episode_0030

The mock filming was interrupted. Amidst a tremendous uproar.

​It was understandable, since the actor had fainted. The manager, along with the medical team and others, immediately rushed over to check on Park Do-hee’s condition.

​Fortunately, she didn’t lose consciousness for long.

​It was enough to wipe her face with a damp towel and massage her arms and legs a few times. Park Do-hee quickly pushed her eyelids open.

​”Do-hee, Park Do-hee! Do you recognize me?”

“…Manager oppa?”

​As if she hadn’t fully regained her senses yet, Park Do-hee’s face, filled with fatigue, was soon dyed with great shock.

​”…!”

​The events immediately prior came to mind. She quickly looked around.

​”The police, did you call the police? That murderer bastard…”

​However, Park Do-hee couldn’t finish her sentence.

“…Huh?”

​Because Lee Soo-ah’s appearance in her field of vision was different from what she expected.

​Lee Soo-ah, passively standing while entrusting her arm to the medical team. The feeling of wearing madness like a perfectly fitting garment had completely vanished.

​It was as if nothing had happened.

“…”

​Also, at the same time, she was surprised by her own condition. Park Do-hee didn’t feel any murderous intent from Soo-ah now. She wasn’t afraid.

​”Do-hee. What’s wrong? Are you still a little dizzy?”

“…”

​Park Do-hee ignored her manager’s words and thought for a moment.

​”…Acting? Could it be that it was all acting?”

“What? What is she saying?”

​Immediately afterwards, she compared it to the script and pondered it over, and it became certain.

​Soo-ah had just been acting, and she had been greatly swept up in it and mistaken it. She had even fainted.

​Park Do-hee’s face flushed red. Shame and admiration for Soo-ah filled her at the same time.

​’No way. Can acting be that vivid?’

​While retracing Soo-ah’s acting, the medical team visited again.

​”Do-hee-ssi, how are you feeling? Let’s rest as much as possible today. It’s just a mock filming, not the actual filming, so don’t overdo it.”

​”I’m feeling better now.”

“Are you really okay? You fell down pretty hard earlier…”

“I’m okay. I’m really okay.”

​The medical team checked Park Do-hee’s condition several times again.

​However, for Park Do-hee, it was just a question. When and how did I faint? Her last memory was vague.

​Afterwards, she timidly went to find PD Choi Hee-won.

​”PD-nim, I’m sorry for all the NGs during today’s filming. I don’t even know why I’m like this. Please, just one more time…”

​”NG? What NG are you talking about?”

​”Well, of course…”

​Park Do-hee recalled the script.

​She should never have fainted. The role of Lee Ga-ram is to beg for her life in an ugly way until the very end.

​”I fainted, you know. Unlike the script.”

“No. This is much better, and Writer Lee-jakga-nim has also revised the script. Do-hee-ssi just needs to apologize to Soo-ah-ssi.”

​”Apologize?”

“Yes. The ad-lib was good, but it was a bit excessive, wasn’t it.”

​Ad-lib? What ad-lib?

​Perhaps because she had fainted in such a chaotic state, the memories remaining in Park Do-hee’s mind were not clear at all.

​Just that Soo-ah at the time seemed like a murderer.

​”…Anyway, the filming went well, right?”

“Yes. It was excellent.”

​Park Do-hee gradually regained her senses and her mind became clearer.

​Only then did the surrounding situation begin to come into view. At the same time, the sounds of people talking caught her ear one by one.

​”So, she received the ad-lib with an ad-lib?”

“She’s thinking about acting even while being bitten on the arm?”

“…I can’t do it. No, no one can do it with a sane mind.”

“What on earth is her identity?”

​People were strangely uninterested in Park Do-hee, who had experienced a fainting spell. Or, to be precise, they didn’t seem to have the luxury of being interested.

​A monitor placed on a simple desk.

​Everyone’s attention was robbed by it. There were many conversations being had while repeatedly examining a specific video.

​Park Do-hee soon naturally approached and mingled with the crowd.

​The video being played was the one she and Lee Soo-ah had acted in.

“…”

​Soon, she couldn’t help but have her attention stolen as well.

◈◈◈◈◈

​Everyone couldn’t take their eyes off the monitor.

『You’re awake?』

​It was an environment where costumes and props were not prepared at all, and the actors had not even received makeup. But even in those conditions, Lee Soo-ah’s acting shone perfectly.

​”Writer Lee-jakga. PD Choi.”

​Hwang Myung-pil, called the golden supporting actor, opened his mouth.

“…What’s wrong with that crazy guy? How can you bring in the real Kim Yu-han?”

​A tone full of dismay.

​But no one refuted his question.

​Until now, no one knew exactly about ‘Kim Yu-han’.

​It was a natural thing. How could anyone understand a role that even the writer had left unfinished in the first place? An extremely natural thing.

​But the situation has changed.

​Now, there was no one who didn’t grasp the role of Kim Yu-han. It was because the actor had unraveled it in such detail. Everyone couldn’t take their eyes off Soo-ah, blatantly glancing at her.

​”I thought it was impossible to take on a role of a different gender…”

​”…Now it’s possible.”

​Even in that crowd, there was a person who was observing the monitor very carefully. An appearance that could easily be mistaken for a girl if you passed by at a glance. It was Kim Yi-seo, the CEO of Mystic.

​Externally, she pretended to have come along to check on her affiliated actors Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Seon-il, but the reality was different.

​Kim Yi-seo visited today to see Lee Soo-ah’s acting.

​And now, Kim Yi-seo’s expectations were not betrayed.

​’…Ad-libs there? Without hesitation or wavering?’

​The biggest reason was, of course, Lee Soo-ah’s ad-lib.

​Kim Yi-seo valued the ‘scent’ of an actor the most.

​In a world already overflowing with people who are good at acting, the key is to be not colorless and odorless. The CEO of Mystic, Kim Yi-seo, believed that actors must have their own unique characteristics.

​And now it was certain.

​’She has her own color and scent. A very strong one at that.’

​The moment Soo-ah went into ad-lib, the expectations that Kim Yi-seo had were greatly inflated. She seriously considered whether what was in front of her was really Kim Yu-han.

​’Raw and wild. There aren’t many scents like this.’

​Actor’s School, Art Center, academy, tutoring…

​There are many prominent acting teaching methods, but Soo-ah’s acting didn’t have the color of any institution. Something that appeared by carving out her own interpretation.

​Just the original body of Kim Yu-han that suddenly appeared from somewhere.

『How cute.』

​Soo-ah, who was suddenly bitten on the arm, blinked for a moment, but soon drew a crescent-shaped arc at the corners of her eyes. The gaze in her eyes as she looked at Park Do-hee became affectionate in an instant.

『Keep enduring like that, don’t break down.』

​Rather, she began to stroke Park Do-hee.

​Like a lover. Or like a pet dog.

​Just as Soo-ah finally took off her mask and revealed her face, the PD stopped the playback. At the same time as rewinding the screen.

​”Here, this part.”

​PD Choi Hee-won pointed to Soo-ah’s face. Especially the mouth.

​”Let’s take a closer look. When she gets bitten on the arm, Soo-ah-yang is also in pain at first. So she absolutely doesn’t take off her mask and covers her lower face. But as she slowly gets used to the pain, she immediately uses her face.”

​”…She knows how to utilize her own appearance in the camera?”

“Then that costume was prepared intentionally from the beginning?”

​Kim Yi-seo, who was listening, grabbed her own mouth without realizing it.

​’Does she have a third eye or something? What kind of objectivity is that?’

​She’s not just acting out Kim Yu-han’s actions. Soo-ah accurately controlled even the way she was captured on camera.

​Besides.

​’If it’s this level in the mock filming, what about in the actual filming?’

​When you think about it, what Kim Yi-seo confirmed today wasn’t even Lee Soo-ah’s full power. What will she show in the real thing?

​At the same time, Soo-ah’s one word flashed through Kim Yi-seo’s mind.

─I’m still searching for the answer.

​In other words, isn’t this the same as an uncut gem that hasn’t even decided on the direction of its acting proving this level of sparkle?

​Kim Yi-seo suddenly imagined Lee Soo-ah’s potential in a few years.

​’If a kid like that acts for just three more years…’

​Her body tingles. It was truly great potential.

​In the end, Lee Soo-ah made a surprising first impression.

​Kim Yu-han, who took on the role of Lee Soo-ah.

​A joke that someone would hear and scoff at no longer felt like just a prank. The fact that everyone had lost their words was proof of that.

『…Got it?』

​When the video was finally played and stopped.

“…”

​Everyone exchanged glances a few times and then turned their eyes to somewhere other than the monitor. The direction of the rotating heads coincided. Because they were all directed at Lee Soo-ah.

​Of course, Soo-ah herself.

​’Why are you suddenly doing things that weren’t in the script? Did you hate me that much? I absolutely can’t get my contract terminated, but first of all, I don’t know and it hurts like hell. It hurts…’

​What would you compare her current feelings to?

“…”

​No, Soo-ah soon abandoned the thought of trying to compare it to something. She suddenly felt dizzy trying to compare it to something with her intelligence….

​Even the mask she had taken off was left at the filming site.

​’I need to bring the mask back. The mask. My mask…’

​She had no way to cover her face.

​With no other choice, she maintained the most nonchalant expression possible and only looked at the mask that had fallen on the set, but that was also felt in a different way by those watching.

​’She doesn’t have the slightest awareness that she’s accomplished something great. She’s just worried about the next filming. Is the mock filming just a warm-up for her?’

​’That’s a crazy look in her eyes. An eye that’s gone crazy because she wants to act.’

​At that moment when each person’s thoughts were tangled in the air, supporting actor Hwang Myung-pil approached Park Do-hee and spoke to her.

​”Do-hee-ya, you did well too. It was a little too intense, but fortunately, the other person was skilled enough to accept it. You knew that, right?”

“Yes, yes? No, that’s actually…”

“…But are you going to be okay?”

​Hwang Myung-pil asked with a look full of concern.

“Yes?”

“I’m asking if you’ll be able to do this much on the actual filming day.”

“…”

​Park Do-hee somehow wanted to cry.

​At that moment when the future became as dark and bleak as a dark cloud.

“…Isn’t there something else to worry about first?”

​It was then that Seo Yeon-ju interjected.

​She asked in a tone filled with sincerity.

​”Do-hee-ya, can you handle being bitten by Soo-ah-ssi?”

“Yes?”

“Soo-ah-ssi is, well, how should I put it? You get the general feeling, right? From the personality of suddenly pointing out other people’s lacking acting, to the pride of not wanting to lose even while being bitten on the arm…”

​At that time, Kim Seon-il opened his mouth.

​”She’s a crazy person in many ways.”

“…Yeah. That’s right. You saw it. Even Seon-il admits it.”

That was the final blow.

“Ah…”

​Do-hee lost strength in her legs and collapsed. She almost fainted again.

“…”

​And those who were next to her firmly engraved it in their minds.

​A mock filming site. A rookie who shouldn’t be touched carelessly has appeared.

◈◈◈◈◈

​The mock filming continued even after that.

​This time, it was a scene featuring Kim Seon-il and Lee Soo-ah together.

​But for Seon-il and Soo-ah, who were the people involved, it was a very familiar scene. That day when Soo-ah first picked out the script at the cafe, the first scene they tried to match was this scene.

​198p. [S#49] Underground Parking Lot / Night

Kang Chul [I’m Lee Kang-chul. I’ve been assigned to the special mobile unit, and I’ll be moving with Kim Yu-han-ssi from today, and I’ll be using vehicle 808.]

​Kim Yu-han reacts like Kim Yu-han would.

​Yes, it’s the scene where Lee Kang-chul and Kim Yu-han first meet.

『I’m Lee Kang-chul. I’ve been assigned to the special mobile unit, and I’ll be moving with Kim Yu-han-ssi from today, and I’ll be using vehicle number 808.』

『Ah…!』

​The beginning was no different from the past. Natural acting from each other.

​But suddenly, Kim Seon-il became curious.

​Lee Soo-ah. Will she accept his ad-lib too?

​There was no reason to worry for long. He immediately took action.

“…”

​An action that wasn’t originally in the script, Kim Seon-il narrowed his brow and scanned the other person’s arm. Soo-ah’s arm is currently wrapped in bandages.

『What’s with that arm? Will it hinder the operation?』

​What will Lee Soo-ah’s answer be?

​At that moment when Kim Seon-il was waiting for Soo-ah’s answer.

『Of course not. It’s actually helpful. Would you like to take a closer look?』

​At that moment when Kim Seon-il’s gaze was taken away by Soo-ah’s outstretched arm.

​Soo-ah’s eye movements quickly drew a zig-zag pattern. She carefully checked every corner and then pulled out the car key that was on Kim Seon-il’s waist. It was an event that happened in an instant.

​Afterwards, she mischievously smiled while shaking the car key as if to show off.

『…Take a look at this. It’s full of usefulness, right?』

​Accepting the ad-lib without any flaws.

​There is no blockage while not changing the flow of the script.

​’As expected.’

​Kim Seon-il once again became certain.

​’Lee Soo-ah. It was definitely worth bringing her in even if I had to kneel.’

​His choice was not wrong.

​Lee Soo-ah. She was an essential piece to complete the work.

.

.

.

.

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​A time when the moon was hanging in the sky for all to see.

​The mock filming finally came to an end.

​They spent a tremendous amount of money to create an environment as similar to the real thing as possible, and they tried filming many scenes today. But rather than being tired, everyone had expressions as if they were just now having fun.

​It was because the awkwardness had finally been resolved.

​It was the charm of the filming set that they all knew. The charm of becoming close as the awkwardness fades away as you film a few times. Sharing meals together.

​Choi Hee-won PD, as huge as a rock, said.

​”We will end the mock filming today. After that, there is a dinner schedule at the outdoor set, but those who have urgent matters can go home. It is absolutely not mandatory.”

​But as expected, no one went home.

​The reason is simple. Because the protagonist didn’t leave.

​Everyone was just glancing at the protagonist. Even though there were many filming sessions today, the only person they remembered in the end was one person, and that existence was definitely Lee Soo-ah.

​”She didn’t make a single NG today, right?”

“Yeah. She wasn’t even pointed out by that picky Kim Seon-il even once. That says it all. She’s really good at acting.”

​”I wondered why they revived a work that had been overturned, but there was a reason to do so. Who would have expected this? You couldn’t do it even if you were to die and come back to life.”

“…But isn’t she too scary?”

​At that time, someone said.

​”She introduced herself as Kim Yu-han, right? So, doesn’t that mean her real personality is similar to Kim Yu-han’s?”

​”Kim Yu-han’s personality is like a rabid dog?”

“Looks like it’s best not to touch her. It was like that just from her impression.”

​Immediately afterwards, the gazes of those who were chattering turned to Soo-ah once again.

​Soo-ah was just sitting far away and quietly caressing her arm wrapped in bandages. It was as if a swordsman who had realized the principles of the world was caressing his sword with regrets.

​”Could it be that even this isn’t to her liking?”

​”It seems like she has nothing but acting in her head.”

​”Let’s be careful. You heard the conversation between Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Seon-il earlier.”

“I’ve been looking at a rookie’s eyes for the first time in my life…”

​Of course, it was just a snowball of misunderstandings.

​Soo-ah, herself, was in a state of wanting to cry.

​’Ah, really, she bit me painfully. Is she a piranha or something.’

​She retraced her day today.

​She thought, thought, and thought again as a result.

​’…Am I being ostracized?’

​Something was definitely being alienated.

​Suddenly touching her arm, forcing her to act even though she was in pain, and not being able to refuse because she was afraid of getting her contract terminated. And why is Kim Seon-il saying lines that weren’t in the script?

​Are you still testing me? Is that what’s going on?

​What could she do? It was karma. As a price for not being able to control her words, she had become an outcast on this filming set….

“…”

…Is that so? Am I an outcast again?

​Soo-ah’s atmosphere only darkened more and more, and the more it did, the more the people around her watched Soo-ah’s eyes and couldn’t act rashly.

…If it was a virtuous cycle, it was a virtuous cycle.

​Anyway, the pattern was the same after that.

“…”

​Everyone wanted to talk to her, but they were too afraid of Soo-ah, so they couldn’t approach her and just licked their lips. Like meerkats.

​It was then.

Step, step….

​Timid footsteps.

​There was a group that was moving forward to Soo-ah while trembling like a bird that had just hatched from an egg, and they were holding handy cams and microphones in their hands, respectively.

It was the marketing team of the work.

​”Um…”

​When Soo-ah, who sensed a presence, looked up, everyone smiled as if desperately proving that they were harmless. The sweat droplets on their foreheads shone as they received the moonlight.

​”Hello! Yu-han-ssi! We are the marketing team!”

​They took a deep breath and spoke in a cheerful voice.

​Soo-ah only answered briefly.

“It’s Lee Soo-ah.”

“Ah, look at my mind. That’s right! That’s right, Soo-ah-ssi! Right now, Yu-han-ssi is playing the role of Lee Soo-ah, so we should call you that!”

​The name of the marketing team was not in vain. Their skill in proceeding smoothly was not ordinary, but it was very awkward for Soo-ah.

​”Cookie videos, NG collections, making films… They’re all necessary elements to complete the drama! Soo-ah-ssi is the main character, right? I’ll ask you a few things so as not to be rude!”

“…Go ahead.”

​From Soo-ah’s point of view, there was no choice in the first place.

​If she was coldly rejected, she would be further ostracized, right? More than that, why is the marketing team after her? If it was a documentary team, it would be understandable….

​”There are so many questions I want to ask, but I can’t bother Soo-ah-ssi, so just one! I’ll ask just one question!”

​The woman on the marketing team seemed to be choosing her words very carefully.

​”Kim Yu-han was an unfinished role from the beginning, and even the gender is different from Soo-ah-ssi. There seems to be nothing easy from A to Z, so what was the reason for a rookie like Soo-ah-ssi to take on the role?”

​It was then.

​Seo Yeon-ju, who was watching while eating snacks, nudged Kim Seon-il’s arm.

​”Hey, what do you think she’s going to answer?”

“…”

​The snack-stained hand touched him, and Kim Seon-il’s blood vessels stood up vertically. After a while, he wiped his sleeve with a wet tissue and said.

​”She’ll spit out whatever comes to mind. And don’t touch me.”

​Then Seo Yeon-ju wiped her hand on Kim Seon-il’s clothes. Swish.

“…”

​Kim Seon-il’s face was distorted like a demon.

​He was almost a serial killer.

​”Ah, what are you saying, did you hear me?”

​Anyway, Kim Seon-il also agreed with Seo Yeon-ju’s words.

​What kind of image will it be projected to the public?

​It’s a problem that actors should definitely think about. Kim Seon-il, at least, had long since gained the image of a kind man, as he was very grateful to his fans and therefore kind to them.

…Well, what about Lee Soo-ah?

…No, actually, would it be a problem to do that?

…Maybe there are people who would like it?

​At that moment when everyone was focusing their attention.

​Soo-ah, herself, felt comfortable.

​It wasn’t difficult to choose what to say.

​”Well, I don’t know, the acting I did was, really, ah…”

​Word by word.

​Soo-ah carefully continued her words.

​”It was easy.”

​She was confident that she had reached the end of humility. A satisfactory answer.

​Immediately afterwards, lightning struck everyone’s heads.

“…It was that easy?”

The woman asked back in surprise.