A Lie Has Turned Into Reality

“Oppa, I’ve made up my mind,” she declared suddenly, her voice unusually firm.

“Huh?”

Her serious tone was completely out of place in the relaxed atmosphere.

“Money exists for moments like this.”

Her earnest expression made me chuckle. Clearly, the meal had left a deep impression on her.

And honestly, she wasn’t wrong. For once, spending that much money didn’t feel like a waste. I nodded in agreement.

Seoha’s Perspective

The day had finally come—my chance to meet the infamous Hot Potato.

The online community where we’d met wasn’t a large one. It wasn’t the kind of place that attracted a lot of new members. But for those of us who were active, the bonds ran deep. We even held frequent offline meetups.

Among us, Hot Potato was a legend—a bit of an outlier.

Rumor had it he was insanely wealthy but avoided meeting people because of crippling social anxiety. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely convinced. If someone was that rich and confident online, why would they shy away from meeting others?

I reached out to him on a whim, never expecting much.

“Honestly, I didn’t think he’d say yes.”

But after persistent pestering, I finally got him to agree. The thought of meeting him in person was exhilarating.

Still, part of me worried. What if he didn’t show? What if the rumors were true, and he backed out at the last second?

“If he flakes, that’ll just prove he’s fake.”

Even so, I couldn’t shake my excitement. This was my chance to finally uncover the truth behind the enigma.

Whatever happened, today was going to be unforgettable.

A Surreal Revelation

With a small laugh, I made my way from Daegu to Seoul.

Even though he’d mentioned reserving a fine dining restaurant where meals cost hundreds of thousands of won, I wasn’t expecting much.

All I wanted was for at least part of him to be real. Maybe I’d grown attached to him without realizing it.

[Seoha: I just arrived, haha. I don’t think he’ll show, but I’ll wait and see.]
[Byeol’sBerry: Honestly, I don’t think he’s coming… Isn’t this just a waste of your time? ㅠㅠ]
[Cha Tae-hoon: Hey, he might actually show up.]
[Byeol’sBerry: Come on, as if someone who looks like that would just stay home posting on forums all day, lol.]

The meeting had become a hot topic in the community. Everyone was eager to uncover the truth about Hot Potato.

When the time came, I scanned my surroundings.

No one even remotely resembling the man in his profile picture was in sight.

Even my message asking when he’d arrive remained unread.

Did he block me?

Though I had mentally prepared for this, the reality still stung.

Sigh.

I swallowed my disappointment, forcing myself to stay composed.

“Ugh… What a waste of time.”

Just as I was about to leave, a car caught my eye.

Amid the ordinary vehicles in the lot, this one stood out—a sleek, luxury car exuding opulence.

It was a Rolls-Royce, the pinnacle of handcrafted luxury. Even people who know nothing about cars have heard of it.

“Who drives something like that? How rich must they be? What do they look like?”

As it approached the fine dining restaurant’s parking lot, my curiosity grew.

No way. It couldn’t be… could it?

But still, just in case, I found myself edging closer, eager to see who would step out.

The door opened with a soft clunk, and a man stepped out.

“Wha—!”

It was him.

He looked exactly like his profile picture.

“It’s all real?”

I stood frozen, my mind reeling as he glanced around, searching for someone, before striding confidently in my direction.

I had always assumed it was fake.

If anyone had asked, I would’ve said the same: his wealth, his photos, his entire persona—it was all too good to be true.

Sure, he’d posted pictures for proof and even handed out gifts, but there was always something off. His vague responses and half-hearted way of addressing doubts only fueled the suspicion.

The community’s consensus had been clear: Hot Potato was a fraud.

But now, standing before me, he was proving us all wrong.

Every ounce of doubt I’d carried evaporated, replaced by swelling curiosity and excitement.

“What will everyone else think?”

I steadied my racing heart, trying to process the scene unfolding before me.

Gingerly, I tapped him on the back.

Startled, he spun around, and our eyes met.

“This is insane.”

His profile picture wasn’t just unedited—it didn’t do him justice. If anything, he looked even better in person.

And it wasn’t just his face.

I work in the fashion industry, and I like to think I know my brands. The man standing before me was a walking advertisement for high-end luxury:

Fendi knitwear, Dior track pants, Hermes sneakers, a Bottega Veneta crossbody bag, and a Richard Mille watch.

Everything he wore probably cost as much as a house.

“Uh…?”

That voice.

It was unmistakable. The same one I’d heard countless times over voice chats, laughing and bantering like it was nothing.

And now I realized: it was all true.

Every. Single. Thing.

I kept my expression cheerful and composed as I greeted him with a bright smile.

“Oppa, right? I’m Seoha!”

“Uh… yeah. That’s me.”

All my doubts, so close to certainty, had been completely shattered. He was genuine all along.

He didn’t know I had questioned him, and yet, I felt a pang of guilt.

The time we had spent together—laughing, chatting, and building a connection—had been real. Every bit of it.

“It’s amazing… You know I came all the way here just to see you, right?”

“Uh, yeah… Shall we head in? I made a reservation.”

“Great! I’m so happy to finally see you in person!”

And I really was. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this happy.

Maybe, just maybe, this could turn into something truly special.

As his face turned slightly red, he quickly walked ahead, almost as if trying to escape.

It was, honestly, kind of adorable.