Shooting Starts (3)
I froze the moment I opened the door, caught by Han Minyeong's piercing glare. It softened in an instant, but that split-second ferocity was no illusion—like she could devour a person whole.
"Kyaa! Haesol! Jun! Come on in!"
"You here for the costumes? Just a sec. Hohoho!"
Unlike Han Minyeong's hostile welcome, the two staff women beamed at us warmly.
Why's she like that? She's not even a guy—what's her deal?
This was the first time since arriving in this world that a woman had hated me this much. It sparked curiosity, like 'You're the first to slap my cheek!' We'd barely exchanged words, which only fueled it.
I flashed my brightest smile and bowed politely. If she hated me, even this grin would grate on her.
"Senior Han Minyeong's here. Hi, how've you been?"
"...Yeah. Come in."
She accepted my greeting with a blank face—neither friendly nor rude, just businesslike.
Meanwhile, the staff hustled over with mine and Jun's outfits.
"Change over there?"
"Whoa, close call! Use the bathroom. If you change here, we're toast. But come back after to let us check the fit. You did makeup already, right?"
"Oh, bathroom's there. Yeah, got it done at the salon. Let's go, Jun."
"Yeah."
I gave Han Minyeong an awkward nod and left the classroom.
"That Senior Han Minyeong... her face was super sour, right?"
"You saw it too?"
"Yeah, I was scared stiff. Actually, I've felt it since we first met. Like she's keeping her distance from us."
"You picked up on that? I thought it was just me. But no need to freak, right?"
"We gotta shoot together from now on. Awkward vibes would suck."
Jun and Han Minyeong had the most overlapping scenes—same class in the script, unavoidable.
"Not like we need to be buddies with everyone. I heard actors who can't stand each other win best couple awards playing lovers."
"Whew, pro mindset, huh?"
"Gotta be."
Switching off personal feelings the second cameras roll? Not easy. Something to aspire to.
"Heard this one? 'If someone's hating on you for no reason, give 'em one.'"
"Whoa! That's a thing? Kinda villainous."
Jun jumped at the unfamiliar saying—didn't exist here, apparently.
"Better than stewing in unfair grudge, I say."
"Hyung acts all nice but you're ice cold."
I did draw hard lines between work and personal life. Thrived in chaotic worlds where they blurred. Work mode: pure focus. With these guys, I dialed it back knowing they were young.
Guess they saw through it anyway.
"Life hack for surviving society, kiddo."
After changing into our shoot outfits and heading back, Han Minyeong was gone. Staff tidied up; in the corner, she pored over her script.
"Ooh, uniforms suit you. Perfect for SNS. Stand over there."
Manager noona whipped out her phone at the sight of us.
Duty to keep fans updated via socials—and school uniform pics? Gold for them.
"Wow! Too cool!"
Trapped in her photo frenzy, Director Choi Youngji spotted us and gushed.
"This is it! Exactly what I wanted. Haesol's a dream; Jun's like a fairy-tale prince."
""Thanks.""
"Oh, script's out to episode 6. But writer restarted from 4 after reading. Big things coming."
"Whoa, really?"
"Thanks. We'll kill it."
"You two act so well, it's firing up Heemin. Don't thank me—tell her direct. She spoils faves hard."
"Haha, got it. Will do."
Writer rewriting? Meant more screen time. My reading-room joke was reality.
Taste of the cheat key.
Reading went better than expected. YouTube clip reactions were solid, I'd heard.
Made sense. I'd topped up Jun's stamina pouch and cranked my acting to 35%.
From song/dance lessons: 10s = talented newbie; 20s = smooth depth; 30s = solid mid-level, like 3-4 years pro training. 40s = jaw-dropping; 50s = untouchable, I figured.
Tweaked minor stats as needed, but too many to list. Held under 50% to avoid wild side effects. No need to risk when current levels sufficed—and coins weren't scarce.
35% showed training; I went full throttle at reading. Directors' low bar made it shine.
"Rehearsal soon. Haesol, hang tight."
"Got it."
Script-wise, Kang Jun's Hwang Sangho and Han Minyeong's Kim Jihee were classmates. Jun introduced first as prince candidate. They'd gone to school together since elementary—familiar faces.
Jihee couldn't believe Sangho cracked top-3 princes.
"Nail the expressions. Narration incoming—mind timing. Slower than fast; easier edit. Count lines internally if needed."
"Yes."
Han Minyeong sat tensely. Positioned behind Jun for easy looks.
Quick rehearsal; then Our School Has a Prince filming kicked off proper.
'That guy's a chaebol heir? How'd he rank top-3? Zero credibility.'
Jihee wasn't tight with Sangho, but same schools from elementary to now. Knew him. Shared classes plenty.
'Definitely not.'
Others fooled by his looks, but her long observation? First to cut from heirs.
"Sangho spends big. Not pocket-change level."
"Rich family, sure. Middle-upper ain't chaebol. Anyway, not him."
"Not what?"
"Eek!"
"Ack!"
Their debate got loud; Sangho approached.
"Gasp!"
Her nerdy friend flushed, head down. Up to me.
"What?"
"Nah, didn't eavesdrop. Thought I heard my name."
"Not at all."
"Oh...! Wasn't? Musta misheard."
Sangho bought Jihee's bold lie, grinning shyly.
"Oh momma~! So handsome."
"Haaa~!!"
"Kyaa!!!"
Girls nearby squealed. Jihee, hit direct by his smile, felt her heart flutter.
Infuriatingly!
"Aw~ Thought it was me, got excited. Oh well."
Sangho: social butterfly, top-3 prince candidate heartthrob.
???
Who knows how long the hallway walk took. Jun and Han Minyeong wrapped; my turn.
Simple stroll scene—should be quick. But Director Choi lit up unexpectedly.
"NG! No wind. Again."
"NG! Reactions too tame! Girls, amp the freakout!!"
"NGNG!! Haesol, more haughty steps. Like a king."
"Good, but again. Lights brighter!"
"Stronger fan!! Again!"
"Jacket off this time."
"I'm lethal! I'm king! Emperor of this land! Confidence dripping from steps. Cool expression!"
She hounded my walk all day. Angles, styles—face closeups, full shots. Obsessed.
Am I that bad? Nah, practice was fine.
NGs varied; demands escalated.
"Hairstyle switch. Updo maybe."
"Yes."
"Hold papers on arm. Props team!! Also, fanclub girl faints shot. Face fits; subtle staging ok."
Added unscripted bits till satisfied.
Self-absorbed strut after back-and-forths left me drained post-first scene.
No stamina pouch? Disaster.
Didn't know shoots sucked energy like this.
"Hyung, you ok?"
"Exhausted. Did I suck?"
"Nah! You nailed it. Director's greedy 'cause you're good."
"Acting's brutal. Not for amateurs."
Time to pump acting investment. Better skill, fewer takes.
While I caught breath, Director monitored gravely. Curious how it looked, I joined.
"Turn out ok?"
"Sigh~ No."
"What?!"
"Machine issue?"
"What's wrong?"
Her face soured. Glanced monitor to my face, frowning deeper.
"Camera can't capture the real deal, huh. Damn! Every take's insultingly off."