Reporter Wi monitored the reactions. The viewers of 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉 were busy fighting every single day. The page moved fast enough to refresh itself every time he reloaded it.

[There Is Only One Culprit Minor Gallery]

[Forget everything else, we NEED the three of them living together until the finale]

[Analysis on why Hyeong Jiuk is the real one (long post warning)]

[How many times do I have to say Dong Jiuk is the endgame]

[Anyone else just hanging on for the chemistry between the two after the accomplice spoiler dropped]

There was one major weakness in dramas that leaned heavily into romance lines.

Shipping wars.

“At least Yoo Jiuk is playing two roles....”

“Imagine if it’d been two different actors. The fandom war would’ve been absolute hell.”

“Whoa, I just got chills. It’s already insane right now, and you’re saying it could’ve been worse?”

The reporters at Daily Media felt relieved that Yoo Jiuk was the only male lead in 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉.

At least the fights were limited to character fans instead of splitting into a four-way war between actor fans and character fans alike.

And whenever obsessive solo fans started fighting over romance lines, there was one thing they inevitably did.

They searched for hints.

And that became the biggest poison eating away at 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉.

Because the cracks were just too easy to spot.

[Found several errors in that Hyeong Jiuk analysis post from the trending page]

[What’s with the foreshadowing collapsing halfway because of PPL LMAO]

[Ever since the accomplice reveal the pacing kinda got loose...]

Once the thriller aspect started crumbling, Woo Seungri lost control of the story. Since the immediate reactions to Hong Suryeon and Yoo Jiuk’s romance line were explosive, she kept leaning further and further into it.

“Gah! This is driving me insane, seriously... how am I supposed to... ha....”

Woo Seungri clawed at her hair while desperately trying to keep writing.

She already had the ending planned out. All she had to do was drag the story there.

But that was nowhere near as easy as it sounded.

A drama was a chain of episodes linked together.

Just because the ending was vivid didn’t mean the time filling the space before it could afford to feel blurry.

And because of that, Woo Seungri’s plan to maintain a tense love triangle until the very end completely fell apart. There was no romcom more devastating when it lost viewers than one built around “finding the boyfriend” while failing to properly pay off its foreshadowing.

Woo Seungri rewrote the script over and over and over again until her mind started going numb.

Monitoring the reactions in between only made things worse. Trying to write while taking real-time damage from public reactions made it impossible for the script to come out properly.

“Huh? This is the end of the script?”

“...I’ve never seen a partial script this incomplete before.”

In the end, the script that arrived at 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉 was basically a rush-job partial script.

The dialogue wasn’t properly set. The scene directions weren’t properly set either. Hong Suryeon and Yoo Jiuk both stiffened when they saw it, but regardless, they were professionals.

“This is my chance to fully weaponize my beautyyy!”

“But a real man doesn’t break down over something like this....”

Still, no matter how well Yoo Jiuk and Hong Suryeon performed, there was a limit.

Because this wasn’t a simple romantic comedy.

It had a ‘thriller’ mixed into it.

Acting alone couldn’t save it.

-I think I’m just dropping this tsk

-??No but seriously are they fucking joking as this goes on LMAOO

-Seungri, maybe it’s time to change your name

The two actors were being swallowed whole by the drama.

* * *

“Back when the first episode aired, seriously... wow....”

〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 was already racing toward its finale. The dread and anxiety everyone had felt when the first teaser dropped now felt like a distant memory from another lifetime.

Aetami watched 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉, which had completely settled into a stable groove. Even by episode 15, the two leads were still stuck in the “almost dating” stage, driving viewers insane.

-Dragging the romance line out this much is honestly talent LMAOOO

˪Honestly that’s why I like it..hehe you idiots should work instead of dating

-The love triangle being pathetic is what makes it good LMAO TT_TT ahhh they’re so cute I’m curling my toes watching this

Top writer Hwang Boseok had structured the flow of the episodes brilliantly.

For viewers who had watched 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 from the beginning, he kept delaying the romance progression so they’d become even more invested in rooting for the “Name Couple.”

For viewers who’d wandered off to sample other dramas before returning, he planted conflicts big and small that made them curious about how B-bly and Hanseong would take down L&E.

And finally—

For casual viewers who came after binging the earlier parts through short-form clips and just wanted to know the ending, he made sure to maintain small doses of tension by increasing the sub male lead’s presence.

Even Jeon Segye, who treated basically every man alive as a rival and constantly narrowed his eyes like a flounder, finally got a legitimate competitor.

It was the heir to Hanseong, the rival fashion conglomerate to L&E, whose face had briefly appeared here and there since episode one.

Unlike Jeon Segye, he’d grown up loved and well-raised. Respectable. Polished. And above all else, he had the relaxed composure of a mature man.

He too had feelings for Nam Pyeonghwa, but—

“I figured it out!”

Nam Pyeonghwa was extremely romcom-female-lead-coded in situations like this. Without paying any attention to the men around her, she focused solely on the work.

And thanks to that, 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 kept pulling viewers in.

“They switched the tags.”

“Huh?”

“The tags! They even lied about the material composition ratio and turned Dongdaemun products into department-store products!”

L&E had made a mistake they never should have made.

And Nam Pyeonghwa, who came from Dongdaemun herself, was the one person most capable of catching it.

“L&E said they scheduled the pictorial shoot three weeks ago on Friday, right?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“I asked the supplier owner, and this came out before then.”

Nam Pyeonghwa held up two dresses that were completely identical. The accessories, length, material—everything was the same.

“They....”

“Never....”

“Made a new product!”

Nam Pyeonghwa, Jeon Segye, and Hanseong’s heir all shouted together.

-Department-store tag switching is already famous LOLOLOL

-Hasn’t this literally been on the news before?

-There are probably way too many brands sweating right now T_T

“Once this project is over, I plan on going abroad again to continue studying. I won’t be gone too long, though.”

“Ah... I see.... You’ll do great.”

After receiving Nam Pyeonghwa’s encouragement, Hanseong’s heir made a proposal.

“I’d like to go together with you, Ms. Pyeonghwa.”

-??????

-Holy shit what the fuck

-This guy really doesn’t hold back

“With... me?”

“When I’m learning new perspectives and seeing new things, I think it’d be nice if you were there beside me.”

“Oh come on, I’m not anything special.”

“You have a tendency to think too little of yourself, Ms. Pyeonghwa.”

Behind the wall, Jeon Segye’s expression hardened as he listened.

With the warm voice of someone who had grown up loved, the heir continued gently.

“I learned a lot from you too, Ms. Pyeonghwa. You definitely have talent, so believe in yourself.”

“....”

“Would you like to go study design abroad with me?”

And with that, 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 cut off at the most dangerously suspenseful point possible, leaving exactly one week until the finale.

-No seriously what the fuck

-You’re not giving us a preview anymore??????

-Ha... Lee Saerok, come here for a second

˪Fuck, poor Saerok getting beaten up every single day T_T

The viewers were furious.

They still had to see L&E’s tag-switching scheme exposed, and now Nam Pyeonghwa’s study-abroad issue had been thrown into the mix too. On top of that, there was no preview anymore, making them even more desperate.

[Dongdaemun Romance Minor Gallery]

[You seriously should’ve given us a preview by today]

[Just thinking about them exposing the tag switching is making my heart race]

[I can’t believe next week is the finale]

But despite all that, the corners of their lips were curling upward.

It had been a very long time since they’d watched a drama that stayed consistently good from beginning to end without a single major drop in quality.

* * *

Seo Eden stood in front of the camera with a trembling heart.

At last.

The moment he had been waiting and waiting for had finally arrived.

“Ah, seriously... so this is really the end!”

“You all worked so hard.”

“Let’s hurry and wrap up so we can stuff ourselves full afterward!!!”

The warm atmosphere unique to a successful production drifted through the set.

Today was finally the last filming day for 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉.

Seo Eden pressed his lips tightly into a straight line to stop himself from crying.

“Beopsun! Beopsun, you should eat lots of meat later too, okay?”

“Barkbarkbarkbarkbark!!!”

Apparently unaware of Seo Eden’s feelings, Beopsun wagged his tail enthusiastically at the staff.

‘This is really the last....’

Once today ended, he wouldn’t get to see Han Yeoreum often anymore.

Seeing her every single day like now.

Talking about trivial things together.

The natural certainty that she would be there when he opened his eyes and arrived at {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} the set.

All of it would become part of the past.

‘Really the last....’

The thought upset Seo Eden so much.

Meanwhile, completely oblivious to his feelings, Han Yeoreum stood in the distance laughing and shaking hands with staff members.

“We should definitely work together again next time.”

“Aw, come on. I barely did anything....”

Watching her joke around with the lighting director she was close with made Seo Eden feel like he was going to cry.

Han Yeoreum was already preparing for goodbye.

Without paying any attention whatsoever to Seo Eden.

“Bark.”

Only then did Beopsun seem to realize how Seo Eden felt. The little dog pressed one tiny paw firmly against the tip of his dress shoe.

“I know too....”

“Bark bark.”

“But that doesn’t change how I feel....”

Seo Eden had been trying so hard not to cry that his pronunciation had completely fallen apart.

But Beopsun showed no mercy.

“Bark!”

“Okayyy... I get it.... I just need to pronounce things properly....”

“Bark.”

Answering the cold-hearted Beopsun, Seo Eden steadied his breathing.

Watching the two of them, Byeon Juhwa laughed to himself in disbelief.

“Like I said. The first-love card is unbeatable.”

Sitting down in front of the monitoring screen, Byeon Juhwa opened his mouth with a mixture of relief and lingering regret.

“Then 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉! Final filming begins now!”

The camera pointed at Beopsun and Seo Eden lit up red.

“Ready—!”

Seo Eden, who had kept his lips tightly pressed together the whole time, finally—

“Action—!”

The moment he saw Han Yeoreum walking toward him alongside that shout, he burst into tears.

“Huaaahhh....”

But somehow, that looked far more natural.

The camera captured Seo Eden as he helplessly failed to stop crying.

Han Yeoreum was breathing life into the work.

“Everyone, thank you for all your hard work—!”

The wrap party for 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉.

Everyone raised their glasses.

Beside Seo Eden, whose eyes were still red from crying too much earlier, Beopsun devoured meat without pause.

“It was amazing all the way to the end! And everyone better show up to the final wrap party too, got it? If even one person skips, I’m hunting them down myself!”

At Director Byeon’s words, everyone burst into laughter.

There had been no rushed partial scripts, no real-time character derailment, and the set had been overflowing with coffee trucks, snack trucks, catering from PPL brands, and endless support.

Naturally, the atmosphere stayed wonderful until the very end.

Even the lighting director, who had spent years in the industry, called 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 the best filming environment he had ever worked in.

Every staff member smiled brightly.

“〈Dongdaemun Romance〉!”

“Let’s take first place!”

With the toast, everyone gulped down cold soda.

Han Yeoreum also made sure not to forget uploading a story photo of the Creamy Soda can with her face printed on it.

“No way, this smoothness going down the throat...?”

“Yeoreum, enough already.”

“It’s become a habit.”

Because Han Yeoreum had done so many blatant front-facing advertisements instead of hidden ads, every nearby staff member was already holding Creamy Soda.

“Ang.”

“Beopsun, want more meat?”

“Ang!”

Looking at Beopsun glued tightly beside Han Yeoreum, Seo Eden unconsciously wore a lonely expression.

“Eden really did such a great job.”

“Thank you....”

“I’ll be honest! At first, I didn’t expect much! But wow... as time went on!”

“Everyone, give him a round of applause!”

Among the excited staff, Seo Eden alone smiled quietly.

Even though Han Yeoreum herself was smiling brightly and clapping for him.

Han Yeoreum was truly already preparing for goodbye.

Without caring about Seo Eden even the tiniest bit.

“But... but dramas normally just end once filming is over, right...?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“Like... everyone gathering together again... stuff like that doesn’t happen anymore, right?”

At Seo Eden’s question, the nearby staff fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Director!!! Eden says he wants a reward vacation!!!”

“Send them! The lead actor himself is asking, so send them!!!”

“N-No, that’s not what I meant! That’s not what I meant at all!”

While grilling meat beside Beopsun, MBS Drama Center Director Lee Saerok raised the tongs dramatically.

“If the final episode gets first place in ratings, I’ll send you all! Even if I have to empty my own pockets!”

“Boooo—! Happiness isn’t determined by ratings—!”

“What nonsense! Happiness absolutely IS determined by ratings!”

While everyone laughed and chatted loudly, Seo Eden quietly drank alone.

Now it was really over.

Over....

Han Yeoreum was truly preparing for goodbye already.

Seriously, seriously, without paying even the tiniest bit of attention to Seo Eden.

“Juhwan’s arrangement was soooo good.”

“Right? I’m already insanely excited.”

The OST featured in the final episode of 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉 had been personally arranged by Shim Juhwan.

They had remade one of Shim Juhwan’s famous songs, and Seo Eden had sung far better than expected, making the staff extremely excited about the final episode’s quality.

“Thank you! Cheers!”

Even while Shim Juhwan laughed along with everyone else, Seo Eden buried his face against the table and sighed.

The world spun from the alcohol.

His ears rang.

“You’ve probably got a crazy schedule after this ends too, right?”

“I... I have a solo fan meeting! Kyaaaah!”

“Oh my gosh, really? Right, I think I heard about that.”

“Seriously? Female actors doing solo fan meetings are super rare, aren’t they?”

And even amidst all this, Han Yeoreum’s voice somehow reached his ears with absurd, painful clarity.

“Hey, wake up. Hey.”

At some point, the first round had ended.

While everyone busily moved locations for the second round, Shim Juhwan shook Seo Eden awake.

“Hyung... something’s wrong with me....”

“What is.”

“My head feels weird....”

“Even weirder than usual? That’s serious.”

“Ah, stop jokinggg....”

Seo Eden looked teary-eyed again despite clearly not having any tears left after crying so much earlier.

“My chest too.... My chest feels weird....”

“How.”

“It feels so empty.... It hurts.... It’s suffocating....”

Watching Seo Eden pound his chest with his fist, Shim Juhwan patted his shoulder.

Then he arrived at a conclusion.

“That’s pet-loss syndrome.”

“What’s pengnuss....”

“Pet! Loss. Think about it. You like dogs, right?”

“Yeeah, I do....”

“But now you can’t see Beopsun anymore. Beopsun, who you saw every single day for two whole months and hugged and played with constantly?”

Come to think of it, Beopsun really was gone from nearby.

Far away, the little dog was currently nestled in Lee Saerok’s arms, tilting his head cutely while showing off tricks.

Abandoning Seo Eden.

Even Beopsun was already preparing for goodbye.

Completely forgetting about Seo Eden.

“Ah....”

“It’s not like dogs can call you or text you like people can, right? You can’t make plans to meet up. Since it’s goodbye now, since it’s over, of course your heart hurts.”

“Ah...?”

“I understand. I totally understand.”

Shim Juhwan slung an arm around him.

Seo Eden swayed unsteadily.

Now that he thought about it... that actually made sense?

“Really...?”

“Yeah. He’s that cute! Anyone would feel like this. That’s why people say they’re only temporarily fostering a dog and then end up raising it forever.”

“I seeee....”

Seo Eden nodded.

Watching him, Shim Juhwan thought:

‘Thank god he’s dumb....’

Because Han Yeoreum was obviously dating Myeong Jeha.

This absolutely wasn’t his imagination. It was real.

‘Seriously, what the hell is Myeong Jeha even doing?’

Shim Juhwan carefully scanned the surroundings in case Myeong Jeha showed up to pick Han Yeoreum up after the first round.

But Han Yeoreum didn’t go home after the first round.

Instead there was a second round, a third round, and then a fourth....

“Ugh, my head’s splitting apart.”

By the time Shim Juhwan regained consciousness, all memories after the fourth round had been completely erased.

Feeling around beside his pillow for his phone, he noticed the wallpaper had changed.

“When did we take this?”

It was a selfie of him and Han Yeoreum.

Both smiling brightly while making peace signs.

There was even a message waiting from Han Yeoreum.

[Yeoreuming: Sunbae, did you get home safely? Thank you so much for yesterday. And for so readily agreeing to attend the fan meeting...]

“Me?”

He genuinely had no memory of that.

Still, it wasn’t exactly a bad thing.

“So Myeong Jeha’s coming that day too, right?”

Shim Juhwan’s heart started pounding at the thought that he might finally witness in real life a scene just like the one from his music video—

“Uwaaak!”

Unable to endure the hangover anymore, Shim Juhwan sprinted toward the bathroom.

Normally, he wasn’t the type to stay drinking this long.

But he’d waited through the second round thinking Myeong Jeha might come.

Then endured the third round convinced he’d surely come then.

And by the fourth round, he’d stayed because surely now he’d finally show up.

But Myeong Jeha never appeared in the end.

Shim Juhwan’s brutal hangover and missing memories lasted several more days.

And before he knew it—

It was already the broadcast day for the final episode of 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉.