The Probability of Meeting Your Ex on a Straight Dating Show Chapter 17

Ki Seojeong’s gaze turned toward the camera hanging from the corner of the ceiling, looking down at him. This kind of image shouldn’t be captured. He had to appear as a kind, gentle, healthy person in both body and mind.

He’d already made a big mistake on the first day. So no more. He couldn’t let everything he’d built up over the years crumble like this.

Taking a deep breath, Ki Seojeong practiced smiling several times in front of the mirror. The smile that had looked a bit awkward gradually regained its usual composure. Ki Seojeong pulled out his thin, fragile mask and put it back on.

The dinner atmosphere was more amicable than expected. Thanks to Cha Yoon, who for some reason was quiet. After lightly drinking beer and enjoying themselves, the cast members cleaned up.

“I didn’t help with anything today, so let me do the dishes.”

Looking at the pile of dishes stacked in the sink, Seojeong spoke up. He’d been bothered all evening that he couldn’t help with dinner preparation because of work.

“Mr. Seojeong, all by yourself? That’s too much for one person…”

“No, it’s fine—you all go rest.”

Seeing the enormous mountain of dishes, Saeyeong wore a worried expression. Seojeong smiled saying it was okay and put on rubber gloves.

“Then I’ll help too.”

Jua, who had been standing at the side of the kitchen watching Seojeong, approached. Before Seojeong could say anything to refuse, she put on the remaining rubber gloves.

At Jua’s offer, Seojeong’s face showed a hint of dismay. He’d only wanted to ease some of the lingering guilt in his heart. But doing dishes alone with Jua—this wasn’t the picture he’d hoped for. Seojeong felt a headache coming on.

Just that morning, Cha Yoon had made up some flimsy excuse to try and separate the two. He had no idea when Cha Yoon might show up again and throw a tantrum upon seeing this scene. So before that happened, he needed to wrap things up on his own.

“Ms. Jua, you must be tired from getting up early—you can go rest.”

“Mr. Seojeong got up early too, you know.”

“…”

“I didn’t help with dinner preparation either, so it doesn’t feel right for me to just rest comfortably while you work.”

Contrary to Seojeong’s expectation that she’d agree and leave easily, Song Jua was quite stubborn. As Seojeong stood silently with an awkward expression, Jua tilted her head and asked.

“Is it because you don’t trust me?”

“Of course not. I just said that because I was worried you might be tired.”

“I’m not tired at all. So let’s do it together. Two people will finish faster.”

Song Jua winked with one eye closed. Faced with her refusal to give up, Ki Seojeong eventually raised the white flag.

Since she wanted to help that badly, there was no way to stop her. Seojeong swallowed a sigh. Since he couldn’t break Song Jua’s stubbornness, there was only one option: finish the dishes quickly before Cha Yoon made a scene.

“Then let’s hurry up and finish, and rest, us.”

“Us? I love that. Okay, let’s hurry up and finish, ‘us.'”

Song Jua repeated Seojeong’s throwaway words several times. Focused on getting the dishes done, Seojeong didn’t bother to point out Jua’s peculiar behavior. He just gave a light smile and reached for the faucet.

With a whoosh, water poured out. As Seojeong adjusted the temperature and was about to pick up a plate—

A black shadow fell behind the two. Sensing the sudden dimness, Seojeong tilted his head and looked back—and flinched in surprise.

“…Mr. Cha Yoon. What are you doing there?”

For a moment, Ki Seojeong thought he’d come face to face with the Grim Reaper. He was dumbfounded by the lasers shooting from Cha Yoon’s eyes.

As soon as the name “Cha Yoon” came out of Ki Seojeong’s mouth, Song Jua’s lips curved smoothly into an arc. Gotcha. She turned around without missing a beat. She also leaned her body toward Ki Seojeong, not forgetting to feign intimacy.

“Oh my, it’s Mr. Cha Yoon.”

No wonder she’d been hearing clattering noises. Song Jua’s lips curled up even higher. Cha Yoon, grinding his teeth, spoke.

“I’ll do it.”

“Ehh? Do what?”

Song Jua blinked with a look of complete ignorance. Cha Yoon felt a vein pulse at his temple. He’d dealt with Song Jua for over twenty years. There was no way he couldn’t tell when she was putting on an obvious act.

“The dishes. I said I’ll do them.”

“Oh, what would someone raised so delicately do with dishes? Forget it. ‘Us’ will do it.”

“…Us?”

“Yes. Mr. Seojeong and me—the two of ‘us.'”

Song Jua’s eyes narrowed to slits. The dark aura behind Cha Yoon grew even thicker.

“I said I’ll do it. I’m good at washing dishes.”

“Oh, you too, Mr. Cha Yoon? I’m really good at it too. Washing dishes is my specialty.”

“What the… stop talking nonsense and get out here.”

At Cha Yoon’s gritted-out words, Song Jua smiled brightly and brushed him off lightly. Cha Yoon swept his bangs back in irritation.

Ki Seojeong wondered if this was some kind of love spat between the two. Observing a love spat between ex-lovers—especially ones where one still lingered in the other’s heart—made his chest ache.

“Ms. Jua. Let me just do it alone.”

Ki Seojeong said in a cautious tone. It was his way of saying that if this was how it was going to be, the two of them should just go out and talk somewhere else. But at Seojeong’s words, Cha Yoon moved closer as if seizing an opportunity.

“Right. Ms. Song Jua, get out of the way quickly.”

“You both are so—kind. But Mr. Cha Yoon, don’t worry. ‘Us’ are almost done anyway.”

Song Jua waved her fingers in front of Cha Yoon’s face, beamed, and gave Seojeong a smiling eye-smile. Contrary to her words, the dishes were still piled up like a mountain. Seojeong blinked, sighed, and fixed his gaze on the sink. Cha Yoon, who’d thought he’d succeeded in interrupting the two, had his expression twist.

“Wow, Mr. Seojeong. You’re really meticulous.”

“Ms. Jua is more meticulous, though.”

“We really click, don’t we?”

At Song Jua’s words, Ki Seojeong laughed. Click, my ass. Irritated by their attitude of not paying him any mind whether he was there or not, Cha Yoon glared at the two and paced around them.

“Ah, that’s hot.”

“Are you okay, Ms. Jua?”

Ki Seojeong leaned his body toward Song Jua. Song Jua winked as if to say she was fine.

At the same time, a clattering sound rang out and the kitchen became noisy. Having lost the battle over the dishwashing spot, Cha Yoon—refusing to leave—suddenly started organizing the pots and pans. His ears were tilted toward Ki Seojeong and Song Jua.

Song Jua held back the laugh threatening to burst out and stubbornly refused to look back.

Ki Seojeong could also feel Cha Yoon’s presence, but like Jua, he deliberately didn’t turn around. It was obvious—he was throwing that fit because his ex-girlfriend was right there with him right now.

Bang—Bang! Failing to attract attention, Cha Yoon moved on from pots to organizing the tableware as well. His movements were so violent it seemed like he was trying to smash everything to pieces.

In the end, Cha Yoon broke Seojeong’s resolve not to look back. Letting out a short sigh, Ki Seojeong looked at Cha Yoon.

With his hands, he was organizing dishes and utensils; with his eyes, he was glaring at Ki Seojeong as if to kill him. Their gazes met in midair. Ki Seojeong narrowed his eyes and stared at the shape of Cha Yoon’s mouth.

“Fuck…”

Foot? Muttering the mouth shape softly, Ki Seojeong let out an involuntary hollow laugh.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

He quickly shook his head, but Jua was a little quicker on the uptake. Song Jua rolled her eyes as if sizing up the situation. Not long after, a sudden “Pfft”—laughter burst from her. She’d spotted Cha Yoon’s wildly distorted face and twitching lips.

“Really, isn’t he funny?”

“Huh?”

Her voice was full of amusement. At his questioning, Jua leaned her face closer to Seojeong’s.

“I mean Cha Yoon. How should I put it… He’s just so see-through, isn’t he?”

“…Ah.”

“Look at him now. The moment your face and mine got close, his ears turned bright red.”

“…”

“He must be really pissed off.”

I mean, isn’t he being adorably childish in a way that doesn’t suit his big frame? A giggling sound brushed past Seojeong’s ear.