Chapter 84

Villain Only Acting 084

Is the fandom funny? (1)

“I’ll stay here.”

When she said she wouldn’t join the after-party, the staff looked disappointed, especially the female staff.

The assistant director asked,

“Why? Come with us. What’s the fun of a party without Seohoon?”

“I should stay here and keep an eye on PD and the writer.”

“Oh.”

“The two of them, once they get into something new, they can delve into it all night. Someone needs to interrupt them.”

Han Seohee was about to say she would stay too but was stopped by her manager.

Lee Seohyun checked her watch haughtily and flipped through the script.

“Why don’t we do a one-on-one script reading? We haven’t had much time for group readings lately. We can save some rehearsal time before the shoot too.”

“Sure.”

Lee Seohyun felt the subtle, secret gaze of Han Seohee, who was watching her, and inwardly smiled.

Though she didn’t show it, she was sure Han Seohee could sense it.

The staff gathered all the equipment and left the studio one by one.

“Even if you come late, please let us know. I’ll be holding my phone.”

“I have to move with the two of them. Even if I eat dinner, it will be with PD and the writer, right?”

“Oh, right. That’s true.”

“Everyone, have a good meal and go home safely.”

After the assistant director left, only six people remained in the spacious special effects studio.

The group of professors was busy talking among themselves, and a brief awkward silence fell between the two actors.

“Why don’t we sit down?”

“Sure.”

The two actors pulled over folding chairs and sat facing each other, with a folding table in the middle.

“You really don’t carry your script around. I heard you memorize everything. Is that true for all Korean actors?”

“I tend to remember books I’ve read once.”

“...Even those you read years ago?”

“I remember every book I’ve read since I was born.”

Lee Seohyun almost gasped.

But she managed to maintain her calm, composed image in her late twenties.

Usually, a newcomer six years younger should be more bashful, but this man was the opposite.

“So, which scene should we start with?”

“Let’s start with the parts we haven’t rehearsed yet. Do you have the script?”

“Episodes 17 and 18, two parts.”

“Then let’s start with Scene 23 of Episode 17?”

Lee Seohyun, who had naturally opened the script, almost gasped again.

Just as Jeong Seohoon said, the joint scene between the prince and his wife started precisely at Scene 23.

‘He really does remember everything...’

“I’ll read the lines. Scene 23, in the courtyard where the rain is drizzling, the prince stands with his back to the palace, looking at it. The prince’s wife approaches from behind, making slight noises...”

His clear and distinct narration, like a movie voiceover, sounded pleasant in her ears.

His comfortable baritone voice, reminiscent of a lullaby from childhood, was soothing.

Before she knew it, Lee Seohyun had closed her eyes and was just listening to Jeong Seohoon’s narration.

She was so absorbed that she didn’t realize time had stopped.

‘...!’

Lee Seohyun snapped back to reality.

When she opened her eyes, Jeong Seohoon was calmly reading the lines and the narration, still looking at her.

“Why... I didn’t say my lines, and you just kept reading the narration and lines by yourself?”

“You had your eyes closed. It seemed like you were practicing your emotions. So I kept reading.”

She was shocked to realize she had missed her cue by a long shot.

His voice was so pleasant that she had completely lost track.

“Still, you should have told me to say my lines. It’s embarrassing...”

“I was also getting a feel for how to act the scene where the prince’s wife is staring at the sleeping prince. It was helpful.”

How could this 22-year-old be so mature?

His eyes, which resembled those of an older brother, made Lee Seohyun feel a bit embarrassed.

‘You’re the older brother, what’s with this? You’re making me nervous...’

“Not much of Episode 17 is left. Should I finish it? Or should we start over and read the lines properly together?”

“...Let’s finish it. I need to get a feel for the emotions too.”

“Alright.”

“You’d make a great radio host. Listening to you, I could clearly picture the scenes in my head.”

“Thank you.”

Still, she was a top star in her prime as an actress. Shouldn’t a newcomer be a bit more bashful?

This man took it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Maybe it’s because you won the Best Actor award. Jeong Seohoon, you’re really calm. You don’t seem like a newcomer at all.”

“I’m in my second year, so I should be more mature.”

“In some ways, you seem more mature than my older brother. Do you hear that a lot?”

“No, not really. I don’t have many friends.”

“Is that so? Then how about I be your friend? I like making new friends.”

Lee Seohyun tried hard to maintain a casual look and tone.

She didn’t want him to notice how nervous she was.

“It would be an honor to be friends with a senior like Lee Seohyun.”

Right now.

Lee Seohyun was trying to calm her racing heart to ask for his number.

But she was beaten to it.

“Can you give me your number?”

Jeong Seohoon extended his phone first, and Lee Seohyun almost fainted from the sudden relief.

She composed herself, smoothing her hair, and gave him her number.

“Feel free to contact me. We’re friends now.”

“You can contact me anytime too. I might be busy and can’t reply immediately, so don’t get upset.”

“Friends can leave messages and reply when they think of it. We’re friends, right?”

Jeong Seohoon saved Lee Seohyun’s number.

She was one of the top three beautiful actresses, along with Yoo Jeongah and Chae Jihyun, and would be a valuable connection for her acting career.

With the addition of the rising star Han Seohee, she now had connections with four actresses.

‘The more connections, the better. Especially in this industry. Make as many friends as you can when the actresses are chasing after you. Don’t miss out on S-grade talents.’

The drama industry is truly fascinating.

Sometimes, what Jung Suyeon says can be helpful.

***

The two middle-aged professors seemed tireless as they toured every corner of the Paju studio.

They were mainly interested in how objects made of conductors, insulators, and semiconductors were arranged and used.

Jang Seungwon, sweating profusely, followed the professors, explaining continuously, while Kim Sanghee keenly observed the unique characters with the eyes of a hawk.

“Does this studio have a closing time?”

“No, it operates 24 hours. Shooting can continue late into the night or early in the morning.”

“Ah, that makes sense. For scenes like the sunrise, it’s natural...”

Jang Seungwon, who usually found such common knowledge obvious, mumbled as if he had just discovered a new truth.

His demeanor gave the PD and the writer new inspiration.

“By the way, aren’t you two hungry?”

“I don’t know. Jung, are you hungry?”

“I’m fine. What about Lee?”

“I’m fine too. But it seems PD isn’t, so we should eat.”

“Oh, right. I was too focused on my own thoughts. Seohoon’s mom should have fixed that habit.”

Jang Seungwon secretly sighed with relief.

The shooting schedule was tight, but he was a man obsessed with saving time.

Since they had a break today, he would have to push the actors and staff hard from tomorrow.

“There’s a cafeteria, but it might not suit your tastes. There’s nothing good around here either. I’ll take you to a good place in Seoul.”

“That’s okay. We’ll go on our own. PD, you go take care of your business.”

“But you’ve come all this way...”

Jang Seungwon wanted to slip away, but he hesitated under Kim Sanghee’s intense gaze.

‘I need to observe these characters more! Catch them quickly! Hurry up!’

Her eyes seemed to shout, and Jang Seungwon, with tears in his eyes, tried to persuade them again.

“Actually, I’ve gained a lot of inspiration from your conversation.”

“Oh, really? How so?”

“Your conversation was interesting. Even though I couldn’t understand much because it was highly specialized, it was still fun to listen to. I even thought about auditing a physics class.”

“Our conversation was more about electrical engineering.”

“Ah, really? But to a layperson, it could seem like physics. Both of us originally studied theoretical physics.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But we had to get into electrical engineering because it requires a lot of money to do it properly.”

Jang Seungwon suddenly remembered something he had heard before.

Theoretical physicists are monsters; run away if you meet one...

“I sometimes give lectures on theoretical physics to laypeople. I’ll send you an invitation. You should come once.”

Lee Seokjong said with a broad smile, and Jang Seungwon inwardly groaned.

“Are we going to eat now?”

“Huh? Why aren’t you coming with us?”

“I need to take care of you two.”

“But who’s that lady next to you? She’s very pretty.”

Lee Seohyun calmly nodded slightly.

“Hello, I’m Lee Seohyun, playing the role of the adult prince’s wife.”

“Oh, so you’re my virtual daughter-in-law?”

“Is that how it works?”

“Of course, I need your autograph. Can you sign this for me?”

Jeong Taehyun pulled out an autograph book and a pen, and Lee Seohyun readily accepted.

“What should I write?”

“Hmm, ‘To Jeong Jeongsuk, from the prince’s wife, Lee Seohyun.’ Can you write that?”

“Of course.”

Lee Seohyun signed and added a note before handing it back.

“Right, my wife also wanted me to get an autograph from another virtual daughter-in-law, but I forgot.”

“No problem. Just a slap on the back and it’s done.”

In the end, all six of them moved to Jeong Seohoon’s van.

The two professors sat side by side in the widest two-person seat at the back, the writer and PD in front of them, and the two actors in front of that.

Lee Seohyun was delighted.

“This van is great. Is it a new model? I want to suggest my company get one like this.”

“It’s great, right? I got it quickly when it was available, even though it was a rejected deal.”

Jeong Taehyun excitedly chimed in, and Lee Seohyun listened intently, maintaining eye contact.

Jang Seungwon, caught between them, thought Lee Seohyun’s patience and friendliness were extraordinary.

He quietly sent a message to Kim Sanghee.

[Jang Seungwon] Is it interesting, Writer?

[Kim Sanghee] Absolutely, these characters are rare. Where else in the drama industry would you find such real people?

[Jang Seungwon] If it’s interesting for you, I’m satisfied. ^^;;

[Kim Sanghee] I had a bit of a gap in the characters I was thinking about, but this fills it perfectly. 😄

[Jang Seungwon] Is it a story about eccentric professors?

[Kim Sanghee] A sitcom-thriller? Set in a scientific research institute, with Jeong Seohoon as the lead.

The strange combination of words made Jang Seungwon wonder.

[Jang Seungwon] Is this the next project after Hierarchy?

[Kim Sanghee] No, maybe a few years later. That’s the plan for now.

It was late, but the restaurant owner happily accepted Jang Seungwon’s call and made a reservation.

This was the power of a regular customer.

When deciding on the menu, Lee Seokjong said confidently,

“I’ll pay.”

“No, I’ll pay. It’s a business expense anyway...”

Jeong Taehyun interjected,

“It’s better to pay with your own card. When you use someone else’s business card, you have to be careful about the menu and any additions. We’ll pay, so keep your business card, PD.”

“Oh, right...”

“Jung, we should get Dom Pérignon. There’s nothing else worth drinking here.”

“We’ll have to settle for that. Is there anyone who can’t drink?”

Jeong Taehyun looked around, and Ha Tae-su and Lee Seohyun’s manager raised their hands slightly.

“I have to drive, so I won’t drink.”

“I also have to drive...”

“Then bring six bottles.”

Kim Sanghee asked, wide-eyed,

“Six bottles of champagne?”

“There are six people who can drink, so we’ll have six bottles. Is there a problem?”

“No, no problem.”

That night, the restaurant owner was beaming and personally served them until the early morning.

The last-minute regular group of customers had boosted his weekly sales, so he couldn’t stop smiling.

It was the first time he had seen a group order tens of thousands of dollars worth of alcohol as if it were soju.

Kim Sanghee and Lee Seokjong hit it off, and Lee Seohyun and Jeong Taehyun were having a great time, laughing and chatting.

“Just drink, you two. Don’t leave out of a place like this.”

“Just call a driver, driver!”

Jeong Seohoon, by his mere presence, bridged the gap and lifted the mood, and eventually, the two managers couldn’t resist and joined in with their drinks.

Jang Seungwon alone couldn’t blend into the atmosphere and felt left out.

He stepped out to smoke, and Jeong Seohoon quietly followed.

“Tough, isn’t it?”

“You know the drama industry is famous for its heavy drinkers. But this... I can’t even hold my own. Do professors usually drink this well?”

“To secure a multi-billion-dollar national project, you have to entertain a lot and be entertained a lot.”

“Multi-billion-dollar national...”

Jang Seungwon muttered, sounding exhausted.

“This is on a different level from a drama.”

“PD, not all labs are like this. Don’t misunderstand.”

“Well... Anyway, the investors, the writer, the actors, and the managers are all having a good time, so the PD is satisfied.”

“I’m satisfied. Yes...”

He added, feeling a bit lonely.

“Satisfied. Yes...”