Chapter 63

63. Director's Intent

"Hey, where are you looking as you pass by?"

"..."

The neighborhood troublemakers, who didn't like Jin Seojin's (U Jinhyuk) stiff demeanor, started to pick a fight with him.

Seojin, who remained silent, stared at them intently.

"Huh. Look at this guy? Does he think this is a joke-!"

The troublemakers' lines, adhering to the broadcasting standards, were so clean that not a single curse word was mixed in, but—

Whoosh!

A fist flew sharply at Seojin (Jinhyuk).

Whoosh!

Seojin dodged it with a light weave.

This was the beginning of a serious scene. It wasn't just clumsy, big movements or a showy protagonist's evasion.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The stuntman, playing the troublemaker, delivered a series of quick and precise punches, which Jinhyuk dodged with movements that evoked the genius boxer Mayweather's weaving.

The punches came so fast that even with the choreographed situation, it would have been difficult without Jinhyuk's incredible reflexes.

Thud!

After dodging about five or six times, Seojin (Jinhyuk) counterattacked, and the troublemaker stumbled back.

The other troublemakers, who had been watching the fight, stood up. The number of troublemakers, originally planned to be five, had increased to eight due to the directors' whims.

Like a noir film, the rough-looking troublemakers silently charged at Jinhyuk one by one.

Whoosh!

Thud!

Crack!

Whoosh!

The complex movements of nine people intertwined, and the screen was filled with a dazzling fight scene that had transformed the genre of the drama.

The internet forums were in an uproar.

– Do high school troublemakers have a school? They fight so well.

– Then what about Jin Seojin?

– The return of the Heavenly Horse

– What the heck! Why did the drama genre suddenly change?

– I don't care about the genre. It's just super cool.

– What's with this unnecessary high-quality action? It doesn't fit, but the action is really good.

– Is that really Jinhyuk? I can't tell in the fast parts. It looks like they used a stunt double.

"Ugh."

Jin Seojin (U Jinhyuk), outnumbered, was gradually being overwhelmed. After a few more hits—

Thud!

Jung Doa (Min Seoyeon) entered the fray, sending one of the troublemakers flying.

"What? This girl!"

"Hey! Who are you?"

"Me? A friend."

"What?"

"A friend of his."

"Huh. What...?"

The ensuing 2-on-8 action scene was spectacular.

Jung Doa (Min Seoyeon), in a slim tracksuit, seemed determined to change the genre of the drama, attacking with lightning speed, like an assassin on the battlefield.

Whoosh—

Every time Seoyeon's short hair waved like a wave,

"Ugh!"

The troublemakers were knocked down.

They tried to get up and attack again, but Jin Seojin (U Jinhyuk) was regaining his strength, and the troublemakers were starting to be on the defensive.

– Oh my heart. Seoyeon! I'm dying!

– She's just like Black Shadow from the Warriors series.

– Wow! I thought the same thing!

– Heavenly Horse and Black Shadow. It's like a whole universe.

– Doa is so cool♡

– ♡♡

– That's definitely Min Seoyeon, right?

– It seems to be her. She doesn't look awkward in the scenes where her face is clearly visible.

– It's clear. The PD's next work will be an action drama.

"Ugh."

The troublemakers, who had been scattered around, slowly got up.

Realizing they couldn't stand up to the combination of Jinhyuk and Seoyeon, the neighborhood troublemakers started to back away, making empty threats as they fled.

Jung Doa (Min Seoyeon) looked at them with disdain.

"Tch. Stupid guys."

The glasses that had fallen from Doa's face were shown. Doa (Seoyeon) picked up the glasses and handed them to Seojin (Jinhyuk).

"Here, your glasses. Luckily, they didn't break."

"… Thanks."

Seojin (Jinhyuk), who had been wearing glasses since his first appearance, was finally shown without them.

A close-up of Doa (Seoyeon) looking at Seojin (Jinhyuk).

His slightly messy hair and clothes, which added a rough charm.

It was a shot that made Jinhyuk's fans' hearts flutter.

"If you're grateful, buy me a drink."

As Doa (Seoyeon)'s still flushed face from the fight filled the frame, her short hair was blown by the wind.

A slightly tilted, charming smile from Doa (Seoyeon).

Since the drama began, the rebellious Jung Doa had rarely shown a smile, making this one even more charming.

Under the dim streetlights in the park, the young leaves rustled in the spring breeze, and cherry blossoms fluttered in the background.

The two, standing face to face, were captured in a full shot.

Even though they did nothing, it was a poetic scene that tickled the viewers' hearts.

***

Jin Seojin (U Jinhyuk) came out of the convenience store and handed a drink to Jung Doa (Min Seoyeon), who was sitting at a table.

"Thanks."

Jung Doa took the drink.

This was after a few brief encounters between Jin Seojin and Jung Doa in the school.

The perfect model student Jin Seojin (Jinhyuk) and the rebellious Jung Doa (Seoyeon) seemed to feel something similar about each other.

"I knew from the beginning. You're not really a model student."

"..."

"Even if you try to hide it with glasses. That look in your eyes. You're definitely in our class."

Jin Seojin drank the drink silently. Doa (Seoyeon), who had been staring at him, asked casually.

"Can I ask about the glasses?"

"..."

"Why do you wear them if you don't need them?"

Seojin (Jinhyuk) put down the drink he was holding and looked at her.

"Well, it doesn't seem like you wear them for fashion. I was just curious. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"..."

Jung Doa (Min Seoyeon) took a sip of the drink, avoiding Jin Seojin's (U Jinhyuk) gaze.

"It's because of my brother."

"Huh?"

"My brother used to wear glasses."

"What? You're not a kid, and you're wearing glasses because of your brother?"

"I really liked my brother."

Jung Doa thought for a moment and said,

"Oh, right. When I was young, I wanted to wear glasses like my older sister or brother. So, you've been wearing them since you were young because of your brother?"

"..."

"Hey, you're really something. Now that you're older, shouldn't you move on from the 'big brother' phase?"

Jung Doa (Seoyeon) joked, but Jin Seojin (Jinhyuk) looked even more serious, so she quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Not that I'm criticizing your taste. Just..."

"..."

"To be honest, I think you look better without the glasses."

Jung Doa, looking a bit embarrassed, turned her gaze away.

"Sorry. I'm being nosy."

"If you call it nosy."

"?"

"From the moment I joined the fight."

A slight smile appeared on Jin Seojin's lips. A similar smile appeared on Doa (Seoyeon)'s face as she looked at him.

This sparked the second war on the internet forums.

Fans who supported the U Jinhyuk and An Yena couple were upset.

– Ah... What is this? Mr. Writer, was this really the best choice? Suddenly Jung Doa?

– It's not out of the blue. How many times have you hinted that Doa and Seojin are strangely similar?

– Cheers! Jin Seojin♡Jung Doa

Min Seoyeon's fans welcomed the chemistry between Jinhyuk and Seoyeon with open arms.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Fans who had been cheering for the 'Eunhyuk' couple (Yoon Euijun and An Yena) started to support the Jin Seojin (U Jinhyuk) and Jung Doa (Min Seoyeon) couple.

– Strong♡Kim Arin, Jin Seojin♡Jung Doa, both couples fit so well~

While there was some debate about whether Jin Seojin and Jung Doa's interaction was the start of a romance or just a simple friendship based on a sense of kinship, the prevailing opinion was that the PD's poetic direction suggested more than just friendship.

– Isn't there still something uncertain about Jin Seojin and Jung Doa? It's too early to call them a couple.

– Didn't you feel something when they looked at each other? The director's intent was clear.

– Right, right. That feeling can't just be friendship.

The opinion that the PD's poetic direction wouldn't hint at just a simple friendship was dominant.

With Min Seoyeon joining the battle, the internet forums were filled with comments from fans supporting their respective couples.

***

"Director, have you seen High School 2?"

"Yes, I've seen it. I watched it."

In the KBC Drama Department Director's office, a large TV screen in front of the director's desk was playing the episode of High School 2 that aired yesterday.

"Of course. It's our KBC's current hit drama. I watched it live."

"When I came back from the business trip, it was a mess."

"It was a mess."

The chief, picking up a prepared coffee cup, smiled.

"It's a mess at my house too. My wife and daughter are huge fans."

"Is it the same at your house? Hehe. Every house is the same. It's the same at my house too."

At that moment, the controversial action scene appeared on the screen. The chief smiled and said,

"Haha. That scene. That was a mess too. PD Jung Dooil is more interesting than I thought. I want to ask him what he was thinking when he put that high-quality action scene in."

The face of the seasoned drama producer, who had been a star PD, showed a bewildered smile.

"I'm curious too. Wow, what is that? Is there really some intention behind it?"

"Exactly."

The director, who had taken a sip of coffee, said,

"But, that guy, U Jinhyuk."

"Yes, that guy is very hot these days."

"Doesn't seem like he's using a stunt double, though?"

The chief nodded.

"U Jinhyuk and Min Seoyeon, I heard they did it without a stunt double. Impressive, right?"

"Very impressive. He's 18, and he's a real find. Or are there two?"

The director, who had been watching the screen without taking his eyes off it, muttered to himself when Jinhyuk's face was shown in a close-up.

"Ah, good... Really good."

***

Tuesday and Wednesday. After the broadcast of High School 2, PD Jung Dooil's mouth was always wide open.

– High School 2's fight scene: Excessive action or intentional direction?

– High School 2's complicated love lines: Are Jin Seojin and Jung Doa developing subtle feelings?

The more entertainment news and fan comments flooded in, the higher the ratings soared.

"Hehehe."

"Is it that good?"

"Of course, isn't it? I'm so full these days, I don't even need to eat."

"Of course, I'm happy too."

Writer Han Yookyoung smiled. PD Jung Dooil's cheeks were about to