Chapter 47

Villain Only 047

Why is this coming up here? (2)

According to the script, Kim Chan, the leader of the action team, harbors ill intentions towards Deputy Director Chae Ji-hyun.

Falling for her seduction, Kim Chan dreams of a glamorous life abroad with her after securing a large sum of money.

Deputy Director Chae Ji-hyun finds it unpleasant that he is attracted to her, but she pretends to accept his feelings for the success of the operation.

Kim Chan constantly plays tricks on Chae Ji-hyun, gradually building up her disgust.

Yoon Hyung-sik, a talented character actor originally cast as Kim Chan, had delivered this part with such a despicable and sly manner.

Now, Jung Seo-hoon, with a completely different appearance, is delivering the same lines.

- Miss Chae. Let’s have a drink tonight. I’ll buy. We’ll be living together soon, so how long are you going to keep pushing me away?

- Don’t you know how important this period is? Let’s do it after, when everything is over.

- Why do you keep pushing me away? It hurts. Miss Chae, are you thinking of someone else?

- No, it’s really an important period. I need to keep a clear head.

- You’re really making it hard for me. If you think I’ll like it just because you do this, you’re a bad woman. Don’t toy with my feelings.

Yoon Hyung-sik had made Deputy Director Kim Soo-jin’s irritation accumulate with his annoying and sly performance.

However, when Jung Seo-hoon delivered the same lines, the tone completely changed.

Hwang In-joon, the director, and the head of the planning team from the production company watched the scene they had just filmed, repeatedly.

“This annoying and sly feeling is completely gone. That’s what we mean when we say visuals matter.”

“I can’t really understand why Kim Soo-jin is irritated. If I were a man, I wouldn’t react this way to such advances.”

“When Yoon did it, it was just annoying, but with Jung Seo-hoon, it becomes a fatal temptation.”

Hwang In-joon stroked his chin and said,

“From the very first scene, where he set fire to a Lamborghini, it was quite intense. If we continue like this, the audience won’t accept him as an annoying and sly character.”

“Didn’t you pick Jung Seo-hoon knowing this, Director?”

“Shouldn’t we remove the scene where Kim Soo-jin gets irritated? It would be strange for her to get irritated by such a visual, even if he’s being sly.”

“It’s fine. I specifically requested it.”

“Oh, there’s a reason?”

“Yes. If you look at the revised part later, you’ll understand.”

The head of the planning team read through the blue-marked sections and nodded in understanding.

“So this is what it means. Then Kim Soo-jin’s emotional line is explained.”

“Are we going to continue with the annoying and sly concept until the middle?”

“Yes, until the middle. After that, it changes.”

The director deliberately maintained the sly and annoying concept of Kim Chan.

Although everyone thought it didn’t quite fit Jung Seo-hoon’s appearance, the on-set staff couldn’t help but burst into laughter every time he giggled in front of Chae Ji-hyun.

They had already seen Yoon Hyung-sik’s scenes where he flirted with Chae Ji-hyun, so they could feel the difference even more clearly.

“The same lines, but the feeling is completely different with a different actor.”

“If I were Kim Soo-jin, I would have fallen for it right away. How can she resist such a face?”

“Isn’t Chae Ji-hyun unusually embarrassed after the camera is off?”

“Yeah. When she acted with Yoon, she didn’t seem to mind at all after the scene. She even high-fived and encouraged him.”

“She’s really embarrassed in front of Seo-hoon.”

***

When alone with Jung Seo-hoon, Kang Byung-chul, who had been on set, subtly asked,

“Seo-hoon, does Chae Ji-hyun seem to have feelings for you?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Would someone who doesn’t like you bring medicine to apply to your face? It’s not like it’s torn or bleeding.”

“It’s just that he’s such a nice person. I saw him at a drinking party before, and he seemed naturally bright and cheerful.”

“I find it a bit suspicious. You don’t understand women’s hearts because you lack dating experience. These things are usually better seen from a third person’s perspective.”

Jung Seo-hoon recalled the first time he met Chae Ji-hyun in the director’s office.

At that time, Chae Ji-hyun had entered the office without hesitation, pressing the password herself.

Even though it was a workspace for the editing team, not a personal living space, could an actor really enter so casually?

“Director Hwang must have brainwashed him with all sorts of lies to tarnish JJ Stars’ image.”

“What about Yoon Hyung-sik?”

“He’s completely finished. All his variety shows have been cut, and he can’t show his face anywhere. I heard his family problems have worsened.”

“That guy has messed with more than a few female actors.”

“There are already three more cases that have come to light.”

“Men should guard their middle legs to avoid such trouble.”

Tae Jin-jong continued tapping the table.

“How can we use that guy? He won’t just let himself die.”

“His image as a victim has solidified, so it will be hard for him to get involved in anything else. But I’ll try to push it forward.”

“Good. And that friend Jung Seo-hoon… didn’t he have a scandal with Yoo Jeong-a? How did it end?”

“He was expected to clarify it after the drama ended, but his agency has remained silent. The scandal flared up and then gradually died down, so they don’t want to stoke the fire.”

“It would be nice if something else came up.”

Tae Jin-jong frowned, and his secretary cautiously spoke after looking around.

“Sir, I actually heard something from inside the ‘Illegals’ production company.”

“What is it?”

“During the wrap party, Jung Seo-hoon disappeared with a female staff member. Someone even saw him carrying her belongings.”

“Why would a guy who had a scandal with Yoo Jeong-a be interested in a staff member?”

“But that staff member is quite beautiful. She was originally preparing to become an actress. Here are some photos.”

After checking dozens of photos, Tae Jin-jong’s eyes narrowed.

The photos showed Jung Seo-hoon standing face-to-face with a slender woman at the entrance of a bar, engaged in conversation. The woman was laughing and even placed her hand on Jung Seo-hoon’s shoulder naturally.

“Where did you get these?”

“These are photos obtained from Bispatch. I kept them for now because they might not be effective immediately.”

“Good job.”

Bispatch, known for its paparazzi, was a de facto subsidiary of JJ Stars. The ownership structure was complex, so the world didn’t know.

“She’s pretty.”

“She’s not at Yoo Jeong-a’s level, but she’s still actress-grade.”

“When and where were these taken?”

“The day after the final episode of ‘Illegals’ aired, at a bar in Cheongdam-dong.”

“This is suspicious. After the final episode of his debut work, he went drinking with a beautiful female staff member? Did they celebrate together?”

“Jung Seo-hoon noticed and they didn’t get many more photos. He’s always sensitive to his surroundings.”

“So, is Jung Seo-hoon playing both sides between Yoo Jeong-a and the female staff member?”

It doesn’t matter what the truth is.

What’s important is that a narrative can be constructed to push this angle.

A cunning smile formed on Tae Jin-jong’s face.

“Find the friend who saw them disappear during the party and secure their testimony. Promise them confidentiality.”

“I already did.”

“Just like my right-hand man. Well done.”

“If we release this at the right time, it won’t ruin the movie, but it will mess with Director Hwang’s mind.”

“No one understands my heart like you.”

Tae Jin-jong’s ultimate goal wasn’t to ruin the movie.

That was just a means to achieve his goal.

“Director Hwang, you ungrateful bastard. After growing under me and escaping, you’ll pay for it. Where do you think you can just wrap things up as you please?”

As long as he was alive, he wouldn’t stop tormenting Hwang In-joon.

Messing with his mind so he couldn’t comfortably direct in this industry was Tae Jin-jong’s twisted hatred and motivation.

***

The reshoot went smoothly.

Jung Seo-hoon delivered all the scenes without a single NG, and Hwang In-joon couldn’t stop smiling.

There was also an additional piece of good news.

Veteran actor Lee Min-soo agreed to a cameo role without pay.

“Director Hwang, I really want to act with Jung Seo-hoon again, so please give me such a role. I don’t mind being used in any way.”

“I have a perfect role for you. It’s a character mentioned but never seen in the film. The chairman of Il Sung Group.”

“Another chaebol chairman. I’ll probably be called ‘Min-soo’ again.”

“It really fits your image. I’ll give you a great scene with Jung Seo-hoon. I already have some inspiration.”

“I look forward to it.”

Lee Min-soo’s special appearance raised expectations for the film, but it also led to an increase in negative comments like “Min-soo is back again?”

And in the Jeong family...

“Seo-hoon, you won’t die this time, right? If you die again, I won’t watch the movie.”

“I will die, but it’s not a sad role, so it should be okay to watch. And I won’t appear in the death scene.”

“Why do all the directors and writers seem so eager to kill our son? By the way, actor Lee Min-soo seems like a good person. I’d like to invite him over for a nice meal sometime. Is that possible?”

“I’ll ask him.”

Recently, his mother, who had become obsessed with clipping articles about her son, suddenly shouted while glued to her tablet.

“Oh my! What’s this? Seo-hoon, you’re in another scandal?”

Jeong Su-ryeon rushed over.

“Scandal? Who? Chae Ji-hyun? It’s Chae Ji-hyun, right? I saw through that fox from the moment she started following you around.”

“Wait. This photo, isn’t this you, Su-ryeon?”

“Oh, it looks like me.”

“Why are you in this photo?”

“I don’t know. Why am I here?”