It was decided to prepare all the video materials in two days so as not to interfere with Jaekyung's training as much as possible, on the first day - a demonstration of strength exercises, and on the second - the swim itself, the date of which was postponed to the next week, just in time for Oliver's arrival in Korea, since the TV crew wanted to interview him. Fortunately, the man readily agreed.

The day before filming at the gym, Inyeop and the team visited a sports complex in Gwacheon to inspect the premises and determine where to place the cameras.

Choi Aren briefly described the plot: Coach Yoo will have to align Kwon Jaekyung's stance, and then, looking at Jihon, say something like: "Jihon-si, you are a former swimmer, this is nothing for you. Come on, try it too!" and thus involve him in the process.

At first glance, everything seemed too simple and uncomplicated. Anyone can understand that this is a production designed to demonstrate ★the undeniable physical strength of a former athlete and part-time manager★.

But Jaekyung seemed to be happy with the concept. As soon as the screenwriter left them, he turned to Jihong with a question: "Hyun, what are you going to do? Not in a two-piece suit, is it?"

"I'll put on what I can find in the hall."

"These things are terrible," Jaekyung immediately objected, anticipating the answer. He even winced, repeating that they should not be worn under any circumstances. "You mean that gray short-sleeved T-shirt?" Not at all.

"So it's all pretend. You just need to create an appearance. What's the odds?

"I don't want to anyway. Hyung, I'm against it. Men wear such rags in saunas," Jaekyung insisted. "Then take a tracksuit with you." You have it at home anyway. White or dark blue is best.

He even suggested colors that would definitely suit his fair skin.

Which involuntarily caused Jihon to laugh: "Hey, in the story, I'm watching you and unexpectedly join in. If I come already equipped, everyone will see that this is a staged scene.

"You'll tell me I've lent you something."

"Who would believe that?" Our sizes do not match.

"Do you even know your size?" smiling at his own thoughts, Jihong continued aloud, "I'll have to roll up my sleeves twice to wear your clothes.

Tilting his head, as if in doubt, the stubborn man thought deeply. It was clear from the guy's eyes that he was there with might and main, and from different angles, imagining Jihon in his clothes. And then he blurted out resolutely, "Hyun, just take my uniform.

"I told you, it's big.

"That's why put it on!" Jaekyung insisted.

"Why?..," Jihon wanted to ask, but Jihon got ahead of him again: "I want to see how my clothes, so huge for you, look on you.

Jaekyung, not ashamed of his whims, voiced them aloud. But even stranger was that Jihon thought he was cute. If someone else spewed something like that, they would probably be indignant: "This guy is clearly not himself!", but Jaekyung was an exception for him... He's just cute and funny.

Jihong continued to smile as he stared at Jaekyung's back as he talked to the coach, but suddenly became gloomy.

"What's wrong with me?" he said. "I didn't notice it before, but after talking to Inyop, my behavior seems really strange."

How else to explain the fact that he likes Jaekyung more and more, and his antics are no longer annoying? Even when he addressed him informally, Jihong did not get angry, but only noted his pleasant voice with pleasure.

"No, you can't do that! After all, it turns out that I... I'm going to Jaekyong..." Jihong was just starting to think about what he didn't want to admit at all, when suddenly Mr. Yu shouted loudly: "Jihon-si!"

And, abruptly waking up, Jihon went to him.

– Jihon-si, when was the last time you went in for sports?

"Me?" The last time I went to the gym was at the university.

"Oh, well! The man laughed. — So, complex exercises are not up to you?

"yes... I'll die if I do. Jihon feigned fright with exaggerated theatricality, subtly hinting that he should not be overwhelmed.

But at the same moment, Jaekyung, pointing to the lat machine next to him, said, "Hyun, this is a must-try for you.

The machine is also called "upper deadlift". The main exercise that is performed on it is to sit on a bench, you need to pull the barbell or the handle of the block to the chest, which allows you to strengthen and work out the latissimus muscles of the back.

"What?" Why?

"Your back is beautiful," Jaekyung replied casually.

While Jihon muttered something subtle under his breath: "Oh, you... small." Coach Yu, on the other hand, was inspired, "Oh, really?

"yes...," he mumbled without much enthusiasm.

And Jaekyung, without giving a chance for an argument, made a fiery speech: "For example, your latissimus back muscles are very strong. And the rhomboid is well developed. Probably because of the correct posture.

— Yes, posture is very important. Mr. Yu agreed. "If you keep your back straight, the muscles in that area tighten themselves.

"Exactly," Jaekyung continued. "And the shoulder blades are also elegant.

Flushed from the compliments, Jihon ran his eyes around the room, trying to cling to something. Fortunately, Coach Yu, carried away by the muscles, did not notice anything and simply began to press on Jihon's back.

"Wow, really strong!" He commented loudly.

Inyop, who was nearby, immediately wanted to touch, but was roughly grabbed by the wrist.

"Why?" He glared at Jaekyong indignantly.

– Do not touch the muscles unnecessarily. This area is easily injured. Jaekyung muttered coldly, as if he didn't know basic things.

– Yes, but Jihong is not an athlete...

To which Jaekyung, whose eyebrows were intimidatingly joined on the bridge of his nose, became more menacing than a cloud: "If he is not an athlete, then you can injure him?"

"Of course not, but... Coach Yu was just touching...

– Coach Yu is a professional. Jaekyung snapped and abruptly threw away the other's hand.

Although the guy chose relatively polite expressions, it was clear from the look that he would not allow anyone to touch Jihon. The bulldozer already had a bad impression of Inyopa, and when he learned that he was a senior university friend who allowed himself to be familiar, he began to openly show hostility. Whatever idea Inyeop proposed, Jaekyung constantly resisted and grumbled: "I don't want to", "I don't like it".

At first, Inyop, smiling, said: "Well, you don't want to, and you don't have to," but now he was gradually losing his nerves. And now the producer simply ignored all the "wishes" and "comments" or asked Choi Aren to pass on all the information.

Inyop took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions. And finally calming down, he turned to Jihon: "Okay, anyway, Jihon, tomorrow on the set you will take off your T-shirt.

"What?" Jihon asked, shocked. With difficulty he suppressed the impulse to yell: "Are you crazy?" but abruptly fell silent in search of a polite form of refusal.

However, Kwon Jaekyung beat him to it this time, "Why would hyun take off his clothes?

He looked as if he were a maniac. Yes, he was silent, but his look and facial expressions expressed all conceivable and unimaginable curses. With the obvious intention of persevering, Inyop crossed his arms over his chest and grinned: "Why? To show everyone your beautiful backs.

Inyop can also be understood. At first, he just wanted to touch Jihon's muscles, and in response, he was accused of ignorance. Now he offered to just take off his T-shirt, but received undeserved aggression. He didn't ask Jaekyung to jump naked in the frame.

And after a short pause, he turned to everyone present, putting a fat point in the skirmish with the stubborn man: "Listen. It was Kwon Jae-kyung who praised Jihon's amazingly developed muscular apparatus. And how to work on this simulator dressed? After all, then the audience will not see his impressive body relief. That is why I proposed.

And as a signature shot, he tried to enlist the support of the coach: "Isn't it, Mr. Yu?

And naturally, considering muscles a symbol of masculinity and the highest virtue, the man nodded.

Jaekyung frowned even more. He was clearly thinking about how to challenge all this. But after thinking about it, I realized the irrefutability of my opponent's arguments. Besides, he was the one who brought up the topic, so Jaekyung was apparently fighting with himself right now.

"You can't do it anyway. And yet, after a couple of minutes, he broke the silence.

"Well, why not...

"Jihong-hyun has a tattoo on his back. He blurted out. "Yes, hyung?"

Watching the fire grow on the other side, Jihon suddenly found himself in the epicenter of events and, confused, mumbled: "Aha... there is."

"What?" Have you got a tattoo? Inyop's eyes widened in surprise.

— Yes. Jihon lied calmly. — I did it before graduating from the university.

"You're crazy!" How are you going to swim now?

"Ah, here's the thing," Jihong quickly realized, looking at Jaekyung's sad, which he had built when he heard that the water competitions were canceled. It was so funny, probably the guy didn't take into account all the details, because his reaction was immediate. In those clear eyes, you could literally read: "What have I done?"

But it's too late to change anything. Jihon decided to use the excuse provided, albeit unwittingly: "Well, there's nothing to be done, I won't be able to swim..."

"Can't you cover it with a plaster?"

"It won't work, it's too big.

"Maybe we should cover it up on video?"

"Then everyone will think I'm some kind of mafioso," Jihon laughed.

Inyop looked at him in complete confusion, to which he added with a smile, "Film Kwon Jaekyung swimming. And besides, Oliver arrives that day. If you just capture their meeting and training together, there will be plenty of material. Why am I needed there at all?

"And what about Yaja Time?!"

– It is not necessary to arrange a relay race. You can compete, for example, in pull-ups or push-ups. In any case, I'll lose. Jaekyung, what do you think?

He didn't answer directly, and instead asked a question, "Hyun, do you want Yaja Time?"

Jihong was confused by the surprise and asked: "What?" That's what you wanted.

"Not really," Jaekyung said indifferently. "I'm not going to be familiar with you in public.

"What the... You agreed then," Jihong reminded him of the incident in the conference room.

"But you were the first to start. I'm not interested in this.

Yes, in the conference room, he did respond in the same way. But Jihong was too carried away by what was happening and did not fixate on the details.

At this moment, Supervisor Li's voice was heard from the staff room. Jaekyung clicked his tongue in irritation and nodded to Jihon.

"It turns out that Jaekyung is very respectful of his elders," Inyop concluded, following him with a look. "And he also listens unconditionally to his leadership. Everyone will be stunned when they see it on the air.

"Well, yes...

"What nonsense! He behaves like this only with you! Cursing, Inyop stared at Jihon, as if he wanted to catch him in something.

Taken by surprise, Jihon replied confusedly, "N-no.

"Why not?" Only with you, isn't it?

"No, no," Jihon tried to justify himself.

"Come on, don't lie. Inyop was no longer listening. He crossed his arms over his chest and, looking at Jihon, snorted, "There you go. You're still the same seducer.

"A seducer?" Jihong smiled tiredly, dropping his shoulders. "Senior, please be more attentive to what you are saying. People may misunderstand you.

"Squirrel," Inyop persisted. "Even if you didn't charm on purpose, you still charmed, didn't you?"

Cutting off all ways of retreat, the young producer did not calm down: "Okay, forget it. Do as you see fit. Look, if Kwon Jaekyung suffers because of you, especially before the Olympics, you will become a real traitor. People will throw stones at you.

Inyop's tone sounded like Jihong had already done something wrong. Realizing that he would not be able to change his friend's mind, he stopped for a moment. But he wanted to clarify at least one point that particularly hurt him: "I've never brought anyone to tears. I was always abandoned.

"So what?" If he didn't quit, is everything okay? "Without feelings, you shouldn't give hope at all.

Leaving Jihon alone with his anxious thoughts, he hurriedly went to his colleagues.

Jihon tried not to remember the numerous love failures, but as luck would have it, they began to pop up in his memory. And the words of the elder stuck firmly in his head: "If Kwon Jaekyung suffers because of you, especially before the Olympics, you will become a real traitor. People will throw stones at you."

At this moment, as if to save him, an excited Mrs. Li approached him. "Mr. Jeong, do you have a minute?"

It turned out that tomorrow during filming, she wants Yeonho to join them.

"A couple of minutes is enough," she explained, "just one set of exercises together. Yeonho used to train under Mr. Yu, and if we show our players working together, the effect will be stunning.

"Apparently, this is commonly called a 'clever commercial move,'" Jihon concluded.

"Yes, it would be great if Yeonho appeared on the air. But Jaekyung will definitely oppose.

"No, he doesn't mind.

— … Really? Jihong involuntarily raised his voice.

— Yes. He said that if it wasn't for long, then everything was fine. I expected him to kick right away. But as soon as Kwon Jaekyung found out that he was a fencer who participated in the Asian Games, he immediately met halfway.

Mrs. Lee was glad that Jaekyung finally felt like he was part of their team, but Jihong couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Approaching Jaekyung, who was doing push-ups with medicine balls in his hands, he cautiously asked, "Do you mind Youngho filming with you?"

"Yes," Jaekyung replied curtly. "After all, it won't last long. Tell Coach Yu to put someone on his back and make him do a hundred push-ups.

If someone else had dropped that phrase, Jihong would have laughed. But Jaekyung's icy tone and heavy gaze left no doubt: he was completely serious and ready to carry out his threat without delay.

"Well, if that's the case, then I don't mind either," Jihon said and, leaning closer, quietly added: "Just don't say that this is a commercial move."

"I won't," Jaekyung muttered in annoyance. "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"

Jaekyung is living proof that even with absolutely good intentions, you can inadvertently create chaos in relationships with people. This is the level of his communication skills.

"Yes, just don't mention it," Jihong insisted.

Yes, Jaekyung is a man of his word. If he promises something, he will definitely fulfill it. But Jihong couldn't help but worry either. The very fact that the bulldozer agreed to Yonho's participation without complaint does not bode well and raises some suspicions.

It is not surprising that on the day of filming, his fears were confirmed.