Chapter 98

98

I just met Han Chae-ri, and I thought about telling her that my ex-girlfriend was worried about you... but I gave up when I saw that self-proclaimed Yu Mi-sae Joo Sung was not only fine but also looked healthy.

As I turned off my phone, the system window started talking to me.

[Why are you like that?]

"...No, just."

I was about to cut off the thoughts that were about to continue and move on, when the system window, which had been silent for a moment, suddenly appeared.

[So, how do you feel?]

"Huh?"

[The treatment is clearly different from when you were with PD.]

I looked at the flickering text in the blue system window... and let out a chuckle.

'You’re really testing me.'

Lately, I feel like I’m playing a cat-and-mouse game with the system window.

It’s clear that something is being revealed because of Min Ji-hun, but it’s still not clear what the system window is seeing and reacting to so sensitively.

Right now, it’s evaluating the 'PD' era negatively and emphasizing the unreasonable favor I’m receiving.

'Should I throw out a bait?'

I carefully chose my words as I watched its reaction.

"...If it were in the old days, I would have just been cursed on the internet and that would have been it."

I avoided saying things like "always grateful" or "I want to stay here because it’s a fresh experience" because they would be too obvious.

"Isn’t it a bit new?"

[Hey.]

The system window suddenly appeared.

[No intention to test]

"Oh..."

I maintained a smile on my lips and looked at the flickering blue window. The system window typed out the words as if it were annoyed.

[Your thoughts are sooo clear, no matter what you say or what bait you throw, I won’t answer from now on.]

"But you just tested me. You’re really a hypocrite."

[…I didn’t!]

"What are you talking about?"

I sneered. A moment later, the words from the system window and my words overlapped.

[But I’m different]

"Are you saying you’re different? Like a frog’s work line?"

[Aaaaaaah]

[Annoying]

[Whatever sg]

And the system window disappeared. Indeed, it’s a guy with a solid impact.

I was convinced. The system window wasn’t lying just now.

I threw away the empty can in the trash and headed towards the drama set, organizing my thoughts.

'The words that say they care about me are likely true.'

It’s mischievous and the penalties are severe, but ultimately the quests proceed in a direction that benefits me, and it’s sensitive to others’ evaluations. Well, sometimes I ignore it because I don’t like the forced nature, but anyway.

So, what’s left is...

As I entered the set, Min Ji-hun, who was checking the script, suddenly lifted his head and called out to me.

"Ah, Seo Ho-yun."

"Yes, Min Ji-hun senior."

'Then, it’s important to identify the lies, not the truth.'

There’s no need to go far. Just punch this guy in front of me. He knows my current situation the best.

"Our first shoot. I’ve been looking forward to it. Please do your best."

"I’m not that great."

"Haha, still prickly today?"

Min Ji-hun closed the script and laughed. I maintained a proper distance and looked at his wrist.

Hmm, good. He’s not wearing a bracelet.

Min Ji-hun followed my gaze and snickered.

"Bro, are you scared?"

"..."

'Really, I just want to punch him once.'

But thoughts are thoughts, and actions are actions.

Still, I’ve had enough friction on the set to maintain a poker face for Min Ji-hun’s level of provocation. I was about to ignore him and pass by, but I stopped for a moment.

There’s no one around.

"...Hey."

Waiting for him to answer without doing anything doesn’t suit my temperament.

I turned around and approached Min Ji-hun, who was unfolding the script again.

"What’s your plan?"

In such cases, a direct approach is the answer.

"Huh?"

"Are you helping me or trying to hinder me? Why are you going around in circles instead of just telling me? Why are you so interested in me in the first place?"

"...Oh, haha. Are we starting a sincere conversation? Let’s do it."

Min Ji-hun laughed awkwardly and turned his gaze to the set, where the staff were busy moving around, propping his chin with one hand.

"Do you think people can change?"

"...What?"

"I don’t think so."

'What a TV show.'

Min Ji-hun flipped through the script and slammed it shut.

"I believe people are fundamentally selfish. And I also believe people can’t be rewritten."

"It’s my mistake for asking you. I’m leaving."

Talking to him always feels like wandering in a fog. As I clicked my tongue and was about to leave, Min Ji-hun turned his head. His eyes weren’t on me but on something beyond me.

'...Behind?'

The thought made the hair on my arms stand up.

"But looking at you... someone bet everything on the idea that people can change. That’s why I was curious at first. Whether you had that much value."

"..."

"Of course, now, not just me, but many people like you. But I’m still curious."

Min Ji-hun lowered his eyelids and then raised them again. His gaze was too calm compared to the words he was saying.

"Do you have that much value...?"

I stared into his eyes for a moment and ran my hand through my hair.

I could feel Min Ji-hun’s gaze stubbornly following my movement as I slowly spoke.

'What a TV show.'

"..."

Ah...

Good.

It feels good to say it out loud instead of just thinking it. I smiled kindly at Min Ji-hun, who was staring at me blankly, having lost his words.

"Let’s go to the shoot, Min Ji-hun senior."

It was a signal to shut up and get back to work.

Min Ji-hun, exasperated, put his hand on his forehead and bowed his head, then chuckled.

"You asked and... when I answer, you do this. You really treat me badly..."

"..."

"And elementary school kids don’t use that phrase anymore. Only we do, only we..."

He mumbled, "What a TV show," and walked away.

***

"Hey, this is your first shoot with Min Ji-hun."

Min Ji-hun’s character, Min Seung-tae, is a third-generation heir who loves Yoo Jung-hwa deeply in the drama.

However, because his father framed Yoo Jung-hwa’s father, causing him to die unjustly, he hates his father and tries to uncover the truth behind all the events, but he can’t act easily for fear of being rejected by Yoo Jung-hwa.

On the other hand, Yoo Jung-hwa, played by Yoo Ji-a, is unaware of these facts and joins the broadcasting company to become a PD who makes 'fair broadcasts' like her righteous father, but ends up in the variety department by chance.

"Here, it’s a scene where they get to know each other lightly, but I’d like you to act with care."

"Yes."

The first scene where I would be acting with Min Ji-hun was not the first meeting between the protagonist and PD Lee Jung-hoon.

It was around the third episode, where PD Lee Jung-hoon realizes the past connections between the characters and tests Min Ji-hun.

The director pointed to the script.

"Since this scene reveals a lot about the character of Lee Jung-hoon, he notices the clues to the events and subtly mocks Min Ji-hun, but he’s not a character who would reveal it himself."

Well, that’s me.

Min Ji-hun also acknowledged it.

"Yes, that’s the kind of person he is."

I admit I’m worn out too.

"He’s a character who has faced the harsh realities of society head-on. Sometimes he’s so rude that I want to grab him by the collar and shake him!"

"..."

But that’s a bit unpleasant to hear?

I scanned the script again and entered the area where the camera was set up. Min Ji-hun, who was already standing there, was getting a final check from the makeup artist, and he held a script as worn out as mine.

'Acting with Min Ji-hun.'

I was a bit nervous.

'I’m bound to be overshadowed.'

Yoo Ji-a is one thing, but Min Ji-hun, in particular, is the type who draws out the energy of the person he’s acting with. He not only dominates the other person but also has the power to shift the atmosphere in his favor.

"Please do your best."

I took a deep breath and greeted him, and Min Ji-hun turned his eyes to me.

"I’m excited... to act with you."

"...Min Ji-hun, I’m also very excited."

"Ahaha."

We couldn’t openly mock each other in front of the camera, so I played along, and Min Ji-hun smiled and did a final check of the script. We adjusted our movements and waited for the slate... when Min Ji-hun suddenly leaned in.

"Seo Ho-yun."

At least in front of the camera, he uses the proper form of address. It might just be my imagination, but... since everyone calls me Min Da-jeong, it seems 100% like that, but... Min Ji-hun’s attention (I call it Min Gro) is not a one-time thing. He looked at me calmly, and Min Ji-hun slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Do you want to do something fun?"

"What?"

"I’m curious about Seo Ho-yun, what you were like originally, what kind of person you are."

"Ready, action!"

Before I could ask what he meant, the slate was hit and the action call was made.

'...What now?'

No, let’s focus first. I stood outside the camera angle and looked at Min Ji-hun.

Min Seung-tae, who had just finished a call with his father on the rooftop, cursed in frustration.

I had already been on the rooftop, fiddling with a cigarette pack at the edge, and I glanced at Min Seung-tae.

The camera zoomed in on me. Min Seung-tae, who had just noticed me, was startled at first but then smiled and greeted me.

"Hello."

"Yeees."

I deliberately elongated the word and tilted my head. With a scrutinizing gaze, Min Seung-tae, who had heard about Lee Jung-hoon from Yoo Jung-hwa, frowned slightly and then quickly resumed his habitual smile.

"You’re here. I saw you here last time too. Do you come up here often?"

"Yeees, something like that."

I answered casually, but Min Seung-tae’s gaze continued to follow me persistently, as if trying to determine whether I had overheard his call. I stared at him and asked.

"Son of Sung-ho Industrial?"

"..."

"Wow, a prestigious conglomerate. Which one are you? The second son?"

At my words, the smile on Min Seung-tae’s face quickly disappeared. His mask crumbled.

I tapped the rooftop railing with the cigarette pack and added in a matter-of-fact tone, but I couldn’t help the sarcastic tone.

"Your childhood friend still doesn’t know... If you have any inside information, let me know in advance. What’s the point of being seniors and juniors, right?"

I chuckled, put the cigarette pack in my jacket, and tried to pass by Min Seung-tae. My part in this scene was over, and the next part was a close-up of Min Seung-tae’s flustered face.

But as I was about to pass by, Min Seung-tae’s eyes flashed ominously.

'What is it?'

Min Seung-tae’s arm blocked my path. His gaze, trembling with anxiety about his childhood friend finding out his secret, also contained a cold smile, determined to eliminate any uncertainty.

"Are you going to tell?"

"...What?"

"Lee Jung-hoon. Our PD."

Min Seung-tae not only blocked my path but also took a step forward, smirking. His shadow fell on my face.

His eyes were menacing.

"Are you going to tell my sister?"

This lunatic...

"Do you want to do something fun?"

He improvised.