Chapter 21
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 021
Chapter Title: Flame (3)
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Early episode in the drama Flame.
The child dying at the tip of a Japanese patrolman's sword was saved by the protagonist.
A role created to showcase the hero's exploits and righteousness.
Extra.
A minor character granted just one trait: fast on his feet.
He occasionally appeared as a gofer helping the protagonist, nothing more, nothing less.
But then time passed, and the child grew into a young man.
The drama's final moment.
Before they knew it, the boy had become the protagonist.
He shone like a blazing flame.
Bang!
Even as he collapsed from a single gunshot, even as his vision filled with darkness.
Everyone on set felt it.
They all wondered about the boy's backstory.
'Did the boy really die?'
'Or did he just lose consciousness?'
They knew there were no more scenes for Flame.
'I hope he survived.'
'Please.'
'This isn't the end...'
They found themselves desperately wishing for it before this ending, almost unconsciously.
But the boy's story truly ended there.
The writer had wanted an open ending.
What came after would have to play out in each viewer's mind.
However.
The boy still lay sprawled on the ground.
Without a single twitch.
In his eyes, which no one had noticed, an unquenched flame still flickered.
"Cut..."
Until the director's voice came, barely squeezed out.
The boy rose to his feet in an instant.
From the young man shouting for independence in one breath, he became the unknown rookie actor Shin Yi-han, flashing a bright smile.
As if he were utterly delighted.
The entire staff around him began to murmur.
'...What the hell.'
Everyone except writer Cheon Ji-hee, who had seen Shin Yi-han's acting before, and the man himself gaped in shock.
'What is this monster rookie?'
That was the only thought in their heads.
They stared at him, rubbing the goosebumps on their arms.
There was Shin Yi-han, snapping out of immersion in a heartbeat, as if what he'd just shown was nothing.
The staff were honestly confused by the sight.
They themselves hadn't fully escaped that world yet.
The boy who had leaped up seemed ready to wave the Taegukgi in his hand again, to charge for independence.
But that boy no longer existed here.
It had all just been an act.
Haha... Someone let out a hollow laugh at the realization. Another rubbed their dry face.
'I heard he was an unknown rookie writer-nim scouted on another drama set.'
Their minds reeled as if an unexpected bomb had detonated.
'How is this an unknown rookie?'
They'd been so immersed that their belatedly unclenched hands were slick with sweat.
And PD Seok Dong-hwi, in charge of Flame, felt the same.
Seok PD could only sit there, chin in hand, staring at Shin Yi-han.
'......'
Yeah. The boasts about his maknae PD sister Shin I-rim's little brother that he'd heard as rumors were no exaggeration at all.
'I didn't believe it because it was family talk.'
This wasn't boasting; it was false modesty.
He'd just witnessed acting that could stand toe-to-toe with veteran leads. No—even better, he thought.
Those eyes, that expression...
It pulled everyone into that world in an instant, forcing them to feel the boy's emotions raw.
Burning courage amid fear.
Bright hope behind sorrow.
The boy's heart swelling full.
...Honestly, it was insane. A fresh shock unlike anything from other actors.
In the end, Seok PD admitted it.
Writer Cheon Ji-hee's stubborn insistence the day before shooting.
She must have seen something like this.
'How could she not demand a cast change?'
No way she wouldn't.
He'd have halted production himself if he were her.
'Even if the guy was a famous idol.'
She had every right to throw a fit. Wow.
Seok PD's gaze belatedly turned to the original owner of the role.
There stood Ryu Gi-on in his old school uniform.
He'd thought it was a scene Ryu could handle fine at first, but...
Suddenly looking at him with new eyes.
'What is this punk.'
The famous idol suddenly looked like a total punk.
Seok PD's head shook side to side on its own.
'...Shoot what.'
He just seemed like a headache he wanted gone ASAP.
'Just leave already, Gi-on.'
He couldn't even understand why he'd thought Ryu was fine for this.
And at that moment.
Writer Cheon Ji-hee watched Seok PD closely.
'See? Told you.'
Cheon Ji-hee shrugged in satisfaction. He finally got Shin Yi-han's true worth.
'But what's this? Liking him more than I do.'
Seok PD's eyes had gone from ice-cold on Ryu Gi-on to honey-dripping on actor Shin Yi-han.
'Oh my. He's totally hooked.'
Cheon Ji-hee chuckled. Her rising lips wouldn't stay down.
With Shin Yi-han's single performance flipping the whole situation, how could she not laugh?
'This is thrilling.'
Nothing beat seeing others feel the chills she'd felt first.
Of course, even she hadn't expected this level.
He'd shattered her expectations entirely.
'I knew he was a great actor.'
Cheon Ji-hee had sensed it from the moment Shin Yi-han started acting.
'But this isn't just great...'
He wasn't merely performing the final scene's lines and situation.
Shin Yi-han was truly acting as the boy 'Dong-ho'.
Literally.
Like the child saved by the protagonist had really grown into that young man.
The child actor's habit of one corner of his mouth quirking up higher when smiling.
The role's constant wariness, eyes scanning surroundings while running.
Even his speech patterns—exactly how that drama kid would talk grown up.
Identical.
Actor Shin Yi-han had pulled it off effortlessly.
Cheon Ji-hee got chills all over.
Even grown tall, it instantly evoked that boy from back then. No dissonance at all.
How did he do it?
'And I proposed the shoot just yesterday.'
No time to even analyze the work.
Yet Shin Yi-han had nailed it like he'd binged the entire long Flame script and drama multiple times.
Incredible talent. Had to be innate sense.
Cheon Ji-hee marveled at it over and over.
And right after.
"Great work, everyone!"
Shin Yi-han finished monitoring and bowed to the staff.
'......!'
Cheon Ji-hee's head snapped toward him.
But she couldn't approach; she just watched.
Shin Yi-han was heading to Ryu Gi-on.
'...Wonder what he'll say.'
Cheon Ji-hee watched curiously how he'd handle it.
What would this actor, who'd just given that performance, say to the guy who'd grabbed his collar?
The other staff wondered too.
'Whoa. Fight?'
'Some savage takedown...?!'
'Wow, Ryu Gi-on's frozen solid.'
'Now's your chance, actor Shin Yi-han! Crush that nose flat!'
They all cheered inwardly, united.
"Oh. You said you'd go after me, right?"
But contrary to expectations, Shin Yi-han spoke calmly, like it was no big deal.
"I'm done now."
He even sounded expectant.
"Show me. What real acting looks like."
"......!"
He grinned.
"What...?"
Ryu Gi-on, who'd been stiff even after Shin Yi-han's shoot ended, flinched and asked back.
Shin Yi-han innocently nodded toward the set, smiling.
Now it was funny wondering how Ryu would respond.
Curious what acting he'd show with that frozen face.
"Uh, s-so..."
His earlier confidence gone, Ryu Gi-on stammered, face drained white.
'H-he wants me to do that scene now?'
'Huh?'
Ryu's mind was blank as his face. He couldn't think straight.
Even writer Cheon Ji-hee chimed in to egg him on.
"Oh! Yes, give it a try!"
She said excitedly, clearly enjoying this.
"No NG at all, so we've got plenty of time!"
Clap! She smacked her hands and shoved Ryu's back.
"Whoa, he's really gonna shoot."
"Wasn't that why he came?"
"Nah, he was so cocky, he'll at least try!"
Not just her—other staff and extras pushed too.
They were curious how confident he'd been to barge in here.
Even more so after seeing this, what he'd perform.
"What? He's really doing it?"
"Then make him! Gi-on, prep quick!"
PD and staff didn't stop it; they proceeded eagerly to watch.
'Uh......'
Suddenly things moved fast; Ryu had no clue what to do.
'Wh-what...?'
He came to his senses mid-stumble toward position.
Blinked again, and he was in front of the camera.
But Ryu still wore a dumbfounded look.
'Wait. L-lines... what were they? What do I even do...'
Under the pouring lights, he floundered.
"Action!"
The director called start.
"......?!"
But Ryu couldn't snap out of it.
"Urk! Ugh! M-master! Forgive me! Please, spare me...!"
"Filthy Joseon dog! How dare you dirty my shoes?!"
Even as the extras' familiar lines rang out from before.
"What're you doing...?"
Even as the extra nearby nudged his shoulder softly.
"Huh?"
He only managed a dumb sound.
"Hurry up and go...!"
The extra playing his friend role urged him. Get out the alley and bump the Japanese guy quick!
"Th-that..."
"Ugh, hurry! Come on!"
Still fumbling, Ryu got shoved by the extra. It was a scene of rushing out anyway.
Somehow, Ryu collided with the Japanese officer dragging the kid.
"Aaaah!"
The Japanese actor yelled and fell, waiting for Ryu's line.
"......"
"......?"
But silence blanketed the set.
Ryu was already frozen stiff.
"Uh, uh... Iku... s-sor..."
Finally forcing it out late, but his mouth wouldn't cooperate.
- Eek. Sorry! We were in a rush!
A short line, barely a few words. Yet he botched it.
Chaos from witnessing something he could never match.
The boy's casual smirk earlier.
That tiny expression dashing past the Japanese man.
He realized he couldn't imitate even a fraction.
The line never came.
"Cut!"
The director stopped it.
The air froze at the instant NG.
'N-no way I'd mess up...'
'No way I'd choke on something this easy...!'
Ryu couldn't accept it.
He'd never trembled in any situation.
Yet blanking like this?
Unbelievable.
"......"
Thud! Ryu tore off his cap and flung it. Fists clenched in humiliation shook.
Those staring eyes, the whispers.
That no-name rookie.
Unforgivable.
"...Move."
He barked at the extra blocking him.
"Move, damn it!"
Thump! Shoving hard past the shoulder, Ryu stormed off camera.
"Damn it!"
Unable to contain his rage, he ripped off his costume, threw it down, and hunted his manager.
"We're leaving! Now!"
The manager hesitated at the abrupt order sans goodbyes. Ryu yelled at him and finally bolted from set.
What a ridiculous exit.
'Whoa. Legendary.'
'Pfft. Just bails after that?'
'What a jerk.'
Everyone on set was stunned as Ryu fled tail-between-legs.
But soon they chuckled quietly.
Same thought all around.
Super satisfying!
And once the unwelcome guest vanished completely.
Unable to hold back anymore, staff and extras swarmed Shin Yi-han.
"Actor Shin Yi-han! That was insane!"
"Seriously, seriously... My hands are still shaking!"
"How did you do that?!"
"Goosebumps everywhere! Wow!"
Admiration long overdue finally burst out.