Legendary Superstar

Even after a full day had passed, the noise surrounding the controversy hadn't died down.

More than anything, it only grew louder, but not in the way that Minjae feared.

What once started as malicious rumors and speculation had gradually become something else. People who had never known much about Minjae before were now learning about his past—not through the twisted lies, but through what he shared via his agency.

Flex Entertainment's response had been praised by industry experts and netizens alike. It was called "a masterclass in crisis handling" by several journalists, and the transparent yet respectful tone had won over the general public.

By the time the fourth episode of The Star's Secret aired that evening, the viewership numbers had spiked significantly. The drama, which had already been seeing steady growth, had hit its highest rating yet.

It marked a sudden jump that caught everyone in surprise, especially the production team.

Everyone was ready for the low viewership because odf the recent issue. However, it was the opposite instead.

In the live chat section of streaming platforms and community boards, comments came in fast from the viewers.

"I came here to support Minjae. Let's go!"

"Just started watching because of him. He's so good!"

"After everything he's been through, I want him to succeed even more now."

The entire mood around the drama shifted. What could've been a career-ending moment for Minjae instead became a turning point for the drama.

At home, Minjae sat on the couch with a warm drink in his hand. He was watching the episode on his laptop.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he saw the live comments across the screen. Maybe things wouldn't go back to how they were before.

But still, maybe that wasn't a bad thing a all.

Minjae leaned further back into the couch, the warm cup in his hand slowly losing its heat. The drama continued to show in his laptop's screen, but his eyes turned to the other side.

He was obviously relieved now, but questions started appearing on his mind.

Something didn't sit right with him.

The timing of it all was too perfect. Too convenient. It appeared right when his name was finally rising, when their drama's momentum was at its peak.

It wasn't just a coincidence. He could feel it in his gut.

He clenched his jaw slightly and took a slow sip from his cup, letting the heat soothe the tension building in his chest.

'Who would even do something like that?'

The first name that came to his mind was Sooyun.

He frowned.

That man had always been hostile toward him ever since Chasing Dreams started. They also don't have a good relationship, but Sooyun never openly confronted him, especially not in a crowd.

He thought that it was possible for him to do this.

But then again…

Minjae scoffed softly.

'He's too dumb to pull something like this.'

Even if Sooyun wanted to ruin him, the man barely knew him. Besides, they hadn't even crossed paths recently. It had been weeks since they last interacted. That means Sooyun didn't even have a reason to get involved in his life again.

'No, it wasn't him.' Minjae's brows furrowed deeper.

'Then who?'

The more he thought about it, the more it bothered him. Someone was trying to destroy his image. They didn't want to just hurt him, they wanted to completely erase him in the industry, especially knowing how strict South Korea was when it comes to issues like this.

His thoughts slowly drifted to another name.

The old woman's son.

Minjae's eyes darkened.

He hadn't thought of that man in years. Not after what happened. Not after he left that house quietly, just like they demanded. He didn't take anything, just the money that the old woman gave him.

He didn't fight. He didn't even argue.

He just… left.

So why now?

'Wasn't it enough that I left already?'

His hand tightened around the ceramic cup, the warmth of the cup was now gone.

'Why bring this up now? Why pretend to care now? That woman gave you life, and you couldn't even give her a funeral. And now you're using her name like this?'

It made his stomach turn.

That was what made it unforgivable.

He doesn't even know his name, yet, he can say one thing. He hated him.

Minjae closed his eyes, breathing slowly through his nose.

He would find out who it was. And when he did, he wouldn't just sit and watch.

Minjae exhaled deeply, the thoughts still circling in his head. They were like shadows that refused to leave him.

He wanted answers. He wanted to know who was behind that post—who decided to dig up his past and twist it into something ugly, right when everything was finally going well.

But the more he thought about it, the more his head started to ache.

'Yeah no, maybe not tonight,' he told himself quietly, pressing the heel of his palm gently against his temple.

It was already late. His body was tired. His mind had been running on overdrive for the last two days. He could also feel the exhaustion creeping into his limbs, and there was still more to face tomorrow.

He'd ask the agency to look into it. Maybe he'd asked Haeyoon or Seungho. They were smart. If anyone could trace it, it would be them. They have the agency behind them.

But not now.

He'd message them tomorrow.

For now, he needed to breathe. To just live in the moment and relax even if only for a while.

Minjae looked at his laptop again. The screen still showed the paused scene from episode 4 of The Star's Secret. He hadn't even finished it yet. He was barely halfway through when his thoughts started to wander.

With a small sigh, he grabbed the laptop and shifted a little on the couch, pulling the blanket over his lap. He clicked play and continued watching it again.

The episode resumed and his character onscreen was walking under the soft glow of the city lights, with music playing faintly in the background.

The chat was still lively.

"Minjae's acting here is so good."

"This scene hits harder now that we know what he's been through…"

"He's seriously one of the best rookies out there."

A small smile tugged at Minjae's lips.

"Alright, I'll focus on watching instead."

Minjae watched as the screen faded from black to a sweeping shot of Jeju Island's coastline.

The first half of the drama showed how his character, Taeyung turned his head toward the cafe but didn't go in. He hesitated, stared for a second too long, then kept walking. After that, he continued going around the island, having some alone time for himself.

The moment passed, but it was enough to build curiosity.

The episode continued to explore Taeyung's life on Jeju—his quiet moments, his attempt to lay low, and to feel normal, away from cameras and stages. He met locals. He shopped for groceries. He cooked in silence.

All of it played out with a soft soundtrack behind it, giving the entire atmosphere a melancholic but peaceful feeling.

But then came the shift of the scenes.

Close to the end of the episode, the camera returned to that same café—only this time, it was through the eyes of Yura's character.

In this scene, she was multitasking—balancing a tray of drinks while chatting with a customer and trying to restock a shelf.

And then the inevitable happened.

As Minjae returned to the street after days, he finally decided to enter the café, drawn by the same curiosity he had resisted the day before. The door opened with a soft chime… just as Yura stepped back from the counter, balancing an iced Americano.

The tray slipped on her hands.

The splash was audible, sharp, followed by a collective gasp from the café customers.

And right there, in the middle of the room, the iced coffee hit Minjae right in his chest. It soaked through his gray shirt, dripping down his jacket.

Minjae watched his own expression onscreen shift from stunned to cold.

The crowd in the live chat went wild.

"NOOO she spilled it!!"

"OMG THE TENSION"

"Why is he still hot even when he's pissed 😭"

"Not the coffee first meeting 😭😭😭"

Back in the scene, Yura gasped in horror.

"Oh my god—oh my god—I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Wait, don't move—let me grab tissues—"

Minjae didn't move. He just stared at her. Not angry, not annoyed. Just… frozen.

And when he finally spoke, it was with a low, dry voice.

"Do I look okay to you?"

The delivery was perfect. Sharp, but not

Even Minjae, watching it, could admit that it was a damn good moment.

The chat exploded again.

"THIS LINE DELIVERY ATEEEE"

"He's so in character I forgot he's acting"

"The chemistry is already there and they've just met!!"

"LMAOO I LOVE THIS."

Minjae chuckled quietly.