Chapter 106: Flex
A tipsy Lee Yujin took a sip of her beer. “Usually, the reward vacation is decided before the finale, right?”
When Muyoung looked puzzled, she corrected herself.
“I mean, sponsorship. I’m thinking of gathering the cast for a one-off travel variety show. If the <You are a Star, I am a Star> members go, they said they can sponsor the accommodations and flights.”
“Wow, really?”
“What do you think? Want to do it?”
Perhaps she was referring to the variety travel program
“Where are we going?”
“I’ll decide based on the members’ schedules once they’re confirmed.”
“Can we really just play freely when we get there?”
“Of course. Think of it as a vacation. A vacation.”
From the mention of flights, it must be at least Jeju Island.
Muyoung, who had never flown before, was excited and kept nodding. Then, she pleaded with Romin, who was sitting next to her.
“Romin, let’s definitely go, okay? A free trip is rare.”
“I’ll see if I can make it work.”
“Yes!”
The camera director, who was also tipsy, jokingly teased the excited Muyoung.
“You know you have to take your shoes off when boarding a plane, right?”
“Director! I’m not that much of a country bumpkin. What kind of joke is that?”
“Haha! Sorry. Have a good trip. Don’t forget to lift your butt slightly when the plane takes off.”
“Huh? Why?”
“It helps the plane take off smoothly.”
“Really?”
“It’s true. They announce it. They say to fasten your seatbelt and lift your butt slightly.”
The camera director was joking seriously, and Muyoung’s eyes widened in confusion. She had no way of knowing if he was telling the truth.
She signaled to those around her, but no one responded.
“You don’t have to, but it helps reduce the turbulence.”
“Really?”
“Hahaha! She’s so gullible!”
Everyone laughed and drowned their amusement in their drinks. Muyoung, unaware of the joke, listened intently to the director’s “advice.” That night, everyone celebrated Baek Sang’s victory and drank endlessly.
“Drink up!”
“Cheers!”
“Congratulations, Muyoung!”
“Director, you’ve said that five times already.”
It was a wild night.
“Jinrim and Kang Seongbae?”
It was the day of the
Jinrim was a veteran actor with decades of experience in both film and television, and Kang Seongbae had nearly fifty years of experience in theater.
“Amazing, right?”
“Even Jinrim, but I’ve never seen Kang Seongbae in a film before.”
“Me neither.”
Ko Gyeongmin smiled and turned the steering wheel.
For a debut director, the lineup was impressive. They must have seen the value in the script as well.
“Wow, I’m so nervous.”
She had rarely worked with such masters before.
In
It was a day to meet the “real” actors.
“If there’s a dinner after the reading, you’ll go, right?”
“Of course. I really want to get to know the teachers.”
They had decades of experience, as much as Muyoung’s age. There was much to learn from them.
As Muyoung exhaled nervously, Ko Gyeongmin muttered to himself.
“She’s so unusual. She’s not even uncomfortable around seniors.”
It was a good attitude, but not common.
There was a generational gap, and they were from an older era, so discomfort was natural. Even Ko Gyeongmin felt a bit burdened just thinking about it.
“Should we grab some drinks on the way?”
“The company probably prepared something.”
“Really? We’re almost there, right?”
“Yeah, just one more light. But you’ve been offering to buy things a lot lately. Always wanting to treat someone.”
Muyoung just laughed at Ko Gyeongmin’s words.
Money kept coming in, but she had nowhere to spend it. No rent, and BORNTORE sent her new clothes daily. Apart from food, there was nothing…
“They say only those who have spent money can spend it. This is the only way I know how. Thanks to me, Junho has gained some weight.”
“From all the food deliveries, right?”
“The funny thing is, I order it, but only Junho eats it.”
She had just realized that her bank account could have nine digits.
As they arrived at the
“Hello.”
“Ah! Ha Muyoung!”
“Perfect timing. Congratulations on the Best New Actor award.”
“Thank you.”
As she greeted the staff and went inside, Taeseok, Na Geumdong, and Bora were already seated.
Taeseok had finished his schedule, and Na Geumdong had picked him up.
“You’re here?”
“You all arrived early.”
The atmosphere was definitely different from other projects.
<You are a Star, I am a Star> was a commercial drama, so there were journalists and even documentary promotions.
“But today, there are only five seats.”
Just enough chairs for the main and supporting cast.
The production couldn’t accommodate all the minor roles, and their parts were small, so they had prepared accordingly.
Director Bae Cheolmin stood up to greet her.
“The weather is nice today, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. But why the new script?”
There was a new script on each seat. Muyoung took hers out of her bag.
The pages were worn, marked with various colored highlights, notes, and fingerprints.
“Can I use my old one?”
“Ah, well—”
Squeak.
The director hesitated as the two teachers arrived.
“Hello.”
“Hello, teachers!”
Jinrim, in her fifties, played a middle-aged truck driver, and Kang Seongbae, in his sixties, played a lingerie thief.
“Nice to meet you.”
Jinrim gracefully greeted everyone. They all stood up and bowed to the two veterans.
Kang Seongbae chuckled and waved his hand.
“Sit down, everyone. No need to stand on ceremony.”
“I thought you’d be late, but you’re right on time.”
Their aura was extraordinary.
The aura of those who had dedicated their lives to their craft. Steady, solid, and exuding ease.
“I want to age like that.”
Muyoung murmured to herself, admiring their style.
The production manager brought in tea as they began the reading.
“Shall we start? Director Bae Cheolmin?”
“Yes? Oh! Hello, I’m director Bae Cheolmin. Thank you for working on
He then turned to the group. With so few people, and since Muyoung, Taeseok, and Bora already knew each other, there was no need for formalities. Taeseok spoke first.
“I’m Taeseok. It’s an honor to work with the teachers. Oh, and I’m playing the host.”
“I’m Kang Bora, playing the nurse. I’ll do my best.”
“I’m Ha Muyoung, playing the vampire—”
As Muyoung stood to introduce herself, the two teachers smiled warmly and adjusted their glasses to get a better look at her.
“I know you. Aren’t you the one who just won the Baek Sang Best New Actor award?”
“Yes, that’s me, teachers.”
“You’re a great actor. I also saw Taeseok as the bodyguard, and Kang Bora in
Everyone laughed in surprise.
It was unbelievable and an honor that such great actors had watched their recent works.
“They’re my colleagues, so I had to check them out. Isn’t that right, teacher?”
“Of course. I watched them all thanks to Jinrim.”
“Wow, it’s an honor, teachers.”
The five actors’ warm greetings made not only the production staff but also the managers smile. The director, who was sitting beside them, had nothing to add.
“Shall we start the reading?”
“Let’s do it. The script is just too good.”
“I read it once and immediately said yes.”
“Ah, teachers, you should use this script.”
“Huh? Why?”
The teachers also took out their well-worn scripts, analyzed and annotated for their characters and the work. Why were they being given new ones?
“Actually, there are some changes.”
“Where?”
“Scenes 71 to 75, and 127 to 134.”
“Let me see…”
They put on their reading glasses and flipped through the pages. Muyoung, Taeseok, and Bora also followed the director’s instructions, checking the changes.
“We had to make some adjustments due to budget issues.”
The first part was the vampire’s first experience of pleasure in the world, and the latter was the truck driver’s flashback of her husband’s accident.
Muyoung tilted her head in confusion.
“How so?”
“The club scene required too many extras, so we changed it to a room and went straight to the drug scene. The truck accident, which was supposed to be shown in full, will now only be heard.”
There was nothing they could do about the budget. The other actors were disappointed but understood.
“The changes aren’t bad.”
“Fortunately, they’re compromises we can work with.”
“Still, it’s a bit disappointing, director.”
“It’s alright. I think the changes will still make for good scenes. With such great actors…”
The director’s response made the production manager clear his throat unnecessarily. After all, securing investments was also his responsibility, so he felt apologetic.
Muyoung laid out both scripts and compared the changes.
“Hmm.”
“Shall we begin?”
“The first scene is a wide shot, so we’ll skip it. Muyoung, your first line?”
“Ah, yes. Got it.”
Muyoung, who had been lost in thought, responded to the director. And her first line.
“Again.”
Tonight—the vampire’s night is the same.
The streets are filled with staggering drunks and their vomit. Drunk pedestrians lusting for each other. Noisy, rude, and insane humans.
“Oh, hello. A new face?”
“How did you find this place?”
“I brought her. I saw her wandering weakly at the same time every day. I thought she might be one of us.”
The reading proceeded smoothly.
They skipped what needed skipping and repeatedly analyzed and interpreted the important parts, thoroughly digesting the work.
“I won’t be here next time. I’ll actually be sleeping.”
“Hah! In your dreams.”
“Old man, don’t laugh like that. You sound like a pervert.”
“Why? Want me to call you ‘grandpa’ again?”
The five actors’ lines clashed intensely.
Their voices and eyes seemed to have lived those lives. Every small detail of the characters was there.
“Oh, come on!”
“Hey, that’s not how you talk.”
“Intentions aside, that’s how I heard it!”
For example, Taeseok, playing the host, constantly held his phone, and Jinrim, the truck driver, kept rubbing her shoulders as if they ached.
Slam!
Taeseok’s fist hit the table sharply, filled with anger. It felt like a game in the ring had ended. After that, everyone fell silent and looked at each other.
The two teachers smiled and took off their glasses.
“Wow, you’re all amazing!”
“Yeah, kids these days are different.”
Flattered by the teachers’ praise, Taeseok, Bora, and Muyoung shyly thanked them. It felt like walking on a tightrope—tense but thrilling.
“This is fun. Should we take a short break?”
“Yes, let’s, teachers.”
At their request, a break was called. Some went to the bathroom, others got coffee. As they rested…
“Hyung, can I talk to you for a moment?”
Muyoung called Ko Gyeongmin.
She also gestured to the production manager and director. The four gathered in a small room, and Muyoung spoke.
“Director, about the changes. Are they really necessary, or is it just about the budget?”
“What do you mean…?”
It was a small point, but the script that had first captivated Muyoung wasn’t like this. Especially if the changes were due to money… it was disappointing.
“Looking at it, the cost of extras and an old truck shouldn’t be that much. It’s a shame to change the script for that.”
What was she getting at?
The three men focused on Muyoung’s words.
“I’ll contribute to the production budget. I’ll invest, just a little. Let’s film it the way we want.”