Two laptops.
Three tablets.
Five spare phones.
Lastly, additional specialized personnel (friends) to assist Na-eul.
The scene was reminiscent of a spy operation from a movie, as Na-eul prepared for ‘Lee Ha-eun’s fan meeting ticketing.’
“…For those who succeed, a bonus of 30,000 won.”
“Okay.”
“Receipt.”
By adding a separate success reward, the grand operation resulted in a total of two tickets.
Considering the intense competition for ticketing, it was a very impressive achievement.
“Ji-hye.”
“…No way?”
“…There are two tickets.”
“!!!”
Afterward, praises for the fortunate friend who secured the two tickets followed.
The promised transfer of the 30,000 won success reward and the designation of a companion to take the remaining ticket proceeded smoothly.
“Okay, next question. What is my favorite food—”
“Red velvet cake!!!!”
“…? Who just answered?”
“Here, here!!”
“Hmm, seems like it’s from the K section…?!”
Finally, Na-eul successfully made eye contact with Ha-eun.
While Na-eul was overly excited, Ha-eun, upon recognizing her, momentarily widened her eyes.
Of course, she absolutely couldn’t let on that she knew.
The reason she hurriedly picked up the handheld microphone that she had momentarily set aside was that.
“Y-you’re really cute, I was surprised. Anyway, you got the answer right, so I think you can receive your prize later.”
Thus, after acknowledging Na-eul’s correct answer, she quickly shifted her gaze to the cue card to start the next quiz.
She didn’t notice that Na-eul almost fainted at her compliment of being cute.
Strictly speaking, Na-eul had already met Ha-eun.
He had even fed her cotton candy he made himself while broadcasting from a distance where he could reach out and touch her.
“My favorite is the more, the merrier….”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“It exists, that kind of thing….”
Still, just seeing her made his heart race.
Na-eul’s friend, who wasn’t a superfan, couldn’t really understand Na-eul’s smile.
As Na-eul continued to focus his gaze.
His fan heart for Ha-eun was clearly evident as his eyes kept on Ha-eun on stage.
From Ha-eun’s perspective, it was undeniable that Na-eul’s gaze caught her attention.
It was one thing if she were unaware of his presence, but once she acknowledged it, her eyes kept being drawn to him.
‘Da-yeon shouldn’t be surprised….’
Regardless, Da-yeon also knew Na-eul.
One of the few people aware of Na-eul’s red ointment was indeed Da-yeon.
The problem was that she couldn’t give Da-yeon any hint.
Mentioning Na-eul’s existence to Da-yeon meant confessing that she knew what kind of person he was.
It also implied that Da-yeon knew Hida from the second season of the “Fantasia.”
Therefore, even after finishing the first part of the fan meeting and meeting Da-yeon backstage.
She couldn’t say anything while changing into an outfit for the second part, even checking Da-yeon’s cue card.
“Your dress looks great on you, Da-yeon.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It looks luxurious.”
“Of course, it’s… a hundred thousand won. It should be worth the money.”
“…How much?”
Yu Sung-jae appeared right after that.
Soon, as he asked about the guest’s appearance, he eventually pulled his gaze away from Da-yeon’s dress, which seemed suspiciously made of pure gold.
Not long after, the countdown for the second part opening began.
At that time, Ha-eun headed again toward the exclusive entrance for cast members and quietly recited the lyrics of the opening song for the second part in her mind.
As a brief moment passed.
Finally, as the starting bell for the second part rang, she returned to the fans with a gentle song.
“When lost for a moment♪ like that night, slowly─♬”
As she was connecting with the fans in the audience, her clear voice was fully revealed.
“Wherever that place is♪ until the end with me─♬”
– If we walk in step, someday♪
An unexpected voice started to harmonize with Ha-eun’s voice.
Soon, the owner of that voice walked out right next to Ha-eun, causing an eruption of cheers.
‘…I didn’t hear anything about singing.’
Was it a surprise prepared by Yu Sung-jae?
He was singing with a sincere expression, unlike his usual light demeanor, wearing a ceremonial robe.
This appearance of Yu Sung-jae was also a surprise for the fans in the audience.
They already knew Yu Sung-jae was appearing as a guest.
“…It’s been a while, Moon.”
– Kyaaaa!!
They had not expected him to appear dressed as Prince Lee Hyun from “The Moon that Split the Clouds.”
At the same time, they never dreamed he’d showcase his impressive singing skills while harmonizing with Ha-eun.
Eventually, when Yu Sung-jae formally greeted the fans, a wave of enthusiastic applause erupted.
There was not a single person among Ha-eun’s fans who didn’t welcome Yu Sung-jae.
The brief talk session that followed was filled with light exchanges about Yu Sung-jae’s recent activities and The Veterans.
However, there was still one guest who hadn’t appeared yet.
“Hmm, I think just the two of us are already enough, but three is better than two, right?”
After briefly introducing The Veterans, the remarks to introduce Da-yeon were trusted to Yu Sung-jae’s handheld microphone.
As Da-yeon stepped onto the stage, applause poured out.
However, because of the one reason that Da-yeon was unaware of the surprise of Yu Sung-jae’s song.
“I didn’t expect Yu Sung-jae to do something so cute.”
Da-yeon’s forced smile turned toward Yu Sung-jae.
Still, Yu Sung-jae seemed completely nonchalant.
“Hmm, I guess Da-yeon didn’t prepare anything special?”
“…Huh?”
Finally, the opposing gazes of the two clashed directly in front of Ha-eun.
Noticing this, Ha-eun quickly proceeded to the next section, making both Yu Sung-jae and Da-yeon recite their lines from their cue cards.
The ensuing talk with the guests, which lasted about 30 minutes, was much like the rehearsal.
Though there were minor clashes between Da-yeon and Yu Sung-jae, it seemed to the audience as mere banter between the two.
Thanks to that, when the two guests exited, another round of applause erupted.
There were no discernible expressions of displeasure.
A short while later, the Q&A time with the fans commenced.
“What have you been enjoying as a hobby lately? Umm… Recently, I’ve mainly been playing with dolls.”
Ha-eun earnestly answered several questions, including one about her hobbies.
She couldn’t mention that the dolls referenced were not actual dolls but the SD virtual avatars of No-eul.
Of course, for Na-eul, one of the few people who knew all the truths, it was the most amusing situation.
Still, he could not reveal that he knew the truth, so he merely murmured to himself repeatedly.
“The king’s ears are donkey ears… The king’s ears are donkey ears….”
“…Has he finally lost his mind?”
Thus, while Na-eul’s friend looked at him as if he were seeing someone he couldn’t, Ha-eun, having completed the final cue card of the fan meeting, expressed a desire for a photo time.
In response, enthusiastic voices from the fans filled the air.
So, after settling comfortably at the very edge of the stage.
With the audience’s fans in the background, click.
“Hmm…. I’ll take one more. This time, shall we all try doing a V sign together?”
After several rounds of photo times were concluded, she could finally say her goodbye.
However, before Ha-eun’s farewell could fully end, the fans’ voices broke the silence.
-Ha-eun, I love you!!
-Lee Ha-eun is pretty!!!
-Let’s walk down a flower path, Ha-eun!!
“…Thank you….”
Ha-eun bowed in respect before the voices directed solely at her.
Responding with the same polite farewell as always to the fans’ words, Ha-eun smiled brightly with slightly reddened eyes.
It was the most vivid smile of Ha-eun’s life.
She realized for the first time that she could smile like this.
“…I thought she wouldn’t cry.”
“It’s her first fan meeting. Ha-eun must be feeling many things.”
“What do you know?”
“It’s not that I know; I resonate with it. Unlike someone who lives elsewhere.”
-That’s right.
“…Why are you two glaring at each other again?”
“Da-yeon was teasing Ha-eun saying she was going to cry.”
“?! When did I!!”
A few days after Ha-eun’s first fan meeting.
The shooting of The Veterans, which had now entered its latter half, began.
However, it was the first time shooting an action scene today.
Moreover, they intended to use the scenes filmed today to create a trailer for The Veterans.
“Today, we might finish a bit late. I want to compare the takes right after.”
Director Kim Hong-seong spoke quite lengthily to the staff and actors in the filming location.
For various reasons, today’s scenes were the highlight of The Veterans.
In other words, they intended to put more effort into filming scenes that best showcase the identity of The Veterans.
“Ha-eun, you really can’t hit me. I barely got the manager to agree that we wouldn’t use a stunt.”
“…I’ll try my best.”
The first scene to be filmed was a fight scene between Kang Chan-seong and Lee Yeo-seo.
Perhaps because of this, Yu Sung-jae glanced at Ha-eun’s gloved hand and showed a slightly scared expression.
Although he had gotten used to the action matches with Ha-eun, he couldn’t help but imagine what would happen if those small fists actually struck him.
Strictly speaking, the ending of the filming was supposed to be concluded with a dagger prop instead of a fist.
‘…Honestly, it’s frightening.’
Ha-eun, already starting to embody Lee Yeo-seo’s expression, made Yu Sung-jae hesitate.
Considering that Ha-eun’s portrayal of Yeo-seo was bewildering Chan-seong, it wasn’t that strange.
However, ultimately, it felt different from the Ha-eun Yu Sung-jae had seen in the past.
If Ha-eun had shown deeper emotions than expected until now, it felt like the present Ha-eun was only showing previously unforeseen emotions.
‘Is she forcibly suppressing them? Or does she genuinely have no feelings…’
The face before him lacked empathy.
Thinking solely of her desires without considering the emotions of others, it was as if she were embodying the setting of a psychopath.
Maybe that’s why.
“Okay, then. S#130 office, we’ll start.”
As Director Kim Hong-seong’s cue signaled, today’s first scene began.
More precisely, it started at the moment Yu Sung-jae’s Chan-seong first suspected Yeo-seo.
“There’s a scene where you enter the CCTV, but not one when you exit. What’s going on?”
“Who? …Ah, Min-hwa?”
With a calm voice confessing the truth devoid of even the slightest change of emotion.
Almost simultaneously, a sharp blade grazed Yu Sung-jae’s ear.
“…a victim?”
– Chills.
Without even realizing it, his gaze trembled.
After all, she was smiling eerily.
“By now, you shouldn’t even be able to move a finger…. It seems the police are different. How interesting.”
Another jab followed.
Right away, Yu Sung-jae kicked Ha-eun’s hand and aimed the dagger at her, getting into position.
– Wobble.
“Ugh…?”
The drug in the tea he had just drunk had now taken down the enthusiastic police officer.
The sense of crisis that felt natural.
Suddenly, clack.
Immediately afterward, another clack*.
“I don’t know who leaked the CCTV… Oppa worked so hard to delete it.”
The sound of her heels wasn’t slow nor fast but gradually approached Yu Sung-jae.
Then came the line that heralded the start of the action scene.
“Hey, I’ll ask you one thing. Who showed you the CCTV?”
“…I can’t disclose the identity of the whistleblower.”
“Ha… that’s absurd.”
After slightly bowing her head, Ha-eun touched her forehead and smiled slyly.
Then, almost seconds later, her hand that swept her hair.
“I don’t know who it is, but you’ve neglected your duties…. Isn’t neglecting your duties a crime?”
With those words uttered, it was only pure killing intent emanating from Ha-eun as she charged at Yu Sung-jae.
Despite it all, her face still bore a smile, sending a chilling feeling through the air.
