Chapter 56
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: First Day Clash
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I was angry.
The fact that they had never even considered how actions wrapped in good intentions could end up harming others.
"Cut!"
At the very least, shouldn't people be aware of what they're doing? There are way too many folks who just dive in headfirst, drunk on their own self-satisfaction...
"Great! That's perfect, Do-jun!"
...Huh? Do-jun? Is he calling me?
In that instant, Park Ji-eun and the cat right in front of me vanished. And in their place stood Park Min-ha, beaming with a bright smile.
"How on earth did you practice? You're even better than at the script reading!"
Only then did I hear PD Kim Shin-hyo's laughter. Not sure what to say, I just gave an awkward smile in return.
What was that just now?
It felt like I'd really become Lee Jung-woo. But nothing like this had ever happened during rehearsals?
Is it supposed to be like this?
I figured it might be because of Park Min-ha's acting—she'd seemed like nothing but 'Park Ji-eun' herself amid the set's atmosphere. Still, it was hard to explain.
The emotions I'd felt moments ago lingered heavily in my chest.
Just then, PD Kim Shin-hyo's voice rang out.
"Jun-hyung, you're here?"
I hadn't noticed when they'd arrived, but Lee Jun-hyung and his manager had pushed through the staff, glaring at me with scary eyes.
No wonder things had gotten so noisy.
But why does that guy's face look like that?
Lee Jun-hyung barely nodded in greeting before marching right up to PD Kim Shin-hyo and snapping at him.
"PD, why'd you change the shooting order?"
I'd thought even if he ignored me again, I'd greet him first and stay polite. But the vibe was anything but normal.
"You were running late, and these two arrived early, so we started with them."
"No... Ugh."
Whatever was eating at him, Lee Jun-hyung let out an obvious sigh before continuing.
"Fine. I'm here now, so let's shoot my scenes from here on out."
"You just got here, Jun-hyung. Warm up first. Min-ha, Do-jun! Let's flip it and do one more take. Get ready."
PD Kim Shin-hyo cut him off flatly. Lee Jun-hyung's face flushed red, like it might explode.
"No! PD! Does this make any sense?"
"We'll wrap in 30 minutes."
"30 minutes or 3, this is unacceptable! Don't you know who's the lead?"
His aggressive tone made PD Kim Shin-hyo's face harden. The whole set turned icy.
At that moment, the man who seemed to be Lee Jun-hyung's manager grabbed his arm urgently and pulled him back.
"Jun-hyung, let me handle this."
"Ah! Hyung, you heard it too! How late was I that they make me wait? Does this make sense?"
His voice grew louder by the second. But no one dared step in; everyone just fidgeted awkwardly.
Honestly, I was a bit flustered. Sure, Lee Jun-hyung was a popular, big-name actor, but openly clashing with the PD like this?
"It's not always like this."
As if reading my mind, Park Min-ha sidled up and whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
"Is he like that because I shot first?"
"Of course. Lots of folks get sensitive about pride."
No way... I'd heard rumors of stuff like this, but for real?
And it wasn't even arbitrary—we'd arrived first, so we shot first.
"You won't pull that later, right, junior?"
"Huh?"
I whipped around in surprise, only to see her grinning mischievously. Geez, you scared me.
I lowered my voice and teased back.
"Of course not. You should be more worried about yourself, sunbae."
"What? You saying I'd act like that?"
"You're the most popular one here."
"Oh, flattery will get you everywhere."
Park Min-ha covered her mouth with a pale hand, giggling, then said,
"Well, I can overlook the shooting order, but not if my name gets pushed back in articles or on the official site."
"For real?"
Her unexpected reply caught me off guard. I'd only known her a short time, but the Park Min-ha I knew didn't seem the type to get hung up on pride like that.
Amused by my reaction, her smile deepened.
"Yep. Waiting around for shoots is one thing—I hate it anyway—but name order is a whole different issue."
She was still smiling, but her voice had turned serious. Suddenly, I recalled how her name always led every press release.
"It might seem trivial, but companies fight tooth and nail over that order. So I can't just let it slide."
"Ah, got it."
"...Though some people might get worked up over shooting order too."
Now it clicked. Lee Jun-hyung's tantrum made sense, and even sweet-natured Park Min-ha drawing a line on name placement.
Then, another loud voice boomed.
"If you're gonna do this, why call me now? Should I just grab breakfast and come back for shooting?"
Mine and Park Min-ha's gazes snapped over. There stood Lee Jun-hyung, face beet-red, huffing and puffing.
PD Kim Shin-hyo stared back with a stiff expression.
The PD let out a sigh, then shrugged like he didn't care anymore.
"Guess now wasn't the time I meant... Fine, do that. Have breakfast, Jun-hyung, then we'll shoot."
"Ha, unbelievable."
Not the response he'd expected, Lee Jun-hyung clicked his tongue with a flushed face, spun on his heel, and stormed off the set.
Did that guy just curse?
His lip movements definitely looked like 'shit'.
Thankfully, PD Kim Shin-hyo was busy instructing the assistant director and missed it.
"Uh, then, PD. See you shortly."
Lee Jun-hyung's manager bowed repeatedly to PD Kim Shin-hyo before hurrying after him.
Is this okay...?
"Alright!"
But brushing off my worries, PD Kim Shin-hyo clapped brightly to liven things up.
"First day, so let's keep it snappy. Flip and shoot, then onto the next. Min-ha, Do-jun—you good to go right now?"
"Uh? Yeah. I can do it."
"Sure thing."
"Perfect! Flipping now!"
And with the lingering chill behind us, shooting resumed.
...Killing the vibe from the start.
The script supervisor was going insane from the set's atmosphere, frigid beyond cold.
Director and lead actor clashing on the very first day, first shoot?
Thank God writer Seo Ji-hye wasn't here today. Otherwise, the rest of filming would be a disaster waiting to happen.
The other staff seemed to think the same. The initial excitement and tension long gone, everyone just watched PD Kim Shin-hyo nervously.
"Okay! Cut!"
But PD Kim Shin-hyo didn't seem upset. If anything, he looked pleased.
Park Min-ha and Lee Do-jun's acting must've hit the mark; no room to dwell on Lee Jun-hyung.
The early-morning shoot barreled on without pause.
As the sun climbed higher, the chill over the set slowly thawed.
"Whoa, killer. Even better than before?"
"This really your first time acting?"
"Not getting overshadowed by Park Min-ha at all. Pida's not hyping him for nothing."
With PD Kim Shin-hyo's mood improving, the staff relaxed and showered praise. Everyone watched the duo intently.
Do-jun wasn't the only one who'd been tense; his acting blossomed more brilliantly as time passed.
Even the script supervisor, tasked with logging every moment, couldn't tear her eyes from Do-jun.
It felt less like he was acting from the script and more like the script was written around his performance.
Watching them, the cameras and gear faded from view naturally.
Snap out of it! Can't miss anything!
She scolded herself repeatedly, pressing on with her notes.
Beside her, PD Kim Shin-hyo checked angles with a grave expression, unlike his earlier grin.
He muttered softly.
"I wanna tweak this scene a bit..."
"Try different shots?"
The assistant director's suggestion earned a firm headshake.
"Not the shots."
"Then...?"
"Want to revise the script."
"Pardon?"
The sudden bombshell made the assistant director jump, glancing around to check if anyone heard.
He whispered hurriedly.
"Writer Seo Ji-hye gonna let that slide?"
"That's the issue. When's she coming?"
"Busy with revisions; no firm visit date..."
"Got it. Can't be helped. Move on."
PD Kim Shin-hyo resumed shooting, though he kept tilting his head.
It's uncanny.
Overall polish? Park Min-ha was leagues ahead.
She knew exactly how to move, breathe, even her fingertips for perfect expression.
But Do-jun's acting had this indescribable something.
He wasn't this good at first.
Solid, sure, but not enough to steal focus from Park Min-ha.
Now, after repeated takes, it was different.
Before it was acting; now it's like he's possessed?
The guy standing there moving wasn't Lee Do-jun—it was veterinarian Lee Jung-woo himself.
"Great! Cut! Take five!"
Even now, shooting over, Do-jun lingered blankly in character, not snapping out easily.
Eventually, the assistant director approached and tapped his shoulder.
"Do-jun? Do-jun!"
"Ah! Yes! Sorry!"
"What're you sorry for? Great focus. Break and back at it."
That's what draws the eye even more.
Like two personalities entering and exiting one body.
That look you see from actors too immersed to exit the role.
Least it'll yield killer scenes.
PD Kim Shin-hyo smiled contentedly, pondering the next setup.
Lee Jun-hyung punched the car seat repeatedly, spewing curses nonstop. If he didn't vent like this, he'd explode.
That crazy PD picks supporting actors over a lead like me?
His teeth ground so loud, the manager in the driver's seat heard it.
Unable to hold back, he screamed again.
"Those fucking bastards!"
Irritation had simmered since some unheard-of punk cut his screentime.
He'd tried brushing it off, but humiliating him on day one?
"Hyung, good guys have it rough in this world, right?"
"Y-yeah, sure."
Not getting the point, the manager just agreed. No sense poking the bear now.
But the next words flipped that.
"You just gonna let it slide? Do something, hyung. You're my manager."
"Ah, I'll talk to the PD nicely. Wait in the car..."
"Nicely? How? Say it to me now. Come on, try!"
Cut off by the tirade, the manager twisted back urgently. Calming him was priority one.
"Jun-hyung, cool down. I'll protest this, make sure it never happens again..."
"That's not enough! That's why good guys suffer. Hit back as hard as they hit us! Cut that punk's lines or sabotage his shoots."
...How the hell?
Biting back the question, the manager soothed calmly.
"I'll handle it..."
"Forget it. Knew you couldn't. I'll deal with it."
Lee Jun-hyung whipped out his phone and dialed. The manager watched anxiously.
And then.
"Yes, CEO. You free? Something ridiculous happened on set. No, in all my years, I've never met lunatics like this?"
The earlier events poured from Lee Jun-hyung's mouth, retold in his version.