Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 12

Hayeong quietly studied his face, trying to read his expression. But it was no use. Including her past life, this was only their fourth meeting. Of course she couldn’t figure him out.

 

No, honestly, even if they met ten, a hundred more times, he would still be impossible to read.

 

“…Are you serious?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Hayeong was at a loss for words and just stared at Yoonhyuk.

 

She wasn’t the only one who’d be thrown off by his jokes, future viewers would probably feel the same.

 

Handsome, unreadable, and impossible not to be curious about, the kind of wild-card cast member that would have the producers cheering.

 

Just then, as if they deemed the conversation sufficiently wrapped, the assistant director outside the car gave a signal. It meant they needed to do the PPL.

 

What was she supposed to say?

 

“Your jokes are seriously… Anyway, I really am tired. Maybe it’s because I didn’t sleep well last night, or maybe this car is just too comfortable. You should lean back too. It’s really comfortable.”

 

It was an awkward, out-of-nowhere compliment.

 

Yoonhyuk’s lips curved up like he’d found new material to tease her with. Heat rushed to her face. Her clumsy line echoed in her head.

 

“G-Great ride quality.”

 

Still, she had to say something. But of course, Yoonhyuk wasn’t going to make it easy for her.

 

“Ride quality? Feels pretty bad to me. Super uncomfortable. My back, my legs, everything hurts.”

 

“W-Why are you like this?”

 

“Like what?”

 

“This car’s design is so pretty! It’s sleek, and comfy, and stylish.”

 

“And that design’s what caused the wind noise to spike. I doubt it will sell well.”

 

Hayeong’s eyes darted in confusion as she couldn’t figure out what to do.

 

“I would never buy a car like this.”

 

He nailed the coffin shut. Hayeong desperately gave him a look, silently pleading for him to stop, but Yoonhyuk just grinned.

 

“I—I think it’s good…”

 

On a show like this, PPL was practically their lifeline. She was supposed to be gushing about how great it was. Why was he being so uncooperative? He had to have been briefed on the product placement too…

 

Hayeong glanced out the window. In the distance, she could see the producer listening to their conversation through headphones, scratching her head. Probably thinking, ‘Welp, we can’t use this footage.’

 

Ironically, the thought made her feel a little better. Her shoulders finally relaxed. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been this whole time, constantly aware of the cameras.

 

“I wish you would come in soon.”

 

The words slipped out like a sigh.

 

“Should I go today?”

 

“How?”

 

“If I just barge into the house, I doubt they would kick me out. That is the house, right?”

 

“What are you even talking about? No, don’t. That’s not how it works.”

 

Startled, Hayeong quickly glanced at the staff, worried they’d heard. Thankfully, they seemed to have taken it as a joke. No reaction from outside.

 

But maybe they also figured nothing useful would come from this conversation, because the staff signaled for them to wrap it up and get the envelope for the next destination.

 

She looked at Yoonhyuk, and he, understanding the cue, pulled an envelope from beside him.

 

“Here. This is for you.”

 

Yoonhyuk held out an envelope for her letter. When she tried to take the envelope, Yoonhyuk didn’t let go of it as if he didn’t want to give it to her.

 

After groaning, she had to tug a few times before she finally wrestled it from his hand.

 

“Who are you talking to?”

 

As she opened the envelope, Yoonhyuk leaned in. A little too close. His scent hit her all at once, making her ears burn.

 

Maybe it was just that it had been a while since she had been this close to another guy.

 

Hayeong reminded herself that she and Yoonhyuk were just close friends, and tried to play it cool.

 

“Get your face out of here. It’s burdensome.”

 

“Oh, right. I am handsome, huh? Totally forgot.”

 

Yoonhyuk stepped back with a laugh that crinkled his eyes. When he wasn’t smiling, or only raised the corners of his lips, his face had a cold, even intimidating, but when he laughed like that, it completely melted away.

 

Striking looks, a dazzling smile, a playful personality. Some people might find him annoying, but no doubt the viewers would love him even more.

 

「Your first date is waiting. Please head to the address.」

 

“It doesn’t say who it is.”

 

“Hope it’s not another trash guy you fall for.”

 

“Can you stop saying weird stuff?”

 

Yoonhyuk reached over and brushed aside the hair that had fallen across her forehead.

 

Was her hair even out of place? Haeyoung batted his hand away and quickly pushed her hair back herself.

 

“Have fun on your date.”

 

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

 

“Don’t get excited. Don’t laugh too much. Don’t catch feelings either.”

 

With Yoonhyuk’s grumbling farewell behind her, Hayeong stepped out of the car.

 

She got into the production vehicle and headed to the address. Staring out the window, she tried to guess who might be waiting there.

 

The first date on <Friendship Romance> is chosen by viewer vote. It’s called the Visual Match Vote.

 

Yesterday, the day filming started, all the contestants’ profile photos were released on the <Friendship Romance 2> homepage, and viewers were asked to vote for the pair they thought looked best, just based on the pictures.

 

It was a blind date that was impossible to predict.. Not even the participants could guess who they would be paired with.

 

That included Hayeong. For other parts of the show, she could use her insider knowledge to try to influence things, by persuading Yoonhyuk or the other contestants. But this, this was totally out of her hands. Which only made her more nervous.

 

Yoonhyuk definitely wouldn’t be her match, which meant her potential date was one of four guys: Jaeyeong, Chanwoo, Dojin, or Seongjun.

 

Please, let it be someone who’s at least…

 

* * *

 

-—Mingddoo-nim, please react to Friendship Romance,! The new photos dropped and the visuals are insane! Might be the best lineup ever!

 

―ㅜㅜㅜㅜ Eonnie, please, let’s do FR ㅠㅠㅠ Friday and Saturday… at 8pm(heart)

 

―Stop making Friendship Romance viral

 

“This one flopped, huh… Only 170,000 views? Ugh…”

 

Lately, the remarriage show Minjoo had been reacting to was getting duller and duller. Viewers were tuning out of the broadcast, and naturally, views on her reaction videos were dropping too.

 

Worse, the comment section was flooded with suggestions that she quit and switch to something else.

 

This was the harsh reality of being a reaction YouTuber. No matter how hard she worked, if the show tanked, the audience vanished.

 

―Romance Friend just from the guy visuals alone looks like a total banger. Any chance you’ll review it?

 

└It’s Friendship Romance ;;;

 

―Mingddoo-nim, you have to do FR! We had a good time in season 1.

 

―Please react to Friendship Romance! Let’s laugh again, not cry… Eunhye PD is directing again!

 

“Should I just switch?”

 

She had been planning to jump on <Friendship Romance> since the last season ended with such a big buzz. However, if she was going to commit, she needed to see it through. She couldn’t just start on a whim.

 

Maybe she should test the waters with a short.

 

Minjoo set her phone vertically on the tripod and turned on her ring light. Behind her, she could see the tacky bedding she sleeps in every day.

 

The sweet spot for reaction content was always somewhere between a clean video and that sense of casual intimacy. Knowing how to walk that line was key.

 

She hit the record button.

 

“So I heard the cast photos for <Friendship Romance 2>  are out? My friend Yaeni—you know her, right? From <Lovely Runner> reaction? She’s been bugging me non-stop about this. But just so you know, I might not post a full reaction. I only upload when something actually makes my heart race.”

 

‘When my heart races, huh.’ That’s how it had all started.

 

Her channel, Mingddoo Sees It All, had been born purely out of her own amusement. But as her subscribers grew and ad deals trickled in, it had crossed the line from hobby to work.

 

Now she found herself exaggerating her reactions to keep things spicy, even when the show wasn’t that interesting. If the viewers liked it, she stuck with it. In the end, it had become just another job.

 

“Ugh.” She frowned. That last take sounded too wordy and stiff. She would probably cut the whole beginning in editing.

 

With that, she opened her iPad and accessed he <Friendship Romance 2>  website.

 

“Oh, a banner has appeared.”

 

「<Friendship Romance> Season 2 — Cast Photos Released! First Date Vote in Progress!」

 

“Wow, the poster looks expensive. They must have made some money last season and upped the budget.”

 

Please let this season do well too. Let’s get those views, everyone!

 

Heart pounding, she clicked on the cast profiles.

 

“…Oh? Oh—oh, wow!”