Chapter 17: Like Director, Like Writer (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17: Like Director, Like Writer (1)
“This is the only way to prevent Lee Yu-jin from being forced into retirement by a dating scandal the second she becomes an adult.”
Jung Yoon-ah explained the relationship she had observed to Jang Hyun-soo.
As the story progressed, Jang Hyun-soo’s expression grew increasingly grim.
“Since the female lead is Yoon Se-rang, I thought it would be fine this time. Kim Ho-jin got rejected once and hasn't made a move since.”
“I thought so too.”
“Sigh, I figured it would be okay since Yu-jin is only a sophomore in high school. No, I didn’t even consider it a possibility.”
“It’ll be fine for this project. Now that he knows Yu-jin’s age.”
Then doesn't that mean it's fine? Asking such a question would be foolish.
Jang Hyun-soo had already grasped exactly what Jung Yoon-ah was worried about.
“That man, Kim Ho-jin, plans to seduce Yu-jin the moment she turns twenty.”
“And then Kim Ho-jin’s sasaengs will lose their minds again, threatening to kill someone.”
“By then, even if she’s an actress in her third year, she’ll still be twenty—young and naive to the ways of the world.”
For an actress in her twenties, a dating scandal is a fatal blow that can ruin a career. For an actress who has just turned twenty, the damage is even greater.
Even if Lee Yu-jin were genuinely interested in Kim Ho-jin, Jung Yoon-ah would have followed her around with a packed lunch to talk her out of it. It was no different from walking into a California wildfire with bombs strapped to one's body.
Furthermore, Lee Yu-jin was completely indifferent, and Jung Yoon-ah wanted to protect her as much as possible.
While not all of Kim Ho-jin’s relationships had been caught, every time one was exposed, his extreme fandom caused a massive uproar. The brunt of that damage was always borne by the female actress involved.
The only reason he had succeeded in every pursuit except one (Yoon Se-rang) was largely due to his fame as a top star, his wealth, and his handsome face.
“I’ll have to do my best to prevent the two of them from growing close during this project.”
“That’s why Kim Ho-jin backed off this time. He hasn't given up; he's just playing the long game.”
Spending months acting together on set, talking, and hanging out naturally lowers one's guard. It is all too easy for affection to sprout.
Since neither of them knew about Lee Yu-jin’s inner masculinity, their concerns were bound to be significant.
“I don’t care if he’s a top star or if his role is hard to replace. I won’t tolerate him ruining the future of a promising young actress for his own greed.”
“...”
“If it’s too hard for him to drop out, let’s replace him.”
“...That’s what dropping out means.”
“Then bring in a substitute. We have to defend the environment so they don't grow close. Are you just going to let a young actress’s career get tangled up?”
“Don’t worry. I feel a sense of responsibility for bringing my daughter’s friend into this.”
Nothing would happen immediately.
However, it was clear how the goodwill Kim Ho-jin was intentionally building during this project would explode three years later. Jang Hyun-soo felt he had to take responsibility and resolve this for Lee Yu-jin’s sake.
I’m the one who dragged her in when she said she wouldn't act, and I want to see just how high an actress named Lee Yu-jin can climb...
“It’s been a while since I’ve had to throw my weight around. I can’t even remember the last time I raised my voice. I wonder if my vocal cords can still handle a good shout?”
“Yu-jin doesn't know anything right now, okay? Let’s go with a scenario where we persuade Kim Ho-jin to quietly drop out due to personal reasons.”
“You’re worried Kim Ho-jin’s fandom will throw a fit trying to find out the reason for his departure?”
“Yes, exactly. What if the sparks fly toward Yu-jin?”
The PD and the writer held a secret discussion for quite a long time to settle the situation as quietly as possible.
*
On a high hill at the edge of the film set.
An Si-yu, a fan of actor Kim Ho-jin, scanned the area with her telephoto camera, searching for a target.
Ah, there’s Oppa!
The moment she spotted Kim Ho-jin in the distance, An Si-yu grinned and began snapping away.
Where is that rookie girl?
When she first came to scout the area, she had caught sight of an impossibly beautiful rookie actress. She had been so shocked by the girl's face that she had forgotten to press the shutter.
She had tried consistently after that, but the girl was always wearing a veil, making the photos pointless.
The moment she revealed her bare face, she would miraculously vanish from sight as soon as the lens was aimed at her. Consequently, An Si-yu hadn't managed to get a single clear shot of her face yet.
Oh, is she out?
An Si-yu quickly aimed her lens.
She might have missed her because the costume was different, but the actress's aura, palpable even from a distance, drew her in automatically.
The moment she focused, An Si-yu’s mouth hung open at the breathtaking sight.
Wow... what is with this vibe...
She was wearing form-fitting black martial attire.
Only her shoulders and arms were exposed, yet she exuded a sexiness that felt almost provocative.
Just as An Si-yu carefully adjusted the composition and was about to press the shutter, the rookie actress pulled a black mask over her face, failing the bare-face shot once again.
“Damn it! Again! That girl has the devil’s own luck! I guess that’s why she was born with a face like that.”
*
My character, the maid-warrior Yeon Si-ho, usually wears elaborate palace ceremonial dresses.
But today was finally the day to film in black martial attire.
I was glad to finally shed the skirts that kept chipping away at my inner masculinity, but the design was so tight it was disconcerting.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, Mom and Jang Ji-hye kept showering me with admiration. It felt like they were teasing me, though I knew they weren't.
“Oh my, how can our daughter look so pretty even in pitch-black clothes?”
“Wow, I didn't know someone could radiate such sexiness just by showing their shoulders.”
“...”
Since it was a slim-fit style I rarely wore, it felt awkward. The figure in the mirror wearing martial attire looked like a stranger.
“But this is a historical drama; why is the martial attire so tight? And why are the shoulders exposed?”
“It’s not a traditional historical drama; it’s a fictional period piece. What does it matter? As long as she looks pretty.”
“I just think it’s such a shame she has to wear a mask. Why did the writer include that setting?”
“...”
Anyway, after finishing my preparations, I stepped out of the container. Suddenly, a barrage of stares hit me, making my face sting.
I could feel everyone stealing glances even from afar, and heat kept rising to my cheeks.
Having such a sensitive radar for people's gaze is really inconvenient...
The "1+1" child actors approached me hesitantly. Kim Yu-jung spoke first in a small voice.
“Yu-Yu-jin, you look so beautiful.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“Noona, you’re really pretty. Do you really have to wear the mask?”
“That’s the character setting, so what can I do?”
I decided to keep the truth buried—that it was an arbitrary setting the PD added because of me (I heard about it later).
Kim Ho-jin keeps coming even when he doesn't have a shoot. Is that kind of dedication how he reached that position at such a young age?
At first, his romantic interest was annoying, but now that he had apologized properly and backed off, I decided to think of it positively. I wouldn't have to see him again once this drama was over anyway.
“Actress Lee Yu-jin, here is the hairpin prop.”
“Thank you.”
“Stylist Jang probably doesn't know how to style a hairpin, right? I’ll call the makeup team.”
“No, I’ll do it.”
“Pardon?”
“I know how.”
The setting was that Yeon Si-ho used it as a hidden weapon. I fiddled with the prop hairpin.
I used to do Eonnyeoni’s hair with a hairpin a lot...
Eonnyeoni was clumsy, so I did it often for practice. Because of the war, we never had the chance to hold a wedding, so she never officially wore her hair up with a hairpin in public.
I gathered my long, flowing hair with my left hand, twisted it into a bun, and lightly tucked the hairpin in.
Since it reached my waist, it might be difficult for an ordinary person, but compared to Eonnyeoni’s hair length, this was nothing.
*
As Lee Yu-jin skillfully twisted her hair up and pinned it, the entire set seemed to hold its breath.
It was a simple gesture, nothing more than putting her hair up. Yet, it exuded a strange, suffocating magic.
The male actors and staff members snapped themselves out of it, metaphorically slapping their own cheeks.
She’s a sophomore. She’s only sixteen.
If I look at her the wrong way, I’m finished.
When her elf-like white face disappeared behind the mask, leaving only her faintly blue eyes visible, everyone swallowed a sigh.
The lead actor, Kim Ho-jin, suppressed his desire and approached her with a forced expression of calm.
“You’re good at putting your hair up with a hairpin. You seem very skilled; do you do it often?”
“I heard I’d be using a hairpin today, so I just learned it from Witube yesterday.”
“Ah, you must have practiced hard. It’s not easy to make it look that natural and pretty.”
“I just tried it once and it worked. I’m not great at using my head, but I’m good with my body.”
Good with her body...
To Kim Ho-jin, those words sounded strangely suggestive.
The person saying them likely used the phrase with pure intentions, without a second thought, but...
Is she interested in me too? Is she subtly flirting?
He had intended to focus strictly on building a senior-junior friendship during this drama, but would that work? Could he restrain himself?
Lee Yu-jin moved toward the set with the martial arts team. Kim Ho-jin followed quietly at a distance, as if possessed.
The sight of the child actor Jang Dong-hyun trailing beside her was strangely irritating.
Kim Ho-jin laughed to himself.
Ha, am I actually getting annoyed at a kid who isn't even ten years old?
*
The outdoor set.
Though it was broad daylight with a bright sun, they were filming a chase scene where the maid-warrior Yeon Si-ho pursues enemies who attempted a night raid.
The time of day would be changed to night through post-production.
“Since you aren't used to it, we won't use wires. Yu-jin, just run as hard as you can and jump. We’ll fill in the rest with CG.”
“Yes, PD-nim.”
The cue sign was given, and the chase began.
The assassins in black martial attire fled with all their might, suspended by wires. Lee Yu-jin, in her form-fitting outfit, pursued them rapidly.
How is she running so fast?
Was she a track athlete?
What’s her 100-meter time? She looks like she’s about to break eleven seconds.
Despite wearing a mask, she didn't seem out of breath at all. Her posture—lowering her body slightly to reduce wind resistance and pushing her center of gravity forward—was incredibly stable.
She was, quite literally, a trained warrior.
The PD, writer, staff, and even the actors who had gathered to watch held their breath.
Lee Yu-jin bent her knees and leaped powerfully.
She jumped as if bouncing off a rock, lightly kicked off a tree in mid-air, and leaped in the opposite direction.
At that moment, Kim Ho-jin clenched his fists.
It was an aerial maneuver that made his palms sweat. Lee Yu-jin stepped on obstacles as light as a feather, closing the distance in a zigzag pattern.
She was like a jaguar flying through the jungle, leaping from tree to tree.
The fleeing attackers were struck by Lee Yu-jin’s sword, their blood packs bursting as they fell one by one.
Finally, Lee Yu-jin came to a halt and looked at the last remaining assassin, who had fled the furthest.
Her right hand lightly pulled out the hairpin and flicked it.
It embedded itself perfectly into the pre-designated wooden target, vibrating from the impact.
Her thick, jet-black hair spilled down like a dark waterfall, momentarily blinding Kim Ho-jin’s vision.
The moment she turned back toward them as if there was no need to look behind her, a silent gasp erupted from the onlookers.
It was as if they were experiencing for the first time how alluring a human being could be.
In that moment, Kim Ho-jin made a decision.
I’m going to marry her the moment she turns twenty and keep her at home.
Names for his future grandchildren were already flashing through his mind.
*
On his way home after watching Lee Yu-jin’s shoot, Kim Ho-jin received a call from PD Jang Hyun-soo.
“Ah, PD-nim. I’m on my way home now.”
—Kim Ho-jin, can we meet briefly this evening? I have something serious to discuss.
“Of course. Where should we meet?”
—Let’s meet at your agency. Oh, and bring your manager and CEO if possible.
“Pardon? The CEO too?”
—Ah, don’t worry at all. It’s a good thing.
PD Jang Hyun-soo chuckled softly.
—It’s a very good thing for you too, Kim Ho-jin. Let’s have a pleasant meeting later.