Chapter 13…
“Radio appearance?”
It was far too sudden. The radio program Yim Yuju was talking about was Have a Cup of Coffee, which aired every Sunday at 2 p.m. It was hosted by veteran singer-actor Lee Sang-wan and Yim Yuju together as regular MCs.
Even though radio listenership had been declining recently, Have a Cup of Coffee maintained a loyal fanbase. It was even considered one of the top three radio shows in Korea.
And she wanted me to appear there?
[Yes. I’m close with PD Ma Young-woong. He casually mentioned it yesterday. Ratings have been slowly dropping, and he wondered if it might help to bring you on as a guest.]
“…Would me being there really change anything?”
[Don’t you ego-search? Try typing Yoo Hyun-jae on Dougle. ‘The man who revived Novagirls and saved Yim Yuju’—your mentions were higher than mine last week. Some posts even claim you’re a superpowered man.]
“Superpowers? That’s ridiculous….”
But thinking about it, it wasn’t entirely wrong. The powers weren’t mine, they belonged to Onion.
“Wasn’t someone already scheduled to guest this week?”
[Professor Jung Doo-sik was supposed to come talk about ‘Physics in Music’—there’s a science craze right now. But he suddenly had a scheduling conflict. And the next week’s guest didn’t mind shifting, so it’s not a big problem. I’m asking you first before we finalize anything.]
“I see. But why hasn’t the team leader said anything?”
[I haven’t passed it on yet. If it comes as a work order, it feels like pressure. Isn’t it better if you decide to do it voluntarily? So, what do you think? Want to try?]
I didn’t want to. Because I was scared.
People should always know their place. If you think too highly of yourself, you’ll just end up hurt.
That happened when I entered college. Back in high school, we wore the same uniforms, so poverty wasn’t obvious. I acted like I was “in” and even got love letters and confessions, so I thought I was somebody.
But in college? No one looked at me. To join the social circles there, you needed money. I worked part-time, but just paying rent was hard enough—how could I afford to hang out?
My classmates didn’t outright shun me, but inviting me meant they had to worry about budget. And that humiliation—like the whole world was laughing at me. So this broke bastard pretended to be someone, huh?
If only I hadn’t pretended otherwise from the start, I wouldn’t have felt so ashamed.
So now, my worry was catching “celebrity disease.” What if I started thinking I was special? I wasn’t. I was just a nobody who got lucky thanks to Onion.
“No one will want me there. I’m just an ordinary guy—shy, awkward, bad at speaking. If I go on and stutter, it’ll just be frustrating.”
[That’s not true! How could a shy person say, ‘Stop bullshitting, you criminal bastard!’ like that? You know that’s a trending meme, right?]
“…What?”
I was mortified hearing Yim Yuju imitate me. Wait—that’s trending? Really?
[The PD and everyone else says you’re charming. Just decide—do you want to or not?]
“……”
[You’re not thinking of ways to reject me, are you?]
She was sharp, as always. Then, her tone shifted.
[See? You are. Do you know I’m kinda hurt?]
“Hurt? Why would you be?”
[Because you’re also my manager, right? But you treat me a little coldly. At the Music Tomato Studio, you were so attentive to Novagirls, but with me—it felt like I was a neglected child.]
Her voice took on a pouty, childish whine. I never imagined she could talk like that. From debut, Yuju was always called an “old soul.” She always spoke politely and formally in public.
“That’s not true. How could I neglect you? Impossible.”
[I’m not talking about the company—I mean you. Novagirls came third place and you were ecstatic, but when I got first place you left without watching. It made me wonder—was I just unpleasant to you? Did my flaunting money make you secretly dislike me?]
“That’s nonsense, Yuju. That day, the company called—”
[Aww, I’m still hurt. Guess I’ll post on SNS that Hyun-jae Oppa broke my heart.]
“…!”
That would be instant social death. Yuju’s influence was enormous. Once, she casually said, “Pet ducks are so cute,” and duck-raising fever swept the country. If she posted about me….
[…You know I was joking, right?]
“Huh? Oh, o-of course.”
I did know—but my heart still froze.
[But still, I am a little hurt. And if after all this you still refuse… I’ll think maybe you really don’t like me.]
So in the end, it was basically blackmail. And strangely, it reminded me of someone.
—Boo-hoo, I’m so sad! You ate my yogurt, I’m telling Mom!
—Oppa, just give me ten bucks. No? Fine, then I guess I’ll tell Dad you broke his trophy.
“Wait… she’s just like Hyun-seo?”
This “untouchable” top star Yim Yuju suddenly didn’t seem so different from normal people. She was actually kind of cute. And I knew she wasn’t truly upset or threatening.
Meanwhile, Onion’s bracelet and orchid were both exuding a strong fragrance. Clearly, they wanted me to accept. The decision was made, but I still asked:
“But Yuju, didn’t you say you wanted me to decide without work pressure?”
[This isn’t work pressure. It’s personal pressure.]
“And that’s okay?”
She giggled.
[That’s totally okay.]
‘Mr. Onion, no advice?’
I glanced at the bracelet, but there was no reaction. Guess it meant—just do it.
I took some calming pills. My heart was pounding. When was the last time I stood before a crowd? Elementary school class president elections? Explaining how to use a weed-cutter in the army? Only twice.
“Men my age, you know how it is. We sit all day with the news droning. But it’s odd—someone standing next to President Kim Seok-gu in the morning news is suddenly fighting off an attacker in the evening news. Makes you wonder if you’re dreaming.”
That was veteran singer-actor Lee Sang-wan. Truly a master—he made live radio feel so effortless.
—Oppa, relax. Just be honest. You look like you’re being dragged off to prison.
Yuju slid me a note with that message, grinning. Younger sister, my ass—she was a pro.
Be honest. Right. Just be honest.
“Today we welcome a hot topic guest—the manager of girl group Novagirls, also serving as sub-manager for Yim Yuju—Mr. Yoo Hyun-jae. Hyun-jae, welcome!”
“Ah, y-yes, hello.”
“Relax. Look at the screen—over 65,000 people tuned in live. Usually about 50,000, so that’s a big jump.”
“Wow… thank you.”
“Look at the chat, don’t just thank us! Hahaha.”
“I just… can’t believe this many people are watching.”
The chat scrolled too fast to read.
—LOL he’s so nervous, cute
—Thought he’d be a macho hero, but he’s soft-spoken!
—Real strength hides its claws
—Guess he was really mad back then
“Why don’t you introduce yourself?”
“Yes, I—”
To my relief, the conversation flowed smoothly. Sang-wan and Yuju were pros. I just answered questions, easy enough.
Until she appeared.
“We’ve got a message from ‘Drama Queen’—
‘Thank goodness national treasure Yim Yuju is safe. Thank you to her manager who saved her from scandal and an attacker. But I wonder—he seems so cool to me, so how does he look to Yuju? Pardon if this is rude, but don’t you find him attractive as a man?’”
“Oh ho, interesting nickname.”
I thought: Why didn’t they filter that? If rumors start….
But neither Sang-wan nor Yuju panicked. Sang-wan asked:
“So, Yuju—what do you think?”
Without hesitation, Yuju replied:
“Attractive as a man? Of course.”
“Oh, straight answer?”
“Wouldn’t it be weird to say no? Imagine being dragged into a dirty alley, thinking you’re about to die, then someone your age shows up—good-looking, good-hearted. If I didn’t see him as a prince on a white horse, that’d be strange. Anyone would.”
I swallowed hard. My heart raced. The chat exploded.
—WHAT?! WHAT?! WHAT?!
—Is this a confession? Hidden camera?
—They’re dating, aren’t they?!
—Noooo, don’t break my heart!
“Well, well. The audience is going wild. If you leave it there, the tabloids will go crazy. What do you say?”
“Admitting someone’s attractive and dating them are different. Many of you probably think I’m attractive—but that doesn’t mean you want to date me, right?”
—Fair point
—I mean… I’d date you though!!!
—Date! Date!
“Haha, see? Same here. I just see Hyun-jae like a celebrity. Maybe like Spider-Man? No, wait—he’s strong, so maybe Hulk….”
Then she scribbled on paper:
—What do you think, Oppa?
I didn’t get it. Think what? My face burned. Thank God she didn’t make me say anything—I’d have stuttered for sure.
Calm down. Don’t get cocky. Don’t mistake this for flirting. She doesn’t like you. Remember college. You’re just a normal guy who got lucky.
Then—she invaded the broadcast.
—Hyun-jae, it’s me, Sora. Why are you ignoring me? Was ‘I love you’ a lie? What were those 7 years?
—I’m his girlfriend! We dated 7 years since university. Check my SNS—photos are there!
—Hyun-jae, did fame change you? How can you treat me like this?
It was Sora.
Staff scrambled. The moderator blocked her, but people had already clicked the link.
—Another clout-chaser
—Wait, the photos looked real…
—7 years, then dumped after success?
—What’s going on?
“Haha, live shows always have drama. Once someone claimed to be my second wife. My real wife nearly killed me. Don’t worry, Hyun-jae—sometimes it’s harder to deny than to claim.”
Sang-wan smoothed things over.
—True, with AI now, photos can be faked
—But those looked so real…
Staff relayed orders: Block all texts from ‘godSora.’ Same person.
I bowed my head.
My chest felt crushed, heavy as concrete. I almost cried from the frustration.
Sora, why? You betrayed our love. You trampled on me. Now you play the victim? Do you even know how it feels to be trampled?
But I couldn’t protest. This wasn’t my stage. This was for entertainment.
Onion’s bracelet stayed silent. Meaning—stay still. Wise advice.
I smiled stiffly, thanking Sang-wan.
“Haha… you’re right, the world’s full of—”
And then.
“So… is it true?”
It was Yuju who asked.
“That woman’s claim—that she dated you seven years and you ignored her after success.”
What? Was this okay to bring up? Even Sang-wan and staff looked shocked. But since she asked, I had to answer.
“I am ignoring her… but not because of success. She dumped me.”
“Really? Now that you mention it, she never said you dumped her. Clever wording. Must be frustrating—people will think you’re the jerk who abandoned a 7-year girlfriend after success.”
She was right. Too right. I nodded, bitter. Yuju’s eyes turned sharp.
“Any proof? Messages, calls? Something showing you were dumped? Otherwise listeners won’t believe you.”
I hesitated, then pulled out my phone.
“Embarrassing, but… here.”
I showed her the Daltalk chat with Sora.
“See? She dumped him. Can I read part of this aloud?”
I nodded. She read:
“He begged to talk, but she just said, ‘It’s a realistic issue, please understand,’ and ended it. Then ignored him for over a week. But the day she reached out again was… wait, isn’t this the day I bought you that house?”
Her frown deepened.
“So, she ignored her boyfriend of 7 years—then suddenly changed her mind the day I gave you a house? Fascinating coincidence. What do you all think, listeners?”
The chat went wild.
—LMAO knew it
—She never said he dumped her
—All for that fancy apartment, huh?
—Well… I’d want one too lol
I blinked at the counter.
Eighty thousand live viewers?!
Yuju continued:
“Everyone has their reasons. But honestly, if I claimed I loved someone, I wouldn’t say, ‘I dated them 7 years! Hear me, world!’ I’d say…”
She paused.
“What would you say, then?” Sang-wan asked.
“I’d ask: You nervous up there? Feeling okay? Are you eating properly? You seem so busy….”
“Oh… that does sound right. Why?”
“Because…” Yuju said naturally.
“Love means always thinking from the other person’s side.”
