The next day comes in a flash. Chaeri is not surprised when she sees a familiar face come out of the Able studio bus.
"Oh my! It's Min Jihoon," Minah remarks. Areum blushes at the sight of him.
Jihoon waves at the cast earning gushes from the younger ladies. Then he walks over to the crew.
"It's been a while, producer Kang Chaeri," he says extending his hand to her. Chaeri bores her eyes into his contemplating whether to shake him or not. Just as his hand starts lowering to his side, she grabs it loosely.
"Sure, whatever." Jihoon grins from ear to ear.
"Right! Let's get to today's work!"
"We'll be having a dance lesson today," Lee announces. "Each family should have at least one representative. The tutorials will hold for the next three days after which there will be a short contest. The family that wins will get to go for an outing on a cruise ship."
Areum screams. "Cruise ship! This is a great opportunity," she says to her brother.
Each family returns to their apartment to change into more comfortable clothes.
Soon they re-emerge and are directed to a room. The room is very big and has mirrors at one end.
Yeri and Joanne, Minah and Seojin, Areum and Seungha, and Ara are the ones who join the tutorial. The rest of their families sit back and watch them.
The days roll by and each family is practicing as best as they can. Areum keeps staring dreamily at Jihoon during practice. She steals glances at him and Seungha tries to keep her in check.
Minha, on the other hand seems to be having good luck with the trainer. Chaeri had watched the duo from her end while munching her jellies. While she didn't plan for any love matches on the show, she knew it wouldn't hurt for love to blossom among the casts. It might even boost the ratings. She would need to invite Jihoon occasionally during the show.
It's the third and the tutorials are finally over. Soon it's time for the contest.
The contest takes place outside. A stage has been decorated and there are chairs for everyone else who's not participating. Jihoon, assistant producer Lee and Minsoo seat on a side table. They are the ones in charge of grading the contestants.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the dance contest," Heechang says with excitement. "The stage is set! Let's look forward to their performance." He curtsies towards the stage with one arm outstretched.
Yeri and Joanne go first. Everyone is amazed at the way they do things in sync. Both are not really great dancers but they are clearly having fun.
Ara is next. She does a rather simple dance. Still everyone gives her a round of applause.
Seojin and Minah are next. Seojin is really terrible at dancing unlike her sister.
Finally it's Seungha and Areum. Their dance is too perfect to be true.
"How did they learn to dance like that?" Heechang whispers.
"I enrolled Areum in a dance school. Seungha helps her practice when they are at home," Soora says.
The siblings finish their dance and everyone bursts into an applause.
"We've come to the end of the contest. Let's meet in the common room after we freshen up. We'll announce the winners and have dinner afterwards," Lee says.
They all exit the room one after the other.
*
"What was that you did there?" Minah asks her sister as soon as they retire indoors. "Since when were you a lame dancer?"
Seojin shrugs. "We've been on a cruise ship countless times. I just thought another family should get the opportunity," she says.
Minah scoffs.
"Elder sister, why are you so furious about this? This is about the dance instructor, right?" Seojin asks.
She earns a slap on her face as a response.
*
Chaeri has a pained look in her eyes as she sees Soora embrace her children. They do not notice her as their backs are facing her. She continues to watch them until they enter their apartment.
She sighs and turns to head to the side of the building meant for only the crew when her eyes meet Minju's. He has some bags in his hands and his car key. She assumes he went to take some things from his car. She tears her eyes off him as he opens his mouth to say something. He takes a step forward when she starts walking away.
"Producer Kang!" He calls. She halts but doesn't look back. "Thank you for this opportunity! I haven't seen my sisters do anything together in a while. I'm sure it made my mother very happy."
Before she can get a word out, she hears Heechang shout her name.
"Producer Kang! Hurry up!" He motions for her to join them quickly.
She walks away giving Minju the slightest bow of head.
*
"What is it?" Chaeri asks as she enters the viewing room.
"We've got the first fight of the season," Minsoo cries.
Chaeri rushes over to the screen and her eyes catch the sisters' brawl. She's just in time to see Minah chop off a chunk of Seojin's hair.
Writer Han's eyes are the first to grow wide. Lee bursts out laughing and is followed by Chaeri.
"Should we stop them?" Heechang asks quietly.
"No," Chaeri says while laughing. "Assistant producer Lee, give them an ultimatum of ten minutes. Any family who isn't at the dinner in ten minutes would be exempted from the next three events."
Lee nods. He puts the microphone on and does as he is told.
Immediately the sisters stop their fight. Minah rushes out first leaving Seojin with the mess of her hair.
"I wonder how she would fix it," Minsoo says.
*
Seojin comes to the dinner with a cap on her head.
Jihoon announces the Ma siblings as the winner as expected.
Dinner is served. Everyone busies themselves with a conversation.
"I'll take Yeri indoors. It's past her bedtime and I'm afraid she'll catch a cold," Joanne says. She excuses herself and goes inside with Yeri.
"Mr Oh," Mr Ma calls. "I think you should settle down with Miss Bae. She's a keeper."
Dongkuk's eyes follow Joanne and his daughter.
Hyeonsoo and Baekjun are escorted by Minju and Soora respectively.
"Let's spice things up a little bit," Chaeri says to herself and cracks her knuckles. She grabs the megaphone.
"Can I get everyone's attention! We want everyone to take a picture with Mr Min Jihoon."
"Okay!"
Everyone stands up to arrange themselves for the picture.
"Miss Yu Seojin?" Chaeri calls out.
"Yes," she answers.
"Could you take off your cap? I think it's going to look out of place in the picture."
The rest of the crew look at her unbelievably. Minah snickers.
"I was going to ask why you were wearing it," Ara says. "You look prettier without it."
"Do I really have to remove it?" She asks. "I'll rather not be in the picture."
"What are you talking about?" Jihoon is the first to complain.
"Producer Kang, let's just take the picture," Jihoon says.
Minju joins them.
"Mr Yu Minju, could you tell your sister to remove her cap? It's disrupting the photo," Chaeri says.
Minju removes it before Seojin can protest.
"Is this okay?" He asks unaware of the error he just committed.
Chaeri folds her arms with a smirk.
*
"Who did you get into a fight with?" Minju asks angrily. He was talking to Seojin right in front of their apartment.
He has been very furious since he saw the state of her hair.
"I already told you that I mistakenly cut it while I was trimming it."
Minju doesn't believe her. That's what she had said in front of everyone.
"Don't lie to me!"
"Elder brother, just forget it. You can take me to the salon tomorrow when you get back from work," she says.
He watches as she goes indoors.
How did she manage to get into a fight? And what was with producer Kang? Did she know something?
He heads back to the dinner table only to find some cleaners.
"Do you know where producer Kang is?" He asks one of them.
"Why are you looking for me?"
He hears a voice behind him and turns back.
He looks at her intently and doesn't say anything.
"Why? Do you think I embarrassed your sister?" She asks boringly.
He chuckles. "Not at all. It felt you wanted to call my attention to something," he says as they start to walk together subconsciously.
Chaeri stiffens. "And what might that be?"
He ignores her question. "I can't request that you shouldn't air that scene, right?"