How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 110

Chapter 110

 

“Cut!”

The director’s shout rang throughout the set.

“That was amazing! Perfect!!”

Director Seo started clapping before he’d even checked the footage.

Anyone could tell from his voice alone that he was excited out of his mind.

It was completely at odds with the cool image he’d been maintaining all this time.

“Wow, I’ve got goosebumps.”

“That was incredible…”

But instead of finding the director’s reaction strange, the staff were too busy marveling.

The actor playing Daon, who had stepped aside before filming started, was the same.

“You guys are insane!”

Daon shivered and furiously scratched his arms.

“Especially Junho hyung’s acting… seriously. You called out so desperately that I almost ran out without thinking!”

“Hahaha!”

The staff burst out laughing at Daon’s words.

I laughed along and gestured to Choo Seomok.

“Seomok, some tissues.”

“Yes.”

Taking the tissues Seomok handed me, I immediately passed them to the actress playing Seorae.

Seorae couldn’t even lift her head and vigorously wiped her face.

‘She really is good at crying scenes.’

I looked away because she seemed embarrassed, but I couldn’t help admiring her.

Crying like a child with tears and snot streaming down wasn’t easy.

‘I wondered if I’d even be able to immerse myself.’

The scene we had just filmed had been difficult to immerse myself in realistically.

The premise itself was that “a horrifying sound descends upon everyone,” but none of us actually knew what that horrifying sound was.

Director Seo had told us to just act appropriately since the sound would be added during editing.

Wiiiiiiing

Since everyone still had to collapse at the same time, they substituted it with a siren sound on set.

The siren downloaded through a phone app by one of the staff members sounded rather unimpressive.

We all had to act overwhelmed by a sound that wasn’t even that audible, and without the actress playing Seorae, everyone’s concentration probably would’ve fallen apart.

‘Interesting.’

This was the scene that had frustrated me the most while practicing alone at home.

No matter how much I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t tell whether I was doing it right.

‘Acting together definitely helps.’

Even scenes that were difficult to bring alive alone became much easier to immerse myself in when fellow actors built the atmosphere together.

‘…This is fun.’

The sensation of my feet touching the ground felt strangely distant.

Just as I found myself wanting to act again immediately…

“Seorae, stop crying. You’re going to dehydrate.”

Ajin comforted her with concern.

“Mm. I can’t stop.”

Sniffling, Seorae explained that once she started crying, she had trouble stopping.

Being the youngest actor there, everyone watched her with smiles.

“Hey, hey. Save some tears for later.”

Daon laughed and patted her back.

Filming hadn’t been going on for very long, but living together had brought everyone close.

“Mr. Seulho.”

At that moment, Director Seo approached me.

“When you fall, could you show a little more abs?”

“How much do you want, Director? Just make me take my shirt off.”

“Ah, no. That’d make me look like a pervert.”

“You already look plenty perverted.”

While Director Seo and I exchanged light banter, I suddenly felt an intense gaze.

‘…’

Thinking it was Hyun Jingae again, irritation rose, but the owner of the gaze turned out to be someone unexpected.

‘…?’

What’s with him?

It was Jaehyun.

The actor playing Hyewoo’s boyfriend and the one who’d had an unpleasant look in his eyes toward me ever since the script reading.

Unlike the others, whom I’d gradually gotten closer to during filming, Jaehyun and I had never spoken privately.

It was obvious he disliked me, and I saw no reason to approach him first.

Of course, I’d never wondered why.

I’d never expected everyone to like me.

As long as he didn’t interfere with work, I intended to ignore it.

Fortunately, he hadn’t caused trouble or tried to turn other actors against me, so I’d left him alone.

Which made this… the way he was staring at me… something entirely new.

‘What’s his problem?’

His gaze was obviously not one of admiration.

‘Though it doesn’t feel like he’s glaring at me either…’

How should I describe it?

Like looking at experimental data?

Like writing an observation report?

Whatever it was, it made me feel dirty.

‘What should I do about that?’

I didn’t think long.

“Jaehyun, do you have something to say to me?”

At my direct question, everyone’s attention instantly shifted to Jaehyun.

Apparently not expecting me to confront him, he widened his eyes and smiled awkwardly.

“Ah, sorry. I just… your acting was so good that I got carried away.”

His embarrassed excuse sounded genuine.

I immediately recognized that he was lying, but I laughed just like everyone else.

“What are you apologizing for? Thanks. You’re good too, Jaehyun.”

Deliberately speaking kindly made the atmosphere warm up.

“Oppa’s the best! That’s our protagonist!”

Ajin grinned and gave me two thumbs up.

Seorae, who had finally stopped crying, nodded.

“That’s right. Watching Junho oppa made me naturally immerse myself.”

“I was immersed because of you.”

“Huh?”

“Teach me how to cry later. You’re really good.”

“Oh, no…”

Seorae laughed shyly.

Amid the harmonious atmosphere, the actor playing Seungmin smiled.

“I guess everyone here is kind, so we’re all easygoing.”

Both Jaehyun and I laughed.

‘Look at this bastard.’

His act of looking like a nice guy annoyed me.

Of course, he’d never done anything to me.

He wasn’t a delinquent like Woo Junseo, nor did he look down on people like Director Shin.

Yet somehow…

‘Forget it.’

I cursed inwardly and decided to ignore him.

Jaehyun, even if you hate me, how much will that affect my life?

At worst, I’ll just have a few extra wrinkles between my brows.

‘Let’s just film.’

I still didn’t care why he disliked me.

I had no intention of becoming friends with him.

I simply hoped neither of us crossed the line.

‘Let’s coexist peacefully without getting on each other’s nerves.’

Praying that message somehow reached him, I turned away.

 

***

 

“Oppa! Are you leaving already?”

Just before I departed for Seoul, Ajin came running toward me.

After telling Choo Seomok, who was in the driver’s seat, to wait a little, I got out.

“Don’t run. You’ll trip.”

“Hehe. Going back to Seoul?”

“Yeah. I have a dawn shoot tomorrow.”

I’d spent the past three days immersed in filming the horror movie, and now the next three days belonged to Director Baek’s film.

I had rushed back to the lodging as soon as filming ended to pack.

The cat kept clinging to my legs, so getting it off had been troublesome.

“What about the cat?”

“Maru? Director Seo was holding him earlier. He really likes cats despite how he looks! I even saw him secretly kissing Maru yesterday.”

Ajin giggled.

‘So everyone found out.’

Jinki, hang in there. Your mask’s about to crumble.

“Anyway, good work. See you next week.”

“Okay! Have a safe–Ah, right!”

Ajin clapped her hands.

“I almost forgot. That’s what I came to ask.”

“What?”

“Oppa, did you know Jaehyun before this?”

She whispered like she was sharing a secret.

I raised an eyebrow.

“No? Why?”

“I overheard him in the hallway earlier. Ah! Don’t misunderstand–I wasn’t eavesdropping. I just happened to hear.”

“I won’t misunderstand.”

“He called someone ‘Father,’ so I thought he was talking to his dad, but…”

Tilting her head in confusion, Ajin continued.

“Later I found out he was actually talking to Senior Yoo Taeho.”

“…Yoo Taeho? You’re sure?”

“I thought I’d misheard too!”

She scratched her head.

“But right after hanging up with the person he called Father, he talked to Director Seo and said, ‘I just got off the phone with Senior Yoo Taeho.’”

While I sank into thought, she cautiously continued.

“I was going to ignore it, but just in case… Everyone knows you’re Senior Yoo Taeho’s son, and Jaehyun called someone Father…”

She admitted that she couldn’t stop herself from wondering if he might be a hidden son.

The adorable conclusion made me laugh.

“W-why are you laughing?”

“You really do think differently.”

“Aren’t you worried?”

“We don’t know anything for sure. Jaehyun could’ve talked to Yoo Taeho… no, my father… before calling his own dad.”

“…Oh.”

Ajin smiled awkwardly.

“You’re right. Maybe that’s it. I only thought that because he talked to Director Seo right afterward…”

“Misunderstandings happen. I’ll ask Jaehyun later.”

It was probably nothing, but if other people overheard, things could get serious.

So I asked her to keep it secret.

“Of course! I haven’t told anyone!”

“Thanks. Let’s keep it between us.”

“Okay. Sorry.”

Even though I hadn’t blamed her, Ajin looked embarrassed.

“Sorry, Oppa. Ugh, why am I like this? I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. Oppa Jingae kept telling me to watch my mouth…”

“It happens.”

She was young.

Eventually, she’d learn through experience that meddling in other people’s affairs rarely ended well.

And even if she already knew that, nobody always made the right choices.

“Travel safely!”

I got into the car with Ajin seeing me off.

Soon we left the village and entered the highway.

‘Hmm.’

I tapped the window frame with my fingers.

‘Could Yoo Taeho really… have an illegitimate child?’