The reaction to Episode 12 didn't slow down overnight.

By the time morning came, the internet was once again filled with posts, screenshots, and videos from last night's episode. Fans couldn't stop talking about the hospital scene, about the subtle forgiveness, and most of all—about what was coming next.

"Yura entering Minjae's world?? This is HUGE."

"She's finally going to see his idol life with her own eyes…"

"The pacing is killing me. Just give me the next episode already!"

"I swear the manager getting hurt was not on my K-drama bingo card."

Even on the drama forums, everyone was on high alert.

People were speculating what the next episode would hold. Some wondered if Yura would feel out of place once she saw how different Minjae's past life was. Others were hopeful, saying that it would bring them closer.

The topic trended across social media once again.

#StarsSecretEp12

#MinjaeYuraHospitalScene

#FromIdolToLover

#LetYuraIn

#OurCoupleIsBack

And the news outlets weren't far behind.

By lunch time, several online articles had already gone up.

"Emotional Reconciliation Followed by Shocking Accident—The Star's Secret Soars Again"

"Minjae's Past and Present Collide—What's Next for them?"

"Viewers Praise Realistic Healing Scene: 'It Wasn't About Drama, It Was About Trust'"

Even international media started to catch on.

A translated article on a Japanese drama site read:

"The gentle romance now touches reality—Episode 12 leaves fans in tears again."

At Global Studios, the mood was very much positive.

One of the marketing leads was refreshing their engagement dashboard, watching the numbers tick up every few seconds.

"The retention rate from last night's episode is insane," she said, scrolling through the live reaction data.

Another staff member looked up from his monitor. "People are watching the last five minutes on repeat. Over and over."

"Especially the hospital scene," someone else added. "We timed it just right. The ending was quiet, but the tension stuck to them. They couldn't wait for the next episode."

The team exchanged glances, already preparing their next step. A few trailers from the episode would be released later that day, plus a behind-the-scenes clip of the rooftop reconciliation.

- - -

Back in Minjae's apartment, he had just finished eating a late breakfast when he sat on his couch again, scrolling through the messages on his phone.

[Jihoon:] Hyung. That last scene?? It gave me goosebumps.

[Yura:] Oppa… we did well, right?

[Minjae:] We did. Everyone's feeling it.

He paused for a moment and smiled.

Then another message came in. This time from Donghyun.

[Donghyun Hyung:] Reminder. The first script reading for Winter's Ending is this Friday. 10 a.m. sharp. Don't stay up too late that time. Come prepared.

Minjae looked at the message and let out a soft breath.

It felt like everything was moving all at once now. The current drama was reaching its peak, while the next one was already starting to take shape.

Still, in the middle of it all… he felt satisfied.

There were still more episodes to air. More scenes to be seen. But for now, he was okay.

And when he checked the real-time rankings again later that afternoon, there it was.

The Star's Secret — #1 Most Watched Drama This Week

Episode 12 Viewership: 14.1%

That afternoon, after reading Donghyun's message, Minjae leaned back against the couch and glanced around his apartment.

The living room was now quiet. The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, and the empty plate from his late breakfast sat on the table next to his phone.

After a minute, his phone lit up, this time with a notification from one of the drama forums. Out of habit, he tapped on it and was led to a new fan thread filled with gifs and screenshots from last night's episode.

One particular gif caught his attention. It was the scene where Yura's character stepped closer and said, "Don't shut me out."

Under it, the caption read:

"This is the most romantic thing anyone's ever said on television. Don't fight me."

Minjae let out a small laugh, shaking his head. The comments underneath were just as dramatic.

"I've watched this clip 32 times and I still get butterflies."

"The way he looked at her like she was the only thing in the world…"

"No kiss, no hug, and still better than 90% of romances out there."

He read more, quietly scrolling, as the sunlight continued to shift across the floor.

Around 3 p.m., he finally stood up and washed his dishes. He cleaned the table, tidied the living room a little, and lit one of the scented candles he kept near the window.

Just as he sat back down, his phone buzzed again.

This time, it was a post from Global Studios' official account.

"A small peek at Episode 13? Don't say we never give you anything…"

Attached were three short video clips.

Minjae raised an eyebrow and clicked on the first one.

The screen showed a bright morning scene at the café. Yura's character was standing behind the counter while Minjae's character sat near the window, holding up a small notebook.

"You really write songs?" Yura asked, skeptical.

Minjae nodded, dead serious. "I've written five since last night."

"Okay, singer," she teased. "How about you sing one for me?"

Minjae watched the second clip. This one showed them walking down the street with matching scarves. Yura's scarf was visibly slipping, and without a word, Minjae reached out and fixed it for her. She looked up at him, caught off guard.

"You keep doing that," she said quietly.

"Doing what?"

"Taking care of me without making it obvious."

The camera lingered on their eyes for a beat longer before fading to the next scene.

Minjae didn't even realize he was smiling until the third clip started playing.

This one was short.

It was a shot of Yura sneaking into the bakery at night to surprise Minjae, only to find him asleep at the counter. She tiptoed closer and gently draped a blanket over him before sitting beside him in silence.

Just that.

A quiet gesture.

No words.

And yet it spoke volumes.

The comments under the post appeared instantly.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US."

"NO BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUAL TORTURE."

"They're feeding us sweet crumbs but making us wait for the feast."

"This better be a full hour of fluff before the angst comes back."

"I NEED THIS EPISODE NOW. WHO DO I PAY???"

#StarsSecretEp13

#TooCuteToWait

#WeWantWednesdayNotFriday

#CoupleOfTheYear

Fans were posting memes of crying cats, people screaming into pillows, and countdown timers until Friday.

Minjae sat there watching the chaos unfold online, still wearing the softest grin.

The clips were lighthearted. Healing. A breath after the tension. And it made him genuinely proud to know that audiences were reacting so well. They weren't just watching the drama. They were feeling it.

He opened his messages again and typed:

[Minjae:] They uploaded the previews.

[Yura:] I KNOW. My phone hasn't stopped buzzing 😭

[Minjae:] People are really waiting for us.

[Yura:] It's kind of scary… but kind of nice, right?

[Minjae:] Yeah. Really nice.

[Yura:] Friday's episode is going to break them again, isn't it?

Minjae leaned his head back against the couch.

He knew what was coming in Episode 13. He remembered the scenes. The pacing. The moment when everything that had been building quietly would finally shift again.

[Minjae:] Yeah. I think they'll like it/

[Yura:] Me too.

He locked his phone after that and stood up.

Not long after the previews dropped, the buzz on social media only grew louder.

Just as the fan chatter reached its peak, Global Studios posted another update.

This time, it wasn't a video. It was a still.

A single photo.

The caption was simple:

📸 "A quiet moment between Minjae and Yura. Episode 13. Friday night."

The image? E-n+j*[email protected]! the stor&y-? Find^ m%ore@ at M!V&-L-E+M#P@Y@R.%

Minjae and Yura's characters sitting side by side on a secluded beach. The ocean stretched out behind them, waves gently rolling under a dusky sky. They were wrapped in thick jackets, sitting close but not touching, their heads slightly turned toward each other.

They looked as if they were joking with each other.

Yura's hair was tucked behind her ears, and Minjae's hands were resting loosely over his knees. His gaze wasn't on the sea, but on her. A still glance frozen in time.

Within seconds, the post blew up.

"STOP. THEY'RE SO IN LOVE."

"Look at how he's looking at her 😭😭😭"

"The ocean. The silence. The atmosphere. WHO IS WRITING THIS DRAMA?? I OWE THEM MY LIFE."

"Why does this picture say more than a thousand words…"

"Beach scenes in K-dramas just hit different."

"Minjae looking at Yura like she's his whole universe."

#StarsSecretEp13

#BeachSideBySide

#QuietLove

#SoftestCouple

#MinjaeAndYuraVisuals

#HealingDrama

The fans were quick to create edits. Someone colored the photo in warm tones and added a quote in cursive: "Even in silence, I want you beside me."

Another edit layered the image with clips from past episodes, like Minjae drying coffee cups beside Yura, walking home with her, fixing her scarf.

It was so obvious that the fans were so excited at the upcoming episode.