When Family Outing began airing that weekend, viewers across the country were in for a surprise.
The young man being introduced on screen—bright-eyed, sharply dressed, casually charming—was none other than Lee Jihoon, the nation's rising star director.
Though news outlets had already reported that he was attending Seoul National University and had broken into Hollywood's circle as Korea's youngest director, few had ever matched the name to the face.
That changed within minutes—especially when the show's PD added a bold on-screen subtitle introducing him with flair, catching everyone's attention the moment Jihoon appeared.
As soon as the episode aired, Jihoon's name rocketed to the top of trending searches—not just because of his achievements, but because people were finally putting a face to the name.
And what a face it was.
Young, handsome, and surprisingly down-to-earth, Jihoon quickly won over more than just the show's regular fanbase.
Parents across the country—particularly the type who frowned at their kids obsessing over flashy idol groups with dyed hair and glittery makeup—suddenly had a new favorite public figure.
"A director and a Seoul National University student?" they said. "Now that's someone worth looking up to."
To them, Jihoon became the golden standard: accomplished, respectful, and rooted in something more solid than just fame.
A breath of fresh air in a landscape dominated by variety show antics and manufactured personas.
But what truly sealed the deal was how Jihoon acted on screen.
Unlike other guests who often appeared stiff, overly rehearsed, or painfully polite, Jihoon was effortlessly natural.
He wasn't trying to win the audience—he was just being himself.
From the moment he stepped into the screen, his teasing banter with Jaeseok drew laughter.
He poked fun at Hyori like a younger brother would with his sister, completely unbothered by the hierarchy of celebrity titles.
And sure enough, not everyone was pleased at first.
"Doesn't this kid know he's talking to the Nation's MC and the Nation's Fairy?" some viewers grumbled online. "A little respect wouldn't hurt."
But as the show unfolded, the truth became clear.
This wasn't disrespect. It was familiarity.
Hyori's most recent album? Written by Jihoon himself.
His relationship with Jaeseok? A year in the making, built over casual lunches behind the scenes.
They weren't just peers in the industry—they were friends.
Comfortable enough to poke, prod, and laugh without anyone taking offense.
Slowly, the critics quieted down. And those still trying to stir drama? Jihoon didn't care.
He didn't bother to scroll through online forums hunting for approval.
He let his work—and his sincerity—speak for itself.
Meanwhile, Taeyeon started the episode off a bit reserved, clearly still finding her footing in the variety show space.
But as the games began and the laughter built, her walls came down.
The more relaxed she became, the more the audience remembered why they loved her in the first place.
And Jihoon?
Well, Jihoon did what Jihoon does best.
He slacked off.
While the cast was knee-deep in physical missions—hauling buckets of water, wrestling with inflatable tubes—Jihoon was often seen lounging at the edge, tossing in the occasional dry comment or half-hearted cheer.
The contradiction was too good.
His total disinterest in the chaos somehow became its own brand of entertainment.
The kind of comedy that didn't need slapstick—it lived in timing, tone, and perfect delivery.
By the end of the episode, viewers weren't just watching a director—they were watching a character.
Someone relatable, smart, mischievous, and effortlessly charismatic.
And in just one episode, Jihoon had done the unexpected: turned a guest appearance into a nationwide conversation.
The highest ratings for the show came during the scenes where the family members dived and when Jihoon pointed out the fake moon that the members were making wishes to—pushing the viewership rating past the 30% mark.
The result took both the TV station and production team by surprise.
No one had expected that a film director, whose works were far more recognized than his face, and the leader of a girl group on the verge of disbandment, could drive such impressive ratings as guests on the show.
On the same day, the program's official website was flooded with comments before the credits had even finished rolling.
Fans from all age groups were asking, no—begging—for Jihoon to join the cast permanently.
They loved his chemistry with Jaeseok and Hyori, dubbing them the perfect "siblings trio": the sharp-tongued older brother Yoo Jaeseok, the sassy noona Lee Hyori, and the cheeky maknae Lee Jihoon who knew exactly how to push both their buttons.
But not everyone was there just for the laughs.
A good chunk of fans had nowhere else to turn.
Jihoon had no official fan club, no social media, not even a public blog.
So they flooded the Family Outing site and even his film JH company's homepage, posting messages, theories, and adoration just to feel connected.
And of course—because this was Korea—another corner of the internet had already started zooming in on his interactions with Taeyeon.
Some sharp-eyed viewers noticed the subtle glances, the way Taeyeon's gaze lingered just a little too long whenever Jihoon was nearby.
It was nothing overt—but enough for fans to speculate.
Over in the SNSD dorm, chaos erupted.
"YA! Kim Taeyeon! Spill it!" Sunny shouted, practically leaping across the room as the episode ended.
She launched herself onto the couch and pinned Taeyeon down in a dramatic, over-the-top wrestling move.
Taeyeon, caught mid-laugh, squirmed under her. "I swear, there's nothing going on!"
"Then why were you staring at him like you were watching your prince charming, huh?!" Sunny demanded, narrowing her eyes as she sat on top of Taeyeon, pressing her weight down.
Instead of answering, Taeyeon reached up with both hands, grabbed Sunny by her round chest, and gave a firm, exaggerated squeeze while twisting her hands in a slow, dramatic motion—like a dairy woman about to milk her cow.
"AH—YA!!! KIM TAEYEON!! Watch your hands, you pervert!!" Sunny squealed, jumping off her, face flushed bright red.
Taeyeon cackled, laughing like an ahjumma at a weekend market—completely unbothered, as if grabbing Sunny like that was just another Tuesday in the dorm.
Around them, the rest of the girls erupted into laughter.
"Taeyeon-ah! How could you do that to us?!" Tiffany giggled, nudging her with a playful glare.
But her eyes flicked sideways—just briefly—toward the corner where Jessica sat.
The air around her seemed noticeably colder.
"YA! What are you all thinking? There's nothing going on between me and him! We just appeared on the same show, that's all!"
Taeyeon waved her hands defensively, her tone somewhere between embarrassed and exasperated.
"You're not seriously believing everything the internet says, right?!"
But her voice betrayed her.
A little too high-pitched.
A little too rushed.
Because in truth, what she'd said back in the recording studio that day—during the emotional high of singing the OST—had come straight from her heart, unfiltered.
And suddenly, as she remembered hugging Jihoon after the OST recording, her face began to flush red.
"Ahh! Kim Taeyeon is blushing!" Sunny shrieked, pointing dramatically. Instantly, every pair of eyes locked onto Taeyeon's face.
"No! It's just—it's hot in here!" Taeyeon fanned herself wildly with both hands, desperate to hide her blush.
"It's over. It's over. Taeyeon unnie has officially fallen in love!" Sooyoung announced in mock devastation, throwing her hands into the air.
"Should we call Jihoon and ask him what their relationship is?" Sunny grinned, fanning the flames.
"They're probably already planning the wedding!"
"Who said I'm marrying him?!" Taeyeon barked, cheeks puffing out in protest.
"That guy probably isn't even watching the show—let alone reading any comments. He has no idea what's going on right now!"
She wasn't entirely wrong.
Jihoon wasn't reading the comments—but he was watching the show,
Back in his apartment, Jihoon sat cross-legged on the living room floor, flanked by Jieun and Sulli, both glued to the TV and giggling non-stop.
Watching himself appear on television for the first time felt surreal.
It was strange hearing his own voice played back, seeing the subtitles pop up under his face.
"Oppa, your laugh looks so fake!" Sulli teased between fits of laughter.
"Ya, it wasn't fake! That was my natural charm," Jihoon replied with a smirk, but even he knew he looked awkward trying to play games with Jaeseok.
As the show played on, the girls peppered him with behind-the-scenes questions, demanding to know what was cut, what he really thought of the cast, and whether he ate that questionable kimchi stew Hyori made.
Eventually, Jieun got tired from laughing and rested her head on Jihoon's lap, while Sulli stretched out beside them with a content sigh.
"You're debuting in two days time right?" Jihoon said softly, brushing Jieun's hair back. "Are you nervous?"
"A little…" she mumbled. "What if people don't like my voice?"
Jihoon smiled gently. "That's okay. You just focus on doing your best. Oppa will always support you—no matter what."
Jieun nodded, her voice small but firm. "I want to be like Taeyeon unnie. Even if things get tough, I won't give up."
"Fighting," Jihoon whispered, giving her a warm head rub.
Then he turned to Sulli. "I've registered you at the same school as Jieun. Starting next week, you're officially back to being a student."
"Eh?! Me? Really?" Sulli's eyes widened in surprise. "But my grades were never that great…"
Jihoon chuckled. "Don't stress about your grades. Right now, I just want you to enjoy a normal childhood again."
"We'll talk about your dream of becoming an actress later. For now—make friends, go to school, be a little silly. That's what matters most."
"Besides....," he added with a teasing smile, "it's not like our Jieun's grades are top of the class either. In fact, they barely scrape past the passing mark."
"YA!" Jieun suddenly popped her head up from his lap. "I did give my best, okay?!"
Jihoon grinned and ruffled her hair teasingly, like she was a sulky little pup. "Yes, yes, our hardworking Jieun. Worked so hard that her grades didn't budge—but her belly sure got rounder!
"YA!" Jieun shouted, half-laughing, half-offended.
Sulli burst into laughter, her face turning red as she clutched her belly.
It was true—when Jieun first came to live with Jihoon, she was skinny as a beanpole.
Now she had cheeks and a little roundness to her that she fiercely defended as being "chubby," not "fat."
Jihoon leaned back, listening to the girls' giggles fill the room.
[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe, JiangXiu, BigBoobs, Night_Adam, OS_PARCEIROS and Daoistadj for bestowing the power stone!]