The Anti-Fan and the Idol

  A My Summer in Seoul Novella

  By Rachel Van Dyken

  The Anti-Fan and the Idol: A My Summer in Seoul Novella

  By Rachel Van Dyken

  Copyright 2022 Rachel Van Dyken

  ISBN: 978-1-970077-97-1

  Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose

  Published by 1001 Dark Nights Press, an imprint of Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Book Description

  The Anti-Fan and the Idol: A My Summer In Seoul Novella

  By Rachel Van Dyken

  From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes a new story in her My Summer in Seoul series…

  Make it or break it...

  Or maybe just break them?

  Ah-Ri has been training under YK Management in Korea for two years without any results. She doesn’t fit the typical mold for a successful K-POP idol image, literally down to her blood type. She has six more months before college entrance exams which means she only has six months to make it as an idol before her dreams are crushed.

  Things take a turn when two of the most famous male idols break away from their group and decide to form their own co-ed group, a rarity.

  And wonder of all wonders, they need one more girl.

  It would be the perfect opportunity, except she hates them.

  They are arrogant, entitled, rich little snobs who want the world to worship the ground they walk on. To make matters worse, the only reason they came to her was because they are desperate, which means she needs to prove herself even more.

  Tempers and personalities collide when she’s forced to either accept the position or give up on her dream.

  But what happens when you suddenly go from anti-fan and enemy number one to stuck in a love triangle between two boys you were born to hate but are somehow falling in love with? And will the group survive the heartbreak that follows when she finally makes her choice?

  **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

  About Rachel Van Dyken

  Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 90 books ranging from contemporary romance to paranormal. With over four million copies sold, she's been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and lazy dog.

  You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken or join her fan group Rachel's New Rockin Readers https://www.facebook.com/groups/RRRFanClub.

  For more information, visit her website at http://rachelvandykenauthor.com.

  Also From Rachel Van Dyken

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  Mafia Royals

  Royal Bully

  Ruthless Princess

  Scandalous Prince

  Destructive King

  Fallen Royal

  Broken Crown

  Liars, Inc.

  Dirty Exes

  Dangerous Exes

  Covet Series

  Stealing Her

  Finding Him

  Bro Code Series

  Co-Ed

  Seducing Mrs. Robinson

  Avoiding Temptation

  The Set-Up

  Elite Bratva Brotherhood

  Debase

  The Players Game Series

  Fraternize

  Infraction

  MVP

  The Consequence Series

  The Consequence of Loving Colton

  The Consequence of Revenge

  The Consequence of Seduction

  The Consequence of Rejection

  The Wingmen Inc. Series

  The Matchmaker’s Playbook

  The Matchmaker’s Replacement

  Curious Liaisons Series

  Cheater

  Cheater’s Regret

  The Bet Series

  The Bet

  The Wager

  The Dare

  The Ruin Series

  Ruin

  Toxic

  Fearless

  Shame

  The Eagle Elite Series

  Elite

  Elect

  Enamor

  Entice

  Elicit

  Bang Bang

  Enforce

  Ember

  Elude

  Empire

  Enrage

  Eulogy

  Envy

  The Seaside Series

  Tear

  Pull

  Shatter

  Forever

  Fall

  Eternal

  Strung

  Capture

  The Renwick House Series

  The Ugly Duckling Debutante

  The Seduction of Sebastian St. James

  An Unlikely Alliance

  The Redemption of Lord Rawlings

  The Devil Duke Takes a Bride

  The London Fairy Tales Series

  Upon a Midnight Dream

  Whispered Music

  The Wolf’s Pursuit

  When Ash Falls

  The Seasons of Paleo Series

  Savage Winter

  Feral Spring

  The Wallflower Series (with Leah Sanders)

  Waltzing with the Wallflower

  Beguiling Bridget

  Taming Wilde

  The Dark Ones Saga

  The Dark Ones

  Untouchable Darkness

  Dark Surrender

  Darkest Temptation

  Darkest Sinner

  Stand-Alones

  Mafia Casanova (with M Robinson)

  Hurt: A Collection (with Kristin Vayden and Elyse Faber)

  Rip

  Compromising Kessen

  Every Girl Does It

  The Parting Gift (with Leah Sanders)

  Divine Uprising

  A Crown for Christmas

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  I thank God every day I get to do this job, thank you for taking time to read! Thank you so much to 1001 Dark Nights for always being so amazing when it comes to their stories and how they let us authors embark on different journeys every time! I’m so thankful to my readers as well, who keep coming back and who have taken a chance on a slightly different sort of trope that truly brings awareness to a culture and musical phenomenon. To my sensitivity readers—I really appreciate how closely you work with me and how honest you are when it comes to my research and questions. Jill, you’re amazing. I’m so lucky to have you as my assistant. Nicole and Nina, so glad we’re a team. And Rachel’s New Rockin Readers—I freaking love you guys!

  Discover more 1001 Dark Nights authors and their amazing stories…

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  Lara Adrian

  Dylan Allen

  Jennifer L. Armentrout

  Kristen Ashley

  Tessa Bailey

  Sawyer Bennett

  Shayla Black

  Lexi Blake

  Lauren Blakely

  K. Bromberg

  Claire Contreras

  Tina Folsom

  Melissa Foster

  Heather Graham

  Donna Grant

  Liliana Hart

  Larissa Ione

  Alexandra Ivy

  Lorelei James

  Darynda Jones

  Lisa Renee Jones

  Laura Kaye

  J. Kenner

  Corinne Michaels

  Elisabeth Naughton

  Laurelin Paige

  Carly Phillips

  Jennifer Probst

  Kristen Proby

  C.D. Reiss

  Christopher Rice

  Carrie Ann Ryan

  Kendall Ryan

  Kennedy Ryan

  Kylie Scott

  Jill Shalvis

  Gena Showalter

  Cherise Sinclair

  Susan Stoker

  Tijan

  Rachel Van Dyken

  Skye Warren

  Laura Wright

  Joanna Wylde

  Rebecca Zanetti

  Discover more Blue Box Press authors and their amazing stories…

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  Jennifer L. Armentrout

  Kristen Ashley

  Sawyer Bennett

  Steve Berry

  Lexi Blake

  Robin Convington

  Kaylea Cross

  Jay Crownover

  Avery Flynn

  C. W. Gortner

  KL Grayson

  Cristin Harber

  Lynn Raye Harris

  Liliana Hart


  Larissa Ione

  Suzanne M. Johnson

  Laura Kaye

  J. Kenner

  Kimberly Kincaid

  Gennita Low

  Randy Susan Meyers

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  Monica Murphy

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  Kristen Proby

  Christopher Rice

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  Table of Contents

  Book Description

  About Rachel Van Dyken

  Also from Rachel Van Dyken

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  Discover more 1001 Dark Nights Authors

  Discover more Blue Box Press Authors

  Foreword

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Nine

  Discover More Rachel Van Dyken

  Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

  Special Thanks

  One Thousand and One Dark Nights

  Once upon a time, in the future…

  I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

  I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and

  the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast

  library at my father’s home and collected thousands

  of volumes of fantastic tales.

  I learned all about ancient races and bygone

  times. About myths and legends and dreams of all

  people through the millennium. And the more I read

  the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered

  that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually

  become part of them.

  I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher

  and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I

  would not be telling you this tale now.

  But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off

  with bravery.

  One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

  Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to

  see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

  (Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then

  sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written

  and I had read that by the time he met Scheherazade,

  the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand

  women.

  Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived

  in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged

  places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had

  never occurred before and that still to this day, I

  cannot explain.

  Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have

  taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can

  protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to

  protect herself and stay alive.

  Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

  And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a

  point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

  And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that

  he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

  As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new

  one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before

  you now.

  Chapter One

  Ah-Ri

  I stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes are lifeless, and my body feels hollow as my stomach growls. I want food so bad it’s all I can think about. I squeeze my eyes shut again and brace my palms against the sink.

  I have no choice.

  Being from the States with an American mom and a Korean dad doesn’t actually help me in this situation, even though I’ve always thought of myself as Korean.

  The only reason we went to LA was because of my dad’s job, and I only stayed there for six years before coming back home.

  It was enough, though.

  Enough to make me different. Enough to make people look at me funny during school and ask why my Korean sounded a bit strange.

  Enough for people during my idol training to judge me, though I don’t know why. Then again, that’s the job, right? Everyone competing for a few spots at the label and dying to make it—literally.

  I don’t look much different from everyone else, yet I somehow feel ostracized. I grip the sink with both hands and stare down at my black fingernails. My perfect skin and the flawless makeup on my face as my jet-black hair falls in easy waves down past my shoulders.

  I have a crop top on with a pair of joggers and black Jordans. I’m trying to go for the cute-but-casual look for this audition.

  My seventh.

  I’ve yet to make it into a group, and with the audition only two days away, I need to work harder than I’ve ever worked before.

  It’s been my dream since I was five and saw my favorite K-pop group on TV. I became obsessed and begged my parents for voice lessons, dance classes, and everything and anything else that would help me.

  Once we moved back to Korea, I finally saw my chance.

  Five years later, I’m still waiting for it.

  At nineteen, I almost feel like my dreams are out of reach, mainly because I’m getting older, and it seems everyone else is getting younger. They always pass me by because I lack something that everyone else seems to possess. I get good marks, people love my dancing, they love my singing and raspy voice, and they even love my hard-working attitude. I just don’t get why I can’t actually make it. I’m fluent in both Korean and English—and now I feel like I’m bragging in my head. But it’s so frustrating. The only thing I can think of is that I’m not as small as everyone else, which makes me want to cry even harder.

  I miss burgers.

  I take a deep breath and leave the bathroom, head held high. Tons of trainees run down the halls and stop at one of the practice rooms to the right.

  I almost laugh because I don’t even need to peer into the window to know it’s SWT, one of the biggest K-pop groups in the world. They always have people watching them, copying them, dying to meet them, touch them, lick their sweat off the floor.

  I trained with their youngest, Sookie, for a year before they picked him up, and he debuted with them.

  His tattoos are probably stressing the entire label out. Add in the new piercings, and I’m sure the higher-ups are on full DEFCON mode. His squeaky-clean image no longer looks so squeaky clean…then again, he’s the one who got me drunk on my birthday.

  I make a mental note to text him later. He’s been pretty busy, but he always has time for his friends. I respect that he goes against the grain and that he’s his own person, not controlled by the label as much as the rest of the trainees and groups are. He’s beautiful. Talented. Amazing.

  And one of the nicest people in the industry.

  I keep walking as the trainees wall-stalk members of SWT and go to the next practice room. It’s empty, which is exactly what I need.

  Practice.

  I open the door and let it click shut behind me, then grab my cell. Linking it to the speakers, I put on a song from Blackpink and start to dance.

  The music comes over me as I move, roll my hips, and practice everything I’ll need for my final audition Friday.

  Final.

  Shit, it really does feel final, doesn’t it? Because if I can’t debut now, what will I do? Take my exams? Work? Go to college? Would I even get in with sub-par test scores?