Romance and the Lab, Sprouting (3)
“Professor Hwang Geon-wook, have you ever seen him smile?”
“Not even a change in expression, as far as I know.”
“Is it true he’s got facial muscle paralysis and can only make one face?”
“Hey, then he’d have trouble speaking properly too, and his expressions always look off somehow. Nah, it’s like he just has no emotions. No emotions at all.”
“He seems like he’s got some backstory. Right?”
“He was super famous at Caltech, but there aren’t that many papers actually under Professor Hwang Geon-wook’s name.”
“Really?”
“I looked it up. Just the bare minimum required for his degree.”
“They say Professor Hwang single-handedly got approval for exporting the TDX-3. How the hell did that happen?”
Rumors swirled endlessly around campus about the externally recruited professor, Hwang Geon-wook.
Cha Do-jin stared sharply into the empty air as if Jeong Seo-hoon were right in front of him and let out his lines.
“Professor Hwang, how long are you going to monopolize the TDX-3? Just let me use it for three days. I’ve got a super urgent experiment.”
“Unfortunately, I’m in a rush too.”
“Come on, we’re colleagues. Let’s help each other out.”
“Put your name on it once my experiment’s done.”
“When’s that gonna be? There’s no end date listed, so I can’t even add my name now. Not just me—other professors are twiddling their thumbs too.”
Cha Do-jin and Jeong Seo-hoon.
Sitting side by side, the two gazed into the void as if the other were truly there, delivering an immersive script reading.
“Scene 32. Cha Young-woo and Kim Jung-ae sit facing each other at a pub, drinking beer. At a table a bit away, Han Yu-ra and Im Se-rang spot the two professors and hesitate to approach.”
Kim Jung-ae (Yoo Jeong-ah) downed her beer in one go and vented her frustration first.
“Professor Hwang, isn’t that too much? Why’s he hogging such expensive equipment all to himself? It doesn’t even look like he’s using it properly.”
“He’s running it remotely, so it might look abandoned to us. Calm down, Professor Kim.”
“Aren’t you frustrated, sunbae? We’ve all been buzzing for months since the announcement about the TDX-3 arriving.”
“What can we do? He’s got priority access. It’s like an invincible item—what choice do we have?”
Her friends, Han Yu-ra (Han Seo-hee) and Im Se-rang (Im Seo-rin: solo female singer), whispered lowly.
“Sounds like Professor Hwang’s reputation isn’t great among the profs.”
“Maybe they’re wary because he’s an outsider?”
“I heard there’s a lot of conflict over scheduling the new equipment. How about you guys?”
“Us? Well... Oh, there’s Professor Hwang Geon-wook.”
Lee Seo-hyeon steadied her breathing.
Now it was her turn to sync with Jeong Seo-hoon.
The dry voice of PD Song Jeong-woo set the scene.
“Hwang Geon-wook enters the shop, spots Woo Si-yeon right away, approaches, and sits across from her. Han Yu-ra and Im Se-rang recognize Woo Si-yeon and are surprised.”
“Isn’t that Si-yeon unnie? The one always hanging with Sara unnie (Chae Ji-hyun).”
“Yeah, looks like her. What’s going on? Why are those two meeting secretly?”
“Whoa, this is juicy.”
“Got a directional mic or something? I wanna hear what they’re saying.”
“The vibe’s off. Si-yeon unnie’s got her hair done, makeup on, even a skirt. Almost didn’t recognize her.”
Lee Seo-hyeon (Woo Si-yeon) exuded a calm, solid aura utterly unlike her bickering with the admiring Chae Ji-hyeon (Chae Sara).
“Right on time, as always.”
“This isn’t a good place for this.”
“Why not? A professor can buy his student a beer.”
“Too many eyes.”
“That’s why it’s safe. You know, ‘hide a tree in the forest.’”
The atmosphere was a million miles from sweet, but to the peeking Han Seo-hee and Im Seo-rin, it looked like a professor and student indulging in a forbidden affair.
“No way... ‘The quiet cat climbs the ridge first,’ huh? Never thought Si-yeon unnie had it in her.”
“What? I thought Professor Hwang was stone-cold with women, and now it’s just Si-yeon unnie...”
“Yu-ra, are you jealous right now?”
“Jealous?! W-what nonsense is that? Have you lost your mind?!”
Han Seo-hee (Yu-ra) flushed red to her cheeks in flustered panic. Script reading or not, she was fully immersed.
PD Song Jeong-woo smiled inwardly in satisfaction.
“I’d prefer we don’t make scenes like this.”
“I’ll try. Oh, tomorrow I’ll greet you first, so play along nicely.”
“That’s not the timeline.”
“It changed. Happens all the time, right?”
Lee Seo-hyeon flashed a mature smile, gazing intently at Jeong Seo-hoon seated far away.
The making-of camera caught the subtle chill in Yoo Jeong-ah’s, Chae Ji-hyun’s, and Han Seo-hee’s eyes.
Even the staff, who’d been enjoying the early comic, youthful vibe without knowing the full plot, straightened up.
What’s this sudden shift?
Is there something between those two?
Isn’t Lee Seo-hyeon just a regular PhD student?
“Woo Si-yeon stands first to leave, lightly kisses Hwang Geon-wook’s cheek, and exits. Hwang Geon-wook wipes his cheek with a tissue when his eyes meet Cha Young-woo and Kim Jung-ae’s. Ignoring their shock, Hwang Geon-wook quietly stands and leaves.”
Cha Do-jin gasped dramatically.
“Professor Kim, did you see that? Did you just see?!”
“Yes, I saw. It was Professor Hwang. No doubt.”
Yoo Jeong-ah’s voice grated unnaturally.
Song Jeong-woo thought he’d need to direct this part later but quickly reconsidered.
Viewers might read it as the first signs of Kim Jung-ae unknowingly developing feelings for Hwang Geon-wook. Yeah, let’s keep it as is.
Yoo Jeong-ah’s personal bias strayed a bit from her character’s emotional timeline, but salvageable elements stayed.
“Wasn’t that girl in Professor Kim’s lab earlier?”
“...Yeah.”
“What’s their deal? This is huge.”
Cold flames flickered in Yoo Jeong-ah’s eyes, aimed at Lee Seo-hyeon, who’d already exited the stage—like chasing the vanished ‘Woo Si-yeon’ beyond the building.
Lee Seo-hyeon had left the scene but still wore her role like a second skin, sneering at Yoo Jeong-ah.
The making-of camera captured the actresses’ mind games blurring reality and fiction.
Dragging real-life crushes into the drama? If pros act like this, it’s gold.
Song Jeong-woo tsked lightly to himself.
But his lips curved in a genuine grin.
Ideas for exploiting the actresses’ overflowing crushes flooded his mind, too exciting to contain.
Let’s see...
The actors remained deeply immersed, exchanging lines.
Song Jeong-woo’s predatory gaze locked on one actress.
A lone yellow chick trembling amid four fierce flamingos.
Her inability to adapt to the fiery atmosphere drew his eye.
Im Seo-rin.
Korea’s top solo female singer, rookie actress.
Im Seo-rin’s visuals were plenty actress-worthy. But overshadowed by four glamorous veterans, she couldn’t assert herself.
“Short break.”
At Song Jeong-woo’s call, the tension eased slightly.
But the heat from their rivalry lingered.
Song Jeong-woo sidled up to Kim Sang-hee.
“Writer Kim, you said this script isn’t fully done, right?”
“More like we’re finalizing it as we go. Don’t worry. First time like this, but the skeleton’s solid.”
The core grad school storyline was complete.
But the emotions the actors would weave were unfinished.
“Roco’s my first. Gotta see who vibes best with who as we go—pair ’em up or leave ’em all single.”
The ending was set, but character relationships were open-ended.
Every character held potential.
“Speaking of which. For the first player in this tangled love chain game...”
“I can guess. Im Seo-rin, right?”
“How’d you know?”
“Saw that look in your eyes earlier when you watched her. What’d you sense?”
“Same as you, probably? Look at those four now. They’ve all kissed Jeong Seo-hoon or whatever, and their egos are through the roof.”
“Yoo Jeong-ah acted like she was the queen after two kiss scenes.”
Kim Sang-hee chuckled softly.
Not because she disliked Yoo Jeong-ah, but as the writer gripping the plot’s reins, she relished the chaos.
“They’re fighting over the main palace spot, but an unexpected rival crashes in? They’ll freak.”
“But they’re pros—they won’t let personal feelings bleed into the acting.”
“That’s my job as PD. Devil’s editing isn’t a joke.”
“Perfect. I think Im Seo-rin’s ideal to first melt the Ice King Hwang Geon-wook’s heart too. One of those four would be too predictable for viewers.”
“Gotta set up a chance for her to get close to Seo-hoon.”
“You know they’re the same age?”
“No kidding?”
“She covered the Haegeuk OST ‘That Place,’ and rumors say it was for Jeong Seo-hoon, not Baek Hyeo-seon.”
“Busy writing and you still scoop this stuff up?”
“Writers are addicted to eavesdropping.”
The first script reading ended.
Song Jeong-woo printed acting guidance for the cast, distributed it, and briefly noted key emphases.
“This is just aligning your interpretations with my direction as the creator—not because anyone lacks skill. Everyone’s acting is flawless.”
Printouts went to the four actresses and solo singer Im Seo-rin too.
Nothing for Jeong Seo-hoon. No need to touch his expressions or reads.
“Seo-hoon, come see me a sec.”
As the group rose noisily—the perfect moment for the actresses to swarm Jeong Seo-hoon—Song Jeong-woo swiftly snagged him.
Han Seo-hee, in the lead, pouted in disappointment and turned first.
“Wanna grab drinks with the crew? Been a while.”
“Sounds good.”
“If it interferes with your studies...”
“Drama’s just as crucial. Don’t worry about grad school, PD—just focus on the show.”
“True pro. Oh, mind if I invite Im Seo-rin too? She’s too tense for a newbie. Would be nice to chat casually, build some rapport.”
“Of course, welcome. Want me to ask?”
“Yeah, if you do it, perfect.”
Song Jeong-woo glanced to confirm the four actresses hadn’t left the reading room yet.
Im Seo-rin sighed inaudibly, poring over the handout from the PD.
Her hovering manager urged her to go; she rose reluctantly.
“Hi. Saw you in the parking lot earlier, right?”
“Pardon?”
Jeong Seo-hoon’s sociable smile startled Im Seo-rin, her eyes widening.
Song Jeong-woo inwardly cheered at the actresses frozen in place, pupils quaking.
Jeong Seo-hoon and Im Seo-rin exchanged a few words.
In seconds, tension melted from her face, blooming into a radiant smile.
Shifting someone’s mood with mere chit-chat.
Is he really hypnotizing them with his eyes?
Song Jeong-woo joked idly, arms wide to welcome Im Seo-rin and her manager following Jeong Seo-hoon.
Glancing back at the prickling stares, Yoo Jeong-ah glared primly.
Song Jeong-woo shrugged mischievously on purpose; her eyes narrowed further.
No need to check the other three.
He greeted Im Seo-rin like a father welcoming his daughter home from the college entrance exam.
“Great work today. Nailed it for a first time. You know Kim Sang-hee and I are personal fans? That’s why we cast you.”
“Really? I had no idea. Honored!”
Jeong Seo-hoon chimed in.
“Seo-rin, how about a signed something?”
“Signature? Sure, anytime...”
“I want something better than a signature.”
Kim Sang-hee jumped in eagerly; Im Seo-rin asked cautiously.
“Not a signature? Writer, what do you mean...?”
“Let’s hit karaoke together. It’s my dream.”
“Ten times over!”
Song Jeong-woo relished the eight laser beams of jealousy.