"Hmm. Now I get why you're acting like that."
The image of Minji staring intently at her just moments ago came to mind. She was clearly sulking after hearing she was sick. And since she'd gotten zero votes, she probably wanted to steal back some attention.
So she went a step further and started acting like that. It wasn't meant to be a provocation, but… reacting so strongly to her every move?
Jaeyoung hesitated for a moment, then reached out and touched her forehead.
"Well… maybe a slight fever?"
She tilted her head slightly—it didn't really feel like she had a fever.
Well, of course not. She was faking it.
Haeyoung clapped her hands. Everyone's attention turned to her.
"That's right. There's a thermometer in the first-aid kit."
"I'll go get it."
Chanwoo sprang to his feet and brought the kit. Minji's eyes flickered slightly.
"Hmm…"
Chanwoo looked a bit flustered and tilted his head.
"What is it? Is it really high?"
Haeyoung asked with genuine concern in her voice.
Everyone else was worried about Minji, too.
"Hold on a second, let me check one more time."
Beep—
"Uh… fortunately, there's no fever. It's 36.4 degrees."
A brief silence fell over the room.
"That's a relief. Still, if you're feeling chills, it could get worse—so you should take it easy and rest early today."
Haeyoung was the first to speak, her voice full of concern, as she gently draped a blanket over Minji's shoulders.
It wasn't the contestants' job to be suspicious—that was for the viewers. On camera, all they had to do was show concern for one another.
"She's right, you do look a little pale."
Perhaps picking up on Haeyoung's lead, the others joined in, offering their support to Minji again.
"Haeyoung, would you like to check your temperature too?"
"I'm fine. It's not that bad."
"Okay."
Minji, who had been quiet until now, lifted her head and looked directly at Haeyoung.
"Why? You should check your temperature too, Haeyoung."
Do you think I'm faking it, like you would? Takes one to know one.
"...Alright. Let's check."
"Yeah, just in case…"
Chanwoo, sensing the tension, hesitantly took Haeyoung's temperature.
Beep—
Before Chanwoo could react, Minji leaned in first to check the thermometer.
Her expression stiffened.
"It's 37.7 degrees. That's a bit high, Haeyoung."
"Oh my… Are you okay?"
"Yes, it's fine. I'll be okay after taking some medicine and getting some sleep."
Minji suddenly stood up. She didn't even bother pretending to be sick anymore—her expression was a mess.
"I'm going to head in first."
She marched up the stairs alone. The mood in the room instantly turned cold. It was obvious to everyone that Minji was deeply upset.
Chanwoo suggested they wrap things up for the day and get some rest for tomorrow, and the cast members all dispersed to their rooms.
From Haeyoung's perspective, it was a relief—aside from the fact that she had to be alone in the same room with Minji.
*****
Minji shut the door behind her and pretended to change clothes while she removed her mic and threw it onto the bed. Then, she headed straight for the bathroom—the only place without a camera.
Click.
As soon as the door closed, Minji's face crumpled with rage.
"F**k."
She ran her hands through her hair, completely disheveled. Her neck was flushed red in the mirror. She could barely hold back her anger.
Minji got sick often. And when she said she was sick, she liked the way people worried about her. It felt good—like she was the main character, someone everyone had to care for.
But of all people, Seo Haeyoung had to be the one to say she was sick first. After already stealing all her votes.
It was clearly an act. So fake. Seriously. What, just because she's on some dating show, she thinks she can pull that kind of stunt?
So Minji had jumped in first—beat her to the punch. She stole all the attention Haeyoung would've gotten. She thought she'd won.
Then Haeyoung brought out the thermometer and she started spouting that bullshit.
36.4 degrees.
Everyone was definitely thinking she was faking it.
"Agh! I'm not faking it! My head really is pounding, and my whole body feels weak!"
Her heart was racing, her head was spinning—she honestly felt like she could collapse at any moment.
This was all Seo Haeyoung's fault. If she hadn't made such a show about being sick first… if she hadn't brought up the thermometer… if her temperature hadn't been higher, making the comparison worse ; Minji wouldn't be in this mess.
And that's not all.
She was the only one with zero votes.
Haeyoung got votes. Even Jo Sungjoon got votes. But she didn't? Out of four guys?
There was no way.
Something had to be seriously wrong with the guys' eyes.
She had never once in her life been unpopular.
Whenever men and women were gathered—regardless of age—she was always the center of attention.
That's why she thought a dating show would be nothing. She was sure she'd sweep all the votes from start to finish, that she'd be the star of this season.
And after that? She planned to launch her second life—either as an influencer or a celebrity.
Sigh.
She let out a deep breath and plunged her hands into cold water.
"No, it's only the second day. And up until now, I've just been playing it cool, watching things unfold. That's all it is. It's just first impressions… So you're telling me their first impression of those loser girls was better than me? No way. There's no way. How could this happen?! This is so f**king annoying."
Minji slammed her fists against the sink.
All it did was hurt her hands. That just made her angrier.
"Aagh! Sh*t!"
Still fuming, Minji stomped around the bathroom for a while before finally stepping out.
"…What the—?"
There was someone in the room.
Who is that?
Sh*t. Did they hear me swearing?
Worried, she cautiously stepped closer.
Then, realizing it was Haeyoung, she let out a breath of relief.
If it was Haeyoung, it didn't matter if she'd seen her real self. That pushover wouldn't do anything with it anyway. At most, she'd be silently shocked.
Haeyoung was lying in bed, the blanket pulled up all the way to her nose.
Minji, still bubbling with rage, sat down at the vanity. Even as she tried to calm down, her eyes stayed fixed on Haeyoung through the mirror.
Already asleep? After pissing me off like that, she can just sleep?
Minji deliberately flipped the lights on bright again.
She stomped around the room on purpose, making as much noise as she could.
Then she even turned on the hair dryer—blasting it loud and obnoxious until her hair was completely dry.
Even after all that noise, Haeyoung didn't move an inch. Just lay there, still as a rock.
It irritated Minji to no end.
She barely held herself back from screaming into Haeyoung's ear just to kick her out of the room.
Minji climbed into bed too, trying to sleep—but it was useless.
After tossing and turning, she shot back up.
Are the others still drinking?
If I keep sitting here like this, won't I just end up getting zero votes again tomorrow?
Without realizing it, she started biting her nails in frustration.
Then she noticed a chipped spot in her manicure and lost it again.
Ugh! I paid so much for this!
No, she couldn't just sit around like this.
Eventually, she threw on a loose-fitting mint-colored pajama set and went back downstairs.
"Oh? Minji, are you feeling better?"
"No, my throat hurts. I just came down to get some water."
Tae-ri noticed her and asked how she was doing. Minji deliberately coughed a few times.
"Both you and Haeyoung are sick—what's going on?"
Why's she bringing up Haeyoung when I'm the one who's sick? She's definitely doing this on purpose.
Minji didn't like either one of them—no, she didn't like any of it.
She gave an awkward smile and glanced at Sungjoon.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching, she gave him a subtle look.
Sungjoon hesitated for a moment, then followed Minji into the kitchen.
Minji led him out to the backyard. It was dimly lit.
There aren't any cameras here, right?
"Why?" Sungjoon asked, oblivious.
This is ridiculous. Normally, he'd be trembling, saying stuff like, "Minji, are you feeling okay? Should I get you some water? Want me to bring you a blanket?" But here he is, pretending not to know her just because he got a few texts.
Instead of getting angry, Minji calmed herself down.
"Are you really going to leave your girlfriend like that?"
Sungjoon was startled. Wasn't it Minji who had repeatedly warned him not to make eye contact with Haeyoung and to be careful not to get caught? But now she's calling her his girlfriend?
"What? What are you talking about?"
"She's all cozy with other guys right now. Isn't that cheating? Doesn't it make you mad?"
"We're going to break up once the show ends anyway. I don't care what she does."
"Hah, you're such an idiot. That's exactly why Jo Sungjoon can't do without me."
Minji tapped Sungjoon's arm.