Chapter 153: Can? Can’t?
Like a bird.
The people looking up at him simultaneously had the same thought.
His long arms and legs swung beautifully in the air, and the hand reaching out towards Garami was desperate.
Whoosh!
How could he control his wire-suspended body so well? The director was momentarily dazed by Muyoung’s performance in the air.
“Garami!”
He barely came to his senses at the piercing scream, but Muyoung paused for a moment after making a flying gesture towards Garami.
It was time for the director’s cut signal.
“Okay, cut! Muyoung-ssi, Jinseo-ssi! Just wait a moment!”
“Haha. Muyoung’s body is really flexible.”
“Yeah. His lines are art.”
“Maybe because they’re young, they both have great energy!”
“Muyoung! Jinseo! You’re so cool! Come down and take a look later!”
Dangling in the air.
All that was left was the scene where their hands brushed against each other and the scene where Jinseo plummeted downwards first. Muyoung lightly swung his arms and legs, drawing a circle.
“Yes!”
Jinseo also gave an OK with her fingers, her eyes tightly shut. Jumping up was one thing, but being suspended in the air like this was enough to make her lose her mind.
“Wow! From up here, I can see the whole city!”
“If we’re lucky, we might even see Seoul!”
“Really?”
“Just kidding!”
Muyoung shaded his eyes with his hand and looked into the distance. So this is what a bird’s eye view is like. This is what it’s like to fly.
‘Wow.’
Acting based on imagination was good, but acting based on experience was the real deal. Muyoung tried to etch this special experience into his memory.
“Camera coming up!”
“Get into position!”
“Yes!”
At the staff’s words, Muyoung extended his arm. Jinseo also turned her body towards Muyoung, barely catching her trembling breath. Their fingertips almost touched.
“Here we go!”
“Ready?”
“Yes! Ready!”
Below was a thick, cushiony safety mat. Surrounding it were the elderly ghostly figures, looking up at them with equal parts curiosity and worry.
“Jinseo, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Ready! Action!”
The pitiful palms reaching out towards each other brushed past each other. Then the director’s voice came through the loudspeaker.
“Jinseo! Muyoung! One, two, three, go! Muyoung, on four!”
What had to come, came. The descent was even more insane than the jump. Jinseo set her position and hardened her expression.
“One, two-!”
“Ah.”
‘Jinseo.’
An involuntary sigh escaped. The Muyoung she faced reassured her with his gaze.
“Three! Four!”
Whoosh!
“Ahhhh-!”
Jinseo’s body plummeted downwards. The wire line spun smoothly, dropping her to the floor. And with about a one-second interval, Muyoung also descended.
“Garami!”
And their speed gradually decreased. With about 30 cm left from the mat, the two bodies rose again. It was as if they were pushing off the floor and getting up naturally.
“……?”
As if to say, ‘What just happened?’ Muyoung mimed grasping at the air and looked around. The building’s AI voice would come in about now.
“Mori?”
A signal indicating that the upgrade was complete and that the building’s protective barrier had saved them. Muyoung smiled slightly, as if he could hear Mori’s clear voice.
“Mori. Please. Do this kind of thing quickly.”
And she would reply.
- Mori did her best.
Ding!
Jinseo slowly descended, walking on air in amazement.
Muyoung did the same. The two glared at the staff member holding a sketchbook. Written on the paper was the word ‘tentacle monster.’
‘It’s really strange.’
Another staff member laughed at the sight. It was just a piece of paper held up for eye-line purposes, but how could they be so immersed? If it were him, he would have burst out laughing by now.
‘A profession that sees the unseen.’
It was a definition very similar to that of a shaman.
As someone thought that, Muyoung’s mind recalled the tentacle monster he had seen in the sketch.
A horrible creature coming to life before his eyes in an instant.
“Let’s do it again.”
It was time to face the fight again.
Muyoung raised his hand, exuding murderous intent.
“Mori!”
“Okay! Cut!”
The director gave a satisfied OK sign.
There was also a thank you for completing the high-difficulty aerial shoot in one take.
“Good job. Oh, well done. Well done.”
“Are your stomach and thighs okay?”
“Yes. It was perfect. So when I turned my body, there was no shaking.”
Muyoung smiled as he removed the wires. Jinseo also had a relaxed expression, satisfied with what she had accomplished. The director gave them a thumbs up and called them over.
“Look at the screen. It’s no joke.”
“To get it in one take is amazing, but you both looked so good.”
“Once it’s edited, the video will turn out great.”
The two of them checked the footage while the staff cleaned up the set.
“The scene transition will come in from this side.”
“Oh. Like that. That should be fine.”
“Good. My legs were shaking like crazy, but it didn’t show on camera. Haha.”
Being told when and how the edits would come in, they could picture the final result in their minds. The two met each other’s gaze and smiled.
Smack!
And without a word, they high-fived.
“We’ll continue with the rest.”
“Director, the next scene……”
“Muyoung-ssi, Jinseo-ssi, do you need to touch up your makeup?”
“Ah, just reapply my lipstick once.”
“I’m fine. Just some water……”
“Water! Where did the water bottle go?”
There were still small hurdles ahead, but the biggest mountain had been overcome. For a while, they would be acting with their feet on the ground.
“Heung!”
In the bustling set, Muyoung looked around for Gyeongmin. The manager was on the phone.
“The company called.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“No. Nothing much-”
He stuffed his phone into his pocket and handed over a water bottle.
“They said a variety show wants you.”
“Really? Which one?”
“J’s Find You.”
Muyoung, who was gulping down water, paused.
It was a pretty popular cable variety show, and just when you thought it was forgotten, it would make headlines. It was a hidden camera show targeting stars.
“Oh. That……”
“The company is trying to turn it down, but the PD is really persistent. Your image is so good.”
It was a show that started with a small curiosity about whether the public’s perception of a star’s image was real.
For celebrities from prestigious universities, there were segments testing their intellectual abilities, and for those considered loyal, there were situations testing that loyalty.
Of course, no celebrity wanted to break their positive image, so the show was often used to solidify or change their image in consultation with the production team.
‘Herbivore idol A is actually a beast?’
‘The ditzy persona is all an act~ Singer B is actually a brainy beauty!’
‘Loyalty icon C upholds loyalty even in extreme situations!’
And so on. The situations were so sensational that once they exploded, they were extraordinary. Muyoung gulped down water and asked,
“Isn’t it all coordinated?”
“It is, but if you show willingness to appear, you won’t know when they’ll strike.”
“Huh? So it’s a real hidden camera?”
As long as they gave their consent, the show would strike when they least expected it. Within a week. The production team’s stance was that they couldn’t kill the reality entirely.
“It’s tiring. I’m already tired. I have to be on edge for a whole week. And starting next week, I have photo shoots and commercials, so I’ll be busy.”
They would reveal the image they wanted to focus on, but not the situation or date. It was a half-hidden camera.
The cast had to be on their toes for a week, sticking to the image they wanted to maintain.
“But if I’m not changing my image, I can just be myself, right?”
“Well, you can, but it’s not that easy…… Is it? I don’t think it applies to you.”
“……? What do you mean?”
Muyoung seemed unaware of how difficult it was to be a celebrity with the same front and back.
He just recalled a clip he had seen recently and laughed.
“That show looks so fun. The mart customer brawl during the sale was amazing. Everyone fighting with green onions, haha. Thinking about it again, it’s funny. And the gym episode too. A middle schooler challenging someone to a 500-pound bench press, that’s insane. Haha.”
“It looks fun.”
“You’re in good form these days. It’s funny.”
Gyeongmin clicked his tongue and adjusted Muyoung’s clothes.
“So, should I tell the company that Muyoung wants to do it?”
“Yes. I’d like to, and if not, that’s fine too. I don’t hate it.”
Just one week. For some, it would be a time to set up all their radars and be on edge, but for Muyoung, it would be the same as always. They finished their standby preparations.
“Muyoung-ssi. Ready?”
“Yes! All set!”
“Good. This way, please.”
Muyoung ended the conversation and stood in front of the building again.
And he immersed himself in acting, coordinating with Jinseo. Gyeongmin, watching this, called the company.
Ding.
[Muyoung says it’ll be fun. He liked the clips. He’s fine with doing it or not, so please coordinate well with the company. We’re going into filming now.]
And he sat quietly, watching Muyoung.
The public’s current perception of Muyoung was clear, clean, pure, and kind……
“That’s right. It’s Ha Muyoung.”
A celebrity with the same front and back.
A rare existence, like finding a needle in a haystack, was right in front of him. Muyoung smiled and waved, and Gyeongmin responded by raising his hand.
“Muyoung-ssi! Let’s go!”
“Yes! Let’s!”
“Ready-!”
The loudspeaker sounded refreshingly. Muyoung instantly changed his expression and glared straight ahead. His ability to immerse himself in an instant was indeed impressive.
“Action!”
“Ahhhh!”
Bang! Bang!
Gunshots echoed through the quiet forest. The protagonist’s struggle for survival continued.
“Is Ha Muyoung going to do it?”
“He wants to coordinate. I think he’s trying to solidify his image.”
The PD of J’s Find You sipped his coffee and nodded. Ha Muyoung had a rare and well-received pure male image these days. If he succeeds in solidifying it, he’ll be almost unparalleled in this genre.
“Good to hear. Then let’s schedule the shoot for next week according to his schedule.”
“The company begged us to keep it mild. They say he’s like a rubber ball.”
The writer smiled slyly. Judging by his track record, he was definitely an unusual character. The writer’s words made the PD ponder, arms crossed.
“Really? Mild? A kind and pure guy going mild wouldn’t be that interesting…… Where are Ha Muyoung’s research materials?”
“The intern went to get them.”
“He does appear on variety shows from time to time, but what really stood out was the Abandoned School Experience on Out of This World Smile.”
“Right. That one had rigging controversies.”
“Let’s go over all of Ha Muyoung’s materials and set the concept.”
“Yes. Got it. Should we do that after lunch?”
Given the good things he’d heard about Ha Muyoung in the industry, the PD knew his personality and image matched to some extent.
So, going a bit stronger wouldn’t be bad……
“What should we do? What kind of side of Muyoung do our viewers want to see?”
The writer, who had been looking through related articles and materials, looked up.
“Does Ha Muyoung not get angry…… or can’t he get angry?”