Major Buzz? Or Major Blaze? (4)
Yoon Hyeong-sik had an average build.
He wasn't ugly, but no one could honestly call him handsome—not even as empty flattery.
If someone praised his looks, he'd inwardly bristle, wondering if it was an insult in disguise.
Exaggerating what exists is flattery; praising what doesn't is mockery.
"Actress Chae Ji-hyun, you're here too? I wonder if I can even squeeze into a spot like this. Haha."
"Of course it's fine. Who doesn't like Senior Yoon Hyeong-sik?"
"Aigoo, when a top star like Actress Chae Ji-hyun calls me 'senior,' it weighs heavy on my shoulders. Just drop the 'senior' and call me Hyeong-sik."
"But you're my debut senior—how could I call you by name? No way."
"Our Chae Ji-hyun really has the heart of an angel. Haha."
Yoon Hyeong-sik's affability was top-notch.
He slipped in unnoticed, planting his flag before anyone realized. It evoked special forces infiltration tactics on the battlefield.
"I'm Jeong Su-ryeon. I work in drama production staff. I was on the Illegal team too."
"Ah, you're so pretty I thought you were an actress. Wasting that beauty on staff work—what a shame."
"Aigoo, don't say that in front of Actress Chae Ji-hyun. What would become of me? Stop, just stop."
She said that, but Jeong Su-ryeon didn't seem to hate the praise at all.
His lines weren't anything special.
Read them cold on the page, and they'd just seem like itchy flattery.
But his subtly steady baritone masked the sycophancy, wrapping it in sincerity instead.
That mature voice paired with his slightly plain face created a contrast that effortlessly dismantled defenses and bred familiarity.
If he'd had handsome features to match that speech and demeanor, he might've been a top actor.
Perhaps it was a survival skill, desperately honed to compensate for his visual shortcomings.
Jeong Seo-hoon pretended to slowly sip his beer while scanning Yoon Hyeong-sik.
He's acting.
Jeong Seo-hoon had never thought himself sharp at reading people.
He didn't claim any knack for spotting good ones either.
But a "lieutenant" was different.
Years on the battlefield, dancing with death, had honed his eye for distinguishing "trash."
Could this subordinate be trusted at his side?
Could this comrade be relied on in battle?
Fail to judge right, and you'd end up as battlefield chum.
"Hey, Hyeong-sik. You showed up late, so chug it down quick. Everyone here's already got enough booze in their veins to lose their license."
"Aigoo, you're right. Late arrival means I gotta hit the booster and floor it. Pour me up, pour away."
On that brutal battlefield where life and death sliced past a dozen times a day.
The terror of death gnawed at the mind, erupting in hyper-concentrated urges as backlash.
"I'm a lightweight, so just a little for me."
"Come on, everyone on the Su-jang-go cast knows Actress Chae Ji-hyun holds her liquor. Why play shy? Ah, is it because Jeong Seo-hoon is here?"
"No, no!"
"Aigoo, my manners. As penalty, I'll down this one too."
Those urges manifested as desperate escapes from the field, or rampaging appetites.
"Hyeong-sik, I put extra care into editing your role. It's like the utility herb in every apothecary—gotta amp it up for that B-movie vibe."
"Hey, what B-movie vibe from our director? It's straight A-grade—no, S-grade. Right, Actress Chae Ji-hyun?"
"I actually love the B-movie feel right now. Clears the head, lets you just enjoy."
"What? You saying my film was made with an empty head? Absolutely not! I'm a thorough artist!"
"Director's drunk and misheard Ji-hyun. That's not what she meant."
"Su-ryeon! Is that really how you see my films? Stuff you watch with your brain off?"
The most common form was raw lust.
Hence the throat-shredding cheers for the stripped-down dances of visiting singers and dancers, dumping all stress.
Unresolved urges festered into vile residue, clinging indelibly.
"So what were you doing passing by here this late? Nothing decent to eat around."
"Friend lives nearby."
"Friend? Who?"
"Nah, not film friend—just high school buddy. Come on, Director. Down it. I'll do three shots."
Chae Ji-hyun eyed Jeong Seo-hoon with slightly loosened gaze.
"But why've you been so quiet since earlier, Seo-hoon?"
"Yeah, why just drink and stay mum? You're scaring us."
"Seo-hoon, anything uncomfortable?"
"Aigoo, maybe I crashed a good vibe..."
The heat pooling in Yoon Hyeong-sik's pupils toward Chae Ji-hyun was unmistakable.
Jeong Seo-hoon calmly set down his beer can.
"Su-jang-go was so gripping I was ruminating the whole time. That massive action scene around the 103-minute mark still flashes in my mind."
Hwang In-jun clapped, eyes tearing up with joy.
"You enjoyed my film that much? What an honor. I'll invite you to the test screening for sure."
"What about me? Me too, Director?"
"Su-ryeon too, obviously. Can't invite one sibling and skip the other."
Drunk Jeong Su-ryeon clapped gleefully; Chae Ji-hyun covered a laugh; Yoon Hyeong-sik flashed a friendly smile, glancing at Chae Ji-hyun.
As Chae Ji-hyun leaned forward, cleavage spilling from her loose shirt.
In that brief instant, a twitch rippled through Yoon Hyeong-sik's mouth muscles.
Jeong Seo-hoon caught his gaze sweeping over her.
Not a casual flick.
Every nerve fixed on Chae Ji-hyun, one seat away.
From the moment he joined, arms full of convenience store bags.
The others hadn't noticed.
Just like them.
The parched, masculine thirst soldiers flashed in survival-crushed hell.
That's what burned in Yoon Hyeong-sik's eyes toward her.
Beer running low, Jeong Seo-hoon stood.
Lying and showing up at this dawn hour? Must really like her.
"I'll grab more."
"Hey, I'll come."
"No, you're guests. Stay put. I'll get it."
Hwang In-jun lurched up unsteadily; Jeong Su-ryeon quickly stopped him.
"Aigoo, Director. We'll handle it. Gotta check in with home anyway."
"Aigoo. Take care, then."
"Anything else you need?"
Jeong Su-ryeon took orders, noted on her phone, and headed out with her brother.
In the elevator down, Jeong Seo-hoon said casually,
"That Yoon Hyeong-sik guy seems into Chae Ji-hyun."
"Huh? Nah, no way."
"Didn't you see? Nothing else explains it."
Jeong Su-ryeon added incredulously,
"Everyone raves about him. Famous nice guy—in a good way. Whatever you're seeing, it's not that."
"It's a survival mask."
"Seriously not. He's married."
"...Married?"
"Yeah. Sweet husband, sweet dad—glowing rep. Regular on variety shows. Pretty famous for it."
Jeong Seo-hoon's steps halted; gap widening, Jeong Su-ryeon stopped and turned.
"What? Let's go."
He recalled a generic line for awkward moments.
"Something off about him. Movie world's okay with married guys like that?"
"What exactly?"
"Felt like he likes Chae Ji-hyun."
"No way. What's your basis?"
"He lies."
"Lies?"
Only then did Jeong Su-ryeon tilt her head, sensing doubt.
"No reason to be around here, but 'just passing by' this late? Weird."
"He said meeting a friend..."
"Then why come to the office floor hallway, then call like he saw lights from outside?"
"...What?"
Jeong Su-ryeon's buzz vanished; eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"He was in the office floor hallway during the call."
"How do you know?"
"I heard it."
"...I didn't."
"Fat on your eardrums."
"Hey! Anyway, go on."
Jeong Su-ryeon flipped channels idly, then locked on like a Love and War addict, eyes alight.
"Saw the convenience bags full of snacks? He bought outside, came to the hallway, then called."
"So he knew about the drinking sesh? How... Ah! Chae Ji-hyun's Insta!"
She clapped in shock.
Chae Ji-hyun had snapped a group pic for proof, posted to Insta.
Veteran office visitors would've recognized it from the photo alone.
"Damn, I'm sober now. Hold on."
She whipped out her phone, searching.
"Lemme see. Yoon Hyeong-sik lives in Shinsa-dong XX. Taxi here this time? 15-min max. When'd Chae post and he call?"
"25 minutes."
"Shit, you remember that? Korea Univ engineering's a monster den?"
Grumbling amid it, she mapped his route mentally.
"Dressed at home, rushed out, grabbed car, hit convenience store, up to hallway, called—times line up?"
"Yep."
"Waited in the hall 10 minutes?"
"Pacing back and forth."
Jeong Su-ryeon's jaw dropped.
"How'd you catch all that while with us?"
"Good ears, I guess. Anyway, he was there during the call. I heard clear."
"What? They hooking up? Nah, no way. Not flower boy lead—impression character actor, perennial supporting, married. What's Chae missing for that? Blackmail or nothing."
Jeong Seo-hoon shrugged.
"First time meeting her today, but zero feelings for him. Strictly colleague."
"I'm a woman too—think I can't tell? So Yoon's married but one-sided crush on Chae? Nah, maybe visiting Hwang? Wait—no, why stalk her Insta then? Just call Director."
"Surface isn't everything."
Jeong Su-ryeon shuddered.
"I know. Rolled in this industry years. But shocking. Sweet hubby Yoon Hyeong-sik secretly pining for Chae."
"Might not be just her."
"Then what?"
"Type who loves women too much."
"Korea Univ teaching physiognomy now?"
Shaken deep, Jeong Su-ryeon yapped about it from store to elevator.
Per her, Yoon was model citizen in film world.
Impression supporting actor who'd climbed as far as possible.
Producers, directors, fans, peers, writers—all glowing reviews.
"All that 'natural' is strict self-management? Creepy."
"Plenty like that. No goosebumps needed."
"Kid like you acts all detached."
"Debut smash—playing cautious, I guess."
"Don't talk like outsider. Hey, quiet now. Shh. Ah, can I act normal?"
She schooled her face at the door, rang.
Yoon opened with friendly grin; Jeong Su-ryeon swallowed bursting laugh, ears red.
Hwang and Chae cheered the beer and snacks; party rolled on.
Dawn crept distant.
"Aigoo, when's the last all-nighter this fun?"
"Director, why lie? Bragged three days ago you went till noon."
"Director's liver? Respect. Envy. Teach me."
"Can't learn liver capacity. Born with it."
In the warm vibe, Jeong Su-ryeon snuck a text to her brother.
"Director, editing wraps this week?"
"Yeah. Internal screening soon, promo rolling. Distributor's set theaters."
"Hope it tops ten million."
"Chae's acting great, your script/shoot/edit rep solid—ten mil's lock. Question's how fast."
Jeong Su-ryeon muttered inwardly, Ew, honey-tongued much?
Fiddling her phone, she suddenly yelped.
"Oh my god, what?!"
"What happened?"
"Su-ryeon? What's up?"
"N-nothing..."
Startled, she clamped her mouth; all eyes on her.
"What is it?"
"Uh, just... article popped up..."
"Article?"
Hwang In-jun snatched his phone, searching.
No hunt needed.
Portal entertainment topped huge; copycats mushroomed.
Jeong Su-ryeon instinctively glanced at her brother.
His casual remark echoed.
Just the type who loves women too much.
"These bastards! What bullshit is this?!"