Haesung and Dohyeong nodded their heads.
After exchanging glances about who would go first, Haesung opened his mouth first.
“Well. The fact that something called a scandal broke out was the most… incomprehensible. But now that I’m actually trying to explain it, it’s a bit ambiguous.”
“It wasn’t a scandal?”
“Of course, I didn’t show interest in Kim Dohyeong-ssi from the beginning. I just worried, what if we make the set difficult with a cold atmosphere? That was all.”
“Kim Dohyeong-ssi was the same?”
“Yes. Since we were exes after all. The staff and other actors probably picked up on the atmosphere quite a bit, whether they noticed or not. So it’s true that I stuck closer to Choi Yuchan-ssi, who I’m friends with.”
I felt sorry. Yuchan hadn’t stuck by my side for that reason.
But I knew. If I said something unnecessary here, I could tarnish even his efforts.
“This is getting interesting. So, Jung Haesung-ssi appealed to Kim Dohyeong-ssi first?”
“Yes. That’s right. Around the time we were doing script reading. Precisely, from when that article about our first scandal-like thing broke, I started becoming conscious of Kim Dohyeong-ssi.”
“You know that message from before? The one that caused a huge topic. Was that real too?”
“Yes. I didn’t know how to answer, so there were times I just read it and ignored it.”
“I was incredibly hurt. Me.”
At the sight of Haesung clutching his chest with one hand making a pained expression, the MC and staff burst into laughter.
“Then, what about that department store photo? I was curious since there was no talk about it anywhere.”
“As we put in the previous rebuttal article, we ran into each other by chance. Several actors from <Glass Holding Stars> went to the department store together.”
What I learned belatedly was that Soyeon had also been at that department store.
Without anyone saying anything first, she said she had stopped by briefly for an errand and then decided to enjoy some shopping.
Thanks to that, the strategy we’d squeezed out while putting our heads together with Director Na could work properly.
“In Soyeon-ssi’s case, she enjoyed shopping separately, and I stopped by somewhere else briefly and was joining them late. I coincidentally ran into that person who was leaving first… well. They suddenly said they had something to talk about.”
“Something to talk about? Could that statement have led to the scandal?”
“No, it was absolutely unrelated to the scandal. Please take care of the remaining filming, it was the usual courtesy greeting a junior gives to a senior. Like that person claimed, there was nothing like them asking me for something.”
“I think the atmosphere of the photo was so exquisite that it looked plausible.”
“Yes. That’s right. I just caught someone who was about to fall, but it’s fascinating how the photo was taken like that.”
Haha. At Haesung’s brazen laugh as he brushed it off, Dohyeong gripped his hand tightly.
They’d gotten past one hurdle. Now if only I could get past mine well, the question mark called Im Hakyung that followed them would surely be resolved.
“Then, what about you, Dohyeong-ssi? You were also photographed. Is it a similar context?”
Taeran’s question continued.
Dohyeong lifted his head, smiled faintly, and nodded.
“Yes. That was around Haesung sunbaenim’s birthday, and he said he wanted to celebrate it. I helped him choose a gift, and I just received a tie as a token of gratitude. You normally hold a tie here, under your chin, like this.”
At the sight of him gesturing as if holding a tie under his neck, Taeran nodded.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I was just doing that but the photo that was taken was quite… yes, it was. I laughed a lot with Yuchan-ssi who was there too. Saying they really take photos well.”
“You could think of it that way too. They really take photos well. That makes sense.”
Only then could I smile.
Of course, this wouldn’t definitely look good to everyone. There would be people saying we’re bringing up something that’s already over, but.
Both I and Haesung have been wronged, so this much is nothing.
“There really were many troubles. To summarize once more, all claims related to Kim Dohyeong-ssi are speculation, and Jung Haesung-ssi liked that Kim Dohyeong-ssi so much.”
“I was attacking diligently.”
When Haesung countered Taeran’s words, Taeran burst out laughing.
“Then when did that attack start from, I’m most curious about that. Actually, the other stories are already coming out here and there. You just said from the script reading. Was it from then? The time when Haesung-ssi started expressing feelings to Dohyeong-ssi in earnest.”
Haesung glanced at Dohyeong. Hmm, after pondering for a long time, Haesung scratched his head sheepishly and opened his mouth.
“I first became aware around that time. But actually, I think I was revealing it little by little even before the script reading.”
“That was peevishness. Peevishness with eyes blazing whenever Choi Yuchan-ssi and I were just stuck together.”
“This is another unique interpretation. What do you think, Haesung-ssi. Do you acknowledge it?”
When Taeran asked playfully, Haesung glanced at Dohyeong and laughed loudly.
“Yes. That’s right. I was a bit peevish. Back then I didn’t even know Yuchan-ssi was deliberately doing that to help us, and I thought maybe there was something between the two of them.”
“Actually, such talk did spread around quite a bit.”
“Since we’re playing lovers in the drama after all. We thought a lot about how we should act to make it look really real.”
“As expected, you’re actors. So Jung Haesung-ssi was peevish about that part. And next… was it around the time drama filming started?”
At Taeran’s question, Dohyeong and Haesung nodded simultaneously.
At the sight of the two people laughing while making eye contact with each other, Taeran threw out another question.
“Then, Haesung-ssi started appealing to Dohyeong-ssi after drama filming started in earnest?”
Haesung and Dohyeong glanced at each other briefly.
And smiled shyly. Taeran also widened her eyes as if surprised seeing the two like that.
“Oh my, you two just made eye contact and got shy. I’m somehow trembling along with you. Right?”
Dohyeong and Haesung couldn’t remove the smiles hanging on their lips.
After hesitating for a while, Dohyeong opened his mouth first.
“Yes. It’s correct from that time. Actually, there was a part I was… uncertain about too.”
“That’s my mistake. I should have conveyed it clearly, but even I wasn’t certain of my own feelings.”
“This is also unexpected. I thought you’d be skilled in that aspect. Then Dohyeong-ssi, how was it when Jung Haesung-ssi expressed his feelings like that?”
“It wasn’t easy to accept sunbaenim’s feelings at once. Of course, it’s true that I was thinking of sunbaenim with good feelings then too. But it was difficult. The word ‘again.'”
Taeran just nodded without adding any interjections, and Haesung smiled bitterly and lowered his gaze.
“Actually, it would be a lie if I said I wasn’t having a hard time right after breaking up with sunbaenim. It’s not simply a problem of how stories about me were circulating…”
“Because I loved him.”
“…Yes, that’s right. So it was a bit harder to overcome.”
When Dohyeong smiled bitterly, Taeran also watched him with a pleased smile.
Because she knew that being able to talk about the past while looking back on it was only possible for someone who had overcome and conquered past wounds.
“So I worried a lot about what to do…”
“I went straight forward. To Kim Dohyeong-ssi. Of course, I didn’t cling to someone who said no unreasonably. I consistently showed that I was sufficiently regretful and reflecting.”
“For example, in what way?”
“Well, what kind of way is there? Decorating it exaggeratedly lacks sincerity. I just showed it as it was. What emotions I was feeling, what I was thinking. Since just hovering by his side was enough, I continued to hover by his side.”
“Is that true, Dohyeong-ssi?”
“Yes. I remember being quite surprised by the side unlike sunbaenim.”
At Dohyeong’s answer, Taeran laughed out loud once more.
And she looked down at the card in her hand once again. Questions poured out one after another, and Haesung and Dohyeong answered readily and melted into the atmosphere.
“Actually, what surprised many people including me the most was the part where Haesung-ssi said you love Dohyeong-ssi enough to give up everything you’ve built.”
“Yes. That’s right. Enough to give up everything. I’m spending each day with exactly that mindset.”
“Really, truly everything?”
“Yes. Everything I’ve built up under the name Jung Haesung. Enough that I can declare retirement anytime if necessary, I cherish and love Kim Dohyeong-ssi.”
“Dohyeong-ssi, what do you think?”
“It’s not an easy thing, so just saying it like that was conveyed enough. I’m grateful. However, I hope he won’t do that. There’s nothing cooler than sunbaenim acting.”
Jeers mixed with envy burst out from here and there. Some clapped, and some looked at the two without hiding their laughter.
Even if the gazes looking at them wouldn’t change, for Dohyeong and Haesung, this moment was very special and happy.
Dohyeong, who revealed he was loved sincerely, not as business.
Haesung too, who was no longer bound by what he had and became honest with his feelings.
The two conversed naturally while gripping each other’s hands tightly.
A few more Q&As continued, and filming soon reached its end.
“The couple of the century in South Korea. The time to announce the reunion news of Jung Haesung-ssi and Kim Dohyeong-ssi ends here. I, Eun Taeran, will support you so that this time, without any trouble, your solid love will continue. Thank you so much for appearing like this during your busy time.”
With Taeran’s closing remarks, Haesung and Dohyeong also bowed their heads toward the camera with sheepish smiles.
The ending music flowed out, and Taeran stood up from her seat and extended her hand to the two. The gaze conveyed along with words of hard work was quite warm.
Receiving the pouring applause from the staff, Haesung and Dohyeong also smiled brightly. Once again, it was a moment when they crossed a mountain and reached their own destination.
