SWAP 16

Because he had an attitude that seemed to have no intention of listening properly, let alone reflecting, Seoul’s eyes grew sharp. When he threw a wordless glance, Saheon’s expressionless face crumbled as if he were delighted to finally make eye contact. Before long, Saheon’s body, leaning with his elbows on the table, was turned completely toward Seoul.

“What are you going to do if I glare back? Should I act scared?”

Based on the content alone, it was provocative enough, but the elegantly curving corners of his mouth implied something else. When a long finger that had been messing with a button poked a white cheek without causing any pain, Seoul’s brow furrowed slightly.

Even if lying about the return date was something suggested by others and couldn’t be helped… besides that, what exactly did he do so well to keep speaking so loudly? If they had been alone, Seoul would have been the first to grab those cheeks and shake them, and it was a pity he couldn’t.

In the end, Seoul, putting on a strict expression, nodded. Act scared? Since Saheon had volunteered to have his acting evaluated, Seoul could give him a score as much as he wanted.

“Try it.”

“Ah, Lee Seoul is scary.”

“Just don’t do it.”

“Okay.”

The word “evaluation” was a waste. As soon as he faced such dry horror acting that even a primary school textbook would read better, Seoul’s gaze turned icy, and he immediately pressed the “show-ending” button. Saheon also seemed to read the atmosphere and stepped back obediently. He had the expression of a man who knew well that there are things in this world to touch and things to leave alone.

However, stepping back didn’t mean it was over.

Not even a few seconds later, he opened his mouth again and began to skillfully attract Seoul’s attention.

“By the way, aren’t you curious about what I bought?”

“…You had time to shop?”

“Yeah. I bought something you like.”

“…….”

If Seo Saheon said so, it really was so. Because sometimes, he understood Seoul’s tastes more accurately than Seoul himself. What was famous in Milan again? Seoul felt a flicker of interest, but since he didn’t want to show it and kept his mouth shut, Saheon spoke as if he had looked right through his thoughts.

“Say you’re curious.”

“…I’m curious.”

“It’s in the car, so go look later.”

In the end, Seoul, who spat out his true feelings just as Saheon intended, made a face as if realizing his mistake a beat too late. There was the realization that he had been lured in, but since it was a common occurrence, he decided not to think about it further. Come to think of it, he said he came straight from the airport. The story he had let slip earlier suddenly came to mind. Only then did he notice Saheon’s tired complexion.

Fundamentally, Saheon was the type who could sleep anywhere as long as he leaned his head back, but strangely, he could never fall asleep on a plane.

His theory was: how could one comfortably close their eyes while floating in mid-air…? Since it was strangely understandable, Seoul hadn’t been able to particularly refute it. Eventually, Seoul’s expression softened more and more. Here he was, grumbling at a guy who flew all the way from a distant foreign country just because he wanted to film together.

“Are you very tired?”

His voice, which was already soft, became even more tender.

Saheon, who knew that gap better than anyone, did not miss the opportunity and killed his expression.

Yeah, I’m tired. I’m sleepy. I want to sleep all day, Seoul-ah…. The tone, whispering only to Seoul so it was barely audible, stretched out like caramel. It was just like a whimpering puppy, so pity spread further and further in Seoul’s eyes.

The problem was that there was more than one person witnessing that scene.

“…….”

“…….”

The two of them didn’t realize that the production team, who had been chatting noisily, had suddenly become as quiet as a dead mouse. To be precise, one side really didn’t notice, while the other side was closer to knowing but leaving it be.

Unlike PD Jeon Jaeyeon, who hurriedly controlled his gaping mouth at the unexpected sight, the eyes of the main writer, Sukyung, were already on the verge of falling to the floor. No, I mean, what, what on earth is this….

Actually, the reason they had worked so hard to cast Seo Saheon and Lee Seoul wasn’t anything special.

It was because they were certain that they were a pair that would capture everything without missing a beat—not only the relationship that fit the program’s keywords perfectly but also the visuals, the buzz, and the ratings.

Weren’t they those famous “composite best friends”?

It was still hard to believe, but it was said they had been friends since they were in their mothers’ wombs, yet a scene of them together could not be found in any media.

If there was any evidence, it was only a few paparazzi cuts and a single photo Seo Saheon had personally taken and uploaded. That was why the relationship was treated even more like an urban legend. If they appeared on a variety show, or at least in some other media, people would act crazy and try to ask, but unfortunately, both of them were only faithful to their main jobs. Unlike Seo Saheon, who had experience appearing on variety shows a few times for promotion, Lee Seoul was absent even then.

So, the chance to capture the two of them—who remained only as all sorts of rumors and mysteries—on one screen.

If possible, it was an opportunity they had to hold onto even if they had to sell their souls.

For this reason, from the time they first planned the program, the production team had persistently contacted Mimyeong Entertainment, the agency for Saheon and Seoul. Since PD Jeon Jaeyeon happened to be personally acquainted with CEO Yeom Gang-sik, he had held onto a glimmer of hope for a moment, but… the result was refusal after refusal. It was like a house of mourning.

Of course.

Telling themselves that things couldn’t possibly be resolved that easily, they comforted each other but could not bring themselves to give up. Is it said that humans feel a longing for what they cannot have? As the program luckily rode the trend and succeeded, and as the seasons were renewed, the desire for the two of them grew larger and larger.

And so, one day, as usual, when they asked about their intention to appear in the new season. PD Jeon Jaeyeon, who was halfway to giving up, thinking it would be a rejection this time too, felt his heart start to beat wildly at the sudden phone call from CEO Yeom.

No way.

Could it be?

Comforting himself not to expect too much, he pressed the receive button, but his heart was already out the door. Along with the readiness to run out at any moment, he blurted out a greeting asking how he had been, and before long, the news he had been waiting and waiting for arrived.

That Seo Saheon said he wanted to appear.

Seoul was still a problem, but according to CEO Yeom’s opinion that it would probably be possible if Saheon was stubborn about it, Jeon Jaeyeon shed tears in his heart.

It felt like finally receiving the first piece of a puzzle that had been missing since the time of purchase. Vowing and guaranteeing that he would match any schedule as long as the two of them appeared, he prayed every day thereafter.

Did the heavens recognize that sincerity?

At the contact from CEO Yeom that came a week later, not only Jeon Jaeyeon but also the writers who had offered up prayer water together couldn’t help but let out cheers.

The combination of Seo Saheon and Lee Seoul? Even if the editing was done with their feet, it was an unconditional success. He felt as if he could receive offerings of rice from fans all over the country even if he committed the blunder of accidentally uploading 336 hours of unedited footage.

Therefore, how much they lacked eloquence or a sense of variety show humor was a non-issue to them.

Why?

Because there was only this content.

Even if people wanted to eat something else, there would be no bait other than this…!

It was a concept possible because they knew Lee Seoul’s fans, who were already beyond starvation and in a coma, and Seo Saheon’s fans, who had countless pieces of bait but they were all poisoned so there was nothing to eat. That was also why they could encourage Seoul, who had been worried the whole time, with all their might.

But what on earth was that?

Once again, his heart beat fast. Watching Saheon and Seoul, who had at some point fallen into a conversation of only the two of them, the production team had a strong premonition. It’ll work. This will work. He didn’t know when they were apart, but once he put them together, the ratings radar that started running instinctively began to ring a siren as if having a fit.

Probably Seoul, who had begun to soothe Saheon with a gentle voice, would not know even in his dreams.

The production team’s determination to stubbornly extract that audio, no matter how quietly they whispered, and send it out on the broadcast.

It was a fresh sight that they didn’t notice the fact that everyone in the room was focusing on them. They were no different from lambs who didn’t yet know the tenacity of the variety show world. It was at that moment, while holding their breath in the hope that all these moments would be fully captured by the camera. He ended up making eye contact right then and there with Seo Saheon.

“…….”

“…….”

Ah, was I caught?

Feeling like his behavior of wordlessly voyeurizing them had been exposed, his lips twitched awkwardly.

He was about to say something and change the subject appropriately when Saheon’s gaze shifted away first. Turning his head toward Seoul as if they had never exchanged glances, he continued the conversation nonchalantly.

“…….?”

What?

PD Jeon Jaeyeon, who kept his mouth shut at the unknown feeling, watched the two of them with a strange look in his eyes.

In the meantime, the dishes they were waiting for came out. Looking at the food filling the table, Seoul, who offered a greeting to the waiter, belatedly turned his face toward the production team that had gone quiet.

He had a somewhat embarrassed expression, as if he only then realized they had been talking only amongst themselves. Oh boy. Not missing the timing, PD Jeon Jaeyeon chuckled and quickly settled the situation.

“Wow. It’s great to see that you seem even closer than I thought. Since we’re hungry, shall we talk while we eat for now?”

After all, even the most beautiful scenery is best seen after a meal. When he suggested it with a cheerful voice, Seoul, who smiled back and said “Shall we?”, gently pushed the dishes placed right in front of him away. The most expensive dish, the “Jeongabok,” was placed near the youngest writer.

“I’m not the one paying, but please enjoy your meal, PD-nim. You too, writers.”

“Oh, of course. It’s all the corporate card, but you enjoy it too, Mr. Seoul. You too, Mr. Saheon.”

After PD Jeon Jaeyeon, who bluffed loudly at the friendly added words, picked up his chopsticks, the meal began in earnest. Not being the type particularly interested in eating, Seoul spent more attention on the people than the food throughout, such as serving food that was far away or taking care of tissues first.

However, if you asked if that was burdensome, it wasn’t that either.

It seemed like a habit ingrained in his body, to the point that even the production team only realized it while editing the first episode.

The problem lay in Seo Saheon’s attitude in handling such a version of Seoul.