HANEUL narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Park Mirae walk away, his back retreating to another table, where he greeted the other contestants with a practiced smile. Haneul quickly schooled his expression, smoothing out any trace of irritation or suspicion. If a camera happened to catch even a flicker of negativity on his face after that seemingly 'friendly' exchange, it could easily be twisted into something far more dramatic in the editing room.
The last thing he needed was to give the program staff fodder for a manufactured rivalry. No, it was better to let everyone think the interaction hadn't fazed him at all. After all, in this world of cameras and curated narratives, perception was everything.
"What was that about?" Haru muttered beside him, his tone a mix of confusion and irritation. He leaned closer to Haneul, his voice low but edged with frustration. "Did he seriously just try to stir something up out of nowhere?"
