Chapter Seventeen: Tragedy Is

Uhey was simply curious about Hwang Tae-kyung; to say she liked him would be an exaggeration. With A.N.JELL's recent meteoric rise, she'd received an invitation to the party and naturally wanted to join the festivities. Bona was not only her friend but also well-acquainted with the group, so coming with Bona made her feel more at ease.

The venue was a large bar owned by the company, and it paid careful attention to the privacy of artists. Rarely did reporters gain entry. It was Rachel Liu's first time attending such an event, and she felt somewhat nervous. Bona and Uhey greeted people left and right, leaving Rachel to observe her surroundings. Men and women danced boldly on the floor, their bodies moving with practiced ease—artists all, with impressive physiques and skillful moves.

When Bona and Uhey went off to greet others, Rachel made her way to the bar, ordered a beer, and received a bright yellow juice instead. The bartender glanced at her and said, “You’re new here, aren’t you? A rookie?”

Rachel replied coolly, “I’m here with friends.” She didn’t comment on the swapped drink, assuming the bar had rules against serving alcohol to minors.

(Of course, she had no idea that, dressed as she was, her age was impossible to guess.)

She leaned with her back against the cool bar, watching the vibrant crowd. After a while, someone approached and said, “It’s you—do you remember me?”

She didn’t know many artists and was puzzled, though the man before her seemed familiar. “You are…?”

“My name is Kang Shin-woo. Remember?” he said.

Rachel rarely responded to men’s advances, but Kang Shin-woo was different; he possessed a natural warmth.

“At your group’s last press event, I was the model,” he explained, seeing her confusion.

With that, Rachel recalled him. She hadn’t forgotten the occasion, just hadn’t expected such a dramatic change in him in only a year. Back then, Kang Shin-woo wasn’t nearly as famous, and the company hadn’t polished their image so well. Now, A.N.JELL was a sensation, but his demeanor remained unchanged.

“Hyung! I’ve been looking for you—so this is where you are…” A blond youth, upon spotting Rachel, instantly quieted, his face expressing surprise and understanding.

“You seem unfamiliar,” Jeremy said, draping himself over Kang Shin-woo’s shoulder to examine Rachel.

“Of course she’s unfamiliar, you brat!” Bona smacked Jeremy away. “She’s my friend~”

Uhey arrived just then, and Jeremy, who adored Uhey, clung to her like a child. The lively atmosphere helped Rachel relax, and a hint of a smile appeared on her face.

Uhey was dressed sexily—she’d taken off her jacket to reveal a black dress, her attire alluring and her dance style graceful.

She handed her jacket to Bona, saying, “I’m going to dance~” She was used to these occasions and quickly blended in. Under the dazzling lights, her deep brown hair swung with her movements. Cheers erupted around her; Uhey’s popularity was well-earned, and her title as the nation’s fairy was no empty boast. Watching, Rachel felt suddenly envious.

“Want to dance?” Bona saw the yearning in her eyes and pulled her onto the dance floor. “Come on, it’s more relaxing and fun than your concerts and ballet recitals~”

Soon, Jeremy and Kang Shin-woo joined them. Swept along, Rachel forgot her reserve and unease, dancing freely and smiling more and more, even chatting intimately with Kang Shin-woo and Jeremy.

After a song ended, the group finally left the stage, Uhey panting from exertion. Kang Shin-woo handed her a tissue to wipe her sweat.

“Thanks, oppa~” Their previous collaboration made them more familiar with each other, and Uhey chatted easily with him, scanning the crowd but failing to spot the newcomer, Go Mi-nam.

“Uhey, who are you looking for?” Jeremy, unhappy with Uhey’s lack of attention, asked.

“Go Mi-nam,” Uhey replied, eyes wide with curiosity. “What’s he like? Is he easy to get along with?”

Mentioning Go Mi-nam made Jeremy scowl. “Annoying! I don’t want to see him.” Truthfully, it was Hwang Tae-kyung who was unhappy about the new addition, and Jeremy followed suit.

Was this a case of poor camaraderie? Rachel, too, grew curious. As she watched, the commotion grew louder—Hwang Tae-kyung and Cha… Oh, now he was Go Mi-nam—walked over together.

“What are you doing here?” Hwang Tae-kyung’s face was dark, clearly displeased. His outfit matched the rest of the group—all in pure white—but his hairstyle was peculiar.

Rachel couldn’t appreciate that kind of beauty, and after a brief greeting, Uhey turned her attention to Go Mi-nam.

Cha Eun-sang felt immense pressure. Now transformed into a man, she had to adapt to her new name and residence—none of which were the real problem. The greatest obstacle was, in truth, the two girls in front of her.

Bona and Rachel Liu—how unlucky was she to be unable to shake them off?

Rachel smiled faintly, her gaze lingering on Cha Eun-sang. To be honest, Cha played a boy better than she did a girl.

Cha Eun-sang avoided her scrutiny and went to speak with Manager An.

Attending today’s press event as Go Mi-nam, Cha Eun-sang was warmly welcomed, especially by the female guests. As soon as she escaped Rachel and Bona, she was surrounded by a crowd of beauties urging her to drink, forcing her to protect herself to avoid any slip-ups.

Seeing this, Bona whispered in Rachel’s ear, “See? She’s so busy now, she won’t have time to bother our Chan-young anymore~”

Cha Eun-sang was indeed overwhelmed, playing a man among a flock of women—a truly awkward role. Soon, she was thoroughly drunk. Hwang Tae-kyung watched her with a cold snort, and Jeremy was equally displeased. To come straight from a press event and get plastered—what a disgrace! Jeremy could practically see the mocking glances of others.

Kang Shin-woo said helplessly, “I’ll take him to rest.”

There were rooms upstairs in the bar; they each had their own, though Go Mi-nam’s had not yet been assigned. Still, they were teammates and all men—such things were trivial.

“Don’t go!” Bona stopped him immediately. “Let me do it.”

Her protest only made things stranger, as if she had ulterior motives. But truthfully, Bona didn’t want Kang Shin-woo to help Cha Eun-sang; in her mind, Kang Shin-woo was the last patch of pure land, radiating healing energy.

Bona supported Cha Eun-sang upstairs, and Manager An, knowing Bona’s identity, was moved. Rachel considered helping Bona, but facing a drunk Cha Eun-sang, whose destructive power was immense, she decided it was best to watch and see.

After Bona took Cha Eun-sang upstairs, she went to the rooftop for some air. The building was two stories, with a decent view of the night. Rachel followed, along with a tipsy Uhey. The three chatted idly until Cha Eun-sang stumbled in, oblivious to their presence, and climbed onto the rooftop’s edge.

“What’s he doing?” Uhey asked Bona, a little startled. “Suicide?”

“She’d never dare,” Rachel said, her tone tinged with sarcasm.

For the first time, Rachel expressed her dissatisfaction with Cha Eun-sang in front of others. No matter how much goodwill or sympathy Cha might win, Rachel was tired of her. Perhaps it was a matter of fate—if you don’t click, nothing can be done. It had nothing to do with her entanglement with Kim Tan.

Just as Uhey decided to pull her down, Hwang Tae-kyung appeared. He thought it was too noisy inside and wanted to enjoy the breeze outside, only to see Go Mi-nam in a suicidal pose.

His brow furrowed deeply. “Get down here!”

He’d had a few drinks and was irritable; he grabbed Cha Eun-sang and pulled her off the ledge.

Cha Eun-sang, already unsteady, was jerked off balance, nausea churning in her chest, and she collapsed. Uhey happened to reach them, tried to support “Go Mi-nam,” but was not only vomited on but also knocked backward.

It didn’t hurt much—someone cushioned her fall.

Still, Uhey couldn’t care less about who caught her. She looked down at the mess on her dress and wished she could jump into the river on the spot…