Chapter 55
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Nope. Not Happening.
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[Scene.55 Nope. Not Happening.]
Scene.55
Nope. Not happening.
The moment the name ‘Annie’ left Yu-hyeon’s lips, everyone wore expressions that said, ‘Annie? Who’s that?’
Yu-hyeon, after checking the caller, seemed to be debating whether to answer.
With a short sigh, as if deciding it was unavoidable, he finally pressed the call button.
- Camu. It’s me.
“Yes. It’s been a while.”
- How could you not call once in a whole year? Isn’t that a bit much? I thought we were friends.
“Has it been that long already? But it’s been a year since you called, too, Annie.”
- It’s obviously a much lovelier picture if you’re the one calling me, Camu.
Yu-hyeon let out a light laugh, brushing it off.
“So, what’s this about?”
- Wow, shouldn’t you at least ask how I’ve been? Anyone would think this was a spam call.
“Of course not. If I thought that, I would have called you by your full name, Elizabeth Veil, not Annie.”
As the caller’s full name left Yu-hyeon’s mouth, a few people looked startled.
“Elizabeth Veil? No way. *The* Elizabeth?”
As a murmur went through the crowd, Yu-hyeon slightly turned his head and said, ‘Annie. If it’s not urgent, could we talk later?’
- I heard the news. You said you weren’t interested in this stuff. I hear you’re shooting a drama?
It wasn't as if the drama had been heavily advertised, and the news that he was participating as the writer had only just broken.
But she’d already heard about it?
“It just sort of happened. But how did you find out? It wasn’t announced publicly.”
- I’m in Korea right now! I stopped by for a commercial shoot, and Sam showed me the news, saying something interesting had come up.
Sam was Elizabeth’s manager, secretary, and the CEO of her agency.
It might seem strange for a CEO to act as a manager and secretary, but since the Veil family were the largest shareholders and founders of the company, and Elizabeth was the heir to that family, their relationship was the reverse of a typical one between an actress and a CEO.
“Ah… Of all the times.”
- Hmm? What did you just say?
“Nothing. So?”
- Do you remember how you’ve been saying you wanted to visit the Camu farm?
“Did I?”
- Did I? Wow, you’re really too much.
Annie grumbled, sounding hurt.
“Annie. I’m in the middle of a conversation with some people right now…”
As Yu-hyeon tried to politely end the call, Yu Han-seong, Kim Seong-hui, and the others all frantically waved their hands.
“It’s no problem. We’re fine.”
“Of course. Please, feel free to talk.”
Their eyes sparkling, they all nodded emphatically as if to say it was absolutely okay.
- Hmph. You were like this last time, too. So rigid. Fine. I’ll get to the point.
“Yes.”
- What about me? I have some free time lately, and nothing particular on my schedule.
“Sorry? Annie, what are you…”
As Yu-hyeon reacted with slight confusion, Elizabeth’s voice became cheerful.
- Sam and I just left. We’re taking the private jet, so it won’t take long. Let’s talk again face-to-face when I get to Malta.
Seeing Yu-hyeon’s reluctance, Elizabeth preemptively cut him off by saying she’d already departed, then quickly hung up the phone.
Yu-hyeon stared at his smartphone with a genuinely dumbfounded expression.
“Hmm…”
As Yu-hyeon let out a low sound, everyone else’s faces filled with curiosity.
Nudged in the side again, Kim Seong-hui took one for the team and asked cautiously.
“Elizabeth Veil… that’s right, isn’t it? The female lead of *Urus Club*.”
When Yu-hyeon nodded, Seong-hui swallowed hard.
“Is… is she…”
“She says she’s coming to Malta.”
“Oh!”
Everyone let out sounds of awe at the news of Elizabeth coming to Malta.
“The fact that she called you, Yu-hyeon… means she’s not just coming to Malta. She’s coming here, to the farm…”
“Seong-hui.”
“Yes, Yu-hyeon.”
“Let’s revise the script.”
“D-don’t tell me, Elizabeth Veil is…”
“I don’t know if she’ll make a cameo or demand a full-fledged role, but it looks like she’ll be making an appearance in the drama. Ah, you don’t need to worry about her personality. She’s a bit of a ‘my way or the highway’ type and has a strange need to show off, but she’s a good person at heart.”
“Of course! No problem!”
Kim Seong-hui shouted, her eyes wide as if she’d just won the lottery.
“If you need to, you can release it to the press. Since she’s the one who expressed interest first.”
This time, Yu Han-seong clenched his fist and let out a triumphant ‘Ugh!’
A Hollywood superstar. Elizabeth Veil, starring in *Lovers in Malta*. And she herself had given the okay regarding her personality issues. If an article like that went up?
‘All you chirping little bastards are dead!’
*Oh, she could make a cameo, so you should make a spot for her?*
Damn them. Let’s see what they have to say now!
“Ah, and Section Chief Park from UN.”
“Yes, CP-nim.”
“Who was that manager you said was talking about leaking things to reporters and getting off the ship? I think we need to make an example of someone. Writer Kim, is that possible?”
“Of course. We can’t just let this slide. How? Should we just send him off in a ‘traffic accident’?”
“A traffic accident? Why would we give the troublemaker more attention? Just demote him to Passerby 1 or something!”
*
After the meeting concluded and she returned to her room, Seong Ye-rim stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Choi Pil-yeon, who had brought coffee, sat down in front of her.
“Oh, nothing. Just.”
“Just? You’re not thinking about Camu, are you?”
“...”
“The more I see him, the more amazing he is. Anyone else would have been panicking and losing their minds.”
As Choi Pil-yeon praised Camu, Seong Ye-rim’s eyes lit up as she chimed in.
“I know, right? He just sliced through it all in one go! He sorted everything out as if it were no big deal. Wow, I thought he was the president of a broadcasting station. And on top of that, Elizabeth Veil!”
Though she was a fairly popular actress in Korea, she was no match for a global star like Elizabeth.
It was surprising enough that he was close with Dior’s head designer, but this was on a whole other level.
Choi Pil-yeon nodded as if he, too, hadn't expected it.
“What do you think, Uncle?”
“Writer Camu?”
“Yes. Isn’t Yu-hyeon Oppa just amazing?”
*Oppa? Look at this girl.*
At Seong Ye-rim’s enthusiastic response, Choi Pil-yeon’s expression soured slightly.
*This drama is already noisy enough with one thing after another, and now a scandal? That can’t happen.*
It would be fine if it were just curiosity, but anything more than that was unwelcome.
Until she was perfectly established and standing tall on her own two feet, for an actress, men were like poisonous mushrooms.
‘I’ll have to keep her in check. It’s still too early.’
When a scandal breaks with a man who isn’t just on a similar level, but in a higher position than the actress, it wasn't uncommon for her, a star who should shine on her own, to be overshadowed by his aura or trapped within it, losing her own presence.
“I heard the filming is delayed by about two days, right?”
“Yes. The writer has to revise the script, and they said they need to take care of things on the Korean side first.”
“Right. Don’t go wandering around. Just manage your condition well.”
“Are you going somewhere?”
“I have to report the situation here to the company. I’m sure Choi Seon-young is throwing a fit.”
“Ah, Senior Seon-young. Well. Yes. Go on.”
Choi Pil-yeon finished his coffee and stood up.
Once outside, he took out a cigarette and lit it, his eyes fixed on the farm’s scenery.
*Huu*—exhaling a long stream of smoke, Choi Pil-yeon’s face twisted into a self-deprecating expression.
The coveted gem he thought was just a rough stone.
Turned out to be a finished jewel, a treasure no one could touch so easily.
“A shame.”
A titan that even TNT couldn’t touch so easily.
A sperm whale, playing in the great ocean.
Sperm whales may seem docile, but they are predators of the sea that can tear apart sharks and orcas in a single bite.
Recalling Yu-hyeon’s actions one by one, Choi Pil-yeon let out a careful sigh.
“Guess I’m getting old. In the past, I would have noticed sooner. Choi Pil-yeon, you’ve lost your touch. Better stay sharp.”
*
As Yu-hyeon walked toward the main house, Lee Ha-na scurried up behind him.
“Um, Writer-nim. Yu-hyeon Oppa… is it okay if I call you that?”
Although they had sorted out the titles the day before, it had been partly due to the atmosphere, so Lee Ha-na’s tone was quite cautious.
“Sure.”
Yu-hyeon nodded as if to say there was no reason to change it now.
“But what is it?”
“Well. I’m worried about Senior Mi-ra…”
Lee Ha-na fiddled with her fingers, matching her steps to Yu-hyeon’s.
“And I wanted to ask for some advice on what to do from now on.”
Making various excuses, Lee Ha-na stole a glance at Yu-hyeon’s face.
Even though she was walking right beside him, Yu-hyeon didn’t spare her a single glance, just kept walking diligently.
‘He’s not even looking at me.’
Just as Lee Ha-na pouted, Yu-hyeon spoke.
“Aunt Mi-ra’s matter is being resolved, and as for advice… Hmm. I’m not sure.”
“You call Senior Mi-ra ‘Aunt’.”
“She’s a good person. A wonderful person. And she treats me like a nephew.”
Hearing him describe Han Mi-ra as a good and wonderful person, Lee Ha-na tilted her head.
The Han Mi-ra she knew had briefly been a star in her youth, but was now almost forgotten.
Besides, both she and Han Mi-ra had known Yu-hyeon for about the same amount of time, yet one was an ‘aunt’ and a ‘wonderful person,’ while the other didn’t even get a glance.
She had been strangely hurt by his comment in CP Yu Han-seong’s room about her character being ‘just at that level,’ and now she was starting to feel resentful.
As she pouted and grumbled to herself, Yu-hyeon called her name.
“Ha-na.”
“Yes? Huh?”
Yu-hyeon, who had been walking straight ahead, looked down at her with a peculiar expression.
*Oh, crap. Did he see my face just now?*
“Wh…y?”
“Are you going to keep following me?”
“What?”
“This is the way to the main house.”
“Yes. So?”
“Didn’t Writer Kim and CP Yu Han-seong tell you?”
Lee Ha-na blinked, as if she didn’t know what he was talking about.
“I told them that access to the main house area is forbidden, except during filming. Has that not been relayed yet?”
At Yu-hyeon’s words, Lee Ha-na let out an “Ah!”
Come to think of it, she seemed to recall Writer Kim saying something like that.
But to retreat meekly with a ‘Yes…’ felt like a blow to her pride. She was the lead actress of the drama, and they had agreed to be like an older brother and younger sister.
So what was with him drawing such a cold line?
Lee Ha-na twisted her words slightly, trying again.
“Not as actress Lee Ha-na. But can’t your little sister, Lee Ha-na, go?”
“Nope. Not happening.”
Lee Ha-na’s face went blank at Yu-hyeon’s firm reply.
*Damn it! He didn’t even hesitate before saying no!*
*Couldn’t he at least pretend to think about it!*
*In times like this, he should at least put on a slightly apologetic face and say something like, ‘Could you try to understand?’*
*That way, I could back down gracefully and say, ‘Ah. Yes. Then I guess it can’t be helped.’!*
Even as Lee Ha-na stood there, flustered, Yu-hyeon continued speaking without a care.
But his tone was no longer the casual one from a moment ago.
“Just because we call each other oppa and dongsaeng in a professional setting, I’m aware that doesn’t mean we’re supposed to act like actual close siblings. Isn’t that something you, as an actress, would know better than a civilian like me? I’ve heard that actors are better at drawing appropriate lines, regardless of titles.”
Yu-hyeon, who had been speaking casually and maintaining a decent conversation, suddenly switched to formal speech with a stern expression, leaving Lee Ha-na genuinely and utterly flustered.
“No. I just… just.”
“Just?”
“I mean. Just…”
“...?”
“Uh. That is. Well.”
Poked by Yu-hyeon’s words, which left no room for escape, Lee Ha-na’s tongue got tied.
“Let’s leave it at ‘just.’ Please adhere to the rules in the future. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
While Lee Ha-na stood there, unable to do anything but stammer, Yu-hyeon turned and started walking again as if he had said all he needed to.
Left behind, Lee Ha-na stared blankly at his retreating back with a ‘Is this for real?’ expression.
“Even if it’s a rule, this is too much! How can you just walk away when someone is talking to you!”
Lee Ha-na stomped in place, fuming, but then decided that this wasn’t right. She started walking toward the main house, chasing after Yu-hyeon.
“What the. Why is he walking so fast? Did he learn how to teleport or something?”
It felt like only a few seconds had passed, but Yu-hyeon had already vanished behind the wall of a distant, empty pension house.
Sweat beading on her forehead, Lee Ha-na walked briskly and finally reached the main pension.
And there, standing stock-still between the walls, she found Yu-hyeon.
“Hey! I need to talk to you.”
As Lee Ha-na approached him, huffing, Yu-hyeon turned his head and made a *shushing* sound.
“Huh?”
“Quiet! And I believe I told you not to come this way.”
“Even so. When someone is talking to you, to just walk away like that…”
Lee Ha-na was about to complain about how there was no need to be so cold.
Yu-hyeon clicked his tongue, *Tsk!*, and pulled Lee Ha-na toward him.
“Oof!”
As Lee Ha-na gasped, Yu-hyeon frowned and this time, clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Mmph?!”
Startled, Lee Ha-na tried to push him away, but a sharp voice drifted from the main house.
“My people! My friends! After all those people leave my side. Did you really think… you could have me? If you have a mouth, then speak!”
Lee Ha-na’s eyes went wide as she looked at Yu-hyeon.
*Huh? That voice just now. Is that Senior Han Mi-ra…?*
*I told her not to come. She really doesn’t listen.*
First Elizabeth, now her. Was ignoring people an actress thing?
Yu-hyeon looked at Lee Ha-na with displeasure.
Finally realizing the situation, Lee Ha-na quickly averted her gaze.
Under Yu-hyeon’s disapproving stare, Lee Ha-na felt a sense of injustice in her own way.
*I mean. If this was the situation, he could have just told me!*
But just then, someone from the main house stepped inside the walls, saw Yu-hyeon and Lee Ha-na, and froze.
“Yu-hyeon.”
“D-Dad.”
Seeing Yu-hyeon holding Lee Ha-na in his arms, his hand even covering her mouth.
“Ahem. It’s not that I’m against it, but… isn’t this a bit rushed? With the atmosphere inside… doing this out here.”
Yu-hyeon quickly pushed Lee Ha-na away.
“Dad. This isn’t what it looks like.”
“My goodness. I’m being so tactless. Carry on. We’ll talk later.”
Kang Man-dong quickly disappeared back over the wall.
No! This isn’t the situation you think it is, Dad