Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Actress Jung Soyul (5)
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Jung Soyul couldn't comprehend the situation she was in right now.
The cup ramen they'd eaten on the rooftop had definitely been delicious.
A quiet meal in a serene atmosphere, undisturbed by anyone.
It felt just like eating at home in that peaceful vibe, but this space wasn't the home where she spent her daily life.
That fact alone whetted her appetite.
Yeah.
A 1,000-won cup of ramen tasted comparable—no, even better—than all the gourmet delicacies she'd savored lately.
She could understand up to that point.
It was just her enjoying the rare pleasure of a quiet meal.
She could even understand Kim Jinwoo's sudden offer to help with her troubles and her own agreement to it.
He was the only person she knew who saw her not as "actress Jung Soyul," but as "human Jung Soyul."
The fact that he was a jerk of a guy did nag at her a bit, but she couldn't help her poor first impression of him.
Recalling that moment made her fingertips grow ice-cold.
Kim Jinwoo.
Earlier in the hallway, when he'd pinned her against the wall and spat curses right in her ear.
For the first time in her life, she'd felt a chilling shiver run down her spine.
While everyone else idolized her as a goddess, he was the only man who treated her like an "annoying bitch."
Especially when he'd gotten right up in her face—her heart had pounded like it might burst.
That fierce gaze kept flickering in her mind.
Just like Choi Young-do, her co-star in this film.
A rough man who clawed his way up from the bottom, knowing nothing but his fists, more accustomed to conquering than considering his opponent—Choi Young-do.
Her actual scene partner, Hwang Jun-ho, was nothing more than a poor copy-paste of the character, failing to capture any of that essence.
That must have been why.
"Is this the script? Give me a sec to memorize the lines."
Handing the script to Kim Jinwoo had been the right call.
Kim Jinwoo quietly read the script she'd sent him on his phone.
It was a compilation of a few scenes from the director, all ones where she had to match breaths with her co-star, Hwang Jun-ho.
Since she couldn't get immersed, she'd saved it on her smartphone to practice alone anytime, anywhere.
Even so, handing a movie script to someone else—let alone a total civilian outside the industry?
What the hell was I thinking?
Have I lost my mind?
She'd always been meticulous about self-management up until now.
She believed everything had to be handled perfectly, and as a celebrity, she couldn't afford to show any flaws.
Maintaining script confidentiality was one of the key contracts celebrities had to uphold.
And she'd just handed it over to a random person.
I'm insane.
It all stemmed from getting swept up in the mood and agreeing to his offer to help.
By the time she snapped out of it, there he was, calmly poring over the script.
He focused intently until he'd read the whole thing through.
Except for the occasional questions.
"Why does this character act like that? Is there some backstory I'm missing?"
"This is after they've had a big fight, right?"
"Even with the class difference, their back-and-forth is pretty intense."
Other than those comments on the scenes, he said nothing.
What difference could help from a civilian even make?
I should have just turned him down.
Made some excuse that a civilian couldn't handle it.
He'd said he had afternoon classes and was busy.
He couldn't spare much time anyway.
Memorizing the script alone would be overwhelming.
No way he could deliver immersive acting on top of that.
Still, she wasn't the type to snap at someone offering to help.
She figured she'd just go through the motions until he left...
"Got it."
"Pardon?"
"I memorized all the lines. I get the vibe now."
"...R-Really?"
"I don't lie about stuff like this."
When he pocketed his phone and spoke with such confidence, she felt an urge to test him.
This guy might actually pull it off.
"Then shall we start from scene 5?"
"The one where they first feel each other's temperature."
Summarizing the content just from the scene number.
His claim of memorizing the entire script in that short time seemed legit.
It was a clichéd plot.
A melodrama about Ji-su, the wounded chaebol heiress, and Young-do, the rough guy from the streets.
Hating each other yet irresistibly drawn together—a lump of every tired trope in the book.
How well would he bring it to life?
As long as it wasn't a total disaster...
"Alright. Let's start then."
Kim Jinwoo approached her.
His overwhelming bulk filled her vision.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
A pleasant tension quickened her heartbeat.
That slight nerves right before diving into a role.
She loved this moment.
"I'll give the cue, and you jump right in."
Kim Jinwoo said.
He was planning to double as both her scene partner and the director.
She didn't expect much.
A non-industry guy doing improv off a script he'd just read? No way it'd be good.
She was only doing it with faint hope that acting with a new partner in a fresh setting might yield something.
Kim Jinwoo sees me differently from everyone else, after all.
She was certain the emotions sparked here would feel a bit different.
That was why.
Even though it started as playful practice, she'd approached it more seriously than ever.
"From now on, you're not top star Jung Soyul."
His low voice burrowed into her eardrum.
"You're a woman raised like a flower in a greenhouse, but rotten inside. And I'm the gutter rat here to shake your whole life to its core."
That was the moment.
"...!"
Her mind fogged over like a misty haze, her vision spinning.
It felt like someone had jammed a hand into her brain and flipped a switch off by force.
Huh? Why am I...?
Her rationality went numb.
Her body wouldn't obey her.
Instead, his words imprinted on her brain like absolute commands.
Something felt off.
I'm a wounded woman.
I'm... on the verge of collapse.
Lee Ji-su's image from the script burrowed deep into her mind.
"...Ready?"
He asked.
Jung Soyul nodded without thinking.
"...Yes. I'm ready."
The tension she'd felt moments ago vanished.
A perfectly calculated tone flowed from her lips.
Something...
Was wrong.
"Ready, action."
Kim Jinwoo's cue.
Jung Soyul reflexively glared at him.
The line she'd rehearsed endlessly, tweaking her expression in the mirror hundreds of times.
"How dare trash like you pity me? Don't touch my body. It's not for the likes of you to lay hands on."
It was perfect.
Flawless haughty chaebol heiress—no one could find fault.
The immersion she'd struggled with before flowed smoothly now.
If the director had seen it on set, he'd have given the OK sign without hesitation.
Why was she immersing better than usual?
Even she thought it was solid.
Just changing partners yielded this much?
Environment really mattered.
Your turn now.
What kind of acting will you show?
You boasted you could help, so surely you'd deliver something impressive?
She hid her anticipation and waited for his line.
"Cut."
But what came back was cold mockery.
"That was fake."
What?
"Your eyes are all intense, but it's not scary at all."
"Are you seriously critiquing my acting right now?"
"Yeah. You said you couldn't immerse, and I'm fixing that."
Her pride stung. What do you know about acting?
How many awards have I won?
You dare judge me?
She prided herself on her acting.
At least among her peers, no one could critique her skills.
The moment she opened her mouth to argue, his eyes flashed.
"Again."
"You haven't even said a single line. What gives you the right to...?"
He seized her shoulder.
"Kyaa!"
Thud!
The hard concrete wall slammed into her back.
Her breath caught. This wasn't acting. It was real, violent force.
"That hurts! What the hell...!"
"Action."
This psycho.
I said it hurts. Do you know how valuable my body is?
If I get a bruise here, you're taking responsibility?
Rage boiled up, but the word "action" triggered her body against her will.
"Let... let go... It hurts, I said..."
A trembling voice.
This wasn't acting. It really hurt, and she was truly scared.
This man wasn't performing.
He could actually harm her.
The rooftop where no one came.
Whatever happened here, no one would know.
Terror washed over her.
"Hurts? This is hurt?"
Kim Jinwoo bound both her wrists with one hand and hoisted them overhead.
Irresistible strength.
She was pinned as helplessly as a newborn.
His other hand roughly gripped her jaw.
"You reek of being spoiled. Whining over this grip."
The eyes staring at her—Kim Jinwoo's eyes.
Eyes that didn't see her as "Jung Soyul."
Eyes that treated her not as a person, but as prey for a beast.
"Ugh... Let go! You bastard...!"
She struggled.
She had to escape. This man was dangerous.
Cancel.
I was an idiot to think I could rely on him even a little.
Why did I do this?
Why did I follow him?
Stupid.
She twisted to flee even now, but it only pressed their bodies tighter together.
His thigh wedged between her legs.
His hot breath poured over her face.
"D-Don't..."
Scary.
I want to run.
...Hot.
The heat from their touching skin was vividly goosebump-inducing.
This raw power. This forceful pressure pinning her down.
This was exactly what she'd craved from her co-star.
"...I said let go."
Tears welled up.
Not by her will. Something inside her was crumbling.
That was when it happened.
The pain in her jaw eased.
His rough, calloused hand trailed slowly down her cheek.
Slipping...
The hand wrapping around her nape was gentle now, as if the violence before was a lie.
"......"
She gasped.
Like a beast licking its prey just before snapping its neck—a bizarre caress.
"Shaking like that."
Kim Jinwoo brought his face right up to hers.
In his pupils, she saw her own terrified, quivering reflection.
"All talk, huh. Miss."
The instant she heard it...
Her heart plummeted.
This line wasn't in the script.
So why...
Why does it make me tremble like this?
Her legs went weak.
If he hadn't held her wrists, she might have collapsed.
From the depths of that chilling fear, something sticky and hot surged up.
Her lower belly throbbed.
Her womb clenched with a tingling ache.
"Ah... Hnng..."
A moan leaked out before she could stop it.
It wasn't acting.
As his hand tugged her neck, her chest mashed against his.
The blouse friction teasing her nipples felt so sharp and clear.
She should feel ashamed. Mortified.
"Heart's about to burst."
He was right.
Her heart was racing wildly.
She couldn't tell if it was fear or anticipation.
"Body doesn't lie. Mouth says no, but it's burning up like this."
He whispered in her ear.
A smile brimming with leisure settled on his face.
His gaze pierced her soul, making her chest quake.
"You're turned on. Like a cheap whore."
Ah.
"Wouldn't it be fun if word got out that the great chaebol daughter is making this face?"
"......"
She couldn't utter a word.
Kim Jinwoo didn't need the script's lines.
He just needed to know their situation.
Why they moved like this.
Just grasp the desires of Choi Young-do, who lived wild and feral, thrashing with raw lust, easily aroused—and Lee Ji-su, greenhouse-raised but rotting inside.
The lines were mere formalities.
Not in the script, but his words and tone matched Choi Young-do perfectly.
"You're just a bitch in heat."
He was talking about the chaebol daughter Lee Ji-su, but Jung Soyul heard it as herself—not Ji-su, but Jung Soyul.
I'm found out.
The truth that she'd wanted this.
To be handled roughly like this.
To have the shell of the lofty top star stripped away, treated as nothing but a female in heat.
His eyes pierced right through her.
She felt utterly exposed under that gaze.
Irresistible power.
Eyes that saw through everything.
Like he'd predicted it all, dominating the situation as its master.
The shell of "top star" meant nothing here.
Right now, she was just a frail female who couldn't resist.
I want to submit.
Cling to this man.
Her mind flashed white.
This was just acting practice.
Just a movie scene.
The mood heated up.
Even just staring at each other, the air grew hotter.
The grip on her arms.
The heat from his firm thigh between her legs.
Her hips moved on their own.
More. Please...
As she closed her eyes hoping he'd claim her lips...
"Cut. You did great, Soyul."
His voice doused her like cold water.
"...Ah."
The restraints released.
Without his support, she slid down the wall.
Snapping back to reality made her dizzy.
"Haa, haa... Just now, that was..."
She clutched her neck.
The spot his large, rough hand had touched burned like fire.
Her heart wouldn't calm.
She felt the dampness soaking her panties.
Jung Soyul looked up blankly at him gazing down.
A leisurely smile.
That arrogant expression of total conquest.
She should be pissed.
Furious.
"How was it? Feeling the groove now?"
He squatted to meet her eyes.
It was scary.
But an even stronger emotion dominated her.
It had to be this man.
No other actor would cut it; they'd bore her to death.
His sheer presence refuted her claim of never catching a break.
It loomed so massively that her trembling lips could only stay silent, bound by his gaze.
All she could do was nod.
"Good job, Soyul."
His praise, calling her name, heated her lower belly.
Found him.
The real man I'd been searching for.