Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Episode 12. Guest (4)
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Jang Han-seon hadn't always been someone with such low energy.
As seen on variety shows, he was originally a guy brimming with talent and charisma. In real life too, he was the kind of person people called the mood maker whenever they hung out.
But constant broadcasting had changed him into this.
"Being in a job where you're always on display is terrifying. You have to keep performing as yourself right up to the end. Pretending to be a fake version of yourself—that's the hard part. Sometimes I wonder if my real job is acting, not singing."
"..."
"And if you make even the slightest mistake, it's like a witch hunt—waves of vicious criticism come pouring in. That feeling... You're a rookie who just debuted, so you probably haven't experienced it, but it makes you feel like a criminal. Honestly, it's filthy."
Even Jang Han-seon, who enjoyed massive popularity, didn't have the pristine image that Oh Sin-hoon did.
He'd been embroiled in plenty of scandals in the past.
The normally bright and lively Jang Han-seon.
But every time a scandal hit, he'd face the public's finger-pointing, and his personality started splitting apart bit by bit.
The public's gaze created entertainer Jang Han-seon.
And disillusionment with the world created the current Jang Han-seon.
"If only I'd developed a split personality, maybe surviving this filthy entertainment industry would've been bearable."
"..."
"Ah, I've said too much to someone I just met."
He stubbed out his cigarette butt against the railing, then tossed it into a nearby ashtray.
"I'll head out now. Still got schedules left..."
As he turned toward the rooftop stairs,
Kang Han-do's words held him back for a moment.
"Even if being an entertainer is tough, there must be good sides to it too."
"Good sides, huh."
In this world, where there's light, there's shadow.
Conversely, the existence of that dark shadow means there's light shining to cast it.
Everything in life is like that.
Where there's good, there's bad—and where there's bad, there's good.
"If entertainment life was nothing but suffering, you and all the other celebs would've quit broadcasting ages ago."
"..."
"There must be perks unique to being an entertainer—that's why you keep at it, right?"
For a split second, a flurry of thoughts raced through Jang Han-seon's mind.
Even when his debut album—now mocked as a flop—was released, his fans sent gifts and cheered him on.
Whenever things got tough, his fans were always in his corner.
Not everyone hated him during the backlash.
Somewhere out there, fans who loved Han-seon definitely existed.
Maybe that was the driving force that kept him wearing the title of entertainer, even when he thought the life was hell.
Jang Han-seon clamped his mouth shut for a moment. Then he slowly turned back.
"Good point."
A faint smile crept onto Jang Han-seon's face.
It was a smile no one had seen during the entire recording today.
"You're Kang Han-do, right?"
"Yes."
"I'd love to do a shoot together like today sometime. You seem like a good guy."
"I'd like that too."
"Haha, looking forward to it."
Kang Han-do had to become a mega-star somehow.
Countless people's lives were riding on his shoulders.
After Jang Han-seon descended the rooftop stairs,
"..."
Kang Han-do's expression hardened instantly.
The BLT rooftop railing hadn't been cleaned properly—dust had built up in spots.
There were dust marks matching the shape of an adult man's footprints.
Traces that someone had just climbed onto the railing to attempt suicide lingered right at Kang Han-do's feet.
* * *
"..."
Kang Han-do stared silently at the railing.
He knew exactly what those footprints meant.
But he had no desire to confirm it.
He just wanted to leave it as a hunch.
He pushed open the rooftop door, headed down the stairs, and returned to the HSL recording studio entrance.
Right on cue, Choi Ye-hee came trotting up to him.
"All done?"
"Yeah. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No worries. More than that, thank you so much for today. It was such a fun experience."
"Haha, really?"
Hearing that Choi Ye-hee had enjoyed the day made bringing her along feel worthwhile.
Just then, PD Yoo Tae-hwan emerged from the studio with the cast, bumping into the two.
"Thanks for all your hard work on today's recording."
Kang Han-do bowed first to PD Yoo Tae-hwan and Jeon Yoo-hyeon, thanking them for their efforts.
They patted his shoulders lightly, telling him he'd done great too.
"Yeah, you too. How was the shadowing for you, Ye-hee?"
"It was great!"
When PD Yoo Tae-hwan asked, Choi Ye-hee answered honestly right away.
"So much was new and exciting. Super fun."
"I heard you're a Han-seon fan. Must've been a surprise off-stage."
"Ahaha..."
"Well, don't take it too personally. He's not a bad guy."
"Yeah, he seemed okay."
Fortunately, Choi Ye-hee didn't seem to harbor much resentment after seeing Jang Han-seon's off-camera side.
She probably knew already.
Entertainers' on-air personas don't match their private lives 100%.
The exaggerated gestures, expressions, speech—they had to play the clown for the public.
Jang Han-seon was no different.
Knowing that, Choi Ye-hee accepted his real self after witnessing it firsthand.
After all, he was still the singer she admired.
Following PD Yoo Tae-hwan, Oh Min-tae sidled up to Kang Han-do and Choi Ye-hee with a subtle invitation.
"We were just about to grab dinner—wanna join?"
An offer for dinner with the PD who'd worked with the celebs.
Choi Ye-hee hesitated for a second, unsure if she should intrude, but Kang Han-do encouraged her.
"If you don't have other plans, come along."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course."
With Kang Han-do going too, Choi Ye-hee had nothing to fear.
PD Yoo Tae-hwan smiled, pleased, as she nodded shyly.
"Alright, let's head out."
* * *
They finished a light meal at a nearby restaurant.
During the meal, PD Yoo Tae-hwan, Jeon Yoo-hyeon, writer Lee Yeon-shin, and Oh Min-tae learned that Choi Ye-hee was a top student too.
She was pretty, had a great figure, and was smart.
As Kang Han-do chatted with this high-spec girl, PD Yoo Tae-hwan leaned in and whispered,
'Hold onto her tight. She seems like a keeper.'
'PD-nim, we're not like that.'
'Doesn't change that you like her, right?'
'...'
Kang Han-do was terrible at hiding his feelings when it came to romance.
Probably because he'd barely dated.
After dinner, as they stepped outside, Oh Min-tae suggested round two, sounding a bit wistful.
"There's a karaoke spot nearby I know well. Anyone in?"
"Karaoke? Sounds good!"
PD Yoo Tae-hwan accepted without a second thought.
Jeon Yoo-hyeon and writer Lee Yeon-shin joined the chorus. Kang Han-do quietly checked with Choi Ye-hee.
'What do you think? If you wanna head home, I can say something.'
'No, I wanna go too.'
Choi Ye-hee had never turned down karaoke before.
Singing was her life and hope.
She went alone regularly—why pass this up? Karaoke felt more comfortable than dinner, even.
"We'll go too."
With Kang Han-do including Choi Ye-hee, Oh Min-tae's voice rose excitedly.
"Okay! Let's go!"
And just like that, a spontaneous karaoke party formed.
* * *
As soon as they entered the karaoke room, Jeon Yoo-hyeon handed the remote to PD Yoo Tae-hwan.
"Sing one first."
"Nah, our Ye-hee should kick it off to set the vibe. What do you say, Ye-hee?"
Suddenly handed the mic, Choi Ye-hee nodded without hesitation.
"Sure. I'll do my best for the first one."
"Everyone, clap!"
PD Yoo Tae-hwan rallied applause to hype things up.
Thus, Choi Ye-hee took the mic as the opener.
Up to this point, no one expected much.
But then.
Something beyond their expectations happened.
Writer Lee Yeon-shin glanced at the song title and muttered softly.
"Umbrella, huh. Even tough for women with those high notes..."
She'd sung it often with friends, so she knew how hard "Umbrella" was.
The go-to screamer for girls at karaoke.
Everyone sang it, but mostly yelling—few nailed it.
They figured she'd picked a challenging high-note song to liven things up.
But as her singing progressed, that notion faded.
"The umbrella we shared, you and I~ The love words whispered beneath it~!"
Even in the highlight chorus with the highest notes, she nailed it perfectly.
It breathed with a charm different from the original singer.
Kang Han-do, already aware of her skills, listened casually.
The others? Not so much.
'What the...!'
PD Yoo Tae-hwan's face shifted with every second.
He'd heard countless female singers, but Choi Ye-hee's skill was top-tier.
And it wasn't just him.
Writer Lee Yeon-shin, Jeon Yoo-hyeon, Oh Min-tae too.
From this regular girl they'd just met, they felt the immense aura only a superstar could exude.