“But if you’ve eaten a meal, shouldn’t you eat dessert too?”

“....”

“Waffles.”

“....”

“With lots of cream.”

* * *

“Ahhh....”

Hong Suryeon nearly fainted before collapsing into her manager’s arms.

“Suryeon-ah, here’s the mirror.”

“I’m beautifuuul....”

The filming set of 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉 had sunk so deep into despair over the spoiler incident that the atmosphere felt ready to drill straight through the floor.

“Don’t worry.”

But at that exact moment, Yoo Jiuk’s snow-white brain sparkled brilliantly as he spoke.

“This is exactly when you take charge like a real man. Everyone, just trust me.”

The staff around Yoo Jiuk applauded.

“Oppa. A man becomes even more dependable in a crisis....”

“Right, Jiuk-ah! This is perfect noise marketing! Jiuk really is smart, huh? See? I told you it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

“Exactly. As long as the real alpha male Jiuk is here, we’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“That’s right. Only oppa can pull this off.”

Yoo Jiuk cocked one sharply raised eyebrow. Then he flashed a languid smile.

“I know.”

That was Yoo Jiuk. One of the Three Legendary Idiots.

“That’s why I’m here in the first place.”

He fundamentally lacked any sense of crisis. If anything, he had too few thoughts in his head altogether.

“So just trust oppa and follow me. I’ll make sure the ratings stay number one. Seriously, girls have no guts.”

At Yoo Jiuk’s confident declaration, Hong Suryeon shot upright from her manager’s embrace.

“Don’t talk nonsenseee!!! As long as I have my beauty, being number one in ratings is only natural!!! All this popularity was built on top of my beautyyyy!!!”

Hong Suryeon smacked Yoo Jiuk with the handheld mirror she was holding. Yoo Jiuk immediately raised his guard.

* * *

The set of 〈Dear Judge〉 still hadn’t heard about the spoiler situation on the 〈There Is Only One Culprit〉 side. Filming was in full swing.

“Today’s shoot is really important, so everyone stay focused.”

This was the scene that most clearly showcased Do Gyeoul’s sociopathic side. One overwhelming impact.

More importantly, it was the action scene where Do Gyeoul’s personal car would be completely wrecked, so everyone was under extreme tension.

“Miss Gyeoul. Are you really okay with this?” 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

“Of course.”

And on top of that, Do Gyeoul refused to use a stunt double. No one could oppose her insistence on performing such a high-difficulty action scene herself.

Right now, people were saying Do Gyeoul had entered the second act of her acting career. She was growing at a frightening pace.

The staff watching her performance unconsciously clicked their tongues in amazement. Goosebumps rose on their arms without them even realizing it.

“Alright, here we go—.”

At Director Kwak Shinseong’s call, everyone swallowed nervously and focused their attention on Do Gyeoul.

The massive lights installed by the lighting team illuminated the car Do Gyeoul sat inside.

“Ready—.”

Hands gripping the wheel, Do Gyeoul wore a face utterly devoid of fear. Watching her, Seo Jeongwon felt his back stiffen rigidly.

“Action!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Do Gyeoul slammed down on the accelerator. Director Kwak Shinseong and lead actor Seo Jeongwon stared at her through the monitor.

Right now, Gyeoul carried an oppressive pressure that seemed capable of crushing everyone beneath her.

Crash!

Do Gyeoul’s action performance was perfect.

The hood slammed headfirst into the guardrail, crumpling upward like paper.

The image everyone had vaguely imagined in their minds materialized before their eyes with grotesque clarity.

It felt as though she were climbing impossibly high. As though Do Gyeoul alone had reached the top while building walls around herself.

A solid barrier no one could pierce. No opening anyone could slip through.

And standing above it all, Do Gyeoul looked down at them.

Seo Jeongwon watched Gyeoul step out of the car. Even after that violent crash, not even the slightest staggering seemed capable of interfering with her.

She walked toward them.

“Let me see it too.”

As if nothing in the world mattered except this scene right now.

Sensing danger, Seo Jeongwon changed his mindset. If he didn’t do this properly, he would be overshadowed completely.

He felt as though the dark shadow summoned by Do Gyeoul was slowly covering his face.

* * *

In front of Ja Sokhwan, who was eating a banana cereal custard cream chocolate waffle, Lee Saerok asked seriously once more.

“What about the 〈Dear Judge〉 side?”

“They’re too good.”

“What kind of compliment is that?”

“That’s exactly why it’s a problem. Look here.”

Ja Sokhwan began explaining 〈Dear Judge〉.

“If they wanted to talk about deprivation, they needed to push the narrative of oppression further. You need to show a lack for people to understand desire.”

Do Gyeoul’s character was someone who wanted to climb the social ladder more than anyone else.

The reason current 〈Dear Judge〉 viewers were going crazy over Do Gyeoul’s sociopathic character was precisely because of that.

Universal desire. And the thrill of watching an overpowered genius capable of achieving it. Ja Sokhwan understood this perfectly.

“Now then. But if they do that, they run out of time. If they spend too much time on desire, there’s less time to search for evidence, which weakens plausibility. If they steal time from the courtroom scenes, then the catharsis drops.”

“They could just throw in something short and provocative, couldn’t they? Add a sharp episode that hits hard and disappears. Instant ratings would spike too.”

Lee Saerok answered while sipping coffee. But despite the analysis of the fearsome MBS Drama Center director, Ja Sokhwan clicked his tongue.

“And who exactly is she?”

“Do Gyeoul? Well... among actresses in their twenties, she’s definitely at the top.”

“Exactly.”

At this point in the drama, the greatest humiliation Do Gyeoul’s character had suffered was being summoned by her superiors and having whiskey poured over her head.

The camera zoomed in on the luxury watch worth hundreds of millions hanging from the superior’s wrist as he poured the whiskey. Then Do Gyeoul met Seo Jeongwon and said:

“With hands like that, I could do anything too. Slap someone. Grab them by the collar. Even strangle them.”

It was one of the most iconic scenes in 〈Dear Judge〉. As Lee Saerok recalled it, Ja Sokhwan shrugged.

“Look here. Do Gyeoul is a child the entire nation loved.”

“....”

“There’s a line you can’t cross when portraying provocative desire.”

“Ah....”

“Director Kwak understands it perfectly. The rejection audiences would feel if he pushed too hard past that point.”

Which meant the acting had to be softened.

They needed viewers to feel that in the face of chaebol cruelty and moral corruption, she still seemed justified. That someone with a personality like hers could survive without being hurt and come out victorious.

But the current Do Gyeoul’s desire looked far too immense, while her buried rage and screen-devouring immersion...

Overwhelmed the entire situation.

Meaning she made viewers feel far more than the character was supposed to show.

“It’s exhausting to watch for sixteen hours. Maybe not for two. If it were a movie, it would’ve been a landslide victory.”

Director Lee Saerok asked in a trembling voice. The flag of victory seemed visible somewhere far in the distance.

“...Wouldn’t Director Kwak know that too? No....”

A director understood a director’s heart best. Ja Sokhwan answered without hesitation.

“Sometimes people know it and still jump into the fire anyway. Like moths.”

“....”

“Because they want to see the end, even if they burn up completely.”

A production was a living creature.

And now, everyone had started moving on their own.

* * *

As always, IP 85.152 watched the live broadcast of 〈Dongdaemun Romance〉.

Thinking about the coworker who kept recommending 〈Tamhok〉 despite having no understanding whatsoever of art, culture, or refinement made their entire body feel dizzy, but the more they watched the drama, the clearer their mind became, as though they themselves were slowly becoming like Jeon Segye.

“...Ha....”

Instead of returning to L&E, Jeon Segye decided to join hands with its rival fashion company and destroy L&E from the outside.

The alliance between B-bly and the other conglomerate group had begun.

One company specialized in luxury strategy, while B-bly targeted younger consumers, so the partnership was mutually beneficial.

But there was one problem.

“How....”

Nam Pyeonghwa existed. As though love triangles were boring, Hwang Boseok had expanded the field of romantic rivals to absurd levels.

—Holy shit, this isn’t even three-legged racing anymore, he just casually threw in like fifteen rivals LMAOO

—Seeing Nam Pyeonghwa through Jeon Segye’s filter makes her look ridiculously gorgeous, that’s why it’s even funnier TT_TT

—Nothing beats a pathetic male lead losing his mind from jealousy, where else can you eat this kind of gourmet content

—Did Seo Eden get possessed or something? He seriously looks like Jeon Segye’s ghost took over him, the trembling jealousy acting is insane LMAO

It was Jeon Segye himself, the one who had initially drawn the line, who now grew anxious watching Nam Pyeonghwa together with employees from the rival group. Every man looked like competition.

Nam Pyeonghwa accepting a cup of coffee with lovely hands.

Nam Pyeonghwa leaning close over shared files, filling the air with her fragrance.

Nam Pyeonghwa casually enchanting male employees with a single captivating glance during meetings.

The viewers watching Han Yeoreum’s face completely understood Jeon Segye’s perspective. After all, her styling changed constantly throughout every episode, showcasing beauty unlike anything she had displayed before.

—Even I’m getting seduced and I’m a woman, holy shit... she’s so fresh and cute...lol

—Is she really a woman? This feels suspicious as fuck

—Out of Han Yeoreum’s entire filmography, DongRo is seriously the best T_T it feels like playing with dolls

“No. I can’t act like this. What does it have to do with me? Maintain your dignity as a CEO, Jeon Segye.”

Even while trying to mentally discipline himself—

“Ah! Miss Pyeonghwa!”

—the moment he heard another male employee calling her name from far away, he whipped his head around faster than anyone.

The two of them talked together... laughed together... and then....

“Honestly. Just because someone’s good at design doesn’t mean they have aesthetic sense. I suppose I’ll have to educate them personally on what defines a proper man if I want to maintain the dignity of a CEO.”

Driven insane by jealousy, Jeon Segye began waking up two and a half hours before work to run and reduce facial puffiness. He seriously debated suit choices until mountains of clothes piled up inside the dressing room, and even styled his hair perfectly.

“Oh, Director! Your face looks especially—”

“Wow... you seriously look like a celebrity today.”

Jeon Segye basked proudly in everyone’s compliments while checking Nam Pyeonghwa’s reaction.

But Nam Pyeonghwa looked busy. She didn’t even glance at him.

That entire day, Jeon Segye desperately tried to enter Nam Pyeonghwa’s field of vision. But Nam Pyeonghwa remained busy, fully focused on work.

“....”

And then.

“You’re meeting Designer J this weekend?”

“Wow... I’m seriously jealous. THE J?”

The face of that famous “J” appeared on the TV screen.

The rival group had hired a world-famous overseas designer to push a new design transformation, and they specifically requested a meeting with Nam Pyeonghwa.

And naturally—

“Mister! Mister, follow that car!”

“Bark bark bark!”

Jeon Segye in a trench coat and sunglasses, alongside Beopsun wearing the exact same trench coat and sunglasses, followed the meeting.

“So the day has finally come for me too.”

The taxi driver who had once recommended the dating Intube channel “Mobaji” to Nam Pyeonghwa made his triumphant return.

—Holy fuck LMAOOO are they insane

—Wasn’t this originally supposed to be the female lead’s embarrassing scene? T_T seriously

—DongRo has officially agreed to dump every humiliation scene onto the male lead~^^

—This is so fucking funny please LMAOO

The moment Jeon Segye and Beopsun hid behind a pillar watching the pair, the live discussion boards exploded instantly. People were overwhelmed by the emotional shock of seeing Myungdo and Seoryeong again.

—HOLY SHIT THE MYUNGRYEONG COUPLE TT___TT

—You two... who gave you permission to match outfit colors like that... do you WANT people to lose their minds??!!

—I still seriously can’t let go of Seoryeong and Myungdo T_T

The instant IP 85.152 saw Kwon Junhyeok wearing the blue shirt and Han Yeoreum wearing the yellow dress, just like the final scene of 〈Strange Tales〉, they too remembered the overwhelming emotions they had felt during the finale group watch party.