Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 296
Why did he look like that?
‘I thought he'd like it.’
I had assumed that he would have a positive reaction to the suggestion of filming together.
As a fellow actor, I deeply understood his passion for acting.
However, Ji-woon hyung seemed to be in a state of panic rather than joy.
‘What did I miss?’
Had I gotten too excited after meeting Biyeon in an unexpected situation?
Embarrassed, I quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“Huh? For what??”
“For suggesting we film together. I didn't mean to pressure you; I just didn’t want to miss the opportunity.”
“No, no, that’s not it.”
As soon as I finished speaking, he shook his head and hands simultaneously.
“What are you talking about? No, I just can’t believe this is happening. Um… is this a dream?”
“Pardon?”
“Am I dreaming right now?”
He asked with a very serious expression.
Seeing him so earnest, I answered just as seriously.
“No, it’s not a dream.”
Probably.
“Then, is this reality? That can’t be… Did I faint with my eyes open?”
“…….”
Why was he acting like this all of a sudden?
Hadn’t we been having a perfectly normal conversation just a moment ago?
I stared at him as he rambled on.
“Actor-nim.”
A large hand touched my back, and a low voice followed.
It was Jin-bae hyung.
“Ji-woon isn’t upset by your suggestion. It’s just that it was too sudden for him.”
“Yes! Exactly!”
Ji-woon hyung nodded immediately.
Oh.
‘So that’s what it was.’
Come to think of it, I did bring it up rather abruptly.
“I’m sorry for startling you. I guess I got carried away because I was eager.”
“No, please stop apologizing.”
“Alright. Then, would it be okay if I ask again in about... thirty minutes?”
I asked while looking at my wristwatch.
Thirty minutes should feel less sudden.
However, despite my calm question, Ji-woon hyung responded with a hesitant expression.
“……It’s already quite sudden enough.”
“Oh.”
What should I do then?
Was there no other way?
‘I really want to film together.’
This could be my last directing project.
It might be the first and last chance to meet Byeon on a set where I could call the shots.
As I bit my lip in anxiety, Ji-woon hyung hesitated.
“Putting aside the suddenness, it’s more because I’m worried about acting with you.”
“…? Why?”
“…? Pardon?”
We both looked at each other in confusion.
Ji-woon hyung spoke in a bewildered tone.
“Because I’m your fan…?”
“Then isn’t that a good thing?”
What?
Wouldn’t it be better to do something you like with someone you like?
It didn’t make sense to me, so I tilted my head.
“…….”
For some reason, the atmosphere turned cold. Jin-bae hyung intervened.
“People feel differently about things, Actor-nim.”
“Right.”
“Ji-woon probably likes you so much that he finds it overwhelming to act with you.”
“Yes! That’s exactly what it is!”
Ji-woon hyung nodded vigorously.
His eyes sparkled as he looked at Jin-bae hyung.
‘What is this, some kind of interpreter?’
What was this situation between two Koreans?
Thanks to Jin-bae hyung, I finally understood the situation.
‘I’ve had moments like that too.’
Sometimes, liking Byeon so much made it hard to handle.
Understanding his feelings, I nodded quietly.
“Then, it can’t be helped.”
As I hesitated in disappointment, Ji-woon hyung spoke up.
“Well, if it’s not too much trouble, how about we just try filming? I might not do well, but we could consider it a test shot….”
Hearing his hesitant words, I nodded quickly.
“Yes. We won’t know until we try. Let’s give it a shot.”
What a windfall.
I quickly pushed Ji-woon hyung before he could change his mind.
“Shall we start filming right away? Don’t worry about the pay; I’ll make sure you get it.”
“Pay? I wasn’t worried about that at all. I didn’t even think about it.”
“Of course you should worry about it. Why wouldn’t you think about it?”
Tsk.
I barely stopped myself from clicking my tongue.
Why were there so many timid people around me?
“You must be compensated for your work. Don’t go around doing otherwise, okay?”
“Yes….”
Ji-woon hyung replied absentmindedly.
He looked like his soul had left his body.
Then suddenly, he lifted his head abruptly.
“Huh! But do I have a role that I can play? I don’t think there’s a part for me in the script.”
“Yes. There’s no part for you in the current script.”
“What? Then what should I do??”
Ji-woon hyung asked with an innocent expression.
Why was he asking something so obvious?
“That’s why we need to change the script.”
“…….”
“Just give me ten minutes, no, five minutes. Sit here for now, and I’ll go talk to the staff.”
I sat Ji-woon hyung in my chair and ran off.
When I asked the staff, including the camera director, for their understanding, they thankfully nodded without hesitation.
“How are you going to change it? Do you have something in mind?”
“I think it would be good to add Ji-woon hyung clapping the slate whenever I change characters. He can cheer me on while watching me act.”
The original script felt like a one-man show.
I planned to change it so that Ji-woon hyung would assist me.
“Uh… that doesn’t seem to make sense.”
The lighting director spoke up.
“The music video’s story is about an actor trying to fit into different characters to be loved by fans, but the fan who sees this isn’t upset and instead cheers him on. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah. If it were me, I’d be upset and try to stop him.”
Other staff members nodded.
I also agreed with the lighting director’s opinion.
“Right. Fans would definitely be upset and wouldn’t want to cheer for an actor trying to fit into a character.”
But even so, I was convinced.
“Still, I think Biyeon would cheer for me.”
“…….”
“Even if I’m making a mistake and struggling, I believe my fans would cheer for me.”
I smiled softly as I said that.
Understanding the love from fans is still difficult.
Where does that love come from? How long will it last?
The answers remain unclear, and I’m still full of fear.
In that vast ocean, I keep swimming to be loved.
‘But it’s strange.’
Despite feeling overwhelmed, I have a certain conviction.
I believe Byeon would understand my messy struggles.
Even if it saddens them, they would still cheer for me.
I don’t know how long they will cheer for me or why they do, but….
‘But I think I know this.’
As long as my fans exist as Byeon, they will cheer for me.
I realized this while preparing for this song.
It was the biggest reward.
‘What is the relationship between a fan and a celebrity?’
It was very peculiar.
Feeling uneasy because the love has no purpose, yet trusting it more because it has no purpose.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
I wondered about the sudden silence, but I continued speaking in my urgency.
“There’s a part in the lyrics where I whisper, ‘Don't you love it? Don't you love it?’”
It’s a part where I ask if this much is satisfying enough.
I then answer with the next lyric, ‘No, it’s not enough.’
“The original script has me asking and answering myself, but I think it would be better if Ji-woon hyung asked the question.”
The fan would ask if this much is enough, and I would directly answer.
That it’s not enough.
That I want more.
“Hm, after hearing your explanation, it seems alright.”
“I think it’s a good idea!”
Thankfully, the staff’s reactions weren’t bad.
“Then let’s rehearse one more time if we have a moment?”
“Ugh, the main director is so strict. It’s complete Sparta.”
One staff member grumbled.
Despite the complaints, everyone moved quickly, like true professionals.
‘I’m really blessed with good people.’
How do I get along so well with everyone I work with?
Smiling, I was about to return to my spot when the camera director asked.
“By the way, Yeon-jae, when did you come up with all this?”
“Pardon?”
“No, you explained everything so smoothly. Did you plan this in advance, anticipating you’d be filming with a fan?”
How could I anticipate that?
I chuckled at the absurd suggestion.
“I just thought it would be nice to change it when I saw Ji-woon hyung’s face.”
“That’s all? Just seeing his face?”
“Pardon?”
“You got the idea just by seeing a fan’s face? Has it even been ten minutes since you met Ji-woon? Then that means you thought of all this in less than ten minutes.”
He seemed urgent about something.
I found his urgency puzzling but nodded obediently.
“Yes, if you put it that way.”
“…….”
“……Did I do something wrong?”
I felt the atmosphere around me suddenly turn cold.
The camera director looked at me with a stunned expression.
‘What’s wrong with everyone?’
I was full of questions.
* * *
We finished shooting the music videos for 'Bambi' and 'Biyeon' over the course of a week.
With Ji-woon hyung's addition, the connection between 'Bambi' and 'Biyeon' became more natural, and everyone was satisfied.
He seemed to tremble every time he acted, though.
“Ji-woon hyung.”
“Yes?”
“I really enjoyed acting with you this time.”
When I said I hoped there would be more opportunities like this, Ji-woon hyung looked shy.
“I’m probably more desperate than you. I don’t just want to shoot again, I just want to meet you again.”
“We can meet. You know I’m having a fan meeting on my birthday.”
“You think getting a ticket to that is easy? If you have any conscience, you should hold next year's fan meeting at Gocheok Sky Dome.”
Ji-woon hyung grumbled.
It seemed he had become much more comfortable with me.
‘My efforts paid off.’
I couldn’t count how much effort I put in over the past week just to see him like this.
On the third day of shooting, I finally got him to drop the formal speech, and he stopped calling me 'actor-nim' the next day.
Feeling pleased, I smiled and said goodbye.
“Then, take care. I’ll contact you soon.”
“Alright. Um, Bambi.”
“Yes?”
“……I’ll keep cheering for you.”
Ji-woon hyung hesitated as he continued.
“Like you said, when I first heard the lyrics of 'Bambi,' it really made me sad. But I understand. We feel the same way.”
“We?”
“Biyeon. We also put in a lot of effort to show you our best side.”
He said it felt like we all live trying to put in such effort.
“Liking someone is affection, and affection requires effort. It’s something we have to do for life… I hope you don’t stay anxious forever.”
“…….”
“We’re also trying hard to be good fans for you, so just give us that much effort.”
He added that it would be enough.
I wondered whose fan he was, being so kind until the very end.