The Final Shoot of the Day
The last scenes of the day were set against the exterior and interior of Kangnyeongjeon. They started with the exterior shot.
Im Sa-hong had selected beauties from every corner of the kingdom. Dozens of women who had entered the palace bowed their heads one by one in the front courtyard of Kangnyeongjeon. As Yeonsan had commanded, these were the women to be called the "Frolic."
"Hahaha!"
Yeonsan burst out barefoot, unable to hide his joy.
"Where did you find these gems?"
After personally inspecting the women's faces, Yeonsan continued with a satisfied expression.
"Bring the three I just picked to my chambers at the hour of the dog."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"If any show signs of longing for a husband or lover and try to pull away from my embrace, you have permission to behead them without reporting to me first."
"We are eternally grateful for Your Highness's benevolence."
Im Sa-hong's smile brimmed with the smug superiority of a man who held the power of the realm in his grasp.
"I shall frolic with you all atop a Peach Blossom Paradise for a thousand generations!"
Having publicly declared his intent to shun state affairs and indulge in pleasure, women, and revelry, he added, "Let me show you my playground!" With women tucked under both arms, Yeonsan dashed off. The camera captured the scene in a tilt-up shot, moving vertically from low to high while the camera remained stationary.
"Cut! Okay!"
Ryu's crisp voice rang out.
Woojin gave the extras a light bow by way of apology. It was acting, of course. But in those split-second grabs of faces or when dashing off with them under his arms, he might have pulled a bit too hard without realizing it. These were the little mishaps that came from deep immersion in the role.
"Let's push a little harder. Last one—Scene 23. Moving to the bedchamber."
Finally, the last scene. Yeonsan sharing his bed with three women. The moment Da-hee had first sensed tension in Woojin's expression. It was the scene he felt would be the toughest in the entire production.
"For this shoot, everyone but the minimum crew clears out."
Following the director's orders, only essential staff remained on set. Ryu had prioritized female staffers among them. It was an unavoidable nude scene for the actors, and this was his way of minimizing discomfort.
The makeup team quickly handled the modesty patches. Meanwhile, Ryu conferred with the cinematographer on camera angles and blocking. Some exposure was inevitable, but they aimed to keep it as tasteful as possible. Capturing Yeonsan's entranced expression and emotions lost in lust mattered far more than the nudity itself.
"Ready."
There were two angles total. One capturing the three women's backs as they entered the chamber. The other a jib shot from above, looking down on Yeonsan tumbling with them on the bed.
"Shooting now. Quiet on set!"
Ryu's voice was sharper than ever. With nudity involved, he wanted to wrap in as few takes as possible.
"Scene 23, take one."
"Stand by!"
Clack. The slate snapped.
"Ready—and action!"
At the director's call, rough breaths and suggestive sounds soon filled the chamber.
And, 'Are you watching?'
During this scene, Woojin's finger bore a jade ring.
* * *
"Today's shoot was the toughest."
Those were Woojin's first words upon returning to the dorm.
Hiss~ Clunk!
Jun-an silently handed him a can of beer. Woojin hadn't touched alcohol since arriving at the Mun Kyung-sae Open Set. For him to suggest drinking first meant...
Today had been brutally exhausting. It was easy to imagine.
"What was the hardest part?"
"Too much to think about."
Woojin gulped down the beer, his face weary.
"Up until now, I could just dive into the emotions."
"Yeah."
"But today, it wasn't just emotions—I had to watch my partner, my gaze, hand positions, everything. My head was spinning."
On set, Woojin always maintained peak focus. Even when the camera wasn't rolling, he held onto Yeonsan's emotional thread. It had been relatively smooth. Nothing much disrupted his immersion.
But today was different. Mindful of his co-stars' exposed state, his attention splintered. He barely kept Yeonsan's emotional line from fraying, burning twice the usual energy.
"I always feel like I'm lacking, but coming back to the dorm after a shoot, I'd usually feel satisfied enough."
Jun-an listened quietly to Woojin's earnest words.
"Like, I made it through the day as Yeonsan."
Woojin sighed, adding more.
"But today? Not sure. Did I do well? More regret than satisfaction. First time I've felt like this."
Living as a tyrant, every day for Woojin was like walking on thin ice, balancing on a swaying rope. Mentally and physically drained to the limit.
"You did great."
What Woojin needed now was praise and encouragement. Jun-an knew it well.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I was shocked earlier."
"Why?"
"You vanished."
Jun-an smiled, continuing.
"In that awkward setup, once 'action' hits, you're someone else. No Baek Woojin. Just Prince Yeonsan left."
"......"
"Don't overthink it. No one's ever seen the real Yeonsan. Yours is the definitive version."
Woojin nodded. Spot on. No one alive had met him. It was time for conviction: This is how he was. Not endless What ifs? Few knew Yeonsan better from Red Petals than Woojin. His interpretation was the truth.
"Woojin-ah. Watching you earlier? Gave me chills."
"Chills?"
"Ryu's filmography is all masterpieces, but none have hit ten million yet."
"Right."
Indeed. Ryu hadn't joined the ten-million club. He always broke even, but 8.3 million was his record.
"This one's breaking ten. Bet you a tenner."
Jun-an declared confidently.
"Thanks, hyung."
Woojin looked bolstered, shoulders straightening from their slump.
Jun-an clapped his shoulder.
"If it happens, you're the hero."
He was certain. Not as Woojin's manager, but as a fan who'd watched the shoot. Red Petals would soar.
* * *
The next morning, Ryu called Woojin and Seong-cheol to his room.
"I've decided to tweak the schedule a bit."
As soon as they sat, Ryu spoke up.
"You two need a break."
He could see it clearly. As shoots progressed, the leads' energy was dulling from day one. Their skill masked it perfectly—no real issue. But pouring everything daily begged the question: For whose sake?
"Director, by break you mean...?"
"I wanted to shoot chronologically to trace the characters' emotional arcs through time, as I mentioned before."
"Yes. Seong-cheol hyung and I felt the same."
Seong-cheol and Woojin nodded.
"Monitoring flows nicely that way, but it's brutal on you two."
Ryu sipped his tea, adding,
"I figured, but trying it? Worse than expected. What do you think?"
Neither contradicted him. They agreed. The mental toll was mounting. Only they carried 95% of the film, day in, day out. No small feat.
"Yeonsan and Im Sa-hong drive over 95% of it. If you burn out, the film's pointless."
His care for his actors rang true.
"So, compromise: this."
Ryu handed them new cue sheets.
"We'll still shoot your scenes in order. Just knock out the ones without you first."
Checking it, post-Scene 23, their appearances were pushed to mid-to-late schedule. Non-Yeonsan/Im scenes like "King Jungjong's Coup Plot" and "Jang Nok-su solo shots" were pulled forward. Voice-only bits would be ADR'd later, Ryu explained.
"Contacted the supports via assistant director yesterday. Start with those—you rest up."
Woojin and Seong-cheol bowed in thanks.
"Thank you, Director!"
"You've worked hard, hyung!"
Ryu bowed back, grateful.
"You've earned it. See you in two weeks."
Side shots and supporting scenes would take two weeks total. A month since set arrival.
Finally heading out.
Straight home.
Woojin called his mom, packed, and headed to the car without looking back. He craved the rest.
"Woojin oppa!"
Then, a voice from behind. Da-hee approaching from afar.
"On break?"
"Yeah. Schedule changed."
"Rest up—for my share too. Bring Melona when you return~"
She beamed. Woojin ruffled her hair with a smile. She could only confide acting talk with him, her peer. Leaving her alone felt oddly guilty.
"Kinda bummed."
"About what?"
"Your role, Jang Nok-su. First shoot without me. Gonna miss it."
"Watch when you get back. You'll be shocked."
Da-hee clenched her fist.
"Can't wait."
"See ya, oppa!"
She hurried back to set. Woojin watched her go, then slid into the Starex. Leaning back, his eyes shut instantly.
Her passionate words echoed.
You'll be shocked.
A cute declaration of war. The acting showdown in two weeks? Already thrilling.