.  Amid the situation, Woo Rihon increased his voice, which sounded just like his characteristic tone, emotional yet flat at the same time.

  “Do you think I’m doing this because I want to go back to our noona-dongsaeng relationship with you?”


  What he just said stirred the crowd again.

  “Did he say ‘noona’ just now?”


  Some people among the crowds seemed to know Lee Nara’s real name as Eun Jiho and I did.

  “Isn’t Lee Nara’s real name… Woo Rinara?”


  “Hold on, then…!”


  On the other hand, I was staring at Woo Jooin, smiling quietly like a plush toy between the two. When our eyes met, surprisingly, he waved his hand while curving his brown eyes into a smile.

  I murmured, ‘Jooin, are you okay even in that situation…?’


  That was when a person suddenly appeared while wedging his way through the crowds.

  “What are you guys doing here!”


  He was a middle-aged gentleman with light brown hair, wearing a dark green suit that matched very well with the overall look. He seemed to be in his midlife; however, his chiseled features and wrinkleless skin made him look so young that I could hardly estimate his real age.

  Forging through the crowds, he yelled like that in anger to Lee Nara and Woo Rihon, who were still quarreling until that moment.

  Lee Nara and Woo Rihon’s voices then erupted simultaneously.

  “Dad…!!!”


  It was the climax of the chaos.

  Everyone at the spot cried out in awe while thinking, ‘Dad? Then the two are…!!!’


  “They might be brothers and sisters!”


  “Exclusive! Actress Woo Rinara and Woo Rihon, the leader of Daydream, were siblings!”


  “Are they full siblings?”


  It was only me who crossed arms, thinking, ‘Is this a TV drama or what?!’


  Meanwhile, the dark green suit gentleman who showed a sign of anger on his face continued his remark.

  “You two! If you guys were pretending to be strangers to each other in the entertainment business, you should’ve appeared here quietly. Why did you bump into each other and make a fuss like this with your cousin? Especially, in this critical event!”


  “Eek.”


  Being appalled at their father’s scolding, Woo Rinara and Woo Rihon lowered their heads. Jooin, who was standing in between them until then, finally took a step forward and began to stop the trouble situation.

  “Uncle, it’s all my fault. I was very glad to meet noona and hyeong after a long time, so I wanted to come inside together… I’m sorry.”


  When Woo Jooin spoke like that, the gentleman, who looked confused for a second, then loosened up the look on his face.

  He said, “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. What can I do if you say so? Isn’t it true that it has been a long time and no see? Rinara and Rihon were all too busy, so…”


  Watching the situation, I quietly murmured, ‘I’m glad that Jooin is getting all the love from his family and relatives.’


  The crowds around me then emitted another whoop.

  “Rinara and Rihon???”


  “The two were siblings for sure, right?”


  The disruption was clearly brushed aside in that way.

  Once the gentleman left, Woo Rinara and Woo Rihon took their hands off from Woo Jooin and returned to their official characters. Woo Rinara flaunted a sweet smile and blew kisses to the audience, whereas Woo Rihon stood next to her with an apathetic look.

  Woo Jooin stood there in bewilderment, then when we had eye contact, he just mouthed something to us. Staring at him for a while, I later realized that what he said was ‘Don’t leave just wait.’


  Nodding as a response, I said to myself in a low voice, “Not a fun party? I deny that…”


  The beginning of this event was enough to be so dramatic.

  Jooin consistently wanted to come closer to us; however, Woo Rinara and Woo Rihon, again, held each of his hands to not let him go.

  As we occupied near the entrance to watch the three people, we were able to witness all kinds of dramas taking place around us. The more the series of events went on, the more serious my face turned.

  “You cunning little bitch! How dare you steal my son away from me?!”


  “Mother, no! It’s not what you think!”


  On one side, there was an outdated subject matter, a conflict between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, taking place.

  “Hold on, are you… assistant manager Moon whom I brought down ten years ago?!”


  “Yes, I’m here to return it to you!”


  On the other side, a guy, who waited for revenge from a decade, showed up to begin Mr. Vengeance.

  “Wait, oppa. What’s that Big Dipper-shaped mole behind your ear…?”


  “Huh? I had this ever since I was born.”


  “Oh my god, then oppa, are you…?!! My sibling whom I have lost seventeen years ago?”


  “What? No, that doesn’t make sense. This can’t happen!”


  Also on the other side, a couple who turned out to be born of the same parents were continuing their tragedy.

  Whenever these happened in front of my sight, I was desperate to have some popcorns involuntarily. In this regard, I began to glance at foods displayed on the table.

  ‘Popcorns or cans of coke… Why none of them is here?’


  On the other hand, it seemed to be not just me who had that thought in mind.

  Eun Jiho, Yoon Jung In, and the Kim twins struck me dumb by saying, ‘Today is quite below average somehow, unimpressive,’ something like that with a nonchalant face. Meanwhile, I tried to stay as calm as possible.

  ‘Okay, so this is what a party usually is, huh?’


  After about twenty minutes, I finally declared surrender.

  ‘I should leave this place…’


  When I turned around out of the blue, Eun Jiho and the other kids asked me while looking a little surprised.

  “Hey, where are you going?”


  Raising one side of my hand to cover my mouth, I answered back.

  “Oh, um… I need some fresh air… Let me go out and take a breath.”


  “Wanna go together?”


  “Um, nope.”


  I refused his suggestion without my will while speaking in a grave look. Eun Jiho then showed me a sulky face, but I decided to ignore that.

  While I needed a time to think about how my life turned out to be like this, I didn’t want a naturally platinum blonde hair Korean staying next to me…


  As I bent my steps, Eun Jiho, from behind, shouted, “If you don’t know the direction, call me! And get back ASAP! Other kids will also gonna be here soon.”


  “Um, okay.”


  Nodding my head, I glanced around and left the hall. Until that moment I headed toward the outdoor terrace with a few tables placed on the wooden floor, I was never aware of someone else staring at me.

  * * *

  The air around the group of six girls felt particularly cold. Every one of them had beautiful appearances and dressed as fancily as they could which looked enough to be the guests of honor tonight. They, however, were just hiding in the shadow of the pillar near the wall. All their eyes were directed toward someone, who was, none other than, a girl.

  She had brown hair and a white dress for the outfit. Whenever she twisted herself and smiled or slightly hit other’s arm while talking to someone, the jeweled hairpin on her hair emitted radiance in all directions.

  When she first entered the banquet hall, especially, grabbing the only heir of Hanwool Group, Eun Jiho’s arm, the buzz she caused in this space was phenomenal. The entire audience asked who she was while throwing a yearning glance at her with their jaw dropped to the floor. When no one turned out to know about her, the group of girls soon concluded that the girl wouldn’t have any fancy backgrounds at all. There was no reason for Eun Jiho to care about her.

  The girls, therefore, waited in a calm manner for Eun Jiho to leave her aside and approach them to initiate a conversation.

  However, that didn’t happen. During the whole conversation, Eun Jiho was staying next to the girl affectionately. He even smiled brightly while having numerous eye contact with her and showed her a playful look that boys his age often had. Eun Jiho never revealed that side of him to anyone in these events. Thus, it brought out a deeper impact on them.

  A few girls murmured, “Who the hell is she to get along with Eun Jiho like that?”


  They couldn’t grasp anything about her at all, but only found out her name, Ham Donnie.

  Why would Eun Jiho hang out with a girl like her?

  After a moment of suspicion, what was left among them was a cold fury.

  Most of them were here since they had a crush on Eun Jiho.

  They couldn’t help themselves having that feeling toward him. How could they deny a boy who excelled in everything; his background, wealth, appearance, personality, and ability were all just perfect. Some girls even showed up in every party Eun Jiho attended to catch his attention.

  How could that Eun Jiho bring a girl who didn’t match his level even a bit? Feeling the anger rising deep within their hearts, the girls bit their lips and watched for an opportunity to come.