Chapter 68

After deciding to play the ghost role at the school festival, a few days later…

Seoyeon was demonstrating action acting at Cheonghong Action School.

“Alright, Cha Sooah is not a martial artist. Fighting with such restrained movements might look cool, but it’s unrealistic. Unrealistic!!”

Professor Kim Hong-bak was rigorously training Seoyeon in action acting. Even the other stuntman trainees, who had initially been skeptical of Seoyeon, were now impressed enough to stick out their tongues in amazement.

However, Professor Kim Hong-bak was sticking out his tongue in a different sense of amazement.

‘It’s hard to see her looking tired no matter how I push her.’

Still, for the first time, Seoyeon was seen wiping sweat from her face. Her breathing, however, remained steady.

Her chest was slightly rising and falling, but that was all.

Her action acting after several hours still appeared exceptionally energetic.

“Hmm, it seems like there’s no stunt double, so this time I’ll take the role of Detective Im Seung-cheol.”

Kim Hong-bak must have thought that “Cha Sooah’s” action acting had finally settled into a groove and said as such.

“Huh?”

“Why are you surprised?”

“Ah, no.”

Ah, that’s right. Action acting requires syncing with a partner.

Seoyeon realized this anew. She clenched and unclenched her hands thoughtfully.

‘Would it be okay…?’

She had possessed the strength of an adult male since she was six years old, and now this body had nearly become a human weapon. The joke about being a super-soldier now bore realism.

‘But, I learned this for this purpose.’

It seemed better to sync with Professor Kim Hong-bak, a martial arts master, before syncing with actor Kim Dae-heon.

“Let’s start then.”

What they were practicing now was the final highlight of *The Chaser.* The fight scene between Detective Im Seung-cheol and Cha Sooah.

S#115.

“Please act as much like Cha Sooah as possible.”

“As much as possible?”

“I need to see movements imbued with emotion.”

“…Understood.”

Seoyeon nodded and composed her emotions calmly. Then she took one breath… another… And in that moment, as she opened her eyes with her emotions in place:

Tak!!

Professor Kim Hong-bak charged forward. Normally, there would have been Detective Im Seung-cheol’s dialogue, but not this time.

However,

A somewhat clumsy but fast and lively step akin to Detective Im Seung-cheol could be seen. It was almost identical to actor Kim Dae-heon’s movement.

Stuntman.

And body double actor.

Of course, originally, Professor Kim Hong-bak was South Korea’s top body double actor and stuntman, and his movements demonstrated his ability to replicate Kim Dae-heon’s.

Naturally, the gazes of the apprentices watching this carefully were all drawn to him. After all, it wasn’t easy to see Professor Kim Hong-bak’s action acting.

At the same time, everyone was curious to see what kind of action acting a female actress with such steel-like stamina would perform.

And then,

‘Remember, Cha Sooah is not a martial artist.’

Keeping Professor Kim Hong-bak’s words in mind, she moved her body. Not techniques learned for fighting, but the innate aggressiveness of a human being. Cha Sooah’s innate characteristic—a human who feels no fear.

Flick!!

With a light dodge of Professor Kim Hong-bak’s hand—already a pre-arranged move—and then Seoyeon’s fist followed.

Whoosh!!

It narrowly grazed Professor Kim Hong-bak’s cheek as it cut through the wind.

“Hold.”

“Yeah?”

Professor Kim Hong-bak touched his cheek.

They were syncing well, but they had missed the mark on the cut.

“…”

Hm.

Professor Kim Hong-bak spoke up:

“Let’s tone it down a bit.”

“Ah, understood.”

“You understand that it’s about syncing, not just punching, right?”

“W, well, it was a near miss… probably.”

“Are you sure?”

Even considering that, it had come directly at him.

Apparently, Seoyeon was too immersed in Cha Sooah’s emotions to control it properly.

‘So, if actor Kim Dae-heon had done it, it would have been a one-hit knockout.’

That thought crossed his mind at once.

It was fortunate that they had practiced beforehand.

“I hear the highlight scene filming is coming up soon, so it’s lucky we practiced first.”

“Huh?”

While staring at her own fists, Seoyeon widened her eyes upon hearing Professor Kim Hong-bak’s words. The highlight scene was coming up soon?

Hadn’t it been scheduled to be filmed much later?

“Sorry, didn’t you hear? Director Bae Jin-hwan mentioned something about a situation arising, so he requested help to start with the highlight scene.”

“Ah.”

So, the practice for this scene began today instead of the chase scene. Seoyeon finally understood.

Director Bae Jin-hwan must have thought that Professor Kim Hong-bak would inform her.

“So, let’s do this properly.”

“Yes, sir!”

Looking at Seoyeon’s fired-up demeanor, Professor Kim Hong-bak rubbed his cheek again.

“…Let’s apply some medicine for a moment.”

If Seoyeon doesn’t focus fully, this might not just end with a simple miss.

Professor Kim Hong-bak felt certain of it.

***

A few days later, the production of *The Chaser* began as scheduled. The location was the convenience store.

“We’re shooting all the convenience store scenes today.”

*The Chaser*’s filming was progressing smoothly. If things continued this way, it was sure to be released as early as this year or at the latest by early next year.

In fact, it was reportedly already in production for a PV with the scenes filmed so far.

“That said, today’s filming could end late. We have three scenes to shoot today—three scenes.”

Director Bae Jin-hwan told the staff.

Originally, they planned to split the convenience store scenes over time for filming.

Of course, since the convenience store scenes were a highlight of the movie, they wanted to maintain the emotional line, so they had planned to shoot them towards the end.

“The convenience store owner has some things to attend to.”

“Ah, then we have no choice.”

After all, it was a borrowed location, so they had to consult with the convenience store owner beforehand. Of course, they had already fairly compensated him—or even added a bit.

After all, if bad rumors were to spread in places with high foot traffic, it could harm the movie. Director Bae Jin-hwan was particularly careful about such reputations or rumors.

‘Although the setback was something else.’

Seoyeon looked directly at Director Bae Jin-hwan and thought as such. Originally, *The Chaser* was nothing but a string of setbacks. The apex of it was Je-woo Pyo’s nightclub ruckus and attempted murder.

The release was postponed, the crew was downsized, and they received every ignominious title imaginable. While that wouldn’t likely happen this time since Seoyeon was playing Cha Sooah, Director Bae Jin-hwan seemed to have bad luck in multiple ways.

“Ah, Seoyeon.”

While staring intently at Director Bae Jin-hwan, he smiled and approached her.

“Is the filming today okay? Since it’s one of the later scenes, it might be a bit tough, right?”

“Yes, I suppose.”

It must have been a consideration for Seoyeon’s Method Acting. Highlight.

That scene in the convenience store truly was the highlight of the movie.

Naturally, it was the most burdensome part for Seoyeon, who had to resonate with the character.

Moreover, since it didn’t follow the proper sequence, it could hinder the emotional immersion.

In many ways, it was challenging for Seoyeon, but

“It’s not always possible to film in the perfect order.”

In the past, because Director Gong Jung-tae cared a lot for Seoyeon, such arrangements were possible. But Seoyeon was no longer a child.

Since Seoyeon was going to continue shooting dramas and movies in the future, this was something she had to adapt to naturally.

“That’s excellent.”

Director Bae Jin-hwan gave a thumbs-up as if reading Seoyeon’s thoughts. Seoyeon’s approach to acting was always earnest, whenever it was observed.

‘It doesn’t feel like she’s even a teenager.’

She was polite, and her attitude towards acting was outstanding. Director Bae Jin-hwan was in his middle years and had various grievances against young actors these days, but Seoyeon quelled all such grievances.

Due to this, Seoyeon’s reputation on the set was quite good.

“Seoyeon’s social skills are excellent.”

“Isn’t she? Her interactions with people are professional. She’s also popular at school, right?”

The passing staff member smiled and said so. Given that this wasn’t a one-off observation, Seoyeon felt awkward and merely smiled.

“Popular… right.”

Seoyeon said self-confidently.

After all, she would soon be taking on a ghost role for the festival, so everything else would fall into place quickly.

Collaborating on festival preparations will certainly increase opportunities for such conversations.

“Wow!”

“Bring along friends who want to visit the set for observation next time.”

“Ah, yes.”

Seoyeon nodded first, though she didn’t have many close friends yet.

The agency, the set staff—everyone was quite interested in Seoyeon’s friends.

“Today, we’ll start with Scene Number 117.”

This is the introductory scene for the convenience store that will highlight the highlight scenes. Cha Sooah, facing Police Officer Seo Kwang-il, who hurriedly storms in searching for the place where Han Ye-hwa was kidnapped, gets into a fierce fight. Officer Seo Kwang-il, who had participated in the National Sports Festival in the past and had excellent athletic skills, was not easily defeated by Cha Sooah. Eventually, she managed to knock him out by striking his head with a nearby soju bottle.

Meanwhile, Han Ye-hwa, who had been kidnapped, escaped.

Cha Sooah leaves the unconscious Seo Kwang-il to chase after Han Ye-hwa she lost.

However, finding the already escaped Han Ye-hwa is unlikely.

Cha Sooah enters the convenience store, stopping her run. To kill the policeman she left unconscious at home, she needed tools.

“Uh, is this okay? Uh, this might get actress Shin Seong-mi some criticism?”

“Ah, it’s fine. Rather, this kind of strong image at the end is good, isn’t it?”

As actor Kim Dae-heon, playing Detective Im Seung-cheol, spoke, actress Shin Seong-mi playing the convenience store lady chuckled. She also had similar thoughts when she read the script.

On the surface, this might seem slightly… implausible.

‘Surely, this is quite stimulating.’

Perhaps this scene would be remembered for a long time. That’s how it felt.

“The scene won’t look awkward if Seoyeon does it well.”

“Yes.”

“You have to show it properly. All of Cha Sooah.”

The following scene is the last fight with Detective Im Seung-cheol. S#115.

To immerse the audience in the highlight, the prelude is important. S#114 was that prelude.

Cha Sooah had to be portrayed perfectly as a villain, creating suspense that would have the audience holding their breath.

“…Alright.”

Director Bae Jin-hwan sighed, relieved. The highlight scene had to be filmed earlier than expected, but it was a scene destined to be filmed eventually.

This scene.

Even from the time he first took on this movie, it had lingered in his mind.

He looked at Seoyeon who was quietly preparing. Not the usual raincoat worn by Cha Sooah during her killings but casual wear. A hoodie and denim jeans, what Cha Sooah typically wore when visiting the convenience store.

Quietly.

Amidst the noisy set getting ready for filming, Seoyeon stood quietly alone.

Closing her eyes to focus on her emotions, she appeared serene.

Hong Jeong-hee on a theater stage.

Seoyeon had to deliver an even more impactful performance here.

Director Bae Jin-hwan believed in her.

Surely Seoyeon could do it.

Gradually.

Seoyeon’s eyes opened. As the bright lights shone, her piercing red eyes became visible.

The filming for S#114 began. The camera captured Cha Sooah’s slow approach to the convenience store.

Thus,

**Step.**

Her heavy footstep took one step forward.

“…Puff.”

Breathing roughly, Cha Sooah moved slowly. Finding her home somehow, she was delayed due to the police officer who broke in and wrecked the door.

If there had been one more officer, it might have been a bit dangerous.

…

Cha Sooah looked silently at the passers-by who stared at her injured self. Their strange gazes.

Something she was now accustomed to.

Cha Sooah thought.

First, she had lost Han Ye-hwa.

So first, the officer she left unconscious at home needed to be dealt with.

Since she didn’t want to be caught yet, if the main eyewitness to the kidnapping disappeared, even if captured later, she could be acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

Jingle.

Thinking about this, Cha Sooah entered the familiar convenience store where she worked part-time.

As she went inside, the convenience store lady exclaimed in surprise. The store owner and a very familiar figure to Cha Sooah.

“Dear Lord, Sooah! Are you hurt so badly?!”

Hearing this from her, Cha Sooah smiled. A practiced smile that had become natural.

The dull convenience store lady didn’t find anything unusual about this imposed smile.

“Just fine. By the way, can I borrow some tools?”

“Tools?”

There was a toolbox Cha Sooah had left at the convenience store earlier.

Then, while grabbing the blue tape used for disposing of bodies,

“Really, what’s going on today? This is the second time!”

The convenience store lady muttered under her breath as she spoke to Cha Sooah, causing the latter to stop her hands holding the blue tape and a thick cutter knife.

“Second?”

“Yes! Oh, this is a secret, but there’s a lady in the warehouse! She’s being chased by a murderer or something. Oh, it’s so scary.”

Upon hearing this, Cha Sooah’s eyes shifted toward the convenience store lady. At that moment, the emotion reflected in Cha Sooah’s gaze was, perhaps, the most distinct emotion she had ever felt.

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