Late-Night Confessions
Late into the night, Woo-hee finished off a can of beer alone in the living room and stood up.
Click. She turned off the light and gazed out the veranda window.
"The Seoul nightscape is so beautiful."
The majestic view of the Han River stretched out below at a glance. After taking in the sight for a moment with a quiet sigh of admiration, she headed to the bedroom. The single bed sat untouched beside her, while her mother lay on the bedding spread out on the floor.
Woo-hee approached and gently shook her mother's shoulder to wake her.
"Mom, sleep in the bed. Your back's bad—why lie on the floor?"
"...Mm, is my girl here? You heading to bed now...?"
Her mother replied in a sleepy voice.
Woo-hee massaged her mother's arm as she continued.
"Mom, get up. Sleep in the bed. I'll take the floor—come on!"
"No. I lay down earlier but couldn't sleep, so I came here. The floor's more comfortable for me. You sleep in the bed."
"......"
"Got it, my pretty girl?"
Her mother stroked her daughter's face with eyes still closed. Such a warm, tender touch. She rolled over and settled back into sleep. Woo-hee stood there looking troubled but eventually climbed into the bed with no choice.
"Argh, Baek Woojin! That's why I told you to order a queen size... You never listen. Gotta show off that you've never bought a bed before."
She grumbled to herself as she lay down. A few minutes passed like that. The room filled with quiet silence—then,
"Hoo."
Woo-hee, who had lain still with her eyes closed for a long while, let out a sigh.
Why can't I fall asleep...?
Was it the change in sleeping spot? She'd counted hundreds of sheep in her head, but sleep wouldn't come. As she tossed and turned, her eyes fell on her mother's back, lying sideways on the floor.
"Mom, you asleep?"
"...No. What's up, sweetie?"
Her mother replied softly, her voice thick with sleep.
"Just can't sleep."
"...Why not, my girl?"
"The house feels too big and unfamiliar. Woojin's success landing us in a place like this—it's surreal. Feels like a dream sometimes."
"...Me too."
Woo-hee smiled warmly. Her mother's expression must have been the same, even with her back turned. A brief silence followed. Woo-hee cautiously asked toward her mother's back.
"Hey, Mom. What do you think of Woojin's next project?"
"......"
No answer this time.
"Mom, asleep?"
"......"
Still nothing.
Guess she nodded off.
Thinking her mother was asleep, Woo-hee stared at the ceiling and murmured to herself.
"Mom, actually..."
She paused abruptly. Getting up, she checked again to make sure her mother was truly asleep before lying back down. Then, slowly, she spoke.
"I thought I understood Dad, you know? But Woojin never talked about him once. So I figured he still hated him..."
Woo-hee's voice trembled faintly.
"After reading that script earlier, it hit me. I was wrong. Woojin understood him too, all along..."
Her eyes had grown misty before she knew it.
"Ah, what am I doing, getting all emotional in the middle of the night at my age... Gotta sleep."
She wiped her tears, pulled the blanket up to her face, and tried to drift off.
But there was one thing Woo-hee never noticed: her mother's shoulders, trembling silently as she listened to every word. The ever-composed, always-bright daughter had never once shared this inner sorrow. Hearing it for the first time, her mother,
"......"
swallowed her tears without a sound, lest her daughter notice.
My girl, my boy... Mom's sorry.
It was a long, long night, filled with longing and resentment for the one who had left first.
The next morning, after dropping his mother and sister off at the family home, Woojin headed to the company. With Red Petals promotions about to kick off in earnest, he needed to attend the management team's meeting.
"Woojin oppa!"
As he entered the conference room, Da-hee came bounding over. True to her "Shinblly" nickname, her lovable charm was as irresistible as ever, even after so long.
"How've you been?"
"Great. You? I heard action school's been kicking your butt."
Da-hee's next project was a wuxia action film set in the Goryeo era, Sword Maiden. Cast as one of the three leads—the role of Wolgi (lunar energy)—she was deep in martial arts training, hitting action school five days a week, just like Woojin had.
She flexed her arm and said,
"Don't even ask~ I'm dying here. Look, I've dropped 5kg in a month."
Da-hee pouted cutely.
"You've got no fat to lose. Eat properly. And action school three times a week is plenty—don't overdo it."
"Aww~ But you went five times prepping for Prince Yeonsan. I'm gonna burn with passion like you, oppa!"
Woojin smiled and ruffled her hair as she clenched her fist. Da-hee's cheeks flushed ever so slightly.
Just then, Team Leader Kim Tae-gon entered the room.
"Before we dive into promo schedules, got something to pass on to Woojin and Da-hee."
"Something to pass on?"
"A special appearance offer. For both of you."
Special appearance: A role with minimal screen time but significant meaning, filled by a name actor. Often driven by friendships or loyalty with the production or cast—similar to a favor cameo, but with a guarantee fee as the key difference.
"What's the project?"
"Chosun Sunshine."
Senior Oh Seong-cheol's next drama. He'd heard it was half-pre-produced.
Which meant?
"Spot on. Seong-cheol senior called personally. Wants you both."
Woojin and Da-hee accepted immediately. No need to hesitate for Seong-cheol senior's request.
"But Woojin, one thing bothers me."
"Yeah?"
"There are other favor cameos... including Ahn Jong-hoon."
Kim Tae-gon, who knew all about Woojin and Ahn Jong-hoon's history, hesitated before adding that. But Woojin showed no flicker of emotion.
"......"
"And the script—your scenes overlap."
"Really?"
"Take a look. You too, Da-hee."
"Okay!"
Kim Tae-gon handed them each a copy of Chosun Sunshine episode 8 script. Pages rustled as they flipped through.
A moment later.
"...This'll be fun."
Woojin murmured with a sly smile. Kim Tae-gon and Da-hee startled at the sight—both staring wide-eyed. What was this familiar feeling emanating from Woojin, who sat still with eyes only on the script? An energy even stronger than on the Red Petals set welled up palpably.
Woojin turned to the two gawking at him and asked,
"When's the shoot?"
A week later, Woojin and Da-hee arrived together at a filming site in Nonsan. The main set for Chosun Sunshine, dubbed "Sunshine Land." Early June's weather already radiated summer's sweltering heat.
"Whoa, this weather..."
Da-hee, armed with handheld fans in both hands, grimaced as she stepped out first, followed by Woojin.
"Senior must be suffering."
"Yeah. How do you even wear period costumes in this...?"
Jun-an, also grimacing as he exited the car, looked at them.
"All set?"
"Yup. Just need our bodies there!"
"Let's go."
They entered the set. Staff bustled about prepping since morning. Woojin and Da-hee greeted each one, plus the director, before heading to the waiting room.
"You made it?"
Seong-cheol, cooling off after wrapping another scene, welcomed them warmly. Woojin and Da-hee bowed deeply.
"Hello, sunbaenim."
"Greetings!"
"Aigoo, no 90-degree bows between us. Sit, sit."
No awkwardness despite the time apart—like they were back on Red Petals yesterday.
"Your costume's unique, sunbaenim."
"This? I'm playing a pretty intense character this time."
Seong-cheol grinned. His role: Lee Wan-young, inspired by Yi Ha-young of the Eulsa Three Evils. He gushed excitedly about it—thick Hamgyong dialect, fluent Japanese, limp. Elements that amplified acting impact, letting him build on his rep for solid performances. A dream role loaded with actorly tools.
"What episodes are you two?"
"Episode 1."
"Aw, man, it'll be over quick..."
Seong-cheol pouted. Clearly thrilled to see them after so long.
"Nah, we've got night scenes too—sticking around late."
"Both of you?"
"Yeah. We're playing a couple this time~"
Da-hee leaned on Woojin's arm playfully.
"These two were lovey-dovey in a past life, and now again! Fate, right? Haha!"
Seong-cheol roared with laughter. As their banter flowed,
"Actor Woojin, Actor Da-hee. Time for costume and makeup check."
A staffer called them. Seong-cheol waved see you soon, and they followed to change and get made up.
[S#8-17 / Jahaeyeon's House in the Past / Jeonggwan, Aejin]
Today's scene for Woojin and Da-hee: Mid-episode 8 flashback into the past of protagonist Kim Jahaeyeon's parents, Kim Jeonggwan and Lee Aejin. Explaining how the righteous army volunteer's parents met their end. Of four scenes total, excluding solos, they shared two. The first was about to roll.
Right after giving birth to Jahaeyeon, Jeonggwan guards the bedside of the lying Aejin. Minimal lines—mood built purely on exchanged glances, breaths, expressions.
Even as staff adjusted cameras, Woojin and Da-hee ran lines, laser-focused.
"Ready!"
The FD's booming voice echoed across the set.
"Hoo."
Woojin high-fived the tense-but-exhaling Da-hee as she lay there and whispered,
"Let's nail it, Nok-su."
"Yes, my Yung-i."
Da-hee replied, stifling a grin.
Clack. Slate snapped—
"Ready, action!"
The director's call rang out. In the camera frame,
"......"
only Jeonggwan and Aejin remained, gazing at each other with tender eyes.