007 Zhao Meiyan

“Song Yuqi!!!”

“Stop it, stop it, Meiyan unnie, there are people around~~~”

“Even if there are people, I won’t let you off!!!”

Zhao Meiyan had plenty of strength and means but had never considered the possibility that Ms. Song might actually be holding back for her sake.

“There really are people!”

Ms. Song gently pushed Zhao Meiyan’s beautiful face aside to look.

“Huh?”

Zhao Meiyan first saw a middle-aged man with thinning hair, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a bulging shirt. His badge was a rare style:

SBS Drama Script Department, Section 1, CP Choi Younghoon.

What the heck?

Isn’t this supposed to be the place for music program production?

Zhao Meiyan’s brain froze; she didn’t even have time to take a proper look. Her body reacted instinctively as she quickly released Ms. Song, and both hurriedly bowed in greeting.

“Hello!”

“Hmm.”

CP Choi was equally stunned.

To be honest, he had been promoted to CP for many years and rarely paid attention to new actors, let alone rookie idols. He had no idea where these two girls suddenly came from.

“CP Choi, we won’t bother you anymore. Leave this to me, okay?”

Seeing the situation, Yin Yunhui stepped in to smooth things over and gave Choi a knowing look. Choi assumed Yin knew these two girls and took his leave.

After all, his goal was achieved—he had registered with Yin Yunhui.

“Alright, Yin…”

Yin Yunhui shook his head, and Choi tactfully left without calling out his name.

“Hmm?”

Song Yuqi straightened her back, relieved that the seemingly high-ranking middle-aged man had left without saying a word. That was a close call.

She had just noticed that these two people seemed to regard this handsome guy before them as their leader:

“Hello!”

Ms. Song greeted and quickly pulled Zhao Meiyan, ready to make a run for it.

“Have we met somewhere before?”

Yin Yunhui moved to the middle of the corridor, looking at Zhao Meiyan’s somewhat ‘classical beauty’ face.

“Huh?”

Zhao Meiyan, pulled up by Ms. Song, had actually been ‘secretly staring’ at this handsome guy since a while ago. For some reason, he looked very familiar.

Of course, Zhao Meiyan thought she was secretly looking, but her burning gaze hadn’t left Yin Yunhui even once.

“Here’s a hint,” said Yin Yunhui, pressing down the bangs styled in a grown-up fashion:

“Do you remember now, Squad Leader Zhao?”

“Um! Ah! Mm-hmm! Oh!!”

Ms. Song’s pupils trembled as she watched Zhao Meiyan’s massive flashback unfold.

Zhao Meiyan was jumping excitedly, pointing at Yin Yunhui, the name on the tip of her tongue but unable to say it.

It was frustrating.

Ms. Song covered her face in disgust. She couldn’t bear it anymore. She had heard the CP call out the handsome guy’s surname earlier; it should be Yin for sure.

She grabbed Zhao Meiyan’s arm, signaling her not to get too excited, and said earnestly:

“Yin…”

Zhao Meiyan’s memory snapped back instantly. Her eyes widened brightly, and she blurted out loudly:

“Yin Ze*! Wuwuwu!”

Yin Yunhui took a quick step forward and covered Zhao Meiyan’s mouth, effectively muting her:

“Hey, Zhao Meiyan! Haven’t I told you to call me Yin Yunhui?”

That was a close call—she almost said the last character. With a warning look, Zhao Meiyan nodded repeatedly, and Yin Yunhui finally released his hand.

Regaining her voice, Zhao Meiyan cheerfully said:

“Okay, Deputy Squad Leader Yin! Got it, Deputy Squad Leader Yin!”

“Damn…”

Because there were others around, Yin Yunhui rubbed his forehead, rolled his eyes, and slightly turned his head.

Shameful!

From childhood until now, the only time Yin Yunhui wasn’t Squad Leader was in elementary school, when he had to settle for Deputy Squad Leader.

That was their own school, Songdu Academy in Incheon, from kindergarten through high school.

And the one who always outperformed him was this somewhat slow-witted woman in front of him.

He thought that going into middle school, he would finally turn the tables and be on top, but that girl went to Seoul to become a trainee.

Dude, you dropped out in first grade of middle school to become a trainee???

Back then, Yin Yunhui couldn’t understand it and never paid attention to this childhood rival again.

“Yin… Yunhui! What are you doing here?”

Long time no see. Zhao Meiyan hadn’t changed—her face, her figure—but inside, she was a comedic soul.

“Just passing by.”

Yin Yunhui’s expression shifted slightly. Zhao Meiyan thought:

“Oh~~~ so you’re just passing by!”

“Ah!”

Ms. Song nearby had already collapsed—she couldn’t handle it, absolutely couldn’t handle it.

“Mm-hmm!”

Realizing her over-the-top reaction, Zhao Meiyan toned it down a bit, lifted her chin, and said firmly to Yin Yunhui:

“I warn you, don’t lie to me! I’m not as gullible as when I was a kid! Watch out or I’ll expose you…”

“Hmm?”

Yin Yunhui furrowed his brows, a smile hidden in his eyes:

“Expose what? My… Squad Leader Zhao?”

Yes, back in elementary school, classmates liked the lively, outgoing, and well-liked Zhao Meiyan, and they really did vote for her as the class monitor.

But if I had teamed up with other class officers to sideline you, what would you have done?

That was when young Yin Yunhui first tasted defeat.

Turns out Zhao Meiyan didn’t really have what it took to be a good class monitor; she was simply likable, and elementary school votes for class officers were just popularity contests.

So before Yin Yunhui could make his move, Zhao Meiyan happily came to him and, with hugs and kisses, handed over all the class monitor duties to him.

Damn… was that… a beauty trap?

Ah… I actually… lost…

Looking back now, Yin Yunhui felt silly. Elementary school kids didn’t have romantic feelings—it was just Zhao Meiyan’s way of showing affection.

Zhao Meiyan herself didn’t understand why the classmates didn’t vote for the academically excellent Yin Yunhui but chose her instead. Was it just because she was cute?

She was definitely very cute!

“It’s nothing, nothing. Hehehe, Yunhui~ Yunhui!”

Zhao Meiyan giggled foolishly, ready to keep Yin Yunhui’s secret.

It wasn’t really a secret anyway; it was on his ID card.

Yin Yunhui was the 26th-generation heir of the Haepyeong Yun clan’s Gong branch. According to the generational naming tradition, he should be called Yin X-lao, yes, with the ‘Lao’ generation.

So Yin Yunhui’s real name was Yin Zelao.

But when he was very young, he was teased by peers for that name; ‘Lao’ sounded too old-fashioned.

He cried and begged his grandfather to change it, and the grandfather, feeling sorry, gave his only grandson a courtesy name early: Yunhui.

Zhao Meiyan was Yin Yunhui’s elementary school classmate, so she knew he had two names.

“Let’s exchange contacts. We’ll meet again.”

“What are you saying? Since we ran into each other, of course we have to keep in touch… huh?”

Zhao Meiyan reached into her pocket, only to realize she had changed into her performance outfit and didn’t bring her phone.

A dark-themed look: hot pants and a tank top, with a fishnet shirt over it.

However, Yin Yunhui had no thoughts about it; his childhood impression of Zhao Meiyan as a lively goofball was too deep.

The kind who laughs out loud, ha ha ha.

“No worries. I said, there will be a next time. Wishing you all the best for your performance.”

“Really?”

Zhao Meiyan was about to go back for her phone, but Yin Yunhui’s words sparked an unexpected curiosity.

“See you next month.”

Yin Yunhui nodded and walked away.