A Day of Two Meanings
Early morning in the inner quarters. Ae-jin lay there, her entire body drenched in sweat, steadying her breath. Jeong-wan gazed at her with a worried expression, gently stroking her face. The camera captured the two in a full shot before slowly zooming in for a close-up. Just as Jeong-wan's hand, which had been caressing his wife's face, slid down to grasp her hand, he spoke slowly with trembling lips.
"…You've endured so much hardship, my lady."
His eyes, filled with tender remorse for not being able to share the pains of childbirth, met his wife's. Despite her exhaustion, she smiled brightly and replied, "I'm fine, my lord," her consideration aimed at easing his burden. No words were needed; the camera frame brimmed with emotions conveyed solely through the two actors' expressions and gazes.
Im Eun-bong PD, the director of Joseon Sunshine, the cinematographer, and actors including Oh Seong-cheol who had gathered by the monitor—all swallowed hard, utterly immersed. "Good, perfect!" "Keep it going just like this!"
"My lord."
"Speak, my lady."
"Have you seen the baby?"
"I have. She's the spitting image of you—such a beautiful girl."
Jeong-wan continued to stroke her hand, smiling. Ae-jin shyly continued, "Have you thought of a name for her?"
"What about Ja-hyeon? It means to awaken on one's own."
"Such a lovely name."
"Even so, who could compare to you, my lady? Haha!"
The joy of gaining a daughter, a simple conversation with his beloved partner. A burst of happy, playful laughter filled the air—but it didn't last long. The sunlight streaming through the open window was exceptionally bright. On a day when all blessings seemed to pour upon this couple, when joy should overflow without end.
"Hoo."
Jeong-wan, staring at the sun hanging in the sky, let out a deep sigh. Ae-jin instantly understood its meaning, her heart growing heavy. In a quiet voice, Jeong-wan murmured,
"On a day like today, I desperately wish Joseon's fate were as bright as that sun in the heavens."
"……."
"The Joseon that Ja-hyeon will grow up in may become a harsh world where the unawakened are weeded out. Even more so than now…"
"…Perhaps the very name 'Joseon' may vanish forever."
An era powerless to stop Japan's blade from mercilessly carving out Joseon's heart. No matter the joyous event, it was all overshadowed by the singular sorrow of a lost nation.
"We must prevent Joseon's fate from turning that way, yet as parents, all we can do is infuse our daughter's name with our hopes—it's nothing but shameful and frustrating."
"My lord…."
Despite Jeong-wan's attempts to stop her, Ae-jin struggled to sit up with his support.
- Swish.
This time, Ae-jin's hand caressed Jeong-wan's face. The two locked eyes in silence for a moment.
Yes. For them, today held two layers of significance.
The birth of their daughter, Ja-hyeon.
And,
"Today, I shall without fail point a gun at Lee Wan-young's heart in the name of Joseon!"
The D-day for the assassination plot against Lee Wan-young, the pro-Japanese foreign minister and traitor.
"…Please be careful, my lord."
She couldn't even bring herself to say "come back safely." She didn't want to send him, but she had no choice; even if she begged him not to go, he had no choice but to leave. Tears welled in Ae-jin's reddened eyes.
- Plop.
They fell mercilessly to the floor. But she didn't sob aloud. She swallowed it all inside. To keep her husband's resolve from wavering on the path to death….
"…Take care of yourself, my lady."
He too couldn't promise her he'd return, so he suppressed his sorrow and held her close, silently patting her back. It was the best comfort he could offer them both in this moment.
…….
"Cut, okay!"
Im PD shouted loud enough to shake the set. In that instant, Woojin, Da-hee, and everyone on set felt it.
Ah, this is a real take!
The moment "cut" was called, Da-hee, still in Woojin's arms, quickly gathered her emotions and lifted her head. Their eyes met, and Woojin smiled first, murmuring softly,
"Your acting was incredible, Da-hee."
"You too, oppa…."
Da-hee cupped her flushed cheeks with both hands, hiding them from Woojin.
* * *
After the one-take okay, they shot individual close-ups and reaction shots for the scene. Even repeating it several times, Woojin and Da-hee's performances remained flawless. Not a single NG; the shoot progressed smoothly and wrapped quickly.
Monitoring the footage, Im PD was floored.
The rumors were true….
Staff rotate between projects constantly—handling A-team schedules alongside B-team, jumping between films and dramas without boundaries. Naturally, some crew from Wanted and Red Petals were now on Joseon Sunshine.
They'd always raved about one actor: Baek Woojin.
Im PD had heard the name endlessly and grown curious. From cranking in to up, NG from his own mistakes could be counted on one hand. An actor who convinced everyone on set with sheer talent. One who elevated his co-stars' potential to the max.
And more.
For a rookie with just one and a half years debuted and only two projects under his belt, it sounded like over-the-top hype laced with MSG.
"Oh hyung-nim."
"Yeah?"
"Those two… what the hell are they?"
But seeing it firsthand, Im PD realized the "stories" were fact. The title "monster rookie" wasn't hype. And as a bonus, there was that intriguing newbie actress holding her own against the monster rookie.
Oh Seong-cheol chuckled at the stammering PD.
"You regretting it now, punk?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"Exactly~ That's why I told you their next projects weren't set, and you should've listened. Tsk tsk."
"I didn't know it'd be this good… How could I?!"
Earlier, Seong-cheol had been the first cast in Joseon Sunshine. Right after confirmation, he'd pitched Woojin and Da-hee hard to Im PD. But after a long hiatus, the PD hadn't taken it seriously—his senses dulled, trends missed.
Woojin might've passed anyway for Burnt, but Da-hee? That stung in conversation with Seong-cheol. To Im PD back then, pre-release Da-hee was just a nobody, but her special appearance role had shocked him like no other rookie.
"Im PD. Mark my words—you'll regret this later."
"Why, again?!"
"Woojin's a given, but Da-hee? She'll explode after the movie drops. You missed a golden chance."
"Ah, hyung, seriously!"
"So next time, listen to me, kid."
Im PD pouted at Seong-cheol's teasing. Nothing excited a director more than discovering a "persona"—a talent they unearthed themselves.
"Quit moping and let's grab lunch. Up!"
"Fine…."
Im PD stuck out his lip and rose with Seong-cheol. That's when,
"Hello. Seniors, Director."
A man who'd overheard their chat approached with a stiff smile and a bow. Another special appearance actor: Ahn Jong-hoon.
"Nice to meet you. Looking forward to working together."
"Yeah, good luck."
Im PD's mind was tangled with regrets over Woojin and Da-hee; Seong-cheol had no personal ties to Ahn. Quick greetings exchanged, they moved on. Heading to the food truck after an early wrap, they thought nothing of it.
But,
"Fucking hell…."
Left alone, Ahn Jong-hoon's face twisted viciously as he muttered a curse. From arrival, staff praising Woojin and Da-hee irked him. Now the director mentioning Woojin too.
And he took the PD's attitude as outright dismissal.
"What the fuck makes Baek Woojin so special everywhere?"
Two years ago, winning Rookie at the 50th Daehan Arts Awards—scripts flooded in, calls everywhere.
Now? Crickets.
Roles and image once funneled first to Ahn Jong-hoon now went elsewhere.
To Baek Woojin.
Simple reason: their looks overlapped heavily.
SJ Entertainment had tied Woojin contractually, using him as a "hunting dog" to snag roles for Ahn.
Once juiced dry?
Who cares if that guy's life tanks or he quits acting?
Dump him.
But the punk who couldn't even speak casually to him three years back—the "audition proxy" he'd mocked—had comet-like risen, now untouchably ahead.
How to make sense of it?
Unable to rationalize apology or reflection, Ahn's inferiority and victimhood toward Woojin festered unrecognized.
"Jong-hoon hyung!"
His manager came panting from afar.
"……."
Ahn stood stone-faced; the manager hovered cautiously.
"What."
"Uh… food truck's that way, so grab lunch there…."
"Fuck food. Turn on the AC in the car. Dying here—who's messing around?"
"Y-yes… got it."
"Do it right, asshole."
"……."
"Go!"
The manager scurried back.
"Sigh, fuck. How long'll that one last? No decent ones around."
Four managers in the last year; Ahn's hysterics peaked. Only he was blind to it.
"Keh—ptui!"
Spitting his foul mood, Ahn headed to his van. Passing the food truck, he saw Woojin lunching and chatting with Da-hee, Seong-cheol, leads, and PD.
Crossing the set, Ahn glared daggers at Woojin the whole way.
Lunch over, shooting resumed. The smooth, upbeat Joseon Sunshine flow hit a snag.
- Click.
"No, now… haa."