Jun-seong and I gauged the mood on set through the TV in the waiting room.
Saying he had always wanted to see Jeong Jisu in person, Jun-seong had come to the studio; when he said he was the producer of <Desirelessness> and <Night>, they allowed him to stay backstage.
The talk show began, and as soon as Jun-sik entered he tripped; I pinched my brow, but beside me Jun-seong beamed.
“Junsik‑hyung’s good. Strong in a live setting.”
“What on earth did you teach him?”
“How to raise his market value.”
Folding his arms as if proud, Jun-seong tilted his head back.
“To the general public, being handsome and cool is only a moment. And Junsik‑hyung isn’t handsome or cool, so… we needed a substitute, heh‑heh. Want to know what it is?”
“Don’t care.”
Fixing my gaze on the monitor, I dodged the sparkle in his eyes.
“That’s why people need to watch TV, you know? How can a guy making movies not know this? Let this big brother enlighten you!”
When I kept pretending not to care, he prowled in front of me to get attention.
“Ah, move.”
“Curious, right? You’re curious, huh? Right?”
Pushing his face right up to mine, he pleaded for me to ask.
“Crazy guy. Fine. What is it?”
When I finally asked, he flung his arms wide as though he’d made a grand discovery.
“Cuteness is king! Junsik‑hyung has to go with a cute persona!”
“You… don’t tell me you made him fall on purpose at the start?”
“Of course! Klutzy charm! Don’t you get how cute that is?”
“Good grief…”
As I sighed, he smirked and launched into an excited spiel, saying even plague‑bearing rats became Mickey Mouse—no matter how scary something is, slap on cuteness and it’s over.
“Okay, quiet down so I can watch.”
Jeong Jisu and Junsik‑hyung seemed to mesh nicely.
It wasn’t a one‑sided interview; their conversation felt genuinely interactive.
When Jun-sik spoke of the hardships back in the troupe, Jeong Jisu listened with tears in his eyes, and when he heard how I had gone to the convenience store where he worked to hand him the audition script, he looked moved.
He simply recounted his story calmly, yet the appeal was strong enough that even though I already knew it, I got drawn in.
I didn’t notice the staff member approach until she was right beside me.
“Director Gyeong Chan-hyeon.”
“Ah, yes?”
“Are you ready? You’ll be on soon.”
“The vibe is good out there, right?”
She nodded with a smile.
“Yes. I think we’ll get solid ratings. They’ve veered off the script a lot, but Jeong Jisu seems to enjoy it. The mood’s great. The PD was grinning, said the shot looks good.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Do well! Support Junsik‑hyung properly!”
Leaving Jun-seong’s nagging behind, the staffer led me backstage.
From behind the set I heard more banter.
“Haha, when I saw you in <Desirelessness> I never guessed you’d be this fun. In the film you play such a miserable father, so I imagined you’d be stern and serious. But you’re actually adorable and down‑to‑earth?”
“Haha… thank you.”
After hyung answered, the PD signaled Jeong Jisu, who nodded and said,
“Now… we’ll wrap up this topic here and the next corner is…”
As he trailed off, the audience buzzed with anticipation.
It felt contrived to me—vintage variety style.
“It’s time for the Surprise Guest!”
With Jeong’s shout, the crowd cheered, and the banter continued.
“Who do you think might have come?”
“I really have no idea. Who could it be…?”
Park Jun-sik used every facial muscle to look clueless; seeing him devote himself even to useless acting made me chuckle.
“Please put on the blindfold.”
“Yes!”
Slipping on the blindfold, Jun-sik tapped his thigh as if nervous, and at the staff cue I strode onto the set.
The audience erupted when they saw me; Jun-sik tilted his head, biting his lip as if truly at a loss.
“Park Jun-sik! Remove your blindfold!”
The moment he lifted it and saw me, tears burst from his eyes.
This wasn’t in the plan…?
Lee Jun-seong…? He’d said he’d tutored Jun-sik privately on how to appear on TV.
Was all this…?
“D‑Director!? Hic… how are you here…?”
“Haha… came to see you, hyung.”
Tears streaming, he hugged me; even snot flowed naturally—such detailed acting that I could only give an awkward smile.
Some audience members wept; Jeong Jisu discreetly dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief.
Once he’d wiped his face, Jeong rose, shook my hand, and said,
“The people rocking Korea’s film scene are gathered here! Haha. Did you hear what we were talking about?”
“Yes. Haha… He kept praising me so much I almost ran away.”
Jeong laughed approvingly, while Jun-sik turned away to blow his nose, giving his all. Whatever Jun-seong taught him…
It’s better I hadn’t known; if I’d expected tears, I couldn’t have reacted so naturally.
I drifted for a moment, and Jeong addressed me.
“Jun-sik spoke of you as if you saved his life, so I was surprised. But there was a lot of talk at first, right, about casting a stage actor straight as the lead?”
“Yes… everyone doubted it. Saying it made no sense to pick a theater actor for the lead and so on.”
“Weren’t you shaken by that doubt?”
With a sly grin, Jeong seemed to want a specific answer; I obliged.
“I’m human too. Saying I wasn’t shaken would be a lie. But once I saw hyung’s acting, I knew my eye hadn’t failed.”
Jeong, impressed, clapped as if saying that’s the answer and led the audience to applaud.
Smiling through tears, Jun-sik looked at me.
“What remarkable vision. How did you see that in him…?”
“Haha. Thank you. But it’s because hyung worked so hard.”
At that, Jun-sik began speaking in a slightly different tone.
“No. I only added my spoon to the table Director set.”
“You need talent for that to work.”
“He‑he…”
“You two are leaving me out,” Jeong joked, drawing big laughs.
“Well, your relationship is clear thanks to Park Jun-sik’s explanation… How is it having Director Gyeong actually appear?”
“Haha… I’ve been living like a dream lately, and today’s another dream. I’d lay down my life for Director Gyeong. He’s my savior…”
Hyung’s words weren’t acting but heartfelt.
Having watched him through the lens so long, I could feel it.
Hearing his sincerity made me newly grateful that he thought so much of me.
The PD gestured happily for us to keep talking, and we continued the “variety‑show” version of Park Jun-sik that Jun-seong had crafted.
After a long chat, the shoot finished, and Jeong Jisu came over, shook my hand, and said,
“Thank you. Ratings have been worrying lately… but today was such fun. You two are amazingly articulate. And I’ve never seen a character like Jun-sik—so fresh.”
Maybe from all the talking, he downed a 500 ml bottle in one go.
“Looks like the PD loved it too. Usually he frowns after shoots, asking how he’ll salvage it in editing, but today he kept saying it was perfect… Haha. Thank you.”
“No, we just played around.”
“Playing well is a skill. Haha. The episode should air next week. Hope it gives <Desirelessness> one last push.”
A week after the <Your Night> shoot.
My family gathered to watch Jeong Jisu’s show.
Dad and Mom, both fans, jokingly complained that they hadn’t been invited as audience; Sanghyun also seemed excited.
“Did you do okay? I’m nervous. You’re not funny. Junseong‑hyung would be better.”
“Talk shows aren’t about jokes. They’re about sincerity.”
“The surprise guest is crucial. They pop in just when it gets dull.”
Worried, Sanghyun said so.
“The PD said it was funny, certified by a pro.”
Relieved, he fetched the recording tape.
Mom and Dad took seats in front of the TV.
–Tonight, <Your Night> returns to share your evening!
When hyung entered and pulled off the slapstick fall, my whole family except me laughed loudly.
“Haha, was he always like that? Totally different from <Desirelessness>.”
“Haha…”
I dodged with an awkward laugh.
If they knew hyung was Jun-seong’s puppet, the spell would break.
Thanks to good editing, the talk between Jun-sik and Jeong Jisu was even funnier than what I’d seen.
Just as it might grow dull, TV‑Jeong shouted,
–Now we’ll wrap up this topic and the next corner is… Surprise Guest!
“Ooh… here it comes!”
At Sanghyun’s words, Dad raised the volume.
When Jun-sik waited blindfolded and I appeared, Mom cried out.
“Ah! There he is! Handsome—whose son is he?”
Dad nodded, smiling proudly.
“Indeed. Chan-hyeon looks good on camera.”
“Better than in person. The screen’s kinder.”
My family joked until hyung took off the blindfold and burst into tears; then they fell silent.
“Oh dear…”
Mom sighed, wiping tears; Dad and Sanghyun watched hyung’s tears wordlessly.
Hyung’s acting prowess proved useful anywhere—even in variety.
“For Park Jun-sik to be that grateful, he must really like you…”
“Seems so… Haha…”
I gave a nervous laugh.
Can’t sprinkle salt on a touching scene.
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