Beep, beep, beep.
The sound of an alarm filled the room.
A quiet sound that gently filled the space.
“Ugh…”
At the sound, Kim Rina, who had been curled up under the covers, groaned and shifted her body.
Beep beep…
Her hand slipped out from under the covers and turned off the alarm.
The room was briefly enveloped in silence.
With a rustling sound, Kim Rina emerged from under the covers.
She went straight to the bathroom and didn’t return to her room until over an hour later.
‘What should I wear today?’
Standing in front of the wardrobe, she rummaged through the clothes filling her field of vision.
By the time Kim Rina had changed all her clothes, it was 7:00 AM.
“Good morning.”
“Oh. Rina, you’re up early again today.”
Kim Cheolmin and Lee Yeeun, who were in the living room, greeted her with smiles as she came down from the bedroom.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, and you, Father?”
“I’m going to sleep now. I just got back a little while ago.”
Ever since Netflix opened a branch in Korea, Kim Cheolmin had been leading an extremely busy life.
Staying up all night had become almost routine.
“You must be working so hard.”
Kim Cheolmin smiled and shook his head at her words.
“Rina, how’s school life lately? Nothing too difficult?”
“No, nothing particularly difficult. I have friends too.”
“Really?”
“Yes, the seniors are nice, and the professors are kind too. So you don’t need to worry.”
Kim Cheolmin smiled with relief at Kim Rina’s words.
Having lived abroad before returning to Korea, he had been worried about whether she was adjusting well.
“Still, if anything gets too hard, tell me right away.”
“Yes, I’ll tell you as soon as it happens.”
Kim Cheolmin nodded with a satisfied smile at Kim Rina’s answer.
The conversation paused briefly, followed by silence.
It was around the time Kim Rina had eaten more than half of the food on her plate.
“There’s a student at your school named Han Seongtae, right? I heard he’s a sophomore now.”
“Senior Seongtae?”
“Yeah, what do you think of that student?”
Kim Rina tilted her head at his question.
What did he mean by asking that?
“He’s a good senior. Everyone around him praises him, and he’s kind to everyone. He works really hard too.”
She had seen Han Seongtae practicing for plays before.
The same went for musicals.
Han Seongtae’s practice volume was immense, so much so that those around him struggled to keep up.
Even she, who had met many musical actors while following Lee Yeeun, was amazed by the sheer volume of his practice.
“He really works hard. But why are you asking?”
Why was he suddenly asking about Han Seongtae?
Kim Cheolmin wasn’t someone who took an interest in actors.
This was the first time he’d asked about an actor so directly.
“It’s nothing really…”
Just as Kim Cheolmin opened his mouth nonchalantly.
Buzz.
A faint vibration emanated from the smartphone resting on the table.
― Joo Heera: Where are you? Did you forget about practice today?
Kim Rina’s eyes widened slightly at the message.
Rehearsal for the musical ‘People Who Love the Neighborhood’.
Since Kim Rina was one of the performers, she had gotten up a little earlier than usual for practice.
“I’ll head out first. I have something to do.”
“Oh, sure. Go ahead.”
Kim Cheolmin, who had been watching her with a peculiar expression as she abruptly stood up, nodded and saw her off.
While she was curious about why Kim Cheolmin was showing interest in Han Seongtae, something more important occupied her mind right now.
‘Rehearsal was supposed to be at 11, right?’
She held an important role in People Who Love the Neighborhood.
With several months left until the performance.
Her steps felt light as she headed to the practice venue.
“Seongtae, we start filming in five minutes.”
Han Seongtae nodded at Jung Dusik’s words and turned a page in the script.
Quite some time had passed since filming ‘Baeknyeoncho’.
“Ah, hyung. Our broadcast is next month, right?”
“Uh, I believe it’s mid-next month. I’ll double-check the exact date and let you know.”
“Yes. Thank you, as always, hyung.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural. You just focus on acting hard. I’ll handle the rest.”
Having a manager felt so reassuring.
In my past life, I rarely had a manager.
And even when I did, they weren’t particularly capable.
That’s why I knew exactly how fortunate it was to have a capable manager like Jung Dusik.
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ says he seems like a decent person, so it might be good to maintain a positive relationship.]
Han Seongtae shared the same thoughts as the god of acting.
“Seongtae, I think we should move now.”
“Yes. Hyung, can I have this?”
“Uh, give it to me. I’ll hold it.”
Handing Jung Dusik his smartphone and script, Han Seongtae immediately started walking.
He could see Hwang Gyeol fiddling with the script near the set.
In front of the camera, on the set, Kim Mucheol was already rehearsing with Cheon Yeji.
“Seongtae’s here. Let’s start shooting right away. Frame Mucheol. Yes, that’s good now.”
Hwang Gyeol signaled while checking the camera feed.
“Ready, action!”
Clap!
The clapperboard struck as his voice echoed.
Flash!
Bright lights illuminated Kim Mucheol as filming for ‘Baeknyeoncho’ commenced.
“Mucheol, run slowly. Great emotion!”
Hwang Gyeol’s voice.
Kim Mucheol began running with a serious expression.
Baek Yeon moving to find Yoo Yena.
“Now!”
At Hwang Gyeol’s signal, the camera locked onto Yoo Yena.
“Kyaaaah!”
Simultaneously, Cheon Yeji screamed and curled up.
A green cloth fluttered over her.
Evil spirits coveting human flesh and monsters seeking power from the century-old plant attacked Yena.
“Yena!”
Baek Yeon rushed to protect her, but…
CRASH!
A thunderous roar sent his body flying backward.
― The century-old plant is ours.
― Nine-tailed fox, no matter how strong you are, can you take on all of us alone?
Countless monsters blocked his path.
Monsters who had come for Yena.
With the crimson moon rising and the yin energy intensifying, Baek Yeon couldn’t move recklessly against these strengthened foes.
Thud, CRASH!
Even as he hesitated, the monsters and demons continued their assault on Yena.
There was only one reason she could still hold them off.
― Damn it! What the hell is this!
― Why does that bastard’s power still linger?!
― We must kill him before he arrives!
The talisman Ji Yeonwoo had left behind to prepare for contingencies was protecting her.
But even that wouldn’t last long.
Crack, smash!
― It’s cracked!
― Smash it! Keep hitting it and it’ll break!
― Legs, I like legs! I’m gonna eat your legs!
― I want the neck!
As the protective barrier surrounding her cracked further, the creatures grew more frenzied, wildly swinging their fists.
Crack!
Finally, the barrier shattered.
Only ashes remained, as if the talisman had been burned to a crisp.
― Mine!
― Fingers, let’s eat even one finger!
The monsters lunged at her.
“Kyaaaah!”
Yoo Yena screamed.
Closing her eyes tightly, she felt puzzled that no matter how much time passed, she felt no pain.
And when she opened her eyes, she could see.
“Baek Yeon!”
The weapons wielded by the monsters were tearing Baek Yeon’s entire body apart.
Even as his body was being ripped to shreds, Baek Yeon stared intently only at Yoo Yena.
“Are… you okay?”
“Is… is now the time to worry about that? Baek Yeon, your body…!”
“I’m fine. As long as you’re okay…”
Even a nine-tailed fox said to have reached godhood couldn’t remain unscathed before the demons of this night of strong Yin energy.
His body, which had always shown such strength, was collapsing.
He was bleeding, and the demons were craving that blood.
“So, please, run away…”
Baek Yeon lost consciousness before he could finish his words.
Yoo Yena dragged his body, crawling desperately to escape.
Watching her, the monsters sneered and chuckled.
― I’ll chew those eyeballs to bits.
― I’ll take the lungs. Nothing beats human lungs as a delicacy.
The monsters approached, licking their lips. Just as she closed her eyes, resigned to her fate—
Kuh-heh-heh-heh!
A wail echoed from somewhere.
― You bastards!
With a voice that seemed to split heaven and earth, the monsters screamed and fled.
A familiar voice.
Watching him move to leave, as if his work was done—
“You’re that person from before, right?”
Yoo Yena hurriedly spoke up.
At her voice, the man paused.
“You’re the one who saved me back then, right?”
Yoo Yena recognized him.
The realization made the man’s eyes—Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes—flicker.
“Thank you. For saving me.”
Ji Yeonwoo turned at her words.
His bright smile, one she’d never seen before.
“Wow…!
He’s crazy, seriously.”
The staff marveled at Han Seongtae’s performance.
“Cut!”
At that same moment, Hwang Gyeol’s voice filled the set.
A bright smile lingered on his face as he looked at Han Seongtae.
“How does he act so well?”
“Exactly. Can you even imagine Ji Yeonwoo not being Han Seongtae now?”
“Look at how different it feels from Akjeon. How could anyone see that as Park Haejun?”
“Casting Han Seongtae was truly a stroke of genius. He’s incredible. He really seems to be a great actor.”
The staff’s voices drifted over.
Their gazes fixed on Han Seongtae were intense.
“Good work. Here, some water.”
“Thanks, hyung.”
Taking the bottled water Jung Dusik handed him, Han Seongtae caught his breath quickly.
Maybe because there were so many action scenes, his body felt incredibly drained after finishing filming.
‘I want to wash up.’
The heat made sweating unavoidable.
“That was the last shoot for today. Heading back right away?”
“I’d like to, but I’ll check the situation first. If you’re tired, hyung, you can go ahead.”
“Hey, where would I go, leaving an actor behind?”
Jung Dusik playfully tapped Han Seongtae’s shoulder, telling him not to say silly things.
Seeing this, Han Seongtae chuckled and scanned the set.
Staff and actors bustling about diligently.
Perhaps due to the aftereffects of the recent shoot, he felt less inclined to move than usual.
He could almost close his eyes and fall asleep right then.
“Seongtae!”
“Ah, yes. Yeeun, what is it?”
Han Seongtae tilted his head at Park Yeeun, who seemed out of breath as if she had run over.
What could be so urgent that she ran over?
“There’s a dinner party later. Will you be attending?”
“A dinner party?”
“Yes, the director said Seongtae must come. But you can do whatever is convenient for you.”
Was he really free to decide?
Han Seongtae chuckled softly and opened his mouth.
“I’ll attend.”
“You’re attending?”
“Yes. What about you, Yeeun? Oh. Right. You said you needed to get home early today, didn’t you?”
“No. I’m going too.”
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
He distinctly remembered her saying she had things to do at home.
Seeing Han Seongtae’s puzzled expression, she shrugged her shoulders.
“Yes, it’s not urgent, so I can definitely attend the dinner. I have a reason to go now.”
A reason to attend the dinner.
He didn’t know what it was, but he couldn’t help thinking she must be struggling too.
‘She must be exhausted with all those action scenes today.’
It wasn’t really Han Seongtae’s concern, but he couldn’t help feeling a little worried.
He was also curious about the reason she had to attend the dinner.
“Well then, good luck with the rest of the shoot!”
“Yes, good luck to you too, Yeeun.”
However, Han Seongtae didn’t voice his questions.
He simply thought there must be a reason.
[‘The One Who Defined an Era’ gives you and Park Yeeun a peculiar smile.]
[‘The Actor of Eternal Youth’ laughs, calling it youth.]
Why are these people acting like this again?
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