"W-well… you have a baby face, right? But you're actually much older than me…"
"They say walnuts are good for memory. I'll buy you some later. You'll probably need a whole box."
The more Haeyoung smiled brightly, the more Minji's face stiffened and flushed.
"And you started refusing before I even said it was a gift—guess you really wanted it deep down, huh? Aww, how cute. Chattering away about things I didn't even ask about, like your preference. You're like a little baby dove."
Haeyoung pinched Minji's cheek. A flush of embarrassment, anger, and irritation surged across Minji's face.
"But next time, just be honest and beg for it too. That way, we unnis will find you even cuter."
Haeyoung leaned in close and whispered into Minji's ear—quiet enough not to be picked up by the microphone.
"And this is really because I'm worried about you… That Chanel dress you're wearing? It's fake. The stitching is coming undone."
Minji quickly covered the Chanel logo on her dress.
"Were you short on money? If you want to act like you only wear designer brands, you should at least buy the real thing. Isn't it embarrassing if you get caught?"
Minji roughly pushed Haeyoung away, her anger impossible to hide.
Oh man, better watch out for the cameras.
Haeyoung gently ruffled Minji's hair one last time.
"Our cute Minji. It would be perfect to have a little sister like you."
If only that were true—she could have properly raised her from a young age. What a pity.
Haeyoung smiled, eyes crinkling warmly.
*****
Haeyoung had dinner with Chanwoo.
The mood was awkward the whole time because Chanwoo openly showed his interest in Haeyoung and kept making cheesy comments. She simply went through the motions, treating it as an obligatory obligation.
When the date ended and she returned, the other participants who had finished their own dates were already gathered in the living room.
"Really? Is that true?"
Unaware that Haeyoung had come in, the participants were engaged in a heated conversation. Haeyoung gave a quick wave and took a seat in a corner.
"No way. Why would someone like that come here?"
Seongjun raised his voice. They weren't fighting, but something was going on.
Even Haeyoung, who had watched the broadcast, couldn't easily figure out what was happening.
"What's going on?"
"Haeyoung unnie, Taeri said that Yunhyuk is a chaebol heir.*"
(*Chaebol heir = The son/daughter (usually male in dramas or real-life succession) expected to inherit or take over a powerful business empire in South Korea.)
"I'm sure I saw it in an article!"
What? It sounded so sudden, absurd, and childish.
"Yunhyuk said he works at Baeho Motors, didn't he?"
Yunhyuk had recently transferred from the U.S. branch of Baeho Motors' Overseas Business Strategy team to the Domestic Business Strategy team.
But suddenly, a chaebol heir?
"That's exactly it! Until yesterday, we were unsure, but when we heard he works at Baeho Motors, we became certain. Because he's actually the son of the chairman of Baeho Motors."
"No way…"
"Is Yunhyuk's face something you easily forget? Even before, I thought, wow, a chaebol heir who's also got the looks."
That couldn't be true. Haeyoung just dismissed it as nonsense.
If Yunhyuk were a chaebol, there's no way he'd be on this show.
Haeyoung had met so-called 'rich' people before. Although they had normal features, their behavior felt like they lived in a completely different world.
Yunhyuk was definitely eccentric, but he didn't give off that kind of vibe.
Just then, Yunhyuk appeared at the entrance, opening the door. He was dressed in training clothes, as if he'd just finished some light exercise after his date.
"Oppa Yunhyuk!"
Minji, who had been quietly listening until now, suddenly stood up and ran over to him.
Yunhyuk took out his earphones.
"Oppa, hey."
"Yes?"
"Are you really the son of Chairman Han Jong-gu of Baeho Motors?"
The question was blunt and direct. Yunhyuk wore an indifferent expression as if trying to figure out the situation.
He glanced around at everyone. The situation was obvious — his background was being discussed without him present.
He might have felt uncomfortable. Would he get angry? Or maybe just laugh it off in disbelief?
"Yeah."
"Huh? You mean that's true?"
Minji's voice grew excited.
"Yeah."
"Whaaat!"
Minji covered her mouth in surprise. The other participants were equally shocked.
Yunhyuk responded calmly, as if it were no big deal, but the implication was huge. Baeho Motors was a major corporation holding nearly 70% of the domestic car market share.
In other words, he really was a chaebol heir.
"This is unbelievable."
"Wow..... Wow...."
Everyone was left speechless.
The most shocked of all was undoubtedly Haeyoung.
Yoonhyuk was that insanely wealthy?
Haeyoung recalled the moments she had met Yunhyuk outside: at Seongran's hospital, and when the car accident happened. And when she abruptly called him to propose appearing on Friendship Romance.
The common thread was that all those times were on weekday afternoons, when he wasn't working and was leisurely wandering around. That was why Haeyoung could so easily suggest he join the show. She was certain he must need money.
"Thirty million won. Appearance fee separate. Just play house with me during filming, and a large sum will be yours."
The words she had suggested to Yunhyuk still vividly lingered in my mind. But if he was really that wealthy, why was he involved in this plan?
"By the way, why did you come to a place like this?" Minji suddenly blurted out the question that Haeyoung wanted to ask. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation and excitement. It was obvious what Minji was imagining.
A romance, dating, or even marriage with the heir of a chaebol family. That was a form of social advancement that was completely different—and maybe even better—than gaining fame and success through broadcasting.
"Usually, chaebols have those arranged marriages, right?"
"Hey, Minji, you watch way too many dramas."
"Why not? That could really happen!"
Minji puffed out her cheeks and pouted.
"Arranged marriages still happen a lot."
"Really? In this day and age, arranged marriages…? Then why did Yunhyuk appear on the show?"
"Maybe he's looking for destined love?"
There was a strong note of hope in Minji's tone. Was she dreaming that she might be that destined love, and become the daughter-in-law of a chaebol family?
Yunhyuk slowly turned his head. As always, his gaze landed on Haeyoung.
Their eyes met, and Haeyoung silently asked the question: Why are you really here?
"A friend asked me to come out."
"You must be really close. I'm really curious who this friend is!"
"Yes, my friends are very important to me."
Of course, that was a blatant lie.
Haeyoung and Yunhyuk were connected only by a slight sense of obligation.
Right then, Haeyoung wanted to talk to Yunhyuk.
But Yunhyuk was surrounded by the other participants the entire time, answering various questions. Especially Minji, who stuck to Yunhyuk like a tick and showed no sign of letting go.
After a while, the interest in Yunhyuk began to wane, and just as Minji's attention drifted, Yunhyuk stood up as if he had been waiting for the moment.
Before Yunhyuk's back disappeared through the balcony door, Haeyoung caught his eye. She quietly stood and headed toward the balcony where Yunhyuk was.
Through the glass door, she saw Yunhyuk casually leaning against the railing. Her steps halted firmly as if stuck to the ground.
Sensing Haeyoung's arrival, Yunhyuk turned around. Their eyes met, and Yunhyuk smiled.
The soft movement of his hair fluttering in the breeze, It was almost unreal.
Could it really be true?
It was hard to believe, but now, there was no way it could be a lie.
Her own reflection appeared on the glass. A gloomy and resolute expression. It felt like she existed in a completely different world from Yunhyuk beyond the glass.
It seemed as if she would never be able to cross the single pane of glass that stood between them forever. And maybe she shouldn't cross it.
What was I trying to ask Yunhyuk?
What if it was real? Why didn't he tell me beforehand? Or why he accepted my proposal?
Among these, was there anything I truly needed to know?
Did I even have the right to ask him?
Her hand gripping the door handle didn't move.
In the first place, it didn't matter what kind of person Yunhyuk was.
It was all part of the plan. She had never even considered otherwise from the start.
What mattered was that, for whatever reason, Yunhyuk had accepted her proposal, and the revenge was progressing smoothly as planned.
Her hand dropped abruptly from the door handle.
At the same moment, with a faint scraping sound, the door opened. Just two steps in front of Haeyoung, a long leg came to a halt.
"Weren't you coming to me?"