Chapter 132
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Arrogant Bitch...?
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Arrogant bitch...?
Truly, in pitch-black darkness where even right in front of you was shrouded in gloom.
The Morgan sisters, reunited once more, had asked Father Brian for help and secured a small guest lodging.
And this place was the pitch-black interior of that lodging, without a single light anywhere nearby.
In the darkness, Jennifer Morgan whispered softly.
- Catherine.
Her voice faded into the darkness, and just as profound silence was about to settle in again.
- Why...?
Catherine's voice, somewhat muffled as if she had been on the verge of falling asleep, chased away the silence.
Srulk-.
Along with the rustling of bedsheets, Jennifer sat up and spoke.
- You hear that right now? Don't you?
- What...?
Catherine asked blankly in return, but Jennifer bolted upright and nudged her with her foot.
- Get up, quick.
Jennifer groped around the bedside before finding something and picking it up.
Fwaak-!
The light from the cellphone she lifted illuminated the dark room, revealing Catherine's deeply frowning face.
- Ack?!
- Shh. Be quiet. I definitely heard it.
- Ugh, seriously. What the hell did you hear?
- A wailing cry.
- What?
- Shut up and listen.
With those final words, the faces of the focused Morgan sisters were illuminated under the faint cellphone glow.
And soon.
- Krurrruk-!
At the small but clear unidentified sound, Catherine threw off the blanket she was still clutching.
- Let's go.
Kiiik-.
The Morgan sisters swiftly checked their pistols and knives before heading straight out of the lodging.
Their retreating figures soon vanished into the darkness.
"Cut! Okay, that's perfect!"
Click-! Click-!
With director Steven Hoeger's cut signal, the lights came on, and the once-dark set brightened up in an instant.
The two lead actresses, who had been hidden in the darkness, now revealed themselves under the lights.
Jennifer was clinging to Catherine's body like a magnet, apparently terrified.
"Heh...."
As the lights brightened, Jennifer peeled herself off Catherine's body and walked out of the set with an awkward expression.
"Alright, it's pretty dark, so everyone be careful while wrapping up and heading out."
Today's shoot wasn't actually their first time filming this scene.
Revisions had come up for the part they shot last week, so they had rushed into reshoots.
And precisely because of that.
I could be even more certain.
Jennifer Weisz's acting prowess was undoubtedly beyond A+ rank. At the very least, it matched my own S rank.
The shoot under dim lighting.
One might think acting wouldn't stand out in the dark, but it was the exact opposite.
With most of the screen shrouded in darkness, viewers become intensely focused on the one spot where they can actually observe something.
In this case.
It was the expressions illuminated by the faint smartphone light and the tense motions of their bodies.
Having recently trained with a blindfold to sharpen her senses, Jennifer delivered incredibly clear and detailed expressions and gestures even in the dark.
The furrowed brow doubting if what she heard was real, ears perking up at the sudden sound from outside.
And since she was genuinely immersed, cold sweat beaded on her skin—hardly visible, but I could confirm it.
In this short scene, she captured the essence of every detail an actor could convey.
It breathed incomparable vitality compared to last week's take.
"Oh, my God, Jennifer. What on earth—? No, don't misunderstand. Last week's wasn't lacking, but today's shoot... oh... it was truly magnificent."
"...Really? Ahem. I've been training lately, you know? Sticking with it really shows results. Ahem. Why'd you stop? Keep the praise coming. Hurry up."
"...I-Is that so? Ah, yes! You weren't even made up, so how'd you break a sweat like that in no time? That unexpected tension was a brilliant touch. Haha...."
"Humans rely heavily on sight, you know. When your vision's blocked and you're tense not knowing what might jump out, cold sweat just flows naturally. No big deal. Heh."
"...Whew, outstanding."
Director Steven Hoeger clearly felt it too, grabbing Jennifer as she walked out of the set and showering her with praise, his face beaming with excitement.
"Hm."
After watching them for a moment, I turned and headed to the parking lot.
Having been busy with Jennifer, Catherine, and even Melody lately, I'd neglected CEO Baek Hee-jin, so today I planned to soothe her a bit.
I arrived first at the still-empty parking lot, got in the car, and started the engine.
Vroom, vroom-.
After driving down the dark road to the lodging, I didn't go inside right away but waited outside.
And soon enough.
A black car pulled up and stopped in front of me.
It had been tailing me doggedly since I left the set—so obviously that only an idiot wouldn't notice.
"......"
The car was heavily tinted, impossible to see inside.
I stared intently at the back seat.
I figured it was probably Melody, but something felt off.
Melody's current Subordination Level was a whopping 83%.
At 83%, obeying my orders was practically instinctual, and I'd explicitly commanded her not to approach or contact me first until I reached out.
So before any talking, I needed to confirm who was in that car.
As I just stood there staring, the back door of the car began to open.
And the person who emerged wasn't Melody.
"Nice to meet you. Sorry to drop by so suddenly, but I'm Melody's mom. The CEO's inside too, right? Mind if we chat for a bit?"
****
In person, Jung Woo-jin was...
"......"
Nothing like the photos.
Locking eyes with Jung Woo-jin peering in through the window, Susan felt a jolt like electricity coursing through her body.
The thrill was so intense it short-circuited her brain—she couldn't speak or move.
Snapping out of it, Susan rubbed her hands together in embarrassment.
In that brief moment, her palms were slick with moisture.
"Ahem...."
Clearing her throat to steel herself, Susan opened the door and stepped out.
Just one window down had changed everything.
Face-to-face with Jung Woo-jin up close, he was even more dazzling.
Her throat tightened instinctively, so Susan quickly spoke to him.
"Nice to meet you. Sorry to drop by so suddenly, but I'm Melody's mom. The CEO's inside too, right? Mind if we chat for a bit?"
Jung Woo-jin's initially blank, surprised face melted into a gentle smile.
"Nice to meet you. I'm actor Jung Woo-jin."
"Hm...."
Something surged inside her, and Susan let out a cough.
A flustered feeling.
But one thing was clear.
'That business smile of his is spot on.'
Quickly spotting someone useful and flashing a salesman's grin meant her own task just got easier.
Susan smiled back and offered a handshake.
Jung Woo-jin bowed slightly, accepted it, and invited her inside like she'd just met a dear friend.
"No need to stand out here—let's talk inside, CEO."
"Sure."
Seeing him already know to call her 'CEO,' Susan was convinced.
'He's my kind of people.'
The type loyal to mutual interests. The fox-like sort who grasps relational value and exploits it thoroughly.
Maybe even his approach to her daughter was all calculated.
With that thought, Susan stepped into Woo-jin's home.
"Come on i-...?"
A warm, welcoming voice cut off abruptly.
Surveying the sparsely furnished interior, Susan turned toward the voice.
There stood a woman in an outfit so skimpy it was practically underwear, frozen in an awkward pose.
'37 years old, Baek Hee-jin, divorcee, CEO of Stone Actors, Jung Woo-jin's agency.'
Her skin and figure defied her age—taut and alluring, exuding a seductive aura.
And above all.
Her outfit was one thing, but that subtle eroticism emanating from her led Susan to her judgment.
'They're sleeping together.'
Not all that surprising, Susan approached with a smile and offered a handshake.
"Nice to meet you. Baek CEO, I'm Susan Downey from MB Fashion Group. I'd like to discuss some business regarding actor Jung Woo-jin. Is that alright?"
Baek Hee-jin, glancing alternately between her and Jung Woo-jin with slight fluster, quickly masked her face and shook hands.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Baek Hee-jin, CEO of Stone Actors."
She was smiling, but glaring subtly while gripping hard.
Very much so.
'Arrogant bitch...?'
Susan gripped back with equal force.