Episode 30
Episode 30: First Filming of ‘The Killer’s Shopping Mall’
The filming began with a scene where Baek Seung-chan and Kim Ga-hee walked down the street together.
It was the road back home after the uncle’s funeral had ended.
"Hey, didn’t my uncle leave any message or anything for me?"
Kim Ga-hee suddenly turned her head and looked at Baek Seung-chan, who was walking behind her.
There was about a three-step distance between them.
In this scene, the two played same-aged friends.
But they weren’t close.
An Ji-an, played by Kim Ga-hee, was a part-timer who helped her uncle during vacations, while ‘K,’ played by Baek Seung-chan, was someone who had been taken in and raised by the uncle.
"······"
Baek Seung-chan didn’t respond.
In fact, he didn’t even look at her.
His gaze and expression were strangely captivating.
Kim Ga-hee let out a frustrated sigh at his attitude.
"If someone asks you something, at least nod your head! Ugh…"
Watching their performance, Director Go Jin-seok smiled in satisfaction.
"Perfect."
Kim Ga-hee’s acting didn’t exceed expectations like Baek Seung-chan’s, but it was very close to the character he envisioned.
At that moment—
Vroom—!
A sports car suddenly sped toward them.
"W-what is that!"
Kim Ga-hee shouted in surprise as the car abruptly stopped right in front of them.
On the other hand, Baek Seung-chan’s expression didn’t change at all.
"Hey! What do you think you’re—"
Kim Ga-hee started to protest but stopped mid-sentence.
The moment she saw who stepped out of the driver’s seat, she froze.
It was Ma Dong-gi.
He stepped out of the car with difficulty due to his large build and grumbled.
"Man, this thing’s nice, but getting out is uncomfortable."
With a tight mustang jacket, sunglasses, and a long scar across his right cheek, his appearance alone was intimidating.
"Hey, you’re An Ji-an, right?"
Ma Dong-gi asked in a deep voice.
"…Who are you?"
Kim Ga-hee replied cautiously.
"Who else? Someone who has some unfinished business with your uncle—no, Jin-man."
Ma Dong-gi grinned, revealing his gold tooth.
Watching him, Baek Seung-chan thought to himself,
"He’s a natural."
Unlike during script reading, Ma Dong-gi’s acting now blended perfectly with his styling, creating a heavier and more lively energy.
His makeup, tone, and actions all harmonized, leaving a strong impression on everyone on set.
"They say your uncle’s dead, so I thought I’d talk to the niece instead."
Mixing a relaxed tone into his speech, Ma Dong-gi slowly approached Kim Ga-hee.
Just as his hand was about to grab her wrist, something moved smoothly behind him.
It was Baek Seung-chan.
Like a cat, he silently approached and placed a prop dagger against Ma Dong-gi’s neck.
The movement was so natural.
As if it required no effort at all.
A faint line of blood formed at the tip of the blade as it touched his skin.
It was special effects makeup prepared in advance.
Baek Seung-chan’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
His eyes—cold and empty.
His sharp presence combined with his movements created an intense realism.
"······"
The set fell silent.
Everyone was completely immersed, overwhelmed by him.
"This guy really…"
Ma Dong-gi let out a faint laugh inwardly.
The pressure he felt was on an entirely different level from what others perceived.
Even knowing it was a prop dagger, the cold touch on his neck made him feel like his life could be taken at any moment.
That unreadable coldness made it even more chilling.
Still, it helped him immerse himself even more deeply.
"Well, looks like our little brat hasn’t lost his skills."
Ma Dong-gi spoke his line with a grin, relieved that his sunglasses hid his trembling eyes.
"But this brat should at least greet an adult. Still as rude as ever."
The playful smile disappeared from his lips.
Slowly turning his head, he spoke again.
"Kid, if you don’t want to hold another funeral, step aside."
His gaze shifted toward the passenger seat of the sports car.
Inside, one of his subordinates was pointing a gun at Kim Ga-hee.
His low voice and the deepening atmosphere began to dominate the set.
Everything about him felt real, not like acting.
His presence overwhelmed the entire space.
Director Go Jin-seok’s eyes sparkled as he watched.
"Definitely different."
After Baek Seung-chan’s performance, Ma Dong-gi’s acting had also transformed to another level.
It went far beyond what he had initially envisioned.
A faint but distinct aura—something only top-tier actors possessed—was beginning to emerge.
"Incredible."
The director admired inwardly.
Seeing acting that exceeded his expectations was rare.
Yet here he was, witnessing two such actors in a single scene.
And he knew clearly that the one who created this synergy was Baek Seung-chan.
"This is insane."
Baek Seung-chan wasn’t just good at acting himself.
He elevated the performance of those acting alongside him.
Like a monster of an actor.
The director continued watching them with admiration.
"······"
Baek Seung-chan and Ma Dong-gi stared at each other in silence.
That alone filled the set with unbearable tension.
At some point, everyone on set had unconsciously become spectators.
Even after Baek Seung-chan lowered the dagger, the tension remained.
"Doesn’t seem like a good time to talk today. I’ll see you next time, Jin-man’s niece."
Ma Dong-gi lightly stretched his neck and returned to his car.
After the sports car drove away, Kim Ga-hee shouted with a complicated expression.
"Hey! What the hell just happened? And what was that knife—"
As her line ended, Director Go Jin-seok’s excited voice rang out.
"Cut! That was great!"
Just from his tone, everyone could tell how satisfied he was.
As soon as the signal ended, the tension on set vanished instantly.
"Wow… that gave me chills."
"They’re really good."
"To pull off acting like that without even speaking…"
"Senior Dong-gi was amazing too. Was he always this good?"
"Agreed. I thought I was going to suffocate halfway through."
Actors and staff murmured in admiration.
The set was now full of energy.
The actors and staff, who had been tired from the morning shoot, were now moving with renewed passion.
It was all thanks to the almost possessed-level performances of Baek Seung-chan and Ma Dong-gi.
"I want to act like that too…"
"After seeing that up close, we need to do even better."
Their intense performance stimulated the others.
And this change was immediately reflected in the acting.
Every line, every expression, every small gesture carried emotion.
Director Go Jin-seok sat in one corner, watching Baek Seung-chan chatting with Ma Dong-gi.
"He really is something else."
Usually, the atmosphere on set was shaped by the director, lead actors, or veteran performers.
But this time, a rookie supporting actor—Baek Seung-chan—was doing it.
In over 20 years, he had never seen a rookie like this.
By lunchtime, the set had relaxed.
Some ate from the food trucks, some went to nearby restaurants, and others stayed and rested.
But Director Go Jin-seok remained seated.
"Director, should I bring you some bread?"
"I’d appreciate that."
After the staff left, he turned on the monitor and replayed the footage.
Specifically, Baek Seung-chan’s scene.
"This is insane."
He couldn’t hide his admiration as he replayed it repeatedly.
Each time, new details stood out.
"I can’t blame Tae-ho for that."
He muttered, recalling Director Park Tae-ho.
He had once thought Park Tae-ho was going too far by demanding major script revisions.
Small changes were common, but large-scale rewrites were rare.
It was like asking to reshoot everything from scratch.
But now, seeing Baek Seung-chan’s acting, he understood.
"It’s a shame he only appears until episode 3."
The character ‘K’ was meant to die after protecting An Ji-an, serving as a catalyst for her growth.
"Should I just let it go?"
He sighed.
He wanted to expand the role, but the original author Moha had set strict conditions not to break the original story.
Recently, many adaptations had ruined original works with excessive changes.
"Ah… should I at least bring it up once?"
He couldn’t let it go.
There were too many wasted opportunities if the character simply exited.
"Yeah, I’ll at least try."
He made up his mind.
Even if it failed, he had to try.
Otherwise, he would regret it.
He was certain that once ‘The Killer’s Shopping Mall’ was released, Baek Seung-chan would become an actor difficult to work with again.
"Director, could you spare a moment to talk with Moha and the writer?"
Just as he was about to go find them, the two people he wanted to meet approached him first.