The Protagonist of the Rumors

소문의 주인공

Eunha was the foul-tempered daughter of a shaman and the center of all kinds of rumors. She had no adult to look after her. The only person who ever called her by her proper name instead of “the shaman’s daughter” was Gye Cheonyeong. A national taekwondo athlete loved by everyone, he was the complete opposite of her. “If you don’t have a girlfriend, will you go out with me?” In a fit of anger, she blurted out her confession, and Cheonyeong gladly accepted. Their romance began somewhat awkwardly, but she was happy—her heart fluttering more than she deserved, and feeling safe. But the vile rumors followed Eunha everywhere, and exhausted, she left Cheonyeong behind. Ten years later, she unexpectedly reunites with him in a place where she is no longer labeled as a shaman’s daughter—or anything else. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time, Eunha.” Their first love, left unfinished, had never stopped. “You started this ten years ago. This time, it’s my turn. So brace yourself.”

Series information

About The Protagonist of the Rumors

Story Overview

The Protagonist of the Rumors is a romance manhwa about Eunha, a foul-tempered girl raised as the daughter of a shaman and burdened by a reputation she never chose. At school, people reduce her to “the shaman’s daughter,” while anonymous posts, jealous classmates, and cruel speculation turn her daily life into a struggle against public judgment. The one person who sees her as Eunha is Gye Cheonyeong, a beloved national taekwondo athlete who seems to stand at the opposite end of the social world. Their first love begins when Eunha impulsively asks him out, and Cheonyeong accepts. For a time, his attention gives her a sense of safety, but relentless rumors eventually exhaust her, and she leaves him behind. Ten years later, they meet again in a place where she is no longer defined by that old label. Cheonyeong has not forgotten her. His determination to pursue the unfinished relationship creates the central conflict: can Eunha trust the feelings that once comforted her, while confronting the painful past that drove them apart? School rumors, anonymous online pages, academic pressure, and secret conversations add a contemporary social backdrop to this second-chance romance.

Why Readers May Like The Protagonist of the Rumors

This series appeals to readers who enjoy first love that refuses to disappear, emotionally complicated reunions, and romance shaped by the pressure of other people’s opinions. Its tone balances fluttering attraction with loneliness, embarrassment, resentment, and the need to be understood as an individual rather than a rumor. The dialogue shows a lively school environment where friend requests, relationship speculation, profile pictures, and anonymous posts can quickly intensify romantic tension. Alongside that social energy are quieter scenes of support, including private tutoring, exam anxiety, and moments when one character notices another’s distress and offers practical help. The pacing can move from playful misunderstandings and breathless reactions to heavier memories of isolation and unfair judgment, keeping the romance personal while allowing the surrounding gossip to create suspense. Readers may especially enjoy the contrast between Eunha’s guarded, sharp-edged personality and Cheonyeong’s persistent affection, as well as the question of whether a relationship can be rebuilt after a decade apart. With its contemporary school memories, online rumor culture, mature romance category, and unresolved emotional history, the manhwa focuses on recognition, trust, and the courage to reclaim a love interrupted by public opinion.

Characters & Story Focus

Eunha is the emotional center of the story: a girl known for her temper, isolated by her family background, and repeatedly targeted by rumors. Beneath her defensive attitude, she longs to be treated as herself, making Cheonyeong’s use of her proper name deeply meaningful. Her impulsive confession reveals both courage and vulnerability, while her later departure shows how thoroughly the rumors wear her down. Gye Cheonyeong is presented as her opposite: admired by everyone and recognized as a national taekwondo athlete. Yet his importance to Eunha comes from the personal care he shows her, not simply from his popularity. Ten years after their separation, he returns with clear intent, telling Eunha that he has been looking for her and that this time he will take the initiative. The story also features classmates and school figures caught up in anonymous-page gossip, academic competition, tutoring, and relationship speculation. These surrounding voices help show how quickly assumptions can overwhelm private feelings, while the main focus remains the unfinished bond between Eunha and Cheonyeong.

Latest Chapter: Chapter 14 · 2026-09-12