Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Dodging Rumors
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While Senior Yoon So-hee was deeply immersed in filming, I sat in the chair my manager had prepared and flipped through the script.
Honestly, I had already memorized it perfectly, so there was no real need to look at it...
But with so many eyes around, I had to at least pretend to be reviewing it like this.
What a hassle.
Tap tap.
I felt a pat on my shoulder.
Turning my head, I saw In-ju hyung holding a cool orange drink.
"...Why?"
"Have this at least while you're at it."
"Ah.... Thanks."
Perfect timing—my throat was parched.
I gulped down the orange drink and set the glass with only ice left on the floor. Then I turned my gaze back to the script spread out before me.
"Jun-seo. Is memorizing lines tough?"
"Ah.... Well, yeah, it is."
At my half-hearted response, Kwon In-ju shrugged and pulled over a chair.
"There's a trick to memorizing scripts quickly. Want me to tell you?"
"What's that?"
"If you understand the character's personality, the lines stick way easier. If you do it my way, you'll pick it up in no time."
His method for memorizing scripts was the same as mine.
I widened my eyes in surprise, and Kwon In-ju burst out laughing.
"Ahaha! You didn't know, little bro? Honestly, this is premium info."
He beamed with pride, then suddenly looked at me with a serious expression.
"Jun-seo. Are you... dating Senior So-hee?"
What kind of nonsense was this?
I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak.
......
"...For real?"
"No, I'm not!"
I shouted, and Kwon In-ju narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Hyung.... What’s with that look?"
"Well, lately, Senior So-hee’s been taking extra good care of you."
"I'm never planning to date anyone. You know that."
It seemed like I needed to set things straight this time. It was getting uncomfortable, so I wanted her to stop fussing over me.
Wait a second...
Was that why she’d been avoiding me earlier? Because of rumors like this?
***
Whenever breaks came around, Yoon So-hee would slip away to a quiet corner and spend the time alone.
The reason was...
Because of the absurd rumor that she must be dating him since she was paying extra attention to Lee Jun-seo.
She’d never been one to let gossip sway her—she always acted on her feelings.
But not this time.
She was especially worried, so she couldn’t approach Jun-seo like usual.
He was still grieving his wife, who had left the world too soon.
A scandal breaking out in that situation?
Not good at all.
Why did everyone believe only what they saw?
Yoon So-hee let out a deep sigh.
"Yeah! Honestly, Junior Jun-seo is handsome! He’d make a great husband! But the dating rumors are too much..."
She scolded herself mid-rant and stopped.
Hold on—husband material?
Whoosh.
Her face flushed hot.
"Haa.... Why am I like this?"
This made her look so pathetic...
She absolutely wasn’t approaching the handsome junior because she dreamed of marrying him.
She could swear to the heavens.
It was just that Jun-seo was so pitiful.
And she wanted to show him that the world had good things too.
To keep him from harboring bad thoughts.
That was why she’d been kind to him.
"What about the next shoot.... Haa."
As she buried her burning face in her hands and dry-washed it,
"Unni! Unni! What are you doing here?"
Hearing her manager’s voice, Yoon So-hee quickly schooled her expression and turned her head indifferently.
"Why’d you come all the way here? I know about the rumors. That’s why I’ve been keeping my distance from Junior Jun-seo."
"Good call. No. Wait."
Yoon So-hee chuckled softly at her manager shaking her head vigorously side to side.
"Or what’s the problem then?"
"You’ll miss lunch if you skip this break. Aren’t you eating?"
"Of course I am. But can’t I eat last? I might run into the junior if I go now."
"No, it’s fine to run into Actor Jun-seo. Just act normal like always. I’ve told you how many times..."
"...Enough."
Her manager, frustrated by her listless demeanor, grabbed her arm and yanked her up.
Yoon So-hee trailed along weakly.
Feeling bad at the sight, the manager hesitated before speaking.
"Unni.... What’s up with you today? Are you sick? Should I tell the director you can’t shoot today?"
Yoon So-hee shook her head. Then she strode forward.
"...Let’s just go eat."
"Yeah...."
As they walked slowly, they soon arrived at the food truck where the staff had lined up.
A mouthwatering aroma wafted from near the pristine white truck.
"Unni, here’s your plate."
"Oh, thanks."
"This food truck must be from Actor Kwon’s agency. Unni, check out this pamphlet. Ahaha! It’s hilarious."
[Aroma Agency’s Resident Ghost: Kwon In-ju!]
[Actor Kwon In-ju Fighting!!]
Along with the cheerful message, there was a photoshoot pic of Kwon In-ju showing off his sculpted abs.
Even seeing In-ju junior’s impressive abs didn’t make her heart race like when she thought of Jun-seo.
"In-ju junior’s handsome too...."
"Pardon? What’d you say?"
"Nothing."
Following her manager to an empty seat, Yoon So-hee sighed softly.
"Unni?"
"...Yeah, what now."
"You’re not yourself today. You’re gonna eat all that by yourself?"
Yoon So-hee glanced at her plate. It was piled mountain-high with fried rice.
......
After a moment of silence, she quickly scooped some onto her manager’s plate right in front of her.
Her manager watched quietly, then wore a worried look.
***
I was killing time behind a quiet warehouse, watching Kwon In-ju practice his lines.
He just lacked a bit in subtle emotional beats.
Nothing major to point out.
Still.
‘I’m worried about Senior Yoon So-hee.’
The senior who’d been extra attentive to me hadn’t said a word to me today.
Even when filming halted because an extra’s acting was awful, she’d vanished somewhere.
Was she really avoiding me because of rumors?
That’s what I was thinking when—
"Jun-seo. How was that take?"
I snapped to at Kwon In-ju’s question as he approached, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Hmm.... For that last bit, how about going more intense? Like overwhelming with your eyes."
He nodded at my suggestion.
"Honestly, I thought the same. See? We click, my little bro."
"Ahaha. Yeah?"
"I’ll do it again. Watch closely this time."
"Sure thing, hyung."
Kwon In-ju closed his eyes tightly, then slowly opened them.
The atmosphere shifted, and a gravelly voice emerged from him.
"You’re saying.... that’s what sparked the fight out of nowhere?"
My first company dinner after joining.
Using my ability to poke at the bottled-up emotions of the staff.
That escalates a minor spat into fists flying.
Eventually, cops show up and question them—that’s the scene In-ju hyung was practicing.
"Haa."
Kwon In-ju sighed deeply and shook his head.
"People resort to violence over something that trivial?"
His incredulous expression was spot-on.
‘The expressions feel alive....’
He nodded along as he took statements one by one, so vivid it was like being there.
"Haa, is that true?"
Next up was the part I’d suggested.
He closed his eyes, opened them—and the eye shift was killer.
"Ha! You call that a joke? Someone nearly got hurt. Even as a joke, you don’t swing a soju bottle."
Oh, he actually took my advice?
Kwon In-ju accepted it wholesale and delivered a much improved performance, like payback.
If anyone saw this barrier between senior and junior crumbling...
They’d be shocked, right?
That’s when—
Hearing footsteps, I turned instinctively. Two women approached, one patting her belly.
Yoon So-hee senior, looking a bit dazed, and a young woman who seemed like her manager, stopped in front of us.
"Senior Yoon So-hee, hello."
She panicked and averted her eyes.
"Y-Yeah, practicing, huh."
"Yes. Are you heading to the van to rest now, senior?"
Her head dipped lower.
Her unusual attitude was weird—I was about to ask why when—
"Oh? Senior! You’re here? Wanna run lines with me?"
At Kwon In-ju’s offer, the woman beside her perked up. She tossed the script to Yoon So-hee.
"Unni, practice lines to clear your head. I’ll head to the van and sort the next schedule."
"W-Wait a sec!"
Thud thud thud! Clunk!
An awkward silence fell.
But only briefly.
Kwon In-ju, who’d suggested it first, broke it.
"Jun-seo. Let’s do it like the real thing. Watch hyung closely."
"More practice? You’ll strain your throat if you push too hard."
"I’ll manage my condition. Don’t worry—just focus on doing well, little bro."
"Ah, okay.... Got it."
As Kwon In-ju prepped to run it again, I stared at Senior Yoon So-hee.
Our eyes met, and she whipped her gaze away again.
This confirmed it...
She was definitely avoiding me.
***
It wasn’t long before their rehearsal began—and it had a serious issue.
Senior Yoon So-hee kept losing focus and messing up repeatedly.
"What did you just say? Is that true?"
Kwon In-ju glared sharply, demanding the truth—his acting was flawless.
Now the senior needed to push back strongly and show her righteous side.
"Uh, so...."
She flubbed that line too.
Even for practice, this was off.
Was it because I was watching?
That’s what I was thinking when—
Kwon In-ju suddenly dropped his script and halted the rehearsal.
He strode toward Senior Yoon So-hee with concern etched on his face.
"Hmm.... Are you not feeling well, senior?"
"Huh? Uh.... Kinda."
Kinda?
She seemed totally checked out mentally.
At her limp response, Kwon In-ju and I just stared blankly at her.
"S-Sorry."
I’d never seen her this fragile.
What had weakened her so much?
"...Jun-seo. We should tell the director senior’s not well. I’ll go."
"Then I’ll stay here."
Grab!
As he turned, Senior Yoon grabbed his wrist—her eyes trembled wildly.
Her hand shook badly too.
"I’m fine. I’ll recover after resting."
"...What if you collapse? It’ll mess up the schedule."
"I said I’m fine!"
Her sudden yell froze the atmosphere.
She glanced around nervously, then slunk away to the van like she was fleeing.