MCDS 10

Chapter 10

Strictly speaking, it was not polite.

In a dating show, respecting the time when another man and woman were talking was almost an unspoken rule.

It was not as if Sihoon had been holding Yein for a long time, enough for someone to interrupt them.

And of course, Yein was even more flustered.

“I’m talking with Sihoon right now, so maybe a little later—”

“You’re lying. You’ve been avoiding me the whole time.”

Muyeong’s eyes curved. The smile on his face dripped with coldness.

“Why would I avoid you? You’ve been saying strange things since yesterday.”

“Ah—. When I appear, you make that face like you got caught stealing something, then hurriedly leave. You’re saying that’s just my imagination?”

“Yes.”

Yein deliberately answered more calmly.

Silence fell.

The wind swept between the two of them.

“Then should I give you some space?”

At that moment, Sihoon interrupted, but Yein answered firmly.

“No, don’t go. I still have something to talk about with Sihoon.”

She could feel Muyeong’s gaze, but ignored it.

See? You are avoiding me.

Even without saying anything, she could feel his irritation.

“Hmm, then sure—.”

Sihoon suggested brightly.

“Why don’t the three of us go back together? We can talk while we walk. Yein’s water container is heavy, too. Everyone will need water to cook.”

Yein was genuinely impressed by Sihoon’s sociability and easygoing behavior.

If it had been her, she would not have been able to treat that rude man who had interrupted them so kindly.

“You don’t mind, right?”

At Sihoon’s added words, Muyeong walked over and picked up one of the water containers.

And so, Muyeong and Sihoon walked side by side, while Yein followed them from a distance.

The three of them had not even been together for five minutes, but she suddenly felt exhausted.

Everyone gathered for lunch.

Hyejin appeared with a chicken feather stuck in her hair and proudly held out the eggs she had brought.

Yein did not know why Muyeong had not gone with her, but Hyejin did not seem to blame Muyeong either.

Since the ingredients were limited, there were not many dishes they could make.

They fried the eggs and mixed them with rice and soy sauce, while they ate the carrots raw.

The taste was, of course, nothing special.

“How about we all talk about our ideal types?”

It was Jumi’s suggestion.

“Sounds good! Then Jumi, you go first.”

“Physically, I like someone who looks dependable. You know, someone with a body like a bear. But they can’t just be fat. And personality-wise, I think I’m attracted to someone who’s a little cute.”

There did not seem to be anyone among the cast who matched Jumi’s ideal type.

But Jumi’s eyes sparkled especially brightly as she talked about her ideal type.

Seeing her friend’s cute expression, Yein briefly relaxed and smiled.

“I’m attracted to someone who looks a little wild.”

It was Hyejin.

The other cast members immediately glanced at Muyeong.

When it came to that kind of appearance, Muyeong was clearly the most extreme.

“I always seem to be attracted to bad boys.”

“You should be careful.”

“Exactly.”

Hyejin laughed cheerfully.

“What about you, Yein?”

Ah.

Yein awkwardly adjusted her posture.

“Well, I don’t really have an ideal type…”

She had never even thought that she wanted to date someone.

“Do you like anyone, then?”

It was Muyeong.

Perhaps because it was the first time Muyeong had spoken so directly, everyone’s eyes turned toward him.

Muyeong was staring quietly at Yein.

As always, his face looked as if nothing was happening.

It was neither a smile nor a frown, just an expression that somehow made people uncomfortable.

“Or do you dislike everyone?”

He said it lightly, but there was something strangely unpleasant about the way he ended the sentence.

So he’s picking a fight with me right now, isn’t he?

“That can’t be. Ah, there is one thing. I like kind men.”

“Really?”

Muyeong tilted his head, as if he did not believe that could be true.

“Yes. Someone who is polite in the way he speaks, doesn’t look down on others, is gentle, and is warm.”

In other words, you are definitely not my type.

“I don’t think your type will overlap with Hyejin’s at all.”

At Woojin’s words, everyone burst out laughing.

Yein also relaxed her sharp mood because of their laughter.

Right. There’s no need to be hostile for no reason. It’s just an unnecessary waste of energy.

“Then what about you, Muyeong?”

Hyejin turned the question toward him.

“A woman who runs away.”

Pfft.

Yein pretended to choke on the water she was drinking.

Fortunately, everyone let it pass without paying much attention.

“Runs away? What does that mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“Why do you like women like that?”

“It’s fun. If she runs away, I want to catch her. If she hides, I want to find her. If she avoids me, I want to hold on to her even more.”

Hyejin and Sera continued to bombard him with questions, but every single word Muyeong said was directed at Yein.

Yein swallowed hard.

“Ah, I get it. You like someone a little arrogant.”

“Do I?”

Muyeong stared straight at Yein.

Then he nodded.

“I guess I do.”

After that, the other cast members continued answering the questions.

But Yein could not hear a single word.

A woman who runs away.

Those words kept echoing in her mind.

It felt as if Muyeong was warning her.

You’ve been running away until now, and you’re thinking of running away again?

The more you run, the more I’ll chase you.

……I really should leave the show soon.

I need to hide somewhere so well that I’ll never have to see him again.

That was when it happened.

All cast members, please gather at the clearing in the forest.

An announcement rang out.

A mini-game for a one-on-one brunch and iced coffee dining pass will now begin. The dining pass will be given to only one team.

“Wow, iced coffee! I want it so badly!”

“A mini-game? Now?”

“That’s unexpected.”

Unlike Sera, who reacted brightly, most of the cast members were quite surprised.

It was unexpected.

Weren’t they supposed to have mutual dates now?

Mini-games often appeared in Couple Village.

But that was usually something that happened later in the program.

Since the partners for mini-games were chosen randomly, they were usually introduced in the latter half of the show, after some relationships had already been established, to create new changes in the relationships.

But why were they doing a mini-game now, only on the second day of filming?

Nobody knew.

Following the announcement, the cast members changed into sportswear and gathered at the clearing.

The sea could be seen below them.

But instead of looking at the scenery, Yein examined her surroundings.

It was a fairly large area, with flags planted at opposite ends.

It seemed like a game that required speed.

Male cast members, please randomly draw a ribbon to choose your partner.

Ribbons of different colors were placed in front of the men.

Yein and the other female cast members had already drawn their ribbons separately before the game began.

The men did not know which color each woman had drawn.

Yein had drawn blue.

If possible, she hoped it would be Woojin or Taegun.

She naturally wanted to avoid Muyeong, and she felt a little uneasy about becoming too involved with Sihoon.

If she left the show, Sihoon might end up being left by himself.

First, Taegun drew the red ribbon and was matched with Jumi.

Sihoon drew the pink ribbon and was paired with Sera.

She had avoided Sihoon, but Muyeong had not drawn yet.

The remaining chance was fifty percent.

Muyeong walked forward.

Then, suddenly, he looked back at Yein.

Yein had the strange feeling that he could see exactly what she was thinking.

Of course, that was impossible.

Please choose the yellow ribbon.

Muyeong reached out and opened his hand.

Ah.

Cast members, please stand beside your partners.

Yein stood beside Muyeong.

The faint smile on his face made her uncomfortable.

“Let’s get along well, Ms. Seon Yein.”

“Yes. You too.”

Yein tried her best to answer as formally as possible.

Soon, the game instructions began.

It was a wood-chopping game.

The female cast members will run to get firewood. The higher the number written on the firewood, the harder and more difficult it is to chop.

Once the female cast member brings the firewood, the male cast member must chop all of it. Then, they must hold hands and cross the finish line together to win.

Although it sounded complicated, the game itself was simple.

First, the woman had to bring the firewood.

Since it was advantageous to choose firewood with a low number that was easier to split, some physical competition between the women was unavoidable.

Next, the man had to chop the firewood.

That required strength and skill.

Finally, they had to run together and cross the finish line.

There probably would not be much difference in speed between the couples here.

That was at least fortunate.

The physical competition would happen among the women, and she would not have to compete against Muyeong.

All she had to do with him was hold his hand when they crossed the finish line.

And even that would not be necessary if they took so long chopping the wood that they were already guaranteed to come in last.

Yein quietly looked at the objects placed on the opposite side of the game field.