NLFSD Chapter 17

Chapter 17

 

“The next shoot will be at the pool. We’ll try to capture some natural moments of you playing together.”

At the assistant director’s words, Lee Jiwoon’s mind went blank. In this confusing situation, if he saw Seo Taecheon’s bare body on top of everything else, he didn’t know what might happen.

Should he say he had a stomachache? No. He’d eaten way too well earlier for that to be believable. Seo Taecheon and the production crew weren’t dumb enough to fall for such a lie.

How about saying he had body aches? He sneaked a glance at his reflection in a mirror, but his complexion was unusually good today, and his face radiated health.

“Okay. Please change and come out.”

The moment the staff tried to push Lee Jiwoon into the changing room for male omegas—

“Aaaargh!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to him as he suddenly screamed at the top of his lungs.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I think I… I think I have a cramp! My leg won’t move!”

That was the desperate excuse he managed to come up with. If he had a cramp, swimming would be impossible. If the alpha floated around in the water alone without the omega, the scene would look silly, so the shoot would probably be canceled.

“Ugh. It hurts so much.”

Lee Jiwoon made a pained face while pretending to massage his calf. Judging by the staff’s troubled expressions, maybe his act was working.

Then Seo Taecheon walked over to Lee Jiwoon, who was putting on a dramatic show. He lowered himself on one knee and placed Jiwoon’s leg across his own.

“W-wait?!”

Seo Taecheon grabbed Jiwoon’s calf with both hands. His warm palms were calloused, and the touch felt unmistakably masculine.

“Let me massage it for you.”

“Aaaah!”

Lee Jiwoon screamed—not from pain, but because he was flustered.

“Must be very painful.”

To make things worse, Seo Taecheon’s hands were large, and Jiwoon’s ankle fit perfectly in his grip. Seo Taecheon held his ankle firmly with one hand and massaged the smooth calf exposed beneath the shorts with the other.

Though the touch was gentle, his natural strength made the massage quite intense. The production crew, seeing the scene, commented on how good the footage looked and immediately brought in the cameras.

Now stuck in a situation where a strangely intimate and affectionate moment with Alpha No. 1 was being permanently recorded, Lee Jiwoon didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Why does this robot keep doing unpredictable things? Is he malfunctioning or something?!

“Getting in the water might be too risky. Instead, let’s shoot a scene of you two chatting in light clothing on the sunbeds.”

That, at least, Lee Jiwoon felt he could handle. Once both agreed, the staff set up sunbeds and drinks.

Lee Jiwoon flopped onto a sunbed and looked out at the pool. Since it was an outdoor pool, the open atmosphere felt refreshing. Ssshhh. As he sipped his drink, Lee Jiwoon stole a glance at Seo Taecheon on the neighboring bed.

His sculpted profile was smooth and strikingly masculine—enough to inspire admiration.

He actually smiled brightly with that face earlier… I can’t believe he’s capable of an expression like that. It was genuinely amazing.

Lee Jiwoon had been watching Seo Taecheon ever since. Once his charm caught Jiwoon’s eye, it was hard to look away.

…But is there any point in being this interested? He doesn’t even have a sliver of interest in me. What’s the use of playing drums and gongs alone?

Lee Jiwoon sulked, pulling his knees up and burying his face. Then Seo Taecheon turned his head and asked,

“Does your leg still hurt?”

“N-no. It’s just more comfortable like this.”

Lee Jiwoon kept thinking. Tomorrow was the final selection day. Who would Seo Taecheon choose? Maybe Omega No. 3 from yesterday’s date…?

She was a stunning omega by anyone’s standards. Her personality seemed lively, and from day one she had openly expressed her interest in Seo Taecheon. Wouldn’t he naturally be drawn to her?

Rather than choosing a fake husband, he’d probably be more interested in someone new. And there’s nothing I can do about that.

…To the director, I’m just a growth that suddenly appeared—nothing more, nothing less. I used to think the same way too.

Feeling increasingly down, Lee Jiwoon gulped down his ade and tried to organize his thoughts.

Starting now, I’ll let go. Whatever decision Seo Taecheon makes, the best way to avoid getting hurt is to stay detached.

After the pool shoot ended, the two were given a break.

“Please gather in the conference room by 5 o’clock. Until then, you may rest in your own rooms.”

The staff sent both of them back to their respective rooms. Inside the elevator, Lee Jiwoon debated whether or not to talk to Seo Taecheon, but decided against it.

Who are you going to choose later? Do I even have a chance? He was dying to ask, but since he’d decided to let go, he suppressed his curiosity. Holding back the questions threatening to burst out, Lee Jiwoon endured the silence and stepped out of the elevator.

“See you later then.”

“Alright.”

As soon as he returned to his room, Lee Jiwoon collapsed on the bed in a big “X.” So much had happened in just half a day that both his emotions and body felt drained.

“Haa… I’m so tired.”

Just then, his phone alarm went off. The alert was titled: <Don’t forget to write today’s contemplation log! Forget and face certain death~>

“Oh crap. I should write today’s entry now.”

Tonight was the final selection, followed by dinner, so it would get busy. Better to write the entry now. Grabbing his phone, Lee Jiwoon logged into the app.

– Here is your record from the past week. [5 photos]

– Here is your record from the past month. [26 photos]

The timeline that popped up upon login strangely drew Lee Jiwoon’s eyes today. Photos of meals, bed selfies, occasional grocery store shots, and even the portrait he got as a gift at the last roundtable event. The app displayed a variety of entries.

“…I really wrote a lot, huh.”

What should he write about today? The overseer would be reading it, so he couldn’t make it obvious that he was in Jeju. And since Seo Taecheon would likely read it too, he couldn’t pour out his honest feelings. He had to write a story that was dressed up, refined, and polished to a fault.

…But just for today, I need a bamboo forest of my own.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lee Jiwoon began tapping the keyboard.

Today, my husband seemed different from usual. I always thought of him as blunt and expressionless—but he wasn’t. When he smiled brightly, he looked like a boy. It was just one smile, and yet I feel this weirdly intense emotion.

I’m trying to ignore it so I don’t get swept away… but my husband might be a better person than I thought. I wish we hadn’t met this way.

But my husband doesn’t have even a speck of interest or emotion toward me. So I shouldn’t harbor feelings. Wasting emotion for nothing will only hurt me. I’ll treat it as a passing incident and let it go.

Just as he finished writing this, the doorbell rang.

“Who is it? I’m not expecting anyone.”

“Room service, sir.”

“I didn’t order anything, though?”

He spoke through the door, but the room service staff insisted the order was indeed for this room and asked him to open up.

“I really didn’t order anything.”

“There was a serving request for this room. It’s already been paid for.”

“Really?”

Just then, Lee Jiwoon’s phone rang. It was a message from the production team.

Please make sure to finish your meals and gather by exactly 5 o’clock.

Thank you.

Ah, maybe they’re giving them food in advance since there wouldn’t be enough time later. Thinking this, Lee Jiwoon gave a polite bow to the room service staff.

“It looks like it’s for me. Thank you.”

Looking at the menu, it was a hearty spread of local Jeju specialties—from black pork kimchi stew to grilled tilefish and vinegared abalone salad. Since he had eaten Western food earlier, Jiwoon had been craving Korean cuisine, and his mouth watered.

“This program sure feeds us well.”

He took a photo first, worried the food might disappear, then began eating. Feeling full and satisfied, the meal helped settle his uneasy stomach at least a little.

When the long-awaited evening came, all the cast members gathered in the conference room. Some were already sitting close together like couples, laughing and chatting. A few were even whispering about how to meet up for dates once they returned to Seoul.

Looks like their hearts have already connected. Lucky them.

While Jiwoon was watching the couples, Assistant Manager Ki Hyunjin sat beside him. Jiwoon had been subtly avoiding him ever since the rock ballad incident because it had made him feel awkward, but he also felt a bit sorry for rejecting him so coldly.

“I’m sorry about that time.”

“No worries. A trial only makes it more thrilling when I finally win over Omega No. 1’s heart.”

“My… heart?”

Isn’t it more common to say love or feelings? That’s kind of an intense expression…

As Jiwoon averted his gaze, Ki Hyunjin leaned in even closer and asked,

“How was your date today? You spent the whole day with Alpha No. 1, right?”

Jiwoon hesitated, unsure how to respond. Should he say that his heart pounded when that man touched the tip of his nose? That he faked a leg cramp to avoid seeing him shirtless, only to end up with his leg being held in a weirdly thrilling moment?

He acted out of character, and at times even seemed like a boy. But Jiwoon couldn’t say those things, so he held his tongue. Ki Hyunjin kept pushing for an answer.

“Well? Was it bad? I’m still better, right? Come on, answer me.”

“It’s just… complicated.”

That was all Jiwoon could say right now.

Came on a trip and all I’m taking home is a headache. Arrhythmia—or rather, an emotion too difficult to name just yet.

“Everyone, please take your seats. It’s time for the final selection!”

The assistant director quieted the room and projected the presentation on the screen.

“Let me explain. For the final selection, the Alphas and male Betas will line up in one row. The Omegas and female Betas will form a row opposite them, facing each other. Just like during the self-introduction session.”

“Yes!”

“Then, starting with Alpha No. 1, you’ll make your final confession. The person receiving the confession will then say yes or no. A couple may be formed, or they might get rejected. Next, it will be Omega No. 1’s turn. You’ll take turns going down the line like that.”

“Understood.”

Since it was the same order as the self-introductions, there was no room for confusion. Even so, Jiwoon’s palms were sweating and his throat felt dry and scratchy.

Who would Seo Taecheon choose? Since he was first in line, Jiwoon felt even more nervous.