I Actually Tossed and Turned a Little
As always, time flowed on relentlessly. And finally, the morning dawned for Seo Eun-seong's first official schedule as an actor signed with J&J Entertainment.
“Whew.”
Waking up, Seo Eun-seong showered, shaved neatly, and stepped out of the house. He rode the elevator down to the underground parking lot, where a familiar white van was parked.
“Tae-ho hyung! You’re here early...”
As he opened the passenger door with a cheerful greeting, he froze upon seeing the person in the driver’s seat.
“Huh...?”
A woman lounged casually with her arm draped over the steering wheel, sipping coffee behind sunglasses. It was Oh Ji-yeon, the real power player at J&J Entertainment and the CEO’s daughter.
“Ji-yeon noona?! Wait, why are you here, Manager? Where’s Tae-ho hyung?”
Seo Eun-seong blinked in confusion. It made no sense for the agency’s manager—practically the acting CEO—to personally drive out to pick up a rookie actor.
“Eun-seong-ah, didn’t you know?”
Oh Ji-yeon lowered her sunglasses slightly, curving her lips into a charming smile.
“Know what?”
“From now on, I’m your dedicated manager.”
“Pardon?”
Seo Eun-seong’s jaw dropped.
“You’re going to be my manager?”
“Of course. You’re our company’s very first actor. I can’t entrust you to just anyone. I’ll raise you from the ground up with the utmost care. Now quit yapping and get in.”
She jerked her chin toward the passenger seat. Still dazed, Seo Eun-seong climbed into the van.
Is this really happening?
Something told him his celebrity life ahead would be a wild, glittering rollercoaster.
Inside the van cruising through downtown Seoul, soft classical music played.
“Did you get any sleep last night? Must’ve been tense for your first schedule.”
“Ah... yeah. Actually, I tossed and turned a little.”
Seo Eun-seong answered Oh Ji-yeon’s gentle question honestly.
“All rookies are like that. It’s normal to pull an all-nighter staring at the ceiling the night before your first shoot.”
She said it while smoothly turning the wheel.
Seo Eun-seong glanced at the driver’s seat. As always, Oh Ji-yeon was dressed in a sleek black two-piece suit with a short skirt and black stockings.
That’s when it happened.
“Hold on a sec?”
She kicked off her sharp high heels and slipped into cute three-line slippers.
“Driving in heels is a pain.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
The sleek ankle in black stockings clashed oddly with the casual slippers. The unexpected sight made Seo Eun-seong’s face heat up for no reason.
No matter what, she’s my manager... but noona’s just too pretty!
He cleared his throat awkwardly and turned to look out the window. He couldn’t let impure thoughts cloud his respect for her.
“I never imagined you’d grow up so well and end up sitting in the passenger seat of my van as an actor.”
At a stoplight, Oh Ji-yeon gazed at him with a fond chuckle.
“Me neither. It’s all a fluke... but I didn’t expect you to turn out this gorgeous either.”
“Oh? You’ve got a silver tongue now, Eun-seong-ah?”
“Gotta pick up some tricks living with the sik-chung-is.”
“Sik-chung? You mean Ha-rin and...?”
“Eun-jin noona and Ah-hyun.”
“I see.”
Oh Ji-yeon let out a soft laugh and gently ruffled his hair—a mature noona’s effortless affection.
No misunderstandings... no misunderstandings...
His heart thumped hard once.
Moments later, the van pulled up in front of a famous makeup shop tucked in a Cheongdam-dong alley.
Inside, Seo Ha-rin and the Siren members were already seated, getting their hair and makeup done.
“Oppa! You’re here!”
His sister spotted him first and waved through the mirror.
“Seo Eun-seong-ssi, the actor has arrived~”
“We’ve been waiting, leading man?”
Choi Eun-jin and Kim Chae-yeon teased him playfully.
“Eun-seong oppa, you haven’t eaten breakfast, right? Coffee and sandwich here.”
“Eun-seong orabuni~ Jelly from Min-ji!”
Lee Ah-hyun and Gomin-ji rushed over, stuffing snacks into both his hands.
That’s when it hit.
“Kyaaah! Seo Eun-seong the actor!”
“Oh my gosh! He’s really here!”
Word spread like wildfire, and the shop’s staff and designers swarmed him.
“I watched Glorious Outing three times! You were so cool!”
“You’re a hundred times handsomer in person! Top of all the male actors I’ve seen!”
The shop instantly turned into an impromptu fan meet.
“Haha, really? I don’t have anything to offer as thanks... but want a photo together?”
With his signature warm smile, Seo Eun-seong took selfies with each one and even signed autographs.
“Your personality is the best!”
“I’m stanning you starting today!”
His down-to-earth vibe only fueled their excitement.
“Fan meet’s over, folks. Time to get our actor prepped?”
Clap! Oh Ji-yeon clapped to regain control.
“Sorry! Seo Eun-seong-ssi? This way, please sit.”
Finally, he settled into a chair for the pros to work their magic. Staring at his reflection, Seo Eun-seong truly felt himself becoming a real actor.
They finally arrived at the massive filming set in Paju, Gyeonggi-do.
“Whoa? Totally different from a movie set.”
Stepping out, Seo Eun-seong’s eyes widened at the interior.
While the Glorious Outing set had been a dark, gritty Macao back alley, this music video set was a fantastical high school in vibrant pastel tones.
“Coming from movie sites, this must feel fresh, huh, Eun-seong-ah?”
Oh Ji-yeon chuckled at his reaction. The J&J staff around them smiled warmly at his genuine, un-celebrity-like innocence.
Soon after.
“Oppa!”
The Siren members entered in full glam makeup, styled hair, and brown-toned school uniform stage outfits.
“Whoa... you guys are seriously pretty.”
Seo Eun-seong meant it. The snack-munching couch potatoes from home were radiating true top girl group aura.
“Especially Eun-jin noona and Ah-hyun. You two could’ve been idols after all? Always picking your noses and scarfing snacks at home.”
“Hey, you Bear Doll punk! When did I ever pick my nose?”
Thwack! Choi Eun-jin’s solid backhand smacked his back.
“Eun-seong oppa! Don’t say that here!”
Lee Ah-hyun’s face turned beet red.
The staff burst into laughter at the siblings-like banter.
Into the cheerful vibe stepped a new face.
“Everyone’s early, I see?”
Her familiar silhouette entered with her manager. It was actress Kim Na-yeon.
“Eun-seong-ssi? Long time no see.”
She was styled in a neat blouse and slacks for her intellectual “teacher” role in the MV.
“Oh? Na-yeon noona!”
Seo Eun-seong waved happily and approached. Oh Ji-yeon followed with a polite bow.
“Kim Na-yeon-ssi, thank you for the cameo to support our Eun-seong. It means a lot to the company too.”
“No, no. It’s his first lead role—I had to help. Our movie did great thanks to him.”
Kim Na-yeon smiled gracefully.
“A top star like Kim Na-yeon coming to help Eun-seong-ssi? Wild.”
“With that face, I’d come help too.”
“Fair... he is handsome. But with Kim Na-yeon, it’ll make for a solid shoot.”
The staff buzzed excitedly over the A-lister.
But some hyenas weren’t thrilled.
“Hmph... heard Kim Na-yeon’s rep isn’t great...”
“Right, Eun-jin unnie. She’s got ulterior motives for sure. So fake.”
Choi Eun-jin and Lee Ah-hyun eyed her suspiciously. Kim Chae-yeon and Gomin-ji instinctively went on guard too.
“.....”
The four Siren glares pierced like daggers. Kim Na-yeon felt the hostility full force.
“Ho ho... Eun-seong-ssi’s a junior and dongsaeng I truly cherish. This is purely a friendly cameo.”
She emphasized “friendly.”
“Well, he is a puppy type.”
“Ah~ got it~”
Cool-headed Kim Chae-yeon and sweet Gomin-ji dropped their guards instantly.
But.
“Hmph.”
“Hmph?”
Choi Eun-jin and Lee Ah-hyun remained wary.
“Those two are just super clingy with oppa. They’re worried someone’ll steal his cooking. Forgive them, Na-yeon sunbaenim.”
Seo Ha-rin finally mediated.
“Oh? That’s what it was? Thanks, Ha-rin-ssi.”
Kim Na-yeon was tearfully grateful for Ha-rin’s save.
Prep was complete. Director Choi Ho-jin, handling the MV direction, gathered the cast.
“Everyone here? Let’s brief the MV concept and story.”
Staff wheeled in the storyboard at his cue.
“Concept’s fantasy high-teen romance. Siren’s five members are besties in the same class. Seo Eun-seong-ssi’s the mysterious guy from next door. Kim Na-yeon-ssi’s the school’s female teacher.”
“Yes, Director.”
Everyone, including Seo Eun-seong, nodded seriously.
“Story goes like this: One Siren member has a hardcore crush on Eun-seong-ssi. Her four friends tail him, hunt for weaknesses, go all out. But here’s the twist.”
The director grinned mysteriously.
“Turns out Eun-seong-ssi’s secretly dating Teacher Na-yeon. Forbidden student-teacher romance on the edge. The crushing girl witnesses it, despairs... then grows with friends’ comfort. Pretty bold youth flick.”
“Solid story.”
Seo Eun-seong approved. It fit everyone’s vibes perfectly.
“Matches our song concept too.”
Siren’s center, Seo Ha-rin, nodded along. Their title track Y(our) X was about cutting ties with an ex or almost-something.
“Got the gist?”
“Yes, understood.”
Kim Na-yeon grasped it pro-style.
But then, Director Choi dropped the nuke.
“Now, the big one: We need to pick which member crushes on Eun-seong-ssi as the lead girl.”
“.....”
Silence blanketed the set.
Seo Ha-rin. Choi Eun-jin. Lee Ah-hyun. Kim Chae-yeon. Gomin-ji.
The five Siren members simultaneously eyed each other like they’d rehearsed.
Invisible lightning crackled in the air.
“.....”
Those looks alone sparked World War III.
“Just pick anyone, right?”
“.....”
Zzap! Starting with Ha-rin, they all glared at Seo Eun-seong.
“Haha? Not just anyone, huh? Draw straws or something?”
“.....”
Zzap! More sharp stares at him.
“Haha... guess you girls sort it out. I’m outta here.”
Sweating bullets, Seo Eun-seong fled to the waiting room.
The Siren members were dead serious about the MV lead. Far more than he’d expected.