“But I don’t think Elder Sister Eun Seo likes me.”

“Why?”

“I’m just an old man. Elder Sister is six years younger than me……”

Sun Ah blinked. Even when she looked at him wondering if he was joking, Seung Joo seemed serious.

“Why are you an old man?”

“I’m already thirty-three years old. My face looks like an old man’s too……”

Sun Ah was shocked. Is he serious?

“Go stand at the amusement park entrance all day. If you can find just one old man who looks like you, I’ll give you a prize.”

“Really? Am I okay?”

Seung Joo, who had briefly lit up, deflated again.

“But Elder Sister Eun Seo only thinks of me as a younger brother.”

“That’s because she’s too by-the-book, that Eun Seo.”

Sun Ah knew all too well what kind of person Eun Seo was. She’s the type who would never cross the street on a red light even if not a single car passed by all day. Isn’t she treating a perfectly normal 33-year-old man as a younger brother just because his mind is said to be eighteen?

“So she probably doesn’t even think of you as a man.”

“Then what should I do?”

“You have to make her see you as a man.”

Sun Ah gestured. As Seung Joo brought his face closer, Sun Ah whispered in his ear.

“……Use your strengths.”

*

Around sunset, Seung Joo and Sun Ah left the amusement park. Although it wasn’t a date, it was an enjoyable day in its own way. Sun Ah took countless selfies with Seung Joo, determined that if not today, there would be no next time, and Seung Joo happily played along.

After taking one last photo together in front of the amusement park, Seung Joo said,

“I’ll take you home, Elder Sister.”

“No, I brought my car. It’s fine, go home and have dinner with Eun Seo. You’ll skip meals again if you’re alone.”

At the mention of Eun Seo, Seung Joo didn’t even ask twice.

“Today was fun. I’ll bring pizza and come visit next weekend!”

“Get home safely, Elder Sister!”

As soon as she turned around after waving goodbye, a sigh escaped. Sun Ah began trudging towards the parking lot.

[Why are you sorry to me? I’m your fan, not wanting to date you.]

What she had said to Seung Joo earlier wasn’t entirely a lie. Fan love and romantic love are clearly different after all.

Of course, it’s not that she didn’t want to try her best, in fact she came out today with that intention, but even though it turned out futile, she didn’t particularly feel like she had been rejected.

Rather than rejection, it was more like the feeling a fan gets when hearing news of their favorite idol dating. You pretend to congratulate them saying ‘They’re human too, of course they should date’, but you can’t help feeling empty inside.

If it were an idol, you’d just hurt for a while and then continue being a fan, but this case was different. You can’t be a fan of your best friend’s boyfriend, can you?

Well, for now it’s just Seung Joo’s one-sided love, but in Sun Ah’s opinion, there couldn’t be a woman on Earth who would dislike Kwon Seung Joo if he liked her. So it’s only a matter of time before they start dating.

And so, Sun Ah was forced to retire as a fan after six long years.

‘I guess it’s fortunate that I don’t have any merchandise to get rid of….’

She tried to comfort herself, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of a huge hole in her heart. That’s how it is for someone born with the DNA of a fanatic. You can’t find the strength to live without someone to pour your passion and affection into.

As she walked dejectedly, a video playing on an advertising billboard near the parking lot caught her eye.

− National Idol Project, ‘Idol Project 10’!

Looks like that’s the new survival program they said was starting.

As Sun Ah was thinking that absent-mindedly, a young man with a fair face smiled brightly and waved both hands at the screen.

− Hello, National Managers! I’m Chris, twenty-one years old, from America!

A dazzling smile.

Chocolate-colored eyes sparkling as if sprinkled with stardust.

Brown hair reminiscent of a large retriever.

At that moment, Sun Ah’s heart made a thunderous sound.

Kuaaang!

It was the sound announcing it had found a new owner.

*

Seung Joo returned home only after the sun had set and night had fallen.

“Did you have a good time?”

“Yes. It was fun. Elder Sister, what about dinner?”

“I ate. You must be tired, wash up and rest early.”

Seung Joo entered the shower and looked at himself in the mirror after taking off his clothes. Honestly, he still didn’t like his face that looked like an old man’s, and his body was burdensome too. He wished he could be slimmer, but his shoulders were too broad, his torso itself was big, and the muscles sticking out here and there seemed excessive too…

But it seemed Elder Sister Sun Ah didn’t think so.

[Use your strengths.] [What are my strengths?] [Your face and body. But in this case, it’s best to lead with your body first.]

Sun Ah had guaranteed.

[Even if she dislikes it, she’ll end up seeing you as a man.]

After showering, Seung Joo only put on clothes on his lower half. Taking a deep breath first, he went out with his upper body bare and climbed onto the wooden porch.

Just then, Eun Seo, who was sitting on the porch watching TV, flinched when she saw Seung Joo. Pretending not to notice, Seung Joo wiped his wet hair with a towel while waiting for Eun Seo’s reaction.

‘Eek! W-what are you doing!’

Imagining Eun Seo’s face turning bright red, not knowing what to do.

However, what came flying was a back smack.

Smack!

His back was on fire.

“……!”

As he was in too much pain to even scream, Eun Seo glared at him.

“Are you crazy about catching a cold? Where do you think you are, taking your clothes off?”

Despite seeing Seung Joo’s naked body, Eun Seo scolded him without showing the slightest sign of embarrassment, staring straight at him.

“Hurry up and put some clothes on.”

Rather, it was Seung Joo who turned red with embarrassment.

*

“Hurry up and put some clothes on.”

After glaring and snapping at him, Eun Seo entered her room and immediately covered her face, leaning against the door.

‘W-what did I just see?’

Thump, thump, thump. Her heart was beating as if it would jump out of her mouth.

Eun Seo was a lifelong single who had never even held a man’s hand before. Although it was only the upper body, for such an Eun Seo, the shock of seeing a man’s naked body right in front of her was tremendous.

How could a human body look so sculptured? The alluring pectorals, the firm abs, and the clearly defined internal obliques due to his raised arms…

All things that didn’t exist on her own body. Even in the midst of her surprise and bewilderment at seeing something she shouldn’t have, she just couldn’t take her eyes off.

[Ma’am, you have feelings for that person, don’t you.]

Na Eun’s voice came to mind, and she shook her head vigorously to shake it off.

Eun Seo tried hard to brainwash herself.

He’s just a cute younger brother.

His body may be like that, but his mind is still that of a young child!

But her head and heart were different. Even after a long time, the trembling wouldn’t subside, so Eun Seo eventually buried herself under the blanket.

*

The next day when Eun Seo arrived at work, she asked Sun Ah.

“Did you have fun yesterday?”

“Yeah.”

Sun Ah only answered that much. Eun Seo wanted to ask how the atmosphere was with Seung Joo and if it seemed like things would work out, but somehow the words wouldn’t come out. As she was hesitating, Sun Ah suddenly said,

“Can I ask you for one favor, Eun Seo?”

“What is it?”

“Just dial #0110 on your phone and send a text with just three letters ‘Chris’.”

Although she didn’t know what it was about, Eun Seo followed the instructions anyway.

“What is this?”

“It’s an idol debut survival program. Chris is the trainee I’m supporting. It’s only the first round of voting, so I’ll ask a few more times in the future!”

Sun Ah even winked, which surprised Eun Seo.

“What? Then what about Seung Joo?”

Until now, Sun Ah had been single-mindedly devoted to Kwon Seung Joo. Even in college, when her friends went to public broadcasts, she boasted about going to shareholders’ meetings, and when her friends were bulk-buying albums, she bragged about buying stocks.

“I guess stars are most beautiful when admired from afar. How should I put it, when I actually got close, I didn’t feel excited anymore? So I switched.”

Sun Ah’s face showed not a trace of lingering attachment as she said this. It seems the date must have ended in failure.

“I see……”

Realizing that she felt somewhat relieved, Eun Seo was startled again. Why am I?

“I’m sorry you helped for nothing. But I’ll still bring some delicious food and come visit sometimes. I’ll keep sending study materials for Seung Joo too.”

“Thanks, Sun Ah.”

Just then, the HR team leader entered the office. As Sun Ah and Eun Seo quickly sat down at their desks, a tall young man was following behind the HR team leader.

“Who’s that handsome guy?”

“I don’t know?”

As Eun Seo and Sun Ah whispered to each other, the HR team leader spoke.

“Today we have a new member joining the Planning Team. This is Kwon Seung Hyun. His position is entry-level……”

Eun Seo wondered. There was no job posting, so why suddenly a new hire? Is he experienced?

The person being introduced smiled and greeted them.

“I’m Kwon Seung Hyun. Please take care of me.”

His name is similar to Kwon Seung Joo’s, Eun Seo thought absently before startling.

‘Could it be?’

Glancing at the seat next to her, Sun Ah’s face was already hardened. Her expression said it all.

‘So that’s the son born to the new wife?’

Even half-brothers share half their blood. Eun Seo tried to find similarities between Seung Hyun’s face and Seung Joo’s, but it wasn’t easy. They were different types of handsome to begin with. While Seung Joo had a sharp jawline, Seung Hyun’s face was oval like an egg. She remembered the chairman’s wife had exactly that face shape.

As the HR team leader finished the introduction, the Planning team leader said,

“Well, Seung Hyun will need to learn the basics of the work first. Yoon Eun Seo?”

“Yes?”

Eun Seo, whose name was suddenly called, responded without knowing why.

“For the next month or two, please guide Seung Hyun. Sun Ah, you move your seat over there, and Seung Hyun can sit next to Eun Seo.”

Eun Seo couldn’t believe her ears.

You want me to be the mentor for the chairman’s second son?

As Eun Seo was frozen stiff, Kwon Seung Hyun approached her, smiled, and bowed his head.

“I look forward to working with you, Senior.”