Chapter 102
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 102
“Is there any negative impact on The Dawn?”
“Impact? If anything, your public recognition is soaring. Don’t you know you were trending on the search rankings the other day?”
I didn’t.
I’d only been searching for how this might affect the group...
“Besides, the video of Yi-chae producing the drama OST was uploaded, so the atmosphere is actually quite supportive.”
Right. We’re working hard on the album, and we’re... busy filming self-produced content. I grit my teeth, refusing to forget the humiliation of being ignored last time.
I heard the planning team received a hefty bonus; the company must be raking it in lately.
Well, at least they’re making money...
As I walked onto the set with that thought, Writer Kim Suk-hee suddenly approached me and said something strange.
“Seo Ho-yun, are you good at capturing romantic emotions?”
“Pardon?”
She followed up by mentioning the viewers' reactions.
“...The response to the character Lee Jeong-hun is quite good?”
I was bewildered. All Lee Jeong-hun had done in the script so far was harass the slave Yoo Jeong-hwa and tease the pining lover Min Seung-tae.
“Hahaha! Usually, when a jerk torments someone ten times and then takes care of them once, it comes off as charming. The so-called ‘bad boy’ appeal. Is that still a foreign concept to the innocent Ho-yun?”
Has the entire nation lost its mind?
This wasn't something I, who had almost been slapped by Kim Hee-yeong, should be hearing...
“Anyway.”
While I was slightly flustered, Writer Kim seemed to be in deep thought. It appeared she was considering script revisions because the viewers' response to the chemistry between PD Lee Jeong-hun and Yoo Jeong-hwa was better than she’d expected.
“I’m currently writing episode eight. I originally started the scenario with a two-top lead structure, but the response to the Lee Jeong-hun crumbs I threw in early on is just too good.”
“...It’s strange that people are reacting that way.”
“Exactly. So, I was thinking...”
I felt a sense of dread.
“Should I throw in some last-minute script changes to add a love line?”
No!!
Don’t do it.
Stop.
The reason I felt somewhat safe choosing this drama was specifically because Lee Jeong-hun didn't have a love line.
Even during the media play, we emphasized him as a ‘supporter,’ not a ‘sub-male lead.’ If we suddenly pivoted now, I’d just end up getting cursed at.
Moreover, if the position changed and I had to act out a romance with Yoo Ji-ah—and not just any actress, but one who started as an idol?
Wow, just thinking about it gives me the chills.
Wanting to stay as safe as possible and avoid being paired with anyone, I gave an awkward smile.
“I don’t think I have the confidence to pull off romantic acting.”
“Oh, come on, I think you’d be great! PD Lee Jeong-hun might be a jerk, but he has a way of making hearts flutter!”
“No, no. Even if I did, how could I compete with Min Ji-heon? It would just be awkward and probably cause a backlash.”
“I suppose... the character Min Seung-tae is quite strong, isn't he? Both narratively and in terms of romantic acting.”
Right, because that guy’s acting was top-tier.
When I brought up Min Ji-heon, Writer Kim smacked her lips regretfully but finally backed down.
“Shall we shoot a romance piece next time, then?”
“I’d be honored if you called on me.”
= Nope.
Still, I managed to dodge that bullet. Leaving my cold sweat behind, I finished the day's filming at the station. As the episodes progressed, it was becoming a bit overwhelming to keep up with Yoo Ji-ah and Min Ji-heon’s acting as their emotional arcs grew deeper and richer.
Min Ji-heon... was truly on the level Jeong Da-jun praised him for. He was absolutely killing it.
“...Noona.”
He would be smiling brightly before the camera rolled, but the moment they shouted ‘shoot,’ he would suddenly burst into tears, clutching Yoo Jeong-hwa’s sleeve and speaking as if he were begging... Everyone on set let out a low groan of admiration.
Since he played Min Seung-tae, a man who looked down on everyone, seeing him groveling before Yoo Jeong-hwa made the viewers' hearts race.
“I’m... I’m sorry... It’s all my fault.”
“......”
“So please, don’t look at me like that...”
It was incredibly poignant. In that moment, even I was captivated by Min Ji-heon.
Thanks to that, Writer Kim, who had fallen for Min Ji-heon’s romantic acting all over again, seemed to have completely scrapped the plan for Lee Jeong-hun to be a sub-male lead.
Was it a writer’s creative urge, or just a whim?
And there was one more fickle person.
“I’m in your care again today~.”
“......Yes.”
Min Ji-heon seemed to have developed a taste for it lately, as he kept throwing ad-libs my way.
He seemed to do it to Yoo Ji-ah too, but it was especially bad with me.
I barely managed to finish my scenes by pouring my soul into responding to his unavoidable, spontaneous lines. The director still had zero intention of stopping him.
Dammit.
“Knock it off...”
When I hissed through gritted teeth, Min Ji-heon scrunched his nose and laughed.
“Sure thing~.”
“......”
I could see his absolute refusal to stop in that playful tone.
“Min Ji-heon. Stop with the ad-libs. If you’re going to do them, at least give me something in return.”
“So transactional! Is that the kind of relationship we have?”
“How about I give you a flick on the forehead for every ad-lib?”
“...Ah, sorry. Ji-heon isn't into that kind of thing.”
“Just don't talk.”
He really was asking for it...
I walked outside, feeling disgusted. I had some downtime since there were no scenes for me to film for a while. That’s when I saw Lee Kang-seok walking toward me from a distance.
...What is he doing here?
I heard his filming for this location was finished.
Ding!
[Lee Kang-seok is a fixed guest on a variety show at this station.]
My eyebrows twitched as I looked at the system window. That quick-witted brat disappeared right after dropping that one piece of information for me.
“...Seo Ho-yun.”
The moment he saw me, I saw him scowl before trying to fix his expression. I figured the snide version of him I’d seen before was his true self anyway.
Regardless, it seemed he had a terminal case of actor disease.
“The ratings are good. Congratulations. Must be nice. Though it feels like you’re just riding the coattails of Min Ji-heon since you’re both under Daepasung.”
“Whoa.”
“......Pardon?”
“...No, nothing.”
It was the first time I’d ever heard someone praise the agency...
I rubbed my mouth and nodded.
“Yes, I was lucky.”
“Exactly. I told you acting alone isn't enough.”
I could see Lee Kang-seok revving his engine, looking for a fight. He seemed to be searching for something to nitpick.
“I wish I could share some of that luck...”
“Luuuuck?”
Suddenly, a very familiar voice filled with amusement rang out.
“Eeeeh? Ho-yun hyung has luck?”
“......?”
Startled, I turned around to see Kang Yi-chae and Jeong Da-jun standing there.
Why are you guys coming out from there...?
Jeong Da-jun looked genuinely shocked.
“No way, Hyung’s luck is actually terrible... I’ve never seen anyone with worse luck than him.”
“I mean, the fact that he joined our agency in the first place is kind of...”
“Hyung, but that applies to all of us.”
“Whoa, you’re right!”
Kang Yi-chae spoke as if he were whispering in Jeong Da-jun’s ear, but his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Seo Ho-yun’s members...?”
Both Lee Kang-seok and I were frozen like buffering videos, slightly dazed. Then, Seong Ji-won and Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been chatting around the corner of the hallway, popped out.
“Oh?”
“...Ah?”
The two of them scanned the scene, exchanged a quick glance, and rushed over.
“Ho-yun, calm down for now and step back.”
“Exactly. I know what you’re thinking, but just stand behind us for a second.”
“......”
The ridiculous thing was, they weren't protecting me; they were treating me like a hazardous object and telling me to calm down. Seong Ji-won stepped forward with a smile like a member of a bomb disposal squad.
“Hello, Sunbae-nim. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“......”
“I’m Seong Ji-won, a member of the same group as Ho-yun.”
“Ah, I’m Lee Kang-seok.”
As Seong Ji-won bowed politely and showed proper etiquette, Lee Kang-seok got caught up in the pace and awkwardly bowed back in greeting.
“It’s truly a pleasure to meet you like this. But what brings you to our Ho-yun...?”
“...It was nothing important. Sorry for blocking the way.”
“Haha, not at all. Please contact us separately if you have business later.”
“...Yes, well, excuse me.”
“Take care.”
Lee Kang-seok looked a bit uneasy, but he retreated under Seong Ji-won’s gentle ‘please leave now’ smile. I watched him, slightly impressed.
Seong Ji-won’s aggro-dispelling skills have improved tremendously... I really don't know who he learned that from.
Kim Seong-hyeon narrowed his eyes at my expression and asked.
“You’re not disappointed right now, are you?”
“What do you take me for?”
“I take you for Seo Ho-yun...”
“You guys treat me so poorly.”
I naturally avoided his gaze while denying it. It would be a lie to say I wasn't a little disappointed that Lee Kang-seok had backed down so easily.
“Ho-yun hyung’s acting is getting better and better.”
“That’s probably why he’s acting.”
Of course, it didn't work at all. I ignored the members whispering behind me and asked.
“Why are you guys here?”
“Ah, today is the day for our B-Live.”
“Wasn't that supposed to be at the dorm?”
“We heard your filming was ending early, so we wanted to film some behind-the-scenes footage of the set~.”
“Ho-yun hyung! We decided to eat beef after this!!”
The manager, who had followed late, turned on the cam and moved to the filming location with the members. Since we had already received permission while filming the script reading behind-the-scenes and the drama making-of film, it was fine as long as we followed a few precautions.
Once we had enough footage and turned the cam off,
“Uh...”
I ran right into Min Ji-heon, the one person I wanted to avoid most. Min Ji-heon, who had gone to film a new scene, was already finished and standing there in a different outfit.
I hoped he would just pass by, but our dear Min Ji-heon, who certainly wasn't lacking in social cues, insisted on speaking to us.
“We meet again~.”
“......”
“Hello to you too, Jeong Da-jun.”
I expected Jeong Da-jun to be jumping for joy since he was a fan of Min Ji-heon, but instead, he wore a strange expression...
“Yes, hello.”
He merely gave a curt, crooked nod.
Ding!
[What the...?]
What?