Ch.144No, wait, you shouldn’t be blushing there.

Do you believe in fate?

When your eyes meet and a powerful electric current flows between you.

When you’re certain this is love and destiny.

Do you wait for that miraculous moment when you truly meet the person you’ll spend your life with?

Most would answer ‘no.’

They’d say maybe in the past, but not anymore.

They know how ridiculous it sounds.

They understand such things only exist in movies, dramas, or fairy tales.

But.

‘Still, there’s nothing wrong with believing.’

There were a very few people who maintained this unwavering thought.

And one of them was Evelyn Queen Ember.

Even while knowing how far-fetched this idea was,

She simultaneously hoped for such a thing to happen.

‘I won’t love anyone unless they’re my destiny.’

It was both a pledge and a resolution.

That’s why Evelyn, despite being 22 years old,

Had never dated anyone and coldly rejected anyone who approached her.

The reason was obvious.

‘Because it’s not destined, because I don’t feel drawn to them at all.’

In a way, her trip to Korea carried that same meaning.

Early December.

The time when Broadway would be heating up for the year-end.

Yet the schedule of Evelyn, called the next-generation diva, was completely empty.

Next-generation diva.

It meant promising talent or owner of the next generation.

But interpreted differently, it also meant she didn’t yet have definite influence in the present.

“The end of the year is… certainly, well.”

“I know, of course I do. With all the frenzy up there, it means there’s still no place for me yet.”

Of course, it wasn’t that she had no work at all.

She could secure positions through auditions.

She could also play supporting roles, if not the main ones.

But that wasn’t what Evelyn wanted.

“Once you’re pushed out, your value drops from then on. You know that, right?”

“Of course I do, and I respect your choice.”

“The lead in a musical… must always remain the lead.”

If you want to reign as a diva, you can no longer play roles that make others shine.

That was like a truth Evelyn had learned on Broadway.

That’s why she chose to go to Korea.

If she was going to rest anyway, she might as well go to a small country and relax.

Besides, it was also that man’s country, so she was curious about it.

‘If you’re destined to be with me, well, maybe we could meet in Korea?’

Or I could go find you.

Evelyn muttered to herself while tapping her feet.

“Korean planes aren’t bad, there’s a lot to order.”

“Hmm, true. Personally, I’m curious about this Shin Ramyun thing.”

“By the way, how long until departure? 10 minutes?”

“Hmm. About that? But people haven’t all boarded yet.”

The manager looked around the business class.

Surely they should be among the first to board after check-in.

For some reason, a few seats remained empty.

“Next to you, Evelyn… and two more.”

“Three people haven’t arrived? Well, it’s not really my concern.”

The Prestige Suite business class arrangement was 1-2-1.

Normally, Evelyn would sit with her manager in the adjacent 2 seats.

But because she believed in fate, she deliberately left the seat next to her empty.

“But will it really be okay?”

“Yes, I can always put up the divider if needed.”

A slight shrug of the shoulders.

And simultaneously.

“Donghu, your seat seems to be over there?”

“Oh? You’re right. But this isn’t regular business class?”

“Yeah… they really took care of us, even though we can’t film here.”

A very familiar name reached Evelyn’s ears.

‘Donghu?’

With a sense of disbelief, Evelyn turned her head.

“Ha, this is truly destiny.”

The moment she saw Kim Donghu, she was convinced there was something between them.

This was an impossibly small probability.

Same date, same time, same plane, adjacent seats.

How strong must the thread of fate be for all these to align?

So when Kim Donghu sat next to her, Evelyn immediately spoke to him.

“Are you Donghu?”

“Pardon?”

He didn’t deny it, just looked slightly taken aback.

He has a strong impression.

The kind you can never forget once you’ve seen.

Even Evelyn, who constantly said appearances were just shells and meaningless without destiny.

‘Can a person really look like this?’

His appearance was breathtaking.

She thought the magazine photos must have been heavily edited, so the real person would be less impressive.

But.

‘The photos didn’t capture even half of it.’

Seeing him in person left her speechless.

She had seen many confident, handsome men before.

But she naturally realized that all of them combined couldn’t match even the toenail of the man before her.

‘And on top of that, we’re destined for each other.’

She had declined the magazine cover, and he had filled that spot.

After thinking about seeing him someday and two months passing.

Now, by an incredibly improbable miracle, they met in adjacent airplane seats.

“Should I marry you too? Hmm?”

So Evelyn couldn’t help but blurt out her thoughts.

Even while knowing how absurd and ridiculous such words were to a stranger.

Evelyn was truly surprised at herself for saying them.

“Huh? What? W-what are you suddenly saying?!”

And the person even more surprised was Evelyn’s manager.

With a shocked expression that conveyed ‘You clearly said it was a joke, why are you changing your words?’

“Suddenly saying such things to someone you just met… wow, but he really is… handsome.”

At the same time, she didn’t forget to admire Kim Donghu’s appearance.

“Were we close enough to be thinking about marriage?”

Then came Kim Donghu’s skillful response.

“W-who are you?!”

Yerim’s support, with Korean slipping out in the awkward situation, was an added bonus.

+++++

South Korea is very small compared to the United States.

Roughly calculated, about 100 times smaller.

And the population difference was proportional.

The gap between famous personalities was just as significant.

Therefore.

‘Who is she?’

I didn’t know who this person was who suddenly brought up marriage.

‘Well, someone sitting in these seats must be quite wealthy.’

Rich, and with a manager, she seemed to be an entertainer.

But America was vast with many people.

It was impossible to know all of them.

“Don’t you watch musicals?”

As I was trying to figure out who she was,

Looking confused at how unfamiliar everyone seemed, she asked.

“No, I’m not familiar with that field.”

“Oh, I see. I’m sorry.”

Her briefly shocked expression quickly changed to a smile,

And she politely introduced herself.

“I’m Evelyn Ember Queen. I perform in musicals on Broadway.”

“Ah, I see. I’m Kim Donghu.”

“Yes, I know, you were the cover model for GOT magazine’s October issue. The supernova that sold 1.2 million copies.”

“Haha, thank you for recognizing me.”

“Of course, I was originally supposed to do that cover.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, but there were coordination issues with my agency, and the paparazzi have been so noisy lately, so unavoidably, well.”

Before continuing our smooth conversation,

I briefly introduced the people with me.

“I see. Oh, and this is my manager. As you saw on the cover, she’s preparing to be a model.”

“Ah, hello, I’m Shin Yerim.”

Yerim subtly linked her arm with mine while greeting politely.

“And this is my coach.”

“Ha, hi hello… I’m fine thank you… I’m Sangha Paek.”

The coach moved stiffly like a newly made robot.

He’d been in America for about 6 months, but he was still like this.

The coach was really strange in everything except exercise-related matters.

‘Is that why he can’t date?’

While I was briefly thinking about this,

Evelyn continued.

“Yes, yes, I know. My manager and I read the entire interview.”

“Really? I’m honored.”

“I’m very interested in you.”

Another direct statement.

Meeting her straightforward gaze, I looked back at Evelyn.

“Your eyes are so deep, like the night sea.”

“Thank you for the compliment. Um… Evelyn’s eyes are like… sapphires?”

“I hear that often.”

Just until there.

I thought the conversation would be difficult to continue beyond this point.

We had just met.

Although our seats were adjacent, there was a divider.

Once the divider was lowered, it would immediately become a private space.

‘I guess the conversation can end here.’

Just as I was about to turn back to my companions.

“Who should I contact if I want to collaborate with you?”

At Evelyn’s unexpected question, I smiled gently and replied.

“Ah, you can contact my agency.”

According to the original schedule, Seokho should have returned with me.

But as the CEO, he had already returned to Korea.

“Your agency? Are you bound to an agency?”

At Evelyn’s words, I paused briefly.

‘I’m not bound.’

Rather, the agency was bound to my building.

‘Considering the shares too.’

But I couldn’t explain these circumstances.

So I just shook my head lightly.

“If not, could we exchange personal numbers now?”

“Pardon?”

“Is that not okay?”

“J-just a moment, Evelyn? Evelyn?! Excuse me. I’m sorry but… haha, we’ll end the conversation here. Excuse us.”

At Evelyn’s continued words, her manager urgently intervened.

He was sweating from nervousness.

I nodded as if it didn’t matter.

The manager quickly raised the divider.

Squeeze.

As the situation was forcibly ended.

Squeeze squeeze.

I felt an unfamiliar sensation on my arm.

“Who is that person? Are they that great?”

“No, I’ve never heard of her either.”

It would have been nice if Seokho were here in this situation.

My phone was already in airplane mode, so it was awkward to look her up.

“She seems really interested in you, asking for your phone number like that.”

“Yeah, but honestly, it’s awkward since we just met.”

“She probably won’t do anything else now, right?”

“Yeah, I guess. But, um… could you let go of my arm now?”

“Wow, but how can she keep eye contact only with you and never look at me even once when I’m right here next to you?”

Yerim, thinking it made no sense,

Squeezed my arm even more tightly.

“With someone as pretty as me saying I’m the manager! She should have backed off!”

“Well, anyway, it’s over now, so relax.”

I said that and managed to calm Yerim down to sit.

“Wow, but musicals… that’s impressive.”

The oblivious coach was an added bonus.

‘Is this really why our coach can’t date?’

++++++

Ding.

With that sound, the airplane lights turn off.

A long-distance flight of about 16 hours.

No matter how comfortable the seats were, one needed to rest when it was time.

‘But I’m not sleepy yet.’

Glancing at the seats beside me, Yerim and Sangha had already entered dreamland.

Just as I was about to put on headphones to watch a movie.

Sssssslide.

The divider that seemed like it would never come down again descended once more.

“…?”

I met eyes with Evelyn, who looked more composed than before.

A moment of silence.

As I wondered if I should ask why she lowered it.

“This feels like a midnight rendezvous, doesn’t it? Secretive.”

Evelyn’s playful words continued.

I also brought my face close enough that our noses almost touched.

“Evelyn, do you like me? Enough to want to marry me? Here, the first time we’ve met?”

I returned her joke.

But.

“….”

Evelyn’s white skin suddenly turned as red as if flowers were blooming on it.

Wait, you shouldn’t blush there.

We still have about 15 more hours to see each other.

This makes things awkward.