CHAPTER ONE: PILOT

BAE JIHO'S POV

"Hey everyone, my name is Bae Jiho, and I'd like to thank the Qingzhen Film Awards for this..." I said, loitering around my room, trying to get into the right mindset. "That's not it..." I added, vigorously scratching through my hair in frustration. Why do I even have to prepare a speech when I haven't won the award yet? I'm just a nominee. With a sigh, I laid back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Hey everyone, my name is..." I started again, only to be interrupted by a knock at my door. "Jiho!" A familiar voice pierced through the air. It was Kang Mia, my best friend. "Yes!" I replied, rushing to open the door.

"What are you doing locked up in here? I already told you that lunch was ready!" she said, a hint of concern in her voice. "I was just practicing for my speech at the awards tomorrow..." I explained. "Apparently, you have to be ready in case you win," I added, and she nodded in understanding.

"Okay... can you keep working on your speech after lunch at least?" she asked, and I agreed, following her to the dining room where she had laid out our plates. "This smells good," I complimented, taking in the delicious aroma.

"It's a new dish I'm working on... I'll be putting it on the menu soon," she replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. I picked up my chopsticks and took a taste, watching her stare at me with enthusiasm. "How's it?" she questioned, and I couldn't help but smile widely. "It's amazing... what did you put in here?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"A chef never reveals her secrets," she said with a playful grin, and we both chuckled. Then, she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh right... the press conference!"...Whose press conference? I questioned. "Han Jinwoo's to explain the XO club incident, she replied. "Wanna watch it together?" she asked. "No... I am good," I replied, trying to dismiss the thought.

"Wow, Bae Jiho is the college version of you! Saw you pass down anything related to Han Jinwoo, and she would probably slap you across the face... you were his fan, so what happened?" she questioned, clearly intrigued.

"I just stopped being... look, I would love to stay and chat, but I have to get this speech out of the way..." I said, standing up. "Hey... how about your meal?" she asked. "I'll take it with me," I replied, picking up my bowl and turning to leave.

Back in my room, I sighed deeply as I tried to continue with my speech, but I was interrupted by a chime on my phone. Checking it, I saw a notification for Han Jinwoo's press conference. "Tsk, when did I subscribe to get any news related to him?" I muttered to myself, placing my phone aside to focus on my speech.

But my curiosity got the best of me. I picked up my phone and pressed play. "Let's see how you defend yourself, Han Jinwoo," I thought to myself, bracing for whatever he had to say....

*

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HAN JINWOO'S POV

"That being said... I, Han Jinwoo, apologize for any inconvenience caused by my recent behavior..." I said with a bow.

"Mr. Han, are you accepting the accusations of beating up that man?" one news reporter asked as I lifted my head.

"Mr. Han, don't you think you should receive a proper punishment for your actions?" another pressed.

"Mr. Han, did you apologize to the innocent man you beat and sent to the hospital?" another added, and I scoffed. "Innocent man!" I thought to myself in disbelief.

"My client, Mr. Han, will not be replying to any questions you ask. If you want to know something, then wait for our official statement from Starlight Entertainment Company. Thank you," my manager, Hong, interjected firmly.

"Escort him away," he instructed my bodyguard, who then led me through a swarm of reporters....

"Thank you..." I said to the guards as I made my way into the waiting room, feeling the exhaustion wash over me. I laid down with my eyes closed, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Just as I started to drift, I heard my manager Hong's voice cut through the silence. "Han Jinwoo!"

I opened my eyes to see him dash into the room, his face twisted with anger. "What did you just do?" he demanded, and I sat up, sensing the tension in the air. "You went totally off script... all you had to do was follow the script, but you just went ahead and messed that up," he continued, his tone stern and filled with rage.

I couldn't help but defend myself. "I didn't change the script... I just made it better and more believable," I replied, hoping he would understand. But he wasn't having it. "Believable in a way that you apologized, and now everyone is going to think of that as a way of accepting what you did that day," he said, frustration evident in his voice...."Or a way to get them off my back," I replied, feeling the weight of the situation. "You think an apology will be enough for them to leave this issue?" he questioned, and I could sense the skepticism in his voice. "Maybe not enough, but enough to have them talking about something else other than 'Jinwoo is a drunk person with anger management issues,'" I sighed, trying to make my point clear.

"Look, the press conference is done. I can't take back anything I said, so how about just letting me have some rest?" I added, leaning back in my chair, hoping for a moment of peace. He glared at me, clearly not satisfied with my response. "You! Stay away from any kind of trouble starting now. I will have the company release a statement to match your little speech. So for now, don't do anything without consulting me first," he warned. "Okay," I replied, feeling the frustration bubbling inside me as he turned to leave.

"Ugh, this is frustrating," I thought to myself as I sat down and leaned in, closing my eyes for a brief moment of quiet. But that peace was short-lived when my phone rang. It was Yifen, my stepmother, reminding me about the family dinner tonight. "I'll be there soon," I concluded the call with a deep sigh, standing up and preparing to face the evening ahead.

Arriving home, I was welcomed by the familiar aroma of Yifen's food. She had married my dad ten years ago after my mom had died. I used to have complaints about her, but not anymore. She's a nice lady who takes care of me like her own, and more importantly, she gave me one of the greatest gifts—a brother.

"Jiwoon, is that you?" Yifei asked, her bright smile lighting up the room as she walked towards me with her arms outstretched for an embrace. "Hey," I replied, wrapping my arms around her. Her warmth was comforting, a reminder of the family bond we shared. Yifei always had this way of making the chaos of life seem a little less overwhelming.

"The food smells amazing," I added, inhaling the delicious aroma wafting through the kitchen. She laughed, a light sound that instantly lifted my spirits. "I hope you're hungry! I made your favorite." Just hearing that made me feel a bit lighter amidst the stress of the day. "I can't wait," I replied, my eyes wandering around the kitchen.

"Where's Junho?" I questioned, asking about my little brother. "He's in his room. For some reason, he's been cramped up in there. He's also been getting more and more rebellious lately," she complained, and I chuckled softly at that. "I just wish that he could be like you," she added, raising my eyebrow in surprise. "Are you sure you want him to be like me?" I asked, half-joking. "Yes. Look, Jiwoon, who cares what some random news reporters say about you? To me, you have always been a good person who only does something after being provoked. They can't see that, but I can, and you are the best example Junho can have," she replied, and I was taken aback by her words. "I'll go and see Junho," I said with a smile as I turned to leave, feeling a sense of purpose and determination.

Arriving at Junho's room, I knocked at the door but got no reply. Curiosity getting the better of me, I opened it myself and found him completely engrossed in his video games, headphones over his ears. I couldn't help but sneak up on him, lifting him up from behind. "Hey!!" he screamed, clearly startled. "Put me down!" he pleaded as I finally set him back on the ground.

Watching his little face glare up at me only made me giggle even more. "What's wrong with you, dude?" he said, scoffing in frustration. "I almost won the game," he added, his irritation evident. "Are you mad?" I asked teasingly. "Of course! I am so mad I can't even look at you now," he replied, and I nodded, trying to hold back my laughter. "Okay, then I guess I'll just take this back," I said, pulling out my signed merch that he had asked for earlier.

"Is that?!" he exclaimed, eyes wide. "Yes... a whole package," I replied, and his face broke into a big smile. "I guess I can forgive you this one time," he said, and I scoffed lightly. "Woah, Junho," I replied with a smile. "Anyways, I give you all my merch, so why did you ask for this?" I questioned. "That's not mine. I'm planning to give it to Sasha on Valentine's Day," he replied. "Sasha?" I asked, surprised. "Don't you remember her? The girl I was pursuing the entirety of last semester? She finally said yes," he said, his excitement evident..." And she's a huge fan of you, which I'm not sure I shouldn't be jealous of... anyways, I'm planning to give her that package as a gift," I added, trying to keep my tone light.

"You girlfriend is a huge fan of me... oh I think you should be worried I can be hard to compete with," I teased, watching as he scoffed.

"Look, Mr. Jiwoon, you might have your charm, but I have mine too, and news flash, it's irresistible," he replied confidently.

"Oh really... what's your charm?" I questioned, genuinely curious.

"I mean, look at me... I have the looks, I'm well-mannered, I have good grades, and I'm rich... or my dad's rich, whatever," he said, and I couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"You do have a lot of charm," I admitted, acknowledging his points.

"Exactly, so you don't have to worry about being such a huge competition... what me and Sasha have is love," he added, and I raised an eyebrow at that.

"Love?" I questioned, intrigued.

"Yes..." he replied, a slight smile on his face.

"Okay, I bought your merch, and now I have to sit through another one of Dad's awkward dinners... and I'll need a shower to sober me up for that," I said, feeling the weight of the evening ahead.

"I actually didn't think you would come... you know with everything happening," he said, his tone shifting slightly.

"For some strange reason, I must have really missed Yifen's food," I replied with a soft chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'll go and take a shower... let's talk after dinner," I added quickly before leaving the room.

*

*

At dinner, there was a weird silence that filled the room as everyone just dug into their food until my dad broke it. "How's everything going with the club case? Shouldn't you sue that man in case he lied? Doesn't doing nothing put you at more disadvantage?" he asked. I replied, "My company is working on ways to clear that up." He continued, "Well, I don't really care about how you handle your work. I believe that you are grown up enough to solve most problems on your own, and I hope I am right." I nodded, "Yes, you're right," pulling my eyes away from his stern gaze and continuing with my food.

"Are you free on Wednesday next week?" he asked. I said, "I'll have to go through my schedule first before answering that." He added, "Even still, I hope you can free up your schedule because there is something important I'd like you to do." My curiosity piqued as I raised an eyebrow, "May I know what?" He replied, "Let's talk about it in my study after dinner." "Okay," I nodded, continuing with my food.

As promised, after dinner, we both headed to his study. "Would you like me to pour you some wine?" he asked, and I agreed to a glass. "What's this about, Dad?" I questioned. "First, have a seat," he replied. I scoffed but did so. "Okay, now what is it?" I added as he pulled out an envelope and handed it over to me. "What's this?" I questioned as he signaled me to open the envelope...Upon opening the envelope, I pulled out what seemed to be a photo of a woman. "Whose this?" I questioned, glancing at my dad. "That's Riya Sharma... Mr. Hamesh Sharma's daughter. My childhood friend. You might have forgotten, but the two of you used to play together back when you were kids," he explained.

"Okay, then why are you giving me her photo?" I asked, feeling a mix of confusion and irritation. "You are going to pick her up from the airport next week Wednesday. She will be coming to Qingzhen from the US and will be staying with us for a couple of days as she waits to get her own place to stay," he replied.

"Wait, can't you just send the chauffeur to pick her up? Why does it have to be me?" I questioned, my frustration growing. "She's the daughter of a close friend who's coming here after a long journey. Do you think I'll just trust the chauffeur with bringing her here? It has to be you, and it's not like you have much going on for you these days. With all that's happening, you can take off a few hours to pick her up from the airport," he added. I scoffed in frustration. "Okay, but I hope it's just that—picking her up. Because if you go on and demand more than that, then I can't guarantee how I'll react. Like you said, I'm grown up enough to handle my career and personal life... let it stay that way." I stood up, knowing he could have just sent the picture to my phone. I left, fully aware of what my dad was up to and determined to stop him before he even tried.

*

*

"Are you going somewhere?" Junho asked as he noticed me walking out. "I'll go and have a quick walk," I replied, trying to shake off the tension from the conversation with my dad. "Make sure to go to bed early; let's have that talk tomorrow," I added, and he nodded, allowing me to leave.

*

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BAE JIHO'S POV

I sat in the car, staring out the window, my fingers nervously rubbing together. My heart raced with a mix of anticipation and fear as I headed to the Qingzhen film awards. This was it—my first nomination for Best New Actress for my role as Ava Chen in THE HUNTED. It felt surreal, like a dream come true after all the hard work. Despite my reservations, I hoped I could win the award and prove to everyone, especially my mom, that following my heart was the right choice.

"Jiho!" Manager Kim's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. "Yes!" I replied, a bit startled. "Are you okay?" he asked, noticing my deep sigh. "Yes, a bit nervous, but I'm fine," I assured him. "Are you sure? Your fingers are turning red from rubbing them together," he pointed out. I glanced down, realizing he was right. "Oh this... it's more than okay to be nervous. You're attending your first award and walking the red carpet. I'd be nervous too," he said, trying to comfort me.

"Right... I've looked forward to this moment every day since I decided to be an actress, and now that it's here, I should be excited. But instead, I feel like my heart is going to burst any minute now," I confessed, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me...."I understand... but there's nothing to worry about. You've earned this—every bit of it: the role, the nomination, and the right to walk the red carpet in that really gorgeous dress I picked out for you," he said as I let out a soft chuckle. "Everything is set; now all that's left is for you to show up, own the moment, and have fun. You deserve it." He added and I couldn't help feel feel touched by my words, "Plus, your fingers have been punished enough." He added trying to keep the tone light...

"Are you feeling better?" He asked, and I nodded, "Yes... not entirely, but much better than I was feeling a few minutes back.... "Thank you." I said "There's no need for that." she replied brushing it off.."own the moment" she encouraged...as I leaned back, preparing for what was to come.

Upon arrival, it was time for us to part ways since I had to walk the red carpet first....

I watched as a chauffeur helped me out of the car.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. Everything I had worked for was finally here. I could hear the cheers and see the flashing lights as I stepped out of the car, my heart racing with excitement and nerves. "Own the moment," I whispered to myself, reminding myself of what my friend had said.

As I walked toward the red carpet, I felt a rush of confidence. The crowd was calling my name, and I couldn't help but smile and wave. This was my time to shine, and I was determined to make the most of it. I glanced back at my friend, who was watching me with pride, and it made me feel even more empowered.

With each step, I posed for the cameras, soaking in the compliments and energy around me. I could hear someone shout, "You looking good, Bae Jiho!" and it felt like a dream. I was ready for this moment, ready to embrace everything that came with it. This was my night, and I was going to own it.

I slowly made my way to the platform where the rest of the guests were being interviewed. As I approached Marrisa, the interviewer, my heart raced, but she welcomed me with a warm smile. "Hello," she said, and I nervously replied, "Hello."

"Okay, it's the moment you have all been waiting for. I am here with Bae Jiho, who most of you know as Ava Chen from 'The Hunted.' So, Jiho, you have been the trending topic of discussion on most social media platforms for the past month. How does that make you feel?" she asked. I sighed deeply, trying to calm my nerves. "Appreciative... I am very appreciative of how my character is being received and loved," I replied.

"And how does it feel to attend your first big award show?" she questioned. "It feels surreal. If you told me five years ago, when I made the decision to become an actress, that I'd be standing here, I wouldn't believe it. But now, it feels more believable than ever," I said, smiling warmly.

"So, are we bringing our first award home?" she asked. "Hopefully... I really do hope so," I replied with a smile. "Okay then, you may enter and enjoy yourself. Fighting!" she concluded. I slightly bowed to her out of respect and headed into the hall.

As I walked into the hall, I was surrounded by a sea of celebrities, all gathered in one big room. It was overwhelming to think that I was here with them. I looked around, taking in the glitz and glamour when suddenly, a voice pierced through the chatter.

"Jiho!" it called out, and my eyes scanned the room. "Bae Jiho!" the voice continued, and I was thrilled to see Annie Yi, the female lead of "The Hunted" and a close friend—kind of like the sister I never had.

"You're here!" she exclaimed as she walked up to me and wrapped me in an embrace. The warmth of her presence made me feel a little more at ease amidst the excitement and nerves...."Hey, how are you..." Annie said as she smiled brightly at me. "Oh my goodness, you look amazing..." she added, and I chuckled softly. "Let's go and have a seat at our table..." she suggested, and I pulled out the card I was given. "I was told to sit at table 3..." I replied. "Yes, the cast and crew of The Hunted are seated at table 3," she responded, and I sighed with relief. "Quite relieving, huh..." Annie said, grabbing my hand and leading me to the table where I met the rest of the cast.

"Let's take a photo," Annie suggested, and everyone agreed to join in. We took a couple more, and in a few minutes, the event started. The atmosphere was as vibrant and interesting as I had anticipated. I had always watched it on TV, and it felt incredible to experience it in real life this time. Time just seemed to flow by, and even before the night had ended, The Hunted had already bagged five awards, including Best Female Actress of the Year, awarded to Annie Yi.

Soon, it was time for the moment I had been waiting for. I was scared and excited at the same time. "Don't be nervous..." Annie said, placing her hand over mine. "And the award for Best New Actress at the Qingzhen Film Awards 2024 goes to..." they announced as I held my breath. "And the award goes to... Serena Choi," they read, and I felt my heart drop. "They've got to be kidding me..." Annie exclaimed with frustration...

I on the other hand wasn't sure what I was feeling... sadness, frustration. "Jiho..." Annie called out, and I turned to her, forcing a smile. "I am okay..." I reassured her, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. I had to turn and clap as Serena made her way to the big stage to accept her award. I was holding it in, but honestly, I was on the verge of tears. Despite that, I appreciated the comfort I received from the rest of the crew members around me.

*

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HAN JINWOO'S POV

"No way in hell!!" Junho exclaimed, startling me awake from my nap. "What?" I questioned, still groggy as he turned to me, clearly shocked. "Dude, were you sleeping the entire time?" he asked, and I couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. "I didn't realize when I fell asleep... what did I miss?" I replied, trying to shake off the sleepiness. He scoffed with disappointment, "Not much except for the fact that Bae Jiho got snubbed..."

"Bae who?" I asked, blinking the sleep from my eyes. "Bae Jiho... she acted as Ava Chen in the famous movie The Hunted," he explained, and my mind started to connect the dots. "Wait, Annie Yi's The Hunted?" I questioned, and he nodded in confirmation. "She really shone; her acting was good, her character was interesting... how can they not give her the award?" he mused, and I stared back at the TV screen, trying to process everything.

"Whose Bae Jiho?" I asked, still confused. "Her... the one clapping sadly. Why are they not taking the cameras off of her? It's like they want to capture her misery," he said, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy as I looked at her. "Why do you feel like she had to win?" I questioned, wanting to understand his perspective. "Maybe Serena Choi could have been better. I mean, I watched her movie BLUST, and it was good... she was good," I replied, but Junho glared at me. "Well, yes, Serena or whatever was good, but you haven't watched The Hunted, so how would you even compare?" he challenged. "That being said, don't tell me that the reason you haven't watched The Hunted is because of Annie," he added, raising an eyebrow. "Annie?" I questioned, feeling a mix of confusion and intrigue...Yes, isn't she the ex who blurted out on the internet about how I broke her heart? I chuckled softly at the memory. "Oh no...no... that was a different Annie," I replied, watching as he chuckled in disbelief. "Wait, did you spend all this time thinking it's Annie Yi?" I questioned, and he nodded. "Damn Junho, what an imagination," I teased him.

"Stop all that... you need to watch The Hunted with me right now," he said, standing up. "Wait, what... where are you going?" I asked, a bit confused. "To get us some popcorn... you can't say no," he warned as he turned to leave.

*

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BAE JIHO'S POV

The event finally came to a conclusion, and by the time it did, Annie had introduced me to most of the best directors. I was happy to hear amazing feedback from them. The night might not have gone as I wished; I didn't win the award, which still stung. My eyes kept wandering to Serena Choi's table, watching her flawlessly take photos with the trophy. Still, it was a good night—my first awards show, and it was going to be memorable for both good and bad reasons.

"Will you be joining us?" Annie asked, and I raised an eyebrow, unclear of what she meant. "The director is going to treat all of us to a meal and drinks to celebrate banging five awards, including the Grand Prize, which is the biggest award. So you are coming as well because you're part of the team," she explained. I chuckled softly, "I'd really love to, but I am..." I tried to say, but she cut me off. "But nothing. Look, I understand you're feeling rather disappointed and would love to go home, but what better way to end a disappointing night than with some barbecue and beer on someone else's treat?" she said convincingly, and the rest joined in on her persuasion.

I hesitated, feeling their curious gazes on me, which was more than enough to make me crack. "Okay," I finally replied, and they all cheered. "That's the spirit! Let's go," Annie said, holding onto my hand and leading me with her.