Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Hiking and Set Conflicts
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After visiting the psychological treatment center.
My to-do list had grown.
I used to wake up early in the morning, drop Yu-na off at New Sprout Kindergarten, finish tidying up the house, and then enjoy some alone time...
But now, I found myself heading out whenever I could, breathing in the fresh air and hiking.
'They said I'm getting better bit by bit?'
Apparently, I'd passed out from the shock of reliving all those painful memories in a single moment.
And the mental strain that had lingered for a while.
Now, even recalling my school days didn't faze me. Just as the counselor said, things were definitely improving compared to before.
'This is all thanks to my wife.'
Wiping away the scars etched in my heart might be impossible, but thanks to my wife's devoted care, I'd fortunately overcome the trauma.
'To think I let a wife like that go...'
I could fully understand Lee Jun-seo's desperate choice.
Even now, just thinking of my wife who left us and this world behind brought tears to my eyes.
But not me.
I had no intention whatsoever of following my wife and abandoning our precious daughter, like Lee Jun-seo before the possession.
Who else would hide the beans I leave in the corner of the dining table so she can't find them?
Who else would stop her from letting go of the handle while riding her ZingZing and careening off wildly?
Who wakes up Yu-na every morning, clinging to my stomach like a cicada in her sleep?
Me, her dad, of course.
'...Yeah. I'll never abandon Yu-na and leave. No matter what anyone says, she's my precious daughter.'
With my cap pulled low, I widened my eyes and quickened my pace.
Under the scorching midday sun.
Moving even a little made sweat pour out, a real reminder that summer had arrived.
"Haa. Haa. Feels like a sauna."
I stopped walking and wiped the streaming sweat with my shirt hem pulled up to my face.
"Shouldn't have come all the way up here?"
I'd started hiking thinking it might build stamina by combining it with walks and exercise.
I'd climbed without fail for days now, but it was starting to wear me out.
Still, I didn't give up.
At first, even a short climb left me gasping, but now I'd escaped that pathetic level of fitness—I could reach the midpoint without resting.
In other words.
My muscles were building.
"The weather's perfect."
I looked up blankly, and sunlight filtered through the dense green leaves, sparkling like jewels.
'...Should I push to the summit today?'
I resumed my paused steps.
Walking along the trail, my pocket buzzed.
'Who could it be?'
Without stopping, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.
It was a call from Kim Do-hoon.
My brow furrowed instinctively.
Once I got famous, blocking guys cozying up like we were buddies was the way to go.
Having experienced it myself, I hit reject and blocked him right away.
"Whew, feels good to get that off my chest."
Then another call came in.
The director's name was on the screen.
'Director Han Mun-jin?'
I fumbled to answer, ducking into an empty spot and bowing at the waist.
"Ah, Director. Hello."
-Ey, you feeling better?
"Ah, yes. I'm fine. Thank you for pushing back my shoot schedule."
The director had suddenly reshuffled the filming dates. When I heard he'd delayed my shoot, which was set for a full week later, I was floored.
I heard there was some backlash, of course. Senior actors whose schedules got messed up raised their voices at him, but they quieted down once he explained it was because I'd been rushed to the ER.
-Hmm! Anyway. You know things get busy next week, right?
"Of course."
-Good. Next time... Never mind.
Click!
Was he about to say something?
He cut off mid-sentence and hung up. Pondering what it might've been gave me a headache.
'Eh, whatever.'
I pocketed my phone and resumed toward the summit.
Having finished the short call with Lee Jun-seo, Han Mun-jin let out a quiet sigh.
He'd heard recently that actor Lee Jun-seo had picked up a new hobby.
'Hiking.'
No one around him shared the interest.
Struggling up the mountain and breathing the fresh air at the peak—how refreshing and rewarding it was.
'Kids these days just don't get it.'
Still, if he built some common ground little by little, maybe they could hike together on weekends?
His lips curved up involuntarily.
Kang Min-woo, watching from afar, asked curiously.
"Hmm, Director. Something good happen lately?"
"What?"
"You're smiling right now."
"Ha! What're you on about? If you're gonna spout nonsense, memorize your lines."
"I've got them all in my head already."
"Then sync up with actor Im Ju-ho or whoever. Gotta check the blocking."
"...Im Ju-ho?"
"Yeah. We've got that big fight scene with him today. If the moves get tangled and someone gets hurt, the schedule's toast."
"...Got it."
Kang Min-woo didn't like Im Ju-ho. He'd witnessed him recently badmouthing extras playing students, hurling insults.
It made his brow furrow.
He'd intervened early to keep it from blowing up, but it was more than enough to spark personality controversy for Im Ju-ho.
'Hope this guy doesn't tank our project.'
Thud. Thud.
Kang Min-woo dragged his feet toward the classroom where the extras waited. As the director said, he'd better practice to avoid injuries.
Slide!
The noisy classroom fell pin-drop silent as he flung open the door.
'Something happen?'
Scanning the room, Kang Min-woo clutched his throbbing head.
Im Ju-ho and an extra student were locked in a standoff, grabbing each other's collars.
Looking ready to throw punches any second.
"You guys! What the hell are you doing!"
Kang Min-woo rushed between them to break it up. Even so, Im Ju-ho's grip stayed tight on the extra's collar.
"...Let go. You think this is a real school? This is a set."
Only after glaring with a low growl did Im Ju-ho relax his hand.
Thought it was over.
But Im Ju-ho snapped at Kang Min-woo, who'd stopped the fight.
"Watch your tone? No manners?"
"...Manners? I'm your senior and elder in this industry. Worry about respecting your elders before lecturing on manners."
"......"
The sharp retort made Im Ju-ho's eyes flash dangerously, like he might lunge and grab his collar.
Unfazed, Kang Min-woo turned to the upset-looking student and asked.
"You explain. What happened?"
"That ba— I mean, that guy insulted my parents. I couldn't take it."
He'd caused trouble just the other day too.
'Causing another incident.'
His headache worsened.
Having to film a key scene with this guy next... The future looked bleak, worrying about more mishaps.
"Sigh... Junior Im Ju-ho. Keep causing scenes on set and..."
Im Ju-ho cut him off.
"You probably don't know, but even counting from your singing debut, I'm the senior who entered this industry first."
Kang Min-woo was stunned.
"What?"
"I've only done flops that never took off, so you didn't know. Right, junior?"
"......"
Im Ju-ho smirked briefly before his face turned icy.
"I'll let the casual speech slide as respect for your elder. Call me junior again, and you're dead by my hand."
Kang Min-woo's body stiffened at the voice dripping with menace, hairs standing on end.
He'd been cowed.
"...Threatening me?"
Im Ju-ho didn't answer.
He just flipped through the bound 'High School 2022' script.
After a moment.
He closed it with a meaningful smile and spoke.
"Ah, today's shoot's gonna be fun."
I got a sudden call from the director.
Said actor Kang Min-woo got hurt mid-shoot and we needed to advance the schedule. So here I was on my day off, showing up at the set.
"Hmm, how bad is it that they're pulling the shoot forward?"
Muttering to myself, I climbed the steep school hill and reached the front gate.
"Hey! Junior! Over here! Here!"
No time to catch my breath.
Kang Min-woo waved wildly and ran over. His face bore a deep blue bruise bad enough to sideline him for a bit.
That's why they'd advanced the earlier scenes.
Seeing him, I felt a little relieved. I'd worried it was something like a sprained ankle since it was "serious."
The injury was on his face.
Bad enough for filming? Manageable.
"You okay? You collapsed last time. Sure you can jump back in?"
"I'm fine. But... Senior Kang, your face?"
"Ugh, look at you sweating. My fans sent a coffee truck this time. Wanna grab some to cool off?"
"Yeah... But how'd that happen? Even if it was during a shoot..."
Kang Min-woo touched the bruise and spoke slowly.
"This? Some kid younger than me did it."
"Huh?"
Among this project's cast, the only one younger than Kang Min-woo was me.
'Who else besides us?'
It couldn't be some unannounced child actor...
A face flashed in my mind—the guy who'd picked a fight with me.
'Ah, that was him.'
So he was around my age... Must sting getting hit by a "little brother." Maybe tease Senior a bit to cheer him up?
I glanced around, feigned surprise, and pointed at myself.
"Me? Me?"
"No, some weird actor. Jun-seo, you know Im Ju-ho?"
Didn't seem like a time for jokes. I composed myself and asked seriously.
"Why him?"
"Here's what went down..."
His story:
Friction with Im Ju-ho before the shoot.
During their fight scene.
The punch didn't miss—it landed square on his face.
If that's the case...
"That wasn't a mistake, was it?"
"Doesn't look like it to me."
"Why not tell the director? No guarantee it won't happen again."
"Won't help. No proof. Kicking him out over bad behavior would spark controversy."
We walked and talked. About actor Im Ju-ho's conduct, and how to gather evidence to boot him.
"How about collecting witness statements and handing them to the director?"
"Contract makes it tough to axe him outright."
"He's an actor, right? Haha, forgot. Thought he was an extra."
Kang Min-woo burst out laughing, clutching his stomach, wincing as his bruised cheek hurt.
Definitely.
Couldn't let this slide...
His behavior was outrageous. No scandals because he wasn't famous or handsome?
If a big-name actor pulled that... Everyone knows how it'd go.
So.
How to pay him back? I wanted to help my newly close pal Kang Min-woo.
"Ah, how about this?"
Embarrassing, but.
In my past life, a blocking mix-up led to an extra accidentally yanking down my pants.
'A shoot mishap.'
Just like Im Ju-ho, pretend it's an accident but humiliate him outright. Kang Min-woo's body twitched.
"My idea. Sound good?"
"Think it'll work? Seems tough."
"Trust me. Easier with a crowd. Just embarrassing him is too light. Smash his face like he did yours."
I added.
"The school gate scene's perfect. No chance in today's footage. I'll make the opening."
We plotted a revenge without blows, smirking like villains in silence.
"You act more like the senior sometimes. Don't tell me you're actually older than me?"
"Nah, no way. Ahaha."
I laughed off Kang Min-woo's words.