Being chosen as an assistant host for a guest on the new show, The Singer-Songwriter, wasn't just a job for Eun-ae. It was her single, only shot. The KBS station had bet everything on this show, pouring money into it to beat the rival network's smash hit, Masked Singer. The bosses were desperate for those high viewer numbers.
Eun-ae knew she had to grab this chance fast. She'd been stuck as a rookie intern for almost two long years, unable to land a permanent spot on any variety show. This assignment was her final hope for moving up the ladder. Her simple task: meet the assigned guest at the entrance with a cameraman to film their arrival. But the lobby was a battlefield, packed with other assistant hosts fiercely competing for the remaining stars.
Eun-ae kept her eyes glued to the entrance, while reviewing the guest list. She desperately hoped to snatch one of the famous, veteran singer-songwriters. The golden ticket everyone wanted was the legendary Song Queen Kim Junyeong. But if there was a most wanted guest, there was also the one no one wanted to touch: Lee Yuri.
The moment an overly striking girl walked in, Eun-ae reflexively stood up. She was the first person to see the girl and was immediately mesmerized. Working in this industry and practically living at the station, Eun-ae had met countless beauties and was frankly no longer impressed; she had built up an immunity. Yet, the girl standing there possessed a world-stopping beauty and an air of untouchable, arrogant perfection that made every other beautiful person in the room look dim. This was coupled with a noticeable, yet casual clothing style hinting at high fashion taste.
Eun-ae did not expect that the star she was hurrying toward—before anyone else could react—was the very person she absolutely wanted to avoid.
The girl looked too young to be a guest, so Eun-ae thought she must be a newcomer. Still, Eun-ae quickly approached her and asked if she was one of the guests for The Singer-Songwriter, just for an excuse to talk to her and film her for a possible highlight reel. But the moment the girl took off her sunglasses, those impossibly beautiful emerald green eyes were revealed. They belonged to only one Korean star in the entire industry: Lee Yuri.
The very girl at the center of the huge, ongoing scandal. The exact presence Eun-ae had wanted to avoid.
'She's doomed,' Eun-ae thought, sinking into depression. She took a moment to compose herself, while seeing in her peripheral view the other assistant hosts backing away. There was nothing she could do now but continue with her task and be tied to Yuri for the entire show.
'You and your visual obsession, Eun-ae,' she scolded herself.
"Hello, Ms. Yuri. I'm your assistant host, Choi Eun-ae. Welcome to the show. You can just call me Eun-ae," Eun-ae introduced herself, accepting her fate while quietly observing the controversial artist.
"Hello, Eun-ae Unni, I'm Lee Yuri," Yuri greeted back.
The Singer-Songwriter features assistant hosts to act as atmosphere makers for the singers. The show invites top veterans and star who sometimes need help creating excitement and highlights, which the hosts provide. All the assistant hosts are KBS hosts who can also use the show to boost their own careers.
Eun-ae was still brooding over her impulsiveness while reviewing the little information she had about Yuri. She didn't know if all the online rumors—like the claims about plastic surgery—were true, but she firmly believed there was usually some truth behind every major rumor.
'The selfies she posts online aren't retouched. She looks even better in real life. Is this face something that could truly be achieved with plastic surgery?' Eun-ae wondered. Anyone in the industry knew that celebrity photos online were heavily edited and that their real faces wouldn't look as good.
"You've waited for a long time, Eun-ae Unni," Yuri said, catching Eun-ae's attention, flashing a bright smile as she nodded toward the cameraman.
Eun-ae took a deep breath to stop herself from swooning over being called Unni. This jerk's smile was devastatingly beautiful. Her looks perfectly matched her confident style. Eun-ae's resistance level kept dropping: -1, -1, -1.
"No, no, not at all! By the way, let's meet the producer first. We're still waiting for a few others to arrive. What do you think of that arrangement, Ms. Yuri?" Eun-ae asked, trying to regain her professional footing.
"Sure thing! Also, you can just call me Yuri, Eun-ae Unni," Yuri replied, blinking her eyes innocently.
Eun-ae's grip suddenly tightened. The paper documents she had carefully prepared became crumpled in her hands, which she didn't notice as she quickly led the way for Yuri.
The building was filled with TV crews and staff, all completely used to celebrities visiting. Yet, Yuri still managed to garner attention, causing heads to turn and whispers to follow her all the way. Eun-ae, struggling to maintain her composure, led the way toward the office of the program producer, Park Si-woo. Park Si-woo, a strong-willed, 45-year-old middle-aged man, was currently in a heated argument with a brand sponsor, so there was no time to meet them.
Instead, Eun-ae changed course. "We'll head straight to the main meeting room," she instructed the cameraman.
They took an elevator up to one of the large meeting rooms. On the way, Eun-ae quickly filled Yuri in on some important details, all while the cameraman diligently filmed every step.
"Will the whole meeting be filmed?" Yuri asked curiously, adjusting the strap of her small bag.
"Yes," Eun-ae replied.
"The program director wants to capture every moment, from the first greetings to the planning session. It's meant to show the singers' real personalities and create early highlights for the broadcast."
"Ah, I see. So even the parts where someone trips over the truth are fair game," Yuri mused, a small, knowing smirk touching her lips.
Eun-ae was instantly stunned by the cold, swift change in Yuri's attitude. The playful look and sharp comment made the pressure of being responsible for the controversial guest feel heavy.
Swallowing hard, Eun-ae replied, "That's right, which is why you need to remember everything I told you about—"
"Oh, thank you, Unni!" Yuri cut in with a bright, innocent smile, tilting her head sweetly.
"I'll make sure to remember them all!"
The contrast was jarring: one second, a sharp-witted critic; the next, a sweet, obedient starlet.
Eun-ae's eye twitched. As soon as the elevator doors hissed open, Yuri moved forward with a natural, fluid grace, making the walk down the hallway look like her own personal runway.
The cameraman and Eun-ae momentarily froze, exchanging a bewildered glance.
'What was that?' A cold shiver ran down their spines.
Yuri, already several steps ahead, stopped and turned around when she noticed no one was following her.
"Aren't you coming?" Yuri asked, her face a mask of genuine confusion.
Eun-ae had no choice but to rush to match Yuri's pace, her internal thoughts screaming while her outward face stayed professional. The cameraman struggled to keep the controversial star in frame, creating a frantic scene around Yuri's perfectly composed figure.