Who's Your Muse? [Entertainment Industry]

A duo of producers with hit songs and a shared talent for attracting rumors, both beautiful, powerful, and tragic

A sweet-love-song soloist who is a must-listen every spring and summer, formerly a Kara member, versus the leader of a boy band behind classic breakup ballads [the stereotypical version]

Blurb One:

There's an unwritten rule in the South Korean entertainment industry: idols dating is a grave sin. Even if you're dating an older idol, keep it under wraps.

But every rule has its exceptions.

Passerby 1: If GD gets his heart broken, we'll get a new song. Please make a comeback soon.

Passerby 2: Spring is here again, and I've listened to all of Yoon Molly's songs to death. When will she fall in love again? Even if it's for me.

Fans: Stop making up romances between my oppa/unnie and xx. They've never admitted to dating anyone since debut, okay? You believe rumors, too?

By the way, the companies of these two people, who seem to have nothing in common, just happen to share a set of PR lines that are similar but not quite the same.

As a member of Kara, Yoon Molly is photographed for the first time, taking a late-night stroll by the Han River with the male lead of her title track's music video.

Her agency, DSP, says: "The two are having a friendly discussion related to music."

After passersby and fans rage at each other for a month, a love song written and composed by Yoon Molly climbs the music charts on her comeback album.

Yoon Molly, now a semi-free agent after her group contract expires, is photographed for the second time.

Her new company copies the same PR line: "The two are having a friendly discussion related to music."

Passersby and fans are half skeptical, half supportive: "She's dating again. Of course she starts letting loose once she's out of the group." / "Her trash former company set her up again. Hurry up and focus on your career, unnie."

A few months later, the title track of Yoon Molly's debut solo album tops the monthly charts.

Yoon Molly is photographed for the third time... Passersby and fans: Looking forward to the new song!!!

Meanwhile, Kwon Jiyong's agency, YG: "We cannot confirm our artist's private life" / "It isn't worth responding to" / "We cannot reach the artist"...

Blurb Two:

It's that time of year again when celebrity couples are revealed. Just as passersby wait eagerly for some gossip, Dispatch releases a few photos of Kwon Jiyong and Yoon Molly together.

Most of the internet: Can you stop using these two to meet your KPI targets? / It's obvious neither of them is the other's type. / Maybe this time it's [really] a music-related discussion. Looking forward to a collaboration from these two hitmakers.

A few shameless gossip lovers: Let them date, then. Yoon Molly can release a song while they're in love, and GD can put out another one after they break up... We get to hear one more song, hehe.

After the news swirls around for a day, Yoon Molly's agency is first to issue a statement: The two are [currently] having a friendly discussion related to music.

Then Kwon Jiyong's agency follows up: "We cannot confirm our artist's private life. If it's true, congratulations!"

Passersby and fans: ???

At this point, the CP fans who've been quietly shipping them for years finally appear in the corner, producing a whole chain of evidence.

Reading Guide and Content Warnings:

1. The female lead is a member of Kara 2.0, active from 2008 to 2013. After her group contract ends, she pursues a solo career and takes part in the group's 15th anniversary activities in 2022. Her stage name is Yoon Molly, and her real name is Yoon Moli. She has one-quarter Chinese ancestry.

2. The leads are each other's first love, though things came to nothing before their debuts. In the meantime, both will date other people and be involved in dating rumors!!! Readers, please support the leads' freedom to fall in love. They make music in a variety of styles; the ones mentioned in the blurb are stereotypes held by the public.

3. This isn't a nonstop power fantasy. The female lead's abilities grow, and her career doesn't go smoothly. She has her darkest moments and her brightest starlight, and will gradually grow stronger.

4. The story spans a long period of time.

5. The blurb may be adjusted before the story starts, but the overall framework won't change.

Theme: Express yourself and be yourself