The Deer
A full week had already passed since Yeon-woo received his university acceptance letter.
He had gotten word that casting for Master Plan was nearly complete — but for the moment, his schedule was empty. So he had come down to his parents' house in Daejeon and was living the idle life of a freeloader, sprawled in front of the television with nothing better to do.
After his morning workout, Yeon-woo sat on the sofa in the empty living room and flipped through the channels. Then a familiar face appeared, and his thumb stopped.
Not a fellow actor. Not anyone from the industry.
"Why is he…?"
The person being interviewed on a variety program was someone who had entered the National Intelligence Service the same year as Jeon Su-hwan — Ryu Yeon-woo's previous life.
"Today we're joined by several guests for our special feature on 'Hidden Key Players.' Could you introduce yourself briefly?"
"Yes, hello. I'm Han Ji-hyeon, and I work as a public relations officer at the National Intelligence Service."
Only then did Yeon-woo, still watching the screen, give a small nod.
Even the NIS maintained a public relations office these days, working to shed the negative image it had accumulated through modern history. As Yeon-woo remembered it, she had been assigned to a cyber-security division — so she must have been reassigned to PR.
Of course, the name she had given was not her real one. The woman introducing herself as "Han Ji-hyeon" was actually named Kang Ju-mi.
"She's aged a lot. Then again, I looked even older from grinding it out in the field."
He had last seen her in her early thirties, back when they were new hires. This was the first time since. Caught by the familiar face after so long, Yeon-woo couldn't bring himself to change the channel and kept watching.
The interview went on for a while before a co-host chimed in from the side.
"So, like in the movies — do agents actually die fighting out there?"
"Not often, but yes — there are those who give their lives for the country. Even recently, there was the tragedy of another nameless star being added."
"Ah, I see. When you say 'nameless star'…?"
"At NIS headquarters, when an agent whose identity cannot be disclosed dies in the line of duty, a nameless star is engraved to honor the sacrifice."
As the guest spoke, the broadcast cut to archival footage of the nameless stars.
It was his own star — the one he had deliberately avoided seeking out, determined to leave his past life behind. A strange, complicated feeling settled over Yeon-woo as he stared at the star on the screen.
And then something odd caught his eye.
"…Why are there two new stars?"
Yeon-woo stroked his chin, sinking into deep thought.
It wasn't that he had never considered hunting down the truth of his death when he first woke up in a new body in that hospital. There simply hadn't been any realistic way to pursue it at the time, and the death itself had felt too unresolved — so he had set it aside.
When Jeon Su-hwan, Yeon-woo's previous self, had first been deployed, it was on intelligence that a Middle Eastern terrorist organization might be trafficking weapons with North Korea. He had died without sensing a thing, so Yeon-woo had always assumed it was a sniper's work.
If the terrorists had discovered that Jeon Su-hwan was concealed and operating undercover, they would never have simply shot him. He would have been far too valuable as a hostage.
He had considered that life finished, and he was far more content with the new one — so he hadn't clung to it. But if his death had been the result of betrayal… then no matter how long it took, he fully intended to settle the score.
Spring's Lover had already crossed its break-even point before spring even arrived and was racing toward two million admissions. And word had come that casting for Master Plan was complete, with a full script-reading date locked in.
Among the cast of Master Plan was a welcome face: Han So-hyun, taking the supporting role of "Deer."
"So-hyun unnie."
"Yeon-woooo."
"Looks like we're working together back-to-back. I was so glad I had to call."
"I know, right?! I accepted without even knowing who the lead was, and then I nearly jumped out of my skin! I've always wanted to do a Park Chan-hong film, so the second the offer came I said yes."
Han So-hyun was aiming for an acting transformation with the role of "Deer." She had been fretting over a string of bright, cheerful parts when this offer landed. On the small screen she only ever played leads — but for a master like Director Park Chan-hong, she was more than willing to take a supporting role.
And above all, it was a part that hit every one of her sweet spots: comic and sexy in equal measure. Even the character's name was unusual.
Deer Jennifer.
"Deer" was one of the specialists that "Pierre Choi" summoned after entering the country to set his scheme in motion — a black rose of the con world who infiltrated with honey traps, extracted information, and steered people exactly where she wanted them. If Pierre Choi was the orchestra conductor of the con, Jennifer was the violinist who took the solo.
Yeon-woo recalled the scene in the script where "Deer" first joined the crew.
The door opened, and in walked a beauty with skin white as porcelain, delicate features packed close together, and red lipstick that deepened her seductive allure.
Kwak Ji-chul looked at her and put a question to Pierre Choi.
"Is it because her eyes look like a deer's? Is that why everyone calls her that?"
"No. She melts every man's heart. Deer velvet."
The face of "Deer" Jennifer — red lips still curved in a bewitching smile as she watched the two of them talk about her — flooded with pure disbelief.
"There he goes again. That ice-cold dad joke… Not funny, Pierre."
Yeon-woo thought over the role in the script, then spoke again.
"This is going to be a huge acting transformation for you too, unnie."
"Right, right. I've always wanted to try a part like this! Maybe because it's the total opposite of me?"
"I'm looking forward to it. I think the shoot's going to be a lot of fun. And I'll probably learn a ton."
"I'm excited too — getting to shoot your first lead film with you. And that it's a Park Chan-hong movie, of all things."
Thinking about Yeon-woo's filmography after this one opened, So-hyun couldn't help marveling at how, in barely two years and without a single stretch of obscurity, he was already racing down the expressway of box-office success.
"Now that casting's locked and we're about to start shooting, I'm a little nervous. Whether I can hold my own among all these great actors."
"Since when do you sound unsure of yourself? Captain Ryu? Of course you can. I believe in your acting!"
Yeon-woo smiled at the unstinting encouragement Han So-hyun poured out.
"Then I'll see you at the reading, unnie."
"Yeah! I need to prep hard too."
Yeon-woo put the final push into his preparations for Master Plan, and somewhere in the middle of it all he got his driver's license. Taking the wheel again after two years felt strangely novel — but after twenty years of driving, of course he didn't make a single mistake.
Before long the full script-reading day arrived, and Min-su's car, with Yeon-woo inside, pulled up in front of a building in Chungmuro.
Today's reading was being held in a rather luxurious hall inside the building. Unlike dramas, which often leaked material onto platforms like YouTube to build a fan base, films didn't work that way. They filmed, of course — but for the record, not for polished promotional release. The atmosphere was that much more solemn.
Yeon-woo arrived at the conference hall.
"Hello. I'm Ryu Yeon-woo. Looking forward to working with you."
"Ah, yes. An honor to meet the actor everyone's talking about these days. Haha."
Having shown up a full hour early, Yeon-woo went around shaking hands and greeting every person on site, one by one. Most were industry people he didn't know — but in the end, weren't they the ones whose efforts would keep this film rolling?
Then Director Park Chan-hong entered the hall, issuing instructions to the staff as he came.
"Hello, Director."
"Hm? Actor Ryu. Why so early?"
Park came over, clapped Yeon-woo's shoulder with a smile as the young actor approached grinning and greeting him. The look in his eyes was softer than the tiger's glare from the audition.
"I wanted to get a feel for the set and look over the script a bit."
"Good. Well done. See you in a little while."
After the brief exchange, Director Park left the hall again to give more instructions.
Yeon-woo passed the time reading the script in his seat as the supporting actors and other personnel arrived one after another. Most of the supporting cast were veterans with deep roots in the film industry, so Yeon-woo went to them first, smiling and offering polite greetings.
Then a welcome face arrived as well.
"Deer unnie."
So-hyun, just stepping into the hall, burst out laughing at the playful nickname Yeon-woo suddenly threw at her. A few actors sitting near the entrance — all of whom had read the scenario — broke into laughter right along with her.
"Pffft. 'Deer unnie'? Why is that so funny. It's so good to see you here."
"I suddenly feel energized now that you're here, unnie."
Han So-hyun warmly clasped both of Yeon-woo's hands and chattered away for a moment, then stood up from her chair.
"I'm just going to go say hello to the seniors real quick!"
In Summer's Closet she had been the lead, but here even So-hyun was surrounded by seniors of legendary stature. Already in her tenth year since debut, Han So-hyun seemed to know plenty of them from previous collaborations or casual acquaintance — warm conversation and laughter drifted over as she made her rounds.
In the meantime, Maseok Do — who would share the lead with Yeon-woo as Kwak Ji-chul — walked in.
"Sunbaenim. Hello. I'm Ryu Yeon-woo."
"Ah, yeah. Nice to meet you."
Maseok Do raised a thick arm from his massive frame and took the handshake Yeon-woo offered.
So this is the fist that can drop a bull.
Even from the light grip, Yeon-woo felt the crushing strength and let the absurd thought flicker through his mind.
"It's an honor to be working with you on this, sunbaenim. Please speak comfortably with me."
"Honor, nothing. Haha. Let's do well together. I'm nervous too, you know — it's a Park film."
Maseok Do grinned and leaned in to murmur that he was actually nervous himself.
Actors continued to file in and take their seats, filling the second and third rows behind them with a throng of industry personnel. Then Director Park Chan-hong and CEO Han Yun-su entered and sat down.
A moment later, Director Park rose from his seat and opened his mouth.
"It's good to see all of you gathered like this. I'm Park Chan-hong, directing this film."
A roar of applause and cheers answered him.
"I believe film is the art of the spark that flies in a single moment on set. Today's script reading will be limited by the circumstances, but once we're actually on location, I hope you actors will take ownership of interpreting the script and show me plenty of brilliant ad-libs."
Director Park paused to catch his breath, then continued.
"I'll capture all of it cleanly, weave it together beautifully, and take full responsibility for the result — so I want you actors to run free. Let's start introductions with Actor Maseok Do and go down the line."
The actors answered Director Park Chan-hong's charge with applause, and Maseok Do heaved his large frame up from his seat.