Somehow, Talent Has Sprouted (4)
After that, all of Kang Min's actions were nothing more than futile struggles.
He pathetically refused to accept reality and tried every trick in the book, but he couldn't even hold a candle to Jo Yun-a, whom he'd awakened, or Han Ye-seul, who seemed to be glimpsing the realm of Fire Transformation beyond climax and super-climax.
The name Kang Min's Human Quartet soon caught on worldwide, and before long, even bizarre interpretations started popping up.
According to people's analyses, the first part of the quartet depicted humanity's innate goodness, while the second showed its inherent evil.
The third part then explored how far those views of good and evil could diverge depending on perspective.
'What the hell kind of bullshit is this?'
For Kang Min, who just wanted to goof around with his troupe, it was utterly incomprehensible, but that interpretation became the mainstream anyway.
And that wasn't all?
In the West, debates were raging over interpretations of the third part!
Kang Min clutched his face.
At this point, he truly had no idea what the bullshit was anymore...
Anyway, people were now hyping up the fourth and final part after the third, expecting something monumental, and with art film offers pouring in lately, Kang Min desperately wanted to steer things back.
That was why Jo Yun-a's cautious suggestion for the fourth part didn't sound half bad.
"Love-hate and stubbornness?"
"Yes..."
"It was definitely one of the keywords that came up, sure. But... got any good ideas?"
"W-well, not exactly."
Jo Yun-a hesitated, glancing around nervously.
"Th-there's this Mexican painter named Diego Rivera, right? He was an incredible artist, and he was Frida Kahlo's husband—"
"I know. Their relationship was pretty messy."
Diego Rivera was a titan of Mexican art.
His wife, Frida Kahlo, was even more legendary.
Their love-hate bond, marked by repeated breakups and remarriages, had inspired numerous films.
Naturally, Rivera was usually the villain—history backed that up.
It was such a well-trodden topic that it wasn't all that appealing, though—
"No, that's not it... Did you know Rivera had a wife before Kahlo? Angelina Beloff."
"Nope, first time hearing that."
"She was a painter too."
"Hm?"
He'd genuinely never heard that.
As Kang Min tilted his head, Han Ye-seul, who'd been listening, chimed in.
"I looked her up, and she's such a pitiful figure. She supported her unknown husband through thick and thin, only for him to get sick of her, stab her in the back, and leave. She's only known for a single portrait he painted out of pity..."
"What a trashy guy. You wanna tackle that?"
"That's... what Yun-a thinks, apparently."
Han Ye-seul trailed off unusually, and Kang Min pondered for a moment.
He quietly considered the theme of this story.
Victim.
Love-hate.
A trashy role that boiled the blood—
And then it hit him.
'Huh?'
This was,
perfectly, utterly Unbelievable!
Kang Min nodded unconsciously.
"Sounds good. I like it."
"You mean that...?"
"If actress Jo Yun-a says she can do it, then she can. Right?"
"......."
Han Ye-seul gave a wry smile at his natural trust, while Jo Yun-a bit her lip and bowed her head slightly.
Truth be told, she hadn't earned this praise through any praiseworthy process.
She clenched her fist.
'But—'
She felt like she could pull it off.
#
Two days earlier,
Jo Yun-a sat across from someone far more uncomfortable than designer Marie-Joseph Luarecoline Ray—about twenty times more, in fact.
"Let me ask again. Yun-a."
"......."
"What the hell are you thinking lately?"
Seo Bom was fundamentally hard to read.
Her manager would wave it off as half-insane, she pulled off inexplicable stunts now and then, and she'd even bashed a stalking sasaeng fan over the head with a wrench right in front of her house, landing him in the hospital. (The PR team had truly earned their keep.)
But right now, Seo Bom was crystal clear.
She was unmistakably furious at Jo Yun-a.
"Why are you fawning over senior like that? What do you see in him?"
"Unnie..."
"If you need money, just say so. If you need a role, I'll give you one of mine. Why won't you listen?"
Her tone was icy, her gaze murderous.
Kang Min recently rejecting the Ray Goldmary ambassadorship and recommending Jo Yun-a instead seemed to have pushed Seo Bom's patience to the brink.
Jo Yun-a tried her usual earnest excuses, but they fell flat. Her opponent wasn't even listening.
Exhausted, Jo Yun-a finally muttered,
"You talk like you know everything about Min oppa."
The response came as if it were obvious.
"Better than you do. I've known him ten years."
"......."
"I'll say it again. Cut it out. Last warning. Next time, words won't be enough."
What choice did she have?
"...I'll keep that in mind."
Jo Yun-a gave her usual awkward smile and left.
In the car with her manager at the wheel, she let his chatter flow in one ear and out the other, staring at the towering skyscrapers outside.
Jo Yun-a quietly tallied it up.
'Ten years.'
A long time. Incredibly so.
She had words she wanted to say. But there was no room for them in those ten years from her side.
Besides, hadn't she been unilaterally coddled, causing trouble for Kang Min?
Sure, her tone was harsh, but Seo Bom must have been genuinely upset. Jo Yun-a knew her unnie was a good person at heart.
She had to understand.
Like always.
Understanding was right.
Understanding was—
"......."
"Y-Yun-a?"
"Y-yes?"
Jo Yun-a startled and looked up.
About to apologize for zoning out, she saw her manager's face drained white for some reason.
"S-sorry. I talked too much, huh? I'll shut up."
"Huh? No, it's fine..."
"Sorry..."
"No, why are you suddenly...!"
The actress glanced nervously, making the manager even more skittish, and he wouldn't even answer when asked what was wrong.
Jo Yun-a dragged herself home, more drained than ever.
Once home, she picked up the script for her confirmed new drama and dove into practice.
Her role as "Friend A" to the protagonist had gained some weight thanks to her rising popularity. Her manager griped that the lines and character felt outdated, but she was grateful for anything.
She recited naturally.
"Hey, honestly, you're way too late! How do you date after dragging it out for five years? Other people are already sending out wedding invites..."
And then she froze.
"......."
Jo Yun-a stared at the script.
Something she'd kept bottled up twisted in her gut.
It resembled what Han Ye-seul had prodded her to redo during the third part, yet felt infinitely different.
Her stomach churned for some reason.
"......."
Jo Yun-a grabbed her phone.
The search engine, with "10 years" inputted, showed related couples.
— Painter Diego Rivera married his first wife, Angelina Beloff, in 1911. They seemed pretty happy at first, but Rivera eventually lost interest! They divorced in 1921—exactly 10 years.
— But as everyone knows, Rivera later met the famous Frida Kahlo. They married and divorced twice. In life, Kahlo was called 'Rivera's wife,' but after death, Rivera became 'Kahlo's husband.'
— Sadly, first wife Angelina Beloff's name is largely forgotten. Even that she was an artist too. Only a single portrait by Rivera proves her existence—
"What."
Jo Yun-a muttered suddenly.
"It's nothing, just ten years."
And,
that impression soon ignited into an absurd idea.
"......."
But she felt like she could do it.
#
Two days later, on the day of filming the fourth Unbelievable,
'Hmm...'
Kang Min felt a mix of great anticipation and slight worry.
The anticipation was, naturally, that the weird Kang Min's Human Quartet label might finally fade.
The worry was for his co-star, Jo Yun-a.
Even if she could pull it off, wouldn't this melodramatic romance clash with her image as a rising star getting attention? Overly sticky acting could backfire.
'Of course, Unbelievable is life-or-death for me...'
But he didn't want to make Jo Yun-a take risks. Especially with her close friend Bom likely to complain.
Before shooting, Kang Min quietly tipped her off.
"If it feels off, we'll reconvene."
"Pardon...?"
"The role's kinda iffy. Your image, the difficulty—"
"It's fine."
It was an unusually straightforward refusal from her.
She blinked wide like a startled rabbit, then shook her head vigorously.
"R-really, it's fine! I have a model!"
"A model?"
"N-no, I mean...! Not sure if it'll work perfectly, but I think I can do it!"
"...Okay."
Well, if she said so, nothing more to say.
Kang Min resolved to intervene if it felt wrong while watching.
Han Ye-seul PD eyed Jo Yun-a more seriously than usual, probably thinking the same.
Then the cue dropped—
Jo Yun-a smiled brightly.
It was an innocently pure tone and expression that reminded him of someone for a split second.
Thank you, Diego. The frame for today's painting is open.
I know what paints went into my picture. I know the techniques I used to finish it. But when it comes time to choose the frame, I hesitate. Maybe it's hard to imagine the only scene where what I made and what I didn't make harmonize perfectly.
That's why I want you to choose. You're the only one I can trust among things that aren't me.
With love,
Angelina.
'...?'
Han Ye-seul didn't call cut because the utterly unexpected color of acting threw her off.
Most staff exchanged looks like, 'This ain't it...'
But Jo Yun-a took it as "keep going."
She closed her eyes softly, then opened them, her lips parting again.
I'm sorry, Diego. I didn't mean to anger you.
Our arts can't be the same. I just want to ask for your consideration. If we apologize for our faults and adjust, I believe we'll get better results.
With affection,
Angelina.
Now I think I understand you a little.
I understand you, you understand me. I think that's wonderful.
If everyone used only blending because glazing in oils takes too long, how could the results be the same? I hope that matures our relationship.
With apology and mixed feelings,
Angelina.
"H-Han PD..."
"No, keep going."
Han Ye-seul stopped the camera director stepping forward.
Her wide eyes clearly caught what Jo Yun-a was attempting. She immediately ordered the boom mic shoved in as far as possible, and the sound director complied, puzzled.
And then, everyone got it.
A little disappointing, Diego.
I'm trying to know you better than anyone. I believe you are too.
Even if not, I'm certain of my side. So I suspect last night's actions were a mistake. I'll wait to clear our feelings over wine.
With slight disappointment,
Angelina.
A subtly colder tone.
A faintly sticky voice.
The acting, evoking betrayal, seeped in like paper soaking in water.
And before long, it accelerated wildly.
I request your consideration, Diego.
I requested consideration. Because you don't take my consideration as such. At least know what your wife is enduring.
From Angelina.
I said it all for you.
Why won't you understand? I think, speak only for you. I can't stand you not accepting that, even if unavoidable.
Angelina.
Look at yourself.
That woman was just using you. Blame your own foolishness for not seeing it. That's where the problem starts.
I know you best.
I'll say it again. I know you best. Ten years means that! Don't be an idiot!
Why won't you understand?!
Why the hell won't you understand?! Cut it out!
Is that it? You really insult me that far?!
How dare you!
—!!
Han Ye-seul's mouth gaped open in shock.
...And so did Kang Min's.