Chapter Fifteen: Introducing the Celebrity’s Friends

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Entertainment at Your Side—No Pop-up Windows
Story Date: December 2004
Recommended Song: Stefanie Sun—The First Day
Disclaimer: This work is purely fictional; any resemblance to actual persons is purely coincidental!

This was Jiang Yihan’s first time entering a recording studio. At the entrance, there were many rows of chairs, about ten in all, set up for the audience, and now every seat was filled. In front of the audience was a platform—or more accurately, a stage—divided into three sections. On the left was where the hosts would stand, with the program’s name and logo displayed behind them. On the right were six guest seats, each labeled with a celebrity’s name and accompanied by water. Behind these seats was a raised platform with six more seats, each concealed by curtains. Just above and behind the guest seats were six large screens, each currently displaying a giant heart-shaped icon, hinting at further use as the show progressed.

After surveying the setup, everyone moved to their respective places. Han PD sat among the audience, but the cameras were off for now. Kim Jaejoong was assigned the farthest guest seat on the right, so naturally, Jiang Yihan took the corresponding seat behind him on the raised platform. Glancing at his position, Jiang Yihan guessed he’d either be the first or last to answer any questions. The dark, bustling crowd on stage and the busy staff lent a surreal atmosphere, and Jiang Yihan couldn’t help but take deep breaths to calm himself. But before he could compose himself, the director called, “Start!”

And so, the recording began!

Lee Hwi-jae: “MBC Net—”
Lee Hyori: “A program where local celebrities act as matchmakers for their friends.”
Together: “Introducing the friends of celebrities!”

With the enthusiastic cheers of the live audience, the two MCs kicked off the show. As soon as the opening ended, Lee Hwi-jae teased Lee Hyori, “Not long ago, Hyori was voted the most desirable woman for a group date.”

Lee Hyori replied, “Is that why you invited me to be MC today? Lee Hwi-jae should be the most popular male for group dates, right?”

“Me?” Lee Hwi-jae picked up the banter. “I’m just the introducer. Can’t help it—I’m getting older.”

His witty answer drew laughter from the crowd—though whether it was prompted by the PD, no one could tell.

“Actually, back in school,” Lee Hwi-jae continued, “I participated in maybe two or three group dates.”

The moment he finished, the audience responded with a chorus of skepticism.

“Alright, alright, it was two or three times a week,” he admitted, earning the audience’s approval and making Lee Hyori laugh.

Lee Hyori joined in the fun: “I originally thought I was invited not as the MC but as the actual group date candidate.”

“Ah, the age isn’t right, the age isn’t right,” Lee Hwi-jae immediately quipped, ribbing Lee Hyori, “You’re too old to qualify.”

“The celebrities aren’t here to date, but to help their friends find someone,” Lee Hwi-jae explained the rules. “Since the men are hidden behind a screen, the female lead must rely on the celebrities’ efforts to score the mystery men. And there’s only one female lead. Who will win her favor? The final winner will receive both a cash prize and a one-day date with our leading lady, courtesy of the show!”

Before introducing the female lead, the two MCs sang her praises, and even the celebrities who’d met her beforehand couldn’t stop complimenting her, making everyone curious. At last, the female lead was brought out.

Jiang Yihan glanced at the screen (the men could see out via the big screens, but those outside couldn’t see in) and was startled—it was someone he knew! He remembered her as the beautiful senior from the freshman registration desk—Li Yimei. Yes, today’s guest was that very same senior. Jiang Yihan couldn’t help but smile at how small the world was.

“My name is Li Yimei, a third-year student in the Film and Television Department at Central University, born in ’83, so I’m twenty-one this year.”

Her introduction was met with a chorus of admiration. The MCs, not missing an opportunity, teased the celebrities by asking whom Li Yimei would choose as her boyfriend from among them. The ever-popular Moon Hee-jun was selected, while the humorous Haha tried every trick to get her attention, but was thoroughly ignored and playfully mocked by Lee Hwi-jae.

The opening segment finally ended. Although the two hosts were entertaining, Jiang Yihan found himself bored behind the curtain, nearly dozing off—true to his lazy-cat nature.

In the first round, since the female lead couldn’t see any of the men, the celebrities had to reveal which famous person their friend most resembled. Haha’s friend was said to look like Mel Gibson, which drew disbelief and laughter, especially considering Mel Gibson’s age. Moon Hee-jun’s friend was compared to Korea’s national actor Jang Dong-gun, shocking everyone and raising anticipation for the reveal. Even Lee Hyori expressed great interest. At last, it was Kim Jaejoong’s turn, and Jiang Yihan was curious what he’d say, since they hadn’t discussed it beforehand. Kim Jaejoong’s answer stunned everyone: “He looks a lot like me—really.” As one of Korea’s acknowledged pretty boys, his looks weren’t in question, but to claim his friend looked like him was almost unbelievable. Lee Hwi-jae voiced what everyone was thinking: “Is he your relative? Cousin?” Kim Jaejoong couldn’t help but laugh. “No, no, not at all. Actually, my friend and I never talked about this. It’s just my own impression.”

“Is it in appearance or in spirit?” Lee Hyori asked, clearly intrigued.

“Ah, not in appearance. Everyone knows I’m called a flower boy, but compared to me, my friend deserves the title even more,” Kim Jaejoong explained, his answer seeming even more far-fetched than the previous ones.

The two hosts exchanged skeptical looks, clearly unconvinced. Behind them, Jiang Yihan was nearly in stitches, quietly whispering to Kim Jaejoong, “Hey, Jaejoong, don’t exaggerate. If I come out and disappoint everyone, what then? Haha!”

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After reviewing the photos of the supposed lookalikes, it was time for the talent showcase. Of course, Jiang Yihan and the others couldn’t appear on stage, so their celebrity friends performed for them. After discussing with Jiang Yihan, Kim Jaejoong naturally showed off his singing talent and was widely praised. Afterward, Li Yimei performed a dance, her sensual moves drawing enthusiastic applause. Then came the first elimination round—Haha’s friend was out in the first round, and upon revealing his face, Li Yimei, evidently a member of the “appearance club,” remarked, “Just as I expected.” The guests and audience erupted with laughter.

The program’s first highlight came in the second round: showcasing their hands and their most confident body part. Both Li Yimei and Lee Hyori had emphasized that hands were crucial in judging a man, so the hands were up first. Lee Hyori took the camera behind the screen to film from the second contestant onward (since the first had been eliminated). When she reached Moon Hee-jun’s friend, she took his hand and, to everyone’s surprise and amusement, caressed it. Lee Hwi-jae quickly shouted, “Hyori, are you alright? What are you doing?” Filming herself, Lee Hyori replied, “It’s nothing, just checking his hand. Now, what’s the body part you’re most confident in?” Deflecting the moment, Lee Hyori moved on to the next round.

After showcasing this contestant’s eyelashes, Lee Hyori continued, “Next up is the one who resembles Jang Dong-gun. Let’s take a closer look.” But Lee Hwi-jae interjected, “Hey, Hyori, the one you just saw was the Jang Dong-gun lookalike, not this one.” Startled, Lee Hyori exclaimed, “What? That was the Jang Dong-gun lookalike? This guy doesn’t look like him at all!” Laughter filled the studio, and even the celebrities were doubled over.

Lee Hyori took the opportunity to touch one contestant’s abs and, when another said his best feature was his arms, she blurted out, “Then you’ll have to take your shirt off!” The atmosphere grew playful and lively, reminiscent of the humor of Little S hosting “Kangxi Coming.” Finally, it was Jiang Yihan’s turn. Recalling the shy flower boy in the waiting room, Lee Hyori asked, “Which part of your body are you most confident in, Yihan?” The studio erupted, with Lee Hwi-jae teasing her, “When did Yihan become yours?” Lee Hyori’s face turned red. “Well, he feels like my little brother, so of course he’s our Yihan!” No one was convinced by her answer, and Jiang Yihan’s face grew hot as well.

He first showed his hands—small, with slender fingers, smooth skin, clearly unused to manual labor. Lee Hyori praised them enthusiastically and took the chance to touch them, sparking excitement in the crowd. Jiang Yihan then said his most confident feature was his lips. Lee Hyori quipped, “I really want to kiss him,” causing the unseen female audience to swoon. On camera, his lips were not thick, but full and beautifully colored—indeed inviting a kiss. With that, all the men had displayed their best features. Lee Hyori returned to her hosting duties, leaving Lee Hwi-jae to tease her endlessly about her age.

A few more rounds of games followed. In the penultimate round, three contestants remained, and one would be eliminated. Jiang Yihan was out; the curtain before him finally dropped. As soon as his face was revealed, the studio erupted in screams, including from Li Yimei—she recognized him instantly. Lee Hwi-jae, unable to take it, said, “Hey, you’re all screaming for a good-looking guy? Is he really that handsome?” The audience answered with a resounding “Yes!” leaving Lee Hwi-jae slightly miffed. Jiang Yihan, however, remained calm, assuming it was just for the show’s effect. But the determined glint in Li Yimei’s eyes unsettled him. Sure enough, in the “loser’s revival” round, one eliminated contestant could return, competing with the two who still hadn’t revealed their faces for a date with Li Yimei. Without hesitation, Li Yimei chose Jiang Yihan, and in the final round, she unreservedly grabbed his hand. Jiang Yihan was embarrassed and uneasy; her expression unsettled him, making him think all sorts of things—some even a little frightening.

The taping lasted nearly four hours. By then it was past two in the afternoon, and Jiang Yihan, who hadn’t eaten lunch, was starving. Kim Jaejoong had another engagement and had to leave, so he ate in the manager’s van, hugged Jiang Yihan, and departed. At that moment, Li Yimei blocked Jiang Yihan’s path. “We meet again, junior.”

“Oh, hello, senior. It really is a small world,” Jiang Yihan replied, puzzled by the possessive glint in her eyes. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“What do you mean?” Jiang Yihan’s lukewarm attitude irritated Li Yimei. At school, everyone praised her beauty and wanted to talk to her, yet Jiang Yihan always seemed indifferent. “Junior, didn’t we just become a couple on the show? Aren’t we supposed to go on a date? Shouldn’t we talk about our plans?”

“Oh? That?” Realizing the source of her odd behavior, Jiang Yihan sighed in relief. “Senior, I’m sure you have plenty of admirers. I’d rather not get involved. Let’s skip the date. As for the prize money, you can take it and go out with someone you like.” Eyes wide with “innocence,” Jiang Yihan was actually thinking, I just want to go home and eat—please, let there be no more trouble. Who knows if Li Yimei would go mad if she knew what was on his mind.

“Well then, goodbye, senior, let’s talk another time.” Seeing that Li Yimei was too angry to speak, Jiang Yihan seized the chance to escape before she could respond, leaving her stomping her feet in frustration behind him.

As for why Jiang Yihan was always this way with Li Yimei—perhaps she simply wasn’t his type, perhaps he wasn’t interested in dating right now, perhaps it was because of that girl named Liu Yan back home, or maybe it was just a simple lack of interest. Or perhaps… even Jiang Yihan didn’t know the exact reason. Maybe their “magnetic fields” just didn’t align.

Leaving the studio, Jiang Yihan walked out with Han PD, ready to go home for a meal, when a voice called out from behind, “Jiang Yihan, wait!” He turned and, to his surprise, it was Lee Hyori.