Joo Woosung was truly a professional.
“No, no, your gaze should be this way.”
“This way?”
“You’ve got to match it with the beat of the song. One, two.”
Contrary to my expectation that he’d just snap a few photos for media play and leave right away, he earnestly taught the extra cast members—who had been brought in en masse for the survival program—how to work the camera.
“Since drama filming and music shows are different... could we monitor what we just shot?”
“Oh, of course!”
“We don’t want it too over the top, so let’s find a middle ground.”
Even the staff were charmed by his meticulousness, considering directing as well.
“Wow, I can really see why Joo Woosung is so popular.”
Of course, the point I admired most was the same as before.
He never gave away a hint that he was working with an ex-girlfriend.
“Hello, I’m Ha Seoyeon.”
“Nice to meet you.”
The only time they exchanged words was during the cast introductions.
After that, they never once made eye contact again. And it looked completely natural.
‘Wow, Joo Woosung, that bastard’s really impressive.’
I thought of the time I had faced Kim Heeyoung, who was actually the PD of Shining Star. Back then, I could barely control my expressions.
“Joo Woosung, oh come on, you don’t need to put in so much effort! Your schedule’s tight, you must be busy. Just snap a few photos and head out, that’s plenty.”
Director Joo’s grin never left his face, confident that this alone would make headlines.
“But... I just heard from your manager. Are you going to Japan too? We’re heading to Tokyo soon for an overseas shoot. Our schedules might overlap~.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then, by any chance...”
“Haha, if I have time, I’ll stop by.”
“Ah!! That’s our Woosung!”
Director Joo laughed in delight at Woosung’s quick, tactful reply. After chatting for quite a while, he finally left, and only then did Joo Woosung sit down on a folding chair just a couple of steps away from me.
“Thank you for your hard work, sunbae!”
“Joo Woosung sunbae, you were so cool again today!!”
Some of the extras—WH trainees—bowed deeply to him as they passed by.
Their faces glowed with vitality.
That desperate, yet pure stage of life where admiration spills out without hesitation. When they’ll exaggerate reactions just to be on camera for even one more second.
“......”
But Joo Woosung was silent.
Like someone who felt nothing.
“...Ahem, it’s nice to see them working so hard.”
“Huh?”
And so, without meaning to, I drew his attention with a fake cough.
“...Me?”
“No, the trainees.”
It was a cliché way to start, but I pressed on.
“Doesn’t seeing them sweating like that remind you of your debut days? For me, it makes me want to work harder.”
Of course, it was complete bullshit.
Based on what I’d seen of him, he wasn’t the type to be moved by other people’s hard work. I just said it anyway.
Maybe the trainees’ energy would shake off that emptiness clinging to him.
“Ah...”
Propping his chin in his hand, Woosung coolly scanned the set and said just one word.
“Kids like that come out every year.”
The coldness in his reply left me speechless.
The only consolation was that I had managed to catch his attention. He turned and stared right at me. I quickly reached out my hand with a smile.
“I’m Seo Hoyun, a rookie actor with WH. Nice to meet you.”
“Yes, I know.”
“...What?”
“...I watched Dead after Hope. Your acting left a strong impression. I’m Joo Woosung.”
Ah.
So he’s in his off-season.
This guy often holed up at home binging dramas whenever he didn’t have a schedule.
“Thank you for saying so. I also watch your stages and variety appearances often.”
“Thank you.”
Even with just a bit of small talk, my energy was already draining fast.
I forced out a new topic.
“The main writer just told me. Apparently the character I’m playing, Kang Jiseong, is modeled after you.”
“Really? I’m honored.”
He said “honored,” but his tone was utterly indifferent.
“...They told me to ask you about it.”
It was just an attempt to lighten the atmosphere, but Woosung stayed cool throughout.
“Ah... but I don’t really know much about acting.”
“......”
“You should interpret it however you see fit.”
Wow, Joo Woosung. Clean cut.
“...Really?”
So damn clean—he just brushed me off.
“Woosung, let’s go!”
“Yes.”
A Black Call manager called him from a distance. Woosung stood and gave me a light business smile.
“It was nice meeting you, even briefly, Seo Hoyun.”
“...Yeah.”
I wasn’t sure if I managed to keep my face in check.
“Same here.”
It left a bitter taste.
Even after he left, I stayed put for a while.
Ding!
[...Joo Woosung feels different.]
“Yeah.”
Even when told outright that a role was modeled after him, he didn’t react. He even neatly cut me off without rudeness.
...Joo Woosung, who wasn’t interested in me.
Strange, but also believable. In Korea, people lining up to get even a sliver of connection with him were endless.
I leaned back in the chair, turning things over in my head.
‘So this is what it feels like, going back to being a PD.’
Even the people I had built relationships with in Nugu Actor Tycoon would turn into complete strangers.
I alone would remember.
‘Alright, forget it.’
The last time I ran into him at WH’s building, his state had annoyed me a bit. But today he seemed to handle himself just fine.
A stranger like me had no need to help.
‘Yeah, live well on your own, bastard.’
I was about to skim the script again and get ready for filming when a staff member tapped me on the shoulder. Someone from an external partner I had worked with on Dead after Hope.
“Seo Hoyun!”
“Ah, yes.”
“Why do you look so stiff? Did Joo Woosung say something?”
I smiled easily.
“No, just greetings.”
“I thought something happened. Here, have a drink. You don’t drink coffee, right?”
He handed me a paper cup filled with iced tea. As I took a sip, he glanced around cautiously, then whispered.
“...Hey, did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“Joo Woosung... has a girlfriend.”
“Pffft!!!”
“Ahk!!”
I choked.
“Seo Hoyun, what’s wrong with you today?”
Tea dripped through the hand covering my mouth. The staffer hurriedly handed me tissues, wiping his own shirt as well.
“Cough, a... girlfriend?”
“Yeah. There’ve always been rumors, but no sightings or hints. But—you know Jiyeon from the art team? She said she saw him with some woman.”
“......”
“She said she was insanely pure and pretty. Long black straight hair!!”
Pure and pretty...
I thought back to the appearances of his ex-girlfriends I’d seen before.
...It kind of fit.
‘You crazy little brat!’
And here I thought he’d turned over a new leaf!
“...Oh my god, are you really okay, Hoyun?”
“Hahaha...”
“Hoyun! Time to shoot.”
The staffer looked panicked, as if he’d said something wrong, while my face twisted into a grimace. Before I had to come up with an excuse, the assistant director’s voice saved me.
Ha Seoyeon, already prepped, waved at me.
“Seo Hoyun, let’s do our best!”
“Looking forward to it.”
But my stomach kept churning.
[Seo Uiyoung discovers that a position on her program was prearranged. She clashes with the director in the hallway, but when she gets berated, Kang Jiseong—who happens to witness it—steps in on her side.]
“Damn! That director, that bastard...”
The warm, sociable Ha Seoyeon instantly transformed into a perfect Kim Heeyoung copy in front of the camera. Even her habit of flicking a lighter was the same.
“Kang Jiseong, why is the director so lenient with you?”
“He’s my uncle’s college senior.”
“Damn it, this rotten society of family ties and school connections...”
She clicked her tongue loudly.
I forced my eyes to her brow and mechanically recited my line.
“...PD Seo Uiyoung, why are you so angry?”
“Huh?”
“Having a prearranged hire... it’s pretty common.”
She stared at me for a while, then scratched her nose.
A gesture I knew too well.
“...Am I just pretending to be morally clean? Still, wrong is wrong.”
Ahhh.
“And this is between me and the director. You don’t have to help me anymore.”
This wasn’t Kim Heeyoung. It wasn’t...
I tried desperately to blur my perception, but when Ha Seoyeon pulled out a cigarette, I couldn’t ignore it.
“...PD Seo Uiyoung.”
Left-handed.
“If you stand too rigid, you’ll break easily. I won’t argue further, but still...”
The way she held it.
“Still...”
The brand—Marl*ro Red—the same Kim Heeyoung smoked.
“...Still.”
My words stuck.
I just blinked at her. She tilted her head.
“...Still still still?”
The director finally yelled cut.
“Cut!! What was that, Hoyun? Was that supposed to be comedy? You want to be a gagman?”
“Ah, Director. Didn’t Hoyun say he doesn’t smoke? He must hate the smell.”
Ha Seoyeon giggled, playing it off to ease the tension from my NG.
But none of it reached me. Even the way she ground out the cigarette under her shoe was exactly like Kim Heeyoung.
Half-conscious, I muttered,
“...Quit smoking. For your health.”
“...Oh my?”
Why must You put me through this ordeal?
In a full-on existential crash, I just stood there while the makeup staff touched up my face.
Even in scraps of free time, Ha Seoyeon talked passionately with the director about acting.
“Wouldn’t it be better to show more anger here? It’s a pivotal scene, and the impact would be stronger with more emotion.”
“No, showing workplace burnout would make it more relatable.”
“Then what about this scene?”
Meanwhile, Joo Woosung was off picking up another girlfriend.
My dark past was flaunting itself without shame in front of me.
“—Shell companies, school bullying scandals, agency corruption... all ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) the characters’ pasts are so bleak.”
“It’s all fictional, but still so pitiful.”
“Do you think this kind of thing happens in reality?”
Annoyance buzzed in my skull.
I brushed my bangs back, looking at myself in the mirror the makeup artist had handed me.
“...Wahaha!”
My sudden laugh drew everyone’s eyes.
“In reality, we have to make sure it doesn’t happen.”
“...Huh?”
Director Joo and Ha Seoyeon awkwardly glanced at each other, while I smirked at my own delinquent reflection in the glass.
Shell companies, agency corruption... whatever. I was going to deal with them anyway.
‘I’ll wreck it all.’
And it’s definitely not just to vent my frustrations.
