Sun Eun Soo, who had fallen asleep without realizing it due to exhaustion, suddenly opened her eyes. If she had just opened her eyes, it would have been fine, but the problem was that she sat up abruptly like someone who sensed they had overslept and missed work. Slap, or swish.

Kim Joo Han’s hand, which was just trying to brush her hair aside, collided with Eun Soo’s cheek as she sprang up. It was too strong to say they merely touched, but too ambiguous to say he hit her. They both were stunned for a moment, then snapped back to reality almost simultaneously.

“Did you just hit me?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose!”

Joo Han’s hand trying to check if she was okay and Eun Soo’s hand pushing it away tangled in the air before returning to their places.

“How on earth do you manage to smack your own face against someone else’s hand?”

“I’m the one who got slapped while sleeping, aren’t I? Why are you the one who’s bewildered? Are you protesting like I scammed you with kimchi fried rice?”

“I knew you never intended to make it from the start.”

Joo Han, suddenly feeling tired, got up first.

“Forget it, I’ve prepared everything so let’s eat quickly.”

Eun Soo followed behind, grumbling, and sat at the table. Two bowls of kimchi fried rice were neatly set out. They had planned to make some for Producer Park and the assistant director too, but they politely declined, saying their job was to film the scene of the two having a cozy dinner.

Sitting at the table, Eun Soo glanced awkwardly at Producer Park and the assistant director.

“Um, you two are so professional that I keep forgetting there are cameras. I’m sorry.”

“No, no. There’s nothing to be sorry about. The less aware you are of the cameras, the better the shots come out. You can be even more comfortable.”

Joo Han shook his head.

“No. Don’t get too comfortable. It wouldn’t matter if it was just your image, but ‘s image is involved too.”

“Producer, in this situation, if I say something inappropriate for broadcast or hit someone, you’ll have to edit it out, right?”

“Please make sure to upload it on YouTube with beeps and mosaics. Like behind-the-scenes footage.”

Producer Park just smiled silently while holding the camera, thinking that while these two were arguing earnestly, if he muted the audio and just kept the video, it would look like the sweetest and coziest dinner in the world.

Meanwhile, Eun Soo’s fighting spirit dropped drastically after taking a bite of the kimchi fried rice. She had only intended to annoy him back as revenge for Joo Han’s constant provocations using the broadcast as an excuse, but it was tastier than expected.

‘I feel like I’m just making Kim Joo Han look good and making myself look weird. I told him to cook and then fell asleep on the sofa. I’m going to get a string of nasty comments, aren’t I?’

After pondering, Eun Soo spoke up.

“It’s delicious. Thank you. I didn’t fall asleep on purpose, but I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You had a tough day receiving the container. It’s natural to be tired.”

He responds so kindly? I thought he’d say something like, ‘It’s fine, I knew you’d be like this!’

She could already hear the sound of five hundred million comments praising Kim Joo Han and his popularity rising to celebrity status. As she was feeling oddly defeated, some voices flashed through her mind.

‘Kim Joo Han, why do you keep hanging out with Sun Eun Soo? Haven’t you heard the rumors? In her second year…’

‘It’s because Joo Han is too nice. It’s not just anyone, but because Joo Han talks to her that she’s not losing face. Looking at how shameless she is even after all those lies were exposed, she’s really X ruthless.’

‘I saw Joo Han sunbae’s girlfriend earlier. It’s the one who works part-time at the coffee shop by the main gate, right? But um… can I be honest? I think sunbae deserves better.’

She also remembered Joo Han’s responses to such comments.

‘Do you believe every rumor you hear? More than the person themselves?’

‘It’s not that I’m nice, it’s that the kids who gossip behind Eun Soo’s back without ever having a proper conversation with her are mean.’

‘I never said it was okay when you asked if you could be honest. And learn to distinguish between being honest and being inconsiderate first.’

Eun Soo chewed and swallowed the fried rice silently. Watching her, Joo Han tilted his head.

‘She’s not saying much but eating really well. Was she that hungry?’

She clearly had a manic look in her eyes when she barged in talking about home-cooked meals.

He thought he’d gotten double payback for creating an atmosphere where they had to eat dinner together, but now looking at her, he even began to suspect that maybe she really just wanted home-cooked food.

After finishing the meal, Eun Soo hesitated after trying to improve her image by doing the dishes but being immediately blocked by Joo Han’s remark that they could just use the dishwasher. Normally, she would have just said thanks for the meal and left without lingering, but that seemed a bit unnatural right now.

Perhaps having similar thoughts, Joo Han asked:

“What do you want to do today? Want to finish watching the movie we were watching last time, or head out right away?”

“I’ll head out right away today.”

“Alright. Go home and get some good rest.”

For once, they were in sync. As Eun Soo grabbed her bag and headed to the entrance, Joo Han naturally followed behind.

“Let’s go.”

“Ah, okay.”

It would seem more natural to see her off, I guess. Eun Soo quietly moved her feet. After coming down the stairs, she tried not to be conscious of Joo Han’s arm lightly wrapping around her shoulder, just like that time before.

Walking without much conversation, Eun Soo thought it was fortunate that the time to get home was short. Of course, compared to the past, when they used to laugh and chat over trivial things and arrive home in what felt like an instant, this might be considered long.

They soon arrived in front of Eun Soo’s building. Eun Soo turned around smoothly. Joo Han’s arm naturally fell away.

“Thanks. You should head in soon too.”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

Their eyes met. The gaze didn’t break away quickly, lingering for a moment.

Was it because they were somewhat aware of the camera behind them, or on the contrary, because they momentarily forgot about the camera?

Eun Soo became curious about which reason explained why Joo Han didn’t turn away immediately.

Then the thought struck her that without the camera, Joo Han wouldn’t have been standing here in the first place, and going back a bit further, she recalled that there was a time when he would naturally walk her home even without cameras.

A sudden confusion and a slight self-loathing spread through her. Taking a shallow breath, Eun Soo stood on her tiptoes and stretched out her arms to hug Joo Han’s neck. Just like she used to long ago.

It must be because of the camera.

Unlike Eun Soo, Joo Han was certain there was only one reason. So he lightly wrapped his arms around Eun Soo’s waist. Keeping his hands as relaxed as possible, so as not to pull her tightly into his embrace with all his strength.

“…Take care.”

Eun Soo broke the hug and turned to enter the building. Joo Han stood there for a long time even after Eun Soo’s figure had completely disappeared.

That wasn’t the words he meant.

‘I love you.’

The three words they used to exchange like a greeting when parting at her doorstep lingered in his mind.

Words that can’t be said or heard now, but because she hugged him just like before, he habitually expected them. Even with cameras present, even pretending to be a couple, even if they kissed in public, Eun Soo wasn’t the type to say those words without sincerity.

Producer Park, filming Joo Han’s retreating back as he returned home, jokingly said:

“Earlier, disappointment was dripping from your eyes as you sent Eun Soo off. I thought you were going to follow her in. I was planning to cut there and call it a day.”

Joo Han laughed softly.

“You weren’t thinking of editing it to cut right as I follow her in, then continue the next morning with birds chirping, were you?”

“Nah, we don’t do that old-fashioned stuff these days.”

Producer Park looked at Joo Han with curious eyes.

They’ve known each other since high school, have been dating for over a year, and even see each other every day at work, yet he can still look so deflated and wistful after sending her home.

When filming them working during the day, he had been secretly worried because they mostly just did their own work with hardly any scenes of them together.

Even during meals, they looked comfortably casual like friends. Though that image wasn’t bad either, he had hoped for something a bit more. But to think such an emotional scene would be captured at the end.

Though it was the same program, Producer Park, who had been anxious all day with a subtle sense of competition hoping his assigned couple would turn out the prettiest and most interesting, finally felt at ease.

A relationship that has both the appearance of a long-married couple and a couple who just started dating yesterday.

It would be strange if there wasn’t a reaction, this is perfect.

“Joo Han and Eun Soo work at the same company and live close by too, huh?”

“Yes, we’re practically together all the time except when we’re sleeping.”

“Are there any downsides to that?”

Producer Park let out a mischievous laugh. Joo Han muttered that it was a bit unexpected, thinking he would ask about the good points, then thought for a moment before saying:

“Not really. Except for wondering when we might not have to exclude sleeping time too.”

After exchanging goodbyes, as Producer Park turned off the camera after capturing Joo Han’s retreating figure entering his home, a completed caption flashed through his mind.

This man is intense.

“Oh my. This is so beautiful. And the size, it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

As Sun Kyung had predicted, the shelf that Eun Soo fell in love with at first sight found an owner in less than a full day. As it was a regular customer who had been visiting since Joo Han’s father was the CEO, Eun Soo was happy to make the sale.

“Excuse me, is this table not coming in again?”

A young customer who seemed a bit awkward in this place approached Eun Soo while looking around and showed her their phone.

Eun Soo immediately recognized the screen as a photo uploaded to Yoon Bin’s Instagram. It was a glass table with a unique leg structure that he had bought from before.

“No, since it’s vintage, it’s difficult to find an exactly identical product. And as it became known as one of Choi Yoon Bin’s favorite items and gained popularity, all the stock of this model was cleared out and the price went up along with it.”

“Really? Ah…”

“If you like the structure of a metal frame with a glass top, we have a few similar ones, and if you’re interested in the style of Lauren Smear who designed this table, I’d recommend looking at the designer’s other collections.”

“Hmm… Then can I see the other tables first?”

“Of course. Please come this way.”

The camera captured Eun Soo’s image as she conversed with the customer leisurely and kindly despite being incredibly busy.

Customers who had learned about the container’s arrival through the notice Jae Rim had posted on Instagram were streaming into .

Among the furniture brought into the warehouse yesterday, they first brought up to the showroom those that were in good enough condition to only need simple repairs, oiling, or a thorough cleaning, filling the space completely.

“Oh, isn’t this the HJ77 chair? This is the first time I’ve seen it here.”

“You won’t be able to see it anywhere else. has an exclusive contract with . Have you heard the news that the Shade Collection, which ceased production in 1942, is being relaunched? That will also be coming exclusively to us.”

“That’s amazing. I’ll definitely come often.”

As the customers thinned out somewhat, Eun Soo went up to the second-floor office.

The Americano she had ordered packed with ice when she came to work in the morning had turned into lukewarm coffee-scented water. Eun Soo gulped down a couple of mouthfuls and sat in the chair with a groan, “Oh my.”

It’s good to be busy.

Turning on her work tablet, Eun Soo muttered to herself. If she had nothing to do and time to spare, she might still be dwelling on the useless thoughts from last night.

What on earth… is this relationship?