Between Us is X (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
Ju Han lowered his head and roughly wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and cheeks with the hem of his T-shirt. Beneath the lifted fabric, his firm waist and sharply defined abs were half-revealed, half-hidden.
“Do you not have a towel? You’re just gonna wipe it with your clothes like that?”
Eun Su hadn’t meant to say it out loud and instantly felt a pang of regret inside. She tensed, afraid he’d snap at her for staring, but luckily Ju Han answered with eyes that didn’t seem to think much of it.
“Let’s just live roughly. But why?”
“Do you have plans after work today?”
“No.”
“Perfect. Sol Hee said she’s buying dinner and told us to come together.”
“Me too? Why would she?”
Even though they were from different departments, they’d gone to the same university, and since Eun Su and Sol Hee had been roommates all throughout college, there had been times when the three of them hung out quite often. But after becoming working adults—and especially after Ju Han and Eun Su became strangers to each other—Sol Hee and Ju Han had never once met.
“Who knows. She said she has some good news. We can probably leave around 7 from here—can you finish deliveries before then?”
“Yeah.”
Ju Han nodded for now, but a glint of suspicion flashed across his eyes.
There’s no way Jang Sol Hee would just treat me to a meal for no reason…?
[This is the timeline separator]That evening, Ju Han and Eun Su headed to the restaurant Sol Hee had told them about.
It was supposedly a famous for fusion French cuisine, yet it was tucked away in a residential alley. If not for the low signboard in front of the blue gate that read , they would have thought it was just a modest two-story house.
“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“Ah, yes. It should be under the name Jang Sol Hee.”
“Just a moment… Yes. This way, please.”
The staff guided them to a window seat. Sol Hee, who had arrived first and was already seated, lightly raised her hand.
“You’re early.”
“I just got here a little while ago too.”
Eun Su sat next to Sol Hee, and Ju Han sat across from them.
Sol Hee looked at Ju Han with fresh eyes.
“The world where Kim Ju Han is called ‘CEO’… it feels unsettling.”
“That’s exactly how I felt when I heard Jang Sol Hee was being called ‘Writer-nim.’”
“You still have zero manners, huh?”
“I left them at home because I was coming to see you.”
“Honestly, same.”
Watching the sharp banter fly back and forth, Eun Su finally relaxed. She’d been worried the atmosphere might be awkward since it had been so long, but seeing them immediately point out each other’s lack of manners just like years ago made her realize there was nothing to worry about.
From the very beginning, whenever Ju Han and Sol Hee met, fighting was their way of saying hello. If they fought all ten times they met, they probably would’ve stopped meeting altogether, but every once in a while—one out of ten times—they unexpectedly agreed on something.
Sol Hee spoke.
“Guys, I’m not saying this to show off, but getting a reservation here is really hard. I booked it a whole month ago.”
“A month ago? What on earth did you have to say that you prepared a month in advance? What if one of us didn’t have time today?”
Eun Su gave Sol Hee a “what’s with you” look. Sol Hee shrugged.
“I said I booked it a month ago—I didn’t say I booked it for you two. A month ago, I thought today I’d be coming here with my boyfriend.”
“Wait, what are you saying? You broke up?”
“Yeah. It’s already been a week. This time it took a little longer to get over—about three days.”
“Uh… okay. That was quite a tenacious love.”
“It was tenacious.”
Ju Han, eyes fixed on the menu, said,
“Didn’t you have another place reserved to go with that guy? Don’t cancel it, just take m—ARRGH!”
Ju Han, who had been kicked in the shin under the table by Eun Su, finished his sentence with a weird yelp and shut his mouth. Sol Hee glared at him as if to say she’d rather disintegrate everything than give it to him.
“So what’s the good news?”
“Let’s eat first and talk later. It’s not urgent.”
They ordered, and the food came out quickly. It was a course—amuse-bouche, soup, appetizer, main dish, and dessert—all with artistic plating and even more amazing taste.
Eun Su forgot to press further and focused on the meal.
When the table was cleared and the final dessert arrived, Sol Hee finally started.
“Guys. Actually, I got cast as the main writer for a variety show this time.”
“Wow, really?”
Eun Su’s face lit up.
“You said you wanted to do entertainment but were worried it’d be hard to switch after doing cultural programs so long. This is great.”
“Yeah. It was originally planned by another team, but the main writer suddenly couldn’t do it, so I luckily got the spot. It’s even a WatPlus original—competition was fierce.”
“Amazing! Totally awesome! What kind of show?”
“It’s called —a real variety show where we cast couples who are lovers and coworkers at the same time. Think of it as a dating show mixed with a professional workplace show.”
“Ah.”
Personally, Eun Su—who never understood why people watched others date or eat—immediately lost interest. Ju Han seemed the same.
Still, it’s a friend’s program, so we should at least help the ratings. Spread the word, leave nice comments here and there.
While Eun Su was thinking that, Sol Hee looked from Eun Su beside her to Ju Han across from her.
“Guys. How would you feel if I said there’s a golden opportunity to promote on WatPlus?”
Eun Su’s eyes sparkled.
“What is it? Do they want to rent our store as a filming location? Or use our furniture as props on-set props? Anything’s fine—just tell me.”
“That’s not it.”
Sol Hee’s tone turned sly.
“Cast members. We need cast members.”
“Cast members?”
“Yeah. They’ve been casting for months and only need one more couple. Then filming can start.”
“Uh…?”
A bad feeling shot through Eun Su’s mind.
And just as expected, the words she feared came out of Sol Hee’s mouth.
“How about the two of you appear on the show?”
“Did I just hear something weird?”
Ju Han, who had blurted that out openly, slightly furrowed his brow. Sol Hee continued without batting an eye.
“Don’t worry about the appearance fee—I’ll take full responsibility for promoting the store. It’s only two weeks of filming. But the broadcast will air for at least five weeks—over a month of exposure. Pretty huge, right?”
“It’s definitely not a joke. Jokes are supposed to make both the teller and the listener laugh, but I’m not laughing at all.”
Is it okay to be this dumbfounded? Eun Su clicked her tongue with that look.
Ju Han opened his mouth.
“Didn’t you say the title was ?”
“Yeah. Shortened to .”
“Then why are you casting her and me.”
Ju Han’s voice was markedly different from before. His already low voice sank colder. The flat tone that was neither questioning nor accusing somehow felt even more chilling.
He looks really intimidating when he drops the smile. Sol Hee grumbled inwardly.
Normally Ju Han gave off a slightly indifferent, languid vibe, but when he decided to get serious, he became so cold it was hard to even speak to him.
Sensing the icy aura pouring off Ju Han’s face and the atmosphere like thin ice, Eun Su nudged Sol Hee.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. And you called it good news! It’s not like you’re asking us to introduce someone suitable—you’re telling us to appear. There’s a limit to using a meal as bait.”
I wish Jang Sol Hee would just admit she overstepped and back off now. And Kim Ju Han, please relax your face a little.
While Eun Su was thinking that, she scooped a big spoonful of the Hongcha sorbet in front of her and put it in her mouth. But Sol Hee showed no sign of backing down.
“Broadcasting can’t be made with 100% truth, you know. Sometimes we pretend it’s not real, sometimes we pretend it is real… you get what I mean, right?”
Ju Han leaned back in his chair and slowly crossed his arms.
“So since Eun Su and I really are coworkers, we just have to pretend to be a couple?”
“Exactly! CEO Kim catches on faster.”
“I got it too, you know? That’s why I’m saying don’t talk nonsense.”
Eun Su snorted in response. Sol Hee didn’t budge.
“Of course at first it sounds like nonsense. But think carefully, Eun Su. I once asked if it made sense to keep working with an ex, and you two did it, didn’t you?”
“Why are you bringing that up now…!”
“I’m saying something that sounds impossible can actually become possible once you try.”
“What kind of…”
“You’ve already let everything go and become cool with each other, so you can see each other and work together every day, right? That’s what I thought. Then couldn’t we take it just one professional step further? The benefits from that short bit of acting are enormous—wouldn’t it be worth trying?”
“Worth trying? What exactly? Which part? Are you seriously telling me to date him again?”
Eun Su looked Sol Hee up and down. When the reaction was ice-cold, Sol Hee’s voice rose a little.
“Hey, complete strangers lie through their teeth just to get on air once!”
“Because they’re strangers! They can lie all they want and never see each other again!”
Eun Su shouted back and quickly glanced around. Thankfully it didn’t seem to carry to other tables.
Ju Han irritably ran a hand through his hair and stood up.
“I’ll be right back.”
He jerked his chin toward the restroom and walked away.
The moment they were alone, Eun Su glared at Sol Hee beside her.
“There are plenty of other people to cast—why make an ex-couple pretend to date again? Scripted trashy shows really do thrive.”
“Stop thinking so emotionally and think realistically. There’s no lingering feelings left between you two anyway.”
“Even if there’s nothing left, how could that possibly work!”
“What wouldn’t work? Let’s keep it simple. You two can do it. This will 100% succeed.”
“You… why are you acting like some broadcasting station jerk who’d sell their own friend for ratings and buzz?”
“I am from a broadcasting station, but I’m not trying to sell you…”
At that moment Ju Han returned to his seat. Seeing Eun Su’s completely empty plates, he said,
“If you’re done eating, let’s go. I already paid.”
“What?”
Sol Hee’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“I’m the one who said I’d treat—why did you pay?”
“There’s no reason for me to be treated.”
Ju Han smiled.
“I used my money so I can pretend I didn’t hear anything from you today.”
Though the corners of his mouth were up, his eyes weren’t smiling at all—an iron-wall smile that said don’t bring it up again.
Sol Hee looked like she wanted to say something but pressed her lips together, and Eun Su gently pressed Sol Hee’s shoulder.
“Next time I’ll treat.”
[This is the timeline separator]Even after leaving the restaurant and parting ways, and the next day as well, Eun Su and Ju Han didn’t mention the matter once. They were each too busy to even see each other properly. Especially Eun Su, who was focused on the upcoming meeting.
And the morning after that, they had their monthly full-staff meeting.
Thirty minutes before opened, the staff gathered in the second-floor office. Each held a drink bought from the café across the street. In a spot everyone could see stood a large acrylic whiteboard with a calendar drawn on it.
Ju Han stood in front of it and started speaking.
“First, the container shipped from the US is scheduled to arrive on the 21st. So the 21st and 22nd will be closed for receiving and organizing stock. We’ll hold a container sale on the 23rd, limited to those who reserved in advance.”
Ju Han pointed at the calendar dates while giving a brief explanation.
“And this time…”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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