Chapter 382
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 382
[Title: Did you guys see episodes 1 and 2 of Before the Moon Wanes?
Seriously, it’s insane.
The acting, the directing, the writing—the holy trinity. What is even happening?
They took exorcism and sprinkled a massive amount of Min Ji-heon’s handsomeness all over it.
This is a guaranteed win. Invest now.
Kim Suk-hee... you are my god.
└ It started off light and comedic, but by the end of the episode, it had me in tears..ㅠㅠㅠㅠ So good.
└ Honestly, I was worried it might turn out too niche, but after seeing Min Ji-heon’s acting, all my worries vanished. Holy shit, he’s incredible.
└ In a recent magazine interview, he said this role was the hardest he’s ever done... Now that I’ve seen it, I think I know why.
└└ I love the gap in Min Ji-heon’s characterㅜㅜ I liked how he didn’t have huge mood swings but showed glimpses of innocence, but seeing him be merciless toward villains made me fall for him even more. So sexyㅜㅜ]
In Before the Moon Wanes, the character 'Won Jae-wook,' played by Min Ji-heon, was infinitely innocent in some aspects and razor-sharp in others. The contrast stemming from those traits provided the viewers with great entertainment and a sense of immense catharsis.
[The director and writer are such a hardcore duo, so the final product turned out amazing.]
Amidst all this, what captured the public's attention most was the information regarding the cameos scheduled to appear in the drama.
[PD Lee Jeong-hun.
He’s finally here... When the rumors were going around, I ignored them thinking they were just bullshit, but I screamed when I saw him for real.]
As if aiming for early attention and buzz, special appearances followed one after another in episodes 1 and 2.
Seo Ho-yun was no exception.
The rookie detective 'Kang Ju-hwan' discovers that 'Won Jae-wook' is an extraordinary individual through a minor accident and begins to follow him like glue to solve an cold case. In the process, one of the places they pass through is a funeral hall, which was the very scene where PD 'Lee Jeong-hun,' played by Seo Ho-yun, appeared.
【"No, why on earth did we come here?"】
As Kang Ju-hwan followed him, chattering away, Won Jae-wook merely waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed. Walking ahead, Won Jae-wook signed the guest book at the entrance and stepped inside.
In a space filled with weeping, amidst people dressed in black suits, there was a presence that stood isolated, exuding a foreign atmosphere. The armband on the left arm of the man, who was staring blankly at the floor, indicated that he was the chief mourner.
【"……."】
At the sound of someone approaching, he slowly lifted his head.
Simultaneously, the camera zoomed in on his bloodshot eyes, looking as if he hadn't slept. As light gradually seeped into his pupils, which had been vacant as if wandering through some past moment rather than the present, a mixture of exhaustion and anger surged within them.
【"I'm not sure how to put this into words…. Please accept my deepest condolences."】
Even as he listened to the mourner's greeting, looking as if he were being consumed by his own emotions, he tucked his chin and curled his lips. The corners of his lips, which were dry and peeling, formed a smooth arc.
【"Thank you for coming."】
His tone was excessively calm.
Won Jae-wook, who had been watching him, turned around and walked back outside.
【"Is that chief mourner the person you wanted to meet?"】
【"…No, the one I want to see is his uncle."】
Won Jae-wook, who had been answering while slowly brushing back his hair, quickly shifted his gaze toward the entrance of the funeral hall as if sensing something.
【"…If it's that man's uncle…… isn't he the one the funeral is for right now?"】
【"Mm."】
Then, with a slight lift of his lips, he pointed somewhere with his index finger.
【"But I think we can just follow that man."】
Following the direction of his finger, the man wearing the chief mourner's armband—the one who had been the subject of observation just moments ago—was coming outside.
Won Jae-wook held his index finger to his lips, signaling silence, and cautiously followed him. Gradually picking up his pace, Won Jae-wook pulled up close to the man and lightly tapped his shoulder. At that moment, a blue energy surged in the empty air before quickly vanishing. In its place, the man's cold gaze landed on Won Jae-wook.
Won Jae-wook showed an embarrassed smile and raised both hands.
【"Ah… sorry, I thought you were someone I knew."】
The man rolled his eyes as if slightly irritated and left with a sigh.
Kang Ju-hwan, who appeared late, gaped and made a fuss.
【"Whoa, look at that glare! Can you see the goosebumps on my arm? He looks like he could actually kill someone~. B-but what did you just do?"】
【"I caught the uncle."】
【"…Wh-what?!"】
Kang Ju-hwan pressed him with a shocked face, asking what on earth that meant, but Won Jae-wook only let out a meaningful laugh before the scene transitioned. Afterward, comedic scenes continued until the episode ended with a preview for the next one.
After the drama ended that same day,
<Wait, why is he appearing here...? Can't you act with Min Ji-heon again?ㅜㅜ A collection of all the cameos♡ #BeforeTheMoonWanes>
A video was uploaded to the official Nutube channel of Before the Moon Wanes.
[3:01 Is this person a rookie actor? If so, he’s way too good at acting.
└ No, that’s Seo Ho-yun.
└└ An idol?
└└ Holy shit, you’re right.
└└ He looks so different from when he’s on stage that I didn't even recognize him;;]
[Seo Ho-yun’s acting is insane.... Even if you add up all his screen time, it’s probably less than 5 minutes, but it’s burned into my brain.
└ According to the writer, the script originally called for him to shed tears, but the director gave it an OK in one take right after filming.
└└ His eyes already explained everything, so yeah. ㅇㅇ]
[Honestly, it’s a waste for him to only be an idol.]
[That was the best scene I’ve seen recently. I hope our PD Lee Jeong-hun does a proper drama or movie again sometime.]
In less than 48 hours after its release, the view count surpassed one million.
The production staff, overjoyed by the success, began to spill behind-the-scenes stories about Min Ji-heon and the cameos.
[Title: They said Min Ji-heon and Seo Ho-yun were close, and it seems like it’s for real.
Summary of the newly released video:
And then they briefly exchanged stories that only they knew.
I was genuinely shocked to hear that Min Ji-heon’s dog just stares at the front door because it misses Seo Ho-yun...
└ The atmosphere on set is so good ㅋㅋㅋ
└ Min Ji-heon seems even more affectionate than usual.
└└ Yeah ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He seems to get along with the other cameos too, but these two reek of being best friends. Their bickering is so cute..ㅠㅠ]
At that time, not everyone was soaked in happiness.
[Trash drama]
The majority of The Dawn’s fans were gnashing their teeth at Daepasung and WH Entertainment. Because of Shining Star Season 2, they were already well aware of Seo Ho-yun’s family history.
[Trash production company.
Trash writer.
Trash agency....]
[Fuck fuck fuck fuck, are they crazy? Did they really have to make him film something like that? The CEO should just go get shot and die.]
[The moment Seo Ho-yun appeared, I started wailing in the living room.... My family was so confused, asking why I was crying when it wasn't even that sad of a scene.]
[It’s even harder because he’s so good at acting...]
And as if it were only natural, posts appeared mocking the opinions of the Noeul and bashing Seo Ho-yun.
[Ah, the "my baby is the most pitiful" stans are back.
Seo Ho-yun probably said okay because he was fine with it. Don't worry about celebrities. Do you know how much money he’ll make from filming that? ㅋㅋㅋ]
[Is Seo Ho-yun out of money? Suddenly digging up his family history again.]
[What was he thinking while filming? If he had a brain, shouldn't he have avoided this kind of thing on his own... It’s a bit scary.]
The fans of The Dawn, filled with rage, did not hold back.
[Give me your address so I can go kill you.]
[Cameos usually don't get paid, you piece of shit. Stop acting like you know everything about the entertainment industry and wait for your lawsuit at the police station. Just you wait, you bastards.]
[I'm thinking about smashing your head in.]
Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly hostile, WH Entertainment posted a notice regarding legal action against the infringement of artist rights. Upon seeing that, the Noeul tried to calm their hearts. Since WH Entertainment was well-known for being thorough in managing their artists even if they lacked in communication with fans, they had always handled lawsuits against malicious comments quite decisively.
Taking comfort in that and pulling themselves together, the fans of The Dawn had only one wish for Seo Ho-yun.
[Don't suffer and only look at good things, Ho-yun....]
* * *
[Quest Complete!
By appearing as a cameo in the Letflix luxury drama Before the Moon Wanes, you have achieved 1 million views on a Nutube clip within 2 weeks.
As a reward for your success, 10,000 points have been awarded.]
The quest was successfully completed.
There were no problems up to that point.
However,
'What’s with the atmosphere?'
After finishing the schedule for Before the Moon Wanes and just before the first episode aired, Jeong Da-jun had been pestering everyone to watch the live broadcast together.
However, Kang Yi-chae had coldly rejected the suggestion, which was rare for him, saying he was busy with work. This caused the youngest member to shut his mouth in a pout.
In the end, it seemed he had watched the rerun on his phone under his covers last night, as the sound of loud wailing soon began to drift out.
"What is it? Why are you crying?"
I woke up groggily and lifted the maknae's blanket, my brows furrowed. Having fallen asleep exhausted, I was quite displeased at being woken up against my will.
"Hyung… hic, I-I'm really sorry for whining all the time… waaaaaah."
"The fact that you're being noisy right now is more annoying."
I looked for my earplugs, then seeing Jeong Da-jun squeezing out tears with snot dangling from his nose, I tossed him a box of tissues and lay back down on the bed.
The next morning, Jeong Da-jun's eyes had inevitably turned into macarons.
'Damn it, why did they give me a penalty like that?'
It wasn't even a significant role, just a part that passed by in a flash, so I hadn't thought much of it.
It wasn't even a role that required incredible acting skills. I had basically just stood there and come back.
Before the morning schedule, we all sat down for breakfast for the first time in a while, but for some reason, everyone's chopstick movements were lackluster.
"Ah… h-here, try some of this too, Ho-yun."
"Okay."
Even so, they kept an eye on how fast my bowl was emptying and continued to move side dishes over to me.
I watched them for a moment before taking a spoonful of soup. Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been merely counting grains of rice, spoke up hesitantly.
"So, you know. We watched the drama yesterday……."
"……."
"…Pfft."
All at once, Jeong Da-jun's eyes failed to function properly again, and water began to leak out.
I let out a deep breath, feeling more mentally and physically exhausted than when I was working.
"Let's stop talking about that."
"Yeah, okay."
"…Right."
Everyone nodded.
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had a troubled expression, repeatedly pushed the plate of meat toward me.
Seong Ji-won, who had been observing the members, also turned on the TV as part of an attempt to change the atmosphere. Then, with cruel timing, Before the Moon Wanes was playing.
"Sniffle."
Jeong Da-jun buried his face in his soup bowl as if to hide it.
Kang Yi-chae, whose shoulders were twitching, acted awkwardly as if he hadn't seen anything, and a startled Seong Ji-won fumbled a few times before quickly changing the channel.
"Ah, uh… this, this looks more fun!"
This time, a preview for Let's Go on a School Trip! appeared.
"Wow! I wonder what will happen?"
"Ji-won hyung, that’s the one we filmed……."
Watching these clumsy guys, a sigh escaped me naturally.
I got up from my chair first and returned to my room. The screen of my phone, which I had tossed onto the bedside, was flashing incessantly with text and call notifications from early in the morning.
From Ju Woo-seong to Im Hyeon-su… it was a diverse crowd.
I tapped the saved name of Seo Ho-jin at the very top.
[Damn Little Brother: Hyung, you're an idiot.]
I replied telling him to study instead of sending useless things and then skimmed through the other messages.
Then, I spotted Lee Ji-hyeon's name and checked the content.
[Lee Ji-hyeon: Seo Ho-yun, would you like to work part-time at the company cafe? ☺]