Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 43: New Recruit Incoming!

Writer Jung Yoon-ah had finished the script!

As the news spread, the set was filled with a festive atmosphere, as if a banquet had begun. Now that the ship's course was set, all we had to do was row hard according to the map.

PD Jang Hyun-soo and Writer Jung Yoon-ah called the leads—me, Yoon Se-rang, Kang Seok-won, and the two child actors—to explain the new ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠direction.

"The decisive difference between Quarter 2 and Quarter 1 is this: Prince On Ji-wook, who took the position of the Princess's fiancé to seek revenge, loses his heart the moment he sees Yeon Si-ho’s face as a child. He suffers for a long time because of it, and in the final moment, those feelings ultimately lead to his failure."

What kind of makjang development is this?

I only thought it and didn't say it out loud, but suddenly, everyone was staring at me.

"It’s... persuasive."

"It actually makes total sense, doesn't it?"

"So, in Quarter 1, Yeon Si-ho never showed what was under her cotton veil, so On Ji-wook never had a chance to lose his heart?"

"When the veil flew off during the final confrontation, On Ji-wook must have had a momentary 'oh crap' realization."

"Aha, so that’s why On Ji-wook lost. It wasn't because Yeon Si-ho released all the power of the Sword Spirit."

"On Ji-wook was the strongest character in the world after all. He just went easy on her."

I wanted to protest, but I held it in, remembering Jang Ji-hye’s words that a drama is all about the script.

A rookie shouldn't infringe on the writer's authority. But this feels a bit much.

Still, I timidly tried to voice my opinion.

"I really don't think I'm at a level where I can convince the viewers to that extent."

"..."

"..."

"Could I perhaps ask for permission to humbly suggest to the writer that this is just a timid opinion, and I would be grateful if you could just let it slide?"

Yoon Se-rang, who had her arms crossed, shot me a cold look, and Jung Yoon-ah’s bewildered gaze pierced my chest.

"Lee Yu-jin, as far as I can see, the writer has provided the ultimate narrative logic. Your logic just now was the weird one."

At Yoon Se-rang’s words, Jung Yoon-ah chuckled, waving a hand.

"It’s okay, it’s okay. They say true geniuses ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't think of themselves as geniuses; they just think everyone else is an idiot. Honey, tell the truth. You think you're the only one with a human face and everyone else in the world is a squid-head, right?"

"I have never thought that."

"Then an ogre-head?"

I tried to stand my ground once, only to be utterly shredded by the mental attacks of the people around me claiming my face was the "narrative logic" or whatever.

*

It was good that the script was finished, but filming became a torment for me.

Because...

"Our actor Jang Dong-hyun, do you roughly understand what I mean?"

"Yes, PD-nim! You want me to look at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yeon Si-ho secretly, like I'm looking at my first unrequited love! I can do it, really, really well! I'm confident!"

"This is going to be pure Method acting. Then let's go right away. Go, go."

The cue sign was given.

Jang Dong-hyun, playing the young On Ji-wook, stared at me with an incredibly greasy gaze.

"Yeon Si-ho."

"...Yes, Prince."

I faltered, caught off guard by his gaze, but fortunately, no NG sign was given.

"Why didn't you eat the dried persimmons I gave you last time and gave them to the other maids instead?"

"That is..."

"I told you to eat them all by yourself."

"I am sorry. I do not like dried persimmons."

"Then what do you like?"

This kid, Jang Dong-hyun—just because the PD ordered it, he’s practically equipped his eyes with laser beams.

The cut sign finally came, but PD Jang Hyun-soo shook his head and spoke.

"Let's go again. You know why without me saying it, right?"

"...Yes. I stumbled over my lines at the beginning."

"There's that, but you're showing too much agitation. The core of Yeon Si-ho is that she's cold, blunt, and seemingly emotionless—she moves at her own pace. She only shows a hint of human emotion in front of her lord."

"I'll try harder."

"I trust you'll do well. Relax, and let's take it slow and try again."

I think I made more NGs today than when we filmed the final exit scene of Quarter 1.

By the way, if it's like this with Jang Dong-hyun, what am I going to do when I film with the adult Kang Seok-won...?

I thought it would be easy since it's what I always do.

Ignoring one-sided advances—I thought it would be easy because it's what I do in my daily life.

But because Jang Dong-hyun’s gaze acting is so good, it’s actually creepy and cringeworthy.

What if I were cast in a real rom-com where the characters have a 'some' relationship and then get all lovey-dovey?

Ugh, just thinking about it makes my stomach churn.

I should definitely never star in a rom-com drama and just turn them down.

*

I had already told Jang Ji-hye that I was looking into transferring to an Arts High School. She’d be upset if she found out late.

"I'm going to the Arts High School with you!"

So, it was decided that we would transfer together.

"Yu-jin, Yu-jin, you're obviously going to the Acting Department, right? But is there anything left for you to learn there? I feel like my dad and the writer could teach you better."

"I don't want to work even at school. I don't want to live like a laborer from the Industrial Revolution."

"Then what are you going to major in?"

"Classical music. Timpani."

"Timpani? You? That's almost entirely the domain of male players."

The timpani is a Western drum that looks like a copper bowl with a drumhead stretched over it. They can be anywhere from 50cm to 80cm in diameter. You don't just use one; you use four or five at a time, tuned to different pitches.

The equipment is large and heavy, and because of its military band heritage, it's a male-dominated field.

Reminds me of the line infantry meta days. We used to march into the enemy lines in tight formation while carrying and beating those heavy drums.

"I'm not planning to join an orchestra; I just think it'll be a good way to relieve stress."

"Beating the drums like crazy would definitely relieve stress. Are you learning it in case you get cast as a timpanist in a music drama later?"

"I'm not the kind of person who lives with such complicated thoughts."

"Still, you've saved the lives of the kids in the Acting Department. They would've been trembling in fear if they heard you were transferring in."

I was only going to an Arts High School because I couldn't attend a regular academic high school peacefully anymore. So, I decided to choose a major where I could play and relieve stress.

"Then I guess I should pick up the violin again. If we're going to enter the Classical Music Department together."

"Jang Ji-hye, you know how to play the violin?"

"I've played since I was little."

"Suddenly, you look so elegant, Jang Ji-hye..."

"Since you're doing the timpani, I'm already imagining the visual of a sexy 'testo-girl.' You beating those drums will just be damn pretty and sexy; the guys' testosterone will probably explode."

"Are you going to keep hitting me with these sneak attacks?"

After filming hard during the break, the practical evaluation schedule for the transfer was finally set, so I went to the Arts High School with Jang Ji-hye.

The practical exam teacher was flustered as soon as he saw me.

"Wait, why is this... Actress Lee Yu-jin, no, Student Lee Yu-jin. Is it true that you're trying for Music, and Timpani at that, not the Acting Department? You didn't fill out the application wrong?"

"I am very good at hitting things. I am confident. Please believe in me."

I beat the timpani excitedly in front of the teachers. For a moment, I remembered my days as a military bandsman in a line infantry corps.

My time as a military bandsman was the second most 'cushy post' of my life.

The first cushy post was, of course, my immediate past life. If only I hadn't died in a firearm accident right before my final leave, it would have been perfect...

"Wow..."

"She's... she's good?"

"Her sense of rhythm is insane."

"Does she have a biological metronome inside her? I think she'd be great at band drums too."

"But why the timpani of all things...? Her face is such a waste, really..."

Compared to beating a drum to keep time while marching toward an enemy line infantry corps at the risk of my life, this is quite easy.

I drew out plenty of positive evaluations.

Jang Ji-hye, whom I met afterward, also seemed to be in a good mood.

"Yu-jin, Yu-jin, but what if we fail?"

"We can think about that then."

"I suddenly remembered coming in last on our group project..."

"Let's not think ominous thoughts. We'll both get in."

A while later, we both received acceptance notices, and our transfer was confirmed.

"See, I told you we'd get in."

"You said things would go well before we came in last, too."

*

PD Jang Hyun-soo wanted to film as much as possible during the break.

I stayed on set, squeezing out the maximum allowable working hours for a minor.

Even today, during a break, I almost lost it several times at the military jokes Jang Dong-hyun had picked up from somewhere.

Yoon Se-rang sat next to me and whispered.

"Yu-jin, do you know what kind of looks men give you when you laugh like that? Why do you keep leading them on?"

"Hey, what do you mean, leading them on...?"

"How can you be so easygoing with that face... It's cheating."

"You're the one who's incredibly pretty in my eyes, sunbae."

"Are you humblebragging right now?"

As we talked, the topic of the Arts High School transfer came up.

"But why the timpani? Why not the Acting Department?"

"I don't want to work even at school. It's nice to relieve stress while enjoying the impact."

"Well, from the teachers' perspective, it might be a relief. They'd be at a loss as to what to teach an active S-grade actress."

"Why am I an S-grade...?"

"You received an S-grade appearance fee this time. Once you're recognized as S-grade, you're S-grade forever. By the way, haven't you received any offers for luxury brand ambassadorships? They should be starting to bite by now."

"Actually, I've had offers from a few places. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior, Chanel..."

"If you're going ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to do one, do Chanel."

"But I don't think I'll do it."

"You're as chic toward fashion brands as you are toward men. Others are dying to do it."

A staff member announced the start of filming.

In Quarter 1, this was the scene where I made a grand exit along with On Ji-wook. But in Quarter 2, the ending changes.

Although it's a scene from the final climax, we're filming it before the break ends due to the actors' schedules.

Yoon Se-rang, Kang Seok-won sunbae, and I stood before the camera.

"Please take good care of me."

"Let's do our best. But you're so pretty today, I'm worried I might lose strength in my sword. It was better back then when you were covered by the veil."

I had long since grown tired of responding to every compliment about my face, so I just pretended not to hear.

"Ready, cue!"

As soon as the cue sign was given, we lunged at each other.

Just like when we filmed the exit scene in Quarter 1—more fiercely than then, more refined than then.

As rehearsed, we tested each other's wrist strength with sword paths that were as flashy and polished as possible.

The difference from Quarter 1 was the setting: On Ji-wook’s forces were much larger, and even the timing of the ambush was perfect, making the Imperial side much more disadvantaged.

I was pushed back little by little, just as we had rehearsed.

Yoon Se-rang and I were cornered, and a triumphant Kang Seok-won glared with bloodshot eyes, exhaling a desperate threat that sounded like his lungs were tearing.

"Yeon Si-ho! If only you would accept my heart! I will make it as if none of this ever happened! I will not harm the life of anyone in the Imperial family, including the Princess!"

"Prince, please stop here. This is not right."

"I have come too far to stop. Too much blood has stained these hands. But it does not matter. I do not care if I soak my entire body in all the blood of the Empire. If only I can have you!"

"..."

"Do you want to save your lord? Then become my Empress."

It was clear that his acting skills had been honed and polished through long experience in theater.

The smoldering gaze, the fighting spirit and madness flowing from his entire body, the endless obsession and possessiveness, the infinite tenacity that seemed like he would never give up...

I had to receive this gaze—a mixture of all these things, where thick effort was added to overflowing talent—and deliver the next line, but...

"Cut! Cut!"

I was flustered when the NG sign suddenly dropped.

Yoon Se-rang, who had been trembling pitifully, gave a little snicker and said a word.

"Do you know you had the expression of the prettiest girl in school getting a public confession from a loser in front of the whole student body just now?"

"I almost got hurt, Yu-jin."

"I-I'm sorry..."

I must have unconsciously made a face like I was looking at a bug...

PD Jang Hyun-soo gave us a break.

"We'll take fifteen minutes. Yu-jin, take your brother to a quiet place and get your emotions in check."

"Huh? How did you know?"

"I wouldn't be a PD if I couldn't figure that out."

I took my brother into the dressing room and gave him a satisfying smack on the back.

My brother, groaning, asked.

"Noona, is your twisted heart a bit unraveled now?"

"I feel like I can breathe. Hey, don't worry. When the appearance fee comes in this time, I'll take care of all your back pay."

"It's okay! I'm the human sandbag Mom gave birth to for you, after all!"

I returned to the set.

This time, I focused intensely and was able to get a clean 'okay' sign without any NGs.

*

The grueling filming schedule continued throughout the break, and finally, the break ended.

"Yu-jin, Yu-jin, the kids might bombard you with requests for handshakes and autographs as soon as they see you. You have to be prepared."

"My brother said the kids at Arts High Schools are haughty and have a lot of pride, so it'll actually be much more comfortable. Besides, I'm a Timpani major."

"I hope you get an offer to star in an orchestra drama or movie later."

The school rule I liked most was that, except for official school activities, we were allowed to wear full PE kits.

"Yu-jin, Yu-jin? Where are you going? You have to go to the faculty office first."

"There's something you must do when you get a new unit assignment. Just trust me and follow."

I knew where the classroom was.

I intentionally threw open the back door of the classroom with a loud bang, and the kids sitting there for their morning general subjects all turned to look at us at once.

"Receive the transfer stu...! Mmph!"

The moment I tried to shout, "Receive the new recruit!", Jang Ji-hye desperately covered my mouth.

"I knew you'd do this. You really are your brother's sister."

Jang Ji-hye dragged me out and closed the back door.

Where did she get this strength...? Is this the superhuman strength that comes out in a crisis?