Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Radio
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Na Gang-in and his Combat Support AI, Jeon Ji-in, were operating under the assumption that their current circumstances were part of an infiltration mission to assess the situation.
However, they hadn't been able to gauge how Na Gang-in becoming an actor and gaining fame would impact this supposed covert operation. After all, this wasn't a normal mission.
"Then we'll put the plan to become an actor and secure budget for an equipment production base on hold for now."
Na Gang-in said to Yoon A-reum.
"I just did a quick part-time gig for that movie."
"You'd probably be great as an actor."
Na Gang-in brushed it off casually.
"Acting requires actual skill with lines. Have you ever seen me deliver dialogue?"
"Nope. So you can't act, oppa."
Director Son Tae-min explained to Lee Tae-ho.
"Na Gang-in didn't show facial expressions because of the mask, but his physical performance was truly outstanding."
Lee Tae-ho asked,
"Did he study acting?"
"I don't know about that. But if he's interested in acting, that must be why he's so good with his body, right?"
"Looks like Director Son plans to officially cast Na Gang-in after all."
Son Tae-min grinned.
"I'll naturally have him handle the action direction for the next film, and give him a role to the extent he's comfortable acting. Anyway, the next movie will definitely be with Na Gang-in. Hahaha."
Lee Tae-ho nodded vigorously.
"Whether it's an action noir or an action blockbuster, you have to. If Director Son can just get Na Gang-in's signature, our company would love to invest directly like this time and produce your next film."
Na Gang-in said to Yoon A-reum,
"I've done one movie, so that's enough."
Yoon A-reum smacked her lips.
"Too bad. You seem like you'd be good at it."
"I'm busy with other things."
"You seem to just play around all the time."
"It's not playing."
"Then what do you do?"
"Hm..."
Na Gang-in decided to tell her the truth.
"Special mission for the Earth Union forces?"
Yoon A-reum snorted.
"You're playing."
The movie Sunny Day was drawing audiences at a rapid pace. Theaters in major cities were selling out outside of early morning and late-night slots.
Reviews were positive too. Critics praised it, and audience star ratings were high.
Son Tae-min had been a successful romance director before, but now he was even bigger.
A reporter from a film magazine interviewed Son Tae-min.
"You called this film a romantic comedy with action, director. There's a lot of praise for how well the action turned out."
Son Tae-min laughed.
"Hahaha. So maybe next time I'll focus on action."
"Oh! Are you already preparing a new film?"
"Just in the concept stage. It's not something I can do alone anyway."
The lead actor, Kim Yu-chan, was already a star. Even he felt his popularity surge, and he enjoyed it.
The film magazine reporter asked,
"Many fans fell for Kim Yu-chan's intense performance in Sunny Day."
"Hahaha. As if it was all me. Still, I'm thrilled everyone likes it."
"I interviewed Director Son first, and he said his next project will be a full action film. Do you know about it?"
"Really? Guess I should call him."
The reporter quickly asked,
"Ah! So Kim Yu-chan plans to join Director Son's next film too! That's why you're calling him?"
"No, someone else."
"Huh?"
"After this interview."
Kim Yu-chan called Na Gang-in's cellphone. They had drunk together, so his name was in the contacts.
"Hello?"
Kim Yu-chan asked in a slightly excited voice.
- Gang-in! You're joining Director Son's next movie, right?
"Is Director Son making another film?"
- Huh? You don't know?
"No."
- Did you at least get a call from the director?
"Nope."
- Dang, just a rumor then. Come out. Let's eat. My treat.
Na Gang-in was preparing food truck business right now.
"Busy cooking."
Sunny Day continued selling out daily.
Son Tae-min had always excelled at romance films. This romantic comedy was light and fun to watch.
Plus, the action was exceptional.
Couples with different tastes could both enjoy it.
On-site reactions were great, ratings high. The internet overflowed with praise.
But not all controversies were buried.
Articles repeatedly criticized the key supporting actor's arrest at a drug party right before release.
[Is it right to release the film less than ten days after the actor's drug scandal?]
[They rushed it. They should have held back more.]
Including the set collapse footage unchanged was also an issue.
[Safety negligence on set. Is this okay?]
After that article, the film's promotion manager asked Shin Eun-ha to guest on a live radio show.
"Eun-ha, please go explain. You were there when the set collapsed."
"Sure."
"If you handle the story well on radio, our promo team will edit and push it hard. It'll help smooth things over."
Shin Eun-ha shouted boldly.
"Just trust me! I'll go solo and handle it all like a one-woman army!"
"Not solo—Yu-chan will join too. We need max firepower to squash this early, so special request to you two."
The one feeling the popularity shift most was Shin Eun-ha.
She had been a supporting role in a love triangle, overshadowed by the heroine. But post-release, she was now seen as a fierce rival.
Shin Eun-ha visited the PC bang to brag.
"Back in the day, I was up for rookie awards and thought I was hot stuff. But after this movie? Wow, I realized that was nothing."
Na Gang-in asked,
"So you're getting tons of offers now."
"Obviously. Got two schedules today—one done, radio left."
"Then why come here when you're so busy?"
Shin Eun-ha answered while eating mixed fried rice in the PC bang kitchen.
"To eat your delicious food, oppa?"
"Aren't there restaurants in Korea?"
"Places with food this good are usually super expensive. But here it's free."
"Then pay for it."
"Employees eat free?"
"Then get a part-time job."
Shin Eun-ha wiggled her spoon and laughed.
"I'm on fire right now. If I worked here, it'd be a disaster. Ohohoho."
"Don't laugh like a villain."
"Okay~"
She checked her watch, set down her spoon, and held out both hands.
"Give me some mixed snacks."
"You didn't pay?"
Yoon A-reum jumped in from the side.
"Eun-ha unnie, don't just get regular mixed—ask for the special. So we can eat too."
"Special?"
"It's really good."
Shin Eun-ha cupped her hands like a flower stand under her chin and said,
"Oppa! Eun-ha wants special mixed snacks~"
Yoon A-reum was impressed.
"Wow, Eun-ha unnie. First time seeing someone do that stone-cold sober. Actresses are different."
Shin Eun-ha was confident.
"Actors have to play crazy sometimes—this is easy. And I'm cute, so it's fine. But Gang-in oppa, when's my special mixed snacks ready? Gotta head to the studio."
Na Gang-in asked,
"Handmade cookies from bakeries are tasty too. Why not buy those?"
Field Tactical Cooking used whatever ingredients were on hand, made in bulk. His mixed snacks were good, but flavor varied by materials.
Pro bakeries had comparable desserts too.
Shin Eun-ha shook her head.
"No, I like these more. Yours have a special taste. Make a ton to brag at the studio. A whole bunch."
She spread her arms wide.
"This much!"
"Then pay up."
"Ack! Forgot my wallet!"
Na Gang-in said to Yoon A-reum,
"A-reum, at least take her leftover fried rice. She's no customer."
Shin Eun-ha and Kim Yu-chan appeared as guests on the live radio broadcast.
After chit-chat about the movie, the host asked,
"Let's talk about the set collapse during reshoots. Shin Eun-ha, you nearly got hurt bad, right?"
Shin Eun-ha waved it off with a laugh.
"Nah, not at all. It was super sturdy."
"Even with steel lights crashing down on your head?"
"He smashed them away, boom boom. Seeing it up close? You feel, 'Wow, I'm totally safe right now.'"
To lighten it further, Kim Yu-chan chimed in.
"I was there too."
"Oh, really? Then why aren't you in the movie?"
"He protected Eun-ha so coolly, but just yeeted me far away."
"Pardon?"
Kim Yu-chan laughed to keep it light.
"I flew off kinda lame, so they cut me. Hahaha."
The PD sent a real-time bulletin board comment to the host.
The host glanced at the monitor.
"Fun comment just came in."
The host read it.
Kim Yu-chan waved his hands frantically.
"Whoa, no! Joke. Joke. Same scene, can't have two people, so I got cut first. The guy who threw me was my stunt double anyway. Hahaha."
The host asked,
"That stuntman—wasn't he not a pro actor? Heard he was some food truck guy."
Kim Yu-chan got carried away.
"My regular stunt double got hurt, no time to call another. So we scouted on set—only guy built like me who'd worked out was the food truck dude. Director asked him."
"And it blew up big time."
"Yeah. I was shocked too."
The PD sent another comment.
The host said,
"New comment. 'Pfft, I know everything. How's a food truck guy that good at action? They planted a skilled actor there to hype the movie, right?'"
THO Entertainment's promo manager had set this broadcast to source an article claiming the on-set accident wasn't dangerous.
But he hadn't anticipated the PD pushing aggressively.
Sensing the mood souring, Shin Eun-ha swiftly redirected.
"Those snacks we gave out earlier—tasty, right?"
The host played along.
"Insanely good. Where can I buy them? Can't name the place on air, so whisper it to me later."
"No need. Food truck guy whipped 'em up in a frying pan on the spot."
"Huh?"
"He's not some planted action actor—he's a real chef. You tasted it."
"Gotta admit, shockingly delicious."
"And did we have time to prep a whole scenario like that? We were scrambling to reshoot 'cause the film was tanking."
"True, haha."
Shin Eun-ha barely salvaged it.
Kim Yu-chan opened his mouth to brighten the mood. But he sometimes blurted unpolished thoughts. This was one.
"We were never in danger. Guy jumped onto a moving car and stopped it with a steel pipe—knocking off falling stuff? Piece of cake."
The host raised a hand.
"Wait—I saw Sunny Day. No such scene in the movie."
"Huh? Uh..."
Shin Eun-ha tried redirecting again.
"He's not just good at snacks—he's a real chef too."
It didn't work this time.
The host said,
"I saw a video like that online recently. Thought it was promo for another film—but it wasn't? Wait, that was... real?"
This radio broadcast was live.