The Meltdown
In the continued individual shot filming, Ahn Jong-hoon's repeated NG cuts dragged things out far longer than expected. Shooting pressed on relentlessly, forcing the staff to hustle even harder than before.
"Move it!"
"Hey, clear that gear over there!"
No delays were tolerated if they wanted to stick to the daily shooting schedule. Voices naturally grew louder and sharper. The atmosphere felt like walking on thin ice.
It was a chronic issue on drama sets, always racing against the clock... but right now, it was amplified by one actor failing to pull his weight.
"Haa."
Im PD, glued to the monitor, let out endless sighs as he called cut after cut. Who could've imagined a special appearance with such a small role would eat up so much time? A rookie, sure—you could chalk it up to inexperience. But this? He was holding back, biting his tongue, but inside, he was probably unleashing every curse under the sun at Ahn Jong-hoon.
Finally, after twists and turns, the entire scene wrapped. Ahn Jong-hoon bolted to his car the second they called it, and that was the last anyone saw of him. His pride must've taken a brutal hit.
"Ugh! Time's crawling today."
Song Jun-an stretched and checked his watch. It was 7 p.m. The sun was dipping low, but they still had schedule left: a scene featuring Woojin and Da-hee's individual shots, plus the moment Kim Jeong-wan and Lee Ae-jin meet their end at Iwan-young's hands.
"About three or four hours to go."
"There's that restaurant they booked nearby. Let's grab dinner there."
Song Jun-an's suggestion made Woojin close his script.
"Sounds good. The one right across from the entrance, right?"
"Yeah. Looked tasty."
"Seong-cheol hyung said their spicy stir-fried octopus is killer."
"Let's hustle!"
Song Jun-an whistled and shook Da-hee awake from her nap next to Woojin.
"Huh... wha?"
She blinked sleepily, looking around with a groggy voice.
"Oppa, where... are we going...?"
"Da-hee, dinner time."
"Dinner?!"
The magic word snapped her awake.
"Gotta eat, right?!"
Just like that, her eyes sparkled as she licked her lips.
The trio headed to the crew-booked restaurant.
"Whoa! This octopus visual is unreal?"
"Let's dig in!"
"Eat up, eat up!"
They gasped in unison as the food hit the table. The spicy stir-fried octopus chased away the fatigue from early morning shoots in the heat and endless waiting—in one glorious bite. And the taste? No need to elaborate.
"Da-hee, you're an actress!"
"Psh, not in front of food!"
Da-hee and Jun-an bickered playfully while demolishing the meal like warriors. Woojin's laughter never stopped. With these two carefree, puppy-like souls, even long waits flew by.
An hour later,
"I'm gonna burst."
"Too early for that."
Da-hee shook her head at Jun-an rubbing his belly as they left.
"Round two: cafe."
"More eating?"
"Oppa, as the saying goes: sweet-salty, sweet-salty. Let's go!"
Da-hee led them to the cafe next door. Tasty desserts and great company. Chatting on the outdoor terrace in the early evening summer breeze, time melted away.
"Time to head back?"
"Yeah!"
"Hold up. Let's order some from downstairs first."
"Order what?"
"Huh?"
Jun-an smirked at their puzzled faces, flashing something from between his fingers: the company card.
"How many staff we talking?"
"Like 70?"
"Got it. Iced Americanos all around!"
"Outta nowhere?"
"You guys underestimate me... but listen."
He shrugged dramatically.
"This is what a real manager's support looks like. Company cards are for times like this!"
He grinned and stood.
"I'll order and bring 'em. Head to set first."
"Nah, we'll go with."
"Yeah, oppa! How you gonna carry 70 drinks alone?"
"You two... seriously, no manners! Fine, wait here—I'll grab the car."
Soon, they piled into the car loaded with coffee and returned to set. As they passed the entrance, unloaded, and entered the set...
Chaos everywhere.
"What's the racket?"
Jun-an craned his neck toward the noise.
"Sounds like from inside. Shooting?"
"Let's check."
They hurried quietly. As they neared the set's center, the sounds sharpened—not shooting noise.
"You should've said something sooner! Making us wait till night, and now this crap?!"
"If you'd acted right from the start, none of this! Who caused all the delays?!"
Definitely a fight. Starring Im PD... and Ahn Jong-hoon.
* * *
Woojin, Da-hee, and Jun-an, fresh on scene, couldn't believe their eyes. Ahn Jong-hoon and Im PD were furiously heated; staff milled about helplessly.
"Haa."
The scripter, fidgeting anxiously, sighed. She scratched her head awkwardly, then spotted Woojin.
"You're back?"
"What happened?"
"Well... something came up."
She took the coffee Woojin offered and continued.
"While you and Da-hee were out, Jong-hoon did his solo shots—more NG cuts."
"How many?"
"11."
15 in the first scene, 11 in the next...
"Director didn't wanna chew out a special guest, so he let it slide. But he hit his limit."
Right after Ahn's solos wrapped, Im PD called the assistant director and scripter, deciding to cut all his lines from the night scene.
Script changes happen all the time, nothing odd, but
"He told Jong-hoon right away, and boom—he exploded. And now... this mess."
Ahn had one scene left: final appearance in Kim Jeong-wan and Lee Ae-jin's deaths. But Im PD had lost all faith. No more lines—just a face shot for Yeom In-seop. Ahn blew up over it. No way he'd wait late just for a glimpse of his face.
"Actors NG sometimes—what'd I even do wrong?!"
"Man, I'm losing it."
Im PD caught his breath, incredulous.
"You don't get what's wrong?"
"So tell me!"
"How'd you analyze the character? Emotions don't match the scene, lines wrong, nonsense ad-libs. You think I'm not pissed?!"
"......"
"Know how many delays from you? I held back 'cause it's a cameo, but enough!"
Ahn was speechless. He knew it was true. Still, axing his lines entirely? Unacceptable.
"You want me playing sidekick to Baek Woojin?!"
It crushed his pride.
"...?!"
That's when he locked eyes with Woojin, stone-faced behind Im PD. Inferiority and rage surged again, and finally...
"This is fucking bullshit!"
Ahn crossed the line.
"What? What'd you say? You crazy bastard?! Hey!"
Im PD lunged yelling as Ahn cursed. Staff swarmed to separate them, tangling in the fray. Pent-up emotions erupted like spilled water—pure pandemonium.
"Hyung, stop! Please!"
Ahn's manager Su-ho clung to his waist, shocked his charge caused such a scene. Short on experience, tough for a kid handling him. Tearfully, he screamed like a madman.
"Even objectively, you're wrong! Stop, please!"
Su-ho's plea halted Ahn. The chaos froze in silence. Ahn's glare shifted from Im PD to Su-ho. Reading it, Su-ho realized his slip amid the haze.
"What, you little shit?"
"H-huh?!"
"You fucking punk! Wanna die?"
Ahn saw nothing but red. Reason snapped long ago. His fist reared back—straight at Su-ho's face.
- Thwack.
Then it stopped, trembling in mid-air. Blocked by another hand: Woojin's.
"Enough. Can't watch anymore."
"Let go if you know what's good."
"You aware how you look right now?"
Ahn yanked free, seemingly snapping back.
'Ah...'
Finally, surroundings registered. Where he was. What he'd done. Impulsive, aggressive words and actions. Regret flooded, but too late.
"I get your pride's hurt, but not like this."
Ahn just bit his lip, face flushed.
"Set's a real circus, huh~"
Oh Seong-cheol, who'd watched silently, chimed in.
"Director Im."
He called out.
"Dump this punk. We got it."
Lighting a smoke, he continued, ignoring Ahn like air.
"Me, Woojin, Da-hee'll cover. No worries."
Then,
"And you, Ahn Jong-hoon."
His gaze finally turned. Woojin got chills—icy, low tone unlike his usual warmth.
"Get out. We don't need trash like you in our drama."
Woojin's eyes widened at this side of his kind senior.
"......"
"I said get out, you shithead!!!"
The roar echoed, startling everyone.
"Hyung..."
Trembling silently, Ahn was led away by Su-ho.
With the troublemaker gone,
"Alright! Everyone, coffee break~"
Jun-an's staff treat thawed the ice. Shooting resumed smoothly; the uproar hushed over.
But later, after the episode aired,
Ahn Jong-hoon, announced as appearing, was fully edited out. Viewer questions snowballed.
And this was the start of events to come.