Original subtitles

[Episode 9]

Your hands are warm.

Were your hands cold?

No.

Warmer now, isn't it?

I...

wanted to hold your hand so badly,

but do you know how much I held back?

Trying not to cross the line between a CEO and an employee.

So take responsibility.

Responsibility?

No matter what happens, don't let go of my hand.

Okay.

But there's already so much gossip, and if I start dating you...

I know.

Let's keep it a secret at work

and just grow closer for a while, the two of us.

Thank you for being considerate.

Right.

It's cold, so bundle up on your way.

Sir, get going. I'll head inside.

After I see you go in.

It's cold. I told you to go.

You go in first.

Okay. I'll go.

- You go. - I'm going.

What are you still doing there?

Hurry up and go.

All right. I'm going.

This is crazy.

[CEO Kang Ha Gi, APPELLO] Sleep well and see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams.

[Ms. Nam Da Reum] Sweet dreams to you too, sir.

[Ms. Nam Da Reum]

Sweet dreams to you too, sir.

[Ms. Nam Da Reum]

Nam Da Reum, you've got this!

Hello.

Good morning!

Well, look who it is!

Da Reum!

Da Reum, you're back?

Hello. Hello.

Yes. I reported for work as usual.

- Da Reum, I missed you. - I missed you too.

- Really. - Da Reum.

It's so good to have the three of us together like this.

Nam Da Reum! Welcome to APPELLO!

Hey, remember that? I blocked the camera for you.

Thank you so much.

It was nothing.

- Really? - Of course.

- Seriously? - Seriously.

What happened with your resignation letter?

It was rejected. You never submitted it for e-approval.

And with no remote request, it's an unexcused absence.

From now on, I'll be sure to file through e-approval.

And I'll work overtime to make up for every day I missed, if I have to.

Well...

Follow the process, please.

Get back to work.

- Yes, understood. - Yes, sir!

- Process. - Congratulations. Congratulations.

Process.

What a relief.

Da Reum, he might sound like that, but he was really worried about you.

[CEO Kang Ha Gi, APPELLO] Did you get in okay? Meet me in the storeroom.

- Hello. - Hello.

This is it.

But where is he?

Did you sleep well last night?

Yes.

It's fine. There's no one here.

What if someone sees us?

I just wanted to talk for a bit.

This won't work. Let's make some rules.

Rules?

Rules for our secret office romance.

First, no physical contact at work.

[1. No physical contact at work]

Especially in front of people. Not even standing next to me.

Second.

- Let's begin the meeting. - Yes.

[Seoul Night View Date Spots]

No letting on that we're dating.

[2. No letting on that we're dating]

[Seoul Night View Date Spots]

Be careful not to start office gossip.

Careful again.

Third.

[CEO Kang Ha Gi, APPELLO] I miss you.

[Team Lead Choi Seong Wook] What do you mean, sir?

[APPELLO Internal Announcements]

[CEO Kang Ha Gi, APPELLO] Next year's business plan.

Private conversations by message only.

Actually, no messages at work either, in case we mix up the chat rooms.

[3. No messages at work either]

And if you startle people like this...

That's a penalty point.

A penalty point?

Yes.

Whoever racks up penalty points buys the meals and the coffee.

I won't even make eye contact at work.

That's a bit harsh, isn't it?

That's why I'm telling you to be careful.

This feels a bit unfair. There should be a reward, too.

That's just how it works.

Why am I the only one...

Penalty points...

You're not just asking me to be careful...

This is an exception.

An exception...

Thank you.

Da Reum!

- Team Lead Kim needs the sample now. Found it? - What? Yes.

- I'll bring it right now! - Okay.

Go on.

Wait...

What's with her today?

[APPELLO X Im Cheong Rim]

[Knot keyring DIY Kit Experience Zone]

[UNFRAMED: Untying Tradition, Knotting It Anew]

Da Reum!

You're here!

It looks even better than I imagined.

Master Im!

You worked so hard getting this ready.

Not at all. I had so much fun preparing it.

Apparently if you'd dropped out, Master Im would have quit too.

Stop that.

You saw the article, right?

I saw it.

But no matter what others say, I know how you work.

Thank you, Master Im.

So, what should I get ready now?

Later, could I ask you to run one rehearsal with Director Lee over there?

- With Director Lee? - Yes.

Master Im!

Master Im.

- Shall we head over there? - Yes.

Hello, Director Lee.

Hello.

Have you been well?

Yes.

Director Lee.

Could I see you for a moment after the event?

If you tuck it in this way, the whole thing comes together.

Do it like this, and the first knot is done.

What I'm making now is a Dongsimgyeol. It means one heart.

Now if you pull this side a little tighter...

It came out crooked.

It came undone. One moment.

You see?

If you pull only one side hard, like I did, the knot comes out crooked.

You get the most beautiful knot when both sides pull with equal force.

- Like this. - It's so pretty.

Good work today.

The Dongsimgyeol explanation was good.

The customers responded well, too.

You look pretty happy.

The boycott's died down, Da Reum's back,

your gamble paid off.

Chan.

I'm going to be more honest with you now.

The truth is...

I don't think I need to hear it.

Come to think of it, the things you never told me all this time

were things that would hurt to hear.

So I won't hear it this time either.

Oppa.

Congratulations on your return.

It was hard, wasn't it?

Not really.

You must have had a hard time too, oppa.

I was a bit of a wreck.

I felt like I failed to protect you.

You did protect me.

You even did an interview because of me.

I'm grateful you see it that way.

Oppa, is work all right?

The movie?

I didn't get fired.

What a relief.

Bad press and getting bashed is nothing new.

I'm used to it.

Since it's come to this, let's meet openly from now on.

Pardon?

As a fan, a friend, whatever.

I want you to stay by my side.

Oppa...

you're someone very precious to me.

That sounds a lot like past tense.

No. You're precious to me now, too.

- But... - It's okay.

Even if there's someone more precious.

Just...

as long as you're smiling, that's enough for me.

Just stay by my side.

I want to give us a real shot, Da Reum.

I don't think you're someone I could love,

but someone I still look up to, like an idol.

[Ha Gi]

- Thank you. - Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, have a great day!

Yes, welcome.

This is the list of brands that recently ended their exclusive contracts with us.

Next is the list of new brands SE:ON announced.

Comparing the two lists...

As you can see, most exclusive brands that left show a confirmed pattern of moving to SE.

- Look at that, they took them all. - I told you there's a mole.

We have to find them. This makes no sense.

Our job now isn't to suspect each other.

It's to stay the number one fashion platform.

SE will only get more aggressive, and if we just defend, the game goes to them.

From now on, we fight to take from them.

HAN.

HAN?

It's the hottest issue in fashion right now.

Sir, HAN is the hardest brand to get in the Paris fashion scene.

You're saying SE wants to collaborate with HAN?

This is huge, isn't it?

The way to turn this crisis around...

is for us to bring HAN in.

I'm forming a dedicated task force, so anyone can sign up.

This isn't going to be easy.

[Pop-up Event Results Report]

I've emailed you the log records and the CCTV captures.

Jackpot! This is a huge one.

I just heard in the security room...

What? What?

- Is that Hye Soo? - Yeah.

Is that really her?

Ms. Seo.

You know external email is banned at the office, right?

Yes.

Then why did you break the security rules?

I don't quite remember...

But why are you asking?

This is...

Don't tell me you suspect I'm the spy?

It's absolutely not me.

Me, a spy? That's ridiculous.

Spy or not, this dating rumor photo looks like your work, Ms. Seo.

I came to give you this.

I'm sorry.

Sir, could I ask you to check this?

You turned down my confession on the spot.

- Why? - You don't need it?

Then could I have one...

But I got angry when I saw you meeting Da Reum alone.

A reporter gave me a business card, so...

I had no idea it would blow up like this.

Ms. Seo.

Do you know how much damage this has done to the company?

I'm so sorry.

You'll be disciplined under company policy.

And think carefully about who really deserves an apology.

Thank you.

I should be the grateful one.

I found it thanks to your tip-off.

I am a walking dashcam, after all.

But Ms. Seo isn't the spy. She only leaked the photos.

Really? Then who's the real spy?

Anyway, thank you.

Sir, I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Seriously.

I came to deliver chicken, not to take out the trash.

Where on earth did Roy oppa go?

Do you even watch where you're going?

Are you okay?

That voice...

Are you badly hurt?

Roy?

I'm dying. My back!

My backside!

You hit me and won't even show your face. Is this a hit-and-run?

A hit-and-run? No, it isn't.

Then take off the helmet and apologize.

Take it off. Take it off. Please, take it off!

I'm sorry. I was careless. I'm sorry.

Excuse me...

Yes.

Yes.

Is it that bad? Should we go to the ER?

No. No, I'm fine.

- Are you okay? - Yes.

- Now let go of my hand... - Yes.

This brand called HAN is really fascinating.

They don't even disclose who the creative director is.

On social media, there's only a brand account.

That actually makes me more curious.

Let's stop here and eat first. I'm hungry.

- Sounds good. - Sounds good.

Everyone, you see this? What do you think this is?

Behold, in my hand is the company card!

What do you want to eat? What do you want to eat?

- Army stew. - Army stew?

Let's eat first. Let's go! Follow me. Army stew? What else?

- Let's grill steak! - Stir-fried octopus, stir-fried octopus.

Da Reum, you coming?

Yes. I'm coming.

I know...

- She had it coming. - Exactly.

Ms. Seo, could I speak with you a moment?

Yeah.

- What's going on? - Are they going to fight?

Ms. Seo.

What?

What is this? You want to actually throw down?

Wait, wait. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I'm really sorry.

Don't you have something to say to me?

I'm sorry.

I said I'm really sorry.

I must have been crazy.

Thanks to you, I had to write an apology letter

and got frozen out. Can't you see?

I know I did something worth punishing,

but it's so hard I want to quit right now.

I know.

I got through it alone, too.

If we don't sort this out, it'll keep being hard for you.

So what, are you being the bigger person and forgiving me?

Not yet.

But I'm still offering my hand.

If you're really sorry, then help me out.

What am I supposed to do...

I'm having a hard time writing the HAN task force proposal.

You've done a lot of these, haven't you?

Let's do it together.

- Together? - Yeah.

Fine, whatever.

Welcome. Take your time looking around.

Who directs this store?

Our Director Lee Chan.

I'll take this one.

Yes, I'll ring you up over there.

[Ha Gi] Let's talk. Stop avoiding me.

Lee Chan, is that you?

Jeong Yeon sunbae?

- I'll see you next time. - Yes.

It really is you.

When did you get back to Korea?

Just a few days ago.

It's been almost 15 years, hasn't it?

You never once got in touch.

So you did miss me?

This brings back memories. Those were good days.

Listening to music with you at school.

Remember?

We said at 20 we'd hear live music at a jazz bar and try whiskey together.

But you weren't there at 20.

I'm sorry about that.

I did miss you two, though.

Us two?

You and Ha Gi.

Is Ha Gi doing well?

You two were always together.

You really haven't changed, sunbae.

What hasn't?

Making people uncomfortable.

I thought being a celebrity made you cooler, but you haven't changed either.

I'm staying at the boutique just up the street.

Let's meet again soon.

You're really good with a knife.

They used to call me the Blade of Seocho.

Back then, the smell of blood...

The Blade?

That's all in the past. Now I'm the neighborhood punching bag.

He doesn't have a criminal record, does he?

So Mi Mi, what's your ideal type?

My ideal type? My ideal type?

I like a man who's successful... and a good kisser?

Very clear answer.

That's exactly me.

I'll just run to the restroom.

Of course, of course.

My heart's racing.

A kiss today, too?

Isn't that moving too fast?

Not successful, either.

And probably not a good kisser.

Yeah, so?

No knife prepared.

Should we start with abduction and confinement?

Murder might be pushing it.

It's borderline.

Something urgent came up, so I'll head off first.

Mi Mi! Mi Mi!

Mi Mi, wait a moment!

Why are you following me? It's scary!

What's wrong with her? Mi Mi!

- Please help me! - Why, what's the matter?

Someone's chasing me.

My stomach hurts.

Take your coat. Your coat.

[Lawyer Kim Min Woo]

I don't know what you misunderstood, but I really am a lawyer.

You know what shape I'm in, Mi Mi.

Would a gangster have a hunched neck,

rounded shoulders and a slipped disc?

Why didn't you say so from the start?

You never asked.

It looks cheap to push my job when nobody even asked.

Min Ah, one moment.

Ms. Seo, I drafted it like this for now. What do you think?

Let's see...

The first page decides the company's image, and this is too plain.

Always lead with the conclusion.

Then...

You two are working hard together.

This one, then this one, like that.

- 3, 1, 2? - Yeah, yeah.

Yes.

All right, let's call it a day.

- Especially marketing. - Sorry?

It's late. Why aren't you leaving?

I still have work left.

The direction's good. Just fix the details.

Do it tomorrow. Rest is part of the job.

Go home, now.

Sir, just one look at my proposal too...

- Go home, now. - What? Is it that perfect?

This won't be done today. Redo it tomorrow.

Come on, off you go. Hurry up. Quickly.

- Yes. - Go on.

Let's go, marketing team.

- Go on. Go on. - Yes.

Go on. Go on, hurry.

- Yes, good work today. - Let's go.

Sir, you're not much of a cook, are you?

Well, that's right. Not really...

I may not be good at much, but I make really good pasta.

Really?

I just heat the sauce I bought and add the noodles.

Ms. Nam, shall we switch?

Why?

I'm a bit clumsy with a knife.

Move aside. I'll do it.

It's delicious.

Ms. Nam, you really do make good pasta.

Right? I told you I'm good.

Next time, I'll invite you to my place.

To your place?

The second thing I make well is tteokbokki.

Let's make it together.

Yes, let's.

But you knew it was Ms. Seo.

Why didn't you say anything?

I didn't want to suspect her carelessly.

There were plenty of other people who could have helped with the proposal.

I told you before, didn't I?

That I was bullied.

Looking at Ms. Seo, I wondered how much it must hurt...

how lonely she must be...

That's what came to mind first.

I didn't want to see...

that version of myself again.

Ms. Nam, you really...

carry your own wounds and still choose to embrace other people.

You did the same for me, sir.

Actually...

I've lived the opposite way until now.

I tried hard not to get close to anyone.

When I let someone matter to me...

they all left.

It was easier to just work.

But you broke right through that, Ms. Nam.

Do you remember this wine?

Yes. This is the wine I gave you as a gift.

The wine that makes love come true.

So it really was?

[Ha Gi] [Pick up the phone]

[Kang Ha Gi, APPELLO]

[Dating rumors: CEO Kang's leadership in focus]

Why was it Ha Gi back then?

What was?

The one you chose, sunbae.

Why Kang Ha Gi and not me?

We were first.

In meeting each other, in sharing our hearts.

Min Woo!

When you smiled, sunbae, I thought it was because of me.

But...

why was it Kang Ha Gi in the end?

Tell me.

That look in your eyes is the same as then.

You always wanted to rescue me.

I was grateful for that...

but I also hated it.

Why?

It felt like pity.

You looked at me like I was pitiful.

Ha Gi wasn't like that.

Back then, he...

just liked me for me.

So I felt at ease, too.

I thought that with someone I like,

I'd laugh and cry,

complain and even get angry,

and I could share my feelings.

But the thing is...

with you, oppa...

I don't think that happened.

Did something happen with Ha Gi?

I shouldn't have come. Take care.

Chan.

Anything I can do to help?

Then try shaking him up.

Kang Ha Gi.

[SE:ON X HAN, Switching Fashion ON]

They never even contacted us, but they met with SE?

That ship's sailed. It's sailed.

[SE:ON X HAN, Switching Fashion ON]

[HAN made not a brand, but an aesthetic]

Shall I take you to the hotel now?

No.

There's one more place I want to see.

Sir, sir!

The CEO of HAN says they'll visit APPELLO.

- What? - HAN, I said HAN!

They're on their way. Right now.

They're here? Are they here?

Say hello. This is CEO Han Jeong Yeon of HAN.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome to APPELLO.

Nice to meet you too, CEO Kang.

[#Epilogue]

- Okay, five seconds to go. - No, three.

Three, two, one!

- I think this form should move over a bit. - PowerPoint...

- This square is a little... - It does seem a bit off.

The square is a bit big...

That's basically announcing they're dating.

They say in an office romance, only the couple doesn't know.

Even the water cooler's in on it.

[Witness 1]

- Let's begin the meeting. - Yes.

[Seoul Night View Date Spots]

[Witness 2]

[Witness 3]

Da Reum!

Team Lead Kim needs the sample now. Found it?

What? Yes.

Yes, I'll bring it right now!

Yes.

Let's just pretend we don't know for now.

They say they're both beginners at dating.

- Why are you so happy? - Are you happy?

It's just so exciting.

Have you never dated?

Han Jeong Yeon?

She's Ha Gi's first love.

If you ever make Da Reum cry...

The person who wrote the proposal...

Would you be interested in taking it on?

Why her, of all people?

Whatever you decide...

I hope you choose something you truly want to do.

Does my history with CEO Kang bother you?

I trust the person I'm with.

Do you?

What do you mean?

Because now I want Ha Gi back.

Were you with her this whole time?