Star of this episode

"The first date was decided by viewer votes. Out of all the amazing people, it means I'm the one who matches best with Sungjoon."

Minji's lips curved into a crooked smile.

"Jo Sungjoon must hate being paired with her. Serves him right, huh?"

As expected, Sungjoon's behavior visibly changed. He put down his fork and knife and started glancing at his phone.

Haeyoung asked him a few questions, but he barely responded.

Then Sungjoon's interview played.

> "Talking to her one-on-one... I don't know. She just felt kind of boring. I didn't feel any charm."

What an idiot. Even if it's a private interview room, how could he say something so blunt?

• "Whoa, that's way too harsh."

• "I 'hate' it when people look at their phones during a date. Brings back PTSD."

• "Even if you're not interested, that's just plain rude."

• "Sungjoon is clearly trying to cut ties with Haeyoung."

• "If he's this bad 'on camera', imagine what he's like in real life. Total jerk."

He even stood up and left before Haeyoung finished her meal.

The camera zoomed in on Haeyoung's confused eyes and hands.

> "If you're not interested, isn't it better not to waste each other's time?"

His voice played over the footage, and even Minji found it disgusting.

The cherry on top? Sungjoon hid the gift he brought, clearly unwilling to give it to Haeyoung. Online comments were flooded with criticism over how petty he was.

"This show is totally out to destroy Jo Sungjoon."

Minji said it out loud, but she wasn't really all that interested.

He should've texted me. Then none of this would've happened. She smirked.

Almost instantly, her eyes sparkled.

"I'm on screen!"

Finally, Minji's face appeared on the screen. She clasped her hands together in excitement.

She was sitting with Jaeyoung, chatting casually. Every time Jaeyoung spoke, Minji burst out in laughter.

"I seriously thought he was boring and wished he'd shut up, but you'd never tell by watching this."

Minji giggled. Her efforts paid off, Jaeyoung's interview was quite favorable.

> "Minji has this bright energy. She makes you feel good just being around her."

Exactly. She was sure he'd fallen for her then.

And yet, from that day onward, he never once voted for her.

Weird. There's no way I misread someone like him.

Just as she tried to focus more to figure it out, the scene shifted, and Taeri appeared.

"What the hell? My date's over already?"

Haeyoung and Sungjoon got nearly 15 minutes of screen time, while her date with Jaeyoung barely made it to 4. Considering she shared the scene with him, her actual time on screen was just 2 minutes.

Ridiculous.

Minji started fanning herself, then went to the fridge to get a cooling face mask. Her face was flushed with frustration — the next group stay was coming up, and a breakout would be a disaster. She carefully applied the expensive mask she'd splurged on.

Then came the text vote results. She already knew she got zero votes, so she didn't even want to look.

[No one voted for Minji.]

The caption flashed directly under her face. They didn't even bother to give her a full shot before — but this they broadcast loud and clear?

She thought she managed her expression, but watching it back, she just looked angry.

• "Minji's face is full of attitude."

• "Hey, let's not comment on her looks."

• "It's not a looks comment — it's about her expression."

Minji started typing furiously:

> "You f***ing loser, would 'you' be able to control your expression in this situation? Wanna see how well your ugly ass manages it?"

But she stopped herself and deleted the comment. Barely.

Next up was the sheep ranch episode, she wished it had just been cut entirely.

Just thinking about that day made her shiver.

They had the nerve to wear those tacky outfits and then act like hiking was some fierce competition. She still remembered the hostility from the other girls.

She ended up climbing the mountain in her expensive designer heels. Within five minutes, her hair and clothes were a disaster. To top it off, a crazy sheep rammed into her and she fell into a pile of dung.

Yet somehow, the episode aired even 'worse' than she imagined. The spotlight at the ranch? Went to Haeyoung.

The camera captured Haeyoung tying her hair back, hiking energetically. Then came the interviews.

> "She looked really good climbing up like that."

> "She seemed really strong."

Then came the slow-motion shot: Haeyoung smiling brightly, petting a sheep, her hair gently blowing in the wind and golden sunlight shining down on her.

• "Honestly, Haeyoung looks like a dream girlfriend. Can't help but fall for her."

Social media exploded with real-time reactions. Below a still shot from the episode, people commented:

• "I don't even watch dating shows, but I'm into this now. Yeah, I'm shallow — and what?"

• "Wait, is she for real? She could beat out most actresses."

• "All the guys seem into Haeyoung now lol. She was already popular, but this seals it."

• "Totally get the hype. If it were me, I'd grab her hand and run to get married."

• "I want to hike with Haeyoung too. I mean, she'd have to drag me, but still…"

• "Haeyoung, feed me too. I'll be your loyal sheep. Baaa\~"

A few tried to criticize her looks, but the replies were brutal.

As Minji scrolled through the comments, Jaeyoung's interview played.

> "Honestly, I was kind of nervous. Haeyoung… she made me wonder if this is what love at first sight feels like."

He smiled wide — looking totally smitten with Haeyoung.

So that's why he voted for her later?

Ugh. This is so frustrating. If I'd gotten that gondola date, that would've been my spot.

Look at Haeyoung smiling. She totally knows Jaeyoung was into me and is just flirting to steal him.

But... she's not even that clever. Still, it's so annoying. And what is Jo Sungjoon doing, not keeping his girlfriend in check?

Minji angrily closed the online forum. The show moved on to the next day , and the day after. No matter how closely she watched, she barely showed up.

Haeyoung, Taeri, even that loser Ga-eun had scenes.

Why was she the only one with almost no screen time?

This wasn't what she signed up for. She put so much effort into her makeup, wore clothes she hadn't even finished paying off — all for this?

Even her fans were complaining.

• "Why is Minji barely shown? Her date was less than 5 minutes."

• "Probably because she didn't get any votes — no storyline."

• "Still, it's unfair."

• "Right?! I thought I was the only one. Is the PD biased against Minji or what? She's clearly the prettiest and most likeable. What's going on?"

That last comment? Minji posted it herself. She reread it, wondering if it sounded too obvious.

A voice on the show pulled her attention back.

> "A new contestant is here!"

Yoonhyuk had arrived.

Yes! Finally, the moment I've been waiting for!

She checked the time, 15 minutes left. Just enough for Yoonhyuk to enter and choose her before the episode ended.

Her mood soared.

Of course. I'm the star of this episode!

As soon as Yoonhyuk appeared, real-time reactions poured in.

Most of them were about how good-looking he was.

Their greetings were awkward but filled with anticipation. Then came a meaningful gaze from Yoonhyuk.

Obviously directed at me… wait, huh?

Why is the camera on Haeyoung? Yoonhyuk's picking me, isn't he?

> "Woo Minji."

His voice played in the background.

Weird. Then why is the camera still on Haeyoung?

Is the feed frozen? Why are they locking eyes?

Minji banged her tablet in frustration. Then the screen changed.

[Who is Yoonhyuk's friend?]

Minji's jaw dropped. Across from him, Haeyoung appeared. The show began explaining their friendship backstory.