Original subtitles

I need romance.

I need romance.

EPISODE 1

The day I was born

was the first snowfall of the year.

Shingshing, who was seven, came to meet me

while making the first footprints in the snow.

I heard everything from Shingshing.

She said I looked like a sweet potato on the day I was born.

I still don't believe that.

He's so ugly. How is he going to survive?

I grew up at Shingshing's.

She said I became a steamed sweet potato when I turned one.

I guess I became uglier.

So she also told me that she often covered my face.

"What's learned in the cradle is carried to the grave."

Every time I hear this old saying in Korea,

I feel like it applies to me.

I came back to Korea after 17 years.

From what I can recall, Shingshing was smart,

pure,

and kind.

I wonder what kind of person Shingshing is now.

J O HOME SHOPPING

Oh gosh, in the alleyway?

For an hour?

Stop laughing! It's not a big deal.

You better be honest. All you did was just kiss?

Stop it.

HONG-IK RESIDENCE

I was going to go home after a kiss.

But then he started to take it further.

I did try to hold back.

But we had no choice but to move to another alley.

Your boyfriend does try his best in everything.

With that passion, I'm sure he'll pass the Civil Services Exam.

I was worried about him since the exam was the next day,

but what could I do? I was getting hot and I couldn't stop.

Why didn't you just go to a motel?

I know, right?

You know we don't have money.

If we went to a motel whenever we felt like it,

half of my salary would have been spent on that.

We made a deal that we'd go to a motel only once a month

as part of our plan and to be safe.

Gosh.

We were making out like that for an hour!

Let's save our team dinner money and chip in for their motel fees.

I'm with you! For employee's welfare.

I'll make sure to use it well.

Make sure to submit your reports.

And receipts, too!

What are you talking about so excitedly?

What are you going to do with our team dinner money?

-To donate! -To donate!

That's a good idea! I'm in!

Hi, Mom.

Sweet Potato? He's in Korea?

How old is he now?

What does he do?

Music?

He grew up to and became a punk.

Why are you late? I waited here at the airport for 40 minutes!

You'll be staying at a hotel downtown.

I'm searching for a place to rent, so until then, please...

Give me the car key.

Why?

Try not to call me.

I won't answer it anyways.

Text me the schedule and don't rush me even if I don't respond.

If you keep bothering me, I'll change my number, okay?

Unless it's urgent, just leave me alone. I work better that way.

But Allen,

you have a photo shoot in the afternoon, and...

I'll find my way there, okay?

Allen!

Have you gathered all our materials?

I'm doing it right now.

My mom stayed at her friend's house when she was in the States.

And now she wants me to let her son stay at my house,

for a year!

You must feel uncomfortable

because of Jung-ho Lee.

That's right! That's a good point!

Okay, Mom. Send me Sweet Potato's number, and I'll meet him.

I said I'll take care of it!

Okay.

Why didn't I think of that?

Okay!

All righty.

This mustn't be the Han River, is it?

Hello!

Hello!

Am I supposed to do it only in the mountains?

Anyway,

nice to see you, Korea!

I promised Shingshing that I would come back.

And here I am...

in Shingshing's country.

Call me.

This is Shingshing.

Where are you, kid?

Why are you talking down on me like that?

I've talked down on you since you were born.

But even so, aren't we strangers now?

Do you even remember my face?

No, I don't! All I remember is that you were ugly.

Well, I guess you're all grown up now.

So where are you?

I'm watching the seagulls. Where do you think I am?

Do you remember?

We went to see giraffes on a snowy day.

What?

I'm busy right now, kid. I'll get down to the point.

I haven't decided whether I'll take you in or not.

My mom says that my house is your house,

but I don't think so!

Why not?

I'm dating someone.

And he comes over to stay the night sometimes.

Do you think we just hold hands and sleep?

Yes, there are two rooms.

Do I really have to let a kid like you...

listen to me moan every night?

I'm kind of loud.

I'm way more intense in bed.

You don't want to listen to me moan every night, do you?

I'll feel very uncomfortable if you stay at my house.

And of course my boyfriend won't be happy about it either.

So here's the bottom line.

Be a decent man and don't come to my place.

I hate the idea of you coming to my house and living off me.

I really, extremely and obviously hate it!

Why do you...

hate me?

Firstly, you're ugly.

Secondly,

my mom made a living by raising you, a precious baby.

We barely made ends meet with that money.

Seeing you will remind me of those days, and I really hate it.

I'm disgusted by it.

"Disgusted"?

Now you know how much I hate it, right?

I hope this will be our last conversation.

Wait.

I...

missed you.

I really missed you, Shingshing.

-Hee-jae, today's color is mint. -Okay.

Look, it's wrong here.

-Pass it along right now, okay? -Yes.

-Contact the clients. -Okay.

Cameras, the color is mint today.

Shoot good close-ups of the products.

Going on air in five minutes. Get ready. Let's go!

Did you check all the colors?

One, two. Yes, that's perfect.

-Our coat is... -Wait!

Emphasize this part.

Get ready!

Going live in five seconds.

Four, three, two, one...

Wear this ivory!

Hurry!

Now go!

Oh goodness! How come we're not getting any responses?

This is driving me crazy. Why aren't the numbers rising?

It will go up. Be patient.

It's going up!

ORDER INQUIRIES

We're getting 700 calls per minute!

Yes! Seven hundred per minute!

This is crazy! Seven hundred per minute! Awesome!

It hurts.

Shoot a pop-up, "Mocha and grey to be sold out soon."

Wow, they're sold out!

Extra-large sizes are all sold out in all colors.

You did a good job!

Joo-yeon's products are sold out again?

She's really something.

Do you want to get some beer?

-Yes! -That sounds good!

The next show isn't ready yet, so stay on air for another ten minutes.

Take that smile off your face

and pull down the corners of your mouth.

Okay. We have a business meeting, right?

We need to start our negotiations for the next season.

If you look that happy, do you think it will turn in our favor?

But still...

This is a chance for us to make them invest more.

Review the customer's responses and find out what they want.

We'll keep the same unit price, right?

Of course!

-You heard her. -Okay.

All right!

Excuse me for a moment.

Tae-yoon!

Yes! You saw the show, right?

It was a huge hit, again! Five times in a row!

I totally have the hand of Midas. Oh my gosh!

Everything I sell gets sold out!

Did you really have to come to my room and show it off?

Where else should I go then?

Everybody is so jealous.

Do you think I'm not?

Who is the one that taught me?

You must be very proud, Mr. Kang,

to have such a talented subordinate like me.

Okay, congratulations, Joo-yeon, on making it five hits in a row.

You should watch out, Tae-yoon.

I might take over your position soon.

I challenge you!

You're going overboard again.

You should go out to the stairway.

I saw Jung-ho leaving right after the show.

Oh, you're right.

How do I look?

-You're not pretty at all. -I know I'm pretty.

Honey!

We are a perfect team!

I'm so happy!

Why aren't you kissing me back?

I'd be very happy if we kissed right now.

Your kiss is...

the best.

Let's get dinner.

What?

I have something to tell you.

What is it?

I saw Mr. Lee in a jewelry shop in Cheongdam-dong yesterday.

Really?

I went there to pick up my mom's pendant and saw Mr. Lee.

He was looking at a Two-ring Love necklace.

Two-ring love...

It sounds like he's going to propose.

Marriage does not have a happy ending.

It's an express ticket to hell.

Why don't you try it first and tell me?

It's not that I can't get married but I don't want to.

Oh my goodness.

Look at the price!

It's this model, right?

-Let me see. -Oh my gosh...

How does he know my taste so well?

-It's 2.6 million won! -Wow.

I guess he'll use all the bonuses he received for you.

Oh, you're so lucky!

Did he pay for it? He didn't just look at it, did he?

I saw him paying for it.

I couldn't say hi since he seemed so absorbed with the necklace,

By the way, shouldn't it be a ring, not a necklace?

He gave me this ring in the summer when we were in Bali.

This ring is the same brand, too.

Oh gosh... This is crazy.

I know.

This is perfect.

It's like Mr. Jang's clothes are custom-made for you, Allen.

What does "disgusted by you" mean?

It means the person hates you.

Why?

Someone said she's disgusted by me.

There's someone who dares to say such a thing to the great Allen Joo?

Who is she?

Someone I liked...

long time ago.

Your first love?

The person who taught me music was Shingshing.

Don't you have anything to say to me?

You said you had something to tell me...

on the stairway earlier.

Joo-yeon.

Yes?

Let's break up.

What kind of feeling do you get?

It feels like chicks are running in the sunshine.

Something like this, right?

Yes. The chicks get along well with each other.

They play with each other and go here and there.

That's called joy.

Oh, joy.

Next is happiness.

What about this time?

The wind blows.

It is warm.

I'm sweating but happy because of the wind.

I keep going out of breath...

so I need to breathe through my mouth.

The wind comes into my mouth.

That's right. It's happiness.

What about pain?

Let's see. Pain is...

I'm not sure.

You hurt your knees when you fell off your bicycle, right?

Yes, here, too.

That's right. It hurt, right?

That's pain.

But that's pain in my body.

Sometimes your feelings also get hurt.

It's quite different from physical pain,

but I can't explain it.

You'll eventually feel it for yourself.

Where is my feeling?

What about sadness?

Excuse me.

I'd like to have ice cream for dessert.

Two ice creams, please.

I said I wanted to break up five minutes ago.

Okay. Let's break up after we eat ice cream.

Aren't you going to ask me why?

Do I have to know why?

Considering your personality, I'm sure you thought it through.

Whether you have a reason or a hundred reasons,

I have no intention of holding back a guy who wants to break up.

If I hold you back,

will you stay?

Do you think people hold back loved ones thinking they'll stay?

They know it's not going to work but still try and beg!

It's not about getting someone back, but it's a matter of how you feel...

To me, it's not important...

how I feel.

Sadness is...

Sadness is...

When you say goodbye to someone,

your heart hurts,

and the pain grows deeper.

There's something stagnant in your heart,

and you call that sadness.

Why do they say goodbye?

They can meet again.

Some say goodbye because they grow not to like each other,

and some can't meet even if they miss each other.

So Shingshing is...

a woman who raised me,

a woman who taught me how to play piano,

and a woman who taught me about feelings.

There's no reason to be sad or in pain.

It's natural that a relationship ends.

I wasn't like this from the beginning, of course.

How could you do this to me?

How could you...

Neither Se-ryeong nor you are my type.

What I really like is...

music.

Rock!

When my first relationship ended,

I felt like the sky was falling down.

My second relationship was the same.

I can wait for you. I mean it.

I can't hold you back because I love you.

You're so beautiful.

No!

I'll wait for you!

I have to join the army after studying abroad.

It's okay.

I'm really okay with that.

Go home.

I hope you meet a nice guy...

and get married, too.

I don't want you to see me leaving.

Go home.

Go!

No! I won't date a guy nor get married!

I'll just wait for you!

I'll never find someone like you!

There's no way I'll meet someone as great as you!

I can wait for you, right?

You don't have to feel burdened.

I'll be waiting for you because I want to.

Honey, please hear me out before you go!

Honey!

Honey!

-Can I get some more soup, please? -Yes.

I saw his back...

His back that he really didn't want to show.

While I was suffering from sorrow,

he was...

filling his stomach with fish cake.

I found out a month later...

that he had lied about studying abroad.

And after that breakup, I realized the nature of dating.

That love and breakups are

just about toying with emotions.

I guess the gold price really has gone up.

I already sold three couple rings.

Even though men leave, gold rings stay. And the price has gone up!

SE-RYEONG O

Thank you, guys, for this money!

Se-ryeong O.

She was once my friend.

I was afraid that if I gave up on love,

I'd become a woman just like her.

I didn't want to become like Se-ryeong O.

Joo-yeon!

Joo-yeon!

What's with you?

What did I do wrong?

A motel is the only place you want to take me?

It'd be nice to order pizza inside the motel.

Let's break up.

Why are you doing this again?

It's been great between you and me.

What's so great between you and me?

I'm feeling hot. Let's first go inside.

All you think about is taking me to bed.

There's a lot of people here. Let's get inside first and talk.

-Let's go in. -You aren't listening to me!

I said I want to break up!

-Okay. -No! I really don't want to!

Okay.

I'll do it as you wish.

But while we are already here,

let's just do it one last time.

Let's do it one last time!

At that moment,

I was thinking about Se-ryeong O who sold her couple rings.

Let's do it one last time!

I'll be good to you.

How?

I'll do everything for you.

Okay.

Since this will be our last night, do your best.

So I can remember you forever.

After I ended my fifth relationship,

whoever I met, I was never on fire,

and whenever I broke up, I never cried.

Excuse me.

He left without paying.

What?

Listen.

You're strange!

Why didn't you make him pay but me?

You saw what was going on! Who do you think should pay?

I'm sorry.

A relationship ends with a lesson.

I should have left first.

TOTAL OF 218,000 WON.

The food here is this expensive?

Shoot.

I couldn't understand.

There were things that I wanted to ask him.

But I didn't.

There's only one reason for breakups.

They happen because the passion of dating...

comes to an end.

First snow. I should go home before the snow builds up.

With Jung-ho, who ended the relationship.

Did you see the assistant director's tweet?

It's a huge issue!

Hold on.

It seems like Ms. Shin broke up with Producer Lee.

With Jung-ho, who ended the relationship.

Oh my gosh.

Did you see it?

What? Wasn't he going to propose to her?

What about the necklace?

Who dumped who?

I telephoned to the assistant director

and he said Ms. Shin was dumped.

Oh goodness.

My manager was dumped by her boyfriend.

Let's concentrate here now. Can we?

Ignore work-related messages when you are not at work.

You don't know what it's like because you've never had a job.

There's no getting off work.

They say getting off work means working outside the office.

-Who said that? -My manager.

We come to a motel only once a month.

You're right. I wrote one reply so it'll do.

It's been a month since the last time we chatted online.

It was around summer when I left a comment on the blog,

so we've known each other for six months.

I wouldn't consider that a short time.

I really want to meet you in person one day.

It's snowing for the first time this year, so should we meet?

I live in Daechi-dong.

Where should we meet?

The Design Hotel.

If he gets cold feet at this point, I'd rather not meet him.

He seems more naive than I thought.

The Sky Lounge Bar is nice there, isn't it?

Are you kidding me?

I think we know each other well enough.

Dating is annoying and getting married is worse.

We love being alone and we don't want to be bothered.

And we don't want to get into a serious relationship with anyone.

Aren't I right?

After checking in, send me the room number.

For wine, Chateau Margaux would be nice.

SWEET POTATO

What?

It's snowing.

They say it's the first snow of the year.

So?

Why don't we meet?

You should be with someone you love on a day like this.

Don't you think so?

Now I know what you meant by being disgusted.

If you know, you shouldn't have called me.

Shingshing,

you have changed a bit.

I thought about...

why you've become a woman like this.

You said you had someone you loved,

but it's a lie.

If you had someone that you loved and if you were loved by him,

you probably would have cherished your memories more.

So if you are seeing someone now, you should break up with him...

because it's not real love.

Even if you don't want to meet me, you will soon enough.

I'm a guy who always keeps his promises.

I said I'd find you.

I'll see you then, Shingshing.

I had nowhere to go.

Still, at this hour?

What if I was with a girl?

I know you're not seeing anyone.

Do you want some water?

Do you know how much this is?

You do know about expensive wine.

I got dumped by Jung-ho Lee.

We even kissed on the stairway in the afternoon,

but he dumped me.

What do you think?

This is what I think.

Let's drink.

Weren't we going to sell that product?

The quality of the finish wasn't very good,

so you said you couldn't trust that company.

Did I?

It looks good like that. Why did I say that?

Thanks.

For what?

For letting me forget...

that I was dumped by a man.

What? It's sold out?

No way! How can it be sold out?

They are going to get lots of returns.

I know, right? Once they receive the products,

they'll realize the quality is really bad.

That's right. It's embarrassing to see such product sold out.

I know! They're committing a fraud out of this business...

She's coming.

How did she look?

Good morning!

-Good morning! -Guess what I have with me.

Invitations to Michel Jang's party to celebrate...

the second anniversary of his brand launching!

-Awesome! -I heard it's tonight.

We'll have a night out. Let's go there, say hi,

and have lots of fun!

It's a club party.

-Really? -You know what the best part is?

Allen Joo will be DJing!

That's so wicked!

Who is that?

You don't know who Allen Joo is?

The genius songwriter, Allen Joo!

Number nine on Billboard charts!

"Now and Forever."

Don't you know?

Thank you.

Let's go!

Come, quick.

These are so beautiful!

-This is the one, right? -This is it!

Hey ladies,

let's go for one more dance!

I need to rest.

I'm so tired, Min-jung.

I think Allen Joo is looking at us.

That's him.

He's amazing.

I think he's looking at you.

He must have a good taste in women.

Didn't you say you broke up with Jung-ho yesterday?

You need some time to grieve for your breakup.

Do you go barefoot when you shop for new shoes?

You wear old shoes.

What?

He's coming this way.

Allen!

You look great tonight.

I guess Se-ryeong O is hot these days.

I guess so. She does have great connections.

I'm sure she makes connections in bed.

What do you mean?

I heard she was known as "Instant Noodles" back in school.

-What's that? -She texted boys...

who went to the same school...

saying, "Do you want to come over for some ramen?"

Do you think those boys ate just ramen at her place?

You know her too, right? You went to the same school.

Look who's here.

You two do know each other!

That's the necklace Mr. Lee bought.

I almost didn't recognize you.

She's my friend.

We went to the same high school and college.

We went to the same schools,

but I don't think we are friends.

You may use your lips to kiss anyone,

but you should tell the truth.

Okay.

We used to be friends.

Now we are just acquaintances who went to the same schools.

What's with your face, by the way?

You look kind of lifeless.

I normally don't look like this,

but I guess my face got stiff after I saw you.

My face gets stiff when I see people who are like trash.

I can't hide it, you know.

So I guess you're not happy to see me.

Are you?

Why wouldn't I be happy? It's been a long time.

That's right, you must be happy

because you're so easy to people.

You know what I mean by being easy, right?

I'm not sure, but I know you're thoughtless and mean.

It's better than being stiff, so don't be bothered.

There's no way Shingshing could have changed like this.

She's just a woman who looks like her.

So are you happy living stiffly?

I want to ask you

if you are happy living like that.

Allen, I think she wants to ask you

if you are happy with me.

You have got to be kidding me!

I hope you're happy, indeed.

I'll excuse myself.

Did you do something wrong to that woman?

I know, right?

What a pathetic life you have, Joo-yeon Shin.

What did you...

just say her name was?

Joo-yeon Shin.

That woman was...

Shingshing.

That woman was...

Shingshing.

-Joo-yeon, we're here! -Joo-yeon, we're here!

What is it?

Who said I was dumped?

Maybe he was probably seeing two women at the same time?

Forget it. There's no need to talk about it after breaking up.

There's nothing to be sad about. I'm ready to date another man.

This company is so old-fashioned.

Why don't you bring yourself up-to-date, Mr. Kang?

We need to talk, Ms. Shin.

Well, I guess I'll go since he wants to talk.

The woman from last night.

It seemed like you were on bad terms with her.

We were in the same class throughout high school.

We even went to the toilet together.

But, I took her first love away.

I became a B-I-T-C-H.

Was it...

you again?

Subtitle translation by Yeon-su Choi