Chapter 242: Drag Down (1)
The Spokesperson?film shoots were coming to an end. Kang Ra-Eun, who was wearing a black female suit that her character Na Ji-Yang frequently wore, checked the attire in front of the full-length mirror.
‘I’ve worn mainly normal outfits in?Spokesperson shoots compared to all the other dramas and films I’ve been in.’
Ra-Eun had not shot scenes in overly disheveled clothing except the scene where she had been kidnapped by Yang Han-Sik’s men. She preferred this much better since it also meant that she did not have to wear special makeup. Even the smallest injuries took a very long time to create through makeup, and that time transformed into fatigue for Ra-Eun.
‘Hopefully I only star in productions like this from now on.’
It was not hard to do since there were countless film and drama directors who wanted Ra-Eun. It was a famous star’s exclusive privilege to choose which film or drama they wanted to star in. Not even Ra-Eun had ever expected to be given such a privilege in her entire life.
Chief Jung had talked about always keeping an eye out for the next production that she wanted to star in, but there was something more important than that right now.
‘Focusing on this film comes first.’
.
Only by making Spokesperson?a hit could Ra-Eun deal an effective blow to Kim Han-Gyo.
Director Seo Yong-Mun called over Ra-Eun and Min Se-Min as the set was busily getting ready.
“This scene is gonna be modified a little,” he expressed.
“Modified?”
“Ys. It says here that Na Ji-Yang expresses this line while fiercely revealing her emotions, right? I was thinking that it would better suit her character for her to say it calmly. What do you think, Ra-Eun?”
Ra-Eun was the one who knew Na Ji-Yang best. Director Seo was curious about her opinion as the one who often immersed herself into the character to the point of it being a bit excessive.
“I think... We should go with the script rather than saying it calmly. In exchange, how about we reduce the ferocity of which she reveals her emotions? I believe the audience members will find it more impactful if we have at least one scene of Ji-Yang letting loose her suppressed emotions.”
Ra-Eun had at first worked in the entertainment industry while solely relying on knowledge of the future, but her discernment had increased correspondingly to everything that she had experienced and learned as an actress. Thanks to this, she no longer relied completely on her future knowledge.
Ra-Eun had only given her subjective opinion, but it had been enough to convince Director Seo.
“Okay. Let’s go with your suggestion, Ra-Eun.”
“Thank you very much, Director.”
“No need to thank me. I’ll let the other staff members know that we’ll stay with the script, so I’ll be counting on your performance, Ra-Eun.”
“Yes, Director.”
Ra-Eun sat down with Se-Min to resume their script reading.
“Well then, should we start from the fifth line again?” Se-Min asked.
The scene that they would be shooting today was one of Na Ji-Yang exposing the history of Yang Han-Sik’s misappropriation and embezzlement of national projects. A special investigations team would be made to investigate the charges exposed by Ji-Yang, and Han-Sik would be deprived of his seat in the National Assembly as his sins were exposed one by one. It was Han-Sik’s downfall.
Ra-Eun drew the complete picture of Kim Han-Gyo’s future in her head as she read the script. Others likely only saw this film as a political thriller, but It was no exaggeration to call it a prophecy that foretold Han-Gyo’s future.
***
“Ready, action!”
Ji-Yang announced the evidence that she had gathered with her own hands to the reporters.
“These are the records of funds that Congressman Yang Han-Sik has embezzled until now.”
Cameras flashed from all around while the main camera zoomed in on Ra-Eun’s face.
“Please take a good look at the true nature of Congressman Yang Han-Sik! He has always declared that he would reform this country’s politics and change the world for the sake of the people, but I beg you to see him for who he truly is: a snake that only cares for his own wellbeing!” Ji-Yang exclaimed while slamming her hands down on the desk.
Her voice was filled with rage toward Han-Sik. Ra-Eun couldn’t help but inject more of her emotions into the lines as she pictured the antagonist being Kim Han-Gyo.
‘I knew we should’ve gone with what was on the script.’
How could Ra-Eun possibly say this calmly?
‘I know I can’t.’
Nor was she confident in doing so. Director Seo nodded repeatedly in joy as Ra-Eun fluidly recited her long lines.
“Okay, that was great! Let’s wrap it up here for today. Fantastic work, everyone!”
The shoot that had begun early in the morning had ended after sunset. Hwang Je-Woong, who played the role of Yang Han-Sik, praised Ra-Eun for her hard work after silently watching her performance from behind the cameras.
“I’m impressed by how well you performed that difficult scene. I heard you appealed to Director Seo that it would be better to reveal some emotions instead of calmly reciting the lines.”
“I did, sunbae.”
“Good job. I also thought the same thing as you. An actor needs to have the courage to let the director know of anything that they think isn’t right. Only then would the character be able to truly shine.”
Ra-Eun felt relieved to know that Je-Woong had also felt the same way as she had. She had honestly felt uneasy that she had been unnecessarily stubborn, but it was nice to see that someone agreed with her.
“I’m only asking you this since the production is about to wrap up soon, but...” Je-Woong slurred.
“What is it?” Ra-Eun asked.
“You don’t hate me or anything, right?”
“Why are you asking something like that out of the blue?”
“Well, because I occasionally get the feeling that the attitude you show me during filming isn’t a performance. The same thing happened this morning, too. That’s why I wonder from time to time if I’ve done anything to offend you.”
The problem was that Ra-Eun’s performance had been too realistic. Ra-Eun had been passively over-immersing into her role in the Spokesperson?shoots, so Je-Woong had asked her this question multiple times.
Ra-Eun answered the uneasy Je-Woong with a smile, “I assure you, it’s all an act.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. How could I possibly hate you, sunbae?”
Ra-Eun simply hated Yang Han-Sik, who had been made to emulate Kim Han-Gyo; it had nothing to do with Je-Woong as a person.
“In that case, I’ll be counting on you until the end,” Je-Woong remarked.
“Likewise. Have a safe trip home, sunbae.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
Ra-Eun got into Shin Yu-Bin’s car after seeing Je-Woong off.
“You’re gonna go straight home, right?” Yu-Bin asked.
“Yes, although I’m gonna go straight back out.”
“Why?”
“There’s someone I have to see.”
“A friend?”
“No,” Ra-Eun replied while smiling meaningfully. “I’d call them a comrade more than a friend.”
It was much more appropriate to call them a comrade with the same purpose.
***
Ra-Eun decided to take a shower as soon as she came back home. She stood in front of the bathroom mirror stark naked and tilted her head in confusion as she looked at herself.
‘Something’s off.’
Having gotten an inexplicably strange feeling, Ra-Eun took a quick shower and headed to her room after covering herself in a towel. She used to walk around naked when she used to live with just Seo Yi-Seo, but she had no choice but to watch her conduct after Seo Yi-Jun began to live with them. It was to avoid a situation that they would both be embarrassed about.
Ra-Eun took out the underwear that she normally wore because she needed to get ready to go out. The moment she put on her bra, she stared at her breasts after her suspicions had been confirmed. She had thought that her bras had been feeling a little tight lately, but she was now sure of it.
‘They’ve gotten bigger.’
Ra-Eun clicked her tongue.
‘I thought I was done growing.’
She was already uncomfortable enough with how much they shook when she exercised. She unconsciously sighed.
“Yi-Seo, do you have any spare underwear?” Ra-Eun asked.
“My underwear? Why?”
“My chest feels a bit tight. It’s stifling, so I was wondering if you have any of a larger size.”
Yi-Seo’s expression instantly turned ice cold. “Mine are smaller than yours.”
“Oh, really?”
Ra-Eun had not said it on purpose to bully Yi-Seo, but she had unintentionally hurt her roommate’s feelings.
‘I guess I should go buy some new underwear.’
It was a huge hassle to buy underwear when she was already extremely busy.
***
Ahn Su-Jin avoided working until late at night ever since the kidnapping incident since she wanted to avoid the same thing from happening again. She tried not to go around at night whenever possible, but tonight was an exception because there was someone who wanted to meet her.
Su-Jin was in a deserted cafe where she was the only customer. She worked on a draft of her article on her laptop on the second floor while waiting for the other person.
Step, step, step.
Just then, Su-Jin heard a multitude of people climbing the stairs. She estimated it to be around three people, and she had been right on. One of them was Ma Yeong-Jun, whom she had already gotten familiar with, and there was also a woman that she had never seen before. And lastly, the masked woman that had been stirring the political world as of late.
“Have you been well, Reporter Ahn?” the masked woman asked.
“Yes, thanks to you. I wouldn’t be typing on my laptop keyboard like this if you hadn’t saved me that day.”
This was the first time that Su-Jin had met the masked woman after the kidnapping. She was curious about what the masked woman had been doing all this time, but she was skeptical that the masked woman would tell her anything even if she had asked. Hence, Su-Jin decided to suppress her nature as a reporter and hold off on asking questions.
The masked woman handed Su-Jin a USB drive.
“This is the video that I took of you back when you were kidnapped. By the way, Congressman Kim Han-Gyo is also in it.”
“I’m sure there would be an uproar if people saw this.”
“Yes, but don’t release it just yet.”
“Then, when should we?”
The time that the masked woman revealed was an important time not just for politicians, but Korea as a whole.
“The general election is soon, isn’t it? You can expose everything that you have on Congressman Kim around then.”
“...!”
Su-Jin gulped. Ra-Eun’s revenge would begin by taking away Han-Gyo’s seat in the National Assembly.
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