Chapter 67
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Clash on Set
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“PD, we're ready.”
The assistant director's report made PD Kim Shin-hyo look up. Do-jun and Jun-hyung were already in position.
Heard they had a little scuffle right after he arrived.
To be precise, Lee Jun-hyung had picked a one-sided fight with him, but even so, neither looked upset now. It must not have been a big deal.
Jun-hyung had never liked Lee Do-jun from the start, so it wasn't surprising they'd butt heads now.
Especially after he'd opened his big mouth recently to swap roles and ended up humiliating himself. For a guy with that personality, sitting still would have been the real shock.
I hope he's not kicking up a fuss just because of that.
PD Kim Shin-hyo pushed down his worries and signaled the start of filming.
“Cue!”
At his call, Lee Jung-woo and Kim Jin had already taken Do-jun and Lee Jun-hyung's spots.
As always, the two nailed their scene without a single mistake, their chemistry flawless even in this long take.
But everything shattered in an instant.
“Ah, fuck this. I can't work with this.”
PD Kim Shin-hyo hurriedly called cut at Lee Jun-hyung's outburst.
But Lee Jun-hyung ignored the shouts of “Cut!” and kept going.
“You even doing this right?”
It was a blatant jab at Do-jun. He crossed his legs and glared at Do-jun, who stared back silently.
“If you're gonna act like that, quit, you punk.”
“Lee Jun-hyung, what the hell are you doing?!”
The unprovoked outburst chilled the set to the bone. Even the PD's yell didn't faze him.
“Hoo...”
A heavy sigh finally escaped PD Kim Shin-hyo's lips.
This was his mistake for brushing it off as nothing. Something had clearly gotten under Jun-hyung's skin bad.
Can't fire the lead actor over this.
He swallowed his irritation and gestured. The assistant director rushed over to intervene.
“Let's take a break from filming.”
It was intervention in name only—it was aimed at Lee Jun-hyung. As Do-jun turned to leave upon hearing it,
“Hey, I wasn't done talking. Where do you think you're going? And why no answer? You blind or something?”
The set's tension stretched taut like a rubber band about to snap.
“Come on, Jun-hyung. Calm down.”
“Do-jun, over here.”
Afraid to let it escalate, the other staff rushed in too.
But Lee Jun-hyung showed no signs of stopping.
“Hey! Cat got your tongue? Answer me!”
“Sorry. I'll do better.”
“'Sorry' fixes everything? Huh?”
“Haa...”
“Haa? What the hell's that?”
Cracks started forming on Do-jun's initially impassive face. The strain of holding back his anger was plain as day.
That did it for Jun-hyung. He smirked inwardly.
After all this, if he doesn't snap alone, he ain't human.
His eyes caught the woman behind Do-jun watching with keen interest.
As he tore his gaze from her wink and opened his mouth again,
“PD Kim!”
A familiar voice rocked the set. All eyes turned toward it.
“What's with all the commotion? What's going on?”
It was Writer Seo Ji-hye.
Her sudden appearance turned the tension into outright dread.
The assistant director went pale as a ghost. It was like climbing one mountain only to face an even taller one.
Did she say she was coming?
No?
Whispers rippled through the staff. No one knew how to handle her unannounced visit.
PD Kim Shin-hyo stepped up first.
“Just a little difference of opinion.”
“Difference of opinion?”
Her sharp gaze pinned the two actors in front of the camera.
She'd already perched on a chair the assistant director had scrambled to provide, crossing her legs arrogantly and tilting her chin up.
She continued in a perfectly imperious tone.
“Doesn't look like just a difference of opinion. What, did the actors grab each other by the collar?”
The air froze solid, colder than before. It was so quiet you could hear the person next to you breathing without straining.
What do I say?
PD Kim Shin-hyo's mind raced.
If honesty would fix it, he'd spill everything.
But what could even Writer Seo Ji-hye do about actors fighting?
And unfairly or not, if he couldn't control this, it'd boomerang back on him as PD incompetence.
“Why the delay? I could've sworn I heard someone yelling to quit acting a minute ago.”
“Gulp!”
Someone among the staff hiccuped in shock. No one could call them out.
She'd heard everything.
Writer Seo Ji-hye's temper was infamous.
Three years ago, she'd thrown a script in a big-shot actor's face for acting out on her set—a story still told in whispers.
And she'd gotten the PD fired too for poor site management. Anyone in broadcasting knew it.
Though Kim Shin-hyo had risen to stardom PD on killer directing skills after filling that spot, turning the tale into one about her eye for talent instead.
She won't flip the whole set, right?
The assistant director watched anxiously.
In the suffocating silence, Writer Seo Ji-hye spoke.
“Lee Do-jun.”
“Yes, Writer.”
“You weren't acting right?”
Do-jun hesitated, unsure what to say. She pressed on impatiently.
“Just be straight. Were you slacking? Or just couldn't do it?”
“I think I did it right.”
“Really? Then why'd Lee Jun-hyung say that?”
Her eyes shifted to Lee Jun-hyung. He met them defiantly.
“From where I was standing, he couldn't.”
“What does PD Kim say?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you even call NG?”
“No, but...”
“Then why are you, the actor, judging?”
Her foot twitched irritably.
“If the PD called for a retake, fine. But you're not the director.”
“......It was throwing off my focus.”
“Why?”
“Because he can't act.”
“Oh? So everyone who cast Lee Do-jun has bad eyes? Including me?”
Lee Jun-hyung's words caught in his throat.
Agree, and it's a problem. Disagree, and his outburst was all his fault.
As he fumbled, she continued.
“And if my eyes are bad, doesn't that mean picking you was bad too?”
Her face was blank, but sarcasm dripped from every word.
Fucking hell...
Lee Jun-hyung bristled. But knowing her reputation, escalating would hurt him, not Do-jun.
No reply came, so she stood with a light tsk.
“So no problem then? PD Kim, give us some time. I have words to say.”
“Got it. We'll move lunch up.”
She nodded like it was her call. The staff scattered for food.
Do-jun slipped in to head back to his car when,
“Oh, wait. Lee Do-jun. You too.”
Writer Seo Ji-hye grabbed him.
❤
“Rewrote episode 9 script, so we'll need to reschedule.”
“Heard about the changes and cleared it ahead.”
“Good. And this is why I came...”
Writer Seo Ji-hye and PD Kim Shin-hyo talked. I stood by blankly, waiting.
No one approached. They just glanced from afar.
Makes sense—I wouldn't either. Can she just handle her business with me first so I can go?
She suddenly whipped around.
“You listening?”
Was I supposed to? Say so next time.
I hurried over. Her slender finger pointed to the script.
“This part.”
Revised, alright—the lines and directions were totally different from what I'd analyzed.
I skimmed it and asked carefully.
“The emotional arc and scene are completely changed.”
“Right. What do you think?”
“Better.”
She narrowed her eyes, face full of displeasure.
“Did I ask that?”
What then...? No subject.
I stared, genuinely lost. She sighed exasperatedly.
“Can you handle it? You play guitar, right? Can you act while playing?”
Oh, that? Just ask straight.
“Speak now if you can't. Location's booked—no time.”
Her glare sharpened, screaming zero tolerance for screw-ups.
“I can.”
Never tried acting and playing at once, but no backing out. I'd make it work.
“You sure? Your words.”
“Yes. Definitely.”
“Good.”
She finally smiled, satisfied.
“PD Kim, no extras here—stick to the script.”
“Yes, Writer.”
That seemed to be it for me. Time to sneak out?
As I edged away, her voice stopped me.
“And this is personal advice.”
She grinned wider than I'd ever seen.
“Holding back isn't always winning.”
Why this now? Lee Jun-hyung, obviously.
I nodded awkwardly.
“Thanks.”
“Don't just smile. You get it? I'd have eaten that guy first. Best defense is a good offense. Never heard that?”
“No, I have.”
“Humility's fine for rookies, but show weakness here and you're lunch.”
Pure Seo Ji-hye advice. Best if no one eats anyone, but that's not her style.
But I'm not even a year debuted yet...
Still, from her, I nodded.
“Yep.”
“Soulless answer. Anyway, step up so he can't pull crap. Heard he has messy girl issues.”
“Pardon...?”
“Writer!”
The bombshell stunned me and PD Kim Shin-hyo. He even paled, glancing around.
She continued nonchalantly.
“Don't let it mess up my show. Get it?”
“Ah.”
Now I saw—use his weakness to keep him in line, deal or whatever.
“Yes, understood.”
I answered firmly. She sighed.
“Have to spell it out. This is why childcare ain't for me. Anyway, I'm done—heading out?”
“Writer, have lunch first.”
“Nah. Tired. Gonna crash.”
She brushed off PD Kim Shin-hyo's invite and rose. A junior writer scurried over from beside the assistant director.
“I went this far, so nail episode 9. Or you know.”
Her tiny fist shook in my face—threat or expectation? I grinned wide.
“Of course. I'll prep right, Writer!”
“Yeah, you better.”
She turned to leave without goodbye, then paused. Whipped back to me.
Now what?
“'Right' means both.”
“Ah... Yes. Got it.”
Acting with Lee Jun-hyung. Reading her intent, I nodded firmly again.
Suddenly curious.
Why help me like this? Fact is, compared to him, I'm still green.
Like reading my mind, she smirked.
“Hate lateness. Reflectionless even more.”
Lateness? When did Lee Jun-hyung—
...Script reading?
Really?
Her smile deepened, confirming it.
Crazy—I was late to my audition too.
...Dodged a bullet there.
Chills hit; my neck prickled. I rubbed it unconsciously.