Beyond the Four Episodes
"Ready… cue!"
The signal was given, and the first meeting scene on the bus began. Jang Seon-woo narrowed his eyes, determined to find some flaw in Woo Dan-wol's performance.
Yet as the take progressed, Jang Seon-woo's expression grew increasingly uncomfortable. It was the look of someone who had hoped to spot a weakness but found none. Woo Dan-wol's acting was flawless. Even someone with no knowledge of acting might have noticed it, but Jang Seon-woo had studied the craft and put in genuine effort. The result was only a sharper sense of inferiority.
Then the flow of the scene broke.
"Pfft—ah, I'm sorry."
It wasn't a staff member. It wasn't the cinematographer or the director. The laugh belonged to Ju Ha-ryeong, the lead actress sharing the scene. A clear NG.
The mistake was hers, yet in Jang Seon-woo's mind it was somehow Woo Dan-wol's fault as well. The petty thought revealed just how venomous he could be when threatened. The atmosphere on set turned chilly—or it should have.
Instead—
"Pfft, heh."
"Ahahaha!"
"Haha, ha!"
Laughter bloomed across the set. The chemistry between Woo Dan-wol and Ju Ha-ryeong carried a fresh, youthful charm that made everyone watching smile without realizing it. It was an emotion Jang Seon-woo could never understand, and the confusion on his face only deepened.
The same kind of mistake, yet the reaction couldn't have been more different. In countless other NGs, the mood had grown cold and awkward. Jang Seon-woo was human too; the contrast made him uncomfortable. A childish resentment bubbled up inside him. Why does everyone laugh during his scenes?
He didn't voice it. Years of experience had taught him to keep such feelings buried. Still, the discomfort remained, and his dislike for Woo Dan-wol only grew thicker.
Ju Ha-ryeong smiled. Woo Dan-wol's eyes widened for a moment before softening with understanding. He had grasped her intention. This wasn't just about delivering a good performance; it was about reading the mood of the entire set. Recognizing that, he joined the smiling crowd with a smile of his own. The warm atmosphere was captured on the making-of footage.
As expected of Ju Ha-ryeong sunbae.
The tension eased. A little pressure was fine, but too much was never good. Woo Dan-wol silently admired her thoughtfulness and reminded himself to stay focused on his own role.
The first day's shoot was nearing its end—at least for Woo Dan-wol. The I Want to Stay for Just One More Minute team had already pushed through more than seven hours. One more hour and they would wrap, but Woo Dan-wol didn't head straight home. Instead, he sought out writer Seong Da-un. The writer, practically a fixture on set, had watched his performance and clearly had thoughts to share.
"Dan-wol-ssi."
"Yes, Writer-nim."
They spoke in a small office tucked away on set. With filming still underway, the space was quiet—perfect for a private conversation.
"There's something I've been wondering."
"Yes?"
Seong Da-un voiced the question that had been on her mind since she first saw him.
"You've only read up to episode four of the script, correct?"
"Yes, that's right, Writer-nim."
Woo Dan-wol nodded. Seong Da-un tilted her head, still unable to believe it.
"It's strange… You shouldn't know, so how are you able to act like that?"
"Thank you."
They weren't close yet, so Woo Dan-wol simply offered polite thanks. The response only made Seong Da-un more impatient. This actor had brought her character to life at over ninety-nine percent accuracy. As a writer, she couldn't help but feel excited.
"No, listen—listen to me, Dan-wol-ssi."
"Yes?"
"When you read up to episode four, what kind of character did you think Lee Shin-woo was?"
Seong Da-un had one word ready in her mind. She watched Woo Dan-wol's lips, waiting.
"A thug."
"Exactly!"
"Yes. A thug."
"But, but—why…"
Lee Shin-woo was a thug. Even within the first four episodes, no one would deny it. His first appearance had been comedic, but he quickly revealed his delinquent side. Yet the Lee Shin-woo Woo Dan-wol portrayed felt different—still a thug, but not simply a bad person. There was depth and contradiction in the performance.
Seong Da-un was going mad with curiosity. How could he deliver such nuanced acting without knowing the character's dark past or troubled family background? How had he analyzed the script to reach this level?
As if sensing her thoughts, Woo Dan-wol spoke while scratching his cheek.
"Shin-woo is a thug, but he's not a bad guy."
……
Silence. Shock was written across her face. As the writer who knew everything, she had always seen Lee Shin-woo as closer to an antagonist than a villain. He was never meant to be purely bad.
"Well… people's moods work the same way, don't they? Some days you're in a good mood for no reason, other days you're down. Shin-woo is no different."
"Th… that's true?"
"It is."
It felt like being struck on the head. Seong Da-un stared at him with pure admiration, mouth slightly open. It was as if a god had descended; she could almost see a halo behind him.
"Mm. Good work today. I just wanted to ask that…"
"You worked hard too."
"Hah… really…"
She bowed deeply, nearly ninety degrees. He was consistently respectful. She knew personal feelings shouldn't interfere, yet she couldn't help comparing him to certain others who carried themselves with arrogance.
Meanwhile, her mind was already racing with new ideas for Lee Shin-woo's backstory and future plot points. The writer's instinct had kicked in.
A few days passed. Woo Dan-wol once again entrusted his body to the van's seat. Comfortable ride. Lee Hye-ri. Let's go.
"Noona."
"Yeah, Dan-wol-ah."
"Can't you just drive me for the rest of my life?"
He wore a playful smile. Because he was in the passenger seat instead of the back, Lee Hye-ri glanced at him before quickly focusing on the road again. Their eyes had almost met. And he said that while she was driving! He must have a death wish.
What irritated her even more was the innocent, clueless look on Woo Dan-wol's face—the very expression that made people misunderstand him in the first place.
"Why?"
"You…"
"?"
"Haa, never mind."
In the end, the generous Lee Hye-ri let it go. She wondered if that same innocence might one day stab the company in the back, but that was precisely what made Woo Dan-wol so charming. If he had been teasing her on purpose it would be different, but he genuinely liked her driving.
Time flowed on. The third day of filming arrived.
They reached the set early. Woo Dan-wol gazed at the large school building in admiration. It was Shinseong High School, the main setting for I Want to Stay for Just One More Minute. Securing a location of this scale was impressive.
The atmosphere on set, however, was rather chaotic.
"He's late again?"
"His manager took the wrong highway, apparently."
"Oh dear…"
"Haa…"
No one openly cursed, yet everyone was clearly annoyed with a certain someone. The fact that the person in question wasn't an actor but held a relatively minor position only made the resentment sharper.
"What do we do now?"
"Dan-wol-ssi isn't due for another hour, right?"
"We can't just stretch the scene…"
Director Seong A-reum scratched her head furiously. Just as the staff's sighs filled the air—
"I'm already here, though…?"
……
"Why is Dan-wol-ssi here already?"
Seong A-reum checked her watch. Not just an hour—he had arrived one hour and twenty-one minutes early. She couldn't help tilting her head in confusion. Her gaze met Lee Hye-ri's over Woo Dan-wol's shoulder. Knowing Lee Hye-ri's background as a former team leader at E-Doon Entertainment, everything made sense. Lee Hye-ri was the kind of person who could make things happen in this industry.
It had been a coincidence, but Lee Hye-ri simply gave a thumbs-up as if to say it didn't matter. Because Woo Dan-wol had refused any activities outside of acting, his schedule had breathing room. He saw no harm in arriving early, and the decision only improved his reputation on set.
"Seriously, I don't even like waking up an hour early, and Dan-wol-ssi is already here?"
"Ahaha, thank you for thinking well of me."
The rapport built through countless greetings and small talk had become a solid reputation that made Woo Dan-wol shine even brighter.
"Alright. Let's pull the next scene forward and shoot it now."
"I'm ready."
"Okay!"
Director Seong A-reum smiled. While the camera crew set up, Woo Dan-wol's makeup was already finished—thanks to Seong Ji-hoon's exceptionally quick hands.