After finishing the filming preparations, Jiyeon clad in a long down jacket came into view.
Seoyeon tilted her head as she spotted Jiyeon.
After all, today was not particularly a filming day for Jiyeon.
“Is something up?”
“Nothing specific.”
“Since today’s your day off, what brings you here?”
At Seoyeon’s words, Jiyeon, with her mouth covered by her scarf, stared at her blankly.
“I thought I’d take a look since it’s Sooyeon’s filming day today.”
Seoyeon wondered what relevance watching her own filming day could possibly have, but for now, she nodded in acknowledgment.
“Seoyeon-ssi, I’ll head in soon. Oh, you’re impressive again today.”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Following the staff’s words, Seoyeon bowed her head and moved to her position. A red butterfly pattern adorned her kimono.
In her hand, she held a tobacco pipe and her pitch-black hair was styled with luxurious hair decorations. Every detail was striking.
Jiyeon, hands in her long down jacket’s pockets, observed this scene.
Her reason for coming to the set today was definitely not some trivial whim.
‘Recently, I’ve been pondering this continuously.’
Jiyeon knew that Seoyeon had been constantly troubled by acting. Although Seoyeon consistently produced impressive results, she poured her heart into acting and left no effort spared in that regard.
In short, the majority of her life revolved around the worries of acting, with her making decisions based on what would benefit her acting.
“Seoyeon looks more confident today.”
At that moment, Seohui Jo approached and spoke to Jiyeon.
“Hmm.”
To Seohui’s observation, Jiyeon simply gave a one-word reply, turning her gaze to Seoyeon who was receiving direction from Director Baek Min on set.
Today’s scenes were two-fold.
Actor Sang-soo Lee.
That is, Isamu Goto and Kasugayama Yuina together in one scene. And then another scene where Michiko confronts Yuina directly.
While dramatic in nature, it was essentially a dialogue-heavy scene.
‘Which makes acting ability all the more crucial.’
Plain conversation alone would make the scene feel monotonous. With Goto Isamu, Yuina needed to appear vulnerable and shaken. And with Michiko, she had to subtly express her emotions towards Yeon Seonye. In other words, jealousy. The imagery of unrequited love.
‘Looks like she’s finally getting the hang of it.’
Jiyeon thought to herself. Since she was a child, Seoyeon had trouble grasping emotions properly. Things that most people would intuitively understand were something she seemed to learn later.
In middle school, there was a more pronounced reaction to this, but not now.
“Why are you here on a day off?”
Seohui asked out of curiosity.
“It’s Sooyeon’s filming day.”
Seohui’s face lit up slightly, as if understanding Jiyeon’s intentions. But Jiyeon didn’t react to Seohui’s inquiry. She wasn’t someone who sought empathy from others for her personal feelings.
‘Soo-yeon.’
Seoyeon’s emotions towards working in the same movie intrigued Jiyeon. Most likely, it didn’t matter much to her—just the joy of working together.
However, Jiyeon felt differently. It was only natural. Since childhood, Seoyeon had been a benchmark for Jiyeon. Even after a long break, this fact remained unchanged.
Jiyeon had always believed that if Seoyeon resumed acting, she’d quickly return to the top. And as expected, Seoyeon achieved significant success in the past year.
‘If Seoyeon had stopped acting, I probably would have too.’
Acting was very important to Jiyeon, but it was not everything. After all, she wouldn’t forget Seoyeon’s acting, a memory that lingered like an afterimage since childhood.
Especially since their very first collaboration, when they played Snow White and the Prince on stage as children.
“Hmph…”
Jiyeon pulled her scarf up to her nose and looked at Seoyeon. If she kept raising expectations and didn’t deliver, it would be embarrassing.
At that thought, Seoyeon’s gaze met hers and she gave her a smile. Jiyeon couldn’t help but notice how much better her smile had become compared to when they were younger.
“Let me introduce actor Lee Sang-soo, who is playing Goto Isamu. Some of you may be meeting him for the first today.”
Before filming officially began, Director Baek Min introduced Lee Sang-soo, who had just finished his makeup. The set buzzed with excitement at the arrival of the renowned actor.
It finally felt real that such a prestigious actor was participating in this movie.
“But wasn’t actor Lee Sang-soo reportedly declining all projects lately?”
“It’s said that Joo Seoyeon brought him into this project.”
“How…?”
“I don’t know either.”
Whispers spread among the staff. Despite their curiosity, Lee Sang-soo simply smirked.
“Let me explain the content we’ll be filming today.”
Director Baek Min’s slightly excited voice echoed through the space. Though usually composed, he seemed genuinely pleased today.
“Goto Isamu is in a scene where Yuina reflects on her past. This is also when Goto Isamu’s true role as the manipulative figure behind her becomes apparent for the first time.”
Until now, Goto Isamu appeared as someone supporting the protagonist Yeon Seonye, a man bringing Yuina to her under orders.
However, here it’s revealed that he is not just a simple servant.
“The audience has only seen Yuina’s sharp, villainous side so far, but now, she must reveal more of her complex self.”
director White turned towards Seoyeon. Yuina was a lost character. From the beginning, she didn’t truly desire anything beyond the heritage of the Amanabi family, which originally belonged to the Kasugayama.
Her relationship with the Amanabi family is complex.
The Amanabi family was originally much weaker in legitimacy and influence compared to the Kasugayama. But when the younger sister of the previous Kasugayama patriarch married into Amanabi, complications arose.
The former Kasugayama patriarch cherished his sister and viewed Michiko, his sister’s daughter, more than his own. This was partly because, in truth, his marriage to the Kasugayama patriarch’s wife, Yuina’s mother, was purely a strategic alliance.
Thus, rather than Yuina, he treated Michiko like his real daughter, even transferring much of the Kasugayama heritage to the Amanabi family.
“We need the complex feelings she has for everyone to come through.”
With that short explanation, Director Baek Min clapped his hands.
“Let’s start. Please, everyone, take your places.”
Staff quickly moved into their positions. Some had even come from Japan.
“Korean film set procedures are very similar to Hollywood’s, aren’t they?”
“Oh, really?”
“Filming styles, atmosphere—there are many similarities.”
Takahashi Hiroshi from the YHJ Broadcasting Station nodded at his fellow journalist’s remark.
“So, is that why?”
Recently, the Japanese film industry had been experiencing various changes—cost cutting and improvements to the field.
“Could hiring a Hollywood director be due to that?”
YHJ was working on a new movie project. In the process, they had numerous opportunities to meet actors and directors, including Seoyeon.
Of course, Seoyeon’s case had little to do with that project. Here, it was purely professional respect for her acting skills.
It was more about building connections, just in case.
The real focus was on the new director YHJ’s president had persuaded to join through connections.
A director who had won the Academy Award for Best Director.
Given the exorbitant fee paid, the importance YHJ placed on this project was evident.
“Seems I was asked to meet tomorrow.”
Thinking about checking in about that after today’s filming, Takahashi began paying attention to what was about to begin.
A grand mansion loomed in the background as the two characters engaged in their conversation.
Kasugayama Yuina and Goto Isamu.
*
Yuina stared at her father’s portrait. Her gaze did not carry longing or love for him.
Her face looked detached, almost indifferent, with complex feelings of contempt and hatred.
“Geezer.”
It was Goto Isamu who quietly approached her and spoke.
The overseer of all the servants in the vast Kasugayama mansion. The man who had stayed closest to Yuina over the years. The one who reached out a hand to her as she lived in solitude.
“It is simply reclaiming what originally belonged to you.”
At his words, her gaze shifted to him.
Isamu stood behind her, bowed initially, but then slowly lifted his gaze to her.
“The Amanabi family. From the very beginning, they don’t dare to even face us on equal terms. They are simply lowlifes who don’t deserve such a confrontation.”
Yuina didn’t respond. Recently, someone had managed to stir her heart.
Even as she stared at the portrait in an attempt to stir her hatred, her heart refused to be swayed as easily as before.
“Amanabi Michiko has taken away much that was rightfully yours.”
Slowly, Isamu raised his gaze, looking straight at her.
Yuina, the girl who hadn’t shown any reply, looked different to him.
Amidst his usual gentle smile, a glimmer of madness emerged through his eyes.
Cracks were showing in his carefully maintained mask.
“Why do you hesitate, miss?”
With bold steps, he approached and grabbed her lapel.
“Please remember she only bows to us out of greed for money. That woman is nothing but street trash, the scum from the gutters.”
“Isamu.”
Ignoring her attempt to interrupt, he continued.
“Remember, miss.”
He brought up her father’s name in his dialogue.
“Kasugayama Rihito was a traitor.”
With a sneer, Isamu accused.
“Even though he was the patriarch, he lived not for the Kasugayama but for the Amanibi family.”
His grip on her lapel tightened, his gaze almost devouring her.
“He passed his inheritance to his sister’s daughter, not his own.”
He spoke with strained breath.
“He has forfeited everything from the Kasugayama, his own family name, and even his dear daughter.”
Yuina bit her lip at those words.
Yes, they were true.
The previous patriarch, Kasugayama Rihito, had abandoned her.
So, it was only natural to dismantle the Amanabi family in return.
It was just a matter of reclaiming what she was originally supposed to have. But…
Closing her eyes, Yuina took a deep breath. The surroundings instantly turned silent.
Everyone observing the scene held their breath.
Especially Jiyeon, who was set to perform with her, was so affected that she unconsciously gripped her sleeve. Isamu’s performance was simply breathtaking.
It made her question whether she’d be able to keep up with such an accomplished actor.
“Isamu.”
When Yuina finally spoke, her voice carried a sense of resignation unlike her usual sharp tone.
Her voice, no longer imbued with hatred but rather a lack thereof, was almost a whisper.
“Your words are accurate. I keep losing, and now this is the chance for me to reclaim what’s mine.”
It sounded more like she was talking to herself rather than him.
Actually, she was. Seoyeon herself didn’t fully grasp the feelings behind this act.
From her perspective, why would someone who had been taken advantage of resign to it all?
Until she understood, she found it hard to empathize fully. But hearing from Yeohee helped a bit.
It wasn’t resignation.
She hadn’t given up completely.
She simply wasn’t capable of doing otherwise.
She knew what her actions would lead to. She fully foresaw who would get hurt.
She couldn’t hate any longer.
And then, Yuina firmly clasped her own lapel, after meeting and interacting with Yeon Seonye, and having crossed paths with Michiko multiple times through her.
“I can’t go through with it,” she confessed to Isamu with a smile on her face, her first genuinely heartfelt smile in the story.
It was a heart-wrenching smile, a tragic expression of a woman choosing others’ happiness over her own.
The sight of it left Goto Isamu speechless.
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