episode_0223

“A special on male actors, and Kim Yu-han is in it too?”

The people involved showed quite a bit of interest after hearing the idea.

The fact that Sua, who played Kim Yu-han, is a woman is a well-known secret. Wouldn’t it be justifiable to include the token female despite it being a special on male actors?

That would be perfect. Sua, the token female who’s riding high these days, takes the center, with two male actors beside her.

The main PD asked the person who came up with the idea.

“…To be honest, I still haven’t watched MDD 808. Since everyone keeps saying it’s good, I’m getting a bit of rebellious feeling. It’s the worst thing for a PD to do.”

“I was the same way at first. But once I watched the first episode, I couldn’t stop.”

“It’s that good? If we bring in Kim Yu-han, will our program be a guaranteed hit?”

“…I think it’s a guaranteed hit. I really do.”

The person involved shrugged their shoulders, exaggerating.

“In the first place, the viewership rating was over 40% for a Wednesday-Thursday drama? That’s a record that hasn’t happened since smartphones became popular.”

Another person involved jumped in here. They wanted to bring up the MDD 808 story from the beginning, but they couldn’t because they were watching the PD’s reaction.

They finally mustered the courage.

“I think we can be successful if we bring in Sua-ssi. MDD 808 is still number one on Netflix. It’s actively mentioned in communities, too.”

“Hmm, but I wonder if the budget will be too much.”

“Then even if we have to reduce the number of male actors, I recommend bringing in Sua-ssi. If we have to take her while leaving only one of the three, I think it’s definitely Sua-ssi.”

“Hmm.”

The Japanese variety show they are currently discussing was a group talk program called ‘Celebrity Zoo.’

It was bound to be popular as they had basic popular entertainers in Japan and invited topical figures every quarter. It’s a program that always does at least average.

The PD scratched his head.

“Wow, who knew we’d be covering the Korean Wave. We’ve never done anything like this before….”

“But we can’t fall behind. If that’s the trend, we have to follow it.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to follow it. I’m just surprised. Okay. Then let’s narrow down the casting range of the remaining two actors, focusing on Sua-ssi as the main one.”

“Great! Thank you, PD-nim!”

“…Isn’t everyone’s response brighter than usual? You’re not trying to fulfill your personal desires, are you?”

The PD joked and continued.

“Anyway, I’ll do a lot of research on MDD 808 in many ways. The viewers will recognize and like it if we ask high-quality questions, so everyone gather data diligently.”

“Yes, sir!”

After that, everything went smoothly.

◈◈◈◈◈

Meanwhile, at the Alien Game filming site.

Director Kim Young-gon, with his Guan Yu beard, was telling deer─Go Eun-bi about the added lines and kindly explaining even the dying situation. Eun-bi took notes and worked hard.

She had no choice.

‘The red pill exploded, and the public sentiment is not good because I couldn’t bring Sua for a collaboration. I have to make up for it with this and row the boat…!’

Eun-bi was more desperate than anyone else right now.

Of course, there was another thought. Surprisingly, she was excited to think that her face would be on the flagship drama of the giant OTT, Netflix? Her feelings were subtle.

“Lee Sua.”

At that time, Kim Sun-il suddenly approached Sua. It was at the same time as pointing to Eun-bi with his chin.

“I know Eun-bi-ssi as your friend, and it seems like she got a few lines thanks to you.”

“That’s right. Why?”

“I’m just curious. You’ve never actively pointed out and recommended anyone. Is she that good at acting? Or could we see her under Mystic someday?”

“No? She’s terribly bad at acting.”

“What? Then why did you recommend her?”

“I don’t think she has enough respect for me. If she experiences it herself, she’ll understand how difficult acting is, right? She’ll get to feel how great I am. Woo-ha-ha.”

In other words, Sua being honest?

Currently, Sua was experiencing an overload, so she was spitting out everything she thought of without any filtering. However.

“Ha.”

Kim Sun-il soon burst into laughter.

“Lee Sua, you’re pretty bad at lying too.”

“Huh?”

“You can just say you’re taking care of her. No one thinks your compassionate side is weak.”

“Um…?”

Then.

Director Kim Young-gon with the Guan Yu beard grabbed the megaphone.

“Okay! Let’s gather around!”

Then Sua, Kim Sun-il, and Lee Seo-jeong, who were wearing school uniforms with red name tags, quickly gathered around the center of the filming location.

In the story, after being kidnapped by aliens, everyone is just waking up and experiencing confusion.

It’s not the end just because the actors have gathered. The makeup team and stylists checked the monitor and ran towards the actors. They have to put their heart and soul into it until the very end.

A moment later.

“Eun-bi-ssi’s makeup is done!”

…Eun-bi had her makeup redone twice. This was because she was so nervous that she was sweating a lot.

Anyway.

“This side is done too!”

“Lighting setup is complete!”

“Camera too!”

“Sound team too!”

With his eyes fixed on the monitor and listening to the staff’s reports with his ears, Director Kim Young-gon finally shouted loudly.

“Okay! Ready! Action!”

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.

.

.

.

As soon as the scene started, people gathered at the entrance of the set and banged on it like crazy.

When they came to their senses, they were all locked in a remote place, and all their belongings had disappeared. Of course, they wanted to get out.

But then.

Screech─

The door opened, and men in suits came in. Their faces were covered and couldn’t be seen with a pure white mask.

『Everyone, please calm down.』

The suit man who kept the center said.

His voice was heavy and the sound was unique. It wasn’t like a human voice, but rather a feeling that resonated in the soul.

『We’re not trying to harm you.』

『What? What are you saying?』

Here, Sung Si-hyun (Lee Sua) steps up.

『Aren’t you the ones who kidnapped us?』

『That’s right.』

『You’re the ones who took our belongings too! Where are you saying so brazenly that you have no intention of hurting us? What did you do with the check in my pocket? Give it back right away!』

『Number 01, Sung Si-hyun-ssi didn’t have any belongings.』

『Um, I guess that doesn’t work. Maybe 50,000 won…. Hehe….』

Around this time, the other participants gave Sua a look of contempt. They looked like they were wondering what kind of hopeless human being was dragged here. Their disgusted faces are considerable.

Of course, all the actors were internally admiring Sua’s vivid acting skills. Seeing Sua’s Sung Si-hyun, they thought they shouldn’t make mistakes either.

This especially gave Eun-bi a lot of tension.

‘Wow, why are you so good at acting? Seeing it right next to me is different again. You’re like a completely different person than usual. Aish, I’m going crazy.’

Eun-bi clenched her fist tightly.

‘I only have two lines, so why am I so nervous…? No, this is a hard-won opportunity, so let’s do well.’

『I have a question.』

This time, Kim Sun-il steps up.

The suit man nodded.

『Yes. Please speak.』

『If you’re not trying to hurt us, what’s your intention?』

『Of course….』

The suit man in a suit readjusted his pure white mask and said.

『…It’s just for us to play together. Because here, we’ve only gathered trash who have committed inhumane acts.』

Then people flew around here and there.

『When did we!』

『I’ve never been to the police station!』

『What harm have we done?』

Then.

『Haa….』

The white-masked suit man let out a deep sigh and snapped his fingers. At the same time, a blue screen like a movie theater screen floats in the air.

There were gasps here and there. It was because they instinctively felt that it was a transcendent power that could not be explained by scientific technology.

『…!』

And once again, they were shocked.

This is because familiar scenes began to play on the hologram screen. People looked at each other’s faces. Yes, the participants’ appearance appeared on the hologram screen.

The suit man said.

『Number 02 Lee Seung-woo (Kim Sun-il), pretends to be clean on the outside, but he deliberately enhanced the boss he hates until he exploded. That’s practically murder.』

People unknowingly took a step away from Sun-il. Sun-il’s face on the screen, full of murderous intent, was distorted as scary as an evil spirit.

『Number 03 ─ 』

『Number 04 ─ 』

『Number 05 ─ 』

As each person’s behavior came out, people began to be wary of each other. The word enhancement means that everyone is no different from murderers. They realized they shouldn’t trust anyone.

『And number 01 Sung Si-hyun.』

『W-wait, just a minute!』

Sua raised her hand quickly.

The suit man stopped the playback and glanced at Sua.

『What is it.』

『I, I loved my husband. I enhanced him with the hope that my husband would do well. If I had known that it would explode like that, I wouldn’t have tried!』

『Is that so?』

『That’s right!』

『Then why did you enhance the child.』

『Ah.』

Then people made a sound of ‘heoeok’, and moved at least ten steps away from Sua.

Sung Si-hyun belatedly had a look of ‘ah, crap’.

『I was going to stop at just level 3 enhancement. But it exploded from level 1…. Um? Why are you all looking at me with those eyes…』

Sung Si-hyun said something else after that, but no one was listening. It was a miracle to lose everyone’s trust in just a few minutes.

And finally, it was Eun-bi’s turn.

『I’m the one who’s really upset.』

Eun-bi said with a serious expression.

『I turned off the broadcast and went out for a dinner date, but that chairman tried to rape me. I had no choice but to protect myself. Is this a bad thing?』

『It’s not a bad thing. But….』

The suit man soon scratched his head.

『…This feels like an NG. Right, director?』

Everyone burst out laughing at the suit man’s words, and Eun-bi’s face turned as red as a carrot. Yes, her acting tone was too stiff, like reading a textbook.

“Hahahaha!”

Sua laughed so hard that tears came out for the first time in a long time.

◈◈◈◈◈

The next day, Mystic headquarters.

Despite hiring new employees, everyone inside was busy. Thanks to Sua’s rapid growth, the workload is also increasing exponentially.

Of course, CEO Kim Iseo was also busy.

“Hmm.”

The CEO, with two large hairpins attached to her bangs, is carefully looking at posts on Sua’s fan cafe. It’s the latest in terms of date, but the content is now too familiar.

[ Lee Sua seems too different from the past…. ]

[ I feel a big sense of incongruity. The way she shows herself on variety shows, and isn’t the exaggerated character too much? ]

[ I really support Sua-ssi, but too much is too much! ]

“It seems like it’s time now.”

Kim Iseo slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

“Alexithymia. It’s time to reveal it to the world.”