Chapter 37: Exposure Is

When Jin Yuan and Liu Rachel arrived at the cinema, they discovered that the film Rachel had chosen starred Uhey. It had just premiered a few days before, with Uhey and Jiang Xinyu in attendance. Liu Rachel told Jin Yuan that Uhey was a friend of hers and Baona’s—a fact Jin Yuan already knew.

The movie hadn’t started yet, so the two waited outside for a while. Jin Yuan glanced at the nearby counter and bought Rachel a hot drink. It was their first time seeing a movie together; though such outings are common for couples, neither Jin Yuan nor Liu Rachel had ever experienced it before.

Liu Rachel looked delighted, and Jin Yuan felt that she was a girl who was easily content. He took her right hand, waiting for admission amid the crowd. Rachel sipped her drink and peered around, but most of their attention rested on their clasped hands. Jin Yuan allowed her to be playful, keeping an eye on the crowd and supporting his girlfriend.

Once Rachel had had her fun, she obediently led Jin Yuan into the cinema. The film was an artsy romance, tinged with melancholy at the end. It was Rachel’s first time seeing Uhey on the big screen, watching a girl who risked everything for love—clinging tightly to her departing beloved. Rachel’s heart ached, and her hand unconsciously tightened around Jin Yuan’s. Jin Yuan turned to look at her; the white glow from the screen illuminated her face. She didn’t cry, but her expression seemed even more sorrowful than tears.

“I’m going to the restroom,” Rachel said as soon as the movie ended. Taking advantage of the sparse crowd at the start of the exodus, she left first. Jin Yuan took Rachel’s purse and sat in the lounge area, waiting.

Sometimes, coincidences happen just like that.

Quan Hyun-joo spotted Jin Yuan at the same moment he saw her. She paused, unsure whether to approach him. Jin Yuan wore casual clothes, but the colors were dark, making the bright pink purse stand out even more. Her gaze dimmed, and she felt a pang.

It had only been a few months since their breakup. She was still struggling, while he already had a new, lovely girlfriend. Life really is unfair sometimes.

“Long time no see.” Jin Yuan spoke first; after all, they were face-to-face. Pretending not to know each other would be too artificial.

Quan Hyun-joo smiled faintly, as she always did. “Yes. Are you well?”

It was a redundant question, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit resentful.

Jin Yuan nodded. “Pretty good. And you? How’s your mother?”

Quan Hyun-joo smiled. “Thanks for recommending that job.” Working at Di Gao paid three times her previous salary, with no overtime, leaving her ample time to care for her mother at the hospital.

Jin Yuan nodded again. “You’re here alone?”

She knew he meant nothing by it and felt awkward, but replied, “Yes, watching alone.”

For someone recently heartbroken, watching such a film was truly painful, and then to run into the person she still loved after.

Quan Hyun-joo forced a smile. “Well, I’ll be going now.”

If she didn’t leave, she feared she’d run into Jin Yuan’s girlfriend.

But she worried needlessly, for Rachel hadn’t returned yet; she’d met an old acquaintance in the restroom.

Rachel had come to wash her face—she’d cried during the film, even if Jin Yuan hadn’t noticed. She wanted to erase the traces of her tears and be ready to have fun elsewhere with Jin Yuan. After washing her face and applying some lotion, she caught sight of someone behind her in the mirror.

Truly, you never know where you’ll run into people. Rachel hadn’t intended to interact with Cha Eun-sang; their lives had diverged completely.

But Cha Eun-sang looked at her with an expression of utter shock.

...It was simply speechless.

Rachel glanced at her, patted her face, and prepared to leave, but suddenly stopped.

“You…”

No wonder something felt off—today, Cha Eun-sang was truly herself, not Go Mi-nam! A skirt, long hair!

No wonder she looked so terrified.

Rachel smiled and asked, “What’s wrong? Dumped A-tan, feeling good?”

Cha Eun-sang replied angrily, “That’s my business. Besides, aren’t you with Kim Tan’s brother now?”

Rachel wasn’t known for her temper. Cha Eun-sang’s challenge riled her up. “That’s right, but I just really dislike you.”

Cha Eun-sang retorted, “I dislike you too.”

She turned to leave, and Rachel, angry, reflexively tried to grab her—accidentally pulling off her wig.

Cha Eun-sang had worn a wig and dressed in a skirt to avoid recognition, reverting to her original feminine appearance.

And so…

“Aaaahhh!!” The girls who had just entered were completely startled.

Go Mi-nam! It was Go Mi-nam, and in a skirt!

ANJ Red was at its peak. Cha Eun-sang’s portrayal of Go Mi-nam had made her a star. Now… Cha Eun-sang was utterly dumbfounded, and so was Rachel. She hadn’t meant it; it was just a casual tug, who knew she’d grab the wig.

Screams erupted. Cha Eun-sang felt exposed, the wig on the floor a joke, making her feel as though she were naked under the judgmental gaze of the public—her future suddenly bleak.

Rachel was stunned too. The commotion drew attention from others. Jin Yuan sensed something was wrong, glanced over, and saw a crowd at the restroom entrance. His heart skipped a beat; ignoring what anyone said, he squeezed into the crowd.

The ever-cool Jin Yuan had never done such a thing—forcing his way into the women’s restroom amid a group of girls, earning him a barrage of insults: “Pervert!”

It was exhausting.

But seeing Rachel standing safe, he relaxed, quickly pulling her away. “What are you doing standing here? Want to make the news?”

Clearly, Go Mi-nam’s instant transformation from male to female had already attracted reporters.

Rachel was pulled out by Jin Yuan. She was anxious. “I—I didn’t mean to.”

Jin Yuan, surveying the chaos, quickly understood what had happened, but he didn’t care for such trivial matters. “Let’s go. Where do you want to go next?”

“…Maybe nowhere.”

Rachel felt she’d caused trouble and was uneasy.

Right then, Hwang Tae-kyung rushed over, making her feel even guiltier for the boy band.

And Jiang Xinyu too, who might also suffer because of this.

Jin Yuan said, “There’s nothing in this world that can be hidden forever. The truth will come out, if not today then tomorrow. You shouldn’t blame yourself. When she chose to pretend to be a man, she should have expected consequences. High rewards come with high risks.”

He took his girlfriend’s hand and led her away from the stormy… women’s restroom.

Cha Eun-sang, wearing a skirt, black leggings, leather shoes, and a trench coat—without her wig, revealed the familiar face of Go Mi-nam.

Hwang Tae-kyung was about to lose his mind. He didn’t know why he’d softened and accompanied her to the movie, only for this disaster to unfold. He had a premonition: their ANJ might be doomed.

Reporters besieged them, fans screamed, and Hwang Tae-kyung was on the verge of collapse. But he still stood protectively in front of Cha Eun-sang, fearing she’d be trampled by the fans.

Everyone seemed irrational. Hwang Tae-kyung’s arm was scratched.

Fortunately, the mall security was efficient, quickly protecting him and Cha Eun-sang. Cha Eun-sang hid behind him, speechless.

Manager Ma arrived promptly.

The scene was nearly out of control. Cha Eun-sang looked to Manager Ma for help; Ma’s expression was grim, more serious than ever. With the help of security, they went straight to the company.

After the news broke, ANJ halted all public activities; even Uhey and Jiang Xinyu’s latest “We Got Married” episode was suspended.

Fans spread the news rapidly. By the next day, protests appeared at the company’s entrance. Not only ANJ members, but even company staff dared not go out.

—ANJ caught in a scandal.

—Go Mi-nam cross-dressing for profit.

—Go Mi-nam’s cross-dressing exposed; Hwang Tae-kyung faithfully protects!

Hwang Tae-kyung threw aside his newspaper, furious enough to nearly have a heart attack. Was this a joke?

Manager Ma said, “There are two ways forward.”

Hwang Tae-kyung forced himself to sit and listen. Jeremy loathed Cha Eun-sang, refusing even to be in the same room with her.

Jiang Xinyu remained silent.

“We can either disband ANJ, give the fans an explanation, and take responsibility, or… Cha Eun-sang, you take the blame alone.”

Cha Eun-sang was shocked. How was she supposed to take the blame? She had nothing.

“Go Mi-nam was a cross-dresser, deceiving us all. We were unaware,” Manager Ma said. “We settle your wages and give you some money. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”

Hwang Tae-kyung said nothing. Jiang Xinyu weighed his options. Cha Eun-sang bit her lip, eyes red.

But everyone knew this was the best way.

The next day, ANJ officially released the statement. The entertainment world was abuzz, even the police investigated. By then, Cha Eun-sang had taken the money and returned to the countryside with her mother.

The rest of ANJ members became victims deceived by “Go Mi-nam,” regrouped, and prepared for a comeback.

Far away, Go Mi-nam, undergoing reconstructive surgery, decided—first to change her name, then to… alter her appearance.

—

Time flew, and Christmas arrived. There was supposed to be a special episode of “We Got Married,” but ANJ’s scandal had left everyone still resting.

Problems had also arisen between Han Ji-eun and Lee Young-jae; they’d been living apart for days—well, not that they’d ever shared a bed.

But it was a holiday, and Han Ji-eun felt unhappy. She didn’t want to spend it alone, so she called a friend.

Her circle was limited; after Shi-jin tricked her out of her apartment, they were no longer friends.

Liu Rachel was enjoying a sweet Christmas with her boyfriend.

As Han Ji-eun scrolled through her phone, searching for someone to call, Yin Ruiying rang her.

“Wow, Ruiying, long time no see!”

Han Ji-eun had seen Liu Minghe a few times recently because of Lee Young-jae, and Minghe said Ruiying wasn’t in Korea, so they’d barely met. Han Ji-eun hadn’t been able to reach her; Ruiying’s social media had been silent for ages.

“Where have you disappeared to?”

Yin Ruiying laughed, “Went traveling abroad for a while.”

She truly had traveled, for over two months, finally returning. There’s a saying: there are two ways to forget someone—fall in love, or travel.

“It’s Christmas. Let’s go out together.”

She didn’t know about Han Ji-eun and Lee Young-jae’s troubles; she’d just returned and hadn’t followed entertainment news. Besides, their situation had long been overshadowed by ANJ’s scandal.

Han Ji-eun and Ruiying agreed on a place. Ji-eun put on some makeup and changed into new clothes.

When she arrived, Ruiying was already there. The girl who turned around had none of the sadness and despair she’d carried in Beijing.

Her smile was like the brightest fireworks of December, dazzling Han Ji-eun so much she couldn’t look away.