Friendly Rivalry (2025) s01e03 Episode Script
Episode 3
1
When do you think competition begins?
Even before humans were born.
That is, when the sperm inside the father
raced desperately to merge with the mother’s egg.
That’s when fierce competition began.
But since those are just cells,
let’s not count that for now.
Is this your first race?
University entrance exam.
Or employment?
Neither.
It is said that Je-yi’s father followed divine will
and added a little human effort.
That’s how Je-yi was born according to plan.
He gathered all the renowned fortune tellers and astrologers in the country.
Yes.
And chose an auspicious date.
To perform a C-section.
Anesthesia is starting.
He even rescheduled
other mothers' surgeries.
It was a piece of cake for him.
Because Je-yi’s father
is the hospital director.
(Current time: 19:00)
So from birth,
Je-yi possessed an enviable fortune.
Not only she was healthy and beautiful,
but also multi-talented.
Most importantly, her parents
were incredibly wealthy.
Dance, music, painting, sports.
No matter what she learned,
she improved rapidly.
Honey.
- Everyone praised Je-yi from a young age, except for one person.
- I think our Je-yi is a genius.
Her father was the only exception.
Every time her mother
proudly praised Je-yi
What rank is she?
What place did she get?
So, what was her ranking?
Her father always asked that.
Honey.
Je-yi isn’t pursuing sports,
so don’t put too much effort into it.
(39th National Equestrian Competition - Champion)
Je-yi had an older sister, one year her senior.
You’re amazing.
She excelled academically.
Before she even
started elementary school,
she could easily solve
middle school math problems.
Je-yi had a fierce determination.
She studied relentlessly,
even skipping bathroom breaks.
In just six months,
she caught up to her sister’s math level.
Time’s up.
From now on, for every wrong answer,
you get hit on the palm that many times.
(Yoo Je-na)
Why are you crying?
Didn’t you want to surpass your sister?
I don’t know.
I just don’t want to hit my sister.
Why? Why don’t you want to hit her?
I don’t want to hurt my sister.
Then do you want
your sister to hit you instead?
No… I don’t want to be hit either.
Je-yi, do you remember what the pastor
told us about Cain and Abel?
Because God only accepted Abel’s offering,
Cain took Abel to the field and killed him.
Je-yi, you will become
someone others envy.
Even your sister won’t be an exception.
So, will my sister kill me?
I think so.
But Je-yi will never give
her sister the chance to do so.
Je-yi, let's go to school together.
So she found ways to keep her distance from others.
Hi, Je-yi.
Hi.
Even so, unexpected things
happened all the time.
No one could break through Je-yi’s armor.
Perhaps she just didn’t want to take it off.
The Lord is our refuge and strength.
Je-yi’s family attended church every week.
To Je-yi, it was
the most boring time of the week.
People usually pray to repent for their sins.
But she had nothing to repent for.
So she came up with an idea.
If she wanted to make
this time more meaningful,
she had to do
something bad first.
That way, she’d have
something to talk to God about.
The more bad things she did,
the more she looked forward to church.
She even found it fun.
Amen.
Je-yi became addicted to the joy of prayer.
One day, she said she received
a revelation from God.
She said she had a dream.
She dreamed she was wearing armor and
jumped into the Han River.
Although she was a great swimmer, it was useless.
Because the armor was too heavy.
She sank to the bottom.
But to her surprise,
she felt a sense of peace and serenity.
She could breathe
more easily than usual.
And best of all.
Her sister could never kill her anymore.
She wouldn't have to commit Cain’s sin.
She had finally found a way to break free
from her father’s curse.
Friendly Rivalry
Get up.
We're going somewhere.
Where?
It's okay.
She's my friend.
Where's the director?
Still at work.
Here.
I set the humidity to 49%.
Hope you can focus on studying today.
You probably
won’t refuse my kindness again, right?
Why are you so nice to me?
Try it on first.
I'll tell you after you put it on.
I’ll do it myself.
How’s the size?
Does it fit?
It’s fine.
But how did you know my size?
I’ve hugged you before.
I originally wanted to get you shoes too,
but I heard giving shoes
makes people run away.
Now answer me.
Why are you so nice to me?
Because I respect you.
Actually, I know that at your previous school,
you were always ranked first in the whole school.
You never took extra tutoring,
yet you still got such great grades.
I want to know how you study.
You seem to know everything about me.
To be honest,
I thought on the first day,
you were just trying to scare the new students.
And now?
I don’t know anymore.
Being ranked first without tutoring
Maybe it was only possible because
I was in the countryside.
My method doesn’t seem to work here.
Why are you so unsure?
You all already learned this at cram school,
and I’m the only one who hasn’t.
That’s why I was just
at that elite tutoring center
Then let’s do this.
I’ll show you the materials
from the tutoring center
and private lessons.
You explain exactly how you study.
Tell me everything,
without leaving anything out.
Sounds like an unfair trade.
What do you think?
Is that all Je-yi wants from me?
Hey, Woo Seul-gi
If they find out you came here, they’ll lose it.
Hide first.
It’s not even a limited edition brand.
Who wears second-hand school uniforms?
This is seriously shocking.
Why is Je-yi suddenly close
with that country bumpkin?
Feeding and training her bit by bit.
Turning her into an obedient pet.
Isn’t that her hobby?
You’re right.
We’re her servants too.
(Je-yi) - Are they talking about me?
- Just praise her for being smart, beautiful, and perfect,
and she’ll be over the moon.
Honestly, if my dad spent that much money on me and I still didn’t do well,
I’d have to be an idiot.
And that face too.
Acting like she’s never had
anything done, so disgusting.
At least that bumpkin moved out
from next door to Je-yi.
That’s a relief.
Hey.
Woo Seul-gi really was born different.
What do you mean?
Her records say she has no father.
She has a mother,
but she’s super young.
At that age, she must have gotten
pregnant in high school.
So, she’s an illegitimate child?
Wow, I’ve only seen this in dramas.
It’s my first time encountering it in real life.
Did she transfer schools
because she caused trouble there too?
Because she looks like her mom?
Seems like anyone can pull off
the mysterious vibe these days.
Why does everyone have so many secrets?
Our dear Kyung is mad
because Je-yi secretly got a tutor again.
What’s with that?
Why didn’t she tell me?
Because she knew that if she told you,
you wouldn’t talk to her anymore.
That’s not mine.
What should I do?
I’m sorry.
Damn, that scared me.
That really startled me!
(Je-yi: Guys, where are you?
Aren’t you grabbing something to eat before class?)
(Let’s meet at the first-floor café.)
Ugh, eating will just make me sleepy.
I won’t be able to study.
Let’s just grab a coffee.
My gastritis is acting up,
I can’t drink coffee.
Then have tea.
Tea tastes like nothing.
If you take this elevator,
you won’t bump into them.
See you at school tomorrow.
Oh, right.
Also, I really haven’t had
any plastic surgery.
Je-yi.
What?
What are you guys doing?
Waiting for you.
You’re early.
- What do you want to drink?
- We already ordered.
What should we do?
What should we do…
(Funeral Hall)
Hey, student…
Your bag is open.
Oh.
Thanks.
Kyung changed her career plans.
Choi Kyung, you’re not going to medical school anymore?
Even if I became a doctor,
with the declining population trend,
the market share
won’t be as good as before.
I want to go into engineering
and become a patent attorney.
Wow, Kyung, you’re really thinking ahead.
How do you know all this?
While you were busy checking
celebrity social media,
I was reading economic reports.
A patent attorney?
That’s a smart move.
Both of your parents are lawyers,
so they can give you solid advice.
If you reframe your experience in the
medical club as an interest in biotech patents,
that could work really well.
Then Kyung doesn’t need
to be class president this semester, right?
What do you mean by that?
Medical schools focus on conduct scores.
Since you’re going into engineering,
there’s no need to prove
you were a dedicated student leader.
Kyung has already been
vice president multiple times.
She doesn’t need another leadership role.
Same for Je-yi, she’s been
class president and student council president.
At this rate, she could run for parliament.
Since you’ve already
proven your character,
there’s no need
to waste time anymore.
Got it?
Teacher.
To run for parliament,
it’s not about character. It’s about popularity.
Princesses, you’ve worked
so hard studying this late.
Let me take you home safely.
Please get in the car.
Why are you just standing there? Get in.
Please, get in.
Kyung, does your herniated disc still hurt?
Uncle, you’re so busy.
You don’t have to worry about me.
If I undergo manual physical therapy
along with nerve block treatment,
I should be able to hold out until
the college entrance exam even without surgery.
Since starting senior year, she’s been so focused on studying
that she only washes her hair once every three days.
She probably doesn’t have time to go to the hospital.
But relieving the pain will
help her study more efficiently.
Even if you’re busy,
try to make time for a hospital visit.
Alright.
And what about Princess Ye-ri?
How have you been lately?
Thanks to you, Uncle, I’ve been doing great!
You got forehead fillers
during winter break.
No side effects, right?
You got fillers again?
Oh my god.
No one even noticed.
It must look really natural.
Uncle, thank you!
Uncle, we can get off
at the next crosswalk.
Why? I can take you all the way home.
I’m a little hungry.
I want to stop by the convenience store with Ye-ri.
- Thanks, Uncle.
- Bye!
Now that we’re seniors,
are you planning to gain weight too?
What are you eating this time?
Don’t you find it weird?
What?
Every time I see Je-yi’s dad,
something about him feels really off.
- He makes me so uncomfortable.
- What are you talking about?
Do you know anything
about Je-yi’s older sister?
Haven’t the upperclassmen mentioned her?
She’s probably busy preparing
to retake her exams.
Is that so?
Kyung has been really serious
since becoming a senior.
She said she’s giving up on medical school.
She even went over the
engineering program list with the school advisor.
Rather than becoming just another doctor,
a patent attorney from
Korea University is a much better path.
She knows her own limits well.
How do you know her goal
is to be a patent attorney?
These days, what else do engineering graduates do
if they’re not patent attorneys?
That's true.
I heard the new transfer student is really smart.
Her level is nothing Dad
needs to worry about.
But didn’t she rank first
in her entire school before?
Forget about her.
She’s not even my competition.
(U-Turn Allowed on Left Turn Signal)
Uncle offered to drive us.
Why did we get out?
Call your family’s driver.
He’s off work now, okay?
Do you know what time it is?
What do you think we are?
Wait, that’s not for you.
It’s for her.
What is this?
Careful, I could report you
for soliciting minors.
Call me.
What’s so funny?
You’re actually laughing?
You do know what kind of
business card this is, right?
Of course. I know very well.
It’s not even my first time getting one.
Doesn’t it bother you?
Or are you just that brainless?
Kyung, only pretty girls get these.
Have you ever received one?
Wow, Ye-ri, you really know
how to delude yourself.
I’m just stating facts.
It’s written right here.
("Gangnam’s Top 10% Lifestyle
Legally Earn High Income")
Making it into Korea’s
top 10% in looks and body
That’s not easy.
- Ye-ri.
- I’m heading out.
Damn it.
(Korea University)
(Korea University)
(This month's total amount due: 2,900,000 KRW)
(Outstanding balance: 6,750,050 KRW)
(Total amount payable: 9,650,050 KRW)
(Patent Law Case Studies)
(Administrative Litigation)
(Trademark Law)
(Oral Medication)
Hey, student…
Your bag is unzipped.
May he rest in peace.
I'm Yoo Tae-joon, the surgeon
who operated on the patient Woo Do-heok.
The patient arrived at the hospital
already unconscious due to acute sepsis.
He was unable to breathe on his own.
Although our medical team
did everything possible,
unfortunately
- Aunt
- Quickly, take her to the VIP ward!
Give her an IV, replenish vitamins,
and administer a sedative.
Yes.
Take her to the ward now!
(Praying for the departed soul)
Dad.
You’re asking me how I feel after finding
my father after 13 years, only for him to die?
I don’t feel sad at all.
Not even a little.
Of course, I’ve wondered
Why couldn’t I have grown up
with both parents like everyone else?
Why did it have to be then
that you, Yoo Jae-yi,
who had everything in the world,
appeared before me?
(Jeong Jo-jun Elite Academy Admissions Guide)
Here's one for you too.
Take it.
Thank you.
Kim Na-ri didn’t show up
before school ended yesterday.
Is she giving up on college?
One absence can drop your
university prospects by three grades.
Being a class president once
can push your university level up by three grades.
We’ll be selecting the class president soon.
Anyone interested, step forward.
That’s all.
Jae-yi
Can I sit next to you?
When do you think competition begins?
Even before humans were born.
That is, when the sperm inside the father
raced desperately to merge with the mother’s egg.
That’s when fierce competition began.
But since those are just cells,
let’s not count that for now.
Is this your first race?
University entrance exam.
Or employment?
Neither.
It is said that Je-yi’s father followed divine will
and added a little human effort.
That’s how Je-yi was born according to plan.
He gathered all the renowned fortune tellers and astrologers in the country.
Yes.
And chose an auspicious date.
To perform a C-section.
Anesthesia is starting.
He even rescheduled
other mothers' surgeries.
It was a piece of cake for him.
Because Je-yi’s father
is the hospital director.
(Current time: 19:00)
So from birth,
Je-yi possessed an enviable fortune.
Not only she was healthy and beautiful,
but also multi-talented.
Most importantly, her parents
were incredibly wealthy.
Dance, music, painting, sports.
No matter what she learned,
she improved rapidly.
Honey.
- Everyone praised Je-yi from a young age, except for one person.
- I think our Je-yi is a genius.
Her father was the only exception.
Every time her mother
proudly praised Je-yi
What rank is she?
What place did she get?
So, what was her ranking?
Her father always asked that.
Honey.
Je-yi isn’t pursuing sports,
so don’t put too much effort into it.
(39th National Equestrian Competition - Champion)
Je-yi had an older sister, one year her senior.
You’re amazing.
She excelled academically.
Before she even
started elementary school,
she could easily solve
middle school math problems.
Je-yi had a fierce determination.
She studied relentlessly,
even skipping bathroom breaks.
In just six months,
she caught up to her sister’s math level.
Time’s up.
From now on, for every wrong answer,
you get hit on the palm that many times.
(Yoo Je-na)
Why are you crying?
Didn’t you want to surpass your sister?
I don’t know.
I just don’t want to hit my sister.
Why? Why don’t you want to hit her?
I don’t want to hurt my sister.
Then do you want
your sister to hit you instead?
No… I don’t want to be hit either.
Je-yi, do you remember what the pastor
told us about Cain and Abel?
Because God only accepted Abel’s offering,
Cain took Abel to the field and killed him.
Je-yi, you will become
someone others envy.
Even your sister won’t be an exception.
So, will my sister kill me?
I think so.
But Je-yi will never give
her sister the chance to do so.
Je-yi, let's go to school together.
So she found ways to keep her distance from others.
Hi, Je-yi.
Hi.
Even so, unexpected things
happened all the time.
No one could break through Je-yi’s armor.
Perhaps she just didn’t want to take it off.
The Lord is our refuge and strength.
Je-yi’s family attended church every week.
To Je-yi, it was
the most boring time of the week.
People usually pray to repent for their sins.
But she had nothing to repent for.
So she came up with an idea.
If she wanted to make
this time more meaningful,
she had to do
something bad first.
That way, she’d have
something to talk to God about.
The more bad things she did,
the more she looked forward to church.
She even found it fun.
Amen.
Je-yi became addicted to the joy of prayer.
One day, she said she received
a revelation from God.
She said she had a dream.
She dreamed she was wearing armor and
jumped into the Han River.
Although she was a great swimmer, it was useless.
Because the armor was too heavy.
She sank to the bottom.
But to her surprise,
she felt a sense of peace and serenity.
She could breathe
more easily than usual.
And best of all.
Her sister could never kill her anymore.
She wouldn't have to commit Cain’s sin.
She had finally found a way to break free
from her father’s curse.
Friendly Rivalry
Get up.
We're going somewhere.
Where?
It's okay.
She's my friend.
Where's the director?
Still at work.
Here.
I set the humidity to 49%.
Hope you can focus on studying today.
You probably
won’t refuse my kindness again, right?
Why are you so nice to me?
Try it on first.
I'll tell you after you put it on.
I’ll do it myself.
How’s the size?
Does it fit?
It’s fine.
But how did you know my size?
I’ve hugged you before.
I originally wanted to get you shoes too,
but I heard giving shoes
makes people run away.
Now answer me.
Why are you so nice to me?
Because I respect you.
Actually, I know that at your previous school,
you were always ranked first in the whole school.
You never took extra tutoring,
yet you still got such great grades.
I want to know how you study.
You seem to know everything about me.
To be honest,
I thought on the first day,
you were just trying to scare the new students.
And now?
I don’t know anymore.
Being ranked first without tutoring
Maybe it was only possible because
I was in the countryside.
My method doesn’t seem to work here.
Why are you so unsure?
You all already learned this at cram school,
and I’m the only one who hasn’t.
That’s why I was just
at that elite tutoring center
Then let’s do this.
I’ll show you the materials
from the tutoring center
and private lessons.
You explain exactly how you study.
Tell me everything,
without leaving anything out.
Sounds like an unfair trade.
What do you think?
Is that all Je-yi wants from me?
Hey, Woo Seul-gi
If they find out you came here, they’ll lose it.
Hide first.
It’s not even a limited edition brand.
Who wears second-hand school uniforms?
This is seriously shocking.
Why is Je-yi suddenly close
with that country bumpkin?
Feeding and training her bit by bit.
Turning her into an obedient pet.
Isn’t that her hobby?
You’re right.
We’re her servants too.
(Je-yi) - Are they talking about me?
- Just praise her for being smart, beautiful, and perfect,
and she’ll be over the moon.
Honestly, if my dad spent that much money on me and I still didn’t do well,
I’d have to be an idiot.
And that face too.
Acting like she’s never had
anything done, so disgusting.
At least that bumpkin moved out
from next door to Je-yi.
That’s a relief.
Hey.
Woo Seul-gi really was born different.
What do you mean?
Her records say she has no father.
She has a mother,
but she’s super young.
At that age, she must have gotten
pregnant in high school.
So, she’s an illegitimate child?
Wow, I’ve only seen this in dramas.
It’s my first time encountering it in real life.
Did she transfer schools
because she caused trouble there too?
Because she looks like her mom?
Seems like anyone can pull off
the mysterious vibe these days.
Why does everyone have so many secrets?
Our dear Kyung is mad
because Je-yi secretly got a tutor again.
What’s with that?
Why didn’t she tell me?
Because she knew that if she told you,
you wouldn’t talk to her anymore.
That’s not mine.
What should I do?
I’m sorry.
Damn, that scared me.
That really startled me!
(Je-yi: Guys, where are you?
Aren’t you grabbing something to eat before class?)
(Let’s meet at the first-floor café.)
Ugh, eating will just make me sleepy.
I won’t be able to study.
Let’s just grab a coffee.
My gastritis is acting up,
I can’t drink coffee.
Then have tea.
Tea tastes like nothing.
If you take this elevator,
you won’t bump into them.
See you at school tomorrow.
Oh, right.
Also, I really haven’t had
any plastic surgery.
Je-yi.
What?
What are you guys doing?
Waiting for you.
You’re early.
- What do you want to drink?
- We already ordered.
What should we do?
What should we do…
(Funeral Hall)
Hey, student…
Your bag is open.
Oh.
Thanks.
Kyung changed her career plans.
Choi Kyung, you’re not going to medical school anymore?
Even if I became a doctor,
with the declining population trend,
the market share
won’t be as good as before.
I want to go into engineering
and become a patent attorney.
Wow, Kyung, you’re really thinking ahead.
How do you know all this?
While you were busy checking
celebrity social media,
I was reading economic reports.
A patent attorney?
That’s a smart move.
Both of your parents are lawyers,
so they can give you solid advice.
If you reframe your experience in the
medical club as an interest in biotech patents,
that could work really well.
Then Kyung doesn’t need
to be class president this semester, right?
What do you mean by that?
Medical schools focus on conduct scores.
Since you’re going into engineering,
there’s no need to prove
you were a dedicated student leader.
Kyung has already been
vice president multiple times.
She doesn’t need another leadership role.
Same for Je-yi, she’s been
class president and student council president.
At this rate, she could run for parliament.
Since you’ve already
proven your character,
there’s no need
to waste time anymore.
Got it?
Teacher.
To run for parliament,
it’s not about character. It’s about popularity.
Princesses, you’ve worked
so hard studying this late.
Let me take you home safely.
Please get in the car.
Why are you just standing there? Get in.
Please, get in.
Kyung, does your herniated disc still hurt?
Uncle, you’re so busy.
You don’t have to worry about me.
If I undergo manual physical therapy
along with nerve block treatment,
I should be able to hold out until
the college entrance exam even without surgery.
Since starting senior year, she’s been so focused on studying
that she only washes her hair once every three days.
She probably doesn’t have time to go to the hospital.
But relieving the pain will
help her study more efficiently.
Even if you’re busy,
try to make time for a hospital visit.
Alright.
And what about Princess Ye-ri?
How have you been lately?
Thanks to you, Uncle, I’ve been doing great!
You got forehead fillers
during winter break.
No side effects, right?
You got fillers again?
Oh my god.
No one even noticed.
It must look really natural.
Uncle, thank you!
Uncle, we can get off
at the next crosswalk.
Why? I can take you all the way home.
I’m a little hungry.
I want to stop by the convenience store with Ye-ri.
- Thanks, Uncle.
- Bye!
Now that we’re seniors,
are you planning to gain weight too?
What are you eating this time?
Don’t you find it weird?
What?
Every time I see Je-yi’s dad,
something about him feels really off.
- He makes me so uncomfortable.
- What are you talking about?
Do you know anything
about Je-yi’s older sister?
Haven’t the upperclassmen mentioned her?
She’s probably busy preparing
to retake her exams.
Is that so?
Kyung has been really serious
since becoming a senior.
She said she’s giving up on medical school.
She even went over the
engineering program list with the school advisor.
Rather than becoming just another doctor,
a patent attorney from
Korea University is a much better path.
She knows her own limits well.
How do you know her goal
is to be a patent attorney?
These days, what else do engineering graduates do
if they’re not patent attorneys?
That's true.
I heard the new transfer student is really smart.
Her level is nothing Dad
needs to worry about.
But didn’t she rank first
in her entire school before?
Forget about her.
She’s not even my competition.
(U-Turn Allowed on Left Turn Signal)
Uncle offered to drive us.
Why did we get out?
Call your family’s driver.
He’s off work now, okay?
Do you know what time it is?
What do you think we are?
Wait, that’s not for you.
It’s for her.
What is this?
Careful, I could report you
for soliciting minors.
Call me.
What’s so funny?
You’re actually laughing?
You do know what kind of
business card this is, right?
Of course. I know very well.
It’s not even my first time getting one.
Doesn’t it bother you?
Or are you just that brainless?
Kyung, only pretty girls get these.
Have you ever received one?
Wow, Ye-ri, you really know
how to delude yourself.
I’m just stating facts.
It’s written right here.
("Gangnam’s Top 10% Lifestyle
Legally Earn High Income")
Making it into Korea’s
top 10% in looks and body
That’s not easy.
- Ye-ri.
- I’m heading out.
Damn it.
(Korea University)
(Korea University)
(This month's total amount due: 2,900,000 KRW)
(Outstanding balance: 6,750,050 KRW)
(Total amount payable: 9,650,050 KRW)
(Patent Law Case Studies)
(Administrative Litigation)
(Trademark Law)
(Oral Medication)
Hey, student…
Your bag is unzipped.
May he rest in peace.
I'm Yoo Tae-joon, the surgeon
who operated on the patient Woo Do-heok.
The patient arrived at the hospital
already unconscious due to acute sepsis.
He was unable to breathe on his own.
Although our medical team
did everything possible,
unfortunately
- Aunt
- Quickly, take her to the VIP ward!
Give her an IV, replenish vitamins,
and administer a sedative.
Yes.
Take her to the ward now!
(Praying for the departed soul)
Dad.
You’re asking me how I feel after finding
my father after 13 years, only for him to die?
I don’t feel sad at all.
Not even a little.
Of course, I’ve wondered
Why couldn’t I have grown up
with both parents like everyone else?
Why did it have to be then
that you, Yoo Jae-yi,
who had everything in the world,
appeared before me?
(Jeong Jo-jun Elite Academy Admissions Guide)
Here's one for you too.
Take it.
Thank you.
Kim Na-ri didn’t show up
before school ended yesterday.
Is she giving up on college?
One absence can drop your
university prospects by three grades.
Being a class president once
can push your university level up by three grades.
We’ll be selecting the class president soon.
Anyone interested, step forward.
That’s all.
Jae-yi
Can I sit next to you?