"Inyop-seongba...?" Still unsure whether he was familiar or not, Jihon blurted out involuntarily.

"Hey, what the... Jung Jihong! Inyop exclaimed happily, smiling. Then, without asking how he was doing, he immediately asked: "Why are you here?"

"Why?" I work in this company. Jihon replied, closing the door behind him.

Shaking off the ashes, Inyop rounded his eyes in surprise: "What? For real? Are you an employee of Spoin?

— Yes.

Jiheon was about to ask what brought him here, when suddenly the puzzle came together: once upon a time, Inyop had sent his resume to a TV company.

"Seongbae, did you happen to come to Kwon Jaekyung about an entertainment show?"

— Yes, that's right. Do you know "Together with the enemy"?

— Are you the producer of this show?

When Jihong looked at him dumbfounded, Inyop, with a note of resentment, showered him with indignation: "Well, you give. You didn't know that either? You're not interested in your songbae at all.

What is there? If after graduation they have never communicated? In addition, they studied in different courses. Inyop was his teammate. Moreover, he is two years older, and if the guy had graduated on time, they would not have crossed paths at all.

But due to the fact that he was constantly walking, making films and doing everything except studying, he was delayed for two years. However, despite his sloppiness, the fact that Inyop had already managed to lead the main entertainment show spoke of his outstanding abilities. Discussing how unexpected twists of fate can be, Jihon took out a cigarette: "And I'll smoke if you don't mind.

Inyop chuckled, "Hey, this is your company, why would you ask?" And when you needed someone's approval at all.

"Indeed." Smiling, Jihong held the lighter to his cigarette and said, "By the way, I thought only the writers would come today.

"For such important people, they alone will not be enough.

Although, judging by his appearance, I can't say that he came to the negotiations.

At this point, Inyop, as if remembering something, exclaimed, "Wait, how do you know that I came here because of Kwon Jaekyung?"

"Ah, I'm in his exclusive team now.

"Really?" Oh, my. Did you specifically choose to work with him because he's a swimmer?

— Well, you can say so. Jihon replied evasively.

"Wow!" It can't be! What a story! Inyop did not calm down, when suddenly his eyes lit up, portending something wrong.

"Listen, what exactly do you do?" Since you work with Jaekyung, then you're his manager, aren't you? He inquired with undisguised excitement and hope.

"Well... I mainly communicate with advertising agencies, draw up contracts," Jihon hastened to clarify, drawing a line.

Inyop, hearing something completely different from what he expected, exhaled in disappointment: "Oh, it's a pity...

Jihong didn't ask any questions. And without them, it is clear that nothing good will come of it. However, Inyop did not plan to give in: "Do you want to star in our show with Jaekyung?"

"I don't want to," Jihon snapped.

It was clear from Inyop's face that he had assumed something like this, but as if he had not ignored everything, he began to persuade: "Don't refuse right away. We don't necessarily need a manager. We have marketers, directors of small agencies, and executive directors...

Inyop continued to throw around details that Jihong did not even think to find out.

"Kwon Jaekyung and I are not that close," Jihong stammered, tossing a half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray. "I'm sorry, but I've got to go."

And then he literally flew out of the smoking room, but, as luck would have it, it was at this moment that the elevator arrived on the fourth floor. With a sinking heart, Jihong watched the doors open.

A familiar figure appeared.

Although his face was hidden under a carelessly pulled hood, it was not difficult to guess who was standing in front of him from his height and physique.

It seemed that Jaekyung felt the gaze on him and suddenly raised his head. The usually unflappable and even cold guy instantly softened as soon as he saw Jihon.

On another occasion, Jihong would have been embarrassed, "Does he really like me that much?", but now he didn't have time for such thoughts. He could hear Inyop almost breathing down his neck.

Fearing that the bulldozer would communicate with him in his usual friendly manner, Jihong seized the initiative: "Mr. Kwon Jaekyung!

To which Jaekyung opened his eyes in complete shock.

But Jihong, ignoring this, continued the game: "Sorry that you had to come after training when you are so tired. I hope there were no big traffic jams on the road.

Jaekyung's unusually polite tone made him frown, "What is it?" Why are you suddenly behaving like this?

And the former tenderness evaporated somewhere in an instant.

"Please, be quiet, I beg you," Jihong whispered with his lips, and then said loudly again, "Let's go to the conference room."

Jihong almost forcibly dragged Jaekyung behind him, where the team leader Lee, manager Nam, and a young woman, probably a screenwriter, were already waiting for them, sitting at the table.

"Why is Manager Nam here?" Jihon asked, surprised.

"I'm replacing Mr. Yun," Nam replied. "His son suddenly had a fever, so he left in a hurry. And then he added, "I'm here today for the senior," and in such a way that Jihong didn't even know whether he was laughing or crying.

From the beginning, there was no need for Manager Yoon to be present at this meeting. Mr. Nam must have insisted on going in his place. Naturally... He always said that inspiration appears when you see him in person, and articles are written better.

And now, according to the classics of the genre, Manager Nam did not take his eyes off Jaekyung. Moreover, he literally scanned it, turning his body in the same direction where the guy was standing.

However, his expression was strange. Usually he just admired him: "Wow, what a handsome man!", but now...

Jihong, wondering why he was staring so intently, suddenly realized that he and Jaekyung were standing too close to each other: or rather, Jaekyung was tightly pressed against him.

"Kwon Jaekyung, please have a seat.

Alarmed, Jihong decided to sit him as far away as possible, so he led him to the opposite end of the table, diagonally.

But then Jaekyung suddenly asked, "Hyun, have you changed your cigarettes?"

"What do you mean?" Jihon turned to him. "What makes you think so?"

"You smell different," the stubborn man explained, reducing the distance between them to a critical one.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he bent down and buried his nose in Jihon's neck.

In horror, Jihon almost jumped away: "No, no, you... It seemed to you.

Stepping back, he involuntarily caught the eye of his colleague.

It was a mistake.

Nam, noticing that he had burned him, turned away abruptly, chuckling meaningfully. A chill ran down Jihon's spine.

"Ah, they must be mine," Inyop's voice suddenly rang out.

Jihong didn't even notice him enter.

"We just met in the smoking room," he continued, taking an empty seat next to the screenwriter, "but Mr. Jung didn't have time to finish and ran away in a hurry.

Sitting down, Inyop added, grinning, "Kwon Jaekyung, it turns out, has a sense of smell like a hound. He immediately feels that an employee of his agency, whom he does not even know very well, smells of other cigarettes.

At that moment, Jihong felt perspiration appear on his forehead.

"And who said that we don't know each other very well?" Jaekyung said casually, sitting down on a chair.

Despite the calm tone, the grumbler's pupils reflected a threat, something like: "Don't meddle in your own business."

But Inyop did not pay attention to this. He was glad that he had got the truth. The producer seemed to beam with pleasure, visually not sticking to Jihon.

"Everything seems to be very bad," Jihon cursed to himself.

Suddenly, Mrs. Lee broke the awkward pause: "Well, since everyone is here, let's get acquainted," and turned to Jaekyung to introduce him to the guests.

— Kwon Jae-kyung, this is Lee Inyeop, the producer, and Choi Areng, the screenwriter. And...

"Why do you need me?" Jaekyung interrupted.

The television crew did not seem to pay attention to his harsh tone, with which he made it clear that he did not intend to waste time on small talk. Most likely, the head of the group Lee warned them about the peculiar character of the athlete.

"Oh yes, exactly, I haven't explained it yet," Inyop said, coughing embarrassedly, blurting out, "The thing is, we're preparing a reality show...

"I'm not going to act in it. Then I'll go. Jaekyung snapped, rising from his chair.

Inyop was clearly confused by such a harsh refusal. And then he turned his gaze to Jihon, silently begging him to do something. Mrs. Li also looked at him with despair.

To be honest, Jihong would only be happy if Jaekyung turned around and left. Then this stupid idea would have safely sunk into oblivion. But he could not ignore his colleagues and his university friend.

"Ahem, Mr. Kwon Jaekyung," he mumbled. "I think we should at least listen to them. Nobody forces you to film...

"Why, if I'm not going to take part in it?" Jaekyung interrupted.

"Well, you've come after all," Jihon tried to object.

"But not of my own free will," Jaekyung said coldly, as if asking, "Why did you bring me here?"

Jihon lowered his head, showing that he was guilty, repentant and generally ready to fall through the ground.

"Please leave before it's too late," he pleaded in his mind.

Jaekyung stared at him for a few more seconds, then sighed and sat back down with a click. While everyone present was staring at him in amazement and admiration, Jihong knew that the worst was about to begin. He was especially worried about the pleased faces of Inyop and Manager Nam.

"So, our show is called 'Together with the Enemy,'" Inyop began. "You may have seen him...

And Choi Aren, not at a loss, immediately picked up after him. She was probably afraid that Jaekyung would run away, so she rambled like a machine gun, not stopping for a second. With amazing speed, she managed to highlight the main idea, concept, target audience, talk about ratings and even about the reaction of the audience. And only at the end did she get to the point: "We would like to invite Kwon Jae-kyung and his manager to take part in our show.

Jaekyung, of course, remained silent. And the screenwriter, apparently anticipating this, immediately turned to Mrs. Lee: "And where is the manager himself?"

"Unfortunately, he couldn't come today," she replied. "But in any case, he agrees.

— Of course! Mr. Nam, ironically. "He loves to be the center of attention.

"Well, that's great!" Choi Areng was delighted.

Seeing her joyful reaction, Mr. Nam couldn't help but joke, "Well, even if he doesn't want to, there's nothing he can do. If the company orders to participate, then you will have to.

"What is good news for a screenwriter is sad for an ordinary office employee," she replied timidly.

"Oh, I almost burst into tears from my words," Mr. Nam added playfully.

While they were exchanging jokes, Inyop suddenly turned to Jihong: "Maybe you, Jung Jihong, will take part?"

As expected, the songbae began to attack again, but Jihong remained adamant, concentrating all the seriousness he had in his tone: "Oh no. Why would you?

But the thick-skinned Inyop did not calm down: "Why not? You are in charge of Kwon Jaekyung's management. In addition, we were a swimmer ourselves.

Hearing this, Choi Aren opened her eyes in surprise, "Wow, right? Are you a former swimmer?!

Before she could finish, the team leader Lee and manager Nam simultaneously confirmed: "He was even a member of the national team. And he also won a medal at the World Championships.

"Wow! Choi Areng exclaimed enthusiastically, clapping her hands. "In that case, Jung Jihong is a must to take part in the show!" It will be wonderful! With you, the story will become much richer and more interesting!

Suddenly, everyone present stared at Jihon with an obvious expression: "This is it!" Mrs. Lee and Inyop, of course, were really excited, and Mr. Nam smiled slyly: "Wow, this is a cool idea!"

Even Jaekyung, who had shown absolutely no interest in what was happening before, was looking at him.

But as soon as Jihon's candidacy was proposed, the grumbler immediately shook up.

Inyop, of course, noticing this, decided that it was time to press: "Well, Jung Jihong, how do you like such a proposal?" You were a swimmer. And you were included in the national team... Therefore, it is easier for you to find a common language, and besides, you, like no one else, understand all the experiences of Kwon Jae-kyung.

"I don't understand him a bit!" Jihon defended himself jokingly.

But Inyop ignored his words and resorted to the heavy artillery - Jaekyung: "What do you think? You'll be more comfortable working with Jung Ji-hong, right? Apparently, you are close.

"Of course we are," Jaekyung confirmed, satisfied.