Between Us is X - Chapter 28

“What are you going to do after the broadcast ends?”

For a moment, Eun Soo was at a loss for words.

She hadn’t thought about it that specifically until now.

Why hadn’t she? She felt flustered belatedly. Yoon Bin’s gaze waiting for an answer felt strangely suffocating today.

“You said the recording is this month and the broadcast starts in September? Then it seems like it will be a hot topic at least until the end of the year. Since it’s June now… You’ll have to keep the secret for at least half a year.”

It was information she already knew, but hearing it in Yoon Bin’s voice made it sound like a completely different schedule.

Only then did Eun Soo realize. For some reason, she had been mistakenly thinking it would be over after enduring just until the end of the recording, that is, about 2 weeks.

At least half a year, and then after that…

She thought she had cleared her mind somewhat and was fairly prepared, but suddenly an enormous sense of uncertainty washed over her.

Seeing Eun Soo’s expression visibly stiffen, Yoon Bin’s tone softened as usual.

“Then around the beginning of the year, we can announce that we broke up depending on the atmosphere. The more successful that program is, the more all sorts of things will become news articles, but they’ll quickly get buried under other articles, so don’t worry too much.”

“Oh, okay.”

Eun Soo, who barely managed to reply, quickly forced a smile. Yoon Bin reached out his arm to lightly stroke Eun Soo’s hair, then patted her shoulder before moving away.

“Since you’ve already decided to do this, I won’t say anything more. I hope it all goes well until the end since you’re doing it.”

“Mmm. Thanks.”

A little while later, Eun Soo stood up from her seat. Yoon Bin said he would call the manager to ask a favor, but Eun Soo shook her head.

“I’ll just go on my own. What if someone sees the manager taking care of me and thinks it’s strange? It would be bad if rumors or scandals started unnecessarily.”

Yoon Bin, who seemed about to dismiss it with a smile, paused.

“Come to think of it, if you had a scandal with me now, wouldn’t that prevent you from appearing on that program?”

Eun Soo made an expression of utter disbelief.

“Is that the problem? You’re the problem. I may be an ordinary person with no name or face, but you’re not. And it’s not right for it to be with me of all people, is it?”

Yoon Bin stared at Eun Soo intently before speaking.

“There’s no reason it can’t be you specifically.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you think so?”

Yoon Bin smiled casually, but Eun Soo couldn’t bring herself to smile along. The idea of her and Yoon Bin sounded as incongruous as a scandal between siblings. She wondered why Yoon Bin was speaking so nonchalantly when he must feel the same, but soon understood. It seemed he was saying he was so used to forced rumors like scandals that he didn’t care what gossip circulated about him with whom.

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

“Okay. Sorry I couldn’t see you off properly.”

“What are you sorry for? Don’t come out. The taxi will come right up front so I can just go out.”

Is it because this is a neighborhood where everyone has cars and drivers that even the bus stop is far? Leaving behind that not-unkind grumbling, Eun Soo went down alone bravely.

After Eun Soo left, Yoon Bin stood by the door with his arms folded before turning around. It suddenly felt like a dream that Eun Soo had been here just moments ago.

After staring briefly at the two teacups left on the table, Yoon Bin turned and paced around the living room. A phrase from Eun Soo that he had just heard, and had also heard a few years ago, echoed in his mind.

‘Elder brother. Actually, I have something to tell you…’

It was the year he turned 24. It was his 8th year since debut, when he had already received all the awards he could as a singer and was expanding his foothold as an actor.

When he got a rare break after finishing filming for his first lead role in a drama, Eun Soo happened to contact him. At that meeting after such a long time, Eun Soo carefully began to speak.

‘You know Joo Han. The one I’ve mentioned before.’

He felt something sink with a thud. Yoon Bin had good intuition. He was originally quite perceptive, and had become even more sensitive after encountering countless people in the harsh entertainment industry.

Joo Han was one of the two people Eun Soo called friends. He was also the name Yoon Bin heard most often when she talked about her daily life. Though he had never met him directly, Yoon Bin vaguely sensed it.

That he probably wouldn’t be able to like that friend.

‘It’s so embarrassing to be saying this for the first time, but I felt like I should tell you.’

No, Eun Soo. Don’t. I wish you wouldn’t. I…

‘Actually, he’s my boyfriend. We were originally friends but it turned into that.’

He remembered the blush and smile on Eun Soo’s cheeks as she said that. That expression he had never seen before, looking so happy, remained vividly etched behind his eyelids.

And a few years later, Eun Soo made a face he had never seen again. A face silently shedding tears. It was also the first time he had seen Eun Soo cry.

A man who could make Eun Soo smile like that, and cry like that.

His intuition was not wrong. Joo Han was someone Yoon Bin could never like.

He hoped Eun Soo would no longer be entangled with him. Like ordinary couples who become strangers after breaking up.

‘But, why do you keep…’

Yoon Bin’s lower lip was crushed between his teeth.

“Wow, today was really hectic.”

“I know. I don’t even know how the day went by.”

After an especially busy day, dusk was starting to fall. Dark circles were also falling on the faces of Bida’s employees.

Today had a record-breaking flood of customers. Ahead of the soon-to-begin filming of “Work and Love, Love and Work,” a large quantity of Litiang’s furniture had been stocked, and next week a container from Europe was expected to arrive, so they held a clearance sale to secure space for the new furniture, and the response was explosive.

Slumped in a chair, Jae Rim muttered.

“Still, we cleared out a lot.”

“Yeah. Now if we just finish the intense deliveries…”

“And then more will come in to display…”

While they were wrapped up in the feeling that work was clearly over but not over, So Min said something scary.

“But you know, if the CEO and Director Sun become famous from being on TV… Won’t it get even busier than today?”

A look of contemplating resignation flashed across Jae Rim’s face. Just then, Sun Kyung’s voice was heard from behind.

“Let’s start setting up. The food will be here soon.”

The employees, who hadn’t even eaten lunch properly due to being so busy, got up with cheers. Then, with familiar movements, they took out and unfolded a large camping table and chairs in the backyard.

Meanwhile, Joo Han, who had been out of sight somewhere, appeared carrying drinks and beer he had bought in bulk from a nearby convenience store.

“Wow, CEO is the best!”

“You all worked hard today. I was thinking of going somewhere nice to eat, but figured everyone would be too tired to move.”

“That’s right. Honestly, we’re all grimy with sweat and dust… This is the most comfortable and best.”

Soon the food arrived. The atmosphere naturally flowed into eating and drinking.

Sun Kyung turned to Eun Soo sitting next to her.

“Oh right, didn’t you say the broadcast writer was coming today? Director’s friend.”

“Yes. She should be here soon.”

It was arranged for Sol Hee to stop by to greet the employees before filming and take a closer look at Bida.

Jae Rim asked.

“The broadcast filming starts next week, right?”

“Yeah. Tomorrow is the meeting, and from the day after tomorrow the staff will come here to film.”

“Ah.”

Nodding at Joo Han’s answer, Jae Rim clutched his chest with one hand.

“I’m so nervous. Why am I so nervous?”

So Min across from him gave an incredulous look.

“Why are you nervous, Jae Rim?”

“Well, we’re going to be on TV too.”

“So what?”

“What do you mean ‘so what’? It’s not like we’re celebrities, being on TV isn’t a common thing. People might recognize us on the street and stuff.”

So Min retorted in a nonchalant tone.

“Don’t worry. I don’t think we’ll have that much of a presence.”

“Thanks for easing my worries. But I’m hurt in proportion to how much my worries were eased.”

“There’s nothing to be hurt about either.”

“I just got hurt again. Let’s see how much more you can dish out.”

While Jae Rim and So Min were bickering, Joo Han’s phone rang. It was Ki Woo.

“Oh, hyung. I’m eating with the employees right now. Yeah?”

Joo Han briefly took the phone away from his ear and asked the employees if it would be okay for Ki Woo to stop by for a bit. Everyone welcomed it, and Joo Han ended the call telling him to come.

After everyone had filled their stomachs to some extent, someone suggested that even though it wasn’t an official company dinner, they should all make a toast together for the first time in a while. When it was Eun Soo’s turn for the toast, she thought for a moment before speaking.

“There may not only be good things about being on TV, but I’ll do my best to make it as helpful as possible. In that sense, let’s toast to ‘A broadcast-featured furniture hotspot with five stars.'”

“That somehow makes it sound like we should be selling heated stone beds…”

“Broadcast-featured! Furniture hotspot!”

“Five! Stars!”

Ignoring Joo Han’s protest, Eun Soo led the chant and the employees responded vigorously.

Just as everyone took a refreshing sip, a bright greeting was heard from the entrance. Sol Hee was entering energetically, carrying a box of sweet desserts.

“Hello. I’m writer Jang Sol Hee. We’ll be seeing each other often during filming, so I look forward to working with you.”

After everyone exchanged warm greetings, Ki Woo arrived with wine in both hands.

“Senior, what brings you here?”

Sol Hee, who had been staring at Ki Woo greeting the Bida employees, made a comment. Ki Woo shrugged.

“What do you mean? I came to see Joo Han and Eun Soo. I’ve been here many more times than you.”

Sol Hee quirked one eyebrow and turned her head.

“Have you two eaten?”

“I’ve eaten and now I just need to drink.”

Jae Rim laughed at Ki Woo’s brazen answer and gestured for him to sit down quickly. Sol Hee also took a seat, guided by So Min’s quiet gesture tugging at her clothes.

After eating and drinking like people on some kind of picnic, Sol Hee got up and looked at Eun Soo.

“Can I take a look inside?”

“Of course.”

After opening the door, turning on the lights, and giving a brief tour, Eun Soo was sent back to her seat first, and Sol Hee, left alone, examined the inside of Bida quite thoroughly for a long time. She also checked where would be good angles and where to install cameras.

After inspecting the whole building, Sol Hee headed towards the backyard. But she saw someone’s silhouette in the corner. It was Ki Woo, who had slipped away to a secluded spot to take out a cigarette.

Ki Woo, who was about to light the cigarette between his lips with one hand cupped around his mouth and the other holding a lighter, paused when he saw Sol Hee. He lowered the hand with the lighter and took the cigarette out of his mouth. Sol Hee waved her hand lightly.

“Don’t mind me. It’s not even a non-smoking area.”

She was about to turn away when Ki Woo called out.

“Hey, nag.”