Ch.198How to Hide a Tree

Two days later.

“So you’re coming to look after me too?”

“…What are you talking about, Sujin.”

I got into the van with Sujin, whose cheeks were all puffed up.

KBC’s new flagship drama “Our Fake Marriage.”

An impressive 46.2% viewership rating.

Just like with “The Real Hero.”

It was expected to sweep all the awards it was eligible for.

“I mean, come on. You were all lovey-dovey calling her ‘honey’ and ‘husband’ while smiling, right?”

“…”

“When you did the congratulatory performance, you were ready to go on stage making a big heart shape. Do you like idols that much?”

“They came to congratulate us, so it’s nice to respond enthusiastically.”

“Enthusiastically? En-thu-si-as-ti-cally? You call that enthusiasm? Wasn’t that more like cheering?”

A variable erupted even before the awards ceremony began.

‘She saw all of that?’

Listening to her talk, it seemed like she had watched the entire MNC Entertainment Awards.

If she had seen it all, I understood why her cheeks were so puffed up.

『Kim Donghu and Ryu Jaerin, a connection that started when they were 6 years old?!』

『From friends to spouses, their glamorous six-month marriage concludes with a “Best Couple Award”』

Just thinking about the articles that came out right after we received the Best Couple Award was enough.

If she had watched it all in real-time, I understood her anger.

But.

“Then during this special performance, I’ll hold your hand tight.”

“Huh, what?”

That didn’t mean I was going to back down so easily.

Originally, Sujin pretends to push forward, but she’s the type who wants to be led more than anyone.

She’s extremely vulnerable when someone suddenly takes the initiative like this.

Just look at her now.

“H-hold hands? There? During the live broadcast?”

“Yeah, what’s the big deal? We’re obviously going to win the Best Couple Award… and everyone knows we’ve been friends since Hehe Doctor!”

I could see Sujin’s cheeks turning bright red at the mention of holding hands.

Even though we’d been doing much more intimate things all day, she still reacted like this just hearing about holding hands.

I wondered if anyone could really be this cute.

As we continued chatting about various things…

“We’ve arrived.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The van arrived at the awards venue.

Through the window, I could see a red carpet stretched out.

Actually, up to this point, it was no different from two days ago.

Since “Our Fake Marriage” also had marriage as its core theme,

I wore a suit, and Sujin wore a white dress.

We held hands affectionately and walked to the photo zone to take pictures.

Then we entered the awards hall and sat in our designated seats.

And until then…

Squeeze.

“…Is this really okay?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry.”

We were holding hands.

It was the same when we sat down.

Since we were sitting next to each other anyway, there was no need to let go.

So we just held hands very naturally.

“Shouldn’t we let go?”

“No, this actually makes people less suspicious, don’t you think?”

“…Less suspicious? While holding hands like this?”

“Yes.”

What’s the reason celebrities’ secret relationships get discovered?

‘Because they’re secret.’

When you hide something, it shows.

You think no one knows? You think it’s a secret? Such things don’t exist.

The moment you lie, you need to meticulously plan to deceive everyone.

There are rarely cases where people go to such lengths for a relationship.

That’s why secret relationships inevitably get discovered.

But what about skinship that’s done openly and confidently like this?

‘This actually confuses people more.’

Because it’s something they’ve never seen before, they can’t help but be confused.

And we had a good excuse.

For the sake of winning the Best Couple Award.

It felt like two innocent 21-year-olds holding hands.

“Now… we can let go when the time is right.”

After holding Sujin’s hand for a while,

I naturally let go right after the opening performance started.

“Ah.”

And as soon as I let go, with a short sigh, Sujin’s fingers caught the tips of mine.

Between the chairs and under the table.

I could see in her eyes that she was sad the enjoyable secret meeting was ending.

I was disappointed too, but this was as far as it could go.

Any more would make things awkward for both of us.

We exchanged a brief glance and then focused on the awards ceremony.

Actually, only Sujin focused on it.

I…

Ding! Ding! Ding!

‘…Is this for real?’

I was shocked by a message from Sims that came after a long time.

+++++

At the same time.

ㄴAre they not planning to let go of each other’s hands?

ㄴThey’re taking the concept in a really interesting direction today, going for a real married couple vibe?

ㄴLike a newlywed college couple? Are they doing this on purpose?

The chat related to KBC’s live broadcast was going crazy.

Since Kim Donghu had already filmed both a variety show and a drama with a marriage concept,

People naturally expected him to bring the marriage concept to the KBC Drama Awards too, but…

ㄴAre they actually a couple? Why are they holding hands? Shouldn’t this be a scandal?

ㄴBut damn, it feels like a gimmick so…

ㄴThese kids are so clueless lol it’s definitely fake, that’s why they’re acting like that. If it were real, they couldn’t even make eye contact

ㄴHolding hands so officially? It’s just heavy viral marketing

ㄴIt’s possible because they’re actually nothing to each other, just really close friends

ㄴBut since they’re both actors, their shy acting is exactly like Han Doyun and Jung Subin

ㄴDo you really have to keep up the concept even here? ㅠㅠ

ㄴI really enjoyed the drama, and seeing them like this at the awards ceremony makes my heart race

No one expected them to appear holding hands, taking it a step further.

As Kim Donghu predicted,

People couldn’t think anything strange about the two appearing so confidently.

After all, this was an awards ceremony being broadcast live.

Who would think that some bold people would hold hands and flirt there?

As they say, to hide a tree, hide it in a forest.

Everyone was fooled by their overly confident appearance.

Afterward, things flowed similarly to the MNC Entertainment Awards from two days ago.

The difference was that the KBC Best Couple Award was given to six couples.

It showed KBC’s determination not to disappoint anyone.

ㄴAll 6 couples are giving acceptance speeches lol

ㄴBut Kim Donghu and Kim Sujin definitely stand out

ㄴWhy did they hold hands again as soon as they heard they won?

ㄴIsn’t that too affectionate? Why are they looking at each other like that?

ㄴDid you hear that acceptance speech just now?

ㄴYeah, it really stuck with me

ㄴKim Donghu: “If a bride like this really existed, wouldn’t I have gotten married at twenty?” lolololol?

ㄴI didn’t understand what he meant, how did he respond to the MC?

ㄴThe reason he’s not getting married now is “because he’s 21” lololololol

ㄴKim Donghu < This guy just finds award ceremonies fun, he’s here to play, to collect awards lol

People watching the ceremony had quite a few complaints.

At an event where people are supposed to have fun, laugh, and share awards,

Why should they have to keep a straight face even during congratulatory performances?

But when they saw an actor who openly came to enjoy himself,

His image naturally improved.

Even though Kim Donghu already had a good image.

ㄴIs it because he’s young? He definitely knows how to have fun

ㄴTriple 10-million-viewer films but no attitude or pretentiousness

ㄴDoesn’t need attitude when he’s a heavyweight boxing gold medalist, just scary

ㄴTrying to follow the choreography during the idol performance after part 1

ㄴSmiling brightly while watching idols and getting glared at by his drama wife

ㄴDrama wife lol is that drama+wife? lol

ㄴSeeing the most successful actor having fun without pretense makes other actors move a bit too

ㄴEntertainment industry rule #1: If you’re successful, you’re automatically a senior and influential

ㄴFrom that perspective, Kim Donghu is really irregular right now;;;

People empathize more with someone who shows a bit of humanity rather than someone who seems perfect.

In that sense, people felt great affinity for Kim Donghu smiling at the awards ceremony.

And in this situation, as if it were the most natural thing…

“The person who has most brilliantly illuminated KBC’s year! The winner of the grand prize is! Kim Donghu! Congratulations!”

Kim Donghu proudly received the KBC Grand Prize.

“…Thank you very much. I remember the names of everyone who helped me get here.”

Amid everyone’s applause, Kim Donghu calmly continued his acceptance speech.

“I had a lot I wanted to say, but now that I’m here, I can’t remember.”

A moment of silence.

Then, having gathered his thoughts, Kim Donghu confidently expressed his ambition.

“I won’t become complacent. I will go further. Always with an improved version of myself… I will become someone who can expand globally.”

Globally.

Beyond Korea to Venice, Cannes, the Academy Awards, and more.

After showing his bold confidence, the KBC Drama Awards ceremony gradually concluded.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Kim Donghu’s heart was beating wildly as he expressed those ambitions.

After all the cameras were turned off,

He checked his phone again, unable to believe what he had seen earlier.

-[Congratulations.]

-[Your outstanding passion has changed the future.]

-[The fate of an existing special effects production has been altered.]

This alone was incredibly surprising.

But the most shocking part was something else.

As always, it was the future news article sent by Sims.

And in it…

-[Live-action Tarzan, Kim Donghu as the lead?! “Audition rumors are circulating”]

It contained shocking content.