Chapter 211: Butterfly Lady (3)
Chapter 211: Butterfly Lady (3)
Getting her finger bitten, or being told her acting was suggestive.
The recent shoot for Gyeongseong Lady had been a series of humiliations the likes of which Seo-yeon had never experienced in her life!
Actually, those factors didn't really matter.
Since it was so rare for Seo-yeon to cause an NG, the staff were mostly just a bit surprised.
Director Baek Min also seemed to view it as just a part of the process of finding the right emotional line.
So, there was no real issue with the NG itself.
She was just a little embarrassed.
Specifically, the reaction from the people who had come from the Japanese broadcasting station was a bit overwhelming.
"Wow, did you see that acting just now? Mr. Tanaka? Korean acting is definitely different from Japan's."
"More than that, Actress Ju Seo-yeon’s acting has incredible gravitas. Even the NG part was just... ahem! I thought it was quite cute."
"Ah, me too, me too. I was watching with my mouth hanging open, and I couldn't help but laugh at the end. You caught that, right?"
"Of course. I got it. I was worried because they said she’s an actress who rarely makes mistakes, but man, we got something good right from the first shoot."
Having recently started interacting with Sora, Seo-yeon had been learning a bit of Japanese from her.
Since she had been exposed to anime and games through various media since she was young, learning wasn't difficult.
It was mostly just correcting a few misused words.
However, despite having watched so much, she surprisingly struggled with listening comprehension, but she had overcome that problem to some extent now.
Thus, their conversation was caught clearly by Seo-yeon’s sensitive ears.
Of course, there were some words she didn't know here and there.
Still, she could generally understand the nuance and what was being said.
Are they going to broadcast this in Japan?
The thought occurred to her naturally.
The part they just filmed?
Surely not the part where I was trembling after getting my finger bitten?
Should I stop them?
As she was fidgeting with those thoughts...
"Whoa, what? That’s cute."
She heard a voice from beside her.
Turning her head, she saw Jo Seo-hee covering her mouth with both hands.
"…Pardon?"
"Ah, no. It just slipped out. But, well, I couldn't help it. You’re so different from usual, so I couldn't help but think that."
Jo Seo-hee had accidentally blurted out what she usually only thought to herself.
She was a bit flustered at first, but it wasn't like she said anything bad, right?
She really was cute just now.
"It’s a bit significant to say something like that while we're filming a movie about same-sex romance."
Lee Ji-yeon, who had been listening quietly, chimed in.
"Could you not misinterpret my pure words? I can just say someone is cute."
"Well, she was unlike the usual Ju Seo-yeon just now. She hasn't shown that side of herself much lately."
"Right? …Lately?"
Jo Seo-hee was intrigued by Lee Ji-yeon’s words.
Did she use to show that side of herself often in the past?
I don't recall her having that kind of vibe during her child actor days.
At the time, Jo Seo-hee had been quite frustrated with Seo-yeon, so she had heard plenty about what happened on the set of The Moon That Hides the Sun.
Most of all, Actress Jung Eun-seon, who was like a mentor to her, often spoke about Seo-yeon.
The things she heard most back then were:
"The child doesn't act like a child."
"She has few mood swings and fears nothing."
"She’s a very dangerous child."
Of course, those words were a bit prone to misunderstanding; "dangerous" didn't mean ideologically, but physically.
Children naturally don't know what to be afraid of.
So, they might do dangerous things without a second thought.
Not just in terms of acting, but in aspects more closely related to daily life.
Because Seo-yeon was so calm and showed so little emotion, it seemed Actress Jung Eun-seon found her to be in a very precarious state.
She hadn't thought much of it back then, but...
My teacher really needs to watch what she says.
Honestly, Jo Seo-hee thought Jung Eun-seon was terrible at speaking.
The type to go out of her way to make enemies?
Anyway, to Jo Seo-hee, who had received those stories from Jung Eun-seon, Seo-yeon was truly unchildlike.
Literally, a girl of steel.
"Is that a story from when she went off the grid for a while?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Ju Seo-yeon was no joke in middle school."
Seo-hee became incredibly curious at Lee Ji-yeon’s words.
What on earth happened during her middle school years?
"Back then, she couldn't control her emotions, so—mph!"
Two white hands covered Lee Ji-yeon’s mouth as she casually brought up the past.
Seo-yeon, who had been listening quietly behind Lee Ji-yeon, had shut her up.
"…I just changed my blankets recently."
"Blankets?"
"With everything that happened today, bringing up the past is... I mean, I was young back then."
During puberty, Ju Seo-yeon had been hit by a sudden surge of emotions.
Due to hormonal changes, she couldn't control her feelings.
Whether for better or worse, she had been quite emotional.
Moreover, it was the period when her physical abilities were changing most drastically, so it was a time of great turbulence.
No, it could be called a period of "storm and stress."
Lee Ji-yeon, who had followed Ju Seo-yeon around back then, had seen that entire process of change.
Actually, Lee Ji-yeon had egged her on back then, too.
"Hmph, getting embarrassed over something like that. That’s so unlike you, Ju Seo-yeon."
"You said the same thing to my mom back then."
"…W-well, that’s true."
Watching the two of them converse, Jo Seo-hee felt a strange sense of alienation.
They were having a conversation that only they understood.
Hmm, it was like that back then. You caused a lot of trouble, too.
Ah, that incident. That was truly something, wasn't it?
As that kind of dialogue continued, her curiosity only grew.
If they were going to have a private conversation, they should at least let her in on it.
Just as Jo Seo-hee was tugging on Seo-yeon’s sleeve, appealing for her to tell her more...
"Alright, moving on to the next scene."
Director Baek Min’s voice rang out.
It was a scene featuring Seo-yeon and Ji-yeon.
However, this scene didn't follow immediately after the meeting between Yuina and Yeon Seon-ye.
Although this scene itself appeared much later in the story, they were filming the parts that could be done on this set first.
In other words, they were going to film everything that took place at Yuina’s mansion first.
He’s a bit of a difficult type.
Seo-yeon nodded at Director Baek Min’s filming style.
Every director had a different style.
Some filmed according to the flow of the story.
Others filmed according to the set or the location.
Director Baek Min fell into both categories.
He generally filmed according to the story flow, but in some cases, he was the type to film everything possible in one location.
This was likely because he had a firm grasp of the content and flow of Gyeongseong Lady in his head.
In such cases, it could be quite difficult for an actor to maintain their emotions.
Especially for those who synchronized with their character’s emotions, like method actors.
Since the emotional line of the role changed depending on the scene, a method actor would need to reset their emotions every time.
Fortunately, Seo-yeon no longer needed to obsess over method acting, so it wasn't a particular problem for her.
She only used it when absolutely necessary now.
Method acting was something she just kept as a baseline on the surface.
Well, even that much influenced her character's behavior and psychology in her daily life.
But the roles she had played so far hadn't influenced her to a significant degree.
"The scene we’re filming now takes place a bit later. It’s after Yeon Seon-ye and Michiko have become somewhat aware of their feelings. It might be a bit difficult; are you okay with that?"
Afterward, Director Baek Min began his acting direction for the scene.
Scene number S# 126.
As the number suggested, it was a scene that appeared past the midpoint.
Naturally, the acting direction had to be more detailed.
Since they were skipping ahead so far, both the actors and the director needed a lot of communication to capture the desired scene.
"Alright, then."
Director Baek Min signaled the start.
Until then, Seo-yeon hadn't thought much of it.
She was preoccupied with what had just happened, and the Japanese broadcasting crew was still showing a lot of interest in her.
It was a distracting situation.
But then...
"Seon-ye."
She heard Michiko’s voice, sounding a bit more breathless than usual.
"What were you doing in this mansion?"
She seemed to want to maintain her usual composure, but Michiko’s words were trembling unlike before.
It was because her feelings toward Yeon Seon-ye had changed.
Seo-yeon found herself admiring Jo Seo-hee’s acting.
In the scene they filmed earlier—the Michiko that Jo Seo-hee had portrayed then—she had an attitude that it didn't matter whether Yeon Seon-ye existed or not.
Just a somewhat interesting Joseon maid.
That was the extent of her feelings.
However, despite skipping many scenes, Jo Seo-hee skillfully reflected the changed emotions directly into her acting.
"My lady, you misunderstand."
Lee Ji-yeon’s acting was slightly unstable.
Fortunately, however, the scene was one that depicted Yeon Seon-ye’s anxious state of mind, so it didn't feel strange.
In fact, from a certain perspective, it looked natural.
Will she be okay?
While admiring Jo Seo-hee’s acting, Seo-yeon couldn't help but worry a bit about Ji-yeon’s.
This was because Director Baek Min was watching her intently.
It was a situation where it wouldn't be strange if he cut the scene at any moment.
Thus, Seo-yeon also watched the situation with bated breath.
Yes, that was how it was until then.
"A-ah, my lady. Please let go of this."
"No. First, tell me what happened between you and Yuina."
"I-it was truly a coincidence. What could someone like me have done? I am but a mere Joseon maid."
"Don't lie to me, Yeon Seon-ye."
It was an argument.
It was a fairly intense scene with many emotions clashing.
As Seo-yeon watched the scene with held breath, she gradually began to feel a strange sensation.
She realized that the emotions being exchanged between the two were not anger, but something else entirely.
"Why, do you want to go to Yuina now? I’m sorry, but you can't. I’ve lost the desire to let you go."
"T-that’s not it."
"I knew all along that you were involved with Yuina. But I thought it didn't matter. But I was wrong. The moment I saw you here by chance, I felt a completely different emotion."
Michiko was by no means a weak lady.
Even though she had noticed Yeon Seon-ye’s betrayal, she did not cast her out.
"I thought I could just throw you away. In the past. I’m sorry, Seon-ye. You’ve missed your chance."
Instead, she tightened the leash.
Michiko’s actions, having awakened to her feelings for Yeon Seon-ye, were incredibly straightforward.
A fierce lady without a hint of hesitation.
"Why, did Yuina not do this for you? I’m sorry, but I am not a kind lady."
Naturally, the intensity of the following scene was quite high.
Huh?
Seo-yeon’s mouth fell open as she watched.
Gyeongseong Lady was a film rated for ages 15 and up.
The scenes that could be expressed within that rating were surprisingly intense.
Of course, there was no nudity.
There was no nudity, but how should she put this...
T-this is, well, a bit...
Yeon Seon-ye’s acting was based on Ramiel’s.
Their vocalization was similar to begin with.
She had just toned down the color a bit.
So, the scene Seo-yeon was currently watching overlapped with a scene of Ramiel being subjected to... those kinds of things!
No, she knew it wasn't that!!
Wait, that far? They’re going that far?
Seo-hee’s acting was relentless.
Seo-yeon’s pupils shook as she watched the dense emotional scene Michiko was displaying.
The emotion of love she expressed was incredibly intense.
And because Lee Ji-yeon’s acting was a bit clumsy, it looked like a clumsy girl being overwhelmed by those emotions.
That... indescribable feeling enveloped Seo-yeon.
Could she express that level of emotion?
No, more importantly, wait, Ramiel.
My Ramiel.
She felt herself wilting as she watched those emotions.
Jealousy!!
...That wasn't the only feeling.
Anyway, it was a complex mix of emotions.
She wondered if this was how Yuina felt as she watched Michiko and Yeon Seon-ye.
At any rate.
I... I might be a bit lacking.
Seo-yeon had already interpreted Yuina’s emotions to some extent.
However, seeing today’s acting, she thought the emotions she intended to express for Yuina might be insufficient.
She had to at least match Michiko for it to be a proper rivalry, right?
If Michiko was a wildfire, the emotions Seo-yeon was currently trying to express for Yuina were like the flame of a matchstick.
The feeling of liking someone else.
Love.
This was a much more intense emotion than Seo-yeon had thought.
But why is Jo Seo-hee so good at this?
Feeling suspicious for several reasons, she glared at Jo Seo-hee.
Why, why is she glaring at me again?
Jo Seo-hee, feeling unfairly targeted, hid behind Lee Ji-yeon.
Naturally, Seo-yeon’s gaze became even more intense.
What? Is she showing off to me right now?
Is she saying this is the relationship between Yeon Seon-ye and Michiko?
Most of all, it bothered her that Jo Seo-hee could express something through acting that she couldn't.
Seo-yeon’s pride as an actress had become quite strong compared to the past.
And so.
Seo-yeon moved up her scheduled meeting with Yeo-hee.
To perfectly portray Kasugayama Yuina, the lady who was in love with Yeon Seon-ye.
*
How did it come to this?
Yeo-hee thought as she looked at the girl sitting in front of her.
They had promised to meet later.
But that was supposed to be a meeting with Jo Seo-hee or someone else. It wasn't supposed to be a one-on-one meeting.
No, this is weird.
Why did she come alone?
She must have heard the gist of it from Sua.
About what happened in the past.
Yet, for some reason, Seo-yeon just looked at her with an expressionless face, listening intently to Yeo-hee’s words.
The girl had no change in expression and was terrifyingly beautiful.
This wasn't easy for Yeo-hee.
She’s Sua’s daughter, so why is she so stoic?
She was completely different from how she had been in dramas or when they met while she was wearing a mask on Masked Singer.
The impression she got then was of a very emotional child, enough to make her think she truly was Sua’s daughter.
Thus, Seo-yeon’s silence felt incredibly pressuring to Yeo-hee.
Of course, Seo-yeon’s feelings at this moment weren't much different from Yeo-hee’s.
What should I say first?
She had come here on a whim, but she couldn't just blurt out, "So, tell me about your first love."
No matter how socially dense Seo-yeon was, she knew that would be rude.
What should I say first?
I... I feel like I should say something.
As they exchanged glances, it was Yeo-hee who spoke first.
Feeling awkward, Yeo-hee just blurted out whatever came to mind, including recent events.
"Ah, well, that. Recently, a friend of mine... I mean, a very close friend who is a web novel author? Well, her work is being made into a drama."
"A friend? Is she also a high school friend?"
"Ah, that’s..."
That was correct.
Ah, she felt like she had said the wrong thing.
Yeo-hee squeezed her eyes shut at her narrow social circle.
"Could I ask what the title of the drama is?"
"Hmm? That... it’s probably the same as the web novel title, right?"
Was it okay to tell her?
She felt like she had made a mistake by speaking without thinking.
If it’s a high school friend, is it someone who was in the same club as Mom?
She was certain of it.
So she became even more curious.
"The title was definitely..."
Yeo-hee then told her the title of her friend’s novel.
Thinking there was no way Seo-yeon would know it.
And the moment she heard that title...
Huh?
Seo-yeon couldn't believe her ears.
She could vividly recall anything she wanted from the movies or dramas she had seen in her past life.
And among them was information about the drama Yeo-hee had just mentioned.
The reason Seo-yeon was taken aback was because of the information that came to mind upon hearing the title.
First, that drama had caused a huge stir with its incredibly impressive plot.
And...
That one totally tanked.
It was a drama whose story had been completely ruined by the screenwriter who adapted the web novel.