Despite her grumbling, Eunsu quickly grabbed some clothes to change into and went into the bathroom.
“I’ll be out soon after a quick shower.”
Solhee, smiling silently, took out jokbal and golbaengi salad from the bag and laid them out on the table. After arranging the alcohol and glasses, Eunsu, with her hair still wet and wrapped in a towel, came out and sat down.
“I didn’t even think about food or drink when I was leaving work, but now I’m suddenly so hungry.”
“Come to think of it, this is my first proper meal today. Let’s eat quickly.”
The two comfortably started drinking. They chatted about various topics, following the flow of their conversation – broadcasting station stories, company tales, old memories – and time flew by.
Then Solhee cautiously broached the subject.
“About that TV appearance we talked about the other day.”
“Yeah.”
Eunsu adjusted her posture slightly.
They hadn’t spoken about it since the day Juhan paid for their meal at the restaurant and they parted ways. When Solhee had asked to meet, Eunsu had thought they should talk it over properly, and it seemed Solhee had the same idea.
“I apologize for bringing it up so abruptly. To be honest, I was in a bit of a rush. We were about to start filming, but one couple we had pre-booked suddenly broke up and said they couldn’t appear. We had to quickly fill the slot, and the only people I could think of were you and Kim Juhan.”
Eunsu simply nodded silently, listening. Solhee observed her quietly.
By chance, Solhee had been the closest witness to Juhan and Eunsu’s relationship from their early twenties to mid-twenties, and she had been shocked twice.
The first time was when they broke up.
When they started dating, she wasn’t surprised at all. She had casually remarked that they already seemed like a couple, so indifferent was she to the news.
But when they broke up, she was shocked.
Considering they had never even joked about breaking up, not even during fights, she couldn’t believe it.
‘No way, they’ll get back together.’
‘Wait, Kim Juhan went to the U.S.? Leaving Sun Eunsu behind? They’re really not going to see each other again?’
For almost two months, she couldn’t quite grasp the reality of it. Eunsu seemed to have calmed down quickly, at least outwardly, which disturbed Solhee even more.
That’s why she was shocked the second time when she heard they were working together.
She had thought such a lukewarm relationship didn’t suit them. She expected them either to marry and be together forever or never see each other again.
So, she was surprised again, but it seemed they were getting along well so far.
At that point, Solhee gave up presuming to know or guess what their relationship was like.
So, perhaps my proposal could be taken more coolly than expected, I thought, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
“Putting our friendship aside, from a screenwriter’s perspective, your duo would have been a huge sensation just by appearing. The visuals, the setting, everything. It was tempting. I’m sorry, my friend.”
Eunsu sighed lightly, “Ah, okay. It’s alright. I understand your situation, but it was a bit too much.”
Solhee also smiled and shrugged. Eunsu continued.
“Even the thought of a brief appearance is scary, let alone committing to lies and acting. The idea of not just ‘Vida’ but also my face becoming known… I’ve never experienced it, but I feel like I can imagine.”
“Of course, being on TV can lead to various things. Good and bad.”
Solhee, having gathered the empty glasses, picked up a beer bottle.
“But, these things don’t usually last too long. Hey, let’s switch to somaek (beer and soju mix). I’ll mix it nicely.”
Solhee began to mix somaek with a flair that made her look like a professional.
“There was a famous dating show a few years ago, right? ‘Love Signal’ was it?”
“Yeah. I know it. Didn’t watch it though.”
“Do you know what those participants are doing now? Aside from the one who became an actor.”
Eunsu just blinked. Indeed, she couldn’t think of anyone in particular.
“It becomes a hot topic quickly, but just as quickly, people forget. So don’t be too scared in advance.”
“Haven’t you given up on casting? I thought that conversation was over, but it feels like it’s not?”
Chucking suspiciously, Solhee handed a glass of somaek to Eunsu. Eunsu, with eyes full of suspicion and distrust, brought the glass to her lips. But after a sip, her eyes softened.
“…Did you get a somaek license without me knowing?”
“If there was such a thing, I would’ve earned a PhD in it,” joked Solhee.
Seizing the moment Eunsu was enchanted by the perfect ratio of somaek, Solhee said.
“Let me say something typical of a broadcasting station person, the impact of TV is beyond imagination. I wish you could reap those immense benefits. Of course, ‘Vida’ isn’t your shop, but if ‘Vida’ is recognized, you’ll feel like your efforts are recognized too.”
“…”
Though it sounded like typical broadcasting station talk, it was also something a friend who knew Eunsu well could say.
Regardless of how she joined, Eunsu now had deep affection for ‘Vida’ and wanted to prove her worth there, which Solhee knew well.
“The world doesn’t always reward hard work or excellence. Sometimes it’s about luck or timing.”
Those realistic and even cold words pricked Eunsu’s heart. She muttered weakly, “…That’s true.”
After midnight, they tidied up and lay in bed.
“Aren’t you uncomfortable? I can sleep on the sofa.”
“I can’t let the homeowner sleep on the sofa. And I can’t sleep on it either. Let’s sleep together.”
Convinced by Solhee’s ‘miraculous’ logic, Eunsu closed her eyes willingly. They exchanged a few more words, giggling.
But as Solhee, lying on the side near the wall, drifted off to sleep, silence fell. However, Eunsu remained awake.
The impact of TV, the benefits of broadcasting.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
