Chapter 93: You Broke Up

“Is the songwriting going well?”

Manager Lee Jaeyoon, who was at the wheel, asked casually.

At that one question, my expression darkened.

“I’m stuck at seong-woon-seong-woon universe seong-woon.”

“Huh?”

“It means my head feels like it’s going to explode.”

I didn’t make the same mistake twice like Dusty-Dust Universe Dust.

I had brought a draft, and thankfully, the members reacted well this time.

It would probably be finished sometime this week, so we’d be able to start recording soon.

The more urgent issue right now was this.

I looked down at the thick script book and took a short deep breath.

The script book for .

I only had two scenes to shoot today, but I had repeated the same sections so much that the paper felt worn.

Making a cameo appearance in the number one trending drama was a task that needed to be taken seriously.

I knew there would be more than a few people with preconceived notions just because I was an idol.

Even more so as someone who came in first place on the Stardust Project.

As much as I hated to admit it, I was a pretty tempting prey in this industry.

[Stardust Project #1 Do Seohan, dead last in acting skills?]

[Why did ‘Romantic Management’ cast a rookie idol for a cameo—lack of buzz from lead actors?]

—These kinds of provocative headlines that even I might click on came to mind.

“Hoo…”

As I let out a breath and looked out the window, we had nearly arrived at the filming site.

Screeeeech—

With the screech of tires, the car came to a stop in the parking lot.

Manager Lee Jaeyoon turned his head and asked,

“Why, nervous?”

“A little.”

Honestly, I was terrified.

“The hyungs were super worried, you know?”

“Really?”

Just as my manager finished speaking—

Dding—

Dding—

My pocket vibrated.

-How’s the filming going?

-How’s the shoot?

Texts from Kang Siwoo and Ha Junseo had arrived at the same time.

A small laugh escaped me.

Come on, it hasn’t even been that long since I left.

I hadn’t even started shooting yet.

“Is it the hyungs?”

“Yeah, I guess they’re worried.”

It wasn’t like I was being dragged to a slaughterhouse, but they had looked at me so wistfully this morning that I was left dumbfounded.

Rolling my eyes, I replied to both of them almost simultaneously.

└Just arrived

—And no sooner had I sent that, the alert went off again.

This time it was Seo Haim.

-Do Seohan

-Seohan-ah

-Is no one beating you up??

“Like anyone would…”

It made sense to be worried, given that a rookie just two weeks into debut was heading alone into a filming site full of well-established actors. Still, if they were all going to message me like this, wouldn’t it be better to just post it in the group chat?

-Junseo: Do Seohan, answer me

-Seongbin: No one's bullying you, right???

-Siwoo: What’s the vibe like on set

-Haim: I’m more scared than you ㅠㅠ

This was just so inefficient.

The sudden flood of messages made it hard to respond to them one by one.

I glanced at Manager Lee Jaeyoon and shrugged.

“The hyungs are asking what the vibe is like.”

“Here, you mean?”

Whirrr—

He cracked the window slightly and looked outside the filming set.

There were still a good twenty minutes left until the time we were told to arrive.

We had arrived much earlier than expected, but a few lead actors were already outside.

Even though we had some time, it was probably better to be out than stay in the car.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, I asked Manager Lee Jaeyoon,

“Should I go out and wait?”

“Yeah, let’s go around and greet people.”

“Okay!”

I should report the situation before stepping out.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket again to reply to the leader hyung’s message.

Tap tap tap—

└I think the vibe here is good

Just as I finished typing that and started to get up to head out,

I heard a harsh exchange through the window.

“Lee Seohwa-ssi, please study the script properly.”

“Don’t worry so much, I know what I’m doing.”

Hmm.

“Let’s wait a bit before going out, Seohan.”

“Yes.”

Srrrk—

Staring blankly at my phone, I deleted the message I had just typed.

Good vibe, my ass.

└The vibe is goo…d.

Should I delete the two letters in the middle before sending?

By the time the tension had settled down, I went out immediately and did the rounds of greetings.

With so many actors gathered at the filming site, there wasn’t even a moment for my waist, bent at a 90-degree angle, to straighten.

It had improved a bit compared to earlier, but the atmosphere on set was still ice-cold.

“……”

Is this really the drama that ranks number one in its time slot?

Usually with this level of buzz, people would be so hyped they’d be banging cymbals even during filming.

That’s how it felt from my end, but it clearly wasn’t the case for the people involved.

The filming site was a cycle of endless waiting.

While checking the script during one of the delays, I got a general read on the mood on set.

The cause of this mess was clearly those two.

Park Minchan, who played the male lead, and Lee Seohwa, who played the junior from the same school who had a one-sided crush on him.

Though the concept was supposed to be a crush, Lee Seohwa looked like she was dying to tear Park Minchan apart.

‘Ah, she seriously doesn’t want to act with that bastard.’

Her expression said it all, making me nervous just watching!

But only for a moment.

“Scene 12, continuing!”

Clack—

As soon as the slate clapped, their voices changed 180 degrees.

It was hard to believe these were the same two people who had been baring their teeth at each other.

Lee Seohwa returned with loving eyes and gently wrapped her arms around Park Minchan’s neck.

Just earlier, that pose looked like it would turn into a headlock, but now it painted a tender picture of first love, full of wistful emotion.

“Oppa. You know I’ve liked you for a long time, right?”

“Yeah, I know. You’re a good dongsaeng to me.”

Park Minchan smiled softly and patted Lee Seohwa’s head.

Lee Seohwa slapped his hand away and pouted with her lips stuck out.

"…So ridiculous."

It was no wonder she skipped past her unknown rookie days and shot up to lead actress in just a year—her face alone was captivating to look at.

On top of that, her clear diction that drew people in instantly was another strength.

“Make up your mind. Don’t be so wishy-washy and confuse people.”

“……”

“Tell me honestly. What kind of person am I to you?”

Park Minchan took a step back, looking flustered.

His expression showed turmoil, as if he couldn’t tell whether it was love or not.

Though their lines had ended, they didn’t let go of the emotional thread until the very end of the scene.

At the same time, the director’s loud voice echoed.

“Cut! Very good!”

The moment the red light on the camera turned off, Lee Seohwa’s face returned to ice.

“Ugh, I can’t get into the emotions.”

“Maybe it’s because your expression’s rotten when you say the lines.”

Lee Seohwa completely ignored Park Minchan’s comment and abruptly turned toward her manager.

As if she wanted the whole set to hear, her annoyed voice rang out.

“Starting from the morning, I’m just in the worst mood.”

“Aigoo, Seohwa, are you not feeling well today?”

Ah, is that the world of professionals?

Brutal. Just brutal.

The two actors who seemed one step from enemies were extremely clear about separating work and personal matters.

With their power play freezing up the entire set.

I should really avoid doing anything to rub anyone the wrong way.

It’s just two cuts, so I can quietly shoot and quietly leave, right?

Is it my turn after this next scene?

Just as I was trying to read the room and focusing only on my script,

I met eyes with Lee Seohwa, who had her arms crossed and was sighing heavily.

Ah.

This feels bad.

“Come here.”

She called me over.

Actress-turned-film-star Lee Seohwa.

An exceptional face and a uniquely irreplaceable look among actresses in their twenties.

Lee Seohwa’s signature charming eye smile catapulted her to the ranks of lead actors.

—That’s what the public generally knows about her….

But I remembered that name a little differently.

Lee Dokyung’s ex(?) girlfriend.

An actress with a sad story of getting caught in that octopus-arm fishing pond.

I wonder if she knows by now?

As I awkwardly hovered in front of her, gauging the mood, Lee Seohwa opened her mouth.

“You’re an idol, right?"

"Yes."

"Are you here to become an actor?”

Ah.

It was a question I’d somewhat anticipated, so I answered cautiously.

“No, I don’t think I’m quite ready yet.”

“So, you’re planning to do it later?”

Lee Seohwa’s eyebrow lifted.

It was a typical turf-guarding question that had been around forever.

Actors' wariness toward idols wasn’t anything new, and no matter what I said, she’d probably dislike it, so I smoothed it over with an awkward smile. Then she said something I couldn’t quite read.

“I’m not someone with that kind of prejudice, so if you’re thinking of acting, feel free to say so.”

“Yes. I’ll try to learn as much as I can.”

“Hmm… Also.”

Lee Seohwa rolled her eyes slightly, looking as if she was deep in thought.

After a long stretch of silence, she finally brought it up again.

“You were on Starf, right? One of the debut members?”

“Yes, I debuted through that.”

“Then… you probably know the other trainees from there too?”

“Yes, I’m on good terms with most of them.”

“Most of them…”

Since earlier, I’d had the feeling she was circling around the core of what she wanted to say.

It felt like there was something else she was trying to bring up.

Finally, Lee Seohwa let out a soft chuckle and mentioned a name.

“Are you close with Lee Dokyung?”

So we came back to this topic after all.

Her fastball came out of nowhere, and I nearly spit out the water I was drinking.

She must be curious about the whereabouts of her ex(?)-boyfriend.

Well, that’s understandable.

I laughed awkwardly and waved my hand dismissively.

Even if there was some connection with Lee Dokyung, we weren’t close at all.

“Ah, no. We’re not close.”

“Really? Then maybe I can be a bit more honest.”

Lee Seohwa smiled coldly and held the script in one hand.

“I wouldn’t say we were that close either. We used to be at the same company a long time ago.”

“Ah, I see.”

“After Starf, he didn’t end up debuting.”

As far as I knew, they started dating not long after crossing paths at a small, actor-focused entertainment agency.

Now, Lee Dokyung had joined HBN, and Lee Seohwa had switched agencies too.

Those two….

Did they break up?

They probably did, right?

“Good. I was hoping that bastard would fall.”

They broke up.

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