Ch.263Slowly Approaching Death

“Ta-da, the bride has arrived.”

I was startled by Jaerin’s cheerful line.

How is Jaerin here?

What possible connection could there be between an idol and “Pianist”?

As I was pondering this question,

I reached a conclusion faster than expected.

“Are you the female lead for Act 2?”

“Isn’t that too quick? We’ve only exchanged two lines.”

I really like that about you, though.

Saying this, Jaerin threw herself into my arms.

“I really, really, really missed you, too much to be satisfied with occasional calls and video chats.”

“The world tour couldn’t be helped, and honestly, you must have been extremely busy. Is it somewhat wrapped up now?”

“It’s completely finished, so now I have personal time.”

Nuzzle, nuzzle.

While stroking her hair as she rubbed her face against my chest,

I continued our unfinished conversation.

“You came to an audition during your personal time?”

“They said you were in it, and they’d take anyone who could act, so I applied right away.”

“Don’t you need to rest? Shouldn’t you be taking a break?”

“This is my break.”

Jaerin rubbed her face against my chest a few more times before pulling away with satisfaction.

“Everything except filming is rest time in my schedule, so… come visit me at my hotel later.”

Since I knew exactly what “come visit” meant,

I nodded and playfully added:

“Has your stamina improved a lot?”

“T-that…! That’s a different kind of stamina, it’s not the same as dancing.”

While we were joking around after not seeing each other for a long time.

“Excuse me. We still have time before filming, but there’s something I need to explain.”

The director cautiously approached with the script.

Come to think of it, Evelyn hadn’t arrived yet.

I wondered if it was related to that, and

sure enough, it was.

“Due to that assailant from before, CAE has decided to pause filming until things stabilize.”

The director announced Evelyn’s absence.

Honestly, it wasn’t hard to understand.

No, beyond understanding, it might even be the right decision.

‘Even I had a hard time convincing Seokho hyung.’

It was fortunate that nothing happened and everything ended well back then.

Facing an assailant with a gun was incredibly dangerous.

Even if the filming was being done by Dezni,

it was impossible to guarantee 100% safety, so fear was natural.

>I really want to come, I’m sorry.

>The CEO is very angry….

>But the contract isn’t terminated, and it’s just a matter of time.

>I’m really sorry, truly.

And Evelyn’s message arrived right after the director’s announcement.

I thought her contact had been sparse lately, but it seemed to be because of this issue.

<It’s okay.

<I’ll be waiting.

>I miss you

<Me too

While quickly replying to prevent unnecessary worry,

I told the director the same thing—that it was okay.

“It wasn’t an ordinary incident, so I completely understand.”

“I apologize. It was our oversight.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t Dezni’s fault either.

‘It’s my problem.’

If I had chosen to keep receiving gentle waves back then,

intruders would have frequently appeared at the filming site as if some gate had opened.

Since all these problems originated from me,

I was sincerely more sorry.

To be precise, it was fate’s fault,

but since fate had no intention of apologizing, there was nothing to be done.

“Don’t say that. It’s like a natural disaster.”

How can you anticipate and prepare for the thoughts of people who live outside common sense?

After saying that, I immediately left to prepare for makeup.

Since we were filming from Act 2,

there was no problem at all.

Filming wasn’t done in sequence anyway.

‘My job remains unchanged.’

I’m an actor who acts.

Nothing more, nothing less.

+++++

After Kim Donghu left saying it was no problem at all,

a strange wave of emotion swept through the filming site.

“As expected… as expected of Donghu Kim.”

“This must be why everyone calls Donghu Kim a leader.”

“Wow, I’m touched.”

“…Director, are you crying?”

The director of “Pianist,”

Bacon, hurriedly wiped away his tears.

“N-no, who’s crying… this is just sweat from my heart.”

How many Hollywood stars had he worked with over the years,

and how many times had he been hurt by their subtle and not-so-subtle power plays?

But Kim Donghu was completely different.

A star who didn’t use his position to push others down.

That was truly a rare thing.

‘But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t use his rights.’

He wasn’t so nice that people called him a fool.

He knew exactly where to draw the line.

Knowing how remarkable and difficult that was,

Director Bacon found Kim Donghu truly impressive.

In fact, even if he had gotten extremely angry and overturned the contract, no one could have blamed him.

Yet he silently continued filming.

Thanks to Kim Donghu’s decision, dozens of people could keep their livelihoods.

Moreover,

‘To think he has connections with an idol who’s currently at the peak of popularity.’

K-pop.

In the past, people would have asked, “What country is that from? What kind of music is that?”

But now, it was on a completely different level.

K-pop was consistently topping the Billboard charts,

and Ryu Jaerin was at the pinnacle of K-pop right now.

Initially debuting with a bride concept,

it was deemed unsuitable for global appeal.

So she pivoted to a style that exquisitely mixed hip-hop and pop,

using entirely English lyrics,

Aggressively targeting the global market,

and that targeting achieved success beyond 100%, showing incredible results.

Even here at the filming site, there were core fans of Ryu Jaerin.

‘But I heard she was usually calm and quiet.’

Not only did she completely let her guard down when meeting Kim Donghu,

but she also clung to him like a lover.

‘But didn’t he do the same with Evelyn before?’

A relationship map of Kim Donghu’s women instantly formed in Director Bacon’s head,

only to disappear just as quickly two seconds later.

Digging deeply into others’ private lives was something only fools did.

Having reached that conclusion, how long did he wait for Kim Donghu’s makeup to be done?

“Shall we start right away?”

After Kim Donghu’s makeup was finished,

the film shooting began immediately.

++++++

‘To think the day would come when I’d act with Donghu.’

And as lovers, no less.

Although she was destined to be killed,

Ryu Jaerin was satisfied that she could be with him, even if briefly.

‘Ah, Donghu, I really love you.’

It was an intense emotion.

A sticky, passionate desire that could never be produced through acting.

A presence so powerful that even those around could tell she was in love.

This was why Ryu Jaerin was chosen as the female lead for Act 2, beating hundreds of competitors.

And because she had such emotions,

ironically, she wasn’t overwhelmed by Kim Donghu’s acting.

“With that talent, you sell your voice in a rundown bar?”

“When you put it that way, I sound like some kind of prostitute.”

“The way you degrade yourself doesn’t seem much different.”

Because for Ryu Jaerin, it wasn’t acting.

The Pianist.

A gentleman who maintained an obsessive cleanliness,

politely trampling on people.

How could such a man have paid to meet her?

Ryu Jaerin, or rather Sistina, wanted to know that fact clearly.

“Did you call me here to insult me?”

“Didn’t you come here expecting that, for the money?”

A long table.

They sit facing each other, but their eyes don’t meet.

“I’d prefer if you focused once the meal begins, I don’t like talking during that time.”

“Is that your rule?”

“Yes.”

“Then why am I here? Simply to be trampled on?”

As she spat those words, Sistina imagined herself dying here.

A cruel yet seemingly appropriate image of that man suddenly taking the steak knife and plunging it into her neck.

“No, today is simply to get to know each other.”

Today.

That word bothered her.

Like a canker sore in her mouth,

that word stuck firmly in her mind.

And simultaneously,

For the man who gave her such dangerous feelings,

ironically,

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

She felt love.

The opposite emotion.

‘The suspension bridge effect? No, something even deeper.’

The expectation that this person would fill what she lacked.

Why would she have such thoughts about a wealthy man she’d never met before?

Appearance? Attitude? Personality? Posture? Conduct? Character?

No word could explain it.

Despite exchanging only a few words,

she could feel her heart turning toward him.

In that brief moment,

as soon as she reached that conclusion,

“How do you plan to get to know me?”

Sistina decided to boldly cross the line, and

that decision,

“…Are you curious about my methods?”

Touched the Pianist’s desires.

‘Huh.’

And watching this tense atmosphere, Director Bacon

marveled at how perfectly their acting meshed.

Were they long-time partners?

How could their harmony be so perfect?

While he was muttering to himself,

>About Pianist, what if we make Act 2 Season 1, and the rest Season 2, filming them separately?

>I think it’s going to be popular

>Just killing and changing women throughout all 4 acts might get boring

>Let’s just put a long gap between them

A text from Producer Berylard arrived on Director Bacon’s phone.

++++++

At the same time.

“A match has been scheduled?”

“Yes, if I win this match, I’ll be a two-division champion.”

“Easy, so easy. Should I take the easy route like Kim Donghu?”

In a certain gym,

Kim Donghu’s death was slowly being set in motion.