Chapter 73

Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

At someone's instruction, the staff around the stone bridge quickly cleared the area.

Soon, the filming began.

"Everyone, stand by!"

"Sound speed!"

"Camera roll!"

"Ready... "

"Scene 37, take 1."

Clap—

"Action!"

In the capital, on a bright midday street.

"If you don't want to die, get out of here!"

"Ah!"

"What's going on!"

The women on the street scattered in fear at the samurai's threats.

"Whoa, whoa!"

Lee Bang-won calmed the frightened horse and then gracefully dismounted, placing both feet firmly on the ground.

"Hmm."

Lee Bang-won lightly brushed off the dust from his yellow hemp robe and began to walk.

With a straight posture, he took steady steps.

One step.

Two steps.

And then he looked.

At Jeong Mong-ju, who had collapsed on the ground, sensing his impending death.

Without any seriousness or being overwhelmed by madness,

his gaze was just indifferent.

'Ugh... I'm scared. I'm actually seeing this with my own eyes.'

The staff, actors, and reporters around us were holding their breath, watching the scene.

I never expected such tension to flow in a filming location without any editing or music.

Then, Jeong Mong-ju spoke.

His face contorted with the fear of death.

His voice trembling.

"You... you kill me, and kill me again... and again..."

Despite this, Jeong Mong-ju straightened his posture and stood up.

"Even if you kill me a hundred times."

But that was as far as it went.

Thud.

With a single swing of the iron club, Lee Bang-won knocked Jeong Mong-ju down.

"You're noisy."

Lee Bang-won muttered briefly and then slowly looked around to the left and right.

The samurai, startled, approached.

Lee Bang-won extended his arm, ordering them to step back.

And in an instant,

he took a large step forward and rushed to the fallen Jeong Mong-ju,

unleashing merciless blows with the iron club.

Clang!

Crack!

At the scene, the only sound was the iron club hitting the stone bridge, but the metallic sound was even more chilling.

"Kyaah!"

Lee Bang-won roared like a beast.

And he swung the iron club without pause.

"What does it matter if I do this! What does it matter if I do that!"

The samurai tried to stop him again.

"Who would blame you!"

Lee Bang-won continued to swing the iron club until the end.

"Who would, blame you!"

He glared at the samurai with a menacing look.

Then, he collapsed.

As if the thread that had been holding his body taut had snapped.

He fainted.

The silence that followed.

The quiet filming location.

For a few seconds, it felt like I had to hold my breath too.

"Cut!"

The director's call came.

At the same time, the staff and actors who had been watching erupted in cheers and applause.

Clap, clap, clap—

"Wow, Shi-sung!"

"Great acting!"

"Nice!"

Is this how it's supposed to be?

I clapped as hard as I could too.

Clap, clap, clap—

'He's crazy, he's crazy.'

Before the filming, I had heard Lim Hee-ju's explanation.

The scene where Lee Bang-won mercilessly kills Jeong Mong-ju with his own hands.

Not borrowing the hands of a samurai like in other dramas.

Not having a long, detailed conversation.

Just killing in one go.

Even knowing this, Yoo Shi-sung's acting was beyond my imagination.

'Actually seeing it, it's really spine-chilling.'

It wasn't like a thriller's psycho serial killer.

It wasn't like a vengeful killer driven by passion or grudges.

Just a strange madness.

A strange killing.

'...Really amazing. This is what it means to be an actor.'

This was my first time experiencing something like this.

While I was absorbed in the performance, the filming ended.

"Okay! Good job."

The director gave a brief okay sign and immediately got up and left, while the staff busily moved around the filming location.

"Phew, it's over... Thanks to you, I really enjoyed it. It was really fun."

Out of gratitude, I bowed to Lim Hee-ju.

"Since you said you're thinking about getting into the film industry, I showed you this specially, hehe. It's good to know the atmosphere of a filming location, isn't it?"

"Yes... It was really a new experience. Thank you very much."

"If you're grateful, how about treating us to some delicious coffee?"

"Sure! I'll go make it right away!"

"Alright, I'll go to the car and read the script."

As we walked together,

someone approached and greeted Lim Hee-ju.

"Your Highness! You're here?"

A handsome man appeared, smiling brightly.

A former idol, now the actor playing Lee Bang-won.

'Crazy...'

Even with his makeup still on, his face stained with blood, he looked like a celestial idol when he smiled.

"You did a great job, my son. You did really well."

"No, this scene was really intense... I couldn't concentrate properly at times... I don't understand acting no matter how much I do it."

Anyone who had watched the filming scene would have thought he was just being dramatic.

But Yoo Shi-sung's voice was really dark, as if he was truly dissatisfied with his performance.

"That's why I want some feedback from you, senior."

What, a talented and hardworking person?

The world is so unfair.

"Just amazing, Shi-sung. You did it perfectly. You can't do any better. 100 points, 100 points."

"Really?"

"Yes! What's there to worry about, when you did it so well."

"I... The director asked me to make the modern dialogue feel more natural, but when I actually said it, it didn't fit with the previous and following scenes, so it felt uncomfortable."

"It's good that you noticed that. But isn't that the tone of our drama?"

I signaled to Pil-soo-jung to give them some space as they discussed the acting.

Actually, I wanted to take them to the coffee car and throw a script at them.

But this was their workplace, and I couldn't just indulge my own desires. However,

"Mr. Owner, can you reserve two cups for us? We'll be right there."

Lim Hee-ju grabbed my shoulder.

'For us... two cups? Then...'

Sure enough, Lee Bang-won looked at me and asked,

"Is this the owner of the coffee car?"

"Yes, he's the kind person who took in our daughter."

"I also had a one-shot of coffee before filming. I really relied on that coffee."

Yoo Shi-sung pointed to the sun and shook his head, then said,

"After talking with senior, I'll go to the coffee car. I really enjoyed it."

"No, it's an honor for me! Watching you act just now was really spine-chilling. It was the best performance I've ever seen."

"Hehe, really...?"

Yoo Shi-sung smiled awkwardly and said,

"Thank you for your kind words. I'll see you later."

Is there such a perfect young man?

Should I try to push this a bit further?

"And the blood-stained face, it's really cool."

I raised my thumb and patted Pil-soo-jung.

Thus, all three thumbs were directed at Yoo Shi-sung.

"Hehe."

Yoo Shi-sung laughed as if he found it amusing, but

"You're right. It does look cool."

He was a person overflowing with self-love, which was fortunate.

*

A little later, at the hottest time of the day, 2 PM.

More people than in the morning gathered at the coffee car. From the conversations, it seemed that everyone except the indoor shooting crew was on a break.

"Special effects team, six cold brews are ready."

"Thank you!"

And then the awaited guests.

Lee Bang-won and Lim Hee-ju arrived together.

"You're here. Please wait a moment!"

I immediately served the cold brew.

He thanked Lim Hee-ju and immediately took out his phone to take a selfie with her.

'Nice! It's done!'

I rejoiced inwardly.

Yoo Shi-sung was still in his blood-stained Lee Bang-won makeup.

'This isn't just publicity!'

Blood on Lee Bang-won's face?

That was a sight that no fan of "Wihwado Retreat," no fan of Yoo Shi-sung, and no tabloid reporter could just pass by.

I wanted to check Yoo Shi-sung's Instagram account right away to see the reactions, but the continuous orders left no time for that.

However,

"Mr. Owner, would you like to take a photo with us?"

"Excuse me?"

Yoo Shi-sung spoke first.

"Three of us together... How should I put it, it would look like a scene from a movie."

Pil-soo-jung was also surprised.

"Hehe... "

"Us too?"

Yoo Shi-sung bowed slightly to the other staff and gestured to us.

"Come out and take a photo with us."

Is this just a natural personality?

Or is he just good at socializing?

"Stand on the truck together. If you stand in the middle, it would look even better. Pose like a Japanese movie poster. Stand side by side and smile happily... Yes, that's good."

He directed us and then took a few steps forward, holding his phone.

"I'll take it."

And he held up his palm, click!

Maybe in the photo, the coffee car and we would be on Lee Bang-won's palm?

'Sweet!'

But that wasn't the end.

"Mr. Owner, would you like to take a photo with just me?"

First, we stood together, click!

I couldn't understand why he was being so nice.

Other actors also took selfies, but we usually stepped aside for them.

"Shi-sung, that's enough. Let's go now. We have an interview in 10 minutes, so we need to leave now."

At that moment, someone who looked like a manager signaled and called Yoo Shi-sung.

"Alright, good luck! I'll enjoy the cold brew! Senior, I'll go ahead!"

Yoo Shi-sung politely bowed and then walked away with a cup of cold brew.

What just happened?

I was dazed, watching his back, when Lim Hee-ju approached.

"Is the kid okay?"

"Yes, I'm really grateful. I can't believe he's being so nice."

Lim Hee-ju chuckled and said,

"He's not just being nice without a reason."

"Excuse me?"

"On the way here, he was complaining about why he doesn't get coffee ads."

Ah, that's what it meant.

"So we suddenly became the side male lead to provoke his jealousy?"

"Hehe, you're quick. And when I mentioned that you're preparing to invest in a movie, his eyes lit up?"

"Ah... I see."

That's what it was.

"So you suddenly became a cafe owner who's investing in a movie. What did Shi-sung say? Breath...?"

"...Breath fan?"

"Yes, breath fan! He said you should look like a breath fan? Hehe, the kids are funny."

No, Yoo Shi-sung wanted to look good to me?

That perfect son, really, to me?

This... How is the world turning?

──Rustle, rustle, rustle!

──Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

...Yeah, yeah, it's thanks to you guys.

"Anyway, I gave him the script I had. I told him to read it."

"Really? For real?"

"Of course, I have another copy, right? Can I have it back?"

"Sure! I'll give it to you right away."

"And Mr. Owner."

"Yes."

"Thank you."