Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Psychometry Her (2)
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"Whoa... Your skin... It's insane. For real..."
"Your hair's amazing too. How can the cuticles be this perfect?"
"...Haha, thank you."
"How do you take care of your skin? Even if a dermatologist was glued to you 24/7, it wouldn't look this good."
"I just wash my face and use basic skincare products... Oh, and sunscreen when I go out..."
"No way! Liar!"
"...Nah, Jeong Gyeowol isn't like us regular humans. She came down from heaven, so it's possible."
It's hard to argue back when they're saying nonsense with such serious faces.
"But seriously, no skincare routine? I could believe every drop of moisture in your body is hyaluronic acid."
"...Huh?"
Hyalu-what? Don't go changing the water in my body on your own...
"...Mind if I touch your cheek just once?"
"Ah... Sure."
Before I knew it, the entire makeup team had gathered around me.
They were yelling to hurry up and send the actors over just a minute ago...
Now they're ignoring their makeup duties to play with my skin.
"This is unreal... So plump and bouncy... Like mochi."
"Eeeeek, I want to put it in my pocket and touch it every day..."
Does that mean cutting off my face?
This place... might be a little dangerous.
"Enough touching! What if you cause a breakout on this porcelain skin? Who's taking responsibility? Get back to work!"
The makeup artist in charge of me must be the highest-ranking one here.
Everyone returned to their spots like nothing happened.
If I'd seen this before, I'd think she was some charismatic, cool career woman.
'She's the one who just said I'm not a regular human and came down from heaven...'
She's the queen of fangirling.
She was the one fueling the makeup team's vibe.
Was that possessive, jealous glint in her eyes my imagination? Her desire to monopolize me?
After the fuss died down, makeup finally began.
Makeup... is hell for me.
This is the time I dread most.
They tell me not to move while yanking my hair from behind.
Bracing my core feels like doing a plank while seated.
Hot tools over 200 degrees whiz by, so I can't relax.
"Look up with your eyes."
"...Okay."
I roll my eyes up as far as possible per her instructions, but my eyelids tremble.
I feel—and even see—a pen brush under my eye.
It's like partial anesthesia while watching my own surgery in real time. Horrifying.
Lenses later too, right?
Then I'll have to sit still while fingers poke my eyes.
After enduring what feels like torture indistinguishable from makeup—
"Whoa... Insane! Is this a person or an angel?"
"I told you, she came down from heaven."
"Seriously from paradise... Even AI couldn't create this beauty..."
—embarrassment floods in.
The endless fussing and fangirling continues.
The makeup team swarms me again.
Makeup artist... doesn't look like she's stopping them this time.
Still, thanks to the Atelier makeup team, it felt like getting a preventive shot.
Compared to their hype, this is nothing.
Fortunately, my ears and neck didn't turn red.
Just my face a bit flushed.
That said.
'Even I think I look too pretty...'
I thought the face-falling-for-my-face phase was over.
But with endless beauty comes endless swooning.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Gimbap's here! Someone pay for it!"
"Coming!"
"Someone move that prop—it's in the camera shot."
"I'll do it!"
"...Whose voice was that?"
"Oh, that was Jeong Gyeowol."
The camera director who casually told the youngest staff to move it was stunned.
He'd tossed it out expecting any junior to handle it.
But a female lead actress snatched it up and started doing chores.
"Uh... You don't have to help. Rest. We've got it."
"You look busy, so I'll just lend a hand."
"Then just that and rest. Thanks."
She said she'd move the prop and bow out, but after that, Jeong Gyeowol buzzed around set helping the crew.
At first, they figured how much help could an actress be?
And if she got hurt, disaster.
Everyone tried stopping her.
But she'd just find another task, so they gave up.
The staff felt work getting smoother with her assistance.
Jeong Gyeowol blended in naturally, like she'd always been crew.
Her feats were so impressive, even the assistant director—who never had downtime—got a break.
"Man, you'd think Jeong Gyeowol was the assistant director."
"...She's ridiculously good, right? Look at that sense—bringing what we need before we ask. Ever worked as staff before? She's better than me."
"Hey, that was aimed at you too. Quit admiring and get to work."
"Ah, yes, going now."
Jeong Gyeowol kept greeting nonstop while working.
In the crowded chaos, no one missed her hellos.
Hearing someone enter the police station set, she bowed first thing.
Her philosophy: Some get mad at one missed greeting, none hate multiples.
Thanks to that, she was a greeting machine on reflex.
"Hello! New actress Jeong Gyeowol... Ah, Yuna sunbae! You're here."
"Hi, Gyeowol. Uh... What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm free, so helping out a bit."
Geum Yuna entered with a bright smile, then froze seeing Jeong Gyeowol scurrying about.
She was subbing for the lighting junior, hauling an extra panel.
Yuna eyed the panel, Gyeowol, and the set, then nodded.
"Hmm, then I'll help too."
"No need! Rest! What if a lead actress gets hurt?"
"...Come with me a sec."
"Pardon?"
Geum Yuna dragged her out for a crash course in "You're a lead actress too."
She returned looking relieved.
No one noticed the staff subtly disappointed at losing her help.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Cover up the case?! No way! This could be serial!"
"Serial evidence?! Got any?!"
"I'll find it! Please, just back me up!"
"You think I wanna get chewed out by the chief at my age? Let's end this clean!"
"...Cops can't abandon cases!"
"Quit while you're ahead, kid!"
The scolding Geum Yuna from moments ago was gone.
Hot-blooded detective Kim I-seo stood there now.
Everyone on set held their breath watching her act.
Even veteran actor Kim Jeong-gyun as the squad chief—dozens of dramas and films under his belt—could only hold his ground against her intensity.
It wasn't the power expected from a early-20s newbie.
For Geum Yuna—child star hailed as acting genius, mid-tier veteran by experience—it was effortless.
'...This is why they rave about Geum Yuna.'
I'd watched her clips on NerTube plenty.
But live? On another level.
PD Yoon Jong-pil nodded nonstop at the monitor, satisfied.
"Cut! Good! One more bust shot!"
Reshooting the same scene, no fatigue or emotional drop.
Geum Yuna as Kim I-seo, the junior holding her back as Kang Ho-su, Kim Jeong-gyun as chief—all flawless.
No one dragging anyone down here.
Smooth, NG-free.
Thanks to that—
'I'm so nervous! I'm losing it!'
—I was going crazy waiting for my turn.
Ah, eh, ee, oh, oo.
Loosening lip muscles while warming up my throat gently.
Shaking out my body, stretching to shed tension.
'Useless!'
What if I keep NGing?
What if they hate my acting and tell me to get lost?
I might butcher my lines!
Over-tension making me shake.
Time mercilessly ticks on.
Finally, my turn.
"Jeong Gyeowol, standby!"
"Yes! Got it!"
The assistant director's "standby" sounded like a death sentence.
"Whoa, Executive... Gyeowol's shaking bad. What do we do?"
"What can you do? Entertain her or something."
Kim Gyu-jin might seem cold, but he's right.
Nothing much helps in these moments.
Worse, bad "relax" advice could amp her up more.
So best to stay quiet—
"Entertain? Should I dance?"
"You're not serious, right?"
"I was just about to... No dance? Song then?"
—but Jun-seung was trying everything to ease my nerves.
"...Just get out."
"To the car?"
"...Might as well leave the planet."
Thankfully, their banter—not quite banter—loosened me up a bit.
Wonder if they planned it.
Jun-seung still beaming, Kim Gyu-jin pinching his temple.
Not prepared comedy.
Don't shake, Jeong Gyeowol.
Can't trust my acting? Trust this face at least.
'Honestly, even rotten acting deserves praise with this face.'
Silly thought, but surprisingly, tension eased more surely.
And.
The assistant director approached.
"Ready? Rolling now!"
It was finally time.