Bad Boys on Set
"Wow..."
Inside the rehearsal room.
"Woooow...!"
Ethan Simons, the head writer of The College Player, couldn't stop marveling. At this moment, his eyes were glued entirely to Sion Lee. Sion, who was already slightly below average weight for his height, had lost five kilograms, transforming his physique into something far more gaunt and slender.
His breathtakingly handsome face remained, but his hollowed cheeks made his jawline look even sharper, giving him a slightly sickly, fragile appearance that practically begged for maternal protection. The bratty, arrogant edge had faded, replaced by a delicate, decadent boyishness that felt incredibly alluring.
If we put thick glasses on him and dress him in the proper wardrobe...
Wait, is it even possible to hide that level of beauty with just that?
Damn, I always knew he was handsome, but now that the bratty vibe is gone, he is totally my type.
Admiring the transformation, not only the head writer but also the director attending today's rehearsal let out a dumbfounded chuckle.
"I mean, when on earth did you lose all this weight? This is incredible."
"When I read the script and looked in the mirror, I figured a leaner physique would work better for the character. So, what do you think?"
Sion asked with a smug, cocky grin, as if boasting about his brilliant judgment. However, the production crew, who already adored him for his sharp instincts on set, simply laughed warmly, finding his attitude endearing.
"It's perfect! Great idea! We could actually use this to add some physical comedy—like him stumbling backward when he gets patted on the back. A nerd so frail he looks like he'd blow away in a strong breeze."
"I never imagined Mr. Lee would grasp the nerd aesthetic so perfectly and commit to it like this... Are you secretly a nerd yourself?"
"It's the result of observing people at various comic book stores around Los Angeles. Most of them were either bone-thin or on the heavier side. Oh, and they often had a slight forward head posture. I thought incorporating that would be a nice touch, so I put in some effort. I've already bulked up for a role before, so I figured I'd try leaning out this time."
"Ah..."
"Oh..."
Everyone gasped in admiration. An actor building their own character from scratch—it was a basic duty of a professional, but the fact that the actor doing it was Sion made it infinitely more impressive. This reaction was only possible because, in the public's mind, Sion was still perceived more as a media-darling superstar than a dedicated, professional actor.
Meanwhile, the other four actors, who had been completely sidelined and ignored on set, looked thoroughly deflated, their usual arrogance nowhere to be found.
"So he actually knows Jack Nicholson..."
"That... that cheap bastard..."
Frederic Patterson and Dominic Cops muttered, wallowing in youthful jealousy and depression.
On the other hand, Susan Hopkins stared intently at Sion with a look of deep intrigue. She nudged Chelsea Cartwright, who was standing beside her, and whispered slyly.
"Remember what I said earlier? About Frederic trying to seduce Elena Asimov for his career."
"Huh...? Isn't... isn't that a bit of a sensitive topic to bring up right now? Sion, who worked with her, is literally standing right over there..."
"I was just wondering if the same logic applies when a woman seduces a younger guy."
A smirk spread across Susan's face as she swirled a small lollipop in her mouth. Recognizing that familiar expression, Chelsea gasped, a terrible premonition washing over her, and quickly dragged Susan into a corner.
"I-I mean, sure, that happens a lot! Usually, it's young actresses dating powerful men to land good roles, but still...! I don't think that's a good idea! Weren't we planning to crush him with our superior acting?!"
"In Hollywood, at the end of the day, it's all about buzz."
"..."
"And honestly, he looks delicious, doesn't he?"
It was hopeless. She had already lost her mind. Stunning looks, massive buzz, and 'networking' that includes heavyweights like Jack Nicholson—all wrapped up in someone around her age? No matter how she looked at it, he was the ultimate package. Sure, he wasn't a pristine, unopened first-edition, but that just meant she could play with him for a bit and then sell him off secondhand without any messy aftermath!
Sucking on her lollipop, Susan stared unblinkingly at Sion Lee as he conversed with the crew, searching for an opening to make her move. Meanwhile, Chelsea, who had just let out a sigh of relief thinking the situation had calmed down, found herself reflecting on Susan's words and feeling a quiet, subconscious curiosity toward Sion.
I wonder... what is he actually like in private?
It was a classic scenario: the women were falling for him, and the men were burning with jealousy.
To make matters worse—or better—his performance during the rehearsal was absolutely killer. Due to the nature of sitcoms, which had to constantly keep advertisers and audiences hooked, seasons typically ended with either the birth of a new romance or the dramatic collapse of an existing relationship.
Thus, at the very end of Season 2, Belle had shared a drunken first kiss with Max. And the character introduced as her childhood friend from back home was none other than Ryan, played by Sion.
A computer science major and a textbook nerd obsessed with comic books and tabletop RPGs, Ryan was written as a year younger than the four main leads. Having enrolled in a prestigious nearby university, he joins the cast in Season 3 to spark various dynamics with each character.
He was set to be mentioned at the end of the Season 3 premiere and make his official debut in Episode 2. The defining trait of this character was that he was a nerd who happened to be incredibly handsome. In fact, even his name, "Ryan," was a deliberate choice; usually, a name like that was reserved for a popular high school quarterback, not a dork.
Since the actor playing him was who he was, the audience would obviously be in on the joke. The anticipation and suspense of when the other characters would finally realize how gorgeous he was served as Season 3's biggest selling point. Because of this, Sion Lee had to play "ugly" with absolute conviction. Or, to be precise, he had to play a bastard who was stunningly handsome but completely oblivious to his own looks.
"Phew..."
After a run-through, Sion let out an exaggerated sigh and said, "Man, this is tough. I guess it's because it's a completely new challenge for me."
At his shameless remark, Olga Asimov chuckled and replied, "It was perfect."
Having slipped in halfway through the rehearsal to quietly observe the five actors, she couldn't help but be particularly captivated by Sion's performance. With every single detail of his "nerd" acting, a smile had gradually spread across her cold lips, culminating in her declaring it flawless.
"How on earth did you study for this? This type of character must be completely foreign to you."
"Nothing to it, really. I just stood around in comic book stores all day."
"And you didn't get recognized?"
"The guys there were way more interested in comic books than in me."
"Heh... I'm highly looking forward to seeing how this turns out."
After saying that, she turned to look at the other actors, her smile instantly vanishing as her expression iced over.
"As for the rest of you... it seems you're still unprepared."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The brief feedback left them utterly speechless. No matter how arrogant they usually behaved, Olga Asimov was an absolute force of nature in Hollywood—someone they didn't dare cross.
She was an overwhelming figure as an actress across the entire industry, and her influence over The College Player was even greater. Naturally, an invisible, yawning chasm existed between her and these greenhorns.
Sweeping her cold gaze over the actors who were hesitantly avoiding her eyes, Olga declared flatly, "Let's take a break. Is that alright, Director?"
"Ah, yes. Let's take a thirty-minute break and resume," the director, who was practically her loyal subject, echoed. With that, a crowd of people shuffled out of the room.
"Tsk..."
Frederic, sensing the mood, pulled a pack of cigarettes from his bag and headed to the smoking area. Olga, who had been standing tall like a Siberian grizzly bear watching everyone leave, finally relaxed her shoulders once she and Sion were the only ones left in the rehearsal room.
"You did a wonderful job. It must have been exhausting, both transforming your body and polishing the script to this degree. Your attention to detail is remarkable."
"Since I decided to do it, I might as well do it right. It's been a while since I've been on television."
"I'll make sure to instruct the camera and editing crews to highlight you so you leave a lasting impression on the American television audience. They'll be embarrassed if they don't do their jobs properly."
"Thank you for looking out for me."
"So... is this the only project on your schedule right now?"
"Well, I'm still looking around for other things."
She was incredibly sharp. Or perhaps rumors traveled fast. While preparing for this shoot, Sion had indeed been scouting for a movie he could film during his downtime—nothing so demanding that it would cause scheduling conflicts, but a role he could wrap up in a week or two.
Since I've secured a relatively relaxed, long-term schedule, I might as well make the most of it without overexerting myself. But for a star of Sion's caliber, even a slight twitch of his finger was enough for industry insiders to track his every move. Olga smiled gently, as if she already knew everything.
"I was a bit worried when I heard the recent rumors, wondering if you'd be able to focus on our show. But seeing you today, I realize my worries were entirely unfounded."
"Is everything going the way you wanted?"
"Yes. Your acting is beyond excellent—it's flawless. And it seems to be serving as quite a wake-up call for those kids. I can tell just by looking at their faces. I rarely speak to them directly, but I've been watching them act for over two years now. The problem is they're trying a bit too hard to stand out... but I can just tell the director to keep an eye on that."
"Why not give them some advice yourself?"
"Oh, child. I am not a schoolteacher. If they start to let their own talent shine, I am willing to meet them halfway, but that is strictly business. If they don't prove their 'usefulness' to me, why should I bother?"
A ruthlessly pragmatic approach, typical of Hollywood, where sentimentality was quickly excised. Suddenly, a conversation Sion had with Jack Nicholson when they first met flashed through his mind.
"In that sense, those kids aren't entirely hopeless, but they aren't enough to move me, either. Especially when they're rotting from the inside out. If there's any lesson I can teach them this season, it's that complacency leads to obsolescence."
Her voice was calm, but her eyes were ice-cold. She truly possessed the chilling charisma of a woman dubbed "the witch."
"That's why you're so fascinating. I suppose you never truly know a person until you work with them."
"Should I just keep doing what I'm doing?"
"Oh, far more than that. You can be as reckless as you want. Go ahead and throw a diva fit at the staff, toss flat colas at people, and turn the set into absolute chaos to keep those kids on their toes. As long as you maintain this level of acting, I'll cover for you completely. If we're lucky, it might beat some sense into them. If not, well, so be it."
"Come on, who throws flat colas at staff these days? That's so tacky."
"Elena told me you did exactly that every single day on the set of Deadly."
"That was in the past. A brat with actual brains doesn't torment the crew. If anything, you have to treat them well. It's a symbiotic relationship—they help me with my job, and if I meet their expectations, they leak good stories to the press."
"Hmm..."
"Instead... I find it much more satisfying to crush the people who do torment them. When my temper gets itchy, it's a great way to blow off some steam."
Sion offered a warm, genial smile, looking every bit the harmless nerd while casually describing his "bratty methods."
"Well... you certainly know how the game is played." Watching him, Olga decided that Sion was indeed a reliable sort—a "man" well-suited to sail on the same pirate ship as her.
At the time, American sitcoms were divided into location-based "exterior scenes" and studio-based "interior scenes" filmed in front of a live studio audience. Once a week, the actors had to perform under the gaze of multiple cameras in real-time, much like a theater play, with the audience's genuine laughter and reactions broadcast directly on the show.
Among these, exterior scenes set in parking lots or bars were commonly shot in advance before the season officially began. It was highly common to use block shooting, where multiple scenes taking place in a single location were grouped together and filmed in a single day.
Thus, starting in August, once the general acting tone had been established through various rehearsals, The College Player team officially began filming Season 3.
Inside a small bar in Hollywood, with a sea of paparazzi swarming outside the windows trying to snap a good photo, Sion wrapped up his scheduled shoot for the day alongside Susan, who played Belle, and Chelsea, who played Nancy.
"Cut!" At the director's shout, Sion shed his mask as Ryan and took a deep breath.
"Nice job, everyone!" Susan, slipping into his line of sight, offered a bright smile and greeted the crew. The staff reacted with slight bewilderment.
And for good reason. Unlike when they first shot Season 1, Susan was now notorious for being arrogant and finding everything a chore. Yet, at this very moment, she was shamelessly putting on the facade of a sweet, diligent actress. Of course, it was all for Sion's benefit.
From what I've observed, he actually seems like the type who takes care of people despite his reputation. This is the only way to get on his good side. Watching Susan's antics from behind, Chelsea let out a quiet sigh.
While Sion took a bottle of water from a crew member and took a sip, Susan made her way over to him with a series of exaggerated goodbyes. Swaying her hips like a thirsty little bird hoping for a drink, she struck up a conversation.
"Ah, Sion. Great job today. Your acting was seriously amazing."
"Thanks, you too."
"You're surprisingly quiet once the cameras stop rolling. I've always liked serious men."
"Really? I'm actually pretty loud. You've seen the news, you should know."
"Oh, stop it. Everyone exaggerates in the news."
"Hmm."
"How did you get so close to Jack Nicholson anyway? Do you guys still hang out often? Do you go to parties a lot? I heard you barely go out these days, but that's not true, right? If you've figured out a way to dodge the paparazzi, you could totally share it with me."
Susan continued to chatter away, making her interest in Sion painfully obvious. Sion simply looked down at her in silence, taking slow sips of his water. The crew members still on set pretended to clean up while keeping a close eye on the spectacle.
Ever since she resolved to seduce Sion Lee, Susan's behavior had been so artificial that it was almost painful to watch—much like Frederic's past attempts with Elena. Finally, unable to watch her friend embarrass herself any longer, Chelsea stepped in.
"G-Great job today."
"Yeah, you too."
"Um, Sion. Can I ask you something?"
"What is it? Make it quick. I have to go see Alexa and Tiffany after this."
Hearing this, Chelsea thought, Wow, he really is a brat. One girl isn't enough, so he's seeing two at the same time. In reality, those were the names of the flowers he had recently planted in his garden, but given his public image, it was only natural for her to jump to that conclusion.
"How did you get so good at acting?"
"What?"
"It's completely different from before, so I was really surprised... Ah, that might have been rude of me. I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. It's a fair observation."
Sion's expression softened slightly. Since Chelsea was asking a genuine question about acting rather than trying to pry into his personal life, he lowered his guard a bit. If a co-star showed genuine passion for the craft, he was more than willing to help.
After pondering for a moment how to answer, Sion replied, "In the end, it all comes down to observation. If you want to see how I do it, do you want to check out a comic book store with me sometime?"
"Y-Yes? ...Sure, I'd love to."
"Oh, me too! Me too!" When Susan mindlessly chimed in, Sion's expression instantly soured.
"After that, why don't we all go to a club I know? DJ Steve plays there all the time! You know him, right, Sion? The host of the Fun Fire Freak Show!"
"Hmm."
"Lately, he's been speaking so highly of you, so I figured you guys must be close~. Can't you take me there and introduce me? I've really wanted to talk to Steve, but I've never had the chance~."
"Sorry, but I don't think that's going to happen."
"Why not? You said we could go to the comic book store together~. Let's grab some drinks and hang out after, okay?"
"Do you really think you're the first girl with such obvious intentions I've ever had to deal with?"
Sion delivered the line with a gentle, pleasant smile, causing Susan to freeze instantly. Chelsea and the surrounding crew members gasped in sheer shock.