Chapter 43. NG

"Yeonwoo! Your tone was just like Pierre Choi's. The moment I heard it, I thought, 'This is exactly how I imagined Pierre's voice in the script.'"

"Really? Thank you. Now that the break is over, I'll be making my entrance, right? Our deer sister."

At Yeonwoo's words, Han So-hyun smiled and made a V sign with her hand.

"Look forward to it! I really love this role, so I prepared a lot. I'll show you the alluring charm of deer Jennifer."

"Hahaha. I'll be looking forward to it."

After the break, the script reading resumed. Han So-hyun, as she had promised, delivered her lines in a calm and slow tone, completely different from her usual lively and bubbly image, portraying a seductive character.

This new side of Han So-hyun was so unusual and fresh that Yeonwoo's eyes widened as she watched So-hyun.

The script reading for the mid-to-late parts of the story proceeded smoothly, and they wrapped up the day's reading, looking forward to the main filming to start soon.

A month after the script reading, the main filming began.

Yeonwoo was so busy with filming that she didn't even attend her university's opening ceremony.

Immediately after enrolling, Yeonwoo submitted a leave of absence for the first semester of her freshman year and focused on filming for a month. They had already shot most of the early scenes of the movie.

Ryu Yeonwoo and Ma Seok-do were looking at the monitor together.

In the monitor, Han So-hyun was giving a passionate performance.

"Mother, is this not how it's done?"

The golf ball traced a shallow arc and fell weakly.

Jennifer, with her long hair swaying from side to side, tilted her head in confusion.

She was practicing her swing awkwardly at the golf range.

Park Kang-woo, who was showing interest in Jennifer.

The 'deer' Jennifer was intentionally approaching Park Kang-woo to switch his smartphone's SIM card.

"Miss, let me show you how it's done?"

Park Kang-woo, handing his golf club to a subordinate in a black suit, offered to help.

"Oh, that would be great. I've learned, but... I just can't seem to get it right?"

She licked her lips seductively, planted the golf club on the ground, and subtly emphasized her curvaceous figure.

Park Kang-woo, with a smirk, moved to Jennifer's tee and took the opportunity to grope her under the pretense of correcting her stance.

According to the investigation by 'Junk Dealer,' the information gatherer among the experts assembled by Pierre Choi, Park Kang-woo had three weaknesses:

Golf, poker, and women.

The role of the deer in Pierre Choi's multi-step plan was to naturally approach Park Kang-woo and switch the SIM card with the one hacked by Kwak Ji-cheol.

While practicing golf, Jennifer naturally became friends with Park Kang-woo. Taking advantage of a moment when he was drinking water, she deftly switched his smartphone's SIM card and turned it on.

"Oh, Mr. Park. You left your phone here."

Jennifer placed the phone on top of the water cooler and called out to Park Kang-woo.

"Hmm, look at me. Hahaha. I must have been distracted by such a beautiful lady."

Park Kang-woo, with a lecherous tone, rolled his tongue as he spoke.

Despite his lecherous face, Jennifer managed to smile and play along.

This entire process was being displayed on the monitor, and Pierre Choi and Kwak Ji-cheol were watching from a small warehouse.

"Cut. Let's take a short break and then continue."

Director Park Chan-hong's monotonous voice echoed.

Yeonwoo sighed, and Ma Seok-do patted her shoulder, then stood up and stretched.

The staff, who had always found Yeonwoo to be friendly and diligent, were not yet complaining, but they were getting tired as the filming was not progressing.

Even the director of photography, Kang In-chan, who had worked with Yeonwoo on previous projects, came over and quietly patted her shoulder to encourage her.

Despite their support, Yeonwoo was feeling a bit mentally shaken today.

'What should I do? Is there something more creative I can try?'

This scene, which had been reshot all morning, was being reshot again due to Yeonwoo's continuous NGs.

From "Summer's Closet" to "Spring's Lover," and even in commercials, Yeonwoo had almost never needed to reshoot, but she was struggling this time.

Actually, it wasn't entirely Yeonwoo's fault; the problem was with the script.

As Director Park Chan-hong had emphasized during the script reading, he valued the actors' autonomy and spontaneity on set.

In this scene, where Jennifer and Park Kang-woo are watching a pre-recorded video as if they were hacking a CCTV, the entire dialogue is improvised.

The script only says, "Pierre Choi and Kwak Ji-cheol converse while looking at the CCTV."

Director Park wanted spontaneous and free dialogue from the actors who were immersed in their roles, which was a significant challenge for Yeonwoo, who was known for her thorough script analysis and diligent acting.

'Am I just not creative enough?'

As the director's approval continued to elude her, Yeonwoo began to blame herself for being too diligent in both her past and present lives.

"Everyone, let's take a lunch break and then continue!"

The assistant director announced a break for lunch as the time approached noon.

Yeonwoo, still deep in thought, trudged to the food truck.

"It's okay, Yeonwoo. Relax. It's not easy to meet the director's expectations."

"Right, in the previous project, how long did actor Bae Sung-woon hold the record? Four days?"

"Five days. Five days in a car for one scene."

The staff, passing by to encourage Yeonwoo, mentioned that in the previous project, it had taken even longer, but it didn't seem to comfort her much.

Ma Seok-do, carrying a tray of food from the food truck, sat down next to the dejected Yeonwoo.

"Relax, kid. I was terrible at improvisation when I was a rookie. And this scene's improvisation is way too long."

"Yeah, Seok-do. It's really tough. Sigh."

Yeonwoo had to carry the scene for almost 20 seconds with just improvisation.

Given the character's nature, the dialogue was supposed to be led by Pierre Choi.

"Yeonwoo, think about it more simply. If you were late to school and had to make up an excuse to the teacher, the lies you blurt out on the spot are also a form of improvisation."

Yeonwoo, who had grown up as an orphan, worked as an agent, and even in her reborn life, had always lived a regular and diligent life, had never even lied to a teacher.

She nodded reluctantly, not really relating to Seok-do's advice.

Since she started acting, Yeonwoo had always relied heavily on the script, delivering perfect performances through thorough analysis and rigorous practice.

Her diligence, which had been her greatest strength, was now holding her back.

Yeonwoo, without eating, went to a corner of the set to think and then made a phone call.

The call connected almost immediately.

"Hey, it's Yeonwoo."

A voice that sounded like he was fumbling with something.

"Are you busy, teacher?"

"No, ahem, I was having some jjamppong with Mr. Kim."

Chul-min, clearing his throat, as if the jjamppong broth was spicy.

The person who always gave Yeonwoo the most support in times like these.

Yeonwoo explained her current situation in detail to Chul-min.

After listening to her, Chul-min, forgetting about his jjamppong, thought deeply.

After a long silence, Chul-min spoke.

"Yeonwoo."

"Yes, teacher."

"Do you remember the day you first came to see me?"

"With my father? Oh, the day I came alone for the acting test?"

"Yes, that day. When I tested you with various roles, your acting wasn't as refined as it is now, but it was raw and without a script."

Yeonwoo listened quietly.

"That day, when I mentioned a wild third-generation tycoon, you played that role, and when I mentioned a limping retired soldier, you played that role."

"Right, that's true."

Chul-min's voice continued from the other end of the line.

"At that moment, I was convinced you were a genius. You seemed to embody the characters as if you were possessed by them. There was a sense of... urgency."

Yeonwoo, upon hearing Chul-min's last words, felt as if she had been struck by something.

The life of Ryu Yeonwoo, which had become so familiar.

The family she now truly considered her own.

Friends she was worried about adapting to school.

The actors and staff she had truly connected with.

Manager Min-soo, stylist Yeeun, and the many people around her.

The identity of Jeon Su-hwan and the memories of her past life, which had gradually become distant.

Yeonwoo was happy with her current life, but her past life was also a part of her, precious memories.

A spy trained to infiltrate anywhere.

A field agent trained to handle any situation.

"Teacher, I really can't do this without you. You're the best."

"Uh, uh, hahaha. It seems I was able to help. I'm glad, Yeonwoo."

"I'll visit you as soon as I get to Daejeon."

Yeonwoo said goodbye to Min-chul and hung up.

With a determined look, Yeonwoo ran to Manager Min-soo.

"Min-soo, please, I need your help. It's really important."

The staff, having finished lunch, were returning to their positions, checking equipment, and preparing for the afternoon shoot.

Min-soo, drenched in sweat, rushed into the studio.

"Phew, phew. I got it."

He had run at full speed and was panting heavily.

Yeonwoo, taking the item Min-soo had brought, put it in her pocket and grabbed his hand with both of hers.

"Min-soo, thank you so much. You're the best manager!"

Min-soo, despite being out of breath, smiled automatically.

He gave her a thumbs up.

Yeonwoo, also giving a thumbs up, looked around the set.

She walked confidently to the center of the set and shouted loudly.

"I'll do better in the afternoon! Please bear with me!"

The staff, who were checking equipment, stopped and looked at Yeonwoo.

They then smiled and responded.

"Go, our lead actor!"

"Pierre Choi, let's go!"

The chaotic set after lunch was quickly organized, and the filming resumed.

"Scene 34. Action."

With the director's command, the filming began.

Yeonwoo, looking at the monitor, gave herself a mental suggestion.

'I am Pierre Choi. The person who shows the duality of a con man and a big shot, Condor and Ronegan.'

Yeonwoo's eyes changed, and she looked at Ma Seok-do, who was sitting next to her, watching the screen.