NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 79
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 79. 7th Floor
“Jin-wook hyung, are you really okay with this?”
“Ah, of course I’m fine. Actually, when I watched the movie yesterday and saw you and So-hyeon acting, I was thinking I’d like to work on a project with you. Besides, the pay is quite substantial for a cameo, isn’t it?”
Director Lee Sang-hoon had requested additional production funds to overcome this crisis and truly turn it into a blessing in disguise, offering quite a large sum as payment.
Son Jin-wook would have gladly accepted to help Yeon-woo even without the pay, but getting good money on top of it made it even better.
“I’m really grateful. It was a crisis because of the incident that suddenly broke out.”
“Did I appear like a hero making a grand entrance? Haha.”
“You really did.”
Yeon-woo nodded and laughed at Jin-wook’s joke.
Son Jin-wook, who came to cheer them on, suddenly found himself getting makeup applied.
“So, I’m someone from Goryeo who became a bodyguard for a Song Dynasty envoy?”
“That’s right. You had friendly sparring with Seo Hee and Lee Ji-baek in the previous episode and developed an inner sense of camaraderie.”
Jin-wook nodded.
“Is it difficult to match the choreography?”
“The martial arts director said he was in charge during your ‘Your Name,’ so it should be easier than back then.”
“Oh, Director Do? Then I know exactly what kind of choreography it’ll be.”
Son Jin-wook, whose makeup was now finished, stood up.
“Yeon-woo. I ended up filming unexpectedly, but isn’t it exciting to shoot together? It reminds me of the old days.”
“It really does. Thank you so much.”
Yeon-woo smiled back while watching Son Jin-wook grin and pat his shoulder.
“Oh, it’s been a while, Yu-han too.”
“Hello, senior. Thank you so much for readily helping us.”
“Ah, what’s the big deal, it’s already a successful project so there’s no pressure. Plus, cute younger siblings are in it.”
Son Jin-wook put his arms around both Ryu Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han and grinned.
Click─.
At that moment, the photographer who was taking still shots of the filming set in the corner didn’t miss that scene and captured it.
They say photography is the art of capturing a moment.
Looking at the photo of the three lined up together on the camera screen, he nodded.
“Ha, I took it myself but this one really came out well. This is a precious trio that might be used as archive footage somewhere later.”
Son Jin-wook and Jin Yu-han.
The two who had faced off for the Korea Arts Awards Male Excellence Award met again on a filming set.
Jin Yu-han and Ryu Yeon-woo.
In this drama, they’re friends yet rivals, political partners yet competitors.
Ryu Yeon-woo and Son Jin-wook.
Ryu Yeon-woo, whose stock is rising like crazy on both television and screen these days, and Son Jin-wook, who competed over a woman in Yeon-woo’s debut work.
This photo of the three of them brightly putting their arms around each other’s shoulders would likely generate quite a buzz when released on the internet.
The filming after that went smoothly.
Although they had only briefly matched choreography for the first time today, since Park Kyung-wan wearing a mask had already filmed all the earlier parts, when the mask came off and Son Jin-wook’s face appeared on the monitor, the scene looked so good that the filming set buzzed with excitement.
“Thank you so much for helping. But, who might you be?”
“We meet again. I’m the Song Dynasty envoy you sparred with before.”
“Okay, cut!”
Director Lee Sang-hoon’s okay sign, which hadn’t come out all morning, came out refreshingly when Son Jin-wook acted, making the staff admire.
“Wow, a top actor is indeed a top actor.”
“Whoa, Ryu Yeon-woo, Jin Yu-han, and even Son Jin-wook in one frame.”
“Really. How many Korea Arts Awards are in this frame right now.”
Director Lee Sang-hoon also had his mouth hanging open as he nodded.
“Mm, this is exactly what they call turning misfortune into blessing.”
***
While “Stars Beyond the Stream” was overcoming its crisis and “Master Plan” was sailing smoothly, younger sibling Ryu So-hyeon was diligently capturing articles about her brother and sharing them in the family group chat.
– “Master Plan” first week box office: 3.14 million viewers. Will it achieve the golden milestone of ten million viewers?
– [Why] Why is the movie “Master Plan” causing such a sensation.
– Advertising industry focuses on securing Ryu Yeon-woo. Gaining popularity with “Master Plan” and “Stars Beyond the Stream.”
– In-depth investigation of ‘Ryu Yeon-woo,’ the icon simultaneously conquering television and screen.
Ryu Cheol-woong was handling work at the government building when he checked his daughter’s KakaoTalk message and his mouth stretched from ear to ear.
“Section chief, congratulations. Let us meet your son sometime.”
“Right. Let me see the top star too.”
“Hahaha, what top star. He’s just a rookie actor who’s just starting.”
He showed modesty at his colleagues’ congratulations and envy, but he was a doting father whose mouth wouldn’t come down from his ears.
Bzzzz─.
At that moment, Ryu Cheol-woong’s smartphone rang.
Cheol-woong’s eyes curved like crescents as he checked the screen.
“Oh, yes. My son.”
– Father, I’m finishing the historical drama filming today. After the company dinner, I’ll probably head home tomorrow.
“Oh, really? I should buy something delicious.”
Female employees slowly approached, listening to Cheol-woong’s phone conversation.
“Section Chief Ryu. Let us hear your son’s voice too! I watched that movie twice.”
“Haha, well. Um, are you okay, son?”
– Yes, of course.
Ryu Cheol-woong touched the speakerphone button.
– Hello. Thank you for always helping my father.
“Kyaah! What should I do. I watched Master Plan twice!”
“I watch Stars Beyond the River every time it airs.”
– Thank you so much. I’ll meet you all when you have a company dinner later.
The Environmental Department staff went wild at Yeon-woo’s words.
“Amazing, amazing!”
“Son. You’re busy, why bother.”
“Section Chief! We want to see him too?!”
The employees glared at Ryu Cheol-woong with laser beams from their eyes as he tried to dissuade his son, worried he might be busy.
“Ah, ahem. Yes, let’s have my son help me save face later.”
– Yes. Father. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.
Yeon-woo hung up and looked at the filming set.
The drama’s filming ended with the final scene of Seo Ji-eun and Jin Yu-han, in aged makeup, seeing off the old Ryu Yeon-woo as he departed for enemy territory.
“It always feels strange when things end.”
Seo Ji-eun, who had removed her makeup and approached with a plain face, plopped down beside him and said.
Yeon-woo looked at Seo Ji-eun once at those words and chuckled.
“Right, it’s over now.”
“But I still haven’t seen the racing scene you filmed when you first started the drama, so I’m looking forward to it. Really, like Hong Ui-yeon, I only saw my husband off to the battlefield and don’t know what happened after.”
“I actually haven’t seen the edited scenes even though I filmed them. We’ll have to watch the live broadcast too.”
“That’s right. Hehe. We have to watch the live broadcast.”
Then the Assistant Director shouted from afar.
“Alright everyone, let’s go wild at tonight’s company dinner!”
“Ohhh!”
Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun got up and dusted off their bottoms.
“Come on, let’s go too. Where’s Yu-han?”
“Yu-han had a schedule so he left right away, didn’t he?”
They took cars to a nearby reserved BBQ restaurant where the staff drank heavily, got excited, and danced and sang.
Near the end of the company dinner, Yeon-woo noticed Seo Ji-eun’s somehow anxious expression.
“Why do you look like that? Is something worrying you?”
“Huh? No, they said there’s no manager available to pick me up…”
Being a small company, they lacked both cars and managers, so they couldn’t have someone waiting for after-filming schedules like company dinners where the end time was uncertain.
“Oh, really? Then take our car. We’re going in similar directions anyway. I’ll drop you off in front of your home.”
“…Really? Sorry. Then I’ll impose on you!”
Normally, with her spirited and easygoing personality, she would have just worn a hat and mask and taken a taxi in Korea where public safety is good, but Seo Ji-eun, who had become much more withdrawn after directly experiencing the stalker incident last time, was relieved by Yeon-woo’s words.
“…Actually, last time someone followed me to the stairs of my home and it almost became a big problem. As time passed, I wondered if it was just an apartment resident and I made a fuss over my own misunderstanding.”
Having had a drink, Seo Ji-eun confided to Yeon-woo about what had been troubling her lately.
Yeon-woo listened quietly and then comforted her, saying it would be okay.
After the company dinner ended, Min-su’s car entered the parking lot.
Vroom─.
“Min-su hyung, today we need to drop off Ji-eun noona first before going home.”
“Oh, hello.”
“Hello! I’ll be imposing on you today!”
Min-su smiled at the cheerful greeting.
“What imposition. It’s an honor to give a ride to an actress.”
“Min-su hyung. You drive me around all the time, were you hoping I’d change into an actress?”
“Hey, not a lot, just once or twice a month.”
Seo Ji-eun laughed watching Min-su counter Yeon-woo’s joke.
“Alright then, we’ll depart. Seo Hee-nim, Hong Ui-yeon-nim.”
Min-su’s car headed to the address Seo Ji-eun gave.
After driving for a while, Min-su’s car arrived at Seo Ji-eun’s home.
“Here it is. Thank you for giving me a ride today. Yeon-woo, thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Go in safely. Sister, you worked hard. See you at the wrap party.”
Click─.
The car door closed and Ji-eun could be seen heading toward the apartment entrance.
The streetlights were brighter than expected, and it was a mixed-use building with a convenience store on the 1st floor, so it didn’t look dangerous.
“Oh, actress, I’m going to use the restroom in that commercial area.”
Min-su, who couldn’t show his discomfort because there was an actress in the car, said while clutching his stomach.
“Yes, I’ll stay in the car.”
Min-su opened the driver’s door and rushed out, while Yeon-woo was staring blankly out the window.
That’s when he saw a man walking behind Seo Ji-eun toward the apartment entrance.
“Huh?”
He thought he saw something shiny and metallic in his hand.
Of course, it could be an e-cigarette or car keys, but something felt off.
The man was walking with his hat pulled down excessively and his body hunched, as if conscious of cameras.
Yeon-woo didn’t hesitate and immediately got out of the car.
“Ji-eun Sister! Seo Ji-eun!”
He shouted loudly, but Seo Ji-eun and the man had already entered through the entrance by the time he got out of the car.
Yeon-woo quickly ran and entered the mixed-use building entrance.
Despite its appearance, it seemed old as there was no separate security door at the entrance leading to the elevator.
When he rushed over, he saw that both elevators were just departing – one to the 3rd floor, the other to the 2nd floor.
Looking at the two elevators that had just departed, he couldn’t tell if the following man rode together with her or separately, but Yeon-woo headed for the stairs.
‘Even if I’m wrong, I’d rather check for sure than regret it later.’
Running up the stairs at full speed.
Yeon-woo climbed at maximum speed, taking two or three steps at a time.
Rather than slowing down from exhaustion, he pushed himself even faster.
‘Phew, but what floor is Seo Ji-eun’s home on?’
Arriving at the 5th floor, he quickly opened the gray iron door of the emergency staircase and checked – both elevators were stopped at the 7th floor.
Then he heard the sound of dress shoes scraping along with what seemed like some kind of scuffling from the upper floor.
Yeon-woo flew up the stairs with all his might and opened the door to the 7th floor stairs where Seo Ji-eun had been crying and clinging in the past.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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