Chapter 85
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 85
After finishing his rehearsal for the upcoming action scene, Eun-seong sat for his final makeup session. He was covered in blood from head to toe, a testament to the brutal and dangerous fight he was meant to have just endured.
The special effects team had used prosthetic skin to create realistic wounds. The process of smearing lifelike artificial blood all over him and perfecting the details took a considerable amount of time, and it was a while before Eun-seong finally reappeared on set.
The costume team had prepared an outfit that was strategically torn and ripped. Once he put on a jacket caked in dirt and dust, Eun-seong truly looked like the lonely victor of a savage brawl.
A final check was made before the cameras started rolling. Several staff members rushed over to give Eun-seong one last inspection, ensuring everything was perfect for the shoot.
As the makeup team stepped back, Yeon-ju, the last one remaining by his side, fanned him with a small portable fan. Beads of sweat were already forming on his forehead.
"It's tough, isn't it?" she asked in a quiet whisper.
With his eyes still closed, Eun-seong parted his lips. "I'm fine."
Counting the rehearsals, he had already coordinated his moves with the other actors several times. True to his reputation for not using a stunt double, he handled every action sequence himself from start to finish. The actual filming hadn't even begun, yet he already looked exhausted.
And for good reason. The crew had been on set for hours.
"Would you like some water?"
"Later. I need to stay light on my feet."
"Okay."
With filming imminent, Im Eun-seong's nerves were stretched taut. He was incredibly sharp and sensitive, as if every sense and cell in his body had awakened.
Saying nothing more, Yeon-ju stood silently by his side. As she cooled the sweat on his forehead with the fan, she quietly studied his face.
Sensing her gaze, Eun-seong cracked open his eyes and looked at her. Startled, Yeon-ju's eyebrows twitched, and he closed his eyes again.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"What? Oh, well… because it looks like it hurts."
At her unexpected remark, Eun-seong opened his eyes again. He gave her a look that asked what she meant, and Yeon-ju bit her lip slightly before continuing.
"I know it's just makeup… but it looks so painful…"
"…Ah."
Only then did Eun-seong understand, letting out a soft sigh. It seemed Yeon-ju was shocked by the gruesome, blood-soaked makeup that made him almost unrecognizable.
These days, special effects were so realistic it was hard to tell the difference even up close. Eun-seong let out a dry laugh and raised his eyebrows.
"It's hard to make a living."
"…"
"I need to make a lot of money quickly. I heard raising a kid costs a fortune."
"Forget it. What kind of kid are you trying to raise that you need to make even more money?"
When Yeon-ju shot back so naturally, Eun-seong smiled faintly. In the past, she would have glared at him with wide eyes, demanding to know what kind of joke that was.
This new Go Yeon-ju, who was slowly letting her guard down, was a huge improvement.
"Please wait a moment. I'll find someone else to hold the fan for you."
"Where are you going?"
"I can't do this. I need to stay far away. It's too hard to look at."
As Yeon-ju mumbled that she couldn't bear to look at the blood, Eun-seong hesitated. Then, she began to sniffle, her eyes welling up with tears.
"It looks so painful…"
"Hey. Hey, calm down. This isn't real."
"I know… but why does the makeup have to be so realistic…"
Seeing movie-grade special effects makeup for the first time was a complete shock to her system. Even though she knew it was fake blood—knew it perfectly well—it felt like blood he had actually shed, and her heart ached.
It was hard to tell where reality ended and fiction began. If it had been any other actor, she wouldn't have been so deeply affected. But seeing him like this made her feel the pain of his wounds so vividly that her chest throbbed.
"Don't die…"
"You've already jumped that far ahead? You're getting way ahead of yourself."
"You really look like someone who's about to die."
"It's just standard makeup. Why are you reacting like this over something so common?"
"It might be common for you, but it's my first time seeing it. Do you have any idea how shocking this is to an ordinary person…"
As Yeon-ju trailed off with a sorrowful look, Eun-seong stared at her. With his realistic mindset, it was difficult for him to understand someone like Yeon-ju, who was so rich in imagination and empathy.
Yet, her eyes, brimming with tears of pity as if she were looking at someone on their deathbed, were so endearing that he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Why are you suddenly laughing?"
"Because you're cute."
"C-Cute? You must like women who cry."
"Well, maybe. I do have a knack for making them cry."
Her tears vanished instantly. Yeon-ju narrowed her eyes and glared at him.
* * *
The lights on the set, which had hosted an exceptionally grueling shoot, finally went out. Filming had started at ten in the morning and only wrapped up after one in the morning.
The moment the director called the final "cut," Eun-seong collapsed into his seat. He was so utterly exhausted that he couldn't even support his own weight, forcing his manager, Dong-hwan, to help him up.
An actor’s grueling labor was all for the sake of a perfect final product. It was a pitiful sight, but an expected one. Although Eun-seong leaned heavily on his manager, completely drained of energy, it was a common scene on set, and the remaining staff simply focused on packing up.
Amidst the bustling crew, Yeon-ju was the only one watching Eun-seong with a tight chest. She clenched her fists, wincing at his every groan. Whenever the camera stopped rolling, he would let out a ragged breath, and each time, she had to bite her lip to keep from crying.
Removing the makeup took a long time as well. Eun-seong leaned back in his chair, completely spent. It wasn't an unusual occurrence—it was something he went through every time—but that didn't mean he didn't feel pushed to his absolute limits.
"Great job, everyone."
"Good work."
It was already past midnight. The staff quickly cleared out. Since movie shoots weren't a daily affair, they wouldn't gather again for another five days.
After everyone had left, Dong-hwan packed Eun-seong's things and stood by his side.
"Hyung, I'll bring the car right to the entrance. Come out then."
"No, it's fine. I've rested enough."
Eun-seong barely managed to lift his heavy eyelids. Looking as if he couldn't tell dream from reality, he blinked a few times before letting his eyes fall shut again, utterly defeated by exhaustion.
He felt as though he had shed pounds during the shoot. He knew he had to get up, but his body refused to listen. As he paused to catch his breath, someone gently slipped a piece of chocolate into his slightly parted mouth.
"Are you okay? We should head home."
Yeon-ju, who had waited until everyone else was gone, stepped closer. Dong-hwan had already left the waiting room, deciding it was best to bring the car around first.
Her face was etched with worry as she looked at Eun-seong. He looked so pitiful sitting there, pale and barely breathing.
"Do you want another piece of chocolate? I brought plenty."
Eun-seong shook his head. He looked as if he didn't even have the energy to let it melt in his mouth.
Feeling helpless, Yeon-ju's brow furrowed. After a moment, Eun-seong opened his eyes and looked at her. She met his gaze, raising her eyebrows slightly as if asking if he was alright.
Instead of answering, Eun-seong tilted his head and leaned against her. With a soft sigh, his head came to rest on her shoulder. Yeon-ju naturally wrapped an arm around him, letting him use her for support.
"I didn't know acting was this grueling. It was hard for me just to watch."
The version of him she had seen in the media was always so effortlessly confident. She'd had no way of knowing the sheer effort and desperation hidden behind the scenes; she had only ever noticed the glamorous life portrayed on screen.
She had always assumed that for someone with so much wealth and fame, a certain amount of hardship was only natural. But seeing him on set today was enough to completely shatter that assumption.
Her heart aching for him, she gently stroked his shoulder. She even patted him softly, as if soothing a child to sleep.
If she hadn't witnessed this, she might have forever dismissed Eun-seong as a man who lived an easy life on talent alone. A person’s judgment, after all, is limited by their own experiences.
"You really worked hard. Go home and get some rest."
"Where are you going, leaving me behind…"
His first words were so childish that Yeon-ju burst out laughing.
"Where else would I go? I have to go home."
"Call them and say you can't make it. Tell them you have an all-night shoot…"
"The fact that you can talk back so smoothly means you must be getting your strength back. Now that I don't have to worry, get up."
"…"
Caught, he fell silent again. He began to exude an even more intense aura of exhaustion, throwing in a few weak groans for good measure.
"Dong-hwan is calling. He must be at the entrance."
"…"
"Get up. We have to go home."
As she stroked the shoulder of the man who remained motionless with his head resting against her, Yeon-ju raised her eyebrows.
"Well, I already told my mom I have an all-night shoot today, so I guess I should just go—"
"Let's go. We should go. We have to sleep at home."
Only then did Eun-seong spring to his feet and throw on his jacket.
Seeing the sudden burst of energy in his hands as he pulled his hat down low, Yeon-ju tilted her head, wondering if her worry had been entirely in vain.
Now that she had made up her mind, they needed to have a long talk. Knowing all too well that they had a mountain of things to discuss—things that couldn't be delayed another second—Yeon-ju resolved to stay with Eun-seong tonight.
She hoped that tomorrow morning, once he had gotten some proper rest, they could finally have that conversation.
"I guess you won't turn me away at the door this time?" she asked, clearly referencing the time she had been rejected at his front door during Han-byeol's birthday party.
Eun-seong chuckled. "If you wanted to come in, you should have just said so."
"I didn't actually plan to, but Han-byeol bragged so much about it when he came back."
"Then you can go and brag to Han-byeol, too."
"No thanks. Let's go."
When they reached the entrance, Dong-hwan was waiting. Getting into the car next to Eun-seong, Yeon-ju spoke in an apologetic, embarrassed voice.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Dong-hwan. And thank you."
"Don't mention it. I was worried about Hyung, but with you here, Yeon-ju, I can finally breathe easy."
Dong-hwan spoke in a cheerful voice, telling her not to worry. Yeon-ju knew she couldn't hide anything from him, who was closer to Eun-seong than anyone. Still, she couldn't help but feel anxious about riding in the car with him so openly.
"He's on my side. It's fine," Eun-seong murmured.
"That's right. I'm on Hyung's side, Yeon-ju. Don't worry," Dong-hwan chimed in.
As if they had read her mind, their reassurances allowed Yeon-ju to finally let out a soft sigh.
Eun-seong reached out and took her hand. When she tried to pull away, casting a wary glance at Dong-hwan, Eun-seong only tightened his grip.
"Dong-hwan, wake me up when we get home."
"Yes, Hyung! Get some sleep!"
Interlocking his fingers with hers, Eun-seong shifted in his seat to sleep. Yeon-ju remained restless for a while, constantly checking Dong-hwan's reaction in the rearview mirror.
Eventually, unable to fight her own fatigue, she fell asleep as well. Holding hands, the two drifted into a deep slumber, their breathing falling into a synchronized, peaceful rhythm.
Dong-hwan drove on, a faint smile playing on his lips from time to time as the car sped down the wide-open highway, empty in the quiet hours before dawn.