Hwarin, still in her pajamas, stared intently at the watch case resting on the table.
"······"
The logo alone made the brand obvious, and it was an expensive watch worth well over 30 million won. It was meant as a gift for Woojin to thank him for saving her, and at the same time, it was also meant to celebrate his first red carpet appearance this year. Of course, a good part of it also came from Hwarin's very enthusiastic fangirl heart.
Still, the entertainment industry always had too many eyes and ears watching.
That was the part making Hwarin worry. If nobody deliberately tried to cause trouble, then there should not be any issue at all, but the press often had a way of turning things into a problem. Sometimes they even made things up out of nothing.
Which meant the scale of the gift mattered.
30 million won. 'Was that too conspicuous?'
Hwarin, suddenly sinking into deep thought, smacked her own cheek as if trying to reject the worry outright. The reason was simple.
'To be honest, the first one I picked was 50 million.'
The watch she had just bought was already the discounted option. It had gone down from 40 million, and in the end, she had bought it for 30 million. Ah, whatever. Hwarin shook her head as if to clear her thoughts and muttered under her breath.
"I'll give it to Woojin first. If he says it's too much, I'll just take it back."
If the press ever got wind of it, they might spin groundless rumors, but the awl attack had been a serious enough incident that she thought it could probably be brushed aside.
Feeling a bit lighter, Hwarin fixed her messy hair and picked up her phone.
'Going like this would be way too much.'
She called the salon she usually went to.
"Yes, ssam. Would it be okay if I came around twelve today? No, no, it's not for a schedule, it's just for something personal. Yes, yes. Okay!"
After making the appointment, Hwarin tossed her phone onto the sofa and headed straight for the bathroom. She finished showering and was drying her hair at the vanity when she suddenly stopped.
"Oh, right."
There was someone she needed to contact first.
Hong Hyeyeon.
Hong Hyeyeon was attending the Blue Dragon Film Awards today too, and her schedule would probably overlap with Kang Woojin's.
'If I just show up out of nowhere, unnie might think it's weird.'
The whole thing came from her fangirl heart, but since she was especially close with Hong Hyeyeon, it was best to avoid causing unnecessary suspicion. Hwarin picked up her phone again and made the call.
Hong Hyeyeon answered quickly.
"Yeah, Hwarin."
It was hard to tell whether she had been asleep or awake, but her voice sounded drowsy. Hwarin checked the time and asked,
"What? Unnie, were you sleeping?"
"No, no. I'm awake. I was just half-dozing in bed for about thirty minutes."
"Unnie, aren't you getting ready for the Blue Dragon Awards?"
"I should. I've got a dress fitting in two hours, and I need to get some skin treatment done too."
"You're trying the dress on in person, right?"
"Yeah."
"Woojin too?"
"Yeah. Probably."
"Ah, I'm coming too."
"Huh? To the fitting studio?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Before Hong Hyeyeon could ask anything else, a brief silence passed over the line.
"······Suddenly?"
"No, it's not that sudden. Remember the watch I told you about before? I'm giving it to Woojin today."
"Ah, right! You ended up buying it?"
"Yeah!"
"Good job. Okay then, see you there."
"All right."
-click.
As soon as the call ended, Hwarin picked up the hair dryer again and smiled faintly.
"I want to see Woojin in a tux already."
Meanwhile—
Ahead of the Blue Dragon Film Awards opening this afternoon, the entertainment industry was buzzing. Expectations from both the press and the public were sky-high.
Finally!!! I had nothing to watch today, so I'm just waiting for the Blue Dragons lol
The Blue Dragon lineup really went all out this year lol This is going to be huge
I keep hearing Kang Woojin is going to sweep Rookie of the Year, and now I'm really curious what'll happen
Ah, Kang Woojin lol he looked so handsome in Drug Dealer lol
But are the long-time festival viewers really going to throw everything behind Kang Woojin?
Honestly, isn't Blue Dragon better than Grand Bell? lol Blue Dragon is the king of award ceremonies
So many actors are attending
Remember last year? Kim Bohye and Hong Hyeyeon were seriously legendary
Is it already the end of the year...? Every award season makes me feel like I've aged another year... kind of depressing
↑ What is this person suddenly saying lolllllllll
As always, they'll pick the best and worst dressed lol I really want to see the red carpet live
Looking forward to Kang Woojin!! It's so cool that he's attending a film festival right after debut!!!
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Countless entertainment agencies were going all out promoting their actors.
"Hey!! Why are there so few articles about our side??"
"I'll push the press team right now!"
"Kang Woojin, Kang Woojin, ugh, it's all Kang Woojin everywhere!! Tell them to push ours properly! Once the Blue Dragon articles start flooding in, we'll get buried for nothing!"
"Yes, sir! I think Kang Woojin has a lot of gossip value right now, so they keep steering things that way!"
"Do you think I don't know that? Keep calling the reporters until the last minute, and manage the SNS of our staff who are going to Blue Dragon too!"
"I already told them to upload everything!"
The film industry was just as interested in the Blue Dragon Awards. Naturally, many of the actors attending today were busy with their own preparations. What car they would arrive in, what dress or tuxedo they would wear, how they would react on the red carpet, what they would say, their hair and makeup—everything was being considered.
It was an annual event, but it always became a major topic.
The entire industry, the public, and all kinds of high-profile names were watching, so the end of the year was the perfect time to attract attention. Being criticized for the worst outfit was still a hundred times better than being ignored completely.
Of course, winning an award or sparking positive buzz was the best outcome.
And during that time, when the entire entertainment world was boiling over, the people around Kang Woojin were no exception. That included his school friends, and practically everyone who knew him outside the design company.
Among them was Kang Hyuna, Woojin's sister and the president of his fan club.
"Mom! Can we close the store early today? What if customers come while we're watching the Blue Dragon Awards?"
"There usually aren't many customers at that hour. Goodness, you're nervous. Calm down."
"Mom, your hands are shaking? I think you're the most nervous one."
"······Do you think this is okay? Your brother is going to a film festival? Your father's been chugging cold water since a while ago."
It was the end-of-semester break, and she had come down to help at her parents' store. Today, after work, she was planning to watch the Blue Dragon Film Awards with them. Of course, the administrators from the Kang's Heart fan café were going to watch too.
And to add to that, the Kang's Heart fan café had already been more active than ever for a while now.
Not only Kang's Heart, but Kang Woojin's SNS and YouTube were on fire too. Even before the Blue Dragon Awards began, fans were already flooding everything with congratulatory comments and anticipation.
Woojin's close friends were reacting just as wildly as the fans.
Hyunggu: Kang Woojin!! Are you really going to the Blue Dragon Awards today??? For real???
Kyungseong: This is seriously insane lol Woojin, congrats in advance lol
Hyunggu: I can't believe I'm about to watch my friend walk the red carpet!
Woojin: Thanks
Hyunggu: Hey!! If you go to the Blue Dragon Awards, send us photos from the scene!!
Daeyoung: Woojin, what time are you getting to the fitting room?
Woojin: Probably later than you guys
Kyungseong: What are those two even talking about?
Hyunggu: Anyway! Let's all get together today!! Let's go watch Kang Woojin on the red carpet ggggg
Kyungseong: Other than you and me, who else is going?
Daeyoung: I'm going. I'm officially skipping the Blue Dragon Awards.
The whole country was in an uproar.
That same day, around late lunchtime.
The location was a fitting studio in Gangnam. It was the kind of place celebrities used to check and fit everything from profile shoot outfits to event clothes. The studio was divided into a shooting area and a fitting area, and the fitting space had plenty of mirrors, chairs, and waiting sofas.
A celebrity styling team had just arrived.
"Let's get the dresses ready first!!"
"What about the jewelry? Where should we put it?"
"Put it in the jewelry box behind the dresses!"
"Okay!"
"The lighting's here!"
"Where's Hyeyeon unnie?"
"Bathroom!"
Top actress Hong Hyeyeon's team was on site. Kim Daeyoung, as big and busy as ever, was moving around quickly too. In the middle of that, Hong Hyeyeon came into the fitting room wearing a duffle coat over a bare face. It looked like she had gone to choose the dresses first.
Then she casually sat down in front of the large mirror by the sofa.
"Whew, now the real work starts."
Hong Hyeyeon had already been through plenty of film festivals before, so calmness came naturally to her. A moment later, the long-haired Hong Hyeyeon slipped off the coat she had been wearing. At the same time, she spoke to Kim Daeyoung, who was adjusting the lights.
"Daeyoung, where are the shoes?"
The broad-built Kim Daeyoung responded right away.
"Huh? Ah, those? Just a second."
He went over to the pile of shoes stacked near the entrance to the dressing room, picked up an elegant shoe box, and handed it to Hong Hyeyeon.
"Here. But this is really expensive, right?"
"Huh? No? It's not that expensive."
Hong Hyeyeon answered matter-of-factly, and Kim Daeyoung muttered to himself,
'Not expensive? Just looking at it, it feels like it'd be at least several thousand dollars.'
Hong Hyeyeon rose from the sofa as if she had made up her mind about something. She looked over the various dresses hanging beside the entrance mirror. Bright red, soft beige, dark gray—there were dresses in all sorts of colors. Of course, each one had a distinct design chosen so Hong Hyeyeon could try it on.
That was when—
──────────
"Oh my, everyone's here??"
Choi Sunggeon entered the fitting studio, followed by familiar faces like stylist Han Yejung and Jang Suhwan.
It was Kang Woojin's team.
While casual greetings were exchanged, a man with an indifferent expression stepped in wearing a padded jacket of moderate length.
"Hello."
He greeted them in a low voice.
It was Kang Woojin.
Since it was his first time stepping into a fitting studio, Woojin was quietly curious on the inside.
'Ah, so places like this exist too?'
There were a lot of people around, so outwardly he looked even more detached than usual. He had come straight from the salon, and after giving Kim Daeyoung a small nod, Kang Woojin greeted Hong Hyeyeon, who was standing in front of the display of dresses.
"Hello."
Hong Hyeyeon gave him a faint smile and waved.
"Yeah, you're here? How was filming?"
"It went well."
"Aren't you tired? Filming in the morning and then doing Blue Dragon at night. Manager~? Seriously, at this rate Woojin might work himself to death."
Choi Sunggeon, who had been talking with the staff, shrugged.
"Can't be helped. The Island of the Missing schedule ran long. Anyway, are you ready? Let's start right away. We don't have much time."
"Ah, wait a second."
Hong Hyeyeon returned to the sofa where she had left the shoe box.
"Woojin."
As Kang Woojin was taking off his padded jacket, the shoe box was held out to him.
"This is a commemorative gift for you."
Woojin asked calmly,
"What is it?"
"Shoes. It's a thank-you gift for a few different things, and since we're under the same agency, I couldn't just not give you anything. Congratulations on your first film festival. They're not ridiculously expensive, so just accept them without 부담."
Choi Sunggeon, already laughing, cut in.
"Not expensive? You'll know if you look them up."
"Oppa! No, manager, be quiet."
Meanwhile, Woojin, who had quietly looked down at the shoe box, accepted it with the same detached expression.
"I'll wear them well."
"Ah! Yes! Really, you can wear them until they fall apart."
"Yes, I'll wear them until they fall apart."
"······Don't treat them that rough. Treat them normally."
"I'll wear them normally until they fall apart."
"Ha, calm down."
Of course, it was not as if Kang Woojin had not been startled.
'Whoa, damn, these are luxury brand shoes. They're insanely expensive?? This is way too much for me?'
But panicking was for amateurs. He had to stay dignified and not make a fuss. Besides, a gift was always welcome, so why would he refuse? Kang Woojin quickly organized his thoughts, and the fitting started with Hong Hyeyeon.
The first dress was a striking bright red one.
Hong Hyeyeon and several staff members went into the dressing area beside the mirror to prepare for the fitting, and Kim Daeyoung approached Kang Woojin.
"Mr. Kang Woojin? How are you feeling right now?"
Woojin looked him in the eye and thought,
'Shut up. I feel like I'm going to puke.'
But what he said was cold and simple.
"I'm all right."
Kim Daeyoung barely held back a laugh and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Still solid as ever."
At that moment, Woojin shot him a sharp look, the kind you would use on a friend when telling him to get lost.
-click.
The dressing room door opened, and Hong Hyeyeon stepped out wearing the dress. It exposed her shoulders and upper chest just slightly, and her long straight hair fell naturally over it. The waistline was somewhat narrow, but Hong Hyeyeon wore it perfectly, as though it had been made for her.
She posed with a natural smile.
"How does it look?"
Kim Daeyoung reacted first, whispering just loudly enough for Woojin to hear.
"Wow. That's incredible."
Kang Woojin was impressed too.
'Good lord, she's really beautiful. Wow. And this is right in front of me.'
Still, in a moment like this, his admiration needed at least a little restraint. That did not mean he had to lie. Clearing his throat, Kang Woojin spoke.
"It suits you very well."
"Really? You really think so?"
The smile on Hong Hyeyeon's face deepened as compliments poured in from Choi Sunggeon and the rest of the staff. It was not just politeness. Even with no makeup on, she was genuinely radiant in that moment. Carried along by the lively mood, Hong Hyeyeon quickly went back into the dressing room to try on the next dress.
In the end, out of four dresses, she chose the first one—the light red dress.
Next—
"Hey! Woojin, come out in the navy tux first. Suhwan will help you."
It was Kang Woojin's turn.
He had always thought he would never wear a tuxedo in his life—or at least not for a long time—but now the moment had finally come. Keeping himself as composed as possible, Woojin went into the dressing room and slowly put on the pants and shirt.
His first impression was simple.
'Huh? It fits perfectly.'
Outside the dressing room, anticipation filled the air.
"How do you think Woojin oppa is going to look?"
"Why are you even asking? Oppa always looks perfect in everything."
"But you know how some actors look great in regular clothes, and then somehow tuxedos don't suit them?"
"Ah, that's true."
While the stylists chatted, the fitting room door suddenly opened, and a woman wearing a cap stepped inside.
"Wow, it's really crowded in here. Hello."
It was Hwarin in a brown short-sleeved padded jacket.
The slightly startled staff watched as Hong Hyeyeon gestured for her to come over.
"Hwarin! Why are you so late? I already tried all the dresses!"
Having just greeted Choi Sunggeon, Hwarin gave Hong Hyeyeon an awkward smile.
"Sorry, sorry. This place was a little hard to find."
Hong Hyeyeon soon grinned and pointed to the green paper bag in her hand.
"That all you've got?"
"Huh? Ah, yes. But where's Woojin?"
"Dressing room."
At that moment—
-click.
The dressing room door opened, and Kang Woojin stepped out wearing the navy tuxedo.
The shoes were the black ones Hong Hyeyeon had given him. The tux was navy from top to bottom, matched with a vest, and the fit was so perfect it looked custom-made for Kang Woojin.
The unusual part was the bow tie. Instead of the usual butterfly shape, it was tied like a broad ribbon.
Just then, as Woojin adjusted the tuxedo jacket and was about to move, Hwarin—who had only just arrived at the fitting room—stared at him as if spellbound and muttered without realizing it,
"Damn, he looks insanely good."
Right beside her, Hong Hyeyeon turned and asked,
"Huh? What did you say?"
At that same time, in Incheon—
The ceremony hall set up inside the Plaza of the large resort hotel Paradise S City was packed with around a hundred people hurrying through the final stages of preparation. The event title was displayed on a giant screen.
-[The 41st Blue Dragon Film Awards 2020]
Among the staff weaving between the tightly packed seats, one person shouted,
"Who's handling the names on the chairs?! Make sure every single one is attached!"
Each chair had a famous actor's name written on it in a neat row.
"Huh? I already checked all of them?!"
"That's what checking is for! Then why are these and these missing??"
On the chairs the staff had just passed, there were familiar names.
-[Kang Woojin]