12
## Chapter 12
Yu Hana closed her notebook.
"Ugh..."
Maybe it was because Kang Jihoo was at the company dinner.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stay focused. Somehow, she managed to pull herself together and finish the
day's study plan.
"At least that's done."
Out of habit, she looked around her desk before remembering she'd left her phone on the living room sofa.
She walked out to get it.
"...What? It's already 11:30?"
Her eyes widened as she looked at the clock.
Much more time had passed than she'd realized.
Thump.
Thump.
Her heart began racing.
11:32 PM.
Midnight was approaching.
And once midnight passed...
The date would change.
'Doesn't that practically count as staying out overnight...?'
Her heartbeat quickened.
She hurried to the sofa, almost running, and grabbed her phone.
[kang - Looks like everyone's wrapping up.]
[kang - How's your studying? If it's not too late, should I stop by your house?]
'He's... coming here?'
This time her heart raced for a completely different reason.
He'd sent the message at 11:05.
Since the dinner was at 24 Mapo Samgyeopsal, he should be arriving soon.
Yu Hana rushed back to her room and quickly applied some lip tint.
'Girls hate it when guys suddenly show up without warning!'
That was what she kept telling herself.
Yet the corners of her lips refused to stop rising.
Fortunately, both her parents had stepped out to buy a late-night snack.
As long as she didn't invite him inside...
Meeting him briefly shouldn't be a problem.
'As long as I don't invite him inside...'
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward her neatly made bed.
'I've completely lost my mind.'
She shook her head vigorously.
Buzz...
Her phone rang.
It was Kang Jihoo.
"H-Hello... W-Where are you?"
For some reason, she couldn't stop stuttering.
---
I tilted my head.
"Why's your face so red? Is it because you just came out from somewhere warm?"
"I-I guess."
"Why are you stuttering?"
"I-I don't know!"
Does she have a fever?
I stepped closer.
"D-Don't come."
"Hm?"
"...No, come."
What was going on?
I reached out and placed my hand on her forehead.
"It doesn't seem like you have a fever..."
Before I could finish...
She suddenly threw her arms around me.
"I missed you."
"..."
Had something happened?
Or had she simply been waiting for me that long?
If it was the latter...
What was I supposed to say?
"Me too."
The answer came naturally.
Smiling, I hugged her back.
"How was the dinner? Were there any girls flirting with you?"
"'Flirting?' Isn't that expression a little old-fashioned?"
"Why are you avoiding the question? So there were!"
Who flirts at a barbecue restaurant?
What, by wrapping meat for someone?
Instead of teasing her, I reassured her by telling her everything that had happened at the dinner.
Then...
"What?! My aunt—CS Entertainment—offered to recruit you?"
For some reason, Hana sounded like she was narrating the recap at the start of a TV drama.
"Yeah. Nothing's finalized yet, but if I sign with them, they'll arrange an audition for me."
"That's amazing! That's so like Aunt!"
Hana had always been close with her relatives.
At least...
Before they'd drifted apart.
Because of me.
"What audition? Is it one I'd know?"
"Yeah. Light and Darkness. Come to think of it, you're the one who got me the script."
"...Huh?"
She froze.
A few seconds later—
"Whaaaat?! Light and Darkness? The Light and Darkness directed by Kim Jungsoo? The one who directed Cafe Guests, My
Contrabass, Living at the Hotel, and Second Divorce?"
She rattled it all off excitedly.
"The script I practically begged Aunt to get for me? They're giving you an audition for that?"
"Yeah. That Light and Darkness."
At the dinner, Yoo Euiju had told me—
"We're currently holding private auditions, and there's practically only one spot left. I'd like to reserve it for you.
It'll be a direct recommendation through CS, so you won't have to worry."
Light and Darkness was being produced by CS Media.
Thanks to that, she could provide exactly the "direct connection" she'd mentioned.
"So what are you going to do? You'll accept, right? You have to! It's Director Kim Jungsoo's project!"
"We're meeting at the company tomorrow to discuss the details."
"That's good. You should hear all the conditions first."
She was right.
The offer included industry-leading treatment for a rookie actor.
And an audition for one of the hottest upcoming dramas.
Still...
There was one thing bothering me.
"Wouldn't that mean you'll run into Dad?"
"...Exactly."
Fortunately, Hana brought it up first.
"I heard Dad barely gets involved with CS Media these days."
My father-in-law was both the CEO of CS Film and a director at CS Media.
Even if he wasn't actively involved...
There was no guarantee we wouldn't cross paths.
As long as I continued acting.
As long as I continued seeing Hana.
For example...
"Oh. Dad's calling."
Like right now.
"Hana... I should get going."
"Wait."
She raised a finger dramatically before answering the call.
A moment later she returned with an awkward smile.
"My parents are coming home. They asked if I wanted them to bring food."
"Then I really should leave."
I wanted to stay longer.
But it was time to go.
"Where are you studying tomorrow? The library? A café?"
"I've been stuck at home too long. I'll probably go somewhere."
After confirming her plans, I hugged her one last time and turned away.
"Wait."
"Hm?"
Her eyes narrowed.
I immediately became cautious.
"Why didn't you kiss me?"
...A kiss.
"Is that really what you want?"
"H-Huh?"
Smiling, I stepped closer.
"W-Wait..."
Now that I'd taken the initiative, Hana looked flustered instead.
"H-Hubby... Dad could be here any second."
Seeing her panic only made me want to tease her more.
I wiped the smile off my face and leaned in even closer.
"W-Wait!"
---
The next day.
The filming set for I Go to School on the outskirts of Eunpyeong District.
"Jihoo, your scenes are finished for today, right?"
"Yes. Scene 21 was my last."
"Wow, you're done before lunch."
I was resting after finishing my shoot.
"Then head home early. You don't have to stay."
Not every actor appeared in every scene.
Some finished early.
Some had no filming at all.
On long productions, leaving once your work was done was completely normal.
Only independent films usually had everyone staying together until the end.
"I still have a little time before my next appointment."
It was only 10:34 AM.
There were still about three hours before my meeting with Yoo Euiju.
"Got it. Then look around until it's time. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
As Assistant Director Jo returned to work, filming resumed.
"No, really. Nothing happened. They're... friends."
This was Scene 28.
Kim Mooyoung's daily life was beginning to fall apart, and his family was starting to notice.
Caught between asking for help and protecting them from worry, he ended up defending the very people bullying him.
"H-Haha... They're just a little rough. They're actually good guys..."
Watching Bae Jiho perform...
I couldn't help but admire him.
Bae Jiho really was Bae Jiho.
'Come to think of it... if things go well, we'll probably work together again.'
Soon, his casting for Light and Darkness would almost certainly be confirmed.
He was playing the younger version of the male lead, Park Sunho.
That drama would launch him ahead of every other actor in his generation.
'...Wait. Don't tell me we'd be competing for the same role.'
Yoo Euiju had only mentioned the project.
She hadn't specified the character.
"I've known Youngcheol since middle school. Jinil didn't go to the same school, but we're close too."
'I really don't want to compete against him.'
It wasn't that I lacked confidence.
I simply didn't want to challenge Bae Jiho this early in my career.
'Then the only other possibility... is Kim Taesan.'
The younger Kim Taesan was the only major role around my age.
But the actor who had originally played him was another monster-level talent.
'Nothing comes easy.'
I shook my head.
"Okay! We're moving to the next location!"
Once filming ended...
"I'll get going now!"
I made sure to personally say goodbye to everyone, even running over to greet Director Na and Assistant Director Jo
again.
There was no downside to being polite.
"You still haven't left? Hurry up."
"See? Handsome people really do have great personalities."
"Careful. That's another dangerous comment."
Everyone laughed.
After chatting for a bit longer, I left the set.
I had plenty of time, but since it was my first visit, leaving early seemed wise.
'I can't believe I'm actually going to CS Entertainment.'
Not as Hana's husband.
But as actor Kang Jihoo.
It felt strangely meaningful.
'Nothing unexpected will happen... right?'
Sometimes, when everything went too smoothly...
It made me even more anxious.
One possibility briefly crossed my mind.
Running into my father-in-law.
Then I shook my head.
'No way that happens.'
Trying to dismiss the lingering unease, I continued toward CS Entertainment.
---
At almost the same time...
Inside the CS Entertainment headquarters in Sangam-dong.
"...What?"
Yoo Euiju frowned during a phone call.
"You're coming here?
Right now?"