Selfie and Scissors
‘He must have received a whole bunch of awards by now.’
From the domestic scene all the way to Asia and the world championships, the trophies on the wall were all Jang Hyeok-geon’s.
The dusty plaques stood out sharply against the clean surroundings, giving them a strangely imposing presence.
As Deok-su kept scanning the room, a female employee approached cautiously.
“U-um… excuse me. Could we take just one selfie together…?”
Her face was beet red.
The other women behind her were already shouting “fight!” and pumping their fists.
Deok-su didn’t make a fuss.
He stood beside the employee, formed a V-sign with his fingers, and asked, “Like this?”
“Y-Yes!”
The employee’s face lit up with color, and the other staff watching widened their eyes in surprise.
The employee looked at the selfie with satisfaction and tilted her head slightly.
“Thank you so much! Oppa, your drama is absolutely amazing! But, Deok-su oppa… is it really happening like that?”
“Of course it’s acting.”
Deok-su’s genuine laugh made the employee’s eyes waver for a moment.
Something clicked in his mind.
He raised his phone again. “Shall we take another one in this pose?”
“W-What? Y-Yes!”
Deok-su’s expression was pure Jin Dong-ho—cold and ruthless.
The employee, still buzzing from the service, started chatting excitedly with the others.
Deok-su soon found himself drawn into the conversation, sharing stories.
Meanwhile, a tense air hung between Lee Hui-yeong and the hair stylist.
“…Stylist-nim. You said you never take appointments after dawn or after ten, right? What should we do?”
“I understand. I have to manage my own clients’ conditions too.
You wouldn’t offer extra pay to book me at those times anyway, would you?”
“This endorsement is a way to bring in more clients than just the immediate fee… oppa.”
Deok-su caught the scent of the negotiation and turned his head away.
Jang Hyeok-geon offered seats with a relaxed smile.
“I’ve been watching your drama.
Especially the staff really enjoy it. Dirty sexy, they said.”
“Thank you. By the way, the atmosphere feels a bit off between us.”
“Your manager is so strict.
Even if I explain my situation, she doesn’t listen.
If I don’t sleep, my hands get stiff.”
Jang Hyeok-geon’s statement was unwavering.
It sounded like the same argument would repeat, but Deok-su sat down comfortably.
“Time is also important.
We can adjust that later…
Since I came all this way, I’d like to get my hair done…
Hmm, you want me to see it directly? Are you doubting my skill…?”
Jang Hyeok-geon’s eyes sparked with challenge.
His pride was as high as the trophies on the wall.
But Deok-su remained calm.
“I want to check if my personality matches yours.
I already know you invited me because you wanted to see it too.”
“That sounds interesting. Go sit over there. I’ll be right back.”
Once inside, Lee Hui-yeong let out a sigh and hurried over.
“Oppa, what are you doing? We barely need to coax at this point…”
“I’m not the kind of person who needs coaxing.”
“How do you know?”
Deok-su ran his finger across the plaque on the dusty frame, leaving a trail of dust.
“Someone who has pride in their skill.
They don’t treat plaques like that as if it’s nothing…”
“But you still hung them up.”
“That was our doing.”
The employee who had taken the selfie spoke up.
She was the one who had told Deok-su about the plaques.
“The stylist doesn’t care about anything except hair.
All those items in the corner were placed there one by one by us.”
“Ah…”
“He’s a bit eccentric.
He loves showing off but also hates trouble…
Anyway, that’s how he is. Deok-su oppa, come sit over here.”
The employee who had taken the selfie sprayed Deok-su’s hair with a spray bottle and began preparing.
“…Stylist-nim is picky, but your skill is really good.
Yesterday, a manager named Woo Yujin came to negotiate a contract and left empty-handed.”
Woo Yujin was one of the top five actresses in the country.
Another staff member added, “Right? Kang Jung-wan went there too and got scolded.
He probably got a flat-out rejection, huh?”
“I told them not to talk like that to the client!”
Soon the preparations were complete, and Jang Hyeok-geon stood beside Deok-su.
The excited staff soon left with stiff expressions.
“What style would you like, sir?”
Deok-su showed a photo of Jin Dong-ho’s hair from the drama shoot—short, neat, with the forehead visible.
Jang Hyeok-geon picked up the scissors and began trimming Deok-su’s hair.
‘Only scissors? No machines?’
Deok-su kept his eyes closed as the sound of scissors filled his ears.
Jang Hyeok-geon didn’t use any machines.
He only used one for a quick neckline trim and then alternated between several pairs to create the perfect style.
Halfway through the cut, Jang Hyeok-geon asked suddenly, “Why did you suddenly start acting?”
The question came out of nowhere, but Deok-su answered without hesitation.
“At first I did it to survive. But as I kept going, it got fun.”
“Survival acting?”
“Singing or dancing didn’t seem possible… I only had my face.
Since I’d already made a name for myself, no one was calling.
So I had to keep eating. Somehow I managed to survive.”
“You really act well….”
One of the staff members suddenly interrupted, listening in.
Jang Hyeok-geon glared at her, and she quickly shut up and stepped back.
“The people around me helped a lot.
Especially our manager worked so hard.”
“Thanks to the support around me, I somehow managed to get here…”
“Oppa has worked harder than anyone.”
The sound of scissors continued as Lee Hui-yeong suddenly stepped in.
A lock of hair fell to the floor.
“The support around him is one thing, but if oppa hadn’t worked hard, no one would have helped him.”
“It feels a bit like a youth drama.
‘You did well’ and ‘I did well’ until someone succeeds…”
Jang Hyeok-geon’s mouth twisted strangely.
But Deok-su smiled and opened his mouth.
“Working together also has meaning. Why are you still working, stylist-nim?”
The question came back at him.
But Jang Hyeok-geon had no hesitation.
“I liked hearing that I was good at it. So I worked hard. That’s how I got here.”
“Praise is a good motivator too.”
“The more I see it, the more we’re different.
That makes it even more fun.”
No urge to convince each other to collaborate was needed.
Yet the two were now chatting comfortably.
Even Jang Hyeok-geon offered to wash Deok-su’s hair himself.
“Ah… feels refreshing.”
“I’m the best at head massage.”
Deok-su only let out a soft laugh.
The hairstyle was completed with the dryer.
The waxy, neat look had transformed into something sharper and more refined.
Looking in the mirror, Deok-su made a face.
Jin Dong-ho now looked even sharper than before.
“Come to our shop anytime.”
“I will.”
“Contact me the day before if possible.
I’m free during those time slots.”
The endorsement contract was signed.
Watching the two shake hands, Lee Hui-yeong felt happy but uneasy.
On the drive home, Deok-su looked out the window and said, “The stylist’s hair looks really good.”
“…Indeed, it does.”
Lee Hui-yeong, gripping the wheel, looked rather downcast.
Deok-su turned toward her.
“You seem upset.”
“No, it’s nothing… I’m just angry at myself. Sorry. I won’t tell anyone.”
She forced a smile, but Lee Hui-yeong’s expression stayed tight.
Since she had always strived for perfection, today’s events hit even harder.
Deok-su, after thinking it over, suggested, “Let’s grab a coffee and go.”
Deok-su and Lee Hui-yeong headed to a cafe along the Han River.
It was one popular with celebrities because it stayed open late.
They sat opposite each other with two cups of caffeine-free tea.
“Is this because I came and convinced the stylist?”
“I… can’t say no.
I tried to handle it without oppa noticing… but I couldn’t help….”
Tears welled up in Lee Hui-yeong’s eyes.
Deok-su handed her a tissue and continued.
“I know you care about Moon-nuna.”
“Oppa, that’s…”
“Moon-nuna is capable.
But she can’t comfort me the way you do.”
Lee Hui-yeong’s face flushed bright red.
It felt as if her insides were completely exposed.
After Moon A-rim joined, Deok-su’s outfits changed dramatically.
The endorsements became smoother.
Even Deok-su looked happier, yet she felt like the only one left behind.
That was why she had fought so hard to hire the stylist.
But now she had to rely on Moon A-rim, and after Deok-su entered the picture, everything finally came together.
“I’m sorry…”
“Moon-nuna and you are both part of my team.
From now on, don’t try to do it alone.
Let’s all do it together.”
Deok-su stood up.
No more words were needed.
The next day at the company, Moon A-rim was waiting for Deok-su.
Lee Hui-yeong had gone up to report to Lee Gwang-yong.
Only the two of them were left in the training room.
“Deok-su. Can I ask you something difficult?”
“What is it?”
“This manager… I know you’ve worked with this manager for a long time, but…”
Deok-su’s eyes narrowed.
But Moon A-rim continued without pause.
“The company will let you switch to a better manager if you request it.
You deserve a better manager than this one…”
“No. I don’t need it.”
“Deok-su. For you to grow further, you need a good manager…”
“No one is better for me than Hui-yeong.”
Deok-su turned away as if he didn’t want to hear more.
Moon A-rim hesitated, then spoke again.
“I know. This manager was there for you when you needed support.
But growth sometimes requires being bold.
Especially right now when it matters…”
“What does Hui-yeong lack? Short experience? Not skilled enough?”
“Deok-su. You’re not supposed to be so stubborn…”
“No. It means you want me to get rid of my own people.
Absolutely not.
Skills can be trained, but I can’t just replace my people easily.”
Moon A-rim stepped back.
She didn’t have any special feelings for Lee Hui-yeong.
But right now, Lee Hui-yeong seemed far too inexperienced to handle growing Deok-su.
‘Was she always like this? She really intends to stay with Deok-su till the end. …It’s a little enviable.’
How had Lee Hui-yeong earned so much trust from Deok-su?
Curious and envious at the same time.
In the awkward silence, Deok-su said, “…My words were too harsh. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. No need to apologize.”
“I hope you two can get along better.
Why does Hui-yeong keep her distance from you… you know, right?”
Too much enthusiasm made him seem cute as a rival.
That he had noticed was surprising.
“Deok-su, you knew? Women aren’t that easy…”
“Is that important?
I just want all of us on the team to get along.
There’s a lot of work ahead. Help me.”
“Even if I’m part of your team…”
“Why do you keep asking?”
Moon A-rim finally smiled.
“Your eyes look a bit weak.
When you meet an enemy, you should glare murderously, right?”
“But we have to hide our emotions.
If we do that, it’ll be too much, won’t it?”
“Then the thrill disappears.
We can show a little.”
As Jin-ho and Deok-su stared at each other, Kang Se-a, watching from a distance, handled the monitor.
Twice a week, the three practiced character interpretation and acting together.
Jin-ho and Kang Se-a admired Deok-su’s immersion and wanted to learn his techniques, while Deok-su wanted to learn their on-screen chemistry.
Over time, they grew closer.
“Did you see yesterday? The ratings climbed again!”
“Oppa. Didn’t PD-nim tell you? It’s still too early to be relaxed.”
Kang Se-a pouted at Jin-ho’s words.
After episode eight, the ratings had risen above seventeen percent.
It was solid, but not yet a hit.
Jin-ho said, “It’s unfair. Our drama always talks about Deok-su oppa lately…”
“That’s right.
Writer-nim only loves Deok-su oppa… treats him like he’s being pushed forward.
Want me to bring some snacks?”
The two lead actors glared at each other.
Deok-su smiled awkwardly.
The amount of lines naturally belonged to the leads.
The intense scenes fell to Deok-su, but the previous week’s shoot had included a scene where he beat a pedestrian with a helmet.
An article even asked if he had actually been filmed hitting someone with it.
“…Se-a. Don’t make Deok-su oppa mad.
You can really get hit with that helmet.”
“Oops, sorry oppa.”
The leads were being petty.
Deok-su’s lips curved slightly upward.
“It seems you’re both bored. Want to keep going?”
“You old man. Only stamina improving… uu-”
Kang Se-a grumbled.
Jin-ho added, “People know you’re way more like Jin Dong-ho than the real one.
Oh, oppa. If the rating goes over thirty-three point three percent, you’ll keep your promise?”
“I will. Why?”
Kang Se-a jumped in.
“Back then I wanted some food too.”
“…More practice time?”
“Yup yup yup yup yup!”
The practice sessions were long, but the results were clear.
“Cut! Good.
Both of you, why are your expressions so good?”
Watching the couple hug and then part, PD Oh Chang-seok clapped.
Jin-ho and Kang Se-a’s faces perfectly captured the unwanted farewell.
Deok-su had also changed.
“Deok-su, you said the shop got your style? It looks sharper.”
Compared to the direct stylist’s work, Deok-su’s current hairstyle was even cleaner and more intense.
It matched the clothes perfectly, better showing off Jin Dong-ho.
Internally, he missed the old style, but the shop version was definitely different.
Acting didn’t need explanation.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
The shoot wrapped early in a good atmosphere.
The week’s filming, editing, and live broadcast were already underway, but there was no diss.
The leads and Deok-su had prepared thoroughly.
“Oppa!”
The next day after episode nine ended, Lee Hui-yeong rushed to the practicing Deok-su.