The suspense of ‘A Good-Natured Competition’ is becoming increasingly intense.
In episodes 5 to 8 of the STUDIO X+U drama ‘A Good-Natured Competition’ (planned by: STUDIO X+U / produced by: YLAB FLEX, STUDIO X+U / directed by: Kim Tae-hee / written by: Kim Tae-hee, Min Ye-ji), which aired from the 17th to the 20th, the relationship between Yoo Jae-yi (played by Lee Hyeri) and Woo Seul-ki (played by Jeong Soobin) is depicted as they navigate between trust and suspicion through various incidents. Seul-ki, who initially felt wary of Jae-yi thinking she approached her with ulterior motives, ultimately decided to trust Jae-yi again when she extended a helping hand in a desperate moment.
Seul-ki learned that her father, Woo Do-hyuk (played by Lee Won-jae), died at Jae-yi's father Yoo Tae-joon's (played by Kim Tae-hoon) hospital and that a lawsuit was ongoing. This led Seul-ki to suspect that Jae-yi's reason for approaching her was related to needing her agreement for the lawsuit.
As Seul-ki began to open her heart to Jae-yi's goodwill, a crack formed that shook Seul-ki's psyche. Meanwhile, midterm exams were approaching, and Seul-ki sought to obtain the prescription medication she had relied on during her time in the orphanage. However, it was difficult to get the medication without a prescription, leading her to seek illegal routes.
While trying to obtain the medication, Seul-ki unexpectedly met Jae-yi. A new secret formed between the two. Jae-yi promised to reveal why she had information about Seul-ki if Seul-ki took the medication and performed better than her in the midterms, leaving Seul-ki with no choice but to accept.
Awakened, Seul-ki tied for first place in the entire school with Jae-yi in the midterms. However, the top 20 students received free health check-ups, and Seul-ki feared that her use of the medication would be exposed through this check-up. Therefore, she decided to take Jae-yi's hand once more. Jae-yi promised safety to Seul-ki, who knelt and said, "I will do anything," and added, "I will think a little more about what to ask you to do."
Additionally, Jae-yi honestly revealed that she obtained information related to Seul-ki from her father's office. Through this process, Seul-ki began to trust Jae-yi a little more, and their relationship grew closer again.
However, behind the scenes, active maneuvers surrounding the truth of Do-hyuk's death were taking place. Tae-joon attempted to secure Do-hyuk's phone, which Seul-ki possessed, through the queen of gossip at Chae-hwa High School, Joo Ye-ri (played by Kang Hye-won), but ultimately, it was Jae-yi who ended up with the phone.
Inside the phone, Jae-yi discovered a mysterious video that Tae-joon used as evidence to blackmail Do-hyuk. The shocking video contained footage of Jae-yi's missing sister Yoo Je-na (played by Chu Ye-jin), and the tension escalated as Je-na appeared before a horrified Jae-yi. Additionally, Kim Beom-soo (played by Kim Sang-ji), who had taken drugs and was mentally unstable, wielded a knife and stabbed Seul-ki. The unexpected series of events heightened curiosity for the next episode.
Thus, ‘A Good-Natured Competition’ maximizes immersion with unpredictable developments and the intricate psychological battles of its characters that never allow viewers to relax. In particular, the complex relationship between Jae-yi and Seul-ki, who navigate between suspicion and trust through various incidents, keeps viewers glued to the screen. Furthermore, the process of characters with different objectives becoming intertwined in a single incident generates intrigue. The tangled relationships of characters with different goals, the growing sense of crisis as hidden truths are revealed, and the unpredictable variables that could explode at any moment provide intense suspense that captivates the audience.
The STUDIO X+U drama ‘A Good-Natured Competition’ is released every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at midnight on U+tv and U+mobiletv.
