Chapter 48: Starry Night Broadcast

As the door opened, the first thing that caught my eye was the DJ’s booth.

Seated before the black console was a woman of such unexpected beauty that it was impossible to look away. A woman with long, wavy hair cascading down her shoulders.

Even without seeing her face fully, I knew at once.

The actress Lee Haneul, whose presence was so powerful even through a screen.

She was sitting at the DJ’s booth.

Today, I’ve been surprised over and over again, my eyes cleansed anew each time.

Confident in front of the camera, she exuded a charm different from the glamorous image I’d always seen as an actress.

Sitting in front of the microphone, she brushed her long hair back, preparing for the broadcast.

Even as the studio lights reflected off the shiny equipment, every movement of her hands seemed elegant.

‘It’s definitely Lee Haneul... If Chaerin has a cute girlfriend image, Lee Haneul is more... high-class, I suppose. A kind of dazzling beauty that’s hard to approach...’

My heart thumped in my chest at the sight of these two beauties. Worried my feelings might spill out, I quietly pressed my lips together and stepped further inside.

“Hello. I’m Unreal Oppa, the author.”

I approached Lee Haneul and bowed my head slightly, introducing myself.

“Oh? Wow. I’d heard the author was young, but you’re really handsome. Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Haneul.”

As Lee Haneul paused her work and turned her gaze to me, her cat-like, round eyes opened wide, a radiant smile blooming on her lips.

She was so stunning that if I’d been my younger, more bashful self in a past life, I’d have been too overwhelmed to even meet her gaze, staring at the floor instead.

That’s how Lee Haneul’s beauty crushed the looks of every woman I’d ever thought pretty.

Even the scent in the booth, somehow out of place, tickled my nose.

It wasn’t quite a pheromone perfume, but it still set my heart fluttering.

“Ah, yes. You’re even prettier in person than on screen, noona. If you put on a school uniform now, you’d look young enough for me to call you ‘sunbae’ and it wouldn’t be strange at all.”

Usually, glamorous looks make someone seem older, but this was just unfair.

Now I knew why the world was so unbalanced, seeing the two women beside me.

I was turning into the cousin of a squid—plain and awkward in comparison.

“Hoho, is it because you’re an author? You sure have a way with words. Sit here. I’ll give you special permission to sit between two beauties.”

With a sweet smile, Lee Haneul gestured for me to sit between her and Chaerin.

The scent drifting from both sides left my mind reeling.

‘...A day like this has finally come for me.’

As I adjusted the microphone, feeling my heart pounding in my chest, I basked in the happiness of the moment.

“Author-nim. Is the volume okay for you?”

Lee Haneul looked straight ahead as she asked.

Even her voice had a beautiful, clear tone, like the bright sound of a piano.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

I answered shortly, shaking my head.

─ Going live in ten seconds.

A staff member pressed the glowing red ‘ON AIR’ button, and a chime rang from the ceiling of the booth.

Lee Haneul lowered her head and turned a page of the script.

Finally, I gathered my thoughts and fixed my gaze straight ahead.

3, 2, 1—

“It’s 7 p.m., the hour when the stars come out. This is MBS Radio’s Lee Haneul’s Starry Night. Did everyone enjoy their meal? Today, we have some very special guests with us.”

The ‘ON AIR’ light switched on, and Lee Haneul’s voice filled the airwaves.

---

In less than two years, thanks to my son, I’d made an amount of money I never imagined touching in my lifetime.

At first, I just thought, ‘Well, this can’t hurt.’

I hadn’t set out to make a fortune.

I’d always believed investing wasn’t for just anyone, that it was something other people did.

But the results were beyond anything I’d ever dreamed of.

When two million won became a hundred million, my hands trembled and my heart pounded.

I wanted to sell it right away, but my son insisted I hold on a little longer.

Soon enough, a hundred million grew into a billion.

At that point, I really wanted to cash out, but I chose to listen to my son again.

【I think it’ll go higher.】

He overruled me once more.

Nights were sleepless, caught between anxiety and anticipation.

What if it drops from here?

Such worries.

What will I do with a billion? Should I buy a new car? Move to a better house?

Nights were spent in excited speculation.

And then, it hit ten billion, then grew even further to twenty billion.

By then, I couldn’t think about anything anymore.

Dreams of running my own business faded, things I’d wanted disappeared from my mind.

To be exact, it was because I could do anything I wanted that the desire vanished.

Back then, work at the company was exhausting and tiring, but now I felt happy every day, more than I ever felt fatigue.

I resolved to live even harder.

“Come to think of it, was it at seven today?”

Then, I remembered my son’s schedule.

I checked the clock hanging on the pillar beyond the shelf.

“It’ll be starting soon.”

Thinking of my son, who’d become so famous all of a sudden, a smile crept onto my lips.

I turned up the radio sitting atop the cabinet.

— Today, we have some very special guests. The original author of the drama ‘Living on Rent at the Chairman’s House,’ Unreal Oppa, and Chaerin, who was cast as the drama’s female lead.

Right on cue, the program I’d been waiting for started on the radio.

─ Hello. I’m Unreal Oppa, the author.

My son’s voice rang out.

─ Hello. I’m Chaerin.

Chaerin’s voice followed.

“Heh.”

To think my son was on air with a famous actress—what an honor for the family.

Back then, I never imagined.

That my son would have such talent.

If I hadn’t given him my blessing then, I think I’d have regretted it for the rest of my life.

“He’s young, but speaks so clearly.”

“Imagine how proud his parents must be. He’s on a drama, a broadcast, and now the radio.”

“To be recognized as a writer at that age—wow. Makes you wonder who his parents are.”

Voices of my coworkers on the late-night shift floated over.

Everyone envied his parents, hearing my son’s voice on the radio.

‘That son... is mine.’

Inside, I brimmed with pride as I listened intently.

As I’d felt before, my son was a natural on air—he spoke so well.

Tonight, the radio sounded especially clear.

Even in the noisy workshop, the grinding of steel was no obstacle.

“There’s just one left to go. Guess I’ll focus and finish up.”

Not wanting to be an embarrassing father to my son, I called out a cheerful ‘Fighting!’ and went back to grinding steel with renewed vigor.

---

“Author-nim, let’s start by talking about your novel. What is ‘Living on Rent at the Chairman’s House’ about?”

As expected, the first question was about the novel itself.

Both Lee Haneul and Chaerin fixed their eyes on me.

“It goes like this. What would happen if you ended up living in the same house as the company chairman? That one question was where it all started. Office workers usually fear the upper management, but my protagonist is so quirky that, rather than being scared, he just sees it as a business relationship. As long as both sides get what they want, they can use each other—that kind of thing. Of course, the novel also has a bit of comedy mixed in, so I promise it’s not uncomfortable to read.”

I tried my best to explain this complicated story as briefly and entertainingly as possible. Most of the listeners would be tuning in simply because they trusted the pen name ‘Unreal Oppa.’

It’s only right to answer sincerely in return for their interest.

“Hahaha. That setup is so true to life. You haven’t actually lived at a chairman’s house, have you?”

Lee Haneul’s teasing smile was aimed right at me.

Even that look seemed incredibly charming.

“Unfortunately, no. But if the chance comes, I’d like to try it out.”

I meant it, as a writer. For a writer, experience is more important than knowledge. The more experiences, the more fun the story becomes.

If you only rely on book knowledge, it might sparkle at first, but its limits become obvious as it goes on.

That’s why, as a writer of business novels, I genuinely hope to connect with the rich and powerful someday.

“Should I try arranging that opportunity for you?”

Chaerin, who’d been quiet until now, chimed in playfully.

But the problem was, it didn’t sound like she was just joking.

With her connections, she probably did know a few third- or fourth-generation chaebols.

Should I actually ask?

For a moment, I hesitated.

What would be the best answer?

“Then please introduce me to the PD after the show. I’ll do my best to promote my novel.”

Ahahaha!

Both of them burst out laughing at my silly reply. Chaerin let out a hearty giggle as if she’d been bested, while Lee Haneul threw her head back, genuinely amused.

“Ah, seriously, where do you get that sense? Maybe not just anyone can be a real writer.”

Lee Haneul seemed quite pleased with my answer. As expected of someone in her thirties.

People with similar mentalities really do click.

“Should we try that? An acrostic poem?”

“Huh?”

Out of nowhere, an acrostic poem?

I stared at Lee Haneul, momentarily blank.

She didn’t seem like the type at all, so I never would’ve expected her to suggest it.

“Come on, let’s see how good you are at acrostics, Author-nim.”

This was awkward.

But I couldn’t back out here.

“All right, then what word should I use?”

“How about with Haneul unnie’s name?” Chaerin jumped in, eager for the chance, and suggested I use Lee Haneul’s name.

“Shall we? What do you think? Want to try with my name?”

“Sure.”

I answered confidently.

“I’ll start you off, then. ‘Lee.’”

“Lee, I finally see you.”

“Oh—wow. That’s good. I can’t wait for the next one. ‘Ha.’”

“Haneul noona. Chaerin noona.”

“Neul.”

“I always dreamed of seeing you, and today, that dream has come true.”

With a sly smile, I glanced between Lee Haneul and Chaerin.

“So clever. Getting in your feelings, too. Hoho. Try one with Chaerin’s name as well.”

Requests kept piling up.

Chaerin’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Hard to say no to that.

“Give me the syllables.”

“Chae!”

“Is it okay if I take it?”

“Rin!”

“Rin noona’s heart—I hope it reaches me by the end of today.”

Ooh.

Everyone gave a round of impressed exclamations, and their gazes toward me changed.

“Our author’s a smooth operator, huh?”

Lee Haneul started, and—

“I don’t mind a younger man. Should I give it now?”

Chaerin brazenly made her move.

She kept on with the playful teasing, as if she was testing me.

“I’ll gladly accept.”

Puhaha.

With me refusing to back down in the slightest, laughter exploded in the booth.

The two women laughed so hard I wondered if they’d get vocal cord nodules.

“Ah, my stomach hurts. I didn’t know you were this funny, Author-nim. We should have you on as a guest more often. Maybe even make you a regular. This is too much fun.”

It seemed Lee Haneul was taken with my boldness, trying to keep me by her side.

“Invite me any time, and I’ll be here.”

I kept up the persona, boldly replying as I waited for Lee Haneul’s next reaction.

“PD-nim, you heard that, right? I’ll send a contract with him when he leaves.”

“......”

As expected, years of broadcasting aren’t for nothing.

Lee Haneul didn’t hesitate for a second before firing back.

I lost this round.

“Wow, today’s show really flew by. It’s already time to wrap up.”

Time had slipped away in a flash.

Lee Haneul spoke in a voice full of regret.

“Listeners, how was Starry Night today? We had so much fun. Wasn’t it a happy time, being here with these two? Please give lots of love to ‘Living on Rent at the Chairman’s House.’ I’ll see you again with another story. Thank you.”

As the closing signal music played, the atmosphere in the studio gradually settled.

It was a brief moment, but the resonance of that short live broadcast would linger for a long time.

Today was truly a precious experience.

A new trove of ideas was organized in my mind.