I'll Go. That Should Be Fine, Right?
Inside the Gyeonggi-do Paju Set. Seo Eun-seong appeared in the library set that reeked of high-teen romance vibes.
"Whoa? Isn't that the million-dollar pretty boy?"
"That uniform fit is insane?"
The staff burst into exclamations the moment Seo Eun-seong showed up. He was dressed in a Chuncho uniform—spring and fall style—with his usual forehead-baring hair styled down into a calm "bangs" look. His 188cm physique made even the uniform fit feel utterly unrealistic. And on top of that, his sculpted visuals. He was straight out of a shojo manga as the mysterious transfer student.
"Oh my? Eun-seong-ssi? How does the uniform suit you so well?"
Even Kim Na-yeon, waiting for her cameo, couldn't tear her eyes away from him.
"Should we aim for a high-teen project next?"
His manager, Oh Ji-yeon, crossed her arms with a satisfied smile. But there was one person for whom this whole situation felt insanely awkward.
What's up with him? Why's his face like that today?
It was Seo Ha-rin, waiting in her Sera uniform-style brown-toned school outfit. This wasn't her usual golden retriever big-puppy brother. How to put it... he had this cool handsome husky or shepherd vibe.
"Alright, Eun-seong-ssi, Ha-rin-ssi. Shall we start the shoot?"
At Director Choi Ho-jin's instruction, Seo Eun-seong and Seo Ha-rin stood between the library bookshelves. The real filming had begun.
This scene had Seo Ha-rin peeking secretly at Seo Eun-seong through the bookshelf gap with longing eyes, and him turning his head indifferently to meet her gaze.
"Ready!! Action!"
The slate clapped, and silence fell.
"....."
Ha-rin gathered her emotions and began gazing at Eun-seong through the bookshelf gap with wistful eyes. Eun-seong flipped through the book as scripted, donned his indifferent gaze, and slowly turned his head to lock eyes with her.
One second... two seconds... three seconds... The moment their eyes met.
"Eek!"
Ha-rin collapsed in place like goosebumps had erupted all over her body.
"D-Director! Sorry! I really can't do this!"
"Ha-rin-ssi...?"
The director was genuinely surprised. Seo Ha-rin of Siren, top idol and pro among pros, NG on the first take? It wasn't just any NG—she was hugging her shoulders too.
"Oppa acting all lethally handsome in front of me makes me wanna puke! My stomach's churning! Director!"
Ha-rin pounded her chest like she was actually nauseous.
"Huh? Wanna puke? Seo Ha-rin, why are you squinting your eyes all sultry like that?"
Eun-seong exhaled the breath he'd been holding and rubbed his arms vigorously.
"You're the gross one, oppa?! Your eyes are all buttered up!"
"Don't you know acting? Acting?"
The siblings pointed at each other, grimacing in disgust. The set turned into a sea of laughter at their raw, real sibling revulsion(?).
"Hehe. I knew they'd pull something like this."
"Eun-jin unnie, it's hilarious!"
Choi Eun-jin and Lee Ah-hyun led the way, with the other Siren members cracking up too. The staff clutched their stomachs laughing.
"Haha! I thought they got along well, but siblings gonna sibling, huh?"
Even Director Choi chuckled. But the laughter was short-lived. He picked up the megaphone and issued a stern directive.
"Still, aren't you both pros? Especially you, Ha-rin-ssi? Get your emotions in check and think of it as acting."
At his pointed remark, Seo Eun-seong and Seo Ha-rin slapped their cheeks to refocus.
That's not my brother Seo Eun-seong... That's an actor... an actor...
Ha-rin squeezed her eyes shut first, hypnotizing herself.
I'm acting right now... That's not the whiny rice bug Ha-rin begging for food—it's just a pretty schoolgirl...
Eun-seong clenched his fists, casting his own spell. Soon after, filming resumed.
"Take two! Ready, action!"
With the director's call, the shoot restarted. And this time, it was different.
"....."
Ha-rin's eyes brimmed with the fresh thrill and flutter of first love.
"....."
Eun-seong gazed steadily at her with his signature world-weary indifference.
"Uh...?"
In that moment, Ha-rin felt her heart truly drop at her brother's unexpectedly deep gaze—different from usual. Her cheeks flushed without her realizing, all captured perfectly on camera.
"Cut! Okay! Perfect!"
Director Choi clapped enthusiastically.
"Blood can't lie, huh?"
"Right, Director. It doesn't feel awkward at all."
In the monitor room, Oh Ji-yeon and Kim Tae-ho stared at the screen, speechless. The siblings shared subtle similarities in eye shape and aura. They'd worried about that unnatural sibling vibe showing up, but no—the screen had zero awkwardness. Instead, their heavenly visuals meshed into explosive chemistry.
The business filming between the Seo siblings wrapped up safely(?). Next up was cameo star Kim Na-yeon's turn.
She played a young student teacher.
"Eun-seong-ssi? Take good care of me~?"
"Na-yeon noona. Same to you."
Second time syncing up since the movie Glorious Outing, for Seo Eun-seong and Kim Na-yeon. This scene was the thrilling secret romance between mysterious high school boy Eun-seong and student teacher Na-yeon—a melo moment of tender skinship and loving gazes.
"Shooting now! Action!"
At the director's cue, Eun-seong approached Na-yeon and naturally placed his hand on her waist as scripted.
"Teacher..."
He capped it with affectionate melo eyes. Unlike with his sister, this felt effortless. Why? Zero impure thoughts or ulterior motives toward Na-yeon. Pure business mindset.
But the problem was Na-yeon.
"....!"
As Eun-seong closed in, wrapped her waist, and fired those melo eyes, her pupils shook wildly.
Too close!
Her heartbeat was loud enough to reach his ears. In the end, Na-yeon couldn't meet his gaze straight-on and dropped her eyes downward. Her face flushed like it might explode.
"Cut! Kim Na-yeon actress-ssi? You can't avoid eye contact. You're supposed to be lovers?"
Director Choi lightly pointed it out with the megaphone.
"Ah! Sorry! Let's go again!"
Na-yeon cooled her burning cheeks with her hands and took deep breaths. But the second, third takes were the same. Every time Eun-seong approached, she'd shrink her shoulders or flub lines, NG after NG.
"Kim Na-yeon actress-ssi, are you not feeling well today by any chance?"
Director Choi tilted his head.
"Kim Na-yeon messing up too? Tae-ho-ssi?"
"Like the director said, seems off-condition, right Manager?"
Oh Ji-yeon and Kim Tae-ho watching the monitor looked puzzled too. Who was Kim Na-yeon? Top actress, acting powerhouse.
And there was a hyena pack watching the situation keenly.
"That... Kim Na-yeon sunbae-nim, she totally has real feelings for Bear Doll, right?"
"Yeah, her face goes red and she can't even make eye contact when oppa approaches."
Choi Eun-jin and Lee Ah-hyun's radars pinged wildly.
"What's up with her today?"
Seo Ha-rin tilted her head too.
"Hm?"
Their sharp gazes pierced so intensely that Na-yeon sensed the Siren members' killing intent precisely.
No! Can't get caught here!
Na-yeon bit her lip anxiously inside, then barely mustered her top-actress mentality.
"Director! Sorry! I had a bit of a headache. Got my emotions now. Let's go again!"
Pro as ever, she switched to acting mode. Thankfully, they nailed the melo scene without issue.
"Cut! Good work!"
Director Choi called it boldly.
"Good work~."
Na-yeon headed to the waiting room in tense mode, worried her feelings might've slipped. But then.
"Na-yeon noona?"
Innocent, oblivious Eun-seong approached with a bright smile.
"Acting with you is the best—you lead so well and it's so comfortable. Thanks to you, no NG. Really grateful."
He bowed sincerely. Maybe 'cause she was his first acting partner, but Eun-seong felt most at ease with Na-yeon.
"Really? Glad to hear that. Hehe."
His pure, dense vibe melted her tension into laughter. Yup, classic Eun-seong. Woman's intuition said even if she showed her crush outright, he'd miss it.
"Hm? Why the sudden laugh?"
Even now, he tilted his head with clear eyes.
"Nothing. You're just cute."
"Huh? Cute? Haha... yeah, I am kinda cute."
"You are~?"
It was real. Even at "cute," Eun-seong just beamed innocently.
Time flowed on, and a month passed. The movie Glorious Outing smashed ten million viewers. Eun-seong became the hot trending rookie actor at the center of the hype.
But his daily life hadn't changed much.
"Phew. Perfect seasoning."
Bubble bubble. Delicious kimchi jjigae aroma wafted from the kitchen.
"Everyone, meal time! Rice!"
Eun-seong, apron on, yelled toward the living room. Siren's five members were sprawled on sofas and floor, chattering noisily.
"Yay! Food! Food!"
"Whoa... kimchi jjigae looks yummy... egg roll too..."
Unexpectedly, Kim Chae-yeon and Go Min-ji bolted to the table first.
"You two became rice bugs too, huh?"
Eun-seong shook his head at the new rice bugs charging with spoons. Chae-yeon and Min-ji had become meal slaves, clocking in whenever they could.
"Hehe. Oppa Eun-seong's food is the best, what to do~?"
"Seo Eun-seong-ssi, be honored we eat your food? And you said come over anytime we can~?"
Thus began the boisterous brunch.
"Eat slowly. Who's stealing it?"
Eun-seong hung his apron on the chair and sat.
"Oh?"
Bzzz bzzz. His phone on the table buzzed shortly. Coconut Talk message.
[Selfie with Eiffel Tower backdrop, smiling]
"Heh."
Eun-seong checked the pic, grinned, and replied.
"Who's that? Why you grinning alone?"
Ha-rin, across from him eating, asked.
"....?"
The four hyenas at the table froze their chopsticks, staring at Eun-seong. He flinched at the menacing vibe and hid his phone.
Telling them it was Na-yeon would be a hassle.
"Uh? Oh... friend Min-su. That idiot sent something dumb again. Just eat."
Eun-seong bullshitted smoothly and slurped jjigae.
"That Min-su oppa?"
Thankfully, Ha-rin and the bugs nodded and refocused on food. As the meal wrapped up.
"Right, Bear Doll. You know we have our new single showcase tomorrow, yeah?"
Siren leader Choi Eun-jin tossed it out casually while drinking water.
"Yeah, know. Tomorrow already, huh."
"3 PM tomorrow. You have to come."
Eun-seong blinked at her declaration.
"Do I really need to? Won't I just be a bother?"
He countered. It was Siren's new single showcase—they were the stars. Honestly, bit annoying too.
"What're you saying, Eun-seong oppa? You're the male lead in our music video. Plus, hottest rookie actor in Chungmuro right now. And as Ha-rin unnie's brother, you totally qualify. It's polite to come."
Straight-laced Ah-hyun set down her chopsticks and logically rebutted.
"Yeah, if our MV guy doesn't show, it looks weird. So oppa, come cheer us on!"
Ha-rin backed her up strongly from the side.
"You chickening out? Seo Eun-seong-ssi?"
"Yeah, it'd be nice if Eun-seong orabuni came too.."
Chae-yeon and Min-ji egged him on too. In the end.
"Fine, fine. I'll go. That should be fine, right?"
Eun-seong raised both hands in surrender. With two more bugs now, it was no joke.