First Take

You never thought your biggest fangirl moment would come from a company email titled “Urgent Opportunity Regarding Jang Wonyoung.”

It was 2:17 AM when your phone buzzed on the nightstand. You were half-asleep, scrolling through old IVE concert fancams like usual. The email looked sketchy at first, official Starship Entertainment domain, but who actually gets contacted by a K-pop company at this hour?

You almost deleted it.

But the first line made your stomach drop:

“Dear [Your Name], we have identified you as a potential candidate for a special project involving IVE’s Jang Wonyoung. This is time-sensitive. Please respond within the hour if interested.”

Two hours later, you were on a hushed international call with a polite but firm manager named Ji-hoon. He didn’t waste words.

“There’s been a small… complication with Wonyoung’s image. Nothing she did wrong, but netizens are running with it. We need a solution that shows she’s in a stable, wholesome relationship. Someone real. Not an actor. A genuine fan.”

You laughed nervously. “You’re joking, right?”

“We’re not. We’ve reviewed your online activity. Clean record, long-time supporter, age-appropriate, presentable. We can fly you to Seoul tomorrow. Full NDA, compensation, and strict rules. Think about it.”

You should have said no. Normal people don’t get pulled into idol contracts.

But the way he said her name, like this was actually serious and made you hesitate. Wonyoung had been your bias since IZ*ONE. You’d defended her through every hate comment, every “cold princess” rumor. If this was real…

“I’m in.”

The next 24 hours were a blur.

A black van picked you up from Incheon Airport. Tinted windows, no questions. They drove you straight to a private floor in Starship’s building. Two lawyers and three managers waited in a sleek conference room that smelled like fresh coffee and anxiety.

You signed the NDA so fast your hand cramped. The terms were brutal: no talking about the arrangement, no posting anything personal, complete media compliance for six months minimum. In return, generous payment, hotel in Seoul during the contract, and “protection from any backlash.”

Then the door opened.

Jang Wonyoung stepped inside.

Even in casual clothes, oversized beige cardigan, white t-shirt, light jeans, hair in a loose ponytail, she looked like she had walked out of a magazine. Tall, graceful, with that small face and sharp yet soft features everyone talked about. Her real-life presence was overwhelming. Not just pretty. Magnetic.

She bowed politely, voice gentle and trained.

“Hello. I’m Jang Wonyoung. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

You bowed back, heart hammering. “I’m [Your Name]. Honestly… this still feels like a dream. Or a prank.”

A tiny, tired smile touched her lips. She sat down across from you as the managers opened thick folders.

The scandal was explained in careful terms.

A blurry photo from two weeks ago had leaked. Wonyoung leaving a private dinner with a male stylist who had worked with her for years. The angle made it look intimate. Dispatch-style rumors exploded overnight. “Wonyoung secretly dating?” “Her pure image is fake.” The usual toxic cycle. IVE’s upcoming comeback was at risk. Her solo projects. Everything.

So the company’s solution was simple on paper: announce a relationship with a “normal fan.” It would paint her as relatable, loyal, and human. Kill the negative narrative.

You were the chosen one.

Wonyoung listened quietly the whole time, occasionally nodding. Her expression stayed calm and professional, but you noticed the way her fingers tightened slightly around her water bottle.

When the managers finally stepped out “to prepare documents,” the room fell into heavy silence.

Wonyoung looked at you properly for the first time without staff present. Her eyes were brighter up close, warm brown with that famous sparkle, but also exhausted.

“…This must be really weird for you,” she said softly. Her voice had dropped the polished idol tone. It was quieter. More real. “Being suddenly told you’re dating someone you only know from the stage.”

You let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding.

“Yeah. Very weird. I’ve been a fan for years, but I never imagined… this.” You gestured vaguely between the two of you. “I’m not even an actor. What if I mess up?”

She tilted her head slightly, studying you.

“Most people I meet in these situations get excited about the attention or the money. You look… nervous. In a genuine way.” A small pause. “It’s refreshing, actually.”

The compliment made your cheeks warm.

“I just don’t want to make things harder for you,” you admitted. “You already deal with so much.”

Wonyoung’s gaze softened. For a second, the elegant idol mask slipped and you saw the 21-year-old girl who was probably tired of carrying everyone’s expectations.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “Really. Let’s try to make this as comfortable as possible for both of us, okay? We don’t have to force anything when cameras aren’t around.”

She reached across the table and briefly touched your hand, light, professional, but the contact sent electricity up your arm.

The managers returned before either of you could say more.

“Tomorrow at 2 PM,” one of them said. “A quiet café in Gangnam. First official date photos. We’ll brief you both on the story: you met through a fansign last year, kept in touch privately, recently started dating. Keep it simple and sweet.”

Wonyoung nodded like the professional she was. But as everyone stood up, she glanced back at you one last time.

“See you tomorrow, then… boyfriend,” she said with the tiniest teasing smile.

Your heart did something dangerous.

You spent the rest of the afternoon in a luxurious hotel room the company had booked for you, the kind of place you’d only seen in dramas. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Seoul, a massive bed, and silence that felt too loud.

Your mind still racing.

What the hell am I doing?

This wasn’t some fanfiction fantasy. This was real. Jang Wonyoung, the Jang Wonyoung… was going to pretend to date you in public. One wrong move and you could ruin her image. Or worse, hurt her. The guilt already sat heavy in your chest.

You were just a normal guy who happened to love IVE. You’d supported her since IZ*ONE days, watched every stage, every vlog, every moment she smiled through exhaustion. And now you were being paid to lie beside her?

You grabbed your phone and called the manager, Ji-hoon.