“It’s not about receiving more royalties or selling a lot unconditionally. For now, it’s important to build a good image and gain recognition with Korean customers we’re officially meeting for the first time.”

The representative slightly adjusted his posture and quickly added.

“Since we’re both taking time out of our busy schedules, I’ll speak directly. We understand very well that has a deep understanding of our works, especially the ‘Marcie Madsen’ edition, but to be honest, we’re a bit concerned about whether you can guarantee more promotional or exposure opportunities than other places.”

“Of course, there may be many companies bigger than us…”

“I regret it too. It would be nice if we have a chance to work together with next time.”

The representative expressed his refusal in a roundabout but firm manner. Eun Soo bit the inside of her cheek.

She couldn’t back down like this, but she couldn’t think of anything else to appeal with.

At that moment, Joo Han, who had been sitting silently, opened his mouth.

“There’s one thing we haven’t mentioned yet.”

The representative looked puzzled. Joo Han smiled meaningfully.

“We can make ‘s furniture appear once a week, for over a month, in a WhatPlus variety show that’s expected to generate considerable buzz. How about these terms?”

Eun Soo’s eyes widened more than the representative’s.

Why is he suddenly going crazy? Why is he going overboard? Is this why he came along?

But Joo Han, without even looking at Eun Soo sitting next to him, calmly continued while looking directly at the representative.

“It will be more effective than a formal PPL contract. PPL is expensive, and if overdone, it can worsen the image, but WhatPlus naturally mentions products in the content and brands promote the content. Of course, the more successful the content, the greater the promotional effect.”

The representative eyed Joo Han and Eun Soo with slightly sharp eyes.

“It’s a condition I haven’t heard from others… Is it true? What kind of program is it?”

Although he seemed a bit skeptical, he was clearly showing tremendous interest.

Judging that it was irreversible, a forced smile appeared on Eun Soo’s lips.

“Well… I can’t say specifically because it’s under embargo, but we’re going to appear on a WhatPlus original variety show.”

“Is it confirmed?”

“Yes. And since our workplace is the main setting for the format, the products will inevitably be shown frequently. On an OTT platform watched by people worldwide, naturally, without resistance.”

Eun Soo concluded calmly.

“If you consider it positively, we’ll prepare more detailed materials on our side.”

After the meeting, Joo Han and Eun Soo came out of the hotel.

They stood blankly like dazed people for a while, then Joo Han turned to Eun Soo first.

“How could you say there that you’d appear on that show?”

“Why did you say that?”

A look of bewilderment spread across Eun Soo’s face.

“You’re the one who started talking about having one more condition without any discussion!”

“I said that thinking we could at least get location or prop sponsorship if we explained the situation and begged Sun Hee Jang, but you concluded by saying you’d appear…”

“What…?”

Eun Soo barely gathered her confused thoughts and recalled the earlier situation.

So what did he say? What exactly did he say?

‘We can make ‘s furniture appear once a week, for over a month, in a WhatPlus variety show that’s expected to generate considerable buzz.’

He really just said that…?

Her vision darkened and her mind went blank. Eun Soo bit her lips hard.

Damn. This is a major accident. How do we fix this?

Seeing Eun Soo’s pale complexion, Joo Han said in a low voice.

“Let’s just wait and see for now. If says they still can’t proceed with the contract, it ends there, right?”

“That’s true… but what if they want to contract with that condition?”

She never thought there’d be a situation where she couldn’t be happy whether the contract fell through or was successful. Joo Han sighed deeply with a face looking as troubled as Eun Soo’s.

“Let’s think about that when we get there. We’ll say the appearance was canceled after proceeding with the contract first, or that we’ll go with sponsorship instead.”

“Changing our words like that is fraud. How are we going to handle it if they take a hard line?”

A cold reply flowed from Joo Han.

“You’re the one who created this difficult situation.”

“Sure, it’s something I did, but you started it!”

“Are you blaming me here now?”

The two’s voices started to rise gradually.

“What do you mean 2 vs 1, if I’d known we’d have an accident because we’re so out of sync, I would have come alone!”

“Is this an accident where we need to determine fault ratios? It’s 100% you, you!”

A hotel employee who brought the car from the valet parking lot observed cautiously. Watching a couple fight in front of the hotel in broad daylight would have been interesting if he were a random passerby, but it was awkward since he was on duty.

“…Sorry.”

Joo Han, who belatedly noticed the employee, quickly received the car keys.

As they got back in the car side by side to return to , a chilly atmosphere filled the car.

Joo Han was the first to speak.

“Anyway, appearing on the broadcast is absolutely not an option, so get rid of that by any means necessary. If it can’t be done without that, give up the contract.”

“I’m telling you this isn’t an issue we can give up so easily?”

“Does it look like I’m giving up easily?”

Joo Han’s tone was unprecedentedly firm. Seeing Joo Han’s stiff side profile, Eun Soo’s eyes also turned cold.

He must really hate that fake couple thing, huh.

Of course, Eun Soo had no intention of doing it either. But somehow it felt a bit off seeing Joo Han take such a hard line.

Overwhelmed by a mix of resignation over what she’d done, subtle spite, inexplicable stubbornness, and a contrary spirit, Eun Soo blurted out.

“Can’t we just do it?”

“Do what?”

“The broadcast appearance.”

Screech.

The car stopped somewhat abruptly at a red light. Joo Han turned to look with an incredulous expression.

“How can you say that, whether it’s a joke or serious?”

“It’s not like I want to do this. I’m just trying to say how important this contract is.”

“You really…”

Joo Han sighed and turned his head away as he watched Eun Soo reply primly. His eyes sank deeply as he stared straight ahead.

This is a familiar feeling.

The moment Eun Soo looks hateful.

It was different from dislike. He definitely didn’t dislike her, he couldn’t dislike Eun Soo in the first place, but this feeling of hating her was even more painful, and Joo Han still couldn’t properly explain it.

You act like you don’t know my feelings at all, and I can’t understand you either.

Do you really think we can pretend to be a couple?

No matter how numb we’ve become, are we really that unaffected by our breakup?

Enough to fake it, enough to use it as a means to get what we want?

Pushing away the many thoughts swirling in his head, Joo Han barely managed to say one thing.

“Is that easy for you?”

But just at that moment, the car behind honked. Unable to hear Joo Han’s words, Eun Soo wrinkled her nose and asked again.

“What?”

Joo Han’s hands gripping the steering wheel and foot on the accelerator tensed slightly.

“Nothing, forget it.”

The next afternoon, Jae Rim, So Min, and Sun Kyung quietly gathered in a corner of ‘s first floor. Sun Kyung spoke in a whisper.

“What could it be? The atmosphere between the CEO and the manager is no joke.”

“I know. It seems like the meeting with the representative yesterday went wrong, very wrong?”

Jae Rim responded worriedly. So Min said, as if talking to herself.

“They said they’d consider it positively, right? Then it’s not ruined yet, is it?”

Nodding her head, Jae Rim looked around again and lowered her voice even more.

“But, it doesn’t seem like the two of them are fighting, even though they went out ready to fight with ?”

“That does seem a bit odd…”

Just then, Eun Soo hurriedly came down from the second floor. Jae Rim and So Min quickly dispersed, and Sun Kyung approached Eun Soo.

“Manager, is something wrong?”

“The representative just said they’re coming to see the showroom.”

“Really?”

Sun Kyung’s eyes widened. Eun Soo passed by and went down to the basement to relay the message to Joo Han. Hearing that the representative was coming in person, Joo Han leaned on the desk with one hand and stood at an angle.

“Now?”

“Yeah, they asked if it was possible and I said they could come anytime, so they said they’d arrive in about 30 minutes.”

Are they coming here after finishing a meeting with ? Why bother?

Joo Han ran his tongue along the inside of his mouth, feeling more displeased than expectant.

A while later, the representative arrived. After carefully looking around the showroom guided by Eun Soo, they headed to the second-floor office. Joo Han, Eun Soo, and the representative sat facing each other with a cup of tea in front of each of them.

The representative spoke up.

“We discussed the additional terms you proposed with the company, and there were opinions that other places could also provide broadcast program sponsorships.”

So they’re saying there’s no merit and they won’t contract with us?

Similar thoughts crossed Eun Soo and Joo Han’s minds. Other places, meaning they’ve confirmed a contract with ? Then why come all the way here? Thoughts like that.

“However, we think nothing will have as much impact as you two appearing and mentioning it directly.”

Hearing the following words, Joo Han and Eun Soo turned to look at each other as if on cue. Joy that it seemed almost done and anxiety that this shouldn’t happen mingled simultaneously.

Sure enough…

“So, may I ask what specifically is the content of the program you two will be appearing in?”

What should we do? Hey, what do we do?

There was no point in asking each other with their eyes. Eventually, Eun Soo hesitantly opened her mouth.

“…It’s a couple observation variety show. Revealing daily life of working and dating together…”

“A couple?”

The representative’s voice rose a pitch. They looked back and forth between Joo Han and Eun Soo with wide eyes.

“Working and dating together… So you two are?”

“What? No, well, yes, that’s…”

Joo Han quickly stepped in to replace the malfunctioning Eun Soo.

“It’s a secret. Top secret.”

Regardless of whether it was true or not, it seemed best to shut it down first. But the representative’s face even turned red as they clasped their hands.

“This is huge news, isn’t it? A dating observation variety show sounds like a trendy format itself… If your actual working appearance is shown, this place will be the background, right? Ah, so that’s what you meant when you said the products could be continuously exposed.”

“Yes, well, that’s right.”

“Knowing you two are a real couple gives it a different feel. An image of affection, stability, and trust, should I say?”

Us? That can’t be possible, right?

Eun Soo, who almost blurted out such words, just blinked her eyes.

“There are aspects that align with the identity our brand pursues, so I think it will create great synergy.”

The representative concluded with a tone of conviction unlike before.

“I’ll report this right away upstairs. I’ll strongly advocate that we need to work with , so if you could prepare the broadcast-related materials, I’d appreciate it. Things like your appearance contract or program synopsis.”

“What? Yes…”

After discussing a few more things, the representative stood up. Joo Han and Eun Soo went to the door to see them off appropriately, and just like in front of the hotel yesterday, the two were left alone.

Joo Han looked at Eun Soo with serious eyes.

“What are you going to do about this?”