Chapter 130

What Kim Hyun-seok said was, in fact, half provocation or as good as.

Until now, everything Seo-yeon had done was more or less crafted for her by the broadcasting company.

To which Seo-yeon had no particular reaction.

Actually, it wasn’t so much that she had no reaction, but rather she was briefly pondering how to return to being ‘adorable Soo-yeon.’

People sometimes forget, but Seo-yeon is undeniably the advertising model for Éclat Étoile.

There’s no advertiser who likes when an actress gets typecast in such an image.

Nonetheless, apart from that, Seo-yeon.

“Hmm~.”

Han Sung-jin looked at Kim Hyun-seok with a slightly perplexed face because the comment had popped up right after Sung-jin’s own question.

“Is it necessary to say that much?”

“What?”

“That thing you just said, it’s quite a dangerous statement.”

Han Sung-jin knew that Kim Hyun-seok was antagonistic toward Seo-yeon for various reasons. But fundamentally,

“Her thoughts are difficult.”

While it’s advantageous when that manifests as passion, it causes issues when it’s this vague hostility. No matter what, to claim a live broadcast was all rigged is absurd.

Alright, let’s say hypothetically, *Hyper Action Star* wasn’t live.

But what about the scene where he swatted away the paintballs with his hands? That was real, wasn’t it? Plus, the live capture of dotters was aired on screen.

If that were fabricated, it would’ve already caused a firestorm long ago.

‘Clearly, this means that Seo-yeon being picked without an audition bothers him.’

Simultaneously, he felt Seo-yeon was also feared.

Han Sung-jin had watched *The Chaser* with Hyun-seok. His feelings at the time could be summed up as, “She can act this well?”

An actor of a similar age.

Honestly, Han Sung-jin couldn’t even attempt that level of acting. Even the two veteran actors playing detectives alongside her were famously skilled.

And yet, when she shared a scene with them, she was utterly natural. Her presence alone overpowered them, earning praise from both audiences and critics.

That’s no easy feat.

“Hmm.”

But Kim Hyun-seok just furrowed his brows.

Of course, Hyun-seok must have felt it too. He just wasn’t ready to acknowledge it. It could be competitiveness or just plain youthful antagonism.

However, still young as they were, such statements felt inappropriate since they were already professional actors.

Han Sung-jin, unlike Hyun-seok, didn’t harbor particular ill feelings toward Seo-yeon.

She is the lead actress after all. Being cast as the lead in a drama without an audition means she has connections with those in power at KMB.

Opposing an actor KMB supports would only be exhausting oneself.

‘Besides, there are probably a few more actors like Hyun-seok.’

People aren’t that smart. Sung-jin sometimes thinks this way. Emotion often overrides common sense.

Still, there was one odd point.

‘Didn’t this person used to be on Soo-yeon’s side?’

As he looked at her with some doubt,

“Ah!”

Only now did Cha Na-hee realize how poorly Hyun-seok’s comment could be taken. To her, ‘manipulated’ meant the overemphasis in editing Seo-yeon’s performances, not actual fabrication.

Cha Na-hee’s hobby was researching information about herself and those close to her. Recently, Seo-yeon, a trending star, was often mentioned around the community.

Elephants or gorillas.

Whenever such an image was attached to Seo-yeon, Na-hee felt quite upset.

– Why attach such images to a vulnerable actress? Are you an antagonist?

– Vulnerable? ???????

– Is that the kind of weakness we’re talking about?

– What’s the connection between odd elephants/gorillas and Soo-yeon?

– Don’t you know? You’re completely uninformed.

Of course, Cha Na-hee was truly uninformed. She asked out of ignorance and still didn’t know why that image stuck.

To Na-hee, Seo-yeon was just a purely kind girl.

“Seo, Seo-yeon. I mean… not in that way. I just feel they’re implanting too many negative images on actresses…”

“Me?”

“No, I’m sorry!”

Seo-yeon was puzzled by Na-hee’s sudden apology. While she was pondering if there was any broadcast to improve her image, what could have possibly happened?

“What on earth?”

That light-hearted attitude made Han Sung-jin laugh as if it were absurd. Kim Hyun-sek, on the other hand, twisted his expression again.

“Ah, looks like you don’t even acknowledge me. Is this because you’re the star?”

At this remark, Seo-yeon stared at him blankly for a moment.

‘Have I ever hit him?’

It was a fairly serious consideration. After all, such outright hostility was new to her. Of course, if she had hit him, he wouldn’t be pursuing acting now, so it was certain that she hadn’t.

‘Rather, the person nearby seems to be reading my mood.’

Nearby, Han Sung-jin was smiling but Seo-yeon could tell he was gauging her reactions. His comment perhaps saying *Hyper Action Star* was fun to watch might have been an attempt to be friendly.

The guy next to him ruined everything. Seo-yeon certainly knew there were actors who disliked her, but none were this overt.

Well, to them, she’s someone to be mindful of after all. Moreover,

“…”

A little further away, middle-aged actors were glancing this way. Though they were conversing among themselves, they were observing the words and actions of the younger actors.

Min Se-hee looked restless and was about to speak but Kim Il-soo next to her gave a casual indication that it was fine.

As if he were waiting to see how Seo-yeon would handle the situation, his gaze also implied that he would intervene if it looked difficult.

After all, Director Kim Il-soo was already sending Hyun-seok a disapproving look. There are clear rules on the filming set.

A lead is a lead.

Regardless of how it was arranged, a lead actor remains a lead actor.

Disrespecting the lead is equivalent to insulting the director and writer who chose them. Hence, Hyun-seok’s current behavior was very reckless.

What Jo Seo-hee had once said came to Seo-yeon’s mind.

“Sometimes it happens.”

“What?”

“People who act beyond the realm of common sense.”

Jo Seo-hee crossed her arms and smirked, appearing much like a villainesses from a drama. Thinking that he should buy her an ornamental fan for fun, Seo-yeon listened carefully.

“In any case, even if you leave it, the people around you will take care of it themselves. But waiting for someone else to do it won’t be beneficial.”

There needs to be some self-action. Otherwise, the same situation will keep repeating.

“Sometimes acting assertive actually reduces your enemies.”

Jo Seo-hee knew that Seo-yeon had an extremely gentle personality. No, more accurately, others often felt that Seo-yeon was ‘too used to hostility’ from others.

She reasons ‘This could just happen.’

Jo Seo-hee is an actor. As an actor, she is adept at observing and analyzing others.

A model pupil as an actor. Jo Seo-hee earned her reputation because she never stopped learning, and that included observing Seo-yeon.

“Not restraining oneself when one should is not kindness.”

Thus, Jo Seo-hee gave her firm advice. This kindhearted girl ought to let others see her fangs.

“Stupid.”

Thinking back to that advice,

“Are you all right?”

Seo-yeon smiled faintly as she looked at Kim Hyun-seok. That smile was essentially her retort to his recent mockery.

“Even if you talk to me like that…”

“Excuse me?”

With a quiet voice, Seo-yeon answered. No intense emotion was detectable.

Rather, it was clear that she was genuinely curious. That made her remark even more poignant and brought further recognition to the meaning of what she had said.

“Actors speak through their performances, right?”

Seo-yeon’s red eyes stared directly at Hyun-seok.

“Are you confident you can do better than me?”

“…”

He could.

That was what he was about to say. However, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Although he referenced his variety show performances to counter, he had also seen her act.

*The Chaser* and *Dream Future*. Even now, Hyun-seok believed he could do better given the chance.

But for some reason, he couldn’t say it. Because the image of Cha Soo-ah from the movies and the Seo-yeon standing before him now were overlapping.

No, it was Cha Soo-ah.

Looking at Seo-yeon was like seeing Cha Soo-ah.

‘What…’

The atmosphere shifted in an instant. The smile Seo-yeon had shown felt strangely awkward, and almost mechanical.

“You did say I don’t cross your mind, right?”

She remembered the scene in *The Chaser* where Cha Soo-ah met the detectives at the bus stop.

After pestering the police officers with questions, she got on the bus, leaving them behind with a particular expression that was exactly this.

“That’s it…”

Her eyes turned soft, and her smile was gentle.

“I thought it was… laughable.”

At that moment, it became clear what kind of emotion Cha Soo-ah had felt toward the detectives in that particular scene.

***

“You’ll end up making enemies like this.”

As soon as they stepped out of the meeting room, Han Sung-jin sighed. Except for the beginning, the first meeting with the cast of *Sky Garden* had gone well enough.

Only the strange atmosphere between Seo-yeon and Kim Hyun-seok was noticeable.

After Seo-yeon’s single remark, Kim Hyun-seok struggled to say much else.

‘An actor should demonstrate skill through their performances.’

He agreed with that idea. And also, he had been completely overwhelmed by Seo-yeon.

To the point he couldn’t utter a word.

“Show me on the set.”

“Are you confident you can do better than that?”

“…”

He didn’t know. The effect that Seo-yeon had just displayed was that overwhelming.

A kind of aura that swallowed all presence around her.

‘That was on the set.’

If this had been on the set, he would’ve ended up looking laughable, as Seo-yeon had said. Realizing this, his temper flared anew.

Of course, it was true that he had just been labeled laughable.

Meanwhile, Seo-yeon relaxed her expression as if all the dialogue had been just an act, though it felt as if she was just pretending. And nobody said anything.

Or rather, couldn’t.

‘Huh.’

Just as that annoyed Han Sung-jin. Does he just want to impress the lead actress? Isn’t he ashamed? Those were the things he wanted to say but didn’t.

“Alright.”

“What?”

“I’m going to the restroom.”

Thinking he might splash some cold water on his face, he moved forward heavily. Jo Soo-yeon.

His feelings toward her were more than mere hostility.

She clearly had some level of competitiveness. But most likely, the strongest emotion was envy.

Thinking that he could do better than her.

Seeing his own performance eclipsed by Jo Seo-yeon a moment ago was so humiliating.

It was lucky it wasn’t on set.

That feeling of relief.

Upon realizing this, his temper rose again. Why am I relieved?

“Next time.”

It would be different on set. That’s what he thought while gritting his teeth as he marched along.

“Huh?”

Kim Hyun-seok caught a glimpse of something shiny on the ground. Going closer, he found it.

“…A coin?”

It was a 500-won coin. Yet oddly, it was folded in half.

“What is this…”

Considering that, he looked ahead and saw similar 500-won coins sporadically scattered along the path, reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel.

An unusual sight of 500-won coins folded in half.

Without thinking, Hyun-seok continued picking them up.

Something felt curious, strange.

What did these 500-won coins represent?

Or why were they all folded in half? That question lingered.

When he had picked up about ten or so,

“Ah.”

“Ah.”

He encountered Seo-yeon, who was picking up the same coins. For a moment, they silently exchanged glances, each holding a fistful of 500-won coins.

“…”

It dawned on Hyun-seok that he could see Seo-yeon’s bag. A light handbag that could be easily carried around. Made of nylon, part of it looked torn.

‘Not possible…’

But could these 500-won coins have fallen from the torn section?

Could that be why she was retracing her steps to collect them?

Why are 500-won coins folded in half?

Such thoughts crossed his mind, leaving him with an indescribable feeling. He felt like he was witnessing something beyond comprehension.

“That’s…”

With the same calmness she exhibited in the meeting room, Seo-yeon remarked.

Like before, she was carefully controlling herself.

“That… you know, when you get that bubble-wrapping feeling, right? You mindlessly pop them.”

“…??”

What connection could that have with these 500-won coins?

Is she trying to say that she folded the coins like popping bubble wrap?

As he stared at her in bewilderment, Seo-yeon deftly retrieved the last 500-won coin and those tightly clutched in his right hand without him realizing.

There was no time to resist.

“…Well then, see you on set.”

With that last comment, Seo-yeon turned and disappeared quickly.

Hyun-seok glanced at his left hand.

The one coin she hadn’t noticed amidst everything, clutched in his left hand.

“…”

It reassured him that what had just happened wasn’t a dream.

Hyun-seok never fully understood the significance of the 500-won coin.

He only felt an inexplicable fear toward Seo-yeon.

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