A few days after deciding to play a ghost role at the school festival.
Seo Yeon was showcasing her action acting at Cheonghong Action School.
"Now, now, Chae Seo-ah is not a martial artist. If you fight with such restrained movements, it looks cool, but it creates a sense of incongruity. Incongruity!!"
Professor Kim Hong-baek thoroughly trained Seo Yeon in action acting.
So much so that the other stuntman hopefuls, who had initially dismissed Seo Yeon, were left gasping in amazement.
However, Professor Kim Hong-baek was gasping for a different reason than them.
'To think it's hard to see her look tired even once after being driven this hard.'
Still, unlike the beginning, Seo Yeon could be seen wiping her sweat.
Her breathing was, as always, calm.
Her chest rose and fell slightly, but that was it.
She was incredibly energetic for someone who had been doing action acting for several hours.
"Since there's no stunt double, it seems that's the reason, so I'll take the role of Detective Im Seung-cheol this time."
Professor Kim Hong-baek said so, probably thinking that Chae Seo-ah's action acting had roughly taken shape.
"Pardon?"
"Why are you surprised?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
Ah, right. Action acting requires coordinating with a partner.
Seo Yeon realized that anew.
Clenching and unclenching her fists, Seo Yeon hesitated.
'It should be fine, right?'
This body, which had possessed the muscular strength of an adult male since the age of six, had now practically become a human weapon. The super soldier joke she used to make was now becoming a reality.
'But, I learned this for this exact reason.'
It seemed better to coordinate with Professor Kim Hong-baek, a martial arts master, before matching moves with Actor Kim Dae-heon.
"Then let's begin."
What they were about to practice now was the final highlight of
The brawl scene between Detective Im Seung-cheol and Chae Seo-ah.
Scene #115.
"First, please act as much like Chae Seo-ah as possible."
"As much as possible?"
"Because I need to see movements infused with emotion."
"......Yes."
Seo Yeon nodded and calmly grasped her emotions.
And, a breath.
Another breath.
The moment she opened her eyes after settling her emotions like that.
Smack!!
Professor Kim Hong-baek lunged forward.
Originally, there would be Detective Im Seung-cheol's dialogue, but there was none now.
However.
The slightly clumsy, yet fast and nimble footsteps of Detective Im Seung-cheol caught her eye.
They were almost identical to Actor Kim Dae-heon's.
Stuntman.
And a stunt double.
Originally, Professor Kim Hong-baek was South Korea's greatest stunt double and stuntman.
His body movements, which reproduced Kim Dae-heon's movements, proved it.
Naturally, the eyes of the trainees watching this focused all at once.
Because Professor Kim Hong-baek's action acting wasn't something easily seen.
At the same time, they were curious about what kind of action acting the actress with such steel-like stamina would display.
And.
'Chae Seo-ah is not a martial artist.'
She moved her body, ruminating on Professor Kim Hong-baek's words.
Not a skill learned to fight, but the instinctive aggressiveness a human possesses.
As Chae Seo-ah's characteristic, the movement of a human who feels no fear.
Swish!!
She lightly dodged Professor Kim Hong-baek's hand.
It was a movement with a pre-arranged signal.
And then Seo Yeon's fist followed.
Whoosh!!
Parting the wind, it grazed Professor Kim Hong-baek's cheek.
"Wait."
"Yes?"
Professor Kim Hong-baek touched his cheek.
He had dodged to match her timing, but a real hit occurred.
"......"
Um.
Professor Kim Hong-baek spoke.
"Let's hit a little softer."
"Ah, yes."
"You know it's about matching coordination, not hitting the opponent, right?"
"I-I missed just now. ......Probably."
"Is that so."
For a miss, it came right at his face.
It seemed she immersed herself too much in Chae Seo-ah's emotions and couldn't properly control it.
'If Actor Kim Dae-heon had done it, he would have been knocked out in one blow.'
Such a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Thank goodness they practiced beforehand.
"I heard the highlight scene filming is soon, so it's a relief we tried it out in advance."
"Yes?"
Seo Yeon, who had been looking at her own fist, opened her eyes wide at Professor Kim Hong-baek's words.
The highlight scene filming is soon?
They definitely agreed to shoot it much later.
"Oh my, didn't you hear? Director Bae Jin-hwan said circumstances arose. So there was a request to help out starting from the highlight scene."
"Ah."
So that was why they practiced this scene today instead of the chase scene.
Seo Yeon finally understood.
Director Bae Jin-hwan probably thought Professor Kim Hong-baek would tell her.
"Therefore, let's do this properly."
"Yes, sir."
Seeing Seo Yeon burning with eagerness, Professor Kim Hong-baek stroked his cheek again.
"......Let me apply some ointment for a moment."
If he didn't keep his wits about him, it might not end with a simple hit.
Professor Kim Hong-baek was convinced of that.
***
A few days later, the scheduled filming of
The location was a convenience store.
"We'll film all the scenes taking place in the convenience store today."
The filming of
At this rate, it was certain to be released as early as this year, or at the latest, early next year.
Considering they even said a PV was already in production using the scenes filmed so far.
"So we might finish a bit late today. We have three scenes to shoot today, three."
Director Bae Jin-hwan addressed the staff.
Originally, he planned to film a few of the convenience store scenes over time.
That was because the convenience store was the part that corresponded to the highlight of the movie.
So he tried to film it in the latter half to maintain the emotional flow as much as possible, but.
"The convenience store owner said he had matters to attend to."
"Ah, then it can't be helped."
Since it was a borrowed location after asking for the convenience store owner's understanding, it was unavoidable.
Of course, appropriate compensation had been given. No, rather, they had added extra.
Because the floating population was large, and if bad rumors spread in a place like this, it was bound to act as a misfortune for the movie.
Bae Jin-hwan was the type to pay extreme attention to such reputation and rumors.
'The real misfortune was elsewhere, though.'
Seo Yeon looked intently at Director Bae Jin-hwan and had that thought.
In the past,
The peak of which was Pyo Ji-woo's club rampage and attempted murder.
The release was delayed, screens were reduced, and it bore all sorts of stigmas.
Since Seo Yeon took on the role of Chae Seo-ah this time, that wouldn't happen, but he was an unlucky director in many ways.
"Ah, Seo Yeon-ssi."
As she was staring at Bae Jin-hwan, he approached with a smile.
"Is today's filming okay? Since it's a scene from the latter half, won't it be difficult?"
"Yes. Probably."
It was probably a remark considering Seo Yeon's method acting.
Highlight.
The scene that literally corresponded to the highlight of the movie was this convenience store scene.
Naturally, it was the most burdensome part for Seo Yeon, who had to align with the character.
At the same time, since it was out of order, it could hinder her emotional immersion.
It could be a difficult task for Seo Yeon in many ways, but.
'You can't always film in order.'
When she was young, Director Kong Jung-tae had been very considerate of Seo Yeon, so it was possible.
However, Seo Yeon was no longer a child.
Seo Yeon would continue to film dramas and movies in the future.
This was something she naturally had to adapt to now.
"Very good."
Bae Jin-hwan, who read Seo Yeon's thoughts, gave a thumbs up.
Whenever he saw her, Seo Yeon's attitude toward acting was serious.
'She doesn't seem like a teenager at all.'
She was very polite in her greetings, and her attitude toward acting was excellent as well.
Bae Jin-hwan, too, was a helpless middle-aged man.
He had various complaints about young actors these days, but Seo Yeon perfectly silenced his complaints.
Because of that, Seo Yeon's reputation on set was very good.
"Seo Yeon-ssi is really good at socializing."
"Right? She's a total pro at dealing with people. She must be popular at school too, right?"
A passing staff member smiled and said to Seo Yeon.
Since this wasn't the first or second time she heard that, Seo Yeon just smiled awkwardly.
"Popular...... of course."
Seo Yeon said triumphantly.
Since she was also taking on the role of a ghost at the festival soon, the rest would be a piece of cake.
If they prepared for the festival together, opportunities to talk about this and that would increase.
"As expected!"
"If you have any friends who want to come visit the set next time, bring them along."
"Ah, yes."
She didn't have any friends that close yet, though.
Seo Yeon nodded for now.
Whether it was the agency or the set staff, everyone was equally interested in Seo Yeon's friends.
"The first thing we'll film today is scene number 117."
It was the scene corresponding to the introduction of the convenience store scene that would decorate the highlight.
Finding the place where Han Ye-hwa was kidnapped, Chae Seo-ah puts up a fierce fight against Detective Seo Kwang-il, who hastily barged in.
Seo Kwang-il was a detective with outstanding athletic senses, to the point of having competed in the National Sports Festival.
Naturally, Chae Seo-ah couldn't kill him easily either, and barely manages to strike his head with a soju bottle nearby to knock him unconscious.
In the meantime, the kidnapped Han Ye-hwa had escaped.
To catch Han Ye-hwa, who had slipped away, Chae Seo-ah leaves the unconscious Seo Kwang-il behind and hurries to chase her.
However, finding Han Ye-hwa, who had already fled, was a near-impossible task.
Chae Seo-ah stops running and enters the convenience store.
To get a tool to kill the detective she had left unconscious at home.
"......Um, is this okay? What is it, Actress Shin Seong-mi might get some hate for this?"
"Oh my, it's fine. Rather, it's good to leave such a strong image at the end."
When Actor Kim Dae-heon, who played Detective Im Seung-cheol, said that, Shin Seong-mi, who played the convenience store auntie, laughed heartily.
She also felt that way when she first received the script.
It could be said that the logical consistency was a bit... lacking, but.
'It's definitely provocative.'
It would probably be a scene talked about for a long time to come.
She felt that way.
"For this scene not to look amateurish, Seo Yeon-ssi, you have to do well."
"Yes."
"You must show it properly. Everything about Chae Seo-ah."
The next scene is the final fight with Detective Im Seung-cheol.
Scene #115.
To immerse the audience in the highlight, the precursor was important.
Scene #114 was that precursor.
They had to present the audience with gripping tension, making Chae Seo-ah a perfect villain.
"......Alright."
"Hoo," Bae Jin-hwan let out a sigh.
Although he was filming the highlight faster than expected, it was a scene that would have been filmed eventually.
This scene.
This scene he had been constantly thinking about since he first took on this movie flickered in his mind.
He saw Seo Yeon calmly finishing her preparations.
Not the usual raincoat outfit Chae Seo-ah wore when committing murder, but casual clothes.
It was a hoodie and jeans that Chae Seo-ah usually wore when going to the convenience store.
Quietly.
Seo Yeon, standing alone and quietly in the noisy set preparing for filming.
She could be seen quietly closing her eyes to grasp her emotions.
'Hong Jung-hee' she had seen on the theater stage.
She had to show acting beyond that intense appearance from that time here.
Bae Jin-hwan believed.
That Seo Yeon could definitely do it.
Slowly.
Seo Yeon's eyes opened.
At the same time as her red eyes, shining vividly even under the bright lighting, were seen.
The filming of Scene #114 began.
The camera caught the sight of Chae Seo-ah walking towards the convenience store.
Like that.
Thud.
A heavy step was taken.
"......Haa."
Exhaling a ragged breath, Chae Seo-ah moved her feet slowly.
She was delayed because of the detective who had somehow found her house, broken down the door, and barged in.
If there had been one more detective, it might have been a bit dangerous.
"......"
Chae Seo-ah silently looked at the passersby on the street looking at her injured self.
Eyes looking at her strangely.
Something she was now used to.
Chae Seo-ah thought.
First, she missed Han Ye-hwa.
Then, she first had to deal with the detective she had knocked out and left at home.
Because she still didn't want to be caught.
If only the direct witness who saw her kidnap Han Ye-hwa disappeared, even if she got caught, she would likely be released due to insufficient evidence.
Chime.
Thinking such thoughts, the convenience store she was now used to.
She entered the convenience store where Chae Seo-ah herself worked part-time.
As she went inside, the convenience store auntie was startled, making a fuss.
She was the owner of this convenience store and a very familiar figure to Chae Seo-ah.
"Oh my, Seo-ah. Why are you so hurt!"
At her words, Chae Seo-ah smiled.
The put-on smile she was now used to.
However, the clueless auntie didn't find the forced smile strange.
"I'm okay. More than that, I'll borrow some tools."
"Tools?"
In the convenience store, there was a toolbox Chae Seo-ah had previously left there.
And, just as she grabbed the blue tape to use when disposing of the corpse.
"What on earth is going on today. It's already the second time."
The convenience store auntie muttered to herself and said to Chae Seo-ah.
At the same time, Chae Seo-ah's hand, holding the blue tape and a thick box cutter, stopped.
"Second time?"
"Yeah! Ah, this is a secret, but. There's a young lady in the storage room right now! Don't be surprised, she says she's being chased by a murderer. Phew, it's so scary."
At those words, Chae Seo-ah's eyes turned to the convenience store auntie.
The emotion reflected in Chae Seo-ah's eyes at that moment was probably the clearest emotion in her life.