Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Classic Masterpiece
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Lee Yeon-ji's shoot as Friend 3 had wrapped up.
Shin Eun-ha loaded Lee Yeon-ji into the car and headed for her family home. These days, she mostly stayed there.
Lee Yeon-ji's place wasn't far from it either.
Lee Yeon-ji chattered nonstop from the passenger seat.
"Wow, wasn't today's shoot just amazing? It was so much fun."
Shin Eun-ha had slotted Lee Yeon-ji into the minor role of Friend 3 so she could experience the harsh realities of the set firsthand and decide her own future.
She secretly hoped the girl would focus more on what she was already good at—studying.
But today's set had unfolded very differently from her expectations. Lee Yeon-ji had gotten an impromptu short line, and Gong Ji-hyeon had unleashed all her pent-up potential.
Lee Yeon-ji asked,
"What about Gong Ji-hyeon unnie? Is she always that good at acting?"
"Hm... She used to be good back in the day. Then she hit a slump for a while, but today she broke through it."
"Whoa! That's so cool!"
Shin Eun-ha offered some advice.
"Cases like today—where an actor who's been getting flak suddenly makes a dazzling comeback on set—are super rare. So don't go thinking every shoot will be as cool and spectacular as this one."
"Aw, come on. I know that much. So, Eun-ha unnie, can you slot me into another extra role? I don't even need lines. I can just stand there as background. It was just too fun."
"You weren't background today. You actually did pretty well."
Lee Yeon-ji grinned slyly.
"For real? Hehe. I mean, I'm decent at anything I try my hand at."
"Compared to me or Gong Ji-hyeon, you're like a firefly, though."
"Eek!"
"Still, you held your own against kids from acting academies."
Doing that well without any training meant she had talent.
'What if she ends up more into acting than studying?'
That evening, Shin Eun-ha was at Na Gang-in's place, planning to order delivery food.
After placing the order, Shin Eun-ha asked,
"You said you were working on Iron Man Ki-gong stuff today, right? Something about the Dragon Plate?"
"Yeah. The company designed their own mass-production model."
Shin Eun-ha asked cautiously,
"So Iron Man Ki-gong's gotten good at designing now too?"
"Nah. Just a waste of time."
The drama where Lee Yeon-ji appeared as Friend 3 was already halfway through its run.
The production schedule was tight. The writer had finished the entire script already, so there was enough wiggle room for site visits, but the filming team was slammed. They'd already burned through their stockpile of early footage.
Lee Yeon-ji's scene aired less than a week later.
She bragged in front of the lounge TV at the hospital.
"Ah! See that? That's me!"
First came the scene where Friends 1, 2, and 3 argued with the female lead. Lee Yeon-ji delivered her line convincingly too.
"Hehehe."
Kwon Soo-yeon, who had the same illness as the people Lee Yeon-ji knew, was also in the lounge. Kwon Soo-yeon clapped.
"Whoa, you're good at acting. Did you go to an acting academy?"
"Nope. First time ever, but I got tons of compliments. Eun-ha unnie said she couldn't deny I have acting talent. That's a compliment, right?"
"Lucky you. So, heading into showbiz now?"
"I'm good at studying too. Top of the school!"
Kwon Soo-yeon, the first developer of the pyramid solar cell—a key future energy tech—chuckled slyly.
"Pfft, top of the school? Just study a bit and it's done. That's how it was for me in high school."
"Right? We totally get each other, unnie!"
Na Gang-in had come to visit Kwon Soo-yeon but got roped in.
He said from between them,
"You two must be pretty sick, huh? Time for your meds."
Kwon Soo-yeon waved it off with a laugh.
"Aw, just kidding. Kidding."
"Yeah, it was a joke. Uncle doesn't get jokes."
"Sounded dead serious to me."
Na Gang-in glanced at the TV. Gong Ji-hyeon's showdown with the female lead was starting.
A mix of emotions played across her face. When sadness peeked through her anger, everyone in the lounge sighed in unison.
"Ahh."
"Oh man."
After Gong Ji-hyeon and the female lead's clash ended and the scene shifted,
Kwon Soo-yeon commented,
"That actress... it's not just anger. She seems kinda pitiful, you know?"
Lee Yeon-ji boasted like it was her own achievement.
"I was behind that unnie during the shoot, so I couldn't see her face clearly, but I was blown away anyway. Watching it on TV now... it's making me tear up just thinking back."
Na Gang-in said,
"The PD really put his all into directing and editing this."
Today's broadcast used three different takes of the scene.
One where the female lead flubbed it, one solid take, and a final one with even a backup camera set up.
The PD had cherry-picked the best bits from all three and stitched them together. Not just Gong Ji-hyeon and the lead—Friends 1, 2, and 3's strongest moments got compiled too.
Gong Ji-hyeon appeared in more scenes after that, nailing her later shoots as well.
But the debut scene hit hardest.
The board wasn't all Gong Ji-hyeon talk. Some wondered who Friend 3 was.
Some even recognized Lee Yeon-ji.
A few days later, Na Gang-in visited THO Entertainment, the film and performance specialists.
President Lee Tae-ho welcomed him warmly.
"We should've met more often, but I've been tied up lately. Business trips. Haha."
"Min-ji's been coming by a lot for snacks, though."
"Thanks to you, we're eating well."
Byeon Hyeong-chan, the assistant director from Sunny Day, was in the president's office too.
Byeon Hyeong-chan greeted him.
"Long time no see, Martial Arts Director Na Gang-in."
"The movie wrapped ages ago—still calling me that?"
"Well, about that..."
Byeon Hyeong-chan smiled awkwardly.
"Remember me saying I wrote a script?"
'Spear of Destiny' was one of the classic masterpieces recommended to Earth Union soldiers in 2082.
"Of course. Spear of Destiny. Story about a spear made centuries ago and rediscovered as a relic in modern times."
Byeon Hyeong-chan's face lit up.
"You remember perfectly. The script's all done. We just need a film company to produce it..."
The film jumped between past and present. Shooting it that way cost a fortune.
One company suggested framing the past as flashbacks and cutting it, keeping only the modern part.
Na Gang-in said,
"Haven't read the script, but from what you told me that day, skipping the past seems wrong."
"Exactly. We turned that down. And remember Kim Yu-chan and Shin Eun-ha asking for the script? Both want to star in it."
"Ah, nice. That makes it easier to... Hm. THO Entertainment?"
THO Entertainment President Lee Tae-ho smiled.
"Kim Yu-chan pushed it, so I read the script. It's fantastic. Kim Yu-chan leading, with Shin Eun-ha and Lee Bo-ra. Lee Bo-ra heard somehow and reached out first. Martial arts director: Na Gang-in. How could we say no?"
"Uh... Hold up. Me as martial arts director?"
Lee Tae-ho glanced at Byeon Hyeong-chan.
"Director Byeon?"
Byeon Hyeong-chan blurted,
"When the script came up, you definitely said you'd handle the action!"
"It's originally from 2032. Filming ten years early—can it match that quality?"
"Ji-in's going all out, huh."
Na Gang-in asked Lee Tae-ho,
"You're not footing the entire budget again, right?"
"I'd love to, but after that near-disaster last time, we're holding back. We're investing about 30%."
Last time, someone tried tanking the film to ruin THO Entertainment, then snag Iron Man Ki-gong's control.
"Once we shopped the script saying Kim Yu-chan stars, the other 70% poured in. Haven't told investors about Na Gang-in yet since it's not locked."
"Jumping between past and present will cost a ton."
"Found a way to cut past-era costs. Acquired a recent Joseon-era set from another film. Tweaking the script slightly to fit."
Byeon Hyeong-chan nodded vigorously.
"I checked the set—plenty usable."
Na Gang-in was on board too. He told Byeon Hyeong-chan,
"If I can help, I will."
Byeon Hyeong-chan beamed.
"Thank you! Truly!"
"So, when do I start?"
"Staff's already locked in teams. Actors are all that's left—we could shoot today if they're ready."
But confirmed actors were just Kim Yu-chan, Shin Eun-ha, and Lee Bo-ra.
"Guess you'll need auditions."
"Yep. Major roles audition tomorrow with applicants. Haha."
"One condition, though."
Byeon Hyeong-chan swallowed hard.
"Go ahead. If you're thinking of acting, there's a perfect role..."
"Nah, no acting for me—zero experience."
"Then what..."
"I'm busy. Need schedule flexibility some days. Non-negotiable."
Kwon Soo-yeon's surgery dates came first over filming.
Sudden changes jacked up costs.
Lee Tae-ho answered,
"I know you're busy with important stuff, Gang-in. Whatever the extra cost, we'll adjust the schedule."
Na Gang-in got home.
"Ji-in, didn't know you were such a pop culture buff."
"You want Earth Union soldiers moved by a film you helped make? Wanna be an actress yourself?"
As an implanted Combat Support AI, Jeon Ji-in was invisible inside Na Gang-in.
"Yeah, sorry. I'll get your name in the end credits."
His phone rang. It was Sunny Day director Son Tae-min.
Na Gang-in picked up. Son Tae-min yelled,
"What about you?"
"Director Son, you've got your script done now. Investments secured?"
"Lining up now means production's still far off, right?"
"Byeon Hyeong-chan's film wraps before yours starts, probably."
"We'll see."