Ranker’s Return

‘What is this?’ Hyeonu became so flustered upon looking at the smartphone that he couldn’t hide it. Kale was showing him social media and the posts that appeared there. One post had a photo and a short comment.

[I am in New York and seem to have seen familiar faces. Does anyone know who they are?]

The uploaded photo showed Hyeonu and Reina walking together in New York City. The two people weren’t at a very close distance to each other. There weren’t just one or two photos like this but quite a few.

“What is this?” Hyeonu spoke with a confused expression.

Without erasing the smile on his face, Kale replied, “What’s the matter? In New York, there are far more people who know Reina’s face than those who don’t. Moreover, there are even more people know your face.”

In other words, the people who posted the photos on SNS had recognized the two of them.

“Hmm...” Hyeonu sighed without saying a word. This was certainly what had happened the last time in Seoul.

‘I am a fool for forgetting that.’

Hyeonu had no awareness of his fame. He knew he was famous, yet not many people recognized Hyeonu in Seoul. To begin with, he didn’t go out frequently in Seoul. Additionally, he didn’t go to places with as many people as where they’d gone today because he usually had a clear destination in mind.

“How do I resolve this? It’s fine, but I think it will be quite a problem for Reina,” Hyeonu said worriedly.

Hearing that, Kale silently tapped something on his smartphone and placed it in front of Hyeonu again. “I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

After hearing Kale’s words, Hyeonu focused on the smartphone.

-It’s fine if it is Alley Leader.

-The two of them look good together.

-Yes, it is time for our brother to fall in love. Until when is he just going to play the game?

-It can’t be Reina, this guy!!!

Kale had shown him the comments on the post. The reactions of the people weren’t bad. Perhaps it was because there was already a precedent, but most people had a good response to the photos of Hyeonu and Reina. The impact of something new was usually the most intense the first time, so that was when people placed great significance onto it.

Hyeonu might not think this way, but it was the same for Hyeonu and Reina’s date. There had been a huge wave of negative reactions when the photos taken in Seoul were released. However, it was now just an atmosphere of acknowledging and celebrating their relationship.

“By the way, when did the two of you get into a relationship? I envy you, Mister Gang,” Kale whispered to Hyeonu in a soft voice.

Hyeonu glanced at Kale with wide eyes. “It isn’t like that.”

Kale didn’t lose his smile at Hyeonu’s tough attitude. Rather, his expression became more meaningful as he replied, “I understand. Instead, you should let us know if something happens later. This way, we can fulfill our management role.”

Hyeonu just shook his head. He realized that he was the only one who would suffer if he kept talking.

“Let’s go,” Hyeonu muttered in a powerless voice.

***

“Jamie Moore, can we look forward to the party today?” one of the reporters invited to the party today asked Jamie Moore.

The reporters had great expectations for today’s party. It wasn’t just them. Anyone interested in Arena would be carefully watching the party Nike Management was hosting today. That was already proven at the last party Nike Management hosted. With a lineup more brilliant than those of any other party, this party where the celebrities of Arena gathered in one place was bound to garner attention.

“Of course. Nike’s party today will be more gorgeous than ever.” Jamie Moore was confident. Today’s party would have a more explosive reaction than before.

‘It isn’t Alley Leader but the human Gang Hyeonu who will be illuminated.’ 

This was due to the meeting between Hyeonu and Choi Yoon. Their story was one that had yet to be exposed to the media, so it would be the hottest topic at the party today.

“Then let’s take a look at the first guest of the New York party hosted by Nike Management,” Jamie Moore exclaimed loudly. The door opened, and a man dressed in a navy suit appeared.

“The first guest is the treasure managed by Nike—Gang Hyeonu, also known as Alley Leader!”

Hyeonu waved at the reporters filling the wide hall. “Hello, this is Gang Hyeonu who is playing as Alley Leader in Crescent Moon.”

The moment Hyeonu appeared, the reporters rushed to raise their hands. There was a lot to be asked. In particular, the daytime date with Reina was a common interest for everyone.

Jamie Moore approached Hyeonu and asked while raising the microphone, “You’ve received such warm hospitality. Surely you don’t intend to just go in? Mister Gang?” 

This was a proposal that couldn’t be rejected. It wasn’t easy to ignore the reporters here and just enter the party as it would clearly cause a big problem with his reputation in the future.

“Of course not. Still, there are many people waiting. I will just accept two or three questions before going in,” Hyeonu replied. At that, the reporters shouted and raised their hands again, struggling to catch Hyeonu’s attention.

‘Who should I choose?’ Hyeonu looked around at the reporters. Everyone looked desperate, so it was hard to choose one person.

‘Choose anyone.’

In the end, Hyeonu picked the person who stood out the most. It was a man with a bright color around him. Hyeonu called out, “That man in the red t-shirt. Please ask your question. Just one question, thanks.”

The man who was selected by Hyeonu didn’t seem to believe it was real. He only realized he truly was chosen after looking to the left and right several times.

“Um... um... First, I want to thank you for this opportunity. The question I want to ask is what everyone is wondering about. What is your relationship with player Reina of the New York Warriors? This is already the second time that you have been photographed together.”

The reporter’s question was within the category that Hyeonu had expected.

‘As expected, it’s this...’

Hyeonu wasn’t flustered and gave his prepared answer. “This meeting is an extension of the last guided tour of Seoul. It was my first time going around New York, and I didn’t know anything, so Reina was my New York tour guide. It isn’t what you think. I’m sorry there’s nothing going on between us,” Hyeonu answered with a smile.

He wasn’t panicking, so naturally, the people gathered here felt that Hyeonu and Reina’s meeting truly wasn’t a romantic one between a man and woman but an ordinary one between friends.

“There really is no relationship? You aren’t going to announce that you are in a relationship later, right?” the man in the red t-shirt asked Hyeonu again, seemingly unable to give up. The man even broke the rule of asking one question, but no one condemned him. All the reporters were looking at Hyeonu with rather excited faces.

“I don’t think that will happen, but if it does, I will definitely inform the reporters,” Hyeonu responded to the reporter with a smile. So far, it was within the scope of what he expected.

Just then, Kale appeared from somewhere and ended Hyeonu’s interview with reporters. “It is up to here for the questions. An important guest is waiting for Gang Hyeonu. Thank you for your understanding.”

Kale walked up to Hyeonu and whispered, “Right now, Choi Yoon and Choi Jisu are waiting outside the door for you. They will come in soon.”

Hyeonu’s eyes widened when he heard Kale’s words.

“Here? With so many people around? Wasn’t I supposed to go see them separately?” Hyeonu asked Kale in a low voice. He didn’t expect at all that he would meet Choi Yoon and his daughter here.

‘Can she walk around a place like this?’

In Hyeonu’s memories, Choi Jisu was a child who shouldn’t be exposed to this type of environment. He couldn’t imagine a sick child enduring a baptism of camera flashes in a place with so many people.

“Choi Jisu really wanted it. Therefore, Choi Yoon allowed it,” Kale explained.

Hyeonu had nothing to say to that. What could Hyeonu do as a third party when the people involved said it was okay?

“Then I have nothing to say.”

The reporters looked at Hyeonu and Kale while still pressing the camera shutter. It was a pity that the interview ended with nothing interesting, but they felt that another scoop was waiting for them.

“You can come out now,” Kale said into the microphone.

Right then, the door opened, and a man and girl appeared. It was an ordinary-looking Asian man in his 30s and a pale-skinned girl. They were Choi Yoon and Choi Jisu.

“South Korean?”

“Who is that girl?”

“Is it Alley Leader’s daughter?”

“Go home if you’re going to talk bullshit.”

The reporters eagerly speculated on the identity of Choi Yoon and Choi Jisu who appeared at the door.

However, they couldn’t possibly know who they were.

So the relationship between Hyeonu and the two people was hard to predict.

“Haven’t you become very healthy?” Hyeonu welcomed Choi Jisu, who currently had more color in her complexion than in the past.

“Yes, I am really healthy thanks to Oppa.” Choi Jisu knew the truth now.

She had heard about it from Choi Yoon and Kale—that Hyeonu was the one who paid for her surgery and saved the house they were living in now.

“Why thank me? You should thank the doctor for the surgery. I’m proud that you’re working hard on rehabilitation.” Hyeonu stroked Choi Jisu’s head. He was really happy to see her. The surgery could not have been easy. Choi Jisu had been unbearably ill since a young age, and there was rehabilitation as well.

“Choi Yoon-ssi, hasn’t it been a while? Your complexion is so much better now.” Hyeonu turned his attention to Choi Yoon, who was standing behind Choi Jisu.

“How can I look bad? Jisu is getting better every day,” Choi Yoon replied with a smile.

Hyeonu smiled back. 

“Choi Yoon? Is that Choi Yoon?”

“Choi Yoon, the second student of Alley Leader Academy?”

“Then why did he show up here? Is he here to see Alley Leader?”

“By the way, that girl also knows Alley Leader?”

It wasn’t just Kale who heard Hyeonu and Choi Yoon’s conversation.

Many of the reporters were listening to them talk.

At this moment, one reporter raised the courage to speak up. “I’m curious about the relationship between the two of them and Gang Hyeonu.”

“The name of the man standing here is Choi Yoon. He was the second student of Alley Leader Academy. In addition...” Hyeonu said and then paused for a moment.

Choi Yoon reached out his hand, appearing to want to take the microphone from Hyeonu. So Hyeonu placed the microphone in Choi Yoon’s hands. Choi Yoon stated, “This child’s name is Choi Jisu, and she is my daughter. With the help of Alley Leader, she had an operation. As a result, her disease was treated, and her life was saved.”

The moment Choi Yoon’s words were over, no one present could open their mouths.