"Hello!"
As if shaking off the early morning chill, Moo-young greeted them more energetically than usual. A staffer checking the slate spotted him right away. The cameras and lights were on, so it looked like they were in the middle of filming... but where was everyone?
"Ha Moo-young-ssi?"
"Hello. Looking forward to working with you!"
"AD-nim. Ha Moo-young-ssi is here."
He immediately called for the assistant director. He'd been instructed to notify him the moment Moo-young arrived. Park Sang-il came over, scratching his belly.
"Well, well. You showed up."
"Hello, Assistant Director-nim."
"No schedule or what?"
Getting called the night before and showing up at dawn? It was a tone dripping with disdain for a rookie like him, but Moo-young just smiled brightly and replied.
"Yes. Lucky timing, right? If I'd had something else, it would've been a disaster. Next time, give a bit more notice. If it's just a few hours ahead, I might miss it. Thanks."
He'd played both sides of the conversation himself, even preempting the response. The staffer next to him glanced at the assistant director. No way, for real? They told him the night before? At this hour? Crazy?
"Ahem. Uh. Yeah. Go wait over there."
Catching the look, the assistant director cleared his throat awkwardly and tried to shoo Moo-young away. The "over there" he pointed to was the edge of the set, right by the onlookers.
"What about makeup?"
The assistant director just smirked at the question, scanning him up and down with a haughty glare.
"Makeup? What makeup."
"Pardon?"
"We talked about it with the PD last time. Nerd image, remember? You brought your glasses, right?"
"Right here."
"Good. And dress like that."
Excuse me? For real?
His hair was a mess from being squished under a hat, and his T-shirt was the ratty kind you only wore to bed. They'd said they'd provide the uniform, so he'd come as-is. Nerdy didn't mean filthy, though.
"We'll get you pants, so change into those."
"Then I'll just hit the bathroom real quick."
He needed to at least wash off some eye gunk. Check for drool stains too. But the assistant director barked at him right away, pressuring him.
"Where do you think you're going? You know when we're shooting? You haven't even met Oon Ta yet?"
Oon Ta, playing the tough-guy sub-lead. As expected from an idol, he had a solid build and rough charm that made him popular. That explained all the onlookers. It made a little sense.
"He's changing clothes right now? He'll be back soon, so match lines the second he gets here and jump right in. Don't wander off. If we run out of extras and outdoor shooting drags because of you, how much of a pain in the ass is that? Huh?"
He grinned wickedly. This was his perfect revenge. Going barefaced on TV these days, where every pore was visible—what a massive risk.
Let's see how you like it, you rude punk!
Even actresses with porcelain skin avoided it, let alone most top stars. The "barefaced" looks on variety shows were all subtle transparent makeup anyway.
"Well, still..."
Ignoring Moo-young, he spun on his heel. Then he bustled busily through the frantic staff like he was swamped.
Go Kyung-min, who'd gone to handle the car, grabbed Moo-young's shoulder.
"What's up?"
"They said no makeup."
"What? Why?"
"Dunno. Nerd concept, and won't even let me use the bathroom."
Go Kyung-min clocked the situation immediately. They were hazing him. Nitpicking a rookie's every move, playing power games. He scratched his head furiously.
"What do we do? I should've prepped something."
"Prep what?"
"Makeup or whatever."
A big agency would've sent a dedicated hair and makeup team, but Big Win was lucky just to keep up with rent.
Moo-young chuckled.
"What good's tools if the hands using 'em are no good? You barely put on sunscreen yourself anyway."
"True, but."
"Grab some water and tissues first. I need a proper face wash. I'll sit over there."
They'd at least provided a cheap folding chair. Go Kyung-min felt a pang of guilt and worry at his unflappable demeanor. He plunged back into the thick crowd toward the convenience store.
"Haa."
Moo-young sat in the chair, scanning the script. Even with the barricade sagging, the stares stung. And that assistant director making things difficult. How to handle it?
First time in my life someone's outright out to get me.
Someone harboring malice toward him. Ah. Wait. No. Stepfather. But that felt different, right? This was cute by comparison.
"Heyyy."
"Yes?"
Someone called from behind. A woman, drunk as a skunk. She grinned wide and struck up a chat.
"You an actor?"
"Yes. Rookie actor Ha Moo-young."
"No way. You're way too handsome."
"Thank you."
"What's this drama? I just know Oon Ta's in it. You in it a lot too, oppa?"
Oppa? She seemed at least his age, maybe older, judging by the drunkenness. Moo-young just smiled politely and answered kindly.
"I'm just an extra, so only a few episodes. Lots of great actors, though. It's pre-produced, so high quality. Please watch."
The crowd buzzed as the actor responded. They swarmed toward Moo-young, drawn in. Way more fun than the empty set. Other celebs barely waved anyway.
"Oppa! I use Doctor Matte thanks to you!"
"Whoa! Who's that?"
"Me! Became a fan after Hanbam Pochah!"
From the back of the crowd, Moo-young's fan popped up. Short, so just a hand waving frantically! Her full-throated scream to reach him was adorable. The crowd burst into amused laughter.
"Whoa, first fan I've seen. Shake her hand?"
"Agh! No, my face is a mess right now."
"Mine too. No makeup today either. Hurry, hold my hand."
Moo-young stretched his hand through the crowd; they parted for him. The happily drunk woman grabbed both his hands, flustered.
"Wish granted—! Hng."
"So nice to meet you. Thanks."
"Oppa, why no makeup? Isn't this drama filming?"
Ah. Oops. Had he said too much? Moo-young smiled sheepishly and smoothly changed the subject.
"Today's concept is nerdy tough guy, so no need to doll up. Glasses instead."
"Still need skin makeup."
"Totally. But your skin's like an egg. Just tone and brows, done."
"I got clear lip gloss."
"This color's gorgeous!"
All dolled up for drinks, their pouches were makeup arsenals. The onlookers exchanged looks. Help?
"Uh..."
"Moo-young-ah! Water and tissues! Grabbed wax just in case, how's the hair..."
Go Kyung-min froze. What the hell? Moo-young stood on the line, almost over the barricade, locking eyes with the crowd behind him.
"Hyung, hand it over."
Without hesitation, Moo-young crossed the line. Folding chair in hand. Buried in the crowd, he looked up.
"Please take care of me. Student role, so keep it natural."
"Babe. Fix his hair."
"Me? I?"
"Swoop it all back."
"Anyone got new puffs? Brow scissors."
"Got 'em. Moo-young-ssi, sign here later?"
A bizarre sight. Drunk folks. Daehak-ro's youthful vibe. Moo-young's easygoing nature sparking this unlikely scene. Go Kyung-min stood blankly on set, watching.
Hard to see through the people, really.
"What's going on?"
A staffer cleaning the set asked Go Kyung-min.
"Oh, nothing. But when's filming start? Where are the actors...?"
"Soon. Someone slipped on vomit mid-take earlier."
Holy crap. Horrifying just imagining. Actor pissed, staff chewed out for slacking. Explained the set vibe. Go Kyung-min wiped sweat from his neck, glancing worriedly at Moo-young.
Already nitpicking everything, in this mess... can he pull it off?
Oblivious to his manager's fretting, Moo-young wrapped up makeup amid cheerful fan banter.
* * *
"Fucking hell... still smells."
"Nah. No smell. That's cologne."
"Mixed with it!"
Oon Ta fussed irritably, checking his clothes. No injuries, thank god, but his wrist from bracing the floor reeked.
"Why the hell film in a dump like this?"
"No choice. Writer had this spot in mind."
"Ugh. What bullshit, slaving till dawn."
"Ready? Cueing up?"
A big van. Basically a mobile green room. He stepped out, covered his face, and headed to set.
"Oon Ta-ssi. Wrist okay?"
"Yeah. Whatever."
"Hold on. Calling Song Min-ssi. Oh, and that's Ha Moo-young, your friend role this time. Run lines quick."
A tall guy stood where the staff pointed. Slicked-back pomade, silver-frame glasses, sharp vibe but soft face. A whirlwind of strange appeal.
What? Why's he so hot?
Oon Ta wasn't short himself, builds similar.
"Hello. Ha Moo-young. Nice to work with you."
"Yeah. Hi."
"Rookie?"
Pretty chill for one. Kinda familiar. Oon Ta flipped his script and asked; Moo-young answered.
"Hanbam Pochah—"
"Oh. Enbin-hyung's?"
"You know Enbin?"
"...You don't?"
Same agency, tight personally. Hard to know unless a fan, though.
"Right. You were on that YouTube clip. Felt familiar. Ah, yeah, heard about you."
Calling Enbin "hyung" meant at most same age. Moo-young mentally calculated, zipping it till titles sorted.
"Close with hyung?"
"Mm. Yeah. Friends."
Huh. Enbin didn't mix much with rookies. Veteran caution with strangers.
"Ready? PD-nim soon... Agh, Ha Moo-young."
The AD scowled at Moo-young's look.
"Who dolled you up like that? Huh? Forgot I said no makeup?"
"Makeup? Why?"
Oon Ta, overhearing, gaped. No makeup on a drama set? Insane.
The AD grinned obsequiously.
"Nah, two-shot, he'd stand out too much—"
"So you're saying I'd overshadow?"
"Not that, just to focus Oon Ta, no choice."
"Holy shit. Ridiculous. Clean the floor instead of focusing. How do you slip on vomit? Huh?"
The assistant director just smiled awkwardly under the tirade. Oon Ta waved his script at the AD.
"First and last line run?"
"Y-yeah. Ten minutes, straight to shoot."
He spun and fled. Oon Ta tsked at the sight. Set was a mess. Pre-produced, and this?
Bzzz.
A woman filming them from the bar next door, second floor. Sniper camera. A so-called "film-deok," obsessive fan-filmer.
"Whoa. Total disaster."
Trip the fave Oon Ta, then compare faces with a rookie? And say he's "eclipsed"?
"Can't let this slide."
Oon Ta's film-deok rewound, pondering titles. Staff power-tripping? Idol looks compared, safety risked? Whatever, they're dead meat.
But she'd missed something. Moo-young was filmed too beside Oon Ta. To an objective non-fan eye, Moo-young was the hotter one.
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Read 123 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
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