Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: That's You (2)
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“No way…… Why us of all people……?”
“Yeah, exactly. What the hell do they want with us……?”
“It’d make sense if they were waiting for our leads or the director, but why bother with the likes of us?”
No matter how you sliced it, the staff were just ordinary folks when it came to making movies. Sure, they popped up in the media now and then, but compared to celebrities, their exposure was practically zero.
And yet.
“Director Ji Un-jae! A word on this film, please!”
“……?”
A pack of fearless reporters charged right up, undaunted even by Director Ji’s massive frame.
That was the spark.
Director Ji stood there, eyes wide in shock, pupils quaking. But to those hyenas stalking their prey, it was like he didn’t exist. Or maybe it was even better—they could rip into him raw. Unfiltered reactions meant gold for headlines.
“The synopsis ends on a sad note, or so we’ve heard! Any connection to this incident?!”
“Incident……?”
“There’s talk you staged the stranding for dramatic flair. Care to comment?!”
“……Pardon?”
“No major injuries among the staff? Confirming everyone here was part of the stranded crew?!”
“Yeah, that’s…… true……”
“What was the situation like back then?!”
“Any casualties or serious injuries?!”
“How’d a group this size all survive? What’s the secret?!”
The barrage of questions left the staff reeling, minds blank. This was the polar opposite of what they’d expected.
“Just here to cover the film team?”
“Well, the leads’ll handle their own interviews, so we should bow out gracefully, right? What do you think, Director?”
“I…… agree……”
Domestic films, especially indie ones, rarely drew much public buzz. No interest meant no readership, so reporters usually played it cool too.
“If this were Hollywood and we were shooting an MCU flick, maybe…… but it’s not.”
They took pride in their work, no doubt. But self-importance had its limits.
“We’ll head out first, so take your time chatting, Yeonwoo and Do-hee. Promote the movie while you’re at it.”
The staff had chalked it up to the stars and spoken through their assistant director.
No one could’ve predicted how it’d blow up like this.
“Hey! It’s Kang Yeonwoo!”
“Yeon Do-hee’s here too!”
“They both okay? Any injuries?!”
“Hey! Quit shoving!”
Next out of the gate: Yeonwoo and Yeon Do-hee. Reporters swarmed them.
Staff still drew eyes, though.
“Yeon Do-hee! One word! How’d it feel, stranded in the wild as an actress?!”
“Tell us how you survived those days!”
Yeon Do-hee winced at the flashbulbs.
Yeonwoo felt it too.
*What the hell’s with these guys?*
A foul stench. This acrid, repulsive odor hit even on a glance—something he’d never quite get used to.
The chill prickling his skin? All too familiar.
*Yin energy this thick?*
Half-human, half-ghost. That’s how the scene looked through Yeonwoo’s eyes.
Irritating enough already, but the questions piling on Yeon Do-hee? Infuriating.
“Yeon Do-hee! Trapped in close quarters with the staff! Thoughts?!”
“How’d you handle personal needs during the stranding……!”
Yeonwoo’s brow furrowed deeper.
*Are they insane? Why ask that crap?*
No way this was concern.
His gaze swept the reporters coldly.
*No one lugging that many grudge spirits and obsessions around could be normal.*
Their sleazy curiosity screamed it. The grudge spirits and obsessions clinging to them? Proof they’d racked up plenty of resentment.
*How do they live with the mouth karma?*
Mouth karma. Sins of the tongue. If they knew the backlash, they wouldn’t spew this filth so freely.
This wasn’t the airport chat from the plane. Movie hype? Sure. But the nasty, lowbrow kind.
“What the……?”
“Uh, hey……”
The staff, unused to this chaos, looked lost. They’d caught on too. This wasn’t the coverage they’d imagined.
Panic must be flooding their heads by now.
*How’d they even find out about the stranding?*
They’d told no one. So this ‘stranding’ frenzy, laced with sleaze, was pure shock.
Yeonwoo shielded Yeon Do-hee from the dirty questions, buying time. But it wouldn’t last.
“Yeonwoo. Over here…… I’ll handle it……”
Director Ji pushed through, face set. Slender guy, but that bulk came in clutch.
“Hey, what the—!”
“Urk!”
Reporters tumbled at his shove.
But like cockroaches, others filled the gap.
*Flash!* *Flash!*
They snapped it all eagerly. Perfect fodder: director roughing up press.
[Movie Director Assaults Reporter! Media Respect Needed……]
[Director Resorts to Violence Over Coverage…… Studio Bullying. Okay?]
[Violence at Airport? Who’s the Director Dodging Press?]
Predictable. Headlines flashed in Yeonwoo’s mind.
“Get Yeonwoo and Do-hee out……”
Director Ji stammered, sweating. For a timid guy to go this far? Serious trouble.
Yeonwoo shook his head.
Good folks busting their asses didn’t deserve fake-news BS.
“Right now—”
Yeonwoo opened his mouth.
Coincidence? Airport security lines meant nothing to the tabloid hacks yapping away. But their voices cut off.
“As you know, we just returned from a major ordeal, so a proper response is tough.”
The buzz died instantly—more impact than expected.
“So much interest…… thank you. But given the circumstances, we ask for your understanding.”
Yeonwoo’s lips curved smoothly.
Reporters meeting his eyes nodded unconsciously.
“Film questions? We’ll field them after recovering. Requests welcome then.”
His crisp voice drilled into their ears. Irresistible pull. Like they *had* to drop it and come back later. Anxiety if they didn’t obey.
“Other inquiries? Follow procedure and reach out.”
As if the frenzy never happened, most reporters nodded blankly.
“No, Kang Yeonwoo! You can’t just shut us down like that! We came all this way and you tell us wait……?!”
Some unseen hack piped up boldly. But:
“Shut down? Regrettable if it came off that way. You’re all rational folks with standards—sure you won’t misunderstand. Right?”
“Y-Yeah!”
“Exactly! We’re not trash!”
“Yeah, they came all this way……”
Nearby reporters, already swayed, scolded him.
Not just that.
*Ugh. What’s this vibe? Feels like one wrong word and I’m screwed……*
Not the usual crowd crush. Something perilous, precarious. One misstep and you’d plummet.
Every time he twitched to speak, the chill intensified.
“Thanks for understanding.”
A bright smile. Why’d it look so damn scary?
In the lull:
“Excuse us. Make way.”
“Coming through.”
Figures slipped through the deflated press. Black suits, built like Director Ji.
“Kang Yeonwoo? That you?”
“Yes, but……?”
“We’ll escort you from here. This way.”
Suits swiftly split press from crew.
Ushered them out smoothly.
“Huh? Wait?!”
“Hey, hold on! We need interviews!”
Late-blooming reporters chased. Suits shook them off easy.
As if the sleazy barrage never was, the film team exited clean.
Crew snapped out of it by hulking black vans.
“We getting kidnapped or what……?”
“Kidnap us for what……?”
“Gonna hit us with weird questions like those reporters……?”
Wild guesses flew softly.
Didn’t last.
“Hey, the investor?”
A familiar face stepped from a sleek black sedan behind the vans.
“Mind if I borrow Yeonwoo?”
“Of course……”
“Y-Yeah, sure……”
“Director, it’s fine…… right?”
“Well……”
“Of course it is! Let’s head to the studio!”
Assistant director cut Director Ji off mid-protest, dragging him.
Door opened before Yeonwoo.
“Get in.”
“……”
Woo Do-gyeom held it himself.
Normally a no-go, but Yeonwoo slid in.
Woo followed. Sedan glided off.
“You look rough. Rough flight? Should’ve come with me.”
Deep baritone, almost gentle.
Yeonwoo’s reply? Ice.
“That airport mess. Your doing?”
*
“My doing?”
“You rounded up those reporters.”
“Harsh misunderstanding.”
Woo tilted his head.
“Let’s be precise.”
*Trying to play innocent?*
“Spreading the news that drew those reporters. That was you, right?”