A celebrity dating becomes a target of criticism.
To put it nicely, it’s because they are loved by everyone, so jealousy from everyone follows. To put it bluntly, it’s because they are seen as pseudo-romantic partners.
A large portion of the emotions fans dedicate to celebrities is composed of love. Even if it’s not love but admiration, underlying that feeling is the expectation for the idol to maintain a sense of ‘professionalism’.
Thus, a celebrity’s dating rumor is a business disaster, and the exposure of a dating rumor (without prior consultation) can be considered an attack on the company.
For this reason, entertainment agencies manage risks by controlling journalists through appropriate bribes, connections, and alcohol. The larger the company grows, the closer this becomes to a system.
In the case of Baekhak Entertainment, the department responsible for this task was the PR team.
And the PR team leader was swearing in the office for the first time in a while.
“Aren’t they fucking crazy? This?”
This is ‘dependence.’
Like a child who wasn’t cared for by their parents clinging to a teacher, or a woman without a father unconsciously idealizing older men—this is dependence.
So is that kind of dependence closer to affection or friendship?
Kim Byul was still far too young to seek that answer.
But even someone who’s grown up too fast has their own way of coping.
When adults say someone is “mature”, they mean that the child isn’t being troublesome, so they’re pleased.
Kim Byul knows how to behave in a way that pleases the adults.
“Of course, it’s not true.”
It’s not that it isn’t.
“It’s completely baseless.”
“Yes, please make sure to pass that on.”
Nothing is clear. Nothing is decided.
It wasn’t a difficult thing to do.
Kim Byul had always lived by acting out a lie.
Even the name “Kim Byul” wasn’t her real name.
Then, what exactly was she?
In the corner of the hotel room, a glittering leaf caught her eye.
The golden hue of the palm leaf trophy exuded a seductive allure.
Moon In had told her that if she tried to bear the weight of that trophy, she’d end up a wreck and that she should put it down before that happened.
But Kim Byul stood up slowly and walked toward the palm leaf. She carefully lifted the trophy.
And with that, she quietly gazed at the golden leaf in her hands.
Moon In’s prediction was spot on.
She would end up a wreck trying to bear the weight of this trophy. And even knowing that, she would still cling to it and endure.
But Moon In’s advice had missed the mark.
She couldn’t put this trophy down.
If she gave up being applauded, being loved by everyone, and climbing higher to become a star, then Kim Byul would no longer be Kim Byul.
“Ah, I want to quit acting.”
She had come too far to quit now.
So, she couldn’t stop lying. The show had to go on.
Even if complicated feelings crept in one day, she would quietly hide them and continue her performance.
That was Kim Byul’s lie.
It was Kim Byul’s art.
Gu Hak-jun’s daily life had changed. It wasn’t that something unusual happened at the university. As always, Gu Hak-jun continued teaching literature to his students.
The change had come from his wife, Min Chae-won. Min Chae-won’s business had broken into the overseas market. At some point, so much money began pouring in that it became overwhelming. And with it came an overwhelming amount of work as well. Min Chae-won now spent more time abroad than in Korea.
Thus, Gu Hak-jun had lost his wife but gained wealth, which led to the rule that the whole family should have dinner together every evening becoming virtually meaningless.
But Gu Hak-jun, the novelist, was a monstrous man who juggled art, humanity, social life, and family all at once.
Instead of hiring a housekeeper, Gu Hak-jun learned how to cook.
And he held onto his two daughters, who often tried to run off, saying things like, “Your old dad is cooking with his own hands.”
Thanks to that, even without Min Chae-won, the three remaining family members could always have dinner together.
The one most dissatisfied with this arrangement was, of course, Gu Yubin.
“I’m already in college, and it’s embarrassing to have to come home just for dinner….”
Gu Yu-na, who had been influenced by Moon In, teased her.
“Unnie, are you embarrassed of your family?”
Gu Yubin responded by flicking Gu Yu-na on the head. After being struck on her head, Gu Yu-na quietly focused on her chopsticks.
The negotiations between Gu Yubin and Gu Hak-jun continued.
“Can’t you ease up on the curfew?”
“When have I ever given you a curfew? I just said we should always have dinner together as a family.”
“That’s basically a 6 p.m. curfew!”
“You can go out after dinner.”
“But then you glare at me like I’ve got a boyfriend.”
“I haven’t glared at you.”
There’s no arguing when he’s stubborn. Gu Yubin wracked her brain in frustration.
“There’s a rumor going around campus, you know? That the famous novelist Gu Hak-jun is keeping his daughter under tight control like a mouse!”
“Well, you were born in the Year of the Rat, weren’t you?”
“Dad, seriously, are you going to keep this up?!”
“Our little Yubin is throwing a tantrum. Do you have a boyfriend or something? Oh my, now that you’ve got a man, Dad is….”
Gu Hak-jun, the novelist, was a monstrous man who juggled art, humanity, social life, and family all at once.
Even Gu Hak-jun couldn’t escape the common syndrome that fathers sending their daughters to college for the first time all seem to suffer from.
While Gu Yubin, who was being controlled as if she had a boyfriend even though she didn’t, metaphorically coughed up blood in frustration, Gu Yu-na finished her meal, having picked out and eaten all the tastiest meat dishes for herself.
Then, she gave a firm evaluation of her dad’s cooking.
For reference, it’s out of 10 points.
Gu Hak-jun was just grateful to have improved from a 1 to a 4, and he was genuinely pleased.
With that, Gu Yu-na trotted over to the sofa and sat down.
Then, she picked up the remote control.
She was feeling a bit good these days because our Byul unnie (a title she would absolutely never say out loud) won a big award in France.
Though she wasn’t someone who watched TV often, given that the broadcasts were full of Kim Byul praise all day long, TV had become somewhat enjoyable for her these days.
So, the TV turned on.
Kim Byul and Moon In appeared on the screen together.
It was a dating scandal.