What Kim Hyun-seok said was essentially half provocation.
It was tantamount to saying that everything Seo-yeon had done so far was ultimately manufactured by the broadcasting station.
Seo-yeon had no particular reaction to that.
Rather than having no reaction, she was briefly pondering how to return to being "cute Ju Seo-yeon" in her mind.
Though she sometimes forgot, Seo-yeon was undeniably the advertising model for Eclat Etoile.
No advertiser liked having such an image stamped on an actress.
However, separate from that Seo-yeon.
"Hmm~."
Han Sung-jin looked at Kim Hyun-seok with a somewhat troubled face.
Because the remark that just came out had sprung from his own question.
"Did you really have to say that much?"
"What?"
"What you just said, that's a pretty dangerous remark."
Han Sung-jin knew that Kim Hyun-seok was hostile toward Seo-yeon.
There were several reasons, but to name the fundamental one.
'He's bad at thinking.'
When that manifested as passion, it was a strength, but when it harbored vague hostility like this, it became a problem.
No matter what, saying that a broadcast filmed live was entirely fabricated was nonsensical, wasn't it.
Well, fine.
Let's say
But slapping away a paint round with bare hands was real, wasn't it?
Moreover, catching the triggerfish completely live was shown on the broadcast.
If that was fabrication, it would have already been burned to ashes long ago.
'It just means he doesn't like that Seo-yeon was cast without an audition.'
At the same time, he thought he was afraid.
Han Sung-jin had watched
At that time, the emotion he felt was the impression, "So she can act to this extent."
An actor of similar age.
Honestly, it was acting that Han Sung-jin couldn't even dare to attempt.
Just the two detective actors who appeared together were already actors renowned for their acting skills.
Even appearing in the same scene with them without any awkwardness.
Overwhelming them with presence alone, drawing praise from audiences and critics alike.
This was not something just anyone could do.
"Hah."
But Kim Hyun-seok only furrowed his brow.
Of course, Kim Hyun-seok must have felt that too.
He probably never wanted to admit it.
It could be competitive spirit, or simply childish hostility.
However, since they were still young. But to dress it up with such words, they were already actors and professionals.
Honestly, unlike Hyun-seok, Sung-jin had no particular desire to get on Seo-yeon's bad side.
Wasn't she the lead actress?
Moreover, being selected for the lead role in a drama without an audition meant she had some connection to the higher-ups.
Clashing with an actress KMB was pushing would only make things exhausting for himself.
'Though it seems there are a few more actors like Hyun-seok.'
People aren't that smart.
Sometimes Sung-jin felt that way.
Those who let emotions precede rational judgment.
But what was curious was.
'Wasn't this person on Ju Seo-yeon's side?'
When he looked at Na-hee with doubt.
"Ah!"
Only then did Cha Na-hee realize that Hyun-seok's words just now had a very negative meaning.
Actually, Cha Na-hee had only taken Seo-yeon's broadcast as meaning they had focused too much on such direction, not that it was "fabricated."
Cha Na-hee's hobby was looking up information about herself and people close to her.
Seo-yeon, a recently hot star, was particularly talked about in communities.
Elephant or gorilla.
Whenever she saw Seo-yeon with such images attached, Na-hee felt very upset.
- Why do you attach such an image to a fragile actress? Are you antis?
- Fra?gil?e???????
- Is that fragility the same fragility we know?
- What does a strange elephant or gorilla have to do with Ju Seo-yeon?
- Are you asking because you don't know? Complete Jualmol
Of course, Cha Na-hee truly didn't know.
She asked because she didn't know, and even now she didn't understand why such an image was attached.
To Cha Na-hee, Seo-yeon was simply a heavenly kind girl.
"S-Seo-yeon. I didn't mean it like that. It just seemed like it was giving the actress too bad of an image......"
"Yes?"
"No, I'm sorry!"
Seo-yeon was flustered by Cha Na-hee's sudden apology.
While she was slowly thinking about whether there was a broadcast that could improve her image, what had happened?
"What do you mean?"
At that bland reaction, Han Sung-jin laughed as if dumbfounded.
And Kim Hyun-seok distorted his face once again.
"Ah, I guess we're not even in your eyes. Is it because you're the lead?"
At those words, Seo-yeon stared blankly at him for a moment.
'Have I ever hit him by any chance?'
It was a quite serious consideration.
Because this level of one-sided hostility was a first.
Of course, if Seo-yeon had hit him, he wouldn't be living as an actor right now.
So he definitely hadn't been hit.
'The one next to him seems to be rather watching my mood instead.'
Han Sung-jin next to him was smiling, but she could feel him observing her.
Maybe saying he enjoyed watching
It's just that the guy next to him ruined it.
There were definitely more actors who held negative feelings toward Seo-yeon, but none spoke so openly.
That was because, to them, Seo-yeon was someone they had to be careful around.
Furthermore.
"......Hmm."
Not far away, she could see middle-aged actors glancing this way.
While having their own conversation, they were observing the words and actions of the young actors.
Looking closely, Min Se-hee seemed anxious to try to speak.
But Kim Il-soo next to her gave a gesture that it was fine.
As if wanting to see how Seo-yeon would handle it.
It also included a gaze saying they would help if it seemed too difficult.
Because Director Kim Il-soo was already sending a rather unfavorable look toward Kim Hyun-seok.
There were definitely rules on a film set.
The lead is the lead.
No matter if they were a parachute or whatever, a lead actor was a lead actor.
Disrespecting the lead actor was tantamount to disrespecting the director and writer who chose them.
Therefore, Hyun-seok's current behavior was extremely reckless.
Seo-yeon recalled Cho Seo-hee's words.
"It happens sometimes."
"What does?"
"People who act outside common sense."
Sneering with her arms crossed, Cho Seo-hee truly looked like a villainess young lady.
Thinking she should buy her a folding fan later, she listened carefully to those words.
"Anyway, even if you leave them alone, people around will handle it, but it's not good to wait for others to do it for you."
You also have to show for yourself.
Otherwise, the same things will keep happening.
"Sometimes, being forceful actually makes fewer enemies."
Cho Seo-hee knew that Seo-yeon had an extremely easygoing personality.
No, rather than easygoing, she got the impression that she was 'too accustomed' to others' hostility.
She didn't know the reason.
Seo-yeon's reaction to others' hostility was simply 'that can happen too.'
Cho Seo-hee was an actress.
Because she was an actress, she was always good at observing and analyzing others.
A top student as an actress.
The reason Cho Seo-hee was called that was because she never stopped learning.
That included observing Seo-yeon as well.
"Enduring when you shouldn't endure isn't being kind."
Therefore, Cho Seo-hee gave her firm advice about that.
So that this overly kind girl would properly show her fangs to others.
"It's foolish."
And, recalling that advice.
Seo-yeon spoke.
"Are you okay?"
Seo-yeon smiled at Kim Hyun-seok.
That smile was her response to his mockery just now.
"Even if you say that to me."
"Yes?"
Seo-yeon answered in a quiet voice.
No particularly hot emotions could be felt.
Rather, a question as if truly curious, extremely businesslike words.
Because of that, she could more clearly perceive the meaning of what she had just said.
"Actors speak through acting, don't they?"
Seo-yeon's red eyes stared directly at Hyun-seok.
"Do you have confidence you can do better than me?"
"......"
I can.
She tried to say that, but her mouth wouldn't open.
He had brought up what she showed in the variety show, but separately from that, he had definitely seen her acting too.
Even now, Hyun-seok had confidence he could do better.
If he were given that role.
But, somehow he couldn't say that.
Because Cha Seo-ah from the movie theater and Seo-yeon before his eyes overlapped.
No, it was Cha Seo-ah.
He felt like the person before his eyes wasn't Seo-yeon but Cha Seo-ah.
'What on...'
The atmosphere changed in an instant.
Seo-yeon's smiling face was extremely awkward.
And mechanical.
"Did you say I don't even have you in my eyes?"
The scene from
After interrogating the two detectives about something, Cha Seo-ah left on a bus.
At that time, the expression Cha Seo-ah made toward the detectives at the very end was exactly like this.
"Just."
With her two eyes curving gently, a sweetly smiling face.
"I think it was just pathetic."
What emotions Cha Seo-ah harbored toward the detectives at that time.
She could now clearly understand.
***
"You're going to get caught like that."
Han Sung-jin sighed as soon as he came out of the meeting room.
Except for the beginning, the first meeting with the cast of
It was just that a strange atmosphere had formed between Seo-yeon and Kim Hyun-seok.
After Seo-yeon's single remark, Kim Hyun-seok couldn't properly say anything.
'Actors must show through acting.'
Because he agreed with those words.
Moreover, he had been completely overwhelmed by Seo-yeon.
To the point where he couldn't even open his mouth.
"......I'll show you on set."
"Do you have confidence to do better than that?"
"......"
I don't know.
That's how overwhelming what Seo-yeon had just shown was.
For a moment.
A feeling as if devouring all the presence around.
'If that had been on set.'
Just as Seo-yeon said, he would have looked merely pathetic.
Thinking that made the heat rush to his head again.
Anyway, being told he was pathetic was the truth.
At the same time, Seo-yeon relaxed her expression as if the words just now were all acting.
It was literally a farce, but no one said anything.
No, they couldn't.
'Hah.'
He didn't like Han Sung-jin talking to him from the side for no reason.
If he could, he wanted to say, "Do you want to get on the lead actress's good side that much?"
"Do you have no pride?" he wanted to say, but couldn't bring himself to say that much.
"Whatever."
"What?"
"I'll go to the bathroom."
Thinking he should at least wash his face with cold water, he moved his steps heavily.
Ju Seo-yeon.
The emotions he harbored toward her weren't just vague hostility.
Competitive spirit was definitely there too.
But the strongest might be jealousy.
Because he thought he could do better.
Himself being overwhelmed by Ju Seo-yeon's acting that he had just seen in person was too pathetic.
Thank goodness it wasn't on set.
That relief.
When he realized that, the heat rose to his head instead.
What was he relieved about.
"......Next time."
It'll be different on set.
Thinking that and grinding his teeth as he walked.
"Huh?"
Kim Hyun-seok could see something glittering on the floor.
Approaching closer, he picked it up.
"......A coin?"
It was a 500-won coin.
However, it was somehow folded in half.
"What is this......"
Thinking that and looking ahead, such coins were scattered along the path.
Like Hansel and Gretel.
The rare sight of 500-won coins folded in half lined up on the ground.
Hyun-seok absentmindedly followed and picked them up.
It was a strange sensation.
What were these 500-won coins.
No, why were they all folded in half?
Such questions.
When he had picked up about a dozen or so.
"Ah."
"Ah."
He bumped into Seo-yeon, who was similarly picking them up.
For a moment, the two exchanged glances while holding 500-won coins.
"......?"
Suddenly, Hyun-seok noticed Seo-yeon's bag.
A handbag light enough to carry around.
A bag made of nylon, but part of it was torn from catching on something.
'Don't tell me.'
He thought that couldn't be, but.
Could these 500-won coins have fallen from that torn part?
Was she realizing that late and coming back to collect them one by one?
Why were 500-won coins folded in half in her bag?
Thinking that, Hyun-seok felt a feeling hard to describe.
A feeling of seeing something beyond cognition.
"That is."
Looking at such Hyun-seok, Seo-yeon spoke calmly.
Controlling herself as much as possible, like when she spoke in the meeting room earlier.
"You know that bubble wrap feeling. Where you unintentionally end up popping it."
"......??"
What did that have to do with these 500-won coins?
Was she saying she folded 500-won coins like popping bubble wrap?
When he stared at Seo-yeon with an astounded face.
Seo-yeon stealthily took the last 500-won coin, and also made Hyun-seok open his right hand that was tightly gripping the 500-won coins and collected them.
There was no gap to resist.
"......Then, see you on set."
With that final greeting, Seo-yeon quickly turned her back and disappeared.
Hyun-seok casually glanced at his left hand.
One coin remained in his left hand that Seo-yeon hadn't noticed.
"......"
That proved that what just happened wasn't a dream.
Hyun-seok never understood the meaning of that 500-won coin until the end.
He just felt an unknown fear toward Seo-yeon.