Jin-ho looked around and noticed the people nearby staring at him with visible jealousy after not being chosen.
“Hey, what are you waiting for?” Winter asked through the microphone.
Jin-ho let out another sigh before making his way toward the stage.
Before going up, he handed his bag to one of the staff members.
“Can you hold this for me for a while?”
The staff nodded and took it.
Jin-ho walked toward the stage, still wearing his mask.
Ji-min’s smile slowly faltered.
For some reason, the figure walking toward them felt familiar.
As soon as he stood beside aespa, the crowd erupted into cheers.
Ji-min’s smile nearly froze.
She immediately recognized who it was.
Jin-ho.
For a brief moment, her mind blanked.
But with countless people watching, she quickly composed herself.
She took a quiet breath and forced herself back into work mode.
Returning her smile, she acted as if she had never met him before.
Thankfully, her teammates didn’t notice the slight change in her expression.
Ji-min looked at Jin-ho and asked,
“Please introduce yourself to everyone.”
Giselle, who stood beside him, handed him her microphone.
Without thinking much, Jin-ho removed his mask.
The moment the crowd saw his face, cheers erupted once again.
“Oppa, you’re handsome!” someone shouted from the audience.
Jin-ho heard it but showed no reaction.
Outwardly, he remained calm and composed.
Inside…
“I should’ve been home by now.
How the hell did I end up here?”
He silently cursed the staff member who picked him.
Still, he looked toward the crowd and introduced himself.
“My name is Jin-ho,” he said with a small smile.
“I’m not really sure what to say…
but thank you for choosing me.”
The members of aespa secretly took a few glances at him.
Well, everyone except Ji-min.
“Wow!
Our lucky audience member is a handsome oppa!” Ningning said excitedly to the crowd.
Winter and Giselle nodded in agreement.
Ji-min stayed quiet.
She simply stared at him, wondering why he was even here.
Before she could think further, she felt the eyes of her teammates on her.
That was her cue.
“Ah…
I agree too,” Ji-min quickly added.
After chatting for a bit and before giving him the prize, Winter suddenly spoke again.
“Before we give this to you…” she said while narrowing her eyes suspiciously, “I need to know if you’re really a fan.”
Giselle and Ningning immediately agreed.
“When did you first know about us?” Winter asked.
“Since Black Mamba,” Jin-ho answered without hesitation.
“Oh wow!”
“A day one fan!” Ningning shouted.
Winter looked unconvinced.
“Then tell us all our songs.”
She expected him to mention only songs like Black Mamba, Next Level, or Savage.
Jin-ho thought for a moment.
Then he started listing them.
One after another.
Title tracks.
B-sides.
Even lesser-known songs.
Perfectly.
The crowd cheered.
aespa clapped for him too, though inwardly they were even happier than they showed.
Ji-min looked at Jin-ho in surprise.
She knew he never really liked their music style that much.
Yet somehow…
He remembered all of their songs.
Even the B-sides.
A genuine smile appeared on her face.
For some reason, she felt unexpectedly happy.
And thankful too.
One of the staff members handed the signed poster and mini album to the members, preparing to give them to Jin-ho.
“One last question.”
Winter raised the microphone and looked at him with a playful grin.
“Among all the members…
who do you like the most?”
The crowd immediately reacted.
“OHHHHHH!”
Some people already started shouting names before he could even answer.
For Jin-ho, this was unexpectedly difficult.
If he chose someone other than Ji-min…
She would definitely get upset later.
But if he answered honestly, the member he liked most wasn’t even from aespa.
It was Won-young from IVE.
Saying that here?
In front of aespa.
In front of their fans.
At their own promotion event.
That sounded like a social disaster waiting to happen.
Jin-ho immediately discarded that option.
For his own safety, he chose the safest route possible.
Slowly, he turned his head toward Ji-min.
His eyes met hers.
He stared at her for a few seconds.
Ji-min blinked.
Then blinked again.
“Why is he looking at me?”
For some reason, her heart skipped slightly.
A faint warmth rose to her face, though thankfully her makeup hid most of it.
Jin-ho smiled softly.
Then answered without hesitation.
“Karina.”
For a split second…
Silence.
Then the crowd exploded.
“WOOOOOO!”
The cheering became louder than before.
Ji-min immediately turned her head away.
Her ears had already turned red.
Meanwhile Winter, Giselle, and Ningning started clapping while laughing.
“OHHHHHHHH!”
“Karina?!”
“Wow, our lucky audience member is bold!”
Phones were raised everywhere.
People recorded the scene, already planning to upload it online later.
Ji-min tried maintaining her idol smile.
Failed.
Completely.
The corners of her lips kept rising no matter how much she tried controlling them.
For some reason…
She felt really happy.
At his father’s company building.
Inside one of the office rooms, Jin-ho’s father and several employees were watching the live broadcast on a television.
For once, a smile appeared on his face.
Not a small one.
A genuine smile.
It was so unusual that even his assistant immediately noticed it.
He blinked in surprise before asking,
“Sir…
did something good happen?”
Jin-ho’s father simply waved his hand.
He did not answer.
Outwardly, he remained calm as always.
But inside…
He was in an extremely good mood.
Very good.
Good enough that he wanted to celebrate.
He looked toward his employees and suddenly spoke.
“I’m feeling generous today.”
Everyone turned toward him.
“Let’s eat out.
My treat.”
Silence.
Then several employees exchanged glances.
No one knew what had happened.
No one understood why their usually stoic boss suddenly seemed this cheerful.
But they all reached the same conclusion.
Questions could wait.
Free food could not.
His assistant looked even more confused.
He had worked under him for years and had almost never seen this side of his boss.
A man with a face like stone.
Someone who rarely showed emotion.
Yet now…
He was smiling?
Could it be related to what they had just watched?
Or was it something else?
He could only guess.
Then Jin-ho’s father casually added,
“Set a reservation for that premium barbecue place we went to before.”
The assistant froze.
That place?
Even he found it expensive.
They usually only went there during year-end celebrations.
For his boss to suggest it so casually…
Something major definitely happened.
On the other side.
Jin-ho’s mother had only recently been promoted.
From Executive Director, she had quickly risen to become the Senior Executive Vice President and Head of T1 Entertainment & Esports Operations.
Her responsibilities now spanned both the entertainment division and T1’s professional esports branches, including the League of Legends and Valorant teams, as well as streaming, content production, and global branding.
It was a newly expanded role, created as T1 continued its push toward international esports dominance and media expansion.
Even within the company, her promotion had drawn quiet attention.
Not because it was questionable.
But because it had happened faster than most people expected.
At present, she was in a meeting, listening with a composed expression.
The presenter was discussing the growth of content creation and the rising popularity of esports in the post-pandemic era.
They outlined several opportunities to expand T1’s reach and influence through media content centered around the organization’s teams.
At the same time, they highlighted T1’s League of Legends roster as one of the strongest in the world, featuring Faker, Zeus, Oner, Gumayusi, and Keria, widely regarded as title contenders for the upcoming World Championship.
Although T1’s results had been mixed in some recent stages, the organization was still viewed as a top-tier competitive force with a developing and stabilizing core.
As the presentation continued, the discussion shifted toward expanding the number of titles T1 should enter in the future.
The room did not reach a firm agreement.
Some were cautious, others supportive.
The decision remained open.
Eventually, attention gradually turned toward Jin-ho’s mother.
Without saying it directly, the room was effectively waiting for her to decide.
She noticed the silence.
All eyes were on her.
Before she could respond, a notification sounded.
The entire room subtly tensed.
Several executives instinctively checked their own phones, hoping the sound had not come from them.
It had not.
It came from her.
She frowned slightly.
This notification tone was reserved for priority contacts.
She raised her hand lightly.
“I’ll step out for a moment.”
She left the meeting room and checked her phone.
The message was from her husband.
It contained a video.
She opened it.
It was the moment from earlier, when Jin-ho was selected and spoke to Ji-min on stage.
The clip had already been uploaded online.
She watched it quietly.
When it ended, a faint smile formed on her face.
“So that’s how it is,” she murmured softly, just for herself.
After a brief pause, she put her phone away and returned to her professional expression.
Back in the room, she spoke calmly.
“Expand it.
Send me a full list of viable titles and their projected potential.”
“Have it on my desk.”
“Meeting is over.”
She was the first to leave.
The remaining executives exchanged glances, uncertain about the shift in tone, but quickly returned to work.
There was still much to prepare.
Going back to Jin-ho.
He had already stepped down from the stage and retrieved his bag from the staff.
Now he just wanted to leave.
To get away from the attention.
He walked forward, still feeling the weight of countless eyes on him.
Slowly, he put his mask back on, covering his face completely.
Only when he moved farther away did the crowd’s gaze begin to fade.
Inside his bag were the signed poster and mini album.
He carefully adjusted them, making sure the poster wouldn’t crumple.
A quiet sigh escaped him.
There was nothing he could really do about what just happened.
Instead, a faint smile formed on his face.
“I wonder how she’s reacting right now.”
He kept walking, still carrying that lingering thought.
At aespa’s resting area after the performance.
The members were finally taking a break.
Ningning, Giselle, and Winter were casually scrolling through their phones.
Almost immediately, they noticed it.
The moment between Jin-ho and Ji-min was already trending online.
Winter smirked slightly, remembering that her question had started it all.
Meanwhile, Ji-min sat quietly, still trying to process what had just happened.
Her heartbeat was still slightly elevated.
Her breathing wasn’t fully steady yet.
“He probably just said it because he couldn’t pick anyone else…” she told herself.
Trying to rationalize it.
But no matter how she framed it… Get faster updates on g.com.
His expression kept replaying in her mind.
That calm smile.
It felt different somehow.
She shook the thought away and opened her phone, trying to distract herself.
But the moment she went online—
It was everywhere.
Her name and Jin-ho’s name were everywhere.
She unconsciously opened the comments.
People were calling it sweet.
Some talked about how handsome Jin-ho was.
Others reacted to Ji-min’s expression during the moment.
Some praised his perfect answer to Winter’s question about their songs.
And more, flooding in rapidly.
But what stood out most…
were the comments linking the two of them.
“I don’t know why, but it feels like they know each other.”
“They actually look good together.”
However, not all reactions were positive.
“A plastic guy trying to cling to Karina.”
“Just riding her popularity.”
The tone of the internet shifted quickly.
Some defended him.
Others attacked him.
It was escalating fast.
All from what should have been a simple stage moment.
Who would have thought it would turn into this.
At SM Entertainment.
The Head of PR looked satisfied with the current situation.
The more attention the event received, the better the publicity.
“We’re climbing the rankings,” someone reported.
The Head of PR nodded, as if this outcome was expected.
He even found himself slightly impressed with Winter’s involvement.
But more importantly, Karina—and that guy.
He leaned back and asked calmly, “What’s the current direction of discussion?”
The room responded quickly.
There was a mix of positive and negative reactions online, but in their eyes, it was still exposure.
“Do we need to push additional advertisements for the mini-album?” someone asked, trying to take advantage of the momentum.
“Yes,” the Head of PR replied without hesitation.
“Add more fuel to it.
If necessary, let subtle rumors circulate.
Anything that keeps attention on it.”
He tapped the table lightly.
“Focus on Karina.”
There was no dramatic tone to his words, only practical assessment.
“And monitor sentiment closely.
If it stabilizes, we continue as planned.
If it shifts, we adjust messaging accordingly.”
The room acknowledged and began updating their reports.
No one treated it as unusual.
It was simply part of managing public visibility in real time.
Meanwhile, Jin-ho had no idea the situation would continue developing like this.
He had stopped by a convenience store.
Basket in hand, he walked down the aisles.
He opened the freezer section and picked out a few pints of ice cream.
Not for any reason beyond craving it.
“I should probably find a gym to balance this out,” he muttered to himself as he headed toward the counter.
At the register, the clerk was on a call, and Jin-ho could faintly hear parts of the conversation, along with background chatter from a screen nearby.
He didn’t pay much attention.
But a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
“Maybe I can use this moment for my first stream…”
“It’ll probably get a lot of traffic.”
He waited patiently behind another customer.
After a moment, it was his turn.
He paid, took the bag of ice cream, and stepped out of the store.
As he walked back, he realized his place was still a few minutes away.
But something made him stop.
Up ahead, three drunk men were surrounding someone.
Jin-ho looked closer.
In the middle of them was the person who had been in line ahead of him at the convenience store.
A girl.
She wore a hoodie and a mask, covering most of her face.
“Please… let me go…”
Her voice was weak, but the men either didn’t hear her or didn’t care.
They continued bothering her.
Jin-ho let out a small sigh.
He didn’t want to get involved.
But he couldn’t ignore it either.
So he walked forward.
One of the drunk men had his back turned.
Without hesitation, Jin-ho grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled.
The man lost his balance and fell onto the ground.
The other two turned in surprise.
Before they could react, Jin-ho stepped in front of the girl.
He raised his hands and pushed the two men aside—one to the left, one to the right.
Both stumbled and fell.
Carefully.
Not enough to injure them, just enough to stop them.
Jin-ho kept his gaze steady.
“Let’s go before they get back up.”
He walked ahead.
The girl hesitated for a moment, then followed him.
They moved a few meters away, far enough that the men could no longer see them.
Only then did Jin-ho speak again.
“You’re safe now.
You can go.
I’ll head my way too.
Goodbye.”
He turned to leave.
But his shirt was suddenly tugged.
He looked back.
The girl was holding onto his sleeve.
“Thank you… for helping me get out of that situation,” she said softly.
Before he could respond, his phone rang.
He pulled it out of his pocket.
The caller ID showed:
Yu Ji-min.
The girl’s eyes unintentionally shifted to the screen.
She froze.
A name she recognized.
Jin-ho lowered his phone slightly.
“It’s nothing.
Just be careful,” he said calmly.
Then he turned and walked away.
The girl stayed behind.
Slowly, she pulled down her hoodie and mask.
“…What just happened?”
She stood there in silence, staring in the direction he left.
It felt like she had just met someone she shouldn’t have.
Her hair, softly falling even under the dim streetlight, her eyes still wide with shock, and her face finally revealed without anything covering it.
The person he had just saved.
It was IVE’s Jang Won-young.