Chapter 110: Festival
“Muyoung! You’re here again today?”
“Hello!”
Even without a shooting schedule, Muyoung tried to be on set as much as possible. He was the lead, after all, and it was a project he had staked everything on. Plus, being around turned out to be surprisingly useful.
“Can you hold this for me?”
“Sure thing. Thanks.”
“Hey, Muyoung, sorry to bother you, but could you help with this too?”
“Yeah, no problem! Wow, that’s pretty heavy!”
He became the hands and feet of the staff handling odd jobs—
“Muyoung, could you run lines with me for a second?”
Or an assistant for emotional immersion and line practice for the actors currently shooting. At Mr. Kang Seongbae’s call, Muyoung smiled readily.
“It’s getting warmer, Mr. Kang.”
“Yeah, summer’s here. How’s school?”
“Going well. There’s a festival at school today. It’s a morning shoot, so I could make it. I’ll probably head over while you’re working.”
“Youngster. Enjoy it.”
Mr. Kang Seongbae clicked his tongue and held up the script. Today, only Mr. Kang was shooting among the actors. The rest were extras and bit parts.
Since it was the weekend, fewer staff were at work.
“Which part should I start from?”
“Scene 85, second line.”
“Oh, I thought this would be tough as soon as I saw it. Not the easiest lines to deliver, huh?”
Muyoung and Mr. Kang Seongbae sat at a stall and exchanged lines. Despite his age, Mr. Kang’s voice carried strength. His enunciation was solid, and his gaze unwavering.
It was a mystery how such a slender man could become so powerful once he was in character.
“–Could I bum a smoke?”
“Pay off your tab first.”
After practicing two pages straight, Kang Seongbae reached for water, his throat seemingly parched. Muyoung neatly opened the cap and handed it to him.
Kang Seongbae smiled, thinking the kid was quite something.
“Muyoung, you don’t seem like a typical young person these days.”
“Weirdly, I hear that a lot.”
He grinned. Kang Seongbae, lost in memories, muttered,
“It’s rare to find someone so diligent. Acting is about the rhythm between people, but these days, young actors seem scared of genuine human connection.”
The ice in the water bottle clinked.
Muyoung listened to the older man’s words with pleasure. Maybe because he didn’t have grandparents, he enjoyed listening to elders.
“The atmosphere seems to be like that.”
“Yeah, if you think it’s just the way society’s going, it is what it is, but it’s still a shame.”
“Once you connect with someone, it’s really great. If you stay in this business long enough, you’ll keep running into the same people.”
“Do you think acting suits you, Muyoung?”
“I love it. My dream and goal are to act for as long as you have, Mr. Kang.”
As they chatted casually, a staff member gave the standby signal.
Muyoung clenched his fists in encouragement for Kang Seongbae.
“Mr. Kang, fighting!”
“Heh, fighting.”
The man stood on the road, his body dry and lean. Muyoung squatted by the camera, watching him. There was always something to learn from watching a veteran like him act.
“How dare you! Over a lousy five grand!”
“What else could it be? A bum like you can’t even cough up five grand!”
The scene continued for quite a while as he exchanged lines with an extra. Thinking it was about time to head to school, Muyoung started to get up—
“Huh?”
Something familiar caught his eye.
Black Smog was emanating from Mr. Kang Seongbae’s back. Muyoung’s eyes widened, and he was at a loss for words.
“That’s…”
He had never seen anything like it before.
The smog split into two wing-like shapes, stretching toward the sky, resembling the wings of a black angel.
“Muyoung, what’s wrong?”
A staff member holding a cable whispered. While everyone else was focused on Kang Seongbae’s intense performance, only Muyoung noticed the ashen smog.
“…Nothing.”
The smog dissipated like dust in the wind, and the shoot wrapped up smoothly.
With the director’s approval, Kang Seongbae reached for water again.
“Muyoung, weren’t you heading to school?”
“Yeah, I was just about to leave, Mr. Kang.”
“Hmm?”
Kang Seongbae handed the water bottle to his manager and laughed as if nothing was wrong. Muyoung hesitated, then asked cautiously,
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
The Black Smog. But the wing-like shape he’d never seen before. And how it had vanished so quickly. Everything felt unfamiliar, yet something about it felt instinctively significant.
“Unwell? At my age, it’s harder to find something that’s not wrong. Why? Did something seem off during the scene just now?”
Kang Seongbae paused slightly before answering, his tone hesitant. Muyoung shook his head and smiled.
“No, what are you talking about?”
“Mr. Kang, could you take a look at the monitor for a second?”
“Oh, sure. Alright, Muyoung, see you later.”
“Yeah, I’ll head in now! Everyone, good work!”
Muyoung bowed deeply to Kang Seongbae and the staff, then headed down to the parking lot.
Knock knock—
“Gah!”
After waking Ko Gyeongmin, who was snoring, Muyoung sat in the front seat. The manager wiped his mouth and asked,
“How was the shoot? Heading to school now?”
“It was good. As always. Mr. Kang’s acting was flawless.”
“Then why do you look so weird?”
Ko Gyeongmin asked as he drove, but Muyoung didn’t respond. He simply groaned and pressed his forehead against the cool window, lost in thought about the smog’s meaning and Kang Seongbae’s odd tone.
“Three more kimchi pancakes!”
“Senior, we’re running out of eggs!”
“Hey, where’s the money bag?”
“The treasurer took it for a mid-count.”
Seoyeon University’s festival was one of the most renowned college festivals.
Thanks to its massive scale, it featured not only student stalls but also food trucks from nearby vendors.
The department head and the president glanced at their watches, muttering anxiously.
“Why isn’t he here yet?”
“I don’t know. He said he left.”
The reason for their restlessness was—
“Isn’t this Ha Muyoung’s department?”
“Where is Ha Muyoung?”
“What? He’s not here?”
They had heavily promoted Ha Muyoung’s name for the event. Muyoung had promised to help, so why was he so late?
“Come on, let’s go.”
“I told you, we’ll come when he shows up on SNS.”
“We should’ve gone to the Business department. Their food is supposed to be amazing.”
“Let’s shoot the English department next. You know, the one with the super good-looking guy.”
The crowd that had gathered since morning, hoping to see him, was starting to dwindle.
At this rate, not only would they fail to earn student council funds, but they’d also lose the “Top Sales Award,” a competition between departments.
“Ahh—!”
Just then, a tall figure waved from a distance.
“Ha Muyoung!”
“Sorry I’m late!”
Even from afar, his radiant, noble aura was striking. The department head and president welcomed him like a savior.
“You’re not late! Perfect timing!”
“Squee! Senior Muyoung’s here!”
“Hi, Senior!”
“Hi, hi! So, what should I do? Flip pancakes? Or, um, mix batter? I’m pretty good with food.”
Muyoung rolled up his sleeves and looked for an apron.
The department head smiled meaningfully and grasped both his hands tightly.
“Why would someone as valuable as you flip pancakes?”
“Huh? Then what?”
“Go change into this.”
Muyoung took the paper bag he handed over. Inside was crinkly black fabric. What was this? Before he could ask, he was pushed toward the bathroom.
“Uhh…”
It was a No-Face costume.
He pulled the black cloth over his head, leaving only his face exposed. When Muyoung emerged, everyone clapped in satisfaction.
“Perfect! Now all the focus will be on that handsome face!”
“Wait—”
“Maximum efficiency at minimum cost!”
“Excuse me?”
“Just walk around this area holding this menu board. Slowly, like you’re floating. Got it?”
Before he could protest, the department head pressed the sign into his hands. It was convenient, but was this really okay? He had come expecting to flip pancakes.
“Whoa, it’s Ha Muyoung.”
As he stood awkwardly, people immediately recognized him. Muyoung smiled sheepishly and looked at the department head.
‘Are you serious?’
‘For the Top Sales Award, my friend.’
The Top Sales Award from the school came with a special privilege: a modest scholarship for one student from the department and the department’s name listed as a regular donor.
And that wasn’t all. During stage events, they’d get priority for the best seats.
“Senior, please!”
“We’re begging you!”
Freshmen pleaded with their hands clasped. Muyoung cleared his throat, brought his hands together like a T-Rex, and—
“Ah— Ahh—”
“Is that Ha Muyoung?”
“Ahh—”
“Hahaha! What is this?”
“Ha Muyoung’s here! Can I get a picture?”
As he played along, the crowd surged. People whipped out their phones, and many even asked for autographs.
“Form a line—!”
A student in a hanbok shouted, organizing the queue. With the crowd, orders poured in, and coupons piled up in the money box.
“Muyoung oppa! Say my name!”
“Ahh—”
“Squee! So cute! Oppa, can I take a picture?”
“Hey! How dare you actually use Ha Muyoung like this? You jerks from the Korean Literature department!”
“Then you bring your own celeb~”
The neighboring booths thrived, but the other departments were deserted. The crowd was overwhelming, almost suffocating.
“Form a line—!”
The voice of a junior acting as a safety officer grew louder.
“One kimchi pancake and one tteokbokki here!”
“And a slushie makgeolli, please.”
“Is it for here or to go? Ten thousand won!”
“Fried food here!”
Ahh— Muyoung unnecessarily channeled his inner No-Face. It felt like a waste of talent.
He kept promoting until all the ingredients were gone.
“Eat here— Ahh—”
“Haha! No-Face is talking!”
“Senior! This is the last plate!”
“Go buy more ingredients— Quickly!”
The sales continued until sunset. By the time the school-mandated closing time of 7 PM arrived, they had restocked ingredients twice. Drenched in sweat, Muyoung removed the black cloth and gasped for air.
“Phew! Finally done!”
“Good job, Muyoung!”
“How was it? Did we do well?”
As he shook out his wet hair and asked, the department head and president grinned.
It was a record-breaking success! Not only a new high for their department but the highest sales in the festival’s history!
“Three hundred.”
“In one day? Three hundred? How much profit did you guys make?”
“Business was good, my friend. We’re taking this year’s championship! Hahaha!”
“Woohoo!”
Everyone cheered and guzzled cold water.
All that was left was the grueling cleanup and a congratulatory performance accompanied by fireworks. When Muyoung reached for a mop, everyone stopped him.
“Never mind that, come with us.”
“Huh? Why? I need to clean—”
“Ah, Senior! Hurry!”
They dragged Muyoung away to an open field in front of the student union building, right in the heart of campus and the busiest pathway.
“Huh?”
And there, smack in the middle, was a banner.
It featured Muyoung’s bright smile and the words, ‘Congratulations to Ha Muyoung on his Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor Award!’
“Seoyeon’s pride, Ha Muyoung? Haha! What’s this!”
“How do you like it? We paid for this out of our own pockets. Pretty, right?”
Muyoung stood in front of it, moved. He smiled as widely as he could, making a V sign.
“Take a picture!”
“Okay!”
Click!
His department friends crowded around like reporters, snapping photos with their phones. Muyoung leaned casually against the banner, feeling happy.
Just then, fireworks erupted in the night sky.
Whoosh— Boom! Boom!
“Huh? The show’s starting, I think.”
“Let’s go!”
Muyoung ran in the direction his friends were pulling him. It was a joy and happiness he had never felt before. He realized there were still new emotions to experience.
Zzzzhh— Zzzzhh—
“Come with us!”
Following them, he didn’t notice the call from his director.