⋆｡ﾟ 양설's pocket boy is 권새영︕
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yang
seol;
Time hates love, wants love poor, but love spins gold, gold, gold from straw.
Hour, Carol Ann Duffy
the basics
full name Yang Seol 양설
nicknames
date of birth (age) December 23, 1997 (26)
birth place Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea
hometown Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea
ethnicity Korean
nationality South Korean
uality Heteroromantic, demiual
languages
face claim Kim Yoojung, actor
back up Hwang Boreumbyeol, actor
measurements 165 cm, 49 kg
appearance
If you ask Yang Seol’s fans what they think of Yang Seol herself, they’ll say that she’s the living definition of someone who has both beauty and brains. They’re certainly not wrong to say that, with her delicate heart-shaped face, almond eyes with a hint of sparkle to them, gentle smile and hair as dark as the night sky. When she walks into a room, it’s like the atmosphere has brightened up with her presence, where people can’t help but focus their attention on her.
If this doesn’t already remind you of Snow White, her other features, like her pale skin, good height (not too tall and not too short) and slim figure certainly will help cement the image of this princess in mind. It also helps that she hasn’t been experimental in terms of hair colours or piercings or tattoos, having nothing but just the standard lobe piercing on each ear. And, as a bonus, she’s not looking to change up her appearance drastically anytime soon.
style
Ever since she has been catapulted to nearly a superstar level of fame within South Korea, it’s become rather important for her to maintain her appearance and not look sloppy in public. As such, she rarely, if ever, leaves her house without checking what she’s currently wearing and changing them out for something more presentable. Even when she’s running out of time, she’ll make sure to dress up in the bare minimum- T-shirt and shorts and matching sandals or sneakers.
Her usual go-to outfits includes T-shirts, shorts, skirts, blouses, jeans, dresses, cardigans, blazers and coats. And add a couple of minimalistic accessories, do some light make up, and she’s ready to head out. She doesn’t care much for fashion trends, preferring to stick to classics that never go out of style. That’s why no matter what she wears, she always looks like she’s in trend, despite staying well away from things like chains, pastel colours or even cropped tops.
nicknames
♡ seolie 설리, our seolie 우리설리 the nicknames her parents use when calling her. She doesn't like people calling her as such, as they remind her of painful situations in her family.
♡ snow 스노우 derived from her given name, Seol, transliterated to mean ‘snow’ (雪) in Hanja. This nickname was initially coined together by her father, who occasionally calls her as such. However, nowadays, it’s her friends and especially fans who refer to her by this nickname. A common variation of it is Snow-unnie, which is primarily used by her fans.
♡ snow 스노우 derived from her given name, Seol, transliterated to mean ‘snow’ (雪) in Hanja. This nickname was initially coined together by her father, who occasionally calls her as such. However, nowadays, it’s her friends and especially fans who refer to her by this nickname. A common variation of it is Snow-unnie, which is primarily used by her fans.
birth place Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea
hometown Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea
ethnicity Korean
nationality South Korean
uality Heteroromantic, demiual
♡ korean 100%. She used to speak in the Gyeongsang dialect, but following her move to Seoul, has since spoken in the standard Seoul dialect more frequently. She can still speak in the Gyeongsang dialect, which she does when happening to meet someone from the Gyeongsang provinces.
♡ english 60%. As English is a compulsory subject, she learned it as part of her school’s curriculum from elementary to high school. Since she doesn’t use it as often as Korean, she has gotten rusty over the years, but can still understand and express herself in the language fairly well.
♡ english 60%. As English is a compulsory subject, she learned it as part of her school’s curriculum from elementary to high school. Since she doesn’t use it as often as Korean, she has gotten rusty over the years, but can still understand and express herself in the language fairly well.
back up Hwang Boreumbyeol, actor
If you ask Yang Seol’s fans what they think of Yang Seol herself, they’ll say that she’s the living definition of someone who has both beauty and brains. They’re certainly not wrong to say that, with her delicate heart-shaped face, almond eyes with a hint of sparkle to them, gentle smile and hair as dark as the night sky. When she walks into a room, it’s like the atmosphere has brightened up with her presence, where people can’t help but focus their attention on her.
If this doesn’t already remind you of Snow White, her other features, like her pale skin, good height (not too tall and not too short) and slim figure certainly will help cement the image of this princess in mind. It also helps that she hasn’t been experimental in terms of hair colours or piercings or tattoos, having nothing but just the standard lobe piercing on each ear. And, as a bonus, she’s not looking to change up her appearance drastically anytime soon.
Ever since she has been catapulted to nearly a superstar level of fame within South Korea, it’s become rather important for her to maintain her appearance and not look sloppy in public. As such, she rarely, if ever, leaves her house without checking what she’s currently wearing and changing them out for something more presentable. Even when she’s running out of time, she’ll make sure to dress up in the bare minimum- T-shirt and shorts and matching sandals or sneakers.
Her usual go-to outfits includes T-shirts, shorts, skirts, blouses, jeans, dresses, cardigans, blazers and coats. And add a couple of minimalistic accessories, do some light make up, and she’s ready to head out. She doesn’t care much for fashion trends, preferring to stick to classics that never go out of style. That’s why no matter what she wears, she always looks like she’s in trend, despite staying well away from things like chains, pastel colours or even cropped tops.
the personality
hufflepuff, neutral good
charismatic, creative, warm, empathetic,
anxious, deceitful, emotional, flighty
Deep inside, she hopes that that answer will satisfy the person who had asked it. She actually isn’t so sure how she even got to who she is today, a famous writer who made the bestsellers list in South Korea, even garnering attention and fame from other countries. All she ever asked for is an outlet for her imagination, a world filled with characters with rich backstories and shrouded in mystery. It was what she needed to escape the reality of her situation at home in Daegu, and she gained recognition and praise for it. And it seems like her creativity has no boundaries, her fans will say as she surprises them with yet another flash fiction story on Instagram.
But all of a sudden, these expectations of her become a bit too much to bear. Yet, Yang Seol cannot allow herself to falter. What will others think of her if they see her cracking under the pressure? And so, she plasters a smile on her face, in the hopes that the other attendees won’t see how strenuous it is to show how confident and calm she is. Even though she’s trying her best to not excuse herself from the party, to step away from it all. Because it won’t do her much good to do that.
the background
As much as Yang Seol enjoys reading fairy tales, her life never was one. Not when her parents filed for a divorce when she was seven years old, citing “irreconcilable differences”.
She’s taken to calling herself “The Suitcase Kid”, since she’s constantly shuttling between her father’s home and her mother’s home. For most of the year, she’s living at home with her father and stepmother and younger step siblings, and living with her mother and stepfather and younger step siblings during the school holidays. Yang Seol admits that living with her parents wasn't that bad, and she gets along decently well with all her siblings. But if she’s being very honest, it feels a little lonely when there isn’t anyone else who can relate to her experiences, or when they’re dedicating more time to care for their children with their new partners.
In order to avoid the feeling of being out of place, she turned towards books. It didn’t take too long for her to be hooked onto fantasy stories, wondering what it’ll be like to be a witch flying on her broomstick one day or a young maiden living in the woods with her three cats the next day. And she had way too much to say with regard to her rich imagination.
“You seem to like telling stories, and from the looks of your classmates, they seem to be enjoying whatever you have to say,” her teacher laughs sweetly as she passes her a flyer. “Perhaps you should do something about it, and perhaps you’ll go far.”
She wasn’t expecting her school’s magazine to publish that story of the dragon and the lion. It was a story about unexpected friendship at its core. But perhaps it was the simplicity of the message behind her story that made the magazine’s editors decide to pick it up and showcase it to a wider audience.
The smile on her language teacher’s face said it all. It was a smile of proudness of her student, knowing that her student had what it takes to become a masterful storyteller in the future.
“Oh my god!” Semi shrieked into the phone, and Yang Seol swears that at that moment, she could have gone deaf with that ungodly scream. “Slow Dancing has just climbed to the number one spot among web novels! Mark my words, Seol, you’re going to be famous!”
And that was exactly what Yang Seol become- famous.
Her heart leapt to hear the great news from her good friend. She knew that Slow Dancing, which is about a girl who fell in love with a guy who taught her how to slow dance, had been well-received by her readers who stopped to have a look at her novel, but never did she expect that she would become the most popular web novel.
Becoming a writer was truly her calling.
During her final year in Konkuk University, she was offered a publishing deal by Gimm-Young Publishers, Inc. She couldn’t have been any happier, knowing that one of the top publishing companies in South Korea wanted her to write a new novel, so that they could help her get places.
Even if that means moving to Seoul to pursue a writing career, away from her family in Daegu.
She’s still in contact with them, but she’d be deluding herself if she said she didn’t see how her parents’ new families seem more like a real family than the one she knew for the first seven years of her life. It’s not like they did her great wrongs, she’s aware of that, but it still does feel as though she’s in the periphery, and it’ll stay this way for quite a long time to come.
She’s stared at the screen for quite a while now. She’s attempted to write something, anything that’s worthy of her title as the up-and-coming writer in South Korea. Yet nothing comes to mind.
Meanwhile, her phone rang with a message from her boyfriend.
“Let’s break up.”
People say that the higher you climb, the greater you’ll fall.
Gimm-Young Publishers, Inc. were eagerly anticipating her third novel. The only problem is, she currently had nothing that she could think of that could be fleshed out into a full-length novel.
So everyone settled for a collection of short stories, instead. Not like it’s not a welcome change, considering that Yang Seol had already published two novels in the span of two years.
But even then, she still couldn’t think of anything to write. And even if there was something that she thought about, it either was something not quite befitting of a short story from her, or she lost inspiration for it far too quickly.
The publishing company was getting rather impatient, for she couldn’t come up with a story for the past five months. But it’s not like she could help that creative block that seemingly hit her out of nowhere.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, her boyfriend told her that he couldn’t carry on a relationship where his girlfriend was constantly so worried and couldn’t let go of the need for so much control in her life. And no matter how much Yang Seol tried to get him to stay, they ultimately ended their relationship of three years.
“I don’t think I can do this anymore,” Yang Seol said, tiredness and resignation evident in her voice. “I need a long break, I need to get away from it all.”
When Yang Seol proposed the idea of going on a long break to recharge and find inspiration for her short story collection to her literary agent, he was quick to offer her his full support.
After much persuasion on Jaeyoon’s end to Gimm-Young Publishers, Inc., they agreed that they’d rather work with Yang Seol after she finds herself again, not the Yang Seol who’s a mess.
Semi knew just the place that Yang Seol should go for a long break- Cheongsu, a smaller city in South Korea, with a relatively slower pace of life.
To be completely honest, Yang Seol has never been to Cheongsu before. But with how desperately she needs to take a step back from her hectic Seoul life, living in Cheongsu for the next six months looks like a very attractive option.
She’s taken to calling herself “The Suitcase Kid”, since she’s constantly shuttling between her father’s home and her mother’s home. For most of the year, she’s living at home with her father and stepmother and younger step siblings, and living with her mother and stepfather and younger step siblings during the school holidays. Yang Seol admits that living with her parents wasn't that bad, and she gets along decently well with all her siblings. But if she’s being very honest, it feels a little lonely when there isn’t anyone else who can relate to her experiences, or when they’re dedicating more time to care for their children with their new partners.
In order to avoid the feeling of being out of place, she turned towards books. It didn’t take too long for her to be hooked onto fantasy stories, wondering what it’ll be like to be a witch flying on her broomstick one day or a young maiden living in the woods with her three cats the next day. And she had way too much to say with regard to her rich imagination.
The smile on her language teacher’s face said it all. It was a smile of proudness of her student, knowing that her student had what it takes to become a masterful storyteller in the future.
Her heart leapt to hear the great news from her good friend. She knew that Slow Dancing, which is about a girl who fell in love with a guy who taught her how to slow dance, had been well-received by her readers who stopped to have a look at her novel, but never did she expect that she would become the most popular web novel.
Becoming a writer was truly her calling.
During her final year in Konkuk University, she was offered a publishing deal by Gimm-Young Publishers, Inc. She couldn’t have been any happier, knowing that one of the top publishing companies in South Korea wanted her to write a new novel, so that they could help her get places.
Even if that means moving to Seoul to pursue a writing career, away from her family in Daegu.
She’s still in contact with them, but she’d be deluding herself if she said she didn’t see how her parents’ new families seem more like a real family than the one she knew for the first seven years of her life. It’s not like they did her great wrongs, she’s aware of that, but it still does feel as though she’s in the periphery, and it’ll stay this way for quite a long time to come.
Meanwhile, her phone rang with a message from her boyfriend.
“Let’s break up.”
Gimm-Young Publishers, Inc. were eagerly anticipating her third novel. The only problem is, she currently had nothing that she could think of that could be fleshed out into a full-length novel.
So everyone settled for a collection of short stories, instead. Not like it’s not a welcome change, considering that Yang Seol had already published two novels in the span of two years.
But even then, she still couldn’t think of anything to write. And even if there was something that she thought about, it either was something not quite befitting of a short story from her, or she lost inspiration for it far too quickly.
The publishing company was getting rather impatient, for she couldn’t come up with a story for the past five months. But it’s not like she could help that creative block that seemingly hit her out of nowhere.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, her boyfriend told her that he couldn’t carry on a relationship where his girlfriend was constantly so worried and couldn’t let go of the need for so much control in her life. And no matter how much Yang Seol tried to get him to stay, they ultimately ended their relationship of three years.
After much persuasion on Jaeyoon’s end to Gimm-Young Publishers, Inc., they agreed that they’d rather work with Yang Seol after she finds herself again, not the Yang Seol who’s a mess.
Semi knew just the place that Yang Seol should go for a long break- Cheongsu, a smaller city in South Korea, with a relatively slower pace of life.
To be completely honest, Yang Seol has never been to Cheongsu before. But with how desperately she needs to take a step back from her hectic Seoul life, living in Cheongsu for the next six months looks like a very attractive option.
the trivia
♡ She likes sunflowers, doenjang-jjigae, dad jokes, animals (especially cats), honey lemon tea and strawberries.
♡ She dislikes nuts (except almonds and hazelnuts), oily or greasy food, liquorice, unrealistic storylines, creative blocks and abandonment.
♡ Her hobbies include reading, writing, watching films and dramas, listening to music and gardening.
♡ She’s currently cultivating African violets and several varieties of cacti that don’t require much time or attention to it due to her hectic lifestyle. However, she would like to try growing sunflowers some day.
♡ She obtained her driving license when she was 20 years old, and is now driving a Hyundai Accent.
♡ Her favourite genre of movies, dramas and books are historical fiction.
♡ She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Media & Communication from Konkuk University in 2020.
♡ Her love of dad jokes is due to her love of puns, especially when they are done well and in a creative manner. She absolutely will laugh at dad jokes, even when nobody else is doing so.
♡ She has a habit of covering while laughing.
♡ She’s not a fan of maximalism, as she finds the idea of being excessive brings in clutter rather than a clear sense of design. However, she’s completely okay if other people think otherwise.
♡ While considered above average throughout her schooling years, it’s apparent that Korean was her best subject by far.
♡ She also used to write poetry during her middle and high school days, but eventually stuck to just writing stories, as she thinks her poetry isn’t quite as good as her stories.
♡ She does not listen to K-pop that often, preferring to listen to other forms of music, especially those that discuss literature or history. It’s for this reason one of her favourite singers is Jay Chou, and she would like to have the chance to meet Vincent Fang someday.
♡ She was a huge Pottermore during her elementary school days, and was especially a fan of Hermione Granger. Her love for Harry Potter has since then died down, but she still reads the books and watches the films from time to time.
♡ She got Hufflepuff when she took the sorting hat quiz, and didn’t understand the sorting (she identified herself as Ravenclaw back then). However, after much thought and reflection on her personality, she now completely agrees with the result.
♡ She got a heron when she took the patronus quiz.
♡ She’s most active on her Instagram account, @snowwhiteseol, where she posts pictures of herself, books, movies, dramas, songs and even flash fiction she wrote herself. At present, she has 57k followers.
♡ She dislikes nuts (except almonds and hazelnuts), oily or greasy food, liquorice, unrealistic storylines, creative blocks and abandonment.
♡ Her hobbies include reading, writing, watching films and dramas, listening to music and gardening.
♡ She’s currently cultivating African violets and several varieties of cacti that don’t require much time or attention to it due to her hectic lifestyle. However, she would like to try growing sunflowers some day.
♡ She obtained her driving license when she was 20 years old, and is now driving a Hyundai Accent.
♡ Her favourite genre of movies, dramas and books are historical fiction.
♡ She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Media & Communication from Konkuk University in 2020.
♡ Her love of dad jokes is due to her love of puns, especially when they are done well and in a creative manner. She absolutely will laugh at dad jokes, even when nobody else is doing so.
♡ She has a habit of covering while laughing.
♡ She’s not a fan of maximalism, as she finds the idea of being excessive brings in clutter rather than a clear sense of design. However, she’s completely okay if other people think otherwise.
♡ While considered above average throughout her schooling years, it’s apparent that Korean was her best subject by far.
♡ She also used to write poetry during her middle and high school days, but eventually stuck to just writing stories, as she thinks her poetry isn’t quite as good as her stories.
♡ She does not listen to K-pop that often, preferring to listen to other forms of music, especially those that discuss literature or history. It’s for this reason one of her favourite singers is Jay Chou, and she would like to have the chance to meet Vincent Fang someday.
♡ She was a huge Pottermore during her elementary school days, and was especially a fan of Hermione Granger. Her love for Harry Potter has since then died down, but she still reads the books and watches the films from time to time.
♡ She got Hufflepuff when she took the sorting hat quiz, and didn’t understand the sorting (she identified herself as Ravenclaw back then). However, after much thought and reflection on her personality, she now completely agrees with the result.
♡ She got a heron when she took the patronus quiz.
♡ She’s most active on her Instagram account, @snowwhiteseol, where she posts pictures of herself, books, movies, dramas, songs and even flash fiction she wrote herself. At present, she has 57k followers.
the relationships
name Yeon Semi 연세미
birth year (age) 1998 (25)
relationship Close friend
face claim Kim Hyanggi, actor
When Yang Seol first met Yeon Semi, a fellow freshman who’s majoring in Contemporary Arts and would be her roommate, the first thing that she remembered was how loud her roommate was.
Fast forward five years, they’re still roommates, the only difference being they got their own place following graduation, since they can’t stay on the on-campus housing anymore.
Thank goodness there’s Semi around, who helps snap Yang Seol out of her thoughts more often than not, and volunteers herself to accompany her when she senses her friend could use some company. Even when Semi intentionally annoys Yang Seol, she doesn’t even mind, because it sometimes is a welcome distraction and she wouldn’t have Semi any other way. On the other hand, Yang Seol is Semi’s voice of reason, calmly listing the facts of situations which Semi got herself involved in and reminding her to get to know guys who show an interest in her, in her hopes that Semi will slow down when it comes to falling in love with them.
Semi has been working on Yang Seol’s books for a while now, having illustrated all of the covers and any additional art scenes to date. Despite her commitments as a full-time game illustrator, she’ll always be there when Yang Seol needs her, be it surprising her with her drawings or as a pillar of support.
birth year (age) 1998 (25)
relationship Close friend
face claim Kim Hyanggi, actor
Fast forward five years, they’re still roommates, the only difference being they got their own place following graduation, since they can’t stay on the on-campus housing anymore.
Thank goodness there’s Semi around, who helps snap Yang Seol out of her thoughts more often than not, and volunteers herself to accompany her when she senses her friend could use some company. Even when Semi intentionally annoys Yang Seol, she doesn’t even mind, because it sometimes is a welcome distraction and she wouldn’t have Semi any other way. On the other hand, Yang Seol is Semi’s voice of reason, calmly listing the facts of situations which Semi got herself involved in and reminding her to get to know guys who show an interest in her, in her hopes that Semi will slow down when it comes to falling in love with them.
Semi has been working on Yang Seol’s books for a while now, having illustrated all of the covers and any additional art scenes to date. Despite her commitments as a full-time game illustrator, she’ll always be there when Yang Seol needs her, be it surprising her with her drawings or as a pillar of support.
name Yoon Jaeyoon 윤재윤
birth year (age) 1993 (30)
relationship Close friend
face claim Ahn Hyoseop, actor
Yang Seol first met Jaeyoon, a senior who’s also studying Media & Communication and two years before her, when they shared the same tutorial session for a creative writing module. Little did they expect they’ll eventually become close over time, sharing a love for discussing books, movies and films and even their writings with each other. In fact, Jaeyoon was Yang Seol’s beta reader for all her books to date. And when Yang Seol succeeded in clinching a publishing deal, she knew that she wanted Jaeyoon to be her literary agent, someone who will celebrate every single success with her and act as a middleman between herself and clients she works with.
Like Semi, Jaeyoon will have Yang Seol’s back, no matter what happens. When she first discussed the possibility of going on a long break, he stood by it, because he’s aware of how burnt out she had become as a result of her career and her failing relationship. Even when she eventually went on her break, the both of them continued to keep in contact, never failing to check in with each other (especially on Jaeyoon’s end). His calm and collected nature assures Yang Seol even more that he will take care of things and she can rely on him without any hesitation.
birth year (age) 1993 (30)
relationship Close friend
face claim Ahn Hyoseop, actor
Like Semi, Jaeyoon will have Yang Seol’s back, no matter what happens. When she first discussed the possibility of going on a long break, he stood by it, because he’s aware of how burnt out she had become as a result of her career and her failing relationship. Even when she eventually went on her break, the both of them continued to keep in contact, never failing to check in with each other (especially on Jaeyoon’s end). His calm and collected nature assures Yang Seol even more that he will take care of things and she can rely on him without any hesitation.
the lifestyle
Now that she no longer has pressure to deliver another masterpiece, all she has to do is to live life. Go to the nearest convenience store and grab some snacks. Or explore the streets and observe people go about their day. Or spend some time in a vintage bookshop, curled over a good book. Or even visit Lavender Teahouse, because their honey lemon tea is one of the best she’s drunk to this date.
There isn’t really a routine for her, or a pressing need to get back to writing. But there’s some constants in her life. Chat with Semi everyday, give Jaeyoon a call and get some updates on what’s going on in Seoul.
And slowly but surely, she gets her inspiration back by revisiting the time before she became the writer she is today.
It’s precisely because she’s on a break, she finally has the chance to really pick up the pieces of her failed relationship. Especially when the pocket boy she’s trusted to look after is a little too close to her, a little too difficult to forget.
the love interest
full name Kwon Saeyoung 권새영
nicknames
date of birth (age) July 12, 1996 (27)
birth place Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea
hometown Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea
ethnicity Korean
nationality South Korean
uality Heteroromantic, demiual
languages
face claim DK, SEVENTEEN
back up Wonwoo, SEVENTEEN
plotline Wrong Place Wrong Time
nicknames
♡ saesae 새새, youngyoung 영영 nicknames that his parents and friends call him by. He isn’t particularly fond of them now, thinking that it’s a little too childish for him considering he’s basically an adult by this point, but he doesn’t mind it too much either way.
♡ saeyoung-gija 새영 기자 considering his passion for journalism and one of the best performing students when it comes to journalism modules, his friends call him as such (gija meaning journalist in Korean) and the name has stuck with him since.
♡ saeyoung-gija 새영 기자 considering his passion for journalism and one of the best performing students when it comes to journalism modules, his friends call him as such (gija meaning journalist in Korean) and the name has stuck with him since.
birth place Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea
hometown Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea
ethnicity Korean
nationality South Korean
uality Heteroromantic, demiual
♡ korean 100%. His native language
♡ english 75%. Having learned English from elementary to high school as a compulsory subject and still retaining some form of interest in it, he continued to learn and practise in the language even after he graduated from high school and there’s no use for it after the CSAT. This is why he is more proficient than most South Koreans in English, speaking and writing in the language rather well without a very noticeable accent.
♡ english 75%. Having learned English from elementary to high school as a compulsory subject and still retaining some form of interest in it, he continued to learn and practise in the language even after he graduated from high school and there’s no use for it after the CSAT. This is why he is more proficient than most South Koreans in English, speaking and writing in the language rather well without a very noticeable accent.
back up Wonwoo, SEVENTEEN
personality
entj, choleric, 7w8,
gryffindor, true neutral
friendly, confident, bold, tenacious,
perfectionist, intolerant, stubborn, unpredictable
When people put Saeyoung and Yang Seol together, they would say that the both of them go so well together, with how similar they are in how they present themselves.
But if Yang Seol is being completely honest, she begs to differ.
The critical difference is that she is putting on a mask. When it comes to making one’s presence known or getting along with others, Saeyoung does much better than her. He’s the kind of guy who is so unapologetically himself, not afraid of being a little daring in what he says. Yet people don’t ever find it offensive; on the contrary, they’d be more intrigued by him, with the way he can carry a conversation with ease or laugh things off. Plus, unlike her, he has no reservations in getting what he wants. He can be daring when needed, he can be thick-skinned when needed, but more importantly, he never gives up when it’s not the best option he should take.
But maybe Yang Seol is being too hard on herself.
That’s because seeing Saeyoung as someone she should aspire to be means failing to account for his flaws. For one, he’s used to making himself be heard and not go down without a fight. When someone disagrees with him, it’s difficult to make him yield, instead finding themselves being worn down to the point where they accept his opinions. When someone points out that what he plans to do is a bad idea, he likely will still go through it, yet manage to find a way out of the troubles he meets more often than not.
But besides that, he demands a lot from himself, and even that of others. He’s never one to rest on his laurels, always needing to do something, to improve himself. He’d be lying to himself when he says he hasn’t asked himself why others can’t be a little more like him, or why a situation can’t be in his favour. He’s aware, however, that some things are better left unsaid, lest others know too much or think that he’s an .
Of course, it doesn’t just stop at not knowing what he’ll think or say. He’s also the kind of person who’s always ready to drop something too boring and pursue something else instead. Sometimes it happens before anyone can react to his behaviour. This is precisely why it makes it so hard to pin down what exactly he’ll be up to, or if he’ll be on your side, if he ever is at all.
background
As a single child whose parents work full-time, things are bound to get a little boring. Of course, there is always the option of hanging out with friends or going to the nearby shops. Except that in the case of Saeyoung, he found himself hooked on the newspapers his parents read after they came home from a long day of work. Going on a one-day workshop for young journalists only strengthened his aspirations of becoming one.
So he worked hard in the hopes of getting good grades. Outside of academics, he’s busy making friends, being a part of his high school’s editorial club, going around soliciting interviews for new articles, and practising his writing skills. It all eventually paid off when he graduated with grades good enough to make it to Konkuk University, one of the higher-ranked universities in South Korea.
Completing his mandatory military service and studying Media & Communication at Konkuk University meant that he was one step closer to his dream of working for a top news agency in the country. And becoming head editor of his school’s magazine, but more notably, an intern for Yonhap News Agency only means that he’s even closer to his dream job.
By the time he graduated from university, he’s gotten a job as a journalist under Yonhap News Agency, the same company where he worked as an intern for.
Yet, he’s not quite ready to stop, eager to climb the ranks slowly but surely, and maybe someday, become the company’s head editor.
But until he reaches that stage, he’ll focus on being a damn good journalist.
lifestyle
The greatest view comes after the hardest climb.
That’s why Saeyoung strives to be better every day. When it comes to his work, he’ll put in a lot of research, including searching for the right people who will help him deliver what’s expected of him. Being bold to approach people and asking the right questions during every interview only helps him write articles of good quality. Among the new journalists under the company, it’s obvious that he’s the one who’s scolded the least and is a candidate for the news agency’s next promotion exercise.
Of course, he’s not so silly to the point where he doesn’t strive for a balance between work and play. When he’s not busy with work, he’s cafe hopping, reading a good book, playing sports, meeting with his friends or visiting his parents back in Incheon. But that doesn’t mean that he needs to be on standby, and so far, thankfully everyone around him understood that there’s a possibility he needs to rush off to settle his work.
Having worked hard at Yonhap News Agency for the past two years, he decided that it’ll be great to go on a two weeks’ break to Cheongsu, a city that he’s meaning to go to but could never make enough time for. His boss was quick to agree, so off to Cheongsu he went.
So far, the city has been a great place for him to relax and take a step back from work, and even found a nice cafe called Lavender Teahouse, never failing to come in for a cup of coffee every day.
But little did he expect that as soon as he stepped outside of the cafe, he would find the world around him grow bigger and bigger, until he realised that he was actually shrinking. How could this have happened, and how could he reverse this effect?
But more importantly, he needs someone to help him. Even when that help came in the form of someone who meant so much to him at a point in time. Maybe she still did.
love story
act i: when we collided
“Do you ever think of that phrase ‘Everything happens for a reason’?" Yang Seol asks while on a phone call with Jaeyoon. “Admittedly, it’s a very cliched statement, but I sometimes like to indulge in that thought. What if you and your soulmate have been fated to meet right from the start?”
When Yang Seol was a sophomore student, one of the modules she took was on interpersonal communication. And right from her first tutorial session, her tutor announced that the first project would focus on peer teaching, so everyone will work on a topic covered in the module in pairs.
So off everyone went to find their own.
To be honest, Yang Seol wasn’t expecting someone to make his way right to her table and take a seat beside her.
“Hi, I’m Kwon Saeyoung. First year student,” he said with a smile as he held out his hand.
And at that moment, she had to admit that this stranger was really handsome.
“And I’m Yang Seol, second year student,” she replied with an equally friendly smile, shaking his hand as she spoke. “So, you’re here to be my partner for the peer teaching assignment?”
“If you’d like that,” he said with a grin. “Say, you’ve got good taste when it comes to books.”
“Why thank you. Sherlock Holmes is an excellent book series. A vital part of crime fiction, if I do say so myself.”
“Indeed. Looks like we’ll get along very well, Yang Seol.”
act ii: when we fell apart
“Maybe it’s a case of being with the right person, but the time is not quite right,” Semi says soothingly as she wrapped an arm around her best friend. “Maybe one day, you might be together again. But for now, it might not be a bad thing to focus on yourself.”
When Yang Seol graduated from Konkuk University, Saeyoung was by her side. They had been dating for a couple of months by then.
But as time went by, their differences became apparent. Yang Seol needs a lot of assurance, someone to tell her that everything will be alright no matter the circumstance. As for Saeyoung, he’s one to throw caution to the wind, and hopes that someone will be there to be a part of his borderline reckless abandon.
And that’s not to mention that their busy careers were also increasingly getting in their way.
It eventually came to a point where things were not working out, their lifestyles and personalities and outlooks not so compatible now. At least that was what Saeyoung said when Yang Seol asked for an explanation behind his text.
No matter how much she tried to find a workaround to their problems, to persuade him to give it another go, she eventually came to the conclusion that as long as one person didn’t want to continue this, she should try to let it go.
But nobody said that moving on from your ex-boyfriend (on top of dealing with a creative block) would be an easy thing.
act iii: when we meet once again
“Hey, Snow?” Saeyoung called out, catching Yang Seol’s attention in the process.
“Yes, Saeyoung?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to call your name.”
Yang Seol was certainly not expecting a figure small enough to fit in a shirt pocket to be calling her. And her ex-boyfriend while at that.
“Hey Saeyoung, fancy seeing you here,” she said, picking him up and holding him in her hands. “What happened?”
“I was on a holiday in Cheongsu, and I suddenly shrank out of nowhere!” Saeyoung cried. “I can’t stay like this forever, and I’d love for someone to be able to help me figure out how to get back to normal. But I’m okay if you choose to say no.”
“Saeyoung, of course I wouldn’t say no,” she said, smiling kindly at him. “But first, perhaps let me settle some things with Yonhap News Agency. I’ve a feeling that you might be staying as a pocket-sized boy for the time being.”
And Saeyoung had to admit, Yang Seol looked as beautiful as she always has been.
Thankfully, Saeyoung’s boss bought the story of needing to take more time off due to familial matters, but he’ll still be available for any urgent matters in the office and he’ll be receiving a pay cut for a longer absence. So that means that most of the time will be spent on trying to figure out who shrank Saeyoung and the other workers of Lavender Teahouse while Yang Seol cares for Saeyoung (and making sure that he doesn’t get eaten alive or stomped or something of the sort).
Or maybe it’s a chance for the both of them to get to know each other again.
act iv: when we are whole
“Sometimes, I just think to myself, how did I ever get so lucky to have such a kind, cute and caring girlfriend like Snow? Maybe I did something great in my past life or something. Whatever the case is, I hope that we will be happy for a long time to come.”
Perhaps it’s because the both of them are no longer tied down to their work, the rest of the time is spent on being in Cheongsu together.
And if Saeyoung is being completely honest, he misses a time when things were so much simpler, when things like work and incompatibility didn’t get in the way.
He had to admit, though, that the problem also lay in himself. Relationships are supposed to be give and take, not one person doing all of the giving and the other doing all of the taking.
So when Yang Seol suggested that the both of them write a fun little story together, he was quick to jump at the opportunity and suggest they rewrite a much beloved fairy tale, like Snow White or Cinderella or something similar.
Yang Seol’s smiling face throughout the entire story rewriting process said it all.
“Hey, Snow,” Saeyoung called.
“Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your fun. I enjoyed myself tremendously, and I’m sure you did too. I really loved seeing your smile.”
He turned around, only to see Yang Seol asleep with her head slumped over the coffee table.
“It’s been a while since I smiled so genuinely. I’m sure it must’ve been much longer for you to do the same thing.” He heaved a sigh as he continued.
“I wish I hadn’t been so cruel that day. I made you do all the work and failed to put in any effort on my end. I didn’t even initiate a break up with you in person. And for that, I’m very sorry.”
He walked closer to Yang Seol, and gently placed his hand over her cheek.
“I want to make up to you in any way I can. Hell, I wish that I can date you once more, and treat you right. But I completely understand if you don’t feel the same way, or if you don’t want to see me after this whole ordeal. No matter what you choose, I wish you nothing but happiness. Because you deserve to be loved.”
Little did he realise, Yang Seol was actually awake the whole time.
status Ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend
ending
If Yang Seol and Saeyoung are able to sit down to have a heart to heart talk, figure out what they truly want and make changes to themselves, there’s a possibility that the both of them can rekindle their relationship and even be endgame.
trivia
couple trivia
gryffindor, true neutral
friendly, confident, bold, tenacious,
perfectionist, intolerant, stubborn, unpredictable
But if Yang Seol is being completely honest, she begs to differ.
The critical difference is that she is putting on a mask. When it comes to making one’s presence known or getting along with others, Saeyoung does much better than her. He’s the kind of guy who is so unapologetically himself, not afraid of being a little daring in what he says. Yet people don’t ever find it offensive; on the contrary, they’d be more intrigued by him, with the way he can carry a conversation with ease or laugh things off. Plus, unlike her, he has no reservations in getting what he wants. He can be daring when needed, he can be thick-skinned when needed, but more importantly, he never gives up when it’s not the best option he should take.
But maybe Yang Seol is being too hard on herself.
That’s because seeing Saeyoung as someone she should aspire to be means failing to account for his flaws. For one, he’s used to making himself be heard and not go down without a fight. When someone disagrees with him, it’s difficult to make him yield, instead finding themselves being worn down to the point where they accept his opinions. When someone points out that what he plans to do is a bad idea, he likely will still go through it, yet manage to find a way out of the troubles he meets more often than not.
But besides that, he demands a lot from himself, and even that of others. He’s never one to rest on his laurels, always needing to do something, to improve himself. He’d be lying to himself when he says he hasn’t asked himself why others can’t be a little more like him, or why a situation can’t be in his favour. He’s aware, however, that some things are better left unsaid, lest others know too much or think that he’s an .
Of course, it doesn’t just stop at not knowing what he’ll think or say. He’s also the kind of person who’s always ready to drop something too boring and pursue something else instead. Sometimes it happens before anyone can react to his behaviour. This is precisely why it makes it so hard to pin down what exactly he’ll be up to, or if he’ll be on your side, if he ever is at all.
As a single child whose parents work full-time, things are bound to get a little boring. Of course, there is always the option of hanging out with friends or going to the nearby shops. Except that in the case of Saeyoung, he found himself hooked on the newspapers his parents read after they came home from a long day of work. Going on a one-day workshop for young journalists only strengthened his aspirations of becoming one.
So he worked hard in the hopes of getting good grades. Outside of academics, he’s busy making friends, being a part of his high school’s editorial club, going around soliciting interviews for new articles, and practising his writing skills. It all eventually paid off when he graduated with grades good enough to make it to Konkuk University, one of the higher-ranked universities in South Korea.
Completing his mandatory military service and studying Media & Communication at Konkuk University meant that he was one step closer to his dream of working for a top news agency in the country. And becoming head editor of his school’s magazine, but more notably, an intern for Yonhap News Agency only means that he’s even closer to his dream job.
By the time he graduated from university, he’s gotten a job as a journalist under Yonhap News Agency, the same company where he worked as an intern for.
Yet, he’s not quite ready to stop, eager to climb the ranks slowly but surely, and maybe someday, become the company’s head editor.
But until he reaches that stage, he’ll focus on being a damn good journalist.
Of course, he’s not so silly to the point where he doesn’t strive for a balance between work and play. When he’s not busy with work, he’s cafe hopping, reading a good book, playing sports, meeting with his friends or visiting his parents back in Incheon. But that doesn’t mean that he needs to be on standby, and so far, thankfully everyone around him understood that there’s a possibility he needs to rush off to settle his work.
Having worked hard at Yonhap News Agency for the past two years, he decided that it’ll be great to go on a two weeks’ break to Cheongsu, a city that he’s meaning to go to but could never make enough time for. His boss was quick to agree, so off to Cheongsu he went.
So far, the city has been a great place for him to relax and take a step back from work, and even found a nice cafe called Lavender Teahouse, never failing to come in for a cup of coffee every day.
But little did he expect that as soon as he stepped outside of the cafe, he would find the world around him grow bigger and bigger, until he realised that he was actually shrinking. How could this have happened, and how could he reverse this effect?
But more importantly, he needs someone to help him. Even when that help came in the form of someone who meant so much to him at a point in time. Maybe she still did.
So off everyone went to find their own.
To be honest, Yang Seol wasn’t expecting someone to make his way right to her table and take a seat beside her.
“Hi, I’m Kwon Saeyoung. First year student,” he said with a smile as he held out his hand.
And at that moment, she had to admit that this stranger was really handsome.
“And I’m Yang Seol, second year student,” she replied with an equally friendly smile, shaking his hand as she spoke. “So, you’re here to be my partner for the peer teaching assignment?”
“If you’d like that,” he said with a grin. “Say, you’ve got good taste when it comes to books.”
“Why thank you. Sherlock Holmes is an excellent book series. A vital part of crime fiction, if I do say so myself.”
“Indeed. Looks like we’ll get along very well, Yang Seol.”
But as time went by, their differences became apparent. Yang Seol needs a lot of assurance, someone to tell her that everything will be alright no matter the circumstance. As for Saeyoung, he’s one to throw caution to the wind, and hopes that someone will be there to be a part of his borderline reckless abandon.
And that’s not to mention that their busy careers were also increasingly getting in their way.
It eventually came to a point where things were not working out, their lifestyles and personalities and outlooks not so compatible now. At least that was what Saeyoung said when Yang Seol asked for an explanation behind his text.
No matter how much she tried to find a workaround to their problems, to persuade him to give it another go, she eventually came to the conclusion that as long as one person didn’t want to continue this, she should try to let it go.
But nobody said that moving on from your ex-boyfriend (on top of dealing with a creative block) would be an easy thing.
“Yes, Saeyoung?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to call your name.”
“Hey Saeyoung, fancy seeing you here,” she said, picking him up and holding him in her hands. “What happened?”
“I was on a holiday in Cheongsu, and I suddenly shrank out of nowhere!” Saeyoung cried. “I can’t stay like this forever, and I’d love for someone to be able to help me figure out how to get back to normal. But I’m okay if you choose to say no.”
“Saeyoung, of course I wouldn’t say no,” she said, smiling kindly at him. “But first, perhaps let me settle some things with Yonhap News Agency. I’ve a feeling that you might be staying as a pocket-sized boy for the time being.”
And Saeyoung had to admit, Yang Seol looked as beautiful as she always has been.
Thankfully, Saeyoung’s boss bought the story of needing to take more time off due to familial matters, but he’ll still be available for any urgent matters in the office and he’ll be receiving a pay cut for a longer absence. So that means that most of the time will be spent on trying to figure out who shrank Saeyoung and the other workers of Lavender Teahouse while Yang Seol cares for Saeyoung (and making sure that he doesn’t get eaten alive or stomped or something of the sort).
Or maybe it’s a chance for the both of them to get to know each other again.
And if Saeyoung is being completely honest, he misses a time when things were so much simpler, when things like work and incompatibility didn’t get in the way.
He had to admit, though, that the problem also lay in himself. Relationships are supposed to be give and take, not one person doing all of the giving and the other doing all of the taking.
So when Yang Seol suggested that the both of them write a fun little story together, he was quick to jump at the opportunity and suggest they rewrite a much beloved fairy tale, like Snow White or Cinderella or something similar.
Yang Seol’s smiling face throughout the entire story rewriting process said it all.
“Hey, Snow,” Saeyoung called.
“Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your fun. I enjoyed myself tremendously, and I’m sure you did too. I really loved seeing your smile.”
He turned around, only to see Yang Seol asleep with her head slumped over the coffee table.
“It’s been a while since I smiled so genuinely. I’m sure it must’ve been much longer for you to do the same thing.” He heaved a sigh as he continued.
“I wish I hadn’t been so cruel that day. I made you do all the work and failed to put in any effort on my end. I didn’t even initiate a break up with you in person. And for that, I’m very sorry.”
He walked closer to Yang Seol, and gently placed his hand over her cheek.
“I want to make up to you in any way I can. Hell, I wish that I can date you once more, and treat you right. But I completely understand if you don’t feel the same way, or if you don’t want to see me after this whole ordeal. No matter what you choose, I wish you nothing but happiness. Because you deserve to be loved.”
Little did he realise, Yang Seol was actually awake the whole time.
If Yang Seol and Saeyoung are able to sit down to have a heart to heart talk, figure out what they truly want and make changes to themselves, there’s a possibility that the both of them can rekindle their relationship and even be endgame.
♡ Although Saeyoung mainly works on current affairs articles, he has also contributed several feature stories and op-eds for Yonhap News Agency.
♡ He was a part of Konkuk University’s communications club, where he mainly wrote feature stories, opinion pieces and even worked on the club’s advice column.
♡ He has a habit of reading newspapers in the morning over his breakfast.
♡ His usual coffee order is a flat white.
♡ He listens to K-indie music rather frequently, and has since created several K-indie playlists on Spotify.
♡ Like Yang Seol, Saeyoung was a huge Pottermore during his elementary school days, and may have been too happy when he got Gryffindor in the sorting hat quiz.
♡ He especially enjoys reading modernist novels, of which his favourite book is Mrs Dalloway by ia Woolf.
♡ He is also a huge fan of movies directed by Christopher Nolan, of which his favourite movie is Interstellar.
♡ He was a poster boy for Konkuk University, appearing on banners and brochures and identified by his juniors several times as a result of it.
♡ He was a part of Konkuk University’s communications club, where he mainly wrote feature stories, opinion pieces and even worked on the club’s advice column.
♡ He has a habit of reading newspapers in the morning over his breakfast.
♡ His usual coffee order is a flat white.
♡ He listens to K-indie music rather frequently, and has since created several K-indie playlists on Spotify.
♡ Like Yang Seol, Saeyoung was a huge Pottermore during his elementary school days, and may have been too happy when he got Gryffindor in the sorting hat quiz.
♡ He especially enjoys reading modernist novels, of which his favourite book is Mrs Dalloway by ia Woolf.
♡ He is also a huge fan of movies directed by Christopher Nolan, of which his favourite movie is Interstellar.
♡ He was a poster boy for Konkuk University, appearing on banners and brochures and identified by his juniors several times as a result of it.
♡ Saeyoung has a habit of tucking stray strands of Yang Seol’s hair behind her ear.
♡ When they are too lazy to go out on dates, they tend to stay at home and watch movies instead.
♡ When it comes to watching movies together, they usually go for action movies or thrillers.
♡ Saeyoung has a copy of Yang Seol’s signed novels. Even after they broke up, he still reads them on occasion, even bringing them along on his trip to Cheongsu.
♡ Saeyoung rarely (if ever) admits to it, but he likes it when Yang Seol huddles up next to him, especially when she’s cold.
♡ Yang Seol has a habit of sharing Jay Chou’s songs with Saeyoung. Because of that, Saeyoung has added several of the singer’s songs to his Spotify playlist.
♡ Whenever Yang Seol gives Saeyoung a gift, she will never fail to include a short piece of writing to go along with it.
♡ When they are too lazy to go out on dates, they tend to stay at home and watch movies instead.
♡ When it comes to watching movies together, they usually go for action movies or thrillers.
♡ Saeyoung has a copy of Yang Seol’s signed novels. Even after they broke up, he still reads them on occasion, even bringing them along on his trip to Cheongsu.
♡ Saeyoung rarely (if ever) admits to it, but he likes it when Yang Seol huddles up next to him, especially when she’s cold.
♡ Yang Seol has a habit of sharing Jay Chou’s songs with Saeyoung. Because of that, Saeyoung has added several of the singer’s songs to his Spotify playlist.
♡ Whenever Yang Seol gives Saeyoung a gift, she will never fail to include a short piece of writing to go along with it.
the ending
moonjellyfish. ningning. 3/10.
comments
Oh my god, I’m finally done with my app. In my haste to finish writing this (while also on a creative block myself), I’m not entirely sure if I managed to articulate things well enough, or if I even made sense at all, so please let me know if there’s anything I need to clarify or edit. Other than that, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading more about Yang Seol <3
Also just a little fun fact, Yang Seol’s relationship with Saeyoung was inspired by the video game It Takes Two, where parents Cody and May were magically transported into hand-made dolls that look exactly like them. If you’re interested in this game, please feel free to check it out, I highly recommend it.
scene suggestions
password Honey lemon tea
Oh my god, I’m finally done with my app. In my haste to finish writing this (while also on a creative block myself), I’m not entirely sure if I managed to articulate things well enough, or if I even made sense at all, so please let me know if there’s anything I need to clarify or edit. Other than that, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading more about Yang Seol <3
Also just a little fun fact, Yang Seol’s relationship with Saeyoung was inspired by the video game It Takes Two, where parents Cody and May were magically transported into hand-made dolls that look exactly like them. If you’re interested in this game, please feel free to check it out, I highly recommend it.
♡ I would love to see the scene where Yang Seol and Saeyoung write a short story together fleshed out in greater detail! I’ve intentionally left the details of this scene a little vague, so that you can have more freedom when it comes to writing it out.
♡ Yang Seol hanging out with Semi or Jaeyoon! I think there’s a pretty high likelihood that both of them will visit Yang Seol, or Yang Seol returns to Seoul to visit them.
♡ I’d also love to see Yang Seol patch up her relationship with her parents! At present, they’re rather distant despite being on speaking terms, but I think there will be a time where Yang Seol needs to sit down and have a proper chat with her parents, so that there is proper closure behind her relationship with her parents, and she can move on with her life if need be.
♡ Yang Seol and Saeyoung hanging out with the other girls and their pocket boys!
♡ Yang Seol hanging out with Semi or Jaeyoon! I think there’s a pretty high likelihood that both of them will visit Yang Seol, or Yang Seol returns to Seoul to visit them.
♡ I’d also love to see Yang Seol patch up her relationship with her parents! At present, they’re rather distant despite being on speaking terms, but I think there will be a time where Yang Seol needs to sit down and have a proper chat with her parents, so that there is proper closure behind her relationship with her parents, and she can move on with her life if need be.
♡ Yang Seol and Saeyoung hanging out with the other girls and their pocket boys!
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