Chapter 5 : The Script for a Scam

“Let’s set up the basic story before we release the article.”

“Does Kang Ijeong have any more schedules today?”

“Just the radio show tonight. About five hours left.”

In the spacious conference room, the four of them put their heads together to craft the script for the scam.

“You broke up yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Then we can’t say you dated for long.”

Manager Juseok lightly bit his pen, falling deep into thought.

“Since he cheated, if he has any conscience, he’ll keep quiet.”

“Ah…”

Manager Juseok was caught off guard by the blunt statement and glanced at Yihyun.

It was Jaeryeon who broke the sudden silence.

“But you never know with people. Let’s just make it that Kang Ijeong, who secretly liked Yihyun, confessed abruptly after the two broke up.”

“What kind of meeting should we set?”

“A deep kiss on the first day of dating. Quite bold.”

“Hey.”

Ijeong, who had been chiming in as if it were someone else’s story, got a swift smack on the head from Jaeryeon.

Yihyun added details to the story with cold, calculated eyes.

“Then report it as a scene where I comforted him while he was crying after agreeing to date.”

“But are you really okay with this? He’s a celebrity, so articles come out about what he ate for breakfast and it’s fine, but you…”

The manager looked at Yihyun with belated concern.

But Yihyun didn’t care.

“Everyone who needs to know already knows, and I don’t think a single one of my acquaintances has a tight lip. It’s only a matter of time before my personal info spreads, so it’s better to control the narrative myself.”

Ijeong looked slightly surprised at Yihyun’s calm words.

“It’s a bit silly to ask now, but are you really sure about this?”

“There’s someone I want to see it. Why, can’t you handle it?”

“Of course I can.”

Ijeong shrugged at Yihyun’s sharp voice.

‘Better bold than clueless,’ Ijeong thought as he asked a practical question.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t ask the most important thing. How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight. Office worker. I have a younger sister in middle school, no parents. I roughly saw your info on the way here. You’re twenty-seven and studied abroad in the US.”

Yihyun recited his background smoothly.

“Even a random person on the street knows that, not just my fans. You still have a lot to study, hyung.”

‘How much have you seen to act so close?’

Yihyun stared at Ijeong, who had immediately started calling him hyung the moment he heard his age.

Well, they were supposed to act like lovers anyway, so it was weird to complain about this.

“I’ll study hard over the weekend. Okay?”

“You two handle studying each other. For now, let’s finalize the stance for the article.”

Jaeryeon interrupted the useless banter.

“For now, since Yihyun is a civilian and you haven’t been dating long, we’ll take a cautious stance.”

“As Yihyun said, we can’t completely block the spread of personal info, so it might be good to naturally leak dating scenes later.”

Juseok and Jaeryeon started brainstorming plans in earnest.

“You, write the statement for the fan cafe quickly. Get it approved and post it.”

“Yes.”

Jaeryeon scolded Ijeong, who simply shrugged and pulled out a pen to scribble something down.

‘Then what should I do?’

Yihyun looked at Ijeong.

“What should I do now?”

“Um… start by studying up on me? My age or study abroad experience are things anyone can answer if they ask a passerby.”

Ijeong stared at Yihyun’s face and spoke.

“Oh, before that, should we exchange numbers?”

“Sure, whatever.”

Yihyun handed his phone to Ijeong.

Ijeong entered his eleven-digit number into Yihyun’s phone and stared at the screen, deep in thought.

“What should I save the name as?”

“Does it matter?”

“You know how good telephoto camera lenses are these days. If you save it coldly as just ‘Kang Ijeong,’ everyone will know we’re not close.”

Ijeong grinned down at Yihyun, then typed a few times as if he had a brilliant idea before handing the phone back.

[Jeongie ♡]

“This should be enough to avoid suspicion.”

Ijeong winked.

Yihyun had always thought celebrities were a completely different species from ordinary people, but this sheer calmness was surprising.

He stared at Ijeong with an awkward expression and took the phone.

[♩♪]

“That call just now was my number. Save it however you want. Only contact me when necessary.”

“You said you want to spread it to people? Then shouldn’t we call often?”

That was true. He had a point.

“Then let’s contact each other often.”

“I think the setting is fine now. So shall we talk about the contract?”

Jaeryeon, who had been talking with Juseok for a while, looked over at Ijeong and Yihyun.

“It’s not that I don’t trust Yihyun, but it’s always better to have things in writing.”

Jaeryeon opened his laptop.

“I think it’s best to state all demands here and sign a solid contract. What do you think?”

“There’s no chance it will be leaked outside?”

“If that happens, we’re the ones who lose more. Don’t worry about that.”

Juseok waved his hand dismissively.

“First, as I said earlier, the minimum contract period is three months. After that, depending on Yihyun’s wishes, we’ll renew on a monthly basis.”

Jaeryeon typed rapidly as he spoke.

“You’ll receive two million won per month, plus an additional one million won each time Yihyun’s private life makes a big headline. Provided both sides don’t reveal the contract anywhere.”

“I won’t say a word.”

Yihyun gripped his phone tightly.

At this point, money wasn’t the issue.

He just wanted to thoroughly flatten Han Gyujin’s nose. He didn’t care about anything else.

“Those are the basic terms… Now let’s talk details. It’ll be tiring if we disagree later.”

Jaeryeon said without taking his eyes off the screen, organizing the contract framework.

These were necessary clauses for the contract, so Yihyun thought for a moment.

“I don’t care if my info spreads, but please thoroughly protect my family’s info.”

“I’ll do my best. Any other demands?”

“During the contract period, not just in front of cameras, but please act as if you’re really my lover. In front of my acquaintances and family too.”

How angry would Yeseo be when she found out?

He hadn’t even told her about being dumped by Gyujin yet. If he talked about a contract relationship, she would definitely throw a fit.

“That’s only natural. There’s nothing good about being found out.”

“Then does Kang Ijeong have any demands?”

Yihyun glanced at Ijeong.

“Demands… Hmm. At least during this contract, don’t date anyone else. And…”

“And?”

Jaeryeon, who had been typing along with their conversation, asked back.

Ijeong smiled brightly, almost radiantly.

“Don’t fall for me. Or if you do, never show it. Those two should be fine.”

“Hah, you’re pretty confident.”

Yihyun let out a hollow laugh.

Of course, Ijeong had a handsome face everyone could see, was a conglomerate’s grandson, and even possessed the traits of a superior alpha.

But Yihyun had just been badly burned by someone exactly like that.

He wasn’t crazy enough to make the same mistake twice.

Yihyun shook his head.

“That’s never going to happen, so don’t worry.”

“I’ll finalize the contract by tomorrow. Are you free tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s get a lawyer to notarize it tomorrow. You can go home for today. You must have a lot to explain to your acquaintances.”

Jaeryeon closed his laptop.

“Ah, Yihyun. This is a rough draft of how you two met. Ijeong, I took a picture, so I’ll show you later. Memorize it and say this if anyone asks.”

Yihyun took the paper Juseok handed him.

It contained the fateful meeting between Ijeong and Yihyun and how they fell for each other, written painstakingly by Juseok.

“Okay.”

“I’ll walk you to the back door.”

When Yihyun stood up, Ijeong also stood up to see him off.

“That’s not necessary.”

“We’re lovers from today, aren’t we? I can’t take you home, but I should at least see you off to the taxi.”

Ijeong brushed Yihyun’s hair as if treating a real lover.

A national actor, indeed. His immersion was amazing.

Yihyun nodded.

“Do as you please.”

“I’ll contact you again before it gets late. Take care.”

Yihyun and Ijeong left the conference room with Juseok’s farewell.

In the elevator going down to the basement, Yihyun spoke quietly.

“Let me say it again. I’m not doing this lightly. So you need to cooperate properly.”

“I’m the one who proposed this. Anyone would think you asked me out.”

Until he saw Gyujin’s message, Yihyun had planned to refuse Ijeong’s offer without hesitation.

They say the most useless worry is worrying about a celebrity. Yihyun hadn’t cared what happened to Ijeong’s image.

But from the moment he saw Gyujin’s message, Yihyun had been half out of his mind with anger and revenge.

He wanted to show Gyujin that he was perfectly fine, even by doing something this absurd.

“Ah, crap.”

Yihyun bit his lip and looked at the floor, then raised his head at Ijeong’s voice.

The back door, which had been nearly empty when they came in, was now packed with reporters.

“We should go back inside…”

“Hey, it’s Kang Ijeong!”

Just as Ijeong tried to pull Yihyun back into the building, a reporter’s shout drew everyone’s attention to them.

Click, click, click.

“Kang Ijeong! Is the person next to you your lover?”

“Your agency hasn’t released any statement yet. Is the dating rumor true?”

“Kang Ijeong!”

Reporters rushed toward them, cameras and microphones thrust forward, snapping pictures relentlessly.

‘Even with a shortage of news, they’re attacking a non-celebrity as if he were a criminal.’

Ijeong sighed inwardly and put on a practiced business smile.

“The official statement from my agency will come out soon. This person…”

Just then, Yihyun, who had been blankly staring at the camera flashes, grabbed Ijeong’s sleeve and hid behind his back.

“Honey.”

It was a small murmur, but not quiet enough to go unheard by the reporters pressing microphones close to Ijeong’s face.

Ijeong was a bit flustered, but Yihyun just looked up at him, speaking in a slightly frightened voice.

“I’m a little scared…”

“Hah.”

‘This guy is really something else.’

Ijeong let out a hollow laugh, completely forgetting that the camera was right in front of him.

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