Chapter 6
Friendship Dating Gallery
Anyone here watching Couple Village?
Hey, you ghosts still hanging around after Friendship Dating. Do you even know that the main PD from Coincidence Romance joined Couple Village? Stop living off memories of a finished show and come watch Couple Village with me.
This season is fun. And maybe because it’s the same PD, it has that familiar feeling. Trust PD Eun-hye. You know how she always picks amazing-looking contestants.
Don’t say I didn’t tell you later. Come watch it live with me right now.
[Photo]
Comments (8)
Anonymous (823.09): Wait, PD Eun-hye is back?
ㅇ (172.27): Yeah. She’s not the main PD this time, probably because of what happened before, but she’s basically working like one anyway. The whole show feels like her style. Total eye candy.
ㄱ (73.2817): Wait, who’s that in the photo? Is he one of the male contestants??? He’s insanely handsome.
ㅇ (172.27): That’s why I told you to start watching. I’m serious.
ㄱ (73.2817): But isn’t that show full of people trying to become influencers? The recent seasons didn’t feel genuine.
ㅇ (172.27): Isn’t the best part watching people who joined to become influencers end up falling in love and crying over it? Besides, if they weren’t aiming to be influencers, we wouldn’t get visuals this good. You have to give up one or the other. I’d rather have attractive contestants.
ㄱ (73.2817): Ugh… now I’m tempted. He’s way too handsome. I’ll at least give it a try.
ㅇ (172.27): Yes! Another successful recruitment!!
ㄱㄱ (182.122): But what was with Mu-young’s interview? It felt kind of meaningful. Like he already knew someone…
The answer was already decided.
There was nothing to hesitate about.
Ye-in lifted her head.
Her eyes met Mu-young’s.
Trying not to let her gaze shake, she spoke firmly.
“My first date partner is Mr. Joo Si-hoon.”
Something flashed in Mu-young’s eyes.
He let out a quiet scoff.
“I’ll be going now. See you later.”
Without noticing anything, Si-hoon cheerfully greeted Mu-young.
Ye-in also gave him a small bow.
“Shall we go? It’s time for our first date.”
Si-hoon held out his hand.
It was part of every date on the show.
Perfectly normal.
That was what Ye-in kept telling herself as she took his hand.
She could feel a burning stare drilling into the back of her head.
She prayed it was only her imagination.
“Ye-in?”
“Yes?”
When she looked up, Si-hoon was staring at her.
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
They were eating in a restaurant.
Outside the window, the ocean stretched into the distance.
Far away stood a forest filled with trees.
She couldn’t see it clearly, but that was probably where the Couple Village campsite was.
The food was excellent.
The atmosphere was wonderful.
Objectively speaking, Si-hoon was also incredibly handsome and kind.
But Ye-in couldn’t focus at all.
How could she?
She had run into Baek Mu-young again.
On a dating show, of all places.
“You’re not feeling sick, are you?”
“Um… Si-hoon… I’m sorry. I think it would be better if we left early.”
He had only just finished his main course.
It was still far too early to end their first date.
“Right now? Are you really feeling that bad? Should I call the staff?”
His eyes widened.
He looked just like a big puppy.
“It’s not that serious. I just want to rest.”
“I see. Then let’s go.”
Si-hoon immediately stood up.
He even held out his hand to help her, worried she might collapse.
Even though she was ruining their first date, he was still worrying about her.
“I’m sorry.”
But this is the better choice for you too, Si-hoon.
I’m going to leave the show.
Ye-in had already made her decision the moment she left with Si-hoon.
She didn’t know why Mu-young had joined the show.
She didn’t know how they had met again through such an impossible coincidence.
She didn’t need to know.
Running away was the best option.
She didn’t want to get involved with Baek Mu-young ever again.
The only reason she hadn’t immediately told the producers she was quitting…
…was Joo-mi.
Because contestants joined the show with a friend, if Ye-in quit, Joo-mi might also be forced to leave.
Ye-in knew how desperately Joo-mi wanted this opportunity.
At the very least, she owed her an explanation before telling the production staff.
Ye-in and Si-hoon returned to Couple Village.
By then, night had already fallen over the campsite.
Strings of orange lights glowed all around.
Voices drifted from the campfire in the center.
It was probably the people who hadn’t been matched for dates.
“Oh? You two are back already!”
A woman’s cheerful voice welcomed them.
“You’re back earlier than I expected.”
The people drinking beer stood up.
There were two women and one man.
Joo-mi wasn’t there.
Thankfully…
Neither was Mu-young.
After briefly introducing themselves, one of the women, who introduced herself as Se-ra, answered the question Ye-in had been wondering about.
“Me, Hye-jin, and a girl named Joo-mi all ended up at the beach pavilion! Three women at the same place! We waited forever, but no men showed up. We thought we’d have to hold hands and go on a date together. Then, like a savior, one guy finally arrived. What was his name again?”
“Tae-geon.”
“Right! Tae-geon! So Joo-mi and Tae-geon went on a date.”
Normally, Ye-in would have been happy that Joo-mi was getting plenty of screen time.
But not now.
If Joo-mi ended up leaving because of her, all that footage would only create more trouble for the production team.
“Oh? Then where’s Woo-jin…?”
As Se-ra continued talking brightly, Si-hoon turned to another male contestant.
“I waited at the boat dock the whole time. Nobody came, so I ended up coming back alone.”
Woo-jin laughed bitterly.
“Is Mu-young not here? He chose the Guardian Tree with us.”
Si-hoon suddenly remembered.
“Oh, right! You two already met him earlier.”
“Mu-young’s resting inside. I’ll go get him.”
“You’re going?” Hye-jin asked in surprise.
“Yeah. Why?”
“No… um… never mind. Go ahead.”
“Okay! Just wait a minute.”
Hye-jin somehow looked uneasy.
Meanwhile, Se-ra looked strangely excited to bring Mu-young.
So everyone is interested in Baek Mu-young.
Well…
That wasn’t surprising.
Mu-young had always been popular.
It was amazing.
He had such a terrible personality…
Yet people were always drawn to him.
Maybe it was because of his unbelievably handsome face.
Or perhaps it was the overwhelming aura he naturally carried.
Whatever the reason, Mu-young had always been surrounded by people ever since they were children.
Girls, of course.
Even guys liked him.
Ye-in was the complete opposite.
She had always stayed in the quietest, darkest corner.
They had never belonged in the same world.
And now…
She had to face Baek Mu-young again.
Just endure it.
As soon as Joo-mi comes back…
I’ll talk to her, and then I’ll quit.
Ye-in picked up a can of beer.
She had no intention of drinking it.
She just needed something to do instead of sitting there waiting for Mu-young.
“Here.”
At that moment, Si-hoon leaned toward her.
He must have misunderstood when he saw her fidgeting with the unopened can.
He gently took it from her, opened it, and handed it back.
“Are you feeling any better? Is it okay for you to drink?”
“Oh… I’m not actually going to drink it. I just wanted to hold something.”
“I see. Should I bring you some water?”
“No, it’s oka—”
“I brought Mu-young!”
Se-ra’s bright voice echoed across the campsite.
Ye-in didn’t raise her head.
More accurately…
She couldn’t.
“You already met Mu-young earlier, so I guess we don’t need another round of introductions.”
Se-ra joked that they had introduced themselves so many times today that she was tired of it.
Fortunately, Mu-young sat somewhere outside Ye-in’s line of sight.
“So why did you two come back so early?”
Hye-jin carefully asked Si-hoon and Ye-in.
“Ye-in wasn’t feeling very well.”
“Really?”
“So I suggested we come back early.”
Si-hoon added.
It was obvious he was trying to make sure Ye-in didn’t seem rude for ending the date early.
When their eyes met, he gave her a playful wink.
The conversation soon moved on.
The others talked about exploring the area and the ridiculous amount of effort it had taken just to make dinner.
Ye-in nodded along from time to time…
But she barely heard a word.
She was too aware of Mu-young, sitting there silently.
Joo-mi…
Please hurry back.
Please.
Time crawled by.
Finally, Ye-in stood up.
Si-hoon lightly touched her wrist.
His eyes silently asked if she was okay.
Ye-in smiled faintly.
“I’m going back to the cabin for a moment.”
After seeing Si-hoon nod in relief, she quietly slipped away from the group.
The air became chilly once she left the warmth of the campfire.
Ye-in let out a long sigh.
She missed Ye-bom so much.
If I go home like this…
Ye-bom will be disappointed, won’t she?
How am I supposed to explain it to her?
Inside the cabin, her suitcase sat in the corner.
She opened it and slowly began organizing her belongings.
Every movement was sluggish.
After spending a long time doing nothing in particular, she put on a light jacket and stepped outside again.
“Are you sick?”
A voice came from the darkness.
Then she saw a figure leaning carelessly against something.
“They said you weren’t feeling well.”
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Mu-young’s face came into view.
A sweet, familiar scent drifted toward her.
The fragrance hadn’t changed.
Her heart immediately began beating faster.
