A Brief Encounter with Yeonsan, Nothing Like Expected
Unlike what he'd imagined, the short meeting with Yeonsan left Baek Woojin's mind in utter chaos upon returning to reality.
He hadn't entered the body of the character he'd met in the virtual world or experienced his life. It was a completely different algorithm from when he'd met Kyubo-hyung. All that remained was a curt explanation and a mysterious mission. And the single jade ring Yeonsan had given him.
"This is one of the few mementos left by my royal mother. To me, it is more precious than all the golden mountains and silver rivers of this land. I entrust it to you—handle it with care."
- Tap.
Woojin fiddled silently with the ring before sitting at the desk. It was time to sort things out.
"Tomorrow's scenes 1 through 3..."
He spread out paper and tomorrow's cue sheet, then jotted down the questions and worries swirling in his head.
[1. Yeonsan's mentioned answer = Expressing his image through my acting. Probably?]
[2. He clearly said he'd know when I find the answer if I wear the jade ring. So wearing it during filming should convey #1. It should reveal why he became the deposed king—no issue there.]
[3. He said he wanted to know the reason for his deposition...]
The pen moved swiftly but lingered on #3. That was his biggest worry, the most confusing part.
Because the Yi Yeonsan he'd met in the virtual world was still far from...
The tyrant described in modern records.
But filming followed the scene order, so tomorrow's cue sheet meant shooting up to scene 3.
"This is the problem..."
Woojin clutched his head.
Scene 1 tomorrow showed Yeonsan realizing the truth about his mother's death—the spark that ignited his madness.
Scene 2 had Yeonsan, his eyes already changed, grabbing a sword and storming the Hall of Sages, demanding to know who killed his mother and causing chaos.
Scene 3 depicted Yeonsan brutally murdering Concubine Jeong and Concubine Eom, the two women who'd driven his mother to death.
In other words, scenes packed with the raw reasons Yeonsan became a tyrant, spelled out in every line of dialogue.
If he saw them through the jade ring...
Wouldn't he transform into a tyrant in the blink of an eye?
"This is driving me crazy."
No matter that it was a virtual world—even Yeonsan right after his 1495 ascension couldn't instantly become the 1504 tyrant. History couldn't be altered, nor should it be. He had to show it as it was, without distortion. Yet he also had to complete the mission. What a tangled mess.
'I thought it'd be like Kyubo-hyung's mission—just focus on acting. This is so ambiguous. Damn...'
Head bowed, he wrestled with the unsolved puzzle.
- Knock knock.
"Woojina. You unpacked yet?"
Jun-an entered the room. After the long drive, he'd crashed at the lodging and woken refreshed, looking cheerful.
"This place is awesome, right?"
Jun-an stretched repeatedly and drew back the curtains. The motel was modest, but the view outside was stunning.
"......"
But Woojin stayed silent.
"What's up? Something wrong?"
Still no response from Woojin. He wasn't ignoring Jun-an—it was like he didn't even notice him there, lost in deep thought.
"Woojin?"
"Whoa!"
Only when Jun-an sneaked up and poked his side did Woojin react.
"You scared me. Hyung, knock next time..."
"What're you talking about? I did knock and come in. I even talked to you, and you didn't notice?"
"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking... didn't realize."
"What could you be thinking so hard you don't notice someone right next to you?"
Jun-an's gaze naturally drifted to the paper on the desk. In that instant, Woojin hurriedly swept it away with an awkward smile.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Stressed about tomorrow's shoot?"
Whew— Luckily, Jun-an hadn't seen the contents. Close call.
"Yeah. Kinda tense."
Woojin brushed it off vaguely. Jun-an grinned.
"It's crank-in tomorrow, so take it easy and rest up. Condition's the most important thing."
"Thanks, hyung."
"No biggie. Sorry I nag so much—manager's job. You get it, right?"
"Of course. Don't worry!"
Jun-an ruffled Woojin's hair before heading to the door.
"If you're stuck, think simple!"
"Got it, hyung. Night."
"Night~"
- Click.
The moment Jun-an left, Woojin clutched his head again. The worries he'd briefly forgotten flooded back.
"Haa."
He let out a deep sigh. Then—
"Wait. Simple?"
His eyes flashed.
That casual remark Jun-an tossed on his way out. The single word circled back and landed in Woojin's mind.
"Right! Why was I overcomplicating it?"
The piled-up thoughts crumbled in an instant, clearing the stuffiness like a breakthrough.
"Yeah! Just take what Yeonsan said at face value—simple! Baek Woojin, you idiot!"
Shouting to himself, Woojin spread the paper again.
- Scribble scribble scribble.
And smoothly rewrote his notes.
[He didn't say when to wear the ring, so no need every shoot...]
Sometimes, answers to seemingly impossible problems come from unexpected places. Like solving acting dilemmas with the diary from the mysterious old woman.
This one had an easy fix too!
[Yi Yeonsan just wanted to know why he met that miserable end in the future. No need to reveal the root cause and risk influencing past history—even if it's virtual. Rash changes could bring big trouble. Better be cautious.]
Woojin set down the pen. His face lit up this time.
"Yesss! Done!"
With the worry resolved, he leaped onto the bed. Prep complete, condition perfect.
Woojin slowly closed his eyes.
'Jun-an hyung, thank you! Love you.'
He whispered silently in his heart.
Mun Kyung-sae Open Set.
Completed in February 2000 and remodeled in 2008, it had become Korea's largest historical drama filming site. Now boasting 130 buildings, it was a fully realized set.
After the remodel, it hosted mostly sageuk dramas—but Red Petals was the first feature-length historical film to shoot here.
For Woojin and the entire cast, it held profound meaning.
Perhaps that's why, on crank-in morning, the set buzzed with about 150 cast and crew plus entertainment reporters crowding the entrance.
"All cast, gather please. Starting soon!"
A powerful shout kicked off the crank-in ceremony. As the ritual table arrived, Director Ryu bowed three times first.
"We offer this to heaven, earth, and the spirits for the start of our film Red Petals!"
He thrust bills into the pig's head centerpiece and offered a liquor cup. The lead actors, including Woojin, followed with their bows, the site ablaze with prayers for a smash hit.
After the ritual, reporters withdrew per staff guidance. Once the set cleared, filming began immediately.
The long-awaited first scene. The one from script reading where rookie actor Baek Woojin had left a powerful impression on everyone.
The trigger for the 'Gapsa Purge,' where Yeonsan—who'd managed state affairs decently despite the bloody Mu-o Purge—suddenly snapped.
Specifically, the moment villainous Im Sa-hong handed him the bloodstained red robe of his mother, revealing the truth.
"Hold it tight there."
"Wrap more. Add two more people."
"This is good. Pull back!"
The first shoot's location: Yeonsan's chambers. Art, directing, and lighting teams swarmed, pasting matte black backdrops everywhere light seeped in.
Filming in morning light, but the scene was nighttime—so blocking all set light.
"......"
The area bustled, but Woojin sat silently in the chambers, staring at the floor. Seong-cheol too.
"All set up!"
Moments later, light was perfectly blocked. Under the dim chamber lights, Jimmy Jib cameras and gear were positioned.
Throughout, Woojin and Seong-cheol hadn't stirred. Fully immersed in their roles.
Like at script reading, they led the shoot with heavy responsibility. Knowing this, Director Ryu and crew prepared without disturbing their focus.
Staff paths checked, makeup finalized.
"Shooting!"
With prep done, filming proper began. The camera frame capturing Woojin and Seong-cheol in full shot thrummed with tension ready to burst.
"All staff, standby quietly."
No noise, no movement. Director Ryu's quiet radio command.
The AD glanced at his expression. He was enjoying it. The screen's eerie tension. He didn't want to break it.
'Anticipation, excitement.' Perfectly captured in two words.
After script reading, Ryu had planned a meal with Woojin and Seong-cheol, as discussed in their first meeting.
But hearing from manager Jun-an how immersed Woojin was, he scrapped it. Seong-cheol, too, holed up at home post-reading, stimulated by Woojin.
So he postponed to the first cast dinner, eagerly awaiting today.
Barely containing his excitement for their ensemble—which had dominated reading alone. Now on the verge of revelation, his full attention glued to the camera made perfect sense.
Even for the AD who'd stuck by Ryu for years, delaying his debut—it'd been ages.
Last time he'd seen that expression: one of ultra-high focus.
"Camera rolling."
"Sound okay."
As the actors' tension eased slightly in frame—
"Scene 1, take 1."
- Snap.
The slate broke the silence.
"Three, two, one. Action!"
Ryu's call echoed through Yeonsan's chambers.
"This is... from my royal mother..."
Yeonsan's fury clutching the bloodied red robe, harmonized with—
"Indeed, Your Highness."
The sleazy smile of the wicked retainer, filling the frame.