Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: How Did You Know?
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Meeting Yu Miho in the first place was accident enough.
I straightened my collar and rolled my shoulders.
‘What was the next scene again?'
Thanks to the cheat-enhanced memory, it came back in vivid detail.
Scene number 14. The moment where I touch the heroine's hair scattered by the wind.
'It was a scene hinting that we were once loving lovers.'
I wondered where we'd film it, but it was just in front of a plain blue screen. Makes sense—CG was better suited than tough outdoor shoots for recreating an Eastern fairy world.
As I brushed off my clothes again, Kang Minje spoke up.
"An accident? For real? That's dangerous!"
The guy was sensitive.
"Whenever I fret over the little things, one big one always blows up."
"Is that your gut feeling, Dowon?"
"Sure, let's call it that."
"Can't you prepare for it?"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"You can't dodge something like this."
Not when it's on the level of a natural disaster.
That's when it hit—a disaster on my scale. Yu Miho came rushing over, changed into her costume.
"I-I changed!"
The director yelled right away.
"Let's go! Dowon! You ready?"
Talk about rushed. I stepped right up to the blue screen.
"Standby!"
Yu Miho was still flustered, but I calmly gathered my emotions.
'The woman in front of me is the one I love.'
Acting, work—nothing was impossible.
Yu Miho looked at me.
"Cue!"
I gazed at her with soft eyes. I nailed it, but Yu Miho, in her Eastern-style outfit, smiled with stiff lips.
Oh no.
"NG! Yu Miho!"
"S-Sorry."
Sure enough, cut. I rolled my shoulders and went back to position.
"Again. Standby, cue!"
I made the same expression as before. But Yu Miho met my eyes and smiled awkwardly again.
This again.
"NG! Yu Miho!!"
Her face went pale, lips trembling.
'She looks so pitiful.'
I shook my head. Come to think of it, it was similar to earlier.
'The pre-regression couple's both a mess.'
No wonder they dated. They match perfectly.
'Anyway, what now?'
I still had to shoot this music video.
Yu Miho's hands shook in panic. She was the type to spiral once freaked out. Superstitious too. I let out a small sigh.
"Yu Miho, after you make eye contact with me, the wind starts. See the fan over there?"
"Oh, got it."
"Your expression's the issue. Hmm, you like cotton candy, right? Make the face you do when you see cotton candy."
"Huh?"
She was obsessed with cotton candy, so this should work.
The director called out again.
"Yu Miho! Do better! Standby! Cue!"
I looked at her with soft eyes again. This time, she met my gaze and smiled brightly.
'Yep, cotton candy eyes for sure.'
The wind blew. As her clothes fluttered, I gently touched her hair.
We locked eyes again. I smiled like a tender lover.
That's when it happened.
A shadow approached from afar. The director's shout came from behind.
"Turn off the fan!"
Damn, what the hell.
'Something's flying at us?'
No time to think. I shielded Yu Miho's face with my arm and dropped low. She couldn't process it and tried not to sit.
Why is this woman standing there dumbly when something's coming?
I yanked her down.
"Sit down!"
"Huh? Oh?"
The moment she sat, something black and huge engulfed us. The world went dark. Only rustling filled my ears.
'Damn it.'
Now I knew what it was. And I could guess the situation.
'A waterproof tarp flew in.'
It was a big one—resisted like crazy. Soon the staff stopped the fan and pulled it off. I sighed and stood.
The PD hurried over.
"Dowon, you okay?"
"Yeah, just heavy fabric, no big deal."
"You didn't fall?"
"Nope. I lowered my center right away. But I'm fine..."
I looked down at Yu Miho. She sat trembling.
"It's Yu Miho who's the problem."
Could we even continue shooting?
I met her eyes. She hid her shaking arms, but everyone on set had noticed.
"Yu Miho, you okay? Hurt anywhere?"
"Y-Yeah. Sorry. I just got startled."
I narrowed my eyes.
'That's not it, is it?'
Not just startled. She's terrified, sis. You freak out in dark, tight spaces ever since getting stuck in that closet as a kid.
Damn. Annoying as hell.
"Director, let's take a break."
"Oh, sure."
"Yu Miho, get up."
I offered my hand. She glanced between my face and hand cautiously.
'So suspicious.'
Still her cautious self.
She carefully took my hand and stood. I supported her to a nearby chair.
"Manager, get her something to drink. Something cool and sweet."
"What's this? You asking for soda? You only drink water, never this stuff."
I took the drink from the manager and gave it to Yu Miho.
"Drink."
"Huh? Thanks."
She did as told. Gulping the sweet soda, she stared right through me.
"Huh? It's... stopped shaking?"
She looked at her hands. The trembling was clearly gone.
'Of course.'
Yu Miho's panic fix was simple.
'Sit next to someone reliable and drink something sweet and cold.'
Something like, 'This isn't a closet,' to ground her.
I sighed and turned away. Panic over—none of my business now. As I headed to the director, something tugged my clothes from behind.
'What now.'
Yu Miho was holding my hem.
"Hey, Cha Dowon. Thanks."
"Sure."
Nothing more to say. I tried to leave, but she wouldn't let go.
"Um, how did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That I... like cotton candy."
Oh.
'That was her little secret.'
Slipped my mind.
I grinned. Best to deflect.
"I guessed."
Whatever.
"Figured you did."
I asked casually.
"Don't you?"
"W-Well, I do."
"Good."
"R-Really."
Hook, line, and sinker. Now I really wanted to ditch Yu Miho. But she clung to my clothes.
'The costume's expensive, right.'
No choice.
"Anything else?"
"Th-Thanks."
"Yeah. Heard you the first time. So, if you'll excuse me..."
Let go already.
"D-Don't go."
I frowned.
"What."
"Cha Dowon... you hate me, right?"
I was speechless for a second.
'How'd she know?'
I'd watched pre-regression Yu Miho closely.
'She nailed it.'
That's how she was. Hit where it hurt sometimes.
An old memory surfaced. How did it even start with this woman?
I'd peeked at a famous celeb during restaurant part-time. But her picky order pissed me off while I cooked. When I satisfied her, she said, 'I want to see the head chef.'
The shy chef shoved pretty-faced me out, and that's when she said it.
-You hate me, right?
Caught off guard, she slipped her card in my pocket.
'Past is past.'
I shook my head to clear it.
I was idol Cha Dowon now. The woman before me wasn't that Yu Miho yet.
'Can't get tangled with her again.'
I smiled broadly. Deflect as always.
"Nope."
I leaned in close.
"No idea why you'd think that. We're colleagues. Why would I hate someone I just met?"
She pulled back, flustered.
"Besides, we're practically strangers."
Yu Miho's eyes wavered. None of my business. I offered a handshake.
"Let's nail today's shoot."
She didn't take it.
"Strangers?"
Oh boy.
"Ah, my bad. We might cross paths working, though."
"You think I'll only do music videos my whole life?"
I smiled sweetly.
"Who knows."
Her face flushed redder.
"Honestly, you're a hassle. Whether you leave or we work together, I don't care. One music video shoot and done. Do whatever."
She bit her lip hard.
I turned with a sweet smile.
"Too bad—you seem to want to keep seeing me. Not interested."
Rustling from behind, but I didn't look. Obvious: red-faced and trembling.
'Suits Yu Miho.'
Gets mad and works better. This shoot's safe now.
I approached the director and Kang Minje. They were deep in discussion.
"Scene change?"
"Nah, same scene. Just thought adding more pathos to your emotion might work, Dowon."
I glanced at Kang Minje.
"You think so, hyung?"
"Yeah. Looks that way on screen."
I shrugged.
"Sure, why not. Not hard. But too emotional, and it'll feel like a drama, not a music video."
"It's aimed overseas—this fits better."
The director stroked his chin.
"Wow, nailing emotion on cue. As expected from Cha Dowon. No wonder they call you an acting genius."
I shook my head.
"Nah. That was overdone. Genius? Please."
Kang Minje laughed, hand on my shoulder.
"I think it fits. Never seen anyone act better than you."
"You're exaggerating, hyung. Go to a movie set and watch Jung Jiseok. Bet you won't say that."
That old nutcase acts great.
The director smiled warmly at us.
"You two get along. Zenith's set."
Damn.
I suppressed a grimace. The manager approached.
"Our boys are tight. Relieved me."
"Plenty of groups fall apart fighting."
"True. Zenith's good."
I'd love to make it worry-worthy just to piss them off.
"Alright, prep again. Next scene needs emotion—think you got it?"
"Ah, the crying scene?"
Kang Minje's eyes sparkled.
"Our Dowon will nail it, obviously."
Why are you answering? I'm the one acting.
"Is that so. Heh heh."
Director, stop laughing.
I exhaled softly. Up front, the manager covered his mouth, chuckling.
'Want to curse.'
I strode to position for standby. Yu Miho, changed, glared at me.
'Oh great. Trouble on top of trouble.'
I shrugged and smiled brightly. Her glare sharpened, but none of my business.
"Please take good care of this scene too."
Yu Miho bit her lip. Better if she replied. Not fully that Yu Miho yet, huh.
Still, pro's a pro. She lay center stage per script. I composed myself.
'Scene number 65. Tearing up over the fallen woman.'
Plus Kang Minje wanted more emotion. Not just tears—near sobbing.
'Crying's easy.'
Just pull the worst memory.
"Standby!"
Director's call. I closed then opened my eyes. That day's memory flooded in.