Solhee frowned and turned around.
“What’s that? Aren’t you embarrassed to use such a childish nickname after thirty?”
She had made a similar comment when they were freshmen in college. It was astonishing to her that someone in their twenties would still proudly use a nickname that sounded like something from elementary school.
Even back then, and now, Kiwoo didn’t seem to care much.
“You were the one who brought it up.”
“About what?”
“That nonsense program, ‘Work and Love’ or whatever.”
Solhee’s brow furrowed.
“Okay, complaint received. What’s your issue?”
“Don’t you know? It’s ridiculous to hear someone who doesn’t know them doing the casting, but you know everything about them and still pushed for it. Is ratings above common sense and loyalty?”
“Yes, I’m obsessed with ratings. So I convinced them to do it even though they didn’t want to. Happy now?”
“Hey.”
The atmosphere turned tense in an instant. The two’s gazes clashed sharply in mid-air.
“Did you tell Juhan that I forced him to do it against his will?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then why are you making a fuss? Did you give birth to Kim Juhan?”
“I didn’t, and I couldn’t, but I can still offer my two cents.”
Kiwoo lowered his voice, hands still in his pockets.
“If Juhan gets hurt because of that show, and if he gets more scars that he didn’t need, I’ll honestly blame you first.”
“Really, you’re too much.”
Solhee snorted and crossed her arms.
“Both Kim Juhan and Seon Eunsoo are my friends, and above all, they’re adults. They can handle themselves, and they made the decision themselves. Why should a third party like you be so outraged over a decision they made willingly?”
Kiwoo stared at Solhee and then sighed in disbelief.
“You always see others’ emotions the way you want to.”
“Me?”
“Sure, they made the decision. But was the process easy? What about the future? If you hadn’t brought it up, they wouldn’t have had to face this difficulty. For instance, would you pretend to be my girlfriend on camera if necessary?”
“I might if needed.”
“Huh?”
“Also, your example is wrong. You and I are…”
Solhee paused briefly then added coldly.
“Not like them, who were in a real relationship.”
Kiwoo, rendered speechless, shut his mouth firmly. A bitter smile crossed his face.
“Yeah, I should have chosen a better comparison.”
As soon as she heard ‘mistake’, Solhee’s expression grew even colder.
“So what if the opposite happens, if the result is contrary to your worries?”
“The opposite?”
“If it goes wrong, you’ll blame me, but if it goes right, it’s thanks to me, right? Will you kneel and thank me then?”
The opposite outcome, success…?
Kiwoo, who hadn’t considered this possibility, asked tentatively.
“That… kneeling is just a figure of speech, right?”
“Ugh.”
With a look of disgust and disdain, Solhee turned and walked away. Kiwoo, left staring at her unyielding back, crumpled his cigarette pack in his pocket.
“Always so harsh.”
Before the official first shooting of “Work and Love, Love and Work,” there was a pre-meeting and profile shooting. Juhan and Eunsoo finished their morning work and headed to the broadcasting station.
“Hello, I’m Park Jinwon PD, in charge of shooting and editing this time. I’ve heard a lot about you from Writer Jang.”
A man appearing to be in his early to mid-forties greeted them warmly. Juhan and Eunsoo, now in full business mode, exchanged greetings.
“Please have a seat over here.”
PD Park led them to a small conference room inside the office.
“The shooting will be done in a way that minimizes disruption to your work. We’ll mainly use the cameras set up in the office, and only a minimal staff will be attached.”
Being the last of the four couples to meet, PD Park smoothly relayed the information.
“And in between, there are shoots involving all the other participants. There are four schedules in total. Each of the four couples will take turns hosting, and at each other’s workplace, there will be a bit of job experience and a unique date concept…”
Juhan and Eunsoo listened intently, feeling a bit nervous.
“Our program’s intent is to fulfill the romance of workplace relationships. Unlike other dating shows that derive excitement from the tension of finding a partner, ours aims to extract a sense of stability and comfort from couples who have already caught both the rabbits of work and love. Think of it as a serious relationship encouragement program.”
Encourage a relationship? With her?
One rabbit was already lost, and in an attempt to hold onto the remaining rabbit, the two were sweating silently.
“Let’s move to the studio now.”
Following PD Park, they left the office. As they passed several studios where other programs were being recorded, a small set came into view.
“Oh!”
Eunsoo’s eyes widened at the sight of the props inside the set. They were furniture pieces sponsored by ‘Bida’ for future MC studio recordings.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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