Chapter 21

Villain Only 021

Where's the next episode? (1)

- Didn't ask if he was alive.

The moment the scene ended, Jeong Soo-yeon almost screamed inside.

The other staff members felt the same, only to varying degrees.

They all shared a common thought.

'In the end, they decided to bring Lee Jin-wook back to life.'

'Wasn't it supposed to be more service time with flashback scenes?'

'This is too much of a stretch. Suddenly changing direction like this...'

'It's a melodrama.'

Kim Sang-hee was famous for spontaneously increasing or decreasing the weight of roles and even changing the direction of the story.

But this time, it was too much.

No matter what, bringing someone back to life after killing them once was too much.

Jeong Soo-yeon glanced at the PD.

Song Jeong-woo was smiling more satisfactorily than ever, and Kim Sang-hee was brimming with pride.

Cha Do-jin, who had returned to his seat after finishing his acting, also looked satisfied.

Yoo Jeong-a looked a bit surprised but remained calm, and veteran actor Lee Min-soo nodded as if he had realized something, saying, "Of course."

'Ah!'

A light bulb went off in Jeong Soo-yeon's head.

'It was a fake!'

The story wasn't changed because of the audience's reaction to episodes 1 and 2.

The story was changed because...

'It was from the moment Seo Hoon auditioned.'

Realizing the truth, Jeong Soo-yeon felt relieved.

***

"Alright, as you can see, our Lee Jin-wook is not dead. So everyone, please relax and avoid any leaks until the broadcast."

Song Jeong-woo clapped his hands to wrap up the filming.

The staff, who had been slightly stunned, regained their composure and started tidying up the set.

Jeong Soo-yeon approached Song Jeong-woo, who was talking to assistant director Kim Hyun-tae.

"Where are we with Episode 7?"

"About 40% complete. All the parts without Lee Jin-wook."

"What about the editing for Episode 4?"

"It's all done. We just need to add the additional scenes we shot today. It'll be quick, depending on how fast the PD does the pre-editing."

"Episode 4 airs the day after tomorrow, right? I'll have to finish it today, then."

Jeong Soo-yeon, who had quietly joined the conversation, smiled at Song Jeong-woo.

"PD, you're really evil."

"What do you mean?"

"You've been filming only flashback scenes with Lee Jin-wook to make it look like he's really dead, and now you're suddenly shooting the twist scenes two days before Episode 4 airs."

"Don't you know that to deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies? Last time, the ambitious twist in the drama was leaked to the internet because the staff told their families."

They were originally supposed to finish filming Episode 6 today.

When Jeong Seo-hoon arrived on set, the staff thought they would add flashback scenes to Episode 6.

But Song Jeong-woo decided to shoot additional scenes for Episode 4, which airs in two days.

The scene where the still-alive Lee Jin-wook visits lawyer Goo Je-man again.

"Just two more days, so please don't leak it this time."

"I've never leaked anything."

"I believe you, Jeong Soo-yeon. But I can't trust the staff, including you. That's what being a PD is like."

"..."

"Let's just hold on for 48 hours."

***

As Jeong Seo-hoon was packing up, Yoo Jeong-a approached him.

"The person I was chasing was you all along."

"That's how it turned out."

"I had a feeling. I thought you wouldn't die in Episode 2."

"Why did you think that?"

"Your early image was too strong for a character who only appears in the first two episodes."

"Just because of that?"

"Also, I didn't think writer Kim Sang-hee would get rid of a mask like yours in just two episodes."

"What's so special about my mask?"

"You're handsome. You're at a top level among actors."

"Is that so?"

"Are you pretending not to know? Is it a concept, or are you serious?"

Jeong Seo-hoon unconsciously touched his face.

He had never heard that he was ugly when he was young.

But...

"I've heard a lot from my mother. But isn't it the same in other families?"

"Ha ha!"

Suddenly, Yoo Jeong-a covered her mouth and burst into a small laugh.

She lightly tapped Jeong Seo-hoon's shoulder with her small, white fist, trying to suppress her laughter.

"You act well."

"Was it good? I'm glad."

"No, not that. Now."

At that moment, Yoo Jeong-a's manager quickly approached and pulled her away, and she gave a sly smile.

"Run well. I'll definitely catch you."

"Line 52 of Episode 5."

"Do you memorize everything? It's a monologue, and you're not even in it."

"I memorize the script as soon as it comes out."

Yoo Jeong-a, surprised, looked at him again and nodded.

"It's worth chasing."

"That's not a line."

Her character, Hwang Seon-hye, is a prosecutor who, like Goo Je-man, is chasing Lee Jin-wook but for different reasons.

***

"You didn't die in Episode 2? You were the main villain? Mom, wow! Wow!"

The soldier's keen eye saw through Jeong Soo-yeon's intentional fuss.

Her acting skills were terrible.

As a sibling, her brother thought.

'That's why she couldn't even pass an extra audition and gave up on being an actor.'

"It's all over! It's all over now!"

"What's over?"

"The mood is right for Episode 4 to air, right? Then the game will change. The bunnies who left home will come back in droves, begging to be accepted."

"Why is that over?"

"Your acting career! Now it's smooth sailing, no more tears-soaked bread! It's all over!"

"Tears-soaked bread? When did you eat that?"

"Tch. A famous PD started with 'Please just audition once,' so he probably doesn't even know what tears-soaked bread is. Unlucky guy."

Although she said that, Jeong Soo-yeon was thinking hard.

'Main villain, a lead disguised as a supporting role. Writer Kim is good at script games, so there's no problem, and the ratings are number one.'

When it's revealed that Lee Jin-wook is alive and not a victim but the main villain, the audience's reaction will explode in a different way.

'At this point, isn't it okay to change my career to acting? No, it's not just okay; it's a must!'

The path to stardom, which others strive for with all kinds of humiliation, was now brightly open.

'If I just keep up the potential, I'm guaranteed to be a top-tier actor.'

Jeong Soo-yeon felt as if a golden rope had been lowered to her, making her heart tingle.

Jeong Soo-yeon, who had been watching for a reaction, asked in a low voice.

"Are you going to keep acting?"

"Why?"

"Not only is the reaction amazing now, but if this continues, you'll get at least 20 million won per episode for your next project. It would be a waste to quit."

"You have to graduate. There's only one semester left."

"Ah... ..."

Her expression, as if the world had collapsed, was amusing.

"You used to say to get out of the trap after taking the cheese."

"The whole cheese factory is rolling in. Are you going to turn it down?"

"I don't know. What should I do?"

Jeong Seo-hoon pretended to think, and Jeong Soo-yeon's heart burned even more.

"Episode 3 is out now. I'll think about it after seeing the reaction until the end of the series."

"To me, you have potential. You definitely have it."

Jeong Seo-hoon hid his emotions with a faint smile.

Right now, he is more sincere about acting than anyone else.

The place where only the camera can see, filled with dear people.

He hid his thirst, pretending to be calm.

***

Oh So-hee and Kim Da-hye waited for the broadcast of Episode 4 of Illegals with gloomy expressions.

Above the TV hung a framed autograph from Jeong Seo-hoon.

A precious autograph she had received at the production crew's dinner party on the day the first episode aired.

"Kim Sang-hee. Bad woman."

"Song Jeong-woo. Bad man."

"You'll get struck by lightning in your sleep. I'll make sure of it."

"How could you kill Private Jeong like that?"

"Is the story important? The character is important!"

Because of the rumor that Lee Jin-wook would appear in flashback scenes, the two friends were dragged to the TV.

They knew it was the writer's cunning plan, but this is what being a fan means.

'At least add to the ratings for the episode with Seo-hoon. That way, we can see his face for longer in the next work.'

"Hey, Episode 4 is starting."

"The ads are so long. Do you have any beer?"

"No. Go buy some."

"You go. What if Private Jeong appears while you're at the convenience store?"