Han Yujin Risk, Idol Gate (3)

Christmas.

From early morning, white snow covered the ground everywhere. It was a world of pure white.

Sharp cold wind battered the car window fiercely.

Nam Euibeom parked his car near the luxury apartment where Yeon Sangho lived.

As discreetly as possible. Without drawing attention.

He calmed his excited heart by drinking cold coffee with ice cubes piled up.

Would Yeon Sangho really move as Han Yujin had said?

“It’s not like it’s a scripted scenario…”

His mind kept wavering back and forth as he couldn’t be certain.

And then at exactly eight o’clock.

A notification arrived that instantly blew away his fatigue and drowsiness.

[Gukson Ilbo Social Affairs Department (25)]

[Lee Seongjin: Reporting proposal and movement plan.]

Nam Euibeom’s breath caught as if frost had formed in his throat.

Daily report. Shortened to ‘ilbo’.

A social affairs reporter’s day starts by reporting to their superior about what news stories they will focus on.

[…reporting!]

[…reporting!]

[…reporting!]

Replies from junior reporters popped up, flapping like live fish.

A wave of text.

Nam Euibeom repeatedly wrote and erased his message until his fingerprint wore off,

“Damn it, I don’t know!”

He pressed the send button.

[Nam Euibeom: Arrived in front of Raemian Castle to cover ‘Yeon Sangho sexual misconduct case’.]

As the number decreased, the phone rang fiercely at the same time.

It was Lee Seongjin.

Nam Euibeom picked up the phone, swallowing saliva with the bitter aftertaste of coffee.

“Hello, I’ve answered the phone.”

As soon as he answered, he heard a loud voice scratching his ear.

-Hey, you stupid bastard!

“……”

A sharp, grating voice piercing his ears.

Although he had heard this voice countless times since being reassigned to the social affairs department, he still couldn’t get used to it.

-What are you doing there now?

“It’s as I reported…”

-Am I asking because I’m illiterate? I’m asking what the hell you’re doing there so comfortably without making your rounds at the police station, you punk.

A sneer was heard from the other end of the line.

-Ah, I think I know what you’re thinking. You’re hoping to catch a scoop and hit the jackpot, right?

“It’s not like that.”

-Then what is it? Why are you sticking to Yeon Sangho’s movements on the busiest Christmas?

Nam Euibeom’s lips went dry.

The sharp criticism continued to dig into Nam Euibeom’s ears.

-Why? Is it because you worked in the cushy industrial department and now you can’t take working in this uncouth place anymore, so to hell with it?

“Absolutely not, senior.”

-Bull. I can hear the sound of your calculator all the way here.

“Let me explain how it is…”

-I don’t want to hear your drug-addled excuses. I don’t know if you have any thoughts or not… Why are you casting your fishing rod in the wrong place?

Don’t even look at big fish you can’t catch or eat.

It’s all a waste of time and effort.

That was the meaning of Lee Seongjin’s words.

Nam Euibeom lowered the car window to cool the heat rising to his forehead and said,

“Isn’t it a journalist’s job to wander the vast sea until they catch a big fish?”

-Oh, look at this guy?

Lee Seongjin’s sarcasm continued.

-If you can’t do the job, go out and get it done on foot. Or at least poke around Bobaedream or the national petition board. With such a rich granary of news, why are you messing with chaff like Yeon Sangho rumors?

“Senior. This might not be just a rumor or chaff. Please listen to me…”

-Forget it. You go to Seongdong Police Station right now. According to the schedule, there’s a protest by the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination today. At least latch onto that.

“I can’t do that.”

-You can’t? Are you talking back now? I’m gonna fucking catch you and… Ah, senior.

Lee Seongjin’s voice suddenly changed to a polite tone as he greeted someone.

There was a short conversation in a hushed voice, and then the voice on the phone changed.

-Hey, it’s me.

“…Yes, Cap.”

Sigyeong Cap.

A position equivalent to the head of the social affairs department.

He was a kind of commander-in-chief who manages and supervises crime reporters.

Unlike Lee Seongjin’s loud, yelling voice, the Cap’s voice was calm.

-I just heard from Seongjin that you’re on Yeon Sangho?

“Yes, that’s right.”

-Do you have a source?

Source.

He was asking if there was a key source like an internal whistleblower.

How should I answer this…

Nam Euibeom hesitated for a moment and then answered.

“Yes. I have a source.”

-Hmm.

It felt like he could hear thoughts rolling on the other end.

Nam Euibeom moistened his throat with saliva, compensating for the disappointment of the finished coffee.

And the long silence…

Returned with a familiar name.

-Is your source perhaps Han Yujin?

“H-Han Yujin?”

He doubted his ears.

It was a name that should never come out of the social affairs department.

If it came from a crime reporter’s mouth, it meant there was a problem. Like a crime.

-Yes. Han Yujin from Jamsil. Was she a pro gamer or a celebrity?

“…She’s a pro gamer.”

-Anyway, is it her?

Nam Euibeom hastily made up an excuse with a slightly trembling voice.

“…N-no, it’s not!”

-Don’t try to duck out. I heard there was a rumor about Yeon Sangho and Han Yujin clashing at Joseon Palace yesterday. Is it related to that?

As expected.

He knew the social affairs department was called ‘ears that are everywhere’,

But Nam Euibeom was amazed that they had already grasped a happening from a private party.

He was at a loss for what to answer.

Should he answer honestly with a yes? Or should he hide Han Yujin’s existence even from his superior under the pretext of source confidentiality?

In the end, his choice was silence.

“……”

A straightforward answer came back immediately.

-Go for it.

“…Pardon?”

-I said, go dig into Yeon Sangho.

“…Ah, oh, yes, yes! Thank you!”

A mumbling voice could be heard faintly from the side. It was Lee Seongjin. Although he couldn’t hear clearly, it seemed he was trying to dissuade.

The Cap laughed and soothed Lee Seongjin.

-Seongjin-ah. Will the world collapse, will society collapse if we’re missing one article? There’s a saying about beginner’s luck, you know.

-Ah, but still…

The Cap added with an “Ah.”

-Nam reporter. Speaking of luck, I just remembered that Han Yujin woman is said to be very lucky.

“What? What do you mean…?”

-I heard from an acquaintance who attended that party that she hit a royal flush in 69 hands of Hold’em. Is that even possible?

“Royal straight flush…”

…Come to think of it, it had always been like that.

A month ago. Luck had been on Han Yujin’s side at the GSL preliminaries too.

Kang Yohan had clearly lost to Eo Jaehyun in the preliminary finals and was eliminated, but thanks to a wild card that barely opened up, Kang Yohan miraculously advanced to the main tournament.

Nam Euibeom recalled Han Yujin’s image in his mind.

Lucky and intuitive,

But also skilled and gutsy.

That’s the kind of woman Han Yujin was.

Then,

His heart, which had been wavering uncertainly like a reed before, became firmly fixed.

Somehow… it seemed like it would work out.

-Anyway, I’m not expecting much from you, so don’t worry about it.

“I’ll still do my best!”

-Of course you should. And you know, right? All we need is the contents of Yeon Sangho’s golden phone, and the game is over.

Yeon Sangho’s golden phone, said to contain all sorts of filthy material like hidden camera footage or drugs.

Nam Euibeom answered in a firm tone.

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

-If you happen to bring that, I’ll take responsibility and push your article as the front page top story. As an exclusive.

“…Front page top?”

-Yes, top. So do well.

Nam Euibeom, after putting down his phone, drew in a breath full of joy.

There’s something every reporter dreams of.

Having their byline on an exclusive article as the lead story of the morning newspaper.

It was the alpha and omega of journalists who eat, breathe, and live the press.

Just as Nam Euibeom was spreading his wings of imagination and unable to suppress his smile,

Like a snake revealing its head from hiding in a cave, Yeon Sangho’s manager’s car came out of the apartment parking lot entrance.

“Coming out of hibernation, huh.”

Nam Euibeom straightened his bent back,

And slowly followed, tailing them.

…Achoo!

That was quite a satisfying sneeze.

Is someone talking about me somewhere?

I hope they’re not badmouthing me.

Snow is falling heavily since morning.

With each breath amid the swirling snowflakes, cold seeps between my lungs.

“Ugh, it’s cold!”

The winter smell brushes thickly against my nose bridge, and my breath appears and disappears repeatedly.

I walked unsteadily on the slippery ground like an ice rink.

The pain in my ankle is worse than yesterday, but still, it’s fortunate.

It’s just a simple sprain, not a fracture.

If I had been unlucky, I might have ended up in a cast with crutches.

This is all…

Because of that bastard Yeon Sangho!

I wonder if Reporter Nam is doing well?

I hope he’s caught the right bait to catch Yeon Sangho like a swallow.

I arrived at the ELF building.

I came to practice from Christmas morning.

Because I’ve been anxious about not being able to practice properly due to various shootings recently.

My skills…

Must never rust. Never.

Why, you ask?

Because I have to win, have to win, and have to win…

That’s right.

I received such a high salary from ELF, I can’t become a historic eat-and-run case, can I?

With all these expectations on me, what if I slip up?

From then on, my name wouldn’t be Han Yujin, but National Bubble Han Yujin, NaBuHan.

“Unnie! You’re here?”

Son Yena, whom I met in front of the practice room, greeted me cheerfully.

It wasn’t her usual twin tails. Her hair was wet as if she had just washed it.

Maybe that’s why she looks like a wet cat running towards me.

…Anyway, it means she’s cute.

I waved my hand gently and greeted her playfully.

“Hi, Yena-ttang.”

“D-don’t call me that!”

“Then… Yena-chan?”

“I don’t like that either!”

“Okay. Then Yena-tti…”

“That’s not allowed either!”

Why are there so many things that aren’t allowed?

I feel like Hong Gildong who can’t call his father ‘father’.

I whined as if throwing a tantrum.

“Come on, then how on earth do you want me to call you!”

Son Yena looks up at me with narrowed eyes as if bewildered.

Her gaze is just like…

The look you give to the village idiot.

“Um, unnie. You can just call me Yena…”

“But that doesn’t have any flavor!”

“Anyway, it’s not allowed.”

“You’re totally Yena-ddong.”

“Ttang, chan, tti, ddong are all forbidden! The other team oppas call me that too, and I feel like I’m going to develop a neurosis.”

Then Son Yena’s gaze stopped at my lips.

“Unnie, what happened to your lips?”

“Oh, this? A son of a bitch bit me.”

“…A dog?”

“I’m joking. I just bumped into something.”

I tried to brush it off, blinking my eyes, but Son Yena kept staring.

Then she bluntly asked.

“…Do you have a boyfriend?”

“What are you…”

“Do you or don’t you?”

“I don’t have anything like that!”

This girl, really!

What is she imagining with that small head of hers!

Son Yena snapped her fingers and pointed towards the dormitory.

“I’ll go down for a moment. I have some ointment in my bag.”

“What ointment… It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not! Your lips are already expensive, we can’t let them scar!”

…Is, is that so?

“Stay right here in the practice room!”

“O-okay…”

Son Yena trotted down the stairs to get the ointment.

When I opened the practice room door, the inside was as quiet as a snow field.

A fire of anger suddenly boiled up in my stomach.

These guys, really…

These perpetual runner-ups, isn’t their mental state too poor?

Moreover, they’re currently in last place in the regular league, right? 0 wins, 5 losses.

How can they be so lax just because it’s Christmas? As pro gamers?

Disqualification, disqualification!

If I were the coach, I wouldn’t let this slide and would gift them a bundle of tearful caning and loving beatings.

As if it’s not enough that there’s a rat hiding and leaking builds, making the atmosphere uneasy…

Argh, it’s driving me crazy!

Why does my life have so many obstacles? It feels like I’m stumbling on rocks with every step I take.

I should get an exorcism, tsk.

I sighed and went inside.

There was only one person in the practice room.

The infamous practice bug.

Hyun Junho. The seat next to mine.

“Hello…”

I was about to say “Hello,” when a mischievous impulse crept up instinctively.

It’s so strange…

Why do I want to tease him playfully whenever I see that back of his head?

At this point, it’s not a back of the head that brings luck, but one that invites pranks.

Anyway…

I want to bully him!

I tiptoed like a thief cat and quietly approached.

Just as I was about to surprise him in one breath, loading my voice…

“…Huh?”

My eyes widened.

What Hyun Junho is looking at now,

The person he’s watching on the monitor,

Um, well…

It was me.