic. French. Korean.

Comments piling up in newest first.

Couldn't read every language, but superfans had their intuition.

Appearance-praising simp comments.

Vows of eternal support.

Thanks for the vlog.

Typical idol vlog comments flooded in, but what she wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was this.

It felt like a date vlog, the kind that could spark "deceiving fans" backlash.

But the reactions were surprisingly positive.

Especially toward Yumin as the childhood friend.

"He really is charming."

Lee Chae-ah nodded while scrolling comments.

Diehard fans like her were sensitive about their bias dating, but this vlog felt lovable throughout.

Reasons aplenty, no need to nitpick.

Turns out I like We Got Married.

Lee Chae-ah's lips stayed curved upward as she typed the comment destined to become a holy site someday.