Seolhwa's Perfect Mimicry
"Seolhwa's Acting ― I'll write it diligently."
"Thank you, writer-nim!"
The words I'd been about to type slipped out of my mouth unbidden. Moon Soi startled and looked at me. I plastered on the softest smile I could muster, but the moment our eyes met, she ducked her head in a hurry. What was this, like a mole popping out of its hole?
"Here's my contact info. Hit me up anytime if you have questions while you're working on it."
I handed Moon the new business card.
"Stardust...? Manager...?"
"I'm going independent soon. Disappointed it's not JH Entertainment?"
"Ah, no. I mean, why... a manager...?"
"I've wanted to do it for a while."
As I jotted down the plot outline for Moon, my sister's old words kept bubbling up in my mind. It was amazing how vividly I remembered them after all these years. She must have been that special to me.
'Our baby has such long legs, everything suits you. Let's see, those Alexander McQueen pants over there would be perfect. Try on this flower shirt too.'
'It's Tom Ford Lavender Extreme. Mid-range with a neutral scent that gives off a sexy vibe, so women love it. This one's Violet—stronger scent, so rotate them.'
'Truth is, I wanted to be a designer. I majored in fashion design in college.'
'I was saving for study abroad by doing fitting model work when the director I knew said I had talent and pushed me into acting.'
'Still, I can't let go of it, so I can't pass by pretty clothes or accessories. Or someone as pretty as you, of course.'
She'd said those words while showing clear affection, so my sister would remember them too. And since no one else knew about it, if it showed up in the script, she'd have no choice but to suspect my identity.
That alone would be half the conquest achieved. The rest? My body would handle it. I hoped Moon would pick up on that intent while writing the synopsis and script.
The next day, I stopped by the acting academy at the time I'd arranged with Soyoung.
"Oppa. Come on in."
"Hello, CEO-nim."
Seolhwa's expression brightened noticeably. She seemed to be faithfully following my last command to be free, which lifted my mood too. Spending time with someone her age like Soyoung probably helped with that brightness. What else would we do together besides fuck?
"CEO-nim. Were you... thinking about that with me just now?"
Damn, she was sharp. From her look, if we weren't at the academy, she'd be begging to do it right then.
"Sorry to interrupt the sweet vibe, but Seolhwa, don't you have something to show oppa today?"
"Yes, unnie."
"It'd be good to show oppa acting with real emotion behind it."
Soyoung picked up the script and started explaining the scene.
"One woman has her best friend steal the man she loves. She goes to him begging him to come back, but then her friend calls and tells her to stop being clingy. So it's the pissed-off woman screaming scene."
She'd picked a brutal cut.
It was a situation that would piss off anyone, but Seolhwa just blinked innocently like she had no clue. She still wasn't used to grasping emotions.
"Well, you wouldn't be familiar with a situation like that... So think of it this way."
Soyoung continued with a grave face.
"You dress in sexy lingerie to seduce oppa and head to the bedroom, but there's already some woman riding him, panting away. She sees you and says oppa's not interested in a body like yours anymore, so get lost. Imagine that."
No way Seolhwa would get it from an analogy like—
—Fwoosh!
Huh?
Flames sparked in Seolhwa's eyes. She was getting into it from that?
"If there's a bitch like that, just... rip her to shreds."
If that woman were next to her right now, she'd yank every hair out.
"Give me the script now."
Seolhwa's acting skill... was on the "has it" side, as Soyoung said. Considering she'd never been trained, it was decent.
Hong, the rep, had made movies, and as a manager, I'd seen plenty of great actors on set. She was good—above average—but nothing standout. I'd thought she was a genius, but she was just a cut above ordinary.
"You didn't call me here just to show me that, right?"
"Right. The teacher saw it and said even supporting roles would be tough at that level."
"So acting's a no-go. Why'd you say you couldn't evaluate her?"
"I'll show you now. Seolhwa, this time I'll act. Watch closely."
"Yes, unnie."
Soyoung started channeling the emotion.
"You bitch, that shit coming out of your mouth right now! You know damn well how I feel about Seongi! How could you do this—how could you!"
Whoa, no joke. Chills ran down my spine from her fiery performance. It wasn't as polished as Bora-nuna's, but at this level, she'd nail an audition right now and get picked by any PD. My number-two actress for sure.
But why was the pathetic male lead's name the same as mine?
"You're seriously good. If I'd been her partner, I'd have been terrified shitless. But why are you acting?"
Soyoung ignored my question and turned to Seolhwa.
"Seolhwa, got it?"
"Yes, unnie."
"Now you try again."
I was speechless after Seolhwa's second take. This wasn't good or bad—it was beyond that. Seolhwa had copied Soyoung's acting like a mirror.
"She can imitate acting. Students often mimic good actors when learning. But that's not imitation—that was her copying every move, breath, expression, even voice tone perfectly. It was creepy as hell."
Like seeing your exact doppelganger act just like you—who wouldn't be freaked?
"What'd the teacher say?"
"A shame, she said. Seolhwa could raise her technical skill to the top level, but she doesn't have the ability to create acting."
"With that ability, imitation's her limit?"
"Yeah. Even imitating's tough—you have to show her the source every time. And what kind of actor can't do their own acting?"
A perfect forger with no personal style. Asmodeus had clearly called it top-tier talent—why this result?
'Emotional vessel?'
'I'm not that emotionally rich.'
I'd just been oddly complimented by a demon.
'Was Seolhwa emotionless from the start?'
Jang Palbok, you fucking bastard. Shitting the bed right to the end. Hope he rolls in hell's dirt till his bones crumble to dust. Already bones?
'Reading minds without asking... I like that.'
I wanted to somehow fix what that bastard ruined in Seolhwa. If her emotions revived, she'd be an amazing actress.
'How do you fill an empty emotional vessel?'
Of course the demon of lust would go straight to sex. Sex solves everything. Started with jerking off, now it's endless blue-balling with promises of future fucks. How the hell does sex revive emotions?
'Nagging about what?'
Super suspicious, but Seolhwa called out to me, so I couldn't press further.
"Um, CEO-nim. Could you help me a bit?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"I need to get something from downstairs, but it's heavy..."
"Yeah? Let's go together then."
Seolhwa gave Soyoung a slight bow and led the way. I thought Soyoung smirked mischievously, but it had to be my imagination.
We took the emergency stairs down one floor, and nearby was a room like a storage shed. Probably for props.
"Didn't know this place existed. Ha, brings back old memories."
Must be familiar to Hong the movie producer. Drawn by Hong's memories, I poked around without hearing the door lock behind us.
Suddenly, two peaks pressed into my back. Soft marshmallow texture included.
"Seolhwa. What the—suddenly...?"
"Haa... Sorry for lying, CEO-nim. But seeing you in person, I couldn't hold back..."
She gazed at me with moist eyes, exhaling hot breath. A girl with an empty emotional vessel, yet she showed such intense passion only when in heat for me. Was this what Asmodeus meant?
"Do you... hate me doing this?"
"Not hate, but the place... and Soyoung's outside. Stay too long, she'll get suspicious."