Chapter 31
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31
Filming at the Jeonju Outdoor Set had wrapped up.
Granted a few days of respite, the staff of each department busied themselves preparing for the next shoot. The actors dedicated their time to training and practice, while the production crew poured all their effort into planning and meetings.
Eun-seong threw himself into action practice, and Dr. Ju went to work at the hospital. Hae-young was busy with broadcasts and events, while Yeon-ju hit the pavement sourcing costumes.
Time passed like a flowing river. Soon enough, the next filming day arrived, and Yeon-ju reported for work at Chang-rok Entertainment.
"Alright, that's it for the meeting. We have a new member joining our family today, so let's do a quick round of introductions."
Having finished the pre-shoot meeting, Hae-young clapped her hands lightly. A new family member? The staff exchanged surprised glances.
A moment later, the door opened and a young woman walked in. Hae-young guided her to the front of the room.
"You all know Yeonildam, right? Im Eun-seong's agency."
She was an employee sent by Tae-gon.
"She's joining us through a great opportunity. Her name is Jeong Ju-mi. She still has a lot to learn, so I hope everyone will help her out."
"Hello. I'm Jeong Ju-mi. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
As Ju-mi bowed, the staff applauded. With her youthful, baby-faced appearance, it was obvious she was the youngest on the team. The other staff members nudged Yeon-ju's arm and giggled.
"Must be nice, Yeon-ju! You already have a junior."
"Alright, now that introductions are over, let's head out. Hurry up, everyone."
Hae-young waved her hand, urging them to move. The staff filed out of the meeting room behind her, but Yeon-ju stayed behind to tidy up the chairs.
Ju-mi, who had been looking around, approached Yeon-ju once they were alone.
"What's your name?"
"Oh, my name is Yeon-ju. Go Yeon-ju."
"Ah. So you're Go Yeon-ju?"
Detecting a faint hostility in her tone, Yeon-ju straightened up. Ju-mi stood with her arms crossed, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"Seeing you cleaning up, you must be the youngest here, Yeon-ju. Is this your first time working on a set?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Well, it isn't my first. I just wanted to make things clear from the start. Strictly speaking, in terms of experience, I'm your senior. I thought you should know."
Yeon-ju stared at her blankly, wondering what on earth she was talking about. Ju-mi smirked, as if dealing with someone hopelessly dense.
"I'm saying you're the youngest, so you can just keep being the youngest. Don't even think about passing that title to me."
"What do you mean, 'passing it over'? We just need to do our jobs. There's no need for this kind of—"
"Don't look down on me just because I'm younger. When it comes to on-set work, I'm your senior."
Cutting her off, Ju-mi glared down at her condescendingly. Yeon-ju's lips parted in sheer disbelief. What was this girl trying to pull?
"I'll head out first. Please finish cleaning up, Yeon-ju."
Spotting people moving outside through the glass wall, Ju-mi spun on her heel, flung the door open, and disappeared.
...What is wrong with her?
Yeon-ju was so flabbergasted she couldn't even speak.
* * *
As soon as they arrived on set, the costume team sprang into motion. There was much to check for each character, and everyone worked in swift, perfect coordination.
Yeon-ju, who was in charge of fittings, helped dress the actors according to the shooting schedule. She meticulously checked every last detail, her hands moving busily as she steamed the next set of outfits.
In the midst of the chaos, Eun-seong arrived. Hearing the staff greet him, Yeon-ju flinched.
Finding it hard to meet his eyes, she turned her head away and gave a clumsy, awkward nod. Eun-seong glanced at her briefly before sitting on the sofa.
"Eun-seong, did you get some rest? That handsome face of yours never takes a day off, does it?"
The Makeup Chief approached him with a smile, and Eun-seong let out a soft chuckle. Sensing he was in a good mood, the Makeup Chief smiled back.
"Shall we get started on your makeup?"
"Sure."
Almost as soon as he sat, Eun-seong stood back up. The Makeup Chief gestured toward his wardrobe rack.
"Your top today is a black turtleneck, so let's get you changed before we begin."
Since changing after hair and makeup would be difficult, she suggested he change first, and Eun-seong nodded. Yeon-ju thought this would be her chance to finally get a proper look at his face, as she normally assisted him, but…
"Could we get the actor's outfit?"
At the Makeup Chief's request, Yeon-ju reached for the hanger. But before she could, Ju-mi snatched the clothes away and hurried over to Eun-seong.
"Hello, Eun-seong. I'm Jeong Ju-mi. I just joined the costume team."
"Ah, yes. Hello."
Taken aback by her overly sweet tone, Eun-seong returned the greeting reflexively. Taking the turtleneck from the hanger, Ju-mi added, "I'm actually one of Team Leader Lee Hyeong-mi's people. I'm an employee of Yeonildam."
"Ah. You're from my agency. What brings you here?"
"Well, it seems Team Leader Lee Hyeong-mi was quite concerned about your working conditions. She was worried our actor wasn't being properly taken care of, so she sent me. She trusts me a lot, you see."
The Makeup Chief, who had been tending to something else, glanced back. She could hardly believe her ears. The new girl was casually badmouthing Hae-young's staff under a thin veil of politeness.
"Not being properly taken care of? What do you mean?"
"It makes a big difference whether you have someone from your own agency with you. Since there are only outsiders here, I'm sure you must have faced many inconveniences."
The Makeup Chief let out a quiet sigh, thinking the brief peace in the waiting room was officially over.
Sigh.
"From now on, I'll make sure you don't experience any discomfort. Please don't worry."
A real troublemaker has arrived.
Shaking her head, the Chief walked into the makeup area. Ju-mi, holding the turtleneck, boldly reached for the buttons of Eun-seong's shirt as if to undo them herself.
"Let me help you with that, Eun-seong."
At that, Eun-seong firmly grabbed Ju-mi's hand and pulled it away.
"I'll do it myself."
Is Go Yeon-ju not doing the fittings anymore? he wondered, keeping the thought to himself as he unbuttoned his shirt.
Suddenly without a task, Yeon-ju picked up the steam iron again. Eun-seong silently changed his top, a headache already forming as he realized his dedicated stylist, Hyeong-mi, had pulled another one of her useless stunts.
Though no one had asked her to, Ju-mi began acting as if she were Eun-seong's personal stylist, constantly emphasizing that they were from the same agency.
* * *
Back home after work, Yeon-ju sat on the sofa, lost in thought.
The day had passed in a blur. She had spent the entire time handling miscellaneous chores, and before she knew it, the shoot had wrapped up. She hadn't exchanged a single word with Eun-seong. In a way, maybe that was a relief.
Ju-mi, who had made her debut today, had clung to Eun-seong's side from start to finish, handling his styling. She slyly ignored the tedious chores that came with the job, and whenever she was alone with Yeon-ju, she put on airs, acting as if she were on the same level as Chief Hae-young.
Yeon-ju had silently cleaned up the messes Ju-mi left behind.
She didn't want to bicker with a girl who looked barely in her mid-twenties. Arguing would just drag her down to Ju-mi's level, and she was worried that any major conflict would reflect poorly on Hae-young.
In the freelance world, there were plenty of people who tried to puff themselves up to gain the upper hand. Having worked for various online shopping malls, she had seen all kinds of people.
People obsessed with petty hierarchies. People desperate to stand out. People who would step on others just to get ahead.
"Mom."
She knew all too well that you couldn't only work with people you liked. You couldn't change who someone was, and getting stressed out every time was just her own loss.
"Mom?"
"Oh. Yes, Han-byeol? What is it?"
Pulled from her thoughts, Yeon-ju looked at Han-byeol sitting beside her. On the TV, Mrs. Na's favorite drama was playing, and the three of them were sitting side by side on the sofa.
"Mom, I have a question about my script."
Han-byeol looked up from his script and turned to his mother. Surprised by his sudden curiosity, Yeon-ju's eyes widened as Han-byeol pointed to a line.
"What is it? What are you curious about?"
"Look here. It says, 'A great burst of crying, releasing all sadness and sorrow at once.'"
"Where? Ah, you're right."
Yeon-ju nodded, reading the stage direction Han-byeol indicated. Mrs. Na, perhaps finding it hard to hear over their conversation, turned up the TV volume. Han-byeol knit his brows slightly and continued.
"This is so hard. My acting coach said it has to be a cry that completely empties out my heart."
"Wow, that does sound really difficult, Han-byeol."
Lately, Han-byeol had been going to Chang-rok Entertainment after school for acting lessons. His role didn't have many lines, but it required terrified expressions and crying scenes, so his coach was teaching him how to build emotions step by step.
Still, it was a difficult concept for a child to grasp.
"Mom. How come you never cry?"
"Huh? Me?"
"Yeah. I don't think I've ever seen you cry. My teacher said people need to cry to clean out their hearts."
"Ah... I see."
Just then, the sound of Mrs. Na sniffling and wiping away tears reached them as she became immersed in the drama. Han-byeol glanced at his grandmother, then turned back to his mother.
"See? Grandma always cries when she watches dramas, but you never do."
Not knowing how to answer, Yeon-ju hesitated before offering a small smile.
"Oh, well... I forgot how."
Worried about how her son would interpret the words "I forgot how to cry," she quickly tried to smooth it over.
"Mom is always so happy because of you, Han-byeol, so I never need to clean out my heart. I guess that's why the tears don't come."
"Then am I Mom's little cleaner?"
"Well, I guess so."
Yeon-ju gently stroked her son's head. A fleeting bitterness washed over her at his innocent question, and she let out a long, silent sigh.
...He's right. It is strange. How did I become so dry and hollow?
Her tears and emotions had completely dried up. All moisture and warmth had evaporated.
"Then when was the last time you cried, Mom?"
"Well, I don't really remember that either."
"You really don't cry, do you, Mom?"
"Yeah. I guess not."
Though her heart was now a barren, desolate place—
She, too, once had many dreams, shed many tears, laughed often, and had a heart that beat wildly with a love so passionate it drove her mad.
"Mom, I'm going back to my script now."
"Alright, Han-byeol."
She really did.
Once, she too had a time like that.