The Dorm Room Chat
It was late evening in Seoul, and Soo-jin was back in her dorm room, unpacking her belongings after Haneul-i had dropped her off. The atmosphere was lively as her two male and two female friends crowded around her, their curiosity evident.
"Okay, Soo-jin," one of the girls, Min-seo, began, her arms crossed. "Who was that guy? Don't even try to dodge the question!"
"Yes, spill it!" Eun-ha, another friend, chimed in, sitting cross-legged on the bed. "You can't just casually kiss someone like him in front of us and not explain."
The two male friends, Ji-hoon and Sung-woo, exchanged glances, equally intrigued.
"I didn't even realize that was Haneul-i until he turned around," Ji-hoon said, shaking his head. "The top face of Kang Company and the star of Hell Hunter? You're holding out on us, Soo-jin."
Soo-jin's cheeks flushed as she tried to fend off their barrage of questions. "It's not like that," she protested, though her shy smile betrayed her.
"Oh, it's exactly like that," Sung-woo teased. "You kissed him. In public. That's not nothing."
Realizing there was no escaping their curiosity, Soo-jin sighed, sitting down on the bed. "Alright, fine. I'll tell you what happened. But you have to promise not to overreact."
"No promises," Min-seo said, grinning.
Soo-jin rolled her eyes but began her story. "It all started when I went back to Joam-ri for the summer. I didn't know much about him at first, just that he was this mysterious guy who came to the village after surviving a plane crash. He had no memory of who he was, so the villagers took him in and named him Haneul-i."
"A plane crash?" Eun-ha asked, her eyes wide. "That's… intense."
Soo-jin nodded. "Yeah. But he's not just some tragic figure. He's incredible—he helps everyone in the village, does all kinds of work, and even became a Rookie King in boxing after just four weeks of training."
Ji-hoon whistled, impressed. "And now he's a model and an actor? That guy doesn't waste time."
"But how did you end up together?" Min-seo pressed. "Give us the juicy details!"
Soo-jin's cheeks turned pink as she recounted their time together. "We spent a lot of time together in the village. He's quiet but kind, always looking out for me and everyone else. And… well, things just happened naturally."
"Define 'naturally,'" Sung-woo said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Eun-ha smacked him on the arm. "Let her finish!"
Soo-jin hesitated, glancing at her friends' eager faces. "There was… one night," she began cautiously. "We were caught in a storm and had to stay at a motel. There was only one room available, and, well…"
The room erupted in gasps and laughter.
"Oh my God, you stayed in a couple's room?" Min-seo exclaimed.
"What happened?!" Ji-hoon demanded, leaning forward.
Soo-jin raised her hands, trying to calm them down. "Nothing crazy! At least, not at first. We shared the bed, and… we confessed to each other."
"That's so romantic," Eun-ha said, her voice dreamy. "It's like something out of a drama."
"And then?" Sung-woo asked, grinning.
"And then," Soo-jin said, her blush deepening, "one thing led to another."
Min-seo screamed into a pillow, while Ji-hoon and Sung-woo fell into exaggerated laughter.
"You're telling me you hooked up with the Hell Hunter?" Ji-hoon said, shaking his head. "I can't believe this."
"I can't believe it either," Min-seo added, staring at Soo-jin with mock jealousy. "You're living every girl's dream."
The conversation eventually shifted to lighter topics, but Soo-jin could still feel her friends' teasing looks. As the night wore on, Eun-ha pulled her aside for a private chat.
"You're really happy, aren't you?" Eun-ha asked, her tone softer.
Soo-jin nodded, her smile genuine. "I am. He makes me feel… safe. Like I can be myself around him."
Eun-ha smiled, squeezing her hand. "Then I'm happy for you, too. He seems like a good guy."
Back in the main room, the teasing continued late into the night, the five friends laughing and sharing stories. As Soo-jin lay in bed later, staring at the ceiling, her heart felt full.
I can't wait to see him again, she thought, a soft smile on her lips.
Meanwhile, back in Joam-ri, Haneul-i was thinking the same thing.
The Premiere of Hell Hunter
A year had passed since Haneul-i began shooting for Hell Hunter, and the movie was finally ready to hit the big screens. With Soo-jin now free from her studies, he decided to surprise her in a way that would make the day unforgettable.
The Arrival at Soo-jin's Dorm
Dressed impeccably in the same outfit he wore on his first modeling shoot—a tailored shirt left unbuttoned at the top, tucked into stylish pants—Haneul-i arrived at Soo-jin's dorm on his brand-new bike. His presence turned heads as he stood confidently, the bike gleaming under the sunlight.
Soo-jin and her friends came down together, and the moment she saw him, her cheeks flushed a deep pink.
"Haneul-i!" one of her male friends, Ji-hoon, exclaimed. "You look amazing! Can we get an autograph?"
Haneul-i chuckled and nodded. "Of course."
As he signed, Ji-hoon asked, "Did you meet the author of Hell Hunter? That mysterious writer, Aunknown10?"
"I think I'll meet them at the red carpet tomorrow," Haneul-i replied casually, still signing.
Meanwhile, Soo-jin's female friends were whispering among themselves.
"He's so hot," Min-seo muttered.
"Right? Soo-jin, you're one lucky girl," Eun-ha added, playfully nudging her.
Soo-jin approached Haneul-i, her gaze falling to his open shirt. Without a word, she stepped closer and began buttoning it. "You're too dressed up for showing off," she said, her tone teasing.
Min-seo grinned. "Someone's jealous!"
Haneul-i smirked, leaning down slightly to whisper, "Why do you think I dress this way? It's because I want to impress you."
Soo-jin rolled her eyes but smiled. "Ah, I love you so much," she admitted softly.
"And I love you too," he replied warmly.
"Let's go to the cinema," Soo-jin said, tugging on his arm.
At the theater, the excitement in the air was palpable. As the movie unfolded, Soo-jin was captivated by Haneul-i's performance. The final scene—the one shot in the village where Jang Tae-ho stood atop a mountain of demon corpses—was breathtaking.
"That was incredible," Soo-jin said, her eyes wide with admiration as the credits rolled.
When they stood to leave, whispers spread throughout the theater. Soon, people were surrounding them, asking Haneul-i for autographs.
"Let's make this quick," he said to Soo-jin with a wink. In just a few moments, he signed for everyone before guiding her out.
After dropping Soo-jin at her dorm, she turned to him with a mischievous smile. "It's not fair that you keep surprising me like this."
Before he could respond, she grabbed his hand and led him to her room, locking the door behind them. What happened that night was intimate.
The Red Carpet Invitation
The next morning, Haneul-i woke early, preparing for the red carpet event. Soo-jin stirred beside him, blinking sleepily.
"Why are you up so early?" she asked, her voice soft.
"I have the premiere's red carpet today," he explained. "I want you to come with me as my plus one."
Soo-jin sat up, her eyes lighting up. "Really?"
"Really," he replied with a smile.
The two spent the afternoon shopping for their outfits. Soo-jin carefully chose a sleek black vest and a flowing frock that accentuated her elegance.
When it was Haneul-i's turn, he surprised her by picking out an oversized hoodie and pants for her.
"What is this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't want anyone else looking at your body," he said with a teasing grin.
Soo-jin shook her head, laughing. "You're unbelievable."
In the end, she chose the vest and frock, and Haneul-i secretly bought her a jacket to keep her warm during the event.
At the red carpet, all eyes were on them as they stepped out of the car. Cameras flashed, and murmurs spread among the crowd.
"Who's that with Haneul-i?"
"She's gorgeous!"
After posing for photos, Soo-jin excitedly met the elusive author of Hell Hunter, Aunknown10. She secured their autograph and took a picture with them, her joy evident.
Meanwhile, Haneul-i was in an interview nearby.
"Who's the beautiful lady you brought with you tonight?" the interviewer asked.
Haneul-i paused, his gaze drifting to Soo-jin, who was smiling brightly while chatting with the author. The sight warmed his heart, and he couldn't help but smile too.
"Sorry, what was the question?" he asked, snapping back to attention.
The interviewer chuckled. "Who is she?"
Haneul-i's expression softened. "She's the love of my life. My soon to be wife."
The next day, social media was abuzz with clips and photos from the red carpet. Fans swooned over Haneul-i's romantic declaration, but one comment stood out:
"Is it just me, or does Haneul-i look and sound a lot like Jian Chen, the badminton prodigy who disappeared?"
The comment quickly gained traction, sparking a wave of speculation. But for now, Haneul-i remained blissfully unaware, focusing instead on the woman who had become his world.
The Social Media Storm
After the red carpet event, Haneul-i's romantic declaration about Soo-jin went viral. Fans couldn't get enough of the couple, with hashtags like #Haneul_iAndSooJin, #HellHunterPremiere, and #LoveOfMyLife trending on various platforms.
Among the sea of praise, memes, and admiration, a single comment stood out:
"Is it just me, or does Haneul-i look and sound a lot like Jian Chen, the badminton prodigy who disappeared?"
This comment, posted under a clip of his interview, quickly gained attention.
The Chain Reaction
User A: "Wait… now that you mention it, I used to follow Jian Chen! The resemblance is uncanny!"
User B: "OMG, the scar matches too! Didn't Jian get injured in a plane crash?"
User C: "And the voice! I just watched an old interview of Jian Chen, and it's eerily similar."
User D: "No way. Jian Chen disappeared years ago. There's no way he's alive, let alone a model and actor."
Speculation Builds
The speculation spiraled as fans began comparing photos and videos of Jian Chen with Haneul-i.
Side-by-side Comparisons: Fans posted images of Jian Chen mid-game and Haneul-i at the premiere, highlighting the similarities in their jawlines, height, and build.
Voice Analyses: A particularly dedicated user uploaded a side-by-side voice comparison, stating, "Listen to this! Both voices have the same tone and cadence. Coincidence? I think not!"
The voice Connection: "Remember Jian Chen had a deep but high voice the only difference is that his voice became more deeper from the crash? Look at Haneul-i's voice—it's almost the same."
Divided Opinions
The internet quickly split into two camps:
Believers: These users were convinced that Haneul-i and Jian Chen were the same person.
User E: "If this is true, it's the most dramatic comeback story ever. From badminton prodigy to plane crash survivor to model and actor? Insane."
User F: "Haneul-i being Jian Chen explains his insane athleticism and why he's so private about his past."
Skeptics: These users dismissed the theories as baseless.
User G: "You guys are reaching. Plenty of people have scars and similar features. Leave the man alone."
User H: "Jian Chen disappeared years ago. If he were alive, someone would've confirmed it by now."
Media and News Outlets Pick Up the Story
As the speculation gained traction, media outlets began covering the theory:
Korean Entertainment Weekly: "Could Top Model and Hell Hunter Star Haneul-i Be Former Badminton Prodigy Jian Chen?"
Sports Daily: "Fans Think Haneul-i Is Jian Chen—Is It True?"
Buzz Korea: "Scar, Voice, and Talent: The Evidence Linking Haneul-i to Jian Chen."
Journalists reached out to Haneul-i's team for comments, but his representatives declined to address the rumors.
Meanwhile, back in Joam-ri, the villagers noticed the buzz online.
Minjae: "I mean, he's definitely not the same person. Right? Right?"
Ji-eun: "It's wild to think about. But he never mentioned anything like that to me."
With the internet ablaze and speculation at an all-time high, fans eagerly awaited Haneul-i's response. Would he address the rumors? Or would the truth remain buried in the past?
For now, the mystery of whether Haneul-i and Jian Chen were the same person remained unsolved, fueling endless discussions across social media and beyond.
Haneul-i's Revelation
Haneul-i had seen the online comments and the growing speculation about his identity. At first, he ignored them, not wanting to engage with a past he didn't fully remember. But as the theories grew louder and his name trended worldwide, he realized he needed to address the situation.
Taking a deep breath, he sat down and typed a heartfelt post on his social media:
Haneul-i's Post:
"Yes, it's true—I survived a plane crash. When I was found, my DNA didn't match anyone in China, and I had no memory of who I was or where I came from. The villagers who saved me gave me the name Haneul-i, meaning 'gift from the heavens,' and they've been my family ever since.
I don't know if I'm the person some of you think I am, but I'm grateful for the life I've been able to rebuild. Thank you for your support."
The post immediately went viral, with millions of likes, comments, and shares within hours.
Theories Multiply
Fans and internet sleuths dove deeper into the mystery, analyzing every word of his post.
User A: "The DNA thing makes sense if it was contaminated in the crash. He might still be Jian Chen!"
User B: "If he's not Jian Chen, how do you explain the scar, the voice, and the athleticism?"
User C: "Maybe he doesn't remember being Jian Chen, but his instincts still do. That's why he's so good at boxing!"
Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts began combing through footage of Haneul-i's activities in the village and comparing them to Jian Chen's gameplay.
User D: "Look at his footwork in this clip! It's exactly like Jian's from his last match."
User E: "Even his posture with the fist is identical. This has to be him!"
Jian Yong's Reaction
Back in China, Jian Chen's father, Jian Yong, was scrolling through his phone when he saw the post. The moment he looked at the face in the picture, his heart stopped.
"That's my son," he whispered, his voice trembling.
For years, Jian Yong had clung to hope, refusing to believe his son was gone despite the lack of evidence. And now, staring at the screen, he felt a certainty he hadn't known in years.
"It's him. I know it's him," he said, tears streaming down his face.
He immediately began making plans to fly to Korea, determined to see Haneul-i in person and confirm what his heart already knew.
The World Watches
As Jian Yong prepared for his journey, the internet buzzed with excitement and anticipation. Would Haneul-i finally reunite with his family? Was he truly Jian Chen, the prodigy who had vanished years ago?
News outlets around the globe covered the unfolding story, calling it "one of the most compelling mysteries in sports and entertainment history."
But for Haneul-i, the truth of his past was still shrouded in uncertainty. As he awaited the next chapter of his life, he couldn't shake the feeling that his world was about to change forever.
______________________