Chapter 37: Yuna Protects

After that, the reading proceeded smoothly.

Was it the power of chocolate, or the power of having her friend Louis by her side? Yuna was no longer lost. Foul language and repulsive situations unfolded, but the child managed to pull off the role of Jaeni perfectly.

“No! Please!”

“Don’t do that. Let’s calm down, everyone!”

“Aaaah-!”

“Okay. Good. Very good! There, scream more desperately, as if you’re tearing apart. Like your throat is being slit…… Oh, that’s a bit of a harsh expression. Sorry, Yuna.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Anyway, scream with all that malice.”

“Yes, I understand.”

With nothing to hold them back, the actors were able to immerse themselves deeply in their roles. As the drama intensified, so did their focus and passion.

“Jaeni! Jaeni!”

And among them, the one who truly shone was Muyoung. He didn’t seem to be acting—he just felt like Louis himself.

‘Ha! This is fun.’

The veteran actors had to tremble at the freshness they hadn’t felt in a long time. Especially Seong Hyejoon. Having worked continuously since her debut, she realized something for the first time upon seeing Muyoung.

‘I’ve fallen into a rut.’

It was the sense of powerlessness in her daily life that she hadn’t even been aware of. It was art, it was work, but over the years, hadn’t her acting become mechanical?

‘Cry when the director tells you to cry, laugh when he tells you to laugh.’

She was a master at script analysis, to the point where she could predict the ending just by reading the scenario. That’s why you always need new experiences. New people, new encounters.

Especially a fresh rookie like Muyoung, who could stimulate her work!

“It’s good.”

“What is?”

Hyojung quietly turned her head.

“Something new.”

“……?”

So that’s why she likes dating? Hyejoon smiled faintly at the almost self-reflective thought.

Of course, not just her, but everyone who’d been in the industry for a while was thinking something similar.

“Come on. It’s already gotten this late. Let’s take a ten-minute break and then continue.”

The director, who had been focused on the reading, came to his senses at the staff member’s signal. Two hours had passed in the blink of an eye. Yuna seemed a bit tired, leaning halfway against Muyoung.

“As I said earlier, extras can look at the script and leave early if you want. Now, I need to have some coffee. Yuna and Muyoung, just a moment.”

In a way, it was a reasonable decision. It’s a bit much to spend half a day for just a few lines, right?

At the director’s instruction, the actors stretched and took a breath, and Muyoung and Yuna got up and approached him.

“What’s the matter?”

In response to Muyoung’s question, the director smiled and said,

“Yeah, it’s nothing, just about the shooting schedule.”

The work would begin in the summer. There was a lot to take care of, like building the set, but more importantly, there was Yuna’s schedule.

“Child actors under 15 can’t shoot more than 35 hours a week. If it’s a holiday, they can go until midnight, but otherwise, they can’t work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day.”

There were time restrictions. For other projects, it wouldn’t be a big problem if they coordinated well, but…… Yuna was the lead. She was the main character who appeared in almost every scene.

“So, Yuna will probably have to start shooting earlier than the other actors.”

“Earlier? Mom didn’t say anything about that.”

“Yeah, I’m telling you first today. Since it’s Yuna’s job, Yuna should know first.”

The director’s words showed respect for the child. Yuna grabbed Muyoung’s clothes and smiled bashfully.

“It’s better to get whatever we can shoot done before the set is built. That way, the work will be easier in various ways.”

Like production costs, for example, right?

Muyoung guessed what the director was trying to say. Since Louis was involved in most of the scenes with Jaeni, he wanted to move up the shooting schedule for him as well, right?

“How much earlier?”

It would be a bit difficult if it overlaps with the final exams.

When he asked cautiously, the director waved his hand.

“No, like I said before, for Muyoung, think summer. Even if it changes, it’ll be by a week? It’s already progressing quickly, so pushing it further would be rushed. Right? Haha.”

“So, only I have to start early?”

“Yeah, only Yuna first. Let’s get her individual shots.”

From the time a production is decided, there’s usually a preparation period of two to three months. But with a highly polished script, smooth casting, and investment support, everything was going well.

“Then why me……?”

“It’s not shooting, but if possible, I’d like you to attend.”

He looked completely clueless. The director patted Yuna’s head and said,

“I see that Yuna really looks up to Muyoung. She’s stable when acting with him. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. I like Muyoung oppa. He’s just like Louis, so I’m not scared when I’m with him.”

When Muyoung heard the child’s words, his heart ached. He was moved once by her pure affection, and again by the fact that she saw him as Louis!

“Whenever you have time, come by the set often and keep an eye on things. Yuna will do well, but I’m actually worried.”

“If you’re worried……”

“She’s a child. The shooting location can be a bit rough. Plus, the project is intense. Even though a guardian will accompany her, I think she’ll need more emotional support.”

Ah. Muyoung swallowed a small gasp.

He’d heard that Director Jin Gyeongmun cared about the welfare of the set, but he hadn’t expected this much. Even for adults, all-night shoots and hard scenes are grueling. It would be even harder for a child.

“It’s my first time working with a child as the lead, so I’m very worried.”

He seemed determined to do everything he could to accommodate the child actor.

Yuna’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at Muyoung. As if to ask if he would come.

“Of course. I’ll make time to come by often.”

“Yay! Great!”

“I appreciate it if you can do that.”

Even without the director’s request, he had planned to do so. It was the same when he was filming the web drama. Getting to know the staff and learning various things was a worthwhile choice.

“I’ll organize Yuna’s schedule as it’s confirmed and let you know. Don’t feel too pressured.”

“It’s not a burden. If Jaeni’s comfortable, I’m comfortable.”

Muyoung unconsciously referred to Yuna as Jaeni. The director sipped his coffee and asked,

“By the way, Muyoung, where did you learn acting?”

“Me? BV Academy!”

“I heard you haven’t been acting for long, but you’ve really found the right path. I don’t say this to just anyone, you know.”

Muyoung smiled and expressed his gratitude. He knew this was the highest praise a director could give before shooting.

“Thank you. I’ll work harder.”

“Okay. I’ll contact you with the details later, so get some rest. Assistant director!”

He finished the rest of his coffee and left the meeting room. Outside the door, Ko Gyeongmin was pacing back and forth.

“Hyung. It’s okay. Come in.”

“How was it? Did you do well? Can I get you something to drink or eat?”

He rushed over and checked the atmosphere in the office. A full two hours. During that time, he had been standing right in front of the door, cheering Muyoung on with a parent’s heart.

“He did well.”

At that moment, Seong Hyejoon, who was sitting across from him, chimed in. Her lips were moist from a sip of water.

“The manager has nothing to worry about. Is he really a rookie?”

“Thank you.”

“I’m Seong Hyejoon. Nice to meet you. You have a big gap between when you’re acting and when you’re not, huh?”

She extended her hand for a handshake. Muyoung accepted it without much thought, taking it as a friendly gesture, but the atmosphere around them was oddly restless. That was because……

‘Is it her turn this time?’

Seong Hyejoon was known for having dating rumors with her co-stars whenever she worked on a project. She denied it, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

“The seniors are really amazing.”

“Really? Hearing that from you makes me feel awkward. Thank you. How old are you?”

“Twenty.”

“Ah.”

He’s too young. As Hyejoon just smiled, Muyoung tilted his head in confusion. Ko Gyeongmin was giving him signals from behind.

“Can I talk to you for a second, Muyoung?”

“Huh? Yeah, sure.”

He’d forgotten the most important thing: to stay away from Seong Hyejoon, no matter what. As Ko Gyeongmin tried to pull Muyoung away, she stood up.

“I should buy our junior a cup of coffee. You drink coffee at twenty, right?”

“Me? I don’t.”

Green tea, not coffee.

At Muyoung’s response, Hyejoon flinched slightly. She couldn’t tell if he was being innocent or playing her. She smiled brightly again.

“Really? Then how about we grab a meal after this? I didn’t expect it to take this long today. I’m so hungry.”

“Yeah, I’m hungry too.”

“There’s a restaurant I know just a little ways from here—”

Muyoung, munching on chocolate, just blinked, as if to say, Keep talking.

‘Are you fucking clueless?’

The words got stuck in Hyejoon’s throat. She tried to hide her fading excitement and wondered what to say.

“Unnie—”

It was then that Yuna, who had been clinging to Muyoung, moved over to Hyejoon. She smiled brightly, her dimples showing.

“I’m hungry too.”

“Huh?”

“Yuna, get me some chocolate milk and bread instead of coffee.”

Why is she acting like this all of a sudden? Hyejoon was flustered but maintained her composure. She even gently patted the child’s back.

“Is that okay? You need to eat a lot, a lot.”

“Really?”

That was until Yuna shouted at the director, who was entering the meeting room.

“Director! Hyejoon unnie said she’ll buy us food because we’re hungry. A lot of delicious food.”

“What? Really? How unusual.”

“Hyejoon unnie is pretty and has a heart of an angel. An angel. She said there’s a delicious restaurant nearby.”

“Really? But the reading isn’t over yet, and there are a lot of people, so ordering might be better. There was a sandwich shop……”

The director excitedly called over the staff.

“What’s the exact address here?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Hyejoon said she’ll treat everyone to a meal after the first reading because we all worked hard. Haha.”

“Oh, really?”

The atmosphere suddenly became strange. Muyoung just clapped with an “Ohh—” expression, while Ko Gyeongmin smiled awkwardly and looked away.

“No, that’s—”

“Unnie, thank you.”

Yuna bowed deeply, sealing the deal. Then the production team and company staff thanked Hyejoon as well. What could she do? She just smiled and looked for her bag.

‘What the hell is this?’

‘Why? Is there a problem?’

Amidst the sparkling laughter, the two women exchanged a silent battle. Muyoung raised his hand and shouted to a staff member,

“I’ll have an egg mayo sandwich!”

“I’ll have the same as oppa!”

Yuna dashed over and sat on Muyoung’s lap. Hyejoon watched them, arms crossed. She let out a laugh of disbelief and handed her card to her manager.

“Unnie, let’s just do our work quietly this time.”

“What did I do?”

“Quietly, just buy the sandwiches.”

At Hyojung’s playful words, Hyejoon stuck out her tongue. She thought the kid was smart, but she didn’t expect her to be this sharp. Don’t underestimate her, or you’ll get burned.

“But Yuna.”

“Yes?”

Looking at Yuna’s round head, Muyoung suddenly remembered Director Jin Gyeongmun’s worried expression.

And Yuna, who had flinched at Lee Hijun’s shout earlier.

“You know this is all acting, right?”

He and Yuna, who had to become the character herself, were different. He hoped her life could be separated, like turning a switch on and off. Yuna thought for a moment and replied,

“I’ll try. But Jaeni isn’t that hard either. After all, Louis protects her.”

“That’s right. Jaeni has Louis.”

Then, making her small hand into a blade, she raised her arm like Bruce Lee.

“So, oppa protects Yuna.”

“Me? Protect you from what?”

Ahyow—!

Yuna raised her eyebrows and glared behind Muyoung. At the end of her gaze was Seong Hyejoon. The two made eye contact and then smiled again.

“There is. The shooting location is a really scary place.”

Muyoung had no idea what she meant, but he just nodded in agreement.