Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 6

The assistant director wearing a headset gave the signal. Haeyoung slowly took her first step forward.

 

Three large cameras, capturing her from a distance, began to move in sync with her pace. It would’ve been natural to feel nervous on set for the first time, but Haeyoung’s steps were steady.

 

The assistant director gestured toward an extravagant house. The yard was decorated with pretty lights and garland decorations, the lawn was so perfectly trimmed it looked artificial, and at the center stood a picturesque red-brick house.

 

So this is the place.

 

A stage for Haeyoung, a place where she would live a life different from her past.

 

After being cast on the dating show, Haeyoung had thrown herself into studying them day and night. She dissected every editing pattern, production cue, and viewer reaction. She intended to turn all of it into tools, tools for her own use.

 

It had been a few years since dating programs first appeared on TV. Young, attractive strangers would meet, go on dates, feel sparks, or be tempted by someone else. Love would bloom, or fall apart.

 

The very first show caused a nationwide stir. But soon after, similar imitation programs flooded the market. As a result, viewers quickly got tired of it.

 

‘All dating shows are the same now.’

 

It was a red ocean, oversaturated and worn-out. Even so, a few shows still managed to become hits.

 

One of them was <Friendship Romance>.

 

‘Between love and friendship, where do our hearts stand?’

 

The tagline piqued viewers’ curiosity, and from its premiere to its finale, the show sparked massive buzz.

 

―Yeonju and Jaewon’s chemistry is insane. 100% buy.

 

―This is it. Yeonjae couple is a guaranteed blue-chip stock.

 

―Where’s Hoseo squad? I’m going all-in even if they don’t make it.

 

―Ahㅜㅜ Crazyㅜㅜ This week Yeonju and Hoyeon’s date is at the pool. I’m losing it.

 

―Yeonju only acts like her true self around Jaewon. No way it’s fake. No arguments.

 

<Friendship Romance> might have seemed similar to other dating shows on the surface, but it had one critical twist.

 

The contestants joined with a friend of the opposite sex, someone they had been close to for years.

 

It played into a familiar question everyone had wondered about at some point: ‘Can men and women ever really be just friends?’

 

Are they just friends, or something more? That blurry line between friendship and love, an age-old dilemma.

 

<Friendship Romance> was a dating program that made good use of that.

 

“I always thought we were just friends… but now, when I look at him, my heart races.”

 

“For some reason, it makes me angry when I see her with another guy.”

 

“Is this still friendship, or is it love?”

 

More than ever, viewers found themselves deeply invested in the contestants’ stories. It went beyond casual interest and bloomed into fierce, emotional fandom.

 

―If Yeonju and Jaewon don’t get enough votes this week, they’re done for. ㅜㅜ

 

―Yeonjae fans, use every vote you’ve got. Beg your family to vote too, please.

 

―If you order two plates of Hosik’s Jokbal right now, you get two voting tickets! Today’s meal is pig’s trotters!

 

―This week’s date is a jacuzzi. Miss it, and it’s game over.

 

―Don’t try to save your votes. you’ll miss the kids’ dates ㅜㅜ Time to burn your wallets.

 

The powerful voting system that utilizes the fandom was another factor in the success of <Friendship Romance>.

 

Unlike other shows that were entirely filmed in advance, <Friendship Romance> began airing in the middle of the filming period.. The production spanned two months, with alternating stretches of cohabitation and breaks.

 

‘The perfect couple, crafted by me, with my own hands.’

 

That premise drew viewers in. They weren’t just spectators; they had influence. Through voting, they could orchestrate or prevent dates between couples.

 

Naturally, the couples that aligned with viewer expectations gained overwhelming support and popularity. On the other hand, contestants who defied those expectations, even if unintentionally, faced brutal backlash.

 

That alone was provocative enough, but the editing was also very spicy, so there was constant controversy.

 

―Kim Joohyun, two faced, you crazy. Unbelievable. Actual trash.

└Did you see yesterday? Her true colors came out. Something that even middle schoolers wouldn’t do

└What are you talking about? Her interviews were chopped all over the place. So obvious.

└It’s reality TV. Of course there’s evil editing. They mixed morning interviews with night footage.

└She said it herself. How can that be evil editing? Did they dub her voice?

└I had a bad feeling about her from the start.

 

This show had the power to make Seongjun and Minji famous overnight, or give Haeyoung the perfect stage for her revenge.

 

Without hesitation, Haeyoung opened the door. The first thing that hit her was the scent of a strong diffuser, followed by the sight of a partition wall positioned at the side. It looked like a mirror in the middle, but in truth, there were probably dozens of cameras rolling behind it.

 

Those lenses would capture her every gesture, every curve of her smile, and spin them into a story that would be broadcast to the world.

 

‘Go on, watch closely. Everything I do from this moment on.’

 

She walked past the foyer and began to ascend the stairs slowly. Several people were already seated upstairs.

 

“Hello.”

 

“Hello.” 

 

The men and women, all dressed to impress, greeted her awkwardly. Haeyoung offered a polite nod and quickly scanned their faces. They were all familiar faces.

 

After returning to the past, she had gone over every detail of the dating show and its contestants until she knew them by heart.

 

She wished she had one more chance to rewatch the show, but this was enough. What she remembered would serve as the foundation of her revenge.

 

“Can I sit anywhere?”

 

“Y-Yes, over here…”

 

Haeyoung headed toward an empty seat, specifically, the one between Minji, who stared at her with wide, shocked eyes, and Seongjun, who was seated beside her, looking utterly repulsed by the situation.

 

“I’m Seo Haeyoung. Nice to meet you all.”

 

Haeyoung turned her head to look at Seongjun. He was frozen in disbelief, staring at her like he couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing. 

 

Haeyoung tilted her head with the sweetest smile she could manage.

 

“Oh? Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

 

Her lips curled up with the kindest expression she could muster. Seongjun blinked, unable to confirm or deny.

 

‘That’s right. Unless you want to get kicked out with me, you had better pretend you don’t know me.’

 

“Oh dear, maybe not? I wasn’t trying to startle you. Sorry if I did.”

 

“N-No, it’s fine…”

 

Leaving a thoroughly confused Seongjun behind, Haeyoung turned to Minji. She also was staring at her like she had seen a ghost.

 

‘What are you going to do being that flustered already? I’ve only just begun. Relax your face, will you?’

 

* * *

 

Haeyoung was the last contestant to arrive.

 

Yoonhyuk wasn’t there. He was the ‘catfish’.

 

A ‘catfish’ was a contestant introduced mid-season to shake things up. The name came from the so-called catfish effect, drop a single catfish into a tank of loaches, and the loaches stay active, which helps them live longer.

 

The catfish’s job was to stir the pot just when things were getting stale. At moments when things could easily get boring, the ‘catfish’ who shakes up the whole board is perhaps the most important person in a dating program.

 

So the role wasn’t given to just anyone. A catfish had to enter late and still be able to steal hearts, both of the contestants and the audience.

 

In other words, the producers thought Yoonhyuk was the most attractive contestant of them all. They were going to give him the spotlight.

 

“I’m Yoon Taeri. Nice to meet you!”

 

“I’m Lee Jaeyoung.”

 

“Park. Chan. Woo.”

 

The other contestants reintroduced themselves to Haeyoung who appeared last.

 

Of course, she already knew all their names, she had done her homework, drawing from memories of her past life, but Haeyoung pretended to memorize them and muttered.

 

“I’m Jo Seongjun.”

 

“Hello, I’m Woo Minji.”

 

Unlike Seongjun, who still looked dazed, Minji greeted her with a bright smile.

 

Haeyoung returned the gesture.

 

“What were you all talking about before I came in?”

 

“We were sharing our hobbies. Do you have any hobbies, Haeyoung-ssi?”

 

“Well, as for hobbies….”

 

“Haeyoung-ssi, you seem like someone who does flower arrangement.”

 

“Oh, it suits you well. You have such an elegant vibe.”

 

“That’s right. You seem really intelligent too.”

 

As the final contestant, Haeyoung became the center of attention. A round of polite compliments followed.

 

“You’re flattering me. All I’ve done is put the flowers in a vase when I got bouquets.”

 

“Even your smile just now, so elegant!”

 

“Thank you, Taeri-ssi.”

 

Haeyoung gave an awkward shrug. At that moment, Minji, who had been quietly blinking the entire time, finally spoke up.

 

“I’m so jealous. I want to be as graceful as you, Haeyoung-ssi. Everyone always says I look like a kid.”

 

“Maybe that just means you’re cute? Minji have this small and precious kind of vibe.”

 

“Oh. Thank you.” 

 

Minji’s pale skin instantly flushed bright red. Her shy reaction drew a round of laughter from the group.

 

In an instant, the topic of compliments shifted from Haeyoung to Minji.

 

「Rules for entering House of Fate

1. You may not reveal personal information, including your friendship.
2. Refer to each other only by name, and always treat one another with respect.
3. A schedule will be set for meals and cleaning to ensure a pleasant environment.
4. Physical contact is allowed, but romantic relationships are prohibited. While outside the house, you may not meet or contact any other contestant in private.」