Few days later, the Ma family is escorted to the location for their outing. Heechang and assistant producer Lee are out filming them while the remaining members are at the villa.
*
"We'll be releasing a fifteen minutes pilot for this season in three days time," Chaeri says.
"Isn't that too soon?" Minsoo asks. "Do we have enough clips for a pilot?"
Chaeri smacks her lips. "We have more than enough."
"Have you spoken to the director?" Han asks.
"Yes, I have.
Minsoo excuses herself leaving Chaeri and Han.
"Writer Han?"
"Yes, producer Kang."
"Mr Oh Dongkuk asked me to help him with something. He wants us to arrange a surprise dinner date for Bae Joanne."
Writer Han nods.
"The date is going to start by midnight as it's her birthday tomorrow. The Ma family will be back by then and so will assistant producer Lee and Heechang. I'm going to grab a few things from home. Can I trust you to handle the preparation?" Chaeri asks.
"Of course, producer Kang," Writer Han assures.
Chaeri grabs her back and gets ready to leave the villa.
*
Chaeri alights the taxi. She didn't bring her car to the villa. She goes to her apartment yawning as she enters the code. She actually came to take jellies as she has run out of them at the villa.
She switches the lights on and is surprised to see her apartment in a mess. Her bag drops from her hand in astonishment. She steps in only placing her feet on the part of the floor that is bare of her belongings. She can't even think of anyone who might have come to her place. Not many people know her address. And definitely no one knows her passcode.
She hurriedly goes to change it and comes back in to assess the situation. She picks up some of her stuff so she can clear the floor a bit.
Her curtains blow and she realises the windows are open. She goes to close them only to find a frightening message on her windows.
I am watching you.
It is written in red. Chaeri lets out a petrifying scream.
*
Minju disconnects the call and grabs his car keys. His mother stops him hurriedly writing a note to ask where he is going.
'Work,' he simply writes back.
He dashes to his car and speeds off.
He packs his car in front of a building already surrounded by police vans.
One of his junior colleagues rushes over to him.
"What's going on?" Minju asks.
"It looks like trespassing. The occupant of the house is in a state of shock. She's not answering our questions so we can't rule it as theft."
His phone rings almost immediately.
"It's officer Nam." He picks the call which ends in less than a minute.
"He says there was a threatening message written on the window and that we should hurry."
Minju, on cue, gets a call from assistant producer Lee. "I'll join you soon," he tells his colleague.
He contemplates on answering his phone. He had rushed out without taking permission from the crew. Sighing, he rejects the call and pockets his phone.
His eyes fall on an ambulance and he frowns. Dogil didn't mention any casualties. He can see an officer taking notes. He walks forward until he can hear his voice.
"...was moving backwards... didn't notice...tripped."
Minju's face peers over the officer's shoulder and he is shocked to see Kang Chaeri. She has a plaster on her arm.
"Excuse me, officer," he says quietly. Chaeri notices him and tries to hide her face. The officer closes his note and bows before walking away.
Minju leans over so his face is just at Chaeri's level. "Miss Kang Chaeri?"
Chaeri turns her head to look up and is surprised at the sudden proximity.
"Are you okay, producer Kang?" He asks. She nods avoiding his gaze. His hand touches her arm hesitantly.
"It doesn't hurt much right?
She shakes her head.
"I think you should stay at the villa more often. At least until we figure this out," he says. She nods in agreement.
Minju's phone rings again and he brings it out. Both of them see Lee's name flashing on the screen. Minju rejects the call again.
"I have to go back to the villa," she says rising to her feet.
Minju doesn't agree. "You need to rest."
"We have a shoot by midnight. And it's crucial to the show," she says.
"Is there no way you can reschedule?" He asks. She shakes her head.
Minju sighs. "I'll take care of it."
She watches him while she waits. He speaks with few officers then goes up to her apartment. After some minutes, he returns and goes to meet her.
"You can go now," he says.
"Are you not returning to the set tonight?" She asks.
"I'll come back in the morning," he replies.
He calls Dogil to drop her off.
Dogil keeps glancing at her from the front mirror.
"What do you want to say?" She asks him. "You are being too obvious."
"You are detective Yu's fiancée, right?" He asks. Chaeri has a frown on her face. "I've only heard about you. This is the first time I'm seeing you in person."
Chaeri chuckles silently. She isn't sure what to be surprised with. The fact that detective Yu has a fiancée and this man thinks she's the one.
Never in her wildest dreams did Chaeri imagine Minju to be a detective. "What have you heard about me?" She presses.
"Everyone says detective Yu broke off the engagement after the accident."
Chaeri's ears perk up. "That's true," she manages to say.
*
"Producer Kang! Where have you been? It's twenty two minutes to twelve," Lee cries.
"We've been trying to reach you," Minsoo adds.
Chaeri remembers that her phone is still at her apartment.
"Mr Yu Minju is also not present," Lee says.
"I'm sorry for worrying all of you," Chaeri says. "I misplaced my phone. Also, Minju already took permission."
"You need to come and see the decorations," Minsoo says. "Writer Han and Heechang did a great job."
"Really," Chaeri says. She has a playful smirk on her face.
Truth be told, the decorations for the dinner date are top-notch.
Chaeri claps her hands ecstatically. "Have you informed Joanne?"
"Yes, we told her it was a ladies' night out," Minsoo replies.
"Assistant producer Lee, do you think we can get a kiss scene tonight?" Chaeri asks him.
"Nice thinking, producer Kang," Lee replies.
"Producer Kang, may I be excused now?" Writer Han says.
"Why? You don't want to watch the event?" Chaeri asks.
"I promised the couple I'll look after Yeri," Han says.
"Let Minsoo watch her. She'll be asleep for majority of the time anyway."
"Producer Kang, I also want to see how the date unfolds. Why don't we take Yeri to the Ma family for the night? She warms up to Areum and Seungha. And I'm sure Mrs Ahn Soora won't mind," Minsoo says.
"I think that's better," Lee agrees.
Heechang soon arrives with Dongkuk. Minsoo goes to fetch Joanne as well.
At exactly 12 midnight, a show of fireworks begin. Joanne is surprised to see that Dongkuk has arranged this.
Her hands fly to her face and she doesn't move. "Dongkuk!"
He stands up and walks to her.
"Happy birthday, Joanne!"
He gives her a side hug and ushers her to her seat.
"I have a gift for you," he says and gives her a box.
She opens it to reveal a necklace with a teardrop pendant.
Tears gather in her eyes. "This is so pretty."
He collects it from her and puts it around her neck.
"I just want to say we're really grateful to have you in our lives; myself and Yeri. And I'm sorry I don't say that very often."
He grabs her hand in his and places a chaste kiss on it.
He leans forward and the crew gush as they anticipate what's coming next.
Except writer Han.