Chapter 9

Yui: Why? Why are you doing this?

Joon-gi: What, why what?!

Jong-soon: ...Poison.]

Upon hearing this, Yui slowly blinked.

"What... What do you mean, Grandma?"

"Call 119 right away."

Yui looked at Jong-soon with a puzzled expression, then turned to So-hee.

So, So-hee-ssi ate poison?

Why?

"Hurry up!"

Yui snapped out of it and started to move, as if his frozen body had finally thawed.

Right, I need to call, call 119...

【...Yui, I'm detecting someone nearby.】

'Huh?'

Yui closed his eyes tightly and then opened them again. The blurry scene gradually came into focus.

【The subject is approaching.】

...Are you my navigation?

Before Yui could voice his complaint, someone really spoke to him. It wasn't a typical greeting, like calling his name.

"Oh...! Convenience store!"

"...?"

Yui turned his head, blinked for a moment, and then let out an "Ah." It was the customer who had started a fight with a drunk at the convenience store earlier.

"Nice to meet you. Are you a student at Wolmyeong University?"

In response to Yui's question, the man in the cap rolled his eyes.

"No. I'm... not a student! I came to see someone I know."

Then he smiled, his large eyes forming half-moons. The moment Yui saw those eyes, a thought flashed through his mind.

'...Is he a celebrity?'

Now that he noticed, there was something different about him, considering his face size and slender build.

There were a few celebrities in the acting department at Wolmyeong University besides Ji-eunho. Han Yui remembered how Kim Jin-woo used to get excited whenever he ran into celebrities by chance.

Han Yui wasn't particularly interested in such things. After all, actors and idols were just jobs, weren't they?

Besides, since he wasn't working but studying, he didn't want to make a fuss.

【You will be like that soon, Yui.】

Yui shook his head, ignoring Bwin again.

"Okay."

As Yui bowed to leave, the man looked at him with a surprised expression.

Soon, he chuckled and bowed, saying, "Goodbye."

'What's he so happy about?'

Yui shrugged and got into the elevator.

Now he had to prepare for tomorrow's film shoot.

*

At the same time Yui was at the rooftop cafe, Lee Hae-jin, who had just finished her final exams, was lying on her bed, glued to her phone.

To be precise, she was deeply engrossed in BlueChat. She posted a random thought on BlueChat with a blank look.

I'm not doing anything, but I want to do nothing even more intensely.

Because she had so many followers, her post quickly gained a lot of likes. Despite this, Hae-jin's boredom didn't go away.

"Is there anything interesting?"

For example, a play, a play, a play.

That's right.

She was still stuck in the world of plays even though the semester had ended.

With a dry face, Hae-jin scrolled through BlueChat posts.

Today, Nyo's face is crazy (photo) (photo)]

[@qmfforvjcjehfdl

Eun-ho, I love you (crying meme)]

"Is being a fan really fun...?"

But there was no one who particularly caught her interest.

However, at that moment, a face flashed through Hae-jin's mind.

-My love, my wife. Even the god of death, who drank all of your honeyed breath, could not conquer your beauty.

Reciting the lines as if handling something that could break at any moment, he gently caressed the woman's face...

"...He really acted well."

'If he were an actor, I would have already set that scene as my wallpaper...'

Hae-jin shook her head. Thinking about a regular person like this, who wasn't a celebrity, was strange. She slapped her cheek and refreshed the feed again.

Then, a post caught her eye.

Our show, vampire and boy roles on stage 😭😭😭😭😭 (photo) (photo)]

"Show...? Ah, Jung-suho."

Theater and musical fans, known as "theater-musical fans," often called their favorite actors by nicknames. Jung-suho's nickname was "Show."

"Is this a poster?"

With a blank face, Hae-jin tapped the photo and almost dropped her phone.

"...Classmate?"

Thinking she might have seen it wrong, but it was really her classmate.

The first poster showed Han Yui, a young and frail boy, crouching next to Jung-suho, who was dressed as a vampire.

In the second poster, Han Yui had a completely different look. He had pale skin and a curled red lip, staring intensely at the camera. This time, Jung-suho was sitting next to him, wearing a gray hoodie and jeans with a melancholic expression.

"Unbelievable."

Hae-jin covered her mouth.

'Why are you in this?'

Just a few days ago, he was sitting in the same lecture as her...

Despite this, she wanted to put these posters up in her room.

After that, Hae-jin started collecting information like dust, her eyes blazing.

'He's making a movie... and doing a play? Really?'

It seemed that Han Yui, a Korean literature student at Myeongwol University, was trying to become an actor.

'If this is true, he's really making his debut...?'

Hae-jin's heart started beating faster, and the corners of her mouth rose uncontrollably.

'Now I can be a fan...!'

From then on, she started sharing related articles and photos as if in a trance.

Hae-jin created a new account for fangirling around this time.

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For the Last Food Spot (3)

After finishing and cleaning up his lunch, Yui stretched. The clear sky filled his view.

'...Ah, it's good.'

The weather and his mood were both at their best.

Since today's shoot was in a place far from Seoul, the actors were scheduled to start filming after lunch at the location.

"Did everyone eat well?"

In response to the staff's question, Yui nodded with a smile.

"Yes, I ate well."

"I'm sorry we couldn't provide better. By the way, you must come to the wrap party later! The director said he'll treat us generously."

The staff spoke quickly, adding that it wasn't an everyday opportunity.

"Oh, what an honor~"

"That's right, the director cares so much about us!"

Seeing the actors joking and laughing with bright faces, Yui thought to himself.

'Everyone seems to be in a good mood.'

【Good conditions for filming.】

Bwin replied stiffly.

Though he didn't want to admit it, it was true. There was nothing more important than being in good condition when acting.

After chatting and digesting, the actors started preparing for the shoot.

"Alright, let's get ready. Sound!"

"Speed."

"Roll."

"38, 1, 1!"

As the slate clapped, Yoo Jae-ho shouted loudly.

"Action!"

They were eating at a rest area.

Why are they eating at a rest area?

It was because this rest area was the food spot that Joon-gi insisted on.

So-hee stirred her udon with a displeased look. It was clear she didn't like it.

"Who eats rest area food these days? Do they think we're from the old days?"

"Hey~ It's delicious. Don't be so picky, okay?"

In response to Joon-gi, So-hee glared at him and took a spoonful of broth. But before she could swallow it, she started coughing.

"...Ugh, what? The taste is so strange~?"

"It's delicious."

"I'm fine with it."

"...Really? What about Grandma? Is Grandma fine with it?"

So-hee looked at Jongsun, who had ordered the same fried udon.

"I can eat it."

Seeing that Jongsun didn't give the answer she expected, So-hee's face fell.

"What? Am I the only one? Is that it?"

"Big sister, even if it's not good, force yourself to eat. Don't collapse later."

While So-hee grudgingly moved her spoon, Joon-gi hurriedly ate his food.

"...Cut! Good. Let's move on to the next take."

Director Yoo Jae-ho nodded and, after shooting the same scene from multiple angles, moved on to the next scene.

The next scene was number 39.

'Right, the next scene was short.'

As Yui thought about the script, Bwin spoke up as if waiting for the opportunity.

【That's right. It will be over soon.】

'No interruptions mode.'

【...】

Scene 39.

So-hee says she's going to the bathroom, and Yui and Joon-gi buy and eat ice cream.

It was a simple scene.

However, contrary to everyone's expectation that it would be over quickly, the take kept getting longer.

It was all because of Min So-hee.

– Bathroom... Ah, this isn't the first thing. I'm sorry.

– Don't worry, the bathroom... No, no. I'm sorry!

– Don't worry, I'm going to the bathroom... Oh, I'm really sorry. Why am I getting confused...

At first, Director Yoo Jae-ho was smiling, but as the takes increased, his expression faded.

As the takes increased, Min So-hee's face became paler.

"...I'm really sorry."

"It's okay. Let's move on to the next take quickly!"

Park Joon-gi and Lee Jongsun also looked at her with pity, but there was nothing they could do.

【He's fallen into a 'quagmire.'】

'Quagmire?'

【Sometimes actors get their lines tangled up like this.】

Han Yui fell into deep thought.

A few seconds later, he called out to Bwin.

'...Bwin.'

【Yes, Yui.】

'What if we try this method?'

Bwin, who had read Han Yui's thoughts, remained silent for a few seconds before speaking.

【It's a good idea. Director Yoo Jae-ho is known for his good tolerance, so we can try it.】

With Bwin's voice in his head, Han Yui slowly stood up.

Immediately, the actors and staff turned their attention to him.

"Director."

Approaching Yoo Jae-ho, Yui spoke cautiously.

"What if I add a line before my part?"

"Huh?"

Yoo Jae-ho frowned and looked at Yui.

"Add a line?"

'...Let's hear him out.'

As Yoo Jae-ho slowly nodded, Han Yui pointed to the script.

After eating, the group moves around in their own ways to digest.

Among them, So-hee's expression is not good.

So-hee stands up suddenly.

Yui and Jongsun, who were drinking their drinks, look at So-hee.

So-hee: ...Don't worry. I'm not going to throw up. I'm just going to the bathroom for a moment?]

"Here, what if I ask, 'Why, are you going to throw up again?' as soon as So-hee-ssi stands up? I think it would be easier if there's a line exchange between us."

"..."

Tap, tap, tap.

After a few seconds of tapping his chin, Yoo Jae-ho slowly nodded.

"Not bad. Good. Let's try it. Is it okay with you, So-hee?"

"Yes, of course. It will be easier if you ask that first."

Min So-hee, who had looked like she was about to wither, answered brightly as if she had found a clear spring.

"Thank you, Yui-ssi."

"No, let's try it out."

Director Yoo Jae-ho narrowed his eyes as he watched Han Yui and Min So-hee practice the lines.

'...Not bad.'

He was a bit surprised. It wasn't just the content of the suggestion, but the boldness of it.

It wasn't easy to make such a suggestion to a director on his first film set.

'Let's see... let's see how it goes.'

He had to see for himself if Han Yui's suggestion was really useful.

"Let's do it again~"

The red light on the camera turned on.

"39, 1, 9!"

As the slate clapped, Yoo Jae-ho took a deep breath.

"Action!"

And they were back to being the group that met in the suicide community.

So-hee, who had been holding her stomach with a pale and uncomfortable look, stood up suddenly.

Yui, who had been watching her while drinking banana milk, spoke.

"Why, are you going to throw up again?"

A rough and strangely irritating tone, but not quite confrontational.

A line that only Yui in the play could say.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to throw up."

Yui shrugged, as if to say, "You'll figure it out."

Seeing this, So-hee started to get angry. She bit her lip slightly and said,

"I'm just going to the bathroom for a moment?"

"Who said anything?"

So-hee glared at Yui briefly and then walked away, her steps filled with anger.

Yui took a sip of banana milk without looking at her.

The lighting crew couldn't take their eyes off the scene.

It was a scene they had read in the script.

But now, a scene that went beyond the script was unfolding before his eyes.

"Cut!"

Yoo Jae-ho called out with a bright face. As soon as the cut was called, Han Yui lowered his eyebrows.

"...I'm sorry. I responded to the line without thinking, Director."

"No, no. It's good. We'll use it as is."

Yoo Jae-ho, looking excited, continued,

"Ah, that was really good just now. So-hee, you could do it like that!"

"...Thank you."

Min So-hee clenched her fists. Her heart was still racing.

It was partly because of the anger left over from Yui's response to her line just now.

"You did really well, senior."

Hearing Han Yui's words, Min So-hee smiled faintly. She looked at Yui with moist eyes and called his name softly.

"Yui-ssi."

"Yes?"

"...No, never mind."

Min So-hee's frown deepened slightly.

"Let's take a break."

At Director Yoo Jae-ho's words, the assistant director nodded and called out.