The moment Hwang called it out at the end of the scene, the arena fell into immediate silence.
"Hah…"Minjae breathed out. He relaxed his jaw muscles by doing a few exercises with his mouth. He could feel the muscle in his jaw starting to ache because of his mouth’s movement from lip syncing.
"Good job, Minjae!"
"Good job!"
"That was good!"
"Just keep doing it!" The crew cheered Minjae from the side with huge smiles on their faces.
At the backstage, Director Hwang stood up from his seat, his sharp eyes scanning the monitor before shifting to Minjae, who was still on stage.
The shooting only took a few minutes since Minjae was able to sync the movement of his mouth well. At the camera, he really looked like as if he was singing the song.
Using his earpiece for communication, "That was a solid take," he announced.
"Minjae, you captured the emotion well, though I need it to look more natural. The next scenes would be at the middle of the concert so I want your energy to show even more." Director Hwang gave a brief instruction.
"Yes, Director." Minjae, who was catching his breath, answered.
"Alright. Change to a new outfit. We’ll start again in 30 minutes.
Minjae gave a slight nod before stepping off the stage. As soon as he was backstage, a stylist rushed toward him with a piece of towel, and he gratefully took it, wiping the small bead of sweat on his forehead.
"Minjae-ssi, let’s get you changed," the head stylist, Yoona, said as she motioned for him to follow her.
Minjae sighed, stretching his neck as he walked toward the dressing area once again. Even though he wasn’t actually singing, the act of lip-syncing while performing with emotions was surprisingly exhausting.
He now had a newfound respect for idols who did this daily.
Back inside the dressing room, Yoona and her team were already preparing Minjae’s next outfit. It was a white, sleeveless turtleneck paired with a fitted, shimmering silver jacket, designed to reflect the stage lights.
His pants were looser this time, allowing for easier movement, while his boots remained the same.
"Here, Minjae-ssi," Yuna handed him the outfit. "Please wear it carefully. We need to bring that back to the sponsors."
"I got it." Minjae took it and headed behind a partition to change.
’This is… actually fun,’ Minjae thought to himself. He had always loved acting, but somehow this was a different kind of fun. He felt as if he was only playing, maybe because he wasn’t actually doing the singing part.
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Once Minjae was dressed, the stylists quickly went to work fixing his hair. They added a bit more volume and tousled it slightly for a natural, effortless stage look. Minjae’s makeup was also touched up. They darkened his eyeliner to give his eyes a more intense gaze.
Just as they were finishing up, Donghyun reminded them of the time.
"Minjae, we only have ten minutes before we resume."
"Got it, hyung," Minjae replied immediately.
Donghyun gave him a thumbs-up before disappearing back into the hall.
Minjae took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders. He stared at his reflection one more time before nodding.
’Alright, time for Round 2.’
- - -
Back on the set, the crew was making final adjustments to the lighting and camera angles for the next scene. A drone was also put out to shoot the whole arena from above.
The extras also started to get ready. They held up their light sticks in the air once again. Some of them were chatting excitedly, to show that they were enjoying the experience.
Director Hwang stood near the monitors, checking everything one last time before turning to Minjae as he approached.
"We’ll begin soon," Hwang questioned as his forehead creased. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, Director," Minjae said, nodding firmly.
"Alright, everyone, standby!"
Hwang gave him a satisfied look before returning his attention to the cameras.
The arena lights dimmed once again, and the background visuals on the LED screens changed to match the next song’s mood.
Then, the slate board clapped.
"Scene 2. Take 1. Action!"
The music started, this time a more upbeat and powerful track. The bass reverberated through the venue, and the extras responded immediately, screaming as if they were real fans at a concert.
Minjae took the center stage with a charismatic look. He gripped on his microphone lightly as he felt the energy surging through him.
"Are you ready everyone!" Minjae shouted out loud on the microphone using his voice.
"AHHHHH!"
"I’ll die!"
"YES!"
"Yesss!"
"You’re so handsome!"
"I love youuuuuuu!"
"Taeyung!!!!!"
"Oppa! We love youuu!"
Just like that. Minjae knew he was going to own the stage.
The music blasted through the arena. It was a fast-paced beat mixed with electric synths and powerful drums. The energy of the song was infectious that even the extras who were playing as fans couldn’t help but genuinely enjoy it.
They felt like they were inside a club with a good dj for songs. They were dancing and bouncing as they waved their light sticks in the air.
[Song: Burning Desire]
~🎶~
A foreign spark ignites my skin, rising higher
Spreading wild like untamed fire
Bound to the warmth, lost in its hold
Craving more, burning bold
~🎶~
Minjae brought the mic closer to his lips and began to lip-sync the first few lines. His eyes gleamed under the stage lights, his brows furrowing slightly in emotion, and his lips moved in perfect sync with the backtrack.
~🎶~
One taste, and fire scorches my veins—I’m incomplete
Trying to define what this heat really means
Both my instincts and my mind
Will crave it more, will set you alight
~🎶~
As the pre-chorus built up, the rhythm of the music intensified, layered with deep bass and energetic synths. It was harmonious, a kind of music that was easy to listen to.
The audience extras screamed louder, their light sticks moving in perfect harmony, creating a sea of flickering lights.
Then, the beat dropped.
~🎶~
Lost in the rush, lost in the sin
No escape, no turning back
Let it rise, let it attack
Drenched in heat, lost in desire
One more taste, feed the fire
~🎶~
The LED screens behind Minjae flashed bright, dynamic visuals as the chorus hit. The song was high-energy, something that could make anyone want to jump and dance.
And though Minjae wasn’t required to perform choreography, he had practiced some small movements. He took a few steps forward, before confidently turning around. When he went back to the same position, his feet slightly bounced up and down and his hand motioned to match the song’s vibe.
Minjae’s natural presence and the help of Star Aura carried him, and even though he wasn’t a real singer, the moment felt authentic.
~🎶~
Temptation calls with a taste so sweet
Desire ignites, pulling you off your feet
Like a river flowing wild and free
You’ll crave it more, lost in the burn
~🎶~
Minjae lifted his arm, swaying to the beat. His free hand ran through his slightly tousled hair, a simple movement that made the audience extras shriek even louder.
The cameras captured everything from multiple angles—close-ups of his face, wide shots of the stage, and even aerial views from the drone above. Every frame had to look as if this was a live concert being aired on television.
As soon as the final chorus hit, Minjae moved toward the edge of the stage, stretching out his hand as if reaching for the fans. The extras responded in kind, some pretending to cry, others shouting his character’s name.
Then…
"Cut!"