Chapter 54
A Splash of Water
To finish the shoot safely, Yoo Lee Yeon left Jung heera on the first floor and pressed the close button.
Not long after arriving at the cafeteria, the filming began right away.
Since they came right before lunchtime, they had to quickly take food and start filming.
In a little while, employees would come up to get their meals, so the plan was to capture the sight of other staff eating around them as well.
It was supposed to be a company cafeteria introduction segment, so if only the cast was shown eating, it wouldn’t feel authentic.
“Wow, you can see the whole city at a glance, it feels so refreshing.”
One of the hosts said while looking out the window.
“But that table in the middle, is that like a salad bar?”
“Yes, in our cafeteria we have a salad bar in the center.
After you get your food and sit down, you can go to the salad bar and take as much salad, fruit, ice cream, cookies, and other desserts as you want.”
The hosts reacted with excitement and got up, saying they would help themselves to the salad.
Carrying back a plate heaped with food, one host asked Lee Yeon,
“Are those window seats for people who eat alone?”
“Yes, since there are many people who eat alone these days. We’ve also prepared seats for them.”
Jung heera sat down next to Lee Yeon with her tray after getting her food.
“Wow, a whole rib inside the short rib soup. Woosung really does things differently.”
Jung heera said as she put her tray down.
Lee Yeon smiled and replied to Jung heera, who acted as if nothing had happened earlier.
“Right?”
Soon, employees started lining up one by one to get their meals.
They crowded into the cafeteria and curiously glanced at Lee Yeon and Jung heera, who were being filmed in the corner.
The room quickly filled up with people coming to eat.
Of course, no one sat too close to the filming area.
While the staff were filming the salad bar in detail, the cast paused for a short break.
Jung heera glanced around, and the main MC caught it right away.
“Heera, are you looking for something?”
“Is there water somewhere? I’m the type who has to have water when I eat…”
“It’s over there, near the exit… but since it might be hard for you to get it, I’ll bring it for you.”
Though Lee Yeon wanted to tell Jung heera to go get it herself, she couldn’t bring herself to ask a celebrity to push through the employees and fetch water.
“Really? I’d appreciate that.”
Jung heera gave a bright smile.
Why is she smiling so cheerfully?
The smile was bright, but it gave Lee Yeon chills.
A woman’s intuition was scary.
That cheerful smile made her uneasy.
Still, she couldn’t just throw away the cups already in her hands.
After hesitating for two seconds, Lee Yeon moved with the cups.
Better to be physically uncomfortable than to feel uneasy.
“Thank you for taking care of this, Lee Yeon.”
Lee Yeon brought back the water for the hosts first, then filled cups for herself and Jung heera and returned to her seat.
“This one’s for you, Heera.”
She handed one of the cups in her hand to Jung heera.
As soon as she felt the weight of the cup in Jung heera’s rounded hand, she let go.
Clang.
“Ahhh!”
The sound of a metallic cup clattering on the floor overlapped with Jung heera’s scream.
Water soaked the top of her thigh.
What?
She had clearly felt Jung heera’s grip on the cup.
“Heera, are you okay? Your clothes are soaked. Someone please bring a blanket or something quickly.”
One of the hosts, seeing Jung heera’s wet clothes, called to the staff.
Neither her manager nor stylist seemed to be around.
Jung heera also looked around, as if searching for her manager.
“What should I do… it’s a white outfit, so now my underwear shows.”
She muttered weakly, looking down at her wet clothes.
Following her gaze, Lee Yeon also looked down.
But wait, only the thigh area was wet.
How did that make her underwear visible?
Did that mean she hadn’t worn safety shorts underneath?
She was sure she had felt the cup being held firmly, so how could it suddenly just fall?
When someone hands something over, you can feel it.
That sense of connection when the other person grabs it.
Was she doing this on purpose?
Yes, it had to be intentional.
Targeting her as the company representative despite having no connection, asking her to fetch water, then pretending to be pitiful as if the water was spilled on her by accident.
Considering the way she acted in front of the elevator earlier, it was obvious this was deliberate.
Jung heera? A celebrity praised for having both beauty and character? She’s just a petty fox. Why does she deserve such a fancy reputation?
Lee Yeon shook her head.
“Are you okay? I’m sorry, you clearly had the cup when I let go.”
At her words, Jung heera jumped up.
Clang.
“Ahhh!”
The second metallic sound rang out.
As she sprang up, Jung heera smacked Lee Yeon’s other hand, which was holding another full cup of water.
That cup, filled to the brim for herself, wasn’t being held tightly, so it slipped.
The cup flew slowly and landed against Jung heera’s stomach.
“Oh no… are you okay?”
Since it was Jung heera who had hit her hand, Lee Yeon didn’t feel guilty.
She only worried that this time Jung heera’s underwear really might show through.
“Lee Yeon, are you wet anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
The host checked not only on Jung heera but also on Lee Yeon.
Even Jung heera, who hadn’t expected to be splashed twice, was trembling slightly, not sure whether from shock or anger.
By now, lunch had been going on for quite a while.
With many employees watching, she was stuck standing and sitting awkwardly in wet clothes that revealed her panty line.
Though it wasn’t intentional, Lee Yeon still felt a little sorry thinking her underwear might be visible.
“Heera should change her clothes. She’s too wet to continue filming like that.
I know you must be upset, but you know it wasn’t on purpose.”
The main host comforted Jung heera, emphasizing again that it wasn’t Lee Yeon’s fault.
“I’m fine.
I accidentally spilled it again when I stood up without noticing Lee Yeon was there… I’ll go change right away!”
At that moment, stylist Sujin arrived with a blanket and wrapped it around Jung heera’s waist.
With that, Jung heera left with her manager.
“Unnie, why is your hand shaking… were you that scared?”
Sujin noticed Jung heera’s trembling hand gripping her arm and asked.
It wasn’t cold enough to shiver just from being wet.
“No, I was just startled… but why won’t my hand stop shaking?”
Jung heera couldn’t control the trembling from her rising anger and frustration.
She had only meant to wet the hem of her skirt, embarrass Lee Yeon, and use the excuse to change outfits.
But instead, she ended up drenched.
Ah… I need a cigarette.
It had been a long time since she’d felt such sudden stress, and she craved one badly.
Her lips were dry with impatience.
She thought she could endure it, but it seemed impossible.
Before her head exploded, she wanted to drive away this awful feeling.
The only way was a cigarette.
But no one knew she smoked, so she couldn’t ask Sujin where the smoking area was.
“Unnie, what outfit do you want to change into?”
“The red dress.”
Jung heera quickly changed into the chosen dress, then grabbed her handbag.
Inside was her hidden e-cigarette.
“I need to go to the restroom for a bit.”
“What? We need to start filming right away! They said to come back quickly since the cafeteria is filling up.”
“My stomach hurts. I’ll be quick.”
Sujin answered with a worried look.
“Then I’ll walk with you to the restroom entrance.
Since the manager stepped away, I’ll come with you.”
“Fine, but it’s just because my stomach hurts. Don’t you dare come inside, okay?”
“Got it.”
Jung heera spoke as if embarrassed, and Sujin smiled, thinking she was cute, not knowing why she really didn’t want her to come in.
Meanwhile, back at the filming site, the delay was causing problems.
“We need to film the part of us eating with the employees, but Heera is late.
At this rate the staff will finish their meals.”
“Yeah, why is she taking so long? She said she was almost done changing.”
The PDs’ conversation reached even the table where Lee Yeon was sitting.
The awkward silence at the table was broken by the main host.
“Don’t worry, Lee Yeon. We know it wasn’t intentional, so you don’t need to feel bad.”
“Exactly. We all saw it happen!”
“We’ll just continue filming once Heera comes back.”
They comforted her so she wouldn’t worry.
“I’m sorry that the filming is delayed because of me. Thank you for your concern.”
In truth, Lee Yeon wasn’t that bothered, but she politely expressed gratitude.
In a way, she had been caught up in Jung heera’s scheme.
“We’ll resume filming in five minutes. She said she was almost finished changing, but if it takes longer, we can start without her and let her join mid-scene.”
The main PD came over to Lee Yeon’s table and explained.
“Is it okay to start without the guest? It feels wrong to exclude her…”
