The Delinquent's Pig
Woo Dan-wol entered the set and loosened up his body. Should I put a little more into this?
The scene they were about to film carried a special kind of weight. It wasn't about chemistry with the other leads or supporting actors—it was a moment where he had to bounce off extras and bring his character to life through those interactions.
Lee Shin-woo's personality wasn't exactly pleasant. His heart was kind, but he was clumsy when it came to understanding his own feelings or expressing them.
"Hello."
"Ah, hello. Please take care of me."
"I'm the junior here. You can speak casually."
It was an excessive display of politeness. Even though Woo Dan-wol was far more famous, the extra who would be spending a lot of time with Lee Shin-woo had far more experience. In truth, she had four more years in the industry than him—a veteran who simply hadn't caught her big break yet. Her acting skills were excellent.
"I-if it helps the role… I'll speak casually."
"Great. Let's do our best!"
Woo Dan-wol clenched his fist and smiled. He genuinely liked her. For the sake of deeper immersion, for the sake of synchronization. Wasn't that exactly what professionals did in real life too?
Her professionalism moved him, and he resolved to make the scene even better because of it.
In the script, her role was simply labeled "Loser." But Woo Dan-wol decided to give her a special name.
Maybe it was the makeup, but the twenty-five-year-old extra looked every bit the high school student—though not an ordinary one. She had that specific type you sometimes saw in class: timid, with reactions so cute that you wanted to tease her, not out of real malice, but just to see how she'd respond.
The "Loser" who would stick close to Woo Dan-wol throughout the drama was exactly that kind of student. Timid, adorable, the sort who made you want to poke at her just to watch her squirm.
Time passed. The director gave the signal. Woo Dan-wol closed his eyes.
And the acting began.
The scene started in the classroom, before they headed to the cafeteria.
"Hey, Pig."
"Huh…? Me?"
"Yeah. Who else would I be talking to?"
The extra playing the loser was visibly flustered. Not because of the role—because of the actor herself. It was because he'd used a name that wasn't in the script. Yet it didn't feel out of place. She wasn't actually overweight; if she had been, he never would have used the word "pig" at all.
Her face was ordinary, but her figure… by the standards of Woo Dan-wol's original world, it was glamorous. She had a generous heart, a relatively short stature, and a cute little belly that poked out. In a way, the nickname "Pig" suited her perfectly.
Seong A-reum's signal never came. That meant she liked the scene and had chosen to let it continue.
The acting went on.
"You don't have any friends, do you?"
"N-no, that's not true…"
"Then why are you alone right now?"
The extra playing the loser couldn't hide her shock. No matter how deep her immersion, how could a person change this much? She'd lived an ordinary school life, hanging out with four close friends, eating together, playing together. That had been her reality.
Yet…
"Ah, ahh…"
Why did this feel like PTSD? The loser was genuinely terrified—not to the point of panic, but a fear that made her heart tremble.
Why was he talking to her? What did he want? How was she supposed to answer?
It felt like a rabbit facing a lion. Anyone on the receiving end would have no choice but to shake. What rabbit could stand tall before a predator?
Even if the predator had no intention of attacking, the rabbit in front of it would still wet itself.
"Pig."
"Y-yeah…?"
"Not coming?"
"Huh…?"
"Ugh, you're so slow. Come on, let's go eat."
Thump, thump. Her heart raced. A fear that he might devour her at any moment surged through her. Yet why did she find herself following him?
"Why are you smiling so weirdly?"
"Ah, I'm not…"
Clearly, he was physically strong. Lee Shin-woo was a boxer, after all. One punch and her jaw would spin. She wasn't submissive by nature, but the pig… she didn't know why, yet she followed him anyway.
"Pig. What's on the menu today?"
"Spicy pork and soybean paste soup…"
"Crazy. You actually memorized that?"
It was one-sided bullying. Anyone watching him put her in a headlock would think he was tormenting her. In reality, the pig was following him under a kind of half-coercion. She didn't have friends, but that didn't mean she wanted to follow him!
Yet…
"S-sorry…"
The corners of the pig's mouth twitched. Her entire body was timidly rebelling, clearly showing she didn't like this. But inside her heart, a flutter had begun. Why… didn't she hate it?
"Still, this must be comfortable for you."
Lee Shin-woo released the headlock and walked ahead, his smile strangely refreshing. He was clearly a delinquent—someone who bullied other students and never considered anyone else's feelings. Yet between all his bad actions…
"Pig, hurry up!"
"…Yeah!!"
A single warm laugh tickled her heart.
"…Cut!"
"Whoa…"
Gasps of admiration filled the set. Seong A-reum teased the extra lightly.
"Wow, how are you so good at acting? Don't tell me…"
"N-no, I'm not!"
The extra playing the loser blushed furiously and denied it. The entire set erupted into laughter.
"Dan-wol, that 'pig' thing really works, doesn't it?"
"I'm glad you think so."
"She's not actually a pig, but… she's not not a pig either."
"P-PD…"
"Haha, sorry. I just couldn't help myself."
"PD!!"
Under normal circumstances, she never would have raised her voice at someone like that. But the playful banter made it possible. In that moment, the ambiguous extra character between supporting and minor roles came vividly to life.
Sometimes, unexpected things happened on set. Just like now. Whether by chance, skill, or luck, the work was gaining a new spark of life.
Meanwhile, the staff began chatting with their colleagues during the brief break.
"Honestly… he looks like a total delinquent."
"But it's charming, right?"
"Of course."
The two staff members standing right beside each other smiled at one another. They were coworkers, but close enough to share the same hobbies. They knew exactly what the other was thinking. Exchanging sly grins, they kept the words they wanted to say to themselves—things they could easily post on online communities instead.
That was how captivating Woo Dan-wol's portrayal of Lee Shin-woo was. On the surface, a delinquent. But his actions carried an unpredictable, adorable charm.
It was a moment that made everyone anticipate what kind of drama this would become.
And then—
"Jang Seon-woo has arrived~"
"Sorry, sorry."
His words said sorry, but his expression didn't. If anything, it was his manager standing beside him who bowed even deeper in apology.
Since Seo Se-ah had made a mistake, it was only natural. Still, the fact that E-Doon Entertainment kept making the same mistakes without replacing their staff was strange.
Especially combined with his gentle, kind image and that apologetic-yet-wronged expression, it worked in his favor.
Of course, no one complained. The situation itself was fine. Thanks to Woo Dan-wol arriving an hour and a half early, they'd already filmed ahead. Jang Seon-woo's tardiness hadn't caused any major damage.
"Seon-woo, could you wait a bit? We have one scene left."
"…You're asking me?"
Jang Seon-woo's mood soured. It was understandable. His scene had been next, and as the lead with his level of fame, this was unthinkable.
He could have pushed back. If only he hadn't been late! In the end, Jang Seon-woo had shot himself in the foot. He'd have to swallow his pride as the price for tormenting his manager. His ego wouldn't allow it, and as the lead actor, he wanted to speak up boldly—but he could feel everyone's eyes on him. Even in this situation, he wasn't childish enough to throw a tantrum.
Three seconds of silence passed as Seong A-reum and Jang Seon-woo locked eyes. A silent battle between director and actor.
"Fine. I'll wait."
"Thank you. Let's prepare for the next scene~"
In the end, it was Jang Seon-woo who backed down. He spun around like a sulking child and headed to his waiting room.
That didn't mean his wounded pride had healed. He wasn't mature enough to manage his emotions on his own.
"Se-ah."
"…Yes, Oppa."
"Let's get some coffee."
Seo Se-ah flinched. The terrible memories came flooding back.
"Ah, what would you like…?"
"The usual. Americano. Five extra shots."
"Okay…"
Seo Se-ah lowered her head. Jang Seon-woo spoke as if it were nothing.
"Se-ah."
"Yes, Oppa."
"Am I bullying you?"
"No…"
"Then why do you look like that? Smile."
"Yes."
After she brought the coffee, he would definitely force her to drink something else, asking why she'd bought a different menu. Just then, someone knocked on the waiting room door.
"Seon-woo, can I come in?"
"…Team Leader?"
Lee Hye-ri opened the door and stepped inside. As someone who had once worked at E-Doon Entertainment, Jang Seon-woo knew her well. She was the kind of person who had risen from a complete newbie to team leader through sheer ability alone. Even he couldn't ignore her.
She had come because of the atmosphere on set.
"Seon-woo. Let it go. You know a drama needs everyone working together to succeed, right?"
"…I know."
Even if she was from his former agency, she was still in the same industry. He couldn't spit in the face of someone speaking so kindly. She had come to care for him—not as his own manager, but for the sake of the drama's smooth progress.
"I'll buy the coffee too. Your name was Se-ah, right?"
"Y-yes, Team Leader. I really respect you."
"Respect? I'm just an old relic now."
That wasn't true at all. Even though Lee Hye-ri had become a CEO rather than a team leader, her influence was far from small. For Seo Se-ah, it was her first time speaking so closely with someone she'd only heard rumors about.
Lee Hye-ri, who had felt uncomfortable around E-Doon Entertainment people, hadn't approached them first. She'd only recognized faces from afar.
"I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but the Americano… what was it again?"
"Five shots."
"Wow, you drink that? It'll ruin your body, Seon-woo."
Seo Se-ah answered in his place. A crack began to form in Jang Seon-woo's fake smile.