episode_0010

“What’s that…?”

“Uh, yeah.”

The filming set was in chaos.

It was all because of Seo Isu’s acting.

Her acting was that shocking.

“I’m a bit like that. I can’t act for crap.”

“Yeah. Had to keep changing the boom mic position because she kept moving out of the marked spot.”

Some staff grumbled.

Their words were true.

Seo Isu’s acting was a mess.

Everyone on set agreed with that.

But…

“However, what was captured on camera was quite captivating.”

The staff in charge of camera assistance said.

They cared more about how it looked on screen than the acting itself.

On screen.

Despite her disastrous acting, Seo Isu was still captivating.

Truly.

She looked like a top star.

Everyone on the set agreed with that too.

“It’s not easy for a rookie actor to express that.”

Those who have watched dramas would understand.

When a rookie actor takes on the role of a top star, it often comes off as cringeworthy.

Because the person acting isn’t a top star.

Stars have their own aura.

Whether it’s cultivated through looks or skillfully exuding charm in front of the camera.

For whatever reason, a top star gives off a sense of being different from ordinary people at first glance.

It’s not easy for a rookie actor to have that feeling.

But Seo Isu was different.

Her acting skills were lacking.

But the expression she showed as a top star was perfect.

A staff member raised an eyebrow.

“Can someone have good expression even with such low skills?”

That staff member had never seen a case like Seo Isu’s before.

Or rather, most of the staff members were in the same boat.

They were the staff shooting a work that would be broadcast on a major broadcasting channel.

They were at the top of the industry.

Therefore, actors working with them were expected to have high technical skills.

But the older, more experienced staff had a slightly different view.

They had met countless actors over the years.

One in a thousand.

No, one in a million, rare cases like this could happen.

They knew that there could be people who couldn’t be judged by industry standards.

Usually, those outside the norm were called special by the culprits.

“Genius…”

A staff member was about to mutter that word when…

“Wasn’t that acting a bit too selfish?”

A sweet voice cut through the scene.

“Oh, Yu Baewo.”

It was Yu Haneul.

She spoke with a disapproving expression.

“That was just overshadowing the other actors with your own acting. Look at Hye Yeon.”

Just a moment ago, Gil Hye Yeon was in sync with Seo Isu.

But now, she looked quite tired.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she wiped it with a towel.

Even though they had just finished shooting one scene.

And furthermore…

“Plus, you didn’t even show your own acting skills properly because you were too busy matching the rookie actor’s fake acting. If you didn’t match it, the whole shoot would have been ruined.”

It wasn’t a wrong statement.

But it was also somewhat malicious.

Yu Haneul had twisted the topic of conversation that people were having.

Up until then, people were discussing Seo Isu’s acting skills.

Whether she was good or bad.

They were trying to come to a conclusion between the two.

But Yu Haneul’s statement changed the topic.

Is she a selfish actor or not.

That was clearly an unfavorable topic for Seo Isu.

Because she was still a beginner who hadn’t even grasped what acting was.

“That’s… true.”

“Yeah. It was actually difficult to shoot.”

“I can’t believe I have to act with that actor…”

The staff and actors began talking about how difficult it was to work with Seo Yisoo.

Yoo Haneul watched them with satisfaction.

“I’ll go back to the waiting room now.”

“Oh, sure. Rest well. We’ll call you when we’re ready to shoot.”

Yoo Haneul returned to the waiting room with her manager.

And in the waiting room.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

Yoo Haneul’s expression hardened.

It was because of Seo Yisoo.

“What’s up with that Seo Yisoo? Who does she think she is?”

“Well, she’s just…”

The manager couldn’t answer and trailed off.

It was expected.

Seo Yisoo was a nobody.

She had never even appeared in a minor role in any other work.

But Yoo Haneul didn’t care about that.

She scolded him harshly.

“Is that all? If you don’t know, at least say you’ll find out.”

“Oh, um, yeah. I’ll look into it. Sorry.”

“Anyway… I don’t like her attitude.”

Tsk.

The sound of clicking one’s tongue could be heard.

It was a humiliating situation, but the manager held back.

There was nothing else he could do by not holding back.

“Seo Yisoo…”

Yoo Haneul muttered that short name.

In that voice, a hint of anxiety could be felt.

It was strange.

She was a top star.

While Seo Yisoo was just a nobody.

But Yoo Haneul knew.

“That’s real.”

Seo Yisoo was not ordinary.

She was definitely not an average person.

After watching Seo Yisoo’s acting today, someone would say this.

“Her expressiveness is good.”

But is that all?

However, Yoo Haneul was different.

She was a top star.

She had worked with many figures known for their acting in South Korea.

So she knew.

“That’s real talent.”

That Seo Yisoo’s expressiveness was in a realm that ordinary people could not reach.

Because Seo Yisoo lacked acting skills.

She didn’t know how to exaggerate her emotions.

Or how to effectively convey them with the right seasoning.

But, on that subject.

Without any foundation.

Without any tools to maximize her expressiveness.

She managed to convey that level of emotion.

It was like a young child who had just encountered calculus solving differential equations on their own for the first time.

“And because she knew all this.

Yoo Haneul became anxious.

“I have to do something.”

She was a top star.

While Seo Yisoo was a nobody.

The gap in status and position was significant.

She was in a position that Seo Yisoo could never dare to look up to.

But that position wouldn’t last forever.

Today.

Seo Yisoo had shown her talent.

Most of the young staff and actors might not have grasped how talented she was, but there were experienced staff members who could fully appreciate her talent.

So, it was only a matter of time.

Someday, Seo Yisoo’s talent would be widely recognized.

And opportunities to rise would come to her as good roles.

When that happened, all that would be left was to gradually fill in the technical gaps and become a star.

“Stars shouldn’t increase.”

The entertainment industry in South Korea is narrow.

The field of actors is even narrower.

The places where stars can shine are limited to prime time dramas on major broadcast channels and key cable channels.

And a few major works that are released in theaters every season.

The places where stars can work are limited.

Unless they are active overseas,

Their work is ultimately just a game of musical chairs.

“And that’s why.

Yoo Haneul made up her mind.

“Oppa, give me my phone.”

“Oh, here.”

She turned on her phone, which she had left with her manager, without hesitation.

And she entered the group chat room.

These were the actors she had ‘hooked up’ with through the casting director of this drama.

– Hey, are you guys doing well with your acting? Nothing too difficult?

[Yes, unnie!]

– But why are you like this, noona?

– Oh, just~ Was it Seo Yisoo? The atmosphere wasn’t good because of her. I was worried.

At first, she seasoned the conversation with light worries and small talk.

Then, suddenly, she said in passing.

– I saw her earlier. Her acting is too selfish.

– That’s concerning.

– The shoot.

– Will it be okay in the future?

The lively chat momentarily paused.

The actors she supported were, in a way, her confidants.

Yoo Haneul knew very well what kind of person Seo Yisoo was.

In the narrow and fierce competition among the stars.

She knew that she had won not by acting skills, but by other means.

The paused chat soon resumed.

[That’s right. I felt the same way.]

[Exactly. Oh, excuse me for a moment. I have something to ‘discuss’ with the supporting actors.]

[Me too…]

Now, they would create opinions among the supporting actors who stuck together at the same level.

They didn’t want to act with Seo Yisoo.

Those opinions would soon subtly manifest through actions.

“Hmph.”

Yoo Haneul smiled satisfactorily.

She didn’t say a word.

Whatever happens.

It was just a matter of the supporting actors being jealous of Seo Yisoo or not understanding her talent.

“Hehehe….”

Yoo Haneul erased her anxious expression.

And started humming a tune.

‘Interesting.’

The manager watching her felt that the situation was strange.

‘It’s the opposite. It’s the opposite.’

The role she was assigned seemed to be reversed.

The charismatic top star Cha Yeonsoo.

And the lovely rookie actress Yena.

But the actor who took on that role seemed completely reversed.

Cha Yeonsoo was like Yoo Haneul.

Yena was like Seo Yisoo.

The manager felt this strange irony.

So, the situation was quite awkward.

He thought.

Well…

How long will this reversal of roles and characters continue?

***

“Phew! It was a fun day today.”

Seo Yisoo stretched and said.

She looked very happy.

Shin Jihu, who was watching her, spoke up.

“Was it that good?”

“Of course. The shoot was fun, and…”

Seo Yisoo began recounting the events of the day.

Most of them were trivial stories.

They were small and never seemed to end.

‘She talks a lot.’

Shin Jihu felt that she was talking a lot.

The previous Seo Yisoo used to be reserved, so there was no way for her to talk a lot to a man like Shin Jihu.

Of course, that was only because of the special circumstances of Seo Yisoo, who had not had a conversation with others for a thousand years.

Shin Jihu could not know such intimate details.

So, he only felt that she was treating him warmly.

‘Well, we’ve gotten closer.’

Shin Jihu thought.

There’s no harm in that.

The manager and the actor are a kind of fate community.

If the actor does well, the manager will also succeed.

So, if the relationship between the two is close, there are advantages to it.

No.

Regardless of such pros and cons.

“Yeah. I’m glad you had fun.”

Shin Jihu thought that Seo Yisoo, who was enjoying herself so much, looked quite nice.

For some reason, he wanted to keep watching her.

He had that thought.

“Anyway, yes. I’m glad. The hospital said there’s nothing wrong with me.”

“I told you, didn’t I? There’s nothing wrong with my body.”

After finishing the filming schedule assigned to Seo Yisoo.

Shin Jihu immediately left the set with her.

As a rookie, he should have stayed on set to take care of things…

But…

“Who cares about Seo Isu’s reputation. It’s a relief if it’s not too bad.”

He was worried about what kind of trouble Seo Isu’s eccentricity might cause.

Moreover, he did not forget his concern for Seo Isu’s memory loss and its cause.

Shin Jihu went through all the tests that could be done on the same day at the hospital.

Of course, it cost a lot of money.

It was too expensive to pay with the corporate card provided by the company.

“Well, it’s not that much money.”

Shin Jihu just used his personal card.

And fortunately, the test results he received showed no abnormalities.

He could say that he felt relieved to some extent as he pondered whether Seo Isu’s health was more important than the filming.

He said in a lighter tone.

“Alright, we’re here. This is your house. You remember, right?”

“Yeah. I don’t remember.”

The outskirts of Seoul.

A small studio apartment in a shabby villa.

This is Seo Isu’s house.

Today.

Shin Jihu took Seo Isu to her house.

They had come up to Seoul from the motel to get the tests done at the hospital.

Seo Isu planned to rest at home today and go back to the province where the filming location was the next morning.

Although the filming location was in the province, it was not too far from Seoul.

And it was possible because Seo Isu’s filming schedule was not too heavy.

“I’ll come to pick you up early tomorrow. So go to bed early tonight. Got it?”

After guiding her to the small studio apartment where Seo Isu lived.

Shin Jihu said as if to admonish her.

It was a precautionary measure in case the strange Seo Isu stayed up late and did something else instead of sleeping.

In fact, even at the filming location, Seo Isu had a record of calling Shin Jihu late at night to chat.

“…Shin Jihu?”

But Seo Isu’s attitude was strange.

Well, she was strange to begin with.

“Why?”

“Don’t you live here? Weren’t you in the room next door at that motel?”

“Of course. What manager would live in the same building as their entertainer.”

Shin Jihu said nonchalantly.

“Then, you won’t come when I call you at night.”

“Are you serious?”

This girl.

It seemed like she wanted to do what they did at the filming location today.

Calling him at night to chat, just like she tried to do before.

“Let’s both rest at night. And you, have some awareness that you’re a girl. No, before that, you need to realize you’re an entertainer.”

Shin Jihu scolded Seo Isu sternly.

He was her manager, not her servant.

And it would be easy for a scandal to break out if she casually called a male manager at night.

“…Alright. I didn’t know, that’s why I did that.”

To his words, Seo Isu, unable to muster a cool smile, reluctantly agreed.

“Alright. I’m glad you understand. See you tomorrow then.”

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”

Shin Jihu left Seo Isu in her studio apartment and closed the door.

Click-

The closing door.

Began to cover Seo Isu’s figure.

Even at that moment, she continued to smile and look at Shin Jihu.

And.

Thud-

When the door was completely closed.

Seo Isu’s figure also disappeared completely.

She became invisible.