A couple for show chapter 10

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“You know we’re setting up the cameras today, right?”

Gong Yoochan, rummaging through the fridge, threw the comment out casually at Cha Joobin.

Ever since that conversation where they had coldly exchanged final words, their relationship had remained icy.

Gong Yoochan had no intention of improving it.

What was the point of pulling the rope tight on one side if the other wasn’t going to hold on?

The rope would eventually snap.

That didn’t mean he’d shut down all possibilities for communication.

He figured if Cha Joobin felt the need, he’d ask to talk.

If that happened, Gong Yoochan was willing to listen.

He poked his head out from behind the fridge door to look at Cha Joobin.

He was sitting on the couch, holding a script, likely getting ready for filming.

“Did you hear me?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why didn’t you answer?”

“I’m reading this.”

‘Reading it with your eyes, not your mouth, I see.’ His mouth itched to make a snarky comment, but he held back.

The staff would be arriving soon.

They were scheduled to start filming their reality show ‘Romance Diary’ tomorrow, so they were setting up the cameras today.

It wouldn’t help to dig any deeper into their emotional rift right now.

No one knew they had broken up, not even their managers, so they had to keep it a secret from the staff as well.

“I’ll get yours ready, too.”

Gong Yoochan said indifferently, not waiting for a response as he started heating up a meal kit for two.

He was doing his best to clear his mind and avoid unnecessary conflict with Cha Joobin.

After observing him over the past few days, Gong Yoochan noticed that while Cha Joobin could be prickly in unexpected moments, he could also be surprisingly compliant in others—one of those moments being meals.

Cha Joobin grumbled about everything, never giving a polite response, but when food was served, he’d quietly sit down and eat, no matter what was on the menu.

As a result, the only time they argued less was during meals.

It was as if the unspoken rule ‘Don’t mess with me while I’m eating’ extended to both of them.

After the meal, which passed in relative peace, Gong Yoochan took the empty dishes to the sink.

As expected, Cha Joobin stood at the sink right after him.

Given his height and large frame, the sink looked comically small, but he didn’t seem to mind.

Without a word, he turned on the water and started washing the dishes with loud clattering sounds.

Gong Yoochan quietly observed him as he brewed a cup of coffee using the machine. Unlike himself, who needed coffee after every meal, Cha Joobin preferred to wait until his food had digested, so Yoochan didn’t prepare a cup for him.

While Yoochan enjoyed his coffee, Joobin had already picked up the script again.

Even though it hadn’t been long since he received it, Joobin was already going over the third episode’s script.

Glancing around, Yoochan noticed the worn-out scripts for episodes one and two sitting at the edge of the table.

The tattered edges of the script, adorned with multi-colored tabs, were a testament to how diligently Joobin had studied them.

Despite the fact that scripts were now distributed in digital format for tablet viewing, Joobin, in a surprising contrast to his usual ways, insisted on sticking with the paper copy.

It was one of many quirks that didn’t match his outward appearance.

“Anything giving you trouble?”

It was a question asked more out of mild boredom than genuine concern.

After all, with two years more acting experience, Yoochan felt the urge to offer advice, even though Joobin was already doing quite well.

However, Joobin’s gaze, which had briefly shifted away from the script, quickly returned to it.

His tightly shut lips gave no indication of opening, as if he had decided long ago not to ask for advice on the script.

Deciding he’d had enough, Yoochan grabbed his cigarettes and stood up.

He figured a walk while smoking would be nice.

Just as he stepped out the front door—

“Oh, hello.”

He bumped into the staff heading upstairs.

Standing beside them was the manager, who must’ve handled the security system since the apartment required a code for each floor.

“Oh, are you heading out?”

“Yeah, just stepping out for a smoke. Joobin’s inside. He’ll show you the filming spots.”

Leaving them with a cheerful smile, Yoochan nodded politely and walked away.

He had already discussed the filming locations with Joobin earlier.

They had agreed to designate certain spaces as personal zones where they could clear their minds in case any emotions flared up during filming, a suggestion that Joobin had readily accepted.

The designated filming areas included the living room, the master bedroom, the study, and the dressing room, while the two end rooms, the guest room, and the bathroom were left off-limits.

Joobin would handle it… surely.

After all, Joobin was always thorough when it came to things like this.

“You’re back?”

When Yoochan hurried back after quickly finishing his cigarette, Joobin greeted him with a completely different demeanor than before.

His eyes, brimming with affection, were so tender that they felt almost unfamiliar.

Yoochan had barely a moment to feel confused before Joobin poked him playfully in the side, snapping him back to reality.

“Already setting up?”

“They’re setting up in the master bedroom. There are so many cameras. Did you see them?”

“Not yet.”

“It’s amazing.”

Earlier, Joobin had barely spoken a word, but now he was chattering away like he couldn’t contain his excitement.

Smiling in awe, he casually slung his arm over Yoochan’s shoulder and led him towards the master bedroom.

Even in the short walk, Yoochan was left speechless, deeply impressed.

He hadn’t realized Joobin had become such a master of natural, everyday acting.

Alternating glances between Joobin and the bustling crew, Yoochan found the master bedroom filled with staff installing cameras in the ceiling, on the bed, and along the walls.

There didn’t seem to be a single blind spot in the room.

He couldn’t help but express his amazement.

Although Joobin’s fingers softly playing with his cheek were a slight distraction, Yoochan didn’t let it show.

“Are they going to install cameras throughout the whole house?”

The staff members laughed, seemingly used to such reactions from actors.

“We’re focusing on the master bedroom and living room since that’s where you’ll spend most of your time. The rest will be less extensively covered.”

“Oh, wow. That’s amazing.”

“Right? Pretty cool, huh?”

Joobin’s eager response, as he echoed Yoochan’s enthusiasm, felt slightly awkward.

Inwardly, Yoochan marveled at his acting skills, nodding in agreement.

If Joobin was willing to put in this level of performance, Yoochan figured he’d have to match his energy.

No matter what personal issues an actor might have, the ability to smile on camera as if nothing was wrong was part of the job.

Having done this since he was young, Yoochan effortlessly switched gears, flashing Joobin a radiant smile.

“Guess you’ll have to be careful not to strip down anywhere now.”

“When did I ever? You’re the one who needs to be careful.”

Joobin wrapped his arms tightly around Yoochan from behind, whispering in a low voice.

The words were soft, almost intimate, meant to be overheard.

“You two are really close, huh?”

The remark, clearly intended to provoke, came from the PD.

Yoochan responded with a sweet smile.

“Isn’t everyone?”

“Oh, no. Lots of people end up fighting during filming. Relationships aren’t always as pretty as they seem. Don’t your friends argue sometimes?”

Behind the PD’s playful words, other staff chimed in with their own stories, explaining that even their relationships weren’t immune to arguments, as they grumbled about fights from the night before.

In front of the group, Joobin and Yoochan smiled as if they had never fought a day in their lives.

By the time the crew finished setting up and left, the two were still smiling politely.

Compliments about how well they got along and how filming would go smoothly from here on were met with even deeper smiles.

If things stayed like this, the next three months of filming would likely go smoothly.

Once the shoot wrapped up, they could finally move out and find their own place.

“This should be enough.”

Suddenly, Joobin pulled away from Yoochan, who had been clinging to him just moments before.

Brushing off his clothes, Joobin looked at Yoochan with a cold, distant gaze.

It was as if even those brief moments of contact had been unbearable.

The warmth of their earlier closeness had already dissipated, leaving a chill in its place.

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