X
“Yes, PD.
What’s going on?”
“What?
All of a sudden?”
“Yes, yes.”
Because this wasn’t a shoot led by SU E&M, it had taken quite some time to get information.
Just as evening was approaching and CEO Park Jung-woo was heading to the set with Wooju after finally receiving the location, he got a sudden call from a radio PD.
–“Ah, please, just save us this once.”
–“We just got contacted out of nowhere, but the drama shoot is running long, and it looks like actor Lee Jihoon is going to miss the live broadcast today.”
–“We need to urgently book another actor, and you were the only person I could think of.”
–“Please help us, sir.”
This was a kind of opportunity.
Broadcast PDs wield enormous power.
Their influence might be a bit weaker than TV PDs, but for SU E&M, which also operates in the music industry, maintaining good relationships with radio PDs was essential.
“Ah, then which of our actors are you looking for?”
–“Anyone is fine, but if possible, an A-list actor would be great.”
“Ah, then how about actor Park Wonjong?”
“He just finished a film shoot and is resting for a bit.”
–“Oh!
That sounds great!”
“We can promote the movie too, right?”
–“Of course.”
–“But the broadcast starts at eight, is that doable?”
“We’ll make it doable.”
“I’ll contact him right away and have his manager coordinate the schedule.”
–“Thank you so much, CEO Park!”
–“I’ll definitely repay this favor someday!”
“Haha, it’s nothing.”
“Then I’ll see you next time.”
Because he was driving and using speakerphone, Wooju had heard the entire conversation and smiled faintly.
“Lee Jihoon probably got wasted and showed up late again.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that guy frequents room salons?”
After instructing Park Wonjong’s manager to send him straight to the radio station, CEO Park smacked his lips.
“Anyway, we’d have to schedule promo appearances once the movie release gets closer, so this works out nicely.”
What he said wasn’t wrong, but Park Wonjong was classified as a genuine A-list actor.
He was in no way comparable to Lee Jihoon, who couldn’t act to save his life but had a lot of fans just because he was good-looking.
Wooju jutted out her lips and muttered.
“Yeah, well.”
“I do owe that PD a lot too.”
“But are we still far?”
“We’re almost there.”
“Let’s park at the public lot over there and walk.”
“Put on a cap and a mask too.”
After parking and heading toward the set, they saw over a hundred staff members gathered in a residential alleyway.
It seemed to be a transition period for moving equipment.
As they passed through the bustling site, CEO Park approached Director Kim Minsu and extended a smiling handshake.
“Director Kim.”
“Good to see you again.”
“I’m Park Jung-woo from SU E&M.”
Kim Minsu, who had been discussing something with Jang Young-ho, brightened and shook his hand.
“Oh?”
“What brings you all the way out here, sir?”
“Haha, I was just passing nearby and thought I’d stop by, and look who’s here.”
“We were surprised too.”
“So this is the drama you were doing the table read for back then?”
Even though he’d come knowing everything, Park Jung-woo played dumb.
Kim Minsu, already aware through various channels that SU E&M was interested in Yejun, grinned.
“You came to see Yejun, didn’t you?”
“Haha, busted?”
“Then the suspiciously dressed woman over there must be Wooju.”
Wooju beamed and bowed at the waist.
“Hello, Director!”
“I’ve seen all of your movies!”
“All your short films too!”
“Haha, you’re very good at social niceties.”
“No, really!”
“Your short films ‘Ant Hole,’ ‘The Catcher’s House,’ and ‘Pine Caterpillar’ were all great!”
When she rattled off the titles of his short films, Kim Minsu burst out laughing.
“‘Pine Caterpillar’ didn’t even have a hundred viewers total.”
“You saw that too?”
Wooju raised one hand high and snapped a salute.
“Yes!”
“I was one of those hundred!”
“Haha!”
Kim Minsu, whose mood had been sour because of Lee Jihoon, now looked genuinely pleased as he welcomed them.
“Well, since you’re here to watch, feel free to stand to the side.”
“This scene happens to include all the actors shooting today.”
“Yes~!”
“We’ll watch quietly!”
“Young-ho, take care of them.”
As Assistant Director Jang Young-ho approached, Wooju greeted him.
“Hello, Director!”
“I’ve seen your movie!”
No director dislikes hearing that someone watched their work.
“Really?”
“You saw it?”
“Yes!”
“‘A Killer’s Diary.’”
“Wow, Ko Youngcheol was insanely good.”
“Haha.”
“You watched it because of Yejun, didn’t you?”
“Nope~.”
“I didn’t even know Yejun back then.”
“I only learned about him after watching the movie.”
“Oh?”
“Then you watched my movie purely on its own.”
“That’s right.”
“Thank you.”
“Haha.”
“When you make another film, you’ll send me the script too, right?”
“Oh dear.”
“How could I dare give a script to an S-class star like Wooju?”
“It’s fine.”
“Just send it first.”
“I’ll at least review it.”
“Haha.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“But is this a break right now?”
“Yes.”
“We’re moving equipment.”
“Then can I say hi to Yejun briefly?”
“Where is he?”
“Ah, he’s inside that alley right now, but not at the moment.”
“Oh?”
“What’s he doing?”
“Sometimes, right before shooting, Yejun asks for a bit of time to concentrate.”
“About five minutes or so.”
“He said he wanted to be alone and focus on the role.”
“So please greet him after the shoot.”
“Of course.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll wait.”
“Thank you!”
“Here, have a seat.”
Even if they were outsiders, the visitors were an agency CEO and Wooju.
They couldn’t just be left standing, so Jang Young-ho brought over folding chairs and seated them before heading back.
Soon, the actors began preparing again.
Director Kim Minsu sat at the monitoring station and picked up his radio.
“Yejun, are you ready?”
Since Yejun himself wouldn’t be holding a radio, the FD waiting with him inside the alley replied.
–“Yes, we’re ready.”
“Alright, rolling in!”
“Ready, sound!”
“Speed!”
“Camera!”
“Roll!”
“Slate!”
“Seventy-six, take one!”
“Action!”
From the folding chair set up at a spot where she could see quite clearly despite the distance, Wooju spotted Yejun bursting out of the alley.
Because he was running, she didn’t see him in detail.
But the instant her gaze brushed past Yejun’s eyes and expression, Wooju’s entire body froze.
‘Th-Those eyes!’
Completely different from Go Youngcheol in A Killer’s Diary.
If Go Youngcheol had been an icy, emotionless killer, then Zhang Wei was a true madman.
A lunatic.
She’d only just arrived, but seeing actors playing detectives waiting with prop guns, it was clearly a chase scene.
And yet how could a criminal being chased by police grin like that?
Yejun glanced around the alley and dashed off in one direction.
About three seconds later, Jihoon, Jisoo, and the other detectives ran into frame.
Jisoo and Jihoon raised their guns at the same time, aiming at Zhang Wei as he was just climbing over the wall, and shouted,
“Freeze, you bastard!”
“Don’t move!”
“Hands up!”
“Move and we shoot!”
Zhang Wei, standing atop the wall, hesitated.
Slowly, he turned around.
Despite having guns trained on him, instead of fear, his eyes rolled wildly as he smiled.
Thud.
An abrupt, out-of-place sound rang out, followed by Director Kim Minsu’s shout.
“Cut!”
“What was that?”
Everyone’s gaze snapped toward Lee Jihoon, where the noise had come from.
Thinking he might have fallen, staff rushed toward him.
“Mr.
Lee Jihoon, are you alri—huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
Still holding his gun, Lee Jihoon had collapsed onto his backside, his body shaking like an aspen tree.
His eyes were locked onto Yejun, who was standing on the wall, smiling.
“…..”
Even though it was an NG, Director Kim Minsu was grinning to himself.
‘Heh.’
‘Even stunt actors piss themselves when Yejun locks into the Zhang Wei role just from his eyes.’
‘If a punk like you can look into those eyes, even from afar, without wetting yourself, that’d be the real miracle.’
‘I knew this would happen.’
As if he’d anticipated this, Kim Minsu met eyes with Jang Young-ho standing beside him.
Young-ho was grinning too, looking thoroughly satisfied.
In fact, before this scene, he’d instructed Yejun to look directly at Lee Jihoon from atop the wall, so he must have expected this outcome.
As the set grew noisy, Jihoon’s manager rushed out from behind and crouched in front of him.
“Jihoon!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you feel sick?”
“…..”
“Jihoon!”
“Jihoon, snap out of it!”
Staring blankly at Yejun on the wall, Jihoon suddenly came to his senses.
Only then did he realize all the staff were looking at him, and his face flushed red.
“N-No.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you really?”
“Be honest.”
“Do we need to go to the hospital?”
“Uh.”
“I think I still have a bit of a hangover.”
“Just move, hyung.”
“Still—”
“It’s embarrassing, so just move.”
“Uh….”
Once his manager backed away, Jihoon tried to stand—then grabbed his leg.
‘I can’t put any strength into it!’
His face flushed even redder.
With trembling eyes, he glanced toward the wall where Yejun stood.
‘I got scared of that bastard?’
He couldn’t accept it.
But for now, getting his legs back was more important.
He punched his thigh a few times, but the strength didn’t come back easily.
And yet something felt strange.
He’d expected that foul-tempered director to explode again, but instead, the man was quietly waiting for him.
After about two minutes of massaging his leg, Jihoon finally stood and said stiffly,
“Let’s do it again.”
There wasn’t a single word of apology, but Director Kim Minsu simply grinned and lifted his radio.
“Actors, back to your marks.”
Jang Young-ho ran over, took Yejun, and led him back into the alley.
He made Yejun lower his head and walk.
Watching everything unfold from their seats, CEO Park Jung-woo spoke quietly to Wooju beside him.
“What was that just now?”
“…..”
“There wasn’t even a rock or anything.”
“Why would an actor just standing there aiming a gun suddenly fall over?”
“…..”
“Huh?”
“Wooju?”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
Still staring wide-eyed at Yejun heading back to the starting point with Jang Young-ho, Wooju finally spoke.
“CEO…”
“Huh?”
“Raise the contract fee.”
“What?”
“Fifty million—no.”
“Give him a hundred million.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Wooju swallowed hard, eyes fixed on the alley Yejun had disappeared into.
That acting just now.
She’d been shocked even during the running scene, but the moment he climbed the wall and turned around—
Those eyes.
That unnatural twist of facial muscles.
At a glance, the face of someone completely unhinged.
Could that really be called acting?
Wooju turned to look at Lee Jihoon, who was still punching his thigh.
‘His heart froze.’
‘That’s why his legs gave out.’
‘Because he met Yejun’s gaze head-on.’
The director’s cue sounded again, and Zhang Wei burst out of the alley once more.
Standing atop the wall, Zhang Wei slowly turned at the detectives’ shouts, grinning crookedly.
Then, from his waistband, he pulled out a hatchet and said,
“我带了一个朋友来, 听说你很害怕.”
(“I brought a friend with me.
I hear you’re very afraid.”)
At the sound of Yejun’s voice, both CEO Park and Wooju stiffened.
Rubbing the goosebumps rising on her arms, Wooju muttered,
“Give him more.”
“Whatever he asks for, give it to him.”
“And make sure you bring that man in.”
“…..”
In that instant, CEO Park Jung-woo and Wooju found themselves thinking the exact same thing.
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