Mok-ha idolizes a singer named Yoon Ran-joo, played by Kim Hyo-jin, in Castaway Diva. Ran-joo’s life changes completely in the fifteen years that Mok-ha spends on the deserted island.
Mok-ha, an ordinary girl from Chunsam Island, dreams of becoming a star just like her idol, Yoon Ran-joo. Mok-ha’s life is anything but easy, so she wants to leave the island as Ran-joo did in the past and be as carefree as her.
Mok-ha participates in a fan contest that is judged by Ran-joo. The singer likes Mok-ha’s voice so much that she asks her agency to sign her as an artist. Mok-ha comes so close to realizing her dream of meeting Ran-joo, but an accident leaves her stranded on a deserted island for 15 years.
Ran-joo’s rise and fall
Ran-joo was always a talented singer. When she was in school, her music teacher, Hwang, heard her sing and decided to quit his job to make Ran-joo a star. He lost his family’s love, but he succeeded in making Ran-joo a star.
Years later, when things turn sour between the two, Ran-joo decides to leave his agency and sign a contract with her manager’s new and small agency. Her manager, Lee Seo-jun, cannot afford to pay Ran-joo, so Ran-joo makes a deal with him.
She asks Lee Seo-jun to give her half of the company’s shares the day she sells 20 million albums, and Lee Seo-jun agrees. With Ran-joo’s help, Lee Seo-jun becomes a successful man; his agency boasts the top artists.
When Mok-ha does not come to Seoul, Ran-joo trains Eun Mo-rae, who goes on to become a global star. Ran-joo then finds out that she has vocal nodules. She does not tell anyone about it and gets surgery, but her condition does not improve.
Her inability to sing live costs Ran-joo her stardom. With time, Mo-rae takes Ran-joo’s place as the top singer. On top of that, Lee Seo-jun starts treating her like a liability, and Ran-joo becomes yet another forgotten singer.
A little help from a friend
By the time Mok-ha is rescued, Ran-joo is out of work; she is forced to perform at village festivals. Ran-joo does not even have her mother’s support, as her mother is mentally ill and does not recognize Ran-joo.
Mok-ha attends one of Ran-joo’s performances and sings for her because Ran-joo cannot sing live. The performance reminds Ran-joo of the time she used to perform for her fans and allows her to have that experience once again.
The performance also goes viral on social media and brings Ran-joo back into the spotlight. It is then revealed that Lee Seo-jun has been sabotaging Ran-joo’s career because he does not want her to get the company shares.
Although Lee Seo-jun and Ran-joo have a romantic history, Lee Seo-jun will do everything in his power to prevent Ran-joo from selling 20 million albums. Mok-ha, who is now Ran-joo’s friend, then takes it upon herself to help Ran-joo achieve her goal.
She becomes Ran-joo’s manager and sings for her on Heyday Again to help her gain popularity. However, their deception does not last long. When Bo-geol realizes that Mok-ha has been singing for Ran-joo, he forces Ran-joo to reveal the truth to her fans.
Mok-ha promises Ran-joo that she will never betray her like Mo-rae, but she breaks that promise, and Ran-joo is left all alone once again. Even though Mok-ha returns, Ran-joo decides to terminate her old contract with Lee Seo-jun.
However, Mok-ha is not ready to give up. Ran-joo needs to sell less than 20,000 albums to get the shares worth 17 trillion won, and Mok-ha will do everything in her power to ensure that Ran-joo gets what she deserves.