Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Neighborhood Folks
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Director Son Tae-min addressed the actors and staff.
"Everyone, this is Min-ji we're talking about here."
Lead actor Kim Yu-chan chimed in to lighten the mood.
"Min-ji's the vitamin keeping our set energized."
"Until the situation blows over, no one breathes a word about what happened here today. Luckily, we're out in these isolated mountains with no outsiders around. As long as we all keep our mouths shut, we're golden."
Kim Yu-chan asked,
"What about those detectives over there?"
"They're handling it as an off-the-record investigation for now."
"That's a relief."
Son Tae-min pointed at the food truck and said,
"And anyone who goes blabbing about who that food truck uncle is today? Consider it your last time seeing my face or President Lee Tae-ho of THO Entertainment."
A lighting staffer raised his hand.
"Director, we don't even know who the food truck guy is today."
Son Tae-min pointed at him and shouted,
"I love that attitude! That's exactly it!"
"No, really, we have no idea."
The article did go out. But it was about the reshoots for Sunny Day. The fact that THO Entertainment had uploaded a video online didn't even make the news.
The article popped up on internet community boards too. People started commenting.
The assistant director reported,
"Director, about that cafe for tomorrow's shoot—they're demanding more money than last time to rent it again."
Son Tae-min looked up from revising the script.
"Why?"
"Our situation's all over the news now, so they must've seen it."
"Yeah? Pay 'em."
"Pardon?"
Son Tae-min raised his pen triumphantly and yelled,
"What's the one thing we don't have right now? Time! We don't have time, but you think we're short on cash? Double it. Tell 'em no customers from morning till night tomorrow. Oh, and we might trash the place a bit during filming—offer to cover that too."
"But the budget..."
"President Lee Tae-ho said unlimited budget earlier! Spend big!"
"Yes, sir!"
Son Tae-min spent the whole night rewriting the script and showed up at the set early the next morning.
Despite not sleeping a wink, his face showed no fatigue. If anything, there was a manic glint in his eyes.
The cinematographer remarked,
"You look like you're on something—overflowing with energy."
"Don't mention drugs in front of me. This is all because of that junkie bastard... Heh heh heh."
The cinematographer grew concerned.
"Son, you didn't actually take something, right? Why laugh in this mess?"
Son Tae-min waved the freshly printed script.
"Rewrote the script last night, and it's genius. Filming this as is? The movie's gonna be... Heh heh heh heh."
The assistant director handed a copy of the revised script to the cinematographer, who skimmed it quickly.
"The changes really shift the vibe. It's great... Huh? Son?"
"What?"
"This fight scene description—even rushed, isn't 'fights coolly' a bit vague?"
"Vague? Did I say jump off a building? Dodge bullets? Fly? What's the problem?"
The cinematographer flipped through rapidly.
"Look—all the fight scenes are just one line: 'Fights coolly.'"
"I wrote who fights where."
"Without that, I'd think it was a typo. Who writes scripts like this?"
"What choice do we have? No time for detailed blocking, wire setups, or safety gear. So for the fights..."
Son Tae-min turned toward Na Gang-in.
"We trust Na Gang-in. He'll make it look awesome on his own."
"Whoa..."
"I know. Normally, insane. But right now, it's our only shot."
Na Gang-in had positioned the actors he'd fight around the cafe.
Son Tae-min had completely rewritten this scene's script. A simple argument had become an intense brawl.
Na Gang-in handled only the fight. The acting before and after was Kim Yu-chan's.
The prelude was already shot. Na Gang-in, masked and sunglasses on, told his opponents,
"Treat me like the real enemy and come at me. I'll handle the rest."
He'd said the same yesterday. The first actor to rush him at the Gangwon set didn't believe it, swung lightly, and got countered hard.
But today was different. They'd all seen Na Gang-in rescue Shin Eun-ha from the collapsing set and stop the runaway car to nab the kidnapper.
No one worried about him getting hurt anymore.
Na Gang-in said,
"Let's roll."
The actors charged without hesitation.
Jeon Ji-in suggested several virtual paths via the AR lens. Lines traced paths through the air, with optimal attack responses.
Na Gang-in picked one and moved.
He deflected a puncher's fist, tripped him, flipped his body, and hurled him aside.
"Argh!"
The flung actor yelped in surprise, soaring out of camera frame.
Another aimed a sharp kick at Na Gang-in's face.
Na Gang-in dipped low. The high kick whistled overhead. He tapped the attacker's planted leg. That alone unbalanced him.
Na Gang-in grabbed the falling actor and spun him.
The camera caught a brutal slam. The actor barely felt it.
The last foe had some boxing experience. Guard up, he stepped forward.
Na Gang-in struck the instant his foot lifted.
The boxer punched reflexively. Na Gang-in dodged and shoved with his shoulder.
Camera showed a crushing shoulder strike sending him flying.
All threats down.
Shin Eun-ha stood inside the cafe. Na Gang-in walked toward her. Her eyes sparkled as she watched him.
That was his role.
Director Son Tae-min yelled,
"Cut! Switch!"
Na Gang-in stepped back. Kim Yu-chan, in identical outfit, took his spot.
Kim Yu-chan removed his sunglasses and lowered his mask before Shin Eun-ha.
"Guess they won't quit. Neither will I."
His low, gravelly voice was plenty cool.
But Shin Eun-ha's sparkle dimmed.
Son Tae-min noticed her eyes lacked the earlier fire.
Acting wrapped. Son Tae-min called,
"Cut! We'll keep this, but the eyes... We bought time, so let's redo just that bit."
Reshoots didn't bring back the starry gleam.
Son Tae-min pondered, then told Na Gang-in,
"Gang-in, mind running it from the top...?"
"Better not."
Na Gang-in gestured at his fight partners.
"Like I said yesterday, no practice—one take raw for realism."
"Shh."
Son Tae-min let it go.
"Got it. We roll with this."
He calculated the time saved from quick action shoots.
"If Gang-in keeps delivering like this, we'll have room for more scenes or edits. If this movie hits big, I'll owe you forever."
Na Gang-in had the revised script and schedule too. He asked,
"So my part's done for today?"
"Absolutely. Next action's tomorrow. Oh, wanna grab lunch later up front? Thanks to you, we've got breathing room to eat."
Na Gang-in declined.
"Lunch is food sales at the PC bang."
"Pardon? Why keep that gig...?"
"It's my main job."
"Why's that your main...?"
Shin Eun-ha approached with a bright smile.
"Gang-in oppa, shooting's done for you today? Mine too—lunch is on me. Know a killer spot nearby."
Na Gang-in replied,
"I'm good."
"Aw, no pressure. I'm not the lead, but I can spring a meal."
Son Tae-min interjected,
"I know the place—already suggested it."
"Oh, director's got plans there? Mind if I tag along?"
"Nah, even I got shot down."
"Huh?"
"Gang-in's off to sell food."
Shin Eun-ha looked around.
"Where? No food truck today."
"PC bang."
Her big eyes blinked rapidly. She got it.
She tapped her forehead.
"Wait—Gang-in oppa's PC bang food gig is real?"
"Apparently."
"Why would someone like you...?"
Son Tae-min eyed Na Gang-in.
"Beats me too."
Na Gang-in said,
"Feels like y'all are dissing my precious workplace."
Shin Eun-ha waved frantically.
"No! Not that! Where's the PC bang? I'm coming too!"
Na Gang-in blinked.
"Huh?"
"My shoot's wrapped too."
Son Tae-min couldn't leave as director.
Shin Eun-ha grinned at Na Gang-in.
"My car."
Her car was a white foreign sedan.
The morning's cafe set was in Seoul. With just the fight scene, she didn't need a waiting area.
So last night, she'd planned lunch alone with him, driving solo sans manager.
She drove, giggling to herself.
'Everything's going to plan...'
Then reality hit.
'Wait, no—plan was fancy restaurant, not PC bang...'
The PC bang wasn't far from set. She said while driving,
"Whoa, my folks' place is this neighborhood. Lived here till I moved out. You too, Gang-in oppa?"
"No place of my own."
"Huh?"
She thought it was a joke.
They parked at the building and entered.
Boss's niece Cha Eun-seo manned the counter. Night shifter Yoon A-reum and college hacker An Seong-hwan were there too—just for Na Gang-in's lunch.
The PC bang trio gawked at Na Gang-in with a slim, stunning young woman.
"Whoa? Whoa?"
"Bro brought a girl. Damn, she's gorgeous. Total powerhouse."
Cha Eun-seo recovered first.
"Gang-in oppa, who's she...?"
Yoon A-reum's eyes widened.
"No way—girlfriend?!"
An Seong-hwan grinned, thumbs up.
"Bro! Respect!"
Shin Eun-ha lowered her sunglasses slightly and called,
"Eun-seo-ya, long time no see?"
Cha Eun-seo's eyes went wide.
"Eun-ha unni?! What're you doing here?"
"You first—why're you here?"
"My uncle owns this PC bang."
Shin Eun-ha tilted her head.
"Huh? Why's uncle running a PC bang?"
"His company tanked."
"Oh... Right, that one."
Yoon A-reum beamed excitedly.
"Whoa, a celeb."
Shin Eun-ha smiled.
"First time seeing one?"
"Yeah! Totally!"
"Ah... I see."
An Seong-hwan flung his arms wide for a heart.
"Noona! Love you! Hug?"
"Beat it."
"Yessir!"
Yoon A-reum asked Cha Eun-seo,
"Unni, you and a celeb are tight? You're full of surprises!"
Cha Eun-seo explained,
"Eun-ha unni used to live around here. Back in the day, her neighborhood black history was epic... "
Shin Eun-ha said softly,
"Eun-seo-ya? That's enough."