Hanbyul was sprawled on her bed after work, lazily scrolling through her phone.
“Wow, she’s so pretty. How can someone look like that?”
Entranced by a famous girl group member in a short video, she was interrupted by an ad that broke her flow.
“Ugh, these ads are popping up even more these days.”
Frowning at what seemed like a ploy to push app subscriptions, she reluctantly watched the ad.
[Choose Your First Love.]
“How cheesy is this? Pick what?”
Assuming it was some cringeworthy simulation game ad, she was about to skip it when familiar actors appeared—not cartoonish animations—causing her finger to pause.
“Huh? What’s this?”
The ad showcased the youthful, pure charm of actors from their prime, accompanied by the subtitle Love Some.
“Love… Some?”
Curiosity piqued, she debated clicking when a message came from a friend she used to fangirl with.
[What’re you up to?]
[Just chilling lol]
[Watch this video and hit the heart button 😭😭😭 (link)]
What’s she asking me to do now?
Hanbyul had sworn off voting after getting burned out on idol survival shows, but she pitied her friend, still stuck in that world, and clicked the link.
It must be desperate if she was messaging her.
[Jung Hyunjae! Don’t like anyone else’s video, just his!]
Wondering who her friend was obsessed with now, Hanbyul clicked the link, which took her straight to YouTube.
[Choose Your First Love.]
It was the same ad she’d just seen.
What? What’s this ad even for?
Intrigued, she kept watching.
Soon, a guy named Jung Hyunjae appeared, sitting in a chair in a plain white studio.
The camera slowly zoomed in on his face.
An idol? He’s pretty handsome…
You came to see me?
His direct eye contact with the camera made it feel like he was talking to her, startling her.
Whoa, I thought he was talking to me for a second.
I am talking to you.
As if he anticipated her reaction, his next line hooked her completely.
I always thought something was off.
I used to only see you from afar, but now you don’t run away even when we’re face-to-face.
She didn’t know what he was talking about, but she was drawn in, emotionally invested.
I missed you.
“Crazy!”
Hanbyul clapped a hand over her mouth.
His honeyed gaze and calm yet sincere voice screamed I missed you.
Jaehee.
It felt like he barely said anything, but the video’s progress bar was already at the end.
She immediately messaged her friend.
[Yo, what’s this?]
[Say hi to my baby.]
[Crazy lolol what’s this? What’s Love Some?]
[It’s an audition to pick the drama’s male lead. They’re looking at views and likes. Please promote it 😭😭 My baby’s so good but losing to Kim Minjun 😭]
An audition for a drama’s male lead?
Going back to the video, she saw related clips of other contestants’ performances and naturally checked them out.
“No comparison.”
She returned to Hyunjae’s video.
His gaze and voice made her heart race in a way the others didn’t.
“But why’s that guy in first?”
The top spot was held by Kim Minjun, a former idol turned actor.
With his domestic and international fanbase, he had a clear advantage over lesser-known contestants.
This isn’t right.
Minjun’s performance screamed “I’m acting, look at me!” while Hyunjae’s felt effortless and captivating.
[Your guy’s the best, though?]
[Exactly, that’s why I’m pissed! Their fans have no shame—how can they vote for that acting?]
[But why an actor all of a sudden?]
It was odd that her friend, who’d been an idol stan forever, was suddenly into an actor.
[When does a fangirl ever stick to one genre? The content’s dried up, but I’m surviving on his face 😭]
[Where’d he come from?]
Even Hanbyul, who kept up with celebrity gossip, didn’t recognize Hyunjae.
[He was in Blue Sky Spring and did a drama with Taewoon, plus appeared on Taewoon’s YouTube!]
Excited that Hanbyul was curious about her bias, her friend eagerly explained.
[He was on Taewoon’s YouTube?]
As a former Taewoon fan, Hanbyul’s interest spiked.
[Lol so cute. Watch his Neighborhood Supermarket appearance too.]
Her friend kindly listed his appearances, and Hanbyul started Blue Sky Spring, a drama she’d heard was good but put off watching.
I’ll just dip into the first two episodes before bed.
But that light plan kept her glued to the screen until episode 16.
“Ugh! Crazy! Why am I only watching this now?”
Regretting not watching sooner, she moved to the drama’s behind-the-scenes videos, her eyes drawn to Hyunjae’s innocent smile.
“He’s… kinda cute.”
After the BTS videos, YouTube’s algorithm led her to Hyunjae’s appearances on Taewoon’s channel and Neighborhood Supermarket.
“Why’s he so good with dogs? So cute!”
After watching both, she searched “Jung Hyunjae” on Namuwiki, staying up all night digging into everything about him.
[Please hit the heart button for our Hyunjae 😭😭]
Realizing why she and her friend were fangirl soulmates, Hanbyul frantically spread the word to promote him.
***
Sehari Animal Hospital
“Yo, I hit the heart button too.”
“Thanks.”
Jiwon, having seen the 5-minute Love Some audition video, brought it up as soon as he arrived.
“You’re doing all sorts of stuff. If you’d listened when I offered to start an agency, I’d have gotten you a role without all this.”
“Instead of talking nonsense, watch the video again.”
“It’s too creepy to watch again.”
Creepy? For a sweet romance performance?
“What’s creepy about it?”
“That gaze! How can you watch that and not get chills? I’d rather watch a horror movie.”
Jiwon, who hated horror movies, bringing them up showed how much he disliked it.
“Ugh, no way.”
“That’s harsh.”
“If I looked at you with those lovey-dovey eyes, would you be okay with it?”
Jiwon tilted his head up at a 45-degree angle, batting his eyes.
“Sorry, my bad.”
His reenactment made it clear. Ugh, I might puke.
“Then don’t watch, just hit play.”
The five finalists’ videos were public, ranked by views and likes, and I was in second place.
Beating an idol-turned-actor with a huge fanbase was no easy feat.
“Why don’t you just buy views and likes? Want me to cover it?”
“Shut up and keep clicking.”
I pressured Jiwon, who hit play while looking away from the screen.
“There’s definitely someone buying them.”
“No way. I’m not stooping to that.”
“You’re gonna lose at this rate.”
“I won’t.”
“What’s with that confidence? Got some insider deal going on?”
There was no such thing.
My confidence came from my acting.
They’ll be too curious about what comes next.
While other actors performed highlight scenes from the webtoon or flirty moments with the female lead, I chose the first meeting scene.
Instead of shouting “Look at my acting!”
I aimed to spark curiosity naturally.
“The role goes to the one who fits it best.”
And as expected, the reactions rolled in.
[Crazy, my heart 😭😭😭]
[He’s totally flirting with me, right?]
[Did Lee Kangha jump out of the webtoon?]
[It has to be Hyunjae!!! Please let him be Kangha 😭😭]
[Wasn’t into the drama, but now I hope he gets it.]
[He got even hotter since Blue Sky Spring. Celeb life suits him.]
Hayoon’s filming helped too.
I realized how much the cameraman’s perspective on the subject could change the outcome.
“Look at Mr. Saint over here.”
“I’m in second. With time, I can hit first.”
The gap with first place was narrowing, and with word-of-mouth, I believed I could take the lead.
Ring ring—an alarm suddenly went off.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, sorry.”
Jiwon hurriedly pulled out his phone to silence it.
“What’s the alarm for?”
Curious why a carefree guy like him had an alarm set.
“I’m taking care of my health these days.”
“Health?”
He casually got up from the hospital couch, grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, and swallowed some pills from his pocket.
“What’re you doing?”
“Supplements. You gotta take care of yourself while you’re healthy.”
Supplements?
This wasn’t like him at all.
Suspicious.
“Why’re you staring? Can’t I take supplements?”
He grumbled, catching my skeptical look.
“What are they?”
“I told you, supplements. Vitamins, milk thistle, omega-3—don’t you know?”
“Nope.”
“A guy whose body’s his asset doesn’t even take care of himself. Want some?”
Was I overthinking?
He asked so confidently that I wavered.
“Let me try some.”
“Mine’s used, but I’ll send you some.”
Something’s off.
I couldn’t pinpoint it, but my gut was screaming something wasn’t right.
“So when’s the broadcast?”
“Next Friday.”
“Live, right?”
“Yeah.”
With the drama’s schedule, filming had to start soon, so the live broadcast was just around the corner.
“Come watch.”
“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”
“What’s there to think about? You’re a jobless bum.”
“Bums are the busiest people.”
Normally, he’d jump at the chance, but now he was hesitating.
“You have to come. If I lose, it’s your fault.”
“Don’t throw a tantrum.”
“I’m serious, you better show up.”
I insisted repeatedly.
A week flew by, and the live broadcast day arrived.
“Here! Double-check everything!”
“Lighting’s set~”
“Let’s make this a big hit.”
The day to decide Love Some’s male lead had finally come.