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Chapter 01
Prologue — The Anchor
“Iced Americano.”
A strikingly cool face. One she knew all too well.
“Add two extra shots.”
A deep, pleasant voice. A voice she knew just as well.
“To go, please.”
Haerin blinked in surprise.
If she exaggerated a little, he was a man no one in Korea could fail to recognize.
No—maybe that wasn’t even an exaggeration.
The heir to the Shin Group conglomerate, a name that instantly came to mind when people thought of big business.
“……”
Even to Haerin, who had worked in the entertainment industry for years, he was the kind of man who could make you glance back just from brushing past—his looks, his build, his presence.
And more than anything—
“This has been Shin Ihyun, STB News.”
The youngest main anchor of the weekday evening prime-time news.
Perfect looks, prestigious background, and career prestige—all three aligned to make him a household name.
In terms of appearance and recognition, he was someone even most celebrities couldn’t hope to surpass.
And that man… was here.
Even if it hadn’t been Haerin, anyone would have struggled to hide their nerves.
“Just a moment, please.”
Haerin turned and skillfully prepared the Americano, her mind racing.
Shin Ihyun.
Not just anyone—Shin Ihyun.
Her friend Minjoo, the owner of <Serenade Café>, was desperate to attract even a single extra customer in these difficult times.
And now, by some miracle, a man like him had walked through their doors.
If Haerin went a little out of her way to strike up a kind word, to leave an impression—
well, maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
The thought turned into action, carried along with the bitter Americano.
“I—I always watch the news. I only tune into STB because I really like the way you anchor.”
His indifferent face turned toward her as he took the cup.
“Is that so.”
The clear, resonant voice gave nothing more.
It seemed her half-sincere, half-sales-pitch compliment had fallen flat.
But even if he walked out right then, it didn’t matter.
Just running into him like this—it was already something worth remembering.
At least, until he opened his mouth again.
“You’re an actress, aren’t you? Yoo Haerin.”
“Ah—do you… know me?”
Haerin faltered. She hadn’t expected to be recognized.
Maybe he just wanted to acknowledge her first, since she had spoken.
But the voice that followed was flat, almost detached.
“You’ve been on hiatus for quite a while. Because of the scandals.”
“I wonder if the day will come when I’ll have to report on your news myself.”
And with that, the tall figure turned away without hesitation, leaving his cutting words behind.
Left reeling from the blow, Haerin gripped the counter with a dazed expression.
What…
What the hell was that just now?
