Idols.
They're the center of attention on stage, shining beneath the spotlight. Their smiles are captivating, their voices mesmerizing, their movements enchanting. But behind all that lies relentless hard work, intense pressure, and the constant demand to be perfect.
Maehwa pondered over the word. "Idol, huh... so they're basically stars worshipped by humans?" You people worship humans? Shouldn't you be worshipping sins instead?
The woman chuckled softly. "You could say that. They have millions of fans who support them wholeheartedly."
"Fans? You mean humans adore idols so much they forget everything else?"
"Well, not that extreme. But yeah, there are some obsessive fans who treat idols like gods."
Now that was interesting. If idols had the power to captivate millions, wouldn't that be the perfect setup for him? Maehwa could harvest sin points en masse, seducing humans on a grand scale. A world filled with passion, admiration, and obsession, what a fertile ground for reaping desire.
"Becoming an idol isn't easy, you know. They have to keep up appearances, work hard, and constantly deal with public pressure. Even a tiny scandal can destroy their career. Not to mention the long journey to debut—you'd have to be a trainee, attend auditions, and compete with hundreds of others."
If that's what it took to become an idol, Maehwa didn't mind. It's not like he was some lazy freeloader who played dead when things got tough. A bit of hard work was a small price for pleasure.
"Tell me, how does one become an idol?"
Maehwa shook the woman's shoulders with excessive enthusiasm… but she didn't respond. He clicked his tongue in annoyance as he realized she had passed out.
"Tch. How rude. Passing out during an important conversation."
He stood up, trying to figure out his next move, but then her hand shot out and yanked his hair, dragging him back down.
"OW! What the hell?! Let go!"
Maehwa yelped in pain, trying to break free, but the woman kept mumbling in her sleep, unaware of what she was doing. Looked like she was dreaming about getting into a catfight with some annoying coworker.
The door slammed open. A man flinched at the chaotic scene in front of him. He'd had a bad feeling, and clearly, it was justified.
"Dahlia, you—oh god!"
Without wasting a second, he rushed in and pried her fingers from Maehwa's poor, abused hair. Several strands were already sacrificed. The man bowed repeatedly.
"I'm so sorry. She did it again. My friend here... she has this terrible habit when drunk. She always mistakes people for someone else. Are you okay, young man?"
Maehwa flattened his hair with a deadpan look. "It's fine. I'm not Wrath, the drama king who throws tantrums for days."
The man frowned, confused by the odd reply—then spotted the bandage on Maehwa's wrist. His eyes widened. "Oh my god! Did she hurt you that bad?!"
"Uh, no. You've got it all wrong."
But the guy wasn't listening. He kept spiraling. "My name's Cheon Dain. I'm a cardiovascular surgeon. I work at a hospital in Sungin-dong. I deeply apologize for my friend's behavior and take full responsibility. I'll pay compensation. Please don't press charges."
Maehwa tried to clarify, but before he could say more, Dahlia groaned.
...Oh no. That was the universal sign of incoming vomit.
There was no way Dain would let her throw up here, after dragging in a stranger and even pulling his hair. Thank god the guy she brought in was harmless. What if she'd pulled in some creep? She really had zero self-preservation.
Dain carried Dahlia out of the karaoke room in a bridal hold, scolding her the whole way. "I told you not to drink too much! Now look what happened! I'm never going drinking with you again." As they reached the door, he glanced back. "I'm sorry again, kid. Don't stay out too late, okay?"
The room grew quiet after their departure.
The karaoke music that once filled the air faded to a murmur. The wall timer showed only ten minutes left on the rental.
"Humans really are a pain. But entertaining, I'll give them that. And kid? Really?"
Maehwa headed for the door, ready to sneak upstairs again.
But it opened once more.
Maehwa assumed Dain had forgotten something—Instead, in walked a tall, elegant woman with long silver hair and pearl earrings.
Another human? What now?
"Sorry to disturb you," she said politely.
Ugh, this was getting annoying. Dahlia already wasted enough of his time. Now here comes another one. If he stayed too long, the lust energy upstairs would dissipate.
"Whatever you want, I'm not interested."
Unfazed by his cold reply, the woman handed over a business card. "I'm not a weirdo. I'm a producer. My name is Caterina Lee. May I ask yours?"
"Han Maehwa," he replied shortly.
"Maehwa, like the plum blossom? That's a sweet name. You also have very attractive features. You have star quality."
Today had been a vocabulary crash course.
Idol. Trainee. Debut. Producer. Maehwa had no idea who she was, and frankly, didn't care. All he cared about was the sin energy waiting upstairs.
"Can we get to the point, Miss?"
"That song earlier... was that your voice? It left quite an impression. You have a lovely tone. I've been waiting for a chance to speak with you privately. Would you be interested in a music program?"
Maehwa blinked. "Huh?"
"Sorry—did I confuse you? Are you familiar with Star Peak? It's a survival show that debuts idols. I'm one of the producers. I came here to scout a potential singer, and I found you instead. If you're interested, you can apply."
Coincidence and fate were practically twins at this point.