Chapter Index

    Movie Studio.

    A whirlwind of tension and excitement swirled within Soo-ah.

    A mock shoot—something she would never experience in her entire life under normal circumstances. So much so that she even questioned if it was really right.

    But there was no turning back. Nor did she want to.

    At first, killing time wasn’t too difficult.

    Soo-ah had her precious friend: her phone. She could just fiddle with it.

    [Saengji: Who the heck is Kim Yu-han….] [Saengji: I’m going crazy] [Soo-ah: Actually, it’s me!] [Saengji: Unnie, I’m not in the mood for jokes ㅠ]

    She playfully tried to bring it up, but as expected, they didn’t believe her.

    Perhaps because it was so early, the group chat, usually loud, was unusually quiet, and Soo-ah ended up wandering around online communities.

    [Special Task Force 808 Gallery]

    [Title: So, the mock shoot must have started today] [I don’t care about anything else, but I hope they release still cuts. If they get something with a good vibe, I’ll use it as my wallpaper.] – With Kim Seon-il and Seo Yeon-ju, the feeling will be amazing – And it’s even police uniformsㅋㅋㅋ basically a photoshoot

    [Title: So, what’s the conclusion of the Kim Yu-han debate?] [Is it Jo Il-hyeon? Or Kang Do-jin? Lucky for the people on set. They must have confirmed Kim Yu-han’s identity by now.] – I think they said Jo Il-hyeon is too busy to be involved – What if he’s busy because of Special Task Force 808? – But does Kang Do-jin suit the playful role?

    “Ugh, why is Kim Yu-han getting so much attention?”

    Soo-ah knew the reason, actually. Who wouldn’t be curious about an incomplete role being completed? It just made her shoulders feel heavier.

    Anyway, Special Task Force 808 was receiving more attention than Soo-ah had thought, and the biggest topic was Kim Yu-han’s identity. It was practically Soo-ah who was burning brightly at the center of it all.

    Meanwhile, Soo-ah didn’t have much time to use her phone.

    Vroom─!

    Vehicles started to arrive in droves, an endless line. The parking lot began to fill up before Soo-ah’s eyes.

    ‘…Are they all pros or something? They’re so good at parking.’

    Each arriving vehicle parked perfectly, without any awkwardness. It was like watching something aligning in the military. Even though all kinds of vehicles were gathered.

    …This was why Soo-ah couldn’t help but feel even more nervous.

    ‘I’m someone who wouldn’t be surprised even if a meteor fell. I’m someone who can stand elegantly even at the moment the Earth is destroyed….’

    She repeated this, quite anxiously, but it was somewhat fortunate. Because no one was approaching Soo-ah at all.

    Even if she accidentally made eye contact, most people looked away first, and it was even rarer for someone to speak to Soo-ah.

    Instead, they seemed to have plenty to say to each other.

    “Hey, hey, which direction are you heading?”

    “I need to set up. Aren’t we using Studio 2 today?”

    “Change of plans. They say everything is being moved to the outdoor set today.”

    And just like that, the space quickly became noisy.

    Thanks to that, Soo-ah could quietly observe.

    The big, black bags probably contained high-end equipment, and the distinct figures leading the staff in droves were actors…. Surprisingly, just watching was enough to pass the time.

    Everything was new to Soo-ah. This place was practically another world.

    In the meantime, people weren’t just silently working. They didn’t forget to say various things even while their hands and feet moved busily.

    “So, who the heck is Kim Yu-han?” “I don’t know. But we’ll probably find out today.”

    Everywhere, it was just talk about Kim Yu-han.

    Kim Yu-han, that’s me….

    “They must have picked someone extremely picky.” “Did you hear? People were guessing Jo Il-hyeon and stuff. But actually, Jo Il-hyeon already applied and got rejected.” “What? Really?” “Shhh, it’s a secret, you know.”

    After that, Soo-ah flinched every time the name Kim Yu-han was mentioned. It felt like being a wanted criminal? Like she should step up and explain?

    That’s when it happened.

    Someone suddenly approached Soo-ah. “Excuse me, do you do valet parking?” “Huh?”

    Soo-ah didn’t know and asked back. Then, the other person, holding two thousand-won bills, also looked confused.

    “Ah, aren’t you a parking attendant?” “No, I’m not.”

    Soo-ah said quite seriously. She couldn’t help it. This was an outfit she had been agonizing over all night to pick out…. “I see. You’re too well-proportioned to be a parking attendant. Could you take off your hat and mask for a moment?” “…Why?” “Ah, don’t think of it strangely. It’s just a professional habit. You know actress Park Do-hee, right? I’m Do-hee’s manager.”

    Soo-ah refused with some firm words, and the other person, looking slightly frightened, backed away. A parking attendant? That’s too much.

    After that, Soo-ah left the parking lot. Actually, the expression “running away” might be more accurate. She wanted a place with fewer people, whether it was Studio 1 or Studio 2.

    And soon, she became engrossed in observing.

    ‘I think I know. They’re going to film that scene here.’

    Was it thanks to reading and experiencing all the scripts?

    Just by glancing at the sets, she could picture what scenes would unfold. Not only that. What people would want to see in these settings, what kind of presence she needed to be….

    …It was hard to express in Soo-ah’s words, but it was a feeling her body had learned? Her thoughts and perspective were already different from before.

    At that moment, as she was observing herself.

    ─♩♪♬

    Suddenly, a phone call came. The caller was writer Lee Geum-sook.

    “Hello? Soo-ah-ssi?” “Yes.” “Yes, yes. We should have informed you of the mock shooting schedule in advance.” “I’ve already arrived. I was looking around the other studios.” “I see. Would you like to come to the outdoor set now?”

    Soo-ah silently followed the instructions.

    Now, the time for the mock shoot had really come. The feeling was huge. Her heart was beating like a drum.

    ‘Ugh, I’m so nervous.’

    She tried hard to calm her trembling heart, even imagining things.

    In her imagination, she was lying comfortably, rubbing her cheek against the belly of a rabbit doll. Actually, that wasn’t enough to calm her down, so she even imagined touching its ears like crazy.

    And finally, when she stood next to writer Lee Geum-sook.

    The people positioned like a fence on all sides looked only at Soo-ah. Soo-ah couldn’t help but freeze. Because all those eyes felt like a single camera.

    Their lenses were capturing Soo-ah’s appearance.

    What kind of character are you? They seemed to be asking.

    Soo-ah, frozen, repeated to herself.

    ‘Soo-ah, you have to introduce yourself, Soo-ah, you have to introduce yourself, Soo-ah, you have to introduce yourself’

    At the same time, a message she had seen one day came to mind.

    ─[Monkeying: Yang Ha-rin’s actual personality must be angelic too]

    Yes, she had realized the importance of image management at that moment. Now was the first meeting. In other words, it was an opportunity. An opportunity to show people the character of Soo-ah as she wanted.

    Soo-ah soon took off her hat and greeted them.

    “Hello. I’m Kim Yu-han. I’m playing Lee Soo-ah.”

    Her voice, which even surprised herself, was sharp.

    The surroundings became even quieter. Soo-ah felt awkward for some reason and put her hat back on.

    It was around this time that she realized her mistake.

    ‘I’m going crazy. I even introduced myself backwards.’

    But the die was already cast.

    People had already heard how Soo-ah had introduced herself and couldn’t forget it. As a result, she received even more attention.

    “Kim Yu-han playing Lee Soo-ah?”

    “Did she intentionally introduce herself backwards?” “Is it confidence that she’s already immersed herself in the role?” “It’s unconventional. Even veteran actors don’t introduce themselves like that.”

    The film crew in each position, the directing team worrying about the direction, the actors playing other roles…. Everyone was in a state of bewilderment without exception.

    ‘What’s with this atmosphere? I’m nervous. I would have died if I wasn’t wearing a mask.’

    Soo-ah thought, hiding her trembling lips.

    Only the reactions of writer Lee Geum-sook, PD Choi Hee-won, and Seo Yeon-ju were different. They were smiling and giving her meaningful looks, as if they were enjoying the situation as entertainment.

    Now, the mock shooting scene had met an unexpected silence.

    “Everyone, remember this clearly? This is the Kim Yu-han you’ve been waiting for.”

    Writer Lee Geum-sook broke the silence. Those around her finally looked like they were barely escaping from their deep thoughts.

    “Let’s proceed right away. Everyone, to your positions.”

    After that, they prepared for the full-scale shooting, and the people who had finally come to their senses opened their mouths one by one, making a huge commotion.

    “Is that person really Kim Yu-han, no joke?” “Wasn’t she a parking attendant?” “She’s too good-looking to be a parking attendant…. But if you ask if she’s an actress I’ve seen before, that’s definitely not it.”

    “Did you see her spirit? It’s no joke. Fierce.”

    “…Her clothes look too comfortable. I don’t think it’ll work.”

    Everyone felt the same way. Confusion.

    “She’s even a woman? Kim Yu-han is a male role, though.” “Isn’t the marketing team playing a hidden camera prank?”

    “That makes sense.”

    “Anyway, it’s not a seat for just anyone, right? Everyone remembers the clause in the contract related to the mock shoot, right?” “Of course, I remember.”

    The problem was that all this murmuring was also heard by Soo-ah. Of course, she couldn’t help but listen with her ears perked up.

    ‘Was something important written in the contract?’

    All that remained in Soo-ah’s head was the shocking figure of several million won per episode. She didn’t know the rest of the difficult words!

    Fortunately, the answer came from someone else’s mouth.

    “After this mock shoot, if they decide she doesn’t fit, the contract will be terminated immediately. Instead, they’ll raise the conditions for the kids who fit well.”

    “…!”

    Soo-ah was surprised by herself, trying not to show it. The mock shoot was much more important than she had thought.

    ‘I absolutely can’t make a mistake. Let’s be careful about everything. Everything.’

    Meanwhile, someone approached Soo-ah first.

    “Hello, Soo-ah-ssi. Or should I call you Yu-han-ssi?” “Yes. Yes?”

    She answered yes without thinking, but quickly asked back, but it was already too late. She had affirmed it. “Usually, most works just do a script reading, but a mock shoot is a bit unfamiliar, right? What did you do before the drama?” “Soccer, baseball, golf, swimming…. Anything.”

    “Ah, yes. I see….”

    Avoid lying, but answer as briefly as possible. That was Soo-ah’s strategy. Because it was easy to get caught if she talked for too long.

    Of course, thanks to that, she became something even more difficult to approach.

    “She’s being too defensive. Is she usually like that?” “Seon-il-ssi is definitely going to say something to her.” “What does she mean by ‘I’ve done everything’? Ah, is she introducing herself as Kim Yu-han’s setting? That she has genius in every field?”

    “…She’s seriously immersed in it. Is it method acting or what.”

    “It feels uneasy from the start.”

    “There must be a reason why writer Lee and PD Choi brought her.”

    While the conversation continued non-stop.

    “Okay, let’s start the mock shoot! The weather is nice!”

    It was the shout of Choi Hee-won PD, as huge as a rock.

    A lot of spirit was put into it. It was that important of a position.

    ◈◈◈◈◈

    Finally, the mock shoot began.

    They said they would shoot scenes from the script that were particularly controversial, and the first scene was great. It had received a lot of people’s expectations.

    Soo-ah felt the same way.

    Because it was a scene that included Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Seon-il at once.

    “Wow, the first scene is with Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Seon-il?” “The weather is nice, so it’s a real feast for the eyes.” “Eye drops aren’t needed. It’s a tonic for the eyes.”

    Soo-ah naturally concentrated as well.

    ‘The first scene will be amazing. The next turn is mine….’

    The next turn was none other than Soo-ah’s. If she didn’t want to be compared in a bad way, it was important to observe what the actors before her were doing.

    S#32 Special Task Force Headquarters Office / Day

    When Kang-cheol enters the headquarters, Yun-jin greets him as if she had been waiting.

    Special Task Force 808.

    The story begins as Lee Kang-cheol is assigned to the 808 department.

    A department that only moves against criminals who must be arrested within 24 hours. Extremely difficult work. Therefore, it is the envy of everyone, but at the same time, it is a department that people avoid going to directly.

    Kang-cheol, a stickler for principles, is assigned to the 808 department. The reason is that they want him to take care of a ‘mad dog’ that is difficult to handle.

    『What should I do?』

    Kim Seon-il played Lee Kang-cheol and recited the line. A clean freak, Lee Kang-cheol, who sticks to principles. In Soo-ah’s opinion, it was a good combination.

    『You’re in a hurry. Usually, you don’t start with those words. You know?』

    Seo Yeon-ju, who played Ha Yun-jin, answered leisurely.

    In this work, she played the role of the head of the 808th unit. She was at a level where she persuaded people with her upright character just with her appearance.

    Lee Kang-cheol blinked quietly.

    『I suppose you had an expectation for a response.』

    『Of course! Of course. Aren’t you curious? Why you, who has good performance and is elite, came to this department as if you were being exiled.』

    『I assumed it was because I was useful.』

    『That’s right. Kang-cheol-ssi, just handle one mad dog.』

    『Mad dog?』

    『Yes. A mad dog that bites criminals amazingly well. Of course, it’s not a real dog, it’s a person. Much more dangerous. The name is Kim Yu-han.』

    Kim Seon-il and Seo Yeon-ju were completely immersed in their roles, and naturally, the surrounding reaction was admiration. When Soo-ah looked around, there were many people with satisfied smiles.

    ‘Hmm.’

    However, Soo-ah tilted her head.

    Because she herself was so different from before.

    ‘The part that needs to be noted in this scene is….’

    Lee Kang-cheol is a person who is trusted by everyone around him, but he doesn’t trust anyone himself. That part must be revealed, and Kim Seon-il was currently expressing it well.

    ‘…But why do I know this?’

    Was it the effect of experiencing all the roles?

    Soo-ah felt like she had become an omniscient being in the world of Special Task Force 808. She calculated how each role should move, what words they should say, and even what expressions they should make.

    It’s not a calculation that becomes possible because she intended it. It just happens automatically.

    ‘Now, if the last actor finishes well….’

    That’s when it happened.

    『Unit Leader, it’s urgent! You have to see this!』

    The moment another actress interfered in the realm of acting.

    “…No. What are you doing? You can’t act like that.”

    Soo-ah muttered without realizing it.

    “….”

    It was only a moment before all eyes turned to Soo-ah.

    ‘…Uh oh.’

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