Ch. 88 - I’m in first place! (Not really)

Yoo Seo-Eun doubted her own eyes.

The face of the magical girl idol reflected on her smartphone screen was too familiar.

Her hair color and length were different, but her facial features were unmistakable. This was definitely the same woman who had dinner with Shin Hye-Rim a few days ago.

The same woman who had bragged about Shin Hye-Rim’s skin texture right in front of her, smugly showing off.

"Te—Team Leader, are you close with this person?"

"Hm? Yeah, we’re pretty close."

"Not just as coworkers, but you meet up privately, eat together, and even go to saunas together?"

"Uh… We haven’t been to a sauna, but the rest, yeah."

"......"

At that moment, Yoo Seo-Eun was convinced.

Alice. The world’s top idol and intergalactic superstar—she was her rival.

She wasn’t sure if Shin Hye-Rim liked Alice, but Alice definitely liked Shin Hye-Rim. No, she loved her.

The eyes she had seen that night had told her as much.

‘This person is mine. Don’t even think about touching her.’

How could she not recognize that look? After all, she felt the same way about Shin Hye-Rim.

"Why do you look like that? Seo-Eun, do you know Alice?"

Lee So-Toung asked, noticing Yoo Seo-Eun’s suddenly serious expression.

"...Yes. Apparently, I do."

"Right? I knew it. There’s no way anyone wouldn’t know Alice! So, what do you think? Are you a fan now?"

"No."

Yoo Seo-Eun answered coldly.

"I think I’ve become a hater."

"...Huh?"

***

The filming for Team 5 of the Awakened Crime Division was eventually confirmed.

Although Yoo Seo-Eun, who had initially agreed, now seemed somewhat hesitant, she never outright refused.

A few days later, I received a text from the broadcasting station’s PD on my phone.

[Hello, Ms. Shin Hye-Rim. Thank you very much for agreeing to the filming. If you have time this weekend...]

The message was an invitation to meet before filming to discuss how the program would be structured—what aspects to highlight, how long the shoot would last, and so on.

The PD also mentioned that if I was available, Alice would also be free that weekend, so we could meet and talk in advance.

From the PD’s perspective, they didn’t know when Alice’s schedule might change, so they wanted to make the most of this opportunity.

Since I was free on the weekend anyway, I replied that I was available anytime.

I feel like I’ve been running into Alice quite often lately. It’s interesting how fate keeps bringing us together.

***

"Nice."

When Alice heard that there was a meeting between Shin Hye-Rim and the PD scheduled for the weekend, she clenched her fist in excitement.

"Are you that happy about meeting Shin Hye-Rim?"

"Of course! Filming a show with my favorite person? I can’t miss this opportunity!"

"Haha… You’ve really gotten close to her, huh?"

Alice’s manager shuddered every time Shin Hye-rim’s name was mentioned.

Truthfully, he was still terrified of her.

When the offer for Alice to film with Shin Hye-Rim came in, he nearly fainted.

He thought Alice might refuse. But, of course…

‘Really?! With Ms. Hye-Rim?! I’ll do it! Absolutely, 100% I’m in!’

Alice had enthusiastically agreed, her eyes sparkling.

At some point, Alice gradually became closer to Shin Hye-rim, and now, she considered her the most important friend in the world.

To Shin Hye-Rim, Alice might just be a regular friend, but to Alice, Shin Hye-Rim was almost irreplaceable.

At least, that’s how it seemed to her manager.

"The filming is meant to promote the Awakened Crime Division, right?"

"Yeah. Shin Hye-rim’s popularity has skyrocketed recently, so the broadcasting station probably smelled the ratings potential."

"They made a great choice. With our Hye-Rim on screen, high ratings are guaranteed."

Alice inwardly thanked the producers for this project.

Not only would she get to be on the same show as Shin Hye-rim, but they would also be co-models for the promotion. This was fate.

‘Hye-rim, this time, I won’t let it end so vaguely like last time.’

She recalled their recent dinner together.

She had planned to draw on Shin Hye-rim’s stomach while she slept, but that tattoo had caught her off guard.

This time, she would make sure nothing interrupted her plan.

After filming, she would suggest a dinner under the guise of a wrap-up party.

Preferably on a Friday or weekend evening—so they could stay out late together.

‘Last time, we met on a weekday, so my original plan was ruined.’

Truthfully, Alice had even considered taking an intoxicated Shin Hye-rim to a motel.

She knew it was a sneaky, underhanded thing to do. But whenever she thought about other women being around Shin Hye-Rim, she just couldn’t stop herself.

‘The biggest threat is definitely Ha-Yeon.’

Jung Ha-Yeon.

She was closer to Shin Hye-Rim than anyone, and Shin Hye-Rim clearly saw her as special.

Alice knew this. And that’s why she couldn’t afford to waste time.

‘Love is something you have to fight for. Ha-Yeon, I’ll make my move first.’

***

The weekend arrived, and I arrived at the café where I was supposed to meet the PD.

As I entered and looked around, someone approached and tapped my shoulder.

"Ah, hello! Are you Shin Hye-Rim?"

A woman spoke, and I immediately knew this was the person I was supposed to meet.

Since the PD was a man, this must be the writer who was accompanying him.

Lowering my sunglasses slightly, I greeted her.

"Yes, that’s me. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too! I’m Oh Ha-Min, the writer for ‘Their Lives.’"

I shook her extended hand lightly.

"Wow, you’re covering your face with sunglasses and a hat, so I hesitated for a moment. But really, there’s no mistaking you. Even from afar, I could tell—you’re a total beauty."

"You recognized me right away? Even though I was trying to hide my face?"

I had covered up to avoid the hassle of being recognized while discussing work.

Maybe I should’ve pulled out that wig I had stuffed in my closet.

"I was actively looking for you, so I had my eyes peeled. But I don’t think the other customers will recognize you."

"Hm, you think so?"

"Do people often recognize and approach you?"

"...Yeah, a bit."

Actually, quite a lot.

"Haha, you’re practically a celebrity now!"

"I’m a government worker."

I shook my head firmly.

Lately, I wasn’t known as ‘Team Leader 5 of Awakened Crime Division’ but as ‘That Woman with the Big Shockwave Punch,’ and the thought of being recognized for that was embarrassing.

I followed Oh Ha-Min to the reserved table, where a middle-aged man sipping coffee looked up at me.

"Ah, you must be Shin Hye-Rim?"

"Yes, that’s me. Nice to meet you."

I exchanged polite greetings with PD Jang Seong-Gu.

As I took my seat, he grinned.

"Seeing you walk in from afar, I really felt like I was watching a celebrity. You’re even more beautiful in person."

"Ah, is that so?"

"Hold on, PD. That sounds kind of weird for a first meeting."

"Huh? Really? I was just complimenting her looks."

"People usually don’t comment on appearances right away when they first meet."

"Sorry about that. He’s used to dealing with celebrities all the time."

"It’s okay. I don’t mind."

As I said that, I glanced at the empty seat at the four-person table—specifically, the seat next to me.

Alice still hadn’t arrived.

She had texted earlier, saying she’d be here soon.

Just as I was thinking that, a familiar figure with short black hair appeared in my peripheral vision.

Disguised, Alice scanned the café before quickly spotting me. Her face lit up as she briskly walked over.

“Hello~! Sorry, I’m a little late.”

“Oh? Then, could this person be…?”

“Yes, I’m Alice. You didn’t recognize me with the disguise, did you?”

The TV station’s PD and writer, seeing Alice’s disguised look for the first time, seemed taken aback.

Regardless of how they reacted to her, Alice wasted no time getting straight to business as soon as she sat down.

“So, how exactly are we filming this?”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she urged them to start discussing the shoot.

For some reason, she seemed even more excited than usual.

***

“…We’ll be setting up cameras in the office like this to capture the daily routine of the Awakened Crime Division as naturally as possible.”

“And during that time, I’ll be joining Team 5 as a temporary Awakened Crime Division employee?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Alice’s role was to serve as a stand-in for the audience, playing the part of a new recruit.

Most people didn’t really know what the Awakened Crime Division did beyond arresting awakened criminals. Their day-to-day operations in the office were rarely seen by the public.

By experiencing the job firsthand, Alice would help showcase the challenges the division faced.

“Hmm. If possible, I’d love to capture a scene of Ms. Hye-Rim personally apprehending a criminal.”

As we discussed the overall concept, the PD smacked his lips. From his perspective, it was only natural to want a real crime-fighting scene caught on camera during filming.

But since no one could predict if such an incident would occur during the shoot, he seemed concerned.

Seeing his expression, I felt a different kind of concern bubbling up inside me.

I wasn’t worried about whether we could capture my actions on camera.

“Uh, are you sure it’s okay for me to be filmed catching criminals?”

“Huh? Of course, isn’t that a good thing?”

“No, I mean…”

I hesitated for a moment before giving a bitter smile.

“Even if you do film it, I’m not sure if it’ll be appropriate for TV.”

“……”

I had only one concern.

I was afraid my work might actually end up being captured.

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