Chapter 41:
Everyone looked at Yooil in surprise, but the most shocked was Son Jisoo.
What?!'
Director Gu Chanik raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
You will?
The assistant director cautiously asked Yooil.
You might not know the lines well, are you sure?
Thats okay.
Thanks to practicing the same scene multiple times with Brion yesterday, all the lines came to mind without even trying to memorize them.
Didnt expect to use it this way though.
Ive memorized all the lines. I think I can do it.
!
Hearing Yooils confident reply, Director Gu Chaniks face lit up with amusement.
Well, if youre that confident, lets see it.
Son Jisoo looked at Yooil with a crumpled face.
100 scenes in the script.
Yooils lines alone made up more than 30% of it.
He memorized his lines and mine?
It seemed impossible.
It had to be a bluff.
Yet, Son Jisoo felt uneasy. Despite knowing he should focus on his script, his gaze kept drifting toward Yooil.
Alright, everyone, please take your positions!
Meeting Director Gu Chaniks smile, Yooil stood in front of the camera.
The scene to be shot was a mid-movie moment.
A scene where Choi Bin, having failed to persuade Sooil at the flower shop, comes to find him again.
He must have a reason for being so confident.'
Director Gu Chanik watched Han Yooil on the monitor with narrowed eyes.
Camera rolling-
Scene 34, take 3, test~
Action!
Han Yooil opened his eyes.
Not as Park Sooil, the part-timer in The Mysterious Garden', but as his friend, Choi Bin.
Hey. Park Sooil.
Choi Bin briefly closes his lips, as if filtering through what he wants to say.
Then, he continues.
What are you thinking, seriously? Whats with the flower shop, and that weird owner?
Son Jisoo, who had been folding his arms while watching Han Yooil, blinked rapidly.
What?
He vaguely thought Han Yooil would mimic his acting.
But Han Yooils tone was strangely different from how he had performed.
Did he actually research it?
Then he shook his head.
That couldnt be. How could the lead actor have time to analyze another character too?
""
Son Jisoos script in hand started to crumple a bit.
Are you really going to keep living like that? Are you satisfied with that?
Choi Bin takes a step forward. Emotions that he tried to suppress flood his face.
Why are you doing this? Arent you sorry to your deceased mother?
In the next moment, Han Yooils toes slightly lift, as if someone has grabbed his collar.
It looked as if he had been grabbed by the scruff.
!
Acting like that too?
The assistant director, watching the monitor, lifted his head in astonishment.
The actor he saw was no longer Han Yooil.
Choi Bin.'
Not a question of how can he act as Choi Bin?' but rather how could he not be Choi Bin?' Such was the convincing nature of the performance.
Choi Bin slightly lifted the corners of his mouth before speaking.
Why do you care?
Despite the seemingly relaxed smile, a small tremor was visible around his eyes.
!
All the staff held their breath.
Before they knew it, they were no longer looking at Han Yooil but at Choi Bin.
You call that a question?
Tears slowly began to well up in Choi Bin's eyes.
Because you're my friend, you bastard.
The last word flowed out like a sigh.
As that sentence ended, a single tear fell from Choi Bins right eye.
The clear drop slowly moistened his cheek as it rolled down.
Cut.
Director Gu Chanik spoke.
It felt like air had finally returned to the previously vacuum-like atmosphere of the set.
Phew
Only then did the assistant director exhale the breath he had been holding, still looking at Han Yooil with astonished eyes.
I knew he was a good actor, but
He hadnt expected this level.
The assistant director glanced at Son Jisoo, who seemed equally shocked.
A clear victory.
Everyone on the set would have agreed.
Not that there had been a competition between the two actors.
Director Gu Chanik nodded with a faint smile.
He's good.
Thank you.
Yooil wiped his tears and smiled.
He had no idea that analyzing the other characters with Brion would prove so helpful.
Let me know whenever you need me, Mr. Yooil.
Thank you.
Han Yooil took a gulp of cold water.
At that moment, he heard Brions even-toned voice.
Level two objective 69% achieved.
* * *
Damn it
Son Jisoo was biting his nails.
He hardly noticed how the remaining shoot went.
He was so preoccupied watching Han Yooil perform as Choi Bin that he couldn't even focus on his own lines.
I thought it was just bravado!
What irritated him more was the reaction of the staff around him.
The difference in the atmosphere when Han Yooil acted compared to when he did.
That difference was palpable.
Damn it.
The manager, noticing Son Jisoos tense demeanor, cautiously spoke up.
Would you like some water, sir?
Didnt I tell you I hate lukewarm water?
Oh, right
The manager's voice carried a familiar but always disheartening tone. Dejected, the manager fumbled to put the water away.
Just give it to me.
But you just said you dont want lukewarm water
"Ah, I told you to give it to me first!"
""
Son Jisoo gulped down the water and thought to himself,
Maybe I should pretend to be friendly.'
Even if you're good at acting and gain the trust of the staff around you, in the end, you're still a newcomer.
"Hyunsoo, give me my pouch."
"I'm not Hyunsoo, I'm Suhyun."
The manager muttered in a low voice and handed the pouch to Son Jisoo. Checking his appearance in the mirror, Son Jisoo confidently stood up.
I know how to handle newcomers.'
Son Jisoo decided to wait for the moment when everyone was busy preparing to leave after the shooting.
And when the time came, Son Jisoo slowly approached Han Yooil.
Yooil was oddly staring into space.
What's with him? Daydreaming?'
Son Jisoo approached Han Yooil and suddenly spoke to him.
"Mr. Han Yooil."
He thought Yooil would be a bit surprised by the sudden call, but Han Yooil didn't seem startled, as if he knew Son Jisoo would come.
"I saw you were working hard on your acting today. Had a lot of time?"
"Rather than that, the script was interesting."
Son Jisoo's expression hardened for a moment but then he smiled softly and spoke.
"Ah, really. I usually don't make such mistakes Maybe I've been too busy lately. Ah, sorry! It must have been tough for you?"
"No, it was enjoyable."
"Haha."
Son Jisoo looked around and spoke loudly, taking a step closer to Yooil.
"The thing I said before. You're not worrying about it, right? I was in a bad mood that day and might have been a bit sensitive. Don't take it to heart. Just saying, in case."
"Not at all."
Right. That's how it should be.
Son Jisoo patted Yooil's shoulder with a satisfied look.
"Yeah, it's good to get along with the people you work with. Do you like drinking? Let's have a drink sometime. Oh, no. How about we go today? I know a good place."
Usually, when he says this, most people reluctantly follow.
Then, Han Yooil smiled slightly and opened his mouth.
"Ah, I don't really drink. I don't like it much."
"Huh?"
Son Jisoo, who was about to cheerfully drag him along, looked at Yooil with a bewildered face.
"And I have an advertising meeting tonight It's a pity."
He didn't look the slightest bit regretful. Son Jisoo, unable to hide his irritation, retorted,
"What kind of advertisement?"
"GINVERG You probably know it better than I do."
Facing Son Jisoo's widened eyes, Han Yooil asked with a clear face,
"Right, senior?"
Son Jisoo opened his mouth wide and forced a smile.
"Knowit."
How could he not?
GINVERG was the fashion brand he had been a model for until just last year.
"Then, have a good evening, senior."
Watching Yooil's retreating figure, Son Jisoo clenched his teeth.
Damn it.'
It had been a while since his competitive spirit was ignited.
Right. Actors compete with acting.'
He rushed to his car and began furiously reading the script.
Let's see. Han Yooil.'
I'll make you taste defeat through acting. I'll make you cry in frustration in front of me!
Son Jisoo's manager glanced at his actor, who was intensely reading the script with fiery eyes.
Ha'
With a shallow sigh, the manager took advantage of the moment Son Jisoo was engrossed in the script to pull out a worn notebook and slowly flip through the pages.
It was the <Son Jisoo Care Manual>, passed down like a secret family recipe from one predecessor to another.
[1005. Sometimes he picks fights with other actors and then suddenly reads the script like a madman. Keep replenishing his iced Americano as the ice melts and never, ever disturb him.]
The word never, ever' was marked with five asterisks.
Looks like I need to head to the caf.'
The manager held the steering wheel with moist eyes.
The day had been too long.
* * *
The park is so spacious, the air feels fresh.'
Unaware that someone had been diligently analyzing the script because of him, Yooil, feeling refreshed, headed towards the car where Min Woojin was waiting.
"Hey, Yooil! Did the meeting go well?"
"Yes, hyung."
Yooil leaned back in the car seat with a calm face.
The statement I don't like drinking' was half a lie. Han Yooil cared more about who he drank with than the alcohol itself.
It's not entirely a lie since I'm not a big fan of alcohol itself.'
Above all, Yooil still vividly remembered Son Jisoo's remarks.
They're just using these unknown newcomers to cut my fees!
Who does he think he is, the director's secret child or something?
Such words were excessively disrespectful, even if directed towards a director he admired.
Of course, it's possible that Son Jisoo genuinely respects Gu Chanik. Maybe those words were just blurted out in a moment of anger.
I don't want to get closer and share a drink with someone like that.'
Excellent choice, Mr. Yooil.
Meanwhile, focused on driving, Min Woojin suddenly exclaimed,
"By the way, Yooil. I just got a call. You've been selected for a beverage commercial!"
"Really?"
He had been surprised by photo shoots and fashion brand modeling, but a beverage model was something else.
"Can I ask which beverage it is?"
"Of course. It's Vita Talk Seven'!"
Vita Talk Seven.
It was no exaggeration to say it was the most famous vitamin drink in Korea. It was also the vitamin drink that Han Yooil used to drink frequently during his exam preparation days. Recently, it even came out in jelly form.
Watching Yooil's expression, Min Woojin cautiously added,
"But, um, there's a tiny problem?"
"What's the problem?"
Seeing Min Woojin, who usually seemed composed, rolling his eyes, Yooil also started to feel anxious.
This is worrisome.'
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l