GNT 2

Episode 2

In front of a building that didn’t match the noisy, alcohol-soaked street around it, Yeonwoo stood clutching his phone, nervously pacing. On the screen, the words “Connecting call…” flashed repeatedly.

One of the guards, watching Yeonwoo’s suspicious behavior, finally approached.

“How may I help you?”
“Ah, well… I got a call saying my friend got really drunk, so I came to pick him up.”

With frozen fingers, Yeonwoo hurriedly showed the man his phone. The screen displayed a garbled message full of typos from Hyunmin:

Come git mee plz im disappered
10:28 PM

Below that, however, the bar’s name and address were perfectly clear. Feeling awkward, Yeonwoo added quickly,

“I’ll just grab my friend and leave right away…”
“You can’t enter without an invitation. Please contact your friend and let us know.”

The guards were firm. But Hyunmin wasn’t answering. That last message seemed to have been sent right before he passed out, and every one of Yeonwoo’s follow-up texts still showed the “unread” icon.

Choi Hyunmin, I’m here.
Is this the right place? There are scary-looking guys at the door.
You’re not in trouble, right? Why aren’t you picking up?
They won’t let me in — if you see this, come to the entrance. I’m freezing to death.
11:30 PM

Just then, the unread mark disappeared. Yeonwoo’s heart leapt. He quickly called.

“Hey, are you okay? I’m out front. Pack your stuff and come out — they won’t let me in.”

But the only response was pounding music.

“Choi Hyunmin? Seriously, how much did you drink? I’m freezing out here, come out already!”

He was grumbling into the phone when the door suddenly opened. A man walked out — tall, composed, and heading straight toward Yeonwoo.

“You must be Lucky Yeonu, right?”
“…What?”

Startled by the strange words from a total stranger, Yeonwoo instinctively stepped back. The man chuckled softly and showed him a phone screen.

“See? Lucky Girl, right?”

On the screen was an active call with the name ‘Lucky Girl’ — exactly how Hyunmin had him saved. Realizing this, Yeonwoo nodded.

“Ah, yes! Are you Hyunmin’s coworker?”
“Name’s Kim Noyoung. I happened to see the messages, so I came to find you. It’s freezing — let’s head inside.”

Yeonwoo hesitated — he only wanted to take Hyunmin and go — but since even his phone was with this stranger, Hyunmin must have been completely passed out. He couldn’t just leave him.

“Then I’ll just bring him out.”
“Of course. The cold’s brutal tonight — they even issued a cold wave warning.”

That explains it, Yeonwoo thought.

Despite being strangers, Kim Noyoung spoke warmly, and even the guards who’d blocked him moments ago opened the door at his word.

“Thanks for coming out for me.”
“No need to thank me. Honestly, I was curious.”
“…Curious?”
“Yeah. I just wanted to see how lucky you’d have to be to earn that name.”

Of course, Hyunmin had entered that contact name jokingly — because one day, Yeonwoo’s luck might finally turn around. Yeonwoo didn’t bother to explain.

Inside, the hallway opened into a large main hall — full of people drinking freely under dim lights. It was supposed to be a “media industry party,” but it looked more like chaos.

Sensing Yeonwoo’s hesitation, Kim Noyoung motioned ahead with a friendly smile.

“Director Choi’s over there — passed out.”
“Thank you.”

Yeonwoo’s only thought was to get Hyunmin and leave. It had been ages since he’d been in such a crowd, and it made his skin prickle with discomfort.

“Let him sleep a bit. Once he sobers up, take him home. Or if he’s still out, you can crash at my place — people do all the time.”
“I couldn’t possibly trouble you…”
“Don’t worry. Everyone crashes at my place anyway. And we’ve got the hall booked till morning — worst case, we’ll put him in a room inside.”

Kim Noyoung lightly took Yeonwoo’s shoulder and guided him along.

“Actually, Director Choi’s talked about you a lot.”
“About… me?”

That was surprising. Choi Hyunmin was his only friend — and definitely not someone who’d go around gossiping about Yeonwoo being a fox shifter.

‘Did he mention me because of my bad luck?’ Yeonwoo wondered, his guard going up.

People used to bet on his misfortunes when he was younger —

“Will Hong Yeonwoo fall in the trash can today or not?”
“Will he spill water on himself or stay dry?”

They’d laugh as they tripped him or dumped things on him — “Oops, accident!” — and collect their winnings.

“Ah, it wasn’t anything bad. He’s usually quiet, but when he talks about his friend, your name always comes up.”
“Ah, it’s Hong Yeonwoo, by the way.”

When Kim Noyoung paused as if forgetting his name, Yeonwoo politely corrected him. The man just laughed heartily, already tipsy.

“Every time he talks, it’s all about you! Boasting non-stop.”
“We’ve known each other a long time. I owe him a lot.”
“I dunno. Feels like he’s the one who owes you! Said you were better-looking than Sun Inhyeok himself — even bragged about it for weeks.”

Sun Inhyeok. Even Yeonwoo, who barely had time to watch dramas, had heard the name — a top star.

Better-looking than that guy? He sighed, embarrassed, glaring vaguely toward where Hyunmin lay passed out.

“He even said you eat like a horse but never gain weight — said you’re basically a unicorn.”
“…Excuse me?”

Before he could react, Kim Noyoung turned and shouted across the hall:

“The unicorn’s here! The one Choi Hyunmin kept bragging about!”

In an instant, everyone’s eyes were on Yeonwoo. Panic shot through him, but before he could escape, Noyoung gripped his wrist tightly.

Soon, Yeonwoo found himself sitting at a table with a crowd from BlueRim Media, a drink in hand.

“So, Yeonwoo, do you work in the industry too? Actor? Model?”
“Nah, Hyunmin said his friend’s totally outside the business — not even a little interested.”
“I just do a lot of part-time jobs at restaurants. Maybe you’ve seen me there.”

They laughed, not believing him. A few were too drunk to hold a coherent conversation.

Trying to distract himself, Yeonwoo searched Sun Inhyeok on his phone. The glossy photos nearly blinded him.

Choi Hyunmin, I swear you’re dead tomorrow.

He buried his face in the couch corner, dying of embarrassment.

Just a little longer. Once I check on Hyunmin, I’m out of here.

The cocktail Noyoung had given him was sweet — hardly any alcohol taste, more like juice. Strawberry flavor, too — his favorite.

At least something good tonight, he thought, finishing it quickly.

His throat was parched, so he downed the orange juice beside it too. That’s when a scruffy man plopped down beside him.

“BlueRim folks were calling you a unicorn — must mean you can really hold your liquor, huh?”

It was Park Jungman, someone the others had addressed as assistant director. He reeked of alcohol — the kind of stench that burned through even a stuffy nose.

“So, what are you? An aspiring actor or something? I heard you work part-time somewhere.”

Without warning, Jungman dropped honorifics and placed a heavy hand on Yeonwoo’s thigh.

“No, I’m not interested in the industry.”
“Really? You sure? Doesn’t seem that way. You came all the way here thanks to your friend, right?”
“He’s just drunk. I came to pick him up.”

But Jungman either didn’t hear or didn’t care.

“You’re exactly the kind of face I’ve been looking for. You sure you didn’t plan this?”

His words twisted, implying Yeonwoo had approached him.

“I know a bunch of directors and actors. Want me to introduce you? You know Sun Inhyeok, right? The movie Horizon — I was on that set too.”

That name again. Why was everyone obsessed with that actor?

Yeonwoo faltered, briefly picturing the man’s perfect face — and Jungman caught that pause. A grin spread across his face.

“You wouldn’t believe how many newbies try to get close to me. Last week—what’s his name? That guy from the fusion sageuk who played the eunuch—”
“Excuse me!”

As Jungman’s hand crept up again, Yeonwoo shot to his feet.

“I—I really need the restroom.”
“We were having fun! What’s the rush?”

Jungman complained, but Yeonwoo barely heard him. The room was spinning.

Wha… what’s happening…

He blinked hard, trying to focus, but the dizziness wouldn’t fade. Still, he forced himself toward the hallway — anything to get away.

He’d only had one cocktail and a glass of orange juice. But his steps were unsteady, his vision hazy.

Meanwhile, back at the table, someone giggled and poured strong liquor into the empty orange juice bottle.

“Hey, where’d the mimosa go? Everyone says it’s too weak, but it’s tasty, right?”

Unaware of any of this, Yeonwoo blamed his own body — convinced it was just exhaustion and poor condition. But the alcohol coursing through his veins was far stronger than he knew.