Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: #5 Scenario: Baby Siu
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Monday.
Just a few days left until August.
Points: 1
I used 1 point to cut down the wait time and another to boost immersion.
[Immersion fixed at 99% for one work.]
Immersion was locked in at 99%.
Now I just had to watch out for discomfort.
As long as I stuck to the scenario, discomfort wouldn't spike.
"Good. Let's do this."
After filming a few projects, I could handle acting decently now.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed to the office.
Maaam~! Maaam~!
The cicadas were blaring noisily from the morning as I stepped into the office. U Dahee still hadn't arrived.
"When's your sister coming?"
I asked, and U Dayoung checked her phone.
"She's on her way."
While waiting for her, I packed the essentials into my backpack.
Camera gear, laptop, storyboard—all in. Then U Dahee walked in.
"Hello~."
I gave a quick bow, and she beamed brightly, waving her hand.
She looked ready for vacation in a wide-brim straw hat, a flowing white shirt, and denim hot pants.
"Time to shoot~."
She'd retired long ago, so no agency or manager—she'd come up alone.
"Siu~, let's head out~."
At her words, I hefted the heavy backpack and said goodbye to the others.
"Catch you in a few days."
Kim Woohyun, U Dayoung, and Won Yuchan waved me off.
I stole a glance at U Dahee leading the way down.
Her flowy shirt couldn't hide her voluptuous figure.
"Over here."
"Ah, got it."
Parked on the shoulder behind the building was her little coupe.
Seeing the luxury foreign car, I thought celebrities really had it made.
Shoving the luggage into the trunk took some muscle before it finally clicked shut.
Thud.
I buckled into the passenger seat as she asked,
"Where to first?"
She took off her hat and looked at me. Even with light makeup, her face glowed more vibrantly than most women I'd seen.
"Uh... I'll give you the address."
First stop: the old hanok house.
Day one, so still just buildup.
I'd spent points, so I could wing it if I wanted, but I added some buildup for the review.
Vroom.
I punched in the address. To kill boredom, she tossed out a question.
"Nam Siu, right?"
"Yeah, that's me. U Dahee?"
We were still keeping it awkward, so I threw in some pointless chit-chat to keep things going.
"I'm thirty. You...?"
"Twenty-seven."
"Ah~, right~. Same as my little sis? Baby~."
Never thought I'd get called "baby" in my late twenties.
The spot we'd trekked to on foot from the bus during scouting was a breeze by car—we zipped right to the inner lot.
Thud.
Out of the car, straight to shoot prep.
For buildup, I needed to show laser focus on the job first.
Leaning against the car, she watched with interest.
"Not tough doing it solo?"
"Nah, it's fine."
"Whoa~, so stiff~."
She was naturally bubbly, chattering nonstop.
"That husband from before? Total hunk, right?"
"Yeah."
Even with my half-hearted replies, U Dahee kept yapping away while I silently set up the camera and launched the drone.
"You memorized the storyboard I sent? Let me run it by you again."
Flat, businesslike tone. Even my stiff work-mode explanation couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
"Grab the remote here....... Yeah, raise it while making eye contact. Backpack travel concept, so no car in frame, got it."
She locked in on the shoot right away.
Whirr!
The drone feed streamed straight to my laptop for real-time checks.
"One more take. Looking at the camera and smiling is good, but can you bounce a little? Amp up the energy."
"Sure thing~, director~."
Reshoot, and she nailed it exactly as asked.
No wasted moves—pure skill.
"......You're really good at this."
I couldn't help but admire, and she laughed, grabbing her hat as the wind tugged at it.
"Hehe~, of course~. I'm an actress."
"Right, yeah. On to the next."
She scanned the next storyboard and pouted.
"More praise would be nice~. Director~."
"Hm! Perfect! Actresses are on another level."
My soulless delivery made her lips purse.
"Bet you hear 'boring' a lot."
"Nah."
"Pft, for real?"
As she geared up to chat more, I pointed at the hanok.
"Shoulder the bag and walk from here—we'll get that first."
U Dahee glanced at me, then tuned out the banter and focused on the shoot.
I grabbed the camera, started from ground level, and followed.
She pushed open the hanok doors with both hands. Cut.
"Next."
"......That's it? Kinda makeshift, no?"
"Haven't heard 'makeshift' in ages. It's fine—you're killing it, so it'll wrap quick."
Small hanok, but plenty to capture.
Another hour of shots, then drone for the wide views.
"Onward."
She gave me a bemused look as I climbed back into the passenger seat.
Taking off her hat, she smirked.
"Bold one, huh?"
U Dahee.
Shooting after so long. Setup rougher than some indie flick with a solo director, but he didn't seem fazed.
Vroom.
Glancing over while driving, he was glued to the footage.
Just like my sister said—when it came to work, the guy had fire.
She wondered how she'd chew him out if the final cut sucked.
"Wall painting village next."
The mountain village's murals blanketing narrow alleys were pure childhood magic.
Not famous, though—cafes were scarce.
"Start from here."
Short, sharp directions, and we knocked out shots fast.
She wondered if it'd actually turn out decent.
Guy was either a genius or all talk—one or the other.
"Sweat wipe first."
Climbing the peak mid-shoot meant sweat was inevitable.
He fished a small towel from his backpack and handed it over.
"You packed this too?"
Caught off guard by his preparedness, she tilted her head.
"Yeah. You're the talent—no manager, no stylist. Gotta cover it all."
Watching him flatly state it while bustling solo with prep, U Dahee cracked a small smile.
Stoic, but kinda endearing.
Glance.
She eyed him framing the shot.
His focus made her itch to mess with him.
"Hey~, director!"
"Yeah? What? Need something?"
He was posted at the railing, dialing in the overall comp—no eye contact.
"What after wrap?"
"Home to edit."
"Hmm~."
Looked like a player, but conservative as hell.
"First shoot—drinks at least."
"Woohyun cool with it?"
"Nah! Just us~!"
First civilian not flustered by her presence—intriguing.
Everyone else tripped over sexy banter, but not this guy.
Made her want to poke harder.
"Dahee, stand here, slow turn back, look up at camera."
"Yees~."
She leaned lightly on the railing, gazed at the cityscape below, then pivoted smoothly.
Camera crept up from the rock; she tracked the lens, head rising.
3 seconds.
Silence passed. He lowered the camera and nodded.
"Quick check."
Laptop feed up, he tilted his head.
"Tch, one more. Oh, and wave at the camera—like spotting the drone."
"Yees~."
Two more reshoots, and the village was done.
"Moving out."
I stuck to the concept during the shoot.
Lake park was more of the same.
"Yeah, good."
"Hmm~, 'good' huh."
Buildup chugging along fine. Her face looked way more relaxed than morning.
"......Drinks after?"
Wrapped the shoot, packing gear. I tossed it out, and she bit.
"Sure~, you're pals with Dayoung and Woohyun. Nice to get close, right?"
Short time, but I'd pegged her vibe. My added character tweaks were locking in at peak immersion.
[PM 04:36]
Way too early for bars—none even open.
"Time's early....... Or swing by my place. Ah, uh. Never mind."
Acted like it was overreach, waving it off. Her lip corner twitched up.
Right now, to her, I was just sister's friend—nothing more, nothing less.
Character setup helped there.
"It's cool~. You're conservative anyway—no funny business? Plus, married~."
She flinched mid-line. Even high immersion had those discomfort twitches.
"Yeah, then bathroom break and grab grub on the way."
Heading to the restroom, I pulled up the scenario book.
Good—discomfort still way low.
Out of the bathroom, she was firing up the car. I asked,
"Anything you wanna eat?"
Strapped in, she pondered, then said,
"Makgeolli hitting the spot?"
Scenario noted [Alcohol: her favorite], and boom—makgeolli.
Figured wine or champagne, but surprise.
"Sure, whatever works."
"Got a fave spot—pack from there. They brew their own~."
We grabbed takeout from her go-to and headed home.
"Hubby know you're heading to my place?"
Near the house, I asked. She hesitated.
"Hmm~, our little secret~."
Inside, scenario book check: discomfort had climbed.
Husband talk spiked it hard.
"Dayoung's with Woohyun—this guy's the hubby."
Pinned the discomfort trigger. Mouth guarded, I headed to the living room.
"Renting?"
"Yeah, two-year lease."
Sun barely down, but we laid out seafood pancakes and kimchi sesame noodles for drinks.
Glug glug glug.
She poured makgeolli, topped with soda.
"Big makgeolli fan usually?"
"Kinda? Casual talk okay, Siu?"
"Yeah, go for it. Friend's sister—cool."
"Sister" hit, and she lit up.
"For real? You'll call me noona?"
"Y-Yeah...?"
"Then cheers~."
She slammed the full glass.
Drinking, she opened up.
"Truth? Always wanted a real little bro~."
Heard that one before. I just listened quietly.
"Woohyun-type cute bro? Dreamt it often. Met at twenty, still hanging? Wild."
Ditzy for sure—U Dayoung flavor, but different twist.
"Yeah? Nailed it then? Got Woohyun."
She propped her chin, puffed her cheeks.
"Phew~."
Whistle-blow vibe, head shake meh.
"Cute as hell, lovable~. But... draws lines too hard? Kinda hurts~."
Fit Kim Woohyun—strict work-life divide.
"And~, Siu—you're too stoic. All work no fun, right?"
I shrugged.
"Dunno. Another round."
Every gap, clink glasses, pour her more.
Didn't see me as a guy at all—no defenses up while boozing.