Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Acting Practice (3)
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"No one's booked it today. Right now, it's just the two of us here."
Jeong Soyul opened the door with familiar ease and stepped inside.
The place we'd come to with her was a private cinema in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.
A luxury cinema built exclusively for a select few guests.
It wasn't a massive theater like your standard movie house, but it had an equally enormous screen paired with seating designed solely for that small audience.
Leather sofas worth millions of won filled the space, along with a screen that dominated the wall.
It was a secret practice room made just for a top star like Jeong Soyul.
Id never seen a theater like this before.
I had no idea something like this even existed in Gangnam.
What can I say.
It felt like Id stumbled into a world completely different from the one I knew.
"You rented out a place like this?"
"Its pricey, sure, but I like coming here for acting practice every now and then. You pick up new things, and theres no scandal risk."
"You must come here a lot."
"...But youre the first person Ive ever brought. Ive always practiced alone."
First time, huh.
That made me feel oddly good for no reason.
Being the one to take a top stars first experience here—well, not that kind of first experience, just watching a movie together, but still.
"But do you really need a space like this?"
"Of course. Its embarrassing to show it off in front of other people."
Her face flushed as she continued.
"We cant exactly go back to the school rooftop like last time."
Fair enough.
Going all the way back to school just for the rooftop would be weird anyway.
We'd just draw attention from other people.
"Feel free to act as wildly as you want. The soundproofings top-notch, so no one will hear us no matter how loud we scream."
"Is it okay to bring me somewhere like this?"
"Huh?"
I took a step closer to Jeong Soyul and asked.
"What if a guy like me suddenly gets bad intentions?"
Her shoulders twitched at my words.
"Think you could handle it?"
"You think I couldnt?"
"If you can, then try it. One button press and security swarms in."
"Pretty tight security, I guess."
"Naturally. This is a space for VVIPs who want total privacy."
"I see."
At her words, I took a step back.
"Alright. Got it."
As I retreated, a flicker of strange disappointment passed through Jeong Soyuls eyes.
No quests on the weekend anyway. No need to push things.
Well stick to appropriate boundaries.
Ill have DMs if things get urgent.
The magical power to make her listen quietly to my words.
With the systems help, anything was possible.
I saw no need to rush.
"So, is there a reason you rented a practice room with a cinema instead of just a regular one?"
"...For now, take a look at this."
She fiddled with a tablet, and the dark screen lit up.
A burst of static accompanied a movie scene playing.
[@soyul_official posted a new feed.]
- I cant immerse myself in front of stupid men, idiots who only look up to me. - You think I can get into it when theyre dying for me one second and change the moment acting starts? No way in hell. - Unless its someone who crushes me down like they always do, I cant immerse. - Ignore me. Insult me. Tell me Im nothing special and tear into me. Thats what it takes for me to get immersed.
[Let this go! I said let go!]
[You really thought you could get away from me?]
[Why would I fool around with a bottom-feeder like you? We were just helping each other out because we needed to. You didnt seriously think I actually liked you, did you?]
[Ha, you gonna keep lying? You think I dont know youre doing this on purpose?]
On screen, Jeong Soyul struggled against her co-star Hwang Jun-ho, who gripped her wrist.
Terror-filled eyes, trembling lips.
Anyone could see it was brilliant acting. I got why the director had called cut.
"This is footage from a week ago. I begged the director for it since I needed acting help. It was one of the OK takes, but..."
But.
"What do you think?"
Jeong Soyuls eyes, watching my reaction, were filled with anxiety.
It was the face of someone who knew it was fake acting.
She knew and still brought it.
No, she brought it because she knew.
Because her acting fell short.
Because she needed help.
"Hmm."
What to do.
Help her right away?
Part of me wanted to tease her a bit.
I crossed my arms with a slightly mischievous expression.
Glancing back and forth between the screen and the real Jeong Soyul, I deliberately lowered my voice.
"Its trash."
"...What?"
Her eyebrow twitched.
Shed braced for criticism, but trash was a step too far, apparently.
"Right now, youre playing pretty on screen. Does a terrified woman scream that prettily? And thats not the only emotion you need to show in that scene."
"Hey, thats because of the camera angle..."
"No excuses."
I strode toward her.
"Anger, but not wanting to let him go. Contempt for a lowly human. Fear when facing his rage head-on... All those emotions need to mix together in your performance."
Click. Click.
My dress shoes echoed on the quiet cinema floor.
My deliberate all-black outfit.
Like the male lead on screen, I exuded the vibe of a character oppressing the female lead as I closed in on her.
"Youre just looking down on that guy. Like hes way beneath you, just sneering at him."
The distance between us shrank until I could feel each others breath.
Jeong Soyuls eyes, fixed on the screen as we sat on the seats together, turned to me.
"Right?"
She couldnt answer.
She felt it herself.
That she hadnt acted properly.
Now that Id pinpointed it exactly, she couldnt even argue, just stayed silent.
"Answer me."
"...Y-yes, youre right."
Back to polite speech.
This girl only uses formal language when its against her interests.
No manners.
Well, thats part of a top stars charm, I guess.
"Is it that co-stars fault? Hes scrawny, no intensity, just pretty. Thats why you cant immerse?"
"..."
Jeong Soyul clamped her mouth shut.
Cheeky.
Daring not to answer when I ask?
"Answer me."
"Y-yes. Its because of the co-star. His acting sucks, so my immersion breaks..."
Hmm.
Is that really it?
I see it differently.
The moment her words ended, the Sexgram message popped up.
I hadnt meant to look.
It just appeared suddenly.
Jeong Soyul couldnt immerse because of the co-stars acting skill.
It was the co-star himself.
Because he treated her with awe, like some great actress, she couldnt get into it.
Insult, huh.
She looks so prim, but shes got some filthy tastes.
Guess Ill give her what she wants.
Shes waited patiently, after all.
I leaned in close to her ear and whispered.
"Liar."
"I-Its not a lie! The co-stars acting is so important..."
"No. Its not that his acting sucks and you cant immerse."
"What are you..."
"Lets be honest with each other."
"..."
"You cant immerse because hes not the right guy for it, not because hes bad."
Jeong Soyuls face turned toward me.
"Not someone who truly dominates you, humiliates you, instills the fear of submission. Hes too soft, just sees you as some amazing star."
"..."
Jeong Soyul couldnt speak.
Admitting your true feelings isnt easy.
But the more I talked, the redder her face got.
"Am I wrong?"
"W-what are you talking about..."
"If Im really wrong, shake your head."
Jeong Soyul bit her lip.
A conflicted expression.
"Just so you know, if thats not why your acting sucks, theres nothing I can do to help. Lets call it here."
"T-that doesnt make sense. Ive been waiting so long..."
"I dont take on things beyond my ability."
"Ugh..."
No answer.
No head shake.
Which means.
"Ill take that as a yes."
"I-it's just because I need your acting help..."
"Doesnt matter. Whatever excuses you make to yourself, they wont reach me."
Maybe because her hard-thought excuse got shot down.
She couldnt open her mouth.
"Stand up."
She flinched at my commanding tone.
Normally, shed snap, Who do you think you are, ordering me around? But right now, my presence overwhelmed her.
Jeong Soyul rose hesitantly from her seat.
"Go to the front. Right in front of the screen."
"Why there?"
"To compare. See how different fake Soyul is from the real one."
I pushed her back.
Right in front of the screen.
A stage-like spot drenched in projector light.
As she stood there, the footage on screen overlapped her body.
A bizarre angle with her massive face on screen looking down at her.
"Alright, rehearsals start now. Ill play the co-star, so react."
"R-right here? No script?"
"Dont be such an amateur. Weve synced up before. You know how I teach acting."
"..."
"And weve got the best script ready to go."
I pointed at the screen.
The footage of Jeong Soyul and Hwang Jun-ho acting.
The script was already prepared.
"You know the tone from the video. Let your bodys reactions spill out raw. Dont hide them."
"O-okay."
I circled behind her.
On screen, Hwang Jun-ho shoved Jeong Soyul against the wall.
I matched the timing, grabbed her shoulder, and slammed her against the screen wall with a thud.
"Ahh!"
"Thats all you got? Scream louder."
My body pinned her down.
My firm chest pressed into her back, one hand gripping her pale nape.
"Look at the screen. Look at that bitches face."
I nodded toward the screen.
Subdued by me, Jeong Soyul looked at it.
"No emotion in your eyes. Just flailing to survive. Thats not right for this scene. You need that pathos of choosing it despite hating it. That was just..."
I whispered into her ear.
"Trying to run away."
"L-let go..."
"Acting started. Say your line."
Jeong Soyul looked at me.
A moments hesitation.
Guess I need to help her get the emotions in.
"You think Ill let you run if I do? Like last time? Ran from your dads arms before, now from me?"
I recited Hwang Jun-hos lines from the screen.
But the tone was different.
Darker, thicker than mere acting.
Vicious threats.
Obsession with her.
The sticky emotions of a man who wouldnt let her go seeped from my voice.
"I always told you. Your bodys worth a fortune. But you know what? To a bottom-feeder like me, it doesnt matter."
"Better to ruin it all than let some other guy have it."
"Hows it feel, dressed in those fancy clothes, getting ruined by a guy like me?"
With every word I spat, Jeong Soyuls expression shifted bit by bit.
"Your breathing ragged, miss. So unladylike."
"Hah, hah... Y-you..."
It was changing.
From top star Jeong Soyul to the character on screen, in the script.
Her eyes looking at me began mixing with more and more emotions.
She chewed her lip, as if reminding herself of her situation.
I waited.
For her to deliver the right first line.
"Disgusting... Get your filthy hands off. Do you even know who youre touching? Youll regret it. One word from me and trash like you is..."
Perfect.
The line, the expression, the emotion.
All spot on.
I tightened my grip on her white nape.
"Cheeky bitch. Just a rich slut."
Jeong Soyuls eyes sparkled as she looked at me.