Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Top Star Han Sea-ah
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Damn underage restrictions.
If I weren't underage, I wouldn't be struggling like this.
I had money, but nowhere to crash. Jjimjilbangs, motels, even those sketchy PC bangs were completely off-limits for me right now.
It felt like the whole country was ordering me to go home.
I just kept tapping aimlessly at my phone screen.
My pathetic contacts list had only two numbers saved.
I'd already called Lee Seo-yoon, so just one left. But calling at this hour felt awkward.
"Eh, whatever."
I pushed aside my hesitation and dialed the last number. It rang once or twice before connecting right away.
[What's up?]
The voice was deeper and more mature than Lee Seo-yoon's.
In the background, I faintly heard car horns.
"...Are you driving?"
[Yeah. Got some business trip to handle. But what's going on?]
A business trip at this hour.
It really hit me how grueling it must be to run a mid-sized agency.
"Uh... just calling to chat."
A brief silence flowed over the line.
[What's wrong, Sarang? Something happen at home?]
CEO intuition, maybe.
I hadn't said much, but Oh Seo-hee picked up on it sharp as ever.
Come to think of it, she knew my family situation wasn't great.
That made it easier to bring it up.
"Um... any spare spots at the agency to crash? I had a fight with Mom."
[......Hold on, don't hang up. Wait there.]
I waited quietly like she said.
A few horns blared, then what sounded like a car door shutting.
[Sorry, had to park in a hurry. You need a place to stay, right?]
"Yes."
[Want to crash in my office? ...Wait. That floor's full of the male trainees tonight......]
Entertainment agencies keep the lights on till dawn for trainees practicing late.
But that's only for adults—minors get locked out after 9 PM.
[Ugh—]
I heard the CEO's troubled groan over the phone.
[Of all weeks, next one's the guys' monthly eval... Agency might be tricky. Anyone reliable nearby?]
"...I'll look around. Thanks, CEO."
Someone reliable.
Sadly, my contacts boiled down to two numbers—and this last one was Oh Seo-hee herself.
[Wait, Sarang. Let me check around for you.]
"No, it's fine. Thanks for the help, CEO. Talk later."
[What? No—]
I knew it was a bit rude, but I hung up right after.
No point dragging it out—it wouldn't change anything. Just more trouble for her.
I didn't want to waste more time from someone who already looked swamped.
Just go home. Worst case, get groped a few times and puke. That's it.
I should be used to it by now. Probably just overreacting. Shouldn't have called.
"Sigh. Life, man."
I looked up at the sky.
A ridiculously bright full moon hung there.
I straightened my bent knees and kept walking.
I followed the laughter leaking from middle-aged women down dim stairs.
Somewhere between the first floor and basement, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out—Oh Seo-hee's name on the screen. I paused, climbed back up the stairs, and answered.
[Sarang, you live in Suwon, right?]
"Yes? Yeah..."
[Text me your address now. Hurry.]
"Huh? Oh, really, it's okay—"
[Hurry.]
Her urging made me send my location without thinking.
[Someone's heading there now. Convenience store nearby? Wait out front. Exactly there.]
"Who is it?"
[Annoying but trustworthy. You know her too, so don't worry.]
Who could it be? No clue.
Someone Oh Seo-hee calls annoying that I know...
Park Sung-chul, the casting manager? Only guy who came to mind.
But crashing at a guy's place? Tricky, even with the age gap. I'm pretty cute, after all.
'...If it's a guy, I'll make excuses and bail.'
Might be better than those ladies' hands.
I sighed, kicking a stray pebble with my toe.
That's when it happened.
A roaring engine and blinding headlights flashed from across the street.
It was a flashy sports car.
Deep, vivid blue body slicing through the narrow alley.
The wing-like brand emblems alone screamed pricier than every house here.
'...Some chaebol?'
Not a car you'd see in this dumpy neighborhood.
I didn't want trouble, so I stepped back to let it pass.
But it stopped. Right in front of me.
The window rolled down slowly, revealing someone in sunglasses and a mask.
Sunglasses at night? Psycho?
The vibe screamed danger—instinct kicked in.
I edged toward the lit convenience store sign.
"Han Sarang?"
She knew my name.
No way.
"Yes? Yeah, that's me..."
"CEO asked me to put you up for the night?"
Oh Seo-hee's pick. Explains the weirdness.
At least it wasn't a guy—relief.
But this was who she sent?
"Get in. We'll talk on the way."
The door opened.
Not sideways—upward.
Whoa. Like something out of a movie. First time seeing one IRL.
"But... who are you?"
No matter how fancy the car, I wasn't hopping into a stranger's ride.
"You don't know me?"
With her face all wrapped up? How? Oh Seo-hee's "annoying" comment made sense now.
"Oh, sorry. Habit when I'm out."
Finally, she slowly removed her cap, sunglasses, and mask.
The face that emerged left me stunned.
People could really look like this. Her beauty hit that hard.
Like Oh Seo-hee said, I knew her. Anyone young in Korea did.
"......No way... Han Sea-ah?"
"See? Told you you'd know."
This is insane.
Why was Han Sea-ah here?
Next Stage.
The idol survival show that set Korea ablaze ten years ago.
100 aspiring idols in a brutal competition.
Only 7 survivors debuted. Pure hell.
The girls' dazzling efforts on extreme stages naturally captivated the public.
Ask who starred in Next Stage? Everyone points to one.
The comet who dominated with overwhelming votes.
Next Stage's final winner—the woman now humming and steering from the driver's seat.
Korea's top star, Han Sea-ah.
"You're really... Han Sea-ah, right?"
"Who else would I be?"
That confidence. But she wasn't wrong.
No one else fit the name Han Sea-ah.
Faces that glow? She proved it real.
Even my birth mom, who I'd thought pretty, seemed plain next to her.
"Why would Han Sea-ah... put up... me?"
"Oh Seo-hee asked me to for the night."
"You're really letting me crash?"
"Don't you need a place?"
"Yeah, but..."
Her unexpected answer left my jaw on the floor.
Probably the biggest shock of my life.
Han Sea-ah putting me up? No one'd believe it—total joke material.
Lee Seo-yoon would freak if she knew.
As I sorted my jumbled thoughts, I recalled Oh Seo-hee at that barbecue joint.
[Secret, but... Han Sea-ah? I raised her.]
Thought it was bluffing. Guess it was real.
"You close with our CEO?"
"We were."
The hesitation in her short reply suggested they weren't tight anymore.
Not my business anyway.
One thing mattered: I wouldn't have to go back to that hellhole tonight.
Han Sea-ah or whoever—she was my lifesaver for a bed.
"...Thanks for putting me up."
"No biggie. I owe your CEO a debt. Don't sweat it."
"Still, thanks. Unnie."
"Unnie, huh? Sounds nice!"
She rolled down the window, and crisp autumn night air whipped my hair back.
"Dunno the details, but if you ran away, your head's gotta be a mess. Cool off with some wind."
I felt the breeze on my face and watched the night scenery roll by.
We'd already left the shabby neighborhood far behind.
No more dingy alleys—just dazzling city lights everywhere.
'......Feels nice.'
Landscapes flashing between the glittering lights.
I leaned my head on the window frame, just gazing at them.
Drives weren't my thing... but cruising in cool air? Not bad.
Maybe... feeling a bit good.