Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Bad Girl...
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That bitch...
Thursday evening, 9:50 PM.
The home of Lee Jae-hoon, the lead actor in Fixer from Hell.
Ding-dong!
"Oh? The chicken must be here!"
Lee Jae-hoon's team had gathered together, ready to watch the drama's second part air. They'd ordered a feast of chicken, pork hocks, and bossam.
"Fried chicken over here! Seasoned over there!"
"Hey, hey? Put them half-and-half!"
"Just set it down anywhere and grab your seats quick! It's about to start!"
Lee Jae-hoon's manager adjusted the living room lights one last time before sitting down. The team's chatter died down, replaced by the rustling sounds of tearing into chicken.
The second part of the broadcast kicked off in earnest.
Early on, the spotlight fell on Lee Jae-hoon. A heartbreaking scene.
Detective 'Byung-chan' suspects Jung Woo-jin's 'Hee-chan' and launches an investigation, only to clear him of suspicion and end up taking a liking to the upright young man instead.
"Haa..."
"Ah... That..."
Even Lee Jae-hoon's team let out heavy sighs. To viewers, it felt like shoving a whole, unpeeled sweet potato straight into their mouths.
And after that sweet potato came even more frustrating moments.
The investigation hits a dead end, and 'Hee-chan' sets his sights on a new victim for his next crime. The target: college student 'Eun-mi', played by Jung Eun-ji.
'Hee-chan', who up until a brief glimpse in part one had always worn a friendly smile, finally begins revealing the abyss within.
But even 'Hee-chan', who had perfectly fooled Detective 'Byung-chan', had one thing that tripped him up.
A woman who approached 'Byung-chan' with a question. Her job was unclear, but she didn't seem unrelated to the case.
A woman with an outwardly bored expression but chilling eyes. She seemed somehow like him—hiding something deep inside.
And her single line to 'Hee-chan'.
- Why's your face like that? It's a creepy smile.
In that moment, Hee-chan had to pour every ounce of effort into holding his expression.
Back in his hideout, Hee-chan tilts his head at his reflection in the mirror.
The smile staring back was perfection itself. The best mask he'd honed through a decade of trial and error. With this mask on, fools had no choice but to adore him.
A kind smile that appealed across genders and ages.
'Hee-chan' double-checks his mask, scrutinizing for any tiny twitch in his facial muscles.
- Hmm...
'Hee-chan' removes the mask, then puts it back on.
His eerily emotionless blank face morphs naturally into an endearing smile. The drab surroundings brighten, colors coming alive.
- Why...? The shell's perfect...
That spine-chilling line finally draws outbursts from the watching team, who'd been holding back.
"Whoa, legit goosebumps..."
"Ugh... Shit..."
"Look at that face change..."
"......"
In the end, the monster 'Hee-chan', who could camouflage himself among ordinary people, keeps up his everyday act, wandering through crowds.
Addicted to the thrill of killing, 'Hee-chan' plans his next murder mere days after the last one—even before the previous case is closed.
- Haaa...
In front of the trembling 'Eun-mi', 'Hee-chan' can't resist the ecstasy surging through his veins. His body shudders once, ragged breaths escaping.
The camera zooms in on 'Hee-chan': delicately quivering fingers, the subtle bob of his Adam's apple swallowing saliva, and finally, as murderous impulse overtakes him, the mask starting to crack.
Lips trembling like from iron deficiency, eyes now gleaming with unmasked madness.
- Have you eaten?
'Eun-mi' shudders at 'Hee-chan's words, tears streaming down.
- Don't worry. Unlike 'Sun-mi', I won't let you be found.
- Mmph... Mmph...!!
The climactic moment as 'Hee-chan' slowly approaches with knife in hand.
BAM!
A massive explosion startles everyone watching the drama. The mood flips on a dime. The grand, exhilarating theme song blasts as the camera pierces the darkness to spotlight the female lead, Son Sia.
The horror thriller turns heroic whirlwind as the Fixer from Hell, 'Hye-ri', rolls her shoulders and declares:
- Creepy bastard. Knew you'd pull something like this. See? Told you so.
Behind 'Hye-ri' stumbles Detective 'Byung-chan' in a awkward stance.
- I told you not to...?
The episode ends with close-ups cycling through 'Hye-ri's triumphant face, 'Byung-chan's shock, and 'Hee-chan's shattered mask.
"Ah..."
"Whoa..."
"...Immersion's insane?"
The TV now blared commercials, but Lee Jae-hoon's team still lingered in the drama's afterglow.
The chicken sat mostly untouched before them. At some point, they'd gotten too sucked in to eat properly.
Lee Jae-hoon's manager snapped out of it first and nudged his shoulder.
"H-Hyung. Ratings! What're the ratings?!"
"R-Right...! Gotta check..."
Lee Jae-hoon pulled out his smartphone, opened the group chat, and his eyes widened.
His mouth slowly dropped open.
"21.3%...?"
His team stared blankly at each other for a beat, then erupted in hugs and cheers.
"Waaaaah!!"
"Over 20 percent! Insane!!"
"Oppa, congrats!!"
Only now did the team dive into the food with joyous faces.
Then, a phone call came in.
[Han Woo-hee]
"Huh?"
Lee Jae-hoon blinked at the unexpected name on his screen.
Han Woo-hee, Korea's undisputed national actress—a great actress beyond top star status.
Having risen to represent Korean cinema through her refined, elegant mask and solid acting in the movie Love Letter, which crowned her the nation's first love.
To Lee Jae-hoon, one of the top actors himself, she was a towering senior.
He hurried into the bedroom, shut the door, and answered.
"Yes, sunbae. What's up?"
- Hey. Jae-hoon? You busy?
Her voice was soft, gentle, and pleasing. But Lee Jae-hoon stayed tense in his reply.
"No. It's fine, sunbae. Go ahead."
- Congrats first off. That drama you're in is a massive hit. Loving it.
"Thank you!"
- But who's that kid?
"Pardon?"
- The one playing the killer. He's pretty entertaining.
"Ah... You mean actor Jung Woo-jin?"
- Yeah. I'm starting a project soon, and I'll be pairing up with him. Oh! That's still under wraps, right?
"Y-Yes. Of course."
- How's he on set?
Lee Jae-hoon hesitated a moment, then chuckled awkwardly.
"He's good... I had to act like I might get overshadowed otherwise."
- Really? If even you say that, he must be something. Thanks. Congrats again. Have a good night.
Click.
The call ended, and Lee Jae-hoon lowered his still-shaking hand from his ear.
"Haa... That guy's locked on another target..."
Han Woo-hee, still alluringly beautiful past her mid-thirties as if defying time, was infamous for seducing her male co-stars.
It sounded like urban legend, but Lee Jae-hoon knew it was real.
He'd been one of those male actors caught in her web while filming a movie with her.
His first real bout of lovesickness had him utterly devoted to her, despite the seven-year age gap—like he'd rip out his liver for her. But Han Woo-hee quickly lost interest in prey snared in her web.
- Sorry. We're not as compatible as I thought. Let's stay good friends. Okay?
That cruel line—"let's stay good friends"—followed by her casually texting like actual friends, had tormented him for a while.
The memories resurfaced, and Lee Jae-hoon sighed at the ceiling.
"Haa... That bitch..."
In Lee Jae-hoon's mind, if a Casanova existed in showbiz, gender aside, it was Han Woo-hee.
Her onscreen beauty was a given, and no male actor could escape her demonic charm while acting opposite her.
Even after suffering so intensely under her, a corner of his heart still held onto Han Woo-hee.
Lee Jae-hoon pictured her latest prey.
Jung Woo-jin.
A blunt but surprisingly kind guy.
Polite to seniors yet maintaining a subtle distance, hard to get too close to.
His looks were exceptionally striking—no one in Korea could compare.
But the moment she set her sights on him...
No way he'd hold out.
"Damn. Now I feel bad for him... Can't even warn him ahead of time..."