Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 031
Chapter Title: Final Shoot (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crack-.
With that single sound,
Kang-jae's first murder came to an end.
Only then did Kang-jae realize he was hungry. He turned on his phone to check the time.
'Ah.'
'Perfect time for a midnight snack.'
He turned around, thinking he'd sneak home and boil some ramen without waking the family.
As if what had just happened was no big deal.
As if the lingering grime in his mouth had finally been washed away.
Just like that.
He headed home.
"Cut!"
Assistant Director Kwak Hoon's exhilarated voice rang out.
It was the same every time, and no different now. Kwak Hoon couldn't help but be amazed.
...He nailed it in one take.
No need to reshoot or anything.
It was already perfect.
This scene was from the middle of the movie—the audience's first glimpse of the boy's murder.
'The moment the boy's guilt is revealed as real.'
Unlike the detailed backstory of the bullies tormenting Kang-jae mercilessly...
The film wouldn't explain the reasons or causes.
It would just come off as a brutal killing.
Until the ending finally unveiled the truth.
Until then, audiences would know nothing and start seeing Kang-jae as utterly horrifying.
The boy as a devil deserving only condemnation. A creepy kid who stays calm in the face of murder.
It would burn itself into their minds.
That was the core intent of Innocent Boy.
Yes. All the sins had to fall squarely on the boy.
The friends too busy spectating to intervene.
Whoever kept up the bullying just because it was fun.
The teacher who told him to endure it since graduation was only a year away.
The words telling him to just die if he was going to pathetically take beatings like a girl. The girl who soon locked herself in her room and ignored the boy completely.
No.
'The boy's sin alone.'
That's why Kang-jae had to seem so brutally ruthless—even to the point of irritating himself for briefly sympathizing with the boy.
And Shin Yi-han knew that better than anyone.
As the writer of the script and the protagonist at its center. A cheat-key combo, really.
No other actor could portray the boy better.
Goosebumps still prickled across his skin as he watched Shin Yi-han casually wipe fake blood from his face.
Now monitoring the footage, Kwak Hoon felt his hair standing on end.
Again, right after Kwak Hoon.
Park Mu-gang was no different.
'......'
No—having watched Shin Yi-han's acting from right up close, it hit Park Mu-gang even harder. At the cut, he'd unconsciously swallowed hard.
S-survived.
A sigh of relief escaped him.
He'd tried so hard not to get swept up, but by the time he came to, filming was over.
Even with such a lifelike kid, he couldn't help it—no acting required.
No one could stay calm in the face of that performance, even if it was a soft prop hammer!
...Especially those eyes.
The moment "cut" was called, the sheer relief from that completely changed gaze was indescribable.
Park Mu-gang rubbed his dry face repeatedly. Crazy, that monster.
Sure enough... he'd been utterly crushed again.
But he didn't resent Shin Yi-han at all. If anything, it only made him admire him more.
Honestly, the guy's the best.
Shin Yi-han.
"You okay from the fall?"
And annoyingly nice to boot...!
"I'm fine."
Park Mu-gang nodded as Shin Yi-han offered a hand.
"But right now."
Did Shin Yi-han even realize how terrifying he'd been? As Park Mu-gang took the hand, he let a bit of sincerity slip.
"I feel totally freaked out."
"......"
But seeing Shin Yi-han awkwardly back away at the half-joking remark—he looked like someone dodging dirt.
"I mean it figuratively!"
Park Mu-gang jumped up and chased after him.
"Hey?!"
I wasn't freaked out! It's just a figure of speech!
Pfft! Park Mu-gang's reaction was so spot-on, Shin Yi-han couldn't help bursting into laughter.
Ah, but of course, he didn't let himself get caught.
The staff watching the two finally started laughing too, a beat late. What chemistry is this? Hilarious.
Pfft. Laughter erupted here and there.
The tense atmosphere from Shin Yi-han's bloody acting finally broke.
Not just the director and actors had been shocked, after all.
Shin Yi-han flipped like a switch at the cut—from monster to human in an instant.
Honestly, the staff hadn't adapted to it at all.
They just wiped sweat from their hands on their pants and stared at Shin Yi-han and Park Mu-gang.
Today was better, at least—the same-age actor lightened things up. They could even laugh like this.
But the higher the tension on set, the more convinced the staff became.
'This... is definitely going to succeed.'
No matter how hard it tried to flop, someone would recognize it.
Time flew by after that.
[Brilliant Sky Legend Struck Again: Second half but no sagging, insanely fun. Peak bait-and-switch confidence.]
For real... Wow, revenge like this?
All the bullies are done for now.
Seeing someone crash and burn is this satisfying lol
TBH my legend ep is still 4... When Haneul talks to his mom at the beach ㅠㅠㅠ
Mine’s ep 1 when Haneul dies. Total shock.
ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Why bring up stuff like that and make me cry!
I’m actually just waiting for Haneul’s flashback scenes each week... Heart aches every time but I crave more ㅠㅠㅠ
The drama Brilliant Sky had grabbed attention from its premiere and was still surging ahead in its second half.
[Wondering if Haneul shows up in Brilliant Sky today... Miss you Haneul ㅠㅠ Hope you’re doing well ㅠㅠ]
Something tells me there’ll be a flashback this ep.
Can’t hold out—stuck rewatching early eps with max Haneul lol
Wait, you too?! Me too! At first the bullying shocked me so much I didn’t notice... but why is Haneul this handsome...
Lmao I thought the same! Once you get used to the acting, his face hits different. Real?
And the acting’s so intense there’s zero disconnect. With a face like that, he could’ve blown up as an influencer alone lol
Stories about Brilliant Sky kept flooding the internet.
Of course, Shin Yi-han—who played that Haneul—had no time for it amid wrapping up Innocent Boy, regardless of the drama's airing.
Considering the Seoul Independent Film Festival he'd targeted from the start still had some buffer time, things were progressing smoothly.
Even on days without his scenes, Shin Yi-han showed up to most shoots. Busy as writer and lead, no helping it.
But now, that was almost over.
Shin Yi-han grinned.
'Today’s the final shoot.'
Dressed in prison garb, he eyed the set being prepared.
A prison set came into view.
After the trial, Kang-jae had been convicted.
Now, he'd meet his dad in the prison visitation room.
Once filming started, the two would face each other through the iron-grated glass for the last time.
"Wow... already the final shoot."
Choo Gyeo-ul stood beside him, gazing at the same sight, her voice tinged with regret.
"How long have I been manager? A whole project ending like this."
She meant it sincerely.
As one who'd watched Shin Yi-han's acting up close, this end felt too soon.
'Seeing Shin Yi-han act live on set was... just the best...!'
Why'd I say only until the next project? Should've said three more...!
But a twinge of regret aside,
Choo Gyeo-ul had to accept reality.
She couldn't keep up with Shin Yi-han's rising schedule. As CEO of an agency, after all.
"Oh right. Your road manager gig was until the next project."
Shin Yi-han teased with a smile.
"Looking forward to the new manager soon?"
"Hey, so stingy...!"
Choo Gyeo-ul playfully glared.
Shin Yi-han couldn't help laughing at her expression.
"But you'll keep monitoring as agency CEO anyway."
"Sure, but..."
How's watching through a screen the same as live?! Choo Gyeo-ul swallowed the thought.
Too fan-girly...
"Ah! Actor Shin Yi-han!"
Just then, as they bantered idly, actor Lee Cha-beom emerged from makeup and approached. A small exclamation for Shin Yi-han.
"Wow. Actor Yi-han... can't even recognize you today."
Lee Cha-beom played the father in Innocent Boy.
A key figure to wrap up today's final scene with Kang-jae.
"Even just in prison clothes, you already look like Kang-jae."
Lee Cha-beom admired Shin Yi-han purely.
It was his reaction every encounter, but today he couldn't hold back.
'Actor Shin Yi-han's immersion... it's insane.'
Before acting even started, he already looked like the character.
Perfect enough for a newbie like him to feel the awe.
And that's why—thanks to Shin Yi-han—he could fully immerse too.
Especially sharing screen time... somehow, his own clumsiness never showed beyond the frame.
One glance from Shin Yi-han pulled him straight into the role.
'That's, really.'
It sparked a greed not to ruin any of it, even a little.
'Wanting to do more.'
And so polite to boot.
"Actor Lee Cha-beom!"
Shin Yi-han beamed and bowed. Lee Cha-beom smiled back warmly.
"Come on in! Been waiting."
Shin Yi-han felt the same about his co-star.
Especially since he'd hand-picked Lee Cha-beom via Kwak Hoon from the audition pool.
A gem that would shine brightest. A hidden talent bound for Best Actor someday.
Someone he personally admired.
Lee Cha-beom was extra special, really.
Because in his past life, he'd played the father in Innocent Boy too.
Despite long academy training but no on-set experience, he'd exceeded expectations and lit up the film.
And this time too.
'Actually, even better than back then.'
Shin Yi-han was honestly amazed.
The same script, yet such different acting.
Especially collaborating—the feeling intensified.
Even his occasional clumsiness vanished when syncing up.
Like a sponge, Lee Cha-beom absorbed any nudge. Astonishing growth.
In the father's breakdown over his killer son.
That cracking face...
It nodded him along, over and over.
Enough to cast him in the next script too.
"And me too."
Shin Yi-han looked at Lee Cha-beom.
Couldn't not say it after hearing he already looked like Kang-jae.
If anything, he was unrecognizable.
"In just a week? You've changed so much—really can't tell."
Because it was Lee Cha-beom.
No one asked, but he'd slashed his weight dramatically.
Stark contrast to his build from prior shoots.
The rushed drop gave him a heartbreakingly gaunt look, to boot.
"Well, might as well go all out."
Lee Cha-beom scratched his cheek bashfully. Shin Yi-han smiled.
The father in today's final scene would be deeply emotional.
He'd lost weight just for that.
"Impressive. Really."
Shin Yi-han had to admire him.
Another difference from the past.
Back then, makeup and costume conveyed the mental crush.
Now... it hit just looking at him.
The fragile, frayed heart of one man.
The father, finally broken.
"Nah. If I didn't do something like this."
Lee Cha-beom humbly opened up.
"I didn't think I could."
But his gaze stayed fixed on Shin Yi-han.
Shin Yi-han couldn't help his lips curving up.
'What is it.'
Like glimpsing Lee Cha-beom in his prime.
The actor's sincerity shone through.
Inevitable to anticipate—already enjoy—the emotions they'd unleash here.
This final shoot.
More... more.
They could deliver something real.