The admins of Zeno’s fanbase posted the link to the fourth episode as soon as it aired.
They captioned it with ‘Please support our Zeno! He’s the thumbnail for this episode, so let’s make it a hit!’
Of course, they quickly clicked on the video, wanting to contribute to the views.
Jinxie, on the other hand, was seeing the series for the first time. She didn’t know the backstory, but somehow, she felt like she understood.
The man on the thumbnail finally appeared, and he was even more handsome than in the small photo. Right off the bat, she already found the editing and color grading much better than ‘Stars Among Us.’
It didn’t seem like a YouWatch series but an actual drama.
It first showed Jimin adjusting his apron around his waist, the fabric appearing stiff from years of use. He pushed up his sleeves, revealing forearms that have known hard work.
“Such great veins,” Jinxie muttered. However, she snapped back to focus when he began to shout.
“Fresh catch! Best in the market! You won’t find fish this good anywhere else!”
His voice was deep and loud, but it also held some warmth to it. He expertly dismembered the fish and sold it to the customers, appearing very natural.
– This is the first time I’ve heard Zeno speak so loud. His voice is so nice!
– My mom is watching next to me. She says he’s great at cleaning the fish.
– My dad approves, too! He was a fisherman before we moved to the city.
– I like the vibe of this episode already.
Just then, a girl—Sohee—stood at the edge of the crowd, appearing betrayed.
In the midst of the crowd, Jimin saw her. There was a slight shift in his gaze, but the audience caught it as a look of disappointment.
– Has Zeno improved his acting?
– His eyes hold so much power. It’s literally sparkling!
– He has such pretty eyes. I want to take them out and use them myself.
Jinxie, too, couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped her lips. She found her eyes stuck on the television, unable to look away.
Sohee walked forward, and Jimin went back to his usual expression. There wasn’t an ounce of teasing or pity. He just glanced at her before nodding toward the counter. “Want to help?”
She blinked, caught off guard. Then, slowly, she nodded.
– Green flag! He didn’t ask about it further.
– Wait, did Jake bail on Sohee?
– Sohee needs to give up her feelings for Jake. Please, get with Jimin instead. It wasn’t obvious at first, but it’s right in front of our faces! He likes you.
– I’m rooting for Jimin now!
What followed was a montage that lingered on the smallest details—the way their hands brushed against each other when she took a fish from him and how she laughed when he demonstrated the proper way to gut one.
There was an ease that shouldn’t be between them that only came from those who had been childhood friends. Their chemistry was through the roof!
– I am feeling giddy.
– I remember my first love with this scene. He wasn’t well-off like Jimin. I chose the richer guy like Jake, and I thought I would be happy, but I wasn’t. I still think about him from time to time.
– Sohee, learn from the upstairs commenter and choose Jimin instead!
The camera pulled back to reveal Jake at a distance.
However, he was too late. He watched with an unreadable expression at first before it changed into one of regret. His lips parted like he wanted to call out her name, but he didn’t.
– Jaehyun’s… actually pretty good at acting?
– His expression was perfect just now!
– It’s too late, bud. We’re all team #JiHee1 now.
Jinxie was enamored by the show. It was such a simple concept, but she felt it was done right.
Just before Jaehyun’s expression could become a hot topic, the focus shifted once again.
Back at the stall, Jimin and an old woman, whose face was hidden from view, sat behind the counter. Their hands moved in a quiet conversation. There was a soft, genuine smile playing on Jimin’s lips, and it was at that moment that the comment section exploded.
– Zeno knows sign language?
– I think they’re just moving their hands around.
– That’s not the case. I’m a special needs teacher, and he said, “You should lay low now. The people around you wouldn’t mind providing for you.” He’s telling his grandma to rest!
– I didn’t think it was possible to like him even more.
– The details of this drama are amazing. Jimin was raised by his mute grandma, so he’s inherently silent. Jake grew up in a broken family, so he feels he doesn’t deserve love. Sohee is just a ray of sunshine who’s always trying her best. Flawed but relatable characters!
– This series is so underrated. I want it to become famous, but at the same time, I want to gatekeep it!
As the episode finished, Jinxie found herself craving for more. She went back and binged the first three episodes before rewatching the fourth one.
“When are they going to air the next episodes?” she muttered, already feeling restless. Then, before she knew it, she had begun researching everything about the drama.
She knew most of the cast members as they were also popular in Tick. However, the person playing Jimin, undoubtedly her favorite character, was someone unfamiliar.
“Zeno Han,” she muttered when she found his name on the drama’s wiki page. A small smile appeared on her lips as she read his fun facts.
“What an interesting man.”
Then, she placed her phone back down and watched the fourth episode for the third time, replaying the scene where Zeno was selling fish and signing to the old woman over and over again.
After what felt like her 25th replay, she finally stopped, minimizing the video and looking at the views it had garnered.
In the span of an hour, it merely had 12,000 views as opposed to the 100,000 views that ‘Stars Among Us’ had already garnered.
Jinxie clicked her tongue.
This couldn’t be.
Masterpieces like this definitely deserved more!
Jimin & Sohee