Legendary Superstar

After 2 days, the long-awaited third episode of the drama finally started airing.

As expected, the Day 1 lineup of the weekly drama release rolled out with strong performances, and their ratings were decent.

Viewership across the streaming platforms also remained stable.

But everyone knew the real spotlight this week was on Day 2 because that was when The Star's Secret would air.

After everything that happened over the past few days—the trend, the photos, the tweets, the event—the public's expectations were no longer just high.

They were sky-high.

They have received more viewers than they initially had, and they can't help but be grateful for it.

People who hadn't even watched the first two episodes tuned in just to see what the fuss was all about.

And at 8 pm on Saturday, the 3rd episode of The Star's Secret finally aired.

As the opening credits of the episode began, the platform hosting the drama, Webflix, experienced a noticeable surge in traffic. At the same time, the comments and posts on social media regarding it continued to show up.

"First time watching this because of the fan event—here I go!"

"Minjae's smile in that clip lives rent-free in my brain. Let's see his character today."

"I heard Yura has a big scene this episode. I'm ready to cry."

"I was late for episode 1 and 2, so I vowed that I will never be late on episode 3!"

"I can't wait to see the scenes today."

"Fighting!"

"Let's go!"

As the episode unfolded, it became clear that the drama was setting a bar high when it comes to quality.

It opened with a tension-filled confrontation between Minjae and Jihoon's characters. It picked up right where the last episode left off—Minjae's character, Taeyung, had just said the words no one on the team expected to hear.

"I'm thinking of retiring."

The air between them felt heavier than ever. Jihoon's character didn't take the news well. Not because of the sudden announcement, but because of everything unsaid that had been building between them for years.

"You're just gonna walk away? Just like that?" Jihoon said, voice cracking slightly.

Minjae didn't flinch.

"It's not walking away. It's stopping before I break."

The camera lingered on Jihoon's shocked expression, then cut to Minjae's weary eyes. The silence between them echoed louder than any argument.

And then, there was a black screen.

The episode had only just begun.

Immediately, comment sections across platforms exploded.

"Yooo, that opening scene??? minjae and jihoon ATE."

"I wasn't ready for that tension. they acted the hell out of it."

"Why is jihoon suddenly giving serious actor vibes? I'm not used to it!"

"Minjae's tone. the way he said 'before I break'. Damn I felt that."

"Someone give them awards already."

As the episode continued, viewers were pulled deeper into the unraveling relationship between Minjae and Jihoon. In the drama, they were known to be friends for a decade, so it the scene really ran deep.

Minjae, exhausted from years of suppressing his pain and pushing forward alone, no longer had the energy to fix what was broken. Jihoon, meanwhile, struggled with his own guilt—knowing he had been distant and busy too.

The drama didn't dramatize their conflict too much. Instead, it relied on quiet tension, unsaid words, and the ache of missed opportunities. It was obvious how good their relationship was, but it also showed their exhaustion, not only in their work but with their lives.

The only difference was, Minjae's character was tired of it all, ready to leave the life he had worked for. On the other hand, Jihoon continued to work hard for his dreams even if it was draining him too.

The next scenes showed them existing side by side, in the same company building, but never once speaking after that night.

Then, one afternoon, Minjae wandered through the city, dressed simply in a cap and hoodie, trying to blend in with the crowd. He paused by a small park bench, where he once shared a late-night snack with Jihoon during their rookie years.

A memory flashed on the screen.

"You ever heard of Jeju? You know, where there's clean air, ocean breeze, and good food?"

"Anyways there's this viral café in Jeju right now. It's called Coastal Café. You've probably seen it online. It's all over the place. People say it's super pretty with a good view. Some even say it feels like something straight out of a drama!"

Back in the present, Minjae let out a soft breath, his eyes looking tired and cold.

That night, he opened his phone and quietly booked a flight.

Destination: Jeju Island.

The screen transitioned with a wide aerial shot—the rich blue of the sea stretching into the horizon, green cliffs curling along the coastline, waves crashing gently against smooth black rocks.

Jeju Island was calm. It was Peaceful. A completely different place from the pressure-filled life Minjae's character had left behind in Seoul.

Soft background music played as the camera panned across a cozy street nestled near a cliffside. There, tucked between small pine trees and weathered stone fences, stood a quiet café.

It was modest with wooden doors, warm-toned walls, a number of small tables outside under a pergola of hanging vines.

And inside, behind the counter, was Yura.

She wore a light beige apron over a simple blouse, her hair loosely tied back as she carefully poured coffee into a mug with practiced hands. Her face was calm, focused, and was filled with positivity.

Seojin's character, on the other hand, was inside the kitchen. She was baking loaves of bread and sweets to be displayed on their café.

The scene was slow, warm, and almost cinematic. A soft bell rang as a customer entered. Yura smiled gently as she greeted them, her voice quiet and polite.

The scene showed the difference between Minjae and Yura's lives. One was fast and filled with people around, while the other was slow and quiet.

"Omg yura looks like a painting"

"The way she pours coffee?? even that looks elegant"

"Yera's visuals in jeju are illegal i fear"

"Is it possible to fall for a fictional barista…?"

"Jeu setting + yura = perfection"

The colors of the café scene were bright but muted with soft sunlight filtering through linen curtains and wind brushing the leaves outside.

And at the end of the segment, just before the scene cut, the camera followed Yura as she stepped outside to hang a handwritten chalkboard sign that read:

Today's Special: Orange Honey Tea. Sweet things heal tired hearts.

She smiled, almost to herself.

As the scene faded to black, the faint sound of waves crashing lingered in the background, leading into the next segment of the episode.

When the story returned, it shifted briefly back to Minjae's character, Taeyung, now walking through the Jeju airport terminal. He had a small bag slung over his shoulder, and for once, he wasn't recognized.

There were no screaming fans, no flashing lights. Just the hum of announcements and the distant clatter of rolling luggage.

He stepped outside and took a long breath.

The camera lingered on his face as he closed his eyes, feeling the island wind brush against his skin. It was like watching a man try to find the pieces of himself he'd lost over the years.

"Minjae looks so tired here… he's acting so well it makes me ache."

"That moment where he closes his eyes?? you can feel his burnout."

"idk why but this whole thing just makes me emotional?? i wanna give him a hug."

From there, the story moved at a gentler pace.

Minjae was seen checking in at a simple guesthouse on a hillside. He took long walks through the forest trails, visited a lighthouse, and sat by the rocky shore with nothing but a cup of vending machine coffee.

He didn't talk much.

And then, just as the sun dipped behind the cliffs, he wandered into town.

That's when he saw the sign: Coastal Café.

The camera paused just long enough for the audience to hold their breath.

"He found the café omggggg"

"Wait is this the one Jihoon told him about???"

"It's happening. IT'S HAPPENING."

Minjae stepped closer, peering through the window.

Inside, Yura's character was cleaning up the counter. Her hair was slightly windblown. The café was empty except for Seojin's character, who was placing freshly baked pastries into a glass display case.

He didn't go in. Not yet.

Instead, the camera stayed outside with him, watching as he stood there, hands in his pockets, quietly observing the peaceful life inside.

For the first time in the entire episode, a subtle, almost shy smile formed on his lips.

Then the scene cuts.

The screen faded to black again, and the credits began to roll with a soft acoustic song playing in the background.

And the internet?

They exploded.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT ENDED THERE?????"

"NO BECAUSE THAT CLOSING SCENE???? THE SILENCE?? THE EYE CONTACT?? I'M FERAL."

"Minjee smiled. that's it. that's the tweet."

"I'm gonna fly to jeju and live in that café. don't stop me."

"the pacing, the cinematography, the ACTING?? episode 3 was art."

"When is Episode 4?"

"They really had to stop in that sceneee?"