The Misunderstanding Clears Up
“Tae-gyu, what the hell are you...?!”
By the time Kim Kwang-woo and Director Hong arrived at the chaotic scene...
“So, yeah.”
Yang Yong-chan, the director, revealed himself as his mask and hat came off.
“...A surprise visit?”
Once his face was visible, Tae-gyu recognized him too. A master director who could hold his own not just in Korea, but worldwide.
“This is embarrassing, really.”
“Director, are you okay?”
“Tae-gyu, you know him, right? This is Director Yang Yong-chan. He was supposed to drop by as a surprise today.”
But.
This guy...
Tae-gyu kept his suspicious glare fixed on the director, who was sheepishly scratching the back of his head.
“Then why were you hiding like that?”
“Well... the director's a bit of a prankster, so he wanted to keep it secret to surprise the actors while cheering on the set. But Director, still, you could've given us a heads-up before arriving.”
“What about the telescope?”
“Oh, Tae-gyu, you didn't know? That's one of Director Yang's prized possessions. A viewfinder gifted by a family member.”
“Hmm.”
Come to think of it, that shady glint in his eyes wasn't there after all. Tae-gyu, who had been struggling to contain the hot emotion surging from deep within and glaring at the director, suddenly...
...Ah.
...quickly burned off Seo Woong-tae's dokkaebi fire.
Whoosh!
He bowed deeply to Director Yang.
“I see. Sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize—it was my fault. I'm Yang Yong-chan, the director.”
“I'm Lee Tae-gyu. Sorry for the rudeness on our first meeting.”
“Lee... Tae-gyu?”
Director Yang tilted his head after shaking hands with Tae-gyu. Kim Kwang-woo chuckled beside them and spoke up.
“Director, this guy's the one. The actor we at DK begged you to meet.”
“Ah.”
“Truth is, when we asked you, we were a bit worried it might burden you—”
Kim Kwang-woo's affable explanation about the casting continued, but.
Hmm.
Director Yang Yong-chan's attention was fixed on Tae-gyu. Unlike what he'd seen earlier, this actor now wore the most impassive expression imaginable.
“So our CEO was thinking—”
“Sorry to interrupt, but can I ask one thing?”
“Go ahead, Director!”
“What's the role Lee Tae-gyu is playing in this film?”
“Detective.”
“Detective?”
“Yes, and not just any detective—a pretty hot-blooded one. The kind who goes berserk at the sight of criminals. Honestly, if we're talking about this actor—”
Director Yang's eyes quickly scanned Tae-gyu again. A detective role. Completely different from when he'd grabbed his collar. No hot emotions, no attempt to impress—not even a hint of interest. Just that utterly indifferent expression.
This guy, could he be...
As his curiosity stirred...
By then, word of the master director's arrival had already spread among the crew and cast on set.
What—?! Director Yang Yong-chan—?!
The crowd swarmed like clouds.
Everyone lost it. Not just the cast of Model Detective 3, but even the crew who'd been tipped off in advance by DK Entertainment about the surprise visit.
“Whoa, Director Yang Yong-chan?!”
“An honor to meet you.”
“Is that really Director Yang Yong-chan?”
“Holy shit, insane.”
“First time seeing him in person...”
“Director! I'm a huge fan—the last film was mind-blowing!”
“Can I get a photo...”
“No, but what's he doing here!?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Director Yang Yong-chan?!”
A barrage of attention poured toward one of Korea's top three master directors. In an instant.
Clap clap—!
A chair the same size as Director Hong Woo-sik's, complete with a cozy lap blanket, was placed beside him. Kim Kwang-woo and Director Hong puffed out their chests, seating the still-glancing-around Yang Yong-chan in the prime spot.
“Alright, everyone! Director Yang Yong-chan is here to cheer on our Model Detective 3 shoot! You all know he's swamped with his own project, right? And yet he made special time because he was curious about our set!”
“Ooh!”
“It's our first shoot day, so to boost morale, we at DK Entertainment pulled strings to bring him here. Let's burn it up today!”
“Ooooh—!”
With that line clearly aimed at Tae-gyu's renewal, the staff began final checks on the setup.
Thud.
From the back of the buzzing crowd, a battered script covered in highlighter marks dropped to the floor.
...?
Yang Se-hee's jaw dropped wide.
...Dad?
***
“Everyone, get ready!”
Director Hong's voice echoed through speakers across the set, but Yang Se-hee couldn't hide her bewilderment. The place was packed with actors and staff in an uproar.
What the hell... seriously...
Her eyes were locked on Yang Yong-chan, the director. Her father, sitting calmly in the prime seat like the eye of a storm amid the bustling crowd, legs crossed.
Smirk.
Ah.
They'd just made eye contact.
She had no idea how to react when her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled it out and opened the message.
...Whoa, what? This situation was utterly ridiculous to Yang Se-hee. Showing up out of nowhere? Without a word? Just to mess with his daughter?
This is too much.
Irritation surged. She was already tense. Among all the films she'd done, none had this massive scale.
Just look at the equipment and crew moving around: cameras mounted on tripods, track rails for the dolly stretching dozens of meters, jibs, cranes, and drones on standby— all on a different level from what she'd seen before.
They're insane!
And that wasn't even the end of it.
Han Joo-hyuk... Lee Tae-gyu... Kim Kwang-woo... The overwhelming presence of these actors she'd be sharing shots with. Han Joo-hyuk and Lee Tae-gyu, whose skill gaps she'd felt firsthand in Sai-bi Church Maknae Son, plus the intimidating Kim Kwang-woo just by looking at him. Add in the veteran who'd taught the noir quartet and other grizzled pros in the genre.
She felt crushed by the pressure. With over a hundred people watching, what if she forgot a line? Underperformed? Got compared to these giants as the scene rolled?
Shake shake— Her legs were already trembling. She couldn't even think of slapping her cheeks for motivation like usual—the tension was that thick.
Damn it, why show up now!
As she shot an irritated glare at her father...
Buzz!
Her phone vibrated again. She scowled at the sender.
Argh, seriously! I'm swamped here!
It was odd.
Yang Yong-chan's encouraging text. The moment she read it—thinking he'd just come to tease—the tension filling her body began to melt away.
Texts that would normally make her cringe...
...Huh?
The shaking stopped.
Knowing she had someone who could bury the whole industry if needed—her ally—put her at ease.
Ah, Dad...
They locked eyes; he nodded with a warm smile.
Don't chicken out, my girl.
The father and daughter conversed with their eyes.
How can I not... My scene's right after theirs today...
I think my daughter's acting holds up just fine.
For real?
Of course! You know I don't bullshit.
But everyone's so...
Hahaha. Se-hee, don't you know who your dad is? I've worked with Do Kwang-seon and world-class actors. You can surpass them.
Really? For real?
Yeah, they're all just people like you in the end.
Still...
Se-hee, what did I say about actors earlier?
Con-fi-dence!
Louder!
Confidence!
Yang Se-hee nodded vigorously. She saw her father quickly typing on his phone.
Buzz.
A text came right away.
Confidence began to swell.
Yeah, Dad's right.
Yang Se-hee, now 100% charged, nodded firmly.
I'm the type who grows while doing it. That short film turned out way better than I feared.
She was sure she'd nail this too.
“Alright, everyone standby!”
...Until the three actors, now burning with battle intent, showed their true selves.
“Scene 14—action!”
***
First contender enters— Thud, thud, thud.
Like a gladiator stepping into the Colosseum, a muscular giant of a man strode into the cameras' focus.
The junkyard packed with dozens of wrecked cars.
Hooo...
Kim Kwang-woo's heavy breath dominated the air from the center.
Nothing like when he'd greeted Director Yang. Right now, he wasn't DK's executive—he was an actor brimming with competitive fire.
Today, he'd shine as the lead or die trying. That was Kim Kwang-woo's resolve.
Hoo.
Truth be told, he'd obsessed over this for hundreds of rehearsals.
Lee Tae-gyu and Han Joo-hyuk. Beating them post-audition had been brutally tough.
So.
I gave it my all.
Kim Kwang-woo found his way to assert presence.
He stood tall, eyes closed, recalling his grueling efforts.
You know?
What?
The founder of extreme karate said how to build a body to take down a bull in one hit.
Huh?
Run 100 meters in 11 seconds, bench 150kg easy, grip strength to bend coins.
What're you talking about?
How to make gangsters piss themselves just by looking.
But you're an actor...
Finishing the flashback at the junkyard's center where the camera dolly began, he roughly shed his coat.
Thud.
His sleeveless shirt strained against rippling muscles, scarred like medals in between.
“...!”
“...!”
“...!”
The crew let out gasps at the ferocious physique.
Yes. By baring his intensely trained body for presence...
Kim Kwang-woo: Scene prep complete.
***
Second contender enters—
Pfft!
A vile chuckle escaped repeatedly. He'd already immersed in the role.
Method acting. For this film, he'd prepared obsessively—others called him crazy.
“These bastards... I'll crush 'em all.”
Han Joo-hyuk smirked aggressively, recalling his training to outact Lee Tae-gyu.
If you're pissed, throw down.
You're an actor, though...
Not content with just meeting real gangsters, he'd even set up a short training camp. Infiltrated a used-car lot as a thug in mask and hat, picked fights with loan sharks.
Child's play. Plus, tear-jerking efforts to hone his acting itself.
Hellish days— but his skill felt elevated another level. Not that it mattered now.
Crunch.
Just gonna wreck them all. With that sole thought, Han Joo-hyuk entered the junkyard.
Stood tall. Eyes filled with venom as the main villain.
Along with the intense mindset of a breakthrough actor shattering walls again.
Han Joo-hyuk: Scene prep complete.
***
Third contender enters—
Whoosh!
Lee Tae-gyu: Scene prep complete.
***
The set erupted.
“What the—?”
“Why's the vibe like that?”
“Insane...”
“Look at those glares.”
“Feels like a real fight's about to break out?”
Chills ran down spines.
The three actors' auras. With them gathered amid dozens of piled wrecks, an unreal ferocity formed.
Like bombs that could erase the space at a spark.
Kim Kwang-woo, Han Joo-hyuk, Lee Tae-gyu amplified the drab space with impossible presence. Just the three showing 'real intent'...
Gulp.
Korea's top Harlem materialized there.
Shake shake.
Yang Se-hee's knees, freshly boosted with confidence, buckled.
Crazy?
What was that? Total foul play. Hard to calm down.
Her scene was right after this one.
Whip!
She turned to her staunchest ally, locking eyes.
Dad!
The ultimate backer, master director unmatched at reading actors.
I have to shoot with them next—shaking bad. Help!
Yang Yong-chan nodded immediately, typing on his phone. About to give spot-on advice.
Buzz!
Yang Se-hee, feeling supported, checked her phone.
Thump.
She saw it. The master's concise wisdom.