Chapter 58
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Natural Immersion
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"Fuck, seriously."
Lee Jun-hyung lit another cigarette, irritated by the noisy chatter coming from behind him. Every time a bright burst of laughter rang out, a string of harsh curses followed.
"Why the hell is he out here bothering people when there's no shooting today?"
The manager jumped in surprise and quickly steered him to a spot away from prying ears. It was a swift move, just in case someone overheard.
Lee Jun-hyung kept spewing curses amid clouds of smoke, then whipped around to glare at the manager.
"That bastard didn't come out here just to mess with me, did he?"
"What? No way. He's probably just pretending to work hard."
"Does that make sense? Coming out on a day off for something that lame? Have you ever met anyone like that, hyung?"
It was a ridiculous nitpick, but truthfully, people like that were rare. The manager shook his head honestly.
"...No, I haven't."
"See? It's weird. It looks like he's deliberately trying to get under my skin."
"I doubt it. He probably just came out because Park Min-ha's here."
"Hyung, why do you keep taking that bastard's side?"
"Huh?"
"Aren't you my manager? So why do you keep contradicting me?"
The manager frantically waved his hands at Lee Jun-hyung's sharp tone.
"No, that's not it..."
"Not it, my ass. That's exactly what you're saying!"
The manager tried to make excuses, but it was clear words wouldn't get through. Lee Jun-hyung, already on edge, huffed in frustration.
His loud outburst drew glances from a few staff members. Sensing things could escalate, the manager immediately surrendered.
"Sorry, I misspoke."
"Watch it next time."
Lee Jun-hyung spat the words like they tasted bad, then shot a venomous glare toward Do-jun. Arrogant prick. The sharp mutter reached the manager's ears clearly.
"Hyung, you haven't heard anything from the CEO, right?"
"The CEO? Nothing special."
"Good. Then we're done."
The conversation ended there, but the vibes were far from good.
Jun-hyung soon left at the PD's call, and the manager watched him go with an uneasy expression.
Something's gonna blow up soon.
The manager gave up on fixing things beyond his control and steeled himself.
He vowed not to be surprised, no matter what happened next.
The shoot for Oh, My Cat progressed smoothly. Articles featuring stills from the set got great reactions, and the cast grew closer.
Everyone except Lee Jun-hyung and me.
Is it really okay to keep this up till the end?
Lee Jun-hyung kept being prickly only toward me. He ignored me outright or muttered curses loud enough for everyone to hear.
I worried it might hurt the drama or the company, but Park Min-ha brushed it off, saying, "Squabbles like this are common."
Just as she said, the staff and other actors didn't seem fazed by our rocky relationship.
So I decided not to care either, but lately...
"Heard you're super busy. Yet here you are on an off day, and early today too, just waiting around?"
Unlike the early days of pure ignoring, now he brushed my shoulder as he passed or poked at me subtly.
His annoying tone and expression screamed, "All that popularity talk is bullshit—you're just free, aren't you?"
But the words themselves were fine, so snapping back or asking what he meant would just make me look oversensitive and rude.
Ignore him. Just ignore.
I forced a bright smile and replied.
"Since it's my first acting gig, I gotta work extra hard."
Maybe because I responded politely, Lee Jun-hyung clicked his tongue in annoyance.
And just as he opened his mouth to say more—
"Jun-hyung! Do-jun! Last scene of the day—let's roll!"
A staff member's call cut him off. He turned away with a disappointed look.
Growing up and still acting so childish.
I quickly stood and headed to the camera. The staff, prepped and waiting, stood ready.
At our marked standby spots, Lee Jun-hyung eyed me leisurely.
Maybe it was his attitude, but...
No matter how I look at him, I just can't warm up to the guy.
The hardest part of filming Oh, My Cat was syncing with Lee Jun-hyung.
Every time I saw his face, the character Kim Jin never came to mind. Immersion shattered.
Without "Ho, Not Bad," I'd have botched it countless times with NG calls.
Let's check—remaining time...
Remaining Time: 00:08:32
Good—still some left. I'd been using the item nonstop out of fear of NG, but...
How many coins has this eaten up already?
At least today ends with this scene, so I should save even one coin.
"Positions—action!"
With PD Kim Shin-hyo's cue, Lee Jun-hyung's performance began.
"Cat—tell me, what do you need to raise one?"
Annoying as he was, his acting was solid. He dove in the instant the cue dropped.
I shelved my personal feelings and delivered my line.
"Heart."
"...What?"
"The heart to love it forever and stay by its side. That's the foundation—the most important part."
With each memorized line spilling from my lips—eyes closed if needed—the staff faded from view.
"Obviously I have that. Next."
"That's why I'm saying it—because you don't."
"How would you know?"
I didn't even glance at "Kim Jin," focusing on filling the stray animal feeder in front of the hospital.
"Because you're doing it to look good for Park Ji-eun."
"Wh-what?!"
"Am I wrong?"
"...Okay, maybe, but just take responsibility."
"That isn't responsibility."
It's ulterior motives.
"But I've got you."
"You don't."
"No! Look!"
A rustling pour of kibble into the bowl.
Kim Jin, grabbing the feed bag beside me, beamed triumphantly, as if to say, "See?"
"Get it?"
"...What am I supposed to get?"
"Same as with people, right? Feed 'em well, take to the vet if sick—that's it."
"That's breeding, not living together."
He's clueless, alright. I unfolded my legs and snatched the feed bag from his hand.
"Damn it! Then what do I do?!"
Well, technically, I tried to.
Finally exploding, Kim Jin slammed the bag to the ground and yelled.
If I told him that's why it won't work, he'd get it...
"Cut! Cut, cut!"
The world shattered with noise. The frozen scenery surged back like waves.
Where Kim Jin had stood moments ago was Lee Jun-hyung, looking somehow dissatisfied. That's when I realized what happened.
Oh, NG?
Script called for me to grab the bag and head inside, leaving Jun-hyung for his monologue.
But tossing it on the floor? Instant NG.
Why's he looking pissed when he caused the NG?
I'm the one who should be mad, asshole.
Why pull that out of nowhere? He was good at acting till now. And my item time was almost up...
...Up?
Wait, what?
I checked the item's remaining time in shock.
When did this end?
It must've worn off without me noticing. Prep took time before cue, but when exactly?
And I didn't break immersion at all?
I hadn't even realized he'd NG'd until PD Kim Shin-hyo called cut.
Everything felt utterly natural. Like I really was Lee Jung-woo.
Did it time out perfectly?
Nah, no way. And there should've been an alert when it ended, but nothing when I snapped out.
So it expired mid-performance...
Hold up.
Sleight of hand?
Perks said immersion improves with focus—why no difference without the item?
Am I not using it enough outside delays, so it's clawing back coins?
"Ho, Not Bad" is a special bonus for your first drama shoot...
"Alright! That was good, but let's ditch the ad-lib and go straight script."
PD Kim Shin-hyo's follow-up made me swipe the status window away unread. It was just rehashing an old alert anyway.
Funny. Watch me now. Just you wait.
"Standby—action!"
And we went again.
"...Jun-hyung, Do-jun!"
Someone calling snapped me alert.
My head felt foggy, like waking from deep sleep. I turned to see Kim Han-soo staring.
Wait, when did he get here? We're mid-shoot.
"Yes?"
"You okay?"
"With what? No—aren't we shooting?"
"Cut was called, but you didn't react. Didn't hear it?"
What?
"...I didn't hear a thing."
"You blanked out for nearly ten seconds after your last line."
Looking around, yeah—cut was done. Everyone checked the monitor. Lee Jun-hyung was already gone.
A few staff eyed me oddly.
It really ended?
I remembered focusing at the start of the take.
Then piercing Kim Jin, who treated life's weight lightly without knowing it...
...And?
Turning at Kim Han-soo's call brought me here.
"Do-jun, you good?"
PD Kim Shin-hyo approached amid the wrap-up bustle.
"Ah, PD."
"How deep were you in? Nailed the scene. This isn't acting now, right?"
He grinned wide, saying it was so good he couldn't tell.
"Haha, of course not."
"Great for me as director, but manage it better day-to-day? Getting that immersed could mess with real life. Pida Entertainment knows best, though."
With a mix of concern and praise, PD Kim Shin-hyo headed off to wrap things up.
"Didn't know you had this in you, Do-jun. Anything off?"
"All good."
"Speak up if anything. We've got idol work too."
Kim Han-soo spoke worriedly, then said the best cure was reality—let's head back for vocal practice.
...Why's that the takeaway? I'm human too. Awake 15 hours already.
Anyway... Status Window?
Wanna get hit? Huh? Wanna?
Turning me into a sucker to squeeze coins?
I immerse fine without "Ho, Not Bad." Huh?
Thinking about it, the item maxes "current ability." Am I improving through real shoots, not practice?
Lucky Lee Jun-hyung's perfect NG let me realize now. Otherwise, I'd kept buying.
This system does not deceive the user...
Tongue too long even now?
Whatever. Forgiven since it saves coins. Do it again, and we're both dead. Got it?
I climbed into the car for home, body tired but spirits high.
The initial effect was so strong I couldn't stop using it.
Pride swelled.
That I could act like this without it. Maybe vocals too?
Humming cheerfully, Kim Han-soo spoke up.
"Do-jun."
"Yes?"
"I told you."
The car glided smoothly along the road.
"You're as good at acting as singing. I was right."
Right. He'd said that.
I met his eyes in the rearview and grinned.
"Yeah. Didn't believe you then..."
The sensation of living as Lee Jung-woo until his call lingered vividly.
Feels like I could slip into him now if I wanted.
"Now I do."
"Glad my eyes didn't lie."
"Haha."
No clue how to escape this praise shower. Long ride to the company.
Bzzz.
I cracked the window. The car sped toward the company, slicing through air grown muggy even at dawn.