“What is it? Do they want to rent our shop for filming? Or use our furniture as props in the set? Anything’s fine, just tell me.”
“It’s not that.”
Solhee’s tone became more serious.
“We need participants. Participants for the show.”
“Participants?”
“Yeah. They’ve been casting for months, and just need one more couple. Then we can start shooting.”
“Uh…?”
A foreboding feeling pierced through Eunsu’s mind.
And as expected, Solhee dropped the bombshell.
“How about you two, participating in the show?”
“What did I just hear?”
Juhan, who blurted out his disbelief, raised an eyebrow. Solhee continued unfazed.
“Don’t worry about the appearance fee, and we’ll take care of promoting the shop. Just two weeks of filming. But it’ll be broadcasted for at least five weeks, maybe more. Not a joke, right?”
“It’s definitely not a joke. A joke is supposed to make both the teller and the listener laugh, but this is not funny at all.”
Eunsu rolled her eyes, questioning if this was even necessary.
Juhan spoke up.
“Didn’t you say the program’s title is ‘Work and Love, Love and Work’?”
“Yes. Or ‘WLLW’ for short.”
“So why cast me and her?”
Juhan’s voice was different from before. His usually low voice became even colder. It was neither a question nor an accusation but an eerily neutral tone.
Solhee internally grumbled about how terrifyingly serious Juhan could be. Normally, he seemed somewhat aloof and relaxed, but when he got serious, his cold demeanor made it difficult to even approach him.
Eunsu, sensing the icy atmosphere and Juhan’s chilling expression, nudged Solhee.
“That’s what I’m saying. And what good news is this? Asking us to participate isn’t good news, it’s like using dinner as bait to catch people.”
Eunsu wished Solhee would admit she had overstepped and back down, and hoped Juhan would relax his expression.
With these thoughts, Eunsu scooped a spoonful of her tea sorbet and put it in her mouth. But Solhee seemed unyielding.
“Broadcasting isn’t always about 100% truth. Sometimes you pretend something isn’t real, and other times, you pretend it is… You get what I mean?”
Juhan leaned back in his chair and casually crossed his arms.
“So we just have to pretend to be a couple, since we are real coworkers?”
“Exactly! Kim Juhan catches on quick.”
“I got it too. I understand, and that’s why I’m saying it’s nonsense.”
Eunsu snorted in response. Solhee didn’t back down.
“Of course, it sounds absurd at first. But think about it, Eunsu. I said it’s crazy to work with an ex-boyfriend, but you two managed, right?”
“Why bring that up now…!”
“It might sound crazy, but trying it might make sense.”
“What kind of…”
“We can work together every day because we’ve cleared the air and become cool with each other, right? That’s what I thought. So, couldn’t we just take it a step further into a more professional business relationship for a short period? The benefits we could gain from this brief acting are huge, right? Isn’t it worth a try?”
“Worth a try? What exactly? Which part? Are you seriously suggesting this to me?”
Eunsu looked Solhee up and down. As her reaction was icy, Solhee’s voice grew slightly louder.
“Hey, honestly, even complete strangers tell all sorts of lies just to get on TV!”
“But that’s because they are strangers! They can tell all those lies and then never see each other again!”
Eunsu, also raising her voice, glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention. Fortunately, it seemed like their conversation hadn’t reached the other tables.
Juhan, irritably running his fingers through his hair, stood up.
“I’ll be right back.”
He gestured towards the restroom and walked away briskly.
As soon as they were alone, Eunsu glared at Solhee sitting beside her.
“There are other places to find participants, why ask us to pretend to date again after we’ve broken up? It’s just making a mockery and a farce for the sake of a show.”
“Stop being so emotional and think about it realistically. There’s no leftover feelings between you two anyway.”
“Even if there’s nothing left, how can you expect that to work!”
“Why wouldn’t it work? Just think about it simply. You two can do it. This will definitely work.”
“Why are you talking like some TV exec obsessed with ratings and controversy, ready to sell out a friend?”
“I am in broadcasting, but it’s not about selling you out…”
Just then, Juhan returned to the table. Seeing Eunsu’s empty plates, he said,
“If you’re done eating, let’s get up. I’ve already paid.”
“What?”
Solhee’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Why did you pay when I said I would?”
“There’s no reason for me to owe you anything.”
Juhan smiled.
“I spent my own money so I can pretend I didn’t hear anything today.”
His smile, with lips upturned but eyes not at all laughing, conveyed a message to stop any further discussion.
Solhee seemed about to say something, then shut her mouth tightly, and Eunsu firmly patted her shoulder.
“I’ll pay next time.”
After leaving the restaurant, and even the next day, Eunsu and Juhan didn’t bring up the topic again. They were too busy to even properly see each other. Especially Eunsu, who was preoccupied with the upcoming meeting with .
The next morning, there was a monthly all-staff meeting.
30 minutes before ‘Bida’ opened, the employees gathered in the second-floor office. Each holding a beverage from the cafe across the street, they sat down. In front of them, a large acrylic chalkboard with a calendar drawn on it was set up.
Juhan stood in front of it and began.
“First off, the container from the U.S. is scheduled to arrive on the 21st. So, the 21st and 22nd will be closed for unloading and organizing. We’ll have a container sale on the 23rd, exclusively for those who’ve already made reservations.”
Juhan briefly explained while pointing at the calendar.
“And this time…….”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
