Chapter 124
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Filming Resumes
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"Sun-hu, what did you do to Senior Su-ah?"
"What do you mean, what did I do?"
Filming on the drama had resumed.
Shin Ji-hye showed up first thing in the morning and started venting her complaints.
"Why does she look so pleased with herself? She's supposed to get scolded by her mother-in-law from here on out—how's she supposed to act with that happy face?"
"Why are you telling me?"
"You're the only suspect."
I think Mom had said something similar last time.
I had no idea why they kept blaming me for Su-ah's condition.
"Ji-hye noona, Su-ah's no amateur. She's way more professional than we are."
"Cut! Okay! Great!"
"See? The director likes it."
"Does it look good to you?"
It's not bad, is it?
This scene was the mother-in-law picking on her daughter-in-law, Shin Ah-young (played by Hwang Su-ah).
It was a great moment that really showed just how vicious the mom was.
"Director, let's do it again."
The one making the request was my mom, actress Im Shin-hye.
"Su-ah, right there, do it like this—with a bit more of that aggrieved endurance in your expression—"
"Yes. Got it."
Mom was giving Su-ah some on-the-spot acting direction.
"See? Even your mom isn't satisfied."
Is that so?
I thought it was fine.
"Cut!"
"Director, one more time."
Again?
What's the problem?
"Hey, I'll handle it, so you just play along and say the right lines."
"Huh? Say what?"
Shin Ji-hye didn't even give me a chance to respond before she bolted over there.
She whispered something in Hwang Su-ah's ear.
Play along and say the right lines? Match what?
My question was answered in less than a minute.
"Sun-hu! How could you say something like that?!"
"Huh?"
I had no clue what Shin Ji-hye had told her, but Su-ah came rushing over to grill me.
Something like that? Like what?
Of course, I had no idea what she was talking about.
Su-ah glanced around, confirmed no one was listening, and whispered,
'Y-you said I was reacting so little I looked like a dead frog...'
"Haa."
Good lord.
Was she innocent or just plain foolish?
"Su-ah, there's no way I'd say something like that to anyone else."
"Huh?"
"She tricked you. Ji-hye noona did. Falling for an over-the-top lie like that—you might as well advertise that I said it."
Su-ah's already red face turned as crimson as a ripe apple.
"Ji-hye!"
Su-ah frantically looked for Ji-hye, but the culprit had already made her escape.
Su-ah's acting improved by leaps and bounds after that.
Her performance, holding back her indignation with that flushed face, was top-notch.
It even made me feel indignant just watching.
"Su-ah, that was great acting."
"Ugh... Thank you."
She even got praise from picky Mom.
Her acting was good, sure, but I wished they wouldn't bully her so much.
Poor thing.
"Hey, I told you to play along."
"Ji-hye noona..."
Shin Ji-hye didn't show up again until it was her turn to film.
Of course, Su-ah chewed her out big time when she returned.
Though it felt more like Su-ah was the one squirming, since Ji-hye had dirt on her.
"Why would you do that to someone? There are things you say and things you don't."
"But it worked, didn't it?"
"Haa."
It worked, alright.
Worked too well, in fact.
Shin Ji-hye could stand to study some ethics and morals.
Not that I had any room to talk.
"I don't pull that stuff on just anyone. I only do it to Senior Su-ah because she's primed for it."
"Glad to hear it."
Is she really primed for it?
She seemed awfully flustered for that.
"By the way, you and Senior Su-ah are dating now?"
"No comment."
"What? Fine, I'll just ask her then."
"We're not."
Better me say it than let her stir up nonsense over there.
"So you're doing that stuff without even dating? Senior Su-ah's got some game~. Never pegged her for that type."
"Cut it out. That's not what Su-ah's like."
"Not Su-ah, then? Just you?"
"Hands off my privacy."
Sheesh. Why was I even engaging?
"No, listen. I've got a proposition for a guy like you."
"Pass."
"You'll regret it."
"I said pass."
No doubt it was nothing proper.
Pretend to date in front of Su-ah, or act like it, or heck, actually do it.
Wouldn't put it past her to suggest the real thing.
'For the sake of the work.'
"Right now, a night with a popular actress..."
"Ah, enough already."
For real?
How did she always miss the mark so predictably?
"Ji-hye sunbae, passion for your work is great and all, but value yourself a bit more. The body and mind are consumables too, you know."
Not that I had room to talk.
But I couldn't let it slide without saying something.
Shin Ji-hye was young and talented.
But that talent was too sharp, and pointed in the wrong direction.
Like she was burning herself up as fuel for her art.
Like a race car stripping off every safety feature just to go faster.
Genius burns out early, they say.
To me, Shin Ji-hye looked like Icarus flying straight for the sun.
"Su-ah, lunch together?"
"Yes!"
Su-ah happened to be peeking around, so we decided to grab lunch.
Su-ah was great.
She got this happy over something as simple as eating together.
So happy.
Compared to someone who never knew satisfaction—that got exhausting.
"What'd you talk about with Ji-hye?"
...If only she wouldn't keep tabs on Ji-hye.
She's not even my type. Kinda scary, actually.
Su-ah would be better off keeping an eye on Mom.
I always say my ideal type is Mom, but why do people take it as a joke?
"Work stuff."
On the surface, it was about the work, right?
So not a lie.
Su-ah didn't pry further.
We headed into the broadcast station cafeteria.
"Sorry I acted weird for no reason... I told Ji-hye to keep it secret, but..."
Su-ah apologized glumly over her tray.
Could I blame her for falling for Ji-hye's bait so innocently?
"Don't sweat it. She's not the type to blab."
"Still."
"If it's really bugging you, treat me to dinner. Somewhere nice."
"For real?"
So happy.
Even over buying me a meal.
Compared to this one, though.
"Mind if I join?"
Ji-hye plopped down across from us without a care.
"No!"
Su-ah shot her down instantly.
This woman was as oblivious to others as my big sis.
"Fine? Let me see~ ABS reporter's number~?"
Clink.
Su-ah set her spoon down on her tray.
"Ji-hye sunbae, that's enough."
"What is?"
"That has nothing to do with the work."
'For the sake of the work.'
That slogan excused anything among the three of us, but only if it related to the production.
This was straight-up privacy invasion.
"..."
Ji-hye sunbae glared at me for a moment.
If I was wrong, I'd like to hear it.
I wasn't, right?
So I met her eyes without flinching.
Ji-hye sunbae stood up with her untouched tray.
She clearly looked pissed.
"Uh, um."
Su-ah didn't know what to do.
Hmm. This got tricky.
"Writer, this part feels off."
During the meeting.
Shin Ji-hye voiced her opinion.
"Where?"
"The pool scene. No matter how flustered she is, a grown adult falling into the pool doesn't make sense."
"Yeah, kinda."
The indoor pool scene.
It was a fanservice addition that popped up out of nowhere.
Characters: me, Su-ah, Seung-hee as the family of three, plus Ji-hye.
Hwang Jin-woo is playing in the pool with family when he 'happens' to run into Sun-ah (Ji-hye sunbae).
There, Jin-woo loses his mind over Sun-ah in her swimsuit, ignoring his family completely.
His wife Shin Ah-young (Su-ah), playing with their daughter Soo-jung in the water, gets fed up with her husband and falls into the pool.
Jin-woo snaps out of it at his wife's scream, jumps in, and saves her.
Naturally, artificial respiration follows.
Afterward, seeing his barely conscious wife and teary, worried daughter Soo-jung, Jin-woo agonizes over neglecting his family and struggles between them and Sun-ah.
...Better not ask where the lifeguard was.
"Wouldn't it make more sense for Soo-jung to fall in here?"
"Thing is, the broadcasting committee cracks down hard on child safety."
The director responded to Ji-hye's point.
"Writer Kim originally planned it with Soo-jung, but regs forced the change."
I see.
I thought Shin Ah-young faked falling to get Hwang Jin-woo's attention.
Playing in the adult pool with a kid around was weird anyway.
"Is Ji-hye just sabotaging on purpose?"
"Nah."
Sabotaging.
Did Su-ah think Ji-hye was blocking her artificial respiration scene?
No way.
Ji-hye wasn't as innocent as Su-ah.
She wouldn't think something that cute.
No matter what, she was dedicated to the work.
Personal feelings aside, she prioritized the production.
"Whatever. We'll get a warning at worst. Seung-hee, you'd like that, right?"
"Yes! I wanna do it! I'm confident!"
Seung-hee lit up, backing Ji-hye's idea.
Actresses are scary.
"Haa~. Writer Kim, what now?"
"If the actors want it, let's go with that."
Even the director was leaning that way.
'I didn't say anything.'
Su-ah grumbled.
She seemed miffed about losing the kiss scene (artificial respiration, but still).
'Su-ah, we can practice at my place later.'
'...Yes!'
So happy.
Over mere artificial respiration practice.
Shin Ji-hye watched us whispering amiably with a cold stare.