"Hey, so you're in a relationship with Kwon Jaekyung now?" Inyeop asked, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket. "How long have you been together?" From the moment he agreed to cooperate, right? So it's been about three months already? Or did you mess with him long before that? And he signed a contract with your company at your request?

Inyop showered me with uncomfortable questions, even forgetting about the main purpose for which he came here in the first place. Apparently, that was why he insisted on going to the smoking room to discuss everything.

"We don't meet. Jihon belatedly refuted.

To which Inyeop opened his eyes wide, as if arguing: "Really?"

Jihong had already mentally predicted what would follow: "You think correctly. You shouldn't do that if you have a conscience."

However...

"Why...?" Inyeop blurted out, being in complete shock, and Jihong, surprised by his friend's unexpected reaction, clenched the filter in his hand.

— What do you mean "why"? Because I can ruin his life.

"Hey, what are you up to?" Why should he suffer because of an affair with you? He snorted, subtly hinting that Jihon thought too much of himself.

In fact, Inyeop is right. Jihon, without knowing it, grinned bitterly and, taking a slow drag, firmly objected: "In any case, we are not dating.

"Strange. At the university, you dived into the pool with almost everyone who expressed sympathy for you.

"You said it wasn't right. Listening to the advice of the elder, I began to refuse everyone. But for some reason, you are dissatisfied again.

When he asked what was wrong, Inyeop seemed to have nothing to cover with and just lit a cigarette. Then, shaking off the ashes, he muttered, as if under his breath: "You're a bad person anyway.

The man continued to spew curses like "rake", "sinner", "it's time for you to get what you deserve", but his face still remained smiling, unlike how he usually looked.

"You're having fun, aren't you?"

"yes, I'm dying of laughter," Inyop laughed honestly. "It's itching to tell Dong-jin and Wonmyeon about everything, especially about how Jung Ji-heong got into trouble.

The guys were two years older than Jihon. And all of them were once members of the same club.

"Do you still communicate with them?"

"Sometimes we hang out together.

- I see.

— Did you at least cross paths with your younger children or peers at any events?

"Nope. I don't keep in touch with anyone.

In fact, Jihong did not join the film club because of his great love for films. He did it because his girlfriend really wanted to work with him there. However, he could not find the right opportunity to jump off, and as a result, all this turbulent activity dragged on until graduation. Jihon did not build friendly relations with his comrades. But, to be honest, he did not really want to.

"Oh, yes! All your "loved ones" have fled. How many of them were there? At least four! You've ruined everything, haven't you? Casanova! Inyop started in earnest. - I would have met quietly, why did I spin a useless drama every time? Because of you, we lost a lot of valuable personnel! You survived absolutely everyone! Both older and younger!

Inyeop squealed non-stop, as if he had got rid of all his exes on purpose.

"I didn't demand that anyone leave. My words have no weight in such important decisions. It was their choice. In truth, I felt uncomfortable, and I wanted to leave too. You know I didn't leave them, so it's not my fault.

Any romance where there was not a bit of his initiative, as if according to a written script, inevitably ended in a breakup. But responsibility did not allow him to forget about his duties and fall into the sunset. As a result, the former partners became uncomfortable next to him, and they all retreated in a hurry.

"So you have to part amicably.

"No, that's how I've always parted.

Jihong never raised his voice, there were no quarrels or scandals... Even when faced with infidelity, he kept his cool and only said the following: "If you had said right away that you wanted to end everything, we could have avoided all this talk about cheating and a relationship on two fronts." Despite the fact that everything ended relatively peacefully, his passions always avoided meeting him.

"Hey, it's because you found someone new right after the breakup!" Just imagine what it feels like when your ex-lover starts playing tricks with another in front of your eyes. This is as impolite as possible.

"I don't understand. I think if you were polite and caring while you were together, that's enough.

Jihon always tried to adapt to his partner: he did everything he asked, and if there were quarrels, he always gave in. He showed neither jealousy nor suspicion, even if he saw that he was being deceived. And he just pretended to believe. But why to show empathy for someone who was all over remained a mystery.

"Worrying about your ex, you hurt someone who is with you in the present. And I don't want that.

"Well, yes, you're right, but..." Inyeop muttered discontentedly, scanning Jihon with his eyes from head to toe. — Yes, in the first approximation, your view of relationships is quite healthy, but something is fundamentally wrong with it...

Jihon, cigarette in hand, raised his eyebrows slightly as if asking, "Really?"

"yes. At that time, everyone said that you were doomed to failure at the start. If you didn't like them, why did you start in the first place? Why did you always accept all the confessions?

"Yes, I didn't, but I didn't feel disgust either.

He thought that in the process, their feelings might change, and perhaps a deep affection would emerge.

Exhaling a puff of smoke, Jihong continued, "And every time I was grateful for these feelings and wanted to repay them.

Inyop, who had been listening silently, muttered as if to himself: "As I thought, that's the problem. In general, do not start a relationship. This is perhaps the only way to cleanse your karma at least a little.

"I told you I wouldn't," Jihon muttered sharply, shaking off the ashes.

In-yeop, watching him, clicked his tongue, and then, as if remembering something, returned to the pressing topic again: "And about Kwon Jaekyung...

At that moment, a loud bell rang in the pocket of Inyeop's pants. Seeing the number on the phone screen, he quickly answered the call: "Oh, are they already here? Understood, I'll be there soon."

And then he threw the cigarette butt into the ashtray with the words: "Hey, it's time for us to go."

To which Jihon extinguished the cigarette and left the smoking room with it.

Before they waited a minute, Oliver and his team came out of the arrivals area. Noticing the camera, the man waved at them with a big smile, and Jihong, briskly approaching, greeted him in English: "Mr. Bale, thank you for coming. I'm Jung Ji-heon from Spoin, I work as an agent for Kwon Jae-kyung.

"I know, Mr. Jeong. We exchanged letters, didn't we? Why didn't you warn you in advance that you were handsome?

Oliver was as friendly as he had been supposed. He shook Yingyop's hand and immediately introduced his colleagues. Together with Oliver, Dr. Gleeson, who works with him in tandem and is Jaekyong's attending physician in Australia, came to Korea. And there was another person standing next to them, who was not mentioned in any of the emails.

"This is my nephew, Lucas. He's here to help me and travel," Oliver said, pointing to a guy with blond hair and blue eyes like his.

— Hello! I'm Lucas! The guy greeted them in Korean.

"Do you know Korean?" Jihon asked in surprise.

To which he, embarrassed, hesitated: "I'm a little... very little. I recently started attending a language center, so I don't speak very well yet.

But Oliver clarified that he graduated from school last year and devoted all his free time to learning Korean.

"Really?" Your successes are impressive! And the pronunciation is good.

Lucas blushed instantly at the compliment. The guy, who recently turned 20 years old by Korean standards, had a rather fragile physique, but his face was cute and handsome, like the main character of a teenage drama. And shyness gave him a special charm. He didn't know what to do with himself, and it touched people's hearts in a strange way.

They went to Gwacheon in a service car. In the spacious SUV driven by Minu, Lucas sat next to Jihon and chatted casually all the way.

"Noah said he called you Hani. Can I?

"Are you close to Noah?"

"yes, when Oliver was working at the Victorian Aquatic Centre, I used to go there a lot. I also learned to swim there. In the end, I became friends with Noah and Jaekyung.

Oliver and Dr. Gleeson called Jaekyung "Jay", but Lucas always referred to him correctly. Despite his generally slurred and clumsy speech, he pronounced his name very accurately and clearly. As if he had rehearsed dozens, or even hundreds of times. The most timid guy learned a foreign language, which is unlikely to be useful to him in Australia, crossed half the world and was even ready to listen to Noah's ravings.

These details alone are enough to arouse suspicion in Jihon. But when he heard Lucas' pronunciation only get better when he mentioned Jaekyung, Jihong was convinced of his speculation.

Lucas came here for Kwon Jaekyung.

And indeed, as soon as Lucas got to the gym and saw his friend, he was completely confused. Instead of a warm greeting, he hid behind the doctor, blushing to the tips of his ears, and Jaekyung did not seem to notice his presence at all.

Jaekyung lightly hugged Oliver and shook hands with Mr. Gleeson, then walked over to Jihon, "Didn't Oliver say anything strange?"

"Strange?"

"All right, forget it.

With that, Jaekyung returned to Oliver. And they began to discuss his current training regimen. Meanwhile, Lucas, still hiding behind the man, was looking at them. Because of this, Mr. Gleeson, taking pity on the child, quietly moved aside and called to Jaekyung: "Hey, Jay. Look who's here.

Jaekyung turned around and finally noticed the shy but determined Lucas, throwing a curt "Oh," and that was the whole program of the social minimum. No "Are you here too?" or "Haven't seen you for a long time."

And then he turned to Oliver and continued the conversation, leaving the poor guy alone with his despondency.

Mr. Gleeson seems to be well aware of the younger's ardent unrequited love. However, how can you not guess? He practically shouted about her with all his being.

"Oh my God, it's so fresh. Even Inyeop put in his two cents, grinning. "I feel it will be interesting."

Due to the producer's instincts that suddenly awoke in Inyeop, Jihong clicked his tongue disapprovingly, "Don't do that.

"What exactly?"

"Don't play with a child's heart," Jihyun hissed, clarifying that it was punishable. To which the impudent TV man opened his eyes wide, and the next moment lowered his voice.

"Who are you talking about?" Oh Lucas or oh Kwon Jaekyung?

Not knowing what to answer, Jihong simply crossed his arms over his chest and sighed as he lowered his head.

Yingyop, watching him, laughed softly: "That's right, playing with children's feelings is a direct path to punishment. It's good that you understand.

And, slapping Jihon loudly on the back, he shouted to his team: "That's it, let's go up to the second floor!" Set up your equipment, it's time to start shooting!