Chapter 380
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 380
I finished the citron tea I’d only used for its warmth as soon as I returned to the company, then headed straight back to the practice room. The members were as boisterous as ever.
“Ho-yun, have a good shoot!”
After running through the performance a few more times, I made my way to the underground parking lot for my special appearance schedule. While the manager was delayed picking up a courtesy gift for the director, I climbed into the van first and buried myself in the seat.
Before I knew it, the hour was approaching dawn. Fatigue washed over me like the encroaching darkness.
I could fall asleep just by closing my eyes.
I leaned my head against the window, using the chill against my skin to ward off the drowsiness. I wanted to check the script at least one more time before resting. But perhaps because I was alone in the silence, thoughts of Jeong Cheong-yeon surfaced again, bringing a dull headache with them.
“Sigh…”
It wasn't news that the System could manipulate anyone at will. It was a bit surprising that the target included Jeong Cheong-yeon, whom I hadn't expected to appear, but as long as it didn't affect my future, it wasn't particularly important.
What kept bothering me more than that was—
“…Good grief.”
It was the fact that Jeong Cheong-yeon, now free from her trainee status because her appearance on my show had been erased, looked much happier.
Didn't you say you'd sell your soul if it meant you could debut?
The image of the current, brightly smiling Jeong Cheong-yeon overlapped with the younger, venom-filled version of her I remembered.
I didn't regret what I had done back then. Even if I went back in time, I would have performed the same "Devil's Editing" at her request.
However, seeing the gentle Jeong Cheong-yeon now, I couldn't stop the tangle of emotions from rising and falling within me.
Just as my thoughts were deepening—
Sliding door sound.
The van door suddenly swung open.
“Hi.”
It was Kang Yi-chae.
He began busily scanning the spaces between the seats as if he weren't paying me any mind at all.
“What? Why are you here?”
“Uh-huh~ I left my game console in the van.”
He gestured for me to move to the next seat, then took over my spot and began searching every nook and cranny.
“Here it is.”
After checking next to the basket that was always overflowing with candy, Kang Yi-chae found the console and pulled it out. Instead of leaving, however, he kept his seat planted firmly.
I narrowed my eyes, watching him warily.
What’s with him now?
Did he realize I met Jeong Cheong-yeon?
No, I hadn't given him any reason to suspect. I’d managed my expressions well, and I’d even gone out of my way to play with the maknae. I’d pestered Kim Seong-hyeon as usual and cackled at Seong Ji-won’s rapping.
If he’d still picked up on something, the guy shouldn't be an idol; he should be opening a fortune-telling shop in Gangnam.
“…Hyung, I just heard from the manager—”
I focused on Kang Yi-chae’s lips, bracing myself for whatever was coming.
“—that the scene you’re filming is a funeral?”
“……Ah.”
But what actually reached me was a cautious note of concern.
Kang Yi-chae tapped the joystick of the game console with his fingertip and asked, “Will you be okay?”
Instead of telling him it was better than being banned from appearing on screen for a year, I wore the same sly smirk Min Ji-heon used when he was up to something.
“Why? Are you worried about me?”
“Yeah.”
“…….”
…Our Yi-chae has become quite honest.
Realizing he was no longer someone I could easily mess with, I dropped the smile and waved him off dismissively.
“There are tons of other special appearances. I’ll probably only be on screen for about three seconds. The shoot will be over in a flash.”
Kang Yi-chae looked unconvinced. He lowered his gaze and asked, “Then, Hyung, when are you coming back?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Kay.”
I closed my eyes as I watched Kang Yi-chae obediently climb out of the car. Soon, I felt the thump of the door closing.
He’s going.
Just as I was feeling a bit unsettled by how compliant he was—I’d expected him to add one more snarky comment—there was a knock, knock.
I shifted my gaze toward the sound. Kang Yi-chae had returned and was gesturing for me to open the window.
“You know, I actually don't like it when you act.”
Where was this sudden confession coming from?
“Come back quickly. I hate being alone.”
……Aha.
Having unintentionally isolated Kang Yi-chae for nearly a year during the Unknown Actor Tycoon days, my long-lost conscience would occasionally rear its head whenever he expressed remnants of that time.
Scratching his head awkwardly, Kang Yi-chae hesitated for a moment before turning to leave.
“…Hey, Kang Yi-chae.”
I debated letting him go like that for a second before calling him back.
I grabbed a handful of candy and held it out. Kang Yi-chae took it, looking dazed.
“You were whining about being out of candy during practice. Take this, at least.”
Kang Yi-chae blinked.
“Oh, and make sure you eat.”
Then I rolled the window back up.
In this day and age, a single piece of candy wouldn't even make a child happy, but I didn't want to send him away empty-handed.
I let out a sigh and leaned back against the seat.
* * *
“Ah, Ho-yun. Thanks for coming.”
Before the Moon Wanes was being filmed at a set near Gyeonggi-do.
I greeted every staff member I saw, and as luck would have it, Director Kang Jeong-gun was outside, likely taking a break. When our eyes met, he raised a hand first to acknowledge me. I quickly bowed in return.
“The atmosphere was a bit off last time, wasn't it…? I spoke with that staff member separately. I gave them a stern warning, so there won't be any more trouble. I’m sorry about that.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m okay.”
“And there’s one more thing I’m sorry about….”
According to his sheepish explanation, Min Ji-heon’s scenes were taking longer than expected, causing all the subsequent scenes to be delayed.
“Why? Is there a problem with the equipment?”
Having worked with Min Ji-heon twice already, I knew exactly how he operated.
He never struggled with any kind of acting, so the set always wrapped up quickly. Because of that, praise from the staff always followed him like a bonus.
“Um, it’s not that….”
An assistant director whispered cautiously on behalf of the director, who had headed back inside for the shoot.
“…Well, Mr. Min Ji-heon keeps getting NGs.”
“Excuse me?”
The Min Ji-heon?
As I frowned in disbelief, the assistant director led me to a corner of the set.
In a background dressed as a funeral hall, Min Ji-heon stood looking haggard in a black turtleneck. He wore a troubled smile as he apologized to the actor opposite him. The other actor shook his head in surprise, shouting that it was really okay.
Meanwhile, the director, who was checking the previous take, stroked his chin with a serious expression before speaking to Min Ji-heon.
“…Mr. Min Ji-heon, this part needs to be a bit more—”
From the outside, there didn't seem to be any problem other than Min Ji-heon’s complexion.
“What scene are they filming that’s so serious?”
The assistant director let out an awkward laugh and said quietly, “Scene 27. It’s a relatively simple part….”
I opened the script I was holding and found the section marked ‘Episode 27.’ It was the moment where the rookie detective ‘Kang Ju-hwan,’ who follows the protagonist ‘Won Jae-wook’ around, realizes he has spiritual powers and is shocked.
[Kang Ju-hwan: No, you’ve been like this since birth? H-how…… do your family members know? Don’t they look at you strangely?
Won Jae-wook: (Casually) Is it strange? My family understood everything…. They’re good people.]
“Alright, let’s go again!”
While I was reviewing the content, filming started once more.
Normally, the set would be filled with the sighs of staff members just from filming the same scene repeatedly, but since Min Ji-heon—who was famous for not getting NGs—was stumbling over his acting, everyone was glued to the scene as if they were witnessing a miracle.
“No, you’ve been like this since birth? H-how…… do your family members know? Don’t they look at you strangely?”
The rookie detective’s lines came first.
Min Ji-heon’s gaze slowly turned toward his co-star. Simultaneously, all cameras focused on him.
“Is it strange?”
His voice was certainly calm, but I could feel a strange edge to it.
“My family understood everything.”
Min Ji-heon’s drooping eyes curved upward slightly, and the corners of his mouth twisted into a crooked smirk.
“They’re truly good people, aren't they?”
The director called "Cut" and pressed a hand to his forehead. Min Ji-heon’s expression instantly turned docile.
“……Mr. Min Ji-heon….”
“…Yes.”
“You read the stage directions carefully, right? This isn't a sarcastic scene.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll do it again.”
“I’m counting on you this time.”
Min Ji-heon bowed in every direction before approaching the other actor. It looked like he was apologizing again. However, the other person seemed thrilled just to be acting with Min Ji-heon for so long.
…Hmm.
Even when they started again, Min Ji-heon was the same.
If his tone was okay, his eyes were the problem; if his eyes were okay, his expression was a mess.
Sensing that the shoot would take a long time, I took a seat at a makeshift table set up on one side of the set.
It’s actually fascinating to see him struggle like this.
I stared blankly at the scene with my chin resting on my hand when I noticed a script lying on the empty chair next to me. When I opened it, I saw that only ‘Won Jae-wook’s’ lines were highlighted, suggesting it belonged to Min Ji-heon. Furthermore, he had meticulously jotted down his own thoughts in memos all over the pages.
He did all this, so why can't he act it out?
A guy who handled other roles so easily.
I flipped through the pages, and they naturally stopped at one spot. It was as if that page had been opened so often it had a permanent crease.
It was the very scene Min Ji-heon was filming now.
Over the lines he was currently failing to deliver, a single sentence was scribbled in handwriting so forceful it felt like it was pressing down on the paper.
What did it say?
.
.
.
“—Good work, everyone. We need to set up for the next shot, so let’s take a short break!”
Following the assistant director’s shout, the staff moved busily.
After speaking with the director for a moment, I wandered around the set. This was because when Min Ji-heon needed to practice his acting, he usually spent time alone where no one else was.
When I reached a vending machine quite a distance away—a spot I’d scouted earlier—I finally came face-to-face with a frustrated Min Ji-heon.
“Min Ji-heon.”
He must have been pouring caffeine into himself, as several paper cups were stacked next to him.
I rummaged through my pockets and asked, “…Got any change?”
“…….”
Surprisingly, he submissively handed over his entire wallet. I took it and slid coins into the vending machine slot.
Min Ji-heon remained silent even while I pressed the button for Job’s Tears tea and waited.
Tsk.
With him in this state, honestly.
Based on my experiences with him on Please Take Care of the Camera or Dead after Hope, Min Ji-heon wasn't the type to get this irritated just from fatigue or emotional fluctuations of a role.
I looked at Min Ji-heon, who was slumped with a dark, brooding look in his eyes, and gave his leg a light kick with the tip of my shoe.
“Hey, you hack.”
That comment must have stung a bit, as Min Ji-heon blew a frustrated breath through his bangs.