The Seventh Floor
"Jin-uk hyung, are you really okay with this?"
"Of course I am. Watching the movie yesterday, seeing So-hyun and you act, I was already thinking how much I wanted to work with you on something. And for a cameo, the pay they're offering is pretty damn solid."
Director Lee Sang-hun had requested extra production funds to turn this crisis into a genuine blessing in disguise, putting a substantial sum on the table as compensation.
Son Jin-uk would have agreed in a heartbeat just to help Yeon-woo, pay or no pay—but getting paid well on top of it made everything even better.
"I'm really grateful. That sudden incident had us in real trouble."
"Did I make a pretty heroic entrance? Ta-da! Haha."
"You really did."
Yeon-woo nodded and laughed at Jin-uk's playful boasting.
Son Jin-uk had come to cheer them on and somehow ended up in full costume and makeup.
"So, just to be clear—I'm originally from Goryeo, but I became a bodyguard for a Song Dynasty envoy?"
"That's right. You sparred with Seo Hui and Yi Ji-baek in the previous episode and developed a quiet sense of camaraderie."
Jin-uk nodded.
"Is the choreography going to be hard to lock in?"
"The martial arts director said he worked with you on Your Name. He says this'll be easier than that."
"Oh, Director Do? Then I already know exactly how he works."
Makeup finished, Son Jin-uk stood up.
"Yeon-woo. We ended up shooting together out of nowhere, but doesn't it feel exciting? Reminds me of the old days."
"It does. Thank you, really."
Jin-uk grinned and gave him a light bump on the shoulder with his own. Yeon-woo smiled back.
"Oh, Yu-han! Long time no see."
"Hello, sunbae. Thank you so much for stepping in to help us."
"Come on, it's nothing. The project's already going strong—no pressure at all. Plus I've got these cute little juniors in it."
Son Jin-uk slung an arm around both Ryu Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han's shoulders, grinning wide.
Click—
In the corner, the still photographer capturing set photos didn't miss the moment.
They say photography is the art of the instant.
Looking at the three of them lined up side by side on the camera's LCD, the photographer nodded to himself.
"Ha. I took it, but this one really came out great. This might end up as archival material someday—a precious trio."
Son Jin-uk and Jin Yu-han.
The two who had gone head-to-head for Best Actor at the Korea Arts Awards were back on the same set.
Jin Yu-han and Ryu Yeon-woo.
In this drama they were close friends and romantic rivals, political allies and competitors all at once.
Ryu Yeon-woo and Son Jin-uk.
Yeon-woo, whose stock was skyrocketing on both the small screen and the big screen these days, had once competed with Jin-uk over the same woman in his debut film.
A photo of those three standing shoulder to shoulder, smiling brightly in the same frame, was bound to set the internet talking the moment it went public.
Filming after that went smoothly.
They had only briefly rehearsed the choreography that morning, but the earlier masked sequences had already been shot with Park Gyeong-wan. The moment Son Jin-uk removed the mask and his face filled the monitor, the set buzzed—the shot looked that good.
"I am truly grateful for your aid. But tell me—who are you?"
"We meet again. I am the Song envoy with whom you once sparred."
"Okay, cut!"
Director Lee Sang-hun's "okay" sign, which had refused to come all morning, rang out cleanly the moment Son Jin-uk performed. The staff murmured in admiration.
"Whoa, a top star really is a top star."
"Damn. Ryu Yeon-woo, Jin Yu-han, and Son Jin-uk in one frame."
"No kidding. How many Korea Arts Awards are standing in that shot right now?"
Director Lee Sang-hun's mouth stretched into a wide, satisfied grin as he nodded.
"Mm. This is what they mean by a blessing in disguise."
While Star Beyond the River weathered its crisis and Master Plan sailed smoothly ahead, younger sister Ryu So-hyun was busy capturing every article about her brother and dumping them into the family group chat.
Ryu Cheol-ung was handling work at the government complex when he checked his daughter's KakaoTalk messages and his mouth stretched from ear to ear.
"Section Chief, congratulations. You've got to let us meet your son sometime."
"Right? Let us see a top star just once."
"Hahaha, top star? He's just a rookie actor getting started."
He played modest in the face of his colleagues' congratulations and envy, but the proud father couldn't wipe the grin off his face.
Bzzzt—
His phone buzzed. Checking the screen, Cheol-ung's eyes curved into happy crescents.
"Ohhh, yes. That's my boy."
"Aigoo, really? I'll make sure to buy something delicious."
Hearing Cheol-ung on the phone, the female staff members edged closer one by one.
"Section Chief Ryu! Let us hear your son's voice too! I watched the movie twice!"
"Haha, well... You okay, son?"
"Of course."
Ryu Cheol-ung tapped the speakerphone button.
"Hello. Thank you for always looking after my father."
"Kyaaa! Oh my god. I watched Master Plan twice!"
"I never miss an episode of Star Beyond the River!"
"Thank you so much. I'll come say hello next time you all go out for drinks."
At Yeon-woo's words, the Environment Division staff erupted.
"Insane! Insane!"
"Son, you're busy—don't worry about it."
"Section Chief! We want to meet him too, you know?!"
The staff glared at Ryu Cheol-ung with laser eyes the moment he tried to spare his busy son.
"Ah, ahem. Right. Later on, let's use my son to boost your old man's face a little."
"Yes, Dad. See you tomorrow then."
After hanging up, Yeon-woo looked out over the set.
The final scene of the drama had just wrapped: an aged Seo Ji-eun and Jin Yu-han seeing off an elderly Ryu Yeon-woo as he departed for enemy territory.
"It always feels strange when something ends."
Seo Ji-eun, makeup removed and her face plain again, plopped down beside him.
Yeon-woo glanced at her and let out a soft laugh.
"Yeah. It's over now."
"But I still haven't seen the galloping scene you shot at the very beginning of the drama. I'm looking forward to it. Honestly, like Hong Ui-yeon, I just saw my husband off to the battlefield and have no idea what came after."
"Same here. I shot it, but I haven't seen the edited version either. We'll have to watch the broadcast live."
"True. Hehe. Live broadcast it is."
In the distance, the assistant director shouted.
"Alright, everyone! Let's go all out at the wrap party tonight!"
"Ooooh!"
Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun stood and dusted off their seats.
"Come on, let's go. Where's Yu-han?"
"Yu-han had another schedule—he left right away."
They piled into cars and headed to a nearby reserved barbecue restaurant, where the staff drank freely, got rowdy, danced, and sang.
Near the end of the party, Yeon-woo noticed Seo Ji-eun wearing an oddly uneasy expression.
"What's with the face? Something worrying you?"
"Huh? No, just... they said there's no manager available to pick me up..."
It was a small agency. Cars and managers were limited, so no one could sit around waiting for an off-set schedule like a wrap party that might run indefinitely.
"Ah, is that so? Then ride with us. We're headed the same direction. I'll drop you off at your place."
"...Really? Sorry. Then I'll take you up on that!"
Ordinarily, with her bright, easygoing personality, she would have just put on a hat and mask and grabbed a taxi in a country with good public safety. But after the stalker incident she had lived through, Seo Ji-eun had become much more withdrawn. Yeon-woo's offer brought her visible relief.
"...Actually, last time someone followed me up the stairs at my place and it almost got really bad. As time passed I started wondering if it was just a neighbor and I overreacted by myself."
A drink or two loosened her tongue, and she confided the worry that had been weighing on her lately. Yeon-woo listened quietly and reassured her that it would be fine.
When the party ended, Min-su's car pulled into the parking lot.
Clunk—
"Min-su hyung, today we need to drop Ji-eun noona off first, then head home."
"Oh, hello."
"Hello! I'll be imposing on you today!"
Her cheerful greeting made Min-su smile.
"Imposing? It's an honor to drive an actress."
"Min-su hyung. You've been driving me around every day wishing I'd turn into an actress?"
"Nah, not every day. Just once or twice a month."
Seo Ji-eun laughed as Min-su fired right back at Yeon-woo's teasing.
"Alright then, departing. Lady Seo Hui, Lady Hong Ui-yeon."
Min-su's car headed toward the address Seo Ji-eun gave them.
After a long drive they arrived at her place.
"This is it. Thank you for the ride today. Yeon-woo, thank you."
"Don't mention it."
"Get home safe. You worked hard, noona. See you at the finale party."
Click—
The car door shut, and they watched Ji-eun walk toward the apartment entrance.
The streetlights were brighter than expected, and with a convenience store on the first floor of the mixed-use building, it didn't look particularly dangerous.
"Augh, Actor-nim, I'm gonna run to the bathroom in that shop real quick."
Min-su, who hadn't been able to say anything with an actress in the car, clutched his stomach.
"Sure. I'll stay in the car."
Min-su threw open the driver's door and hurried off. Yeon-woo stared blankly out the window.
Then he saw a man following Seo Ji-eun toward the apartment entrance.
"Huh?"
Something metallic seemed to glint in the man's hand.
It could have been an e-cigarette or car keys, but something felt off.
The man was walking with his hat pulled low and his body hunched, as if hyper-aware of the cameras.
Yeon-woo didn't hesitate. He got out of the car at once.
"Ji-eun noona! Seo Ji-eun!"
He shouted loudly, but by the time he left the car, both Seo Ji-eun and the man had already gone inside.
Yeon-woo sprinted for the entrance of the mixed-use apartment building.
Despite the outward appearance, the building was older than it looked—there was no separate security door leading to the elevators.
He raced inside. Both elevators had just departed: one stopped at the third floor, the other at the second.
Whether the man following her had ridden with her or taken the other car was impossible to know, but Yeon-woo headed for the stairs without delay.
Even if I'm wrong, better to check for certain than regret it later.
He took the stairs at full power.
Yeon-woo climbed two and three steps at a time, moving at maximum speed.
Far from slowing down from exhaustion, he only pushed harder.
Huff—but what floor is Seo Ji-eun's place on?
Reaching the fifth floor, he yanked open the gray steel emergency stairwell door and checked. Both elevators had stopped on the seventh floor.
Then, from above, came the scrape of shoes and the sound of something thrashing and struggling.
Yeon-woo flew up the remaining stairs at full sprint and threw open the stairwell door on the seventh floor—the same door Seo Ji-eun had once clung to, weeping.