Sol Hee turned around with a frown.

“What. Aren’t you embarrassed to use such a childish nickname after turning 30?”

She had made a similar comment when they were freshmen in college. She thought it was strange that someone over 20 was proudly using a nickname from elementary school.

Then and now, Ki Woo didn’t seem to mind much.

“You brought it up first.”

“What?”

“That work and love or whatever program you’re blabbering about.”

Sol Hee’s brows furrowed deeply.

“Okay, I’ll take that complaint. What’s your problem with it?”

“Do you really need to ask? It would be ridiculous even if someone who didn’t know their situation suggested it, but you know their circumstances and still asked them to do it? Is viewership more important than common sense and loyalty?”

“Yes, I’m crazy about viewership. So I persuaded them to do it just once even though they said no. Happy now?”

“Hey.”

The atmosphere suddenly turned hostile. Their gazes clashed sharply in mid-air.

“Did Kim Joo Han tell you that I forced him to do it reluctantly?”

“Not exactly, but…”

“If that’s not the case, why are you making such a fuss? Did you give birth to Kim Joo Han or something?”

“I didn’t give birth to him and can’t, but I can at least say a few words.”

Ki Woo lowered his voice further, hands shoved in his pockets.

“If Joo Han’s wounds open up again because of that program, if he gets hurt when he doesn’t need to be hurt anymore, I’ll honestly blame you first, you know?”

“You’re really something else.”

Sol Hee snorted and folded her arms.

“Kim Joo Han and Sun Eun Soo are my friends, and above all, they’re both adults. They know how to take care of themselves, and they made their own choice. If it’s such an absurd decision that even a third party like you is this angry, don’t you think there must be a reason they agreed to do it?”

Ki Woo stared at Sol Hee for a moment, then sighed as if in disbelief.

“You still only see other people’s emotions the way you want to see them, now as before.”

“Me?”

“Of course, they made the choice themselves. But do you think that decision process was easy? And what about going forward? If you hadn’t brought it up in the first place, there wouldn’t have been any difficulty at all. For example, if someone asked you to act like a couple with me in front of cameras, would you do it?”

“I might if it was necessary.”

“Huh?”

“And your example is wrong. You and I…”

Sol Hee paused briefly, then added coldly.

“We weren’t in a real relationship like them, were we?”

Ki Woo, at a loss for words, firmly closed his mouth that had been slightly open. A bitter smile followed.

“Right. I should have made a proper comparison. My mistake.”

“……”

As soon as she heard the word ‘mistake’, Sol Hee’s expression grew even colder.

“Then what if the result is the opposite of what you’re worried about?”

“The opposite result?”

“You said you’d blame me if it goes wrong, so if it goes well, it’s thanks to me, right? Will you kneel down and thank me then?”

The opposite result, if it goes well…?

Ki Woo, pondering this aspect he hadn’t considered before, cautiously asked.

“That… kneeling down is just a figure of speech, right?”

“Ugh.”

Sol Hee looked Ki Woo up and down with eyes full of irritation and disgust, then turned around and left. Watching her coldly departing back, Ki Woo crumpled the innocent cigarette pack in his pocket.

“Consistently heartless, that one.”

Before the main filming of began, there was a preliminary meeting and profile shooting. Joo Han and Eun Soo finished their morning work and headed to the broadcasting station.

“Hello, I’m PD Park Jin Won, in charge of filming and editing this time. I’ve heard a lot about you from Writer Jang.”

A man who looked to be in his early to mid-40s came forward with a friendly handshake. Joo Han and Eun Soo also switched to full business mode and exchanged greetings.

“Please, have a seat over here.”

PD Park guided them to a small conference room in the back of the office.

“We plan to film in a way that minimizes disruption to your work. We’ll mainly use cameras installed in the company, and only a minimal crew will be involved.”

As this was the last meeting among the four couples, the explanation flowed as if rehearsed.

“And there will be group shootings with other participants in between. A total of four schedules. The four couples will take turns being hosts, with a concept of job experience and unique dates at each other’s workplaces…”

Joo Han and Eun Soo focused intently, inwardly tense.

“The intention of our program is to fulfill the romance of office relationships. While the excitement in other dating shows comes from the tension and thrill of finding a partner, we aim to draw out stability and comfort from couples who have already caught both rabbits of work and love. It’s like a full-fledged dating promotion program, something like that.”

Promoting dating? Us two?

Silent sweat ran down the backs of the two people who had already lost one rabbit and were doing this to try and hold onto the remaining one.

“Now, let’s move to the studio.”

The two followed PD Park out of the office. After passing by several studios where other broadcast programs were being recorded, a small set came into view.

“Oh!”

Eun Soo’s eyes widened at the props placed in the set. They were furniture sponsored by for later studio recordings with the MCs.

Seeing the chair and side table, which she had worried about sponsoring until the last minute, thinking they were too pretty to be roughly handled by the broadcasting station, Eun Soo relaxed some of her tension due to familiarity and gladness.

“You can change clothes and prepare inside, then come out.”

Joo Han and Eun Soo entered the waiting room cum dressing room attached to the set. The outfit prepared by the stylist was a couple suit.

“It suits you well. How’s the size?”

“It’s fine. Fits well.”

Eun Soo, who had changed clothes and come out first, sat in front of the mirror. The stylist skillfully worked on her hair.

Meanwhile, Joo Han must have changed and come out too, as there was a presence beside her, but she had no time to look around as she was busy letting the stylist work on her face.

“All done.”

Eun Soo, thanking the stylist, stood up from the chair. Feeling slightly awkward, she turned around and came face to face with Joo Han, who was standing right behind the chair.

“Uh…”

She was about to ask how long he had been standing there, but suddenly found herself at a loss for words. For a moment, Eun Soo forgot everything and simply appreciated Joo Han in front of her.

When she had seen the clothes just hanging, they seemed a bit tacky, but seeing Joo Han wearing them, such thoughts didn’t cross her mind at all. It was appropriately classic yet flashy, and above all, sexy.

Seeing Joo Han so completely styled from head to toe for the first time, she was internally shocked. She didn’t want to admit it, knew she shouldn’t admit it, but… A thought she had had before suddenly filled Eun Soo’s mind again.

‘If there were 100 conditions that hit my preferences, he seems to have 120 of them.’

Joo Han, embarrassed by Eun Soo just staring up at him without saying anything, felt the surrounding staff looking a bit puzzled and quickly spoke up.

“She just fell for me again. She’s lost for words because she’s so thrilled.”

“Hey, why would I fall for you…!”

Wait. We’re supposed to be a couple, so vehemently denying it might be weirder, right?

Eun Soo fumbled, conscious of the gazes around them.

“Well, it’s a bit embarrassing, but honestly, you do look handsome. After always seeing you in work clothes.”

“Right? You’re thrilled, aren’t you? It’s okay. It happens.”

But being so blatantly cocky about it makes me not want to let it slide?

Eun Soo’s eyes changed slightly. She stepped closer and suddenly linked arms, making Joo Han visibly flinch. Eun Soo smiled brightly.

“You always know you’re handsome. Oh, you’re so cute.”

“Cute…”

The words ‘Are you crazy?’ appeared in Joo Han’s eyes as he looked back. Eun Soo, unfazed, reached behind and patted Joo Han’s bottom.

“But don’t show off too much. Your noona is busy today. Understood?”

She’s really gone crazy. It’s too scary.

Joo Han looked at the staff with a pleading gaze, but they were just laughing along. And for good reason, as Joo Han’s reddened cheeks didn’t look displeased to anyone watching.

“If you look here, we’ll take pictures like this for the broadcast poster and opening…”

Considering that the two were unfamiliar with shooting, the staff showed various samples and explained carefully.

“Okay, let’s start shooting. Just relax and be comfortable.”

Eun Soo sat in the chair, and Joo Han leaned against the edge of the desk. They diligently followed instructions, looking at the camera and at each other.

“I think we’ve got all the business-like feels. Shall we go for a sweeter atmosphere?”

No. I don’t like sweet things.

Knowing it was meaningless resistance, Eun Soo muttered inwardly.

“Some skinship would be good. Like holding hands.”

Hands are fine, I guess.

Just as Eun Soo was thinking this, Joo Han seemed to have similar thoughts and immediately reached for her hand. Seeing the two standing side by side holding hands, a staff member tilted their head.

“It’s a bit, how should I say… like a children’s crossing sign?”

It was because of the awkwardness they hadn’t fully hidden. From that point on, the two started to feel slightly flustered.

“Could you move a bit closer? Yes, that’s good. From there, Joo Han, if you could…”

Tense about not looking like a couple, the two followed poses without any complaint. Still, they tried not to touch more than necessary, but a casual comment from a staff member ignited their competitive spirit.

“The other couples we shot earlier were so close we had trouble asking them to move apart, but you two are very comfortable. Our show is rated 15 and up, haha.”

So now… they’re saying we’re not even 15?

Eun Soo and Joo Han, in a light back hug, exchanged glances. Similar words were contained in their eyes.

This isn’t right, is it?

Right, we can’t let this slide.

Eun Soo slowly leaned back. The minimal gap that had been maintained between Eun Soo’s back and Joo Han’s chest disappeared. Joo Han also removed his hand that had been just lightly placed on Eun Soo’s waist and firmly wrapped around it, pulling her close.

“Oh, that’s good. Yes! Look this way!”

As Joo Han and Eun Soo’s competitive spirit ignited, the shoot gained momentum. Determined to touch, they even started competing to see who could cling more closely at some point.

“That’s a wrap. Good work!”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you.”

The last shot ended with Joo Han sitting in the chair and Eun Soo sitting on his lap, arms around his neck and shoulders.

Joo Han whispered as he relaxed the arm supporting between Eun Soo’s waist and hips.

“Get off, quickly.”

Someone might think I begged to sit just once. Eun Soo smirked.

“You’re tired from just this? I could keep you seated longer than this if I sat you down.”

“What are you talking about? Where on your legs would I sit? And it’s not because I’m tired…”

Eun Soo hopped off Joo Han’s thigh and said quietly.

“You need to work out more.”

“Me? Even more? Hey, you of all people shouldn’t underestimate my lower body.”

“What. Why. Why only me?”

“Well, if someone who should know better says that…”

Are you crazy? What do I know?

“It’s even worse…”

Shut up. I don’t know even if I do know.

Eun Soo cursed viciously with her eyes. Understanding well, Joo Han obediently closed his mouth.

“You two seem to get along so well. Haha.”

Because Eun Soo had her back turned and Joo Han had lowered his voice, the staff who couldn’t see her expression or hear their conversation just thought they were whispering intimately.

On the way back to change clothes, one of the staff casually asked.

“By the way, you two don’t wear couple rings?”