‘Lee Hanna’s Man J’

Yi Soo narrowed her eyes.

She felt breathless looking at the article filling up her phone screen.

Her heart reacted before her head.

Suddenly, her heart started pounding as if it would burst.

The real-time search rankings were also full of related search terms.

“How did it come to this…”

Yi Soo’s mouth fell open weakly.

She covered her mouth with her hand and just stared blankly at the screen, blinking.

She needed to open the article, but her hand was shaking.

Yi Soo took a deep breath and clenched her fists tightly.

In the meantime, her phone kept ringing with text notifications.

Yi Soo took a deep breath in and out, then clicked on the top article.

‘Who is the man in the photo of Lee Hanna spotted at a Paris hotel? There was an anonymous tip that the man accompanying the nation’s first love Lee Hanna is the faceless singer J. Singer J has swept the music charts with every song he releases, captivating with his sweet voice. Until now, nothing was known about J besides his voice. With J’s identity possibly revealed to be Lee Hanna’s real boyfriend, public interest is intense.’

Along with a few short lines of the article, a picture of the two together was shown.

Looking at a photo of Ji Ho with another woman, Yi Soo felt conflicted.

“Ah… so this is why Ji Ho told me not to look.”

The original photo that was first uploaded was already deleted due to potential issues, but the photo that had already spread to hundreds and thousands could easily be found anywhere.

Unlike the original photo posted on SNS, the one in the article had Ji Ho’s face blurred.

In the comments, people were wildly posting personal information about Ji Ho, claiming it was the identity of J that had been kept secret until now.

People’s attention was intensely focused on Ji Ho.

“Ji Ho, what do we do… Are you really okay?”

Although Yi Soo wasn’t the subject of the article, her heart was pounding as if it would explode.

She pressed her palm against her crazily thumping chest.

Even after seeing all this, Ji Ho called with such a calm voice.

At times like this, Yi Soo felt at a loss for what to do.

What Ji Ho needed right now didn’t seem to be a girlfriend who was anxious and beside herself over articles like this, but a girlfriend who could calmly say it was okay.

‘Right. I’m not even involved, so there’s no need for me to make it worse by overreacting. If Ji Ho says it’s fine, then everything is fine.’

Yi Soo sighed softly and calmed her mind.

**

It was a cool autumn day.

Leaving the house in the morning, the sky was unusually clear and bright.

Yi Soo looked up at the autumn sky resentfully with an uneasy heart.

‘If only this hadn’t happened, I could have started the day in a good mood.’

Soon after, Ji Ho’s car could be seen approaching.

“Ji Ho, good morning.”

Yi Soo deliberately used a bright voice as she got in the car.

Even after reading the article last night, Yi Soo didn’t show any particular reaction to Ji Ho.

As usual, she talked to Ji Ho before bed and listened to the song he sang for her.

During that time, it really seemed like nothing had happened.

She wanted to believe Ji Ho when he said it was fine.

Ji Ho, who wasn’t swayed by baseless rumors, looked reliable.

If Ji Ho said it was nothing, it seemed she could really believe that.

Always leisurely and relaxed, Ji Ho was no different even in this situation.

Yi Soo held Ji Ho’s hand tightly with both of hers.

“Today at school… you’ll probably get harassed a bit.”

Yi Soo said cautiously.

Even though she wanted to believe it was okay, she couldn’t help but worry.

Someone claiming to know Ji Ho well left comments with detailed information about his school and major.

Adding that any Korea University student who didn’t know this man must be a spy, it was now impossible for any student there to be unaware that Ji Ho was the subject of yesterday’s article.

How could a rumor spread so terrifyingly in just half a day?

“It’ll be short-lived.”

Ji Ho smiled, looking straight ahead.

Yi Soo, who had completely twisted her upper body to sit facing him, looked at Ji Ho with a troubled expression.

“Don’t worry about me. It’ll die down in a few days.”

The agency hadn’t made any response to the rumor that the man in the photo was J.

They couldn’t release a counter article denying it since the rumor was true, but they also couldn’t confirm it with a dating scandal, so they didn’t make any official statement.

Hyung Joo said to just wait and see for a few days until the rumor quieted down.

Since Lee Hanna’s return schedule was coming up soon, it was better to wait until then.

Without confirming J’s identity, Hanna’s words would be much more effective than Ji Ho speaking up.

“So don’t let it bother you either. It’s all nonsense.”

“Okay.”

Ji Ho reached out and caressed Yi Soo’s face.

The closer they got to school, the more Yi Soo’s heart pounded.

**

On the day the internet was abuzz with photos of Lee Hanna’s Paris date sighting.

Hanna was staying in Switzerland filming a pre-produced drama.

Looking at the tablet PC screen handed to her by her manager, Hanna made an intriguing expression.

“Things are getting interesting.”

“This was the last day of the pictorial shoot, right?”

Manager Oh Min Chul asked Hanna in the moving car.

Since morning, there had been calls from the agency CEO confirming the truth of the matter.

“Looking at the comments, there’s all sorts of stories. Is it all true?”

Oh Min Chul asked in a disgruntled voice with his arms folded across his chest.

It was a pre-produced drama so it wouldn’t have much impact, but a scandal article in the middle of filming was hardly welcome.

Without any intention of answering Min Chul’s question, Hanna was reading the endless stream of comments with an amused look.

“Ji Ho is the singer J? Ha! Turns out we were colleagues in the entertainment industry.”

Hanna laughed absurdly, shaking her head.

Hanna also enjoyed listening to J’s songs regularly, and whenever she heard them, she was especially fond of them as they reminded her of Ji Ho’s voice.

‘I was curious about what kind of man he was.’

Looking at J’s debut timing, he was already active as a singer even when she was dating Ji Ho.

“If this is true, he kept it secret from me, his girlfriend, until the end… I’m really disappointed.”

Min Chul asked Hanna again as she kept muttering to herself without answering.

“I’m asking if it’s true.”

Min Chul was a manager who hadn’t worked with Hanna for long, so he didn’t know much about her past.

“Well. There are things I didn’t know either, and some of it is true.”

“What?”

Min Chul frowned and asked.

“Oppa, find out for sure if this man is really J. Call his agency or something.”

“Is that what’s important right now? We need to quickly release a counter article. Are you going to just stay still?”

“Hmm…”

Hanna fell into deep thought, tapping the script on her knee with her finger.

After thinking for a while, Hanna spoke.

“For now, don’t do anything.”

“Why? We need to release an article right away. Staying quiet will only fuel the rumors more.”

“Lee Hanna’s man J. I really like the sound of that. Do I have to deny it?”

Hanna laughed as she saw Oh Min Chul’s expression crumple.

With the nickname “breadwinner girl” for bringing in such huge revenue for the company, Hanna had both her manager and CEO wrapped around her finger.

Even with a scandal breaking out, rather than handling it on the company level, they asked for Hanna’s opinion on every detail.

“I’ll say it myself at the airport on the day I return.”

She thought after recently meeting Ji Ho, they would never be linked again, but who knew they would be entangled again in such a sensational way.

From their chance encounter in Paris to continuously being connected to Ji Ho, Hanna was pleased by it all.

This would be Ji Ho’s first time dealing with something like this so it would be hard on him. What would happen if they never released a counter article until the end?

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen an article I like this much.”

Hanna looked satisfied as she read each article plastered on the screen.

“The CEO keeps trying to get in touch. Aren’t you going to call?”

“Later. Tell oppa to relay the message that filming ran long so I couldn’t call.”

Hanna told Min Chul with a delighted look in her eyes.

“What are you thinking…”

Min Chul shook his head, muttering to himself.

‘If I play my cards right, maybe Ji Ho will reach out first? I’ll wait and see. I can ask him directly then if he’s J or not.’

The corners of Hanna’s lips curved up beautifully.

**

As soon as Yoo Mi entered the lecture hall, Eun Ji approached her as if she had been waiting.

Leading Yoo Mi to a corner, Eun Ji asked in a small voice.

“Yoo Mi, you saw that photo yesterday too, right?”

Eun Ji was surprised when she saw the photo that had the internet abuzz yesterday.

She tried contacting Yoo Mi right away, but she didn’t answer her calls or reply to texts.

“Yeah.”

“You didn’t know about this?”

“About what?”

Yoo Mi asked, widening her eyes.

“That photo. Why was it posted online? I only sent it to you.”

It had been over a month already.

Eun Ji had forgotten about it too, but when the internet blew up over that photo yesterday, even her older sister contacted her.

“Eun Ji, did you by any chance send my photo to anyone else?”

“Oh, no.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes!”

“Then why is this photo circulating? It’s obviously my photo just by looking at it. I’m worried this might cause problems.”

Since then, Eun Ji felt like the blood was draining from her body.

She was scared to even open her phone, anxious that her thoughtless actions might harm her sister.

Thinking about it, Yoo Mi had been acting like she had a special relationship with Ji Ho since the beginning of the semester, and after seeing a photo like that, maybe she spread it out of jealousy.

Yoo Mi made a wronged expression at Eun Ji’s interrogation and pulled away.

“No. Are you suspecting me right now? Why would I do that? What am I to Ji Ho oppa…”

“Then where did that photo leak from?”

“Your sister posted it on SNS too. Someone probably captured that.”

Yoo Mi calmly gave the answer she had prepared in advance.

“No. My sister said she blurred the whole background before posting it. But the photo going around shows the whole face.”

Although Yoo Mi was startled inside, she still looked indignant.

‘What? When did she edit it like that before posting? Don’t people usually just post it as is?’

Despite her innocent act, Yoo Mi’s palms were sweating.

“Anyway, it really wasn’t me. That makes no sense. You think I would take a photo you sent me and upload it however I want? I’ll be really hurt if you keep suspecting me.”

Yoo Mi had been resting assured without much concern, but Eun Ji’s words sent a chill down her spine.

Lee Hanna’s influence far exceeded Yoo Mi’s expectations.

Dominating real-time searches was expected, but as time passed, it was spreading like wildfire.

Not only articles, but people known as “cyber Rakka” were rushing to upload provocative thumbnails and content about the topic.

But Yoo Mi had no choice but to deny it until the end.

‘Both of them are keeping quiet with no response, so they wouldn’t sue to find the original leaker, right?’

“Okay. If it wasn’t you, then…”

Eun Ji spoke with a dark expression.

“Check if your sister’s phone was hacked. They say that’s how photos get leaked these days.”

Yoo Mi patted the back of the anxious Eun Ji.

‘If Yi Soo breaks up with Ji Ho oppa over this, I’ll repay you greatly.’

With that thought, Yoo Mi smiled again.