Chapter 68
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Senior Showdown
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“Let’s head out.”
Seo Ji-hye leaned back against the rear seat and closed her eyes. The junior writer at the wheel floored the accelerator.
Vrooom.
The car sped away from the filming set, heading straight for Seo Ji-hye’s house.
About ten minutes in, the junior writer snuck another glance at Seo Ji-hye—still with her eyes closed—through the rearview mirror.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it. Why do you keep staring?”
“Hic!”
The junior writer was so startled he let out a hiccup.
She clearly had her eyes shut...
“Tsk. Can’t get anything done with nerves like that.”
Seo Ji-hye muttered under her breath, What use is he? Then she opened her eyes and asked again.
“Why were you staring?”
“Well...”
“You know I hate asking twice. Speak up. 3, 2...”
From experience, he knew her countdown never hit 1—or even half of it—so the junior writer blurted out in a panic.
“I-I was just wondering why Writer-nim cares so much about Lee Do-jun!”
“What, that’s it?”
Seo Ji-hye let out a scoff.
“Simple: I don’t like Lee Jun-hyeong, but I do like Lee Do-jun. End of story, right?”
“Y-Yeah.”
That was exactly why he’d asked—why did she like Do-jun so much?
Even if Lee Jun-hyeong had done something to piss her off, rewriting the script just to give Do-jun more screen time? It didn’t add up.
Especially since she hated fiddling with scripts over and over.
But as if that settled it, she closed her eyes again.
If I ask again later, she’ll blow up, won’t she?
The junior writer shoved down his nagging curiosity and kept his eyes on the road.
That’s when it happened.
“When you hit my age, you start getting these gut feelings, y’know? Like, ‘This kid’s got what it takes.’ That sorta thing.”
Seo Ji-hye kept talking, eyes still shut.
“So I tossed him an extra spoon. Figure he’ll think I helped set the table for his meal.”
“Ah! Makes sense. Watching him on set, it doesn’t seem impossible.”
“Eh, might retire before he even gets a full scoop. But hey, when you kids go off on your own, I can hand it over as a parting gift.”
“...Writer-nim.”
C completely blindsided by her words, the junior writer gazed at her with misty eyes.
And right then—
Screech—bang!
“Eek!”
Distracted by turning his head, he’d veered slightly into the next lane. In a fluster, the junior writer jerked the wheel hard.
Luckily, no crash, but Seo Ji-hye was already sprawled sideways. The junior writer yelled frantically.
“W-Writer-nim! I’m sorry! You okay?”
Seo Ji-hye glared at him through her now-messy hair.
“Hey! I said gift, not inheritance!”
Once Seo Ji-hye wrapped up her chat with PD Kim Shin-hyo and stormed off without a glance anywhere else, Lee Jun-hyeong ended up like a dog that lost the chicken.
His stiff posture—frozen mid-greeting—radiated pure shock.
She’s no joke.
Lee Jun-hyeong wasn’t some run-of-the-mill actor littering the industry.
Hell, even without her projects, agencies would trip over themselves if he so much as hinted at picking one.
That’s what makes her look even bigger.
One move, and she’d branded the pecking order for good.
Even after she left, the early summer set felt frosty, like it’d been hit with a cold snap.
Felt a little bad. The staff were just shrimp caught in our whale brawl.
Small mercy: early lunch meant a longer break before shooting resumed.
Ah, eye contact.
Glancing around idly, my eyes met Lee Jun-hyeong’s.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Huh? What’s he doing?
He marched straight over, face twisted—no more fake buddy act.
“Hey.”
His blunt call got no reply, just my stare, so he spat a curse and snarled again.
“Deaf? Answer me.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah? Yeah?”
Lee Jun-hyeong barked a hollow laugh, incredulous.
Do I look like I’m playing nice right now?
From morning till now, nonstop nitpicking—why’s he got such high expectations?
“Seo Writer’s petting you, so you’re blind now?”
“Nah? See her just fine.”
“...What?”
My answer threw him; he faltered, then exploded hotter.
“This psycho’s lost it!”
Not yelling, but loud enough. Attention swiveled our way.
Some murmured, faces torn between jumping in or not.
I raised my voice on purpose—nice smile plastered on.
“I’m good, sunbae-nim. Not crazy. Thanks for the concern.”
“Ha, what a nutjob.”
Lee Jun-hyeong glared, face screaming disbelief.
Whatever, man. Shocked one’s me. Didn’t wanna drag it this far.
But sweet-talking or glossing over wouldn’t fix this.
His face flushed persimmon-red. Lips curled, eyes blazing fury.
That look? I could see exactly what was coming.
Sure enough, no attempt to hide it—he bellowed for all to hear.
“Kid’s pranks are getting out of hand.”
I met his eyes dead-on, smiling.
“Sorry. Just kid stuff—don’t sweat it.”
“You little shit—!”
Grab.
Our managers clamped our arms at the same instant.
“Enough.”
“That’s it.”
Still, our stares locked for a good while longer.
Lee Jun-hyeong broke first.
“Watch your step.”
He spat the threat like chewed gristle, then whipped around.
Park Min-ha arrived late from an interview schedule, missing Seo Ji-hye entirely, and only heard about the blowup after.
Her face lit up brighter with every detail. The fatigue? Long gone. She even looked weirdly amused.
Did I say something funny?
I replayed my recap, but she cut in crisp and clear.
“Then we start by verifying what Writer-nim tipped us off about.”
“Team Leader said he’d report to the company first. No clue what’ll shake out, though...”
“Nope, nope.”
She wagged a slim finger side to side.
“It’ll turn up for sure. Comes straight from Writer-nim—super credible.”
Then she leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper.
“And honestly? Kinda pissing me off.”
That caught me off guard.
He’d dissed and poked at me, sure—but he’d been all smiles with her. Figured she wouldn’t be irked.
“Really?”
“Duh. Trashes our hoobae? Tries luring with some girl...”
Park Min-ha grinned, tacking on:
“Right in front of me, too.”
Straight-up touched. Not every same-company sunbae has your back like that.
Hesitating on how to thank her, she cracked up first.
“Hahaha. That, and he kept pushing me to call him oppa, acting all chummy. Could’ve dropped it, but nooo—super annoying. Gotta snag dirt so he shuts up.”
What. Gimme back my feels.
“Why? You touched?”
“Nah?”
“Psh, had that touched look!”
Playful grin, then she burst out laughing. I couldn’t help joining in.
Way chiller than pre-drama days.
Pre-debut me? Couldn’t dream of bantering with Park Min-ha. Future me showing up wouldn’t convince.
Grown up, Lee Do-jun.
Hmm, or maybe she’s just that nice.
Park Min-ha stuck around for more scenes. I headed straight back to the company post-shoot.
At the car, Kim Han-soo said apologetically.
“Do-jun-ssi, quick restroom break?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
I hopped in first, cracking the window. Day-baked interior still sweltered into evening.
That’s when—
“Heading home?”
Familiar voice popped from the open window. The culprit herself.
Thought she’d play quiet today.
“Hey, I’m clocking out too. Drop me to the corner? Cool, right?”
How’s she ghost in like that? Nobody around...
Damn skill. No hiding my discomfort—clipped reply.
“No.”
“Aww! Otherwise, I’m stuck waiting three hours?”
She practically shoved her head inside. Sweet perfume laced with shampoo wafted in.
“No?”
Big doe eyes like Puss in Boots, gazing up—a stunner, plus that humid evening breeze carrying her scent.
Drama material: heart-flutter city, sugary BGM swelling.
But.
“No.”
This ain’t a drama.
I shut it down flat, shifting to the other window.
Unscripted reaction left her speechless a beat—then she scurried around.
But her steps halted dead.
“What’s the problem?”
Kim Han-soo—hands still damp—rushed up, tone sharp.
Barely two minutes since the bathroom? Impressed.
“Business? Talk to me, your manager.”
Sans smile, his icy glare sharpened further.
“Uh, um, well...”
Aura rattled her; she stammered. Don’t spook our team leader.
“Nothing? We’re leaving.”
No pause—he pivoted to the driver’s seat.
That ironclad vibe left her—and me—jaw-dropped.
She stood rooted as we peeled out of the lot.
“Gave me a scare.”
“No kidding. Wasn’t anyone nearby...”
Kim Han-soo trailed off, sorry-like. Blaming himself for stepping away.
“But this solidifies it. This pushy? No good intentions.”
“Yeah, feels that way.”
“Just in case, we’ll dig into Lee Jun-hyeong like Writer-nim said. Might snag proof he’s tied in.”
Steel resolve in his voice.
You’re all dead meat now.
Our team leader’s pissed.