Joo Han lowered his head and roughly wiped the sweat from his forehead and cheeks with the hem of his T-shirt. His taut waist and defined abs were briefly revealed and then hidden again under the raised shirt.

“Don’t you have a towel? Why are you using your clothes like that?”

Eun Soo blurted out those words without thinking and felt a pang of regret. She tensed up, worried he might seize on it and ask what she was looking at, but fortunately Joo Han responded with seemingly nonchalant eyes.

“Let’s not be fussy. But why?”

“Do you have plans after work today?”

“No.”

“Great. Sol Hee said she wants to treat us to dinner.”

“Me too? Why her?”

Though they were in different departments, they had attended the same university, and since Eun Soo and Sol Hee had been roommates throughout college, the three of them used to meet up often. However, after becoming working adults, and crucially, after Joo Han and Eun Soo became strangers, there had never been an occasion for Sol Hee and Joo Han to meet.

“I’m not sure. She said she has some good news. We should leave here around 7, can you finish your deliveries and be back by then?”

“Yeah.”

Joo Han nodded at first, but a flicker of suspicion crossed his eyes.

Sol Hee wouldn’t just treat me to dinner for no reason…?

That evening, Joo Han and Eun Soo headed to the restaurant Sol Hee had told them about.

It was said to be a famous fusion French restaurant, but it was located in a residential neighborhood. If not for the low standing sign with “Soowoo” written on it in front of the blue gate, one might have thought it was just a modest two-story house.

“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”

“Yes, it should be under the name Jang Sol Hee.”

“One moment… Yes. This way please.”

The staff led them to a window seat. Sol Hee, who had arrived earlier, raised her hand lightly.

“You’re early.”

“I just got here a little while ago too.”

Eun Soo sat down next to Sol Hee, and Joo Han sat across from them.

Sol Hee looked at Joo Han with fresh eyes.

“To think we live in a world where Kim Joo Han is called ‘CEO,’ it’s unsettling.”

“That’s how I felt when I heard Jang Sol Hee was being called ‘writer.'”

“Still as tactless as ever, I see?”

“I left my tact at home since I heard I was meeting you.”

“Actually, so did I.”

Seeing the sharp exchange, Eun Soo finally relaxed. She had worried the atmosphere might be awkward since it had been so long since they’d met, but seeing them criticize each other’s tactlessness just like years ago, it seemed there was no need for concern.

Joo Han and Sol Hee had always fought as a way of greeting whenever they met. If they had fought all ten times out of ten meetings, they probably wouldn’t have met at all, but about once in ten times, they unexpectedly agreed on something.

Sol Hee said:

“Guys, I’m not saying this to brag, but it’s really hard to get a reservation here. I made this reservation a whole month ago.”

“A month ago? Wait, what did you have to say that you prepared a month in advance? What if neither of us had been available today?”

Eun Soo looked Sol Hee up and down with a ‘what’s going on’ expression. Sol Hee shrugged.

“I said I made the reservation a month ago, not that I made it for you two. A month ago, I thought I’d be coming here with my boyfriend today.”

“Wait, what are you saying? Did you break up?”

“Yeah. It’s been a week already. It took me a bit longer to get over it this time. About three days.”

“Oh… I see. Seems like it was quite an intense love.”

“It was intense.”

Joo Han, keeping his eyes fixed on the menu, said:

“Don’t you have other reservations you made to go with that guy? Don’t cancel them, give them to m… Ow!”

Joo Han, having been kicked in the shin under the table by Eun Soo, ended his sentence with a strange cry and closed his mouth. Sol Hee glared at him with eyes that said she’d rather disintegrate everything than give it to him.

“But what’s the good news?”

“Let’s talk after we eat. It’s not urgent.”

They placed their order and soon the food arrived. It was a course meal with amuse-bouche, soup, appetizer, main course, and dessert served in order, each dish a work of art in plating and even more exquisite in taste.

Eun Soo forgot to probe further and focused on the meal.

As the table was cleared and the dessert was finally served, Sol Hee broached the subject.

“Guys. Actually, I’ve been given a chance to work on a variety show. As the main writer.”

“Wow, really?”

Eun Soo brightened.

“You were worried that you’d been doing educational shows for so long that it might be hard to switch to variety. That’s great news.”

“Yeah. It was originally planned by another team, but when the main writer suddenly couldn’t do it, I luckily got the chance. It’s going to be a Watplus original, so the competition was fierce.”

“That’s amazing. Congratulations! What kind of show is it?”

“It’s called ‘Work and Love, Love and Work,’ a reality show featuring couples who are both lovers and coworkers. Think of it as a mix between a dating show and a professional job show.”

“Ah.”

Eun Soo, who personally couldn’t understand why people watched others dating or eating, quickly lost interest. Joo Han seemed to feel the same way.

Still, since it was her friend’s program, she should help boost the ratings. Spread the word around, leave some good comments here and there.

As Eun Soo was thinking this, Sol Hee looked at Eun Soo sitting next to her and Joo Han sitting across, in turn.

“Guys. How would you feel about a golden opportunity to promote ‘Vida’ on Watplus?”

Eun Soo’s eyes lit up.

“What is it? Are you asking to rent our store as a filming location? Or use our furniture as props on set? Anything is fine, just tell me.”

“It’s not that.”

Sol Hee’s tone became insinuating.

“We need cast members. We need cast members.”

“Cast members?”

“Yeah. We’ve been casting for months now, and we just need one more couple. Then we can start filming.”

“Uh…?”

An ominous premonition flashed through Eun Soo’s mind.

Sure enough, the words she had dreaded came out of Sol Hee’s mouth.

“You two, how about appearing on this show?”

“What did I just hear?”

Joo Han, who had bluntly said such words, slightly furrowed his brow. Sol Hee continued without batting an eye.

“Don’t worry about the appearance fee, and I’ll take care of promoting the store too. You just need to film for two weeks. But the show will air for at least 5 weeks, over a month of exposure. It’s no joke, right?”

“It’s certainly no joke. It’s not a joke because neither the person making it nor the person receiving it finds it funny.”

Is it possible to be this dumbfounded? Eun Soo clicked her tongue with such eyes.

Joo Han opened his mouth.

“Didn’t you say earlier that the show’s title is ‘Work and Love, Love and Work’?”

“Yeah. Shortened to ‘Wolo Lowo.'”

“Then why are you trying to cast her and me?”

Joo Han’s voice was quite different from before. His already low voice sank even colder. The flat tone, neither questioning nor accusing, was strangely more chilling.

Without the smile, he looks really intimidating. Sol Hee grumbled inwardly.

Joo Han usually had a somewhat indifferent and languid impression, but when he decided to be serious, he could become so cold it was hard to even approach him.

Eun Soo, observing Joo Han’s face exuding coldness and the icy atmosphere, nudged Sol Hee.

“That’s what I’m saying. And you said it was good news! How is asking us to appear on the show good news? There’s a limit to using food as bait to catch people.”

At this point, it would be nice if Jang Sol Hee admitted she’d overstepped and backed down a bit. And if Kim Joo Han could soften his expression a bit.

Eun Soo thought this as she scooped up a spoonful of the Earl Grey sorbet in front of her and put it in her mouth. However, Sol Hee didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down.

“You know, broadcasts can’t always be made with 100% truth. Sometimes you have to pretend something isn’t true, and other times you have to pretend something is true… You know what I mean, right?”

Joo Han leaned back in his chair and slowly folded his arms.

“So since Eun Soo and I being coworkers is true, we just need to pretend to be a couple?”

“That’s right! Mr. Kim understands a bit quicker.”

“I understood too, you know? Because I understood, I’m telling you not to say such nonsense.”

Eun Soo snorted in response. Sol Hee didn’t back down.

“Of course, it might sound absurd at first. But think about it, Eun Soo. You said it didn’t make sense for me to work with my ex-boyfriend, but you two are doing it, right?”

“Why are you bringing that up now…!”

“I’m saying that something that sounds impossible might actually be possible once you try it.”

“What do you…”

“You were able to clear the air and become cool with each other, so now you can see each other every day and work together, right? That’s what I thought. Then couldn’t you develop that a little further into a more professional business? The benefits you could gain from that brief act are enormous. Isn’t it worth trying?”

“Worth trying? What exactly? Which part? Are you seriously suggesting this to me?”

Eun Soo looked Sol Hee up and down coldly. Faced with such a chilly response, Sol Hee’s voice rose slightly.

“Hey, honestly, complete strangers lie about all sorts of things just to get on TV once!”

“That’s because they’re complete strangers! They can tell all sorts of lies and then never see each other again!”

Eun Soo, who had burst out in response, glanced around nervously. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to have reached the other tables.

Joo Han, irritably running his hand through his hair, stood up from his seat.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Joo Han gestured towards the restroom with his chin and sauntered away.

As soon as they were alone, Eun Soo turned to Sol Hee sitting next to her and glared.

“There are plenty of other people to cast, why ask a broken-up couple to pretend to date again? This is going to be a mess of a show.”

“Don’t just think about it emotionally, think about it realistically. There are no lingering feelings between you two anymore anyway, right?”

“Even if there’s nothing left, how could we do that!”

“What’s so impossible about it? Let’s think simply. You two can do it. I’m telling you, this will definitely work.”

“You… Why are you talking like those broadcast station jerks who are so obsessed with ratings and buzz that they’d sell out their friends?”

“I may be a broadcast station jerk, but I’m not trying to sell you out…”

At that moment, Joo Han returned to his seat. Seeing Eun Soo’s empty dishes in front of her, he said:

“If you’re done eating, let’s go. I’ve already paid.”

“What?”

Sol Hee’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“I said I’d treat you, why did you pay?”

“Because I have no reason to accept a free meal.”

Joo Han smiled.

“I’m using my own money so I can pretend I didn’t hear anything from you today.”

His smile, with the corners of his mouth turned up but his eyes not smiling at all, conveyed an iron wall that said not to bring up the subject again.

Sol Hee looked like she was about to say something but then firmly closed her mouth, and Eun Soo gently pressed her hand on Sol Hee’s shoulder.

“I’ll treat next time.”

Even after leaving the restaurant and parting ways, and the next day, Eun Soo and Joo Han didn’t mention a word about the incident. They were both so busy they barely had time to see each other properly. Especially Eun Soo, who was focused on the upcoming ‘Ritiang’ meeting.

And the next morning, there was an all-staff meeting held about once a month.

30 minutes before ‘Vida’ opened, the employees gathered in the second-floor office. Each held a drink bought from the cafe across the street. In everyone’s line of sight stood a large acrylic board with a calendar drawn on it.

Joo Han stood in front of it and began to speak.

“First, the container shipped from the U.S. is expected to arrive on the 21st. So the 21st and 22nd will be closed for receiving and organizing inventory. We’ll have a container sale on the 23rd, limited to those who have made reservations in advance.”

Joo Han briefly explained, pointing at the calendar.

“And this time…”