The World Star Who Seduced Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5

Today was the day she was supposed to meet Seo Ga Ram. Yeo Woong headed to Itaewon with an excited heart—it had been so long since she’d had a relaxed evening.

The streets were packed with people. Yeo Woong tightened her coat and walked into the pub Seo Ga Ram had told her about. Seo Ga Ram was already there, seated at a table. As Yeo Woong approached, Seo Ga Ram raised her hand high.

“Yeo Woong, over here!”

Seo Ga Ram’s face lit up brightly. Her makeup was so glamorous she looked ready to step onto a stage right then and there. Yeo Woong smiled and asked,

“Did you just come from a performance? Why go all out like this?”

“Do I look pretty? Today’s the kind of day I want attention.”

Seo Ga Ram said it dramatically in an affected tone, and Yeo Woong let out a soft chuckle.

“Why? Aren’t all those admirers enough for you?”

“I’m always thirsty for more.”

Seo Ga Ram stretched both arms out wide as she spoke. Every gesture, every inflection of her voice overflowed with theatrical flair—like she was making sure no one forgot she was a musical actress.

Seo Ga Ram had been in the industry for a long time and had starred in numerous productions, making her quite famous among musical theater fans.

The first time Yeo Woong saw her, she’d been genuinely shocked—how could there be someone this beautiful among musical actresses?

Seo Ga Ram had striking, Western-style features that made her stand out wherever she went.

“Oh, right! You left the after-party without even saying goodbye! Do you know how hard I looked for you?”

“Sorry. I just… wasn’t feeling well that day.”

“But hey, did something happen between you and Seol Ji Oh?”

“Huh?”

Yeo Woong’s eyes widened in surprise. Hearing Seol Ji Oh’s name out of nowhere made her heart skip a beat. Unsure what to say, she moistened her lips with her tongue and stared at Seo Ga Ram.

“Someone saw you standing together right before Seol Ji Oh left. Isn’t that true?”

“Oh… We just said hello. Just a greeting.”

She couldn’t bring herself to tell the truth, so she brushed it off vaguely. If she started explaining that day, she’d end up spilling everything—from their childhood friendship to their current arrangement—so she clamped her lips shut.

“Really? Then why leave without saying anything? Everyone was really disappointed. Hey, but wasn’t it totally amazing?”

“What was?”

“Seol Ji Oh in person! I was seriously stunned. I’ve seen tons of celebrities, but never someone that handsome. Seriously, his face was glowing.”

“Glowing? You’re exaggerating. Are you going to tell all this to Tae Woo?”

“…”

At the mention of “Tae Woo,” Seo Ga Ram suddenly went quiet, as if someone had switched her off. Yeo Woong, puzzled by her silence after what was meant as a playful jab, stared at her.

What’s with this mood? Don’t tell me…

“Did you two break up?”

“Yeah…”

Tears suddenly welled up in Seo Ga Ram’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Yeo Woong’s eyes widened in alarm, and she quickly handed her a tissue.

“Are you okay? When did this happen?”

“I don’t know… that jerk… Waaah… Sob.”

Seo Ga Ram’s looks matched her romantic history—spectacularly eventful. But her relationships always turned out to be all glitter, no gold. They all looked decent enough—how did every single one end up such a disaster?

“Why did you break up? Did you break it off?”

“No, he asked to borrow money again… and I refused this time. Then that bastard…”

Yeo Woong sighed involuntarily. Of all the lowlifes, this time it was a guy who leeched off women. She pressed her fingers to her temples.

In that moment, Yeo Woong’s drama contract celebration party quietly transformed into a breakup consolation party for Seo Ga Ram.

***

Yeo Woong had arrived early that morning at the filming set of the drama “Office Lab.”

While getting her makeup done by the styling team, she was reviewing the script when a commotion suddenly erupted behind her. She turned around to see Han Seo Ah standing there, perfectly styled and ready.

In the drama, Han Seo Ah played a secretary, so she’d tied her hair in a high ponytail and wore a flowy blouse with an H-line skirt.

It was the textbook office look—but only flattering if you had the figure to carry it off.

Han Seo Ah walked in holding a cup of coffee and cheerfully announced to the crew in the waiting room,

“Ji Oh oppa sent over a coffee truck! Everyone, please help yourselves to a warm cup—it’s freezing out there.”

The crew looked up in surprise. The hairstylist, especially delighted, asked Han Seo Ah,

“Oh my! You don’t mean Seol Ji Oh, do you?”

Han Seo Ah covered her mouth with one hand, giggled, and nodded. At that reaction, the hairstylist excitedly added,

“Were you two close? Maybe…?”

“No, not really. We’re just from the same agency, that’s all.”

Han Seo Ah quickly denied it even before the hairstylist finished speaking, waving her hand with a full smile on her face.

Usually, Han Seo Ah never even spoke a word to the staff, so her unusually kind response clearly meant she was in an exceptionally good mood.

Did Han Seo Ah have a crush on Seol Ji Oh? Or… could there be something between them?

Yeo Woong thought of Seol Ji Oh. It had already been a month since they’d signed their agreement, and he hadn’t contacted her since that day.

Given how busy Seol Ji Oh was, constantly shuttling between Korea and the U.S., Yeo Woong had simply assumed that was just how it was. Besides, she’d gotten busy herself with the drama’s filming schedule and had temporarily forgotten about him.

Once her makeup was done, Yeo Woong stepped outside, thinking she’d grab a cup of coffee. The coffee truck was parked prominently, with staff gathered around in small groups.

After ordering an Americano, Yeo Woong quietly stared at Seol Ji Oh’s face plastered huge on the side of the truck. Even in photos, he seemed to glow.

“Seol Ji Oh…”

Truthfully, ever since their agreement, Yeo Woong had been unsure how best to help him.

She wondered if revisiting places they’d been to or reenacting things they’d done together might jog his memory—but then again, after living so long without those memories, would they even come back?

From the way he spoke, it seemed crucial for him to recover his memories—but could she really be of any help?

Just then, her phone buzzed briefly. She pulled it out and checked the message.

[Are you free today?]

It was Seol Ji Oh. This was the first message she’d received since saving his number. Yeo Woong stared blankly at his name displayed above the text. Her heart started racing—even over just a message.

Asking if she was free surely meant he wanted to meet, right?

Yeo Woong quickly ran through today’s shooting schedule in her head. Filming would likely wrap up around 7 p.m. at the latest.

[Yes. I’ll finish filming around 7, so I’m free after that.]

After sending her reply, Yeo Woong glanced again at Seol Ji Oh’s photo on the coffee truck. Maybe she should’ve at least thanked him properly.

A moment later, her phone rang again.

[Then let’s meet at 8. I’ll send you the location.]

Seol Ji Oh’s final reply arrived almost instantly. When Yeo Woong saw the meeting place he’d sent, her mouth fell open in surprise.

It’s been way too long since I’ve been there…

***

“Cut. Okay.”

“Great job, everyone.”

Yeo Woong politely bowed to the crew and the director before heading back to the waiting room to change.

She checked her makeup and hair briefly in the mirror, then double-checked the address Seol Ji Oh had sent.

It was the elementary school she’d graduated from.

As she drove, Yeo Woong stared out the window. Passing through the streets of her childhood as an adult felt strangely surreal. She parked in a convenient spot, got out of the car, and walked toward the schoolyard.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Seol Ji Oh.

“Yes, I’ve arrived.”

[Come to the bleachers. Can you see me?]

Yeo Woong looked toward the bleachers and spotted someone sitting on the steps, waving.

“Yes, I’m coming over.”

After hanging up, Yeo Woong walked toward him.

The playground was deserted, probably because of the cold. Dusk had fallen, casting everything in deep shadow, and the few streetlights near the bleachers gave off only a faint glow.

Yeo Woong swallowed nervously. From afar, Seol Ji Oh’s silhouette seemed to be watching her, and her heart began pounding faster.

As she drew closer, Seol Ji Oh stood up. He wore a gray long coat over a white turtleneck sweater—and he was so tall Yeo Woong had to tilt her head way back to look up at him.

It was surreal: Seol Ji Oh had been shorter than her when they were kids—what on earth had he eaten to grow this tall? Blinking up at him, their eyes met, and Yeo Woong suddenly felt awkward, quickly dropping her gaze to her feet.

Tap tap. Her pointless foot-tapping felt embarrassingly awkward.

“Have you been well?”

His voice resonated warmly.

“Yes. And you, Seol Ji Oh?”

“Oh, so-so.”

An awkward silence settled between them.

Unsure what to say, Yeo Woong’s eyes darted around. Glancing sideways, she noticed Seol Ji Oh was fully styled from head to toe—probably just come from a shoot.

He was already handsome to begin with, and now he’d gone and dressed up too. Seriously unfair.

Yeo Woong instinctively smoothed her hair. Meanwhile, Seol Ji Oh sat down on the bleachers and looked out over the schoolyard.

“They told me I used to go here, though I don’t remember anything. Were we in the same class?”

“Sometimes we were, sometimes we weren’t.”

“But I’m curious—how close were we, exactly?”

Yeo Woong turned to look at Seol Ji Oh’s face. How close had they really been? She simply said what came to mind.

“We walked to school and back home together every day. After school, you’d come to my place, we’d do homework, play, and even have dinner before you went home.”

“…Wait, every day?”

Seol Ji Oh frowned slightly, clearly finding it hard to believe.

“Pretty much every day. Your mom was often away from home back then, so you didn’t like going back.”

As Yeo Woong recalled, Seol Ji Oh tilted his head slightly and asked,

“Then why didn’t you contact me?”

“Huh?”

“If we were that close, you’d have kept in touch even after moving, right? I get that I lost my memories—but why didn’t you reach out?”

His gaze was fixed intently on her, waiting for an answer, oddly persistent. Yeo Woong unconsciously bit her lower lip.

She’d wanted to contact him—but simply couldn’t. Her father had suddenly passed away after a business failure, and they’d fled their home in a hurry, turning their whole world upside down.

They’d moved into a tiny, shabby house she’d never seen before, and her mother, with no time even to grieve, immediately went out looking for work.

Spending days in an unfamiliar neighborhood with her younger sibling, she’d sometimes felt like the world had ended.

She hadn’t forgotten Seol Ji Oh—but she’d known their worlds had diverged.

“There were… circumstances.”

Yeo Woong looked at Seol Ji Oh. She wasn’t sure if his question came from lingering doubt or mere curiosity, but she answered honestly.

“My family went completely bankrupt. Everything changed so suddenly I never even thought about reaching out. I’m sorry.”

Seol Ji Oh’s dark eyes met hers. In that instant, Yeo Woong realized just how long she’d wanted to say those words.

“I’m sorry for leaving without a word.”

After saying it, she let out a hollow laugh at herself. What was she even telling someone who couldn’t remember any of it?

She looked at him, ready to tell him to just forget it all—but saw Seol Ji Oh staring fixedly at her, his brow furrowed.

Yeo Woong’s eyes widened slightly. When their eyes met, he relaxed his expression and turned to look out at the playground again. Yeo Woong tilted her head in confusion.

What was that look just now? Was it too dark, or did I imagine it?

After a brief silence, Seol Ji Oh suddenly asked,

“What was I like as a kid?”

Caught off guard, Yeo Woong pictured young Seol Ji Oh in her mind.

“Hmm… kind of high-maintenance?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You couldn’t do much on your own—needed someone to take care of you from head to toe.”

“…?”

“You were also stubborn, always insisting on your way and getting angry easily.”

Seol Ji Oh stared at her, looking utterly bewildered—as if he couldn’t believe he’d ever been that kind of child.

“But whenever you realized you were in the wrong, you’d apologize right away. That part was cute.”

Remembering those times, Yeo Woong smiled softly, her eyes crinkling. No matter how badly he’d tease her, if she got even slightly hurt, he’d panic and rush to apologize with the most remorseful look on his face.

Those frightened eyes had been truly adorable.

Yeo Woong turned to look at Seol Ji Oh’s face—and saw his head tilt slightly to the side.

“First time I’ve seen you smile.”

“Huh?”

Was I smiling?

Only then did Yeo Woong notice the corners of her own mouth were turned up.

At that moment, Seol Ji Oh looked at her and murmured softly,

“You’re much prettier when you smile.”