Original subtitles

I need romance.

I need romance.

When did you start writing songs?

When I was 15 years old.

How did you get started?

I emigrated to the States when I was nine

and my teen days were quite dynamic.

That's when I found the world of music.

I would write a song without noticing the time until dawn,

and I'd get impressed with my own song while listening to it.

And then I started to search for singers who would sing my songs.

So that's how you became a producer in the end.

Even though you lived in the States for a while,

your songs these days have

Korean sentiments in them.

The first instrument I played was the piano.

At that time, I had someone

who taught me, not the skills on how to play the keys,

but how to express my emotions through music.

I think I got it from that person.

Is that a woman?

Yes.

You came back after 17 years. Are you going to meet her, too?

Maybe,

I'll see her soon.

But Shingshing...

I hate it! I'm disgusted!

Now you know how much I hate it, right?

I hope this will be our last conversation.

I felt like she wasn't the same person I knew.

She was unfamiliar

and cold.

I get stiff when I meet people who are like trash.

I can't hide it, you know.

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, 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.

Goodness.

You have got to be kidding me!

I hope you're happy, indeed.

I'll excuse myself.

Wait!

Did anyone here treat you badly?

Why are you so twisted?

Do you know me?

Can I borrow this man?

I'll explain why I'm so twisted.

What do you say?

Do you want to come with me?

It seems like you're curious about me.

You really are hopeless.

Worry about your own life.

Did you do something wrong to her?

I know, right?

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

What did you...

just say her name was?

Joo-yeon Shin.

She was...

Shingshing.

What's wrong, Sweet Potato?

Why are you crying?

Take this and keep it.

What's this?

Just keep it!

Why do I have to keep this gross thing?

I... I have to go to the States right now,

but I have

nothing to give you.

It's not for travel.

I might not come back again.

So?

If you keep it,

I'll come back to get it back from you.

Wan Joo, listen carefully.

Your heart is hurting right now.

You are sad.

When you feel like this, you shouldn't yell as if you're mad,

but you should speak from your heart.

I...

I'm emigrating.

I'll miss you,

Shingshing.

I know.

We might not see each other anymore.

-Right? -No!

I'll come back!

No matter what.

I'll come back!

Okay, you come back.

I'll see you again, Sweet Potato!

SHINGSHING

Can I have more soup, please?

SWEET POTATO

Gosh, my life is so tiresome.

What now?

She doesn't sound friendly at all.

I told you not to call me again.

Why do you still have my number?

It seems like hurting people

has become her habit.

I'm not a woman who you can meet easily whenever you want.

Raising a snotty boy, giving him a piggyback and bathing him.

Do you have any idea how hard it was for me?

Do you want me to be miserable

worrying about you not eating or getting hurt

and worrying that I would get scolded by my mom for making you cry?

She makes biting remarks as she opens her mouth.

Do you want me to live like that again?

-She's that kind of woman. -To me,

you are so repulsive!

I'm hanging up!

A bad and mean woman.

Shingshing

has become that kind of woman.

I'm really okay!

I'm not drunk!

What kind of bar is this?

Just give me one more bottle!

-Are you going to be okay? -I'm okay!

I'm a tough cookie so I never get drunk.

It's cold outside, so stop drinking and go home.

Just one more bottle, please!

Do you live in this neighborhood?

-Can we get one more bottle? -One more glass, too, please.

By the way,

I never said you could sit here.

You didn't stalk me, did you?

Flattering herself got worse, too.

Guess what! I kind of like you.

I liked your DJ skills.

-I'm a fan of yours. -And now she's lying?

Number nine on Billboard charts, "Now and Forever."

Have you ever listened to my songs?

Of course I have! I said I was your fan!

If you are my fan, you must know my name, too.

Allen Joo.

What's wrong

with your personality?

What about my personality?

That's right.

You want to talk about what I did to Se-ryeong?

My first impression must have been really bad,

right?

I'm kind of mean.

But,

what if I was nice?

They say good people will be blessed.

Do you believe that?

At least, you wouldn't be drinking by yourself now

and somebody would keep you company.

I get it.

So you sat here because I looked pathetic and lonely.

In the cold winter night, a woman is

drinking alone without friends or her boyfriend. Is that why?

That's right.

Nobody loves me.

But I'm okay with that!

Why?

We're all alone in this world anyway.

We are alone even when we are together.

I wasn't born to be loved.

I was born to look after my own, not to be loved by others. And...

And I

really like

being lonely!

Were you always

this kind of a woman?

There's no woman out there born like this.

It's a lesson from life,

the secret of the universe.

Except myself,

everyone is a stranger.

If you believe in that,

isn't it hard for you?

No, not at all.

If people hate the way I am,

I simply hate them back.

I mean...

I don't have to be nice to the people who hate me.

It's hard enough for me to like the people who like me!

Don't you think?

Are there any people

who like you?

I already told you.

I said nobody

loves me.

But,

I'm okay with that.

I should go now.

How much is this?

How much?

Give me a reason why I should be nice.

It's a trap that people set up so they can stab me in the back.

Living like this is so convenient!

Look at this.

Life doesn't turn out the way I want it to anyway.

Why should I worry about others?

I need to be careful with this.

I need to pull myself together even if I'm drunk!

I can't let other people see the door code.

Wake up, Joo-yeon Shin!

There's nobody you can trust in this world!

Two, nine, one, eight!

Don't you ever get sick of it?

I'm just monitoring it.

What?

What are you doing?

It's delicious.

Let's drink and relax.

SIX-YEAR-OLD RED GINSENG

Gosh. All you have in your fridge are red ginseng and water.

You never cook at home, do you?

It's hard to cook just one serving,

Food goes bad quickly even if I do cook.

I end up throwing a lot away.

Then let's cook for two from now on.

How are you going to explain these?

Obviously, they are couple rings.

One, two, three... Wow, there are five rings.

That's not all.

Hey! Good for you!

What's the reason for keeping these?

Some women sell them.

You want to use the money to take a trip?

Regardless of what you do with them,

just tell me why you keep them.

Every time I see them,

I think about how many relationships I failed,

and when I'll meet my true love.

Even if I fail until the glass gets full of rings,

I'll never give up on love.

How many rings do you plan on getting?

It might end with five rings.

Of course, you'll end with five.

Except myself,

everyone is a stranger.

In the end,

they all become strangers.

-Joo-yeon, we are here! -Joo-yeon, we are here!

Come on.

I don't think she's going to open it.

The last bus has already left.

What?

Woo-young! Are you done yet?

Just come out already.

Why are you being shy? It doesn't suit you.

How could you give me your ex-boyfriend's pajamas?

How do we look?

The three big hit pajamas that we sold last year!

How many of these did we sell?

Eight thousand pieces.

Thanks to these, we got some incentives.

The free gift was perfect.

I just can't throw that one away.

I have a question here.

Why did Mr. Lee want to break up with you?

Who said I was dumped?

We heard it from the assistant director.

He said

there was another woman.

He was probably seeing two women at the same time.

Don't you think it's strange?

The show host recommended that necklace

thinking it would be given to you.

He bought that necklace for sure.

It's obvious that there's another woman.

Did you do anything wrong to him when you met him?

Forget it.

There's no point talking about this when it's already over.

The important thing here is that I'm free now.

Ending a relationship is like a natural death.

Who can stop death?

The dead tree is not going to revive even if I try.

Flowers last just for one season,

and they eventually fall off.

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

But there are men who are like pine trees.

They remain the same all year round.

The longer you're together, the more you feel secure

-and comfortable. -Such a man

doesn't exist.

-There are two types of men in this world. -Yes.

A man who is a good kisser but has no soul.

A man who has no soul,

and even sucks at kissing.

So you mean there are no men who have souls?

-I've never seen one. -I've never seen one.

I had so much fun that day!

It's okay! It's not like this is my first time hearing your story.

Seriously, it's fine!

I'm not blushing, am I?

I have already adjusted to you guys.

What is it? Is it about a one-night stand?

I think I need more than one night.

The Design Hotel, room 2016.

Isn't it too dangerous?

No, it's not dangerous at all.

I had kept an eye on him for six months.

He's smart.

I checked his educational background

and his hobbies. He teaches at a college once a week,

and he's three years younger than me.

He looks smart, too.

I'm Woo-young Lee.

You used my name?

I'm 27 years old.

-He believed you? -Shame on you!

I think my physical age is 27.

You mean your mental age, right?

I can look 22 with the help of lighting,

-What? -What?

I have a conscience, so I only lied about my age by nine years.

-Then what? -Then what?

Ten minutes later, we were in bed.

By the way, what was that with Se-ryeong?

Did something happen between you two?

Well.

Meet me at the café.

Hey!

It's early morning. What's up?

You like scrambled eggs, right?

It's okay.

How could you leave like that last night?

The woman from last night.

It seemed like she was on bad terms with you.

There's nothing bad between us. I like her.

You like that woman who humiliated you in public?

Yes.

Why do you like her?

We used to be close.

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.

So I deserve it.

Did you ever apologize properly?

No. That was the end of the story.

She never asked nor blamed me. She just ended our friendship.

It would have been better to be slapped in the face.

But what she did was scarier.

How could she do that?

With all that humiliation you gave her,

she managed not to bring up what I did.

You know how women are like.

Every woman there would hate me

if she said something about it.

But,

she didn't say a word to keep her pride.

That's why I like her.

-What's going on? -Right, I almost forgot.

They're announcing the results of the New Business Plans Contest.

-Right. -First place, second place, third...

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE NEW BUSINESS PLANS CONTEST

What? We aren't on the list.

We worked all night for a month.

I thought we would be third place at least.

Congratulations!

This company is so old-fashioned.

It's inflexible, boring, and not creative.

It failed to make one step forward from that old salt factory.

We were too far ahead of the curve.

So our team is the first place because we're old-fashioned?

Didn't your team lose because you don't follow the trends?

Right now, customers...

That's the problem, considering only the present time.

Will you just scrap the plan in a couple of years?

You need to consider the time of development.

Because it's going to be old by then.

Those kind of things.

Are you degrading the judges, too, Ms. Shin?

Yes.

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

We need to talk, Ms. Shin.

Whatever you say, sir.

She's so rude!

Well done, Joo-yeon Shin.

After all, we should keep our pride.

Put your bag down and stand at attention!

Look at your posture. I said stand at attention.

Do you think this is the army?

I have been here for nine years.

I'm not the same person I was before.

All right! You are a general manager now.

Look at you defying me.

When I was a newbie at work,

my trainer was like a poisonous snake.

If you get trained crying every day,

you turn into a person like me.

What do you think the reason was?

Do you think I didn't pick your plan because I'm old-fashioned?

You probably thought it was unrealistic.

Didn't you?

Merchandisers scout foreign designers

to run a multi-brand fashion store on a home shopping channel.

Why did you make such an unrealistic plan?

Because we can't compete in price forever.

Even if you lose, you'll only move forward by challenging them.

That's what you said when I just started working here.

If I gave you alternatives to make your plan realistic,

would you trust me and support me?

Do you think there are such things?

There's one thing missing in your plan that's very important.

The X factor.

A very appealing X factor.

-What's that? -A style director!

Which would be more appealing, the brands sold by home shopping hosts,

or the brand by the stylist who works for So-young Ko and Dong-gun Jang?

Find a style director who can represent the multi-brand store.

That's the X factor of your business plan.

Wow.

You're still the poisonous snake I remember.

Your poison is so powerful!

I think he has a point.

"So-young Ko's stylist makes my outfits."

That's the concept, right?

It is appealing if I can get

that kind of privilege from a shopping channel.

Min-jung and Woo-young, make a list of style directors.

Hee-jae, modify the plan and find style directors.

How about Se-ryeong O?

She's a style director, too.

Don't worry about me and put her on the list, too.

Work is work.

Good afternoon.

I have to excuse myself.

Enjoy your lunch.

Is it true that you were the one who broke it off?

Where are the files of the style directors who collaborated with GNB?

They'll be ready in a minute.

The phone number of the style director has changed, Woo-young!

I'll check it again.

We're not trying to just sell clothes, but sell your styling.

Shoppers are more diversified these days.

-Director? -Let's have a meeting, and...

Hee-jae Jung!

Where's the progress report? Isn't it due already?

Just trust me and be patient. We're almost done.

This is not good enough to convince Mr. Kang.

What's this? Who put this photo in here?

Is it delicious?

-Is it? -I'll do it again.

What is this? Is this your first time making a business plan?

I'll do it again.

I got you!

HONG-IK RESIDENCE

This is good.

How could you fall asleep there?

I haven't slept for three days.

How can you live like that?

Do other people get to sleep?

They have their own know-hows.

If I want to work at the same pace as them,

the least I could do is to sleep less.

Your body is your only weapon when you are in your twenties.

It's hard to watch you being this tired.

"Youth. It's Painful."

"Go, fight, and win!"

I'm dead tired.

So Ji-seung,

pass the Civil Service Exam soon.

Okay?

Only when you pass the exam, we can carry on with our plans.

We can get married,

buy a house, and have kids...

Welcome!

This is the best, Mr. Kang!

You are the best, Tae-yoon!

There's nothing we have proven to you yet,

but you still made the best office for us!

That means I have big expectations from you,

They're even more envious now.

I'm sure they're dying from jealousy.

They are the ones who won the contest.

This desk is perfect for me, right?

What's up there?

A room for our partner style director.

Yes, sir.

We're in trouble, Ms. Shin.

This is unexpected.

Mr. Lee from the production team submitted his resignation.

What are you talking about?

After working with us for seven years?

Who's our producer then?

Producer Cheol Kang.

No! That old man?

The producer who focuses on models' faces, not the products?

I'm going crazy.

Where are you? Why don't you answer the phone?

Are you mixing your feelings with work? Where are you?

He went on a vacation right after.

Gosh.

Answer the phone!

You are in Korea, right? Are you at home?

I'm going to your place right now.

Turn left over there.

What do you think you're doing?

Why can't you be cool about it?

Were you a person like this?

You're quitting because we broke up?

We were in the same team!

Think about other people for once!

Is that why you're doing well? For other people?

Even now, you're talking only about work.

Thanks for the ride.

It's a man's house again.

I can't be cool about it like you.

I can't pretend to be fine.

I can't do that.

Seeing you makes me feel uncomfortable.

Who said...

I was...

doing well?

I'm not doing well. I'm not fine.

I'm so...

You're still here.

YOUNG-WOO JANG

Was it you?

Was it...

you again?

That's right.

If it's me again,

what are you going to do?

-What are you doing? -What do you think I'm doing?

I don't care what you think.

When my first relationship ended because of her,

what hurt me the most was

not that my boyfriend cheated, not that he no longer loved me,

and not that he betrayed me.

But it was because the woman he cheated with was my friend.

Really?

Really? A kiss?

It wasn't that your lips just touched, but a real kiss?

Yes!

The move of his tongue was amazing.

I've already kissed ten times. When are you going to do it?

It's going to be today!

The handsome guy from the noble family, the House of Medici,

Giuliano!

I will kiss you.

This is my first kiss.

Hey, that's sexual harassment!

-We shouldn't! -Come on! It's okay!

-Why? -Come on!

We'll get scolded!

No! I can't!

-What do you mean you can't? -Hey!

Hey!

-Come on down! -How can I get down from here?

I'll catch you. It's going to be okay.

Really?

No! I can't!

We don't have time!

-Please! -No!

From that time on,

I stopped believing in the word "friendship."

Because it hurt me so much,

I couldn't even ask Se-ryeong why.

You!

Let go!

You!

Let go of me!

-You! -Bring it on!

-Let go! -You!

-Stop it! -Let go!

-Stop it! -Come here!

-Stop it! -You are such a damned bitch!

-What did you say? - I finally realized today

that if it's something to fight about, you have to fight.

And once you start fighting, you must win.

She's hopeless.

What am I going to do with her?

Did you really have to hit her?

Do you know how many times I was smacked?

I think I was smacked more.

If so, then what?

I think she smacked me more than I smacked her.

So?

I don't want to lose.

I don't care about losing to anybody in the world

but not to Se-ryeong O.

Is that Se-ryeong's car?

Hey! Are you out of your mind?

Damn it!

Awesome! Now the other side!

What? Move over!

Get out of my way!

Move over!

No!

No!

Gosh!

What? I'm bleeding.

You're heavier than I thought.

Why don't you get up before you check your scar?

Right, I'm sorry.

Are you okay?

Do you know how fast my heart was beating?

I was worried you were going to break the other mirror,

that's why my heart was beating so fast.

Yes,

that's why.

Your girlfriend cheated on you.

You're the one who should break the side mirrors, not me.

Why on earth did you stop me?

That's because it's not Se-ryeong's car. It's mine!

What?

Why...

Why didn't you tell me?

Did you even give me a chance to tell you?

Shouldn't something like this be handled in court?

Oh, I'm sorry. You don't like laws, right?

You seemed to like using your fists when resolving your issues.

This is the scar I got because of you.

I don't know how they handle something like this in the U.S.,

but in Korea, we call this both parties being at fault.

Simply put, both you and I are at fault,

-so we should talk and... -Talk?

It's the law in Korea.

Shouldn't I also smash your side mirror to be fair?

Please don't!

Give me your car key...

if you don't want your side mirrors smashed.

Why do you want

my car key?

I don't know what you are thinking,

but you know I'm not an easy woman to deal with, right?

Follow me.

Where are we going? You're not going to the police, are you?

You're such a square.

The police aren't going to do much.

Let me just pay you money and...

Hush.

Okay. Let's go.

But where are we going?

Can you treat this here?

You have to do it yourself. Just a moment, please.

Your total is 8,000 won.

Aren't you going to pay?

-Did you say it's 8,000 won? -Yes.

The injured one is supposed to pay for the medicine.

I learned that's how things work in Korea.

Who taught you such nonsense?

I'm trying to apply it gently.

Does it hurt?

-It's tolerable. -You can't say you're hurt,

can you?

I don't want to exaggerate my pain

in front of a person I don't really know.

What about your heart?

Your boyfriend cheated on you.

So, are you

okay?

I got over it when I stepped out of his house.

Twenty minutes ago.

When I was a kid, I heard I was such a mischievous boy.

So I always fell down and got hurt.

Get money for the medicine from your mom, okay?

My allowance is only 20,000 won a month.

You know how much I spent at the pharmacy, right?

Do you know how big of money that is for me?

And the injured one is supposed to pay for the medicine.

Does it hurt?

No, it doesn't! Just apply it properly.

I know it hurts.

I said it doesn't!

I'm a man!

I can endure this kind of pain. It's nothing!

Do you want to become a great man, Sweet Potato?

I'm already a great man.

What makes a great man is

saying you're hurt when you're hurt and being honest about it,

not worrying about what others think and just being yourself.

Do you think that's cool, Shingshing?

Of course it's cool!

It's cooler than pretending to be a real man.

It hurts.

Am I cool?

Yes, you're so cool.

The person who took care of me whenever I got hurt told me

that it's cooler to say I'm hurt when I am.

Thanks to that person, I learned how to speak with honesty

without thinking what others think of me.

That person might have changed his or her mind.

People sometimes change

going through ups and downs in life.

I think so, too.

That person has become really odd.

So I'm very sad.

If possible,

I want to change that person back

to the way she was.

Thank you.

You should give me my car keys now.

Text me your bank account number.

I'm sorry, and thank you.

You should come with me.

Where to?

A hotel. Hotel Maison de Fleurs.

Are you asking me

to go to a hotel with you?

Wow, listen to this woman.

Now she's jumping to conclusions.

What's wrong?

You don't want to?

Are you hitting on me right now?

If I was,

would you come with me?

Do you think I'm pretty?

You're attractive

in your own way.

Do you think you're still in college?

It's not a place where you let out your emotions.

You're such a bitch, Joo-yeon Shin!

You must feel so much better.

Even if I want to be in a real relationship, I don't have time.

Employee welfare isn't hard. Just give me time to date a guy!

She's the most qualified person,

but there are lots of rumors about her.

Are you going to be okay

working with Se-ryeong O?

Hey! Are you really going to do this to me?

What did I do?

I'm back, Shingshing.

From now on,

we will be living together.

Subtitle translation by Roy Eriga