Chapter 17
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 017
Chapter Title: The Sea
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After the test screening had wrapped up successfully.
Shin Yi-han left Red Film ahead of everyone else.
Kwak Hoon had rushed him along to escape the distribution company staff who kept trying to chat him up, but more than that, the real movie discussion meeting had kicked off.
Even Kwak Hoon and Director Song Won-sik were fired up about polishing it right up until release.
He couldn't help but wonder if they could squeeze out even better results than now.
Especially since Kwak Hoon was involved in the editing.
It was more than worth the hype.
Director Song Won-sik was an outstanding director, of course, but Kwak Hoon was the type who could deliver beyond expectations.
In the past, he'd tanked projects by picking the weirdest scripts, but his raw talent was top-notch.
Now all they had to do was trust him and let him run with it.
Shin Yi-han headed straight home.
- Coming to work together tomorrow? Yeah?
Ding! On the way, a text popped up from his sister.
'Ah. Not sure if it's okay to be having this much fun these days.'
Today had been the test screening, and tomorrow was additional filming for Lee Ha-neul.
His sister was picking him up again, killing two birds with one stone.
He was already looking forward to it.
Seeing the final product was thrilling, but nothing beat the rush of actually performing.
- Sounds great.
Shin Yi-han fired off a quick reply.
- OK.
His sister shot back just as fast.
- Oh, and get ready properly tomorrow.
- It's dangerous.
- Don't forget your warm-up stretches before we start.
But then ding ding ding! Texts came flooding in.
She must have been worried about tomorrow's shoot.
And for good reason—tomorrow's scene involved falling into the sea and thrashing around.
'The scene where the despairing protagonist Heo So-ra tries to drown herself in the ocean.'
And at that moment, her dead son was supposed to stop her.
Even if it was just a hallucination, he wouldn't let go of that outstretched hand.
Desperately, enough to bring tears just thinking about it.
At the same time, it was a moment Shin Yi-han was incredibly excited for.
Not playing someone in pain from being tormented.
This was a chance to do something entirely new.
The next day, Shin Yi-han gazed at the sea ahead with excitement bubbling inside.
The overworked mom scraping by day-to-day and the son desperate to hide his secrets.
In the drama so far, they hadn't really shared any scenes with deep emotional exchanges.
But this ocean scene was different.
Thanks to Yoon Si-a's revisions, this was their first real chance to connect properly.
The dead son stepping up to stop his suicidal mom.
Even if it was just an illusion.
And Shin Yi-han couldn't wait for that moment.
Not only was it a fresh scene absent from the script he'd read in his past life.
It was also his one and only shot to sync up properly with Ham Yeon-jeong, who played the lead Heo So-ra.
With someone who'd built up rock-solid skills over decades.
'Can't wait to shoot.'
That was exactly what Shin Yi-han thought as the sea breeze hit him.
He could smell the ocean and taste the salt in the wind.
The staff were wrapping up prep, gear everywhere.
And weaving through them was Ham Yeon-jeong approaching him.
Shin Yi-han bowed his head in greeting.
"Good morning, sunbaenim."
Ham Yeon-jeong stood before him with a slight smile.
"Morning. Or should I say dawn?"
The actress who'd made audiences laugh and cry in countless films. A master performer whose 'great actress' title felt earned.
"Anyway, let's do our best. My junior."
"You too, please take care of me."
Ham Yeon-jeong smiled softly at her subtly excited junior.
She was thrilled too.
She was looking forward to acting with this rookie.
But tense as well.
Someone might scold her for getting worked up over a kid half her age despite her long career.
But she couldn't help it.
She'd seen Shin Yi-han's acting.
Frankly, it had been ages since she'd felt a real wall. One that could drag her under if she slipped.
So Ham Yeon-jeong planned to give it everything.
No matter how amazing the newbie was.
'I'm not planning to lose.'
Her expression had turned serious before she knew it. No room for constant smiling.
"Alright! Everyone standby!"
The two actors turned toward the sea at the director's call.
Only Shin Yi-han couldn't hide his grin.
Just before the outdoor shoot was set to begin.
Everyone watched Ham Yeon-jeong in tense silence.
She took a moment to steady her breath.
"Action!"
And soon enough, she became Heo So-ra.
In this dark predawn hour.
Heo So-ra had decided to die.
She hated herself for failing to avenge her son's death properly.
She loathed her empty, accomplishment-free life.
And the self who'd missed her son's suffering entirely...
'Disgusting.'
Swallowing vomit-like nausea, Heo So-ra forced her feet forward.
Straight into the sea, without a hint of hesitation.
The water was brutally cold.
When it climbed past her legs, waist, to her neck, her breath caught.
But Heo So-ra had no intention of stopping.
Soon her whole body plunged in.
She wanted to sink like this. Thrashing legs not shallow enough to save her.
Gasp, cough!
Even as pain wracked her.
When no more bubbles escaped.
Her mind started to fade.
But weird. The sky was so cruel.
- Mom.
The son she'd never met, not even in dreams despite every effort.
His voice reached her at death's door.
A flash of memories.
Her past flickered in Heo So-ra's vision.
- Mom!
From his toddling days. Her baby boy calling her as he took his first steps.
- Mom...
Soon in kindergarten, sniffling and hating it, calling her again.
- Mooom.
He grew fast; as a middle schooler, he'd grumble her name.
Heo So-ra reached out toward him.
Every version of him was lovable.
She stroked his cheek, smiling.
'Son, just wait a bit... Mom's coming soon.'
The thought of seeing him made Heo So-ra beam.
But then.
"Mom."
Now high school age. He grabbed her hand tight.
Face on the verge of tears.
Exactly as she'd last seen him that day.
He plunged into the icy depths after her, yanking her arm.
Dragging her back to the surface.
With every ounce of strength.
Desperately.
Suddenly Heo So-ra was above water. No time to process.
Gasp! On the surface, Mom gulped air.
"Mom...!"
Looking at the son still holding her.
Heo So-ra... no, the actress playing her, Ham Yeon-jeong, couldn't help flinching.
"Mom!"
His voice cracking as he called her, Lee Ha-neul...
It felt too real.
In the end, Ham Yeon-jeong's vow not to yield crumbled instantly.
But it was strange.
The more she yielded to Shin Yi-han.
The clearer Heo So-ra became right there.
Even swept away, losing her center, nothing faltered.
Ham Yeon-jeong no longer needed to act.
His gaze alone made her feel truly like Heo So-ra.
Her heart ached.
No effort required; emotion overflowed naturally.
And the son, with his faint smile and tear-streaked face.
"Mom."
He finally spoke to her.
"...You know."
Calm yet firm voice.
"Let's live."
Oddly, his words cut crystal clear over the crashing waves.
"Live a little longer, just a bit more... we'll meet later."
His fingertip pointed to her heart.
"I'm right here. I've always been. Right by your side, closest of all."
This was a plea.
"So... can't you do all the things I couldn't see, couldn't do? For me?"
A desperate wish.
"As much as I wanted to live."
A mother's unbreakable final request from her son.
"Let's live."
In the end, those words.
"Huh?"
Made Mom nod inevitably.
Slowly, deliberately.
In response, the son smiled faintly.
Tears streamed down everyone's cheeks unimpeded.
And at that instant, Heo So-ra's eyes snapped wide.
Gasp!
Coming to, she wasn't at the surface.
Still underwater.
The son who'd pulled her up was gone.
Alone in the murky depths, Heo So-ra.
Yes. It hadn't been real. All an illusion.
But...
Heo So-ra swam upward with all her might.
No strength left, yet she flailed limbs desperately.
Gasp—!
Until breaking the surface for that sweet first breath.
One son's mother couldn't die.
Pant, heave! Heo So-ra sucked in air like it was her first ever breath.
When she finally staggered to the beach and came to her senses.
The pitch-black dawn now shone brilliantly.
Lying on the sand, gasping, Heo So-ra gazed at the sky...
Truly...
brilliant.
"Cuuut...!"
The director's yell right as the ocean scene ended.
Without it, everyone would've stayed frozen.
The acting had been that shocking.
"Unnie!"
First to rush to Ham Yeon-jeong, still sprawled on the sand, was her manager.
She wrapped her in blankets before the cold sea wind could chill her further.
Ham Yeon-jeong sat up with help.
She needed to change, but her mind wouldn't clear.
Shivering from cold, yet it didn't register.
She just clutched her forehead, supported.
Emotions... what even were they.
Tears streamed endlessly, even after cut.
Heo So-ra's pain.
The son's desperate wish to save his mom.
It lingered intensely.
Sensing it, the manager quietly cared for her, slowly guiding her to warmth.
Bit by bit, Ham Yeon-jeong regained herself.
...This hadn't happened in forever.
'Struggling to pull out of a role like this.'
Ham Yeon-jeong lifted her head heavily.
Her gaze naturally drifted to Shin Yi-han.
And the rookie.
'How is our junior even possible?'
He was a monster, plain and simple.
Unlike her, barely escaping emotion and cold.
Shin Yi-han was wrapping a towel from his sister Shin I-rim, grinning.
Refreshed beyond belief.
Ecstatic, almost manic.
Like he hadn't just poured everything into the role moments ago.
He stood there purely as Shin Yi-han.
Not the dead Lee Ha-neul, not the son saving Mom... just himself.
Ham Yeon-jeong could only laugh hollowly.
His effortless exit from the role was mesmerizing.
'I've acted for so long, still this disoriented.'
Genuine admiration bubbled up.
And she wasn't alone.
Choo Gyeo-ul from Winter Entertainment had rushed there hearing about Shin Yi-han's extra shoot.
She headed to her agency actress Ham Yeon-jeong post-shoot.
But her eyes stayed glued to Shin Yi-han.
Ham Yeon-jeong's fiery performance was impressive, sure...
'Wow. This... Sorry to Ham Yeon-jeong sunbaenim, but Shin Yi-han...'
"Why? Jealous?"
Ham Yeon-jeong's casual toss from beside her.
"...Yeah. Dying to poach him."
Choo Gyeo-ul nodded.
Yes. She wanted Shin Yi-han.
Badly enough to make him shine brighter. To let him soar however he wanted.
'Oh my.'
Ham Yeon-jeong shrugged at her rep.
'Her eyes are sparkling more than when she came to cast me.'
Ham Yeon-jeong chuckled quietly.
Honestly, she was a bit jealous.
But what could she do?
'Gotta admit it. This much talent.'
Shin Yi-han, bathed in stares from Ham Yeon-jeong, Choo Gyeo-ul, and everyone else.
But right now, none of that mattered to him.
The ocean's chill forgotten.
That moment unleashing Lee Ha-neul's full heart...
Now that it was over...
'So'
Truly.
'freaking fun.'
Blissfully happy.
Body drained, yet the joy kept him grinning like an idiot.
Not alone yelling echoes in an empty room.
Not pitied for his scarred face.
Purely as Lee Ha-neul, under the brilliant sky, delivering his performance.
The acting he'd craved so badly.
Shivers ran through him.
Euphoria swelling; he wanted to whoop with laughter.
Experiences like this could never be enough.
He couldn't fathom choosing writing, giving this up.
How had he been content creating worlds, breathing life into characters?
No matter how he struggled, he was always a third-party observer.
...Or not. Truth was.
He'd never truly been satisfied.
Even that day leaving the convenience store, hit by the truck, he'd clung to it till the end, face twisted.
So time rewinding then.
Was a ridiculous miracle.
A miracle letting him fully savor his acting.
"......"
Shin Yi-han rubbed his dry face and broke into a wide smile.
He didn't hold back the laugh.
Which earned him.
Smack! A scolding pat from his worried sister.
"Shivering from the cold and you're grinning like that! Get more blankets on, quick!"
Shin Yi-han just grinned dopier at her.
"Jeez, you idiot. Come on, let's go. You'll catch a real cold like this."
Shin Yi-han followed her to the warm tent with heaters and drinks ready.
It felt so nice inside.
A brief break.
And the staff watching that tent quietly.
'Insane.'
'Yeah... totally insane.'
The staff nodded silently.
'We're the real winners for witnessing this live... Wow.'
The ocean scene: zero NG, one take.
Ham Yeon-jeong opened it, Shin Yi-han sealed it perfectly.
Even after cut, goosebumps kept rising; they rubbed their arms.
"Wrapped in one go..."
"No worries on our end. Hell, they should worry about us now."
Director and PD agreed.
They couldn't close their jaws. They'd expected good, but this?
"Gonna have to edit like our lives depend on it, huh?"
Worried if they could convey this to viewers intact.
"Yeah. Pull an all-nighter. Wanna finish this fast."
They'd make it happen somehow.
And reactions didn't stop there.
Right behind, monitoring together: Yoon Si-a, who'd come at dawn just for Shin Yi-han.
And SBC's star writer Cheon Ji-hee, invited by Yoon Si-a to observe.
Cheon Ji-hee whipped out her phone wordlessly.
- Seok PD.
Ring ring— Short tones.
[Ch-Cheon writer? What's up this early...?]
Groggy voice, like he'd just woken.
"S-Seok PD. You know... I think I've..."
Cheon Ji-hee's eyes flicked to Shin Yi-han's tent. Unable to hold back.
"Found an absolutely unreal actor."
[Pardon...?]