Watching the two of them look far too good together, IP 85.152 unconsciously covered their mouth.

“Whoever called him in, judging by the cameo level, this is ⌜real⌟.... Not bad.... The character understanding and directing are both ⌜top-tier⌟. Heh....”

Their otaku speech had come out again.

It was a scene that immediately made Jeon Segye’s jealousy catching fire feel completely convincing.

〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 carried the story through the competence of its female lead Nam Pyeonghwa and Jeon Segye’s support of that competence.

They needed allies and talent capable of bringing down the massive conglomerate L&E. And the one holding those in her hands was Nam Pyeonghwa.

Nam Pyeonghwa’s eyes sparkled beautifully as she watched designs she had scribbled down alone become real products.

Nam Pyeonghwa justified Jeon Segye’s love with her very existence.

She made it impossible not to lose your heart to her.

—Up until the first episode, I was thinking of switching to something else, but when I came to my senses I was still watching LMAO

˪Same, same. It’s a familiar taste, but somehow different, so I like it.. hehe

—Han Yeoreum eats up this capable-female-lead vibe so well

The two wings that made up 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉.

One was the unprecedented characterization of Jeon Segye, the idiot male lead.

The other was the fashion-industry storyline about how B-bly would be led from here on.

Nam Pyeonghwa was a character whose elements could easily become boring if handled badly.

If the story focused too heavily on the love line to match Jeon Segye, it would drift away from the initial setup, and viewers would grow tired of a character who changed because of romance.

So Hwang Boseok made Han Yeoreum’s Nam Pyeonghwa even more solid.

A consistency that did not change even when she fell in love. A proactive drive to push straight toward what she dreamed of.

Some people might have noticed a hole in the setup of someone who had never professionally studied fashion possessing enough talent to shake a company, but Han Yeoreum’s acting made all of it possible.

The look in her eyes that showed love and passion for fashion. Her precise diction. The trust created by her unwavering, upright gaze and attitude.

Because her fundamentals as an actress were solid, the character Nam Pyeonghwa truly seemed alive.

The next scene was an official cliché that appeared in every Korean romcom.

“Pfft....”

Jeon Segye, drinking soju alone at a street stall, saw Nam Pyeonghwa in every poster hanging there too.

[Want to drink with me? If not, mango!]

[Clean and refreshing taste, Fresh Leaf Soju]

“One more bottle of Fresh Leaf Soju here...!”

Still dressed in the trench coat he had worn while tailing her, Jeon Segye looked gloomy as he tipped back his glass. Beopsun at his feet was licking from a small water bowl too.

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.

Just then, Nam Pyeonghwa called him. Jeon Segye sprang up from his seat and quickly answered the phone.

“Hello....”

—Director, I just finished the meeting with J.

“...Yes....”

—Director? Your voice sounds strange. Are you sick?

“I’m not sick....”

After beating around the bush, Jeon Segye ultimately managed to make Nam Pyeonghwa come pick him up.

When he spotted Nam Pyeonghwa approaching from far away, Jeon Segye began his fraud. He slapped his own cheeks until they turned red.

“Hurry, hurry, pretend you’re asleep! Bang!!!”

Beopsun, who had been at his feet, also lay flat on the ground and pretended to be drunk. Jeon Segye collapsed over the table too.

“Gasp. Director!”

Nam Pyeonghwa shook Jeon Segye, who was sprawled over the table. Pretending to be drunk, Jeon Segye furrowed his brow.

“Ugh....”

“Are you all right? Did you drink all three bottles by yourself?”

“What does it matter....”

Jeon Segye dragged out the ends of his words.

“Intern Nam doeesn’t—! Care about meee... at aaall....”

“....”

“Why, why are you... so cruel to meee.... You won’t even... look at me....”

—He seriously looks dumb

—LMAOOO Please uncurl my toes

—CruelNam... T_T

Nam Pyeonghwa sighed, took care of Beopsun lying on the ground, and helped Jeon Segye out.

As the three of them walked together down the quiet nighttime street, just like during their last walk, Jeon Segye’s heart fluttered. Having one arm around Nam Pyeonghwa’s shoulders felt almost... like they were dating....

And at that moment, Nam Pyeonghwa spoke.

“By the way, I’m sorry, but... could you stop pretending to be drunk now?”

Jeon Segye froze on the spot.

“...Since when did you know?”

“From the beginning, actually. I was going to pretend I didn’t know, but you’re too heavy. Ah, I’m dying here.”

Nam Pyeonghwa sat Jeon Segye down on a bench and plopped down beside him. Beopsun, who had been staggering just moments earlier, flopped down with her head on Jeon Segye’s foot as if none of it had ever happened.

“Why are you playing with me!”

“I was trying to play along as much as possible, not play with you. Honestly, I’d carry you on my back if I could, but I’m tired too.”

Nam Pyeonghwa took off her heels. Only then did Jeon Segye remember that he had been leaning on a woman wearing heels, and his eyebrows drooped helplessly.

“Do your legs hurt?”

“A little.”

“Then... should I carry you...?”

Beside the hesitant Jeon Segye, Nam Pyeonghwa smiled.

“....”

Suddenly, something flashed through IP 85.152’s mind.

Seoryeong’s blood in 〈Strange Tales〉, Huijae’s rainwater in 〈The Great Garland〉, and....

“Well.... That works too.”

Pyeonghwa’s sweat in 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉.

Han Yeoreum displayed overwhelming skill in scenes that were clearer and more dewy than anyone else’s. The way she smiled as if admitting defeat, just like now, made the heart stop in one’s chest.

An ordinary everyday moment.

A person who made that moment special.

Nam Pyeonghwa’s character shone beneath the evening streetlights.

Pyeonghwa, carried on Jeon Segye’s back, rested her cheek beside the nape of his neck.

“Am I not heavy?”

“Not at all. But do you usually let just any man carry you like this?”

“No, only you, Director.”

“Hmph....”

The three shadows swayed together in harmony.

IP 85.152 engraved the ending scene of today’s 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 deep inside their heart. Jeon Segye’s profile as he failed to hide his excitement and smiled, and Nam Pyeonghwa’s quiet smile.

And then the preview.

“Maybe love had already ended from that moment. I wanted my child to be proud. Why do people point fingers at divorced families? Because they think there’s a flaw... I didn’t want my precious child to be seen that way....”

—Huh????

—Fuck, finally

—Are they getting divorced???

The preview for 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 dropped a bomb.

“I think I can be brave now. Yes.”

The promised catharsis.

“Let’s get divorced. Let’s roll around in the mud together.”

Alongside the fall of L&E, the situation would change so Jeon Segye could finally find the courage for love.

Thrilled by the flow, IP 85.152 began managing the gallery until dawn.

“If this happens, then the ratings should start to...!”

[Kwon Junhyeok confesses his “heart fluttered” at reunion with Han Yeoreum]

[Reminds Me of 〈Strange Tales〉~ The “MyungRyeong Couple” Appears Before the “Phone Couple”]

[Kwon Junhyeok Appears as Cameo in 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉... “Their Chemistry Still Lives”]

Yesterday’s 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 had a better reaction than ever.

It was thanks to the anticipation that Jeon Segye’s love might finally change, combined with the nostalgia poured in by the MyungRyeong Couple.

[HOT/ Chemistry That Made Drama Fans Lose Their Minds Yesterday.jpg]

(Two-shot of Han Yeoreum and Kwon Junhyeok.jpg)

Seoryeong-ah... T_T

Myungdo-ya... T_T

—Anonymous 1: I screamed in real time at this part because I liked it so much;

—Anonymous 13: Can’t Kwon Junhyeok and Han Yeoreum please do one more thing together? I want to see this kind of lovey-dovey romcom too TT_TT

—Anonymous 18: I still can’t forget the MyungRyeong Couple. Best pairing of my entire K-drama life

˪Anonymous 26: 2222 There’s no narrative that can beat these two.. It’s only love if you risk your life lol

˪Anonymous 45: You know what’s up

—Anonymous 101: Seo Eden staring like a flounder right then was insane. Where did he get acting lessons LMAO

˪Anonymous 123: Same, I thought a flounder had possessed him for a second

The buzz around 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 rose slightly. That was because some of the incoming viewers from 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉 had flowed into it.

A work whose story flow could be followed no matter when you started watching.

And likewise, a romantic comedy.

It was inevitable that it would benefit from the spillover effect from 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉.

INTUBE

[I’m druuunk... I said I’m drunk! Seo Eden spilling his true feelings in front of Han Yeoreum @~@] 05:22

Views 235,661

—This kind of male lead is seriously a first LMAOO

—This combination... is extremely good! I’ve been a longtime fan of Eden-oppa, but thanks to this opportunity, I’ve started liking Yeoreum-unnie too. Cheering for you from Japan!

—Teacher Boseok.. so you’ve decided to smash every cliché to pieces...

—I’m a true drama fan who’s watched all of Writer Hwang’s works~^^ This one is the most fun..lol There’s no huge attention-baiting, but it flows so smoothly~ It makes me smile whenever I turn it on.. Han Yeoreum and Seo Eden’s chemistry is also so, so good

Seo Eden’s possessed humiliation acting had fully hit its stride. The two of them suited each other so well that viewers couldn’t help smiling fondly.

The cliché-smashing scene where he pretended to be drunk also saw its clip views rise rapidly.

[Seo Eden Rises to #1 Male Celebrity People Want to Drink Soju With... Becoming the New Trend?]

And in the aftermath, Shin Seojin began wasting away.

“Ah... no....”

“Seojin-ah! Open your eyes! You can’t leave us like this!”

“The position of number one man people want to drink soju with... that I’ve stubbornly defended for over a year....”

“Get a hold of yourself! Seojin-ah! Seojin-ah!”

“Haha... Honestly, seriously... I’m going insane....”

“You’re still number one in man who looks best in a widower outfit, man women want to meet as a senior at work, and man they want to introduce to their parents, Seojin-ah!”

“Ah....”

“Do you think women will like you if they see you lying around all drained like this?”

“That won’t do.”

Shin Seojin, who had been wasting away, shot upright.

Ignoring the two people who had come to someone else’s house just to cause a scene, Han Yohan calmly looked at the ratings article.

〈Tamhok〉 Episode 10 Ratings 7.2%

〈Dear Judge〉 Episode 10 Ratings 15.3%

〈There Is Only One Culprit〉 Episode 10 Ratings 15.3%

And finally.

〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 Episode 12 Ratings 15.3%

The ratings of the three works had become entangled.

* * *

“Now, our episode 10 was perfect, right?”

Even though it was late at night, the lights were still on at PR 1, the promotional agency for 〈Dear Judge〉. Everyone’s eyes shone clearly.

Now that 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉 had been pushed out of first place in ratings.

“We start now.”

They had to climb.

Because of its subject matter, 〈Dear Judge〉 was not an easy drama for mid-run viewers to enter, so it needed even more carefully crafted promotion.

And PR 1 had decided.

INTUBE

[I don’t know how NOT to love sociopathic female characters... My heart is pounding because of Lee Seohae and Kang Yeseul >//<]

They would use 〈Unfair Trade〉, which had carved a new path in the Korean drama genre world.

Sociopath.

Professional career woman.

A personality that charged forward unconditionally for the sake of her goal.

—Whoa, I wasn’t the only one thinking this LMAOO

—I did think of Lee Seohae from episode 1.. They’re subtly similar T_T I love it

—How can you not love a woman who doesn’t know how to hit the brakes

—Lee Seohae was a sensation itself too, but I like Kang Yeseul better because she shows desire exactly as raw desire.. A female character who uses her own vulgarity as a weapon and desperately claws her way up the ladder? LOL Legendary

˪For real, you explained my exact feelings TT_TT

—Do Gyeoul’s acting is so perfect that the little kid from childhood almost feels like a completely different person.. LOL Terrifying charisma~

As the characters of Lee Seohae and Do Gyeoul overlapped, a new boom began to rise.

* * *

〈Dear Judge〉 was becoming the talk of the town day after day because of Do Gyeoul’s action scene, in which she spared no effort with her own body. It was impossible to think she was the same person.

Do Gyeoul, reflected on the screen, breathed with eyes like a starving ghost.

But there was a line to everything.

After seeing the preview for 〈Dear Judge〉, Hwang Boseok slowly rocked his rocking chair.

“Shinseong-ah. Too much is worse than not enough....”

A production was a living creature.

Do Gyeoul was devouring the production.