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“What is it?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
The conversation was briefly interrupted by Dojun’s message.
Just as Haejoo set her phone to silent, Director Kwak arrived.
“Director Yoo Jinhan, how have you been?”
“Welcome, Director.”
While Jinhan shook hands with Director Kwak, Haejoo humbly bowed.
“Director, it’s been a while.”
“I’m glad things worked out well for Haejoo-ssi.”
“It’s all thanks to Director Yoo Jinhan’s help.”
Director Kwak, who had marked Haejoo early on, sent her the script before other actors. This was a great honor for an actress.
Excitedly analyzing the script, the marriage scandal broke out, and it almost fell through.
“Shall we get straight to the point?”
There was a reason why Director Kwak had personally visited GN Entertainment today. It was to decide on one of the two female lead roles in the script.
He intended to weave Haejoo’s full potential into the film.
“The choice of the other lead actor will depend on Haejoo-ssi’s decision.”
“The male lead hasn’t been decided yet either?”
“Yes. We will be auditioning actors who have the best chemistry with Haejoo-ssi.”
“……!”
“There are four main characters, but Haejoo-ssi is practically the lead.”
“Really?”
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this movie is for Haejoo-ssi. So please take good care of it.”
Jinhan’s lips twitched with pride.
While trying hard to hide his delight, he winked at Haejoo.
“As you know, Youngin and Sohee appear in this movie.”
“Yes.”
“Which role appeals to you, Haejoo-ssi?”
“Well, for me…”
Haejoo glanced at Jinhan’s reaction before answering.
He was hoping she would take the role of Sohee.
Haejoo also coveted the role of Sohee, but she was worried if she could handle it. There were also scenes involving romance, which made her hesitate.
To be sure, if she did well in the role of Sohee, she could even aim for an acting award at film festivals. It was an opportunity only possible with Director Kwak’s work.
“The role of Sohee.”
A sigh of relief escaped Jinhan’s lips, who had been waiting for Haejoo’s answer.
Clearing his throat to ease his nervousness, he also chimed in.
“Given Sohee’s age range in the movie, I think it’s a perfect fit for Haejoo-ssi.”
“It’s a very strong role, are you sure you can do it?”
“I’ve been practicing acting steadily, so I’ll do well. Right, Haejoo-ssi?”
“I’ll do my best.”
Director Kwak narrowed his brows, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, he scrutinized Haejoo’s pure yet mysterious beauty in detail.
“Shall we do a simple audition here and now?”
“……Yes, Director.”
It was an unexpected situation, but Haejoo wasn’t flustered. Not knowing which role she would get, she had practiced both Youngin and Sohee.
Haejoo stepped forward and closed her eyes, controlling her emotions.
But at that moment, Dojun flickered in her mind.
‘This is troublesome.’
The feeling of his embrace from this morning resurfaced. His firm body pressing against Haejoo…
As the image of their close proximity flashed through her mind, her heart raced.
“We’ll film today’s audition with my phone, so shall we start with Sohee? Scene 34 here looks good.”
Haejoo, her eyes suddenly changing, slowly lifted her face. She recited the lines, fully conveying the emotions of her recent turmoil.
“The look in your eyes for me is always cold and sharp. It’s always been that way, you bastard.”
Haejoo’s voice sensually filled the space.
Director Kwak was drawn in by the weight she carried, comparable to established actors.
“Even the voice that calls my name is this cold, but just looking at you makes me burn up…”
It was a line from the movie, but unintentionally, it felt like she was saying it to Dojun in front of her.
Tears even welled up in her eyes, already overflowing with emotion.
This wasn’t just a line.
It was her sincere feeling towards Dojun, who had saved her at the edge of her nightmare.
“I feel like I’m going to die.”
Sweat filled Jinhan’s fists as he watched Haejoo’s performance.
The five-minute performance ended just as they were about to move on to the next scene.
“Wow, that feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Thank you.”
“We don’t need to see the Youngin role.”
“So can we assume you’ll take the Sohee role?”
“Yes, since Haejoo-ssi has that image, I think it would be good to go even more mysterious than now.”
With this, a script revision was unavoidable.
Since Director Kwak was also the writer, he made a lot of notes in the notebook he had brought.
“The investors want to lower the movie’s rating, so we have to cut some scenes.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Haejoo secretly felt relieved.
It was a romance thriller, but it was fortunate that they would focus more on the events.
“The lines will hardly change. Please continue practicing with the script I gave you.”
“Thank you, Director.”
She had been worried, but things worked out well.
Director Kwak had more to discuss with Jinhan, so Haejoo left the conference room first.
She wondered if this was a dream or reality. With a flushed face, she went to the restroom first to calm her mind.
Just then, Yoonji, whom she thought had left, came into the restroom and closed the door.
“I heard you’re filming a movie with Director Kwak this time?”
“Yes, that’s how it worked out.”
“Looks like things went well? Your face is glowing.”
“Not at all.”
Haejoo stood awkwardly at Yoonji’s uncomfortable compliment.
In front of her, who was older and had more experience, she kept as quiet as possible.
“I used to be like that too. Jinhan became a director thanks to me.”
“……”
“I went out of my way to help him make a living, and now he treats me like a worn-out shoe?”
“……”
“You be careful too. You could be thrown away overnight.”
Haejoo had no feelings for Yoonji whatsoever. So, rather than getting upset in this situation, she dealt with it with a flexible attitude.
“Senior, you’re my role model. Thanks to you, I also…”
“You’re quite the flatterer, aren’t you?”
“……!”
“I heard you had a stolen marriage, you’re quite something.”
“It’s not like that.”
Yoonji, draped in luxury brands from head to toe, walked towards Haejoo.
As the distance narrowed, the strong scent of her perfume stung Haejoo’s nose.
“You and your husband have been married for three years, so why were you living separately?”
“I’ve already explained all of that through my statement.”
“I know you rushed into CEO Park Dojun’s house yesterday.”
“There were unavoidable circumstances.”
“Are you sure you married him out of love?”
Her marriage with Dojun was on paper.
And that too was something his brother Yijun had done.
Yoonji was trying to stir up their marriage, which was far from love.
“Yes. I love him.”
If there was no love, she would just have to create it.
But even at Haejoo’s firm answer, Yoonji wore a strange smile.
“Let’s be honest. You didn’t marry him out of love, did you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve heard a few things about CEO Park Dojun.”
“……!”
“You’d better be careful in the future.”
“I think you might have misunderstood something, senior.”
“Is that so?”
There was nothing to gain from talking to Yoonji any further. She didn’t know what Yoonji knew, but she had to get out of this place for now.
“I’m busy, so I’ll take my leave.”
Haejoo left the restroom.
Her heart, which had been filled with anticipation, had already cooled down.
Yoonji’s chilling laughter echoed from inside the restroom.
As she turned to leave, pretending not to hear, Jinhan came down the stairs.
“Haejoo-ssi, you haven’t left yet?”
“Yes, Director.”
“You worked hard today.”
“You’re the one who put in the effort, Director. Thank you.”
“Shall we have dinner together later?”
“I think I’ll be a bit tired today. I haven’t finished unpacking my things yet.”
“How about lunch tomorrow?”
Even with her indirect refusal, Jinhan didn’t stop.
It was difficult to simply refuse his offer to eat since things had worked out well.
“Then let’s all eat together with the hardworking staff.”
“Anyway, see you tomorrow.”
Jinhan smiled brightly and went up the stairs. He subtly watched Haejoo leave the first floor completely before letting out a sigh.
This time, he carefully observed Haejoo’s figure through the hallway window. Seen from above, light flowed from her long hair fluttering in the wind.
“See you tomorrow, Lee Haejoo.”
Jinhan had heard rumors about Haejoo two years ago.
At that time, he was the team leader of the manager team.
Suddenly, a friend contacted him, saying there was a woman he was interested in. He pleaded with Jinhan to go with him, saying it wouldn’t be easy to win her over.
‘Where is it that you want me to go?’
‘I went to the K store because I needed to buy something, and there’s a staff member there who’s really my type.’
‘Do that on your own.’
‘I did try to get her number. But she cut me off, saying no.’
‘You got rejected.’
‘Don’t say that, just help me out. You’re the team leader of an agency, so getting her number should be easy, right?’
He reluctantly agreed to his earnest request.
Of course, he had no intention of setting his friend up with her. She was said to be so beautiful that he thought he might make her a casting offer if she was really 괜찮은.
The next day, just before closing time, he visited the store where she worked.
At that moment, Jinhan forgot about his chattering friend beside him.
‘Is that her?’
‘Yeah, isn’t she something?’
She was more captivating than any luxury brand.
Her skin, so white it had a bluish tint, and her clear eyes exuded a mysterious aura.
She wasn’t the commonly known type of beauty.
She was a true gem, naturally beautiful.
He couldn’t remember the last time his heart had raced like this.
He had seen countless people who were considered attractive, but Haejoo was special.
‘Hello. I’m from GN Entertainment. Have you ever thought about becoming an actress?’
He couldn’t remember how much he had trembled while saying those few words.
But Haejoo only politely accepted Jinhan’s business card and didn’t contact him.
So he visited her every day. He gave her coffee and snacks, making sure she remembered his face.
About three months later, Haejoo finally showed a reaction.
‘You don’t have to do this anymore.’
‘Don’t feel pressured. I’m doing this because I like to.’
‘Really… can someone like me become an actress?’
‘I’ll make it happen. I promise.’
That’s how Haejoo took her first step into GN Entertainment.
She practiced acting while working part-time, and as her skills improved, Jinhan actively stepped in. Thanks to him, Haejoo was cast in her first movie by Director Jang, who was at the peak of his career.
Jinhan was also the one who secretly filled Haejoo’s refrigerator so she wouldn’t have financial difficulties. At the company, they even gave him the nickname ‘silent helper’.
That’s how special Jinhan was when it came to Haejoo.
The problem was that he realized that special feeling had become something more with Haejoo’s marriage scandal.
‘What am I thinking right now? Let’s go in.’
While watching Haejoo drive away, he was lost in past memories. Jinhan shook his head vigorously, returning to reality.
Then, seeing Yoonji standing behind him with her arms crossed, his heart skipped a beat.
“You haven’t left yet?”
“The devoted one wasn’t CEO Park Dojun, but our director.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, just wait until I contact you.”
Jinhan brushed past her.
Yoonji, who had been staring intently at his retreating figure, let out a hollow laugh.
“Trying to fool someone, are you?”
Yoonji went to where he had been standing and checked the spot where the expensive car had disappeared.
It was the brand of car she had planned to buy this year, but her plans had been canceled.
Yoonji’s head throbbed.
She was consumed by a sense of crisis, feeling that if things continued this way, she could lose everything she held.
________________________________________
Haejoo, behind the wheel, drove out of Seoul and entered a residential area with detached houses. She parked in front of a still unfamiliar building, and Secretary Song came out.
“I’ll take care of the parking.”
“Thank you.”
Haejoo, holding the script in her hand, entered the house.
Just then, Dojun was standing in front of a large tree in the garden.
“I’m here.”
“Yeah.”
Haejoo was about to go straight to the second floor, but Dojun’s behavior seemed suspicious.
He snapped off a perfectly good branch and licked his lips. It was a gesture of savoring something.
Then, as if something was wrong, he crumpled the snapped branch with a crunch.
“Withdrawal symptoms?”
Dojun had thrown his cigarette into the trash in front of Haejoo. She had casually dismissed it, but it seemed he had really quit smoking.
As a result of the withdrawal, the look in Dojun’s eyes wasn’t normal.
Haejoo, who had placed the script on the table, watched him before going up to the second floor.
“It’s nice that I don’t smell cigarettes, but I wonder if he’ll be okay.”
She lay down for a short rest and then sat up. Now that her role in the next project had been decided, she needed to do more character research.
But the script wasn’t visible.
Recalling that she had left it on the first floor, she went downstairs and her heart sank.
Of all times, Dojun was reading Haejoo’s script, so she rushed over.
“Give it to me!”
Haejoo tried to snatch the script, but he grabbed her wrist.
Even in this situation, Dojun’s eyes were fixed on the script.
“The role you’re playing?”
“Sohee.”
“It’s pretty racy from the beginning?”
The script was to be revised, focusing more on the thriller aspect.
Dojun, who had no way of knowing this, slyly raised the corner of his eye.
“Have you already forgotten my warning?”
He seemed sensitive, going through withdrawal.
It was something that could be explained well. But regardless, his rude behavior was not good.
Moreover, looking at someone else’s script without permission was crossing the line.
“I’m prepared to do even more intense acting.”
Haejoo believed she had landed a blow on Dojun.
Until he countered.
But.
“Shall I be your partner?”
Faced with a serious deficiency, Dojun was sincere.
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