episode_0039

It was a fleeting moment before she realized the other person’s greatness.

Even though Son Jia’s mind was blank, her instincts told her. The one standing before her was undoubtedly the best under heaven, Wi Ji-hye.

“What…”

A word she blurted out without realizing it.

It wasn’t an NG because it was a reaction Yoo Heon-ah might show in the story, but it wasn’t Yoo Heon-ah who had just been blankly admiring her. It was Son Jia herself who had spilled her feelings.

‘…No way.’

Life’s plot twists always come unexpectedly, but this one was particularly different. The shock she received was immense.

…How the hell? She was clearly trash, wasn’t she?

Did she deliberately hide her skills? Did she have an agenda behind her spacey free performance? Or did the fact that Son Jia was a CT Entertainment spy leak out?

Also, Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Seon-il’s attitudes were finally understood.

That level of acting deserved being charmed and followed. It made sense that she got the investment. But the more she acknowledged Lee Soo-ah’s greatness, the more curious she became.

It was strange that stories about such a great person hadn’t circulated. Unless she fell out of the sky like a meteor, CT Entertainment, with its excellent intelligence, couldn’t have missed her.

In the end, what was most urgent for Son Jia now was.

‘The plan is completely ruined. What do I do now?’

Her heart felt heavy.

The reason Son Jia gave it her all was simple. She intended to make the set atmosphere cold by showing better acting skills than Wi Ji-hye, the lead actress, even though she was just a minor character.

But now the situation had changed.

…Wouldn’t it remain a scene where both of them gave passionate performances?

Even if she was out of her mind, she knew she couldn’t let this continue. This scene, absolutely should not get an okay sign. Because a great scene was bound to be born.

‘I have to get all the money promised to me by CT Entertainment.’

Her plan must not fail. Absolutely.

Meanwhile, Wi Ji-hye was still just staring at Son Jia. With the strength to be able to handle any action.

A gaze that froze her heart just by looking at it. The cameras surrounding the prairie in a circle were still running.

“….”

Son Jia quickly turned her head and soon came to a conclusion.

‘Let’s not do anything. That’s it.’

A plan she made after quickly acknowledging Lee Soo-ah’s acting skills.

That was to not give any performance at all. No matter how passionately the other person performed, it would be useless. If she, who was playing Yoo Heon-ah, acted like a scarecrow, it would definitely lead to an NG.

Excuse? She had plenty. I forgot the lines. I forgot the action, etc. It wouldn’t be strange no matter what she made up.

But reality was different from Son Jia’s expectations.

“…?”

No matter how long she waited, she couldn’t hear the shout for NG.

All around was just silent. The camera was still capturing her, and in front of her was Wi Ji-hye, who dyed the area with a resolute atmosphere, firmly planting her feet on the ground.

‘What? This can’t be happening?’

Yoo Heon-ah.

After being defeated by Wi Ji-hye, she begged for her life, and when Wi Ji-hye showed mercy, she tried to stab her in the back, and even that failed, so she died more pathetically than anyone else.

…But isn’t she just standing still now?

Even so, no one declared NG.

The reason was simple.

Director Park Joon and the staff, the actors, everyone was currently.

‘She looks like she’s looking at Yoo Heon-ah with an emotionless gaze, but there’s one drop of something different mixed in. She’s getting uncomfortable.’

‘She even drew her sword, but she’s just bothered by the fact that she only played a pathetic match. It’s a very Wi Ji-hye-like way of thinking. To see this so vividly….’

Only looking at Lee Soo-ah.

Of course, Soo-ah had a question mark in her mind. Because the other person, who had been giving it her all, suddenly stopped acting.

‘It was like this during the mock shoot, and this person is the same. Why are they doing things that aren’t in the script? Is it more common than I thought?’

Anyway, in a situation where NG wasn’t being shouted.

What an actor had to do was clear. She had to continue.

Well, in fact, compared to the mock shoot when her arm was bitten, the current situation was much better. So Soo-ah, quietly.

Ssssssss─

She dyed her mind even more with Wi Ji-hye.

A feeling of her brain being completely immersed in something, choices like what would Wi Ji-hye do in this situation were popping up in her head, and it was a fleeting moment before she was dyed with emotions.

A speed that couldn’t even be compared to when she first unlocked the perk. Soo-ah’s skill was improving at this very moment.

And Wi Ji-hye’s emotions were very deep.

─If I start this, I can’t stop. Until I see the end.

Just like the words she said before starting. Before she knew it, she was overlapping with the best under heaven, Wi Ji-hye.

Sreeeuk.

Slowly lifting the tip of the sword.

The camera, which had only been showing Wi Ji-hye’s face, moved back along the rail, and naturally, the entire wide landscape was captured on the monitor.

Thanks to this, Wi Ji-hye’s appearance of placing the sword blade on Son Jia’s shoulder and the confrontation between the two were seen much more clearly.

There were no other sounds. That’s why the tension was high.

Seo Yeon-ju watched the monitor, holding her breath. Currently, she was feeling admiration and inspiration at the same time while watching Soo-ah’s performance.

‘It doesn’t matter when she kills. Hearing the other person’s intentions is more important than taking their life. So she doesn’t kill quickly. Basically, she’s overflowing with composure. Like Wi Ji-hye.’

At that time.

Wi Ji-hye slowly tilted her head to the side. Finally, with eyes as if she had discovered something in Son Jia.

When Wi Ji-hye’s lips parted. Director Park Joon sensed it.

‘Is she going to say her lines? It’s already very different from the script, but I can’t bring myself to cut it. Let’s film it until the end for now.’

Meanwhile, Son Jia thought this situation was absurd.

Lee Soo-ah, what are you doing? If I stand here and do nothing like this, what can you do? No amount of ad-libbing will work. No matter what you do, it will have to be an NG ─ type of thought.

However.

『Insignificant.』

It was then that Wi Ji-hye spat out an unusually cold tone. She thought her eyes were emotionless, but now it was different. There was a clear contempt mixed in the eyes looking at her.

『Giving it your all. It can’t be that difficult.』

Actions that weren’t in the script. Lines that weren’t in the script.

She knew it was ad-libbing.

But, even so.

Suddenly, Son Jia felt a sense of incongruity.

『Being swayed by such an insignificant reality.』

That’s why the lines that Wi Ji-hye was saying to Yoo Heon-ah didn’t just feel that way. Was it really a delusion that it sounded like Lee Soo-ah was talking to Son Jia?

『A sword is no different from a brush.』

Strange.

『Once you draw it, you must swing it until the end.』

The ‘sword’ that Lee Soo-ah was talking about.

Why does it sound like she’s discussing Son Jia’s ‘acting’?

『Even if it’s not easy, even if you sense failure….』

It’s certain.

『You have to be able to make your own mark.』

Lee Soo-ah, is speaking to Son Jia through Wi Ji-hye’s mouth.

『Even if you can’t see the answer, even if a great temptation comes….』

Wi Ji-hye continued to speak silently.

『…You, of all people, should have trusted your sword.』

Son Jia’s body trembled slightly.

The injustice and disgust she felt for her acting that had not seen the light, and thus she was putting her efforts into behind-the-scenes work in exchange for money from CT Entertainment….

She faced the person in front of her, fully aware of everything.

Wi Ji-hye was still nonchalant.

『Your sword cannot cut anything.』

Son Jia clenched the hand holding the sword tightly.

She was still standing there blankly, but suddenly she felt a thought rising in her heart.

Beginner’s mind. When she first started acting, back when she wasn’t tainted by the world, the thought of going back to that time and focusing only on acting.

『Because you can’t cut, you can’t protect either.』

Son Jia no longer needed to act.

Before she knew it.

She was listening intently to Wi Ji-hye’s words.

『Neither your beginner’s mind, nor the beliefs you held, can be defended.』

Wi Ji-hye took away the sword she had placed on Son Jia’s shoulder.

However, she threw it at Son Jia’s feet with a thud.

『Therefore, die.』

The camera zoomed in on Son Jia’s face, and Son Jia was agitated with sweat dripping down her face. This was also because Son Jia was actually very surprised.

Because Wi Ji-hye’s voice had that much power and persuasiveness. It felt like she really had to commit suicide.

At the same time, she also had the thought. Was it too late to turn back her acting career, which was already so tainted? Is that why suicide?

…A declaration to quit acting altogether. With that meaning.

However.

『Cut off your weak self, and let’s meet again someday.』

The suicide that Wi Ji-hye ordered was different from what she thought.

Only throw away the weak self, and the meaning of reuniting as actors someday. The meaning of showing her giving it her all.

At least that’s what it sounded like to Son Jia right now.

“….”

She was lost for words.

Son Jia didn’t do anything, and Wi Ji-hye did things that weren’t in the script. But there were no flaws. All the processes were captured vividly on camera with uninterrupted progress.

The other person isn’t acting?

It was the level of finishing it on her own.

When Wi Ji-hye finally showed her back.

“W-W-Wait a minute!”

Son Jia shouted, reaching out her hand.

She was shocked by Lee Soo-ah’s coping skills, but there was also one thing she was worried about. Something too perfect to be a coincidence. So she was curious.

Was what Lee Soo-ah did just acting? Or was it advice given after truly seeing through everything about Son Jia?

“…Did you know everything? When, since when exactly?”

There was no time difference in hearing the answer.

『From the beginning.』

.

.

.

.

.

Near the monitor.

“….”

It was quiet without any sound.

“….”

It couldn’s help but be that way.

Based on the understanding of Wi Ji-hye, he changes the scene, but develops a swordsmanship debate in accordance with the subject so that the artistry of the ‘sword’ is highlighted. He showed a restrained appearance without focusing on swordsmanship. Even though he showed that he had mastered it very well.

No one could easily spit out their thoughts. To perform acting that isn’t written in the script and force it into the answer is already a skill in itself that deserves to be evaluated by others.

“….”

The minor actors especially had expressions of losing their words. They were the same rookies, the same nobodies, but the levels were different. They didn’t have the confidence that they could do that much even if they acted for decades more.

The first to break the silence was Seo Yeon-ju.

“I heard you booked a hotel for a week?”

She said, still not taking her eyes off the monitor.

“Cancel it. We’ll film it all in three days.”

“Where did that monster come from….”

Amid all sorts of stories, Park Joon only said one thing.

“…This, it can receive an award. It’s definitely possible.”

◈◈◈◈◈

Meanwhile, at Lee Geum-suk’s studio.

As usual, Chief Producer Choi Hee-won and the assistant writers gathered in the living room. The production of Special Task Force 808 was progressing as if it had wings, and they were currently in a serious meeting.

─After the mock shoot, actors deemed unsuitable are excluded.

An unprecedentedly groundbreaking condition.

It wasn’t just a condition to scare the actors, they really intended to do this. The reason was simple. Special Task Force 808 was being treated that preciously.

The process of checking the videos from the mock shoot on the huge wall-mounted TV continued. They watched like that for a while.

“I’m realizing it again as I check it again.”

Chief Producer Choi Hee-won said with his arms crossed.

“Perhaps because Soo-ah’s ad-lib was so intense, it was a festival of ad-libs that day. There doesn’t seem to be a scene without ad-libs. Some actors seem to have done it a bit too much.”

Writer Lee Geum-suk nodded.

“I know, right? Trying it is good, but it’s a bit much if it’s too much. But you know what? I didn’t have to contact the actors first.”

“Why?”

“They contact me first. In droves. Look at this.”

Writer Lee Geum-suk held out her phone.

[ Sender: Park Do-hee ]

▷ Writer Lee, hello. This is actress Park Do-hee. The thing is, I thought I wanted to try harder. This is not a contact sent in consideration of the contract terms. However, Soo-ah’s performance during the mock shoot was─

It wasn’t just Park Do-hee. Supporting actor Hwang Myeong-pil, and many other actors…. They had all sent messages.

“It’s amazing, right? This usually never happened.”

“Yes. It’s amazing.”

Chief Producer Choi Hee-won nodded.

“It seems closer to a pure determination to strengthen their will than a nervous feeling of being cut off from the contract. Besides….”

“Everyone mentions Soo-ah. Really everyone.”

“Yes. Everyone seems to be very conscious of Soo-ah. However, not in a bad way, but in a very good way.”

The two said that and opened one of the closed doors.

Then, the scenery that appeared was like a screening. The stylists were sitting side by side watching one person’s acting repeatedly.

Of course, it was Kim Yoo-han, Lee Soo-ah.

Wonderful. The very evidence was that Chief Producer Choi Hee-won and Writer Lee Geum-suk, who had already watched it several times, were immersed in it again.

The stylists chattered.

“I feel this every time I watch the video, but Soo-ah’s voice is subtly different when she’s acting as Kim Yoo-han. She deliberately makes a neutral voice, but she doesn’t slur even one pronunciation.”

“That’s right. The sound team got a little easier thanks to that.”

It was then that one of the stylists looked at Lee Geum-suk.

“I’m going crazy. I’m really going crazy.”

“Why?”

“I’m going crazy because I’m happy. While working as a stylist until now, Soo-ah is the first dress hanger I’ve ever coveted.”

She smiled and continued, as if not exaggerating.

“Usually, the clothes to dress the determined characters are already determined, right? So it’s boring, but Soo-ah’s Kim Yoo-han is different. It’s like she’s saying, ‘Anything is good, so dress me up’?”

Thanks to this, the stylists were displaying Soo-ah’s face, which they had captured in advance, on the pad screen, and adding various clothes photos and wigs. They were doing it with a very happy expression.

“How about doing her hair like this?”

“No. It’s better to cover her forehead no matter what. We also have to give a contrast with Lee Gang-cheol, and it would be nice to have a slight decadent feeling.”

“…Everything suits her? What should I choose?”

Writer Lee Geum-suk and Chief Producer Choi Hee-won looked at each other, and soon closed the door with a pleased smile. The stylists were so lost in their minds that they didn’t even know that.

“This, Soo-ah is the heart of this work.”

“Yes. She’s making everyone work hard.”

There are many types of people, but there are rare types.

A person who motivates someone just by doing their job diligently. Chief Producer Choi Hee-won and Writer Lee Geum-suk thought Soo-ah was like that.

The actors were sending messages saying they would work harder, and the stylists, who would normally choose clothes indifferently, were now excited like high school girls decorating their diaries, right?

“If you think about it, isn’t it really absurd? A rookie is playing the role of the heart of the work? Soo-ah is really a monster.”

“Yes. This is my first time seeing this atmosphere on set.”

“Fighting all the time, feeling bad, asking for this, asking for that…. My head throbbed every time I mediated.”

And the ones who were getting motivated by Soo-ah was.

Lee Geum-suk and Choi Hee-won were the same.

“I actually have a lot of genres written, right? I want to entrust them all to Soo-ah. What if she digests them all?”

“I have a similar desire. Directing by genre.”

Action, romance, erotica, comedy…. How wide is Lee Soo-ah’s spectrum? It was when the two were estimating it in their heads.

Thump!

“Writer! Producer!”

The stylists burst out of the door.

“This look! How about decorating Soo-ah with this look?”

Before they could even react, the pad was held out in front of their eyes.

They were able to realize what it was soon. The appearance of Kim Yoo-han revealing that she was a woman and revealing her identity in the second half of the story.

“This….”

“This is….”

Chief Producer Choi and Writer Lee looked at each other.

They knew the meaning without having to say the rest.

This will definitely work.

◈◈◈◈◈

Nangjungjichu.

An awl in a pouch. The meaning that a shining person will eventually stand out no matter how much you try to hide them. However, in the entertainment industry, one characteristic was added to this.

That is, in the entertainment industry, the moment people discover a shining awl, they spread rumors until their mouths wear out. Of course, Soo-ah couldn’t be an exception.

A hair salon.

“Oppa, what’s wrong? You have an expression that your mouth is itching?”

“Of course. I went to a mock shoot this time. It’s hard to hold it in because there’s more than one or two things I’ve seen.”

“You must have seen Seo Yeon-ju too, right? I’m so jealous.”

“Seo Yeon-ju isn’t the problem right now. I can’t tell you yet because of the contract, but there’s a really crazy rookie. She’s also pretty. Oh, didn’t you say you needed a hair salon model?”

“How pretty is she? Show me later.”

A CF conference room.

“I can’t tell you who this is, but she’s very vivid in my mind. She’s colder than this ice cream.”

“…Are you serious?”

“I’m serious! Ha, it would be perfect if I just sat her down!”

And a film production company.

“Director! Director!”

“Why.”

“I went to the Special Task Force 808 mock shoot! I saw a really amazing rookie! Director! You have to see her in person!”

“Show me then.”

“Ah? Come to think of it, I can’t because of the non-disclosure agreement yet…?”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“No, I’m not! Anyway, I guarantee there’s a real monster rookie! What kind of role are you looking for now, Director?”

“The youngest daughter of a wealthy family.”

“That’s right! That’s really perfect! She has a face that looks like she’ll kill people with money! She suits it from the way she looks, and her acting skills are crazy!”

“My ears hurt. Stop being so excited.”

A man clicking his tongue as if he wasn’t very interested. But he wasn’t an ordinary man. He was a director with a very high name value.

He was the one with the history of never failing even once.

“If she’s that great, bring her to me in person later.”

Soo-ah’s flapping had already turned into a typhoon.