Han Yujin Risk, Idol Gate (8)

We arrived at the filming studio in Ilsan.

The site is packed with no room to step. Swarms of staff are bustling about. Everyone is busy moving like ants preparing for the shoot.

“Hello! Please take care of me today!”

I greeted cheerfully as I passed by umbrella-like lighting equipment and rail tracks.

“Hello!”

“Please take care of us too!”

“Yujin-nim, the waiting room is that way!”

Despite being busy, everyone smiled and returned my greeting.

I hurried into the prepared waiting room to get my makeup done.

A woman wearing high-prescription rimless glasses greeted me with a nod and a smile.

“Oh my, Han Yujin-ssi!”

“Hello.”

The woman raised her voice excitedly.

“I’m a huge HaYoo fan, so it was my wish to do your makeup! Today I’ll be fulfilling my wish properly.”

Even after seating me in front of the mirror, the woman’s mouth didn’t stop.

“Do you know what your nickname is among the makeup artists?”

…My nickname?

“Crazy bitch?”

“What! It’s Little Princess, Little Princess. They say you don’t have any visible pores or blemishes. Seeing you in person, I can see why they say that.”

Then she stares at my lips and asks.

“By the way, what did you apply on your lips?”

Wow, amazing.

She can even recognize the lip tint recommended by a middle schooler at a glance. As expected, a pro is a pro.

“Oh, this lip tint?”

I couldn’t hide my excited expression. It felt like having my martial arts skills recognized by a grandmaster.

Hehe. Did this lip tint look that pretty even to a professional’s eyes?

I was secretly worried since Han Sumin recommended it, but I guess her eye for these things isn’t too bad.

Of course! Whose sister is she!

“This is…”

Just as I was about to open my mouth, shrugging my shoulders.

“That lip tint is a bit tacky.”

“…Huh?”

I closed my mouth again like a clam at the harsh criticism.

“It’s not like it’s some cheap water tint used by elementary school kids. Who put this on such expensive lips?”

…I applied it myself.

And what do you mean elementary school water tint! That’s too harsh!

“I’m a lip expert, so I know. This is a Tori Mori product, right?”

“…Y-yes.”

“It’s totally tone-deaf. The lip color and skin tone don’t match at all. In my opinion, Yujin-ssi needs to change her shop. Which makeup artist recommended this?”

“W-well…”

A middle schooler recommended it…

If I say that, won’t my nickname among the makeup artists really become “crazy bitch”?

The woman grumbled as if she wanted to scrape off the lip tint applied to my lips right away.

“This is why fans say things like ‘the stylist did it wrong’ or ‘the stylist must be an anti-fan’. It’s not like we’re cooking ramen with top-grade ingredients, what is this? Seeing such a perfect face being used so poorly makes my blood boil!”

“…Is it that bad?”

“Of course!”

The makeup team leader who was giving a speech leans in and asks.

“I’m asking just in case, but you didn’t buy this yourself, right?”

Moon Jaehyun, who had been listening to the entire conversation from behind, suppressed his laughter with a chuckle.

I waved my hands frantically, hiding my flushed face.

“Of course not! How could I choose such a childish water tint that only kids would use!”

“Right? From my perspective, this must have been recommended by someone trying to sabotage you.”

Ah, how embarrassing…

I bought it based on Han Sumin’s recommendation for nothing and ended up making a fool of myself. This is the ultimate humiliation.

This is why you shouldn’t easily trust your own siblings. I take back what I said about her having a good eye! I take it back!

I should give this lip tint to Yena.

She looks small and cute like an elementary school kid, so it’ll surely suit her well.

The woman said while twirling a tip brush with her fingers.

“Now, since today’s ad filming concept is about eradicating illegal filming, which is a somewhat heavy topic, I’ll do light makeup. Not excessive, but natural and pure beauty. Like transparent makeup.”

“Okay. I trust you, Team Leader. I’ll get some sleep for now.”

“Sure. You must be incredibly busy these days without a moment to rest, so get some sleep while you can.”

I nodded and closed my heavy eyelids. Dark haziness covered my vision.

As soon as I closed my eyes, my thoughts started tangling like threads.

To be honest…

I don’t care how today’s makeup turns out. We’ll be re-shooting anyway.

That’s right, isn’t it?

Once people find out that Yeon Sangho, who took hidden camera videos and shared them with his acquaintances, is appearing in an anti-illegal filming ad, everyone from the Korea Communications Commission to the public won’t just sit back and watch.

But looking at it this way, it’s the comedy of the century.

Yeon Sangho appearing in an anti-illegal filming campaign ad is no different from leaving a cat to watch over a fish shop.

What nerve, that bastard.

At this level, his guts haven’t just come out of his belly, they’ve flown all the way to Andromeda.

I guess that bastard must have diamond plating on his face, not just iron.

The fortunate thing is that after tomorrow, I’ll never have to see Yeon Sangho’s face again.

Because I’ll personally put him on an express train to hell and make him fall.

“…Hehehe.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that thought.

When I opened my eyes, the woman curled up the corners of her mouth as if infected by my laughter.

“Why are you laughing? Having good thoughts?”

“Yes.”

“I’m really curious. What thoughts?”

“Just, well…”

I answered, fidgeting with my fingers.

“Thoughts of devouring.”

“Oh my, a man?!”

Why did the conversation suddenly turn that way?

“It’s not like that!”

“Your overreaction makes it seem like it is.”

“No, no. Absolutely not.”

“It is, it is. Is there anything else to devour besides that? Who is it? Is it someone I know?”

My face heated up intensely.

“Ugh, it’s really not like that!”

The woman covered her mouth and laughed.

“Ah, I’m just joking. Yujin-ssi is just like on broadcasts. There’s a subtle fun in teasing you.”

“……”

This woman must be one of those viewers who leaves mischievous chat comments. She must be.

After a few more exchanges of such banter-like conversation, the makeup was finally finished.

The woman nodded with satisfaction.

“As expected, Yujin-ssi’s face does all the work.”

“Not at all. It’s because you did such a beautiful job, Team Leader.”

“Nah. I just drew lines on a watermelon.”

I immediately changed into the police uniform for the shoot.

Looking in the mirror wearing the police uniform, I look just like a newly commissioned female police officer.

I made a playful finger gun and aimed at Moon Jaehyun, saying,

“How do I look?”

Moon Jaehyun answered with his hands up.

“Like a gold medalist shooter from the Paris Olympics.”

“Who’s the target?”

“The target is obviously Yeon Sangho.”

“Is that so? I should turn him into a beehive.”

With a refreshed feeling, I sat on the sofa and read the ad storyboard.

Moon Jaehyun looked at his phone and let out a short exclamation, “Oh.”

“Noona. It seems like it’s already started?”

“What has?”

“Take a look at this.”

I received the phone from Moon Jaehyun.

[GameKorea]

[Title: (Urgent) Gukson Ilbo Tomorrow’s Front Page Embargo]

Breaking news just in;;

First time seeing an embargo on the entire front page

Could it be… something big coming? ㄷㄷ

Likes: 1182

-What is this???

-This is my first time with an embargo, but is it true that embargoes are only placed for huge scoops?

└Yes

-What’s the reason for placing an embargo??

└To focus people’s attention. Media companies live off traffic too, so they need to make people curious to get views.

-Must be about politics or business?

-Politics again?

-It’s my first time seeing an embargo on the entire front page too… This size means it’s not just a simple bribery case, right?

-I heard from a reporter friend at Gukson Ilbo. It’s entertainment news.

└BS Who in entertainment?

└Yeon XX, Jeon XX.

└YSH, JGM?

└Yes.

└I’ve sent your false information to KG Entertainment’s legal team^^

-Huh? Yeon Sangho’s image has been really good lately. Didn’t he even forgive that unknown model Sung Dojun or whatever who hit him, earning praise as a big-hearted person and becoming well-liked?

└But his past behavior has been too cheap lol

└I briefly worked in the entertainment industry, and that guy’s personality is total trash.

└Anyway, KG’s image-making for their artists is really something else.

-Don’t frame our Yeontsubi like that. He’s the group’s maknae and has a sensitive F personality, so he gets hurt a lot by malicious comments. Don’t spread baseless rumors.

└BS lol He’s a club rat, you delusional fangirl.

-I went to YSH’s club the other time? But he grabbed my wrist and forced me to drink, it was so scary ㅜㅜ

-Yeon Sangho really feels inferior to Kwon Juwon. So he started obsessing over business and connections, and now it seems he finally got caught for something.

-Look at how people are labeling and cursing at him when nothing’s even confirmed yet… I really feel a loss of humanity and disgust towards Korea

-One fact amid the confusion: Tomorrow is Yeon Sangho’s birthday. Judge for yourself.

└OMG

└Hmm…

└I searched and it’s true lol

└Gasp

└This is it

└Did Gukson Ilbo deliberately choose Yeon Sangho’s birthday?

└Reserving for early pilgrimage

└Gukson Ilbo, these bastards are savage lol

└Something big is coming

└I’m getting that feeling?lol

└No way…

└Reserving full dopamine lol

-Whatever it is, I’m staying neutral until tomorrow!

My fingertips tense up.

Finally, finally…

The countdown has begun!

Of course, the atmosphere isn’t conclusive yet. It looks like fans and anti-fans are battling for the best comments.

This is even better. As the number of comments increases and more words pile on, rumors will swell up like steamed buns.

By now, people’s heat and interest must be focused on Gukson Ilbo.

By the way, where is Yeon Sangho right now?

The countdown to catastrophe has begun, but where is the main character and what is he doing?

Just as I was thinking that,

“Yujin came early?”

Yeon Sangho came in drinking coffee with a relaxed expression.

They say speak of the devil and he shall appear, and it’s really true.

His face looks bright, probably from getting separate makeup in the makeup van.

The skin that was beaten to a pulp by Sung Dojun has been cleaned up with makeup, and the coin-sized bruise around his eye has disappeared too.

Yeon Sangho, wearing a police uniform, looked me up and down as if examining my outfit.

“Wow, our Yujin looks good in uniform too. Are you here to arrest oppa?”

Then he checks his appearance in the mirror and asks,

“How about me? Does it suit me too?”

“Not at all.”

I sneered, looking up at him coldly.

“Public service doesn’t suit you one bit.”

“Why? Is my image too high-class?”

“The opposite. You’re too cheap.”

“…Your words are a bit sharp?”

Clop, clop. I picked up the prop handcuffs on the table and approached Yeon Sangho. Then I put the handcuffs on both his hands.

“Now that you’re in shackles, it suits you better.”

Yeon Sangho raised his eyebrows and giggled as if he found this situation amusing.

“Yujin is more kinky than I thought. I didn’t know you had this kind of taste.”

“It’s not particularly my taste. I just think prisoner’s clothes suit you better than a uniform.”

“What?”

Yeon Sangho twisted his lips as if annoyed.

“Hey. Are you still mad at me?”

“Of course I am.”

“Really? What should I do to make you forgive me?”

You’ll be forgiven on your own tomorrow.

Because that day will be your memorial day.

“Yujin-ah. I’m really sorry, but I was so flustered then that I don’t remember anything. I don’t know what oppa said, but if it upset you, I apologize. Okay?”

Yeon Sangho, who had taken off the handcuffs, added with an “Ah.”

“Oh, and your friend, Sung something, you know. Tell him to come see me sometime. We should take a picture together and post a reconciliation proof on Instagram so he can breathe easier too, right? I heard he’s a freelance model without an agency? If he apologizes, I’ll look into getting him a runway spot, so let’s clear up any lingering feelings with that.”

His black intentions are transparent.

It seems he plans to spread photos of forgiving Sung Dojun and cement his image as a likable celebrity among the public.

It’s so despicable it makes me sick.

Does this person have a snake living in his chest?

No, at this level of scheming, it’s not a snake but a dragon coiled up inside.

Because every word he utters is calculated and sinister.

“I don’t want to.”

“You might not want to, but that friend will probably be thrilled to hit the jackpot? The less someone has, the greedier they are.”

Yeon Sangho smiled thinly and pointed at the luxury watch on his wrist, saying,

“You know there’s a time sensitivity to incidents, right? If you miss the golden time, you can’t untie the knotted rope even if you try? This is all for you and your friend, so stop being stubborn and tell him to apologize.”

“Don’t try to gaslight me.”

“Sigh, such a stubborn mule.”

While I was glaring coldly at Yeon Sangho and seething inside,

Suddenly, a cheerful ringtone rang out.

Not from my phone, but from Yeon Sangho’s phone.

Yeon Sangho checked the name on the screen. Then he showed me the phone screen and smiled smugly.

“Haha. It’s a reporter friend of mine. A benefactor who’s written many articles criticizing your friend.”

Yeon Sangho sat on the sofa and wiggled his leg. Then he answered the phone on speaker, as if showing off to me.

“Yes, Reporter Yoon.”

-Wow, this is crazy. Uh, Sangho-ya!

Unlike the relaxed Yeon Sangho, an urgent voice came from the other end.

“I’m not deaf, you know? I can hear you even if you speak quietly, so calm down.”

-Hey, damn it! Do I look calm right now?

“What’s the matter?”

-I just heard this myself… shit.

Yeon Sangho glanced at me and cleared his throat.

“Why are you swearing so vulgarly? It’s okay, so speak comfortably.”

-Uh, well… this is…

After a short silence, a voice came through the receiver.

-Tomorrow’s Gukson Ilbo morning edition front page is entirely about you.

For a moment, Yeon Sangho’s expression contorted.