Chapter 77

“Really well done, Ha Eun. Let’s keep it just like this during the live broadcast.”

Contented voice.

A smiling face.

Lee Geon-yeol, who had lightly patted Ha Eun’s shoulder a couple of times, nodded slightly with the usual bland expression on his face.

It didn’t seem like there were any mistakes in the rehearsal just before, at least from Ha Eun’s perspective.

However, it was crucial that the fact Ha Eun was participating in the live broadcast finals of [SIT ON THE MONEY] didn’t get out to any of the other finalists, except for Hwang Ji-hyuk.

Shortly after, once everything was prepared for the finals, including makeup and stage costume.

“I’ll come to get you when it’s our turn, so don’t wander around~.”

“Okay.”

Ha Eun had to stay hidden in a different waiting room than the one being used by Daulby and Hwang Ji-hyuk.

Of course, her manager Ju Jung-yun was with her.

Thanks to the preview of the [SIT ON THE MONEY] finals playing on the TV mounted on the wall of the waiting room, it wasn’t particularly boring.

What followed was nothing more than ordinary small talk.

Both Ha Eun and Ju Jung-yun shared their personal thoughts about the finals while looking at the TV.

“It’s a shame that your parents couldn’t come.”

“If Mom and Dad were here, I’d feel even more nervous. It’s better that they don’t know about this final at all.”

“Still, you’ll tell them later, right? That you also debuted as a singer?”

“Um… they’ll probably find out on their own without me having to say anything.”

“I think it would be better if you told them directly. If they find out through an article about their daughter’s new side, they would definitely feel upset.”

And so, with a nod.

After the finals of [SIT ON THE MONEY] were over, Ha Eun promised to inform Sung Yoon and Na-yeon that Ha Eun and Pinocchio were the same person.

However, at that moment, Ha Eun’s phone, which had been sitting on the table, vibrated.

Due to the vibration, she paused her conversation with Ju Jung-yun and unlocked her phone.

What Ha Eun found was a notification that Yu Sung-jae had uploaded a new post on his SNS.

And almost simultaneously, a memory came rushing back to Ha Eun.

“Ha Eun, since your heart isn’t visible, I’ll stick your photo on a big teddy bear and sit it in a chair.”

“…That’s a joke, right?”

“No, I’m serious. I’m going to post a proof shot on SNS~.”

That was the last conversation Ha Eun had with Yu Sung-jae.

“…No way.”

In the end, Ha Eun quickly accessed Yu Sung-jae’s SNS and clicked on the most recently uploaded post.

Less than a second later, her phone screen was filled with an enormous teddy bear.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with the teddy bear itself.

The problem was the photo attached to its fluffy face.

“Hey? Isn’t that your photo stuck on the teddy bear’s face, Ha Eun?”

“…Yeah. I think it is my photo.”

It seemed that what Yu Sung-jae had said in the past had surely turned into action.

That was why Ha Eun called Da-yeon, who was also present watching the beginning of [The Moonlight Parting the Clouds].

“Hello?”

“Hey, Da-yeon. I need a favor—”

Then, Ha Eun explained to Da-yeon what Yu Sung-jae had done.

Immediately, she requested to go over to Yu Sung-jae and take his teddy bear away from him.

“If he’s reluctant to give the bear, tell Sung-jae ‘I might actually bite him next time.’”

“Next time, you’ll really bite him? What does that mean?”

“You’ll understand what I mean when I say it. I need your help, Da-yeon.”

“Okay… got it. Hang up.”

About 10 minutes later, a photo of the teddy bear held in Da-yeon’s hands was sent.

For some reason, Ha Eun’s photo was still attached, but for now, she successfully had Yu Sung-jae’s teddy bear in her hands.

[Min Da-yeon] – (Selfie with the teddy bear)

[Min Da-yeon] – Of course it’s just me, right?

[Lee Ha-eun] – Yeah. Thank you.

[Lee Ha-eun] – (Otter emoji saying thank you)

She sent a message to Da-yeon expressing her gratitude.

Shortly after, Ju Jung-yun, who had been watching Ha Eun, let out a soft chuckle.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I don’t know, it’s just… cute.”

“The teddy bear?”

“You can think of it as the teddy bear~.”

With a hint of playful mischief in her eyes and a smile that looked somehow pleased.

Yet, she didn’t dig deeper into why Ju Jung-yun was laughing.

Then, with a couple of knocks, Lee Jun appeared, indicating that it was finally Hwang Ji-hyuk’s turn.

“Let’s go, Pinocchio. Let’s give them a real surprise.”

“…Okay.”

This meant it was time for Pinocchio to take the stage.

“Unnie, I’m off.”

“Good luck~.”

And so, with a thud, the door of the waiting room where Ha Eun and Lee Jun had just left closed completely.

This was shortly followed by Ju Jung-yun, who remained alone in the waiting room, smiling again.

‘Ha Eun has changed a lot.’

After all, Ju Jung-yun had been with Ha Eun for a long twelve years.

She knew better than anyone that the current Ha Eun was vastly different from the old one.

The old Ha Eun wouldn’t have been affected by someone’s prank like Yu Sung-jae’s teddy bear.

No, even if she had been affected, she wouldn’t have shown it outwardly.

‘Honestly, back then she was too mature for her age.’

In Ju Jung-yun’s memory, the young Ha Eun was a girl who hardly expressed emotions except when acting in front of the camera.

Her range of emotional expression was much narrower than that of normal children.

In a good way, she was already sufficiently mature.

In a bad way, she seemed like an old soul.

But as time flowed, and after the tumultuous teenage years came to an end.

More precisely, after she passed that secretive audition where both singing and dancing skills were judged.

‘So, Ha Eun. Just tell me honestly. Did you really get a boyfriend?’

‘No, I told you. Why does everyone keep asking me that…’

‘It’s because you keep avoiding my gaze. Your ears are super red.’

‘It’s because I’m cold.’

‘But it’s still summer?’

‘…It’s because of the air conditioning.’

‘You’re just making excuses.’

In addition to acting in front of the camera, Ha Eun’s emotions began to show at times.

She started to reveal her genuine feelings beyond that of the characters in the script.

Of course, she still didn’t know the true nature of that secret audition she passed.

The contract procedures after passing the audition were all taken care of by Luna Entertainment’s legal team.

However, Ju Jung-yun was certain that Ha Eun had changed since passing that audition.

‘…It’s nice to see.’

It was easy to discern that the expression on Ha Eun’s face displayed on the TV in the waiting room was genuine and not acting.

The emotions underlying it were also what Ha Eun was actually feeling.

On the finals stage, Ha Eun looked more serious than ever but also seemed more joyful than ever.

There wasn’t a trace of nervousness from the numerous cheers directed at her.

***

“Before we start, let’s put our hands together and shout out a cheer.”

Familiar voice.

Unfamiliar words.

Unfamiliar situation.

But, now that they had come so far, there was no turning back.

Reluctantly, Ha Eun extended her hands forward and lifted them in time with Lee Geon-yeol’s call.

The attention shifted to the dimly lit stage right after that.

The footsteps of Hwang Ji-hyuk, which started moving, made it clear that his final stage was about to begin.

It marked the debut stage of Pinocchio.

To say she wasn’t nervous would be a lie.

It was just that she had to give her all once again for that one reason.

“Ji-hyuk.”

“Yes?”

“Promise me you’ll win.”

“…Yes!”

Even until she completely said goodbye to Hwang Ji-hyuk.

And shortly after, when the final song “EYE” started playing through the in-ear monitors.

Ha Eun only thought about the part she was supposed to sing.

In any case, all Ha Eun needed to do on this final stage of [SIT ON THE MONEY] was sing.

She didn’t think much about anything else, as it wouldn’t help her now.

Right now, she had to focus solely on finishing the final stage well.

After that, Hwang Ji-hyuk entered the stage first, and his rap began smoothly.

Lee Jun and Lee Geon-yeol also headed towards the left and right lifts of the stage, respectively.

Ha Eun was left behind alone at the back of the finals stage.

“Stage door will open in 5 seconds. 5, 4, 3—”

At the staff’s signal, she finally raised her handheld microphone.

The huge door slowly began to open.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Pinocchio.”

With that introduction by Hwang Ji-hyuk, who had just finished his part.

Ha Eun finally opened her long-quieted mouth.

“The stars in the night sky remain the same, but my gaze has fallen below─♪”

She began to pour Pinocchio’s voice into the microphone.

“What I was looking at was the same dark color. But it wasn’t the sky anymore─♪”

She was now faced with countless gazes.

She could faintly hear the murmurs starting to spread among the audience.

Yet, because of the dazzling backlight from the stage lights and the white baseball cap that covered most of her face.

She still couldn’t tell who Pinocchio was.

All the audience could see was a black silhouette.

They could barely tell it was a youthful figure.

However, because her voice and name were familiar.

Even after the first featuring part ended, the gazes towards Ha Eun didn’t wane.

Then, after a moment, when Hwang Ji-hyuk’s rap part filled the venue once again.

As time went by, the second featuring part finally began.

– Thud.

A change occurred as slow footfalls gradually made their way to the center of the stage.

As the hat fell away, it revealed the appearance beneath it.

In a fleeting moment, a silence fell upon what was no longer a stranger.

With her mind filled with questions, she found it hard to part her lips.

Skeptical of the scene they were witnessing.

Afterward, they continued to watch and watch.

Until the confusing sight turned into a clear conviction.

When the moment came that the two figures in their minds were concluded to be the same person.

“They said it’s all because of me. all because of me───♪”

With the high notes forcefully delivered through a small handheld microphone, cheers erupted from the crowd.

Among those soaring cheers, only Heo Ju-eun’s typing sound on her laptop timidly made its presence known.

It was a scoop.

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