Adlib
A heavy silence fell.
The two managers stared at the opposing actor, their mouths slightly agape. The conclusion was different, but the emotion they felt was the same: utter absurdity.
"And I practiced so hard to avoid calling NG. But you're telling me to do it on purpose? Why? What's the reason?"
Ha Moo-young asked back in a clear, innocent tone. His pure eyes, brimming with genuine curiosity, pierced straight into Yi Hi-jun. Was this what unadulterated, ridiculous innocence looked like?
"Hey, you..."
Yi Hi-jun faltered at the completely unexpected response. He'd thought the guy was a pushover, always smiling and calling him "sunbae-nim" like a lapdog.
"Filming isn't a game, right?"
He was a formidable opponent in a different way. That response was packed with earnest sincerity! The expression on his face—was he seriously asking if something was wrong?—was perfect.
Moo-young's mind raced through possible scenarios, growing more shocked by the second.
"Are you messing with me? Is sunbae-nim out here playing around?"
Yi Hi-jun's manager froze like a stone. The tone was impeccably clean, without a hint of malice, but the words were sharper than thorns—more like a knife slicing through.
"No, but from what I've heard—"
Watching Moo-young and his manager's reactions, Yi Hi-jun realized just how much of a gaffe his words had been. But this wasn't the kind of response he'd expected. He had his pride—at least pretend to play along out of courtesy, right?
As he tried to regain control of the atmosphere, Moo-young cut him off.
"Right? You're not, are you? Phew. I almost got scared there. I was racking my brain about how to handle it if that was the case."
"Are you ignoring what I'm saying?"
"I'm listening? We're having a conversation, aren't we?"
What the hell? He was being overwhelmed by the guy's energy and vibe. Yi Hi-jun of all people—by this rookie? He clenched his teeth and tossed his cigarette away. His flushed face screamed it: 'This is embarrassing—!'
Go Kyung-min stepped in front of him. Moo-young peeked over his manager's shoulder at Yi Hi-jun.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said. I'm sure it was a slip of the tongue. You're so busy these days; it happens."
Oh ho, so busy he's losing his mind? Moo-young gave Yi Hi-jun a thumbs-up with an admiring expression, oblivious to how it only made things worse.
"Have a nice chat, then. See you later. Oh, and just to add—those rumors weren't from us. You know, the ones about Yi Hi-jun getting 'roasted by acting' by Moo-young."
"Exactly. Not at all!"
Go Kyung-min's skill at subtly grating on nerves was masterful. He'd rolled through tough spots in acting and beyond, so parrying like this was child's play.
"Let's go, Moo-young."
"Sunbae-nim! I'll have a coffee ready for you. Get your head straight! Aja aja, fighting?"
Moo-young pumped both fists in encouragement. His manager grabbed his arm, signaling enough already, and dragged him away.
Even as they rounded the corner and vanished, Moo-young kept shouting "Aja aja, fighting!"
"Th-th-those bastards—!"
"Hi-jun, hold it in."
"Argh! Fuck!"
Clang! Once they were gone, Yi Hi-jun kicked over a pile of props in frustration. His manager waved exaggeratedly to calm him down.
Behind the empty warehouse, Yi Hi-jun's humiliated roar echoed.
"That's weird."
As Moo-young muttered entering the set, Go Kyung-min poked his side to snap him out of it. Staff eyes and ears would be everywhere now.
"Just think of it as stepping in shit."
"Why would he even ask that? I never imagined it. Intentionally mess up? ...Intentionally?"
It was an impossible combination of words for Moo-young. And from Yi Hi-jun's perspective, it was probably an order, not a request—but Moo-young hadn't clocked that at all.
Go Kyung-min let out a faint chuckle and grabbed the script.
"Let's focus on filming. The new lighting director's coming by to check things out, right? Greet him properly and—"
He rattled off the schedule. Moo-young nodded, greeting the staff as he went. The weary faces lit up with warmth.
"Moo-young! You're here?"
"Hello!"
"Ooh, good morning!"
He exchanged eye smiles with every single staffer, down to the lowliest extra. He scanned around for the lighting director but didn't spot him.
"Straight to makeup?"
"Yeah. Noona, oh wait—I need to grab a coffee."
"Coffee? Don't you not drink it, Moo-young?"
The makeup team's maknae asked while tidying tools. The warehouse door swung open, and Yi Hi-jun stormed in, temper somewhat cooled—but his glare was electric. Moo-young muttered to himself: Still out of it, huh?
"Not for me. Coffee wakes you right up, right? Anyone need one?"
* * *
"Ready—!"
Jin Kyung-mun's cue rang out. Everyone held their breath, watching Yi Hi-jun on set.
Reenie's house overflowed with trash, no room to step.
Yi Hi-jun took a breath.
"Action!"
"Where are you? Where—!"
Jin tore through the floor like a madman, hunting the note Reenie had unwittingly taken. It held the factory system's daily-changing password.
Crash! Thud!
Whoosh! Slash!
They'd add foley later, but the raw energy wasn't bad. The boom mic hugged the set, capturing every sound.
The intense performance flowed on. Jin Kyung-mun nodded through the viewfinder and cut.
"Okay! Good take. We'll go with this. Prep the next scene. What number was it?"
"58 next. Yuna and Moo-young ready?"
"One more run-through first. Where's the action director?"
"Hi-jun-ssi, hold on."
After each take, staff dashed around frantically. Amid the chaos, the actors had some breathing room.
"First action together for those two."
"Yeah. Kinda tense."
"Hmm. Just trust Yuna and go."
It was basic action—just grabbing collars and rolling around.
Yuna thumped her chest confidently. Hyeo-jeong watched dryly.
'Can I sneak to the car and rest? Please?'
Her SOS to the manager came back as an X-finger. That damn still cut—they had to sit here for photos.
"Unnie, want one?"
Yuna offered snacks. Hyeo-jeong, who avoided them for diet reasons, couldn't now—not with the still team shoving lenses in her face.
"Thanks."
"Hyeo-jeong done for today?"
As the trio posed, Yi Hi-jun approached, wiping his hands. All four faced the lens.
Click! Click!
"Yeah, for now."
"No reshoots and you're out? Lucky. Perks of supporting roles, huh?"
Yi Hi-jun slung an arm around her, smirking snidely. Hyeo-jeong masked her irritation with a smile.
Yuna crunched a snack in reply.
"Then Uncle can do supporting too."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"If you envy supporting, do it. You weren't even Jin at first."
"...Hey, Yuna?"
"Photo time. Don't look at me—face forward."
Bold verging on sly! Yi Hi-jun glared at her ponytail, clicking his tongue. Their encounters were a whirlwind storm.
The managers huddled anxiously in the corner.
'What the hell is up with Moo-young?'
Everyone but Go Kyung-min. Did he not sense the sharp tension between Hyeo-jeong and Hi-jun, Hi-jun and Yuna?
"Try this pose?"
"Group shoulder hug!"
"Whoa, great shot."
If he had any awareness, he'd notice—but Moo-young was blissfully hyped, flashing Vs nonstop for the stills.
But Go Kyung-min knew what Moo-young didn't care about.
"Everyone, one real smile."
Moo-young wasn't oblivious—he just didn't give a damn. Water was water, mountains were mountains! As long as it didn't mess with filming.
He caught the still photographer's disappointed look and casually nudged his co-stars.
Click! Click!
"Yuna, Hi-jun-ssi! Moo-young! Over here!"
"Yes!"
Finally, the action director called them over. He flipped between script and monitor, explaining.
It was a tangle of bodies, as scripted.
"As rehearsed: tussle scene. Nothing major. Louie enters first? Spots Jin flipping the floor, blocks Reenie coming in, stops charging Jin. Jin grabs Louie's collar."
"What about our tied bandages?"
"Left hand, so pull it back—swing only with right. Yuna, shake with that. And struggle to help Louie?"
Trivial scene. But the action director was there solely because Jin Kyung-mun insisted on caution with the kid involved.
"Like this?"
Yi Hi-jun grabbed Moo-young's collar calmly, professionally.
"Then I'll twist right away."
"Block this side after—"
With all staff focused, Yi Hi-jun synced with Moo-young like a pro. Go Kyung-min sighed in relief.
"Like this—cut on the dot?"
"Speed it up a bit?"
"Yeah? Director!"
One-take goal for the tussle. They drilled it repeatedly.
Moo-young nodded, satisfied, rubbing his neck—
"Hm."
Yuna frowned, scratching her chin.
"What's up?"
"Dunno. Just feels off."
The kid's eyes fixed on Yi Hi-jun chatting with Jin Kyung-mun. Something weird. Different from usual.
"Anyway, momentum's key—improv the end naturally after shoving to the wall."
Jin Kyung-mun directed Moo-young and Hi-jun, then donned his headset. Time to roll.
Moo-young tugged the pensive Yuna's hand.
"Ready—!"
Snap!
"Action!"
"Fuck, where is it? The paper... it was yellow..."
Shrrrip!
Jin's hands shook like an obsessive's. Papers and trash flew; he was on the brink of madness.
Screech.
"Just changing clothes..."
"...!"
The door opened. Jin whipped around instinctively—like a beast lunging at sound.
Bam!
"Reenie! No!"
"Fuck, get over here! You!"
"Go! Go, Reenie! Untie this!"
Hi-jun slammed Moo-young against the wall by the collar. Louie strained to shield the kid. The binding bandage got in the way.
"Untie and run! Run!"
"Aaaah! Louie! It won't—can't untie!"
Reenie screamed at Louie's roar. Her grubby rag-bound body shook precariously between the men.
"You little shit! Acting tough—!"
'Acting tough? Not in the script.'
Then Hi-jun bellowed, shaking Moo-young's collar harder. Bam! Thud! Thud! Harsher than rehearsal, but manageable.
As Moo-young desperately pried him off—
Clang!
"Urk!"
Hi-jun suddenly staggered. He turned in disbelief. Yuna stood with a small pot, having whacked his head.
"What're you doing? Ah—seriously, Uncle! NG."
She sighed dramatically. Her eyes said it: "Adlib. Adlib."
Go easy. Every time Hi-jun pushed Moo-young, she'd smash his skull with full commitment.
"Gotta redo. Right, Director?"