By Zephyria The dorm rent, living expenses, dance, vocal, and acting lesson fees, costumes and hair, even gas for the car… all piled up as new debts under Choi Hong-seo’s name under the guise of investment costs.
There was no way to verify if each of these items was truly factual. Moreover, the interest on the accumulated debt was steadily growing.
Even when he was dragged to entertainment events, CEO Myeong took 50% as a commission, and the remaining 50% was deducted from the interest he owed. Choi Hong-seo never even touched that money.
He had once raged, half-mad, telling them to expose everything. To die together. Saying that the CEO was just as much of a pimp.
But Choi Hong-seo knew himself. Even if he exposed the truth, people would only be interested in his past, which had become known through his activities as a celebrity.
He had endured, gritting his teeth, only thinking of leaving UB as a powerful figure that even Myeong Do-hoon couldn’t touch.
There was indeed a senior actor who had escaped Myeong Do-hoon’s grasp in a similar way. That’s why he couldn’t give up hope. The total amount of money that senior actor paid to escape Myeong Do-hoon was probably in the billions. Still, if he became a true top star, it was a possible sum.
He didn’t fully trust Vice President Lee Hae-sung yet.
Even though he didn’t fully trust him… he couldn’t help but get angry when Myeong Do-hoon treated Lee Hae-sung like other VIPs, like beasts, and acted like a host bar madam trying to squeeze every penny out of a customer.
If the things Lee Hae-sung had shown him, the words he had spoken, were all sincere. Then, Lee Hae-sung’s actions would have been out of genuine concern for him, not as a sponsor.
Choi Hong-seo found his manager and received his phone. He found a secluded spot, opened the messenger app, and opened the chat window with Lee Hae-sung, saved as ‘Carrot Seller.’
‘Are you telling me to… return it?’
‘Yes, return it.’
He had chosen this save name after much deliberation, as using his real name or ‘Vice President’ felt too risky. Lee Hae-sung himself didn’t know this save name yet.
Carrot Seller: Good morning
Carrot Seller: Are you still sleeping?
Carrot Seller: What’s your schedule today?
Carrot Seller: I have a lunch appointment, and then I’ll go to work in Yeoksam-dong and leave early (10:25 AM)
The messages exchanged with him had become a natural part of his daily routine. There were times when they wouldn’t communicate for hours during meetings or important work, but he contacted him quite often. Especially when he woke up and before he slept. I’m awake now, did you sleep well, I’m about to sleep, have sweet dreams… They also talked about their trivial daily schedules.
Even though he was in the running to become his boyfriend, he was already acting like a boyfriend more than half the time. It felt like a demonstration of how he would be if he chose him as his boyfriend.
If this was his true self, he probably would have been a caring boyfriend to someone.
Me: Did you sleep well? I’m leaving the dorm now and heading to the salon.
Me: I have two interviews with the members today, and after that, I have a solo photoshoot (10:57 AM) Carrot Seller: You’ll be busy again today. Can I look forward to the photoshoot? (11:35 AM) Me: Look forward to what…? (11:47 AM) Carrot Seller: It would be nice if you could send me photos.
Carrot Seller: It would be a great comfort to an old man with no plans on Friday.
Carrot Seller: Ah, I need to go to my lunch meeting now.
Carrot Seller: Make sure to eat lunch and do well in your interviews^^ (11:58 AM) Me: I hope you enjoy your lunch and your meeting too, Vice President (12:05 PM) Me:
Me: These are photos taken by the reporter during the interview.
Me: It’s a casual concept, but the stylist Noona dressed me haha (3:02 PM) Me: I’m going to grab dinner before heading to the photoshoot after one more interview.
Me: Are you still in your meeting? (4:34 PM) Carrot Seller: It came up suddenly during dinner, so I had to go to Pyeongtaek.
Carrot Seller: I didn’t have the right to refuse because I’m the youngest.
Carrot Seller: It was nerve-wracking to tag along to a gathering of only adults.
Carrot Seller: But when I came back to Seoul, I saw Hong-seo’s photos, and your messages.
Carrot Seller: It feels good^^
Carrot Seller: You sent me photos from the interview without me even asking.
Carrot Seller: Hong-seo when you’re in idol mode is so…
Carrot Seller: I’m a fan haha (4:42 PM) Me: Have you already been to Pyeongtaek? You didn’t skip lunch, did you? (4:45 PM) Carrot Seller: By helicopter^^ (4:46 PM) Me: You have a helicopter?? (4:46 PM) Carrot Seller: Unfortunately, it belongs to the company.
Carrot Seller: It makes me sad to disappoint Hong-seo when he’s showing such warm interest for once.
Carrot Seller: Should I buy a helicopter? (4:49 PM) Me: I was just asking out of curiosity.
Me: You don’t have to buy a helicopter.
Me: But are there people even you find difficult, Vice President? (5:50 PM) Carrot Seller: You probably know well what kind of person I am to you, Hong-seo-ssi?Haha
Carrot Seller: They’ve been with Ara since my father’s generation.
Carrot Seller: Of course, I find adults difficult too.
Carrot Seller: You said you were going to dinner.
Carrot Seller: I know you want to talk to me more, but
Carrot Seller: Put down your phone and focus on your meal^^ (6:01 PM) Me:
Me: I’m shooting the first outfit.
Me: I asked Hyung, my manager, to take it. (7:47 PM) Carrot Seller: You look so cool. I’m jealous of everyone there.
Carrot Seller: I have plenty of time today too (7:50 PM)
Me: Are you sure you thought I was cool? I don’t like lies… (7:51 PM)
Carrot Seller: I’m sorry. I lied. Actually, you were so cute I was just chuckling to myself creepily haha
Carrot Seller: You were wearing a hoodie and even had freckle makeup on
Carrot Seller: How could you not be cute?
Carrot Seller: It’s not my fault (7:55 PM)
Me: That’s unfair, send me a picture of the Vice President too (7:55 PM)
Carrot Seller: Do you need a picture of me? (7:56 PM)
Me: It’s not that I need it… (7:56 PM)
Carrot Seller: I’ll look for a picture I can send (7:57 PM)
Carrot Seller:
Carrot Seller: This was taken by the PR team for a press release, is it not good? (8:12 PM)
Me: No… not pictures like this (8:13 PM)
Carrot Seller: If you mean selfies, I’ve never taken one…
Carrot Seller: If Hong-seo really wants to see
Carrot Seller: I’ll try my best (8:17 PM)
That was the end of the trivial conversation we had today.
On messages, he was playful and his tone was more ordinary than I expected, making him feel much more approachable. I had thought he would only say stiff, strict things using formal written language that would appear in textbooks, but that was just a prejudice against chaebols. Thanks to that, Choi Hong-seo was gradually starting to recognize him not as ARA Electronics’ mascot, but as a real person.
Perhaps because he couldn’t see his face, Choi Hong-seo could talk much more comfortably through messages. He would even play along with his jokes and send unsolicited photos first.
Before falling asleep, I used to always stress myself out by looking at comments or SNS reactions, but lately, I often fall asleep after re-reading our messenger conversations from the day and giggling.
Is this what dating is like?
Or, if I were to actually date him, would it feel like this?
It was true that such thoughts would suddenly cross my mind. A thought as absurd as a toad imagining a romance with a Prince…
“Hong-seo, let’s change into your next outfit.”
“Ah, yes! I’ll be right there!”
Hesitating whether to say it or not, I quickly typed out what I had been contemplating and clicked send.
Me: Is it possible to see you briefly today?
Me: My shoot won’t end until after 11 PM, though
Me: If that’s okay, I’d like to meet then
Me: I’ll check my reply during my break (9:02 PM)
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