Chapter 40

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 40

Chapter Title: Thump Thump, Introducing Today's Surprise Guest!

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Thump thump, let's welcome today's surprise guest!

It felt just like staring into an anthill.

Staff members rushing around aimlessly with gear in hand, lighting and camera equipment scattered everywhere, and tangled wires snaking across the floor.

There seemed to be some kind of order to it all, but the atmosphere was utterly chaotic.

"Hoo..."

A nearby staff member trudging past let ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out a heavy sigh as they hauled their equipment.

The vibe here was worlds apart from the set of Fixer from Hell.

It has to be.

The lead actor, who should have been the anchor holding the set together, had caused a scandal mid-shoot and vanished.

No matter how well they managed the PR fallout, the negative impact ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was inevitable. With the shooting schedule already razor-thin, the staff had every reason to be sighing nonstop.

In the midst of the frenzy stood Director Min Woo-jeong, clutching a megaphone.

I finally took off my sunglasses and mask, heading her way.

A female staffer sighing as she carried gear nearly dropped everything in shock when she spotted me. I reached out to steady her load.

"Uh, uh... Jung Woo-jin... Ah! Th-thank you...!"

I gave her a small smile.

"Be careful."

"Wow..."

She froze like a statue, round eyes fixed on me.

Director Min Woo-jeong swooped in to defuse the awkwardness.

"Woo-jin! Come on in! First time on our set, right?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The staffer snapped out of it at her arrival and hurried off.

Director Min Woo-jeong flashed an embarrassed smile.

"The mood's a bit off, huh? Sorry about that. I tried pep-talking them, but everyone's still kinda down."

"It's fine. Can't be helped. I'll do my best."

As I replied, I glanced around and spotted Lim Eun-ha already there, getting her shoot makeup done in one corner.

She must really love this movie.

I'd arrived thirty minutes early per the film company's schedule, but she'd beaten me to it.

She must have felt my gaze—she shot up from her chair and bowed deeply in greeting. I nodded back lightly.

She'd looked like a sultry vixen at the studio meeting, but with makeup on, she had a much softer vibe now.

"Today's scene is the two leads right before their breakup, back in high school. Alright, Woo-jin, time for your makeup!"

"Got it."

At her words, a staffer waiting by her side led me to sit near Lim Eun-ha. Makeup artists swarmed me immediately, setting to work.

Lim Eun-ha leaned over from next door.

"I'll, I'll really give it my all!"

I'd sensed it at the meeting, but she acted like I was some big deal. Still, if we were counting acting debuts, she was way senior to me—even without her idol career.

"You're the senior here. Speak comfortably."

"H-how could I..."

She fumbled, flustered. I chuckled lightly.

"Looking forward to working with you, sunbae."

Holding hands is trickier than it seems.

It's casual between close friends, rude between strangers, and a subtle signal between awkward guy-girl acquaintances.

Applied to Lim Eun-ha and me? Me suddenly grabbing her hand would land somewhere between subtle signal and outright rude.

Without a good excuse, it'd be tough to fulfill right away.

But I had that perfect excuse.

Right on cue, the assistant director shouted.

"Alright! Actors, we're shooting soon! Let's do a rehearsal first with just 'Seo-ha' and 'Ho-young'—no extras!"

"Yes!"

'Seo-ha,' sulking after a petty argument, strides toward the school gate. 'Ho-young' runs up and grabs her wrist.

'Ho-young' gently pries open 'Seo-ha's' palm and places a sour-sweet candy inside.

"Cool off a bit, gas station."

Through rehearsals and takes, I naturally held Lim Eun-ha's hand each time. By the final wrap, I finally claimed her first talent.

Honestly, I was pretty surprised. I remembered her debut drama scene well—I'd seen it myself. Her acting had been awkwardly decent back then.

Now she was delivering rock-solid performances.

I hadn't followed idols much, so I'd just pegged her as a pretty, internationally famous one. Turns out her talents ran deeper than expected.

Even after snagging her first talent, subordination only ticked up to 12.5%—the lowest since Son Sia. Meaning seven more talents to go.

Director Min Woo-jeong's slate marked the end of today's shoot.

"Okay! That's a wrap for today! We'll continue here tomorrow, so pack up only the key gear and leave the rest."

Lim Eun-ha scampered over as soon as we cut.

"Oppa Woo-jin! Can I ask a favor?"

She'd started off shy, but as shooting progressed, her real personality peeked out—eventually calling me "oppa."

Watching her fidget with her fingers while awaiting my answer made my mouth water. I smiled softly.

"Hm? What is it?"

"I do radio every Wednesday. Visible Radio. You're super hot right now, thanks to Fixer from Hell. I was gonna skip a guest this week, but if you're cool with it, could you join just once? Pleeease?"

Ahh... Mammon almighty.

I marveled at it every time.

Mammon's quests and conditions weren't really "tricky"—they were more like guides for my next moves.

Deus ex machina vibes, almost. Just follow along, and obstacles melt away with rewards in tow.

This was no different. No effort needed on my part—the path forward unfolded naturally.

I looked down at Lim Eun-ha, staring up at me with sparkling eyes.

Only our second meeting, yet she already felt utterly exposed to me.

I smiled and replied.

"Shall I?"

[ON AIR]

Red light, stark white letters glowing bright.

Inside the radio booth, Lim Eun-ha sat with her hair neatly pinned up, gazing at the camera with a soft smile.

As light BGM played, she winked playfully and kicked off her segment.

"Great job getting through today! Lim Eun-ha's Visible Evening Cafe is now open~!"

Lim Eun-ha's Visible Radio, also streaming on Nertube, was already buzzing with viewers and comments.

Lim Eun-ha glanced at the scrolling comments with a knowing smile.

"So! Who might today's surprise guest be? Well, folks, any dramas you've been loving lately?"

The subtle hint lit up the comment section instantly.

But Lim Eun-ha knew how to tease her audience. She beamed mischievously.

"We've got a super buzzy actor here today! Let me see... You still look tense, so enjoy a song and we'll be right back~!"

A bouncy, upbeat track played, building the hype.

"Today's Evening Cafe guest is none other than!"

The screen switched to reveal the guest in a headset.

"Actor Jung Woo-jin—!"

"Hello. This is actor Jung Woo-jin."

Seamlessly picking up her cue, he gazed at the camera and greeted lightly. The comments exploded beyond readable speed.

Unlike the other Fixer from Hell stars hitting variety shows amid its craze, the elusive Jung Woo-jin had suddenly appeared on Lim Eun-ha's Visible Radio.

The total shock—no one saw it coming—sent live viewers skyrocketing.

Communities flooded with posts about his appearance.

Twitter and StarTA lit up just as fast.

His mystique had kept him under wraps, so this drop ignited the already-heated communities into a full blaze.