That morning.
Ha Moo-young and Im Jun-ho, nursing hangovers with bowls of jjajangmyeon and jjambbong.
Jun-ho, mid-slurp with his chopsticks, broke into a wide grin at Moo-young's words.
"Hee hee hee hee."
"Can't even talk, huh? Speak up. I just don't get it at all."
"Kids aren't supposed to understand. Just skip it!"
"You're way too hyped. Totally pumped."
Jun-ho took a sip of broth, texted Bora, slurped more noodles, texted Bora—repeating the cycle endlessly.
They said falling in love turns you into an idiot, but that guy was just...
"Sigh. Whatever."
No point saying more; it'd just hurt his mouth.
"Love needs a little trigger, right? Yeah. Time for you to fly from big bro's nest and find new love."
"Yeah, yeah, got it—so eat your food quietly. You're distracting."
"But—"
Jun-ho, buzzing with excitement, suddenly froze mid-sentence.
Moo-young stuffed a big bite of jjajangmyeon into his mouth, chewing as he eyed his friend curiously.
"Huh? What's this?"
"What's up?"
Jun-ho flapped his hand frantically, signaling Moo-young to come quick. Grabbing his bowl, Moo-young peered over.
It was an article. Fresh off the press from Maeil Daily, piping hot breaking news.
📰 Breaking News[Gangnam Station Drunk Celeb A Accompanied by Ha Moo-young.]
[Where Was Ha Moo-young While Drunk A Was Left on the Street?]"What the...?"
Slurp! Moo-young shoveled the last of his noodles as he muttered.
They'd given Daryeong the pseudonym "A," but his full name—Ha Moo-young—was spelled out clear as day.
"Hey, hey. Hold up. This is serious, right?"
"Yeah... hmm. Manager hyung might faint if he sees it."
📰 Breaking NewsIt's been revealed that the celebrity A who caused a scene at Gangnam Station early this morning was accompanied by rookie actor Ha Moo-young. He's the actor who gained fame through YouTube's Hanbam Pochah and has risen as an SNS influencer type. Recently, he appeared in a minor role in Cafe Please, which was in the news for the assistant director's power trip.
On the day of the incident, A reportedly drank with Ha Moo-young but came to on the street alone. (excerpt)
"Huh? That's weird? I definitely put her in a taxi."
📰 Breaking NewsMeanwhile, netizens speculated A was Daryeong, but her agency dismissed it as baseless, stating Cafe Please, currently filming, will proceed without issue.
"No way. There's clear video footage."
It was dark and shaky, sure. The drunk woman kept yelling "I'm not Daryeong—!" over and over.
Moo-young crunched on some pickled radish while replaying the video together.
"You sure it's okay to just sit here like this?"
"Huh? What?"
"They're doing damage control. Her agency's throwing you under the bus."
Using his name as bait instead of the anonymized A, dangling it for the public to chew on.
Unlike the oblivious Moo-young, Jun-ho looked more grave.
"Check the comments."
— WhoTheHellIsThatGuyHa Moo-young? Who tf is that drinking with Daryeong? lol— BelieveTheVictimShe said she's not Daryeong. Let's believe her for once. Does it make sense for someone like her to act up like that?— StreetJusticeBut Ha Moo-young's a joke too. Drinks with her then ditches her on the street? World's dangerous out there smh.— PassOutFirstMaybe he passed out first?— DisappointedFanHa Moo-young... you... disappointing... all that pretty face for nothing...— CommonSensePlzHow do you just leave someone like that? tsk tskEveryone gleefully tore into the juicy bait the reporter had tossed.
And below that, plenty of vicious hate comments too.
Jun-ho skimmed and filtered as he glanced warily at his friend.
"You okay?"
But... no reaction?
He just sat there blankly, munching radish, staring at one spot.
Like he was deep in thought.
Bzzz— bzzz—
"Ah. Manager hyung."
Right on cue, Moo-young wiped his mouth.
The moment he hit accept, a grave voice poured out.
📞 Go Kyung-min"Hey, Moo-young-ah. Sorry. We tried to block it, but Maeil Daily isn't picking up. Those bastards took the money and..."
From the interview, something felt off.
"We'll put out a denial article, so stay off the internet for now and wait. We'll handle it."
But handling it? On the surface, sure—but really, it was a turf war between agencies.
Daryeong's protecting theirs vs. his protecting his.
Moo-young watched quietly, then asked.
"But hyung. Has Sealing Actors fully stated their position? That it's not Daryeong?"
📞 Go Kyung-min"Yeah. Dismissed it as baseless."
"And if Maeil Daily's article distorts facts, we can sue, right?"
📞 Go Kyung-min"Sue? Yeah, possible. But what? You did drink."
"Sure, but they're framing it like I ditched her. I definitely put her in a taxi."
Moo-young said it while tapping the table with his fingertips.
What a pain. Seriously.
Was gonna nap off the fatigue.
"Contact Sealing and Maeil Daily. Tell 'em to get their act together before they embarrass themselves big time."
Jun-ho stealthily grabbed the bowls, eyeing him.
Moo-young's cynical expression—new to him. They said quiet people get scarier when mad. Spot on.
📞 Go Kyung-min"Got any photos or video?"
"Mi-gong Unsu Seoul A 8457. That's the taxi I put her in. Should be on the dashcam."
She'd made such a fuss even to the cops—driver got an earful for sure.
Sounded like Kyung-min scribbling notes fast, pencil scraping.
"Should I just post it on SNS?"
📞 Go Kyung-min"We'll review and respond. Got it."
Click. Hung up abruptly in a rush.
Jun-ho finished the jjambbong and asked.
"But you remember all that while drunk?"
Remembering the plate number? That's deliberate.
Moo-young chuckled like it was obvious.
But that wasn't Jun-ho's point.
Seoyeondae elite. Memory like a steel trap.
He thought it normal, clueless.
Without notes, Jun-ho would've forgotten and scoured every CCTV in Gangnam.
"Ugh..."
Moo-young face-planted into a cushion, groaning.
"Don't worry too much. As long as it's not true about you."
From heartless abandoner to irresponsible—unfiltered, a flood of trash talk.
"I don't care about that stuff."
"What? Then?"
It didn't faze Moo-young.
Who cares if the world hates? Not like they're spitting in his face.
Just... what worried him was...
"Auditions getting messed up."
Aw. He'd assured the PD no issues, but swept into this mess.
Moo-young glared at Jun-ho, eyes wide.
"All your fault, you punk."
"Me? Why me?"
"To hook you up with Bora! Huh? Sparkles sparkling, so I ended up drinking with Daryeong."
"Still hungover? Delusional much?"
Jun-ho cleared bowls as Moo-young wailed, messing his hair.
Didn't get it, but the freakout meant he was fine.
"Nap it off. You'll feel better."
"You?"
"Cleaning up then crashing too? Rare day off—gotta milk it. Sleep. Eating then bed is peak bliss."
Moo-young rummaged for a blanket at his words.
Sunny summer morning. AC whispering cool, yesterday's fatigue ebbing.
Hope it's all sorted when I wake.
That thought soothed the irritation wriggling inside.
Peace settled; eyelids drooped.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇"PD-nim. See the video that just dropped?"
"What now? I'm scared."
The PD in charge of Cafe Please.
Called in early, at the station helping clean up Daryeong's mess.
Right before airing—what the hell!
Pre-produced, mostly done. Just needed to air—but lead actress blows it.
Agency coordinated a statement, but public opinion? Obvious.
Controversial drama.
From the AD scandal onward... perfectly tainted.
Noise marketing at this point? Dream come true.
"News One Pick just dropped an exclusive. Taxi dashcam where Daryeong rode—it's out."
"What? Dashcam?"
What a long-ass day! More explosions?
PD gripped his nerves, hit play.
Two familiar voices recorded clear.
DASHCAM AUDIO LOG> "Be careful. Tell the driver the address! Number's Seoul A 8457, Mi-gong Unsu... Call when you arrive. Driver, take good care of her!"
> "Where! Where you going?!"
> "Let me out!"
> "Uh, miss. Dangerous if door opens? You getting out?"
> "I don't know! Don't go! Fuck, I'm getting out! Why's everyone chasing Kang Bora...!"
> "Jeez."
No mistaking Daryeong's voice. Cursing like a pro.
And the guy who put her in the cab...
"Ha Moo-young, right?"
"Yes. Looks like it blew up there. HQ chief called an emergency meeting. You need to head up."
"Ah. Please."
Won't cancel airing. Too much budget sunk.
Best case: boot Daryeong, recast lead. Delay schedule if needed.
PD gathered files, gestured.
"Let's go. Ugh, gonna die."
The AD trailed, sneaking peeks at endless feeds and comments while sprinting the hall.
— VoiceIDVoice is obviously Daryeong?— TemperTantrumWhat a temper;; Image vs reality different af. Yelling at driver like that? Makes sense she lost it at the station.— ArticleVsRealityArticle said Ha Moo-young ditched her on street? But he put her in taxi? Doesn't match.— SweetMemoryRemembering plate number drunk? So sweet.— GoodSamaritanEven says call on arrival. Did his part. What more if she bails mid-ride?— InstaScoopHa Moo-young's Insta just updated—said he bought her drinks to apologize for AD drama lol. But she got wasted alone. Four people drank, not just duo. Why'd she go nuts solo?Cyberbullying disguised as comments crashed like a tidal wave.
Even third parties felt drained; wonder about her.
Tsk.
"No word from Sealing?"
"Just a correction saying they're verifying facts. Eyewitness pics keep surfacing too. Tough spot."
"Sigh. Yeah."
Maeil Daily articles vanishing simultaneously.
PD nodded; AD pocketed her phone.
He opened the meeting room door with grim resolve.
Screeech!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Bzzz— bzzz—
Phone blaring noisily.
Moo-young, face-down, groped blindly for it.
Evening dusk already.
"...Hello."
📞 Lee Yu-jin"I get you're busy, but no contact at all."
"PD-nim Lee Yu-jin?"
📞 Lee Yu-jin"Sleeping? Voice sounds rough. Not crying, right?"
Her playful comfort stung his nose oddly.
"...Not crying. Slept."
📞 Lee Yu-jin"Rough day, huh? But stay busy through it. Time heals; shake it off and it'll pass."
She chuckled briefly, continued.
📞 Lee Yu-jin"Come to the production office this week? Wanna test camera with all Merrill Kellin members."
"Huh?"
Merrill Kellin—You Are a Star, I Am a Star's band name.
Moo-young knelt blankly, cradling the phone in both hands.
This meant...
"I-I'm in deep shit today."
📞 Lee Yu-jin"I know. Total chaos since dawn. Missed it sleeping?"
Missed what?
Curious, but not the point.
"Still okay?"
📞 Lee Yu-jin"Stars need some noise. Stuff ordinary folks can't have. And it was just a happening, right? Don't wanna?"
No way!
Moo-young's eyes sparkled; he bowed deeply.
And bellowed—
"No! Absolutely! Thank you!"
"Gahk..."
His booming thanks jolted Jun-ho awake from deep sleep, convulsing.
Moo-young sat dreamily post-call.
What'd I miss sleeping?
Snapping to, he checked a portal site on his phone.
Real-time trends told the whole story at a glance.
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