episode_0211

Soo-ah had an unusually strong conviction.

Maybe, Lee Seo-jung will definitely throw scissors.

Whoosh!

And a moment later. When they both reached out their hands.

‘Huh!’

Soo-ah wanted to smack herself in the head. Because she ended up losing. Lee Seo-jung threw scissors, but Soo-ah had her hand wide open. Paper.

‘Ah, rock beats scissors.’

It’s definitely not because of my intelligence, but because a strange phenomenon suddenly happened in front of my eyes. What on earth is going on?

Thanks to that, my thoughts got all twisted. Soo-ah is wronged!

“…?”

But a beat later, Soo-ah was belatedly surprised.

‘Huh?’

It’s not important that I lost at rock-paper-scissors because my thoughts got twisted. The important thing is that Soo-ah’s prediction was correct. Lee Seo-jung threw scissors.

‘Uh, uh, uh, uh?’

Soo-ah finally understood everything.

The ‘muk-jji-ppa’ that the special ability taught, Kim Yu-han’s unusually strong confidence… so that’s what it was.

It was then that Lee Seo-jung broke the silence.

“Oh, I guess I won after all. Shall we start attacking now?”

The right to attack in muk-jji-ppa belongs to Lee Seo-jung, who won at rock-paper-scissors. Therefore, Lee Seo-jung smiled.

Soo-ah also sparkled her eyes without backing down.

“Jji, jji….”

Because the moment muk-jji-ppa started, she saw it again.

‘I’m sure of it. This time it’s rock.’

. . .

How much time had passed?

‘…What is this?’

That was Lee Seo-jung’s impression.

It’s because she’s facing an unexpected obstacle. Lee Seo-jung, who is responding to muk-jji-ppa repeatedly, is greatly embarrassed.

“Muk, muk, muk.” “Muk, muk, ppa.” “Ppa, ppa, jji. Yes! It’s over.”

Soo-ah’s mouth and hands are moving busily.

How many times did we play muk-jji-ppa? I can’t even remember.

But what’s certain is that I lost every time.

When she lost the first time, Lee Seo-jung didn’t think much of it. Lee Soo-ah is lucky. We can just play muk-jji-ppa again. I only need to win once. She was being carefree.

Yeah, she was just going to overwhelm me with numbers.

“Ppa, ppa, muk.”

“….”

But that carefree attitude was gradually disappearing and she was getting impatient. Because Soo-ah hadn’t lost even once.

‘I sometimes win at rock-paper-scissors. But in the end, I always lose. Like some kind of hope torture….’

Defeat, defeat, defeat, defeat.

No matter how many times she does it, it’s the same. Just defeat.

‘…Can this be explained by luck? It’s like she’s manipulating the game’s outcome. No, is that even more impossible?’

The muk-jji-ppa that Lee Seo-jung knows is a game of chance.

Psychological warfare may have an influence, but it can’t be a purely skill-based game.

…But that’s why it’s absurd.

What on earth is the scene unfolding before my eyes?

“Muk, muk, jji!” “Ppa, ppa, ppa!” “Jji, jji, jji!”

Shh, shh—

Every time Soo-ah wins at muk-jji-ppa, she takes a 50,000 won bill from Lee Seo-jung’s wad of cash.

She’s even almost emptied it already. Before the match started, it was as bountiful as a wedding bouquet, but now it’s so meager that you can tell just by looking at it.

‘I have to win. I have to win….’

Now there’s only one bill left. One chance.

“Muk, muk, muk?”

But the result was so simple it was anticlimactic.

I had some hope, but as expected.

“Yahoo! I won again!”

Another victory for Soo-ah.

“….”

Lee Seo-jung’s face turned red.

Eventually, she got up from her seat.

“I’m going to get some air. I can’t concentrate.”

. . .

Thanks to Lee Seo-jung going out for some air, an unexpected break was given at the script reading site.

Drip, drip.

Water droplets fell from Lee Seo-jung’s face, which she had washed with cold water. She was really confused because of the bizarre incident.

“Is it even possible for me to win….?”

It didn’t matter if she muttered out loud. Because the restrooms used by the actors and staff are separate.

No, none of that mattered. Right now, all that was on Lee Seo-jung’s mind was the resentment of missing the kiss scene.

So much so that she was even thinking this.

‘Should I just ask them to write my victory into the script?’

But she soon changed her mind.

“That won’t do. I have my pride, too.”

Lee Seo-jung was a person who knew how to act like a snake for what she wanted. Waiting for a long time, tightening the situation, slowly digesting the opponent…. It requires all three.

‘If I can’t do it with my own strength, there’s no sense of conquest.’

She wanted to defeat Soo-ah with her own strength. Some way to steal her lips…. Even if I don’t steal her lips, I’ll find a way to satisfy my desire.

That’s when it happened.

A familiar face was reflected in the bathroom mirror.

It was Lee Soo-ah.

“…Lee Soo-ah.”

Soo-ah, whose name was called, scratched her head.

“You’re still here.” “I needed time to sort things out.” “Um, are you okay?” “What?” “You lost every single round of muk-jji-ppa, you know.”

Soo-ah said that while subtly reading Lee Seo-jung’s expression.

“….”

Why else would she be, it’s like a thief feeling guilty. A characteristic of timid people. It’s like looking at the other person’s reaction after doing something wrong.

Thump, thump, thump, Soo-ah’s heart was beating fast.

‘Should I have made it a little closer? I think I won too overwhelmingly. It would be troublesome if she went to the writer and asked them to write a scene where she wins.’

But she couldn’t confide these concerns to Lee Seo-jung, and it’s strange to keep staring. Soo-ah just washed her hands and quickly turned her body.

“I’ll go first. I just came to wash my hands.”

But then.

“….”

Suddenly.

A brilliant idea flashed through Lee Seo-jung’s mind.

“Wait, Lee Soo-ah.”

Soo-ah didn’t even have to turn around. When she came to her senses, Lee Seo-jung was blocking Soo-ah’s face and staring down at her. She’s always so tall.

‘…It’s like a long snake is looking down at me.’

Why is it that Soo-ah sometimes gets goosebumps when she faces Lee Seo-jung? It’s too sticky.

She shook her head vigorously inside.

‘The opponent is mentally young. Don’t be afraid.’

Soo-ah, who had steeled her heart, opened her mouth.

“What’s wrong?” “Let’s talk about the script.” “The script?”

Lee Seo-jung slowly nods her head.

“If you keep winning at muk-jji-ppa, the businesswoman’s money will run out eventually, and then you’ll have a chance to slap her face, right? Isn’t that so?” “Ah, um….”

She hadn’t thought that far, but it made sense.

‘Sung Si-hyun’ will be blinded by the feeling of 50,000 won being duplicated, and she’s the type of woman who would slap the businesswoman as soon as she says she’s out of money.

However.

The problem was Lee Seo-jung’s next remark.

“Slap my cheek lightly. Just so I can get a feel for it.”

Eeeek, Soo-ah was horrified inside.

“Slap an actress’s cheek? That’s a bit….” “It’s for the sake of the work, so don’t think about anything else. Besides, I’m not asking you to slap me with all your might, right? Just gently.” “Gently…. I understand.”

After hesitating for a moment, Soo-ah tapped Lee Seo-jung’s cheek with her palm. The action of quickly hiding her hand behind her back as if she had never done that was instantaneous. Soo-ah cleared her throat.

“Um, is this good enough?” “That’s too gentle.” “Exactly how much do you want?”

Soo-ah narrowed her brow slightly and swung her hand again.

Slap!

‘…Oops.’

Soo-ah’s eyes widened.

The sound was louder than she thought.

“….”

Soo-ah began to spin her brain and come up with a plausible excuse. Was I too rough? Is Lee Seo-jung going to get serious? There were many things she was anxious about.

“Ah, um, how is it?” “It seems sufficient.” “I, I’m glad to hear that. I admit it. Then I’ll be going….”

Soo-ah disappeared quickly. Soo-ah escapes!

After being left alone like that.

“….”

Lee Seo-jung quietly stroked her cheek.

‘…This isn’t bad either? No, I like it even more.’

It was instantaneous to revise the plan she had.

It seemed like a new taste was born.

. . .

[ Alien Game ] ▶ Sufficient Implementation Elements ▶ 0.5 Grade → Special Grade: Rare

The grade rose.

It was a reason that Soo-ah couldn’t understand.

. . .

After that, the script reading resumed.

This time as well, muk-jji-ppa was consistently Soo-ah’s victory.

At first, the people around her thought Soo-ah’s consecutive victories were strange, but soon Soo-ah mastered her skill.

She lost once in a while and returned 50,000 won.

…If I do this, it looks quite fierce, right? Soo-ah is evil!

“Muk, muk, muk.” “Muk, muk, ppa.” “Ppa, ppa, ppa.”

Eventually, the match became one that looked fierce on the outside, but Soo-ah was gradually gaining a slight lead, and the people involved were gradually falling into Soo-ah and Lee Seo-jung’s acting(?).

‘It’s just a spur-of-the-moment battle based on luck, but it’s so exquisitely tense? Ah, there was a break in the middle. Did the two of them coordinate during that time?’

‘Two actors with name value are making such expressions over just a single game of muk-jji-ppa…. Where else would you see something like this?’

‘This would be really funny if it were actually filmed.’

Soo-ah had already become Sung Si-hyun.

She’s pathetic, stubborn, and regrets a lot, but the moment she discovers an element that gives her dopamine, her eyes go crazy. Everyone could feel madness from Soo-ah.

‘Absolutely, absolutely, I won’t give up my purity!’

…If it’s madness, then it was madness.

Anyway, was it thanks to that?

“…I’m very satisfied. Thank you both very much.”

When Director Kim Young-gon announced the end, the other actors and staff also applauded generously.

Was it only their hands that were busy, their mouths were busy too.

“Muk-jji-ppa is so fun? I even felt a sense of pleasure when she took back all the money in reverse at the end?” “Strictly speaking, it’s fun because they’re betting something huge rather than just muk-jji-ppa. 50,000 won is a huge deal to Sung Si-hyun.”

“Soo-ah’s acting goes without saying…. Seo-jung’s fighting spirit is no joke either. She actually got slapped in the face.”

Amidst the commotion.

“Okay, okay, I know everyone’s excited, but I’m going to deliver one important thing. Please concentrate.”

Director Kim Young-gon suddenly raised one hand.

“We’ve secured all the external shooting locations, and we’ll start shooting right away in two weeks. Please understand that there may be changes to the script or direction at any time.”

In fact, the condition that the script or direction may be changed at any time is an absurd condition. Anyone who hears it would say, ‘How am I supposed to film under those conditions?’

However, the people on set all nodded their heads. Why else, it’s because they had faith in Soo-ah. In fact, that faith was strengthened by the reading just now.

‘Soo-ah can do it. All I have to do is follow Soo-ah.’

That was what the people on set were thinking right now.

And one more thing.

Lee Seo-jung quietly leaned in and whispered to Soo-ah.

“Lee Soo-ah.” “Yes?” “About slapping my cheek just now, the scene won’t come to life if it stays like this. Please hit me as hard as you can during filming….”

Soo-ah thought. Why is she licking her lips again?

◈◈◈◈◈

The next day. Netflix Korea headquarters conference room.

“Are you kidding me?”

The chief banged on the desk with a thud.

“This is the flagship work for Netflix’s landing in Korea? The script is blank in many places? It’s not like a college club is cramming for an exam. What is this?”

“….”

The team leader who was listening was thinking to himself.

‘You’re the one who’s kidding. How can you review it right before the main shoot when you didn’t even care about it?’

It was the downside of someone who was promoted through connections.

He just stamped his approval happily after seeing the Lee Soo-ah─Lee Seo-jung casting, and now he’s getting angry.

In the first place, this situation itself is a forced anger.

From the team leader’s point of view, the chief is aiming for something else.

‘This work was made possible because it received my difficult approval! I also contributed! That’s the reaction you want, right? Old men….’

The chief kept banging on the desk.

“Tell me. This, these blank parts here, how are you going to proceed with them? I need to know to approve it.” “Which blanks are you referring to?” “After the main character takes away all the businesswoman’s money!” “She uses all that money for enhancement.” “She’s using it for enhancement again? What is she enhancing?” “This time, herself.” “…Isn’t she a gambling addict? So?” “She succeeds.” “Success? Oh, she finally succeeded.”

The team leader was a little surprised here. What, this old man actually read the script carefully? Did he feel it was interesting?

…At this point, other thoughts came to mind. Is this guy getting angry because he’s curious about the blank parts?

The chief’s eyes sparkled.

“What happens when she succeeds?” “She becomes slightly luckier.”

Then the chief’s eyes instantly become cloudy. Serious.

“…That’s all? Besides, that’s too much of a spoiler element. She’s going to participate in the Alien Game, but if she’s the only one who’s lucky, what’s that? It’s a spoiler for winning.”

“Absolutely not.”

The team leader shook his head.

“The aliens only kidnap people who have succeeded in enhancement to start the game. There are people who participated by enhancing themselves like the main character, but there are also people who were forcibly enhanced and dragged in because of people around them.” “…What?” “Besides, the main character’s grade is low. Except for the main character, everyone else is at least 3-4 stars.” “…”

The chief blinked for a moment.

“No, why am I so curious about this? Tell me the next part. So what happens?”

Then the team leader smiled and tapped the document.

“I’ll tell you when you approve the payment. Let’s start production.”

It was done quickly.

◈◈◈◈◈

Two days later.

Articles related to ‘Alien Game’ began to appear on the internet one by one. This is because the people involved gradually began to release the information they had filmed during the script reading.

These were exposed very precisely and repeatedly.

They had the money to do so. Because Netflix was backing them up.

[Lee Soo-ah─Lee Seo-jung, what will the chemistry between these two people who are opposites be like…. Even this at the script reading site?]

[Lee Soo-ah, presenting a role she has never tried before]

The promotion was focused on the prominent actors who took on the main roles of Alien Game. It’s something Hong Ye-ji can’t help even if she’s disappointed(?).

Originally, promotions are done with more valuable names.

[Kim Yu-han, who is involved in Netflix’s flagship work, Lee Soo-ah…. Will he be able to create a trend again this time?]

What’s strange is that there were more articles about Soo-ah than about Lee Seo-jung. Soo-ah was sometimes surprised when she looked at the articles on her phone.

‘They’re writing this much even though it’s just a script reading?’

When Soo-ah leaves behind actions close to crumbs, the reporters pick them up. Or they write articles after neatly trimming them on their own. It’s nice and amazing at the same time.

Comments were also actively posted on various communities.

[I was sad that there was no Netflix in Korea until now, but it’s finally coming ㅎㅎ I’m looking forward to the landing work too]

[Lee Seo-jung and Lee Soo-ah both have such strong personalities that they don’t seem to mix at all, will this work?]

[Lee Soo-ah…. I heard it’s a human role she hasn’t done before, I can’t imagine it well. Isn’t she an acting Ai?]

[Just looking at this, it seems like the casting is just luxurious and the content is crap, they put a writer I’ve never heard of to write it] ㄴ [Real, this feeling is strong] ㄴ [I’m a Lee Soo-ah fan, but please not this one…. ] ㄴ [But real, it’s creepy; the content seems terrible]

[We’ll know when it comes out, just wait and see]

◈◈◈◈◈

Another 10 days passed quickly.

In other words, the day before the filming of ‘Alien Game’.

Now that the existence of ‘Alien Game’ and ‘Netflix’ has been thoroughly promoted to the Korean public, Soo-ah’s personal growth rate was also quite high.

[Lee Soo-ah fan cafe members…. Surpassed 800,000]

[Lee Soo-ah fan cafe is changing its name. Zoo → Aquarium, a ‘relation’ship that can’t live without ‘Soo’ah.]

Soo-ah was startled when she read the article.

‘The number of members has surpassed 800,000? Besides, the name is changing? Aquarium? Is it better than a zoo…?’

Whatever the naming sense was, it was a heartwarming move for Soo-ah. Because the number of people who like her is increasing.

[Special Mobile Squad 808, still #1 in Japan]

[Signs of Kim Yu-han trend in Japan too?]

Ah, of course, the fact that interest is exploding might not be entirely a good thing. Among them, there are always people who have a crooked interest with their arms crossed.

For example, like this comment on a certain YouTube video.

[Lee Soo-ah, I get a lot of repulsion because she’s only getting successful too quickly. Fans are making a hater ㅇㅇ In the first place, who is a clean person in the world, she’ll be really terrible if you dig into her past]

“Huh?”

But Soo-ah didn’t even get angry after seeing this.

To be exact, there was no reason for Soo-ah to step up and get angry.

ㄴ [Damn, the comment list is legendary, what’s up with only commenting on idol exposure fancams and 19+ cam girl videos] ㄴ [Wow ㅋㅋ Kang Hak-man, is that you ㅋㅋㅋ ] ㄴ [You’re very well caught, I was bored.] ㄴ [You hate Lee Soo-ah, but you’re a fan of drunk driving cam girls] ㄴ [Wow, that’s really gross ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ ]

There were many people who wielded a club instead of Soo-ah.

In other words, Soo-ah is safe!

. . . . .

A moment later. Mystic Headquarters.

Soo-ah had arrived at headquarters quickly while looking at the bustling internet. Nothing different than usual. Kim Yi-seo, who had two large hair clips on her bangs, welcomed her.

“Soo-ah, you’re here? It’s so hectic.” “I took it as a compliment.” “Of course. There’s no time as rewarding as these days.”

Kim Yi-seo said that while rummaging through her phone.

Checking Soo-ah’s packed schedule.

“Soo-ah, today we’re going to film a Japanese promotional video for Special Mobile Squad 808. In some ways, it might be welcome. Because all the members of Special 8 are gathering for the first time in a while.” “Oh…. That’s right.” “Of course, it might be a little burdensome. It seems like writer Lee Geum-sook will be all over you. She seems to have a lot to say to Soo-ah, I think she wants you a lot.” “Oh, that’s something to be thankful for instead.”

She was being sincere.

Soo-ah is humble! Soo-ah is grateful!

Soo-ah accepted it as good news anyway.

Filming a Japanese-only video means that Special 8 is that much of a hit in Japan, right?

Besides, it was nice as Kim Yi-seo said.

I wonder if everyone is doing well.

While she was lost in thought, Kim Yi-seo said.

“Oh, and Soo-ah.” “Yes. CEO.” “It’s sudden, but I’m going to talk about YouTube a little bit.” “YouTube?” “Yes. There’s no time to say it other than now.”

Kim Yi-seo nodded and continued.

“We’re going to release the Alien Game OST soon, so it would be good to preheat the public with Soo-ah’s song in advance. There’s no better platform than YouTube.” “YouTube….” “It’s a huge market, and it’s also a great way to promote Soo-ah globally. So, I was wondering if we should create a channel where Soo-ah sings.” “Ah, I understand.”

Soo-ah nodded. Soo-ah understands.

“You mean we’ll pre-release your skills on a YouTube channel and then blow it up later with the OST release.”

“Wrong.”

But what’s this, Kim Yi-seo said wrong.

“It’s a different preheating. I’m going to raise Soo-ah’s rival.” “…Raise my rival?”

Soo-ah tilted her head.

Raise a rival? Is that even possible?

Because it was something she had never thought about.

But Kim Yi-seo smiled slightly.

“The YouTube song channel will be made with Soo Mi-ho. It will be a rival that can compete with Soo-ah’s OST.”

Soo-ah was surprised then.

Because the CEO was already looking two steps ahead.