In the days that followed, it was impossible to scroll through the internet without seeing something related to The Star's Secret.

Articles were everywhere. Headlines in bold letters filled entertainment sites, fan forums, and trending columns.

Clips from Episode 9 were posted and reposted across different platforms. The scarf scene. The late night walk. The café moment. Every detail was being captioned and adored by fans.

"From Underdog to Front-Runner: The Star's Secret Tops Weekly Ratings"

"Minjae and Yura Deliver Romance Without Saying 'I Love You' — and Fans Are Obsessed"

"Quiet Love Is the New Standard: Why The Star's Secret Works So Well"

Even in comment sections, there was a shift in the people's comments. People who hadn't even watched the drama before were now saying things like, "Okay, fine. I'll start watching. You all win."

Minjae could hardly believe it.

He saw it every time he opened his phone. Fan edits flooded his feed. Interview requests started piling in. Donghyun even mentioned they had to start filtering offers because the sudden wave of interest was getting too much to handle at once.

And with that rise came something new.

One of the most popular Korean YouTube variety channels—known for inviting actors to do relaxed, fun segments outside of formal interviews—reached out to them. They wanted Minjae and Yura to join one of the videos.

The format was simple: a short mini-game called "Does My Co-Star Know Me?" where the pair would answer questions about each other, test how well they knew one another, and react to surprise clips or messages.

Yura had texted him first.

[Yura:] Oppa… we got invited to do that game on WonderPlay!! 😳

[Minjae:] I saw. Are you okay with it?

[Yura:] I think it'll be fun! The fans wanted it. You?

[Minjae:] Let's do it. It's only right to give them what they want, right?

[Yura:] Exactly! 😄

The shoot happened the next afternoon.

It was a small set inside a cozy studio. There was nothing fancy. Just two chairs, a softly-lit background with the show's name, and a camera crew of less than ten people. But the atmosphere was light, friendly, and easy.

Minjae arrived wearing a simple knit sweater and jeans. Yura showed up in a white blouse and soft beige skirt. When the crew greeted them, they were already teasing, "Ah, it's our nation's slow-burn couple~"

They both laughed at that.

Once the camera started rolling, the host gave them a short introduction and jumped right into the game.

First question:

"What's Yura's go-to snack on set?"

Minjae tilted his head, thinking hard.

"Dried mangoes," he finally answered.

Yura gasped and smiled wide. "You remembered!"

The staff clapped and cheered lightly in the background.

Yura's turn.

"What's Minjae's biggest acting habit?"

She pretended to think, but her answer came fast. "He tilts his head slightly when he's thinking. Even when he's in character."

Minjae blinked. "I do?"

Yura laughed. "You do! Go watch Episode 4 again."

They both laughed.

As the questions continued, it became clear how close they'd gotten.

The way Minjae answered calmly and Yura teased him between questions. The way they sometimes said the same thing at the same time. Or how they glanced at each other before giving their answers, as if checking if it was okay to be a little playful, a little honest.

Halfway through the video, the host surprised them with a special segment—messages from fans.

One read:

"You two make me believe in soft love again. Thank you."

Another:

"Please don't date anyone else. Just marry each other. 😭😭"

Minjae chuckled at that one, rubbing the back of his neck.

And then came the last round—a lightning game where they had to point at each other in response to fast questions.

"Who forgets lines more often?"

They both pointed at themselves.

The most up-to-date version is on M(VLEMPY)R.

Then laughed. "We're both guilty," Yura admitted.

"Who gives more compliments off-camera?"

They both pointed at Minjae.

The crew "awww'd" in unison.

"He's shy about it," Yura said. "But he always compliments after the take."

Minjae looked like he wanted to disappear into his sweater.

The video ended with the host thanking them, saying, "Your chemistry is as real off-screen as it is on-screen. It was a joy having you here."

Minjae and Yura bowed politely, gave their thanks, and walked off set, still smiling.

That night, the video was uploaded to WonderPlay's channel with the title:

"Minjae & Yura: The Co-Stars Who Know Too Much About Each Other?? | Chemistry Test Game!"

Within an hour, the comments exploded.

"I DIDN'T THINK I COULD LOVE THEM MORE AND YET—😭😭😭"

"The way they both remembered the little things??? Ugh. Soulmates."

"Can we get a spinoff drama where it's just them eating mangoes and complimenting each other??"

"He really does tilt his head when he's thinking. Yura's right."

"Not them pointing at themselves for forgetting lines. They're so cute."

By midnight, the video had already reached over half a million views. Fans were making gifs, memes, and mini clips of their favorite moments. People started calling it "MinYura."

Back in his apartment, Minjae watched the video once through.

Then once more, but only the parts where Yura answered things about him.

He laughed at her teasing, at how easy she made everything feel.

He didn't say anything out loud. He didn't even reply to Donghyun or Jihoon's messages teasing him about it.

But the smile on his face stayed for a while.

Because somehow, despite all the pressure, the hard work, he was having fun again.

- - -

A few days passed, and just like all things in the entertainment world, the buzzof their drama also began to slow down.

It was expected.

The excitement from Episode 9 had reached its peak. The WonderPlay video had gone viral and then settled into everyone's favorite list. The ratings were still strong, staying above 12%, but days had already passed.

Minjae didn't mind it.

He had been through this cycle enough to know that everything came in waves. What mattered most was how steady things stayed after the hype died down.

So when Minjae finally had a break in his schedule, he thought maybe it was time to do something he'd been meaning to for a while.

A small housewarming.

Nothing big.

He texted Donghyun first.

[Minjae:] Hyung. I think I'm finally settled. Housewarming this weekend?

[Donghyun:] You? Hosting something? I'm shocked.

[Minjae:] I'll order food. That counts, right?

[Donghyun:] I'm in. I'll bring beer.

He sent the same message to Jihoon and Yura.

Jihoon replied almost immediately.

[Jihoon:] Yaaaasss. I'm coming hungry. Be prepare, hyung.

[Yura:] I'll bring a plant 🪴 You need at least one green thing in there.

On Saturday evening, the doorbell rang right at 6:00 p.m.

Donghyun was the first to arrive, holding a six-pack of beer and a small box of snacks. He stepped inside and looked around.

"Not bad," he said, nodding. "Still bare though."

Minjae gave him a sheepish grin. "I got the essentials. That's enough for now."

The apartment was still quiet and minimal on the living room, there were only soft beige curtains, a small dining table, a TV mounted on the wall, and a simple beige sofa in the living room.

Jihoon arrived not long after, kicking his shoes off at the door and carrying a large bag of fried chicken like it was treasure.

"Let's eat before it gets cold!" he announced dramatically, already opening the box on the table.

The three of them sat and chatted for a while, the conversation bouncing from variety shows to random jokes. Donghyun poked fun at Minjae's now semi-famous stone toss while Jihoon imitated fans on TikTok recreating the head bump scene.

Then the doorbell rang again.

Minjae stood and opened it. Yura stood there holding a small potted plant with tiny white flowers.

"I kept my promise," she said with a smile, lifting the pot.

Minjae took it gently and stepped aside.

"Welcome."

She stepped in and looked around. "Omo… this is cute, Oppa. It's very you."

"Very plain, you mean?"

"No," she laughed. "Very calm."

They placed the plant near the window where it could get some light. Yura slipped off her coat and joined the others at the table.

Minjae had ordered tteokbokki, kimbap, and pizza earlier, so soon the table was filled with food and drinks. They talked and laughed as they ate.

Donghyun teased Jihoon about his eating speed. Jihoon talked about some idol variety taping he did the other day. The night was just warm and fun.

It almost felt like a small family gathering.

And as the night went on, the lights softened, and everyone leaned back with full stomachs and light hearts.

Minjae looked around at the people who came.

His friends and Donghyun.

He didn't say anything out loud, but something about it grounded him.

Maybe this was what he had been working toward.

Not just the spotlight. Not just the headlines.

But this kind of peace.

This kind of comfort.

The kind where laughter filled the spaces between boxes and bare walls.